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  SS Matagalpa (USS Osborne DD-295)
USN
Cargo

Formally
Clemson class destroyer

1,247 Tons
314' 4" x 30' 11" x 9' 10"


Click For Enlargement
Grover prewar
Ship History
Laid down September 23, 1919 at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts. Launched December 29, 1919. Commissioned 17 May 1920 with Lieutenant Dennis L. Ryan in command.

Departed Boston, Massachusetts 25 June to join DesRon 3, Atlantic Fleet. The limited coastal operations of 1920 were supplemented by 2 months of fleet exercises and battle problems off Cuba during the first quarter of 1921. Whether operating out of Charleston, South Carolina, her normal base of operations, or out of the Brooklyn NY or Philadelphia Navy Yards Osborne regularly steamed southward early each year for these competitive exercises and large scale tactical maneuvers. Next, commanded by Raymond A. Spruance, USS Osborne steamed from Boston June 18, 1925 on a year long cruise in the western half of the Mediterranean Sea and western European coast.

Returning to Philadelphia Navy Yard on September 20, 1929 and decommissioned May 1, 1930 with her crew transferring to USS Taylor (DD–94). In accordance with the agreements reached at the London Naval Disarmament Conference of 1930, she was struck from the Navy List October 22, 1930 and sold for scrap 17 January 1931.

Rather than being scrapped, the ship was sold to Standard Fruit Company and converted to a commercial cargo ship at New Orleans. The four destroyers were: USS Dale (DD-290) renamed SS Masaya, USS Putnmam (DD-287), USS Worden (DD-288) and USS Osborne renamed SS Matagalpa.

Wartime History
At the start of World War II, requisitioned as a US Army. Converted to armed transports at New Orleans, then departed for the Pacific. On June 26, 1942 burned at Sydney. Afterwards, the ship was not repaired.

Fate
On September 6, 1947 the damaged ship was scuttled off Sydney.

References
Matagalpa Australia @ War

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Last Updated
September 26, 2021

 

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