World War 1 at Sea

UNITED STATES NAVY and MAJOR SHIP LISTS in Outline

VERMONT class, 4 ships - 16,000t, 18 knots, 4-12in/8-8in/12-7in, 880 crew, 1907-08.

VERMONT (B-20) (upper right, all received two cage mainmasts))
KANSAS (B-21)
MINNESOTA (B-22)
NEW HAMPSHIRE (B-25)

All four served in engineering and gunnery training roles, 1917-18

Minnesota (right), damaged 29 September 1918, North Atlantic off Delaware, 20 miles from Fenwick Island Shoal Lightship (38-11’N, 74-41’W) - mine apparently laid by German U.117. Gunnery and engineering training ship cruising off the Atlantic coast. Serious damage to starboard side, but she reached port under her own power, with no loss of life. Repairs took 5 months

Mississippi (B-23), Idaho (B-24) were sold to Greece in July 1914

DELAWARE (B-28) (right, note the mast, funnel, mast, funnel arrangement for this class)
NORTH DAKOTA (B-29)

Delaware, training and exercises, then 6th Battle Squadron, British Grand Fleet based in Scapa Flow, north of Scotland from December 1917 (relieved by Arkansas in August 1918)

North Dakota remained in American waters on gunnery and engineering training

FLORIDA class, 2 ships - 21,800t, 21 knots, 10-12in/16-5in, 1,000 crew, 1911

FLORIDA (B-30) (right)
UTAH (B-31)

Florida, fleet exercises, then 6th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet from December 1917

Utah, engineering and gunnery training in American waters, then Bantry Bay, Ireland from September 1918 as US flagship

WYOMING class, 2 ships - 26,000t, 20 knots, 12-12in/21-5in, 1,060 crew, 1912

WYOMING (B-32) (right)
ARKANSAS (B-33)

Wyoming, 6th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet, from December 1918

Arkansas, patrol and gunnery training, then relieved Delaware in 6th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet in August 1918

NEW YORK (B-34) (right)
TEXAS (B-35)

New York (flag), Texas, both part of 6th Battle Squadron, New York from December 1917, Texas joining in February 1918

Texas is still in existence as a museum ship at San Jacinto Battlefield State Park, La Porte, Texas

NEVADA class, 2 ships - 27,500t, 20 knots, 10-14in/21-5in, 860 crew, 1916

NEVADA (B-36) (right)
OKLAHOMA (B-37)

Nevada, Oklahoma, both oil burners, based at Bantry Bay, Ireland from August 1918

PENNSYLVANIA class, 2 ships - 31,400t, 21 knots, 12-14in/22-5in, 915 crew, 1916

PENNSYLVANIA (B-38) (right)
ARIZONA (B-39)

Pennsylvania, flagship, Atlantic Fleet, 1916-18

Arizona joined 6th Battle Squadron after the November 1918 Armistice

NEW MEXICO class, 3 ships - 32,000t, 21 knots, 12-14in/14-5in, 1,080 crew, 1918/1917

NEW MEXICO (B-40) (right)
MISSISSIPPI (B-41)
IDAHO (B-42, completed 1919)

PENNSYLVANIA class, 6 ships, 1 lost - 13,700t, 22 knots, 4-8in/14-6in/18-3in, 830 crew, 1905-08

PITTSBURGH (ACR-4, ex-Pennsylvania) (both right, top as USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay, with first aircraft landing on a warship by Eugene Ely, January 1911)
HUNTINGTON (ACR-5, ex-West Virginia)
SAN DIEGO (ACR-6, ex-California)
PUEBLO (ACR-7, ex-Colorado)
FREDERICK (ACR-8, ex-Maryland)
SOUTH DAKOTA (ACR-9, renamed Huron in 1920)

SAN DIEGO, 19 July 1918, North Atlantic, 10 miles SE of Fire Island, Long Island, New York (c 40-30’N, 73-00’W) - torpedoed or mined by German U.15. Assigned to trans-Atlantic convoy escort on the western leg, she was on passage from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to New York at the time. Reliable sources differ on whether or not her loss was due to a torpedo or mines laid by U.156 off the American coast - mining seems the most likely. San Diego (Capt H H Christy) turned turtle and sank in around 20 minutes, the only major US warship loss of the war; 6 men lost out of the crew of 1,100. Casualty List. On her return to Germany, U.156 (Lt Cdr Feldt) was lost with all hands, probably in the Northern Barrage minefield, much of which was laid by American ships.

TENNESSEE class, 4 ships, 1 lost - 14,500t, 22 knots, 4-10in/16-6in/22-3in, c 860 crew, 1906-08

MEMPHIS (ACR-10, ex-Tennessee) (right)
SEATTLE (ACR-11, ex-Washington)
NORTH CAROLINA (ACR-12, renamed Charlotte in 1920)
MONTANA (ACR-13, renamed Missoula in 1920)

MEMPHIS, 29 August 1916, Caribbean Sea, in Santo Domingo harbour, Dominican Republic (c 18-50’N, 70-00’W) - driven ashore and totally wrecked by (100ft?) tsunami or tidal wave of seismic origin; hurricane in some sources. On peace-keeping duties in Dominican waters during a rebellion. At anchor at the time, with a boatload of Memphis sailors returning from shore-leave. As she was driven ashore, engine room personnel made every effort to give her manoeuvring power. The Medal of Honor was awarded to Engineering Lt Claud Jones, Chief Machinist's Mate George Rud (posthumous), and Machinist Charles Willey; some 36 men dead or missing, 200 badly injured. Casualty list

BOSTON - 3,200t, 13 knots, 2-8in/6-6in, 285 crew, 1887.

BOSTON, training ship from 1911

Note: Atlanta sold 1912

CHICAGO - 4,500t, 14 knots, 4-8in/8-6in/2-5in, c450 crew, 1889.

CHICAGO, training ship from 1910

NEWARK - 4,050t, 18 knots, 12-6in, 385 crew, 1891.

NEWARK (C-1), stricken 1913, used as quarantine and hospital hulk during war

Note: Charleston (C-2) wrecked in 1899

BALTIMORE - 4,400t, 19 knots, 4-8in/6-6in, 385 crew, 1890.

BALTIMORE (C-3), converted to minelayer 1912. Baltimore played a major part in laying the North Sea Mine Barrage between Scotland and Norway from June 1918*

SAN FRANCISCO - 4,100t, 19 knots, 12-6in, 385 crew, 1890.

SAN FRANCISCO (C-5), converted to minelayer 1911. San Francisco (US flag) also played a major part in laying the North Sea Barrage from June 1918*

OLYMPIA - 5,850t, 20 knots, 4-8in/10-5in, c 440, 1895.

OLYMPIA (C-6), still in existence as a museum ship at Philadelphia, USA

ST LOUIS class, 3 ships, 1 lost - 9,700t, 22 knots, 14-6in/18-3in, c 700 crew, 1905-06 

ST LOUIS (C-20) (upper right)
MILWAUKEE (C-21) (right)
CHARLESTON (C-22)

MILWAUKEE, 13 January 1917, eastern Pacific Ocean, off Eureka, northern California on Samoa Beach - grounded. Submarine H.3 ran aground in nearby Humboldt Bay on the 14th December 1916. By the 13th January, Milwaukee was present to assist the salvage operations and while trying to refloat her, was stranded on Samoa Beach. Salvage attempts in her case failed, and in November 1918, she broke in two in a storm. No casualties.

CHESTER class, 3 ships - 3,750t, 24 knots, 2-5in/6-3in, 360 crew, 1908

CHESTER (CS.1)
BIRMINGHAM (CS.2) (right)
SALEM (CS.3)

All three cruisers spent part of 1917-18 based at Gibraltar on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic approaches

BAINBRIDGE class, 5 ships, 1 lost - 420t, 29 knots, 2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1902

BAINBRIDGE (D-1) (upper right, sailing Gibraltar for Charleston, July 1918)
BARRY (D-2)
CHAUNCEY (D-3)
DALE (D-4)
DECATUR (D-5)

CHAUNCEY (right), 19 November 1917, Atlantic Ocean, 110 miles west of the Straits of Gibraltar (c 36-00’N, 8-00’W) - collision with British steamship Rose. Based at St Nazaire on eastern Atlantic escort duties, Chauncey (Lt Cdr Walter Reno) was with a convoy on the night of the 19th/20th, when she was cut in half by the Rose and sank at 03.17hrs; commanding officer and 20 crew lost, 70 survivors picked up by Rose. Casualty List.

MONAGHAN class, 11 ships - 790t, 29 knots, 5-3in/6-18in tt, 90 crew, launched 1910-12

MONAGHAN (D-32) (upper right)
TRIPPE (D-33)
WALKE (D-34)
AMMEN (D-35)
PATTERSON (D-36)
FANNING (D-37)
JARVIS (D-38)
HENLEY (D-39)
BEALE (D-40)
JOUETT (D-41)
JENKINS (D-42)

Fanning took part with Nicholson (D-52) in the  sinking of U.58 on 17th November 1917 (right - above, some of her crew with the star on her stack showing her success, and below, her stern and depth charges. USS Sigourney (D-81) alongside)

O’BRIEN class, 6 ships - 1,050t, 29 knots, 4-4in/8-21in tt, 100 crew, launched 1914-15

O'BRIEN (D-51)
NICHOLSON (D-52) (right)
WINSLOW (D-53)
MCDOUGAL (D-54)
CUSHING (D-55)
ERICSSON (D-56)

Nicholson with Fanning (D-37) also took part in sinking of U.58 on 17th November 1917

TUCKER class, 6 ships, 1 lost - 1,100t, 29 knots, 4-4in/8-21in tt, 100 crew, launched 1915

TUCKER (D-57) (upper right)
CONYNGHAM (D-58)
PORTER (D-59)
WADSWORTH (D-60)
JACOB JONES (D-61) (right)
WAINWRIGHT (D-62)

Wadsworth, first USN destroyer flagship in British waters; with five others she arrived at Queenstown in early May 1917, the first US warships to reach the European battle zone

JACOB JONES, 6 December 1917, Atlantic Ocean, South Western Approaches to Britain, 25 miles SW of Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49-20’N, 06-18’W). - torpedoed once by German U.53. Based at Queenstown, southern Ireland on anti-submarine duties, Jacob Jones (Lt Cdr David Bagley) was one of six destroyers returning from Brest after escorting a convoy to France. She was hit at 16.20hrs, going down in 8 minutes. Of the 38 survivors, two were taken prisoner by the U-boat, others rescued by two British ships that responded to a radio signal sent out by U.53’s CO, Lt Cdr Hans Rose, and reportedly, Cdr Bagley and five others managed to row ashore; 64 men were lost. Casualty List.

CALDWELL, WICKES, CLEMSON "flush decker" classes, D-69 to 347 - c1,100t, 30-35 knots, 4-4in/12-21in tt, 100-115 crew, launched 1917-1921.

Only ships from D-69 to D-199 are listed below. Those included in the Deployment of Destroyers, April 1917-November 1918 are in CAPITAL letters:

CALDWELLS

CALDWELL (D-69), CRAVEN (D-70)

Gwin (D-71)

CONNER (D-72), STOCKTON (D-73), MANLEY (D-74)

WICKES

WICKES (D-75), PHILIP (D-76), WOOLSEY (D-77), EVANS (D-78), LITTLE (D-79), KIMBERLY (D-80), SIGOURNEY (D-81), GREGORY (D-82), STRINGHAM (D-83), DYER (D-84), COLHOUN (D-85), STEVENS (D-86), MCKEE (D-87), ROBINSON (D-88), RINGGOLD (D-89)

Mckean (D-90), Harding (D-91), Gridley (D-92)

FAIRFAX (D-93), TAYLOR (D-94), BELL (D-95), STRIBLING (D-96), MURRAY (D-97), ISRAEL (D-98), LUCE (D-99), MAURY (D-100)

Lansdale (D-101), Mahan (D-102)

SCHLEY (D-103), CHAMPLIN (D-104), MUGFORD (D-105), CHEW (D-106)

Hazelwood (D-107), Williams (D-108), Crane (D-109), Hart (D-110), Ingraham (D-111)

LUDLOW (D-112), RATHBURNE (D-113), TALBOT (D-114)

Waters (D-115)

Ramsay (D-124), Tattnall (D-125), Badger (D-126), Twiggs (D-127), Babbitt (D-128), Delong (D-129), Jacob Jones (D-130) , Buchanan (D-131), Aaron Ward (D-132) , Hale (D-133), Crowninshield (D-134), Tillman (D-135)

BOGGS (D-136), KILTY (D-137)

CLEMSONS

Clemson (D-186), Dahlgren (D-187), Goldsborough (D-188), Semmes (D-189), Satterlee (D-190), Mason (D-191), Graham (D-192), Abel P. Upshur (D-193) , Hunt (D-194), Welborn C. Wood (D-195) , George E. Badger (D-196) , Branch (D-197), Herndon (D-198), Dallas (D-199)

A class, 7 boats - 110/125t, 8/7 knots, 1-18in tt, 7 crew, launched 1901-03

A.1 (PLUNGER, S-2)
A.2 (ADDER, S-3)
A.3 (GRAMPUS, S-4)
A.4 (MOCCASIN, S-5)
A.5 (PIKE, S-6)
A.6 (PORPOISE, S-7)
A.7 (SHARK, S-8) (right)

A.5 (ex-Pike), 15 April 1917, western Pacific Ocean, at Cavite Naval Base, SW Luzon, Philippines - ballast tank leakage. The official account is that she sank at her mooring because of a slow leak, raised four days later and returned to active service. No casualties.

D class, 3 boats - 290/340t, 12/9 knots, 4-18in tt, 15 crew, launched 1909-10

D.1 (NARWHAL, S-17) (right)
D.2 (GRAYLING, S-18)
D.3 (SALMON, S-19)

D.2 (ex-Grayling), 14 September 1917, United States, at New London Naval Base, Connecticut - sank at dockside. All crew survived

E class, 2 boats - 290/340t, 13/11 knots, 4-18in tt, 20 crew, launched 1911

E.1 (SKIPJACK, S-24)
E.2 (STURGEON, S-25) (right)

E.2 (ex-Sturgeon), 15 January 1916, United States, at Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York - internal explosion. Raised and returned to service within a matter of months; 5 dead, c 15 survivors. Note about casualties.

F class, 4 boats, 2 lost - 330/400t, 13/11 knots, 4-18in tt, 22 crew, launched 1911-12

F.1 (CARP, S-20) (upper right, being hit by Pickerel)
F.2 (BARRACUDA, S-21)
F.3 (PICKEREL, S-22)
F.4 (SKATE, S-23) (right)

F.1 (ex-CARP), 17 December 1917, eastern Pacific Ocean in West Coast waters, United States - collision with submarine Pickerel (F.3). Carp had sunk once before, torn from her moorings and foundering in heavy seas off Port Watsonville, Monterey Bay, California in October 1912 with both men aboard lost. Her final loss took place during thick fog on manoeuvres off Point Loma, San Diego, California, hit by sister-boat Pickerel; 19 men lost, 5 survivors. Casualty List.

F.4 (ex-SKATE), 25 March 1915, central Pacific Ocean, 1 1/2 miles off Pearl Harbor, Oahu island, Hawaii (c 22-15’N, 158-00’W) - foundered. During diving exercises she lost depth control, later found to be due to flooding caused by corrosion of a battery tank, and sank in 300 feet of water. Skate sank with all 21 crew. Casualty List. Three week’s later during salvage operations at record depths, one of the divers became trapped and was rescued by Chief Gunner's Mate Frank Crilley USN. He received the Medal of Honor

Wartime Additions
c 22 by April 1917, c 30 after

K class, 8 boats - 390/520t, 14/10 knots, 4-18in tt, 28 crew, launched 1913-14

K.1 (HADDOCK, S-32)
K.2 (CACHALOT, S-33)
K.3 (ORCA, S-34)
K.4 (WALRUS, S-35)
K.5 (S-36) (right)
K.6 (S-37)
K.7 (S-38)
K.8 (S-39)

K.1, K.2, K.4 and K.6 were based in the Azores on anti-U-boat patrols

L class, 11 boats - 450/550t, 14/10 knots, 4-18in tt/1-3in, 28 crew, launched 1915-17. Mostly commissioned before April 1917

L.1 (S-40) (upper right)
L.2 (S-41)
L.3 (S-42) (right)
L.4 (S-43)
L.5 (S-44)
L.6 (S-45)
L.7 (S-46)
L.8 (S-48)
L.9 (S-49)
L.10 (S-50)
L.11 (S-51)

L.1-L.4, L.9-L.11, designated AL to distinguish them from the British L-class, were based at Berehaven, Bantry Bay, Ireland on anti-U-boat patrols 1917-18

L.2 was being attacked by German UB.65 off southern Ireland in July 1918 when the U-boat blew up, possibly due to a faulty torpedo magnetic pistol