USS Chauncey (DD-3)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Chauncey.

USS Chauncey
History
United States
Name	USS Chauncey
Namesake	Commodore Isaac Chauncey
Builder	Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Launched	26 October 1901
Commissioned	21 February 1903
Fate	Sunk following an accident on 19 November 1917.
General characteristics
Class and type	Bainbridge-class destroyer
Displacement	420 long tons (430 t)
Length	250 ft (76 m)
Beam	23 ft 7 in (7,190 mm)
Draft	6 ft 6 in (1,980 mm)
Propulsion	2 × reciprocating engines 2 × shafts
Speed	29 kn (33 mph; 54 km/h)
Complement	75 officers and enlisted
Armament	2 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal guns, 2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes

The first USS Chauncey (DD-3) (originally "Destroyer No. 3") was a Bainbridge-class destroyer in the United States Navy named for Commodore Isaac Chauncey.

Construction

Chauncey was launched on 26 October 1901 by Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was sponsored by Mrs. M. C. S. Todd and placed in reduced commission on 20 November 1902. Chauncey placed in reserve on 2 December 1902 and received full commission on 21 February 1903. Lieutenant Stanford Elwood Moses was placed in command and Chauncey reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

Pre-World War I

Chauncey served with the Coast Squadron until 20 September 1903, when she was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet and left Key West for the Orient on 18 December. After sailing by way of the Suez Canal, she arrived at Cavite to join the force representing US interest in the Far East as it cruised in the Philippines during winters and off China during summers. Aside from the period of 3 December 1905-12 January 1907, when she was in reserve at Cavite, Chauncey continued this service until the entrance of America into World War I.

Sinking

The destroyer sailed from Cavite on 1 August 1917 for convoy escort duty in the eastern Atlantic, based at St. Nazaire, France. On 19 November, while about 110 mi (180 km) west of Gibraltar on escort duty, Chauncey was rammed by the British merchantman SS Rose as both ships steamed in war-imposed darkness. At 03:17, Chauncey sank in 9,000 ft (2,700 m) of water, taking to their death 21 men including her captain, Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno. 70 survivors were picked up by Rose, and carried to port.

USS Chauncey in literature

The novel Delilah was written by a survivor of Chauncey, Marcus Goodrich, and is a fictional account based on his experience serving aboard Chauncey as an enlisted man.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.