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Photo # NH 77258:  USS Young and other destroyers alongside USS Cuyama, during the early 1920s

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

USS Young (DD-312), 1920-1923

USS Young, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in November 1920. For more than two years she remained in a relatively inactive status in West Coast ports as part of the early 1920s "rotating reserve", which attempted to keep three destroyers in commission with minimum personnel. In February 1923, Young steamed south to Panama to participate in Fleet Problem I, the first of a lengthy series of major maneuvers undertaken by the United States Fleet in the inter-war years. She remained active after her return north in April, taking part in battle practice and other exercises.

On 8 September 1923, Young accompanied other ships of Destroyer Squadron ELEVEN on a cruise down the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego. Shortly after nightfall, the formation of destroyers turned eastward to enter the Santa Barbara Channel. However, due to a navigation error on the squadron flagship, the turn was actually made several miles too far north, and seven ships ran aground on fog-enshrouded Point Pedernales (locally called Honda Point). Young, the third ship in the column, ripped her bottom open as she approached the rocky shore and quickly rolled over on her starboard side. Twenty of her crew were lost in this disaster, and the rest were rescued after a very difficult time clinging to the wave-washed hull of their capsized ship.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Young.


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 77258

USS Cuyama (AO-3)


With twelve destroyers tied up alongside, during the early 1920s. The ships present include (from left to right):
USS Jacob Jones (DD-130);
USS Hull (DD-330);
USS Thompson (DD-305);
USS Corry (DD-334);
USS Kennedy (DD-306);
USS Reno (DD-303);
USS Cuyama (AO-3;
USS Stoddert (DD-302);
USS Yarborough (DD-314);
USS Sloat (DD-316);
USS Litchfield (DD-336);
USS Shubrick (DD-268);
USS Young (DD-312);

Courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973. From the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 


The following photographs all show the wreck of USS Young (DD-312), after she was lost at Honda Point, California, on 8 September 1923.

For more pictures of USS Young's wreck, see:

  • USS Young (DD-312) -- Wrecked at Point Honda, September 1923 (additional views).

    Photo #: NH 66724

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view taken from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3), soon after seven ships of Destroyer Squadron Eleven ran aground on Honda Point, California, during the night of 8 September 1923.
    Point Arguello and its lighthouse are in the foreground. Some of the stranded ships are visible in the distance. Those identifiable are:
    USS Fuller (DD-297) in the upper right, just to left of a small rock island;
    and USS Young (DD-312), capsized between Fuller and the mainland, in upper right.
    Two salvage ships are standing by, to the left of Fuller.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69587

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the disaster area, looking northward, seen from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Visible are six of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September 1923. They are:
    USS Fuller (DD-297), at left;
    USS Woodbury (DD-309), just ahead of Fuller;
    USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
    USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright just ahead of Young;
    USS Nicholas (DD-311), beyond the rocks in the center;
    and USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the small cove between Chauncey and Nicholas.
    The remaining ship, USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), is out of sight behind the rocky point, astern of Nicholas.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66723

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the disaster area, showing the seven destroyers that ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
    Ships are: USS Nicholas (DD-311), in the left center;
    USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), astern of Nicholas;
    USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in small cove (center);
    USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
    USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
    USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the center;
    and USS Fuller (DD-297), closest to the camera.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66721

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the disaster area, showing all seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
    Ships are: USS Nicholas (DD-311), in the upper left;
    USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), astern of Nicholas;
    USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the left center;
    USS Young (DD-312), capsized in the center of the view;
    USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
    USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the center;
    and USS Fuller (DD-297), in the lower center.
    The Southern Pacific Railway's Honda Station is in the upper left.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66722

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the southern part of the disaster area, showing five of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Ships visible are:
    USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the small cove at left;
    USS Young (DD-312), capsized in left center;
    USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright ahead of Young;
    USS Woodbury (DD-309) on the rocks in the right center;
    and USS Fuller (DD-297) on the rocks at right.
    The Southern Pacific Railway's Honda Station is in the upper middle.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66720

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the southern part of the disaster area, showing four of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September 1923. Photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
    Ships visible are USS Delphy (DD-261), capsized in the lower left; USS Chauncey (DD-296), upright beyond Delphy; USS Young (DD-312), capsized aft of Chauncey; and USS Woodbury (DD-309) at right.
    Point Arguello lighthouse is in the center distance.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69585

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Aerial view of the disaster area, looking westward, seen from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3). Visible are five of the seven destroyers that ran aground on Honda Point during the night of 8 September 1923. They are:
    USS Fuller (DD-297), beyond the small rock island in the center;
    USS Woodbury (DD-309), just ahead of Fuller;
    USS Chauncey (DD-296), closest to the camera;
    USS Young (DD-312), capsized astern of Chauncey;
    and USS Delphy (DD-261), barely visible, capsized just beyond the coast at right.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     

    For more pictures of USS Young's wreck, see:

  • USS Young (DD-312) -- Wrecked at Point Honda, September 1923 (additional 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 12 July 2002