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USS Chauncey (DD-3)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Chauncey (DD-3) (originally "Destroyer No. 3") was a Bainbridge-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
named for Commodore Isaac Chauncey
.
. She was sponsored by Mrs. M. C. S. Todd and placed in reduced commission on 20 November 1902. Chauncey placed in reserve on 2 December 1902 and received full commission
on 21 February 1903. Lieutenant
Stanford Elwood Moses was placed in command and Chauncey reported to the Atlantic Fleet
.
and left Key West
for the Orient on 18 December. After sailing by way of the Suez Canal
, she arrived at Cavite
to join the force representing US interest in the Far East as it cruised in the Philippines
during winters and off China
during summers. Aside from the period of 3 December 1905-12 January 1907, when she was in reserve at Cavite, Chauncey continued this service until the entrance of America into World War I
.
escort duty in the eastern Atlantic
, based at St. Nazaire, France
. On 19 November, while about 110 mi (177 km) west of Gibraltar
on escort duty, Chauncey was rammed by the British
merchantman SS Rose as both ships steamed in war-imposed darkness. At 03:17, Chauncey sank in 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) of water, taking to their death 21 men including her captain
, Lieutenant Commander
Walter E. Reno
. 70 survivors were picked up by Rose, and carried to port.
was written by a survivor of Chauncey, Marcus Goodrich, and is a fictional account based on his experience serving aboard Chauncey as an enlisted man.
Bainbridge class destroyer
Officially designated as Torpedo Boat Destroyers when authorized by Congress in 1898, the Bainbridge-class destroyers were the first destroyers of the United States Navy, built from 1899 through 1903....
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
named for Commodore Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey was an officer in the United States Navy.-Biography:Chauncey, born in Black Rock, Connecticut, 20 February 1779, was appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy from 17 September 1798...
.
Construction
Chauncey was launched on 26 October 1901 by Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She was sponsored by Mrs. M. C. S. Todd and placed in reduced commission on 20 November 1902. Chauncey placed in reserve on 2 December 1902 and received full commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 21 February 1903. Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Stanford Elwood Moses was placed in command and Chauncey reported to the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
.
Pre-World War I
Chauncey served with the Coast Squadron until 20 September 1903, when she was transferred to the Asiatic FleetUnited States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
and left Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
for the Orient on 18 December. After sailing by way of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, she arrived at Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
to join the force representing US interest in the Far East as it cruised in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during winters and off China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during summers. Aside from the period of 3 December 1905-12 January 1907, when she was in reserve at Cavite, Chauncey continued this service until the entrance of America into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Sinking
The destroyer sailed from Cavite on 1 August 1917 for convoyConvoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
escort duty in the eastern Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, based at St. Nazaire, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. On 19 November, while about 110 mi (177 km) west of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
on escort duty, Chauncey was rammed by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
merchantman SS Rose as both ships steamed in war-imposed darkness. At 03:17, Chauncey sank in 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) of water, taking to their death 21 men including her captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
Walter E. Reno
Walter E. Reno
Walter Elsworth Reno was an officer in the United States Navy. He died while on convoy duty in World War I, when his ship was accidentally rammed by a British vessel.-Biography:...
. 70 survivors were picked up by Rose, and carried to port.
USS Chauncey in literature
The novel DelilahDelilah (novel)
Delilah, by Marcus Goodrich, was first published in 1941.It revolves around the activities of the fictional American destroyer the U.S.S. Delilah and her crew in and around the Philippines in the time period from 1916 to 1917...
was written by a survivor of Chauncey, Marcus Goodrich, and is a fictional account based on his experience serving aboard Chauncey as an enlisted man.