The USS Shaw (DD-68) was a Sampson-class destroyer built for the United States Navy during World War I. Laid down on February 7, 1916, at the Mare Island Navy Yard, she was launched on December 9, 1916, and commissioned on April 9, 1917. The vessel featured the typical characteristics of her class, designed for fleet screening, escort duties, and patrols, though specific dimensions are not detailed in the provided source. Following her commissioning, Shaw departed Mare Island on May 25, 1917, and arrived in New York on June 10, 1917, ready for service overseas. She quickly participated in wartime operations, escorting Group 4 of the Expeditionary Force from the U.S. to France. Her convoy journey included fueling at sea from a tanker and reaching Quiberon Bay, France, by July 1. She then moved to St. Nazaire and Cobh, Ireland, where she undertook patrol and convoy escort duties through the danger zones around Great Britain and Ireland, primarily protecting Allied and American shipping from German U-boat attacks. Shaw’s service included notable incidents such as responding to an SOS from the torpedoed American transport Covington in July 1918, though Covington had already been evacuated and sank later that day. She also experienced a submarine attack on a convoy ship in September 1918, which resulted in no damage. A significant event occurred on October 9, 1918, while escorting the RMS Aquitania. Shaw’s rudder jammed, causing her to steer directly toward the transport. Aquitania struck Shaw, cutting off 90 feet of her bow, damaging her bridge, and igniting fires. Despite the severe damage, her crew managed to control the situation, and a reduced crew of 21 men navigated her 40 miles back to port, with 12 crew members losing their lives in the accident. After the war, Shaw was repaired in Portsmouth, England, and returned to the U.S., arriving in June 1919. She was decommissioned on June 21, 1922, and later transferred to the Coast Guard for service in the Rum Patrol as CG-22. She was reinstated to the Navy in 1933, but her name was canceled later that year. Ultimately, she was struck from the naval register in July 1934 and sold for scrapping in August of that year. The USS Shaw's service highlights her active role in World War I convoy protection and her resilience in surviving a major collision.

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