Royal Navy — Destroyer

USS Aulick (DD-258) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Contents

Before commissioning
Great War and before
1918 1
Interwar 1919–1938
1920 1
Second World War 1939–1945
1939 1
1940 1
References 6

Periods, years and the actions beside them are read out of the text — the source is one continuous narrative with no divisions of its own. A period is the calendar, not a claim: a vessel with a 1951 section was not necessarily off Korea.

Before commissioning

U.S. Navy destroyers at the fitting-out dock of the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Massachusetts (USA), on 7 June 1919. Visible are: USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255), USS Bancroft (DD-256), USS Aulick (DD-258), USS Rodgers (DD-254) and USS Welles (DD-257). Note the their builder's hull numbers on the bows (335, 336, 338, 334, and 337 respectively) and the crane in the background. Unknown author — U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43026 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

(Destroyer No. 258: dp. 1,308; l. 314'4'/ 2 "; b. 30'll'/ 2 "; dr. 9'4"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 122; a. 4 4", 1 3", 12 21" tt; cl. Clemson)

John H. Aulick, born in 1787 at Winchester, Va., was appointed a midshipman on 15 November 1809. During the War of 1812, he served in Enterprise and took part in her battle with HMS Boxer on 4 September 1813. After that engagement ended in a glorious American victory, Aulick served as prize master of the prize. Following the war, he served in Saranac, Ontario, Brandywine, Constitution, and Vincennes.

From 1851 to 1853, Aulick commanded the East India Squadron but was forced by ill health to give up command of the projected Japanese expedition to Commodore Matthew C. Perry. Aulick retired in 1861 and died at Washington, D.C., on 27 April 1873.

Great War and before

1918

Aulick (Destroyer No. 258) was laid down on 3 December 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Mass.; launched on 11 April 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Phillip J. Willett; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 26 July 1919, Lt. Comdr. Lee P. Johnson in command.

Interwar 1919–1938

1920

Following her shakedown cruise, Aulick proceeded to the west coast where she joined Destroyer Flotilla 10 of the Pacific Fleet. While operating along the California coast, the vessel was given the designation DD-258 on 17 July 1920. Aulick continued to carry out routine fleet duties until she was decommissioned on 27 May 1922 at the Mare Island Navy Yard.

Second World War 1939–1945

1939

After over 17 years laid up in reserve, the destroyer was recommissioned on 18 June 1939 at San Diego, Calif. Upon her reactivation, Aulick returned to the east coast where she served until the fall of 1940. On 8 October 1940, Aulick was decommissioned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and transferred to the British under the agreement with the United Kingdom exchanging American destroyers for bases in the Atlantic. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 8 December 1941.

1940

Renamed HMS Burnham, the destroyer began escort duties with the British Navy in December 1940. In early 1941, Burnham began a series of escort voyages between Iceland and Newfoundland. Throughout 1942 and 1943, Burnham worked mainly between Newfoundland and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In 1944, she was used on aircraft training duties in the Western Approaches Command. Burnham was reduced to reserve at Milford Haven, Wales, in November 1944. She was ultimately scrapped at Pembroke, England, in December 1948.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

History Aulick I (Destroyer No. 258) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
Facts USS Aulick (DD-258) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
Photograph USS Aulick (DD-258) anchored off New York City, circa 1939-1940 (NH 66335) Unknown author — U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 66335 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph British Warships of the Second World War FL3198 Royal Navy official photographer — http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//18/media-18671/large.jpg This photograph FL 3198 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph Laid up destroyers at San Diego in 1922 Unknown author — U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 42539 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph U.S. Navy destroyers fitting out dat the Fore River Shipyard on 7 June 1919 (NH 43026) Unknown author — U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43026 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons