USS Babbitt (DD–128) was a Wickes class

Wickes class destroyer

The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...

 destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during the World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, later classified as AG-102. She was named for Fitz Babbitt

Fitz Babbitt

Fitz Babbitt was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.Babbitt was appointed a Midshipman in 1804 and served on board Nautilus, Adams, and President. Lieutenant Babbitt was killed in action on board President during the engagement with HMS Endymim and Pomana on 15 January...

.

Babbitt was launched 30 September 1918 at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey

Camden, New Jersey

The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...

; sponsored by Miss Lucile Burlin; commissioned 24 October 1919, Commander

Commander

Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

 W. W. Eberle in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Service history

Babbitt served with the Pacific Fleet on maneuvers and exercises until going out of commission at San Diego 15 June 1922. Upon recommissioning 4 April 1930, Babbitt reported to the Pacific Fleet and served along the west coast until February 1931, when she proceeded to the Atlantic. Between February 1931 and May 1932, she operated with Destroyer Squadron

Destroyer squadron

A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels, both may be used...

, Scouting Force, along the eastern seaboard, in the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...

, and in the Panama Canal Zone

Panama Canal Zone

The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...

. During May 1932 to April 1933, Babbitt served at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

, and made a cruise to Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 conducting exercises with experimental torpedoes. She was assigned to Rotating Reserve Destroyer Squadron 19 at Norfolk between 25 May and 20 October 1933, and then assumed reduced commission status until January 1935. While in this status, she operated with the Training Squadron, Scouting Force, training reserves.

For a brief period between January and May 1935, she returned to Rotating Reserve Destroyer Squadron 19. Placed in full commission 15 May 1935, Babbitt served with the Midshipmen's Coastal Cruise Detachment and then, for two years, with the Special Service Squadron

Special Service Squadron

The Special Service Squadron was a component of the United States Navy during the 1920s and 1930s.Under the United States Fleet, the squadron patrolled the Caribbean Sea as an instrument of gunboat diplomacy. It was headquartered in Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.-Commanders:* C.H. Hockson 1907 * Henry...

 in the Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

n-Puerto Rica

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

n area. In April 1939, she participated in the opening of the New York World's Fair

World's Fair

World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...

. Subsequently she was attached to Destroyer Squadron 27 Patrol Force, on Neutrality Patrol

Neutrality Patrol

At the beginning of World War II, when Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 started the hostilities in Europe, President Franklin D...

 and convoy escort duty along the Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines.

World War II

Babbitt operated as a convoy escort in the waters off Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

, along the east and gulf coasts of the United States and in the Caribbean. Between 10 March 1943 and 21 March 1944, she also completed five trans-Atlantic escort crossings one to England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 and four to North Africa

North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...

.

Convoys escorted

Convoy	Escort Group	Dates	Notes
HX HX convoys The HX convoys were a series of North Atlantic convoys which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. They were east-bound convoys and originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia from where they sailed to ports in the United Kingdom...  152		30 Sept-9 Oct 1941	from Newfoundland Dominion of Newfoundland The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...  to Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...  prior to US declaration of war; 1 ship torpedoed
ON ON convoys The ON convoys were a series of North Atlantic trade convoys running Outbound from the British Isles to North America during the Battle of the Atlantic .-History:...  26		20-29 Oct 1941	33 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
ON 28		31 Oct-3 Nov 1941	from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war; 1 ship torpedoed
HX 160		17-25 Nov 1941	62 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war
ON 41		4-10 Dec 1941	37 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland: war declared during convoy
HX 167		29 Dec 1941-7 Jan 1942	41 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
ON 55		15-18 Jan 1942	from Iceland to Newfoundland; 2 ships torpedoed & sunk
HX 174		9-16 Feb 1942	27 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
SC SC convoys The SC convoys were a series of North Atlantic convoys that ran during the battle of the Atlantic during World War II.They were east-bound slow convoys originating in Sydney, Cape Breton ; from there they sailed to ports in the UK, mainly Liverpool.For a time after the entry of the...  71		5 March 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 73		17 March 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 75		24 March 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 86		15-17 April 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 90		29 April-4 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 81		5 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 94		13-16 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 98		27-30 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 102		14-15 June 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 106		24-27 June 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 110		7-11 July 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 91		19 July 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 116		25-29 July 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 120		9-14 Aug 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 125	MOEF group A3 Mid-Ocean Escort Force Mid-Ocean Escort Force referred to the organization of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys between Canada and the British Isles...	29 Aug-7 Sept 1942	28 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland
SC 110		29 Nov-2 Dec 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 152		11-15 Dec 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 112		16-19 Dec 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 114			Iceland shuttle
SC 116		22-23 Jan 1943	Iceland shuttle
ON 162		26-27 Jan 1943	Iceland shuttle
SC 118 Convoy SC 118 Convoy SC-118 was the 118th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool.-Prelude:...		6-8 Feb 1943	Iceland shuttle
ON 171		7-9 March 1943	Iceland shuttle
SC 121		9-11 March 1943	Iceland shuttle
Convoys HX 229/SC 122		19-21 March 1943	Iceland shuttle
UC CU convoys The CU convoys were a World War II series of fast trans-Atlantic convoys to the British Isles. The earliest convoys of the series were tankers sailing directly from petroleum refineries at Curaçao to the United Kingdom...  2		9-23 April 1943	11 ships escorted without loss from Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...  to Curacao Curaçao Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
UGS UG convoys The UG convoys were a series of east-bound trans-Atlantic convoys from the United States to Gibraltar carrying food, ammunition, and military hardware to the United States Army in North Africa and southern Europe during World War II...  8A		15 May-1 June 1943	80 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...  to Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
UGS 25		24-27 November 1943	59 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
UGS 33		3-13 February 1944	4 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
GUS UG convoys The UG convoys were a series of east-bound trans-Atlantic convoys from the United States to Gibraltar carrying food, ammunition, and military hardware to the United States Army in North Africa and southern Europe during World War II...  32		7-23 March 1944	91 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean Sea to Chesapeake Bay

Auxilliary service

On 2 February 1945, Babbitt reported to the Underwater Sound Laboratory, New London, Connecticut

New London, Connecticut

New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....

, for experimental sonar work. On 10 June 1945, her classification was changed to AG-102. She remained on experimental duty until December 1945, when she entered New York Navy Yard for pre-inactivation overhaul. Babbitt was decommissioned 25 January 1946 and sold 5 June 1946.

Awards

Babbitt received one battle star for the escort of Convoy SC-121

Convoy SC-121

Convoy SC-121 was the 121st of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool...

.

As of 2010, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name.

External links

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