USS Greer

USS Greer (DD-145)
History
United States
NamesakeJames A. Greer
BuilderWilliam Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Yard number460
Laid down24 February 1918
Launched1 August 1918
Commissioned31 December 1918
Decommissioned22 June 1922
Recommissioned31 March 1930
Decommissioned13 January 1937
Recommissioned4 October 1939
Decommissioned19 July 1945
Stricken13 August 1945
FateSold for scrapping, 30 November 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeWickes-class destroyer
Displacement1,165 tons
Length314 ft 4 in (95.81 m)
Beam30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
Draft9 ft (2.74 m)
Speed35 knots (65 km/h)
Complement133 officers and enlisted
Armament4 × 4"/50 calibre guns (102 mm), 1 × 3 in (76 mm), 12 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.

USS Greer (DD–145) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy, the first ship named for Rear Admiral James A. Greer (1833–1904). In what became known as the "Greer incident," she became the first US Navy ship to fire on a German ship, three months before the United States officially entered World War II. The incident led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue what became known as his "shoot-on-sight" order. Roosevelt publicly confirmed the "shoot on sight" order on 11 September 1941, effectively declaring naval war against Germany and Italy in the Battle of the Atlantic.[citation needed]

Greer was launched by William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Co., Philadelphia, 1 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Evelina Porter Gleaves, daughter of Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves; and commissioned 31 December 1918.