USS Childs (DD-241)
The USS Childs (DD-241) served in the US Navy for more than two decades during the early part of the 20th century, and earned one battle star for her service in World War II. She was named for Lieutenant Earle Wayne Freed Childs, who served in World War I. Childs was built as a Clemson-class destroyer.
Construction
Childs was laid down in Camden, New Jersey by the New York Shipbuilding Company in March 1919, launched in September 1920, and commissioned in October with Commander I.H. Mayfield in command. Carrying a crew of 114, Childs was 314 feet, five inches long and armed with four 4-inch rapid-fire guns, one three-inch anti-aircraft gun, and twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Naval History
Childs began her service with operations in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, North, and Baltic Seas with the United States Naval Forces, Europe, until being deployed to a relief mission during the Russian Civil War in 1922. In July, Childs returned to the United States and participated in fleet exercises on the east coast and Caribbean. Childs moved to the west coast and was stationed at San Diego, California beginning in November 1934, and was assigned as flagship of Destroyer Division 8 Rotating Reserve, Scouting Force from January to June 1935, operating off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Childs was then overhauled on the east coast, and then returned to San Diego and operated between the west coast and Hawaii. She was converted to seaplane tender AVP-15 in May 1938 at Philadelphia, until being based at Pearl Harbor in June 1939. During this deployment, Childs served off Midway, Wake, and Guam, and was then reclassified AVD-1 in October 1940 and assigned to the Asiatic Station.
In November, Childs served with air patrol squadrons in the Philippines, and escaped harm at Cavite Navy Yard when Japanese aircraft attacked in December 1941. Childs tended patrol aircraft for a few more days at Manila, and operated from various west Australian ports until August 1944. In September, Childs returned to the west coast for overhaul and participated in training operations until World War II ended. She was decommissioned In December 1945 and sold for scrap in May 1946.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Childs (DD-241)
The installation of asbestos in the construction of marine vessels was ordered by the US Congress in the 1930s, after a deadly fire aboard a luxury liner killed 137 passengers and crew. Navy ships like Childs made use of asbestos-containing materials in great quantities in ship's boilers and engine spaces, and to insulate compartments throughout the vessel.
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Sources
Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-241.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd241txt.htm Retrieved 30 December 2010.
NavSource Naval History, USS Childs (DD-241).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/241.htm Retrieved 30 December 2010.
