SWASEY DD 273

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Clemson Class Destroyer
Keel Laid 27 August 1918 - Launched 7 May 1919


1. USS SWASEY Destroyer No. 273
   Commissioned 8 August 1919
   
   
2. USS SWASEY DD-273
   Designated (DD) 17 July 1920 - Decommissioned 10 June 1922
   Recommissioned 18 December 1939 - Decommissioned 26 November 1940
   
   Struck from Naval Register 8 January 1941
   
   
3. HMS ROCKINGHAM G-58 (British Naval Service)
   Transferred to Great Britain 26 November 1940
   Struck mine 27 September 1944 30 miles southeast of Aberdeen and sank while under tow

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Swasey DD-273 Covers Page 1    (1939-1940)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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2nd Commissioning 18 December 1939 to 26 November 1940

 

Locy Type FDC REC'D USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-R1

1939-12-18

First Day in Commission

 

Locy Type FDPS 3(A-BTT) "FIRST MAIL / SERVICE"

1940-02-21

First Day of Postal Service

 

Locy Type FDPS 9x

1940-02-21

First Day of Postal Service, cachet by Tazewell G. Nicholson. Courtesy of the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type 3 (A-BTT) "BROOKLYN / N.Y."

1940-09-26

Note:

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Lieutenant Charles H. Swasey, USN (21 June 1839 - 4 October 1862)
Charles Swasey, born in Massachusetts, was appointed midshipman on 28 September 1854 and commissioned lieutenant on 31 August 1861. Lieutenant Swasey served aboard VARUNA in the engagement with the steamer Governor Moore below New Orleans on 24 April 1862 and as executive officer of SCIOTA on the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Lieutenant Swasey was wounded during an engagement with Confederate forces near Donaldsville, La., on 4 October 1862 and died the same day.

Two ships of the US Navy have been named in his honor - USS Swasey DD-273 and USS Swasey DE-248.

 

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