USS Charles Ausburn (DD-294)
USS Charles Ausburn (DD-294) was one of over 150 Clemson-class destroyers constructed for the US Navy after World War I. She was the first of two ships to be named in honor of Charles Lawrence Ausburne, an Electrician First Class who went down with the ship when the Army transport Antilles was torpedoed by German submarine U-105. Ausburne was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism. (Ausburne’s family members spelled the name without a final ‘e’ but he himself was later found to spell the name as given here; the second USS Ausburne was named correctly.)
Construction
Charles Ausburn was launched by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Squantam, Massachusetts on December 18, 1919. She was sponsored by Mrs. D.K. Ausburn. Lieutenant M.W. Hutchinson, Jr. took command of Charles Ausburn on March 23, 1920.
As was the case with all Clemson-class destroyers, Charles Ausburn was capable of reaching speed of up to 35 knots. Unlike the Wickes-class ships before it, Clemson-class destroyers featured wing tanks on either side of the ship. These extra fuel tanks made it possible for Clemson-class ships to carry more fuel than the previous classes of destroyers. The downside to this benefit, however, was that the ships were more vulnerable to attack because the tanks were above the waterline. Clemson-class destroyers also featured a larger rudder than previous classes, which reduce their turning radius. Clemson-class destroyers were also characterized by an additional set of 3-inch 23 caliber anti-aircraft guns, which was not found on the previous class of ships.
Naval History
Following commissioning, Charles Ausburn was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. She began operations along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, which she continued through 1924. From October 1920 through May 1922, Charles Ausburn served with a reduced complement. During this time, she participated in training maneuvers and fleet exercises. Charles Ausburn also assisted with the development and application of new methods of naval warfare. The following fall, she was equipped to carry a seaplane. Following this adaptation, Charles Ausburn participated in experiments in the naval aviation field.
In the summer of 1924, Charles Ausburn provided plane guard service along the northern latitudes. Stationed off of Newfoundland and Greenland, she played an integral role in the completion of a round-the-world flight completed by Army aircraft. On June 18, 1925, Charles Ausburn left Boston to embark upon her year-long duty in Europe and in the Mediterranean. During this time, she visited numerous ports before returning to New York on July 11, 1926.
Following her return to the United States, Charles Ausburn resumed operations with her fleet. She frequently assisted with the training of reservists until she was decommissioned on May 1, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was sold on January 7, 1931.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Charles Ausburn (DD-294)
The use of asbestos in the design of marine vessels was mandated by law in the United States in the early 1930s, after a deadly fire on a cruise ship killed more than 100 people. Charles Ausburn, like most Navy ships at the time, utilized asbestos insulation heavily, particularly in engines and engine spaces, as well as to insulate steam pipes in all sections of the vessel. When asbestos insulation becomes worn it can become "friable", which means that fibers can break off and enter the air, and then can be inhaled or ingested by naval personnel or repair workers, increasing the odds of developing mesothelioma. The mineral asbestos has long been known for its resistance to fire and heat, but it has also been proven to be the only known cause of serious conditions like pleural plaques and mesothelioma.
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Sources
Charles Ausburn. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy – Naval Historical Center.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c6/charles_ausburn-i.htmRetrieved 31 December 2010.
