Клемсон классының эсминеці «Конверс»

Clemson class destroyer

USS Converse (DD 291) was a built for the United States Navy during World War I.

The Clemson class was a repeat of the preceding although more fuel capacity was added. The ships displaced at standard load and at deep load. They had an overall length of 314 feet (96 m), a beam of 30 feet (9 m) and a draught of 10 feet (3 m). They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men. Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. The Clemson class was powered by two steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of intended to reach a speed of The ships carried a maximum of of fuel oil which was intended gave them a range of at
The ships were armed with four 4 inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts and were fitted with two 1 pounder guns for anti aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1 pounders caused them to be replaced by 3 inch (76 mm) guns. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedo battery of a dozen 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair of depth charge rails. A "Y gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.

Converse named for George A. Converse, was launched 28 November 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts; sponsored by Miss E. C. Colt; commissioned 28 April 1920 and reported to the Atlantic Fleet. Converse was placed in reserve status 11 June 1920 operating in New England waters with 50 percent of her complement on training cruises for members of the Naval Reserve. After testing the Arma gyro compass, Converse operated from 15 November 1921 with Scouting Fleet. Returned to full commission 1 July 1922, she cruised on the east coast and in Caribbean waters. Converse sailed from Newport, Rhode Island 18 June 1924 to join U. S. Naval Forces in European Waters, visiting Antwerp, Amsterdam, Cherbourg and Southampton before returning to New York 16 July 1925. In 1926 and 1927 Converse again served as training ship for the Naval Reserve making two cruises each summer to Newport and the Caribbean. From 23 February 1927 she tested the Flettner rudder during her cruising. In 1928 Converse was designated as Experimental Ship, Scouting Fleet. She made test runs for the Bureau of Engineering in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, then fired experimental torpedoes at Newport and Charleston, South Carolina. She rejoined her squadron at Norfolk, Virginia 4 January 1929 for regular operations until decommissioned at Philadelphia 1 May 1930. She was sold 17 January 1931 to be scrapped in accordance with the London Naval Treaty which called for the limitation and reduction of naval armaments.