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USS Graham (DD-192)
Encyclopedia
USS Graham (DD-192) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War I
. She was named for Secretary of the Navy
William A. Graham
(1804–1875).
22 March 1919 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
, Newport News, Virginia
, sponsored by Mrs. Robert F. Smallwood, granddaughter of Secretary Graham; and commissioned
at Norfolk Navy Yard, 13 March 1920, Lieutenant Commander Paulus P. Powell in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet
, after several trial runs on East Coast, Graham was at first given the special duty, together with two other U.S. destroyers, of a moving picture boat carrying the moving picture photographers, in connection with the International Cup Race, under the auspices of the New York Yacht Club
, beginning 15 July 1920 and on alternate days thereafter until 27 July when the Race was completed.
Graham then joined the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet at Newport, Rhode Island
, for exercises and training along the east coast, and for Neutrality Patrol
and exercises off Guantanamo Bay
and in the Panama Canal Zone
. In 1921, she participated in combined division, squadron and fleet maneuvers off South America
, visiting Callao, Peru, and Balboa
, Canal Zone, before returning to Hampton Roads
. There she took part in the Presidential Fleet Review at Norfolk, Virginia
, in April 1921. She also participated in the bombing tests on former German
ships off the Virginia
coast that summer. On 27 October, in company with the 20th Division, she escorted S.S. Paris, on which General Foch was a passenger, to New York, and convoyed that ship up Ambrose Channel
, New York. Then she commenced antiaircraft practice. On 12 November 1921 she had a change of status from operative commission to reduced complement. She was en route to New York from Charleston, South Carolina
, when on 16 December she collided with SS Panama off the New Jersey
coast and had to return to New York.
Graham decommissioned at New York Navy Yard 31 March 1922, and was sold for scrapping, 19 September 1922.
As of 2005, no other U.S. Navy ship has been named Graham.
Clemson class destroyer
The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...
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 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...
. She was named for Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
William A. Graham
William A. Graham
William A. Graham may refer to:*William Alexander Graham , American politician; Whig from North Carolina; U.S. Senator, Governor, Secretary of the Navy, Winfield Scott's running mate in 1852 presidential election*William A...
(1804–1875).
History
Graham was launchedShip naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
22 March 1919 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News Shipbuilding , originally Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , was the largest privately-owned shipyard in the United States prior to being purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2001...
, Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, sponsored by Mrs. Robert F. Smallwood, granddaughter of Secretary Graham; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
at Norfolk Navy Yard, 13 March 1920, Lieutenant Commander Paulus P. Powell in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, after several trial runs on East Coast, Graham was at first given the special duty, together with two other U.S. destroyers, of a moving picture boat carrying the moving picture photographers, in connection with the International Cup Race, under the auspices of the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
, beginning 15 July 1920 and on alternate days thereafter until 27 July when the Race was completed.
Graham then joined the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet at Newport, Rhode Island
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...
, for exercises and training along the east coast, and for 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 exercises off Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
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...
. In 1921, she participated in combined division, squadron and fleet maneuvers off South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, visiting Callao, Peru, and Balboa
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
, Canal Zone, before returning to Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
. There she took part in the Presidential Fleet Review at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, in April 1921. She also participated in the bombing tests on former German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ships off the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
coast that summer. On 27 October, in company with the 20th Division, she escorted S.S. Paris, on which General Foch was a passenger, to New York, and convoyed that ship up Ambrose Channel
Ambrose Channel
Ambrose Channel is the main shipping channel in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey. The channel is considered to be part of Lower New York Bay and is located several miles off the coasts of Sandy Hook in New Jersey and Breezy Point, Queens in New York...
, New York. Then she commenced antiaircraft practice. On 12 November 1921 she had a change of status from operative commission to reduced complement. She was en route to New York from Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, when on 16 December she collided with SS Panama off the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
coast and had to return to New York.
Graham decommissioned at New York Navy Yard 31 March 1922, and was sold for scrapping, 19 September 1922.
As of 2005, no other U.S. Navy ship has been named Graham.