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USS SIMS (DD-409)

CLASS -SIMS As Built.
Displacement 2313 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' x 12' 10" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 4 x 0.5" MG 8 x 21" tt.(2x4).
Machinery, 52,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 192.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath Me. July 15 1937.
Launched April 8 1939 and commissioned August 1 1939.
Fate Sunk by Japanese Aircraft in the Coral Sea May 7 1942.
all but 13 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.
Subject of the book Grace Under Fire by Dan Verton available from Amazon.com

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Sims 74kWilliam 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
Sims 147kUndated, location unknown. From the collections of Ingersoll-Rand.Ron Titus
Farragut   Farragut   Farragut
Three views of Sims under construction at Bath Iron Works, October 1938.
Ed Zajkowski
Farragut   Farragut
Launching of Sims, 08 April 1939.
Steven A. Cardali
Sims 93kLaunching of Sims, 08 April 1939. AP photo by Raymond Strout.Jonathan Eno
Sims 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
Sims 51kUSS Sims off the Kennebec River, Maine, at the time of her builder's trials, 06 July 1939.Tony Cowart
Sims 85kPhotographed 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
Sims 131kSims arriving for a port visit at Miami, FL, 06 November 1939.Dave Wright
Sims   Sims   Sims
Off the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 09 May 1940. National Archives photos 19-N-21804, -21806, and -21805.
Fred Weiss / Robert Hurst
Sims   Sims
Two views of Sims (DD-409) and Russell (DD-414) moored at Norfolk, 16 December 1941.
Ed Zajkowski

USS SIMS DD-409 History
View This Vessels DANFS history entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
01LCDR William Arthur Griswold (USNA 1921-B)01 August 1939 - 06 October 1941
02LCDR Willford Milton Hyman (USNA 1924)06 October 1941 - 07 May 1942✝

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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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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Last Updated 20 June 2019