USS Reuben James (DD-245)

Coordinates: 51°59′N 27°05′W / 51.983°N 27.083°W / 51.983; -27.083
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see USS Reuben James.

USS Reuben James on 29 April 1939
History
United States
NameReuben James
NamesakeReuben James
Builder
New York Shipbuilding
Laid down2 April 1919
Launched4 October 1919
Commissioned24 September 1920
In service24 September 1920
Out of service31 October 1941
Stricken25 March 1942
FateSunk by U-552 in the North Atlantic Ocean, 31 October 1941[1] 51°59′N 27°05′W / 51.983°N 27.083°W / 51.983; -27.083
General characteristics
Class and typeClemson-class destroyer
Displacement1,215 long tons (1,234 t)
Length314 ft 5 in (95.83 m)
Beam31 ft 8 in (9.65 m)
Draft9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Installed power26,500 shp (19,800 kW)
Propulsion
Speed35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h)
Range4,900 nmi (5,600 mi; 9,100 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement159 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Reuben James (DD-245) was a four-funnel Clemson-class destroyer that was constructed after World War I. She was the first United States Navy ship to be named after Boatswain's Mate Reuben James (c. 1776–1838), who had distinguished himself fighting in the First Barbary War, and was the first US Naval ship to be sunk by hostile action in the European Theater of World War II. Four US flagged merchant ships were also sunk by hostile action before Pearl Harbor.

Reuben James was laid down on 2 April 1919 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey, launched on 4 October 1919, and commissioned on 24 September 1920. The destroyer was sunk by a torpedo attack from German submarine U-552 near Iceland on 31 October 1941,[1] resulting in the deaths of 100 crewmembers, before the United States had joined the war.

Early service history

Assigned to the

occupation of the eastern Adriatic. In October 1921 at Le Havre, she joined the protected cruiser Olympia at ceremonies marking the return of the Unknown Soldier to the United States. At Danzig, from 29 October 1921 to 3 February 1922, she assisted the American Relief Administration in its efforts to relieve hunger and misery. After duty in the Mediterranean, she departed Gibraltar on 17 July.[1]

Then based at

aircraft carriers, she returned to the Atlantic Fleet in January 1939.[1]

World War II

Main article: Battle of the Atlantic

At the beginning of

Heywood Lane Edwards, the commander of the USS Reuben James.[1] On 23 October she sailed from Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland, with four other destroyers, escorting eastbound Convoy HX 156.[2]

Sinking

At dawn on 31 October 1941, she was torpedoed near Iceland

bow was blown off when a magazine exploded. The bow sank immediately. The aft section floated for five minutes before going down. Of a crew of seven officers and 136 enlisted men, plus one enlisted passenger, 100 were killed. Only 44 enlisted men and no officers survived.[1][3]

Convoys escorted

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes
ON 20
 30 September–9 October 1941[5] from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
HX 156 24–31 October 1941[6] from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war; sunk by U-552

Awards

Music

  • Almanac Singers. The Guthrie song has an original tune for its chorus, but its verses are set to the tune of the song "Wildwood Flower". Seeger later also performed the song with The Weavers
    .
  • Johnny Horton performed Guthrie's song on his album Johnny Horton Makes History.[8]
  • The Kingston Trio released a version of Guthrie's song on numerous albums.[9]
  • The
    Chad Mitchell Trio released a version of Guthrie's song on the album Reflecting.[10]

Literature

  • William Boyd in his novel Restless refers to the sinking of the ship, although he claims that the dead numbered 115.

Stamps

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Reuben James". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 25 September 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ISBN 978-1-47383-400-2
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1-59114-455-7
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-4422-1153-7
    .
  5. ^ "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  6. ^ "HX convoys". Arnold Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  7. ISBN 978-0-394-50152-9
    .
  8. ^ "Johnny Horton Makes History Original Recording Remastered". Amazon. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Kingston Trio Greatest Hits". Amazon. 1991. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Chad Mitchell – Singin' Our Mind/Reflecting CD". 7 October 2003. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  11. ^ Sinking of Reuben James U.S. Stamp Gallery.

References

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