USS Isherwood (DD-284),
Boston, 1919
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USS Isherwood (DD-284) was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the Atlantic and Scouting Fleets for most of the 1920s, as well as spending a year in European waters, before being decommissioned in 1930.
The Isherwood was named after Benjamin F. Isherwood, who served in the US Navy during the Mexican War, and as Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy during the Civil War.
The Isherwood was launched on 10 September 1919 at the Squantum plant of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corps, when she was sponsored by Mrs. R.C Walling. She was commissioned on 4 December 1919 and joined the 43rd Division, 1st Squadron, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet.
Her shakedown cruise lasted into January 1920. She then joined the fleet at Guantanamo Bay, arriving on 3 February. She spent the next few weeks exercising in that area, before departed on 26 April as part of the escort for the Pennsylvania as she went to receive Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels at Lynnhaven Roads, Virginia. She was then sent to patrol along the Mexican coast to watch a potentially dangerous political situation, with the Putnam (DD-287) and Reid (DD-292) remaining there until June. She returned to Boston for repairs, then moved to Charleston in October to join the Reserve over the winter of 1920-21.
On 10 May 1921 she departed from Charleston to move to Boston where she joined the Destroyer Force, although with a reduced complement. She was used to train Naval Reservists then took part in target practice.
From 13 March-8 May 1922 she underwent more repairs at Boston, then joined Destroyer Squadron 9. She took part in fleet exercises around Yorktown Virginia for the rest of 1922.
On 3 January 1923 she joined the Scouting Fleet Destroyers, and took part in training exercises in the Caribbean. In 1924-25 she was commanded by the future admiral Thomas Kinkaid.
In May 1925 she began a Naval Reservist cruise from Maine to the District of Columbia. She returned to the fleet at Newport on 31 August, then moved to Guantanamo Bay in late September for the normal winter exercises with the Fleet.
She returned to the US east coast in April 1926 to prepare for a year in European waters. On 12 June she departed for France, arriving at St. Nazaire on 29 June. For the next year she was engaged in a series of good will visits to Mediterranean and British ports. On 7 May 1927 the crews of the Isherwood and Case held a Grand Naval Ball at the Alhambra, Bordeaux.
The Isherwood returned to Boston on 15 July 1927 and spent the next two years on a mix of reservist training and fleet manoeuvres in the Caribbean.
Her last reservist cruise lasted from 29 June to 20 July and took her from Maine to Massachusetts. She then underwent repairs at Newport and an overhaul at Norfolk, but by this point her Yarrow boilers were very badly worn. It was decided to place her and her Yarrow powered sisters into the reserve and replace them with some of their almost unused ships from the reserve. The Isherwood had to be towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 26 August 1929. She was decommissioned on 1 May 1930 and sold for scrap on 17 January 1931. She was finally scrapped in 1934.
Displacement (standard) |
1,190t |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,308t |
Top Speed |
35kts |
Engine |
2-shaft Westinghouse geared tubines |
Range |
2,500nm at 20kts (design) |
Length |
314ft 4in |
Width |
30ft 10.5in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/ 50 guns |
Crew complement |
114 |
Launched |
10 September 1919 |
Commissioned |
4 December 1919 |
Sold for scrap |
17 January 1931 |
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.
