USS Lawrence (DD-8)
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The third USS ''Lawrence'' (DD-8) was a ''Lawrence''-class destroyer, which was a sub-class of , in the United States Navy. She was named for
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
James Lawrence.


Construction

''Lawrence'' was laid down on 10 April 1899, by Fore River Ship & Engine Company, Weymouth, Massachusetts; launched on 7 November 1900; sponsored by Miss Ruth Lawrence, great niece of Captain Lawrence; and commissioned on 7 April 1903.


Service history


Pre-World War I

Assigned to the 2nd Torpedo Flotilla, ''Lawrence'' operated along the Atlantic coast, taking part in the fleet search problem off the New England coast during the summer of 1903. The torpedo boat departed Norfolk on 17 December, and sailed to
Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...
for winter exercises. On 31 December 1903 while at anchor at Key West she was fouled by the passing steamer , receiving minor hull damage. During 1904, she performed
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 ...
cruises and acted as a torpedo practice ship. She continued exercises in the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
and along the Atlantic coast until she decommissioned at Philadelphia on 14 November 1906. ''Lawrence'' recommissioned on 23 July 1907 and resumed training operations out of Norfolk. Departing
Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...
on 2 December, she sailed with the torpedo flotilla for winter maneuvers in the Caribbean and off South America. She arrived at San Diego on 28 April 1908 and stood out San Francisco eight days later as the "
Great White Fleet The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the group of United States Navy battleships which completed a journey around the globe from December 16, 1907 to February 22, 1909 by order of President Theodore Roosevelt. Its mission was t ...
" steamed into
San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. San Francisco Bay drains water from a ...
. During the next four years, she operated in the Pacific with the 3rd Torpedo Flotilla patrolling the coast from Canada to Panama and engaged in exercises with the fleet. From 1 June 1912 – 23 April 1914, ''Lawrence'' was in commission in reserve. Returned to full commission status, she departed San Francisco on 25 April to patrol the
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
coast and protect American and foreign nationals during the Mexican revolution. Returning to Mare Island on 12 September, the destroyer was once again placed in reserve status.


World War I

After America's entry into World War I, ''Lawrence'' was placed in full commission on 13 June 1917 to join coastal defense units. Arriving Balboa, Panama, on 29 July, she guarded the ocean approaches to the
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 ...
until on 30 May 1918, when she steamed toward Key West. Upon her arrival there she operated as coastal escort and patrol ship. After the Armistice, ''Lawrence'' steamed to Philadelphia, arriving there on 1 February 1919. She decommissioned on 20 June and was sold to
Henry A. Hitner's Sons Company Henry A. Hitner's Sons Company owned an iron works in Philadelphia. The company was established by Henry Adam Hitner and incorporated on 28 December 1906. It purchased many retired United States Navy ships in the early 1900s, converting some of t ...
of Philadelphia on 3 January 1920.


Noteworthy commanding officers

* Lieutenant
Thomas C. Hart Thomas Charles Hart (June 12, 1877July 4, 1971) was an admiral in the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish–American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the navy, he served briefly as a United States Se ...
(9 December 1905 – 14 November 1906) (Later
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
) * Lieutenant Alfred Graham Howe (1 June 1908 – 27 July 1909) (Later
Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
) * Lieutenant
Daniel E. Barbey Vice Admiral Daniel Edward Barbey (23 December 1889 – 11 March 1969) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he participated in the 1912 United States occupation of ...
(December 1917-7 July 1919) (Later Vice admiral)


Notes


References

*


External links


Photos of USS ''Lawrence''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence (DD-8) Lawrence (DD-8) Lawrence (DD-8) Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 ships