.jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | Samuel W. Preston |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation,Union Iron Works,San Francisco |
| Laid down | 19 July 1919 |
| Launched | 7 August 1920 |
| Commissioned | 13 April 1921 |
| Decommissioned | 1 May 1930 |
| Stricken | 6 November 1931 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 23 August 1932 |
| 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 |
|
USSPreston (DD-327) was aClemson-classdestroyer built for theUnited States Navy during World War I.
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]
_and_Bruce_(DD-329)_in_Pedro_Miguel_Locks_c1922.jpeg)
Preston, named forSamuel W. Preston, was laid down 19 July 1919 by theBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation,San Francisco, California; launched 7 August 1920; sponsored by Mrs. Addie Worth Bagley Daniels, wife of theSecretary of the Navy; and commissioned 13 April 1921. Following shakedown, the flush-decked destroyer remained on the west coast on temporary duty. Until December 1921, she conducted exercises out ofSan Diego, California, then got underway for assignment with theAtlantic Fleet Destroyer Force. With that force for most of her naval career, she operated along the east coast, regularly sailing south for winter exercises in theCaribbean. In June 1925 she interrupted that schedule for a tour withUS Naval Forces in European Waters. On that tour she cruised from the waters offScandinavia to theMediterranean. In July 1926, she returned toNew York and resumed her former schedule of east coast and Caribbean employment.
Preston was decommissioned atPhiladelphia 1 May 1930 and was assigned to theNorfolk Navy Yard for strength tests. Her name was struck from theNavy List 6 November 1931 and on 23 August 1932 her hull was sold for scrap.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
