Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
all but 14 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74k | William S. Sims, born in 1858 in Ontario, Canada, was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1876 and graduated in 1880. Seventeen years of sea duty were followed by assignments as Naval Attaché to Paris, St. Petersburg, and Madrid. Sims next served as Inspector of Target Practice; and, under his supervision, the naval gunnery system increased the rapidity of hits 100 percent and the general effectiveness of fire 500 percent. He also served as Naval Aide to President Theodore Roosevelt for two and one-half years. On 11 February 1917, Sims became President of the Naval War College. In March 1917, he was designated by the Secretary of the Navy as Representative of the Navy Department in London. With the entry of the United States into World War I in April, he was ordered to assume command of all American destroyers, tenders, and auxiliaries operating from British bases. In May, he was designated as Commander of United States Destroyers Operating from British Bases, with the rank of Vice Admiral; and, in June, his title was changed to Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters. On 10 December 1917, he assumed additional duty as Naval Attaché, London, England. The North Sea Mine Barrage was laid under his direction. Admiral Sims again became President of the Naval War College in April 1919 and served in that capacity until his retirement on 15 October 1922. He died at Boston, Mass., on 25 September 1936. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 147k | Undated, location unknown. From the collections of Ingersol-Rand. | Ron Titus | |
| 40k | USS Sims is launched April 8 1939. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 33k | As above. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 123k | USS Sims (DD-409) photographed at the time of her builder's trials, circa 6 July 1939. Note Bath Iron Works flag atop her foremast. Photo by Douglas. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN (Retired). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Fred Weiss | |
| 51k | USS Sims (pic no 0540902) was taken off the Kennebec River, Maine, at the time of her builder's trials, 6 July 1939. | Tony Cowart | |
| 85k | As above. | Joe Radigan | |
| 20k | May 9 1940, off Boston Navy Yard. | Robert Hurst | |
| 83k | Off the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 9 May 1940. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | Fred Weiss | |
| 102k | Off the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 9 May 1940. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | Fred Weiss | |
| 110k | USS Sims (DD-409) off the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 9 May 1940. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | Fred Weiss | |
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