The ships of the 11th Destroyer Squadron 11 / DESRON 11 under the leadership of the squadron commander , Captain Edward H. Watson, were en route from San Francisco to San Diego in California . The squadron consisted of 14 ships, all of which belonged to the Clemson class and were younger than five years. Watson was on the destroyer USS Delphy (DD-261) , which led the line.
At 9:00 p.m., the ships turned east on a course of 095 ° in order to head for the Santa Barbara Channel. The navigation was based on coupling . Although the Delphy had a radio direction finding device , this new technology was not trusted and the bearings were thought to be faulty. Sounding of the water depth was also dispensed with because it would have had to reduce the speed and because the ships were carrying out exercises under war conditions.
led the association, which drove in a line one behind the other. After changing course to the east, she ran aground at 20 knots. She immediately warned the other ships with her siren, which gave them an opportunity to react. Three men died on the Delphy .
tore her hull on an underwater rock; the rapidly penetrating water caused her to capsize to starboard (right) in a few minutes . Twenty men were killed.
Woodbury (DD309)
Union Iron Works
February 6, 1919
10/20/1920
dodged to starboard, but ran onto a rock in front of it.
Nicholas (DD311)
Union Iron Works
May 1, 1919
11/23/1920
also ran onto the rocks after a port turn.
Fuller (DD297)
Union Iron Works
December 5, 1918
02/28/1920
ran up next to Woodbury .
Chauncey (DD296)
Union Iron Works
09/29/1918
06/25/1919
tried to save sailors who were sitting on the capsized Young . She ran aground herself and got lost.
Seven accidental destroyers
The accrued and broken Delphy
literature
Anthony Preston, Randal Gray (eds.): Conway's All the World Fighting Ships 1906-1921 . Conway Maritime Press Ltd, London 1985, ISBN 0-85177-245-5 .