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Photo # NH 56317:  USS Bainbridge underway, circa 1921

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Bainbridge (DD-246), 1921-1945

USS Bainbridge was a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer built at Camden, New Jersey. She was commissioned in February 1921 and served in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean areas until October 1922, when she steamed to the Mediterranean to operate near the then-troubled nation of Turkey. On 16 December 1922, Bainbridge saved nearly 500 people from the French transport Vinh-Long, which was burning in the Sea of Marmora near Constantinople, and act for which her crew was officially commended and her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Walter A. Edwards, was awarded the Medal of Honor.

After returning to the United States in 1923, Bainbridge was assigned to the Scouting Fleet, which was stationed in the Atlantic but made regular visits to the Caribbean and occasionally passed through the Panama Canal for combined exercises with the West Coast based Battle Fleet. The destroyer patrolled off Nicaragua with the Special Service Squadron in 1927 and was employed at times for training Naval Reservists. She was out of commission between December 1930 and March 1932 and then spent more than a year in reduced commission as part of the Rotating Reserve. Bainbridge rejoined the Special Service Squadron in 1933 and, late in the following year, was transferred to the Pacific, where she was active until decommissioning in November 1937.

In late September 1939, soon after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Bainbridge was recommissioned. Based in the Panama Canal Zone, she made Neutrality Patrols in that area until mid-1940, when she began operations out of Key West, Florida. During most of 1941 Bainbridge served in the North Atlantic, where she escorted convoys to and from Iceland as relations with Germany became increasingly hostile. Once war formally began in December 1941, she continued her escort and patrol work off the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. She was slightly damaged by an enemy mine off Chesapeake Bay in June 1942. In 1943 Bainbridge extended her reach across the ocean when she escorted several convoys between the U.S. and North Africa. In the middle of that year she was part of a task group, built around the escort aircraft carrier Santee (CVE-29), that sank several U-boats. No longer needed after Germany's surrender, USS Bainbridge was decommissioned in July 1945 and sold for scrapping at the end of November.

USS Bainbridge was named in honor of Commodore William Bainbridge (1774-1833), one of the leading figures of the early 19th Century U.S. Navy.

This page features all the pre-World War II views we have of USS Bainbridge (DD-246), and provides links to other images related to her.

For other pictures of and related to this ship, see:

  • USS Bainbridge (DD-246) -- World War II Views;
  • USS Bainbridge (DD-246) -- On Board and Construction Views; and
  • Burning of the French Transport Vinh-Long, 16 December 1922.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 56317

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Underway, circa 1921.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 78331

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Underway, circa 1921.

    Donation of Frank A. Downey, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Note:
    The original print is cracked in several places as a result of having been kept rolled prior to donation.

     
    Photo #: NH 78344

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Off Constantinople, Turkey, on 16 December 1922, with 482 survivors of the French transport Vinh-Long on board. The French ship had burned in the Sea of Marmora earlier that day.
    Bainbridge is flying her ensign at half mast height, in mourning for the victims of the disaster.

    Donation of Frank A. Downey, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56314

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Underway at sea, March 1924.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 163KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-451211

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)
    (outboard), and
    USS Childs (DD-241)

    Backing out of drydock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, on 6 June 1925.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 570 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 56316

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    In a harbor, during the 1920s or 1930s.
    Note the "E" award painted on the weather screen above her pilothouse.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56315

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Anchored off New York City, during the 1920s or 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64556

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Leaving the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 5 May 1932.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64555

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


    Leaving the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 5 May 1932.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52420

    USS Bainbridge (DD-246)
    ;
    USS Kane (DD-235);
    and
    USS Hopkins (DD-249)

    Nested together during the 1920s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 91987

    Destroyers moored at San Diego, California, prior to World War II


    These ships are (from left to right): USS Barry (DD-248); USS Bainbridge (DD-246); USS Reuben James (DD-245); USS Williamson (DD-244); USS Fox (DD-234); USS Lawrence (DD-250); and USS Hovey (DD-208).

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     


    In addition to the views referenced above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other photograph of USS Bainbridge (DD-246). The following listing describes this image:

    The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-1035054
    USS Bainbridge (DD-246) underway in 1923, photographed by C.A. Lessie.
    Starboard bow surface view. Bainbridge's bow number is not yet countershaded. Smoke is rising from her third smokestack.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed above is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For other pictures of and related to this ship, see:

  • USS Bainbridge (DD-246) -- World War II Views;
  • USS Bainbridge (DD-246) -- On Board and Construction Views; and
  • Burning of the French Transport Vinh-Long, 16 December 1922.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 11 October 2002
    Links added 20 October 2002