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USS Moody (DD-277)
Encyclopedia
USS Moody (DD-277) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
following World War I. She was named for Justice William Henry Moody
.
; and commissioned 10 December 1919 Commander James D. Wilson in command.
Assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Moody departed Boston 9 February 1920, loaded torpedoes and ammunition at Newport, Rhode Island
, and steamed via New York, Guantanamo and the Panama Canal
to the west coast, arriving San Diego, California
on the 31st. The flush-decked four stacker operated along the California
coast through June and then departed San Francisco, California
1 July for Washington where on the 10th she joined the cruise of Secretary of the Navy
Josephus Daniels
, Interior Secretary
John B. Payne
, and Admiral Hugh Rodman
, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, to Alaska. On an inspection tour of Alaskan coal and oil fields and looking for possible fleet anchorages, the cruise touched at nine ports including Sitka
, Duncan Day, and Juneau, and lasted for nearly 1 month. Moody returned to San Diego 31 August to operate off the California coast in training and in battle exercises for 2 months. She put into San Diego 10 October, remaining there and decommissioning 15 June 1922.
The destroyer recommissioned 27 September 1923, Lt. E. A. Zehner in command. Assigned to Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet
, the ship operated along the Pacific coast for the next 19 months and then on 27 May 1925 departed Bremerton, Washington
for fleet exercises in the Hawaiian Islands
. Operating out of Pearl Harbor
and Lahaina Roads
for 1 month, she then departed Pearl 1 July for the South Pacific, stopped at Pago Pago, American Samoa
, and then made good will visits to Melbourne
, Australia, and Dunedin
and Wellington
, New Zealand. Returning via Honolulu to San Diego 26 September, Moody then resumed west coast operations into 1927, including a voyage to Panama
between February and April 1926.
On 17 February 1927, she sailed from San Diego for tactical maneuvers with the United States Fleet
in the Caribbean. Proceeding through the Panama Canal 4 March, she arrived at Guantanamo 18 March and operated out of that port and Gonaïves
on Fleet Problem 7, involving the defense of the Panama Canal until 22 April. She then proceeded to New York for repairs, sailing for home 16 May, arriving San Diego 25 June.
The destroyer remained in service with the Battle Fleet through mid-1929. From April to June 1928, she made another cruise to Hawaii with the fleet for the extensive exercises of Fleet Problem 8. She sailed to Mexico and Panama
in early 1929 and then in July cruised to the Pacific Northwest, as far north as Ketchikan.
on 3 November in accordance with the London Treaty limiting naval armaments
. Most of her superstructure was sold as scrap metal 10 June 1931 and
she was sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
for about US$35,000. Ex-Moody was altered to represent a German destroyer, and charges of dynamite
were set at carefully planned locations. On the afternoon 21 February 1933, the first charge was detonated, splitting ex-Moody between two watertight compartments so she continued to float after breaking up. Then two other detonations breached the watertight bulkheads, sinking the hulk later that evening. The explosions and sinkings were filmed as the destruction caused by torpedo
es from the fictional American submarine AL-14 (played by USS S-31 (SS-136)
) in the 1933 submarine movie Hell Below
.
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...
following World War I. She was named for Justice William Henry Moody
William Henry Moody
William Henry Moody was an American politician and jurist, who held positions in all three branches of the Government of the United States.-Biography:...
.
History
Moody was laid down 9 December 1918 and launched 28 June 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding CorporationBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...
; and commissioned 10 December 1919 Commander James D. Wilson in command.
Assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Moody departed Boston 9 February 1920, loaded torpedoes and ammunition 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...
, and steamed via New York, Guantanamo and the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
to the west coast, arriving 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...
on the 31st. The flush-decked four stacker operated along the 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...
coast through June and then departed 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...
1 July for Washington where on the 10th she joined the cruise of 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...
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels was a newspaper editor and publisher from North Carolina who was appointed by United States President Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of the Navy during World War I...
, Interior Secretary
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
John B. Payne
John Barton Payne
John Barton Payne was United States Secretary of the Interior from 1920 through 1921 under Woodrow Wilson.-Life and career:...
, and Admiral Hugh Rodman
Hugh Rodman
Admiral Hugh Rodman KCB was an officer in the United States Navy who served during the Spanish–American War and World War I, later serving as the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1919 to 1921.-Biography:...
, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, to Alaska. On an inspection tour of Alaskan coal and oil fields and looking for possible fleet anchorages, the cruise touched at nine ports including Sitka
Sitka City and Borough, Alaska
The City and Borough of Sitka, originally called New Archangel under Russian Rule, is a unified city-borough located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean , in the U.S...
, Duncan Day, and Juneau, and lasted for nearly 1 month. Moody returned to San Diego 31 August to operate off the California coast in training and in battle exercises for 2 months. She put into San Diego 10 October, remaining there and decommissioning 15 June 1922.
The destroyer recommissioned 27 September 1923, Lt. E. A. Zehner in command. Assigned to Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet
Battle Fleet
The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941.The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy,...
, the ship operated along the Pacific coast for the next 19 months and then on 27 May 1925 departed 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...
for fleet exercises in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. Operating out of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
and Lahaina Roads
Lahaina Roads
Lahaina Roads, also called the Lahaina Roadstead is a channel of the Pacific Ocean in the Hawaiian Islands. The surrounding islands of Maui, and Lānai make it a sheltered anchorage....
for 1 month, she then departed Pearl 1 July for the South Pacific, stopped at Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago , also spelled ', is the capital of American Samoa. In 2000, its population was 11,500. The city is served by Pago Pago International Airport. Tourism, entertainment, food, and tuna canning are the primary industries here. From 1878 to 1951, this was a coaling and repair station for the...
, and then made good will visits to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia, and Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
and Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand. Returning via Honolulu to San Diego 26 September, Moody then resumed west coast operations into 1927, including a voyage to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
between February and April 1926.
On 17 February 1927, she sailed from San Diego for tactical maneuvers with the United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
in the Caribbean. Proceeding through the Panama Canal 4 March, she arrived at Guantanamo 18 March and operated out of that port and Gonaïves
Gonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
on Fleet Problem 7, involving the defense of the Panama Canal until 22 April. She then proceeded to New York for repairs, sailing for home 16 May, arriving San Diego 25 June.
The destroyer remained in service with the Battle Fleet through mid-1929. From April to June 1928, she made another cruise to Hawaii with the fleet for the extensive exercises of Fleet Problem 8. She sailed to Mexico and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in early 1929 and then in July cruised to the Pacific Northwest, as far north as Ketchikan.
Fate
Moody decommissioned at San Diego 2 June 1930. She was towed to Mare Island Navy Yard arriving on the 8th. The destroyer was struck from the Naval Vessel RegisterNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 3 November in accordance with the London Treaty limiting naval armaments
London Naval Treaty
The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...
. Most of her superstructure was sold as scrap metal 10 June 1931 and
she was sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
for about US$35,000. Ex-Moody was altered to represent a German destroyer, and charges of dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
were set at carefully planned locations. On the afternoon 21 February 1933, the first charge was detonated, splitting ex-Moody between two watertight compartments so she continued to float after breaking up. Then two other detonations breached the watertight bulkheads, sinking the hulk later that evening. The explosions and sinkings were filmed as the destruction caused by torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es from the fictional American submarine AL-14 (played by USS S-31 (SS-136)
USS S-31 (SS-136)
USS S-31 was a first-group S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 13 April 1918 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. She was launched on 28 December 1918 sponsored by Mrs. George A. Walker, and commissioned on 11 May 1922 with Lieutenant William A...
) in the 1933 submarine movie Hell Below
Hell Below
Hell Below is an MGM film set in the Adriatic during World War I about submarine warfare based on Commander Edward Ellsberg's novel Pigboats, starring Robert Montgomery, Walter Huston, Robert Young, Madge Evans, and Jimmy Durante....
.
External links
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/277.htm