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USS Hatfield (DD-231)
Encyclopedia
USS Hatfield (DD-231/AG-84) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War II. She was named for John Hatfield
, killed in action 1813.
Hatfield was launched 17 March 1919 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Mrs. J. Edmond Haugh; and commissioned 16 April 1920, Lieutenant
N. Vytlacil in command.
, and continued her exercises along the Atlantic coast for the remainder of 1920. From 4 January 1921 to 24 April she operated in the Caribbean. Hatfield returned to Hampton Roads
in time for a review of the fleet by President Warren G. Harding
28 April. She continued maneuvers until 7 November, when she was assigned to the 14th squadron of the Atlantic Fleet.
During early 1922, Hatfield operated from Charleston, South Carolina
, and on 2 October departed for the Mediterranean to join the U.S. detachment in Turkish waters where she remained on patrol duty until 31 July 1923, visiting many ports including Smyrna
, Jaffa, Beirut
, Rhodes
, and Varna
.
Upon return to New York 11 August 1923, she was assigned to the U.S. Scouting Fleet
. For the next 7 years, Hatfield maneuvered and drilled along the East Coast, Cuba
, Central America, and the Gulf of Mexico. On 15 January 1928 her squadron accompanied President Calvin Coolidge
to Cuba and Haiti
for the Pan-American Conference
. In November 1930 she sailed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
where she was decommissioned 13 January 1931.
On 1 April 1932, she was placed in rotating reserve commission and departed 29 June for San Diego, California
, her new home port. She operated out of San Diego until 27 April 1936, when she departed for a cruise that took her to Spain, France, Italy, and Algiers
. She sailed for America 9 November 1937 and arrived Charleston in mid-December. Hatfield decommissioned 28 April 1938 after 4 months of operations along the East Coast.
until August 1940. Hatfield departed 2 August for the West Coast and was assigned to the defense force of the 13th Naval District. She operated in this area until 11 December 1941 when she sailed for patrol duty in Alaskan waters. In the uncertain early months of the Pacific war, Hatfield convoyed merchant ships to Alaskan ports, helping to carry the supplies necessary to establish bases in the North. She continued this vital duty in the bleak and dangerous northern waters until 13 March 1944, when she returned to Seattle, Washington
.
Hatfield performed antisubmarine duties off Seattle until August and entered Puget Sound Navy Yard in September for conversion to a target-towing vessel. Re-designated AG-84, 1 October 1944, she took up her new duties 25 October at Seattle. For the remainder of her commissioned service, Hatfield operated out of Port Angeles, Washington
, and San Diego, carrying out the prosaic but necessary duty of towing targets for aircraft bombing practice. She also spent a short time as an underway training ship off San Diego before arriving Bremerton, Washington
, 12 November 1946. Hatfield decommissioned 13 December 1946, ending 26 years of service, and was sold for scrap to National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island
, Los Angeles, California
.
As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been named Hatfield.
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 II. She was named for John Hatfield
John Hatfield (US Navy)
John Hatfield was a midshipman in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.Hatfield was appointed Midshipman 18 June 1812 upon the outbreak of war. He volunteered for duty under Commodore Isaac Chauncey on Lake Ontario where he served in Lady of the Lake...
, killed in action 1813.
Hatfield was launched 17 March 1919 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Mrs. J. Edmond Haugh; and commissioned 16 April 1920, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
N. Vytlacil in command.
Service history
After training cruises during the summer, Hatfield sailed from Brooklyn, New York 6 September 1920 for Key West, FloridaKey West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, and continued her exercises along the Atlantic coast for the remainder of 1920. From 4 January 1921 to 24 April she operated in the Caribbean. Hatfield returned 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...
in time for a review of the fleet by President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
28 April. She continued maneuvers until 7 November, when she was assigned to the 14th squadron of the Atlantic Fleet.
During early 1922, Hatfield operated 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...
, and on 2 October departed for the Mediterranean to join the U.S. detachment in Turkish waters where she remained on patrol duty until 31 July 1923, visiting many ports including Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
, Jaffa, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, and Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
.
Upon return to New York 11 August 1923, she was assigned to the U.S. Scouting Fleet
Scouting Fleet
The Scouting Fleet was part of the United States Fleet in the United States Navy, and renamed the Scouting Force in 1930.Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the Atlantic...
. For the next 7 years, Hatfield maneuvered and drilled along the East Coast, 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...
, Central America, and the Gulf of Mexico. On 15 January 1928 her squadron accompanied President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
to Cuba and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
for the Pan-American Conference
Pan-American Conference
The Conferences of American States, commonly referred to as the Pan-American Conferences, were meetings of the Pan-American Union, an international organization for cooperation on trade and other issues. They were first introduced by James G. Blaine of Maine in order to establish closer ties...
. In November 1930 she sailed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
where she was decommissioned 13 January 1931.
On 1 April 1932, she was placed in rotating reserve commission and departed 29 June for San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, her new home port. She operated out of San Diego until 27 April 1936, when she departed for a cruise that took her to Spain, France, Italy, and Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
. She sailed for America 9 November 1937 and arrived Charleston in mid-December. Hatfield decommissioned 28 April 1938 after 4 months of operations along the East Coast.
World War II
She once again recommissioned 25 September 1939, and was assigned to the Neutrality PatrolNeutrality 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...
until August 1940. Hatfield departed 2 August for the West Coast and was assigned to the defense force of the 13th Naval District. She operated in this area until 11 December 1941 when she sailed for patrol duty in Alaskan waters. In the uncertain early months of the Pacific war, Hatfield convoyed merchant ships to Alaskan ports, helping to carry the supplies necessary to establish bases in the North. She continued this vital duty in the bleak and dangerous northern waters until 13 March 1944, when she returned to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
Hatfield performed antisubmarine duties off Seattle until August and entered Puget Sound Navy Yard in September for conversion to a target-towing vessel. Re-designated AG-84, 1 October 1944, she took up her new duties 25 October at Seattle. For the remainder of her commissioned service, Hatfield operated out of Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
, and San Diego, carrying out the prosaic but necessary duty of towing targets for aircraft bombing practice. She also spent a short time as an underway training ship off San Diego before arriving Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, 12 November 1946. Hatfield decommissioned 13 December 1946, ending 26 years of service, and was sold for scrap to National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been named Hatfield.
External links
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/231.htm