Warship profile: USS Caldwell (DD-69)

The USS Caldwell was one of six Caldwell class destroyers constructed during World War I

The Caldwell class destroyers were a transition upgrade from the Samson class destroyers, they had a length of 315 feet and could reach speeds of up to 30 knots. The crews consisted of 95 men and 5 officers. Caldwell class destroyers were also among the first class of ship to introduce flush decks.

Armed with four 4-nch guns in single mounts and two 1 pounder AA guns along with four triple mounted torpedo tubes, the USS Caldwell began her career on the 10th of July in 1917. Her namesake was Lt James R. Caldwell, a United States officer who served in the Quasi-War from 1798 to 1800. He died in 1804 at the age of 24.

She joined the Atlantic Fleet and would take part in patrols and convoy escort duties. Caldwell would survive the war and transported troops to Brest,France and assisted with escorting US President Woodrow Wilson who was onboard the SS George Washington.

In Popular Culture

The Caldwell (with a horrible skin) in Steel Ocean

The Caldwell class destroyers appears in the free-to-play online naval game "Steel Ocean", the ship is playable right at the very start in Tier 1. It has good damage and accuracy on the guns and good reload speed for the torpedoes.

It's my favourite of the Tier 1 ships

Warship Profile: USS Chester (CL-1)

On the 26th of June 1907, the USS Chester was launched by Bath Iron Works in Maine before being commissioned on the 25th of April in 1908. Her name was in honor of Chester, Pennsylvania.

The USS Chester actually a fairly interesting career prior to her involvement in the First World War.  In early December of 1911, she patrolled the Gulf of Mexico protecting American citizens and property during the Mexican Revolution.

In April of 1912, she was in charge of escorting the HMS Carpathia after the Carpathia had picked up survivors of the sunken cruise liner, the Titanic.

She also ended up playing a vital role in the Revolution of Mexico, patrolling the Gulf of Mexico guarding US Citizens and property.

World War I

The USS Chester mostly served on patrols and escorting allied convoys between Gibraltar and Plymouth, England. This was until she came into contact with an enemy submarine, she charged the submarine in an attempt to ram it but only caused light damage to herself. However the submarine was unable to sink the Chester and slipped away.

The Chester would play a role in duties being carried out after the war's end, including inspection of German ports and carried troops operating in Northern Russia. She returned to New York on the 7th of May in 1919 before undergoing a name change to "York"

She would be sold for scrap in 1930.

In popular culture

The Chester is a playable ship in World of Warships, she is unlocked at Tier II and in my opinion is a very fun ship to play.