World War I USS Wainwright (DD-62)

wainwright (right) alongside destroyer tender bridgeport @ brest in 1918

the summer of 1917 provided few opportunities wainwright test sub-killing techniques. on 4 july, member of destroyer s crew spotted purported periscope , thereafter others claimed torpedo reported have passed ship, 5 feet (1.5 m) astern. wainwright depth-charged last indicated position of undersea raider no avail. on morning of 20 august, after rowan brought oil 1 of depth charges, wainwright dropped couple of depth charges passed through faint slick. few minutes later, joined other ships in sporadic gunfire failed prove submarine in area.

the fall, on other hand, brought wainwright increased activity. after spending first 2 weeks of september in repairs @ birkenhead, near liverpool, departed yard @ laird basin @ 07:00 on 14th return queenstown. 3 quarters of hour afternoon watch, received orders sending scene of submarine attack against allied merchantman 15 nautical miles (28 km) south-southeast of helvick head, ireland. wainwright rang full speed, made off reported location, , began search u-boat in conjunction british dirigible , other surface units. near end of second dog watch, sighted submarine s conning tower , bow 6 nautical miles (11 km) off.

wainwright charged attack, submarine submerged immediately. upon reaching spot submarine had been, warship located oil slick , began dropping depth charges failed achieve positive results. approaching darkness , necessity of escorting admiralty oiler forced wainwright break off attack. after shepherded oiler safety, returned area of attack , patrolled throughout night, submarine had apparently retired neighborhood.

four days later, while searching u-boat in area of conigbeg rock, destroyer received word conigbeg lightship had rescued survivors fishing vessel. wainwright rendezvoused craft interview 4 seamen of smack our bairns. revealed u-boat—which turned out uc-48—was of latest type germany had in action. destroyer relieved lighthouse vessel of 4 fishermen , continued search until dusk, when headed queenstown land rescued men.

for month, carried on conducting routine patrols. action came on morning of 18 october, when wainwright again received orders helvick head hunt enemy submarine. arrived @ designated location @ 11:15 , searched more 2 hours clues u-boat s location. then, @ 13:58, sighted submarine s conning tower 1,500 yards (1,400 m) off starboard bow. enemy appeared maneuvering position torpedo attack submerged moment wainwright charged attack. when destroyer reached estimated location of u-boat, dropped depth charge , buoy mark spot. warship followed maneuver systematic, circular search out radius of 20 nautical miles (37 km). having found nothing 04:00 following morning, gave , shaped course queenstown.

the ensuing 6 months brought no new encounters u-boats. scouted areas submarines had been reported neither sighted nor engaged enemy. on 1 occasion, collided merchantman, chicago city, , had enter drydock @ spencer jetty same day, 24 november 1917, repairs.

while steaming south on 29 april 1918, sighted sail bearing due west hull down below horizon. time destroyer had swung around intercepting course, sail had disappeared. while destroyer steamed toward estimated position of sail, searched evidence of submarine. after covering 10 nautical miles (19 km) westward, came upon area marked number of small oil slicks. wainwright chose promising of slicks , dropped 4 depth charges. commenced fruitless search ended @ midnight when received orders return queenstown.

wainwright , rest of destroyer squadron 14 @ new york on 20 may 1921

wainwright continued operate out of queenstown until june 1918 when reassigned united states naval forces in france. on 8th, reported duty @ brest, french port conducted patrols remainder of war. patrols brought no further encounters enemy. 2 events of note occurred between june , november 1918. on night of 19/20 october, sighted appeared submarine running on surface. however, upon closer inspection, object proved derelict carrying crew of 77-ton portuguese schooner aida, had been captured german submarine u-43 , sunk explosive charges. wainwright took on survivors , saw them safely port. later, during evening of 1 november, heavy winds @ brest caused destroyer drag anchor: , struck breakwater. after jarvis had failed pull loose, tug concord took on , managed refloat warship @ 19:20 , towed brest.

hostilities ended on 11 november 1918, , wainwright returned home in 1919 resume duty atlantic fleet destroyers. operated along east coast , in caribbean until 19 may 1922 when decommissioned @ philadelphia, pennsylvania. destroyer remained in reserve until spring of 1926.