View source for USS Chauncey (DD-296)

{{Short description|Clemson-class destroyer}}
{{other ships|USS Chauncey}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[Image:USS Chauncey (Destroyer - 296).jpg|300px|USS ''Chauncey'' (Destroyer # 296) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 8 July 1919.]]
|Ship caption=USS ''Chauncey'' (Destroyer # 296) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 8 July 1919.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1923}}
|Ship name=USS ''Chauncey''
|Ship namesake=[[Isaac Chauncey]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation]], [[Union Iron Works]], [[San Francisco]]
|Ship laid down=17 June 1918
|Ship launched=29 September 1918
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=25 June 1919
|Ship decommissioned=26 October 1923
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=25 September 1925
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Wrecked in the [[Honda Point Disaster]], 8 September 1923
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Clemson|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=*{{Convert|1290|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} (standard)
*{{Convert|1389|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|314|ft|4|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|30|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|10|ft|3|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts, 2 [[steam turbines]]
|Ship speed= {{Convert|35|kn|lk=in}} (design)
|Ship range={{convert|2500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|20|kn}} (design)
|Ship power=*{{Convert|27000|shp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}}
*4 [[water-tube boiler]]s
|Ship complement=6 officers, 108 enlisted men
|Ship armament=*4 × single [[4"/50 caliber gun|4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) guns]]
*2 × single [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|1-pounder]] [[AA gun]]s '''or'''
*2 × single [[3"/23 caliber gun|3-inch (76&nbsp;mm) guns]]
*4 × triple [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*2 × [[depth charge]] rails
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Chauncey'' (DD-296)''' was a {{sclass|Clemson|destroyer}} (ship) built for the [[United States Navy]] during World War I.

==Description==
The ''Clemson'' class was a repeat of the preceding {{sclass|Wickes|destroyer|4}} although more fuel capacity was added.<ref name=gg3>Gardiner & Gray, p. 125</ref> The ships displaced {{convert|1290|LT|t|0}} at [[Displacement (ship)|standard]] load and {{convert|1389|LT|t|0}} at [[deep load]]. They had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|314|ft|4|in|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|30|ft|11|in|1}} and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|10|ft|3|in|1}}. They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men.<ref>Friedman, pp. 402–03</ref>

Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. The ''Clemson'' class was powered by two [[steam turbine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]], using steam provided by four [[water-tube boiler]]s. The turbines were designed to produce a total of {{convert|27000|shp|lk=in}} intended to reach a speed of {{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}. The ships carried a maximum of {{convert|371|LT|t|0}} of [[fuel oil]] which was intended gave them a range of {{convert|2500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|20|kn}}.<ref>Friedman, pp. 39–42, 402–03</ref>

The ships were armed with four [[4"/50 caliber gun|4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) guns]] in single mounts and were fitted with two  [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|1-pounder]] guns for anti-aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1-pounders caused them to be replaced by [[3"/23 caliber gun|3-inch (76&nbsp;mm) guns]]. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedo [[Artillery battery#Naval usage|battery]] of a dozen [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair of [[depth charge]] rails. A "Y-gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.<ref>Friedman, pp. 44–45</ref>

==Construction and career==
''Chauncey'' named for [[Isaac Chauncey]], was launched 29 September 1918 by [[Union Iron Works]], [[San Francisco]], [[California]]; sponsored by Miss D. M. Todd; [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] 25 June 1919 and reported to the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]]. From the time of her commissioning, ''Chauncey'' sailed from [[San Diego]] and [[Mare Island]] to [[Hawaii]] and along the Pacific coast taking part in fleet exercises, gunnery practice, and other training activities. From 15 July 1920 to 14 October 1921, she was in ready reserve at San Diego and Mare Island, then returned to active duty as [[flagship]] of Destroyer Division 31.

On the evening of 8 September 1923, ''Chauncey'' in company with a large group of destroyers was sailing through a heavy fog from San Francisco to San Diego, when a navigational error on board the first ship in her column turned that destroyer and the six that followed toward the rocky California coast rather than on a reach down [[Santa Barbara Channel]]. All seven destroyers, including ''Chauncey'', went aground on the jagged rocks off [[Point Pedernales]], in what was called the [[Honda Point Disaster]].

[[File:Point Honda wrecks, vessels 296, 309, and 312 - NARA - 295531.tiff|thumb|left|USS ''Chauncey'' aground at Honda Point.]]

''Chauncey'' stranded upright, high on the rocks, near {{USS|Young|DD-312}}, which had capsized. With none of her men lost, ''Chauncey'' at once went to the aid of ''Young'', passing a line by which 70 of ''Young's'' crew clambered hand-over-hand to ''Chauncey''. Swimmers from ''Chauncey'' then rigged a network of lifelines to the coastal cliffs, and both her men and Young's reached safety by this means. The abandoned ''Chauncey'' was wrecked by the surf, and was decommissioned 26 October 1923. All the hulks were sold for salvage and removal as of 25 September 1925.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1982|isbn=0-87021-733-X}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chauncey-ii.html}}

==External links==
*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/296.htm

{{Clemson class destroyer}}
{{1923 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chauncey}}
[[Category:Clemson-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Ships built in San Francisco]]
[[Category:1918 ships]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the California coast]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1923]]