Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
all but 13 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74k | William S. Sims, born in 1858 in Ontario, Canada, was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1876 and graduated in 1880. Seventeen years of sea duty were followed by assignments as Naval Attaché to Paris, St. Petersburg, and Madrid. Sims next served as Inspector of Target Practice; and, under his supervision, the naval gunnery system increased the rapidity of hits 100 percent and the general effectiveness of fire 500 percent. He also served as Naval Aide to President Theodore Roosevelt for two and one-half years. On 11 February 1917, Sims became President of the Naval War College. In March 1917, he was designated by the Secretary of the Navy as Representative of the Navy Department in London. With the entry of the United States into World War I in April, he was ordered to assume command of all American destroyers, tenders, and auxiliaries operating from British bases. In May, he was designated as Commander of United States Destroyers Operating from British Bases, with the rank of Vice Admiral; and, in June, his title was changed to Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters. On 10 December 1917, he assumed additional duty as Naval Attaché, London, England. The North Sea Mine Barrage was laid under his direction. Admiral Sims again became President of the Naval War College in April 1919 and served in that capacity until his retirement on 15 October 1922. He died at Boston, Mass., on 25 September 1936. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 147k | Undated, location unknown. From the collections of Ingersoll-Rand. | Ron Titus | |
 Three views of Sims under construction at Bath Iron Works, October 1938. | Ed Zajkowski | |||
 Launching of Sims, 08 April 1939. | Steven A. Cardali | |||
| 93k | Launching of Sims, 08 April 1939. AP photo by Raymond Strout. | Jonathan Eno | |
| 512k | Off the Kennebec River, Maine, during her builder's trials, 06 July 1939. She is flying the flag of Bath Iron Works, her builder, at the foremast peak. Note that Sims' Mark 37 main gun battery director has not yet been installed. Photo by Douglas. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN (Retired). Photo 19-N-20822 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | Fred Weiss | |
| 51k | USS Sims off the Kennebec River, Maine, at the time of her builder's trials, 06 July 1939. | Tony Cowart | |
| 85k | Photographed at the time of her builder's trials, circa 06 July 1939. Note Bath Iron Works flag atop her foremast. Photo by Douglas. | Joe Radigan/Robert Hurst | |
| 131k | Sims arriving for a port visit at Miami, FL, 06 November 1939. | Dave Wright | |
 Off the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 09 May 1940. National Archives photos 19-N-21804, -21806, and -21805. | Fred Weiss / Robert Hurst | |||
 Two views of Sims (DD-409) and Russell (DD-414) moored at Norfolk, 16 December 1941. | Ed Zajkowski | |||
| Commanding Officers | ||
| 01 | LCDR William Arthur Griswold (USNA 1921-B) | 01 August 1939 - 06 October 1941 |
| 02 | LCDR Willford Milton Hyman (USNA 1924) | 06 October 1941 - 07 May 1942✝ |
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Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves |
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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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