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USS WICKES (DD-75)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NATJ

CLASS - WICKES As Built.
Displacement 1,154 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 1pdr AA (1 x 3"/23AA In Some Ships), 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 24,200 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 103.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath Me. on June 26 1917.
Launched June 25 1918 and commissioned July 31 1918.
Wickes decommissioned at San Diego May 15 1922 and berthed
with the reserve fleet until recommissioned April 26 1930.
Decommissioned and transferred to Britain October 23 1940,
stricken January 8 1941. Renamed HMS Montgomery (G95).
Fate Broken up for scrap in 1945.

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- Lambert Wickes was born sometime in 1735 in New England and was appointed to the Continental Navy on 22 December 1775 and probably received his commission as a captain in the Navy in early 1776. Designated as number 11 on the Continental Navy's seniority list, Wickes was given command of the 16-gun brig Reprisal. The Committee of Secret Correspondence of Congress, by arrangement with the Marine Committee, issued orders for Capt. Wickes to proceed to the West Indies in Reprisal and bring out munitions for use by General Washington's army. In addition, Wickes was to transport William Bingham to his post, the French possession of Martinique, as agent for the American colonies. Reprisal passed down the Delaware River from Philadelphia during the latter part of June 1776. While en route, Reprisal went to the aid of the harried Continental 6-gun brig Nancy—bound from St. Croix and St. Thomas with 386 barrels of gunpowder—which was being chased by six British men-of-war. In order to save Nancy, her captain ran her aground. Reprisal and Lexington—the latter under the command of Capt. John Barry—kept boats from HMS Kingfisher at bay and succeeded in landing some 200 barrels of the precious powder. In this engagement, Wickes' brother Richard was killed while serving as third lieutenant in Reprisal. Clearing the Delaware capes on 3 July, Reprisal, under Wickes' sterling seamanship, captured a number of prizes in the West Indies and had a sharp engagement with HMS Shark, beating her off and escaping into port. On 24 October 1776, Wickes was ordered to France with Benjamin Franklin as passenger. During the voyage, Reprisal captured two brigs and reached Nantes on 29 November where the ship's important passenger disembarked. Setting sail in January 1777, Wickes took Reprisal to sea on a cruise which took her to the Bay of Biscay and the mouth of the English Channel. On 5 February, his ship captured the British merchantman Lisbon Packet after a hard action of 40 minutes duration. During the battle, Reprisal suffered two officers seriously wounded and one man killed. During the remainder of this foray against British shipping, Wickes took five additional prizes and left them at Port Louis. Wickes moved Reprisal to L'Orient but was ordered to leave the port in 24 hours by the French government—the port authorities apparently stirred to action by bitter remonstrances from the British government. Wickes, however, claimed that Reprisal had sprung a leak and needed to be careened for hull repairs. Wickes proved to be skillful at gaining time; as, on several occasions, he thwarted the intentions of the French government to have him sail. In April 1777, the Continental vessels Lexington and Dolphin joined Reprisal and constituted a squadron under Wickes' command. Setting sail from St. Auzeau on 28 May, the ships cruised around Ireland in June, July, and August; during one phase of the voyage, the three ships captured 15 ships in five days. On 14 September, Wickes left France in Reprisal, in company with Dolphin, bound for home. Around 1 October, Reprisal foundered off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, with the loss of all hands except the cook. Louis H. Bolander, the assistant librarian at the Naval Academy, wrote an article in 1928, entitled "A Forgotten Hero of the American Revolution." Appearing in Americana, in April 1928, the article closed with a fitting epitaph for Capt. Lambert Wickes: "Thus closed a career distinguished for patriotism, gallantry and humanity, for not a single charge of cruelty or harshness was ever breathed against him by any one of his many prisoners. Franklin, who knew him well, said of him, 'He was a gallant officer, and a very worthy man.'"Robert M. Cieri
Wickes 92kUndated, location unknownAlan Stephenson/Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wickes 26kUndated, location unknown.John D. Fielden
Wickes 60kUndated, location unknown.Randle M. Biddle
Wickes 234kUndated crew photo, location unknown. Erna Maurice Foltz is the man in the center holding the lifering.Charles R. Hinman
Wickes 91kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Wickes

Wickes
203k




227k
Undated postcard, location unknown.Tommy Trampp
Wickes 70kUSS Wickes (DD-75) in a harbor 1918 in World War I "dazzle" camouflage. Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1979. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss/Robert Hurst
Wickes 230kPost World War I San Diego image including the USS Walker (DD-163), USS Lea (DD-118), USS Gamble (DD-123), USS Montgomery (DD-121), USS Roper (DD-147), USS Ramsay (DD-124), USS Tarbell (DD-142), USS Thatcher (DD-162), USS Evans (DD-78), USS Crosby (DD-164), USS Jacob Jones (DD-130), USS Hazelwood (DD-107), USS Gillis (DD-260), USS McLanahan (DD-264), USS Howard (DD-179), USS Schley (DD-103), USS Dorsey (DD-117), USS Tattnall (DD-125), USS Wickes (DD-75), USS Laub (DD-263), USS Zane (DD-337), USS Perry (DD-340) and USS Alden (DD-211).Mike Mohl
Wickes 80kUSS Wickes in harbor, circa the early 1920s.Fred Weiss/Robert Hurst
Wickes 117kUSS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser #2, later CL-2), centre foreground, at San Pedro, California, circa 1919-1921, with a group of destroyers. Among the latter are USS Crosby (Destroyer # 164, later DD-164), at right and USS Wickes (Destroyer # 75, later DD-75), which is the outboard ship in the nest immediately ahead of Crosby. U.S. Naval Historical Centre, photo # NH 42528. Robert Hurst
Wickes 129kUSS Wickes (Destroyer # 75) In drydock at Devonport, England, in 1919.
Naval History & Heritage COmmand photo NH 98561, courtesy of Walter F. Merdian, 1977.
Original: Fred Weiss
Replacement: Ron Reeves
Wickes 110kUSS Wickes (Destroyer # 75) In drydock at Devonport, England, in 1919. Note depth charge rack, propeller guard and starboard propeller. Courtesy of Walter F. Merdian, 1977. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Wickes 129kUSS Wickes (Destroyer # 75), at left an USS Aylwin (Destroyer # 47), right foreground At anchor in German waters during the first part of 1919. Courtesy of W.E.J. Thompson. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Wickes 103kDuring the Pacific Fleet's passage through the Upper Chambers, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Those present are: USS Wickes (Destroyer # 75) and USS Yarnall (Destroyer # 143), both at left; USS Philip (Destroyer # 76), USS Buchanan (Destroyer # 131) and USS Elliot (Destroyer # 146), left to right in the center group; USS Boggs (Destroyer # 136), USS Dent (Destroyer # 116) and USS Waters (Destroyer # 115), left to right in the right center group. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Wickes 152kDestroyers in the Middle Chambers, Gatun Lock during the Pacific Fleet's passage through the Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Those in the front centre are (left to right): USS Waters (Destroyer # 115); USS Dent (Destroyer # 116) and USS Boggs (Destroyer # 136). USS Yarnall (Destroyer # 143) is by herself just aft of that group. Partially visible at right are (left to right): USS Elliot (Destroyer # 146); USS Buchanan (Destroyer # 131) and USS Philip (Destroyer # 76). two of the three ships just astern of that group are: USS Tarbell (Destroyer # 142), right, and USS Wickes (Destroyer # 75, left. Photographed by the Panama Canal Company (their photo # 80-C-5). U.S. Naval Historical Centre photo # NH 42536.Robert Hurst
Wickes 95kUSS Wickes (DD-75) underway in a channel, with USS Tarbell (DD-142) following, circa 1919-1922. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Wickes 110kUSS Wickes (DD-75) Underway at low speed, circa the early 1920s. Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1979. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Wickes 108k"Old Hen and Chickens" USS Kanawha (AO-1) with thirteen destroyers alongside, off San Diego, California, during the early 1920s. Photographed by Bunnell, 414 E Street, San Diego. Ships present are (from left to right): USS Meade (DD-274); USS Evans (DD-78); USS Kennedy (DD-306); USS Aaron Ward (DD-132); USS Woolsey (DD-77); USS Wickes (DD-75); USS Buchanan (DD-131); USS Kanawha; USS Farquhar (DD-304); USS Paul Hamilton (DD-307); USS Thompson (DD-305); USS Reno (DD-303); USS Stoddert (DD-302) and USS Philip (DD-76) Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Red Lead Row 195kRed Lead Row, San Diego Destroyer Base, California. Photographed at the end of 1922, with at least 65 destroyers tied up there. Ships present are identified as: (left to right, in the right diagonal row): Stansbury (DD-180); MacKenzie (DD-175); Renshaw (DD-176); Howard (DD-179); Gillis (DD-260); Tingey (DD-272); McLanahan (DD-264); Swasey (DD-273); Morris (DD-271); Bailey (DD-269); Tattnall (DD-125); Breese (DD-122); Radford (DD-120); Aaron Ward (DD-132) -- probably; Ramsey (DD-124); Montgomery (DD-121); and Lea (DD-118). (left to right, in the middle diagonal row): Wickes (DD-75); Thornton (DD-270); Meade (DD-274); Crane (DD-109); Evans (DD-78); McCawley (DD-276); Doyen (DD-280); Elliot (DD-146); Henshaw (DD-278); Moody (DD-277); Meyer (DD-279); Sinclair (DD-275); Turner (DD-259); Philip (DD-76); Hamilton (DD-141); Boggs (DD-136); Claxton (DD-140); Ward (DD-139); Hazelwood (DD-107) or Kilty (DD-137); Kennison (DD-138); Jacob Jones (DD-130); Aulick (DD-258); Babbitt (DD-128); Twiggs (DD-127); and Badger (DD-126). (left to right, in the left diagonal row): Shubrick (DD-268); Edwards (DD-265); Palmer (DD-161); Welles (DD-257); Mugford (DD-105); Upshur (DD-144); Greer (DD-145); Wasmuth (DD-338); Hogan (DD-178); O'Bannon (DD-177); and -- possibly -- Decatur (DD-341). (Nested alongside wharf in left center, left to right): Prairie (AD-5); Buffalo (AD-8); Trever (DD-339); and Perry (DD-340). Minesweepers just astern of this group are Partridge (AM-16) and Brant (AM-24). Nearest ship in the group of destroyers at far left is Dent (DD-116). The others with her are unidentified. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. : NH 42539 Robert Hurst
Wickes 87kUSS Wickes (DD-75) Photographed circa the 1930s. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Wickes 122kPhoto #: NH 51841, USS Wickes (DD-75) at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, while serving in the Rotating Reserve, circa 1932. She appears to be blowing off steam from her third smokestack. Note details of her forward superstructure and rigging. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Wickes 107kPhoto #: NH 51842, USS Wickes (DD-75) at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, while serving in the Rotating Reserve, circa 1932. Note the life raft, searchlight tower and torpedo tubes on this destroyer. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Paul Rebold
Wickes 50kThe crew of the USS Wickes (DD-75) taken on Sept. 20, 1940 just prior to being turned over to the British in October. Photo from the Center for American History (copyrighted).Bill Gonyo
On British Service
HMS Montgomery (ex-USS Wickes, DD-75) commissioned at Halifax on 25 October 1940 and refitted at Devonport from 20 November 1940, post trials defects delayed her work up until Christmas Eve when she arrived at Scapa Flow. Work up was completed on 12 January 1941 and she then joined the 7th Escort Group. With 7th EG, she escorted numerous convoys, rescuing survivors from the British tanker Scottish Standard on 21 February 1941, and sinking the Italian submarine Marcello the following day. Refitted at Barrow to Stage 2 condition from April to September 1941, Montgomery then joined 4th EG for four convoys before going to refit on the Clyde from 7 October to 25 November 1941 priot to joining WLEF at Halifax. Montgomery commenced her Canadian attachment, arriving at St John's, NS, on 16 January 1942, with a month's refit at Halifax followed by escorting troop convoy NA3 back to the Clyde. In fact she was not operational on the Canadian coast until 14 March 1942, but thereafter she remained there until late December 1943. Montgomery seems to have had few major problems, as her list of repairs at Halifax are fewer than normal. Transferred to unit W1 in February 1943 and W6 in March 1943, Montgomery concluded her service when she sailed for Britain via Horta at the end of December 1943. On arrival she paid off to reserve on the Tyne, and remained there until declared for disposal on 20 March 1945, actually arriving at Dunston on Tyne on 10 April 1945 to be broken up by Clayton & Davie Ltd. (History thanks to Robert Hurst.)
Wickes 278kCrew of the ex-American destroyer HMS Montgomery (USS Wickes) dressed up for a photograph, with the offciers in the middle of the second row. Photo Imperial War Museum (# A 11947) from "In Which They Served" by Brian Lavery.Robert Hurst
Wickes 82kThe 'Town' class destroyer HMS Montgomery (ex-USS Wickes, DD-75) underway, date and location unknown.Robert Hurst
Wickes 98kUndated, HMS Montgomery (G95) underway off Charleston, South Carolina. Photo # FL 3294 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.Robert Hurst
Wickes 57kUndated, location unknown.Tommy Trampp
Wickes 86kAs the HMS Montgomery in Liverpool 1941.Marc Piché
Wickes   Wickes   Wickes
HMS Montgomery (G 95) at the jetty at Gourock, Scotland on November 20, 1941, her captain Lt Cmdr. W.L. Puxley in the 3rd image.
Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection by Hampton, J.A (Lt), Photo No.© IWM(A 6341, 6340, 6339)
Mike Green
Wickes 98kShip's badge.Tommy Trampp

USS WICKES DD-75 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


LCDR John Sherman Barleon    Jul 31 1918 - Sep 19 1919

LCDR William Frederick (Bull) Halsey Jr.    Sep 19 1919 - Nov 15 1920 (Later FADM)

LCDR Robert Emmett Rogers    Nov 15 1920 - Oct 10 1921

LT Osborne Bennett Hardison    Oct 10 1921 - May 15 1922 (Later VADM)

(Decommissioned May 15 1922 - April 26 1930)

CDR Henry Thomas Markland    Apr 26 1930 - Jun 19 1931

LCDR Henry Poynter Burnett    Jun 19 1931 - Jun 1 1933 

LCDR Ralph Underhill Hyde    Jun 1 1933 - Jun 24 1936

LCDR Donald Rex Tallman    Jun 24 1936 - 

LCDR Charles Joseph Stuart    Sep 30 1939 - Oct 23 1940

Under British Command

LCDR William Lavallin Puxley    Jan 23 1941 –  Apr 15 1944


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

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 22 September 2017