The USS Somers - A Clemson Class Destroyer

USS Somers (Destroyer # 301, later DD-301), 1920-1931
USS Somers, a 1190-ton Clemson class destroyer, was built at San Francisco, California. Commissioned in June 1920, a few weeks later she was given the hull number DD-301. Following a brief period of active service that ended in October 1920, she was in reserve status. In March 1922 Somers resumed fleet duties, undertaking a steady program of exercises and training that lasted for the rest of the decade. During a transit from San Francisco to San Diego on 8 September 1923, she was lightly damaged when seven of her companion destroyers were wrecked in the Honda Point disaster.

Somers mainly served along the West Coast for the rest of her career, but several times went to the East Coast, Caribbean, Hawaii and Panama areas for major U.S. Fleet maneuvers. In July-September 1925, during the inter-war Battle Fleet's longest cruise, she crossed the Pacific to visit Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa. USS Somers was decommissioned in April 1930 and scrapped at the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1930-31.

This Article Courtesy of the Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center