Ships of the California Naval Militia

USS Perry

 

The second PERRY was laid down in April 1899 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco; launched 27 October 1900; sponsored by Miss Maude O'Connor; and commissioned 4 September 1902, Lt. Theodore C. Fenton in command.

 

PERRY was assigned to the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla and based at Mare Island until the United States entered World War I. In 1905 she briefly served as a training vessel for the California Naval Militia. Her operations took her as far north as Alaska and south along the coast of Mexico; and in the fall of 1908, combined fleet maneuvers took her to Hawaii.

 

Perhaps the highlight of the torpedo boat destroyer's career came during the earthquake which struck San Francisco 18 April 1906 and the resulting fire which devastated the city. For four sleepless days after they were awakened by severe rolling and pitching of their ship before dawn on 18 April, the indefatigable crew labored to save the western metropolis by fighting fires; patrolling districts where stores, warehouses and homes were threatened by looters; and providing medical aid to countless injured men, women, and children.

 

When the United States entered World War I, Perry patrolled off the California Coast until steaming to Panama where, beginning 28 July 1917, she guarded the entrance to the vital Canal. On 30 May 1918, she sailed for Key West for patrol duty in the Florida Keys. After the Armistice, she got under way for the Delaware Bay, 29 January 1919, and remained at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until decommissioning 2 July. PERRY's name was struck from the Navy List 15 September 1919, and she was sold for scrapping 5 January 1920.

DD-11: dp. 480 (n.); 1. 250'6"; b. 23'8"; dr. 7'3"; s. 29 k.; cpl. 73; a. 2 3", 5 6-pdrs., 2 18" tt.; el. Bainbridge)

 

Specifications

Type	Torpedo Boat Destroyer
Class	Bainbridge
Displacement.	480 tons
Length	250 feet, 6 inches
Beam	23 feet, 8 inches
Draft	7 feet, 3 inches
Speed	29 knots
Complement	73
Armament	2 x 3 inch guns 5 x 6-pound guns 2 x 18 inch torpedo tubes

 

 

 

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Updated 8 February 2016