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USS Laub (DD-263)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Laub (DD-263) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
and transferred to the Royal Navy
where she served as HMS Burwell (H94) during World War II
. She was named for Henry Laub
.
, Squantum, Massachusetts, 20 April 1918; launched 28 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Marjorie Mohan, a collateral descendant of Henry Laub; and commissioned 17 March 1919, Commander W. F. Amsden in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic destroyer force out of Newport, Rhode Island
, Laub was dispatched 2 May to 17 May 1919 to take up position off Newfoundland
as plane guard, and navigational aid during the NC-4
transatlantic flight. The destroyer continued exercises off the east coast until 30 June when she sailed for European service. Arriving Brest
17 July, Laub operated with the fleet off Western Europe
until she sailed late in August for duty in the eastern Mediterranean. Upon arrival at Constantinople
2 September, Laub operated with the Food Commission, bringing relief to Europe. She sailed for America on the 17th, arriving New York 4 October. Her stay on the east coast was a brief one as she sailed 2 weeks later to join the Pacific Fleet, arriving San Diego, California
27 November.
From December 1919 until she decommissioned 15 June 1922, Laub performed torpedo experiments and reserve training cruises along the Pacific coast.
Laub recommissioned 18 December 1939, Cmdr. B. W. Chippendale in command. After shakedown out of San Diego, the destroyer arrived Guantanamo 7 April 1940 to join the Caribbean
Neutrality patrol
. Following 2 months’ duty out of Guantanamo, she sailed to Galveston, Texas
for patrol operations in the Gulf of Mexico
. Following 4 months of operations in the gulf and along the Atlantic coast, Laub arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia
, 5 September. She decommissioned there 8 October 1940.
Laub was transferred to Great Britain the following day as part of the destroyer-bases agreement
. During World War II
she served in the Royal Navy
protecting Allied shipping in the North Atlantic under the name HMS Burwell. Burwell was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and one of the triple torpedo
tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge
stowage and installation of Hedgehog
.
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...
and transferred to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
where she served as HMS Burwell (H94) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was named for Henry Laub
Henry Laub
Henry Laub was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.-Biography:Born in York, Pennsylvania, Laub was appointed midshipman 1 October 1809 under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry...
.
History
Laub was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding CorporationBethlehem 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, 20 April 1918; launched 28 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Marjorie Mohan, a collateral descendant of Henry Laub; and commissioned 17 March 1919, Commander W. F. Amsden in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic destroyer force out of 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...
, Laub was dispatched 2 May to 17 May 1919 to take up position off Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
as plane guard, and navigational aid during the NC-4
NC-4
The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC flying boat which was designed by Glenn Curtiss and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in the United States and making the crossing as far as Lisbon,...
transatlantic flight. The destroyer continued exercises off the east coast until 30 June when she sailed for European service. Arriving Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
17 July, Laub operated with the fleet off Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
until she sailed late in August for duty in the eastern Mediterranean. Upon arrival at Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
2 September, Laub operated with the Food Commission, bringing relief to Europe. She sailed for America on the 17th, arriving New York 4 October. Her stay on the east coast was a brief one as she sailed 2 weeks later to join the Pacific Fleet, arriving San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
27 November.
From December 1919 until she decommissioned 15 June 1922, Laub performed torpedo experiments and reserve training cruises along the Pacific coast.
Laub recommissioned 18 December 1939, Cmdr. B. W. Chippendale in command. After shakedown out of San Diego, the destroyer arrived Guantanamo 7 April 1940 to join 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...
Neutrality patrol
Neutrality Patrol
At the beginning of World War II, when Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 started the hostilities in Europe, President Franklin D...
. Following 2 months’ duty out of Guantanamo, she sailed to Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
for patrol operations in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Following 4 months of operations in the gulf and along the Atlantic coast, Laub arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, 5 September. She decommissioned there 8 October 1940.
Laub was transferred to Great Britain the following day as part of the destroyer-bases agreement
Destroyers for Bases Agreement
The Destroyers for Bases Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, September 2, 1940, transferred fifty mothballed destroyers from the United States Navy in exchange for land rights on British possessions...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
protecting Allied shipping in the North Atlantic under the name HMS Burwell. Burwell was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and one of the triple torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
stowage and installation of Hedgehog
Hedgehog (weapon)
The Hedgehog was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, that was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings...
.
External links
- Photo Gallery at Navsource.org
- Photo gallery at Naval Historical Center