Today's classic warship, USS Lamson (DD-18)
Smith class destroyer
Displacement. 700 t.
Lenght. 293'10"
Beam. 26'
Draft. 8'
Speed. 28.6 k.
Complement. 107
Armament. 4 3", 3 18" tt.
The USS Lamson (DD-18) was laid down 18 March 1908 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. launched 16 June 1909; sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Gore, and commissioned 10 February 1910, Lt. Comdr. J. M. Ludy in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Squadron, Lamson operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean from 1910 until 1916 participating in torpedo exercises, fleet maneuvers, and coastal patrol. Departing Key West 7 May 1916, the destroyer arrived Dominican Republic 2 days later to support the U.S. Marines sent by President Wilson to protect American interests during the Dominican revolt.
She returned to Key West in mid-June before sailing on the 28th for Vera Cruz. She joined other American ships in Mexican waters as the Mexican political situation was still in turmoil. Following her return to Key West 11 July, Lamson operated along the east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico until the United States entered World War I.
During the early months of the war she patrolled the coastline before preparing for overseas service. Arriving Ponta Delgada, Azores, 26 July 1917, the destroyer performed escort and patrol duty for the next 3 months. Lamson departed the Azores 6 October for escort operations out of Brest, France. She assisted survivors of Finland on 28 October after the merchant ship had been torpedoed by a German submarine.
The destroyer continued escort and patrol operations for the rest of the war, and aided in the victory of Allied forces by neutralizing the German U-boat threat to convoys. After the Armistice Lamson departed Brest 11 December 1918 and arrived Charleston, S.C., 31 December. She decommissioned 16 July 1919 and was sold November 21 1919 and broken up for scrap.