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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Commander Burrell C. Allen, Commander, U.S.S. DENT, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

U.S.S. DENT

CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

Buncrana, Ireland,

September 29, 1918.

Vice Admiral W. S. Sims, U. S. Navy,

          Grosvenor Square, London, England.

My dear Admiral:

          I am forwarding today, by Parcel’s Post, two packages which Mrs. Sims sent over and I trust they will be received in good condition.

          You will be glad to hear that, this ship, like the others Cramps1 built, flush deckers, is very satisfactory. We were commissioned on the 9th, left 25 hours later for Newport and 72 hours after commissioning, we were in New York fully equipped and ready to sail. We came across a 13 knot convoy from New York to Buncrana, and got in with 15,000 gallons of oil having left with 82,000 gallons.

          I should say that she is nearly fifty per cent better as to sea-worthiness than the old 1000-tonners and handles vastly better, due largely, to larger screws, but, partially to better hull.

          Except for poor electrical work, the fault of Cramp’s, poor bridge protection the fault of the Bureau, and poor location for the waist 3 inch gun, which is practically lost, I have only favorable criticism.

          I hope to be over for good shortly, in time to help end the war; it must have an end somewhere.

          With kindest regards to yourself and your Staff, especially, Long,2 McBride3 and Babcock,4 I am

                              Sincerely yours,

                              <B.C. Allen>

                              Commander, U. S. Navy.

Source Note: TLS, DLC-MSS, Williams Sims Papers, Box 75. Initials of the typist: “ECA/m” appears after close.

Footnote 1: William Cramp and Sons was a shipbuilding firm based in Philadelphia, Pa.

Footnote 2: Capt. Byron A. Long, Operations Section, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

Footnote 3: Naval Constructor Lewis B. McBride, Repair Section, United Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

Footnote 4: Cmdr. Joseph V. Babcock, Personal Aide to Force Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

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