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USS Cushing DD-55
Cushing served on the Neutrality Patrol off Rose Bank, NY until December 28, 1915. She then operated with the fleet in exercises in the Caribbean, off Portland, Maine, and off Norfolk, Virginia. On September 27, 1916, Cushing reported to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, RI.Cushing returned to the Caribbean for operations from January to March, 1917.
Cushing left New York on May 15, 1917, arriving in Queenstown, Ireland on May 24, 1917 for duty in the war zone. She performed patrol and escort duties until early June 1918. On June 4, 1917, she picked up 13 men adrift in the Atlantic. They were the survivors of the Italian brig Luisa. She joined USS Perkins DD-26 in rescuing survivors of the torpedoed and sinking British merchant ship SS Tarquah on July 7, 1917. The next day, Cushing responded to an S.O.S. from SS Onitsha, who was being chased by an enemy submarine and picked up 54 survivors of SS Obuasi, which had already been sunk. On July 16, 1917, she escorted SS Tamele to safety after the merchantman had recieved five hits. On the same day, Cushing fired on two submarines at extremely long range following their attack on the Italian merchant vessel SS Lamia from whom she rescued 27 survivors. Five survivors from the British SS Vienna were saved on September 12, 1917 after being adrift for 2 days. On November 26, when SS Crenella was torpedoed, Cushing stood by, giving damage control assistance which kept the merchantman from sinking, then escorted her to Queenstown. Cushing returned to the convoy the next day.
Continuing her convoy escort and patrol duty, Cushing on April 23, 1918 dropped 15 depth charges on the German submarine U-104, damaging her severely. HMS Jessamine sank the U-104 later that same day. On June 11, 1918, her base was changed to Brest, France. From there, she escorted 11 troop convoys to French ports. On December 3, 1918, she towed USS Murray DD-97 off the rocks in the harbor of L'Abenach when she ran aground. Murray was taken to Brest.
Cushing left Brest on December 21, 1918 with one of the outstanding records for World War I service. She returned to the United States on January 6, 1919 and was placed in reduced commision on July 1, 1919 in New York City. She was transferred to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on April 6, 1920. Cushing was decommissioned August 7, 1920 and was sold June 30, 1936. She was scrapped in accordance with the London Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments.
Ship's Statistics
Displacement: 1050 Tons (1071 full load)
Dimensions: 305' 3" x 31' 1" x 9' 6"
Armament: 4-4"/50 cal. guns; 8-21" torpedo tubes; 1-3" anti-aircraft gun.
Complement: 101
Machinery: 17,000 HP with 2 geared cruising turbines, one per shaft
Speed: 29 kts.
Statistics from
Jane's Fighting Ships-1924 edition
and
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Vol.2, 1969 reprint
Text excerpts from "USS Cushing Memories"
Edited by Mark and Debra Eyman-Whitehead
and
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Vol.2, 1969 reprint
"Memories" is a collection of stories, both sea and true, (and we all know the difference) that every sailor has. Naturally, we are looking for stories that are related to your service on any of the Cushings, but we would be delighted to take anything that you would like to send.
We have just completed work on the 3rd edition of "Memories". So, if you have any Cushing-related stories that you would like to have included in the 4th Edition, please contact me at the below address.
Mark Whitehead
P.O. Box 384
Manchester, WA , 98353
This page launched April 1997
Last updated 1/1/2003
Comments or Questions? Contact me.
This page © 1997-2006 Mark and Debra Eyman-Whitehead