NavSource Main Page FAQ Contact us Search NavSource

Waving US Flag

NavSource Naval History
Photographic History of the United States Navy
DESTROYER
ARCHIVE

USS CONNER (DD-72)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NSN

CLASS - CALDWELL As Built.
Displacement 1,125 Tons, Dimensions, 315' 6" (oa) x 31' 3" x 11' 6" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 1pdr AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 18,500 SHP; Parsons Turbines, 3 screws
Speed, 30 Knots, Crew 100.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Cramp, Philadelphia on October 16 1916.
Launched August 21 1917 and commissioned January 12 1918.
Conner was placed into reserve at Philadelphia October 4 1919.
Transferred to Norfolk she was berthed there in reserve until May 1921.
Recommissioned for fleet exercises with reduced complement
and again placed into reserve at Charleston from October 13 1921
until March 29 1922, when she was transferred to Philadelphia.
Decommissioned at Philadelphia June 21 1922 and berthed
with the reserve fleet. Recommissioned August 23 1940.
Decommissioned for the last time and handed over
to Britain October 23 1940, stricken January 8 1941.
Renamed HMS Leeds (G27).
Fate Broken up for scrap in 1947.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Conner 71kPhoto #: NH 50663. Commodore David Conner, U.S. Navy, (1792-1856) 19th Century engraved portrait. Commodore Conner commanded the Home Squadron during the first part of the Mexican War. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Conner 37kUndated, location unknown.Paul Rebold
Conner 177kShip's sponsor, Miss Elsa Diederich, with her party during Conner's launching ceremonies, at the Cramp shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21 August 1917. Miss Diederich was great-great grand daughter of Commodore David Conner, in whose honor the ship was named. Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the U.S. Navy. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 99556.Robert Hurst
Conner 52kPhoto #: NH 70857. USS Conner (Destroyer # 72) in a European harbor, circa 1918. She is painted in what appears to be a Mackay "low visibility" camouflage scheme. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1970. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
On British Service
HMS Leeds (ex-USS Conner, DD-72) transferred at Halfix, Leeds arrived at Devonport and entered a protracted refit which lasted from 17 November 1940 to 2 March 1941. She then joined Rosyth command, in which she served throughout the war escorting East Coast convoys. The ship's movements appears to indicate a horrific amount of time in dockyard hands; closer search shows that in fact it comprised a more or less monthly 'in hand' for defects, just what was needed to keep such an unusual ship running. Finally paid off at Grangemouth on 10 April 1945, Leeds passed to BISCo on 3 march 1947 and arrived at Grays, Essex on 19 January 1949 to be broken up by T W Ward Ltd. (History thanks to Robert Hurst.)
Conner 27kAs the HMS Leeds circa 1940.-
Conner 81kThe 'Town' class destroyer HMS Leeds (ex-USS Conner, DD-72) underway on 24 September 1942 operating on the East Coast. Photo # FL 3255 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.Robert Hurst
Conner 80kThe 'Town' class destroyer HMS Leeds (ex-USS Conner, DD-72) underway in 1942 operating on the East Coast.Robert Hurst
Conner 149kAs the HMS Leeds (Town class - 2nd Group), in 1943 while operating along the East Coast. Image from Warships of World War 11, by H.T. Lenton and J.J. Colledge, published by Ian Allan Ltd, London.Robert Hurst
Conner 55kHMS Leeds early in 1945 alongside at Rosyth.Robert Hurst

USS CONNER DD-72 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves

LCDR Alfred Graham Howe    Jan 12 1918 - Nov 25 1918 (Later RADM)
LT Theodore Edson Chandler    Nov 25 1918 - Jan 11 1919
LCDR Vance Duncan Chapline    Jan 11 1919 - Apr 9 1919
ENS Arthur Warner Bates    Apr 9 1919 - Mar 11 1920
LCDR Hubert Vance LaBombard    Mar 11 1920 - Sep 13 1921              
LT George Johnson McMillin    Sep 13 1921 - Jun 21 1922
(Decommissioned June 21 1922 - August 23 1940)
LCDR Thomas Burrowes    Aug 23 1940 - Nov 26 1940 (Later RADM)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

Back To The Main Photo Index To The Destroyer Index Page


Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster