USS Paulding (DD-22)

The USS Paulding (DD-22) served in the US Navy and with the US Coast Guard during the second two decades of the 20th century. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding who commanded the New York Navy Yard during the Civil War.

Construction

The name ship of a class of twenty-one 742-ton destroyers, Paulding was laid down in July 1909 by Bath Iron Works in Bath Maine. She was launched in April 1910 and commissioned in September, with Lieutenant Commander Yates Stirling, Jr. in command. Paulding was 293 feet, 10 inches long with a top speed of 29.5 knots and a crew of 86. The first of a dozen four-smokestack ships in her class, she was armed with five 3-inch guns and six 18-inch torpedo tubes.

Naval History

Paulding was deployed by the Atlantic Fleet torpedo force and operated along the east coast of the United States. In April 1917, she patrolled the New England coast, and was prepared for distant service in May. She was deployed to Queenstown, Ireland to conduct anti-submarine patrols and escort duty to protect the region against German U-boats.

After the Armistice, Paulding returned to the United States and was decommissioned in August 1919, but remained part of the Reserve Fleet. She was loaned to the Coast Guard in April 1924, and designated the USCGC Paulding (CG-17). During this deployment, she was assigned to enforce laws against alcoholic beverages. In December 1927, Paulding accidentally rammed and sank the submarine S-4 near Cape Cod, and suffered a crushed bow. Repairs were made and the destroyer returned to Coast Guard service.

Paulding regained Navy status in October 1930 and once again was assigned to the Reserve Fleet, but remained at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Stricken from the list of Navy ships in June 1934, she was sold for scrap under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

Asbestos Risk on the USS Paulding (DD-22)

The USS Paulding was constructed and repaired in the early 1900s, when asbestos use was common and its dangers were not yet well known. She used asbestos insulation and fireproofing in her boilers and engines, in pumps and as pipe covering, and almost anywhere else that inexpensive, durable protection from heat or fire was required. Sailors aboard the Paulding and those that built and repaired the vessel have a significant risk of exposure to this dangerous mineral, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

If you or someone in your family contracted mesothelioma after serving on the Paulding, you should know that there are legal remedies available. A professional mesothelioma lawyer can help you decide your course of action. Complete the form on this page to learn what your rights are, what treatments are available, and what to expect after diagnosis. We'll send you our comprehensive guide at no cost to you.

Sources

NavSource Naval History. USS Paulding (DD-22)
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/022.htm Retrieved 16 December 2010

Department of The Navy - Naval Historical Center.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-p/dd22.htm Retrieved 16 December 2010

Navy History. USS Paulding (DD-22).
http://www.historycentral.com/Navy/destroyer2/paulding.html Retrieved 16 December 2010