History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Mason |
Namesake | John Y. Mason |
Builder | Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company |
Laid down | 10 July 1918 |
Launched | 8 March 1919 |
Commissioned | 28 February 1920 |
Decommissioned | 3 July 1922 |
Recommissioned | 4 December 1939 |
Decommissioned | 8 October 1940 |
Stricken | 8 January 1941 |
Identification | DD-191 |
Fate | Transferred to United Kingdom 9 October 1940 |
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Broadwater |
Acquired | 9 October 1940 |
Commissioned | 9 October 1940 |
Identification | Pennant number: H81 |
Fate | Torpedoed and sunk by U-101, 18 October 1941 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Clemson-class destroyer |
Displacement | 1190 tons |
Length | 314 ft 5 in (95.83 m) |
Beam | 31 ft 9 in (9.68 m) |
Draft | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
Range | 4,900 nmi (9,100 km; 5,600 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Complement | 101 officers and enlisted |
Armament |
|
USS Mason (DD-191) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Broadwater (H81).
The first Navy ship named for Secretary of the Navy John Y. Mason (1799–1859), Mason was laid down by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia on 10 July 1918. The ship was launched 8 March 1919; sponsored by Miss Mary Mason Williams, great-granddaughter of Secretary Mason. Mason was commissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard 28 February 1920, with Lieutenant Carl F. Holden temporarily in command until 8 March.
On 17 July Mason was designated DD-191. After shakedown off Norfolk, Virginia, she operated along the east coast for the next 2 years until she sailed for Philadelphia. As a result of the Washington Naval Treaty of 6 February 1922 limiting naval armament, the destroyer was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 3 July 1922.
After World War II broke out in Europe, Mason recommissioned 4 December 1939. Under terms of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement of 2 September 1940, she became one of 50 overage ships of this class turned over to United Kingdom in exchange for 99-year leases on strategic bases in the Western Hemisphere. Mason arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2 October; decommissioned 8 October 1940; and was transferred to the British Royal Navy as HMS Broadwater with the pennant number H81 the next day.
On 15 October she departed Halifax for the British Isles, via St. John's, Newfoundland, arriving in the River Clyde, Scotland, on the 26th for service with the 11th Escort Group, Western Approaches Command. During the early part of 1941 the Broadwater escorted convoys, carrying troops and military supplies, around the Cape of Good Hope to the Middle East. She spent May and June at Southampton England.
Assigned to the Newfoundland Escort Force in July, the ship patrolled the North Atlantic and guarded convoys against the German submarine "wolfpacks" into the fall of that year. Detached from escorting Convoy TC 14, early in the morning of 17 October she attacked a U-boat, one of a pack assaulting the eastbound Convoy SC 48 some 400 miles (640 km) south of Iceland. That night Broadwater was hit by torpedoes of U-101 and sank at 13:40 on 18 October. Four officers and forty crew lost their lives including Lt. John Stanley Parker RNVR, the first American to die in action whilst serving under the White Ensign. Broadwater's bell and ship's documents were presented to the people of Broadwater, Nebraska by the British government after the end of World War II. They can be viewed at the Broadwater Public Library and City Museum. [1]
USS Claxton (DD-140), named for Thomas Claxton, was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Entering service in 1919, the destroyer saw intermittent use during the interwar period. During World War II, Claxton was transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Salisbury. The ship saw service in the Battle of the Atlantic before sold for scrapping in 1944.
The first USS Abbot (DD-184) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy until traded to Britain at the beginning of World War II. She served in the Royal Navy as HMS Charlestown (I21), a Town-class destroyer.
USS Abel P. Upshur (DD-193) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard until transferred to the United Kingdom in 1940. During World War II, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Clare.
USS Fairfax (DD-93) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later transferred for World War II service first to the Royal Navy as HMS Richmond (G88), a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Soviet Navy as Zhivuchy.
The first USS Twiggs (DD–127) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Major Levi Twiggs. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy, as HMS Leamington and to the Soviet Navy as Zhguchy, before returning to Britain to star in the film The Gift Horse, which depicts the St. Nazaire Raid.
The first USS Cowell (DD–167) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Brighton, and later to the Soviet Navy as Zharky.
USS Maddox (DD–168) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Georgetown (I40), to the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Georgetown, and then to the Soviet Navy as Doblestny . She was the last "four piper" destroyer to be scrapped.
The second USS Foote (DD–169) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Roxborough (I07) and later to the Soviet Navy as Zhyostky.
The first USS Haraden (DD–183) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy in the period following World War I. She was later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Columbia, as a Town-class destroyer.
The first USS Hopewell (DD–181) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy, entering service in 1919. After a brief active life, the ship was deactivated in 1922 and placed in reserve for 18 years before returning to service in 1940 during World War II. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Bath (I17), as a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
The first USS Thomas (DD–182) was a Wickes-class destroyer of the United States Navy that entered service just after World War I.
USS Conner (DD-72), a Caldwell-class destroyer, served in the United States Navy, and later in the Royal Navy as HMS Leeds.
USS Satterlee (DD-190) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy, entering service in 1919. After brief service until 1922, the ship was placed in reserve. The ship was reactivated for World War II before being transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940. Renamed HMS Belmont, the destroyer was used as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic where she was torpedoed and sunk on 31 January 1942.
USS Hunt (DD-194) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She also served in the United States Coast Guard, as USCGD Hunt (CG-18). She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Broadway (H90).
USS Welborn C. Wood (DD-195) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She served with the United States Coast Guard as USCGD Wood. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Chesterfield.
USS Branch (DD-197) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy that entered service in 1920. After a short active life, Branch was placed in reserve in 1922. The ship was activated again for World War II before being transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940. Renamed HMS Beverley, the destroyer served in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort and was torpedoed and sunk on 11 April 1943.
USS Herndon (DD-198) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Herndon served in the United States Coast Guard as CG-17. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Churchill and still later to the Soviet Navy as Deyatelny.
The second USS Aulick (DD-258) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy where she served as HMS Burnham (H82) during World War II.
USS Edwards (DD-265) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy where she served as HMS Buxton (H96) and later in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.
The second USS Bailey (DD-269) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy where she served as HMS Reading (G71) during World War II.