USS Sproston (DD-173),
c. 1919-20
|
|
USS Sproston (DD-173/ DM-13) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a light minelayer at Hawaii from 1920-22 before being decommissioned.
The Sproston was named after John G. Sproston, a US naval officer during the Mexican War and the American Civil War, who was killed during an attack in the St. John's River, Florida, on 8 June 1862
The Sproston was laid down by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, on 20 April 1918, launched on 10 August 1918 and commissioned on 12 July 1919. She was allocated to the Pacific Fleet and was based at Hawaii from the autumn of 1919 onwards.
On 17 July 1920 the Sproston was one of a number of destroyers to be reclassified as light minelayers, as DM-13. She continued to operate around Hawaii, but in 1922 she was chosen to be one of the destroyers removed from service under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty. She was decommissioned on 15 August 1922 and spent the next fourteen years in the reserve fleet. In 1936 she was chosen for use as a gunnery target, and on 1 December 1936 she was struck off the navy list and sunk by US gunfire.
Displacement (standard) |
|
Displacement (loaded) |
|
Top Speed |
35kts design |
Engine |
2 shaft Parsons turbines |
Range |
2,500nm at 20kts (design) |
Armour - belt |
|
- deck |
|
Length |
314ft 4.5in |
Width |
30ft 11.5in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/ 50 guns |
Crew complement |
100 |
Laid down |
20 April 1918 |
Launched |
10 August 1918 |
Commissioned |
12 July 1919 |
Decommissioned |
15 August 1922 |
Struck off |
1 December 1936 |
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.
