USS McCawley (DD-276)

The first USS McCawley (DD-276) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Colonel Charles McCawley.

McCawley was laid down 5 November 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 14 June 1919; sponsored by Miss Eleanor Laurie McCawley, granddaughter of Colonel McCawley; and commissioned 22 September 1919, Lieutenant (junior grade) H. E. Haynes, in command.

Following an east coast fitting out and shakedown period, McCawley sailed for San Diego, California where she joined Destroyer Squadron 2, later DesRon 4, Pacific Fleet. She participated in local exercises off the west coast until she decommissioned at San Diego 7 June 1922.

On 27 September 1923, McCawley recommissioned and was again assigned to the Pacific Fleet. For the next 6 years she operated there, taking part in various fleet problems in addition to local and squadron training exercises. With two exceptions, during 1924 and 1927 when she steamed to the Caribbean for fleet problems, she spent the entire period in operations along the west coast, from San Diego to Puget Sound, and in Hawaiian waters.

McCawley, designated for deactivation under the terms of the London Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armament, decommissioned at San Diego 1 April 1930. Her name was struck from the Navy list, 13 August 1930, and her hulk was scrapped and sold at auction 2 September 1931.