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USS WHIPPLE (DD-217 / AG-117)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUNL

CLASS - CLEMSON
Basic repeat Wickes Class, with 35% more fuel capacity to improve endurance problems,
designed radius was 4900 nautical miles, at 15 knots.
Displacement 1,215 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 1 x 3"/23AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 26,500 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 114
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Cramp, Philadelphia on June 12 1919.
Launched November 6 1919 and Commissioned April 23 1920.
Reclassified Auxiliary AG-117 June 30 1945.
Decommissioned November 9 1945.
Stricken December 5 1945.
Fate Sold and broken up for scrap in 1946.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Whipple 35kAbraham Whipple, 1733-1819, American Revolutionary naval officer, b. Providence, R.I. In 1759-60, as captain of the privateer Game Cock in the French and Indian Wars, he captured numerous prizes. Whipple commanded the party of Rhode Islanders that captured and burned the British revenue cutter Gaspee in Narragansett Bay in 1772, one of the most provocative instances of resistance to the British in the pre-Revolutionary period. At the beginning of the American Revolution he was made commodore of Rhode Island's small fleet and then became fourth-ranking captain in the Continental navy. With the Columbus in 1776 he fought the first sea fight of the war. In 1778, Whipple, commanding the Providence, evaded the British blockade of Narragansett Bay and carried important government dispatches to France. His most daring exploit occurred in 1779 when, as commander of several vessels, he encountered the large, well-protected British Jamaica fleet. Whipple, concealing the guns of his flagship, the Providence, hoisted the British flag and fell in with the fleet for several days. Each night he cut out one of the merchant ships, manned it from his own crew, and sent it to an American port. Eight of the 11 captured ships reached port, making this one of the richest hauls of the war. In 1780 he was charged with the naval defense of Charleston, S.C.; the city fell and Whipple was captured and held prisoner for the rest of the war.Bill Gonyo
Whipple 117kThe launching November 6 1919. From the book The Ships of the United States Navy and their Sponsors 1913-1923.-
Whipple 40kUndated, location unknown.Paul Rebold
Whipple 66kUndated, location unknown. Digital ID: ggbain 36377, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.Bill Gonyo
Whipple 174kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Whipple 74kPhoto #: 80-G-1025121, USS Black Hawk (AD-9) at Manila, Philippine Islands, 15 November 1935, with four destroyers and USS Heron (AM-10) nested alongside. The four destroyers are (from left to right): USS Whipple (DD-217); USS John D. Edwards (DD-216); USS Smith Thompson (DD-212); and USS Barker (DD-213). All ships are "full dressed" with flags in honor of the inauguration of Philippine President Manuel Quezon. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Tony Cowart
Whipple 80kWhile on exercises in Subic Bay during the spring of 1936, Whipple (DD-217) and Smith Thompson (DD-212) collided on 14 April. The latter suffered such serious damage in the mishap that she had to be scrapped. As a consequence, Whipple, whose own bow had been bent around until it faced sternward, received Smith-Thompson's undamaged bow and soon reentered active service.Donald Nicholson
Whipple 145kNational Archives photo 19-N-16498. USS Whipple (DD 217) with USS Smith Thompson (DD 212) along side at Subic Bay in April 1936.Darryl Baker
Whipple 125kNational Archives photo 80-G-1024964. The bow of the USS Whipple (DD 217) bow at Subic Bay in April 1936.Darryl Baker
Whipple 87kNational Archives photo 80-G-451214. Bow on view of USS Whipple (DD 217) at Subic Bay in April 1936.Darryl Baker
Whipple 112kUSS Whipple (DD 217) off Mare Island on August 10 1942. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Whipple 131kUSS Whipple (DD 217) off Mare Island on September 22 1942. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Whipple 48kCaptain's Inspection, about July 29 1943, in port at Casablanca, Morocco. Personnel identifiable are: CO, LCDR Vincent J. MEOLA and directly behind him is Chief Boatswain's Mate SNIDER and Yeoman WESTFALL.Harvey WESTFALL, LCDR, USN, (Retired)
Whipple 85kJanuary 15, 1944 photo getting ready to refuel from escort carrier.Bill Gonyo
Whipple 134kUndated, War time image. (Same time frame as above)-
Whipple 97kNine U.S destroyers in one of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's drydocks. Five of the destroyers being scrapped are old flush deckers including the USS Whipple (DD-217) and the USS Stringham (DD-83). The other four are Porter-class destroyer leaders built in the 1930s. The photograph was taken on 14 March 1946 (Author's Collection). Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.Robert Hurst

USS WHIPPLE DD-217 / AG-117 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 Richard F. Bernard    Apr 23 1920 - ?
CDR Frank Jack Fletcher    ? 1923 - ? (Later ADM)
LCDR John Hayes Jenkins    ? 1932 - ?
LCDR Campbell Dallas Edgar    ? 1932 - ? (Later COMO)
LCDR Charles S. Weeks    ? 1939 - ? 1940
LCDR Rupert Meyrick Zimmerli    ? 1940 - Feb 1941
LCDR Eugene Simon Karpe    Feb 1941 - Mar 1941

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Jim Willson
Address: 709 N. Indigo Terrace, Jacksonville, FL 32259
Phone: 904-287-3963
E-mail: kyoko1@comcast.net


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


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

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