USS Badger (DD-126)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Badger.

History
United States
Namesake:	Oscar C. Badger
Builder:	New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey
Cost:	$1,438,598.93 (hull and machinery)
Laid down:	9 January 1918
Launched:	24 August 1918
Commissioned:	29 May 1919 to May 1922 January 1930 to 20 July 1945
Struck:	13 August 1945
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, 30 November 1945
General characteristics
Class & type:	Wickes-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,211 tons
Length:	314 ft 5 in (95.83 m)
Beam:	31 ft 8 in (9.65 m)
Draft:	9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Speed:	35 knots (65 km/h)
Complement:	136 officers and enlisted
Armament:	4 × 4 in (102 mm), 2 × 3 in (76 mm), 12 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Badger (DD–126) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Commodore Oscar C. Badger.

Badger was launched 24 August 1918 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bryan, granddaughter of Commodore Badger; commissioned 29 May 1919, Commander Q. T. Swasey in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

Service history

Following commissioning, Badger steamed to the Mediterranean where she cruised until August 1919. Upon her return to the east coast, she was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at San Diego in September. She served at various naval bases on the west coast until May 1922, when she was placed out of commission.

Upon recommissioning in January 1930, Badger served with the Battle Force and Scouting Force in the Pacific. In April 1933, she returned to the Atlantic and thereafter participated in coastal cruises and reserve training. During 1938 to 1939, she operated with Special Squadron 4 based at Villefranche, France. Upon her return to Norfolk, she joined Destroyer Division 53, Patrol Force with additional summer assignments to the Midshipmen Coastal Cruise Detachment.

From Mach to April 1941, Badger was refitted to better equip the ship for escort duties. The ship's gun armament and two sets of torpedo tubes were removed, replaced by six 3"/50 caliber dual purpose guns. Two triple torpedo tube mounts were retained, and an improved anti-submarine armament of 24 depth charges was fitted.

World War II

Between December 1941 and October 1944, Badger operated as a convoy escort in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Twice she escorted convoys to North Africa (15 October – 28 November 1943 and 15 February – 24 March 1944), and for a brief period (27 June – 1 September 1943) she served as a unit of anti-submarine hunter killer groups 21.12 and 21.16.

In October 1944, Badger transited the Panama Canal and conducted anti submarine training off Balboa, Canal Zone. Between 15 November 1944 and 20 June 1945, Badger served with the Anti-Submarine Development Detachment, Port Everglades, Florida, conducting anti-submarine development exercises. She arrived at Philadelphia 22 June 1945 and was decommissioned 20 July. She was sold 30 November 1945.

Awards

Badger received one battle star while operating with TG 21.12.

Convoys escorted

Convoy	Escort Group	Dates	Notes
ON 26		20-29 Oct 1941	33 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
HX 159		10-19 Nov 1941	32 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war
ON 39		29 Nov-4 Dec 1941	35 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
HX 166		21-31 Dec 1941	33 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
ON 53		9-19 Jan 1942	26 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland
HX 174		9-17 Feb 1942	27 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
SC 71		5 March 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 77		11–14 April 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 79		21 April 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 91		1–5 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 81		5 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 83		17 May 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 85		7 June 1942	Iceland shuttle
HX 194		22 June 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 89		29 June 1942	Iceland shuttle
ON 112		14–17 July 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 91		19 July 1942	Iceland shuttle
HX 212	MOEF group A3	23 Oct-1 Nov 1942	from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland; 5 ships torpedoed & sunk
ON 145	MOEF group A3	10-18 Nov 1942	from Northern Ireland to Iceland; 3 ships torpedoed (1 sank)
ON 144		19-22 Nov 1942	Iceland shuttle
SC 111	MOEF group A3	2-16 Dec 1942	20 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 156	MOEF group A3	24 Dec 1942-8 Jan 1943	19 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
UGS 11		14–19 July 1943	59 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
UGS 15	Support Group with USS Core	27 August-2 September 1943	50 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
UGS 21	Support Group with USS Block Island	15–18 October 1943	67 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
GUS 20	Support Group with USS Block Island	13–14 November 1943	78 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean Sea to Chesapeake Bay
UGS 23	Support Group with USS Block Island	14–19 November 1943	51 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea
GUS 32		7–23 March 1944	91 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean Sea to Chesapeake Bay

Source

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• NavSource Online:Destroyer Photo Index DD-126 USS BADGER. Verified availability 03-06-2005.