USS Ward Photo Gallery - Construction to Mothballs

- Unless otherwise noticed images are courtesy US Navy Historical Website -

Construction

A Navy band winds its way through Mare Island Naval Shipyard in a parade to celebrate the keel laying of the Destroyer Ward, a special event for a special ship! (NARA)

List of Mare Island ship builders selected to work on Ward's construction. (NARA)

14th day of construction, USS Ward takes shape quickly! She was launched three and a half days later (Photo has date captioned wrong)

Rivit gang, Mare Island Ways No. 2, May 20, 1918. Signs read, "Mare Island expects every man to do his damndest" and "Don't waste one minute. Make every lick count. Uncle Sam needs this destroyer." (NARA)

Damaged photo showing an aft view of Ward on the 12th day of construction, May 27th. Chalk lettering on the superstructure denotes the different sub-assemblies that were built ahead of time to speed Ward's construction.

Whoop 'er Up, Boys! May 28, 1018, thirteen's work. A Navy band gathers at Ward's bow as workers take a break. Ward's deck is a mass of construction equipment and hoses. (NARA)

14th day of construction, USS Ward takes shape quickly! Her prop guards are being worked on in this view of the stern. She was launched three and a half days later (Photo has date captioned wrong)

Builders of the Destroyer Ward gather below her bow before she is launched, as she sets a record for the fastest-built warship in the US Navy. (Original photo was developed with over-exposed areas) (NARA)

Commemerative ship's wheel in the wheelhouse following launching and completion. Lettering reads,
"U.S.S. Ward Navy Yard Mare Island
Keel Laid May 15, 1918. Launched June 1, 1918. Completed September 1, 1918.(NARA)

USS Ward on her speed trials in 1918, making about 25 knots here.

USS Ward near Mare Island on September 19, 1918. (NARA)

USS Ward in September 1918, shortly after her comissioning.

World War One to Mothballs

Cruising off of the East coast on February 1919.

USS Ward at dock on the east coast in late 1918 or early 1919.

USS Ward is in the background, to the right of USS Meade, in this photo taken in 1920 in San Diego.

Officers and sailors of Ward on August 14, 1920. This is a crop of a photo of the officers & sailors of Destroyer Division (DESDIV) 17; the full picture is here.
USS Ward and other destroyers of DESDIV 17 tied up alongside each other in San Diego Harbor, probably on August 14, 1920.

Another shot, more bow-on, of DESDIV 17. From right to left is DD-138 USS Kennison, DD-140 USS Claxton, DD-139 USS Ward, DD-136 USS Boggs, and DD-141 USS Hamilton.

Mothballed

USS Ward as part of "Red Lead Row" at San Diego Destroyer Base, California, 1922. Ward is the eighth ship from the right in the middle row. If you don't want to count you can see her outline here.

USS Ward is to the left of the screen in this shot, but it shows what "Red Lead Row" looked like.

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Construction
	A Navy band winds its way through Mare Island Naval Shipyard in a parade to celebrate the keel laying of the Destroyer Ward, a special event for a special ship! (NARA)
	List of Mare Island ship builders selected to work on Ward's construction. (NARA)
	14th day of construction, USS Ward takes shape quickly! She was launched three and a half days later (Photo has date captioned wrong)
	Rivit gang, Mare Island Ways No. 2, May 20, 1918. Signs read, "Mare Island expects every man to do his damndest" and "Don't waste one minute. Make every lick count. Uncle Sam needs this destroyer." (NARA)
	Damaged photo showing an aft view of Ward on the 12th day of construction, May 27th. Chalk lettering on the superstructure denotes the different sub-assemblies that were built ahead of time to speed Ward's construction.
	Whoop 'er Up, Boys! May 28, 1018, thirteen's work. A Navy band gathers at Ward's bow as workers take a break. Ward's deck is a mass of construction equipment and hoses. (NARA)
	14th day of construction, USS Ward takes shape quickly! Her prop guards are being worked on in this view of the stern. She was launched three and a half days later (Photo has date captioned wrong)
	Builders of the Destroyer Ward gather below her bow before she is launched, as she sets a record for the fastest-built warship in the US Navy. (Original photo was developed with over-exposed areas) (NARA)
	Commemerative ship's wheel in the wheelhouse following launching and completion. Lettering reads, "U.S.S. Ward Navy Yard Mare Island Keel Laid May 15, 1918. Launched June 1, 1918. Completed September 1, 1918.(NARA)
	USS Ward on her speed trials in 1918, making about 25 knots here.
	USS Ward near Mare Island on September 19, 1918. (NARA)
	USS Ward in September 1918, shortly after her comissioning.
World War One to Mothballs
	Cruising off of the East coast on February 1919.
	USS Ward at dock on the east coast in late 1918 or early 1919.
	USS Ward is in the background, to the right of USS Meade, in this photo taken in 1920 in San Diego.
	Officers and sailors of Ward on August 14, 1920. This is a crop of a photo of the officers & sailors of Destroyer Division (DESDIV) 17; the full picture is here.
	USS Ward and other destroyers of DESDIV 17 tied up alongside each other in San Diego Harbor, probably on August 14, 1920.
	Another shot, more bow-on, of DESDIV 17. From right to left is DD-138 USS Kennison, DD-140 USS Claxton, DD-139 USS Ward, DD-136 USS Boggs, and DD-141 USS Hamilton.

Mothballed
	USS Ward as part of "Red Lead Row" at San Diego Destroyer Base, California, 1922. Ward is the eighth ship from the right in the middle row. If you don't want to count you can see her outline here.
	USS Ward is to the left of the screen in this shot, but it shows what "Red Lead Row" looked like.


Back to the Gallery index or Forward to the WWII Gallery.