View source for USS Drayton (DD-23)

{{Short description|Paulding-class destroyer}}
{{other ships|USS Drayton}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS Drayton (DD-23).jpg|300px|USS ''Drayton'']]
|Ship caption=USS ''Drayton'' (DD-23) running builder's trials in 1910, prior to installation of her armament.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1919}} 
|Ship name=''Drayton''
|Ship namesake=[[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] [[Percival Drayton]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Bath Iron Works]], [[Bath, Maine]]
|Ship laid down=19 August 1909
|Ship launched=22 August 1910
|Ship acquired=
|Ship sponsor=Miss E. G. Drayton, niece of Captain Drayton
|Ship commissioned=29 October 1910
|Ship decommissioned=17 November 1919
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]:DD-23
*[[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]:NET
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Echo}}{{ICS|Tango}}
|Ship struck=8 March 1935
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Sold 28 June 1935 for scrap
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/023.htm | title=USS Drayton (DD-23) | publisher=Navsource.org | access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref>
|Ship class= {{sclass|Paulding|destroyer}} 
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|742|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on}} normal
*{{convert|887|LT|t|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length={{convert|293|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|27|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|8|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} (mean)<ref name="congress">{{cite journal |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mZEqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA762 |title= Table 10 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919 |journal= Congressional Serial Set |publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office |year= 1921 |page= 714 }}</ref>
|Ship power={{convert|12000|ihp|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[boiler]]s
*3 × [[Steam turbine|Parsons Direct Drive Turbines]]
*3 × [[Drive shaft#Marine drive shafts|shafts]]
|Ship speed=*{{convert|29.5|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|30.83|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} (Speed on [[Sea trial|Trial]])<ref name="congress" />
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=4 officers 97 enlisted<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mZEqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA762 |title= Table 16 - Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919 |journal= Congressional Serial Set |publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office |year= 1921 |page= 749 }}</ref>
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*5 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}/50]] [[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] guns
*6 × [[American 18 inch torpedo|18 inch (450 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s (3 × 2)
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Drayton'' (DD-23)''' was a {{sclass|Paulding|destroyer}} in the [[United States Navy]]. She was the first ship named for [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Percival Drayton]].

''Drayton'' was launched on 22 August 1910 by [[Bath Iron Works]], [[Bath, Maine]], sponsored by Miss E. G. Drayton, niece of Captain Drayton, and commissioned on 29 October 1910.

==Service history==

===Pre-World War I===
''Drayton'' arrived at [[Key West, Florida]] on 21 December 1910, to cruise in [[Cuba]]n waters and on the east coast in exercises and development problems. She sailed from Key West on 9 April 1914 to serve on blockade duty off [[Mexico]] and take refugees out of the troubled areas, returning to [[New York, New York|New York]] on 1 June, and to Newport on 1 August.

===World War I===
''Drayton'' served on [[Neutrality Patrol|neutrality patrol]] and conducted torpedo and gunnery exercises out of [[Newport, Rhode Island]] and in the [[Caribbean]]. Calling at [[Jacksonville, Florida]] from 5–11 April 1917, she took over the [[Germany|German]] steamer ''Frieda Leonhardt'' and interned her crew in accordance with a Presidential proclamation issued upon [[American entry into World War I]]. ''Drayton'' arrived at [[Norfolk, Virginia]] on 12 April, and the next day reported for duty with the [[Patrol Force]] off the east coast serving until 4 May, when she entered [[Boston Navy Yard]] to fit out for distant service.

''Drayton'' departed [[Boston]], Massachusetts on 21 May, and sailed by way of [[St. John's, Newfoundland]] to [[Queenstown, Ireland]], arriving on 1 June. She patrolled along the coast of [[Ireland]], escorting both inbound and outbound ships. On 20 June, she searched for the submarine which had torpedoed {{SS|Bengore Head||2}}, then rescued 42 survivors who were landed at [[Bantry]] [[Ireland]]. From 26 June-4 July, she escorted a transport convoy to [[St. Nazaire]] and took part in a submarine hunt with two [[France|French]] [[cruiser]]s. On 15 December, with {{USS|Benham|DD-49|2}}, she picked up the survivors of {{SS|Foylemore||2}}, 39 in all.

Transferred to [[Brest, France|Brest]] and [[United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters]], ''Drayton'' left Queenstown on 15 February 1918. She continued her escort and antisubmarine operations out of this port until 16 December, when she sailed for the United States, arriving at Boston on 2 January 1919 for overhaul. ''Drayton'' cruised along the east coast on various exercises and maneuvers until 18 July, when she reported to [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]] in company with seven other destroyers destined for decommissioning.

''Drayton'' was decommissioned on 17 November. On 1 July 1933, her name was dropped and she was known as '''DD-23''' until sold on 28 June 1935.

==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/drayton-i.html}}

{{Paulding class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drayton (DD-23)}}
[[Category:Paulding-class destroyers]]
[[Category:World War I destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bath, Maine]]
[[Category:1910 ships]]