USS Aylwin (DD-47)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Aylwin.

USS Aylwin (DD-47) underway, circa 1916-1917.
History
United States
NameAylwin
NamesakeJohn Cushing Aylwin
OrderedMarch 1911[4]
Builder
Cost$781,279.54 (hull and machinery)[2]
Yard number383[3]
Laid down7 March 1912[5]
Launched23 November 1912[1]
Sponsored byMrs. Joseph Wright Powell[1]
Commissioned17 January 1914[5]
Decommissionedc. April 1914[1]
Recommissioned25 May 1915[1]
RenamedDD-47, 1 July 1933[5]
Decommissioned23 February 1921[1]
Stricken8 March 1935[5]
Identification
Fatescrapped after 23 April 1935[1]
General characteristics [6]
Class and typeAylwin-class destroyer
Displacement1,036 long tons (1,053 t)[5]
Length305 ft 3 in (93.04 m)[5]
Beam30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)[5]
Draft9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) (mean)[7]
Installed power
  • 4 × boilers
  • 16,000 shp (12,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)
  • 29.6 kn (34.1 mph; 54.8 km/h) (Speed on Trial)[7]
Complement5 officers 96 enlisted[8]
Armament

USS Aylwin (Destroyer No. 47/DD-47) was the lead ship of Aylwin-class destroyers built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of John Cushing Aylwin, a U.S. Navy officer killed in action aboard Constitution during the War of 1812.

Aylwin was laid down by She was sponsored by Mrs. Joseph Wright Powell. The ship was a little more than 305 ft (93 m) in length, just over 30 ft (9.1 m) abeam, and had a standard displacement of 1,036 long tons (1,053 t). She was armed with four 4 in (100 mm) guns and had eight 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. Aylwin was powered by a pair of steam turbines that propelled her at up to 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)

Aylwin failed to make her contracted speed of 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h) in builder's trials in August 1913, but was eventually accepted by the U.S. Navy and commissioned in January 1914. On 6 April, two sailors on board Aylwin died when she suffered an explosion in her No. 1 fire room. Out of commission while repairs were made, Aylwin was recommissioned in May 1915 and joined the Atlantic Fleet. In October 1916, she was one of several U.S. destroyers sent to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine U-53 off the Lightship Nantucket.

After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Aylwin conducted experiments with Reginald Fessenden until January 1918. She was then sent overseas to conduct anti-submarine patrols from Queenstown, Ireland, and Plymouth. In December, she accompanied light cruiser Chester on an inspection tour of German Baltic ports. Upon returning to the United States at the end of June 1919, Aylwin was placed in reserve. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in February 1921. In July 1933 she dropped her name, becoming known only as DD-47. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in March 1935 and ordered scrapped in April.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Naval History & Heritage Command. "Aylwin (Destroyer No. 47) ii". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Table 21 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.
  3. ^ "Aylwin (6104405)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  4. ^ Gardiner, p. 122.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Bauer and Roberts, p. 170.
  6. ^ "USS Aylwin (DD-47)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Table 10 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 714. 1921.
  8. ^ a b "Table 16 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 749. 1921.