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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Burns (DM 11)
ex-DD-171



Call sign:
Nan - Able - Fox - Sail
Wickes Class Destroyer/Stribling Class Light Minelayer:

  • Laid down 15 April 1918 by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA
  • Launched 4 July 1918
  • Commissioned USS Burns, Destroyer No. 171, 7 August 1919
  • Designated DD-171, 17 July 1920
  • Converted to a Light Minelayer, DM-11, 15 March 1921
  • Decommissioned 2 June 1930 at San Diego, CA
  • Towed to Mare Island Navy Yard 11 June 1930 for use as a barracks ship
  • Struck from the Navy Register 18 November 1930
  • Sold for scrap 22 April 1932.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 1,090 t.
    1921 - 1,191 t.
  • Length 314' 4½"
  • Beam 30' 11½"
  • Draft 9' 2"
  • Speed 34 kts.
    1921 - 33.82 kts.
  • Complement 103
    1921 - 122
  • Armament: Four 4" mounts, two 1-pounders, one depth charge projector and two depth charge tracks
    1921 - Four 4"/50 mounts and one 3"/23 dual purpose mount
  • Propulsion: Four White-Foster boilers, two 24,200shp Parsons turbines, two shafts
    1921 - Four Yarrow boilers and two 28,900shp Curtis geared turbines.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Burns 26k
    Namesake:

    Otway Burns was born at Queen's Creek, near Swaneboro, N.C., in 1775 and developed a keen ability at navigation while sailing the sounds, rivers, inlets, and creeks near his home. When the War of 1812 came, he secured letters of marque and reprisal for the schooner Snap Dragon. He and his privateer made three cruises during which he had several encounters with British warships and captured a number of valuable prizes. Following the war, Burns resumed shipbuilding activities at Beaufort, S.C. He also spent 13 years in the North Carolina general assembly. In 1835, President Andrew Jackson appointed Burns to be keeper of the Brant Island Shoal Light. He retained that position until his death on 25 August 1850

    		 Bill Gonyo/Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 1 March 2022
    Burns 356k c. 1922/1924
    Following conversion to a light minelayer. Though designated DM-11 in July 1920, she still wears her destroyer number, along with the Mine Force insignia    		 Original photo: Brian DelMastro
    Replacement photo: Darryl Baker
    Burns 69k Starboard side view of USS Burns (DM-11, formerly DD-171) backing out of her berth in Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii Territory, circa 1923-1924, when she was commanded by Lieutenant Commander Olaf M. Hustvedt. Burns is wearing her destroyer bow number (171) with the Mine Force insignia. At right is the stern of USS Seattle (CA-11), Flagship of the United States Fleet
    Photo from the 1909-1924 album of Vice Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt, USN, (Retired)
    Courtesy of Rick Hauck, 2006
    Naval History and Heritage Command photos NH 104563, NH 104566 and NH 104566-A    		 Mike Green
    Burns 72k
    Burns 47k
    Burns 107k Photographed on 14 April 1926. Burns is in the left background still wearing her destroyer hull number. Matsonia (ID 1589) is in the foreground.
    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1972
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 76070    		 Robert Hurst
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR William Henry Lee, USN - USNA Class of 1907
    Awarded the Navy Cross (1919) - Retired as Captain    		7 August 1919
    02LCDR Olaf Mandt Hustvedt, USN - USNA Class of 1909
    Awarded two Legions of Merit (1943/1944) and the Order of the British Empire - Retired as Vice Admiral    		19 May 1922 - 17 April 1923
    03LCDR David Irwin Hedrick, USN17 April 1923 - 30 September 1923
    04LCDR Charles Henry Morrison, USN30 September 1923
    05LCDR Albert Roscoe Mack, USN20 August 1927
    06LCDR Hayden Trigg Dickinson, USN24 March 1929 - 2 June 1930
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Burns (DM-11)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    Additional Resources and Websites of Interest
    NavSource Destroyer Pages, USS Burns (DD-171)
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Light Minelayer (DM) Photo Index
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