USSHale(DD-133)
 USSHaleatVenice,Italy in 1919
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSHale |
| Namesake | Eugene Hale |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 7 October 1918 |
| Launched | 29 May 1919 |
| Commissioned | 12 June 1919 |
| Decommissioned | 22 June 1922 |
| Recommissioned | 1 May 1930 |
| Decommissioned | 9 April 1937 |
| Recommissioned | 30 September 1939 |
| Decommissioned | 9 September 1940 |
| Stricken | 8 January 1941 |
| Identification | DD-133 |
| Fate | Transferred to UK, 9 September 1940 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSCaldwell |
| Acquired | 9 September 1940 |
| Identification | Pennant number:I20 |
| Fate | Scrapped, September 1944 |
| Notes | InRoyal Canadian Navyservice mid-1942 to 1 December 1943 |
| Canada | |
| Name | Caldwell |
| Acquired | mid-1942 |
| Fate | Returned toUnited Kingdom,1 December 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Wickes-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 1,090 tons |
| Length | 314 ft 5 in (95.83 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft 8 in (9.65 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) |
| Speed | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Complement | 113 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The firstUSSHale(DD–133)was aWickes-classdestroyerin theUnited States NavyduringWorld War I,later transferred to theRoyal NavyasHMSCaldwell(I20).She was named for SenatorEugene Hale.
Construction and career
[edit]United States Navy
[edit]Halewaslaunchedby theBath Iron Works,Bath, Maineon 29 May 1919; sponsored by Miss Mary Hale, granddaughter of Senator Hale. The ship wascommissionedatBostonon 12 June 1919.
Halejoined Destroyer Squadron 3,U.S. Atlantic Fleet,and after training exercises departed 11 July 1919 forEurope.On this cruise, the ship paid goodwill visits to European andMediterraneanports, assisted in the execution of theAustrian Armisticein October, and joined the American detachment inTurkishwaters.Halethen carried refugees, relief officials, and freight between the ports ofGreece,Bulgaria,andRussia,showing the flag in the vital Mediterranean andBalkanarea. She returned toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaniaon 31 March 1920 and resumed her schedule of training and development exercises along the Eastern Coast.Haledecommissionedat Philadelphia on 22 June 1922 and remained in reserve until 1 May 1930, when she re-commissioned.
Departing Philadelphia on 15 May,Haletook part in refresher training operations and then resumed readiness exercises on the East Coast. She participated inScouting Fleetmaneuvers in early 1931 in theCaribbean,and arrived atSan Diego, Californiavia thePanama Canal4 April 1931. For the next few yearsHaleparticipated in maneuvers with theBattle Forcealong theCaliforniacoast and spent much time perfecting the techniques of modernaircraft carriertactics with carriersSaratogaandLe xing ton.The destroyer decommissioned once more at San Diego on 9 April 1937.
Halerecommissioned at San Diego on 30 September 1939, at a time of mounting crisis in both oceans, and departed on 25 November forNeutrality Patrolin the Caribbean. Her base was changed toGalveston, Texason 22 February 1940, and later toKey West,but the ship continued to patrol the Caribbean Sea andGulf of Mexico.At Philadelphia on 1 September 1940 she prepared for transfer toGreat Britainas a part of theDestroyers for Bases Agreement.She arrived atHalifax6 September 1940 and decommissioned 3 days later. Entering theRoyal Navy,she became HMSCaldwell(I20).
Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy
[edit]
During her career in the British Navy,HMSCaldwellwas assigned to escort duty in the Atlantic and later in the Caribbean, as Britain tried desperately to cope with the GermanU-boatmenace. She joined theRoyal Canadian Navyin mid-1942 asHMCSCaldwell,and while returning toSt. John's, Newfoundland,18 December 1942, was seriously damaged during a heavy gale. She became disabled, and was found drifting helplessly byWanderer21 December.Caldwellwas then towed to St. John's and later to Boston. Ready for sea again in May 1943, the ship resumed convoy duty with the Royal Canadian Navy until 1 December, when she returned toTyneand was placed in reserve. She was broken up for scrap in September 1944.
References
[edit]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.
External links
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 Royal Navy |
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