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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 51261:  USS Lawrence, photographed during the 1920s or 1930s

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

USS Lawrence (DD-250), 1921-1946

USS Lawrence, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in April 1921. Following initial operations in the Western Atlantic area, she deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in June 1922. The destroyer spent more than a year there and in the Black Sea, taking part in the effort to contain and relieve the problems resulting from the Russian Civil War and the conflict between Greece and Turkey. From late 1923 until early 1931 Lawrence mainly served with the Scouting Fleet in the Atlantic and Caribbean, with occasional transits through the Panama Canal to take part in exercises in the Pacific. She also made Naval Reserve training cruises and, in February-March 1927, was employed off Nicaragua while that nation was in turmoil.

Lawrence was out of commission at Philadelphia between January 1931 and June 1932. Based at San Diego, California, after mid-1932, she again went out of commission in September 1938. The outbreak of World War II in Europe brought her back into the active fleet in September 1939. The rest of that year, and nearly all of 1940, saw Lawrence operating in the Caribbean and Atlantic on patrol and training service. Returning to the Pacific in December 1940 and later assigned to the Sound School at San Diego, she began convoy escort work soon after the United States was brought into the Second World War late in 1941. During much of 1942 she shepherded shipping along the West Coast, steaming as far north as the Aleutian Islands. From September 1942 until the end of the conflict Lawrence provided patrol and escort services in the area of San Francisco, California. On 31 May 1944 she rescued nearly 200 men from the steamship Henry Bergh, which had gone aground in the nearby Farralon Islands. Sent to the East Coast in late August 1945, shortly after Japan had agreed to surrender, USS Lawrence was decommissioned in October 1945 and sold for scrapping at the beginning of October 1946.

USS Lawrence was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813), who lost his life while commanding the frigate Chesapeake in battle with HMS Shannon on 1 June 1813.

This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have related to Lawrence (DD-250).

For other pictures concerning to this ship, see:

  • USS Lawrence (DD-250) -- Group, Construction & Miscellaneous Views.


    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 51259

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    At anchor, circa 1921.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51262

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    In harbor, 1924.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51261

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Photographed during the 1920s or 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51260

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Underway during the 1920s or 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51263

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65029

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    In San Diego harbor, California, 1933.
    USS Eagle 11 (PE-11) is in the right background.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64432

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Underway in San Diego harbor, California, 1935.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3).

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98373

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 23 June 1942.
    Note that her after smokestack and after torpedo tubes have been removed, but she still retains 4"/50 guns.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98374

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 23 June 1942.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 72KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98375

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 23 June 1942.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 77KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98376

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Alongside a wharf at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 June 1942.
    This view looks forward from over the ship's after deckhouse, and shows her midships' 4"/50 guns and smokestacks.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 98KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98377

    USS Lawrence (DD-250)


    Alongside a wharf at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 June 1942, seen from a shipyard crane.
    This view looks down on the ship's after half, showing triple torpedo tubes, boats and other details.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Lawrence (DD-250). The following list features some of these images:

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


  • Photo #: 80-G-14864
    USS Lawrence (DD-250) underway while recovering a torpedo, 7 April 1922.
    Starboard broadside (somewhat toward the bow) high aerial view, taken from an airplane based on USS Wright (AV-1).

  • Photo #: 80-G-1034835
    USS Lawrence (DD-250) underway at sea, 1935. Photographed by Stahl.
    Port broadside (rather toward the stern) surface view, taken from about the height of Lawrence's foremast crow's nest.

    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 in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".

  • For other pictures concerning to this ship, see:

  • USS Lawrence (DD-250) -- Group, Construction & Miscellaneous Views.


    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 March 2003