USS Melvin (DD-335)
| Career (US) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | John T. Melvin |
| Builder: | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Union Iron Works, San Francisco |
| Laid down: | 15 September 1920 |
| Launched: | 11 April 1921 |
| Commissioned: | 31 May 1921 |
| Decommissioned: | 8 May 1930 |
| Struck: | 3 November 1930 |
| Fate: | sold for scrap, 1930 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Clemson-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,190 tons |
| Length: | 314 feet 4 inches (95.81 m) |
| Beam: | 31 feet 8 inches (9.65 m) |
| Draft: | 9 feet 3 inches (2.82 m) |
| Propulsion: | 26,500 shp (20 MW); geared turbines, 2 screws |
| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Range: | 4,900 nmi (9,100 km) @ 15 kt |
| Complement: | 122 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | 4 × 4" (102 mm), 1 × 3" (76 mm), 12 × 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes |
The first USS Melvin (DD-335) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Lieutenant (junior grade) John T. Melvin.
History
Melvin was laid down 15 September 1920 at the Union Plant, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California; launched 11 April 1921; sponsored by Miss Laura L. McKinistry; and commissioned 31 May 1921, Lieutenant Commander Charles E. Rosendahl in command.
Following a brief shakedown, Melvin began operations off the west coast, which was to be her primary cruising area for her entire career, with a round-trip voyage to San Diego, California. During her 9 years in commission Melvin thrice transited the Panama Canal for Caribbean-based fleet problems, 1923, 1924, and 1927. Following such operations in the latter year, she cruised north to New York and Newport, Rhode Island before sailing for Nicaragua. Arriving in the Bluefields area 25 June, she remained until 6 July to lend support, if needed, to marines then charged with supervising the establishment of the Nicaraguan Guardia Nacional and maintaining an uneasy truce. Exercises and type training in Hawaiian waters also interrupted her west coast operations and, subsequent to such maneuvers in the spring of 1925, she completed her only roundtrip cruise across the Pacific, a good will tour which took her to Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand.
On 17 July 1929, Melvin entered the Navy yard at Mare Island, San Francisco, to begin inactivation. On 7 October, in tow of Tern, she headed south on her last voyage to San Diego. Arriving on the 11th, she decommissioned 8 May 1930 and on the 10th was towed back to Mare Island for scrapping. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 3 November 1930, her materials were sold in the course of the next 2 years.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
