USS Percival (DD-298)

USS Percival (DD-298) was a Clemson-class destroyer built for the United States Navy during World War I.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Percival.
History
United States
Namesake: John Percival
Builder: Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Union Iron Works, San Francisco
Laid down: 4 July 1918
Launched: 5 December 1918
Commissioned: 1 March 1920
Decommissioned: 26 April 1930
Stricken: 18 November 1930
Fate: Sold for scrap, 19 March 1931
General characteristics
Class and type: Clemson-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,290 long tons (1,310 t) (standard)
  • 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) (deep load)
Length: 314 ft 4 in (95.8 m)
Beam: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
Draught: 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) (design)
Range: 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (design)
Complement: 6 officers, 108 enlisted men
Armament:

Description

The Clemson class was a repeat of the preceding Wickes class although more fuel capacity was added.[1] The ships displaced 1,290 long tons (1,310 t) at standard load and 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 314 feet 4 inches (95.8 m), a beam of 30 feet 11 inches (9.4 m) and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 m). They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men.[2]

Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. The Clemson class was powered by two steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) intended to reach a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 371 long tons (377 t) of fuel oil which was intended gave them a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[3]

The ships were armed with four 4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts and were fitted with two 1-pounder guns for anti-aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1-pounders caused them to be replaced by 3-inch (76 mm) guns. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedo battery of a dozen 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair of depth charge rails. A "Y-gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.[4]

Construction and career

Percival, named for John Percival, was launched 5 December 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California; sponsored by Miss Eleanor Wartsbaugh; and commissioned 1 March 1920, Commander Raymond A. Spruance, who was to lead the US 5th Fleet in World War II, in command. With trials off the California coast completed, Percival reported for duty with Squadron 4 Flotilla 5 of the Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific based at San Diego, California. On 8 September 1923, the ship was involved in the Honda Point Disaster, and a few days later, she became flagship of Squadron 11 and made annual deployments with the Pacific Battle Fleet in fleet problems.

Percival was decommissioned 26 April 1930 and scrapped in 1931.

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See also

See USS Percival for other ships of this name.

Notes
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 125
  2. Friedman, pp. 402–03
  3. Friedman, pp. 39–42, 402–03
  4. Friedman, pp. 44–45

References
  • Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-733-X.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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