Downes (FF 1070) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SHIPS . . . The first DOWNES (DD-45) was built by the New York Shipbuilding Company of Camden, New Jersey. Her keel was laid 27 June 1912, and she was launched 8 November 1913, under the sponsorship of Mrs. M. H. Simons, great grand daughter of Captain Downes. She was commissioned 11 February 1915, Lieutenant Commander A. W. Johnson in command. DOWNES (DD-45) had a length overall of 305 feet, 3 inches; extreme beam of 31 feet, 1 inch; normal displacement of 1,072 tons; mean draft 9 feet, 3 inches; designed speed of 29 knots; and a designed complement of 4 officers and 93 men. Her initial armament was four 4-inch .50 caliber guns, and eight 18-inch torpedo tubes. DOWNES conducted her shakedown off New York and in Chesapeake Bay, then returned to Philadelphia Navy Yard where she was placed in ordinary from 4 October 1915 to 26 May 1917 for the construction and installation of new machinery by the contractor. Fitted out for distant service, she sailed from New York 18 October 1917 for Davenport, England, arriving 7 November. DOWNES was based at Queenstown, Ireland, from 17 November 1917 to 5 December 1918 and operated on convoy escort inbound to British ports, across the channel, and outbound to rendezvous with the ocean escorts. She patrolled against submarines off the Irish coast making numerous attacks with no sure results and with other destroyers aided distressed ships. On two occasions her efficiency won commendations from the British Admiralty, once for her protection of the torpedoed MANLEY (DD-74) and again for the rescue and salvage of the British submarine HMS Z-51.

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THE MAN . . . USS DOWNES (FF-1070) is the third ship of the fleet to be named in honor of Captain John Downes, USN. JOHN DOWNES, born in 1786 in Canton, Massachusetts, served as acting midshipman from 9 September 1800 and was appointed midshipman 1 June 1802. He rendered distinguished service during the War with Tripoli in 1804 in frigates CONGRESS, and was executive officer for Captain David Porter in ESSEX during the War of 1812. He commanded EPERVIER, GUERRIERE, ONTARIO and INDEPENDENCE, and the Boston Navy Yard and was Commodore of the Pacific and Mediterranean Squadrons. Captain Downes died at Charleston, Massachusetts, 1 1 August 1854.

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DOWNES arrived at Brest, France, 6 December 1918 to meet and escort President Wilson, embarked in GEORGE WASHING- TON, passing in review before returning to Queenstown 14 December. The day after Christmas she sailed for the United States, arriving at Norfolk 18 January 1919. After v inter maneuvers in Cuban waters, she returned to New York on 14 March. DOWNES reported to Norfolk 5 May 1919 for overhaul and on 31 May was placed in ordinary. Returned to full commission, she sailed for Newport, Rhode Island, 12 May 1921 for summer maneuvers. Between 22 October and 20 March 1922 she lay at Charleston, South Carolina, and on 24 March arrived at Philadelphia Navy Yard. DOWNES was placed out of commission there 6 June 1924. Rescrapped and sold 22 August 1934 in accordance with the London Treaty for the reduction and limitation of naval armament. The second DOWNES (DD-375) was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Her keel was laid on 15 August 1934, and she was launched 22 April 1936 under the sponsorship of Miss S. F. Downes, descen- dant of Captain Downes. She was commis- sioned 15 January 1937, Commander C. H. Roper in command. DOWNES (DD-375) had a length overall of 341 feet, 4 inches; extreme beam 35 feet; standard displacement 1 ,500 tons; mean draft 9 feet, 10 inches; designed speed 36.5 knots; and a designed complement of 8 officers and 150 enlisted. Her initial armament was five 5-inch .38 caliber guns, and twelve 21 -inch torpedo tubes. For anti-submarine warfare, she carried four depth charge projectors.