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USS Turner (DD-259)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Turner (DD-259) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in commission in the United States Navy
from 1919 to 1922. She served in a non-commissioned status as the water lighter YW-56 from 1936 to 1943, and was in commission as a miscellaneous auxiliary, the second USS Moosehead (IX-98), from 1943 to 1946.
, she was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
, Quincy, Massachusetts
, 19 December 1918 and launched 17 May 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Leigh C. Palmer; and commissioned at Boston 24 September 1919, Lieutenant Commander M. L. Hersey, Jr., in command.
After duty along the east and west coasts, Turner decommissioned at San Diego, California, 7 June 1922, and she was placed in reserve. Her name was struck from the Navy list 5 August 1936.
in October, she reclassified to YW-56 and began operations in the San Diego area. The water lighter was assigned to the 11th Naval District 17 October 1940, and in May 1942 she was given additional duty as a ferry between San Diego and San Clemente Island
.
Between May 1943 and December 1944 Moosehead made an average of 11 round trips a month to San Clemente Island carrying passengers, mail, and cargo for the 11th Naval District. From August 1944 until early in 1945 she towed targets for battleship
s, cruiser
s, and destroyers and served as a torpedo target for destroyers and torpedo planes. In addition she screened battleships and cruisers during training exercises.
Moosehead carried out her most important service as an at-sea platform for training officers and men of Combat Information Center crews. She carried the latest radar and sonar equipment as well as a CIC classroom and berthing facilities. In July 1943 she began training CIC crews of escort carriers. During the next two and a half years she trained CIC teams for all escort carrier
s of the Casablanca
and Commencement Bay
classes. Early in 1944 she broadened the scope of her training to include CIC teams from APA’s, AKA’s, DE’s, AD’s, and PCE’s. In addition, she served as a test and evaluation ship for experimental rockets, radar equipment, and radio jamming devices.
Although Moosehead operated along the coast of southern California
during her entire career under that name, she steamed more than 100,000 miles and trained more than 4,200 officers and men. Following the end of World War II, she continued training duty as flagship
for commander, Training Command, West Coast. On 24 December 1945 she reported to the 11th Naval District for disposal.
17 April. She was released to the Maritime Commission 20 February 1947 and sold the same day to Hugo Neu for scrapping.
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 commission 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...
from 1919 to 1922. She served in a non-commissioned status as the water lighter YW-56 from 1936 to 1943, and was in commission as a miscellaneous auxiliary, the second USS Moosehead (IX-98), from 1943 to 1946.
As Turner
Named for Daniel TurnerDaniel Turner (naval officer)
-Biography:Probably born at Richmond on Staten Island, Turner was appointed a midshipman in the Navy on 1 January 1808. Following brief duty at the New York Naval Station, he served in Constitution on the North Atlantic Station...
, she was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem 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...
, Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, 19 December 1918 and launched 17 May 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Leigh C. Palmer; and commissioned at Boston 24 September 1919, Lieutenant Commander M. L. Hersey, Jr., in command.
After duty along the east and west coasts, Turner decommissioned at San Diego, California, 7 June 1922, and she was placed in reserve. Her name was struck from the Navy list 5 August 1936.
Conversion to YW-56
On 28 September 1936 the fourstack destroyer was authorized for conversion to a self-propelled water barge. Converted at San Diego, CaliforniaSan 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...
in October, she reclassified to YW-56 and began operations in the San Diego area. The water lighter was assigned to the 11th Naval District 17 October 1940, and in May 1942 she was given additional duty as a ferry between San Diego and San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island is the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California. It is owned and operated by the United States Navy, and is a part of Los Angeles County. Defined by the United States Census Bureau as Block Group 2 of Census Tract 5991 of Los Angeles County, California, it is long and...
.
As Moosehead
YW-56 was renamed Moosehead, the second U.S. Navy ship of that name, and reclassified IX-98 on 13 February 1943. Following installation of sonar and radar equipment, she commissioned at San Diego 5 April 1943, Lt. D. J. Spahr in command. She reported for duty with the Operational Training Command, Pacific Fleet, 11 April, and on 23 April she became flagship of Rear Admiral Frank A. Braisted, COTCPac. During the remaining years of World War II Moosehead operated out of San Diego.Between May 1943 and December 1944 Moosehead made an average of 11 round trips a month to San Clemente Island carrying passengers, mail, and cargo for the 11th Naval District. From August 1944 until early in 1945 she towed targets for battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s, cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s, and destroyers and served as a torpedo target for destroyers and torpedo planes. In addition she screened battleships and cruisers during training exercises.
Moosehead carried out her most important service as an at-sea platform for training officers and men of Combat Information Center crews. She carried the latest radar and sonar equipment as well as a CIC classroom and berthing facilities. In July 1943 she began training CIC crews of escort carriers. During the next two and a half years she trained CIC teams for all escort carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
s of the Casablanca
Casablanca class escort carrier
The Casablanca class escort aircraft carriers were the greatest number of not only escort carriers, but also any size aircraft carrier ever built to a like-design by any nation at any time. Fifty were laid down, launched and commissioned within the space of less than two years - 3 November 1942...
and Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay class escort carrier
The Commencement Bay-class escort aircraft carriers were based on the Maritime Commission T3 type tanker hull, which gave them a displacement of approximately 23,000 tons and a length of 557 feet...
classes. Early in 1944 she broadened the scope of her training to include CIC teams from APA’s, AKA’s, DE’s, AD’s, and PCE’s. In addition, she served as a test and evaluation ship for experimental rockets, radar equipment, and radio jamming devices.
Although Moosehead operated along the coast of southern 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...
during her entire career under that name, she steamed more than 100,000 miles and trained more than 4,200 officers and men. Following the end of World War II, she continued training duty as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for commander, Training Command, West Coast. On 24 December 1945 she reported to the 11th Naval District for disposal.
Fate
She decommissioned at San Diego 19 March 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy listNaval 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...
17 April. She was released to the Maritime Commission 20 February 1947 and sold the same day to Hugo Neu for scrapping.
See also
- See USS TurnerUSS TurnerUSS Turner may refer to:, a Clemson-class destroyer commissioned in 1919; converted to a water barge in 1936 as USS Moosehead in 1943; scrapped in 1947...
for other ships of this name. - See USS MooseheadUSS MooseheadUSS Moosehead has been the name of more than one United States Navy ship, and may refer to:, steamer commissioned in 1918, redesignated YFB-2047 and renamed USS Porpoise in 1920, and stricken in 1930, a destroyer in commission from 1919 to 1922 which became the water barge YW-56 in 1936, was...
for other ships of this name.
External links
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/259.htm