USS Ammen (DD-35)

USS Ammen (DD-35) was a Monaghan class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914 and was then based at Queenstown, Ireland, during 1917-18. In the 1920s she served with the 'Rum Patrol', before being sold for scrap in 1934.

The Ammen was named after Daniel Ammen, a US Navy officer during the American Civil War who took part in a series of attacks on Confederate held forts. The Ammen was laid down at Camden, New Jersey, on 29 March 1910, launched on 20 September 1910 and commissioned on 23 May 1911. She joined the Torpedo Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet, and took part in the normal mix of summers off the East Coast and winters in Cuban waters. The Ammen took part in the US intervention in Mexico, and anyone who served on her on 22 April-5 May or 9-17 May 1914 was entitled to the Mexican Service Medal.

USS Ammen (DD-34), New York Naval Review 1911
USS Ammen (DD-34),
New York Naval Review 1911

After the outbreak of the First World War the Ammen joined the neutrality patrol off the US East Coast.

In 1916 she was used as the set for the film 'Paying the Price' (director Frank H Crane, staring Gail Kane, and with a plot about the discovery of a new explosive), also sometimes known as 'Reparation'.

After the US entry into the war in April 1917 she carried out a reconnaissance mission to the Bahamas, before on 6 May entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard to prepare for distance service. Once she was ready she joined Division 9, Destroyer Force, and departed for France on 18 June, escorting a convoy that arrived on 2 July. She then moved to Queenstown, her base for the rest of the war. She carried out a mix of anti-submarine patrols, individual ship escort and convoy escort duties, mainly in the area between France and Ireland. In one storm over the winter of 1917-18 she rolled so far that one of her smoke stacks was lost and had to be replaced!

USS Ammen (DD-35) and RMS Mauretania, New York, 1919
USS Ammen (DD-35) and RMS Mauretania, New York, 1919

Anyone who served on her between 24 June 1917 and 11 November 1918 qualified for the First World War Victory Medal.

The Ammen returned to the United States in January 1919, and after one visit to the Gulf of Mexico was decommissioned on 11 December 1919. In 1924 she was transferred to the Coast Guard, where she served as CF-8, forming part of the 'Rum Patrol',

The Ammen was returned to the Navy on 22 May 1931 and returned to the reserve. She lost her name on 1 July 1933 so it could be reused on the Fletcher class destroyer USS Ammen (DD-527) and was sold for scrap in 1934.

Displacement (standard)

787t

Displacement (loaded)

883t

Top Speed

29.5kt design
30.89kts at 14,978shp at 883 tons on trial (Trippe)
29.5kts at 13,472shp at 891 tons on trial (Henley)

Engine

3-shaft Parsons turbines
4 Thornycroft or Normand or Yarrow boilers

Range

2,175nm at 15kts on trial
1,913nm at 20kts on trial

Length

292ft 8in

Width

27ft

Armaments

Five 3in/50 guns
Six 18in torpedo tubes in twin tubes

Crew complement

89

Launched

20 September 1910

Commissioned

23 May 1911

Fate

Sold for scrap 1934

U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History, Norman Friedmann . The standard history of the development of American destroyers, from the earliest torpedo boat destroyers to the post-war fleet, and covering the massive classes of destroyers built for both World Wars. Gives the reader a good understanding of the debates that surrounded each class of destroyer and led to their individual features.
cover cover cover

Books on the First World War | Subject Index: First World War

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (25 April 2016), USS Ammen (DD-35) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Ammen_DD35.html

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