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Ships of the United States Navy in Cork Ireland during World War One |
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USS DRAYTON DD23 |
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USS Drayton in Brest, France. |
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USS Drayton arrived in Queenstown (now Cobh) in the south of Ireland, on the 1st of June 1917. She was accompanied by USS Paulding, Patterson, Jenkins, Trippe, Warrington, and Walke. Queenstown was the centre for anti- Initially there was uncertainty as to the most effective use of destroyers. At first they were given patrol areas which they would scout, singly or in pairs. Any stray incoming merchantmen seen, were to be escorted to near their destinations. This was a most ineffective use of the force, as the chances of coming across, and destroying a lone submarine in the vastness of the Western Approaches was virtually nil. By Summer 1917, under the urging of commanders such as Admiral Sims, Commander of US Naval Forces in Europe, the convoy system was initiated. Groups of merchantmen were escorted through the war zone by flanking destroyer screens. This had the dual effect of reducing the amount of targets for German u- Destroy Submarines. Protect and escort Merchantmen. Save the crews and passengers of torpedoed ships. Anti- The destroyers , initially, were ill- On the 11th of June, 1917, in pos 51.28N, 14.56W, the Q- Drayton, had been escorting SS Haverford (Specially valuable ship). HMS Narwhal was sent to relieve Drayton, on escort. On the 20th of June,1917, in position 52.20N, 13.35W, SS Bengore Head was shelled and sunk by submarine at 3pm. Entire crew of 32 was picked up by USS Drayton, and landed at Berehaven. On the 12th of July, 1917, at 5pm, USS Drayton picked up SS Phidias and SS Patani in pos 50.00N, 15.56W. The SS Navarino joined them at 5.30pm. Later sighted two more steamers who also joined the convoy at 7.30pm. At 11pm Conyngham and McDougal joined. Later again USS Patterson who was escorting SS Kansas City joined the other ships. At this point there was a convoy of 6 merchant ships escorted by four US destroyers. Admiral Bayley Commander in Chief, Coast of Ireland, praised the innovative skills of the destroyers in forming up this ‘ad- On the 9th of September, 1917, in position 49.53N, 07.05W, USS Drayton sighted submarine and fired three shots. Submarine submerged, and was not seen again. On the 16th of December 1917, in position 50.2N, 04.35W SS Foylemore was sunk. Forty survivors were picked up and landed in Falmouth, by US Ships Drayton and Benham. On the 3rd of February ,1918 USS Duncan, Drayton, Fanning, McDougal, and Paulding, escorted HMS Arlanza and 3 troopships from Liverpool to 50.00N, 14.00W. USS Drayton was transferred to Brest, France, in February 1918. She served there until December 1918, until recalled to the USA. Notes: |
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The US Naval History and Heritage Command website has a comprehensive history of this ship, which can be found |
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