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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 103190  USS Luce at the Boston Navy Yard, circa spring 1921, after conversion to a minelayer

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Luce (Destroyer # 99, later DM-4), 1918-1936

USS Luce, a 1060-ton Little class destroyer, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. Commissioned in September 1918, she spent the rest of World War I on convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. During the months that followed the 11 November 1918 Armistice, Luce operated in the Adriatic, Aegean, eastern Mediterranean and Black seas. She returned to the United States in July 1919 and in March 1920 was reclassified as a light minelayer, being formally designated DM-4 in July of that year. Luce spent the next two years serving along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean. Decommissioned in June 1922, she was laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She briefly resumed commissioned service between March 1930 and January 1931. Following another five years in "red lead row", USS Luce was stricken from the list of Navy ships in January 1936 and sold for scrapping in September of that year.

USS Luce was named in honor of Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce (1827-1917), first Superintendent of the Naval War College and one of the late 19th Century Navy's most important professional leaders.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Luce (Destroyer # 99, later DD-99).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 100440

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Photographed in the Azores by St. Jacques, circa October 1918.
She is wearing "dazzle" camouflage.

Courtesy of Ted Stone, 1985.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 67577

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Photographed circa 1919-1920.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51450

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

At the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 28 November 1919.
Panoramic photograph by J. Crosby, Naval Photographer, 11 Portland St., Boston, Massachusetts.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 118KB; 1200 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103190

USS Luce
(DM-4, formerly DD-99)

At the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, circa spring 1921.
Photographed by H.J. Darley, 46 Water Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
This ship still wears her former destroyer bow number, but has had her torpedo tubes removed and replaced with mine tracks running along each side to the stern from just aft of Number Four Smokestack.
The original print bears a hand-written note referring to a Commandant, Boston Navy Yard letter of 11 May 1921.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 1200 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103075

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

View of the ship's forecastle, seen from her foremast, probably circa Fall 1918, soon after she was placed in commission.
Note her forward 4"/50 gun and anchor handling gear.
Photographed by Walton.
The original image is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 445 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43020

Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts


Destroyers on the building ways, 14 February 1918. They are (from left to right):
USS Murray (Destroyer # 97), launched 8 June 1918;
USS Luce (Destroyer # 99), launched 29 June 1918;
USS Stringham (Destroyer # 83), launched 30 March 1918; and
USS Dyer (Destroyer # 84), launched 13 April 1918.
Note the snowy and icy conditions outside the shipyard.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43021

Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts


Destroyers on the building ways, 19 March 1918. They are (from left to right):
USS Murray (Destroyer # 97), launched 8 June 1918;
USS Luce (Destroyer # 99), launched 29 June 1918;
USS Stringham (Destroyer # 83), launched 30 March 1918; and
USS Dyer (Destroyer # 84), launched 13 April 1918.
These ships had builder's hull numbers 303, 305, 278 and 279, respectively.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 162KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51446

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Entering the water, during her launching at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 29 June 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51447

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Afloat just after launching at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 29 June 1918.
The tug Dolphin is preparing to move Luce to an outfitting berth.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51448

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Just after launching at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 29 June 1918.
The tug Dolphin (seen from astern) and another tug are preparing to move Luce to an outfitting berth.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51449

USS Luce
(Destroyer # 99)

Alongside a wharf, just after her launching at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 29 June 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 28 February 2006
Link added 12 May 2006