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Namesake
Rear Admiral George W. Melville
George Wallace Melville, born in New York City 10 January 1841, attended the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute before enlisting in the Navy Engineer Corps as third assistant engineer 29 July 1861. He served with distinction in the Civil War and the years following. In 1873 he volunteered for duty as Chief Engineer of Tigress for her rescue in Baffin Bay of 19 survivors of the Polaris expedition to the Arctic. Lieutenant Melville next volunteered to join the Jeannette expedition, departing San Francisco, Calif., 7 August 1879 to seek an ocean passage to the Atlantic by way of Siberia. Jeannette became icebound in September and, after 2 years of effort to save her, was crushed by floes in the Laptev Sea and sank 12 June 1881. Melville led the only boat party to reach safety in Lena Delta, Siberia. He then returned north to find the frozen bodies of Jeannette’s commanding officer, Lt. George W. Delong, and his party lost in July. Congress rewarded Melville for his gallantry and resourcefulness by advancing him 15 numbers on the promotion list and awarding him a medal. Following his next assignment in 1884 as Chief Engineer of Thetis for the Greely Relief Expedition, President Grover Cleveland appointed Melville Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering 9 August 1887. During his administration of over 16 years, Melville superintended the design of 120 ships of the “New Navy” and introduced such widely acclaimed innovations, as the water tube boiler, vertical engines, and the repair ship. Promoted to rear admiral 3 March 1899, he was appointed Engineer in Chief of the Navy 6 December 1900. The author of many technical articles and one book, “In the Lena Delta,” Admiral Melville retired 10 January 1903 and died in Philadelphia, Pa., 17 March 1912.
Photo: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA |
Bill Gonyo |
USS Melville (Destroyer Tender #2)
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Launching of Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2), 2 March 1913, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
Photo by Underwood - The Washington Times, March 6, 1915 - Pictorial Review of the News. |
Michael Mohl |
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Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) under way at 15.15 knots during run # 16 of her trials, 16 July 1915.
US Navy photo # NH 804 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) under way probably during trials in July 1915.
US Library of Congress photo # LC-B2- 3552-1. |
Mike Green |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) at anchor, circa 1916 or early 1917. The original photograph is printed on a postcard stock.
US Navy photo # NH 104451 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) in drydock circa 1916 or early 1917. The original photograph is printed on post card stock.
US Navy photo # NH 104452 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command , donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) tending U.S. Navy destroyers at Queenstown, Ireland, 1917. The destroyers present include (from left to right):
USS Jacob Jones (Destroyer # 61)
USS Ericsson (Destroyer # 56)
USS Wadsworth (Destroyer # 60)
and an unidentified ship.
US Navy photo # NH 46396 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) at Queenstown, Ireland, while serving as destroyer flotilla repair ship during World War I.
US Navy photo # NH 46394 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) moored at Queenstown, Ireland, 11 April 1918, while acting as "mother ship" for U.S. destroyers based there.
US Navy photo # NH 43616 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) at Queenstown, Ireland, with three destroyers alongside in 1918, during the British First Sea Lord's visit to the American forces.
US Navy photo # NH 46397 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) tending destroyers and submarine chasers at Queenstown, Ireland, in 1918. Flying at the peak of her mainmast is the three-star flag of Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.
US Navy photo # NH 46200 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) anchored at Queenstown, County Cork, Ireland (now known as Cobh) circa 1917-1918.
Imperial War Museum Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(Q 18795) |
Mike Green |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) at anchor, Cork Harbour, Queenstown, (now Cobh) is the land to the left. The Naval base on
Haulbowline Island is visible behind her bows, with ships tied up alongside and the island astern is Spike Island. The land in the far distance is Whitegate and Aghada,
where the US seaplane base was during the war. circa 1918. Photo courtesy Jim Kazalis, 1981, Caption courtesy Roland Green, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Ireland.
US Navy photo # NH 98936 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) tending to three dazzle camouflaged torpedo boat destroyers. The ships are moored at
Queenstown, County Cork, Ireland (now known as Cobh) circa 1917-1918).
Imperial War Museum Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM (Q 18794). |
Mike Green |
09030235 |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) whaleboats with Melville crew members, note the band playing in the far right boat.
Real Photo (RPPC), 1918 |
Tommy Trampp |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) returning to the United States with the "Victory Fleet" on 15 April 1919, after target practice in Cuban waters. Location is probably New York Harbor.
US Navy photo # NH 43615 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (Destroyer Tender # 2) with USS McLanahan (Destroyer # 264) tied up alongside at San Diego, CA., 1919. The bow of USS Reno (Destroyer # 303) is visible in the right distance.
US Navy photo # NH 77259 courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973. From the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler. |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
USS Melville (AD-2)
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USS Melville (AD-2) under way, 19 April 1925, while tender to Destroyer Squadron 11, Battle Fleet. The purpose and meaning
of the bow number are unknown. It may have been exercise-related.
US National Archives, RG-80-G, Photo No. 80-G-466171 a US Navy photo now in the collections
of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
09030231
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USS Melville (AD-2) at anchor with destroyers alongside at San Diego, CA., 15 June 1926. Anchored astern of Melville are two
destroyers, USS McCawley (DD-276 and
USS Meyer (DD-279) and alongside are four destroyers including
USS Percival (DD-298),
USS Decatur (DD-341),
USS Paul Hamilton (DD-307) and one unidentified destroyer.
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-425927, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
Rick Davis |
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USS Melville (AD-2) anchored in the Hudson River, near New York City, 2 May 1927.
US Navy photo # NH 1034 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Melville (AD-2) seen from directly overhead while anchored in the Hudson River, near New York City, 2 May 1927.
US Navy photo # NH 46399 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Melville (AD-2) approaching the Gatun Locks, 11 June 1927, while transiting the Panama Canal. Immediately beyond Melville is the SS Edwin Christenson (American freighter, built in 1918 as SS West Wind).
US Navy photo # NH 105061-A, a panoramic photograph by Goldbeck, National Photo Service, 737 East Houston Street, San Antonio, TX., now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Melville (AD-2) with Destroyer Division 35 alongside and all are flying full flags during Navy Day at San Diego, CA., 28 October 1927. From left to right are the:
USS Macdonough (DD-331),
USS Mervine (DD-322),
USS Marcus (DD-321),
USS Mullany (DD-325),
USS Chase (DD-323),
USS Robert Smith (DD-324), and
USS Selfridge (DD-320).
Thirty months later, these misleadingly attractive ships and 27 others in the Pacific Fleet would be paired off with inhabitants of red lead row. The next step for these beautiful but worn-out destroyers was the scrap heap. Photo from author's collection "Warship Boneyards," by Kit and Caolyn Bonner. |
Robert Hurst |
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USS Melville (AD-2) steams past Yerba Buena Island, in San Francisco Bay, circa 1930.
Same as US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 67845-A |
Jim Kurrasch
Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center. |
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USS Melville (AD-2) with squadron alongside, circa 1930, San Diego, CA.
National Archives photo # 80-G-416393, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
US National Archives |
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USS Melville (AD-2) at anchor with
USS Bulmer (DD-222),
USS Stewart (DD-224),
USS Parrott (DD-218) and
USS Edsall (DD-219) alongside, date and location unknown. |
Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET. |
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USS Melville (AD-2) in Balboa Harbor, Panama Canal Zone, 24 April 1934. From the bottom to the top of the photo several US Navy and British ships are present including USS Zane (DD-337) and another destroyer alongside Melville, USS Medusa (AR-1), USS Litchfield (DD-336), HMS Exeter and another destroyer nested with USS Truxtun (DD-229).
US Navy photo # NH 60813 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
09030233 |
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USS Melville (AD-2) at anchor in the harbor at San Diego tending six destroyers off her port side, circa 1934-1935. Note the two "E"s painted on her stack. |
Jim Geldert, USNI |
09030234 |
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USS Melville (AD-2) crew photo at San Diego, circa 1934-1935. Commanding Officer CAPT. Cyrus Barker, USN, second row tenth in from left. |
Jim Geldert, USNI |
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USS Melville (AD-2) under way, circa 1936, location unknown.
US Navy photo |
Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret |
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USS Melville (AD-2) moored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 23 August 1940, as seen from an altitude of 800 feet.
US Navy photo # NH 411136 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . |
US Naval History and Heritage Command |
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-N-28129 |
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USS Melville (AD-2) near the Norfolk Navy Yard, 28 December 1941, after an overhaul.
Two 5"/51 guns amidships have been replaced by two 3"/50 AA guns, The already large after superstructure has been
further enlarged and the fore topmast has been removed.
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo #'s 19-N-28129 and
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-N-28129 US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-N-28125 |
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09030232 |
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USS Melville (AD-2) underway, 21 November 1943, in the Atlantic Ocean
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-200283, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Rick Davis |
