< Pery II DD- 11

Pery II DD- 11

 

Perry II

(DD-11: dp. 480 (n.); 1. 250'6"; b. 23'8"; dr. 7'3"; s. 29 k.;
cpl. 73; a. 2 3", 5 6-pdrs., 2 18" tt.; el. Bainbridge)

The second Perry (DD-11) was laid down l0 April 1899 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco; launched 27 October 1900; sponsored by Miss Maude O'Connor; and commissioned 4 September 1902, Lt. Theodore C. Fenton in command.

Perry was assigned to the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla and based at Mare Island until the United States entered World War I. Her operations took her as far north as Alaska and south along the coast of Mexico; and in the fall of 1908, combined fleet maneuvers took her to Hawaii.

Perhaps the highlight of the torpedo boat destroyer's career eame during the earthquake which struck San Francisco 18 April 1906 and the resulting fire which devastated the city. For four sleepless days after they were awakened by severe rolling and pitching of their ship before dawn on 18 April, the indefatigable erew labored to save the western metropolis by fighting fires; patrolling districts where stores, warehouses and homes were threatened by looters; and providing mediesi aid to countless injured men, women, and children.

When the United States entered World War I, Perry patrolled off the California Coast until steaming to Panama where, beginning 28 July 1917, she guarded the entrance to the vital eanal. On 30 May 1918, she sailed for Key West for patrol duty in the Florida Keys. After the Armistiee, she got under way for the Delaware Bay, 29 January 1919, and remained at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until decommissioning 2 July. Perry's natne was struck from the Navy List 15 September 1919, and she was sold for scrapping 5 January 1920.