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USS SHIRK (DD-318)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUJV

CLASS - CLEMSON As Built.
Displacement 1,215 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 1 x 3"/23AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 26,500 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 114
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco February 13 1919.
Launched June 20 1919 and commissioned February 5 1921.
Decommissioned February 8 1930.
Stricken July 22 1930.
Fate Hull sold to P, J. Willet on January 27 1931, remainder broken up for scrap at Mare Island in 1931.

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Shirk 50kJames W. Shirk was born in Pennsylvania on 16 July 1832 and was appointed midshipman on 26 March 1849. He cruised between 1849 and 1860 on the coasts of Africa, East India, and North America, in the gunnery ship, Plymouth. He also served in the Great Lakes and on the Pacific station. During the Civil War, he won distinction for his service in the Mississippi Squadron at the Battle of Fort Henry on 6 February 1862; and at Pittsburgh Landing on 1 March 1862; and again on 6 and 7 April 1862. During the latter engagement at Pittsburgh Landing, his ship, Lexington, in company with Tyler, prevented the enemy from crossing the river and saved the Union army from defeat in the bloody battle of Shiloh. He later took part in engagements with Confederate batteries at Chickasaw Bayou, St. Charles, White River, Arkansas Post, and the passage of the Vicksburg batteries. During the siege of Vicksburg, his ship, Tuscumbia, was frequently under fire between 19 May and the Confederate surrender on 4 July 1863. He commanded the Seventh Division of the Mississippi Squadron in 1863 and 1864. After peace had been restored, he cruised in the European Squadron and performed special duty for the Navy Department from 1866 to 1872. Commander Shirk died in Washington, D.C., on 10 February 1873.Robert M. Cieri/Bill Gonyo
Shirk 107kUndated image from the collection of CPO A. F. Meehan USN (Ret.).Pam Mayfield
Shirk 102kAs above.Pam Mayfield
Shirk 56kIn drydock, as above.Pam Mayfield
Shirk 61kIn drydock, as above.Pam Mayfield
Shirk 36kUndated, location unknown.David Buell
Shirk 202kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Shirk 83kCirca 1918-1930, appears to be in the Panama Canal.Frank Tushoph
Shirk 75kSan Diego, CA circa 1920's. USS Shirk (DD-318), USS Kidder (DD-319), USS Lavalette (DD-315), USS Sloat (DD-316), USS Yarborough (DD-314) and USS Wood (DD-317). Naval Historical Center photo NH 69509.Daniel Dunham
Shirk 83kUSS Shirk (DD-318) underway during the 1920s. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 67893.Robert Hurst
Shirk 337kAerial view of six destroyers in Mare Island's dry dock #2 between August 13 - 25, 1922. The shipyard's records indicate that the six destroyers were in hull number order as: USS Yarborough (DD 314), USS La Vallette (DD 315), USS Sloat (DD 316), USS Wood (DD 317), USS Shirk (DD 318) and USS Kidder (DD 319).Darryl Baker

USS SHIRK DD-318 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 George Mastick Ravenscroft    Feb 5 1921 - Feb 21 1922
LCDR Herbert Bernhard Riebe    Feb 21 1922 - Jan 1 1924
CDR Walter Hamilton Lassing     Jan 1 1924 - May 26 1927
LCDR Charles Horatio McMorris    May 26 1927 - Feb 8 1930 (Later VADM)

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

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