USS Hale ( DD - 133 ) The first USS " Hale " ( DD – 133 ) was a " Wickes " class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I , later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS " Caldwell " ( I20 ) . She was named for Senator Eugene Hale . United States Navy . " Hale " was launched by the Bath Iron Works , Bath , Maine , 29 May 1919 ; sponsored by Miss Mary Hale , granddaughter of Senator Hale ; and commissioned at Boston 12 June 1919 , Comdr . Allan S . Farquhar in command . " Hale " joined Destroyer Squadron 3 , U . S . Atlantic Fleet , and after training exercises departed 11 July 1919 for Europe . On this cruise , the ship paid goodwill visits to European and Mediterranean ports , assisted in the execution of the Austrian Armistice in October , and joined the American detachment in Turkish waters . " Hale " then carried refugees , relief officials , and freight between the ports of Greece , Bulgaria , and Russia , showing the flag in the vital Mediterranean and Balkan area . She returned to Philadelphia 31 March 1920 and resumed her schedule of training and development exercises along the Eastern Coast . " Hale " decommissioned at Philadelphia 22 June 1922 and remained in reserve until 1 May 1930 , when she re - commissioned . Departing Philadelphia 15 May , " Hale " took part in refresher training operations and then resumed readiness exercises on the East Coast . She participated in Scouting Fleet maneuvers in early 1931 in the Caribbean , and arrived at San Diego via the Panama Canal 4 April 1931 . For the next few years " Hale " participated in maneuvers with the Battle Force along the California coast and spent much time perfecting the techniques of modern carrier tactics with carriers " Saratoga " and " Lexington " . The destroyer decommissioned once more at San Diego 9 April 1937 . " Hale " recommissioned at San Diego 30 September 1939 , at a time of mounting crisis in both oceans , and departed 25 November for Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean . Her base was changed to Galveston 22 February 1940 , and later to Key West , but the ship continued to patrol the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico . At Philadelphia 1 September 1940 she prepared for transfer to Great Britain as a part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement . She arrived at Halifax 6 September 1940 and decommissioned 3 days later . Entering the Royal Navy , she became HMS " Caldwell " ( I20 ) . Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy . During her career in the British Navy , " Caldwell " was assigned to escort duty in the Atlantic and later in the Caribbean , as Britain tried desperately to cope with the German U - boat menace . She joined the Royal Canadian Navy in mid - 1942 , and while returning to St . John ' s , Newfoundland , 18 December 1942 , was seriously damaged during a heavy gale . She became disabled , and was found drifting helplessly by " Wanderer " 21 December . " Caldwell " was then towed to St . John ' s and later to Boston . Ready for sea again in May 1943 , the ship resumed convoy duty with the Royal Canadian Navy until 1 December , when she returned to Tyne and was placed in reserve . She was recommissioned briefly as the " Yarkey Sabar " before broken up for scrap in September 1944 .