USS Gwin (DD-71)
USS Gwin (DD-71) was one of only six Caldwell-class destroyers to serve in the US Navy, with the other five being USS Caldwell (DD-69), USS Craven (DD-70), USS Conner (DD-72), USS Stockton (DD-73) and USS Manley (DD-74). She was the second Navy ship to be named for Lieutenant Commander William Gwin, who commanded several of the Mississippi Squadron’s ships during the Civil War.
Construction
Gwin was launched on December 22, 1917 by the Seattle Construction & Drydock Company. She was commissioned at Puget Sound on March 18, 1920 and put under the command of Lieutenant Commander H.H. Bousen.
As with the other Caldwell-class destroyers, the Gwin was flush-decked in order to remove the fo’c’sle break weakness that was found in the Tucker class of destroyers that preceded her. The design of the forward sheer of Gwin was also improved to prevent the “A” mount from being continually washed out. Gwin featured wing mounts and torpedo tubes, which were also found in the Wickes-class and Clemson-class destroyers. Ultimately, this characteristic was viewed to be a design flaw and was removed from subsequent vessels. While all six Caldwell-class destroyers were designed for 18,500 horsepower and 30 knots, Gwin had only three stacks, where her sister ships Caldwell, Craven and Manley each had four.
Naval History
About a month after arriving in Puget Sound, Gwin departed for calls at California ports. She then passed through the Panama Canal as she headed to Newport, Rhode Island. After arriving in Rhode Island in June, Gwin assisted with operations along the eastern seaboard. While performing these duties, Gwin traveled as far south as Charleston, South Carolina.
In June 1922, Gwin was decommissioned in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She remained inactive until January 25, 1937, at which time her name was removed from the Navy List. Her hulk wasn’t sold until March 16, 1939, at which time she was scrapped by the Union Shipbuilding Company in Baltimore, Maryland.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Gwin (DD-71)
Crewmen aboard the USS Gwin were likely exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers during their service. This is because the Gwin and other Caldwell-class vessels used asbestos insulation and fireproofing in and around many of her engines, boilers, pumps, and pipes. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos fibers can infiltrate the thin tissue that surrounds and buffers your internal organs. These fibers can cause scarring or tissue damage, and eventually lead to a serious cancer called mesothelioma.
Even with modern medical help, the survival rate of mesothelioma victims is extremely low. The prognosis was even worse for sailors of this era. If you or a loved one served aboard or serviced the USS Gwin and was later diagnosed with an asbestos disease, you may have the legal right to compensation. Find out more by consulting with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, or request our free and informative guide by completing the form on this page.
Sources
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g10/gwin-ii.htm Retrieved 14 December 2010
Destroyer History Home Page.
http://www.destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/caldwellclass.html Retrieved 14 December 2010
