Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

Royal Navy — Destroyer

USS Maddox (DD-168) — 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.

Before commissioning

(Destroyer No. 168; dpl. 1,060; l. 314'5"; b. 31'8"; dr. 8'6"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 101; a. 4 4", 2 1‑pdr., 12 21" tt.; cl. Wickes )

William A. T. Maddox, born in Charles County, Md., in 1814, commanded a volunteer company in the Creek and Seminole Wars in 1836, and was appointed 2d lieutenant in the Marine Corps 14 October 1837. Serving in the Mexican War, he was breveted captain for "gallant and meritorious conduct" as Military Commandant of the Middle District of California during a Mexican uprising at Monterey and during the Battle of Santa Clara, 3 January 1847. Captain Maddox retired in 1880 and died in Washington, D.C., 1 January 1889.

Great War and before

1918

Maddox, Destroyer No. 168, was laid down 20 July 1918 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass.; launched 27 October 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Clarence N. Hinkamp, granddaughter of Captain Maddox; and commissioned 10 March 1919, Comdr. Edward C. S. Parker in command. On 17 July 1920 she was designated DD‑168.

Interwar 1919–1938

1919

USS Maddox (DD-168)
Canadian destroyer HMCS Georgetown (I40) a Wickes-class at Charleston after repair's. US Navy on March 10, 1919 under the name USS Maddox (DD 168). June 14, 1922 removed from the fleet in reserve. June 17, 1940 returned from the reserve. September 23, 1940 transferred to Britain under the agreement "Destroyers for Bases Agreement". In September 1942 transferred to Canada, returned to Britain in De tormentor4555 — HMCS Georgetown (I40) May 1943 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Assigned to Division 21, Atlantic Fleet, Maddox departed Boston 3 May 1919 for Trepassey, Newfoundland, en route to the Azores where she became part of a "bridge of ships" assigned to guide Navy flying boats NC‑1 and NC‑4 across the ocean on the first transatlantic flight. Returning to Boston on the 22d, the destroyer operated out of there until she sailed for Europe 26 August 1919. Arriving Brest, France, 19 September, she soon joined an honor escort for George Washington, then bound for Osten, Belgium, to embark the Belgian King and Queen for the United States. Detached on the 25th, Maddox commenced cross‑channel service. Until 24 October she escorted ships and carried naval and Army passengers from Dover and Harwich to Boulogne, France, and the Hook of Holland. Departing Harwich 25 October, the four stacker proceeded through Kiel Canal to visit various Baltic ports.

1920

Returning to the United States 12 February 1920, Maddox operated out of Boston for the next 2 years, off the east coast. Departing Boston 25 February 1922 for Philadelphia, she decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 14 June 1922.

Second World War 1939–1945

1940

Inactive for the next 18 years, Maddox recommissioned 17 June 1940. After brief duty on mid‑Atlantic neutrality patrol, she departed Newport, R.I., 16 September 1940 for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she decommissioned 23 September 1940. The same day, under the destroyer‑naval base agreement, she was transferred to Great Britain and commissloned in the Royal Navy as HMS Georgetown.

1942

USS Maddox (DD-168)
HMS GEORGETOWN, BRITISH TOWN CLASS DESTROYER. 15 APRIL 1942, GREENOCK. John Alfred Hampton — http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/444/media-444639/large.jpg This photograph A 8331 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

As Georgetown, she participated in operation "Bowery," escorting Wasp in May 1942 on her second reinforcement of the spitfire strength on the island of Malta. In September 1942, she transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy for convoy escort duties in the western Atlantic. Returned to the United Kingdom in December 1943, she joined the Reserve Fleet and in August 1944 was turned over to the Soviet Navy and renamed Doblestnyi (Glorious or Valiant).

Other photographs

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

USS Maddox (DD-168)
HMS Georgetown after her 1943 Charlestown, SC refit (USN). Misc. id numbers on caption: 771-43, WR 278, File 15423. US Navy — Image from Destroyer Photo Index DD-168 USS MADDOX — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Maddox (DD-168)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

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.

  1. History Maddox I (Destroyer No. 168) 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.
  2. Facts USS Maddox (DD-168) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph HMS Georgetown FL3224 Royal Navy official photographer — http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//7/media-7276/large.jpg This photograph FL 3224 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph HMCS Georgetown (I40) May 1943. (47635279742) tormentor4555 — HMCS Georgetown (I40) May 1943 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph HMS Georgetown (I40) 1943-1944b US Navy — Image from Destroyer Photo Index DD-168 USS MADDOX — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph HMS Georgetown, British Town Class destroyer. 15 April 1942, Greenock A8331 John Alfred Hampton — http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/444/media-444639/large.jpg This photograph A 8331 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 1) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 10) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 11) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 12) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 13) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 14) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 15) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 16) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 17) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 18) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 19) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 2) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 20) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 21) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 22) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  22. Photograph Maddox (DD-168), 6-17-40-9-23-40 - DPLA - 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa (page 23) Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 9/18/1947-1982 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: 0c9451609e97b85d07b78ba1a20be0aa National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference identifier: 125312165 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons