USS Reno (DD-303)

For other ships with the same name, see Reno.
History
United States
Namesake: Walter E. Reno
Builder: Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Union Iron Works, San Francisco
Laid down: 4 July 1918
Launched: 22 January 1919
Commissioned: 23 July 1920
Decommissioned: 18 January 1930
Struck: 8 July 1930
Fate: sold for scrapping, 1931
General characteristics
Class and type: Clemson-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,290 long tons (1,310 t) (standard)
  • 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) (deep load)
Length: 314 ft 4 in (95.8 m)
Beam: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
Draught: 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) (design)
Range: 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (design)
Complement: 6 officers, 108 enlisted men
Armament:

USS Reno (DD-303) was a Clemson-class destroyer built for the United States Navy during World War I.

Description

The Clemson class was a repeat of the preceding Wickes class although more fuel capacity was added.[1] The ships displaced 1,290 long tons (1,310 t) at standard load and 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 314 feet 4 inches (95.8 m), a beam of 30 feet 11 inches (9.4 m) and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 m). They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men.[2]

Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. The Clemson class was powered by two steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) intended to reach a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 371 long tons (377 t) of fuel oil which was intended gave them a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[3]

The ships were armed with four 4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts and were fitted with two 1-pdr (28 mm) guns for anti-aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1-pounders caused them to be replaced by 3-inch (76 mm) guns. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedo battery of a dozen 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair of depth charge rails. A "Y-gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.[4]

Construction and career

Reno, named for Walter E. Reno, was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Union Iron Works, San Francisco, 4 July 1918; launched 22 January 1919; sponsored by Miss Kathryn Baldwin Anderson, daughter of former Lieutenant Governor of California Alden Anderson,[5] and commissioned 23 July 1920. Reno's mother, Mrs. L. D. Reno, of Eldon, Iowa was approached to sponsor the ship, but declined due to her health. Reno's widow, Beatrice Tracy Reno, daughter of former assistant secretary of the Navy Frank Tracy, was also considered as a potential sponsor.[6]

Attached to the Pacific Fleet, Reno operated along the west coast until January 1921 when she joined other fleet units in a cruise to Valparaíso, Chile. Resuming west coast operations on her return, she ranged between Washington and Lower California, with occasional runs to Hawaii or the Panama Canal Zone. In April 1927 she came as far east as Guantanamo, Cuba, and in July of that year she was at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to participate in the celebrations of the Canadian Diamond Jubilee.

Decommissioned at San Diego 18 January 1930, Reno was struck from the Navy list 8 July 1930. She was scrapped in 1931, in accordance with the terms of the London Treaty limiting naval armament.

Notes

  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 125
  2. Friedman, pp. 402–03
  3. Friedman, pp. 39–42, 402–03
  4. Friedman, pp. 44–45
  5. Destroyer Reno Launched Here. Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. Thursday, 23 January 1919. Page 4
  6. Name a Destroyer Reno. Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. 8 January 1919. Page 24.

References

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