USS Aylwin (DD-47)

USS Aylwin (DD-47)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Aylwin.

Aylwin during trials, 22 February 1914
Career (U.S. Navy)
Name:	USS Aylwin (DD-47)
Namesake:	John Cushing Aylwin
Ordered:	March 1911
Builder:	William Cramp and Sons Philadelphia
Cost:	$790,000 (hull and machinery)
Yard number:	386
Laid down:	7 March 1912
Launched:	23 November 1912
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Joseph Wright Powell
Commissioned:	17 January 1914
Decommissioned:	c. April 1914
Recommissioned:	25 May 1915
Renamed:	DD-47, 1 July 1933
Decommissioned:	23 February 1921
Struck:	8 March 1935
Fate:	scrapped after 23 April 1935
General characteristics
Class & type:	Aylwin-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,036 long tons (1,053 t)
Length:	305 ft 3 in (93.04 m)
Beam:	30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
Draft:	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Propulsion:	2 × screw propellers 2 × direct-drive steam turbines, 16,000 shp (12,000 kW) 4 × boilers
Speed:	29.5 knots (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)
Complement:	89 officers and enlisted
Armament:	4 × 4 in (100 mm)/50 cal gun 8 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes (4x2) 8 × torpedoes 2 x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns

USS Aylwin (Destroyer No. 47/DD-47) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of John Cushing Aylwin, a U.S. Navy officer killed in action aboard Constitution during the War of 1812.

Aylwin was laid down by William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia in March 1912 and launched in November. The ship was a little more than 305 ft (93 m) in length, just over 30 ft (9.1 m) abeam, and had a standard displacement of 1,036 long tons (1,053 t). She was armed with four 4 in (100 mm) guns and had eight 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes. Aylwin was powered by a pair of steam turbines that propelled her at up to 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)

Aylwin failed to make her contracted speed of 29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h) in builder's trials in August 1913, but was eventually accepted by the U.S. Navy and commissioned in January 1914. On 6 April, two sailors onboard Aylwin died when she suffered an explosion in her No. 1 fire room. Out of commission while repairs were made, Aylwin was recommissioned in May 1915 and joined the Atlantic Fleet. In October 1916, she was one of several U.S. destroyers sent to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine U-53 off the Lightship Nantucket.

After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Aylwin conducted experiments with Reginald Fessenden until January 1918. She was then sent overseas to conduct anti-submarine patrols from Queenstown, Ireland, and Plymouth. In December, she accompanied light cruiser Chester on an inspection tour of German Baltic ports. Upon returning to the United States at the end of June 1919, Aylwin was placed in reserve. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in February 1921. In July 1933 she dropped her name, becoming known only as DD-47. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in March 1935 and ordered scrapped in April.