USS Sigourney (DD-81)
at Boston Navy Yard,
9 February 1919
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USS Sigourney (DD-81) was a Wickes class destroyer that operated from Brest during the First World War, and served with the Royal Norwegian Navy and Royal Navy as HMS Newport during the Second World War.
The Sigourney was built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 16 December 1917 and commissioned on 15 May 1918 with Commander W.N. Vernon in charge.
The Sigourney departed for European waters on 27 May 1918, escorting a troopship to Brest. She was then placed under the command of Commander Naval Forces, France, and was used on escort duties in the submarine danger zone. She often served as the flagship of the escort groups, but didn't have any encounters with U-boats.
Anyone who served on her between 25 May and 11 November 1918 qualified for the First World War Victory Medal.
HMS Newport was used by the Royal Norwegian Navy between March 1941 and June 1942, serving as a convoy escort ship.
She was used as an aircraft target ship from June 1943 until January 1945 when she was placed into the reserve. She was sold for scrap on 18 February 1947, and was broken up at Granton.
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 |
16 December 1917 |
Commissioned |
15 May 1918 |
To Royal Navy |
5 December 1940 |
Sold for scrap |
18 February 1947 |
British Lend-Lease Warships 1940-45 – The Royal Navy’s American-built destroyers and frigates, Angus Konstam.
Looks at the elderly Town class destroyers and modern Captain class frigates that went to Britain under lend-lease, looking at their development, technical characteristics, life on the ships and giving two examples of combat involved them. Shows how much superior the newer but smaller frigates were to the two decade old ‘flushdeck’ destroyers, but also how both were useful escort vessels, playing a significant role in the defeat of the U-boats (Read Full Review)
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.
