USS Balch (DD-50)

Balch during trials, 22 February 1914
USS Balch (DD-50) during trials, 22 February 1914.
History
United States
NameBalch
NamesakeRear admiral George Beale Balch
OrderedMarch 1911[5]
BuilderWilliam Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia[1]
Cost$780,036.55 (hull and machinery)[2][3]
Yard number386[4]
Laid down7 May 1912[6]
Launched21 December 1912[1]
Sponsored byMiss Grace Balch[1]
Commissioned26 March 1914[6]
RenamedDD-50, 1 November 1933[6]
Decommissioned20 June 1922[1]
Stricken8 March 1935[6]
Identification
Fatescrapped at Philadelphia Navy Yard after 23 April 1935[1]
General characteristics [7]
Class and typeAylwin-class destroyer
Displacement1,036 long tons (1,053 t)[6]
Length305 ft 3 in (93.04 m)[6]
Beam31 ft 2 in (9.50 m)[6]
Draft9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) (mean)[8]
Installed power
  • 4 × boilers
  • 16,000 shp (12,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)
  • 29.62 kn (34.09 mph; 54.86 km/h) (Speed on Trial)[8]
Complement5 officers 96 enlisted[9]
Armament

USS Balch (Destroyer No. 50/DD-50) was an Aylwin-class destroyer built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the first U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of George Beale Balch, a US Navy officer who served in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War, and as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.

Balch was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia in May 1912 and launched in December. The ship was a little more than 305 ft (93 m) in length, just over 31 ft (9.4 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. Balch was powered by a pair of steam turbines that propelled her at up to 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h).

After her March 1914 commissioning, she participated in a Presidential Fleet Review at New York City in May. After a period in reserve, Balch served on Neutrality Patrol duty. As a part of that duty in October 1916, she was one of several US destroyers sent to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine U-53 off the Lightship Nantucket. She picked up passengers and crew from a British ocean liner before the U-boat sank it. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Balch was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. Balch made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats. In October 1918, US destroyer Paulding collided with Balch, sending her into Queenstown for two weeks of repairs.

Upon returning to the United States after the war in January 1919, Balch was placed in reduced commission. After alternating periods of activity and time in reserve, Balch was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. In November 1933 she dropped her name, becoming known only as DD-50. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in March 1935 and ordered scrapped in April.

  1. ^ a b c d e Francis, Timothy L (15 December 2005). "Balch". 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. ^ $790,000 per Friedman, p. 31.
  4. ^ "Balch (6104405)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  5. ^ a b c Gardiner, p. 122.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Bauer and Roberts, p. 170.
  7. ^ "USS Balch (DD-50)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Table 10 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 714. 1921.
  9. ^ a b "Table 16 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 749. 1921.