View source for O'Brien-class destroyer

{{short description|Destroyer class of the US Navy}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS O'brien DD-51.jpg|300px|[[Lead ship]] of the ''O'Brien''-class, {{USS|O'Brien|DD-51}}]]
|Ship caption=[[Lead ship]] of the ''O'Brien'' class, {{USS|O'Brien|DD-51|6}}
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''O'Brien'' class
|Builders=
* [[Bath Iron Works]] (1)
* [[Fore River Shipbuilding Company]] (1)
* [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] (1)
* [[William Cramp & Sons]] (3)

|Operators=
* {{navy|United States|1912}}
* {{coast guard|United States|coast guard}}

|Class before={{sclass|Aylwin|destroyer|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Tucker|destroyer|4}}
|Built range=1913–1915
|In commission range=*U.S. Navy: 1915–1922
*U.S. Coast Guard: 1924–1933
|Total ships planned=6
|Total ships completed=6
|Total ships retired=6
|Total ships scrapped=6
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship type=[[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1050|LT|MT|lk=on}} (normal)<ref name="Con-122-123">Gardiner, pp. 122–23.</ref>
*{{convert|1171|LT|MT}} (full)
|Ship length={{convert|305|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Con-122-123"/> ([[length overall|oa]])
|Ship beam={{convert|31|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Con-122-123"/>
|Ship draft=*{{convert|9|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} (normal)<ref name="Con-122-123"/>
*{{convert|10|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}} (max)<ref name=Bauer-171 />
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[White-Forster boiler]]s,
*2 × [[direct drive]] [[Heinrich Zoelly|Zoelly]] [[steam turbine]]s, 2 × [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s for cruising [DD-55: 2 × geared steam turbines]<ref name=Bauer-171 />
*2 × [[propeller shaft (ship)|shafts]]
*{{convert|17000|shp|abbr=on}}<ref name="Con-122-123"/>
|Ship speed={{convert|29|knots|km/h}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=101<ref name=Bauer-171 />
|Ship armament=*4 × [[4"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}/50 caliber guns]]
*8 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s (4 × 2), 8 [[torpedo]]es
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''''O'Brien'' class''' of [[destroyer]]s was a [[ship class|class]] of six ships designed by and built for the [[United States Navy]] shortly before the United States entered [[World War I]]. The ''O'Brien'' class was the third of five classes of destroyers that were known as the "thousand tonners", because they were the first U.S. destroyers over {{convert|1000|LT|MT|0}} [[displacement (ship)|displacement]].

The design of what became the ''O'Brien'' class was the result of discussions between the [[General Board of the United States Navy]] and the U.S. Navy's [[Bureau of Ordnance]]. What resulted was a design that was an incremental development of the {{sclass|Aylwin|destroyer|4}}, which itself was similar to the first of the thousand tonners, the {{sclass|Cassin|destroyer|4}} (which displaced about a third more than the preceding {{sclass|Paulding|destroyer|4}}). The key difference in the ''O'Brien'' class was the increase in torpedo size, going up to {{convert|21|in|mm|0}} from the preceding classes' {{convert|18|in|mm|0|adj=on}} torpedoes.

The ships had a median displacement of {{convert|1050|LT|MT}}, were just over {{convert|305|ft|m}} in length, and had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of about {{convert|31|ft|m}}. All of the ships had two direct-drive [[steam turbine]]s and a combination of other engines for cruising at speeds less than {{convert|15|knots|km/h}}. All of the ships were designed for a maximum speed of {{convert|29|knots|km/h}}. As built, they were armed with four {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns and had four twin [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s with a load of eight [[torpedo]]es, but all were later equipped with [[depth charge]]s. The ships were built by four private American shipyards—[[Bath Iron Works]], [[Fore River Shipbuilding Company]], [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]], and [[William Cramp & Sons]]—and were [[keel laying|laid down]] between September and November 1913; [[launch (ship)|launch]]ed between April 1914 and February 1915; and [[commission (ship)|commission]]ed into the U.S. Navy between June 1914 and August 1915.

All six ships operated in the Atlantic or Caribbean until the U.S. entrance into World War I in April 1917, when all six were sent overseas to [[Queenstown, Ireland]], for [[U-boat Campaign (World War I)|convoy escort]] duties. Several of the ships rescued passengers and crew from ships sunk by [[U-boat]]s, and several had encounters with U-boats themselves; {{USS|Nicholson|DD-52|2}} helped sink {{SMU|U-58||2}} in November 1917, the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Navy. All six members of the class had returned to the United States in January 1919 and were [[decommission (ship)|decommissioned]] by June 1922. In 1924, two of the six—{{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}} and {{USS|McDougal|DD-54|2}}—were commissioned into the [[United States Coast Guard]] to help enforce [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] as a part of the "[[Rum Patrol]]". They were returned to U.S. Navy custody in 1932 and 1933, respectively. All six ships had been sold for [[ship breaking|scrapping]] by June 1936.

== Background ==
For the 1913 [[fiscal year]],<ref name=Bauer-171 /> the [[General Board of the United States Navy]] determined that six destroyers would be authorized. The design for Destroyers No. 51 through No. 56—what became the ''O'Brien'' class, was to closely follow the design of the {{sclass|Cassin|destroyer|5}} and {{sclass|Aylwin|destroyer|4}}es from fiscal year 1912. The chief of the U.S. Navy's [[Bureau of Ordnance]] (BuOrd) suggested that the new destroyers be equipped with ten [[torpedo tube]]s and urged that the new  {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo]] be adopted. The General Board agreed in principle, adopting the 21-inch torpedo tubes, but eliminated BuOrd's proposed centerline torpedo tubes and keeping the number of tubes at eight,<ref name=Friedman-29>Friedman, p. 29.</ref> the same as the ''Cassin'' and ''Aylwin'' classes.<ref name=Bauer-170>Bauer and Roberts, p. 170.</ref> The additional weight of the larger torpedoes, {{convert|5|LT|MT}} of top weight, was offset by reducing the planned two aft-facing guns to a single one.<ref name=Friedman-29 /> This gave the class four {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns,<ref name=Friedman-29 /> which, again, matched the [[artillery battery|battery]] of the ''Cassin'' and ''Aylwin'' classes.<ref name=Bauer-170 /> The design for the ''O'Brien'' class was approved on 20 August 1912, and authorized by [[Congress (United States)|Congress]] on 4 March 1913.

== Design ==
As built, the ''O'Brien''-class ships were {{convert|305|ft|5|in}} in length ([[length overall|overall]]), were {{convert|31|ft|2|in|m}} [[abeam]], and had a standard [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|9|ft|6|in|m}}.<ref name="Con-122-123"/> The hull shape featured the distinctive high forecastle typical of U.S. destroyer classes since the 1908–09 {{sclass|Smith|destroyer|4}}, the first destroyers designed to be truly ocean-going vessels.<ref name=Con-121>Gardiner, p. 121.</ref> The ships [[displace (ship)|displaced]] between {{convert|1020|and|1090|LT|MT}} with a median of {{convert|1050|LT|MT}}.<ref name=Bauer-171 />

The ships were equipped with two [[propeller shaft (ship)|propeller shaft]]s and two direct-drive, [[Heinrich Zoelly|Zoelly]] [[steam turbine]]s fed by four [[White-Forster boiler]]s. The power plant of the ships generated {{convert|17000|shp}} which drive the ships to the design speed of {{convert|29|knots|km/h}}.<ref name=Con-123>Gardiner, p. 123.</ref> Because of inherent inefficiency of turbines at low speeds,<ref name=Friedman-25>Friedman, pp. 25, 27.</ref><ref group=Note>While turbines were most efficient at high speeds, [[screw propeller|propellers]] were most efficient at low speeds. Turbines directly connected to the [[propeller shaft]]s—as was the case with the main turbines of all the ''O'Brien'' ships—were particularly inefficient at low speeds. See: Friedman, pp. 25, 27.</ref> all of the ships were equipped with supplemental cruising engines for travel at speeds under {{convert|15|knots|km/h}}.<ref name=Friedman-29 /> All except {{USS|Cushing|DD-55|2}} were equipped with supplemental [[triple-expansion steam engine|triple-expansion]] reciprocating engines: {{USS|O'Brien|DD-51|2}}, {{USS|Nicholson|DD-52|2}}, and {{USS|Winslow|DD-53|2}} each had a pair of reciprocating engines for cruising; {{USS|McDougal|DD-54|2}} and {{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}} were outfitted with only one. Instead of reciprocating engines, ''Cushing'' was equipped with a pair of geared steam turbines for cruising.<ref name=Bauer-171 />

The main [[artillery battery|battery]] of the ''O'Brien'' class consisted of four {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}}/50 Mark 9 guns,<!-- number, size --><ref name=Con-123 /><ref name=NavWeaps-4in>{{cite web | last = DiGiulian | first = Tony | title = United States of America: 4"/50 (10.2 cm) Marks 7, 8, 9 and 10 | url = http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4-50_mk9.htm | work = Naval Weapons of the World | publisher = Navweaps.com | date = 15 August 2008 | access-date = 28 May 2009 }}</ref><!-- calibers --><ref group=Note>The ''50'' denotes the length of the gun barrels; in this case, the gun is 50 [[calibers#Caliber as measurement of length|calibers]], meaning that the gun is 50 times as long as it is in diameter, {{convert|200|in|m}} in this case. The Mark number is the version of the gun; in this case, the ninth U.S. Navy design of the 4-inch/50 gun.</ref> with each gun weighing in excess of {{convert|6100|lbs|kg}}.<ref name=NavWeaps-4in /> The guns fired {{convert|33|lbs|kg|adj=on}} [[armor-piercing shot and shell|armor-piercing]] [[projectile]]s at {{convert|2900|ft/s|m/s}}. At an [[elevation (ballistics)|elevation]] of 20°, the guns had a range of {{convert|15920|yards|m}}.<ref name=NavWeaps-4in />

The ''O'Brien'' ships were also equipped with four twin {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s, for a total load of eight [[Mark 8 torpedo]]es. Although the General Board had called for two [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]] for the ''O'Brien'' class, they were not originally outfitted with the weapons; the later {{sclass|Sampson|destroyer|4}} was the first American destroyer class so armed.<ref name=Friedman-31 /> Likewise, there is no record of any of the ''O'Brien'' ships being outfitted with mine-laying apparatus. During World War I, most American destroyers were used in [[anti-submarine warfare]] roles, and were equipped with [[depth charge]]s and delivery systems, such as [[Y-gun]]s and depth charge racks.<ref name=Con-121 /> ''O'Brien''-class ships were equipped with depth charges during the war,<ref name=DANFS-all_six /> but no specific mentions of the types of depth charges used or delivery system are recorded in secondary sources.<ref name=Bauer-171 /><ref name=Con-123 />

=== Comparisons with other "thousand tonners" ===
The "thousand tonners" were the 26 United States Navy destroyers of five classes—''Cassin'', {{sclass|Aylwin|destroyer|5}}, ''O'Brien'', {{sclass|Tucker|destroyer|5}}, and ''Sampson''—so named because they were the first U.S. Navy destroyers to have displacements greater than 1,000 long tons<!-- not converted since it's converted in previous paragraph -->.<ref name="Con-122-123" /><ref group=Note>The {{sclass|Aylwin|destroyer|4}} is considered a part of the {{sclass|Cassin|destroyer|4}} by ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921'' (p. 122), but is classed separately by the United States Navy. See, for example, {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | author-link = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/aylwin-ii.html | title = Aylwin (Destroyer No. 47) ii }}</ref> The ''Cassin'' class, the first of the thousand tonners, displaced about a third more than the preceding {{sclass|Paulding|destroyer|4}}.<ref name=Con-122-123 /> The introduction of the thousand tonners led to the ''Paulding''s and other older, smaller displacement destroyers of previous classes to be dismissively called "flivvers",<ref name=Con-121 /> a nickname also commonly applied to the [[Ford Model T]].<ref>Cashman, p. 278.</ref><ref group=Note>According to Cashman (p. 278), a flivver—a [[portmanteau]] of "for the liver"—was any small, inexpensive automobile that shook the liver while in motion.</ref>

[[File:USS Melville (AD-2) and destroyers in World War I.jpg|thumb|left|''O'Brien'' class member {{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}}, between the closely related {{sclass|Tucker|destroyer|0}} ships {{USS|Jacob Jones|DD-61|2}} ''(left)'' and {{USS|Wadsworth|DD-60|2}}, is moored by destroyer tender {{USS|Melville|AD-2|2}} at [[Queenstown, Ireland]], in 1917.]]
The ''O'Brien'' class was the third of the five classes of "thousand tonners". The earlier ''Cassin''- (DD-43 to DD-46) and ''Aylwin''-class (DD-47 to DD-50) ships were about the same length as the ''O'Brien'' ships and all had median displacements in the range of {{convert|1020|-|1050|LT|MT}}; the later ''Tucker''- (DD-57 to DD-62) and ''Sampson''-class (DD-63 to DD-68) ships were about {{convert|10|ft|m}} longer and had median displacements of {{convert|1090|-|1100|LT|MT}}. All five classes were armed with four {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns, but the torpedo size and complement varied. All were equipped with four twin [[torpedo tube]]s loaded with eight [[torpedo]]es except for the ''Sampson''s (which had four triple tubes carrying twelve torpedoes), but the ''Cassin''  and ''Aylwin'' classes were armed with {{convert|18|in|mm|0|adj=on}} torpedoes. The ''O'Brien'' ships were the first armed with the new {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[Mark 8 torpedo]]es; the ''Tucker'' and ''Sampson'' ships also used the 21-inch torpedoes. The ''Sampson''s were the only group originally equipped with [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]], a pair of [[QF 1 pounder pom-pom|{{convert|1|pdr|adj=on}} guns]] with a [[caliber]] of {{convert|37|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Con-122-123 />

== Construction ==
The construction of the six ''O'Brien''-class ships was allocated to four U.S. shipbuilders. [[William Cramp & Sons|William Cramp]] constructed a trio of ''O'Brien'' destroyers, while the [[Fore River Shipbuilding Company]], [[Bath Iron Works]], and [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] built one ship each.<ref name=Con-123 /> The [[keel]]s for all six ships were [[keel laying|laid down]] between July and November 1913, with {{USS|McDougal|DD-54|2}} being the first and {{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}} the last.<ref name=Bauer-171>Bauer and Roberts, p. 171.</ref> All were [[launch (ship)|launch]]ed between April 1915 and January 1915, with ''McDougal'' again being the first and {{USS|Winslow|DD-53|2}} being the last.<ref name=Con-123 /> ''McDougal'' was [[commission (ship)|commission]]ed in June 1914, two months after her launch; the rest were commissioned between April and August 1915, with {{USS|Cushing|DD-55|2}} the final ship to enter service.<ref name=Bauer-171 /> The cost of each ship for hull and machinery was $790,000.<ref name=Friedman-31>Friedman, p. 31.</ref><ref group=Note>The hull-and-machinery cost does not include the costs of any weapons.</ref>

==Ships in class==
All six members of the class served in the Atlantic or Caribbean throughout their U.S. Navy careers.<ref name=DANFS-all_six>[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]. [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cushing-destroyer-no-55-ii.html "''Cushing''"], [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/ericsson-ii.html "''Ericsson''"], [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mcdougal-i.html "''McDougal''"], [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nicholson-ii.html "''Nicholson''"], [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-51-ii.html "''O'Brien''"], [http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/winslow-ii.html "''Winslow''"]. ''[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]'' (''DANFS''). Retrieved on 18 January 2015.</ref> In October 1916, with the United States still neutral in [[World War I]], five of the six class members (all except ''Nicholson'') were among the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five ships torpedoed by German submarine {{SMU|U-53||2}} off the [[Lightship Nantucket]].<ref name=NYT-U53>{{cite news | title = Newport aroused by U-boat's raid | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/09/301915432.pdf | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 9 October 1916 | page = 2 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | format=PDF}}</ref><ref name=NYT-Levy>{{cite news | last = Levy | first = Nathan | title = United States sailor describes rescue of U-53's victims | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/22/119033188.pdf | work = The New York Times | date = 22 October 1916 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | page = X1 | format=PDF}}</ref>

After the United States entered the war in April 1917, all six class members were sent overseas to [[Queenstown, Ireland]], for convoy escort and [[anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] duties.<ref name=DANFS-all_six /> ''McDougal'' was in the first group of six American destroyers that arrived at Queenstown on 4 May;<ref name=DANFS-McDougal>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mcdougal-i.html | title = McDougal | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> ''Ericsson'' and ''Winslow'' followed in the second group, which arrived thirteen days later,<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/ericsson-ii.html | title = Ericsson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref><ref name=DANFS-Winslow>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/winslow-ii.html | title = Winslow | access-date = 19 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> and ''Cushing'', ''Nicholson'', and ''O'Brien'' in the third group, a week after that.<ref name=DANFS-Tucker>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tucker-i.html | title = Tucker | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> Several of the ships had encounters with U-boats during the war: ''Nicholson'', working with {{USS|Fanning|DD-37|2}} in November 1917, helped to sink {{SMU|U-58||2}}, which was the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Navy;<ref name=Sweetman-124>Sweetman, p. 124.</ref> earlier, in June, ''O'Brien'' had depth-charged {{SMU|U-16|Germany|2}} and was thought by the [[British Admiralty]] to have seriously damaged the U-boat, but post-war analysis of records showed that ''U-16'' survived the attack and returned safely to port.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-51-ii.html | title = O'Brien | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref>

All six ships returned to the United States in January 1919 and served in various roles over the next two years. ''Cushing'' was [[decommission (ship)|decommission]]ed in August 1920, followed by ''Nicholson'' and ''McDougal'' in May 1922, and the remaining three in the following month.<ref name=DANFS-all_six /> In June 1924, two of the six ships—''Ericsson'' and ''McDougal''—were reactivated for service with the [[United States Coast Guard]]'s "[[Rum Patrol]]". ''Ericsson'' was returned to the U.S. Navy in May 1932, and ''McDougal'' in June 1933; both were sold for [[ship breaking|scrapping]] in 1934. ''O'Brien'' was sold for scrapping in 1935, and the remaining three in June 1936.<ref name=Bauer-171 />

=== USS ''O'Brien'' (DD-51) ===
[[File:USS O'Brien (DD-51) in dazzle camouflage, 1918.jpg|thumb|{{USS|O'Brien|DD-51|2}}, in [[dazzle camouflage]], escorting a convoy in 1918]]
{{main|USS O'Brien (DD-51)}}
USS ''O'Brien'' (Destroyer No. 51/DD-51) was [[keel laying|laid down]] by [[William Cramp & Sons]] of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] in September 1913 and [[launch (ship)|launch]]ed in July 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[Jeremiah O'Brien]] and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis, and Joseph who, together on the sloop ''Unity'', captured a British warship during the [[American Revolutionary War]].

After ''O'Brien''{{'}}s May 1915 [[commission (ship)|commission]]ing, she sailed off the [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]] and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''O'Brien'' was sent overseas to patrol the [[Irish Sea]] out of [[Queenstown, Ireland]].<ref name=DANFS-OBrien />

After returning to the United States in January 1919, ''O'Brien'' returned to European waters in May to serve as one of the picket ships for the [[NC-4|NC-type]] [[seaplane]]s in the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic. ''O'Brien'' was [[decommission (ship)|decommission]]ed at Philadelphia in June 1922. She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] in March 1935 sold for [[ship breaking|scrapping]] in April.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien />

=== USS ''Nicholson'' (DD-52) ===
[[File:USSNicholsonDD52.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Nicholson|DD-52|2}}]]
{{main|USS Nicholson (DD-52)}}
USS ''Nicholson'' (Destroyer No. 52/DD-52) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia in September 1913 and launched in August 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of five members of the Nicholson family who gave distinguished service in the American Revolutionary War, the [[War of 1812]], and the [[American Civil War]]: brothers [[James Nicholson (naval officer)|James]], [[Samuel Nicholson|Samuel]], and [[John Nicholson (naval officer)|John Nicholson]]; [[William Nicholson (naval officer)|William Nicholson]], son of John; and [[James W. Nicholson]], grandson of Samuel.

After ''Nicholson''{{'}}s April 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Nicholson'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. In October 1917, ''Nicholson'' steamed to the rescue of {{SS|J. L. Luckenbach}}, driving off German submarine {{SMU|U-62||2}}, which had shelled the American [[cargo ship]] for over three hours.<ref name=DANFS-Nicholson>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nicholson-ii.html | title = Nicholson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> In November, ''Nicholson'' and another U.S. destroyer, {{USS|Fanning|DD-37|2}}, were responsible for sinking German submarine {{SMU|U-58||2}}, the first submarine taken by U.S. forces during the war.<ref name=Sweetman-124 /> In September 1918, ''Nicholson'' helped drive off {{SMU|U-82||2}} after that U-boat had torpedoed the American troopship {{USS|Mount Vernon|ID-4508|2}} off the coast of France.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Nicholson'' was placed in reduced commission in November 1919. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in May 1922. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Nicholson />

=== USS ''Winslow'' (DD-53) ===
[[File:USSWinslowDD53.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Winslow|DD-53|2}} during trials in 1915]]
{{main|USS Winslow (DD-53)}}
USS ''Winslow'' (Destroyer No. 53/DD-53) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia in October 1913 and launched in February 1915. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[John Ancrum Winslow]], a U.S. Navy officer notable for sinking the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[commerce raider]] {{ship|CSS|Alabama}} during the American Civil War.

After ''Winslow''{{'}}s August 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Winslow'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. ''Winslow'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Winslow'' was placed in reduced commission in December 1919. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. In November she dropped her name to free it for [[USS Winslow (DD-359)|a new destroyer of the same name]], becoming known only as ''DD-53''. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

=== USS ''McDougal'' (DD-54) ===
[[File:USSMcDougalDD54.jpg|thumb|{{USS|McDougal |DD-54|2}} underway]]
{{main|USS McDougal (DD-54)}}
USS ''McDougal'' (Destroyer No. 54/DD-54) was laid down by [[Bath Iron Works]] of [[Bath, Maine]], in July 1913 and launched in April 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[David McDougal|David Stockton McDougal]], a U.S. Navy officer notable for his leadership during an 1863 battle off Japan while in command of {{USS|Wyoming|1859|2}}.

After ''McDougal''{{'}}s June 1914 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-McDougal /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916, and carried 6 crewmen from a sunken Dutch cargo ship to [[Newport, Rhode Island]].<ref name=NYT-Levy /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''McDougal'' was part of the first U.S. destroyer squadron sent overseas. Patrolling the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland, ''McDougal'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of ships sunk by the German craft. After a collision with a British cargo ship in February 1918, ''McDougal'' was under repair until mid-July, and afterwards, operated out of [[Brest, France]].<ref name=DANFS-McDougal />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''McDougal'' conducted operations with the destroyers of the [[United States Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] until August 1919, when she was placed in reserve, still in commission. After a brief stint of operations in mid 1921, she was placed in reserve until she was decommissioned at Philadelphia in May 1922. In June 1924, ''Ericsson'' was transferred to the [[United States Coast Guard]] to help enforce [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] as a part of the "[[Rum Patrol]]". She operated under the name USCGC ''McDougal'' (CG-6) until May 1933, when she was returned to the Navy. In November she dropped her name to free it for [[USS McDougal (DD-358)|a new destroyer of the same name]], becoming known only as ''DD-54''. She was struck for the Naval Vessel Register in July 1934 sold for scrapping in August.<ref name=DANFS-McDougal />

=== USS ''Cushing'' (DD-55) ===
[[File:USSCushingDD55.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Cushing|DD-55|2}} during trials in 1915]]
{{main|USS Cushing (DD-55)}}
USS ''Cushing'' (Destroyer No. 55/DD-55) was laid down by the [[Fore River Shipbuilding Company]] of [[Quincy, Massachusetts]], in September 1913 and launched in January 1915. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[William B. Cushing]], a U.S. Navy officer best known for sinking the Confederate [[ironclad warship]] {{ship|CSS|Albemarle}} during the American Civil War.

After ''Cushing''{{'}}s August 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cushing-destroyer-no-55-ii.html | title = Cushing | access-date = 18 January 2015| link = off | short = on}}</ref> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Cushing'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. ''Cushing'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Cushing'' was placed in reserve in reduced commission. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in August 1920. She was struck for the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 and was sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing />

=== USS ''Ericsson'' (DD-56) ===
[[File:USSEricssonDD56.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}} in [[United States Coast Guard]] service, c. 1925–1930]]
{{main|USS Ericsson (DD-56)}}
USS ''Ericsson'' (Destroyer No. 56/DD-56) was laid down by the [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation|New York Shipbuilding]] of [[Camden, New Jersey]], in November 1913 and launched in August of the following year. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[John Ericsson]], the Swedish-born builder of the ironclad warship {{USS|Monitor}} during the American Civil War.

After ''Ericsson''{{'}}s May 1916 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916,<ref name=NYT-U53 /> and carried 81 passengers from a sunken British ocean liner to Newport, Rhode Island.<ref name=NYT-Six>{{cite news | title = Six of our ships see Stephano sunk | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/09/301915412.pdf | work = The New York Times | date = 9 October 1916 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | page = 1 | format=PDF}}</ref> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Ericsson'' was part of the first U.S. destroyer squadron sent overseas. Patrolling the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland, ''Ericsson'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Ericsson'' conducted operations with the destroyers of the Atlantic Fleet until August 1919, when she was placed in reserve, still in commission. After a brief stint of operations in mid 1921, she was placed in reserve until she was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. In June 1924, ''Ericsson'' was transferred to the United States Coast Guard to help enforce Prohibition as a part of the "Rum Patrol". She operated under the name USCGC ''Ericsson'' (CG-5) until May 1932, when she was returned to the Navy. She was sold for scrap in August 1934.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson />

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Bauer | first1 = K. Jack | author-link = K. Jack Bauer | last2 = Roberts | first2 = Stephen S. | title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants | location = New York | publisher = [[Greenwood Press]] | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0-313-26202-9 | oclc = 24010356 }}
* {{cite book | last = Cashman | first = Sean Dennis | title = America in the Age of the Titans: The Progressive Era and World War I | location = New York | publisher = New York University Press | year = 1988 | isbn = 978-0-8147-1411-9 | oclc = 17234055 }}
* {{cite book | last = Friedman | first = Norman | title = U.S. destroyers: An Illustrated Design History | location = [[Annapolis, Maryland]] | publisher = [[Naval Institute Press]] | year = 2004 | orig-year = 1982 | edition = rev. | isbn = 978-1-55750-442-5 | oclc = 51861947 }}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Gardiner | editor-first = Robert | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1985 | isbn = 978-0-87021-907-8 | oclc = 12119866 }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | author-link = Naval History & Heritage Command |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cushing-destroyer-no-55-ii.html | title = Cushing | access-date = 18 January 2015 }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/ericsson-ii.html | title = Ericsson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mcdougal-i.html | title = McDougal | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nicholson-ii.html | title = Nicholson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-51-ii.html | title = O'Brien | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tucker-i.html | title = Tucker | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/winslow-ii.html | title = Winslow | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off }}
* {{cite book | last = Osborne | first = Eric W. | title = Destroyers: An Illustrated History of Their Impact | series = Weapons and Warfare Series | editor1-last = Tucker | editor1-first = Spencer C | location = [[Santa Barbara, California]] | publisher = [[ABC-CLIO]] |date=June 2005 | isbn = 978-1-85109-484-4 | oclc = 58535705 }}
* {{cite book | last = Sweetman | first = Jack | title = American Naval History: An Illustrated Chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–Present | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1984 | isbn = 978-0-87021-290-1 | oclc = 11043081 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/americannavalhis0000swee }}
* Silverstone, Paul H., ''U.S. Warships of World War I'' (Ian Allan, 1970), {{ISBN|0-71100-095-6}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|O'Brien class destroyers}}

*[http://destroyerhistory.org/early/1000tonners/ DestroyerHistory.org Thousand Tonner page]
*[http://destroyerhistory.org/early/obrienclass/ DestroyerHistory.org O'Brien class page]
*[http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-O'Brien.htm Tin Can Sailors@Destroyers.org O'Brien class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116130135/http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-O%27Brien.htm |date=2013-11-16 }}
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/05idx.htm NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4-50_mk9.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 4"/50 Mks 7, 8, 9, and 10]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PreWWII.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com Pre-WWII US Torpedoes]
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm US Navy Torpedo History, part 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915054904/http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm |date=2014-09-15 }}

{{O'Brien class destroyer}}
{{WWI US ships}}

{{good article}}

[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:O'Brien-class destroyers| ]]
[[Category:World War I destroyers of the United States| ]]