USS Sloat (DD-316)

USS Sloat (DD-316) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy, commissioned in 1921 and decommissioned in 1930. Named for Commodore John Drake Sloat, a naval officer who played a key role in the annexation of California during the Mexican-American War, Sloat served primarily in the Pacific Fleet.

After commissioning on December 19, 1921, USS Sloat operated along the West Coast of the United States and in Hawaiian waters. Her service was largely routine, consisting of fleet exercises, training cruises, and patrol duties. Sloat participated in various tactical exercises designed to improve the Navy's readiness and operational capabilities.

Due to the limitations imposed by the London Naval Treaty of 1930, which aimed to limit naval armaments and reduce the size of navies worldwide, USS Sloat was decommissioned on January 31, 1930. Her name was struck from the Navy list shortly thereafter, and she was subsequently scrapped. While her service life was relatively short, USS Sloat represents a part of the interwar period in U.S. naval history, reflecting the Navy's efforts to maintain a presence in the Pacific while facing budgetary and treaty-related constraints.