_underway_during_the_1920s_(NH_52058).jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | Hugh Kidder |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation,Union Iron Works,San Francisco |
| Laid down | 5 March 1919 |
| Launched | 10 July 1919 |
| Commissioned | 7 February 1921 |
| Decommissioned | 18 March 1930 |
| Stricken | 22 July 1930 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 31 October 1930 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Clemson-classdestroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 314 ft 4 in (95.8 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m) |
| Draught | 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2steam turbines |
| Speed | 35knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) (design) |
| Range | 2,500nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (design) |
| Complement | 6 officers, 108 enlisted men |
| Armament |
|
USSKidder (DD-319) was aClemson-classdestroyer in service with theUnited States Navy from 1921 to 1930. She was scrapped in 1931.
Hugh P. Kidder was born in 1897 inWaukon, Iowa. He enlisted in theUnited States Marine Corps and served in France duringWorld War I. He was awarded theCroix de Guerre with palm and star duringWorld War I for courage and endurance while carrying orders to advanced positions under violent machine gun fire during a period of 9 days. He was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism nearBlanch Mont on 2 October 1918 when he led a small patrol into enemy trenches and captured two strong machine gun positions.First Lieutenant Kidder was killed in action on 3 October attempting to better his position in the face of heavy machine gun and artillery fire.
TheClemson class was a repeat of the precedingWickes class although more fuel capacity was added.[1] The ships displaced 1,290 long tons (1,311 t) atstandard load and 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) atdeep load. They had anoverall length of 314 feet 4 inches (95.8 m), abeam of 30 feet 11 inches (9.4 m) and adraught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 m). They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men.[2]
Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. TheClemson class was powered by twosteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by fourwater-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 27,000shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) intended to reach a speed of 35knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 371 long tons (377 t) offuel oil which was intended gave them a range of 2,500nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[3]
The ships were armed with four4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts and were fitted with two1-pounder guns for anti-aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1-pounders caused them to be replaced by3-inch (76 mm) guns. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedobattery of a dozen21 inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair ofdepth charge rails. A "Y-gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.[4]
Kidder, named forHugh Kidder, was launched 10 July 1919 byBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation,San Francisco, California; sponsored by Miss Ethel Murry Jonstone; and commissioned 7 February 1921. After shakedown along the coast,Kidder was assigned to Destroyer Division 34,Battle Fleet, atSan Diego, California. From 1921 to 1924 she operated along the West Coast betweenWashington and thePanama Canal Zone engaging in training maneuvers, fleet problems, and gunnery exercises. The destroyer played a significant role in the development of naval warfare through using experimental torpedoes in exercises.
Kidder transited thePanama Canal during January 1924 for fleet concentrations in theCaribbean, returning San Diego 22 April. She continued her training operations before clearing San Francisco 15 April 1925 for a fleet problem and joint exercises off Hawaii.Kidder then accompanied the Battle Fleet toSamoa, Australia, and New Zealand before returning toMare Island 26 September.
For the rest of her naval service she was almost constantly at sea, including winter fleet concentrations in the Caribbean during 1927 and a joint submarine exercise off Hawaii in the spring and summer of 1928.
During her final year of service,Kidder operated out of San Diego and decommissioned there 18 March 1930. After scrapping, her materials were sold 31 October 1930 in accordance with the terms of theLondon Treaty limiting naval armament.
As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been namedKidder.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
