USS Satterlee (DD-190)

USS "Satterlee" (DD-190) was a "Clemson"-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS "Belmont".

As USS "Satterlee"

The first Navy ship named for Captain Charles Satterlee USCG (1875–1918), "Satterlee" was laid down on 10 July 1918 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia; launched on 21 December 1918; sponsored by Miss Rebecca E. Satterlee, niece of Captain Satterlee; and commissioned on 23 December 1919, Commander Reed M. Fawell in command.

"Satterlee" joined her destroyer flotilla at Manzanillo, Cuba, on 27 January 1920 and conducted training in the Caribbean until 26 April. After repairs and trials, she rejoined the flotilla at Newport, Rhode Island, on 11 June. She was present at the America's Cup races off New York City between 9 and 26 July 1920, and visited Miami from 2 to 28 August before resuming training off Newport. The destroyer joined the Atlantic Fleet at Guantanamo Bay on 10 January 1921 and participated in fleet maneuvers until 24 April. She then resumed training and upkeep along the Atlantic coast until she was decommissioned on 11 July 1922 and placed in reserve at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

With war breaking out in both Europe and the Far East, "Satterlee" was recommissioned at Philadelphia on 18 December 1939, Lt. Comdr. H. R. Demarest in command, and assigned to duty on Neutrality Patrol. She arrived in the Caribbean on 2 February 1940 for patrol duty and training. The ship departed the Caribbean on 15 April, and underwent overhaul at Norfolk, Virginia from 19 April to 5 July. She then operated along the east coast until decommissioned on 8 October 1940.

As HMS "Belmont"

"Satterlee" was transferred to the United Kingdom on the same day and served the Royal Navy as HMS "Belmont", one of fifty old American destroyers exchanged for bases in British Colonies in the western Atlantic.

HMS "Belmont" was commissioned on 8 October 1940 and arrived at Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 24 October. She joined the 3d Escort Group in the Western Approaches Command and conducted escorting duty for Atlantic convoys, broken only for repairs of collision damage between March and July 1941.Whilst under the command of Lt. Cdr. G. B. O. Harding RN on 31 January 1942, she was struck by a single torpedo south of Newfoundland in position 42º02'N, 57º18'W, and sunk with the loss of all hands by a U-boat (U-82 - Lt. Cdr. Rollmann) while escorting a Canadian troop convoy (NA.2) to the United Kingdom.

The names of her crew are commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial at Southsea Common, Southsea, Hampshire, UK

See also

*List of United States Navy destroyers

References

*DANFS|http://history.navy.mil/danfs/s6/satterlee-i.htm

External links

* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/s6/satterlee-i.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Satterlee"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/190.htm navsource.org: USS "Satterlee"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd190txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Satterlee"]