Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
United States Navy — Destroyer DD-375

USS Downes (DD-375)

Mahan-class destroyer

USS Downes (DD-375)
USN — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 63132 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate — DD-375 The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Downes (DD-375) underway during the later 1930s. She is wearing a non-standard hull number style on her bow.

Service

  1. United States Navy15 January 1937 — 17 December 19452,193 days of the war
Full service history About 643 words
Mahan-class destroyer Particulars
Name
USS Downes
Pennant / hull number
DD-375
Builder
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Laid down
15 August 1934
Launched
22 April 1936
Commissioned
15 January 1937
Decommissioned
20 June 1942
Recommissioned
15 November 1943
Fate
Sold for scrap 18 November 1947 (1947)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, standard
1,500 long tons (1,524 t)
Length
103.94 m (341 ft)
Beam
10.67 m (35 ft)
Draught
2.74 m (9 ft)
Speed
37 knots (68.5 km/h, 42.6 mph)
Complement
158
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

John Downes born in 1786 in Canton, Mass., served as acting midshipman from 9 September 1800 and was appointed midshipman 1 June 1802. He rendered distinguished service during the War with Tripoli in 1804 in frigate Congress, and was executive officer for Captain David Porter in Essex during the War of 1812. He commanded Epervier, Guerriere, Ontario and Independ ence, and the Boston Navy Yard, and was Commodore of the Pacific and Mediterranean Squadrons. Captain Downes died at Charlestown, Mass., 11 August 1854.

The second Downes (DD-375) was launched 22 April 1936 by Norfolk Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss S. F. Downes, descendant of Captain Downes; and commissioned 15 January 1937, Commander C. H. Roper in command.

Downes reached San Diego from Norfolk 24 November 1937, and based there for exercises along the west coast, in the Caribbean, and in the Hawaiian Islands until April 1940, when Pearl Harbor became her home port. In March and April 1941 she joined in a cruise to Samoa, Fiji, and Australia, and visited the west coast later in the year.

Continue to the full service history About 643 words

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Downes II (DD-375)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Armament
  • As Built:
  • 1 × Gun Director above bridge
  • 5 × 5"(127mm)/38cal DP (5x1)
  • 12 × 21 inch (533 mm) T Tubes (3x4)
  • 4 × .50cal (12.7mm) MG AA (4x1)
  • 2 × Depth Charge stern racks
  • c1944:
  • 1 × Mk37 Gun Fire Control System
  • 4 × 5" (127mm)/38cal DP (4x1)
  • 12 × 21 inch (533 mm) T Tubes (3x4)
  • 2 × Mk51 Gun Directors
  • 4 × Bofors 40 mm AA (2x2)
  • 6 × Oerlikon 20 mm AA (6x1)
  • 2 × Depth Charge roll-off stern racks
  • 4 × K-gun depth charge projectors

Sister ships

Sources

  • Facts harvested from USS Downes (DD-375) on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Service history reproduced verbatim from Downes II (DD-375) , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships — public domain, a work of the United States Government.
  • Photograph: USN — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 63132 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons