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USS Foote (DD-169) was a Wickes class destroyer that served on convoy escort duties with the Royal Navy as HMS Roxborough.
The Foote was named after Andrew Hull Foote, a US Naval Officer of the American Civil War who took part in the attacks on Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Island No.10, but died before he could take command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
The Foote was launched by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co, Quincy, Mass, on 14 Decemebr 1918 and commissioned on 21 March 1919. Her first role was to help support the transatlantic flight of the Navy Curtiss flying boat NC-4 in May 1919. She formed part of the line of destroyers along the route, based at the Newfoundland end of the line.
After the end of this operation she took part in training operations on the east coast, before departing for Europe on 27 August 1919. Between September and December 1919 she operated in the Adriatic. She then visited a number of Italian and French ports before returning to Boston on 12 February 1920. On 24 February she was placed into the reserve while she underwent repairs.
During the summer of 1921 the Foote took part in target practice in Narragansett Bay, operating with a half complement. She then returned to the reserve, before being decommissioned on 6 July 1922.
The Foote was recommissioned on 2 July 1940 and joined the Neutrality Patrol, from a base at Charleston. She was then chosen as one of the fifty destroyers that went to the Royal Navy under the 'destroyers for bases' deal. On 23 September 1940 she was decommissioned from the US Navy at Halifax and transferred to the Royal Navy, where she became HMS Roxborough.
As HMS Roxborough
The Roxborough joined Western Approaches Command and was used to escort convoys on the final approaches to British ports.
In March 1942 she moved to Halifax, where she began a period of operations in the western Atlantic.
In January 1943, while escorting convoy HX222, the Roxborough's bridge was crushed by heavy seas. The commanding officer and 1st lieutentant were amongst eleven men killed in the incident. The surviving senior officer managed to restore control, and she managed to limp back to St. Johns, Newfoundland.
In August 1944 the Roxborough was transferred to the Soviet Union, where she was renamed either Doblestny ('Glorious' or 'Valient') or Zhyosky ('Rigid'). The same two names are also associated with USS Maddox (DD-168), which became HMS Georgetown in British service, so there is clearly some confusion between the two destroyers.
The Roxborough was returned to the Royal Navy on 7 February 1949 and scrapped on 14 May 1949.
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 |
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- deck |
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Length |
314ft 4.5in |
Width |
30ft 11.5in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/ 50 guns |
Crew complement |
100 |
Launched |
14 December 1918 |
Commissioned |
21 March 1919 |
Scrapped |
14 May 1949 |