Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

USS Perkins (DD-26)

1910 WORLD WAR 1

History of USS Perkins (DD-26)

Destroyers were an important group of U.S. Navy rearmament ships before World War I (1914-1918), and by the time the war broke out in mid-1914, some plans were well underway (or very mature).

When the design is complete, the Paulding class will feature an impressive 21 ships, the group immediately doubling the strength of the U.S. Navy destroyer fleet upon entry - critical to the U.S. Navy's future operational reach .

The USS Perkins (DD-26) became the fifth named ship in the class, built by the Fore River Ship and Engine Builders of Quincy, Massachusetts, laid on March 22, 1909, then on April 9 She was launched from stock in 1910 and officially entered service on 18 November 1910 - beginning a relatively short service life that she would last until 1919.

The Paulding-class ships are based on similar Smith-class ships, which are described elsewhere on this page. The main consideration for the new class was to increase the torpedo load from three to six tubes, which could be achieved by installing twin torpedo tube launchers.

Oil-fired boilers also differentiate this new category, as earlier types were still based on coal-fired units.

When built, the USS Perkins was 293.9 feet long, 27 feet beams, and had a draft of up to 8.3 feet. The displacement is 755 tons under normal load and up to 900 tons under wartime load.

Installed power consists of 4 boilers feeding 2 direct drive Parsons steam turbines producing 12,000 hp on 2 shafts under the stern. The top speed under ideal conditions can reach nearly 30 knots.

There were 91 crew members on board, including four officers. Mounted armament is centered on a 5 x 3" (76 mm)/50 caliber main gun supported by 6 x 18" (450 mm) torpedo tubes in a 3x2 array.

The Perkins had a shape consistent with warship designs of the time, with raised bowling balls, an unbroken hull line (moving aft), and fore and aft masts (spanning the funnel). The bridge superstructure was placed forward amidships to provide the best view of what was to come.

The center of the tank is occupied by three low tandem smoke funnels.

Perkins had a quiet early service career as she was assigned to various workouts and travel. From June to November 1917, she was part of the U.S. Navy destroyer force in European watersthe United States declared war on Germany in April of that year (World War I had begun as early as mid-1914).

USS Perkins participated in rescue and escort support/escort operations during the conflict. She then had a major overhaul in late 1917/early 1918 in Charleston, SC.

From March to December 1918, she operated in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States, providing service to enemy submarines while providing protection for convoys. In November 1918, an armistice was signed to end the war once and for all.

The USS Perkins was decommissioned on December 5, 1919, as her services were no longer required and due to the expected great loss after the war. She was assigned to the Reserve Fleet and remained at that station until she was officially permanently abandoned on 8 March 1935 - at which point she was sold for scrap as required by the London Naval Treaty.