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USS Dorsey (DD-117/DMS-1)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Dorsey (DD-117/DMS-1)

USS Dorsey (DD-117) was launched 9 April 1918 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.; sponsored by Mrs. A. Means, distant relative of Midshipman Dorsey; and commissioned 16 September 1918, Commander G. F. Neal in command.

USS Dorsey (DD-117) sailed with a merchant convoy from Philadelphia 20 September 1918, escorted it to Ireland, and returned to New York 19 October. USS Dorsey (DD-117) operated locally out of New York until 13 January 1919 when she got underway for target practice and fleet maneuvers in Cuban waters, returning 2 March. USS Dorsey (DD-117) sailed from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 9 April 1919, and arrived at Valetta, Malta, 26 April to report to Commander, Adriatic Squadron, for duty in the execution of the terms of the armistice with Austria.

USS Dorsey (DD-117) arrived at Cavite, Philippine Islands, 24 August 1921, and served in experimental submarine practice and long-range battle and torpedo practice. She was placed out of commission at San Diego 9 March 1923. Recommissioned 1 March 1930 USS Dorsey (DD-117) operated on the west coast, in the Canal Zone, and in the Hawaiian Islands acting as plane guard for carriers and participating in tactical maneuvers with the fleet. 

USS Dorsey (DD-117) continued to operate from San Diego providing high-speed target towing for ships in training along the west coast, in the Canal Zone, and, between 29 December 1938 and 25 April 1939, in the Caribbean. She entered Pearl Harbor Navy Yard 6 November for conversion to a high-speed minesweeper and was reclassified DMS-1 on 19 November 1940. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941, USS Dorsey (DD-117) was at sea with TF 3 bound for Johnson Island. The force returned to its base on the 9th, and USS Dorsey (DD-117) was assigned to the Hawaiian Sea Frontier for patrol, local escort, and training duty. Dorsey arrived off Iwo Jima for preinvasion mine-sweeping 16 February 1945. She sailed from Iwo Jima 1 March for Ulithi to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa, where she arrived 25 March to sweep mines. 

Returning to Okinawa 1 July 1945 USS Dorsey (DD-117) joined the minesweeping unit operating in conjunction with the 3d Fleet raids on the Japanese home islands. She sailed on 14 September for minesweeping operations in the Van Diemen Straits, returning to Okinawa five days later. On 9 October she was grounded by a severe typhoon. Decommissioned 8 December 1945, her battered hulk was destroyed 1 January 1946.

For a complete history of USS Dorsey (DD-117) please see its DANFS page.