USS Stockton (DD-73)

USS Stockton (DD-73) was a Caldwell-class destroyer that served in the US Navy as well as in the Royal Navy as HMS Ludlow. She was the second of four US Navy ship to be named in honor of Captain Robert F. Stockton, who was appointed a Midshipman to the US Navy at the age of sixteen and served until 1850 for a total of 39 years of service. After resigning from the US Navy, he served as a US Senator for New Jersey and sponsored a bill that called for the abolishing of flogging as a punishment in the Navy.

Construction

Stockton was laid down by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1916. Sponsored by Miss Ellen Emelie De Martelly, she was launched on July 17, 1917. Commander H.A. Baldrige took command of Stockton on November 26, 1917.

Naval History

During the last year of World War I, Stockton operated out of Queenstown, Ireland, where she was assigned to antisubmarine and convoy escort duty. On March 30, 1918, she and Ericsson engaged an enemy U-boat as they were escorting the troopship St. Paul along the Queenstown-Liverpool circuit. After Ericsson opened fire on the German submarine, the U-boat launched a torpedo at Stockton. Stockton managed to evade the torpedo before she and Ericsson began dropping patterns of depth charges toward the German submarine, but the U-boat managed to evade the charges. Later that same night, Stockton collided with Slieve Bloom near South Sark Light. The merchantman sank and Stockton had to go to Liverpool for repairs due to the damage caused by the encounter.

After completing repairs, Stockton returned to the United States the following year. On June 26, 1922, she was laid up at Philadelphia and was placed out of commission. She was recommissioned on August 16, 1940, at which time she was shuttled to Halifax and decommissioned once again. On August 23, she was turned over to the United Kingdom as part of the destroyers for bases agreement. She then served in the Royal Navy as HMS Ludlow before being decommissioned in June 1945.

After being decommissioned by the Royal Navy, HMS Ludlow was beached off Fidra Island, Firth of Forth in order to be used as a rocket target by the Royal Air Force. Reportedly, the first salvo of rockets hit her just below the water line, causing her to sink. Today, she remains in the waters just off of Yellowcraigs Beach, where her remains are still visible during low tide.

Asbestos Risk on the USS Stockton (DD-73)

Ships like Stockton deployed asbestos extensively, especially in ship's boilers and engineering rooms, as well as to insulate steam pipes throughout the ship. The many places that asbestos was used on board puts every sailor, shipwright and pipefitter that worked on this vessel at risk for exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma cancer.

We offer a free and comprehensive packet on asbestos exposure, its risks, and your legal rights. If you or a member of your immediate family suffered an asbestos-related injury while aboard the USS Stockton, please complete the form on this page to receive this valuable information.

Sources

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/dd73.htm Retrieved 14 December 2010