81-646: USS Chew (DD-106) was a Wickes -class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II . From 1918 to 1922, Chew operated along the East Coast of the United States on patrol and training duties, including escorting a transatlantic voyage of Curtiss NC seaplanes . In 1940, she was recommissioned and operated out of Pearl Harbor . During the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor , she brought her guns to bear against aircraft of
162-441: A standard displacement of 1,060 tonnes (1,043 long tons; 1,168 short tons) an overall length of 314 feet 5 inches (95.8 m), a beam of 31 feet 9 inches (9.7 m) and a draught of 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m). On trials , Harding reached a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). She was armed with four 4"/50 caliber guns and twelve 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes . She had
243-637: A British Letter-of-Marque (20 guns) on 4 March 1778. In the hand-to-hand struggle which ensued, Captain Chew was killed but his ship managed to break off the battle with its superior opponent and return safely to Boston. Chew was one of 111 Wickes -class destroyers built by the United States Navy between 1917 and 1919. She, along with seven of her sisters , were constructed at Union Iron Works shipyards in San Francisco, California using specifications and detail designs drawn up by Bethlehem Steel . She had
324-574: A Continental Navy ship during the American Revolution. The first ships of the Continental Navy were Alfred , Cabot , Andrew Doria , and Columbus . These were former merchantmen, and their names were assigned during conversion and outfitting. Later, Congress authorized the construction of thirteen frigates, and no names were assigned until after four had launched. The first description that we have of an American warship christening
405-429: A United States Navy vessel. The contemporaneous account does not name her. The first identified woman sponsor was Lavinia Fanning Watson, daughter of a prominent Philadelphian. She broke a bottle of wine and water over the bow of sloop-of-war Germantown at Philadelphia Navy Yard on August 22, 1846. Women as sponsors became increasingly the rule, but not universally so. As sloop-of-war Plymouth "glided along
486-515: A collision in 1921. Many Wickes -class destroyers were converted to other uses, starting as early as 1920, when 14 were converted to light minelayers ( hull classification symbol DM). Six of these were scrapped in 1932, and replaced by five additional conversions. Another four were converted to auxiliaries or transports at that time. Four Wickes -class DM conversions and four Clemson -class DM conversions survived to serve in World War II. During
567-457: A larger radius of action . As a result, the size of U.S. destroyers increased steadily, starting at 450 tons and rising to over 1,000 tons between 1905 and 1916. The need for high speed, economical cruising, heavy seas performance, and a high fuel capacity saw larger hulls, the inclusion of oil fuel, reduction geared steam turbines with cruising turbines, and increased fuel capacity. With World War I then in its second year and tensions between
648-552: A lever to similarly smash a bottle, of single malt from the Ardgowan distillery at nearby Inverkip . Shipyard ephemera is a rich source of detail concerning a launch and this was often material produced for the audience of the day and then thrown away. Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums has many of these items from Tyne and Wear shipyards. A number can be seen in Commons . The 1900 piece for Eidsvold reproduced in this article lists
729-680: A mobilized American industry. The historic christening and launching ceremonies continued, but travel restrictions, other wartime considerations, and sheer numbers dictated that such occasions be less elaborate than those in the years before the war. On 15 December 1941, the United States Maritime Commission announced that all formal launching ceremonies would be discontinued for merchant ships being constructed under its authority, though simple informal ceremonies could continue without reimbursement to builders. In recent history, all U.S. Navy sponsors have been female. In addition to
810-705: A naval lieutenant completed the ceremony with a bottle of sea water. Champagne came into popular use as a christening fluid as the 19th century closed. A granddaughter of Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy wet the bow of Maine , the Navy's first steel battleship, with champagne at the New York Navy Yard on November 18, 1890. The effects of national prohibition on alcoholic beverages were reflected to some extent in ship christenings. Cruisers Pensacola and Houston , for example, were christened with water;
891-574: A regular crew complement of 113 officers and enlisted men. She was driven by two Curtis steam turbines powered by four Yarrow boilers . Specifics on Chew ' s performance are not known, but she was one of the group of Wickes -class destroyers designed by Bethlehem Steel, built from a different design than the 'Liberty type' destroyers constructed from detail designs drawn up by Bath Iron Works , which used Parsons or Westinghouse turbines. The non-'Liberty' type destroyers deteriorated badly in service, and in 1929 all 60 of this group were retired by
SECTION 10
#1732872292068972-454: A religious element was returned to naval christenings by Princess Alexandra , wife of the Prince of Wales , when she introduced an Anglican choral service in the launching ceremony for battleship Alexandra . The usage continues with the singing of Psalm 107 with its special meaning to mariners: They that go down to the sea in ships; That do business in great waters; These see the works of
1053-521: A stop to them for a time in Protestant Europe. By the 17th century, for example, English launchings were secular affairs. The christening party for the launch of the 64-gun ship of the line Prince Royal in 1610 included the Prince of Wales and famed naval constructor Phineas Pett , who was master shipwright at the Woolwich yard. Pett described the proceedings: The noble Prince… accompanied with
1134-415: A switch from the ceremonial platform. On launching, the vessel slides backwards down the slipway on the ways until it floats by itself. Some slipways are built so that the vessel is side-on to the water and is launched sideways. This is done where the limitations of the water channel would not allow lengthwise launching, but occupies a much greater length of shore. The Great Eastern designed by Brunel
1215-659: A woman performing the launch. Ceremonial practices for christening and launching ships in the United States have their roots in Europe. Descriptions are not plentiful for launching American Revolutionary War naval vessels, but a local newspaper detailed the launch of Continental frigate Raleigh at Portsmouth, New Hampshire , in May 1776: On Tuesday the 21st inst. the Continental Frigate of thirty-two guns, built at this place...
1296-454: Is named aloud and launched. There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching". The oldest, most familiar, and most widely used is the end-on launch, in which the vessel slides down an inclined slipway , usually stern first. With the side launch, the ship enters the water broadside. This method came into use in the 19th century on inland waters, rivers, and lakes, and
1377-430: Is placed on top, under the hull, and a launch cradle with bow and stern poppets is erected on these sliding ways. The weight of the hull is then transferred from the build cribbing onto the launch cradle. Provision is made to hold the vessel in place and then release it at the appropriate moment in the launching ceremony; common mechanisms include weak links designed to be cut at a signal and mechanical triggers controlled by
1458-530: Is that of Constitution at Boston, October 21, 1797, famous as "Old Ironsides." Her sponsor was Captain James Sever, USN, who stood on the weather deck at the bow. "At fifteen minutes after twelve she commenced a movement into the water with such steadiness, majesty and exactness as to fill every heart with sensations of joy and delight." As Constitution ran out, Captain Sever broke a bottle of fine old Madeira over
1539-608: The British Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy , some of which were later transferred to the Soviet Navy . All were scrapped within a few years after World War II. The destroyer type was at this time a relatively new class of fighting ship for the U.S. Navy. The type arose in response to torpedo boats that had been developing from 1865, especially after the development of the self-propelled Whitehead torpedo . During
1620-768: The Empire of Japan , and two of her men were killed helping to man the battleship Pennsylvania . For the remainder of the war, Chew operated out of the port on escort and patrol duties, until she was decommissioned in 1945. Samuel Chew was born circa 1750 in Virginia . A resident of Connecticut , was appointed by the Marine Committee on 17 June 1777 to command the Continental Navy brigantine USS Resistance with which he had much success against British commerce. The brigantine, carrying ten quarter-pounders, fell in with
1701-794: The Royal Navy , and four to the Royal Canadian Navy , in 1940 under the Destroyers-for-bases deal . Together with ships from the Caldwell and Clemson classes they were grouped as ' Town-class destroyers '; divided into the Bath Iron Works design as "Type B" and the Bethlehem Steel as "Type C" Most of these ships were refitted much like the U.S. destroyers and used as convoy escorts, but some were used very little and were not considered worth refitting. Buchanan , renamed HMS Campbeltown ,
SECTION 20
#17328722920681782-549: The Spanish–American War , it was realized that a torpedo boat destroyer was urgently needed to screen the larger warships, so much so that a special war plans board headed by Theodore Roosevelt issued an urgent report pleading for this type of ship. A series of destroyers had been built over the preceding years, designed for high smooth water speed, with indifferent results, especially poor performance in heavy seas and poor fuel economy. The lesson of these early destroyers
1863-567: The gunwales of the firing ship. The Mark 8 torpedo was initially equipped, and probably remained the standard torpedo for this class, as 600 Mark 8 torpedoes were issued to the British in 1940 as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement . Most ships carried a 3-inch (76 mm)/23 caliber anti-aircraft (AA) gun, typically just aft of the stern 4-inch gun. The original design called for two 1-pounder AA guns, but these were in short supply and
1944-427: The puja ceremony at launch. In the 20th century, ships were launched with a lady breaking a coconut on the bow of the vessel, which is sometimes followed by a small Puja . Japanese ship launchings incorporate silver axes which are thought to bring good luck and scare away evil. Japanese shipbuilders traditionally order the crafting of a special axe for each new vessel; and after the launching ceremony, they present
2025-514: The submarine V-6 with cider. However, battleship California appropriately received her name with California wine in 1919. Champagne returned in 1922, but only for the launch of light cruiser Trenton . Rigid naval airships Los Angeles , Shenandoah , Akron , and Macon were built during the 1920s and early 1930s, carried on the Naval Vessel Register , and each was formally commissioned . The earliest First Lady of
2106-498: The " flush-deck " or "four-stack" type. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World War I , including USS Wickes , the lead ship of the class. While some were scrapped in the 1930s, the rest served throughout World War II . Most of these were converted to other uses; nearly all in U.S. service had half their boilers and one or more stacks removed to increase fuel and range or accommodate troops. Others were transferred to
2187-628: The "flush deck" type. Greater beam and the flush deck provided greater hull strength. In addition, the Wickes class had 26,000 horsepower (19,000 kW) - 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW) more than the Caldwell class - providing an extra 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). The machinery arrangement of some of the Caldwell s was used, with geared steam turbines on two shafts. The extra power required an extra 100 tons of engine and reduction gears. The design included an even keel and nearly horizontal propeller shafts to minimize weight. As construction
2268-673: The 1930s, 23 more were scrapped, sold off, or sunk as targets. This was mostly due to a blanket replacement of 61 Yarrow-boilered destroyers 1930–31, as these boilers wore out quickly in service. Flush-deckers in reserve were commissioned as replacements. Starting in 1940, many of the remaining ships were also converted. Sixteen were converted to high-speed transports with the designation APD. Eight were converted to destroyer minesweepers (DMS). Most ships remaining in service during World War II were rearmed with dual-purpose 3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber guns for better anti-aircraft protection. The AVD seaplane tender conversions received two guns;
2349-749: The 3-inch gun was more effective. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) armament was added during World War I. Typically, a single depth charge track was provided aft, along with a Y-gun depth charge projector forward of the aft deckhouse. The United States Congress authorized 50 destroyers in the 1916 Act. However, the realization of the scope of the U-boat campaign resulted in 111 being built. The ships were built at Bath Iron Works, Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Fore River Shipbuilding Company , Union Iron Works, Mare Island Navy Yard , Newport News Shipbuilding , New York Shipbuilding , and William Cramp & Sons . 267 Wickes and Clemson -class destroyers were built. This program
2430-656: The APD transport, DM minelayer, and DMS minesweeper conversions received three guns, and those retaining destroyer classification received six. Half of the torpedo tubes were removed in those retained as destroyers; all torpedoes were removed from the others. Nearly all had half the boilers removed, for increased fuel and range or to accommodate troops, reducing their speed to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). The low-angle Mark 9 4-inch guns removed from these ships were transferred to defensively equipped merchant ships for anti-submarine protection. Ward had an eventful career. She
2511-517: The Bowmore distillery on the island of Islay instead of champagne because the ship had been built and launched in Scotland. The Duchess of Rothesay similarly launched HMS Prince of Wales by pulling a lever which smashed a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky at the side of the ship. At the 2024 launching of CalMac ferry Glen Rosa , newly-qualified welder Beth Atkinson named the ship and pulled
USS Chew - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-482: The Lord Admiral and the great lords, were on the poop , where the standing great gilt cup was ready filled with wine to name the ship SO soon as she had been afloat, according to ancient custom and ceremony performed at such times, and heaving the standing cup overboard. His Highness then standing upon the poop with a selected company only, besides the trumpeters, with a great deal of expression of princely joy, and with
2673-636: The Lord, and His wonders in the deep. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II named the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 after herself, instead of the older liner RMS Queen Elizabeth , by saying, "I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second . May God bless her and all who sail in her." On 4 July 2014, the Queen named the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth with a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky from
2754-426: The Navy. Actual performance of these ships was far below intended specifications especially in fuel economy , with most only able to make 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) instead of the design standard of 3,100 nautical miles (5,700 km; 3,600 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The class also suffered problems with turning and weight. Chew
2835-565: The Spectators) this noble fabrick was completely to her anchors in the main channel, in less than six minutes from the time she run, without the least hurt; and what is truly remarkable, not a single person met with the least accident in launching, tho' near five hundred men were employed in and about her when run off. It was customary for the builders to celebrate a ship launching. Rhode Island authorities were charged with overseeing construction of frigates Warren and Providence . They voted
2916-503: The U.S. and Germany increasing, the U.S. needed to expand its navy. The Naval Appropriation Act of 1916 called for a navy "second to none," capable of protecting both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Act authorized the construction of ten battleships, six Lexington -class battlecruisers , ten Omaha -class scout cruisers , and 50 Wickes -class destroyers. A subsequent General Board recommendation for further destroyers to combat
2997-467: The United States to act as sponsor was Grace Coolidge who christened the airship Los Angeles . Lou Henry Hoover christened Akron in 1931, but the customary bottle was not used. Instead, the First Lady pulled a cord which opened a hatch in the airship's towering nose to release a flock of pigeons. Thousands of ships of every description came off the ways during World War II , the concerted effort of
3078-415: The axe to the vessel's owner as a commemorative gift. The axe is used to cut the rope which tethers the ship to the place where she was built. Sponsors of British warships were customarily members of the royal family, senior naval officers, or Admiralty officials. A few civilians were invited to sponsor Royal Navy ships during the nineteenth century, and women became sponsors for the first time. In 1875,
3159-467: The birth of a vessel; and people throughout history have performed launching ceremonies, in part to appeal for good fortune and the safety of each new vessel. In Canada, Aboriginal peoples will perform ceremonies at the launching of vessels along with other methods of launching. French ship launchings and christenings in the 18th and early 19th centuries were accompanied by unique rites closely resembling marriage and baptismal ceremonies. A godfather for
3240-476: The ceremony of drinking in the standing cup, threw all the wine forwards towards the half-deck, and solemnly calling her by name of the Prince Royal, the trumpets sounding the while, with many gracious words to me, gave the standing cup into my hands. The "standing cup" was a large cup fashioned of precious metal. When the ship began to slide down the ways, the presiding official took a ceremonial sip of wine from
3321-403: The chaos of the attack, a number of Chew crew members also disembarked and came aboard nearby battleship Pennsylvania , which was in drydock, to assist in manning guns, forming ammunition trains, and fighting fires. Aboard Pennsylvania , two Chew crewman were killed in defending the ship, Seaman Second Class Matthew J. Agola and Fireman Third Class Clarence A. Wise. From 1941 through
USS Chew - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-427: The cup, and poured the rest on the deck or over the bow. Usually the cup was thrown overboard and belonged to the lucky retriever. As navies grew larger and launchings more frequent, economy dictated that the costly cup be caught in a net for reuse at other launchings. Late in 17th century Britain, the standing-cup ceremony was replaced by the practice of breaking a bottle across the bow. Launching could be said to mark
3483-511: The end of World War II, Chew operated out of Pearl Harbor on patrol. She took on periodic escort duties among the Hawaiian Islands and on training duty for submarines. She made occasional trips to San Francisco and Seattle escorting convoys and screening for other Navy ships, inter-island escort, and submarine training duty. Following the end of the war, she departed Pearl Harbor on 21 August 1945 and arrived at Philadelphia 13 September. She
3564-594: The first transatlantic seaplane flight, made by Curtiss NC-4 aircraft. Following this duty, she visited to the Azores , Gibraltar , Malta , and Constantinople before returning to New York on 5 June. After repairs, she steamed for San Diego, California , leaving New York on 17 September and arriving in San Diego on 12 October. Beginning on 19 November 1919, she was placed in reduced commission, operating only infrequently with Naval reservists of Reserve Division 10 until she
3645-480: The frigate. Everything being prepared, and the most profound silence prevailing,... At a given signal she glided into the waters, a sublime spectacle of gracefulnes and grandeur. Immediately on touching the water federal salutes were fired from the sloop of war Portsmouth , the revenue cutter Jay and the Aspasia , Indiaman. These were returned by the uniform companies on shore, who fired a feu-de-joye , and marched off
3726-410: The ground to the battery... and were dismissed. As the 19th century progressed, American ship launchings continued to be festive occasions, but with no set ritual except that the sponsor(s) used some "christening fluid" as the ship received her name. Sloop of war Concord was launched in 1828 and was "christened by a young lady of Portsmouth." This is the first known instance of a woman sponsoring
3807-521: The gun armament was typical for destroyers of this period, the torpedo armament was larger than usual, in accordance with American practice at the time. A factor in the size of the torpedo armament was the General Board's decision to use broadside rather than centerline torpedo tubes. This was due to the desire to have some torpedoes remaining after firing a broadside, and problems experienced with centerline mounts on previous classes with torpedoes striking
3888-528: The heel of the bowsprit . Frigate President had an interesting launching on April 10, 1800, at New York: Was launched yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, in the presence of perhaps as great a concourse of people as ever assembled in this city on any occasion. At nine, captain Ten-Eyck's company of artillery..., accompanied by the uniform volunteer companies of the sixth regiment and the corps of riflemen, marched in procession... and took their station alongside
3969-506: The high-speed transport APD-16, she was damaged beyond repair by a kamikaze attack on 7 December 1944, and was sunk after abandoning ship by gunfire from the destroyer O'Brien , commanded at the time by Ward ' s former CO from the Pearl Harbor attack. Thirteen Wickes class were lost during World War II in U.S. service. The remainder were scrapped between 1945 and 1947. Twenty-three Wickes -class destroyers were transferred to
4050-462: The hull of the ship and aid its launching motion into the water, thus this method is arguably safer than other options such as sideways launching. These airbags are usually cylindrical in shape with hemispherical heads at both ends. A Babylonian narrative dating from the 3rd millennium BC describes the completion of a ship: Openings to the water I stopped; I searched for cracks and the wanting parts I fixed: Three sari of bitumen I poured over
4131-473: The inclined plane" in 1846, "two young sailors, one stationed at each side of her head, anointed her with bottles, and named her as she left her cradle for the deep." As late as 1898, the torpedo boat MacKenzie was christened by the son of the builder. Wine is the traditional christening fluid, although numerous other liquids have been used. Princeton and Raritan were sent on their way in 1843 with whisky . Seven years later, "a bottle of best brandy
SECTION 50
#17328722920684212-399: The launch itself. Ship launching imposes stresses on the ship not met during normal operation and in addition to the size and weight of the vessel represents a considerable engineering challenge as well as a public spectacle. The process also involves many traditions intended to invite good luck , such as christening by breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow as the ship
4293-550: The machine guns observed no hits. Chew maintained continuous fire from these weapons until 09:34, when the last of the Japanese aircraft departed. She then got underway and began patrolling for Japanese submarine activity, just southwest of the port entrance buoy. She pinged eight possible contacts and dropped 28 depth charges , which her commander, H. R. Hummer, Jr., reported two Japanese submarines destroyed. Subsequent evidence does not suggest Chew struck any Japanese submarines. In
4374-409: The men in the yard during the time of her building, every man with pleasure exerting himself to the utmost: and altho' the greatest care was taken that only the best of timber was used, and the work perform'd in a most masterly manner, the whole time from her raising to the day she launched did not exceed sixty working days, and what afforded a most pleasing view (which was manifest in the countenances of
4455-596: The morning of 7 December 1941, Chew was moored in Berth X-5, alongside Allen and the decommissioned Baltimore , which was being used for storage. At the outbreak of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan that morning, Chew brought one of her 3"/23 caliber guns online and began firing at 08:03, under the command of her executive officer . At 08:11, two of her .50 caliber machine guns were also brought online and began firing. The 3-inch (76 mm) gun scored one Japanese aircraft shot down and two damaged, and
4536-402: The new ship presented a godmother with a bouquet of flowers as both said the ship's name. No bottle was broken, but a priest pronounced the vessel's name and blessed it with holy water. In India , ships have historically been launched with a Puja ceremony that dedicates the ship to a Hindu god or goddess, and seeks blessings for her and her sailors. Historically, Hindu priests would perform
4617-530: The new vessel as a symbol of blessing. Shrines were carried on board Greek and Roman ships, and this practice extended into the Middle Ages. The shrine was usually placed at the quarterdeck , an area which continues to have special ceremonial significance. Different peoples and cultures shaped the religious ceremonies surrounding a ship launching. Jews and Christians customarily used wine and water as they called upon God to safeguard them at sea. Intercession of
4698-503: The outside; To the gods I caused oxen to be sacrificed. It is believed that ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans called on their gods to protect seamen. Favor was evoked from the monarch of the seas— Poseidon in Greek mythology , Neptune in Roman mythology . Ship launching participants in ancient Greece wreathed their heads with olive branches, drank wine to honor the gods, and poured water on
4779-560: The saints and the blessing of the church were asked by Christians. Ship launchings in the Ottoman Empire were accompanied by prayers to Allah , the sacrifice of sheep, and appropriate feasting. Chaplain Henry Teonge of Britain's Royal Navy left an interesting account of a warship launch, a "briganteen of 23 oars," by the Knights of Malta in 1675: Two fryers and an attendant went into
4860-463: The ship is built with its stern facing the water. Where the launch takes place into a narrow river, the building slips may be at a shallow angle rather than perpendicular, even though this requires a longer slipway when launching. Modern slipways take the form of a reinforced concrete mat of sufficient strength to support the vessel, with two "barricades" that extend well below the water level taking into account tidal variations. The barricades support
4941-411: The submarine threat resulted in a total of 267 Wickes - and Clemson -class destroyers completed. However, the design of the ships remained optimized for operation with the battleship fleet. The requirements of the new design were high speed and mass production. The development of submarine warfare during World War I created a requirement for destroyers in numbers that had not been contemplated before
SECTION 60
#17328722920685022-484: The sum of fifty dollars (equivalent to $ 1,300 in 2023) to the master builder of each yard "to be expended in providing an entertainment for the carpenters that worked on the ships." Five pounds (equivalent to $ 100 in 2023) was spent for lime juice for the launching festivities of frigate Delaware at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , suggesting that the "entertainment" included a potent punch with lime juice as an ingredient. No mention has come to light of christening
5103-512: The tapered stern, which made for a nice depth charge deployment feature, dug into the water and increased the turning radius, thus hampering anti-submarine work. The Clemson class added 100 tons of fuel tankage to improve operational range, but the issue of range was solved only with the development of underway replenishment in World War II. The main armament was the same as the Caldwell class: four 4-inch (102 mm)/50 caliber guns and twelve 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes . While
5184-441: The two launch ways. The vessel is built upon temporary cribbing that is arranged to give access to the hull's outer bottom and to allow the launchways to be erected under the complete hull. When it is time to prepare for launching, a pair of standing ways is erected under the hull and out onto the barricades. The surface of the ways is greased. ( Tallow and whale oil were used as grease in sailing ship days.) A pair of sliding ways
5265-519: The vessel, and kneeling down prayed halfe an houre, and layd their hands on every mast, and other places of the vessel, and sprinkled her all over with holy water. Then they came out and hoysted a pendent to signify she was a man of war; then at once thrust her into the water. The liturgical aspects of ship christenings, or baptisms, continued in Catholic countries, while the Reformation seems to have put
5346-613: The war ended: 21 of the Wickes class (and all but 9 of the Clemson class) were launched after the armistice on 11 November 1918 . The last of the Wickes class was launched on 24 July 1919. This program left the U.S. Navy with so many destroyers that no new destroyers were built until 1932 (the Farragut class ). 111 Wickes -class destroyers were built. Some of these ships are also referred to as Little class (52 ships), Lamberton class (11 ships), or Tattnall class (10 ships) to signify
5427-452: The war, and were scrapped between 1949 and 1952. Ceremonial ship launching Ceremonial ship launching involves the performing of ceremonies associated with the process of transferring a vessel to the water. It is a nautical tradition in many cultures, dating back millennia, to accompany the physical process with ceremonies which have been observed as public celebration and a solemn blessing, usually but not always, in association with
5508-467: The war. A top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) was needed for operation with the Lexington-class battlecruisers and Omaha-class cruisers . The final design had a flush deck and four smokestacks. It was a fairly straightforward evolution of the preceding Caldwell class . General dissatisfaction with the earlier "1,000 ton" designs ( Cassin and Tucker classes) led to the fuller hull form of
5589-456: The yard that built them and to note the slight design differences from the Bath Iron Works ships. Some of these non-Bath Iron Works units were actually commissioned prior to the lead ship, Wickes . A few Wickes class were completed in time for service in World War I, some with the battle fleet, some on convoy escort duty; none were lost. DeLong ran aground in 1921; Woolsey sank after
5670-514: Was Launched amidst the acclamation of many thousand spectators. She is esteemed by all those who are judges that have seen her, to be one of the compleatest ships ever built in America. The unwearied diligence and care of the three Master-Builders... and the good order and industry of the Carpenters, deserve particular notice; scarcely a single instance of a person's being in liquor, or any difference among
5751-526: Was broken over the bow of steam sloop San Jacinto ." Steam frigate Merrimack earned her place in naval history as Confederate States of America ironclad Virginia , and she was baptized with water from the Merrimack River . Admiral David Farragut 's famous American Civil War flagship steam sloop Hartford was christened by three sponsors; two young ladies broke bottles of Connecticut River water and Hartford, Connecticut spring water, while
5832-422: Was built in record time: her keel was laid on 15 May 1918, launched only 17 days later on 1 June 1918, and commissioned 54 days after that on 24 July 1918. She is credited with firing the first US shots of the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, sinking a Japanese midget submarine with gunfire before the air attack started. The sinking was uncertain until the submarine's wreck was discovered in 2002. As
5913-416: Was built this way, as were many landing craft during World War II . This method requires many more sets of ways to support the weight of the ship. Sometimes ships are launched using a series of inflated tubes underneath the hull, which deflate to cause a downward slope into the water. This procedure has the advantages of requiring less permanent infrastructure, risk, and cost. The airbags provide support to
5994-454: Was considered a major industrial achievement. Production of these destroyers was considered so important that work on cruisers and battleships was delayed to allow completion of the program. The first Wickes -class vessel was launched on 11 November 1917, with four more by the end of the year. Production peaked in July 1918, when 17 were launched - 15 of them on 4 July. The program continued after
6075-489: Was decommissioned there on 10 October 1945, and sold for scrap on 4 October 1946. Chew received one battle star for World War II service. The ship's bell survived the scrapping and sold to private owner. Wickes-class destroyer The Wickes -class destroyers were a class of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917–19. Together with the six preceding Caldwell -class and following 156 subsequent Clemson -class destroyers , they were grouped as
6156-537: Was disguised as a German vessel and expended as a blockship in the St Nazaire Raid . (A newer Buchanan that was involved in the Japanese surrender formalities was a later ship.) One further destroyer was sunk; the remainder were scrapped between 1944 and 1947. In 1944 seven were transferred by Britain to the Soviet Navy , in place of Italian ships claimed by the USSR after Italy's surrender. These vessels all survived
6237-447: Was more widely adopted during World War II. The third method is float-out , used for ships that are built in basins or dry docks and then floated by admitting water into the dock. If launched in a restrictive waterway, drag chains are used to slow the ship speed to prevent it striking the opposite bank. Normally, ways are arranged perpendicular to the shore line (or as nearly so as the water and maximum length of vessel allows) and
6318-492: Was placed out of commission on 1 June 1922. At a part of the mobilization effort preceding the U.S. entry into World War II , Chew was recommissioned on 14 October 1940, assigned to Defense Force, 14th Naval District. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 17 December 1940 which she made her home port. She spent the next year conducting patrols and had training duty from Pearl Harbor. She was assigned to Destroyer Division 80, with sister ships Allen , Ward , and Schley . On
6399-470: Was the appreciation of the need for true seakeeping and seagoing abilities. There were few cruisers in the Navy, which was a fleet of battleships and destroyers (no cruisers had been launched since 1908) so destroyers performed scouting missions. A report in October 1915 by Captain W. S. Sims noted that the smaller destroyers used fuel far too quickly, and that wargames showed the need for fast vessels with
6480-727: Was the first and only ship commissioned in the U.S. Navy named for Samuel Chew , who had been a Continental Navy officer killed in the Revolutionary War . Chew was launched on 26 May 1918 out of San Francisco, sponsored by F. X. Gygax. She was commissioned on 12 December 1918. She sailed for the East Coast of the United States on 21 December 1918, and arrived in port at Newport, Rhode Island on 10 January 1919. After brief repairs at port in New York City, New York and refresher training at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base , she cleared New York on 28 April and embarked as an escort during
6561-557: Was undertaken by ten different builders, there was considerable variation in the types of boilers and turbines installed to meet a guaranteed speed requirement. However, there were in essence two basic designs; one for the ships built by the Bethlehem Steel yards (including Union Iron Works ) and another used by the remaining shipyards, which was prepared by Bath Iron Works . The Wickes class proved to be short-ranged, and its bridge and gun positions were very wet. The fleet found that
#67932