View source for USS James K. Paulding

{{Short description|Clemson-class destroyer}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS James K. Paulding (DD-238) at anchor in the early 1920s.jpg|300px|USS James K. Paulding (DD-238) at anchor in the early 1920s]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1931}}
|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=[[James Kirke Paulding]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[New York Shipbuilding]]
|Ship laid down=31 July 1918 
|Ship launched=20 April 1920
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=29 November 1920
|Ship decommissioned=10 February 1931 
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=25 January 1937
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap, 16 March 1939
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= [[Clemson class destroyer|''Clemson''-class]] [[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=1,190 tons
|Ship length={{convert|314|ft|5|in|mm}}
|Ship beam={{convert|31|ft|8|in|mm}}
|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|3|in|mm}}
|Ship propulsion=*26,500&nbsp;shp (20&nbsp;MW);
*geared turbines,
*2 screws
|Ship speed={{convert|35|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|4,900|nmi|km|abbr=off}}
*&nbsp;@ 15 [[knot (unit)|kt]]
|Ship complement=101 officers and enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=4 x [[4"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] guns, 1 x [[3"/23 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] gun, 2 x .30 cal. (7.62 mm), 12 x [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] tt.
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''James K. Paulding'' (DD-238)''' was a [[Clemson class destroyer|''Clemson''-class]] [[destroyer]] in the [[United States Navy]] during the period between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. She was named for former [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[James Kirke Paulding]].

==History==
''James K. Paulding'' was laid down 31 July 1918 and launched 20 April 1920 by [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]]; sponsored by Miss Mary Hubbard Paulding, great granddaughter of James K. Paulding; and commissioned 29 November 1920.

After shakedown ''James K. Paulding'' was assigned to the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]], and commenced tactical exercises with destroyer squadrons along the coast. She arrived at [[Newport, Rhode Island]], 31 May 1921 for summer maneuvers and reserve training. Later that year she cruised to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], for squadron exercises, and continued operations there until late winter 1922.

''James K. Paulding'' joined the [[Scouting Fleet]] January 1923 and throughout the year engaged in tactical war problems designed to maintain the fleet in the best possible fighting condition. She continued these operations in addition to reserve training until she sailed in February 1925 to [[San Diego, California]] for war problems in the [[Pacific]]. Upon her return to Newport 31 August, she resumed her duties with the Scouting Fleet. While engaging in gunnery exercises in Caribbean waters November 1926, ''James K. Paulding'' sailed to [[Nicaragua]] to protect American interests in the wake of political turmoil in that country. During March and April 1927 she remained off Nicaragua to prevent any smuggling of arms.

For the remainder of her career ''James K. Paulding'' continued reserve training and tactical exercises in the Atlantic and [[Caribbean]]. During her service with the Navy she conducted peacekeeping operations, reserve training, and fleet problems all to maintain the United States' seapower, and provided a base upon which more powerful naval forces were built.

==Fate==
The destroyer arrived at The [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]] 31 October 1930, and decommissioned there 10 February 1931. She was reduced to a hulk 28 December 1936 in accordance with the provisions of the [[London Naval Treaty|London treaty for the limitation and reduction of naval armament]], scrapped, and struck from the Navy List 25 January 1937.

As of 2005, no other ship of the US Navy has been named ''James K. Paulding''. [[USS Paulding (DD-22)|USS ''Paulding'' (DD-22)]] was named for [[Hiram Paulding]].

==References==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/james-k-paulding-dd-238.html}}

==External links==
*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/238.htm

{{Clemson class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:James K. Paulding (DD-238)}}
[[Category:Clemson-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation]]
[[Category:1920 ships]]