Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By And/Or Copyright |
 |
96k |
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.
USS W.S. Sims, DE-1059, was the third ship named in his honor, she was preceded by DD-409, and DE-154. |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
57k |
4 January 1969: Launch photo, from the decommissioning brochure. |
Steven Donofrio |
 |
197k |
date / location unknown, pre-1980 hull refit |
- |
 |
82k |
Pre-1980 Overhaul and Refit: Refueling at Sea. |
Steven Donofrio |
 |
76k |
November 1976: North Atlantic (Photo © Richard Leonhardt) |
Richard Leonhardt |
 |
61k |
November 1976: North Atlantic (Photo © Richard Leonhardt) |
 |
64k |
April 1977: Cartagena, Spain - Inport view of W.S. Sims (Photo © Gary Smoyer) |
Gary Smoyer
HMC(SW) USN(ret.) |
 |
39k |
date / location unknown, post-1980 hull refit |
- |
 |
132k |
date / location unknown, post-1980 hull refit |
Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr. |
 |
148k |
1 June 1981: At sea - A starboard bow view of W.S. Sims underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-07950 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the Defense Visual Information Center ) |
Navsource |
 |
171k |
23 July 1981: taken off the Virginia coast (© Atlantic Fleet Sales by Nobe Smith) |
Steven Donofrio |
 |
185k |
23 July 1981: taken off the Virginia coast (© Atlantic Fleet Sales by Nobe Smith) |
 |
130k |
May 1982: Crewmen aboard W.S. Sims clean the deck while the ship is anchored for a port visit. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-07001 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
Navsource |
 |
112k |
May 1982: Starboard bow view of W.S. Sims tied at the pier. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-06997 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
183k |
May 1982: A view of W.S. Sims as seen from the stern of the destroyer USS John Rodgers (DD-983). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-06586 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
124k |
May 1982: Starboard bow view of W.S. Sims, tied at the pier during a port visit. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-06571 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
104k |
May 1982: Port quarter view of W.S. Sims leaving port after a visit. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-06996 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
130k |
May 1982: Port quarter view of W.S. Sims leaving port after a visit. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-06589 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
123k |
May 1982: Port bow view of W.S. Sims underway in the harbor after a port visit. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-06587 by PH1 Douglas Tesner from the DVIC ) |
 |
94k |
9 December 1983: At sea - A crewman on the deck of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) looks out toward the frigate USS W.S. Sims (FF-1059) during underway replenishment operations off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-05335 by JO2 Lance Johnson from the DVIC ) |
 |
198k |
5 February 1987: The Mediterranean Sea - A starboard view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and their escorts underway off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. The escorts are, from front to back: the frigate W.S. Sims (FF-1059) replenishment oilers USS Savannah (AOR-4) and USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) and the guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-87-04835 by PH1 Ron Beno , from the DVIC ) |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
130k |
17 June 1987: At sea - An aerial starboard bow view of W.S. Sims underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-09254 by PH2 Hensley from the DVIC ) |
Navsource |
 |
228k |
29 April 1989: New York Harbor - Port bow view of W.S. Sims underway during Fleet Week. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-07762 by PHCM Dittmar from the DVIC ) |
 |
112k |
2 May 1989: New York Harbor - The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715) is moored in front of the frigate USS Pharris (FF-1094) and W.S. Sims while the ships are in port for Navy Fleet Week activities. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-09397 by PH2 Randy Waterman from the DVIC ) |
 |
74k |
2 May 1989: New York Harbor - Visitors and crew members gather on the bridge of W.S. Sims during Navy Fleet Week activities. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-09401 by PH2 Randy Waterman from the DVIC ) |
 |
82k |
2 May 1989: New York Harbor - A close-up view of the Destroyer Squadron 12 (DesRon 12) emblem on W.S. Sims. The ship is visiting New York during Navy Fleet Week activities. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-09400 by PH2 Randy Waterman from the DVIC ) |
