Ships of the United States Navy and Their Sponsors I I J 2 9 3— 9 3 MA t 1 OD*sC&~y.1 <;V, 1 *- . I<f-L$ (~<r*J 7/. / 2_ COPYRIGHT, 1925 BY THE SOCIETY OF SPONSORS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY • « • « « • t « » * . « » • : •: • • • • c , THE-PEfMPTON-PKES'a ' NORWOOD • MASS. D-8> A • • ••• • ••• • *:•• : . ft>. • • • • • . ••• . > .• ••• FOREWORD HIS volume is supplementary to "Ships of the United States Navy and their Sponsors, 1797-1913," published in 1913 to bring together from widely separated and in- accessible sources all obtainable facts relating to the launch- ing and naming of the fighting craft of our Navy, old and new, and the bestowal of the names upon these vessels by sponsors. Records of Navy launchings and namings had been preserved nowhere in book form up to that time. La- borious research in many directions was necessary to col- lect and verify fragmentary data. The present volume has been prepared primarily for the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy, and also in response to requests for an up-to-date book, from non- members and from libraries. Full accounts of all launchings would be repetition. Typical accounts only are given. Complete biographies of individuals, or complete histo- ries of vessels are manifestly impossible in this volume. Historical notes are not given as complete histories. Bi- ographical notes of patriots for whom Navy vessels have been named are not given as complete biographies. Con- spicuous facts of biographies and of histories are set forth for the purpose of interesting and unmistakable identifi- cation and for the inspiration of every reader with patriotic pride in the achievements of our Navy. Authorities for biographical notes of naval officers and civilians for whom naval vessels have been named are Navy Department Records and the family records of the patriots thus honored. Grateful acknowledgements are made to Mrs. Annie H. Eastman, of the Navy Department Library, for assistance in biographical research, and to many friends who have encouraged and assisted the work. Anne Martin Hall Editor [v] CONTENTS PAGE Custom of Bestowing the Name on U. S. Navy Vessels xi Nomenclature and U. S. Statute Laws Governing Names of Vessels xvi Ships of the U. S. Navy and Their Sponsors 1913-1923. Alphabetically Arranged 3 Society of Sponsors of the U. S. Navy 273 The Baptism of Ships — A History of the Custom among Various Nations 283 Addenda to "Ships of the U. S. Navy and their Spon- sors 1797-1913" 293 Index of Names of Sponsors of U. S. Navy Vessels . 301 [vii] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE U. S. Battleship "Colorado" steaming full speed Frontispiece Launching Stand, U. S. Battleship "Arizona," arrival of the Sponsor ... 6 Ready! Named! Launched! 8 Launching Party, U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Badger" 12 " " U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Bainbridge taking the water 16 " " U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Brooks steaming full speed 24 Launching Party, U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Broome" 28 Bow of U.S. Scout Cruiser "Cincinnati" and launching party 32 " " U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Cole, speeding 40 Launching Party, U. S. Battleship "Colorado" 48 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Converse" steaming full speed 56 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Du Pont" just off the ways 62 " " U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Ellis entering the water 76 Launch of the Steam Frigate "Fulton the First" in 18 14 86 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Reuben James" going full speed 104 A Good Luck Shower! n^ U. S. Cruiser "Marblehead" about to leave the ways . 12. U. S. Battleship "Maryland" launching stand 126 U. S. Battleship "Maryland" sliding down the launching ways 130 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "McDermut" just leaving the ways .... 138 S. U. Scout Cruiser "Milwaukee" under way , 148 Ready to launch U. S. Battleship "New York" 156 U.S. Battleship "Oklahoma" under way 160 Launching Party, U. S. Scout Cruiser "Omaha" 168 Naming the U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Peary" 172 " Launching Party, U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Pillsbury" 174 Submarine coming to the surface 182 " U. S. Submarine R-14" going full speed on the surface 186 Launching of the U. S. Submarine "R-2" 190 Naming the U. S. Submarine "R-26" 194 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Reid" going full speed 198 U. S. Scout Cruiser "Richmond" making a record run 202 Naming the U. S. Submarine "S-15" 206 U.S. Submarine "S-42" launched 210 Indian Princess Sponsor for the U. S. Submarine "S-48," with her party. 214 [ix] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS of S. S. U. S. Airship "Shenandoah" moored to the mast the U. "Patoka". 218 Sponsor of U. S. Airship "Shenandoah" pulling the cord to break the bottle 220 Naming the U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Stewart 2nd" 230 S. Sponsor and party of the U. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Sturtevant" . 236 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Tatnall" taking the water 240 U. S. Battleship "Tennessee" leaving the New York Navy Yard fully com- pleted 244 Just before the U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Tracy" started down the ways 248 U. S. Cruiser "Trenton 2nd," sponsor breaking the bottle 254 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Truxton 2nd," breaking the bottle on the bow 258 " U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer Wainwright" leaving the ways 262 U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Waters" camouflaged 266 Launching Party, U. S. Torpedoboat Destroyer "Whipple 2nd" 270 Sponsors present at organization meeting of Society of Sponsors of U. S. Navy 278 of Presidents the Society of Sponsors of the U. S. Navy, 1908-1923 . 282 Launching Party, U. S. S. "Chattanooga 1st," October 13th, 1865 .... 294 [>] BESTOWING THE NAME HE launching of a Navy ship is an engineering feat of great magnitude, usually so successfully performed that the spectator thrills with enthusiasm entirely devoid of anxiety. Each suc- ceeding battleship becomes larger and heavier, and careful calcu- lation must be worked out bearing directly upon the launching even before a single rivet has been driven. It is the usual custom in launching naval vessels to send them into the water stern first, the fuller form of the hull aft tending to make the vessel rise more quickly from her first plunge than would be the case were she sent into the water bow first, and it also makes the pivotal strain less at that instant when the bow on entering the water and the stern upon rising throw the burden of weight upon the forward poppets or timber shores. In the earlier years of our Navy the name of a United States Navy ship was usually bestowed by an officer of the Navy. The naming party went on board to be launched with the ship, and the sponsor broke a bottle of wine or water over the bow of the vessel and pronounced the name at the moment that the bow struck the water. The ceremony of bestowing the name upon a United States Navy ship has always been a civil ceremony and without intent of religious significance. Examined records give only one instance of religious ceremony in connection with the launch of a United States Navy ship prior to 1914. Prayer, offered by a clergyman, preceded the civil ceremony of launching and naming "Princeton (1st)" in 1843. Just before the vessel was released Captain Stockton, U. S. Navy, who was in charge, assembled those on board and a prayer was offered by the Reverend Doctor Suddards: "Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, Governor of Nations. Humbly we prostrate ourselves before Thee and ask Thy blessing. Most humbly we beseech Thee with Thy favor to behold and bless Thy servant the President of the United States and all the officers of the Government. May the vessel about to be launched be guarded by Thy gracious Providence and care. May it not bear the sword in vain, but as the minister of God be a terror to those who do evil and a defense to those who do well. Graciously Cxi] BESTOWING THE NAME bless its officers and men. May love of country be engraven upon their hearts. Remember in mercy both arms of our National defense, and may virtue, honor and religion pervade all their ranks. Bless all nations and individuals on the earth and hasten the time when the benefits of holy religion shall have so prevailed that none shall wage war again for the purpose of aggression and none shall need it as a means of defense. All of which blessings ask in the name of Him we — who taught us to say: 'Our Father who art in Heaven' . ." (U. S. Gazette) In 1914 the custom of prayer at launchings of our battleships was established through the efforts of the Society of Sponsors. A copy of the historic prayer offered in 1843 was forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy with a petition that an adapted form of the prayer be offered at launchings of our Navy battleships. Army and Navy Journal: "At the launching of the battleship "Oklahoma" at Camden, N. J., on March 23, 1914, there was observed the custom which has always prevailed in other Christian countries of prayer pre- ceding the civil ceremony of naming a battleship. This sugges- tion, made by Mrs. Reynold T. Hall, president of the Society of Sponsors, was most enthusiastically received by the Oklahoma delegation to the launching, and Bishop Hoss, of Oklahoma, was invited to offer the invocation. Prior to this occasion the United States had launched its battleships with civil ceremony only. In other countries this religious custom is always observed, and in England the special prayer at launchings is one of great beauty. This suggestion made by the Society of Sponsors was highly commended by the Secretary of the Navy and by the Oklahoma state officials.