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Contact Info
Home Town Camden, New Jersey
Date of Passing Nov 30, 1926
Location of Interment Alexandria National Cemetery (VA) - Alexandria, Virginia
Commander Lloyd Woolsey Townsend, U.S.N. Died while on Active duty, November 1926
Awarded the Navy Cross for action during WWI
NAVY CROSS awarded for service during WWI. Lieut. Comdr. L.W. Townsend, U.S.N.
For distinguished service in the line of his profession as flag lieutenant, communication officer, engineer officer and aid, in charge of target practice on the staff of the commander of the train, U.S.S. Vestal (flagship), U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
He also received a SPECIAL LETTER OF COMMENDATION from the Secretary of the Navy for his service during World War I.
Other Comments:
LLOYD WOOLSEY TOWNSEND, midshipman, appointed from Atlantic City, N.J. on September 10, 1901, graduating class USNA 1906. Registered on the June 1916 Register of Graduates - United States Naval Academy Graduates' Association.
1st TORPEDO FLOTILLA / ASIATIC FLEET: Philippine–American War (1899–1913).
USS BAINBRIDGE DD-1 and BARRY DD-2. ENS Lloyd Woolsey TOWNSEND in command: May 6 1909 - April 4 1910, and April 4 1910 - Feb 11 1911. Returned from Asiatic Squadron 1911: Cavite, Philippines, Military and Naval Forces.
Commander Lloyd Woolsey Townsend was assigned to Naval Operations from 31 August 1925 until 24 June 1926. He died while on active duty on 30 November 1926, age 44.
There are at least two published listings from January and April 1926, Office of Naval Intelligence, which list L.W. Townsend with the rank of Captain, USN.
NEC 111X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare
Base, Station or City Not Specified
State/Country Not Specified
Patch
USS Georgia (BB-15) Details
Virginia Class Battleship: Displacement 14,948 Tons, Dimensions, 441' 3" (oa) x 76' 3" x 26' (Max). Armament 4 x 12"/40 8 x 8"/40, 12 x 6"/50 12 x 3"/50, 4 21" tt. Armor, 11" Belt, 12" Turrets, 3" Decks, 9" Conning Tower. Machinery, 19,000 IHP; 2 vertical, inverted, triple expansion engines, 2 screws. Speed, 19 Knots, Crew 812.
The following analysis is by historian Chuck Haberlein, formerly of the Naval Historical Center:
According to "Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990" (by Stephen S. Roberts & K. Jack Bauer), three of the BB-13 class had their names changed on 7 March 1901 (before any of them were laid down).Battleship # 13 was originally named New Jersey. Battleship # 14 was originally to be Pennsylvania, and Battleship # 16 was to be Virginia. After the renamings, Virginia and New Jersey had swapped places, Nebraska (originally intended for Armored Cruiser # 4) swapped ships with Pennsylvania. Again, according to that book: "The construction of the first two ships (ie BBs 13 & 14) was delayed because of Congressional limitations on the price that could be paid for armor plate and because of lengthy debates within the navy on the arrangement of the guns" (presumably the superposed 8"/12" turrets). (my comments are in parentheses). Same book's Armored Cruiser # 4 class entry states: "The refusal of manufacturers to sell armor within the price limits set by Congress delayed the ships' construction." Both classes (BB-13 & ACR-4) were originally authorized in Fiscal Year 1900, but the first of them were not laid down until 7 August 1901 (Pennsylvania, as Armored Cruiser # 4) and 31 August 1901 (Georgia, as Battleship # 15). It looks to me like there may have been some political log rolling involved in the renamings. PERHAPS (this is purely a guess) some Pennsylvania politicos wanted "their" name on a ship ASAP, so it was given to the first available keel. Then again, maybe builder location had something to do with it. Cramp built Armored Cruiser # 4, while none of the Virginia class battleships were built in Pennsylvania.
Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath Maine, August 31 1901. Launched October 11 1904. Commissioned September 24 1906. Decommissioned July 15 1920. Stricken July 12 1922.
Fate: Sold November 1 1923 and broken up for scrap.
