Editing Wickes-class destroyer (section)

=== In U.S. service ===
A few ''Wickes'' class were completed in time for service in World War I, some with the battle fleet, some on [[U-boat Campaign (World War I)|convoy escort]] duty; none were lost. {{USS|DeLong|DD-129|2}} ran aground in 1921; {{USS|Woolsey|DD-77|2}} sank after a collision in 1921.

Many ''Wickes''-class destroyers were converted to other uses, starting as early as 1920, when 14 were converted to light [[minelayer]]s ([[hull classification symbol]] DM). Six of these were scrapped in 1932, and replaced by five additional conversions. Another four were converted to auxiliaries or transports at that time. Four ''Wickes''-class DM conversions and four ''Clemson''-class DM conversions survived to serve in World War II.<ref name="SilverstoneII"/> During the 1930s, 23 more were scrapped, sold off, or sunk as targets. This was mostly due to a blanket replacement of 61 Yarrow-boilered destroyers 1930–31, as these boilers wore out quickly in service. Flush-deckers in reserve were commissioned as replacements.<ref>[http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/ DestroyerHistory.org Flush-decker page, retrieved 16 Oct 2013]</ref>

Starting in 1940, many of the remaining ships were also converted. Sixteen were converted to [[high-speed transport]]s with the designation APD. Eight were converted to destroyer [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] (DMS). Most ships remaining in service during World War II were rearmed with dual-purpose [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on|0}}/50 caliber gun]]s for better anti-aircraft protection. The AVD [[seaplane tender]] conversions received two guns; the APD transport, DM minelayer, and DMS minesweeper conversions received three guns, and those retaining destroyer classification received six.<ref name="SilverstoneII">{{cite book | title=U.S. Warships of World War II | publisher=Doubleday and Company | author=Silverstone, Paul H. | year=1968 | pages=112, 212, 215, 276, 303}}</ref> Half of the torpedo tubes were removed in those retained as destroyers; all torpedoes were removed from the others. Nearly all had half the boilers removed, for increased fuel and range or to accommodate troops, reducing their speed to {{convert|25|kn}}.<ref name="SilverstoneII"/><ref name="Register"/>

The low-angle Mark 9 4-inch guns removed from these ships were transferred to [[defensively equipped merchant ships]] for anti-submarine protection.<ref>Campbell 1985 p.143</ref>

{{USS|Ward|DD-139|2}} had an eventful career. She was built in record time: her [[keel]] was laid on 15 May 1918, launched only 17 days later on 1 June 1918, and commissioned 54 days after that on 24 July 1918. She is credited with firing the first US shots of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] on 7 December 1941, sinking a [[Imperial Japanese Navy|Japanese]] [[midget submarine]] with gunfire before the air attack started. The sinking was uncertain until the submarine's wreck was discovered in 2002. As the high-speed transport APD-16, she was damaged beyond repair by a ''[[kamikaze]]'' attack on 7 December 1944, and was sunk after abandoning ship by gunfire from the destroyer {{USS|O'Brien|DD-725|2}}, commanded at the time by ''Ward''{{'}}s former CO from the Pearl Harbor attack.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/ward.html DANFS entry for USS ''Ward'' (DD-139)]</ref>

Thirteen ''Wickes'' class were lost during World War II in U.S. service. The remainder were scrapped between 1945 and 1947.