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The Shakedown Training Voyage of the USS Hugh Purvis

This vibrant and illustrative map on canvas commemorates the Mediterranean cruise of the USS Purvis (DD-709). It captures the journey and highlights the various ports of call visited during the cruise, serving as a keepsake for those who participated.

On the verso of the canvas, an artist has used the blank canvas to paint a rendition of one of the iconic images from Paul Cézanne's famed The Card Players.

The map is titled "The Mediterranean Cruise" and is bordered with a decorative banner, emphasizing its commemorative purpose. It encompasses the entire Mediterranean Sea region, detailing numerous countries and their significant cities, landmarks, and cultural symbols.  The ship conducted its shakedown training voyage in the Mediterranean in 1945.  It next visited the Mediterranean between March and October of 1951 and again in November 1966 until 1967.  Based upon the tradition of this type of map, we suspect the this map was most likely made in conjunction with its initial shakedown training voyage in 1945.   

Highlighted locations include Spain with Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, and Cadiz; France with Paris, Marseille, and Cannes; Italy with Rome, Naples, and Palermo; Greece with Athens and Salonika; and Turkey with Ankara and Istanbul. Yugoslavia is represented with Belgrade and Sarajevo, and the U.S.S.R. is indicated by the hammer and sickle symbol. Egypt features Cairo and Port Said, while other regions like Cyprus, Algeria (Algiers), Tunisia, and the Black Sea are also noted.

The map is adorned with cultural and historical icons representing each country, such as the Eiffel Tower for France, the Colosseum for Italy, and the Parthenon for Greece. A vignette of Neptune and various maritime symbols, including sailing ships and naval insignias, reflect the nautical theme. A large American flag compass rose is prominently displayed, symbolizing the voyage's navigation and the ship's American heritage.

A dedicated section reads, "Know Ye All that served in the USS Purvis (DD-709) and participated in the Mediterranean Cruise from: [space for date] commanding officer [signature space]." Below this text, an illustration of the USS Purvis is depicted, sailing proudly, symbolizing the ship's journey and service. The map also features the emblem of the United States Navy, highlighting the official and celebratory nature of the cruise.

The USS Purvis (DD-709) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned on May 1, 1945. Named after Lieutenant Commander George Purvis, who was killed in action during World War II, the USS Purvis served in various capacities during its operational life. After her commissioning, she was deployed to the Western Pacific, participating in post-World War II occupation duties, and patrolling the waters around Japan and China. Throughout the Cold War, the USS Purvis played a significant role in naval operations, including anti-submarine warfare exercises and providing naval gunfire support. She was also active in the Mediterranean, conducting numerous cruises and representing American naval presence in the region. The ship was decommissioned in 1972, having served the Navy with distinction for nearly three decades.  She was then transferred to Turkey and served until 1993 as TCG Zafer (D356). The ship was scrapped in 1994.