The USS Badger (DD–126) was a Wickes-class destroyer built for the United States Navy, launched on August 24, 1918, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. She was sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bryan, granddaughter of Commodore Oscar C. Badger, after whom she was named. Commissioned on May 29, 1919, Badger initially joined the Atlantic Fleet and soon embarked on a cruise to the Mediterranean, remaining there until August 1919. Following her Mediterranean service, she returned to the U.S. East Coast and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, arriving in San Diego in September 1919. She served along the West Coast until her decommissioning in May 1922. Recommissioned in January 1930, Badger rejoined the Battle Force and Scouting Force in the Pacific, later returning to the Atlantic in April 1933 for coastal cruises and reserve training. During 1938-1939, she operated with Special Squadron 4 based at Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. Upon returning to Norfolk, Virginia, she joined Destroyer Division 53 and participated in various patrols and training exercises, including summer cruises with Midshipmen. Prior to World War II, from March to April 1941, Badger was refitted for escort duties, with her armament modified to include six 3"/50 caliber dual-purpose guns, two triple torpedo mounts, and 24 depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. With the U.S. entry into WWII, she primarily served as a convoy escort in the Atlantic and Caribbean, conducting missions to North Africa in 1943 and 1944. She also participated in anti-submarine hunter-killer groups during 1943. In late 1944, Badger transited the Panama Canal for anti-submarine training in the Gulf of Panama and later contributed to anti-submarine development exercises at Port Everglades, Florida, until June 1945. She was decommissioned on July 20, 1945, and sold for scrapping later that year. Throughout her service, Badger earned a battle star for her participation in Task Group 21.12 in 1943, reflecting her active role in convoy protection and anti-submarine operations during World War II.

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