USS Dent (DD-116)
The USS Dent (DD-116) served in the US Navy for nearly three decades in the early 20th century. She was named for John H. Dent, who commanded the schooners Nautilus and Scourge during the Tripolitan War. Dent was built as a Wickes-class ship.
Construction
The 1,090-ton Dent was laid down in August 1917 by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched in March 1918, and commissioned in September with Commander B.C. Allen in command. Dent was 314 feet, five inches long and carried a crew of 103. She was armed with four 4-inch rapid-fire guns, two anti-aircraft guns, and twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Naval History
Dent began her service by escorting a convoy to Ireland in 1918, and was then assigned to training at Guantanamo Bay. In May, 1919, Dent deployed to Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland in support of the first trans-Atlantic flight by a Navy seaplane. She was then assigned to escort a yacht carrying the President of Brazil from New York to Newport, Rhode Island.
Dent joined the Pacific Fleet at San Pedro, California in August 1919 and was placed in reserve in September, but returned to active duty in December 1920. She visited Chile, Costa Rica, and Mexico and then was once again placed in reserve in June 1922. Dent operated as plane guard for carrier operations and trained reservists when re-commissioned in May 1930, was assigned to the Rotating Reserve at San Diego, and operated along the west coast of the United States and Hawaii up until the United States entered World War II.
In January 1943, Dent was repaired and converted to high-speed transport APD-9 in Seattle, Washington. Dent deployed to a base at Noumea, New Caledonia in April, and operated from there and Espiritu Santo to land troops during the assaults on New Georgia, Rendova, Cape Torokina, Vella Lavella, and Bougainville. In December 1943, she grounded on a shoal during a training exercise at Cape Sudest and suffered serious structural damage. Dent underwent repairs in Australia until January 1944. Dent deployed to the Solomon Islands in May 1944 to train an underwater demolition team in preparation for the invasion of the Marianas Islands.
In August 1944, Dent arrived at San Diego and served with the Amphibious Training Force, Pacific Fleet from November to the end of World War II. She was decommissioned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in December 1945 and sold for scrap in June 1946. Dent received five battle stars for the service she performed during World War II.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Dent (DD-116)
While all of the service branches utilized asbestos in various bases and vehicles, exposure to this dangerous mineral was much more common on ships. As a result, Navy veterans are more likely to suffer mesothelioma than members of the other armed services. The Dent sailed before the dangers of asbestos were fully known, so her crew faces an even higher risk of being exposed to asbestos.
If you or a relative received a diagnosis of mesothelioma after service aboard the Dent, you should be aware that you may have legal rights to compensation for your injury. A professional mesothelioma lawyer can help you understand these rights and help you choose a course of action. We have a free information package available that discusses mesothelioma, modern treatment of the disease, and what your legal options might be. All you have to do is submit the form on this page and we'll send you this free packet.
Sources
NavSource Naval History. USS Dent (DD-116/APD-9)
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/116.htm Retrieved 20 December 2010
Navy History. Dent DD-116
http://www.historycentral.com/Navy/destroyer/Dentdd116.html
