Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 41764:  USS Whipple at anchor, 2 May 1907

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

USS Whipple (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15), 1902-1920

USS Whipple, a 433-ton Truxtun class destroyer, was built at Sparrows Point, Maryland. Commissioned in October 1902 or February 1903 (sources vary on the date), she served, with the exception of several months in reserve in 1905-1906, along the East Coast during the next five years. Early in December 1907 Whipple began a long trip around Cape Horn to the Pacific as part of the initial phase of the World cruise of the "Great White Fleet". Based at San Diego, California, beginning in 1908, she operated up and down the West Coast of North America as far north as Alaska and also visited Hawaii. Between 1914 and 1916 the destroyer was active off Mexico as that country went through a period of civil and political turmoil.

In the spring of 1917, soon after the United States entered World War I, Whipple steamed south to begin patrols off the Panama Canal Zone. She went on to the Atlantic in July of that year and, in late August and the first part of September voyaged to the Azores. Following three months of convoy and patrol service around those islands Whipple was sent to Brest, France, her base for nearly a year. She left European waters in December 1918 for a return trip to the U.S. by way of the Azores and Bermuda. After six months of inactivity at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USS Whipple was placed out of commission in early July 1919. She was sold in January 1920 and, extensively modified, entered commercial service as a banana freighter. The old former destroyer was scrapped in 1956.

USS Whipple was named in honor of Continental Navy Captain Abraham Whipple (1733-1819).

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Whipple (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15).

For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Whipple (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15) -- In Groups with Other Ships.


    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 41765

    USS Whipple
    (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15)

    At anchor during the early 1900s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67476-A-KN (color)

    USS Whipple (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15)

    Color-tinted reproduction of a photograph by Enrique Muller, published on a "Polychrome" postal card by the American News Company of New York, Leipzig and Dresden. The card was printed in Germany.
    See Photo # NH 67476-B-KN for a view of the card's reverse side.

    Collection of USS Parsons (DD-949), 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67476

    USS Whipple
    (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15)

    Photographed during the early 1900s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 38KB; 740 x 300 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41764

    USS Whipple
    (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15)

    At anchor on 2 May 1907, probably in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

    Courtesy of Howard I. Chapelle, Smithsonian Institution.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95193

    USS Whipple
    (Destroyer # 15)

    Steaming out of San Diego harbor, California, prior to World War I.

    Courtesy of Jack L. Howland, 1983.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 500 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105383

    USS Whipple
    (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15)

    At anchor, prior to World War I.
    The original image is printed on a postcard mailed at San Francisco, California, on 9 January 1920. Its front bears a hand-written inscription identifying this ship as USS "Benington" (which is quite incorrect) and giving the location as Monterey Bay, California, and date as July 1914. See Photo # NH 105383-A-KN for a view of the reverse side of this postcard, which contains a message concerning railway labor conditions in the San Francisco area.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 46KB; 740 x 420 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41761

    USS Whipple
    (Destroyer # 15)

    Training a twin 18-inch torpedo tube mount installed just aft of the ship's after smokestack, 18 June 1918.
    Note telescopic sight on the torpedo tube mounting, and 6-pounder gun in the background.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     


    The following photographs were taken from USS Whipple:

  • Photo # NH 53885: USS George Washington (ID # 3018) underway at sea, 10 May 1918; and
  • Photo # NH 53887: Same subject.
    In addition, the original caption for Photo # NH 53886 states that it was taken from USS Whipple on 10 May 1918. However, it was actually taken many months later.


    For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Whipple (Torpedo Boat Destroyer # 15) -- In Groups with Other Ships.


    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 28 February 2006
    New image added 17 January 2008