Editing O'Brien-class destroyer (section)

==Ships in class==
All six members of the class served in the Atlantic or Caribbean throughout their U.S. Navy careers.<ref name=DANFS-all_six>[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]. [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cushing-destroyer-no-55-ii.html "''Cushing''"], [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/ericsson-ii.html "''Ericsson''"], [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mcdougal-i.html "''McDougal''"], [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nicholson-ii.html "''Nicholson''"], [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-51-ii.html "''O'Brien''"], [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/winslow-ii.html "''Winslow''"]. ''[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]'' (''DANFS''). Retrieved on 18 January 2015.</ref> In October 1916, with the United States still neutral in [[World War I]], five of the six class members (all except ''Nicholson'') were among the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five ships torpedoed by the German submarine {{SMU|U-53||2}} off the [[Lightship Nantucket]].<ref name=NYT-U53>{{cite news | title = Newport aroused by U-boat's raid | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/09/301915432.pdf | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 9 October 1916 | page = 2 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | format=PDF}}</ref><ref name=NYT-Levy>{{cite news | last = Levy | first = Nathan | title = United States sailor describes rescue of U-53's victims | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/22/119033188.pdf | work = The New York Times | date = 22 October 1916 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | page = X1 | format=PDF}}</ref>

After the United States entered the war in April 1917, all six class members were sent overseas to [[Queenstown, Ireland]], for convoy escort and anti-submarine duties.<ref name=DANFS-all_six /> ''McDougal'' was in the first group of six American destroyers that arrived at Queenstown on 4 May;<ref name=DANFS-McDougal>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mcdougal-i.html | title = McDougal | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> ''Ericsson'' and ''Winslow'' followed in the second group, which arrived thirteen days later,<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/ericsson-ii.html | title = Ericsson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref><ref name=DANFS-Winslow>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/winslow-ii.html | title = Winslow | access-date = 19 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> and ''Cushing'', ''Nicholson'', and ''O'Brien'' in the third group, a week after that.<ref name=DANFS-Tucker>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tucker-i.html | title = Tucker | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> Several of the ships had encounters with U-boats during the war: ''Nicholson'', working with {{USS|Fanning|DD-37|2}} in November 1917, helped to sink {{SMU|U-58||2}}, which was the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Navy;<ref name=Sweetman-124>Sweetman, p. 124.</ref> earlier, in June, ''O'Brien'' had depth-charged {{SMU|U-16|Germany|2}} and was thought by the [[British Admiralty]] to have seriously damaged the U-boat, but post-war analysis of records showed that ''U-16'' survived the attack and returned safely to port.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-51-ii.html | title = O'Brien | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref>

All six ships returned to the United States in January 1919 and served in various roles over the next two years. ''Cushing'' was decommissioned in August 1920, followed by ''Nicholson'' and ''McDougal'' in May 1922, and the remaining three in the following month.<ref name=DANFS-all_six /> In June 1924, two of the six ships—''Ericsson'' and ''McDougal''—were reactivated for service with the [[United States Coast Guard]]'s "[[Rum Patrol]]". ''Ericsson'' was returned to the U.S. Navy in May 1932, and ''McDougal'' in June 1933; both were sold for [[ship breaking|scrapping]] in 1934. ''O'Brien'' was sold for scrapping in 1935, and the remaining three in June 1936.<ref name=Bauer-171 />

=== USS ''O'Brien'' (DD-51) ===
[[File:USS O'Brien (DD-51) in dazzle camouflage, 1918.jpg|thumb|{{USS|O'Brien|DD-51|2}}, in [[dazzle camouflage]], escorting a convoy in 1918]]
{{main|USS O'Brien (DD-51)}}
USS ''O'Brien'' (Destroyer No. 51/DD-51) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] in September 1913 and launched in July 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[Jeremiah O'Brien]] and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis, and Joseph who, together on the sloop ''Unity'', captured a British warship during the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name=DANFS-OBrien />

After ''O'Brien''{{'}}s May 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]] and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''O'Brien'' was sent overseas to patrol the [[Irish Sea]] out of Queenstown, Ireland.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien />

After returning to the United States in January 1919, ''O'Brien'' returned to European waters in May to serve as one of the picket ships for the [[NC-4|NC-type]] [[seaplane]]s in the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic. ''O'Brien'' was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] in March 1935 sold for scrapping in April.<ref name=DANFS-OBrien />

=== USS ''Nicholson'' (DD-52) ===
[[File:USSNicholsonDD52.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Nicholson|DD-52|2}}]]
{{main|USS Nicholson (DD-52)}}
USS ''Nicholson'' (Destroyer No. 52/DD-52) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia in September 1913 and launched in August 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of five members of the Nicholson family who gave distinguished service in the American Revolutionary War, the [[War of 1812]], and the [[American Civil War]]: brothers [[James Nicholson (naval officer)|James]], [[Samuel Nicholson|Samuel]], and [[John Nicholson (naval officer)|John Nicholson]]; [[William Nicholson (naval officer)|William Nicholson]], son of John; and [[James W. Nicholson]], grandson of Samuel.<ref name=DANFS-Nicholson/>

After ''Nicholson''{{'}}s April 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Nicholson'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. In October 1917, ''Nicholson'' steamed to the rescue of {{SS|J. L. Luckenbach}}, driving off the German submarine {{SMU|U-62||2}}, which had shelled the American [[cargo ship]] for over three hours.<ref name=DANFS-Nicholson>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nicholson-ii.html | title = Nicholson | access-date = 18 January 2015 | link = off | short = on}}</ref> In November, ''Nicholson'' and another U.S. destroyer, ''Fanning'', were responsible for sinking the German submarine ''U-58'', the first submarine taken by U.S. forces during the war.<ref name=Sweetman-124 /> In September 1918, ''Nicholson'' helped drive off {{SMU|U-82||2}} after that [[U-boat]] had torpedoed the American troopship {{USS|Mount Vernon|ID-4508|2}} off the coast of France.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Nicholson'' was placed in reduced commission in November 1919. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in May 1922. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Nicholson />

=== USS ''Winslow'' (DD-53) ===
[[File:USSWinslowDD53.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Winslow|DD-53|2}} during trials in 1915]]
{{main|USS Winslow (DD-53)}}
USS ''Winslow'' (Destroyer No. 53/DD-53) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia in October 1913 and launched in February 1915. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[John Ancrum Winslow]], a U.S. Navy officer notable for sinking the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[commerce raider]] {{ship|CSS|Alabama}} during the American Civil War.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

After ''Winslow''{{'}}s August 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Winslow'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. ''Winslow'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Winslow'' was placed in reduced commission in December 1919. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. In November she dropped her name to free it for [[USS Winslow (DD-359)|a new destroyer of the same name]], becoming known only as ''DD-53''. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Winslow />

=== USS ''McDougal'' (DD-54) ===
[[File:USSMcDougalDD54.jpg|thumb|{{USS|McDougal |DD-54|2}} underway]]
{{main|USS McDougal (DD-54)}}
USS ''McDougal'' (Destroyer No. 54/DD-54) was laid down by Bath Iron Works of [[Bath, Maine]], in July 1913 and launched in April 1914. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[David McDougal|David Stockton McDougal]], a U.S. Navy officer notable for his leadership during an 1863 battle off Japan while in command of {{USS|Wyoming|1859|2}}.<ref name=DANFS-McDougal />

After ''McDougal''{{'}}s June 1914 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-McDougal /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916, and carried 6 crewmen from a sunken Dutch cargo ship to [[Newport, Rhode Island]].<ref name=NYT-Levy /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''McDougal'' was part of the first U.S. destroyer squadron sent overseas. Patrolling the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland, ''McDougal'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of ships sunk by the German craft. After a collision with a British cargo ship in February 1918, ''McDougal'' was under repair until mid-July, and afterwards, operated out of [[Brest, France]].<ref name=DANFS-McDougal />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''McDougal'' conducted operations with the destroyers of the [[United States Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] until August 1919, when she was placed in reserve, still in commission. After a brief stint of operations in mid 1921, she was placed in reserve until she was decommissioned at Philadelphia in May 1922. In June 1924, ''Ericsson'' was transferred to the United States Coast Guard to help enforce [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] as a part of the "Rum Patrol". She operated under the name USCGC ''McDougal'' (CG-6) until May 1933, when she was returned to the Navy. In November she dropped her name to free it for [[USS McDougal (DD-358)|a new destroyer of the same name]], becoming known only as ''DD-54''. She was struck for the Naval Vessel Register in July 1934 sold for scrapping in August.<ref name=DANFS-McDougal />

=== USS ''Cushing'' (DD-55) ===
[[File:USSCushingDD55.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Cushing|DD-55|2}} during trials in 1915]]
{{main|USS Cushing (DD-55)}}
USS ''Cushing'' (Destroyer No. 55/DD-55) was laid down by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company of [[Quincy, Massachusetts]], in September 1913 and launched in January 1915. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[William B. Cushing]], a U.S. Navy officer best known for sinking the Confederate [[ironclad warship]] {{ship|CSS|Albemarle}} during the American Civil War.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing/>

After ''Cushing''{{'}}s August 1915 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval History & Heritage Command | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cushing-destroyer-no-55-ii.html | title = Cushing | access-date = 18 January 2015| link = off | short = on}}</ref> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916.<ref name=NYT-U53 /> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Cushing'' was sent overseas to patrol the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland. ''Cushing'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Cushing'' was placed in reserve in reduced commission. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia in August 1920. She was struck for the Naval Vessel Register in January 1936 and was sold for scrapping in June.<ref name=DANFS-Cushing />

=== USS ''Ericsson'' (DD-56) ===
[[File:USSEricssonDD56.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Ericsson|DD-56|2}} in [[United States Coast Guard]] service, c. 1925–1930]]
{{main|USS Ericsson (DD-56)}}
USS ''Ericsson'' (Destroyer No. 56/DD-56) was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding of [[Camden, New Jersey]], in November 1913 and launched in August of the following year. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of [[John Ericsson]], the Swedish-born builder of the ironclad warship {{USS|Monitor}} during the American Civil War.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson />

After ''Ericsson''{{'}}s May 1916 commissioning, she sailed off the east coast and in the Caribbean.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson /> She was one of the U.S. destroyers sent out to rescue survivors from five victims of the German submarine ''U-53'' off the Lightship Nantucket in October 1916,<ref name=NYT-U53 /> and carried 81 passengers from a sunken British ocean liner to Newport, Rhode Island.<ref name=NYT-Six>{{cite news | title = Six of our ships see Stephano sunk | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/10/09/301915412.pdf | work = The New York Times | date = 9 October 1916 | access-date = 28 May 2009 | page = 1 | format=PDF}}</ref> After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, ''Ericsson'' was part of the first U.S. destroyer squadron sent overseas. Patrolling the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland, ''Ericsson'' made several unsuccessful attacks on U-boats, and rescued survivors of several ships sunk by the German craft.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson />

Upon returning to the United States after the war, ''Ericsson'' conducted operations with the destroyers of the Atlantic Fleet until August 1919, when she was placed in reserve, still in commission. After a brief stint of operations in mid 1921, she was placed in reserve until she was decommissioned at Philadelphia in June 1922. In June 1924, ''Ericsson'' was transferred to the United States Coast Guard to help enforce Prohibition as a part of the "Rum Patrol". She operated under the name USCGC ''Ericsson'' (CG-5) until May 1932, when she was returned to the Navy. She was sold for scrap in August 1934.<ref name=DANFS-Ericsson />