USS Chauncey (DD-3)

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The first USS Chauncey was a Template:Sclass, also referred to as a "Torpedo-boat destroyer", in the United States Navy named for Commodore Isaac Chauncey. She was launched in 1901 and sunk in 1917.

Construction and design

Chauncey was laid down at Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 2 December 1899 as a member of the Bainbridge class,<ref group="lower-alpha">Some sources state that Torpedo Boat Destroyers 1–5 comprised the Bainbridge class,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn while other sources state that four more very similar ships (Torpedo Boat Destroyers 10–13) were also part of the same class.Template:Sfn</ref> and was launched on 26 October 1901.Template:Sfn

Chauncey was Template:Cvt long overall and Template:Cvt at the waterline, with a beam of Template:Cvt and a draft of Template:Cvt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn As the Bainbridge class was intended to be more seaworthy than the US Navy's torpedo boats, the ship had a raised forecastle instead of the "turtleback" forecastle common in European designs.Template:Sfn Design displacement was Template:Convert and Template:Cvt full load,Template:Sfn although all ships of the class were overweight.Template:Sfn Four Thornycroft boilers fed steam at Template:Cvt to triple expansion steam engines rated at Template:Cvt driving two shafts for a design speed of Template:Cvt. Four funnels were fitted.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Armament consisted of two [[3"/50 caliber gun|Template:Convert/50 caliber]] guns, five [[QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss#American service|6-pounder (Template:Convert) guns]] and two Template:Convert torpedo tubes.Template:Sfn

Chauncey was placed in reduced commission on 20 November 1902, then placed in reserve on 2 December 1902 and received full commission on 21 February 1903. Lieutenant Stanford Elwood Moses was placed in command and Chauncey reported to the Atlantic Fleet.Template:Sfn

Pre-World War I

Chauncey served with the Coast Squadron until 20 September 1903, when she was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet and left Key West for the Orient on 18 December. After sailing by way of the Suez Canal, she arrived at Cavite to join the force representing US interest in the Far East as it cruised in the Philippines during winters and off China during summers. Aside from the period of 3 December 1905 – 12 January 1907, when she was in reserve at Cavite, Chauncey continued this service until the entrance of America into World War I.Template:Sfn

Sinking

The destroyer sailed from Cavite on 1 August 1917 for convoy escort duty in the eastern Atlantic, based at St. Nazaire, France. On 19 November, while about Template:Convert west of Gibraltar on escort duty, Chauncey was rammed by the British merchantman SS Rose as both ships steamed in war-imposed darkness. At 03:17, Chauncey sank in Template:Cvt of water, taking to their death 21 men including her captain, Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno, the namesake of the Template:Sclass Template:USS,Template:Sfn and LTJG Charles F. Wedderburn, the namesake of the Template:Sclass Template:USS.Template:Sfn Seventy survivors were picked up by Rose, and carried to port.Template:Sfn

Chauncey in literature

The novel Delilah was written by a survivor of Chauncey, Marcus Goodrich, and is a fictional account based on his experience serving aboard Chauncey as an enlisted man.Template:Citation needed

Noteworthy commanding officers

• Ensign Joseph Rollie Defrees (26 September 1905 – 3 December 1905) (Later Rear Admiral)
• Lieutenant Frank Jack Fletcher (18 April 1912 – 21 December 1912) (Later Admiral) - Fletcher-class destroyer named for his uncle, Medal of Honor recipient Admiral Frank F. Fletcher.

Bibliography

Books

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Online sources

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