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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Destroyer Flotillas

UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES

OPERATING IN EUROPEAN WATERS,

U.S.S. MELVILLE, FLAGSHIP.

              BASE SIX,

                  9 March 1918.

From:     Force Commander.

To:       U. S. Destroyer Flotillas Operating

              in European Waters.

SUBJECT:  Prospective increase of Force.

     1.  The following is a list showing the prospective increase of forces in these waters. This list is made up from information received from the Navy Department as to best estimate of probable increases.

PROSPECTIVE INCREASES OF FORCE

BY

TYPE

NO

REMARKS

Feb.15 (?)

PROMETHEUS

New destroyers

1

3

Repair ship for Brest.

Mar.15

Old destroyers

4

Total 7

Submarine chasers

12

BRIDGEPORT

1

Repair ship

Tugs

6

Ready Mar.1. Will be used to tow submarine chasers

Yachts

2

Apr.1

New destroyers

2

Old destroyers

2

Total 11.

LEONIDAS

1

Submarine chaser tender.

Apr.15

Submarine chasers

20

TOTAL 32.

May 1

New destroyers

5

TOTAL 16

Submarines

16

Available but will not be sent until reports indicate usefulness of those already sent

HANNIBAL

1

Submarine chaser tender.

SAVANNAH

1

Submarine tender.

May 15

Tugs

7

Ready May 1. Will tow Chasers.

Submarine chasers

20

Total 52.

June 1

New destroyers

5

Old destroyers

2

Total 23

BUFFALO

1

Destroyer tender.

June 15

Submarine chasers

20

Total 72.

July 1

New destroyers

6

Total 29.

July 15

Submarine chasers

20

Total 92.

Aug. 1

New Destroyers

9

Total 38.

Submarines

12

See note above.

""Ford Destroyers

10

Aug. 15

Submarine chasers

20

Total 112.

Sept. 1

New Destroyers

9

Total 47.

Ford Destroyers

20

Total 30.

Sept.15

Submarine chasers

20

Total 132.

Oct. 1

New Destroyers

8

Total 55.

Ford Destroyers

20

Total 50.

Oct. 15

Submarine chasers

12

Total 144

Nov. 1

New Destroyers

10

Total 65.

Ford Destroyers

20

Total 70.

""Ford Destroyers 400 tons, 18 knots; 100 contracted for. From Nov. 1 new destroyers will come at rate of 8-10 per mo. and Ford boats at 20 per month.

Oil capacity of chasers 2,800 gal., consumption 3 gal. per mile.

DESTROYERS – OLD

BY

NO.

Mar. 15

4

Apr. 1

2

June 1

2

8

     REMARKS

     Total 8.  Old boats not now here or en

     route are:

     PAUL JONES       McCALL

     PREBLE          MAYRANT

                        HOPKINS         PERKINS

                        HULL           WALKE

                        JOUETT         HEMLEY

DESTROYERS – NEW

Feb. 15

3

Apr. 1

2

May 1

5

June 1

5

July 1

6-8

Aug. 1

8

Sept. 1

8

     STOCKTON, CALDWELL, LITTLE (?).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Sept. 1 8-10 per month.

DESTROYERS - FORD

Aug. 1

10

Monthly

20

       400 tons – 18 knots.

       Total of 100

 

SUBMARINES

May 1

16

Aug. 1

12

     Available but sending depends         upon reports of usefulness of           those already sent.

SUBMARINE CHASERS

Mar. 15

12

Apr. 15

20

     Total of 144; to be towed or escorted

     via Bermuda and Azores.

    Oil capacity of Chasers is 2,500 gal.

Subsequently 20 per mo. Expenditure about 3 gal. per mile.

                       Parent ship for each 36.

TUGS AND YACHTS

Mar. 1

Tugs 6

Yachts2

May 1

Tugs 7

     Ready on dates given; will tow        chasers.

 

 

REPAIR AND PARENT SHIPS

Feb. 15

PROMETHEUS

Repair ship, Brest.

Mar. 15

BRIDGEPORT

Repair ship – Mine Force (can be used elsewhere.

APR. 1

LEONIDAS

Parent ship for chasers.

May 1

HANNIBAL

Parent ship for chasers

SAVANNAH

Submarine tender.

June 1

BUFFALO

Destroyer Tender.

 

J. R. POINSETT PRINGLE

       By direction.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

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