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USS King (DD-242)
Encyclopedia
USS King (DD-242) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War II
. She was the first ship named for Commander
Frank Ragan King
.
King was laid down 28 April 1919 and launched 14 October 1920 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Mrs. Allene A. King, widow of Commander King; and commissioned 16 December 1920, Lieutenant Commander
R. C. Smith in command.
2 October 1921 for her first Mediterranean cruise. Arriving Smyrna
, Turkey
, 8 November, the destroyer received 300 Greek
refugees for transport to Mitylene, Greece. The destroyer served as station ship during the Crimean Crisis, remaining in Turkish
waters until June 1923.
Upon return to the United States during the summer, King joined the Atlantic Scouting Fleet
and from 1923 to 1930 engaged in fleet exercises and reserve training cruises along the coast and in the Caribbean
. She sailed for the Pacific 15 April 1925 for maneuvers in Hawaiian waters. During the spring of 1927, she patrolled waters off Nicaragua
to protect American citizens and interests during the civil war in that country. King decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10 March 1931.
She recommissioned 13 June 1932 and departed Hampton Roads 18 August to join the Pacific Scouting Force. King operated out of California
for the next 6 years, engaging in central Pacific exercises, reserve cruises and training maneuvers to strengthen America's powerful sea force. The destroyer decommissioned at San Diego, California
21 September 1938.
aggression began the Second World War in Europe
, King recommissioned 26 September 1939, Lieutenant Commander E. E. Berthold in command. The destroyer cleared San Diego 13 November to join the Caribbean Neutrality Patrol
. Following arrival at Norfolk, Virginia
22 February 1940, the destroyer operated along the East Coast on Neutrality Patrol out of Boston, Massachusetts and Key West
, before returning to the West Coast during the fall. She continued patrol and maneuvers out of San Francisco, California
, operating in that area at the outbreak of hostilities with Japan
.
During the first 5 months of the war, King operated on patrol and escort duty along the West Coast. Departing Mare Island
22 May 1942, she joined Task Force 8 escorting troop transport President
Millard Fillmore
to the Aleutian Islands. Arriving Dutch Harbor 3 June, King operated on antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and screening patrols in the Aleutians throughout the summer, and fought with Task Group 8.6 during the bombardment of Kiska
in August. She remained in the Aleutians until she sailed for San Francisco 22 December 1943.
After overhaul, King operated off the West Coast for the rest of the war, as patrol vessel and an ASW screen. She departed Treasure Island
28 August 1945 arriving Philadelphia 20 September. King decommissioned there 23 October 1945, and was sold to Boston Metals for scrapping on 29 September 1946.
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
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...
. She was the first ship named for 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...
Frank Ragan King
Frank Ragan King
Commander Frank Ragan King was an officer in the United States Navy who died while conducting minesweeping operations shortly after World War I.-Biography:...
.
King was laid down 28 April 1919 and launched 14 October 1920 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Mrs. Allene A. King, widow of Commander King; and commissioned 16 December 1920, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
R. C. Smith in command.
Service history
After shakedown and training operations along the Atlantic Coast, King cleared Hampton RoadsHampton 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...
2 October 1921 for her first Mediterranean cruise. Arriving 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...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 8 November, the destroyer received 300 Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
refugees for transport to Mitylene, Greece. The destroyer served as station ship during the Crimean Crisis, remaining in Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
waters until June 1923.
Upon return to the United States during the summer, King joined the Atlantic 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...
and from 1923 to 1930 engaged in fleet exercises and reserve training cruises along the coast and in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. She sailed for the Pacific 15 April 1925 for maneuvers in Hawaiian waters. During the spring of 1927, she patrolled waters off Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to protect American citizens and interests during the civil war in that country. King decommissioned at 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,...
10 March 1931.
She recommissioned 13 June 1932 and departed Hampton Roads 18 August to join the Pacific Scouting Force. King operated out of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for the next 6 years, engaging in central Pacific exercises, reserve cruises and training maneuvers to strengthen America's powerful sea force. The destroyer decommissioned at 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...
21 September 1938.
World War II
Soon after NaziNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
aggression began the Second World War in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, King recommissioned 26 September 1939, Lieutenant Commander E. E. Berthold in command. The destroyer cleared San Diego 13 November to join the Caribbean 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...
. Following arrival 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....
22 February 1940, the destroyer operated along the East Coast on Neutrality Patrol out of Boston, Massachusetts and Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, before returning to the West Coast during the fall. She continued patrol and maneuvers out of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, operating in that area at the outbreak of hostilities with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
During the first 5 months of the war, King operated on patrol and escort duty along the West Coast. Departing Mare Island
Mare Island
Mare Island is a peninsula in the United States alongside the city of Vallejo, California, about northeast of San Francisco. The Napa River forms its eastern side as it enters the Carquinez Strait juncture with the east side of San Pablo Bay. Mare Island is considered a peninsula because no full...
22 May 1942, she joined Task Force 8 escorting troop transport President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
to the Aleutian Islands. Arriving Dutch Harbor 3 June, King operated on antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and screening patrols in the Aleutians throughout the summer, and fought with Task Group 8.6 during the bombardment of Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
in August. She remained in the Aleutians until she sailed for San Francisco 22 December 1943.
After overhaul, King operated off the West Coast for the rest of the war, as patrol vessel and an ASW screen. She departed Treasure Island
Treasure Island, California
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland, and an emerging neighborhood of San Francisco....
28 August 1945 arriving Philadelphia 20 September. King decommissioned there 23 October 1945, and was sold to Boston Metals for scrapping on 29 September 1946.
External links
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/242.htm