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USS Putnam (DD-287)
Encyclopedia
USS Putnam (DD-287) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
following World War I. She was named for Charles Putnam
.
, Squantum, Massachusetts 30 June 1919, launched 30 September 1919, sponsored by Miss Katherine Brown; and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts 18 December 1919, Commander Wilbur Riee Van Auken in command.
Upon completion of shakedown out of Boston, Putnam was assigned to Division 43, Squadron 3, Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet
based at Newport, Rhode Island
. She sailed from Newport 8 February 1920 for Guantanamo Bay
where she carried out target practice until 26 April. Putnam was later sent to Tampico
, Mexico
, to join and in observing the volatile political situation there 10 May – 14 June. She made a reservist training cruise between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and Newport before being placed in reserve at Charleston 22 September.
Putnam was reassigned to Destroyer Division 49, Squadron 1 upon returning to active duty 1 May 1921 and took part in summer exercises with the Destroyer Force out of Newport until 16 November. After spending the winter in reserve at Charleston, South Carolina
, she was ordered to Destroyer Division 25 Squadron 9 at Newport 27 June 1922. Putnam engaged in gunnery drills at Guantanamo Bay
(16 April – 25 May 1923) before returning to Boston for periodic overhaul. She rejoined her division at Guantanamo Bay 5 April 1924 for maneuvers with Scouting Fleet
Destroyers there and later off Hampton Roads
until 29 October. Putnam rendezvoused with the fleet for torpedo exercises in the Caribbean again 6 January – 10 February 1925.
Following repairs at Boston (14 February – 1 July 1925), Putnam reported to the Newport Naval Torpedo Station
for experimental duty and participated in the search to locate the wreck of on 26 September. She departed Newport 2 October for Gonaïves
, Haiti
, Guantanamo Bay and the Panama Canal Zone
to continue her readiness operations with Scouting Fleet Destroyers. Putnam sailed for Boston 20 February 1926 for a refit.
Upon completion of repairs at Boston 28 April 1926, Putnam resumed her schedule of experimental torpedo duty at Newport and fleet maneuvers off Haiti until October 1927. She then proceeded to Charleston for Fleet Problem II (30 October – 2 December).
After exercises off Haiti in January and February, Putnam completed three reservists' training cruises between Philadelphia and Newport (30 June – 24 August) before sailing 31 August for Charleston and depth charge practice. She resumed operations in Panamanian waters 16 January 1929, participated in Fleet Problem IX, transited and retransmitted the Panama Canal and later engaged in gunnery drills off Haiti before sailing for Boston 27 April. Putnam served as a reservists' training ship for two cruises out of Tompkinsville, New York
(19 July – 30 August).
22 October 1930, sold 17 January 1931; and scrapped in 1931 by her purchasers according to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
. Other sources state she was converted into an express fruit carrier, either MV Tabasco or MV Teapa.
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...
following World War I. She was named for Charles Putnam
Charles Putnam
Charles Flint Putnam was an officer in the United States Navy.-Biography:Born in Freeport, Illinois, Putnam entered the Naval Academy at the age of 14. Upon his request at graduation in 1873, he was ordered to the Far East in , serving in that vessel with the Asiatic Squadron until 1875...
.
History
Putnam was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding CorporationBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...
, Squantum, Massachusetts 30 June 1919, launched 30 September 1919, sponsored by Miss Katherine Brown; and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts 18 December 1919, Commander Wilbur Riee Van Auken in command.
Upon completion of shakedown out of Boston, Putnam was assigned to Division 43, Squadron 3, Destroyer Force 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...
based 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...
. She sailed from Newport 8 February 1920 for Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
where she carried out target practice until 26 April. Putnam was later sent to Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, to join and in observing the volatile political situation there 10 May – 14 June. She made a reservist training cruise between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and Newport before being placed in reserve at Charleston 22 September.
Putnam was reassigned to Destroyer Division 49, Squadron 1 upon returning to active duty 1 May 1921 and took part in summer exercises with the Destroyer Force out of Newport until 16 November. After spending the winter in reserve at 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...
, she was ordered to Destroyer Division 25 Squadron 9 at Newport 27 June 1922. Putnam engaged in gunnery drills at Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
(16 April – 25 May 1923) before returning to Boston for periodic overhaul. She rejoined her division at Guantanamo Bay 5 April 1924 for maneuvers with 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...
Destroyers there and later off Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
until 29 October. Putnam rendezvoused with the fleet for torpedo exercises in the Caribbean again 6 January – 10 February 1925.
Following repairs at Boston (14 February – 1 July 1925), Putnam reported to the Newport Naval Torpedo Station
Naval Station Newport
The Naval Station Newport is a United States Navy base located in the towns of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Naval Station Newport is home to the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School...
for experimental duty and participated in the search to locate the wreck of on 26 September. She departed Newport 2 October for Gonaïves
Gonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, Guantanamo Bay and the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
to continue her readiness operations with Scouting Fleet Destroyers. Putnam sailed for Boston 20 February 1926 for a refit.
Upon completion of repairs at Boston 28 April 1926, Putnam resumed her schedule of experimental torpedo duty at Newport and fleet maneuvers off Haiti until October 1927. She then proceeded to Charleston for Fleet Problem II (30 October – 2 December).
After exercises off Haiti in January and February, Putnam completed three reservists' training cruises between Philadelphia and Newport (30 June – 24 August) before sailing 31 August for Charleston and depth charge practice. She resumed operations in Panamanian waters 16 January 1929, participated in Fleet Problem IX, transited and retransmitted the Panama Canal and later engaged in gunnery drills off Haiti before sailing for Boston 27 April. Putnam served as a reservists' training ship for two cruises out of Tompkinsville, New York
Tompkinsville, Staten Island
Tompkinsville is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City in the United States. Though the neighborhood sits on the island's eastern shore, along the waterfront facing Upper New York Bay — between St...
(19 July – 30 August).
Fate
Putnam decommissioned at Philadelphia 21 September 1929; was struck from the Navy ListNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
22 October 1930, sold 17 January 1931; and scrapped in 1931 by her purchasers according to the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships is the official reference work for the basic facts about ships used by the United States Navy...
. Other sources state she was converted into an express fruit carrier, either MV Tabasco or MV Teapa.