The USS Yarnall (DD-143) was a Wickes-class destroyer built for the United States Navy during World War I. Laid down on February 12, 1918, by William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Company in Philadelphia, she was launched on June 19, 1918, and commissioned on November 29, 1918, under the command of Commander William F. Halsey, Jr. Her physical specifications reflect the typical Wickes-class design, featuring a sleek, fast hull intended for fleet screening and patrol duties. Initially, Yarnall served briefly with U.S. naval forces in France in 1919, before being reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, operating out of San Diego. She was part of Destroyer Flotilla 5, later redesignated Division 13, and was slated for service on the Asiatic station, though she returned from the Far East in 1921. She was decommissioned at San Diego in May 1922 and entered reserve. Reactivated in April 1930, Yarnall was recommissioned and operated along both the west and east coasts of the United States, serving with the Battle Fleet Destroyer Squadrons and the Scouting Force. By December 1936, she was again placed out of commission at Philadelphia. With the onset of World War II, she was recommissioned in October 1939 as part of FDR’s efforts to bolster the Atlantic Squadron. She patrolled the Neutrality Patrol out of Norfolk until early 1940. In October 1940, Yarnall was transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the destroyers-for-bases agreement, renamed HMS Lincoln (G42), and moved to Belfast. She was modified for convoy escort duties, removing some armament to increase depth charge and Hedgehog launcher capacity. She subsequently served with the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Lincoln, operating along the Newfoundland coast and in Canadian waters during 1941–1943, often escorting troop and cargo convoys. In August 1944, she was transferred to the Soviet Navy and renamed Druzhny. Her career in Soviet service remains uncertain, with some sources suggesting she was cannibalized for parts or used actively until 1944, and later returned to Britain for scrapping in 1952. Throughout her service life, Yarnall exemplified the adaptability and international cooperation of wartime naval assets, serving prominently in multiple navies across two World Wars.

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