USS Breck (DD-283) was a Clemson-class

Clemson class destroyer

The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...

 destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 following World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. She was named for Joseph Berry Breck

Joseph Berry Breck

Joseph Berry Breck was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:Born in Maine, Breck was appointed an Acting Ensign 27 February 1863...

.

History

Breck was launched 5 September 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation

Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation

Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...

, Squantum, Massachusetts, sponsored by Mrs. Forest MacNee, granddaughter of Lieutenant Commander Breck; and commissioned 1 December 1919, Lieutenant Commander C. E. Van Hook in command.

Breck served with the Atlantic Fleet

U.S. Atlantic Fleet

The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...

, attached to Destroyer Squadron 1

Destroyer Squadron One (United States)

Destroyer Squadron One, also known as Destroyer Squadron 1 and often abbreviated at DESRON ONE or DESRON 1, is a flotilla of warships of the United States Navy. Originally consisting of destroyers, the unit was established around the time of World War I. The squadron served in the Pacific...

 and for six months operated in the Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

 area. From 15 July 1920 until June 1921 she was at Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

, in reserve commission, having only limited duty training Naval Reserves on the Atlantic coast. In June 1921 she rejoined the Destroyer Force and participated in scheduled drills and exercises along the Atlantic coast and for a time had special duty in connection with the calibration of coastal Radio Compass Stations.

In June 1922 she joined Squadrons Escorting fleet, and annually took part in squadron and fleet operations in August 1925 her home yard was changed from Boston, Massachusetts to Norfolk Navy Yard and Breck was attached to Destroyer Division 25. As a unit of that Division she served with United States Naval Forces Europe

United States Naval Forces Europe

United States Naval Forces Europe is the United States Navy component of the United States European Command and provides forces for United States African Command....

, between June 1926 and June 1927 showing the flag along the European and North African coasts and engaging in target and engineering competition. Upon returning to the United States she put in at New York Navy Yard and then proceeded to Newport where she embarked Naval Reserves for the training cruise with the Scouting Fleet

Scouting Fleet

The Scouting Fleet was part of the United States Fleet in the United States Navy, and renamed the Scouting Force in 1930.Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the Atlantic...

. The succeeding years were similar in the established routine of gunnery practice, war games, and maneuvers until the end of September 1929 when Breck arrived with other units of Destroyer Squadron 9 at Philadelphia Navy Yard, ending her active service. Breck was decommissioned 1 May 1930 and sold 17 January 1931.

As of 2005, no other ship have been named Breck.

External links

• http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/283.htm