USS Lamson (DD-18)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Lamson.

USS Lamson (DD-18) underway in 1912.
History
United States
Name	Lamson
Namesake	Lieutenant Roswell Lamson
Builder	William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Yard number	351
Laid down	18 March 1908
Launched	16 June 1909
Sponsored by	Mrs. Henry S. Gore
Commissioned	10 February 1910
Decommissioned	15 July 1919
Stricken	15 September 1919
Identification	Hull symbol: DD-18
Fate	Sold 1919
General characteristics
Class and type	Smith-class destroyer
Displacement	700 long tons (710 t) normal
Length	293 ft 10 in (89.56 m)
Beam	26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
Draft	10 ft 7 in (3,230 mm)
Speed	31 kn (36 mph; 57 km/h)
Complement	89 officers and crew
Armament	5 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber guns 3 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Lamson (DD–18) was a Smith-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was the first ship named for Roswell Lamson.

Construction

Lamson was laid down on 18 March 1908, by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, launched on 16 June 1909, sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Grove, and commissioned on 10 February 1910.

Service history

Pre-World War I

Assigned to the Atlantic Squadron, Lamson operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean from 1910 to 1916 participating in torpedo exercises, fleet maneuvers, and coastal patrol. Departing Key West, Florida on 7 May 1916, the destroyer arrived Dominican Republic two days later to support the Marines sent by President Woodrow Wilson to protect American interests during the Dominican revolt.

She returned to Key West in mid-June before sailing on the 28th for Vera Cruz. She joined other American ships in Mexican waters, as the Mexican political situation was still in turmoil. Following her return to Key West on 11 July, Lamson operated along the east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico until the United States entered World War I.

World War I

During the early months of the war, she patrolled the coastline before preparing for oversea service. Arriving Ponta Delgada, Azores on 26 July 1917, the destroyer performed escort and patrol duty for the next three months. Lamson departed the Azores on 6 October for escort operations out of Brest, France. She assisted survivors of Finland on 28 October after the merchant ship had been torpedoed by a German submarine.

The destroyer continued escort and patrol operations for the rest of the war, and aided in the victory of Allied forces by neutralizing the German U-boat threat to convoys. After the Armistice, Lamson departed Brest on 11 December 1918 and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina on 31 December. She decommissioned on 15 July 1919 and was sold on 21 November.

Noteworthy commanding officers

• Lieutenant Herbert F. Leary (23 March 1911-Unknown) (Later vice admiral)
• Lieutenant Harold Rainsford Stark (September 1912-7 June 1913) (Later admiral and Chief of Naval Operations)
• Lieutenant Commander William R. Purnell (30 April 1917 – 14 June 1918) (Later rear admiral)
• Lieutenant Commander Donald B. Beary (14 June 1918 – 15 July 1919) (Later vice admiral)

Honors and awards

• Mexican Service Medal
• Dominican Campaign Medal
• World War I Victory Medal

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of Lamson at NavSource Naval History