The USS McDougal (Destroyer No. 54/DD-54) was an O'Brien-class destroyer constructed for the United States Navy in the early 1910s, representing an improved design over earlier classes. Built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, she was laid down on July 29, 1913, and launched on April 22, 1914. The vessel measured approximately 305 feet 6 inches (93.12 meters) in length and had a beam of just over 31 feet (9.4 meters). Her standard displacement was about 1,020 long tons (1,040 metric tons), increasing to 1,171 long tons (1,190 metric tons) when fully loaded. McDougal was powered by two Zoelly steam turbines driving her two screw propellers, supplemented by a triple-expansion steam engine for cruising, and fueled by four oil-burning White-Forster boilers. During trials, she achieved speeds exceeding her design goal, reaching up to 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h). Armament consisted of four 4-inch (102 mm) guns and eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, making her well-equipped for fleet combat and anti-submarine operations. She carried a complement suitable for her wartime missions, which included patrolling, escorting convoys, and rescue duties. Commissioned on June 16, 1914, McDougal initially operated off the East Coast and in the Caribbean, performing maneuvers and neutrality patrols. Notably, she participated in rescuing survivors from ships sunk by the German U-53 submarine in October 1916. After the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, McDougal was among the first American destroyers deployed to European waters, based out of Queenstown, Ireland. There, she conducted patrols, convoy escort duties, and anti-submarine patrols, notably engaging in a probable attack on a German U-boat in September 1917. A collision in February 1918 with a British cargo ship required repairs that kept her out of service until July. Following the war, McDougal returned to the U.S., where she participated in Atlantic Fleet operations until she was placed in reserve in 1919. She was briefly reactivated in 1921 before decommissioning in May 1922. Transferred to the Coast Guard in June 1924, she served as USCGC McDougal (CG-6) during Prohibition, enforcing the "Rum Patrol" until 1933. She was returned to the Navy, renamed DD-54, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1934, ultimately being sold for scrapping. The USS McDougal's service highlights her as a versatile vessel engaged in early 20th-century naval operations, anti-submarine warfare, and law enforcement roles.

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