Paul Jones Class Destroyers

The Paul Jones class destroyers were a sub-group of the Bainbridge class and were similar to the basic design, but with an increase in displacement.

In 1898 Congress authorised the construction of sixteen torpedo boat destroyers. Thirteen were built as the Bainbridge class and three as the Truxtun class. The Bainbridge class is normally subdivided into a series of sub-classes, linked to the different ship builders used.

USS Paul Jones (DD-10),
Guaymas Mexico, 1915

USS Preble (DD-12)
off Guaymas, Mexico,
26 December 1915

The basis Bainbridge class ships (DD-1 to DD-5) had a raised forecastle deck and four funnels in two groups. One 3in gun was carried on top of the bridge structure, the other on a raised platform behind the rear funnel. One 18in torpedo tube was carried between the funnels and the other at the rear of the ship.

The three ships of the Paul Jones class were built by the Union Iron Works. They had the same layout as the basic Bainbridge class ships and used the same Thornycroft boilers. They were almost the same size, but their standard displacement was 480t, 60t more than on the basic Bainbridge class ships.

Thornycroft Water Tube Boiler, Paul Jones Class Destroyers

USS Perry (DD-11) at Puget Sound Dry Dock

Paul Jones class destroyer engines

During their service careers they had their two single torpedo tube mountings replaced by a single twin mounting. The significantly lighter Hopkins class ships were give two twin mountings, suggesting that weight was a problem on the Paul Jones class ships.

USS Paul Jones (DD-10) served in the Pacific Fleet before the First World War. After the American entry into the war she operated off the US East Coast.

USS Perry (DD-11) also served in the Pacific Fleet. During the First World War she guarded the Panama Canal and then operated in the Florida Keys.

USS Preble (DD-12) also served in the Pacific Fleet. During the First World War she escorted convoys along the US east coast.

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