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USS ROWAN (DD-64)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NKR

CLASS - SAMPSON As Built.
Displacement 1,110 Tons, Dimensions, 315' 3" (oa) x 30' 7" x 10' 8" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 1pdr AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 17,500 SHP; Direct Drive Turbines With Geared Cruising Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 29.5 Knots, Crew 99.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Fore River, Quincy on May 10 1915.
Launched March 23 1916 and commissioned August 22 1916.
Rowan operated along the east coast until Americas entry into WWI.
Arriving at Queenstown Ireland on May 27 1917, Rowan began escorting
convoys from there until wars end. Returning home on January 8 1919
On March 1922 Rowan was placed in reduced commission.
Decommissioned at Philadelphia June 19 1922 and berthed
with the reserve fleet until her sale.
Stricken January 7 1936.
Fate Sold April 20 1939 and broken up for scrap.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Rowan 65kStephen C. Rowan, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1805, came to the United States at the age of 10 and lived in Piqua, Ohio. Appointed midshipman in the U.S. Navy on 1 February 1826, he took an active role in the Mexican War, serving as executive officer of Cyane during the capture of Monterey on 7 July 1846 and in the occupation of both San Diego and Los Angeles. Captain of the steam-sloop Pawnee at the outbreak of the Civil War, he made gallant attempts to relieve Fort Sumter and to burn the Norfolk Navy Yard. In the fall of 1861, he assisted in the capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet; then, taking command of a flotilla in the North Carolina sounds, he cooperated in the capture of Roanoke Island in February 1862. Promoted to captain for gallantry, he then supported the capture of Elizabeth City, Edenton, and New Bern. During the summer of 1863, he commanded New Ironsides on blockade duty off Charleston and the following August assumed command of Federal forces in the North Carolina sounds. Commissioned rear admiral on 25 July 1866, Rowan served as Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard until 1867, when he assumed command of the Asiatic Squadron. Returning in 1870, he was appointed vice admiral in August of that year and served as Commandant of the New York Navy Yard from 1872 to 1876, as Governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia in 1881, and as Superintendent of the Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C., from 1882 until his retirement in 1889. Vice Admiral Rowan died in Washington, D.C., on 31 March 1890. Photo #: NH 46114-A. Captain Stephen C. Rowan, USN, photographed circa 1862. U.S. Naval Historical Center PhotographBill Gonyo
Rowan 88kUndated, location unknown. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Collection Photo No. UA 569.01.Mike Green
Rowan 54kCirca 1916-1917, location unknown.Jim Flynn
Rowan 47kPhoto #: NH 103481, USS Rowan running trials, circa 22 July 1916. Note the ship's very dirty paintwork and incomplete condition, with weights installed in place of her guns. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.Tony Cowart
Rowan 55kPhoto #: NH 41754, USS Rowan underway at low speed during trials, 22 July 1916. Note the incomplete condition of the ship, with no guns or torpedo tubes installed and very dirty paintwork. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.Tony Cowart
Rowan 61kPhoto #: NH 83126, USS Rowan escorting a convoy in November 1917. The photo title: "The Flying Zebra" reflects her camouflage scheme. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Rowan 35kPhoto #: NH 103485, USS Rowan underway while escorting a convoy, November 1917. The photo title, "The Flying Zebra", is a reference to her camouflage scheme. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Rowan 51kPhoto #: NH 103486, USS Rowan meeting a convoy in November 1917. Note her camouflage scheme. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Rowan 90kPhoto #: NH 83125, Convoy at sea, November 1917. The troopship Madawaska (ID # 3011) is at right, and USS Rowan (Destroyer # 64) is at left. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Rowan 60kPhoto #: NH 100432, USS Rowan in European waters, 1918. Her camouflage scheme is an extensive modification of that seen in November 1917. Courtesy of Ted Stone, 1985. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Rowan 96kUSS Rowan at Philadelphia Navy Yard in Spring 1919. NHC photo 98604-D.Gerd Matthes
Rowan
0506414
73kRowan underway, circa 1919-1920.Dave Wright
Rowan 73kCirca early 1920's.Marc Piché

USS ROWAN DD-64 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


LT William Reynolds Purnell    Aug 22 1916 - Sep 18 1916 (Later RADM)

CDR Charles Adams Blakely    Sep 18 1916 - May 27 1917 (Later VADM)

LCDR Douglas Legate Howard    May 27 1917 - Jan 10 1918 

CDR Frank Howard Sadler    Jan 10 1918 - Jul 21 1918 (Later RADM)

CDR Edmund Spence Root    Jul 21 1918 - Nov 9 1920                                                                                                                                                 

LT Laurence Wild    Nov 9 1920 - Jun 19 1922


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 14 July 2023