Namesake William Kennison Reclassified AG-83, 1944 Weight 1,172 tons Launched 8 June 1918 Draft 2.74 m | Laid down 14 February 1918 Struck 5 December 1945 Construction started 14 February 1918 Displacement 1.047 million kg | |
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Commissioned 2 April 1919 to 22 June 1922
18 December 1939 to 21 November 1945 Fate Sold for scrapping, 18 November 1946 Builder Mare Island Naval Shipyard | ||
USS Kennison (DD–138) was a Wickes class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II, later redesignated AG-83. She was the first ship named for William Kennison.
Kennison was launched 8 June 1918 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Riner; and commissioned 2 April 1919, Commander R. P. Enrich in command.
Service history
Following completion, shakedown, and acceptance trials, Kennison arrived in San Diego, her home port, 25 March 1920. During the summer she engaged in experimental torpedo and antiaircraft exercises. The destroyer continued coastal operations and tactical exercises until 12 August 1921 when she put into San Diego with 50 percent complement. She decommissioned at San Diego 22 June 1922.
Recommissioned 18 December 1939, Lieutenant William Giers Michelet in command, Kennison joined the Neutrality Patrol out of San Diego 6 May 1940. From June to September she engaged in reserve training cruises before rejoining the Neutrality Patrol 14 October. The destroyer continued patrol operations along the West Coast until the United States entered World War II. As the war effort increased in early 1942, Kennison intensified her ASW operations including escort of convoys and submarines to various California ports until 22 September 1944 when she sailed for Bremerton to undergo conversion.
Redesignated AG-83, Kennison returned to San Diego 9 November 1944 to resume service. For the rest of the war she operated out of San Diego as a target ship for plane exercises with aerial torpedoes. These exercises provided invaluable training to Navy pilots preparing for combat. Following the war Kennison sailed for the East Coast, arriving Norfolk late October. She decommissioned 21 November 1945 at Portsmouth, Virginia. She was sold 18 November 1946 to Luria Brothers & Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and scrapped.
As of 2013, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name.