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Photo # NH 95912:  USS Thompson laying a smoke screen during exercises, circa 1920-21

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

USS Thompson (DD-305), 1920-1931

USS Thompson, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer, was built at San Francisco, California. She was commissioned in August 1920 and mainly operated in the Pacific throughout her service career, with occasional transits of the Panama canal to take part in fleet exercises in the Caribbean and Atlantic. In early 1921 Thompson steamed south as far as Valparaiso, Chile. She was part of the squadron of destroyers that was involved in the 8 September 1923 Honda Point disaster, but was not herself damaged. In mid-1925, Thompson accompanied the Battle Fleet on its trans-Pacific cruise to Australia and New Zealand.

The 1930 London Naval Treaty placed limits on the Navy's destroyer tonnage, and Thompson was one of many ships discarded as a result. She was decommissioned in April 1930, stripped of military fittings and sold in June 1931. Her new owners converted her to a floating restaurant. Thompson's hulk was repurchased by the Navy in February 1944, placed on mud flats in San Francisco Bay, California, and used as a bombing target. It reportedly still existed, in a much-deteriorated condition, into the 1970s.

This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Thompson (DD-305).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Thompson (DD-305), 1920-1931 -- Part II.


    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 69459

    USS Thompson (DD-305)


    Off San Diego, California, circa 1920-1921.
    Photographed by the Pier Studio, San Diego.

    Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95912

    USS Thompson (DD-305)


    Laying a smoke screen during exercises, circa 1920-1921.
    Photographed by O.W. Waterman.
    Note that the ship's guns, torpedo tubes and rangefinder are manned and trained on targets.

    Donation of Glen Martin, 1986.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69460

    USS Thompson (DD-305)


    Operating with other destroyers, circa 1920-1921.

    Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 49808

    USS Thompson (DD-305)


    Steaming off Coronado, California, circa 1927, while serving with Destroyer Division 32, Destroyer Squadron 11, Battle Fleet.
    Note the Short Range Battle Practice target rigged between her after smokestack and searchlight platform.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 71032

    USS Thompson (DD-305)


    Underway during the middle or later 1920s.

    Courtesy of Lieutenant Gustave Freret, USN (Retired), 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 335 pixels

     

    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Thompson (DD-305), 1920-1931 -- Part II.


    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 7 August 2002