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USS BOGGS (DD-136 / IX-36 / DMS-3 / AG-19)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NAMT

CLASS - WICKES As Built.
Displacement 1,154 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 1pdr AA (1 x 3"/23AA In Some Ships), 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 24,200 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 103.
Operational and Building Data
Built by Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA Laid down 15 November 1917
Launched 25 April 1918
Commissioned 23 September 1918
Decommissioned 29 June 1922
Recommissioned 19 December 1931
Reclassified Light Target No. 2 AG-19 11 August 1931
(IX-36 was an unofficial filing designation)
Reclassified High Speed Minesweeper DMS-3 19 November 1940
Reverted to AG-19 05 June 1945
Decommissioned 30 March 1946
Stricken 12 April 1946
Fate Sold for scrapping to Northern Metals Co., Philadelphia, PA, 27 November 1946

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Namesake
Boggs 73kCharles Stuart Boggs, a nephew of Capt. James Lawrence of the ill-fated frigate Chesapeake, was born on 28 January 1811 in New Brunswick, N.J., and was appointed a midshipman on 1 November 1826. He sailed for European waters in Warren on 22 February 1827 and, in that sloop of war and in the ship of the line Delaware, helped to protect American shipping from Greek pirates. Next assigned to Porpoise, Midshipman Boggs served in that schooner as she fought piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies. On 28 April 1832, he came ashore as a passed midshipman and spent nearly four years in duty on shore. Appointed an acting lieutenant, he returned to sea in 1836 as executive officer of Enterprise. Newly commissioned Lt. Boggs spent the years 1838 to 1842 training naval apprentices. In 1842, he took to sea again in Saratoga to police the West African slave ports. Before the outbreak of war with Mexico, Boggs moved to the steamer Princeton; and, in her, he participated in the bombardment of the castle San Juan de Ulloa and in the capture of Veracruz. When the brig Truxtun ran aground on a bar near Veracruz, he led the boat expedition that recaptured the ship and destroyed her. Boggs left Mexican waters late in March 1847 when Princeton took the ailing Commodore Conner home and then sailed in her for the Mediterranean to protect American shipping from Mexican privateers. He returned home on 24 June 1849, but found himself back in European waters early in 1851 when St. Lawrence carried exhibits from the United States to England for the International Exposition at London. Following duty at the New York Navy Yard, Comdr. Boggs went on a three-year furlough. During that period, he commanded the civilian mail steamer Illinois in the service of the California Steamship Co. A bit later, he became inspector of Lights along the California coast. While holding this post, he commanded Shubrick and, in that steamer, each year made two voyages from Vancouver's Island to lower California to check on coastal navigational aids. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Boggs requested active duty and he was placed in command of Varuna, a small steamer which was attached to Flag Officer Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the campaign to capture New Orleans. When that force ran the gauntlet on the lower Mississippi River between Forts Jackson and St. Philip on 24 April 1862, Boggs' Varuna was in the forefront of the action. She shot forward and was first to pass the fortifications and to engage the Confederate flotilla above them. For a time, she suffered the combined fire of the Southern ships. Though Varuna was shelled and rammed by two Confederate ironclad rams, Comdr. Boggs fought his ship until his gunports sank beneath the water. After service in Juniata, Boggs was promoted to captain on 16 July 1862 and took command of Sacramento. He also served concurrently as senior officer of the force blockading Wilmington, N.C., until the constant drain on his health forced him ashore to recruiting duty late in the summer of 1863. In 1864 and 1865, Capt. Boggs was at the New York Navy Yard as superintendent of shipbuilding. There, he watched over the building and outfitting of a fleet of steam picket boats of his own design. It is interesting to note that Lt. William B. Cushing fitted out one of Capt. Boggs' steam launches as a torpedo boat to score his spectacular success in sinking the Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle. On 17 February 1865, Capt. Boggs assumed command of the sidewheel gunboat Connecticut and cruised the West Indies from late February to the beginning of August. From that duty, he moved to command of De Soto, a steamer assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron. Promoted to flag rank on 1 July 1870, Rear Admiral Boggs was appointed lighthouse inspector for the 3d District, his last assignment before he retired to New Brunswick on 29 January 1872. Rear Admiral Boggs died there on 22 April 1888. Photo #: NH 56205. Rear Admiral Charles S. Boggs, USN portrait photograph taken circa 1870. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart/Bill Gonyo
USS Boggs (DD-136)
Boggs 128kLaying the keel for USS Boggs (Destroyer No. 136) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 15 November 1917. The officer in the center with his foot on the keel is Commander Henry M. Gleason, Navy Constructor; the second officer to the right of him is Captain Henry George, Commandant of Mare Island Navy Yard.Darryl Baker
Boggs 181kUSS Boggs (Destroyer No. 136) and USS Crosby (Destroyer No. 164) moored at an unknown location, circa 1918-1919.Tommy Trampp
Boggs   Boggs
Two views of Boggs underway in Mare Island Channel, 08 January 1919.
Darryl Baker
Boggs 357kUSS Boggs (Destroyer No. 136) at anchor, circa 1919-1921. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 766Joe Radigan
Boggs 103kDuring the Pacific Fleet's passage through the Upper Chambers, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Those present are: USS Wickes (Destroyer No. 75) and USS Yarnall (Destroyer No. 143), both at left; USS Philip (Destroyer No. 76), USS Buchanan (Destroyer No. 131) and USS Elliot (Destroyer No. 146), left to right in the center group; USS Boggs (Destroyer No. 136), USS Dent (Destroyer No. 116) and USS Waters (Destroyer No. 115), left to right in the right center group.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 57141
Fred Weiss
Boggs 152kDestroyers in the Middle Chambers, Gatun Lock during the Pacific Fleet's passage through the Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Those in the front centre are (left to right): USS Waters (Destroyer No. 115); USS Dent (Destroyer No. 116) and USS Boggs (Destroyer No. 136). USS Yarnall (Destroyer No. 143) is by herself just aft of that group. Partially visible at right are (left to right): USS Elliot (Destroyer No. 146); USS Buchanan (Destroyer No. 131) and USS Philip (Destroyer No. 76). Two of the three ships just astern of that group are: USS Tarbell (Destroyer No. 142), right, and USS Wickes (Destroyer No.75), left. Photographed by the Panama Canal Company (their photo # 80-C-5).
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 42536.
Robert Hurst
Boggs 103kNewspaper clipping from the New York Tribune, dated 17 August 1919.Mike Mohl
Kennison 115kPanoramic photograph of Destroyer Division Seventeen, taken by O.A.Tunnell in San Diego Harbor, California, probably on 14 August 1920. The ships are, from left to right: USS Kennison (DD-138); USS Claxton (DD-140); USS Ward (DD-139); USS Boggs (DD-136); and USS Hamilton (DD-141). The image is copied from the original print for Photo # NH106144. Donation of Rear Admiral Joe Stanton Thompson, USN (Retired), 2008.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 106144-A.
Robert Hurst
Red Lead Row 195kRed Lead Row, San Diego Destroyer Base, California. Photographed at the end of 1922, with at least 65 destroyers tied up there. Ships present are identified as: (left to right, in the right diagonal row): Stansbury (DD-180); MacKenzie (DD-175); Renshaw (DD-176); Howard (DD-179); Gillis (DD-260); Tingey (DD-272); McLanahan (DD-264); Swasey (DD-273); Morris (DD-271); Bailey (DD-269); Tattnall (DD-125); Breese (DD-122); Radford (DD-120); Aaron Ward (DD-132) -- probably; Ramsey (DD-124); Montgomery (DD-121); and Lea (DD-118). (left to right, in the middle diagonal row): Wickes (DD-75); Thornton (DD-270); Meade (DD-274); Crane (DD-109); Evans (DD-78); McCawley (DD-276); Doyen (DD-280); Elliot (DD-146); Henshaw (DD-278); Moody (DD-277); Meyer (DD-279); Sinclair (DD-275); Turner (DD-259); Philip (DD-76); Hamilton (DD-141); Boggs (DD-136); Claxton (DD-140); Ward (DD-139); Hazelwood (DD-107) or Kilty (DD-137); Kennison (DD-138); Jacob Jones (DD-130); Aulick (DD-258); Babbitt (DD-128); Twiggs (DD-127); and Badger (DD-126). (left to right, in the left diagonal row): Shubrick (DD-268); Edwards (DD-265); Palmer (DD-161); Welles (DD-257); Mugford (DD-105); Upshur (DD-144); Greer (DD-145); Wasmuth (DD-338); Hogan (DD-178); O'Bannon (DD-177); and -- possibly -- Decatur (DD-341). (Nested alongside wharf in left center, left to right): Prairie (AD-5); Buffalo (AD-8); Trever (DD-339); and Perry (DD-340). Minesweepers just astern of this group are Partridge (AM-16) and Brant (AM-24). Nearest ship in the group of destroyers at far left is Dent (DD-116). The others with her are unidentified.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 42539
Robert Hurst
USS Light Target No. 2 (AG-19)
Boggs 37kLocation unknown, during the 1930s. The distinctive stack screens, designed to prevent bomb fragments from causing damage, indicate this was tken during her service as a target vessel. Note she retains her destroyer number. -
Boggs 112kLcation unknown (probably at San Diego) during the 1930s.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Boggs 107kUndated, location unknown.Paul Rebold
Boggs 441kBlowing off steam after a run while employed as a radio controlled target ship, circa 1933-1935. Note that she still wears her destroyer number.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 99143, from collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN.
Robert Hurst
Boggs 423kAt rest and valving steam, while employed as a radio controlled target ship, circa 1933-1935.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 99144, from collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN.
Robert Hurst
Boggs 153kOperating at sea as a radio controlled target, 26 March 1936. Note that she still wears her destroyer hull number, despite having been redesignated AG-19 nearly five years earlier.
Nava; History & Heritage Command photo NH 98833
Fred Weiss
USS Boggs (DMS-3)
Boggs 127kUSS Boggs (DMS-3) off Mare Island Navy Yard, 22 October 1941. Navy Photo 2844-41Darryl Baker
Boggs 120kUSS Boggs (DMS-3) probably off the Mare Island Navy Yard, early 1942. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 98834Fred Weiss
USS Boggs (AG-19)
Boggs 34kUndated, location unknown.Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site
Boggs 598kUSS Boggs (AG-19) underway in June 1945. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 81406, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.Fred Weiss
Boggs   Boggs
Two views of Boggs underway off San Diego, 30 June 1945.
Robert Hurst

USS BOGGS DD-136 / IX-36 / DMS-3 / AG-19 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Harold Vincent McKittrick    Sep 23 1918 - Jul 14 1919

LCDR John Homer Holt Jr.    Jul 14 1919 - Jul 11 1920

LCDR John Walter Wilcox Jr.    Jul 11 1920 - Jun 6 1921

LCDR Theodore Arthur Kelly    Jun 6 1921 - Jun 29 1922                                      

(Decommissioned June 29 1922 - December 19 1931)

LT Ruthven Elmer Libby    Dec 19 1931 - May 10 1932 (Later VADM)                             

LT James Auburn Roberts Jr.    May 10 1932 - Jul 20 1932 

LCDR Boyd Rufus Alexander    Jul 20 1932 - Jul 8 1933

LCDR John Emerson Williams    Jul 8 1933 - Apr 21 1936   

LCDR Melvin Hughes Bassett    Apr 21 1936 - Jun 8 1937 (Later RADM)

LCDR Kenneth Carlton Caldwell    Jun 8 1937 - Apr 28 1939

LCDR Edwin Thomas Layton    Apr 28 1939 - Apr 1 1941 (Later RADM)

LCDR David Gillies Roberts    Apr 1 1941 - Mar 20 1942

LCDR Frank Paull Mitchell Jr.    Mar 20 1942 - Jun 16 1943 (Later RADM)

CDR Howard Riche Prince    Jun 16 1943 - Mar 13 1944

LCDR William K. Chisholm    Mar 13 1944 - Nov 19 1944

LCDR Ralph L. R. Johnson    Nov 19 1944 - Dec 13 1945

LCDR Joseph Francis Gustaferro    Dec 13 1945 - Mar 20 1946


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
NavSource Minesweeper Pages, USS Boggs (DMS-3)
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 04 September 2020