USS McCawley (DD-276)
USS McCawley (DD-276) was one of over 150 Clemson-class destroyers to be constructed for the US Navy after World War I. She was the first of two naval vessels to be named in honor of Colonel Charles McCawley, who was the eighth Commandant of the Marine Corps. Colonel McCawley served in the US Marine Corps during both the Mexican-American and Civil wars.
Construction
McCawley was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts on November 5, 1918. Sponsored by Miss Eleanor Laurie McCawley, the granddaughter of Colonel McCawley, she was launched on June 14, 1919. Lieutenant H.E. Haynes took command of McCawley on September 22, 1919.
As was the case with all Clemson-class destroyers, McCawley was capable of reaching a top speed of 35 knots. Unlike the Wickes-class ships before them, Clemson-class destroyers were characterized by wing tanks, which were located on either side of the ship. With the help of these tanks, the ships were capable of carrying more fuel and traveling further distances than the previous class. With the tanks being above the waterline, however, Clemson-class destroyers were more vulnerable to attack. Clemson-class destroyers also featured a larger rudder, which reduced the turn radius, as well as an additional set of 3-inch 23 caliber anti-aircraft guns when compared to the Wickes class of destroyers.
Naval History
Following her shakedown and after receiving a refitting on the east coast, McCawley joined Destroyer Squadron 2, Pacific Fleet in San Diego, California. She participated in exercises off the west coast until June 1922, at which time she was decommissioned. More than one year later, she was recommissioned and reassigned to the Pacific Fleet.
After being placed back with her original Fleet, McCawley took part in a variety of fleet problems while also participating in local and squadron training exercises. She continued in this capacity for the next six years, though she did steam to the Caribbean once in 1924 and again in 1927 in order to participate in fleet problems. With the exception of these two trips, McCawley spent the entire time on the west coast, ranging from San Diego to Puget Sound, as well as Hawaiian waters.
McCawley was decommissioned in San Diego on April 1, 1930 as part of the London Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armament. Her name was stricken from the Navy list on August 13 of that same year. Nearly three weeks later, she was scrapped and sold at auction.
Asbestos Risk on the USS McCawley (DD-276)
Installing asbestos-containing materials in the construction of oceangoing ships was mandated by the US Congress in the early 1930s, after a fire at sea on a cruise ship resulted in great loss of life. McCawley, like most Navy ships at the time, deployed asbestos-containing materials frequently, especially in boilers and engineering compartments, and to insulate pipes in all parts of the vessel.
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Sources
McCawley. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy – Naval Historical Center.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m7/mccawley-i.htm Retrieved 27 December 2010.
