USS Lansdale (DD-101)

The first USS "Lansdale" (DD-101) was a "Wickes"-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and later designated, DM-6 in the years following. She was named in honor of Philip Van Horne Lansdale.

History

"Lansdale" was laid down 20 April 1918 by Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 21 July 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Ethel S. Lansdale, widow of Lieutenant Lansdale; and commissioned 26 October 1918 at Boston, Comdr. C. W. Margruder in command.

Assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, "Lansdale" steamed to Norfolk 4 November to 7 November and joined a European bound convoy as escort 12 November. Sailing via the Azores, she reached Gibraltar 26 November for patrol duty in the Mediterranean. Operating out of Gibraltar until January 1919, she made three voyages to Tangier, Morocco, and one to Algiers, Algeria. Steaming to Venice, 4 January to 13 January, she joined the U.S. Naval Force operating the eastern Mediterranean. She performed dispatch duty in the Adriatic Sea, principally between Venice and the ports of Austria (on Croatian coast). Departing Split, Croatia (then Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, 10 June, she steamed to Gibraltar and the Azores and reached New York 22 June.

During the next year "Lansdale" operated along the Atlantic coast with Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet. Arriving Philadelphia 11 July 1920, she was converted to a light minelayer and reclassified DM-6. She steamed to Newport, Rhode Island, 2 June to 3 June 1921; joined the Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet 5 July at Gloucester, Massachusetts; and until late October practiced laying mines off the New England and Virginia coasts. After overhaul at Boston, she steamed to Guantanamo Bay 4 January to 9 January 1922 for maneuvers, mining exercises, and war games in the West Indies with Mine Squadron 1. Departing Culebra Island 19 April, she arrived Philadelphia 25 April and decommissioned 25 June.

"Lansdale" recommissioned 1 May 1930 at Philadelphia, Comdr. Frank R. Berg in command. She joined Mine Squadron 1 at Yorktown 17 May; engaged in mining and tactical exercises along the eastern seaboard; then arrived New London, Connecticut, 30 September to serve as target ship for submarines. She departed 12 November; and, after visiting Boston, she arrived Philadelphia 22 December. Remaining there, "Lansdale" decommissioned 24 March 1931. On 28 December 1936 she was reduced to a hulk for disposal in accordance with the London Treaty for limitation and reduction of naval armaments. Her name was struck from the Naval Register 25 January 1937, and she was sold 16 March 1939 to Union Shipbuilding Company, Baltimore, Maryland.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l3/lansdale-i.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/101.htm NavSource Photos]