Paulding (Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 22) runs trials.
GENERAL INFORMATION1

Length: 293' 10" overall.

Beam: 26' 11" or 27' extreme.

Displacement: 742 long tons normal.

Draft: 9' 6" to 10' 11" maximum.

Propulsion machinery: direct drive or geared turbines; 12,000 shp; 2 or 3 shafts.

Designed speed: 29.5 to 30 knots.

Designed complement: 86 officers and enlisted.

ARMAMENT2

Torpedo battery: 6 x 18-inch torpedo tubes in three trainable twin mounts.

Gun battery: 5 x 3-inch/50 caliber rapid fire guns in single pedestal mounts.

In fiscal years 1909, 1910 and 1911, Congress authorized ten, five and six additional destroyers respectively. The three builders of the Smith classBath, New York Shipbuilding and Cramp—participated in the program. Newport News Shipbuilding and Bethlehem’s Fore River yard joined them.

Hull dimensions and gun armament were the same as the Smith design but there were other changes. Twin torpedo tubes replaced singles. Oil firing replaced coal firing. Propulsion was provided by different combinations of reciprocating engines and cruising turbines. Horsepower was increased. The Cramp and Newport News ships had three stacks.

Keels for each year’s authorized ships were laid before the end of that same calendar year; all 21 ships were delivered in 1910–12.


1 Bureau of Construction and Repair’s General Information book for USS Paulding.
2 Bauer and Roberts.