Allied Warships

USS Hale (i) (DD 133)

Destroyer of the Wickes class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassWickes 
PennantDD 133 
Built byBath Iron Works (Bath, Maine, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down7 Oct 1918 
Launched29 May 1919 
Commissioned12 Jun 1919 
End service9 Sep 1940 
History

Hale (DD-133) commissioned at Boston 12 June 1919, Comdr. Allan S. Farquhar in command. Hale joined Destroyer Squadron 3, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and after training exercises departed 11 July 1919 for Europe. On this cruise, the ship paid goodwill visits to European and Mediterranean ports, assisted in the execution of the Austrian Armistice in October, and joined the American detachment in Turkish waters. Hale then carried refugees, relief officials, and freight between the ports of Greece, Bulgaria, and Russia, showing the flag in the vital Mediterranean and Balkan area. She returned to Philadelphia 31 March 1920 and resumed her schedule Of training and development exercises along the Eastern Coast. Hale decommissioned at Philadelphia 22 June 1922 and remained in reserve until 31 May 1930, when she re-commissioned. Departing Philadelphia 15 May, Hale took part in refresher training operations and then resumed readiness exercises on the East Coast. She participated in Scouting Fleet maneuvers in early 1931 in the Caribbean, and arrived San Diego via the Panama Canal 4 April 1931. For the next few years Hale participated in manoeuvres with the Battle Force along the California coast and spent much time perfecting the techniques of modern carrier tactics with the carriers Saratoga and Lexington. The destroyer decommissioned once more at San Diego 9 April 1937. Hale recommissioned at San Diego 30 September 1939, at a time of mounting crisis in both oceans, and departed 25 November for neutrality patrol in the Caribbean. Her base was changed to Galveston 22 February 1940, and later to Key West, but the ship continued to patrol the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. At Philadelphia 1 September 1940 she prepared for transfer to Great Britain as a part of the famous destroyers for bases agreement. She arrived Halifax 6 September 1940 and decommissioned 3 days later, Entering the Royal Navy, she became HMS Caldwell.

 
Career notesto Britain as HMS Caldwell (I 20)

Commands listed for USS Hale (i) (DD 133)

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and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1William Claybourne Latrobe, USN30 Sep 19399 Sep 1940

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Media links


Destroyers of World War Two

Whitley, M. J.


U.S. Destroyers

Friedman, Norman


United States Destroyer Operations In World War II.

Roscoe, Theodore


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