The USS Jacob Jones (Destroyer No. 61/DD-61) was a Tucker-class destroyer constructed for the United States Navy prior to World War I. Laid down on August 3, 1914, by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey, and launched on May 29, 1915, the vessel measured approximately 315 feet 3 inches (96.09 meters) in length and 30 feet 6 inches (9.30 meters) abeam, with a draft of 9 feet 8 inches (2.95 meters). It displaced about 1,060 long tons (1,080 metric tons) normally, rising to 1,205 long tons (1,224 metric tons) when fully loaded. Powered by two Curtis steam turbines generating 17,000 shaft horsepower, Jacob Jones could reach speeds up to 30 knots (56 km/h). Its armament comprised four 4-inch (102 mm)/50 caliber guns and eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, with provisions for anti-aircraft guns and mine-laying capabilities, though it is unclear if these were fully implemented. Commissioned on February 10, 1916, under Lieutenant Commander William S. Pye, USS Jacob Jones initially conducted patrols off New England. After the U.S. entered WWI in April 1917, she was deployed overseas, patrolling the Irish Sea from Queenstown, Ireland. Notably, she rescued survivors from several sunken ships, including over 300 from the armed merchant cruiser Orama. The vessel’s service ended on December 6, 1917, when she was torpedoed and sunk by German U-53 while returning from Brest, France. The attack occurred at approximately 16:20, after a torpedo struck her rudder, causing her to go adrift. Despite efforts to launch life rafts and rescue survivors, Jacob Jones sank in just eight minutes, resulting in the loss of 66 men. She was the first U.S. Navy destroyer lost to enemy action. The wreck was located off the Isles of Scilly at a depth of 377 feet (115 meters) in August 2022, and her ship’s bell was recovered and transferred to U.S. custody in 2024. Throughout her brief but active service, USS Jacob Jones played a significant role in early U.S. naval efforts during WWI, especially in convoy escort and rescue operations, marking her as an important vessel in maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.