USS Hull (DD-7)

The first USS "Hull" (DD-7) was a "Bainbridge"-class destroyer in the United States Navy named for Commodore Isaac Hull.

"Hull" was launched by Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware, on 21 June 1902; sponsored by Miss Mabel Hull, a descendant of Commodore Hull; and commissioned on 20 May 1903, Lt. S. S. Robinson in command.

During her first 2 years of service, "Hull" engaged in patrol and training maneuvers off Newport and in Chesapeake Bay. After a cruise to the Caribbean January-April 1905 she returned to League Island, Pennsylvania, where she decommissioned 30 September September.

"Hull" recommissioned on 14 November 1906 at Philadelphia, and took part in winter exercises with fleet units in Cuban waters. After operations off Newport the ship returned to Norfolk in October 1907 to prepare for the voyage of the Great White Fleet. "Hull" sailed as an escort vessel 2 December and after stopping at many South American and Central American ports on the voyage around South America with the great battleships, arrived San Diego on 28 April 1907. "Hull" was detached on the west coast, and the Great White Fleet continued on its cruise, showing the flag around the world. The destroyer remained in the vicinity of San Francisco until departing on 24 August 1908 for a cruise to the South Pacific. She took part in various exercises in Hawaiian and Samoan waters before returning to San Diego in November.

"Hull" spent the years before World War I on patrol and training exercises off the California coast. She decommissioned on 30 October 1912 and joined the Reserve Torpedo Division at Mare Island, with which she made occasional training cruises to California ports. When America entered the war in April 1917 "Hull" was being refitted at Mare Island. She sailed with other destroyers for the Panama Canal Zone 25 April April and for the next 3 months was engaged in defensive patrol off the western approaches to that vital waterway. She sailed to Norfolk 26 July for escort and patrol duty along the East Coast. In the months that followed "Hull" escorted ships to Bermuda and engaged in training maneuvers with other ships of the fleet as well. In June 1918 she broke up an attack by German submarine "U-151" on a merchant ship, and often rescued sailors from sinking ships. She continued this vital ocean patrol duty until the end of the war.

"Hull" arrived Philadelphia on 29 January 1919, and decommissioned 7 July July. She was sold on 5 January 1921 to Joseph G. Hitner of Philadelphia.

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References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h9/hull-i.htm