Biddle (DLG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 129 text:

Uss BIDDLE fDDG 51 ' Commissioned in 1962 and renamed USS Claude V, RICKETTS in 1964. Both Admiral Ricketts and the ship made history by proving the NATO- mixed-orew concept h......... ,.,. Uss BIDDLE fDD 1511 l Commissioned in 1919 at Philadelphia and served in World War II. Christened by Miss Elise B. Robinson, a great-great-grandneioe of Nicholas BIDDLE. USS BIDDLE fPT 261 Commissioned in 1901 and also built by the Bath Iron Works A steel hulled tor edo boat this Shlp . - p 1 0 is the forerunner of the modern Destroyer, 111C1Ud' ing USS BIDDLE QDLG 349 125

Page 128 text:

I I I, I' I -I I I I I I I I I I I I , I I I I I I I I I , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I: I I II I I III VII II I I I I I Il II ,H IMI I 124 II iII,' ,I jk Il, sri if 5 P , af.. I3 gf lf., 'f ' ,VI 4 li M ' by I ' If 1 t .. 3 4' i . 9' 2 5 S is if Q, f I f vita -' - M , X. 3 .Qu-we UN A K fillgtbttmus vczoeszess emo-:cassava is V aamnvrmse' , X I , 9 ofzcsfaos M, , ,A - X nf ,--f I ' :W L I 'M I on Ph 1,-asf ,RW Q.,- : i fw . H It +I-, W?-fir ,fwmww as N Uh 1 . . N v y A. ssl? , -I f .I . r f I I 'S ' S xx: ,' W. ' ' IW- I Q - ' 'ff' 1 :I - ' , a.: I ' Iv Nr fiwrl,-ff FI 'Q:',5k? gfagifigw- ,-rift ' gy f- g 5 1?lfffs '! I f . . f Il:Q'2.:hz w ,M Qi- ' . 5 I -if? ' I, 'wf fft - 54 7 D g,3,:-I 5 X -' M , ry ,rvgy , f If , . f s f . f -I -' -f fu f If If if M I f WW-7 ,AA I ' , M if ' ef. fr- ,ff b My Y -f,fJffj?a42f,, I We il, 'gf ,A,,Z4r.w- ,,.f . :aff-E.. 51. f 'Hgh' 'I Q4 fp rdvkgik-vliafy K Iz'A1W.wgl '4' I 5 it in I-'T ,ff viwfiiyf l AQQQ7' . ,077 ,Lgg jiZf!!f,y W f,.g,gir 4:3256 H IX u ,., if bf ,l , f, ,rg , 1 ' fn ,Q .,.,.-ri' x, '. ff , I 'X7 1 Ml -'f 0 it , ,I ff Wcgifgwf if ,I M I I If ,I Puff' if ' 1 X- . ' rf . ., ,A ff f if f .I A 4. .N , f ' fl-f Nfl ff? I 4'ff3 , XI K,--f.0Qff'zf I , gf' 4bgg,ff 5uo0s..E sbt-G-S4 ,f ly f fffffff , 2' ,ff v-:iw P f BOW VI S P20 . Aj iI I? bs., ff ,V 1 ,da ug: NNNN -' ,- --'1..1,L 1. I wvsil- IQGS Us f' It .-lg, il. r gfii NH? fuel Ii The Birth of Biddle at Bath Iron Works Cold steel keel lowered into place on a cold winter day The arohiteet's hull geometry takes shape midway in eon- struction BIDDLE n e a r i n g completion alongside sister ship USS STANDLEY QDLG 325, their naval debuts separated by six months Down the Kennebec River on Builder' Trials 1 November 1966

Page 130 text:

126 Nicholas BIDDLE was born September 10, 175Oin Philadelphia. At age 13 he joined the Merchant Service, and at 22, he became a midshipman in the British Navy. Shortly before the Revolution, BIDDLE resigned his commission, returned to America and volun- teered his services. On August 11, 1775 he became Commanding Officer of Pennsylvania's armed galley, FRANKLIN. In December 1775, Captain BIDDLE took command of the 14- gun brig, USS ANDREW DORIA, and Joined Commodore Esek Hopkins in the expedition against New Providence. BIDDLE cap- tured numerous armed merchantmen, and in early 1776, seized two armed British troop transports. In 1775, Captain BIDDLE assumed command of the speedy USS RANDOLPH. In the West Indies on September 4, 1777, he captured HMS TRUE BRITON, along with her three-ship convoy, and took his four prizes back to Charleston. On March 7, 1778, the 32-gun RANDOLPH engaged HMS YARMOUTH, 64-guns. Despite his firepower disadvantage and a severe wound, Captain BIDDLE brilliantly directed his cannon- fire. HMS YARMOUTH's Captain, Nicholas Vincent, reported that BIDDLE fired three accurate broadsides to YARMOUTH's one. Tragically, fire penetrated the powder magazines of the out- gunned RANDOLPH. The ship exploded sinking instantly. Captain Nicholas BIDDLE and 315 men perished. Thus ended the brief but illustrious career of Captain Nicholas BIDDLE, Continental Navy. His life may have ended short of its twenty-eighth year, but his spirit lives on in this Nation, this Navy, and this ship which bears his name. Nicholas Biddle 1750- 17 78 USS Randolph engaging HMS Yarmouth March 7, 1778