USS Perkins (DD-26)

The first USS "Perkins" (DD-26) was a modified Sclass|Paulding|destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Commodore George Hamilton Perkins.

"Perkins" was laid down on 22 March 1909 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched on 9 April 1910; and commissioned on 18 November 1910, Lieutenant Commander Joel R. P. Pringle in command.

After almost 7 years of peacetime service with active and reserve destroyer squadrons, "Perkins" recommissioned 3 April 1917, Lieutenant Frank M. Knox in command. Assigned to the second division of United States destroyer forces in Europe, a division which included "Paulding", "Wilkes", and "Ammen", she operated out of Queenstown, Ireland, from June into November 1917.

During this duty, she rescued survivors of "Tarquah" on 7 August, and escorted S.S. "Bohemia" from Saint Nazaire to Ireland and S.S. "New York" from Queenstown to Liverpool. In November 1917 she departed Ireland for New York, New York.

During the winter of 1917–1918, she underwent overhaul at Charleston, South Carolina. From March to December 1918 she operated out of Gravesend Bay, New York, on anti-submarine patrol and escort duty. She sighted German submarine "U–151" off New Jersey on 2 June 1918. On convoy duty she escorted various ships, including "President Grant" and "President Washington", between Halifax, Nova Scotia and New York.

Entering the Reserve Fleet on 5 December 1919, she remained there until she was struck from the Navy List on 8 March 1935, sold on 28 June, and scrapped.

ee also

*List of United States Navy destroyers