USS ''Badger'' (DD–126) was a United States Navy in commission from 1919 to 1922 and from 1930 to 1945. She saw service during World War II. She was named for Commodore

Oscar C. Badger Commodore Oscar Charles Badger (August 12, 1823 – June 20, 1899) was an officer of the United States Navy who served in the Mexican–American and American Civil Wars. Service in Africa and during the Mexican–American War Badger received a ...

Construction and commissioning

''Badger'' was launched on 24 August 1918 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at

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, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bryan, granddaughter of Commodore Badger. She was commissioned on 29 May 1919.

Service history

Pre-World War II

Following her commissioning, ''Badger'' reported to the United States Atlantic Fleet. She steamed to the Mediterranean, where she cruised until August 1919. Upon her return to the United States East Coast, she was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet, arriving at San Diego, California, in September 1919. She served at various naval bases on the United States West Coast until May 1922, when she was decommissioned. Upon recommissioning in January 1930, ''Badger'' served with the

Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This f ...

and Scouting Force in the Pacific. In April 1933, she returned to the Atlantic and thereafter participated in coastal cruises and reserve training. From 1938 to 1939, she operated with Special Squadron 4 based at Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. Upon her return to Norfolk, Virginia, she joined Destroyer Division 53, Patrol Force, with additional summer assignments to the

Midshipmen A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

Coastal Cruise Detachment. From March to April 1941, ''Badger'' was refitted to better equip her for escort duties. Her gun armament and two triple mounts of torpedo tubes were removed, replaced by six 3"/50 caliber dual-purpose guns. Two triple torpedo tube mounts were retained, and an improved

anti-submarine An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...

armament of 24

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...

s was fitted.Friedman 1982, pp. 52–56.

World War II

The United States entered World War II on 7 December 1941. Between December 1941 and October 1944, ''Badger'' operated as a convoy escort in the Atlantic and

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. Twice she escorted convoys to North Africa (15 October – 28 November 1943 and 15 February – 24 March 1944), and for a brief period (27 June – 1 September 1943) she served as a unit of anti-submarine hunter-killer groups, Task Groups 21.12 and 21.16. In October 1944, ''Badger'' transited the Panama Canal and conducted anti submarine training in the Gulf of Panama off Balboa,

Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone ( es, Zona del Canal de Panamá), also simply known as the Canal Zone, was an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Isthmus of Panama, that existed from 1903 to 1979. It was located within the terr ...

. Between 15 November 1944 and 20 June 1945, ''Badger'' served with the Anti-Submarine Development Detachment,

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, Florida, conducting anti-submarine warfare development exercises.

Decommissioning and disposal

''Badger'' arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 22 June 1945 and was decommissioned on 20 July 1945. She was sold on 30 November 1945 for scrapping.

Awards

American Defense Service Medal * European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one battle star for World War II service * World War II Victory Medal ribbon

World War II Victory Medal ''Badger'' received her battle star while operating with Task Group 21.12 in 1943.

Convoys escorted

Citations

References

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External links

NavSource Online:Destroyer Photo Index DD-126 USS BADGER
Verified availability 03-06-2005. {{DEFAULTSORT:Badger (Dd-126) Wickes-class destroyers World War II destroyers of the United States Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation 1918 ships