USS Turner ( DD - 259 ) The first USS " Turner " ( DD - 259 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in commission in the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922 . She served in a non - commissioned status as the water lighter YW - 56 from 1936 to 1943 , and was in commission as a miscellaneous auxiliary , the second USS " Moosehead " ( IX - 98 ) , from 1943 to 1946 . As " Turner " . Named for Daniel Turner , she was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , Quincy , Massachusetts , 19 December 1918 and launched 17 May 1919 ; sponsored by Mrs . Leigh C . Palmer ; and commissioned at Boston 24 September 1919 , Lieutenant Commander M . L . Hersey , Jr . , in command . After duty along the east and west coasts , " Turner " decommissioned at San Diego , California , 7 June 1922 , and she was placed in reserve . Her name was struck from the Navy list 5 August 1936 . Conversion to YW - 56 . On 28 September 1936 the fourstack destroyer was authorized for conversion to a self - propelled water barge . Converted at San Diego , California in October , she reclassified to YW - 56 and began operations in the San Diego area . The water lighter was assigned to the 11th Naval District 17 October 1940 , and in May 1942 she was given additional duty as a ferry between San Diego and San Clemente Island . As " Moosehead " . YW - 56 was renamed " Moosehead " , the second U . S . Navy ship of that name , and reclassified IX - 98 on 13 February 1943 . Following installation of sonar and radar equipment , she commissioned at San Diego 5 April 1943 , Lt . D . J . Spahr in command . She reported for duty with the Operational Training Command , Pacific Fleet , 11 April , and on 23 April she became flagship of Rear Admiral Frank A . Braisted , COTCPac . During the remaining years of World War II " Moosehead " operated out of San Diego . Between May 1943 and December 1944 " Moosehead " made an average of 11 round trips a month to San Clemente Island carrying passengers , mail , and cargo for the 11th Naval District . From August 1944 until early in 1945 she towed targets for battleship s , cruiser s , and destroyers and served as a torpedo target for destroyers and torpedo planes . In addition she screened battleships and cruisers during training exercises . " Moosehead " carried out her most important service as an at - sea platform for training officers and men of Combat Information Center crews . She carried the latest radar and sonar equipment as well as a CIC classroom and berthing facilities . In July 1943 she began training CIC crews of escort carriers . During the next two and a half years she trained CIC teams for all escort carrier s of the " Casablanca " and " Commencement Bay " classes . Early in 1944 she broadened the scope of her training to include CIC teams from APA ’ s , AKA ’ s , DE ’ s , AD ’ s , and PCE ’ s . In addition , she served as a test and evaluation ship for experimental rockets , radar equipment , and radio jamming devices . Although " Moosehead " operated along the coast of southern California during her entire career under that name , she steamed more than 100 , 000 miles and trained more than 4 , 200 officers and men . Following the end of World War II , she continued training duty as flagship for commander , Training Command , West Coast . On 24 December 1945 she reported to the 11th Naval District for disposal . Fate . She decommissioned at San Diego 19 March 1946 , and her name was struck from the Navy list 17 April . She was released to the Maritime Commission 20 February 1947 and sold the same day to Hugo Neu for scrapping .