USS McDougal (DD-54)

The first USS "McDougal" (DD-54) was an "O'Brien"-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. "McDougal" served in the United States Coast Guard as CG-6. She was named in honor of David Stockton McDougal

"McDougal" was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Ltd., Bath, Maine, 29 July 1913; launched 22 April 1914; sponsored by Miss Marguerite S. LeBreton; and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts 16 June 1914, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) J. H. Hoover in temporary command and Lieutenant Commander L. C. Palmer in command 27 July.

After shakedown, "McDougal" began duty with the Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. Prior to America’s entry into World War I, she operated out of New York and Newport, Rhode Island, and carried out maneuvers and tactical exercises along the east coast. She cruised to the Caribbean and took part in fleet war games between January and May 1916, and in addition served intermittently with the Neutrality patrol. For the first 3 months of 1917 she again joined in exercises in the Caribbean, then returned to New York and Newport to prepare for distant service.

"McDougal" departed Boston 24 April 1917 and steamed with the pioneer American destroyer group under Commander Joseph Taussig to Queenstown, Ireland, arriving there 4 May. Among the first destroyers to join English Forces for duty after the entry of the United States into World War I, she patrolled off the Irish coast and escorted convoys of merchant ships and troop transports through waters menaced by German submarines to British ports and the French coast. She carried out unrelenting patrols against the U-boats and, in addition, performed rescue operations in the war zone. When British ship "Manchester Miller" was torpedoed and sunk 5 June 1917, "McDougal" sped to her assistance and rescued 33 survivors.

As "McDougal" escorted a convoy off the southwest coast of England, she detected a surfaced submarine in the early hours of 8 September and gave chase at full speed. The U-boat submerged about 500 yards ahead of the closing destroyer, and "McDougal" dropped two depth charges which brought an oil slick to the surface. Her skillful maneuvering and prompt attack saved the convoy from attack and resulted in probable damage to the submarine.

"McDougal" collided with the British merchantman "Glenmorag" in the Irish Sea 4 February 1918 and until mid-July underwent repairs at Liverpool. Thence, during the remaining months of World War I she operated out of Brest, France, as escort for convoys approaching and departing that vital Allied port. Following the Armistice, she served as part of the escort for "George Washington" when the transport arrived at Brest 13 December with President Woodrow Wilson embarked.

"McDougal" departed Brest 21 December with Destroyer Division 7 and reached New York 8 January 1919. She resumed duty along the east coast and during May provided part of the comprehensive at-sea support as Navy seaplanes undertook the historic first aerial crossing of the Atlantic. After completing exercises in the Caribbean, she was placed in commission in reserve at New York 7 August. She was laid up in reduced commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Charleston, South Carolina in the years that followed, but she trained in New England waters during the summer of 1921.

She decommissioned at Philadelphia 26 May 1922.

"McDougal" was transferred to the Treasury Department 7 June 1924 for service with the United States Coast Guard in the Rum Patrol.

Returned to the custody of the Navy 30 June 1933, she remained in noncommissioned status. In accordance with terms of the London Naval Treaty, she was ordered scrapped 29 June 1934. Her name was struck from the Navy list 5 July 1934, and she was sold for scrap to Michael Flynn, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, 22 August 1934.

ee also

*List of United States Navy destroyers