John Francis Burnes DD- 299

John Francis Burnes

(DD-299: dp. 1,100, 1. 314'5", b. 31'8", dr. 9'3", s. 35
k.; cpl. 95; a. 4 4", 1 3", 12 21" tt.; cl. (11einson)

John Francis Burnes (DD-299), formerly Swasey was laid down 4 July 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbutiding Corp., San Francisco, Calif.; launched 10 November 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Julius Kahn; and commissioned 1 Mag 1920, Comdr. Frank N. Eklund in command.

Following shakedown and training exercises during the summer of 1920, John Frances Burnes engaged in neet maneuvers during October. These exercises were designed to maintain the superior navy demanded by America's position as a world power. For the next 2 years she continued tactical exercises along the California coast, operating out of San Diego, her home port. She sailed 6 February 1923 for exercises off Mexico and the Canal Zone.

Following her return in April, John Francis Burnes operated out of California for 2 years with the exception of fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean in early 1924. One year later she participated in joint Army-Navy maneuvers out of San Francisco before joining fleet operations in Hawaii 27 April 1925. The destroyer then cruised with a large force in the Pacific, visiting Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand before returning to San Diego in September.

For the next 3 years she engaged in training operations and fleet maneuvers along the West Coast, developing the techniques of modern naval narfare which the Navy used so effectively in World War II. During the summers of 1928 and 1929, John Francis Burne, again helped to shape the Navy's future as she engaged in reserve training cruises to develop skilled reserves against the unknu\vll day of need ahead. John Francis Burnes arrived San Diego 28 August 1929 and remained there until she decommissioned 25 February 1930. She was sold as scrap metal 10 June 1931 in accordance with the London Treaty for the limitation of naval armaments.