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USS SPROSTON (DD-173 / DM-13)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NEVT

CLASS - WICKES (LITTLE)
Built to a different set of plans (Bethlehem) than the Wickes (Bath) the Little versions were
considered less successful than the Bath designed ships, with few remaining in service past 1936.
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
Laid down by Union Iron Works, San Francisco on April 20 1918.
Launched August 10 1918 and commissioned July 12 1919.
Reclassified Light Minelayer DM-13 July 20 1920.
Decommissioned August 15 1922.
Stricken December 1 1936.
Fate Sunk as target off California July 20 1937.
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Available		 -John G. Sproston was born in Maryland and appointed to the Naval Academy in 1846. He served on the Pacific Station during the war with Mexico. During the Civil War, he served as commanding officer of Powhatan and as executive officer of Senneca. On 1 November 1861, during the battle for Port Royal, S.C., Sproston personally fired many of the 11-inch guns on board Senneca as the crew was new and untrained. Lt. Sproston was killed on 8 June 1862 while on a boat expedition to destroy a Confederate privateer in the St. John's River, Fla.Robert M. Cieri
Sproston 231kUnion Iron works photo of her launching August 10 1918.Darryl Baker
Sproston 44kUnderway, circa 1919-1920, location unknown. Naval Historical Center photo NH78596.Daniel Dunham/Robert Hurst
Sproston 64kDestroyers at San Diego, California, circa December 1919. These ships are, from left to right: USS O'Bannon (Destroyer # 177); USS Sproston (Destroyer # 173); USS Hogan (Destroyer # 178); USS Chauncey (Destroyer # 296); and USS Renshaw (Destroyer # 176). All were members of the 22nd Destroyer Division except Chauncey, which was then the only active member of the 32nd Destroyer Division. Note "Merry Christmas" sign and Christmas tree atop Renshaw's pilothouse. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Sproston 129kSan Diego, CA circa 1920, USS Radford (DD-120), USS Sproston (DD-173), USS Breese (DD-122), USS Badger (DD-126) and USS Montgomery (DD-121). Naval Historical Center photo NH50241.Daniel Dunham
Sproston 42kPhoto taken from the deck of the submarine USS R-14 circa 1920 at Pearl Harbor.Ric Hedman
Sproston 195kCirca 1920 postcard.Tommy Trampp
USS SPROSTON DD-173 / DM-13 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

LCDR Alan Gustavus Olson    Jul 11 1919 - Aug 21 1919
CDR Daniel Aloysius McElduff    Aug 21 1919 - Jul 30 1920
LCDR Charles Clifton Moses    Jul 30 1920 - Jun 24 1921
LCDR Earl Harrison Quinlan    Jun 24 1921 - Oct 14 1921
CDR Reuben Lindsey Walker    Oct 14 1921 - Aug 5 1922
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
NavSource Minesweeper Pages, USS Sproston (DM-13)
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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