USS Craven, a 1020-ton Caldwell class destroyer, was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia. Commissioned in October 1918, she operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean area during the rest of that year and well into 1919. In May 1919 she steamed to the mid-Atlantic to serve as a weather and guard ship during the trans-oceanic flight of the NC flying boats. Craven was generally inactive after October 1919 and, when the Navy formally adopted hull numbers in mid-1920, she was designated DD-70. She was briefly returned to active status in 1921 for fleet maneuvers and local use in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. Placed out of commission at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in June 1922, Craven was laid up there for nearly two decades.
At the end of May 1936, her name was taken away and assigned to a new USS Craven (DD-382). For the next three years, the old destroyer was simply called DD-70 (ex-Craven). In November 1939, after the outbreak of World War II in Europe made it likely that she would be returned to active duty, DD-70 was renamed Conway. She was recommissioned in August 1940, but had little U.S. Navy service before being transferred to the United Kingdom in October 1940 as part of the "destroyers for bases" transaction. Renamed Lewes for service in the British Royal Navy, she was employed in the Atlantic in 1940-1944 and thereafter in the Indian Ocean and Australian waters. Removed from active service in 1945, HMS Lewes was scuttled off Australia in May 1946.
This page features all our views of USS Craven (DD-70), which was renamed Conway in 1939, plus selected views of her construction.
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 #: 19-N-16455 USS Craven (DD-70) Photographed on 1 November 1918 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Note her "dazzle" camouflage scheme. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 565 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 771 USS Craven (DD-70) Dressed with flags, circa late 1918, possibly in celebration of the 11 November 1918 Armistice. Note her "dazzle" camouflage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97968 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) At the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, circa late 1918. Note the ship's number painted on her pilothouse face. Collection of Rear Admiral Bradford Bartlett, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 450 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 42524 Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania Warships in the Reserve Basin, 18 November 1919, as seen by a Philadelphia Evening Ledger photographer. Ships are (from left to right): USS Wisconsin (Battleship # 9); USS Illinois (Battleship # 7); USS Alabama (Battleship # 8); a Pittsburgh class armored cruiser; two battleships, probably Connecticut class; USS Stringham (Destroyer # 83); USS Craven (Destroyer # 70); USS Maury (Destroyer # 100); and USS Sigourney (Destroyer # 81). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95792 Trans-Atlantic Flight of the "NC" Aircraft, May 1919 Diagram of the third leg of the flight of the NC-1, NC-3 and NC-4 aircraft, between Trepassy Bay, Newfoundland, and the Azores, during 16 May to 20 May 1919. It also shows the positions of the 21 U.S. Navy destroyers stationed along the way. Printed by the Matthews-Northrup Works, Buffalo, New York. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 109KB; 900 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 78706 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Ship's boilers under construction in the Erecting Shop at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 15 May 1917. Note flags on display. Craven was not laid down until 20 December 1917. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 78700 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 11 December 1917. View looks forward from over the stern and shows framing and bulkheads in place. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917, and she was launched on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 178KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 78694 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) View on the main deck looking forward on the starboard side amidships, while she was under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 4 June 1918. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917, and she was launched on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 78695 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) View on the main deck looking aft from amidships, while she was under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 4 June 1918. Her keel was laid on 20 November 1917 and she was launched on 29 June 1918. Note Freight Lighter # 53 in the center background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 78702 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Ready for launching, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 161KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 82729 USS Craven (Destroyer # 70) Launching, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on 29 June 1918. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 104KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 24 May 2002