USS Fox was one of five 1190-ton Clemson class destroyers (DD-231 through DD-235) modified to carry five-inch guns in place of the four-inch type fitted to the rest of the class. Built at Camden, New Jersey, she was placed in commission in May 1920 and late in August left for the Mediterranean. For nearly two years she operated there and in the Black Sea, protecting U.S. interests at a time of intense turmoil in the region. After a brief return to the U.S. in July-October 1922, Fox went back to Turkish waters for another tour, this one lasting until July 1923. Later in that year she was assigned to Naval Reserve training duties with the Third Naval District (New York area). When this service was completed in October 1930 she was sent to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she went out of commission in early February 1931.
Fox returned to full commission in June 1932 and a few weeks later steamed to San Diego, California, her base for the next six years. During this time she served with the United States Fleet off the West Coast and in the Hawaiian area. She also operated in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic on two occasions, in mid-1934 and mid-1936. The now-elderly destroyer was decommissioned again in September 1938, but was recalled to active duty a year later, after the outbreak of war in Europe.
From October 1939 until August 1940 Fox operated in the Atlantic and Caribbean. She then spent two months in Panama waters before taking up patrol duty off the U.S. Pacific Coast. Soon after the United States entered World War II in December 1941 she began escorting shipping between Alaska to Southern California and, from May 1943 into March 1944 was stationed in Alaskan waters. Fox then began training, transport, and escort service out of San Diego. Reclassified AG-85 in October 1944, she spent most of the rest of the war at Alameda, California, serving as a target and providing other support for aviation units based there. USS Fox was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, in November 1945 and was sold for scrapping a year later.
USS Fox was named in honor of Gustavus V. Fox (1821-1883), who served as a U.S. Navy Officer from 1838 until 1856 and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1861-1866.
This page features all the views we have related to USS Fox (DD-234, later AG-85).
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.
The following views show USS Fox (DD-234) distantly, either as part of groups of ships or in the background in photographs of other subjects:
Photo #: 80-G-451164 Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Hawaii Scouting Force ships at, and off, the yard, 2 February 1933. Cruisers tied up at 1010 Dock are (from left to left center) Augusta (CA-31), Chicago (CA-29) and Chester (CA-27). USS Northampton (CA-26) is alongside the dock in the center, with USS Kane (DD-235) in the adjacent Marine Railway and USS Fox (DD-234) tied up nearby. USS Louisville (CA-28) is in the center distance. Moored off her bow and at the extreme right are USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) and USS Pensacola (CA-24). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-455906 Balboa Harbor, Panama Canal Zone Aerial photograph taken 23 April 1934, with U.S. Fleet cruisers and destroyers moored together. Most of the ships present are identified in Photo # 80-G-455906 (extended caption). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 298KB; 1200 x 970 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 73277 USS Barry (DD-248) In San Diego harbor, California, about 1930. Ships in the right background are USS Kane (DD-235) and USS Fox (DD-234). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 64552 USS Williamson (DD-244) In San Diego harbor, California, during the early 1930s. USS Kane (DD-235) and USS Fox (DD-234) are in the right background. Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 64561 USS Hopkins (DD-249) In San Diego harbor, California, during the early 1930s. USS Kane (DD-235) and USS Fox (DD-234) are moored in the right center background, with Naval Air Station North Island beyond them. Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 605 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 29 March 2003