USS James K. Paulding (DD-238) was a Clemson-class

Clemson class destroyer

The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...

 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...

 during the period between 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...

 and World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. She was named for former Secretary of the Navy James Kirke Paulding

James Kirke Paulding

James Kirke Paulding was an American writer and, for a time, the United States Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:...

.

History

James K. Paulding was laid down 31 July 1918 and launched 20 April 1920 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Miss Mary Hubbard Paulding, great granddaughter of James K. Paulding; and commissioned 29 November 1920, Lieutenant H. W. Jackson in command.

After shakedown James K. Paulding was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet

U.S. Atlantic Fleet

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...

, and commenced tactical exercises with destroyer squadrons along the coast. She arrived at Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

, 31 May 1921 for summer maneuvers and reserve training. Later that year she cruised to Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...

, for squadron exercises, and continued operations there until late winter 1922.

James K. Paulding joined the Scouting Fleet

Scouting Fleet

The Scouting Fleet was part of the United States Fleet in the United States Navy, and renamed the Scouting Force in 1930.Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the Atlantic...

 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 to San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

 for war problems in the Pacific. 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 to Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

 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 career James K. Paulding continued reserve training and tactical exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

. 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.

Fate

The destroyer arrived at The Philadelphia 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 the London treaty for the limitation and reduction of naval armament

London Naval Treaty

The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...

, scrapped, and struck from the Navy List 25 January 1937.

As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been named James K. Paulding. USS Paulding (DD-22)

USS Paulding (DD-22)

USS Paulding was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy. She served in the United States Coast Guard as CG-17. She was named for Rear Admiral Hiram A...

 was named for Hiram Paulding

Hiram Paulding

Hiram Paulding was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, who served from the War of 1812 until after the Civil War.-Naval career:...

.

External links

• http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/238.htm