Calling all USN World War I Destroyer fans

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:56 pm

This Destroyer topic I would like to keep restricted to only those USN Destroyers who crossed the Atlantic and served in the Anti Submarine war. Particularly those stationed in Queenstown & French Ports. These being most active members of the Anti Submarine war.
It would not be an exaggeration to say these ships made a critical contribution to the war against U-Boats, arriving at the most critical juncture. And USN Command's pressure to begin the convoy also added as least as much as the USN DD's in the convoy escort and U-Boat hunter roles.
On this page, with time, I hope to release photos and interesting history, the photos will allow modellers to add extraordinary small detail work to their models. And also will seek to post any and all camouflage schemes.
Given time this winter, I will begin posting the names and numbers of each DD that went overseas to serve, and to begin to download some extraordinary photos taken on board some of these ships.
This class of vessel is overlooked, yet they make a beautiful model, and their war time careers were of vital importance to the war.
So I will begin posting info and photos as time allows me.

Rick E Davis · Post by **Rick E Davis** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:02 pm

There were several classes of USN destroyers involved in ASW convoy operations in European and Atlantic waters, including some early Flush-Deckers.

I would be very interested in seeing your listings and images. I have a few images I have scanned at NARA, that may fill in the coverage as well.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:22 pm

Thanks Rick. I'de love to see any images you have, as I like to see these ships documented as far as possible. I had all the lists somewhere, and when they sailed for Europe. Sadly, these have been lost and have to be remade.
I add a picture here as well.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:28 pm

additions. I need to match ship's name to picture. This will take time, and will follow.
In the last photo, look closely at how the ventilation cowlings are constructed. In fact, they are made of narrow metal strips, riveted together with tiny sheet metal rivets, giving the unique look.
In number 2, look at the engine room overhead hatches open to the right, to ventilate. Showing details of their construction as well.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 7:29 pm

Some photos of these ships in the Atlantic on convoy or individual ship escort. Names are not always available for these pictures.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:13 pm

Because of the long narrow hull of these ships, they were dangerous sea boats in the Atlantic Ocean waters of the Western Approaches and Bay of Biscay where convoys were escorted clear of the U-Boat danger. This lifelines on deck were standard once at sea. Here are examples of rigged lifelines in use.
photo #1 you can see the lines rigged along the deck, and the rolling nature of these DD's
Photo #2-3 example of men going midships on the life lines.

The ships crews often had crew and officer photos taken overseas. I have many examples. The Jarvis photo shows details of that ship and her neighbor.

NavyFan1 · Post by **NavyFan1** » Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:56 pm

I've got one of the Revell 1:240 Ward's in the stash. I think this thread will come in handy for building her as USS Reuben James.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:25 pm

When the USA finally went to war, one of the Navy's first operation deployments was to get USA Destroyers into the ASW fight.
At war's outbreak, the USN 8th Destroyer Division was stationed at Base 2, in the York River, Virgina. On April 14th the division was ordered to Boston for fitting out for foreign deployment.
The division consisted of 6 ships.
USS Wadsworth DD60 - Commander Joseph Taussig
USS Conyngham DD58 - Lt. Commander Alfred Johnson
USS Porter DD59 - Lt. Commander Ward Wortman
USS McDougal DD54 - Lt. Arthur Fairfield
USS Davis DD65 - Lt. Rufus Zogbaum
USS Wainwright DD62 - Lt Commander Fred Poteet

The Division left Boston on the evening of April 24th 1917
after 10 stormy days at sea, they arrived off Queenstown Ireland on the morning of May 4th 1917.
The arrival day broke with tradition of the voyage, being fine sunny and smooth waters. The Royal Navy DD Mary Rose was assigned to lead the American into Queenstown harbor.
No publicity had been allowed by the Navy so no stories of this voyage hit the papers in America or The United Kingdom.
Despite this, it was common knowledge in Queenstown. And ships and town broke out the American flags for a formal welcome.
The sailors of both navies were eager to see each others ships and compare differences. The USN DD was built to deliver torpedoes in battle, just like the Royal Navy. Anti Submarine warfare played no part in design before the war. USN DD's were built for maximum operational radius, carrying more fuel and supplies than RN. The RN could rely on numerous UK ports for fuel and supplies.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:45 pm

Life on board provided some photo ops for crew members. Official RN photographer captured some shots of daily shipboard life. In Queenstown's USN fleet.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 2:09 pm

The British photographers captured some details of the USN Destroyers. I'll post some here.
The depth charge photos show a crude launch mechanism. This was remedied later on, these photos are from their first days in the war zone.
The crows nest lookout had an important job. Enlisted men standing night watches at sea were at first forbidden coffee! Offices only could take coffee on watch. Later on this was amended to include enlisted watch keepers as lookouts were worth more awake than asleep.
Added a Royal Navy DD bridge view for variety!

Notice the Non-Skid Matt laid around the 5inch bow gun! These were actual mattes that were tied down flat, and gave grip to sailors shoes. In my day, the Navy pained Non-Skid paint in the deck in key places.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 2:38 pm

Sorry I already posted this late war photo of a nest of USN Destroyers in Brest France. I forgot to call attention to the cut down length of the masts, and notice the higher mounted crows nests, and the presence of two of them, fore and aft at this stage of the war.
Cutting the masts reduced top weight and made up for the double crows nests. Their value in the age of the "eye ball" sensor system speaks for itself!

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:25 pm

Here are a few some later war photos showing camouflage.
The Photo of USS Roe shows the heavy riveted hull construction of these ships.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:36 pm

A few photos. Two shows late war depth charges on stern. Compare to the earlier post of depth charges mounted astern!

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 2:29 pm

Like to add a few additions today.

There is a very nice photo of one of the wing 4 inch guns of a TBD

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:51 pm

I hope there are some pleasant surprises among these. A few full length deck views and details.

A late war depth charge photo shows how crowded the stern of USN DD became with the large naval gun sharing space with dozens of depth bombs.

moomoon · Post by **moomoon** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 12:42 pm

THANK YOU

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 6:57 pm

A few more , excuse if some duplicate, I have trouble remembering which were not yet posted.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 7:03 pm

moomoon wrote:THANK YOU

Glad you enjoy the photos. This collection I found deep in the Imperial War Museum collections in 2005. I bought some prints then, and the IWM now posts some on their collections

on line archive. Sadly, I am running near the end of the IWM photos. But am still digging for an odd one or two might still turn up!

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:50 pm

There will be some flush deck four pipe DD's here.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:27 pm

A few photos showing depth charge arrangements. And general late war DD photos.
Note the heavy depth charge loads at the stern of different classes of DD in the DD Nest photo from astern.

Please note the "potato Locker" located next to a funnel in the photo : "USN, RN officers on Deck of DD"
keeping food stuffs in on deck lockers was a RN tradition, and the USN also practiced it to some degree. On deck. Meat Lockers existed even in WWII on some RN ships.