USS Aaron Ward (DD-132)
and
USS Anthony (DD-172),
early 1920s
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USS Anthony (DD-172/ DM-12) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a light minelayer from 1920 to 1922, before being decommissioned.
The Anthony was named after William Anthony, a US Marine who was on the battleship USS Maine when she exploded in Havana Harbour on 15 February 1898 and was promoted for his service on that day.
The Anthony was laid down on 18 April 1918, without a name. On 1 August the Clemson class destroyer USS Anthony (DD-266) was renamed the Greene and the unnamed Destroyer No.172 became USS Anthony. She was launched on 10 August 1918 and commissioned on 19 June 1919.
On 7 August 1919 the Anthony took part in a naval review to celebrate the establishment of the United States Pacific Fleet. Between then and 23 November 1919 she operated along the west coast, taking part in a series of further reviews and even briefly carrying secretary of the Navy Daniels. On 23 November 1919 she was placed into the reserve at San Diego, where she remained for the next year and a half.
On 18 March 1920 the Anthony was one of six destroyers to be designated as light minelayers. When the new alphanumeric hull numbers were issued on 17 July 1920 she became DM-12. In June 1921 she moved to Pearl Habor, where she was finally converted into a minelayer. This involved removing her torpedo tubes and installing mine racks that could carry 64-80 mines. She then spent the next year training in her new role. On 1 February 1922 she struck a reef while searching for a mine that she had lost during one of her own exercises, and needed repairs to both screws.
On 30 June 1922 the Anthony was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor. She was never recommissioned, and was struck off on 1 December 1936. She was soon reduced to a hulk, and in April 1937 she was towed back to San Diego. She was then used as a target for fleet gunnery exercises and was sunk by gunfire from the cruiser USS Portland (CA-33) on 22 July 1937.
Displacement (standard) |
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Displacement (loaded) |
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Top Speed |
35kts design |
Engine |
2 shaft Parsons turbines |
Range |
2,500nm at 20kts (design) |
Armour - belt |
|
- deck |
|
Length |
314ft 4.5in |
Width |
30ft 11.5in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/ 50 guns |
Crew complement |
100 |
Laid down |
18 April 1918 |
Launched |
10 August 1918 |
Commissioned |
19 June 1919 |
Decommissioned |
30 June 1922 |
Struck off |
1 December 1936 |
Sunk as target |
22 July 1937 |
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.
USS Anthony (DD-172), Mare Island, 27 June 1919