On September 14, 1936, USS Farragut (DD-348) was photographed underway during naval maneuvers staged for Movietone News off San Diego, California. The lead ship of her class, Farragut was among the first new U.S. destroyers built after a long post–World War I pause in destroyer construction, representing an important step toward a more modern fleet.
Fast, seaworthy, and armed for both surface action and air defense, Farragut reflected the interwar Navy’s shift away from the aging “flush-deck” destroyers of the First World War. In the image, her streamlined hull and high-speed wake convey the mobility and offensive role expected of fleet destroyers in the Pacific.
The 1936 exercise also captured Farragut in the era before the United States entered World War II. She later survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, served across major Pacific campaigns—including the Coral Sea and Guadalcanal operations—and earned 14 battle stars for her wartime service.
Image via Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Navy photograph, public domain.
