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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 54651:  USS Decatur underway during the 1920s or 1930s

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

USS Decatur (DD-341), 1922-1945

USS Decatur, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer built at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, was commissioned in August 1922, the last (by a few days) of the more that 270 similar "flush-deck" destroyers constructed during the World War I era. After several months out of commission in 1923 she began a steady period of active service, primarily in the Pacific but with occasional operational visits to the Caribbean and the Atlantic coast. In 1925 she participated in the Battle Fleet's cruise to New Zealand and Australia.

Beginning in February 1937 Decatur was stationed in the Atlantic as a training ship, work that was supplemented by Neutrality Patrol assignments after World War II began in Europe. She was employed as a convoy escort in the North Atlantic from September 1941, remaining in that role when the United States formally entered the fighting in December of that year. In mid-1942 the destroyer's convoy operations shifted to the routes between the Eastern U.S. and the Caribbean and, in February 1943, Decatur began escorting ships across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea. Her convoy service was interrupted in late 1943 by a tour with the anti-submarine task group centered on the escort carrier Card (CVE-11). A planned conversion to a high speed transport (with hull number APD-30) was cancelled, and Decatur remained a destroyer for the rest of her days. From mid-1944 she had nearly a year of escort and training duty in the Caribbean area. Decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in July 1945, USS Decatur was sold for scrapping at the end of November 1945.

USS Decatur was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820), one of the United States Navy's greatest heros and leaders of the first two decades of the 19th Century.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Decatur (DD-341).


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 54651

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Underway during the 1920s or 1930s.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 98172

USS Decatur (DD-341)


In the Panama Canal, during the 1920s or 1930s.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Harriet A. Harris, USN(NC)-Retired. Donated by Mrs. J.B. Redfield, 1961.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107425

USS Decatur
(DD-341)

Steaming at sea in company with another destroyer, circa 1925.
The original photograph was received in July 1925.

Official U.S. Army Air Corps Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Online Image: 116 KB; 900 x 715 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 54650

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Underway during the Fleet Review, 4 June 1927.
USS Paul Hamilton (DD-307) is partially visible in the left distance.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107424-KN (color)

USS Decatur (DD-341)

At anchor, circa the 1930s.
Color-tinted black & white photograph.

Donation of the Lincoln County Museum, North Platte, Nebraska, 2010.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 89 KB; 900 x 720 pixels

 

High-Resolution JPG
Photo #: NH 67695

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Off Poughkeepsie, New York, 17 June 1939.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91579

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Underway at sea, 22 January 1944.

Courtesy of A.D. Baker III.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91580

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Off the New York Navy Yard, 7 August 1943.

Courtesy of A.D. Baker III.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91581

USS Decatur (DD-341)


Off the New York Navy Yard, 7 August 1943.

Courtesy of A.D. Baker III.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 560 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 42539

"Red Lead Row", San Diego Destroyer Base, California


Photographed at the end of 1922, with at least 65 destroyers tied up there. Many of the ships present are identified in Photo # NH 42539 (complete caption).

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 159KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-CF-2115-11

USS Yorktown (CV-5)


With other ships at Pier 7, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, on 19 October 1937. The other ships present are (from left to right):
USS Texas (BB-35);
USS Decatur (DD-341);
USS Jacob Jones (DD-130) and
USS Kewaydin (AT-24).
Note automobiles parked in the foreground.

Photograph from Department of the Navy collections in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 570 pixels

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

 


In addition to the views referenced above, the National Archives appears to hold several other photographs of USS Decatur (DD-341). The following listing describes some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-1034902
    USS Decatur (DD-341) in 1934, photographed by Stahl.
    Starboard side surface view, somewhat toward the bow, with the ship underway at very low speed.

  • Photo #: 80-G-1034951
    USS Decatur (DD-341) in the Panama Canal, during the 1920s or 1930s.
    Starboard bow aerial view, with USS Sicard (DD-346) following off Decatur's starboard quarter.

  • Photo #: 80-G-1035018
    USS Decatur (DD-341) and USS Sicard (DD-346) in the Panama Canal, during the 1920s or 1930s.
    Starboard bow aerial view of Decatur, which is in the right center of the view. Sicard is seen nearly bow-on (and somewhat to starboard) steaming close Decatur's starboard side. Some of the Panama Canal locks are in the background.


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

    The images listed above are NOT in the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 16 November 2002
    New images added 16 December 2010