USS Barney (DD-149)

USS Barney (DD-149) was a Wickes class destroyer that served on convoy escort duties in the Caribbean, as well as escorting two trans-Atlantic convoys.

The Barney was named after Joshua Barney, an officer in the Continental Navy during the War of Independence who was captured three times, exchanged twice and escaped on the third occasion.

The Barney was laid down on 26 March 1918 at Cramps, launched on 5 September 1918 and commissioned on 14 March 1919.

USS Barney (DD-149)

The Barney joined Division 19 of the Atlantic Fleet, and took part in fleet exercises and manoeuvres on the East Coast. She also visited the Mediterranean, operating with the US naval forces in Turkish waters in 1919, and taking part in the occupation of Smyrna as well as visiting Romania and traveling ninety miles up the Danube. After her return she passed through the Panama Canal and visited Lima, Peru. She was decommissioned for the first time on 30 June 1922.

The Barney was recommissioned on 1 May 1930 and joined the Destroyer Squadron, Scouting Force, on the East Coast. In February 1932 she passed through the Panama Canal to take part in fleet problems off San Francisco, and then remained on the west coast. She spent some time in the rotating reserve, before in 1936 joining Destroyer Division 3 and visiting Alaska, Hawaii and Puget Sound.

The Barney then returned to the East Coast, where she served with the 10th Training Squadron, before being decommissioned for the second time in November 1936.

The Barney was recommissioned again on 4 October 1939, as part of the expansion of the US Navy after the outbreak of the Second World War. She joined the 66th Division, Atlantic Squadron during 1939 and the Inshore Patrol, 15th Naval District Defence Force in 1940.

Between December 1941 and November 1943 the Barney served in the Caribbean, where she was used to escort convoys moving between Trinidad and Guantanamo Bay. On 18 September 1942 she collided with her sister ship USS Greer (DD-145). Two of her crew were drowned, and she suffered serious damage. Both ships had to go to Willemstad, Curacao, for temporary repairs, and the Barney then had to return to Charleston for full repairs, which weren't completed until December 1942.

USS Barney (DD-149), 1930s

Between 14 January and 11 May 1944 the Barney escorted two convoys across the Atlantic to North Africa. One of these convoys, UGS-37, came under attack on 11-12 April 1944.

After this brief change in routine the Barney returned to the Caribbean, where she resumed her convoy escort duties between May 1944 and February 1945.

In March 1945 the Barney joined TF 25, and was used to help submarines that were training in Long Island and Block Island sounds. On 30 June 1945 she was reclassified as AG-113.

The Barney was decommissioned on 30 November 1945 and sold on 13 October 1946. 

The Barney earned one battle star during the Second World War, for the defence of Convoy UGS-37 on 11-12 April 1944.

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.

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