USS Harding (DD-91)
The USS Harding (DD-91) was a Wickes class destroyer in the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was the first ship named in honor of Seth Harding (1734-1814), an officer in the U.S. Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
Construction
In February 1918, Harding was laid down by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. The completed vessel was launched in July and commissioned January 1919, under command of Commander Henry D. Cook.
Naval History
Assigned to the Atlantic fleet, Harding arrived at Boston in February before escorting the George Washington with President Woodrow Wilson on board oin her return from the Versailles Conference. Harding took part in the ceremonies when George Washington disembarked at Boston.
After repairs in Norfolk and fleet exercises near Cuba, Harding spent the last two weeks of April in New York before she stood out and joined the destroyer group serving as guide for the historic transatlantic flight of Navy Curtiss NC seaplanes. The destroyers sent volumes of smoke through their funnels by day and lit up the sky at night with searchlights. In May, Harding transmitted radio compass signals at sea for the final leg of her journey. Mission accomplished, Harding visited Brest and the Azores on her voyage to Newport. In December, 1919, Harding arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and underwent conversion to seaplane tender. The conversion was completed May, 1920, at Charlestown Navy Yard. In June, before she could tend to her duties at the Pensacola Naval Base, Harding was ordered to deliver vital medical supplies to Veracruz, Mexico on behalf of the American Red Cross. Her fast response with the valuable bubonic plague serum helped save many lives.
Harding played an important role in the training program for seaplane pilots at the rapidly growing Pensacola Naval Base where she remained until August. Harding tended seaplanes in the Caribbean before proceeding to Key West, Philadelphia, and finally Hampton Roads where she took part in bombing tests on U-117. Harding participated in experiments that yielded valuable information on warships and the impact of exploding bombs. The tests concluded with the controversial sinking of Ostfriesland,an ex-German battleship. In July 1922, Harding was decommissioned. In September 1936, she was sold for scrap to Schiavone-Bonomo Corporation, New York City.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Harding (DD-91)
New fire safety regulations in the 1930s greatly increased the Navy’s dependence on asbestos. In ships built earlier than that, like Harding, the asbestos risk was usually greatest in and around the engineering areas. That said, a veteran of Harding that later developed mesothelioma can list the ship as a likely source of exposure.
Sources
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h2/harding-i.htm
