The USS Putnam (DD-287) was a Clemson-class destroyer constructed for the United States Navy shortly after World War I. Laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Squantum, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1919, she was launched on September 30, 1919, and commissioned at Boston on December 18, 1919. The vessel measured typical Clemson-class specifications, including a length of approximately 314 feet, a beam of about 30 feet, and a standard displacement around 1,290 tons. Putnam's early service involved shakedown training out of Boston, after which she was assigned to Division 43, Squadron 3, Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet. Her initial operations included target practice at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and observation duties during a period of political unrest in Tampico, Mexico, in 1920. She participated in various training cruises, fleet exercises, and gunnery drills throughout the early 1920s, often operating in Caribbean and Haitian waters. Notably, Putnam engaged in experimental torpedo duty at Newport and contributed to the search for the wreck of USS S-51 in 1925. Throughout her service, Putnam frequently rotated between active duty and reserve status, reflecting the Navy's peacetime operations. Her activities included fleet maneuvers, torpedo exercises, and gunnery drills, primarily in the Caribbean, Haitian, and Panama Canal zones. She also took part in Fleet Problem maneuvers, such as Fleet Problem II in late 1927 and Fleet Problem IX in 1929, which were significant for testing fleet tactics and coordination. Decommissioned at Philadelphia on September 21, 1929, and struck from the Navy List the following October, the USS Putnam was sold on January 17, 1931. She was subsequently converted into the MV Teapa, acquired by the Army to resupply Corregidor during the early years of World War II. The USS Putnam's service reflects the typical peacetime operations of Clemson-class destroyers, emphasizing training, fleet exercises, and experimental duties, contributing to the development of naval tactics during the interwar period.

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