Jouett. US Naval War College Museum collection.
The first USS Jouett (Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 41) was laid down 7 March 1911 by Bath Iron Works, Ltd., Bath, Maine; launched 15 April 1912; sponsored by Miss Marylee Nally; and commissioned at Boston 24 May 1912, Lt. Comdr. W. P. Cronan in command.

Jouett joined the Atlantic Fleet Torpedo Flotilla and operated off the East Coast until early 1914, when events in Mexico threatened American interests and officials at Tampico arrested American sailors without cause. Jouett supported the landing of Marines at Vera Cruz 21 April 1914. Returning to the East Coast after this operation, she continued to carry out training maneuvers until the United States entered World War I in April 1917.

Jouett was assigned patrol in Delaware Bay in April 1917 and remained on that duty until sailing from New York on 8 August as an escort for five troopships bound for France. After returning from Europe, Jouett resumed patrolling until she arrived New London, Connecticut on 15 January 1918 for experimentation with antisubmarine detection devices. Completing this duty on 4 June 1918, the ship operated until the Armistice with a special antisubmarine group along the East Coast of the United States.

Following the war, Jouett conducted training exercises and fleet maneuvers until entering Philadelphia Navy Yard on 20 July 1919. She decommissioned 24 November 1919 and remained inactive until being loaned to the Coast Guard 23 April 1924 for use as a cutter. Returned to the Navy 22 May 1931 she was sold for scrap to Michael Flynn Inc., Brooklyn, New York.


Source: Naval History & Heritage Command including the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.