USS Flusser (DD-20)

History of USS Flusser (DD-20)

The USS Flusser (DD-20) was a Smith-class destroyer that served with the United States Navy (USN) before and during the United States' involvement in World War I (1914-1918). There were five ships in the Smith class, with Flusser becoming the fourth in the group. The class is led by USS Smith (DD-17) and supported by USS Lamson (DD-18), USS Preston (DD-19) and USS Reid (DD-21).

The USS Flusser was laid in 1908, then put to sea for sea trials on July 20, 1909 - officially commissioned on October 28, 1909, but only intended to be used until 1919.

Bath Iron Works was responsible for its construction.

The

Smith class is notable for being the first turbine-powered destroyer in service with the U.S. Navy, and the last destroyer to be equipped with a coal-fired boiler installation. Power comes from 4 x Mosher coal fired boilers feeding 3 x 10,000hp Parsons direct drive steam turbines and used to drive 3 x axles under the stern.

Under ideal conditions, the maximum speed can reach 28 knots, enabling the ship to sail fast in the water with a range of 2,800 nautical miles.

The Flusser has a barrel length of 293.9 feet, a beam of 26 feet, and a draft of up to 8 feet. The displacement under normal load is 710 tons, and the displacement under full load is 915 tons. Her crew consisted of 87 people, 4 of whom were represented by officer-level personnel.

When built, the ship was equipped with 5 x 3" (76 mm) /50 caliber main guns. She also carried 3 x 18" (450 mm) torpedo tubes, which gave her a useful countermeasure against large Most surface threats of the day.

USS Flusser has been given historic Charleston, South Carolina as her home port from the start. She reported there in December 1909 and became part of the "Atlantic Torpedo Fleet" during the prewar period.

Until 1916, she made numerous voyages on the east coast of the United States and in Caribbean waters. As the European War began in mid-1914, the U.S.

Navy became increasingly involved in the conflict, forcing ships like Flusser to conduct "neutrality patrols" before the U.S. entered the warthis happened in 1917.

During the war, the USS Flusser was used as an escort convoy to protect vital supplies trying to reach the European front. She was put on hold in New Orleans, Louisiana, for repairs in early 1917, but returned to service in August 1917. It operated in this way until the end of the war in November 1918.

An armistice was signed to formally end years of bloodshed, before a massive postwar drawdown began.

She was officially discharged on July 14, 1919, and on September 15 of the same year, her name was removed from the Naval Register. She was sold and eventually scrapped on November 15.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing