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USS Mahan (DD-102)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Mahan (DD-102) was a Wickes-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War I
and later designated, DM-7, in the years following. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral
Alfred Thayer Mahan
.
, Quincy, Massachusetts
; launched 4 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Ellen K. Mahan, niece of Rear Admiral Mahan; and commissioned 24 October 1918, Lieutenant Commander F. P. Conger in command.
After shakedown, Mahan operated off Cuba
until May 1919 when she steamed to the Azores
to become one of the guide ships for the transatlantic flights of Navy flying boats NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4
. Returning to Boston
by way of Brest
, France
, 21 June, Mahan was converted to a light minelayer
and was redesignated DM-7, 17 July 1920.
With the exception of a cruise to Pearl Harbor
for maneuvers early in 1925, Mahan operated along the east coast, in the Caribbean
and off the Panama Canal Zone
for the next 10 years, During this time she participated in fleet training exercises; patrolled courses for international races; e.g., the International Six Meter Sailing Races of 1922 and 1927; assisted in salvage operations for submarines S-51 (September 1925, off Block Island
and S-4 (periodically from 17 December 1927 through mid-March 1928, off Provincetown, Massachusetts
); and conducted reserve training cruises in the Caribbean, 1928 to September 1929. Throughout the decade, in addition to her regular duties, she served as an experimental ship, testing new equipment for the Navy’s future use.
On September 20, 1929, she entered Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she decommissioned 1 May 1930. Struck from the Navy Register
22 October, she was sold for scrap 17 January 1931 to the Boston Iron & Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland.
, written by Taylor Anderson
. In the books written by Anderson, the USS Mahan is the sister ship of Walker, the main destroyer, in his series and it begins with the Mahan in the U.S. Asiatic Fleet at the outbreak of World War II. It is pursued by superior Japanese naval forces after the Battle of the Java Sea
and seeks refuge in a squall. USS Walker and USS Mahan are transported to an alternate earth, one where a different evolutionary path occurred. Taylor Anderson also uses other decommissioned ships in these books, such as USS Walker (DD-163)
, USS S-19 (SS-124)
, and the Japanese battlecruiser Amagi appear in his books.
Wickes class destroyer
The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...
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...
during 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...
and later designated, DM-7, in the years following. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Alfred Thayer Mahan was a United States Navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." His concept of "sea power" was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide...
.
History
Mahan was laid down 4 May 1918 by the Fore River ShipyardFore River Shipyard
The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...
, Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
; launched 4 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Ellen K. Mahan, niece of Rear Admiral Mahan; and commissioned 24 October 1918, Lieutenant Commander F. P. Conger in command.
After shakedown, Mahan operated off Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
until May 1919 when she steamed to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
to become one of the guide ships for the transatlantic flights of Navy flying boats NC-1, NC-3, and 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,...
. Returning to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
by way of 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...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, 21 June, Mahan was converted to a light minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
and was redesignated DM-7, 17 July 1920.
With the exception of a cruise to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
for maneuvers early in 1925, Mahan operated along the east coast, 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...
and off the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
for the next 10 years, During this time she participated in fleet training exercises; patrolled courses for international races; e.g., the International Six Meter Sailing Races of 1922 and 1927; assisted in salvage operations for submarines S-51 (September 1925, off Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
and S-4 (periodically from 17 December 1927 through mid-March 1928, off Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
); and conducted reserve training cruises in the Caribbean, 1928 to September 1929. Throughout the decade, in addition to her regular duties, she served as an experimental ship, testing new equipment for the Navy’s future use.
On September 20, 1929, she entered Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she decommissioned 1 May 1930. Struck from the Navy Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
22 October, she was sold for scrap 17 January 1931 to the Boston Iron & Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland.
Fiction
USS Mahan (DD-102) is a ship used in the Destroyermen seriesDestroyermen series
The Destroyermen series is a series of alternate history books, written by American writer and historian Taylor Anderson. The six books in the series so far are Into The Storm, Crusade , Maelstrom, Distant Thunders, Rising Tides, and the most recent book Firestorm.The books chronicle the adventures...
, written by Taylor Anderson
Taylor Anderson
Taylor Anderson is a gunsmith, re-enactor, and history professor. He is the author of the Destroyermen book series, about the USS Walker , USS Mahan , and USS S-19 , and their fight against the Grik. His fifth book of the series; Rising Tides, has been published.-References:...
. In the books written by Anderson, the USS Mahan is the sister ship of Walker, the main destroyer, in his series and it begins with the Mahan in the U.S. Asiatic Fleet at the outbreak of World War II. It is pursued by superior Japanese naval forces after the Battle of the Java Sea
Battle of the Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
and seeks refuge in a squall. USS Walker and USS Mahan are transported to an alternate earth, one where a different evolutionary path occurred. Taylor Anderson also uses other decommissioned ships in these books, such as USS Walker (DD-163)
USS Walker (DD-163)
The first USS Walker was a Wickes class destroyer that saw service in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Admiral John Grimes Walker.-History:...
, USS S-19 (SS-124)
USS S-19 (SS-124)
USS S-19 was a first-group S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 15 August 1918 by the Electric Boat Company in New York City, on subcontract to Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 21 June 1920 sponsored by Ms...
, and the Japanese battlecruiser Amagi appear in his books.