- USS Aulick (DD-258)
The second USS "Aulick" (DD-258) was a "Clemson"-class
destroyer in theUnited States Navy and transferred to theRoyal Navy where she served as HMS "Burnham" (H82) duringWorld War II .History
Named for
John H. Aulick , "Aulick" was laid down on3 December 1918 and launched on11 April 1919 by theBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs. Phillip J. Willett; and commissioned at theNew York Navy Yard on26 July 1919, Lieutenant Commander Lee P. Johnson in command.Following her shakedown cruise, "Aulick" proceeded to the west coast where she joined Destroyer Flotilla 10 of the Pacific Fleet. While operating along the
California coast, the vessel was given the designation DD-258 on17 July 1920 . "Aulick" continued to carry out routine fleet duties until she was decommissioned on27 May 1922 at theMare Island Navy Yard .After over 17 years laid up in reserve, the destroyer was recommissioned on
18 June 1939 atSan Diego, California . Upon her reactivation, "Aulick" returned to the east coast where she served until the fall of 1940. On8 October 1940 , "Aulick" was decommissioned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and transferred to the British under the agreement with theUnited Kingdom exchanging American destroyers for bases in the Atlantic. Her name was struck from the Navy list on8 December 1941 .As HMS "Burnham"
Renamed HMS "Burnham", the destroyer began escort duties with the British Navy in December 1940. In early 1941, "Burnham" began a series of escort voyages between Iceland and Newfoundland. "Burnham" was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original
4"/50 caliber gun s and three of the tripletorpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additionaldepth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog. [Lenton&Colledge (1968) pp.92-94] Throughout 1942 and 1943, "Burnham" worked mainly between Newfoundland andLondonderry Port ,Northern Ireland . "Burnham" was assigned to Escort Group C-2 of theMid-Ocean Escort Force for convoys ON-113, HX-201, ON-119, SC-97, ON-129 and SC-102 and then to Escort Group C-3 for convoys ON-152, HX-221, ON-163, HX-226, ON-172, SC-124, ON-180 and HX-238 during the winter of 1942-43 [Milner (1985) pp.287-9] In 1944, she was used on aircraft training duties in theWestern Approaches Command . "Burnham" was reduced to reserve atMilford Haven ,Wales , in November 1944. She was ultimately scrapped at Pembroke,England , in December1948 .Notes
References
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*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a14/aulick-i.htmExternal links
*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/258.htm
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