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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | James Kirke Paulding |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 31 July 1918 |
| Launched | 20 April 1920 |
| Commissioned | 29 November 1920 |
| Decommissioned | 10 February 1931 |
| Stricken | 25 January 1937 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 16 March 1939 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Clemson-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 1,190 tons |
| Length | 314 feet 5 inches (95,830 mm) |
| Beam | 31 feet 8 inches (9,650 mm) |
| Draft | 9 feet 3 inches (2,820 mm) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Range |
|
| Complement | 101 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | 4 x4 in (100 mm) guns, 1 x3 in (76 mm) gun, 2 x .30 cal. (7.62 mm), 12 x21 inch (533 mm) tt. |
USSJames K. Paulding (DD-238) was aClemson-classdestroyer in theUnited States Navy during the period betweenWorld War I andWorld War II. She was named for formerSecretary of the NavyJames Kirke Paulding.
James K. Paulding was laid down 31 July 1918 and launched 20 April 1920 byNew York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Miss Mary Hubbard Paulding, great granddaughter of James K. Paulding; and commissioned 29 November 1920.
After shakedownJames K. Paulding was assigned to theAtlantic Fleet, and commenced tactical exercises with destroyer squadrons along the coast. She arrived atNewport, Rhode Island, 31 May 1921 for summer maneuvers and reserve training. Later that year she cruised toCharleston, South Carolina, for squadron exercises, and continued operations there until late winter 1922.
James K. Paulding joined theScouting Fleet January 1923 and throughout the year engaged in tactical war problems designed to maintain the fleet in the best possible fighting condition. She continued these operations in addition to reserve training until she sailed in February 1925 toSan Diego, California for war problems in thePacific. Upon her return to Newport 31 August, she resumed her duties with the Scouting Fleet. While engaging in gunnery exercises in Caribbean waters November 1926,James K. Paulding sailed toNicaragua to protect American interests in the wake of political turmoil in that country. During March and April 1927 she remained off Nicaragua to prevent any smuggling of arms.
For the remainder of her careerJames K. Paulding continued reserve training and tactical exercises in the Atlantic andCaribbean. During her service with the Navy she conducted peacekeeping operations, reserve training, and fleet problems all to maintain the United States' seapower, and provided a base upon which more powerful naval forces were built.
The destroyer arrived at ThePhiladelphia Navy Yard 31 October 1930, and decommissioned there 10 February 1931. She was reduced to a hulk 28 December 1936 in accordance with the provisions of theLondon treaty for the limitation and reduction of naval armament, scrapped, and struck from the Navy List 25 January 1937.
As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been namedJames K. Paulding.USSPaulding (DD-22) was named forHiram Paulding.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
