USS Osborne (DD-295),
USS Gwin (DD-71)
and USS DuPont
(DD-152),
Charleston, SC, 1920
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USS Gwin (DD-71) was a Caldwell class destroyer that had a limited career between the World Wars.
The Gwin was named after William Gwin, a member of the US Navy during the Civil War who served with the Mississippi Squadron. He was fatally wounded at the battle of Haines Bluff on the Yazoo River (27 December 1862) and died on 3 January 1863.
The Gwin was launched at Seattle on 22 December 1917. Progress on her then slowed down, and she wasn't commissioned until 18 March 1920. Some of that delay can be explained by the end of the First World War, but not all - plenty of ships launched after her were commissioned in time to take part in the war.
On 26 April 1920 the Gwin left Puget Sound at the start of a journey to her base at Newport, Rhode Island. On the way she visited a number of Californian ports, and passed through the Panama Canal. She reached Rhode Island on 2 June 1920, at the end of what turned out to be her longest voyage.
Over the next two years the Gwin operated along the US east coast, reaching as far south as Charleston. She was decommissioned on 28 June 1922, and remained in the reserve at Philadelphia until she was struck off on 25 January 1937. Her name was reused on the Gleaves class destroyer USS Gwin (DD-433). DD-71 was sold for scrap on 16 March 1939.
Displacement (standard) |
1,120t (design) |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,187t |
Top Speed |
30kts at 18,500shp |
Engine |
2-shaft turbines |
Range |
2,500nm at 20kts |
Armour - belt |
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- deck |
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Length |
315ft 7in |
Width |
30ft 6in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/50 guns |
Crew complement |
100 |
Launched |
22 December 1917 |
Commissioned |
18 March 1920 |
Sold for scrap |
16 March 1939 |
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.
