From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	7 December 1918
Commissioned:	5 June 1919
Decommissioned:	5 December 1946
Fate:	sold 23 May 1946
Struck:
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,215 tons
Length:	314 feet 4 inches (95.81 m)
Beam:	31 feet 8 inches (9.65 m)
Draught:	9 feet 10 inches (3 m)
Propulsion:	geared turbines
Speed:	35 knots (65 km/h)
Complement:	130 officers and enlisted
Armament:	4 × 4" (102 mm), 1 × 3" (76 mm), 12 × 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes

The second USS Ballard (DD-267/AVD-10) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Edward J. Ballard.

Ballard (DD-267) was launched 7 December 1918 by Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts; sponsored by Miss Eloise Ballard; commissioned 5 June 1919, Lieutenant Commander H. M. Collier in command, and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

Between July 1919 and July 1920 Ballard cruised to various ports in Europe and the Mediterranean. She returned to the United States in July 1920 and served for a time with the Atlantic Fleet. She then proceeded to the Pacific where she carried out type training and participated in fleet maneuvers until placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 17 June 1922.

On 25 June 1940 Ballard was placed in commission in ordinary and was towed to Union Yard of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, San Francisco, California, for conversion to an auxiliary seaplane tender (reclassified AVD-10, 2 August 1940). She was placed in full commission 2 January 1941 and reported to Aircraft, Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet.

With the entrance of the United States into World War II, Ballard steamed to Pearl Harbor where she arrived 28 January l942. until November 1943 she was engaged in tending patrol planes, laying aircraft buoys, escorting convoys, and patrolling throughout the Eastern Pacific (Phoenix, Midway, Fiji, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Florida, and New Caledonia). Returning to San Francisco 7 November, she completed repairs 30 December 1943 and then acted as a plane guard during Carrier qualification operations, off San Diego, until May 1944.

Between 15 June and 3 July 1944 she participated in the Saipan operation, laying aircraft buoys, and tending the first patrol squadron to operate from the area. Next, she performed patrol duties during the seizure of the Palau Islands (12 September – 11 December 1944).

In late December 1944 she began another stateside yard period, at Seattle, Washington. Upon completion of repairs, she was once again assigned to plane guard duties, operating out of San Diego until 1 October 1945. Ballard arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 26 October 1945 to commence pre-inactivation overhaul. She was decommissioned 5 December 1946 and sold 23 May 1946.

Ballard received two battle stars for her service during World War II.

See USS Ballard for other ships of this name.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.