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Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, February 2016
Richard Delphy was appointed Midshipman 18 May 1809 and served with distinction in United States during the engagement with HMS Macedonian 25 October 1812. He was killed in the action in which Argus triumphed over HMS Pelican 14 August 1813.
Disposition:
Ran aground on Point Auguello, Calif. On 09/08/23 with six other destroyers. Hulk sold on 10/19/25.
The USS DELPHY (DD-261), was the first destroyer of the CLEMSON Class and the first launched by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at its new Squantum yard in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was laid down on 20 April 1918 and commissioned on 30 November that year. Soon afterward, she was put to work testing submarine detection devices at New London, Connecticut. She had a brief diversion on New Year’s Day 1919 when she went to the rescue of survivors of the troop ship USS NORTHERN PACIFIC that had run aground off Fire Island, New York. She continued to operate in that vicinity until transferred to the West Coast.
From July 1921 until March 1922, the DELPHY was stationed in San Diego where she underwent her first overhaul. As the flagship of Destroyer Squadron 11, she put to sea for fleet exercises off Balboa, Canal Zone, in February 1923. On her return to San Diego she was engaged in torpedo experiments until June, when she and her squadron got underway for Washington and maneuvers with the fleet in the Northern Pacific.
On the morning of 8 September 1923, the DELPHY was at the head of her squadron of 14 destroyers as they returned home from the maneuvers. The DELPHY never made it. She led her column into a fog bank off California’s Point Pedernales and drove onto the rocks off Honda Point. The site, north of Point Arguello, is the location of today’s Vandenberg Air Force Base. The six other DDs — S. P. LEE (DD-310), YOUNG (DD-312), WOODBURY (DD-309), NICHOLAS (DD-311), FULLER (DD-297) and CHAUNCEY (DD-296) — followed in quick succession. They and three other ships scraped the rocks but were able to back off without serious damage.
The DELPHY, however, was trapped against the face of the cliff. She took a beating that eventually broke her in two, leaving her stern submerged. Three of her crew were killed and fifteen were injured in the collision. The destroyer was decommissioned on 26 October 1923, then, salvaged and sold for scrap on 19 October 1925.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, February 2016
Delphy (Destroyer No. 261) was launched 18 July 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Squantum, Mass.; sponsored by Mrs. W. S. Sims, wife of Rear Admiral Sims; and commissioned 30 November 1918, Commander R. A. Dawes in command.
Before joining the Atlantic Fleet Delphy tested submarine detection devices at New London from 23 to 31 December 1918 and aided survivors from Northern Pacific, stranded off Fire Island, N.Y., on New Year’s Day, 1919. Delphy sailed from New York 13 January for winter maneuvers and torpedo practice in the Caribbean. Returning to New York 14* April with the Fleet, she sailed for Boston on the last day of the month for operations in preparation for the first transatlantic seaplane flight.
Delphy sailed 19 November 1919 from Boston for the west coast, arriving at San Diego 22 December. She joined Destroyer Squadrons, Pacific Fleet, at San Diego for torpedo practice and recovery until placed in reserve 12 June. Delphy jay at San Diego until 27 December when she sailed with the other ships of Reserve Destroyer Division for Bremerton, Wash., arriving 4 January 1921 for an extended overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard.
Between 22 July 1921 and 20 March 1922 Delphy operated from San Diego with 50 percent of her complement, then was overhauled. She cruised with the Battle Fleet for exercises off Balboa from 6 February to 11 April 1923, then carried out experiments with torpedoes off San Diego. On 25 June she got underway with Destroyer Division 31 for a cruise to Washington for summer maneuvers with the Battle Fleet on the return passage. Delphy was the leading destroyer of seven which were stranded on the rocks of the California coast near Point Pedernales in inclement weather on 8 September. Delphy crashed broadside and broke in half, her stern below the surface, suffering three dead and 15 injured. She was decommissioned as of 26 October 1923, and sold as a wreck 19 October 1925.
