Early War USN Destroyers

Jameson · **Jameson**

Core stats for all classes available in December of 1941. "On hand" is what was commissioned by December of 1941.

*All destroyers listed have a speed of 2 and armor of 2-7-2 unless otherwise noted. Also, some "classes" are actually sub-classes to other "classes" and almost identical. I only refer to them separately here as that is how they were officially categorized by the Naval Bureau of Construction.

Clemson: Coming soon....

Wickes: Coming soon....

Farragut Class
8 on hand
Gunnery 4-4-3
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-1

Porter Class
8 on hand
Gunnery 6-5-5
AA 3
ASW 3
Torp 2-1

Mahan Class
16 on hand
Gunnery 4-4-4
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-2

Gridley Class
4 on hand
Gunnery 4-4-3
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-2-1

Somers Class
5 on hand
Gunnery 6-6-5
AA 3
ASW 3
Torp 2-2

Dunlap Class
2 on hand
Gunnery 4-4-3
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-2

Bagley Class
8 on hand
Gunnery 4-3-3
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-2-1

Benham Class
10 on hand
Gunnery 4-3-3
AA 4
ASW 3
Torp 2-2-1

Sims Class
12 on hand
Gunnery 4-4-4
AA 3
ASW 3
Torp 2-1

Benson Class
Coming soon....

Gleaves Class
Coming soon....
_________________

http://riversidegaming.myfastforum.org/

NeuralDream · **NeuralDream**

That's a great help, but can you also add their actual specs in brackets next to the stats. It will help with comparisons.
_________________

My new blog, specialised in the military equipment of Greece (1821-today).

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's some general info.

U.S Destroyers From Allen to Gearing

by Keith E. Allen

Fleet Destroyers
DD-66 Allen
DD-75 Wickes class
DD-186 Clemson class
DD-348 Farragut class
DD-356 Porter class
DD-364 Mahan class
DD-381 Somers class
DD-380 Gridley class
DD-384 Dunlap class
DD-386 Bagley class
DD-397 Benham class
DD-409 Sims class
DD-421 Benson class
DD-423 Gleaves class
DD-429 Livermore class
DD-453 Bristol class
DD-445 Fletcher class
DD-692 Allen M. Sumner class
DD-710 Gearing class

Destroyer Escorts
DE-5 Evarts class
DE-51 Buckley class
DE-224 Rudderow class
DE-99 Cannon class
DE-129 Edsall class
DE-339 John C. Butler class

In the course of World War II, the United States employed hundreds and hundreds of destroyers and destroyer escorts. The majority of these warships were buid during the war, including the entire run of destroyer escorts. Whereas destroyer production in the years of 1932 to 1939 had usually been on the order of a squadron per year, in other words eight ships, by the 1940s the dire threat of war had necessitated an increase in destroyer production. While at the Navy's storage facilities the old World War I-built "flushdecker" destroyers were demothballed and modernized, modified and renovated, the many yards that were capable of destroyer production built new warships many times as powerful as the "flushdeckers". These ships, which would serve as fleet escorts, as convoy escorts, as screening ships and patrol ships, as independent strike forces and gunfire support ships, as radar pickets and as submarine hunters, were certainly the most versatile element of the fleet.

Fast, powerful, of sleek lines and energetical appearence, the destroyer was a fairly new element of fleets, and had no direct antecedant. Where battleships traced their lineage to the ships-of-the-line of Nelson and DeRuyter, cruisers traced theirs to the frigates of the same ages, and submarines were found in both Revolutionary and Civil War Navies, there was nothing there resembling a destroyer. Only the advent of another vessel had led to the creation of the new class of ship. The advent of the torpedo boat, developed around the turn of the century, armed with self-propelled torpedoes capable of sinking even the heavily-armored battleships soon necessitated the development of a counter, the torpedo boat destroyer, a larger ship with small quick-firing guns to intercept torpedo boats far from the battleline. Soon, torpedo boats grew and mounted more guns to defend themselves against the new threat; soon, too, torpedo boat destroyers grew to mount torpedoes themselves, as it had become clear that such a ship might, too, engage the enemy battleline closely. This new ship proved versatile and effective. During World War I, already, only destroyers served in Britain's Grand Fleet. It was at this time, too, the American destroyer designs were produced that later saw service in World War II.

The oldest American destroyer to do so was a part of the class of 1000 ton four-stack destroyers that were the predecessors of the flushdeckers. Already, these ships, whose design had evolved from smaller and less capable ships, mounted all the armament that would go into the flushdeckers, but had a different layout. Although successful and not much less capable than the later ships, the giant size of the flush-decker production program made their retention unneccessary.

When America entered World War I in April of 1917, the Navy faced a problem. It lacked small ships, such as destroyers and escorts. Therefore, a construction program was approved which would increase the number of such ships in the fleet. In the event, it almost eightupled the strength of the destroyer force. Aiming at a simple, mass-production design, even if this was not really up to the standards of firepower and strength present in ships of other nations, the simple-hulled, flush-decked Wickes and Clemson designs. In many respects, the incredible achievement of the American industry in churning out over two hundred such destroyers in a little over two years was astonishing; in many other respects, it was unfortunate. Few of the destroyers completed prior to the end of World War I, a mere one and a half years after America's entry into it. The production program continued, running out in 1920. By this time, European destroyers had overtaken the flushdeckers in virtually all respects, and the ships had not been capable of rendering effective service to the Allied cause. However, the United States were now stuck for the time being with these ships, which served as the United States' primary destroyer until the 1930s, even though dozens were put into mothballs during the 1920s.

Only in 1932 did Congress approve the construction of a new destroyer class. This class, the Farraguts, was in all respects superior to the flushdeckers. Although not incredibly large tonnage-wise, the Farraguts included the most modern weaponry and machinery available at the time. It had dual-purpose artillery mounted on the centerline, director control for the artillery, high-pressure and high-temperature steam plants; all in all, truly the "gold-platers" they were called by their flushdecker-driving comrades.

The Farraguts had shown the way; the next class, the Porters, was a step in another direction. This large destroyer was more crafted along the lines of European large destroyers, heavy on artillery. With eight 5" guns in twin mounts, the Porters were almost small cruisers. Their almost pre-ordained role was that of a "destroyer leader", although the Navy did not want them to be; and yet, so they were used.

It followed the Mahan class, improving the Farraguts in the engineering parts, and adding four torpedo tubes. The Mahan class was an obvious improvement over the Farraguts, but it was just one step. Meanwhile, the Somers class improved the Porter class in a similar fashion.

The Gridley class followed, with a different philosophy. Stressing torpedo firepower over gun firepower, the Gridley class mounted sixteen torpedo tubes but only four 5" guns. The following Bagley and Benham classes were repeats of the Gridley system. By the time they were ordered, however, things were changing again. In light of the changing nature of destroyer warfare, with an emphasis on screening and away from attacking, the Sims class returned to the general layout of the Mahan class in guns and torpedoes. However, throughout, the evolution of fire control and engineering advances had ensured that the Sims class would be markedly more capable than the Mahans.

This was true also of the Bensons, which followed the general Sims layout. This class, with yet another new engineering plant, was the basis for the most wartime production run, the Gleaves, Livermore and Bristol classes. These ships, build in a variety of yards and mounting almost eighty ships together, were later used primarily in the Atlantic.

The reason was that a more capable class of destroyer was available for fleet duty (Atlantic duty was mainly convoying), the Fletchers. Designed free of the constraints of the naval treaties, the Fletchers were excellent ships of sturdy built and great firepower, all enclosed gun mounts and partial armor over vital spaces. The long 175 unit production run ensured that these ships would form the core of all mid- and late-war task forces.

Serving alongside the Fletchers in these fleets were the Sumner and Gearing classes, Fletcher modifications with three twin mounts of 5" guns instead of five singles. Their incredible anti-air firepower made the Sumner and Gearing classes the most capable of World War II destroyers
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Clemsons

DD-186 Clemson class

Design History
The second batch of flushdeckers, following the Wickes class, was the Clemson class. The primary feature differentiating the two classes was the provision for oil bunkers to the sides of the boiler rooms in the Clemson class, with hopes of remedying the problematical situation in the Wickes class of widely varying endurances.

Otherwise similar in armament, propulsion systems, and layout, the Clemson class suffered from the same problem with the Yarrow boilers that the Wickes class had.

Modification History
More Clemsons than Wickes remained in commission through the inter-war period. Fourteen destroyers were rebuild as seaplane tenders in 1938-1940, losing two boilers in favor of aviation-fuel storage; another four were converted to fast minelayers in 1930-1937, and nine to fast minesweepers in 1940-1942. Eleven were modified as escorts prewar, receiving 3" L/50 guns instead of the 4" guns installed previously, and also losing a boiler.

During the war, those ships not yet converted to special roles received additional 20mm guns and ASW weapons, for they, too, would now be primarily used for ASW. Torpedo tubes were reduced in favor of K-guns. Nine of the seaplane tenders were re-designated destroyers. All ships received air and surface search radar.

Service History
Eleven Clemson class destroyers and two seaplane carrier conversions were serving with the Asiatic Fleet in 1941, providing valuable service and making the first U.S. torpedo attack at Balikpapan. Five of their number, all destroyers, were lost, with Steward afterwards seeing service in the Imperial Japanese Navy as a patrol boat. Pacific service for these destroyers continued in the Aleutians, where they continued in regular destroyer roles. After 1943, there remained no regular destroyers of this class, all having been converted to various roles as escorts. A total of 19 were transfered to Great Britain in the 1940 Destroyers-for-Bases-Deal.

Ships in class:
DD-187 Dahlgren
DD-188 Goldsborough
DD-189 Semmes
DD-196 George E. Badger
DD-199 Alexander Dallas
DD-206 Chandler
DD-207 Southard
DD-208 Hovey
DD-209 Long
DD-210 Broome
DD-211 Alden
DD-213 Barker
DD-214 Tracy
DD-215 Borie
DD-216 John D. Edwards
DD-217 Whipple
DD-218 Parrott
DD-219 Edsall
DD-220 MacLeish
DD-221 Simpson
DD-222 Bulmer
DD-223 McCormick
DD-224 Stewart
DD-225 Pope
DD-226 Peary
DD-227 Pillsbury
DD-228 John D. Ford
DD-229 Truxtun
DD-230 Paul Jones
DD-231 Hartfield
DD-236 Humphreys
DD-237 McFarland
DD-239 Overton
DD-240 Sturtevant
DD-241 Childs
DD-242 King
DD-243 Sands
DD-244 Williamson
DD-245 Reuben James
DD-246 Bainbridge
DD-247 Goff
DD-248 Barry
DD-249 Hopkins
DD-250 Lawrence
DD-251 Belknap
DD-255 Osmond Ingraham
DD-260 Gillis
DD-266 Greene
DD-267 Ballard
DD-270 Thornton
DD-336 Litchfield
DD-337 Zane
DD-338 Wasmuth
DD-339 Trever
DD-340 Perry
DD-341 Decatur
DD-342 Hulbert
DD-343 Noa
DD-344 William B. Preston
DD-345 Preble
DD-346 Sicard
DD-347 Pruitt

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,202 tons
Full: 1,1699 tons
Length: 95,8m / 314ft 4"
Beam: 9,41m / 30ft 10,5"
Draft (Full Load): 3,63m / 11ft 11"
Crew (Officers/Men): 5/95
Endurance: 2500nm at 20 knots
Speed: 35 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 4 x 102mm L/50, in four single mounts: one on the forecastle, one on the quarterdeck, two in the waist abaft no. 2 stack.
Secondary: None
AA: 2 x 1pdr in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in four triple mounts, two on each side.
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track
(Broome, February 1944):
Main: 6 x 76mm L/50 spread about the ship
Secondary: None
AA: 5 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 6 533mm torpedo tubes in two triple mounts.
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Farraguts

DD-348 Farragut class

Design History
The Farragut class of destroyers was the first class of modern destroyers commissioned in the U.S. Navy, complete with centerline guns, five-inch artillery, and a large displacement. The necessity for such vessels became increasingly clear in the course of the 1920s.

The U.S. flushdecker construction program had turned out the last ships in 1920, two years after the end of World War I. By that time, other nations had either overtaken the U.S. in the capability of their ships, or had begun construction of ships that would soon be more capable than the U.S. ships. The British Navy's V&W class of 1918 had undoubtedly and directly outclassed the flushdeckers in seaworthiness, armament (carrying four 4" guns in centerline mounts), speed and maneuverability. Despite the knowledge of these facts, it remained impossible to change the situation in America's favor: with some 200 flushdeckers available, Congress' willingness to fund additional destroyers was low.

Nonetheless, the Bureau of Construction and Repair, starting as early as 1917, began drawing up designs for large "leaders", ships much more powerful than the flushdeckers. For Fiscal Year 1919, five large destroyers, called flotilla leaders, although no definite design was prepared. The notion was declined by Congress, feeling the Navy to be already well-endowed with warships. Soon thereafter, the interest in the construction of new destroyers vanished completely as the Washington Treaty seemed to usher in an age of non-construction of warships.

Interest revived in 1927, when tactical data, technological advances, and a feeling of hope for Congressional funding combined to lead to a first draft for the new destroyers. After considerable initial debate, in early 1928 the initial characteristics were laid down. At 1,600 tons, the new ship would be considerably larger than the flushdeckers; with four 5" L/51 guns, a 3"/50 anti-air gun and twelve torpedo tubes, it would be considerably stronger; and, it was hoped, by adopting different hull designs, the primary flaws of the flushdecker, its immense radius at high speeds and bad seakeeping, could be avoided. Vitally important for the new design was the adoption of high-pressure plants, promising long range with little fuel.

Opinions were then solicited from the prospective customers in the fleet, whose replies were generally in favor of changing the 5" guns from L/51 to L/25, offering a dual-purpose role for the main armament in both anti-surface work (for which, of course, the L/25 was not optimal) and anti-air work, whilst addressing problems with fire-control and centerline space. Since the long-range fire of a L/51 would not be directable from the destroyers, their replacement with the L/25 gun was quite natural.

Other issues were then adressed to C&R. Their preference for a six-tube torpedo mount arrangement, with superimposed triplets, seemed impossible to manage on a rolling, heaving destroyer. Simple triple mounts, or new quadruple mounts, were considered much preferable.

The matter did not settle on anything resembling a decision, but the issue turned out not to require one - Congress would not fund new ships in 1928, or 1929 for that matter. In early 1930, the General Board began drawing up requirements once more, this time quickly bound into tight confines by the provisions of the 1930 London Treaty. In November, C&R announced its designs for three types of destroyers, from1,375 to 1,850 tons, carrying the 5" L/25 guns for the above mentioned reasons (and because its ammunition was more easily handled), each having a rather high forecastle and thus, greater dryness forward. Additionally, the Bureau of Ordnance had developed a intermediate gun - 5" L/38 - which Construction and Repair now definitely favored over any of the older guns. By January 1931, an initial production design, which at 1,750 tons was to have six 5" gus, nine torpedo tubes, and 35 knots of speed at light ship condition. This was not very feasible, and in March, alternative batteries were presented. Selected among the alternatives was one providing for five 5" L/38 guns (the forward two shielded against the weather, the others open), two quadruple torpedo mounts, and four .50-caliber machine guns, with a broad stern as a provision for depth charge racks and tracks. A Mk33 director atop the bridge would direct fire from the guns, a measurable improvement over the flushdeckers, whose guns operated in local control. 650°F (343°C), 400psi steam-plants, for superheated steam and high power on light weight, powered the new ships' engines for 38,6 knots trials speed. The new ships would only displace 1,500 tons light.

Eight ships were ordered, the final designs of the Farraguts being drawn up by Bethlehem Steel of Quincy, Massachusetts, and constructed by Bethlehem and Bath Iron Works. Their characteristics showed the new ships to be superior to the flushdeckers in speed, stability, armament, maneuverability, habitability, seakeeping, and range, showing clearly that the new approach to destroyer construction was entirely useful.

Modification History
By the middle of 1935, all ships had been refitted with depth-charge tracks and storage, indicating the necessity of providing the fleet with anti-submarine warfare methods. Problems with the new ships arose in 1940, when the King Board required stronger anti-air armament for all ships. The Farraguts lacked the weight margin to allow for such installations easily, as did all later destroyers. As wartime necessity indicated that more, and heavier AA was not only desirable but a matter of life-and-death, the no. 3 5" gun was removed, making available weight and space for the installation of radar systems (all ships received, in due course, SC and SG radar, and fire-control radar for their directors), anti-air weapons (all ships received 40mm twins and 20mm singles, and lost their .50-caliber guns), and additional depth charges. Unlike later ships, the Farraguts did not lose their torpedo tubes in favor of still heavier anti-air armament in the last months of the war.

Service History
Eight Farragut destroyers were constructed. All served in the Pacific Fleet at the beginning of the war. Monaghan sank a midget submarine at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Supporting all kinds of operations during the war, the Farragut class ships suffered some casualties. Worden ran aground in the Aleutians, becoming a total loss. Hull and Monaghan were lost in December 1944 in a typhoon off the Philippines. The remaining ships, having served for four continous years, were scrapped in 1947.

Ships in class:

DD-348 Farragut
DD-349 Dewey
DD-350 Hull
DD-351 Macdonough
DD-352 Worden
DD-353 Dale
DD-354 Monaghan
DD-355 Aylwin

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,358 tons
Full: 2,307 tons
Length: 104m / 341ft 3"
Beam: 10,43m / 34ft 3"
Draft (Full Load): 3,82m / 12ft 6,75"
Crew (Officers/Men): 10/150
Endurance: 3,710nm at 20 knots
Speed: 36,5 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, two forward, superfiring, one abaft the stacks, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two centerline quadruple mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Dale, October 1944):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, as above minus the gun abaft the stack
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twins, 5 x 20mm L/70 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes as above.
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Wickes

DD-75 Wickes class

Design History
The Wickes class was the oldest class of the so-called "flushdeckers" to see service in World War II. Its direct predecessor was Destroyer 1916, the Caldwell class, from which no ship survived to participate in the Pacific War. The Wickes class resulted from the peculiar requirements the war made in the U.S. ship-building industry. Early in 1916, Congress had passed an act calling for the enlargement of the fleet to comprise enough warships to be able to deal with all foes, in the words of the time, a "fleet second to none". Part of the orders called for the ten Omaha class light cruisers, another for six Constellation class battlecruisers (later to become the foundation for Lexington and Saratoga), and the new destroyer class was to operate with these ships, necessitating a maximum speed resmbling theirs - roughly 35 knots.

The Caldwell design set the general outline of the new destroyer. In the older ship, the previously employed forecastle, the drop after the deckhouse, and through horizontal main deck after that, was abandoned in favor of a different solution giving more strength to the ship, with a flush main deck sloping from bow to stern, so as to keep the relative heights of the previous forecastled destroyers, and a sloped keel to retain the necessary submergence of propellors in a very shallow-draft hull. The new design came out, thanks to there being effectively more steel used, somewhat heavier than the 1,000-ton classes before it, but would probably be a better, steadier sea-boat, even if wetter on the bows.

The resultant Caldwell class of six ships served, when the necessity arose of greatly increasing destroyer production, as the basis for the new design. The Wickes class, 50 destroyers of which were authorized in the 1916, 20 of which were also funded under the FY17 appropriations. Also providing for "Naval Emergency Funds", Congress left the President (Woodrow Wilson) to chose to built additional destroyers virtually at his discretion. By May 1916, 61 of the new ships had been laid down.

The new ships carried the same armament as the previous Caldwell class, which carried the same armament as the 1,000 tonners, alas with the higher speed in mind possessed greater power, and slightly greater displacement. Furthermore, the gun arrangement somewhat differed from the previous 1,000 tonners, with one on the stern, one on the bow, and one on each side on the deckhouse between the second and third funnels. Otherwise similar, the new class was sufficiently close to the previously built destroyer that there were few problems with the yards that were to build the ships. Two yards drew up the final designs, Bath Iron Works and Bethlehem Steel, each choosing different boiler and turbine contractors. Bethlehem's choice of Yarrow boilers proved unfortunate, since the Yarrows deteriorated quickly. Furthermore, the differences in propulsion systems (there were ships without geared turbines and ships with them, four different boiler manufacturers and three for turbines) and workmanship resulted in greatly varying endurances in the ships, the Bath ships generally longer-ranged than their Bethlehem cousins.

In the course of World War I, 111 Wickes class ships were constructed, most too late to see service in that war.

Modification History
The U.S. Navy recommissioned the better part of the old vessels for major redesigns in 1941: as anti-submarine escorts with additional depth charges, hedgehogs, and sonars, one boiler less and more bunker oil; as fast transports (APDs); as fast minesweepers. All ships remaining in service through World War II received air and surface search radar systems.

Service History
The Wickes class, the first batch of the U.S. flushdeckers, saw extensive service through the between-wars period. In the late 1920s, those Wickes class ships built to the Bethlehem design (a total of 60) were scrapped as their Yarrow-type boilers were used up and re-boilering them was a pointless endeavour. Decommissioning most Wickes class ships in the 1930s, as the new destroyers arrived in sufficient numbers to replace the old, and by-now obsolete, destroyers. However, the outbreak of war in Europe made it quickly clear the there would yet be use for the old ships. 22 Wickes class were transferred to the British under the Destroyers-for-Bases-Deal of 1940, the remaining Wickes class ships receiving above-mentioned modifications. APDs served in the Pacific to raiding troops in advance of invasions, to supply garrisons, and for various other tasks, together with the fast minesweepers. Most ASW variants of the Wickes class served in the Atlantic. Unmodified ships served as fleet destroyers in backwaters (especially the Aleutians) and as patrol and escort ships (witness the U.S.S. Ward of Pearl Harbor fame). Despite their age and obsolete design, the ships performed admirably.

Ships in class:
DD-118 Lea
DD-118 Badger
DD-128 Babbitt
DD-137 Kilty
DD-138 Kennison
DD-139 Ward
DD-142 Tarbell
DD-144 Upshur
DD-145 Greer
DD-147 Roper
DD-148 Breckinridge
DD-149 Barney
DD-150 Blakely
DD-151 Biddle
DD-152 Du Pont
DD-153 Bernadou
DD-154 Ellis
DD-155 Cole
DD-156 J. Fred Talbott
DD-157 Dickerson
DD-158 Leary
DD-159 Schenck
DD-160 Herbert
DD-164 Crosby

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,208 tons
Full: 1,597 tons
Length: 95,8m / 314ft 4"
Beam: 9,43m / 30ft 11,5"
Draft (Full Load): 3,45m / 11ft 4,25"
Crew (Officers/Men): 6/108
Endurance: 3800nm at 15 knots
Speed: 35 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 4 x 102mm L/50, in four single mounts: one on the forecastle, one on the quarterdeck, two in the waist abaft no. 2 stack.
Secondary: None
AA: 1 x 76mm L/23
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in four triple mounts, two on each side.
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track
(Ward, December 1941):
Main: 4 x 102mm L/50 as above
Secondary: None
AA: 1 x 76mm L/23, 2 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes as above.
Depth Charges: 1 x Y-Gun, 2 x depth charge track

(Chew, August 1945):
Main: 3 x 102mm L/50, one on the forecastle, two in the waist.
Secondary: None
AA: 6 x 20mm L/70 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 6 533mm torpedo tubes in two triple mounts.
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Porters

DD-356 Porter class

Design History
At the same time, roughly, that the Farragut class was designed, requirements for a destroyer leader were circulated among the Bureaus. The main problem which these ships were to deal with was the lack of available light cruisers to aid the other destroyers in their torpedo attacks; the main mission of the new leaders would be to use their gun armament to break through the enemy screen and allow the following destroyers to do likewise. In May 1928, an initial design was proposed, which developed through the following years and culminated in an August 1930 request by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, for development of such a leader. By late 1930, the unanimous opinion of the fleet was that a large destroyer was needed to take over some of the duties of the preferable, but hard-to-get, light cruisers.

Still, initial design efforts in early 1932 still considered leader characteristics to be important enough. In its initial studies, the General Board was prepared to use the 350 tons increase (from the 1,500 tons standard of the Farragut class) for little more than light protection of vulnerable spaces and improved communications facilities. Considering this very little to show for 350 tons, the General Board picked a different scheme, with six single centerline guns, but no leader capacity.

In May 1932, the General Board despatched a set of recommendations for a design of such a vessel to the Secretary of the Navy. Not long into the design process, C&R advocated a change of armament to four twin mounts, single-purpose instead of dual-purpose, and reliance on small automatic weapons for air defense, as a practical alternative. Given the mission of the new ship, the change was accepted, leading to new specifications for eight 5" L/38 SP guns, eight torpedo tubes, two quadruple 28mm L/70 guns, and two .50-caliber machine-guns.

The completed design followed these lines, provided for eight reload torpedoes, and carried engines for 50,000shp output, increasing the speed of the new ships to 37 knots despite their larger displacement compared with the Farragut class. Two emergency diesel generators would provide power if the engines or boilers were disabled. Two fire-control directors were available, one above the bridge and one on the heavy superstructure aft.

Four Porters were initially funded for FY34, but the under the National Industrial Recovery Act of President Roosevelt's first administration, four were were funded in an effort to reduce unemployment. New York Shipbuilding did the final design. Bethlehem Steel (Quincy, MA) and New York Shipbuilding each produced four ships.

Modification History
The European war soon indicated that heavier anti-air weaponry was needed by destroyers, but all plans for modifying the Porters to hold dual-purpose mounts turned out initially useless for a lack of such mounts. In 1941, the heavy after superstructure and main mast were removed, seriously altering the appearance of these ships. The removal of the heavy fire-control equipment allowed for the installation of two 20mm and another 28mm mount, and the addition of a Mk3 (FC) fire-control radar. Also removed were the containers for reserve torpedoes.

In 1943, the 20mm and 28mm mounts aft were replaced by two twin 40mm mounts.

Early in 1944, no.3 5" L/38 mount was removed in favor of a quadruple 40mm mount. Selfridge, Phelps and Winslow were modified in 1944/45 to carry a twin dual-purpose 5" L/38 mount in no. 1 and 4 positions, a single dual-purpose 5" L/38 in no.3 position, and a quadruple 40mm in no.2 position, making these ships far more effective under the conditions of the time. Winslow and Phelps lost one of their torpedo mounts in 1945 in favor of replacing the two twin 40mms aft with two quads. Both ships received elaborate 40mm directors. Clark, Moffett and Balch were not refitted in this manner, McDougal received a Selfridge-like refit in the Atlantic.

Service History
Three ships, McDougal, Winslow and Moffett served in the Atlantic during the war. The five Pacific ships served as leaders (ironically) pre-war, escorting carriers for the better part of 1942. Porter was lost in October 1942, escorting Hornet; she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Selfridge suffered heavy damage in surface action in 1943, but the remainder of the vessels' careers was uneventful. All were scrapped shortly after the war safe Winslow, which served as a trials ship into the fifties.

Ships in class:
DD-356 Porter
DD-357 Selfridge
DD-358 McDougal
DD-359 Winslow
DD-360 Phelps
DD-361 Clark
DD-362 Moffett
DD-363 Balch

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 2,154 tons
Full: 2,857 tons
Length: 116,13m / 381ft 0,5"
Beam: 10,98m / 36ft 5/8"
Draft (Full Load): 4,20m / 13ft 9,75"
Crew (Officers/Men): 13/193
Endurance: 4,080nm at 15 knots
Speed: 37 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 8 x 127mm L/38, in twins: two forward, superfiring, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 8 x 28mm L/73 in two quad mounts, 2 x 12.7mm L/90
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two centerline quadruple mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Balch, August 1943):
Main: 6 x 127mm L/38, in twins: two forward, superfiring, one aft
Secondary: None
AA: 10 x 40mm L/56 in one quad mount and three twins, 8 x 20mm L/70 in twin mounts
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two centerline quadruple mounts
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 1 x depth charge track

(Selfridge, April 1945):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, one twin mount forward, one twin aft, one single mount aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 16 x 40mm L/56 in three quad mounts and two twins, 4 x 20mm L/70 in twin mounts
Torpedoes: None
Depth Charges: 2 x K-Gun, 1 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Mahans

DD-364 Mahan class

Design History
Following the conclusion of the Porter design in late 1932, the General Board reconsidered its designs for the 1,500ton destroyers. Within the Board, there was strong feeling that the 8-tube torpedo set of the Farraguts was not enough; consequently, the Board envisaged a new design to carry at least 12 torpedo tubes. Furthermore, it wanted space reserved for reloads.

The Bureau of Construction and Repair replied to this request, claiming that it could offer four triple mounts (two on each side, the preferred arrangement of many senior officers), plus five 5" L/38 guns, provided that they be single-purpose. The General Board concurred, but the Chief of Naval Operations, commenting on the idea, crushed it.

By March 1933, C&R had prepared designs to compromise between the desires of the General Board for more torpedoes and the CNO's desire to retain the DP gun. In fact, the new design did retain 5 5"L/38 DP guns and did possess twelve torpedo tubes, a result made possible by increasing the beam slightly and restructuring the placement of the armament. One quadruple mount remained on the centerline, while two others were placed in wing mounts abaft the second stack. The no.3 mount was moved aft, directly before the no.4 mount, separated from it only by a low deckhouse, serving as a gun crew shelter.

These aspects of the design were decided on with little problem, and the main feature of the Mahan class would not be found in armament, but in the innards of the ship, in its boilers and engines.

When the design was completed on general terms, the Navy asked Gibbs & Cox of New York to do the design work. Gibbs & Cox much desired to provide the latest engineering advances to the new destroyers, to which the Navy concurred, realizing that advanced destroyers would need advanced engineering if they were to work. Substantial improvements were worked into the ships' power plant. High-pressure turbines with almost twice the pressure of the Farragut class, double reduction gears, 700°F boilers and feed water economizers combined to make a propulsion system of lighter weight and greater efficiency. Although initially chided for its complexity, wartime operation more than proved the reliability and power of the new installment.

With the regular Mk33 gun control equipment, shields for the two forward guns, and four 12.7mm L/90 AA machine-guns, the Mahan class received the standard additions to its main armament; depth charges and tracks were initially not considered desirable, but were soon added.

Modification History
The class received few modifications prior to 1942. That year, the no.3 5" L/38 gun was removed in favor of two 20mm guns, SC air-search and Mk 4 gunnery control radar were installed, and four to five 20mm guns were further sprinkled about the ships. The next year, all ships had received SG surface-search radar, with initial equipment with 40mm twins in place of the earlier installed 20mm in no.3 position. In 1945, two ships, Lamson and Shaw received anti-kamikaze refits, losing their torpedo tubes in favor of more AA.

In 1943, the 20mm and 28mm mounts aft were replaced by two twin 40mm mounts.

Service History
All ships did serve in carrier and amphibious groups screens, and served in surface action groups. Cassin, Downes, and Shaw suffered damage at Pearl Harbor, Cassin and Downes being completely destroyed in the attack. Parts of their equipment were salvaged and installed in new hulls, retaining their old numbers; however, they can nonetheless be considered war losses.

The next loss was Tucker, sinking on a U.S. mine barrier off Espiritu Santo in the prelude of the Guadalcanal campaign. Ships of the Mahan class served in the Solomons campaign, Cushing, part of Admiral Callaghan's force at First Guadalcanal, was sunk, and two nights later, Preston was sunk as part of Admiral Lee's battleship force at Second Guadalcanal. In December 1944, covering the carriers during the post-Leyte operations, Mahan was hit by Kamikazes and sunk, soon later followed by Reid, sunk during the fighting for Ormoc. She was the last war-time loss. All remaining ships were scrapped between 1946 and 1948.

Ships in class:
DD-364 Mahan
DD-365 Cummings
DD-366 Drayton
DD-367 Lamson
DD-368 Flusser
DD-369 Reid
DD-370 Case
DD-371 Conyngham
DD-372 Cassin
DD-373 Shaw
DD-374 Tucker
DD-375 Downes
DD-376 Cushing
DD-377 Perkins
DD-378 Smith
DD-379 Preston

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,717 tons
Full: 2,328 tons
Length: 104m / 341ft 3"
Beam: 10,81m / 35ft 6 1/8"
Draft (Full Load): 4m / 13ft 1 1/4"
Crew (Officers/Men): 8 / 150
Endurance: 4,360nm at 20 knots
Speed: 37 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, one in front of after deck house, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in three quadruple mounts, one on the centerline, two on the wings
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Reid, July 1943):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, as above minus gun in front of after deck house
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 5 x 20mm L/70 in singles
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes as above
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track

(Shaw, August 1945, after AAW1945):
Main: 3 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, one aft
Secondary: None
AA: 12 x 40mm L/56 in two quad mounts and two twins, 4 x 20mm L/70 in twin mounts
Torpedoes: None
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Gridleys

DD-380 Gridley class

Design History
During the construction of the Mahan class, the advocates of stronger torpedo armament considered that some thought should be given to increasing the torpedo firepower of U.S. destroyers still more, preferably at the same time moving the torpedo tubes to the main deck. The centerline mounts used in the previous destroyer classes had by necessity (in order for the torpedoes to clear the main deck when fired) been emplaced rather high in the ship, leading to failures upon their impact on the surface; therefore, the main deck emplacement was to be favored.

In FY34, the Navy had been granted two 1,850 ton ships (which became Somers and Warrington) and twelve 1,500 ton ships. Originally contemplating twelve ships of the Dunlap design, the Navy was presented by Bethlehem Steel of Quincy, with a new design of just four guns but sixteen torpedo tubes in quadruple wing-mounts; the design showed one single stack in which the exhausts of both boilers were combined. The propulsion system improved that of the Mahans. The Navy accepted Bethlehem's design for the ships which the yard was to build, which became Gridley and Craven.

The remaining ships for FY34 were not built by Bethlehem; they are described separately in the Bagley description. For FY35, in which twelve ships were ordered, a repeat of the general design of the FY34 Bethlehem design was demanded. However, only two of the ships were awarded to Bethlehem, and although the other yards build the new ships to a design of Gibbs & Cox (described in the Benham description), Bethlehem built its two to the plans of the Gridley class, without modification, completing the class at four ships.

The general layout arrived at four 127mm L/38 guns, the two guns before the bridge in enclosed mounts, the two aft open, with sixteen torpedoes in quadruple wing mounts, two on each side, and no reloads. Four 12.7mm L/90 machine guns made up the anti-air battery. Pole masts had replaced the Mahans' tripod masts.

Modification History
In 1942, the 12.7mm L/90 machine guns were replaced by 20mm guns, and two added alongside the stack. Radar was installed in due course. In 1943, a seventh 20mm gun was placed on the searchlight platform amidships, and later, an eighth before the bridge. Overall poorly suited due to excessive topweight to modifications, the Gridleys paid for each modification with the removal of some previous piece of equipment; since they could not employ 40mm guns, as the danger from Kamikazes grew, they were moved to the Atlantic Fleet.

Service History
All ships participated in the early operations of the Pacific Fleet. The class participated in the Fast Carrier Raids, the Midway operations, Guadalcanal invasion and subsequent actions in the Solomons, the invasions in the Gilbert, Marshall and Mariana Islands in 1943/44, the attacks on Formosa and the Leyte Gulf operations, and the invasion of Luzon. With the growing threat of Kamikazes, the class was deemed too vulnerable, and was redeployed to the Atlantic. No ship was lost in combat, and all were scrapped in 1946/47.

Ships in class:
DD-380 Gridley
DD-382 Craven
DD-400 McCall
DD-401 Maury

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,589 tons
Full: 2,406 tons
Length: 104,03m / 341ft 4 1/4"
Beam: 10,78m / 35ft 5"
Draft (Full Load): 4,1m / 13ft 5,5"
Crew (Officers/Men): 8 / 150
Endurance: 3,660nm at 20 knots
Speed: 37 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 16 533mm torpedo tubes in four quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Craven, November 1943):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, as above minus gun in front of after deck house
Secondary: None
AA: 7 x 20mm L/70 in singles
Torpedoes: 16 533mm torpedo tubes as above
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Somers

DD-381 Somers class

Design History
Originally contemplated as simply FY1934 repeats of the Porter class, the introduction of new steam propulsion and turbines in the Mahan class led to the inclusion of this type of propulsion, the Somers variant of which was a relative of the New Mexico's refitted plant. It operated at 850°F and 600psi, had GE turbines with double reduction gear, making for greater speed and range compared to Porter.

Also, unlike Porter's initial design, the Somers class was rather simple in appearence, without the high aft superstructure and aft director, a simple pole mast, only one stack, and, most impressive, three centerline quad torpedo mounts, for an impressive twelve-torpedo broadside.

Two Somers were ordered in FY35; three more in FY36. They possessed two quadruple 28mm mounts and two 12.7mm L/90 machine-guns for anti-air defense.

Modification History
Problems with the stability of this class precluded major modifications for a long time. Initial modifications in 1942 actually reduced their AA capability with the removal of the 28mm mounts (and the after deckhouse). To compensate, a torpedo tube set was removed, and 20mm single mounts installed, two besides the stack, two before the bridge, and two where the torpedo tubes had been placed. Search and fire-control radar was added at the same time. In 1943, no.3 twin mount was removed, replaced by an assortment of a twin 40mm and several 20mms, and a similar installment abaft the stack. Jouett and Davis were the only ships equipped with dual-purpose artillery, receiving two twin and one single 5" L/38 mount, plus 40mm and 20mm AA.

Service History
Only Sampson served in the Pacific during the war. She moved through the Panama Canal in 1942, escorting various convoys until 1943. She supported the Biak landings in 1944, where damage required her return to the U.S. After repairs in New York, she remained in the Atlantic.

Ships in class:
DD-381 Somers
DD-383 Warrington
DD-394 Sampson
DD-395 Davis
DD-396 Jouett

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 2,013 tons
Full: 2,901 tons
Length: 116,27m / 381ft 6"
Beam: 11,19m / 36ft 10,25"
Draft (Full Load): 4,28m / 13ft 11,5"
Crew (Officers/Men): 10 / 225
Endurance: 4,250nm at 20 knots
Speed: 37,5 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 8 x 127mm L/38, in twin mounts: two forward, superfiring, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 8 x 28mm L/73 in two twin mounts, 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in three quadruple centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Sampson, March 1943):
Main: 6 x 127mm L/38, in twin mounts: two forward, superfiring, one aft
Secondary: None
AA: 6 x 40mm L/56 in twins, 6 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Dunlaps

DD-384 Dunlap class

Design History
Essentially Mahan class ships, the two Dunlaps differed from their half-sisters in only two ways: instead of the the tripod mast, they had a straight mast, and instead of the two shielded forward 5"L/38 mounts, they had two fully enclosed mounts. Weight and availability considerations required that the other three mounts be left open. Probably funded in FY34.

Modification History
As in the Mahans.

Service History
As in the Mahans.

Ships in class:
DD-384 Dunlap
DD-385 Fanning

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,717 tons
Full: 2,328 tons
Length: 104,05m / 341ft 5"
Beam: 10,66m / 35ft
Draft (Full Load): 4m / 13ft 1 1/4" (?)
Crew (Officers/Men): 8 / 150
Endurance: 4,360nm at 20 knots (?)
Speed: 37 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, one in front of after deck house, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in three quadruple mounts, one on the centerline, two on the wings
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Dunlap, March 1944):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 5 x 20mm L/70 in twin mounts
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Bagleys

DD-386 Bagley class

Design History
Designed to fill the rest of the FY34 quota of 1,500ton destroyers, these followed the general outline of the Bethlehem design. Since their design agents, however, were the Navy Yards which would build them, the Bagleys received not the advanced steam and engine plant of the Gridleys, but that of the Mahans, which, given the increase in displacement over the Mahans (of almost 200tons) was only good for 36 knots, compared to the Gridley's 39 knot test runs. Otherwise similar, the Bagleys nonetheless were more stable than the Gridleys, making their modification easier. Eight BAGLEY class ships were procured, all built by Navy Yards.

Modification History
Due to their better stability, the Bagleys were more extensively re-equipped with AA armament than their half-sisters. Initially receiving 6 20mm guns in 1942, along with air and surface-search radar, beginning in 1943 and through 1944 they received a twin 40mm mount in front of no.3 5" gun, where there had been two 20mm guns. These were now placed aft of the smoke stack. All torpedo tubes were retained aboard the Bagleys.

Service History
All eight destroyers served in the Pacific Fleet, participating in all major engagements. Off Guadalcanal, JARVIS became the first war loss, damaged by an aerial torpedo on August 8th, then sunk a day later on her journey to Sydney for repairs. There were no survivors. Only two weeks later, BLUE was surprised off Guadalcanal by a Japanese destroyer and sunk with torpedoes.

All six remaining destroyers were moved to MacArthur's 7th Fleet in 1943, serving off New Guinea. Henley was sunk in that service by a Japanese submarine. Transferred back to the Central Pacific, the ships served in the carrier screens in the Marianas operation and off Formosa, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Transferred again, the destroyers operated in the Philippines, in the Lingayen Gulf landings, and later off Okinawa and in the Indonesian islands. Mugford and Ralph Talbot were used in the Bikini A-Bomb tests and later scuttled, the rest was scrapped in 1947.

Ships in class:
DD-386 Bagley
DD-387 Blue
DD-388 Helm
DD-389 Mugford
DD-390 Ralph Talbot
DD-491 Henley
DD-492 Patterson
DD-493 Jarvis

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,624 tons
Full: 2,245 tons
Length: 104m / 341ft 3 5/8"
Beam: 10,81m / 35 6 1/8ft
Draft (Full Load): 3,89m / 12ft 9,5"
Crew (Officers/Men): 8 / 150
Endurance: 4,360nm at 20 knots
Speed: 37 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 16 533mm torpedo tubes in four quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 14 depth charges
(Bagley, may 1944):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 2 x 40mm L/56 in one twin mount, 7 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 16 533mm torpedo tubes in four quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Benhams

DD-397 Benham class

Design History
Twelve more destroyers were ordered under the FY35 program: two ships of the Gridley class, to be build by Bethlehem, and ten ships following that general layout. Designed by Gibbs & Cox of New York, the new class dispensed with one boiler (for a total of three), the remaining boiler units being individually more powerful. The reduction allowed for a smaller uptake without a loss in speed. Otherwise similar to the previous classes, the Benhams were the last class to nominally have 1500tons light ship displacement; even they, however, were badly overweight and exceeded that light ship displacement by a bit.

Modification History
Only two Benhams were initially in the Pacific; they received radar and 20mm guns in 1942, and two twin 40mm mounts on the after deckhouse in 1943. Sterett and Lang received a Kamikaze refit in 1945, for a total of 8 40mm, 8 20mm guns and a complete removal of torpedo tubes.

The Atlantic units disposed of two of their torpedo mounts (the two aftermost) in 1941, in favor of more depth charges and depth-charge throwers. In some units, the no.4 5" L/38 gun was provided with an open-topped half shield.

Service History
Two units, Benham and Ellet, served in the Pacific at the start of the war. These participated in the early war operations of the Pacific Fleet. In June 1942, four other destroyers of this class, Lang, Sterett, Stack and Wilson escorted the carrier Wasp to the Pacific. The six destroyers operated off Guadalcanal (were ELLET had to sink the Australian Heavy Cruiser Canberra after the Battle of Savo Island), and several participated in the Naval Battles of Guadalcanal, were Sterett was heavily damaged and Benham sunk. The remaining five ships participated without further loss in all subsequent operations.

Ships in class:
DD-397 Benham
DD-398 Ellet
DD-399 Lang
DD-402 Mayrant
DD-403 Trippe
DD-404 Rhind
DD-405 Rowan
DD-406 Stack
DD-407 Sterett
DD-408 Wilson

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,656 tons
Full: 2,449 tons
Length: 104m / 341ft 4.25"
Beam: 10,8m / 35 5,75ft
Draft (Full Load): 4,15m / 13ft 7,5"
Crew (Officers/Men): 9 / 175
Endurance: 3,600nm at 20 knots
Speed: 38,8 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 16 533mm torpedo tubes in four quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 10 depth charges
(Mayrand, April 1944):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 4 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple wing mounts
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
_________________
Gaming for 36 Years.

lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Sims

DD-409 Sims class

Design History
Soon after the completion of the design of the Benham class, the Bureau of Construction of Repair began to reconsider the split that had been decided upon between 1,500 ton and 1,850 ton ships, mainly on account of Benham's considerable overweight. Realizing that little advanced could now be made on a displacement of 1,500 tons, and that the existing ships for their size were rather vulnerable, it would be very desirable to do something about that. Alas, anything even remotely resembling armor protection was impossible on any displacement then considered possible.

It was the Chief of Naval Operations who, in late 1935, asked that the fleet review the destroyer designs then in service or being built, in order to have its opinion on future design, and were told not to necessarily presume that the 1,500 ton limit on destroyer size from the naval treaties be in effect. Renewal of the naval treaties might, afterall, not happen.

The Bureau of Construction and Repair offered a number of new designs in March 1936. Considering that the only available means of improving ship survivability at this point was to use heavier, stiffer hulls, and to lessen the stresses on the hull. Other proposals aimed at using twin mounts for the main artillery, something precluded by the non-existence of such weapons. Neither of the four schemes which C&R proposed, for a variety of reasons, was entirely appealing. The Fleet, by an large, wished for the lighter gun, heavier torpedo armament approach. War Plans did not agree: Rear-Admiral Pye, the division chief, announced that the view held by the fleet was narrow; it did not take into account that although heavy torpedo armament was desirable at the point of contact with the enemy main fleet, the U.S. Fleet would likely have to engage many light units as it moved through the Pacific; and therefore, against the threat of Japanese destroyers, more guns, not more torpedoes, had to be the answer.

It was Pye's tentative design, close to Mahan with five 5" L/38 guns and either eight or twelve torpedo tubes that was selected and sent to the Secretary of the Navy for approval. This design, at 1,500 tons, was in effect a repeat Mahan, with the mentioned structural improvements. However, soon after the completion if this first draft, the Senate voted to approve the Second London Naval Treaty in May, 1936; which did away with the separate destroyer categories and only suggested that no ships with guns above 6.1" guns and 3,000 tons displacement could be considered "destroyers". Alas, with the advanced state of the new design, and a general unwillingness to start an entirely new design of larger proportions from scratch, only 70 tons were added to the Sims design.

Compared with the Mahan class, it bought the same armament of five 5" L/38 guns, six 12.7mm L/90 machine guns and twelve torpedo tubes, a stronger powerplant, a more durable hull, three enclosed gun mounts (No.s 1, 2, and 5), and a more capable gun director, Mk37, whose plotting room was in the hull of the ship, making for a lighter director and more safety for the plotting crew. Light armor plating around the pilothouse and the gun director was added for the first time in a U.S. destroyer. Furthermore, in an attempt to gain range, C&R performed extensive streamlining operations around the bridge structure.

Twelve Sims class ships were built, by six yards. The design agent was Gibbs & Cox of New York.

Modification History
The initial modification made to all Sims class ships was to the torpedo armament. Turning out to be decidedly top heavy, once completed, and given the requirements of their late-1940 in-service dates, the Sims lost one of their quadruple torpedo mounts, the other two now both being placed on the centerline. A modification made not much later put steel weather shields and a canvas top. Four additional 12.7mm L/90 guns were added, two replacing no.3 5" gun. At the end of 1941, the 12.7mm L/90 guns had been replaced by 20mm L/70 guns. At this point, all Sims class ships except Wainwright, Buck and Roe were transferred to the Pacific. Between 1941 and 1942, all ships were equipped with search and fire-control radar. Through 1943, twin 40mm mounts and fire-control units replaced the two 20mm guns placed in the position of the no.3 5" L/38 gun. For weight compensation, no.4 gun lost its weather shield. Three units, Mustin, Morris and Russell were equipped with anti-Kamikaze measures in 1945, removing all torpedo tubes in favor of two more twin 40mms. They were not completed before the end of the war.

Service History
Coming into service in 1940, the Sims class destroyers were immediately pressed into Atlantic service as convoy escorts and neutrality patrol vessels. After Pearl Harbor, however, all but Wainwright, Buck and Roe moved to the Pacific. These vessels participated in the invasions of North Africa and Italy. Roe was moved to the Pacific late in 1943, Wainwright in mid 1944. Buck The Pacific destroyers, some of the most modern which the Pacific Fleet had, escorted carriers during the early war raids. Participating in the Battle of the Coral Sea, Sims was sunk, escorting the oiler Neosho, by a massive air strike. During the Battle of Midway, where several Sims class ships took part, Hammann was sunk with grave losses while tending to the damaged Yorktown. Staying with the carriers during the Guadalcanal campaign, the Sims class ships suffered another loss when O'Brien, escorting Hornet, was severely damaged by a submarine torpedo; she fundered near Samoa on her way back to the States for repairs. During the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Walke became the final Sims class victim, sunk by destroyer torpedoes.

The Sims class ships remained in frontline service, serving with the North Pacific Force during the capture of Kiska and Attu, in 5th Fleet during the invasions of the Gilberts and Marshalls, and with 7th Fleet during the operations near Biak, Morotai, and in the Philippines. Russell participated in the final U.S. surface engagement of the war, sinking a Japanese destroyer off Manila in early January 1945. Operating off Okinawa and the Kuriles, the remaining Sims class destroyers ended the war with only one more incident occuring, the Kamikaze damage to Mustin. All ships were disposed of 1946 - 1948

Ships in class:
DD-409 Sims
DD-410 Hughes
DD-411 Anderson
DD-412 Hammann
DD-413 Mustin
DD-414 Russell
DD-415 O'Brien
DD-416 Walke
DD-417 Morris
DD-418 Roe
DD-419 Wainwright
DD-420 Buck

Stats Displacements:
Standard: 1,759 tons
Full: 2,477 tons
Length: 106,15m / 348ft 3 1/8"
Beam: 11m / 36 1 1/8ft
Draft (Full Load): 4,07m / 13ft 4,5"
Crew (Officers/Men): 10 / 182
Endurance: 3,660nm at 20 knots
Speed: 35 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, one in front of after deck house, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 12 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple mounts, two on the wings, on on the centerline
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 10 depth charges
(Hughes, October 1943):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 4 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track

(Wainwright, February 1945):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 4 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 8 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
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lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

Here's the Bensons

DD-421 Benson, Gleaves, Livermore, Bristol classes

Design History
An improved version of the preceding I>Sims class, the Benson's general layout followed the Sims. The most important difference to that class was found belowdecks: the Bensons introduced the alternating engine room - boiler room layout that characterized all new designs at this time. The Bureau of Engineering had announced the availability of boilers equal to such an arrangement in the spring of 1937. The new design required two stacks, since the boilers were now further apart. The alternating arrangement increased tonnage, and a still more durable hull increased tonnage by another fifty tons over the Sims, which everyone concerned considered most acceptable. Controversy arose, however, over the selection of the steam plant to be installed.

Although Navy Yards would build four ships, the other four were split two-two between Bath Iron Works and Bethlehem (Fore River Yard). Arguments arose over who would do the design work, and who thus get to decide on the steam engineering used. In the end, Bethlehem designed the steam plants for the four Navy Yard ships, and Bethlehem's own, which used machinery which returned to the designs of before the Mahan class, which Bethlehem however claimed still equalled those plants in effectiveness. The two Bath boats, designed by Gibbs & Cox of New York, used the more advanced plant of the Mahans, forming a subclass with the Bensons, the Gleaves (& Livermore).

Although similar to the Sims class in other respects when ordered, the ships of the Benson / Gleaves classes would be significantly modified prior to going into service. Returning to study its destroyer designs after having placed the orders for the Bensons, the General Board found that the design itself was fairly good; added anti-aircraft armament might be needed. Since the 28mm L/73 guns which the Board wished for could not be provided on the displacement of the Bensons, the Board asked for two more 12.7mm L/90 guns. Furthermore, it asked for the use of the new quintuple torpedo mounts in place of the quadruple mounts previously asked for; BuEng added that a higher-temperature steam plant could be added. Leaving the external characteristics as they were, the General Board asked for eight such destroyers in FY39, the Livermores. Since the progress of the eight Benson / Gleaves was not so great yet, these changes were also applied to those ships (although only the Gleaves could accomodate the higher temperature boilers). Destroyer production was increasing rapidly now that the limitations of the London Treaties had fallen; this, and the 1938 Naval Expansion Act (the Vinson-Trammel Bill) allowed for increased naval expenditures. Thus, not long after the General Board had approved the eight destroyers for FY39 (in the spring of 1938), it asked for eight more of the Livermores for FY40 (approved by the Secretary of the Navy in December 1939). This request was, so to speak, "advance funded" by the Vinson bill.

The final batch of the Benson design, the Bristols, were similar to the War Emergency destroyer program in Britain: ships which were not the latest design, but could be built rapidly and were still useful. During the considerations for the ships to be built under the FY41 program (by now essentially unrestricted through several acts of Congress), the General Board pointed to the desirability of maintaining destroyer production at high speeds, without incurring the lapse from the old design (Livermore) to the new one (Fletcher). Concurring, the orders for 12 units were placed in May 1940; followed by 15 more in September, and 41 more in December. All units traded in the No.3 gun for a combination of 20mm and 40mm guns (initially only 20mm guns in ships commissioned early). The machinery, gun-fire control and general design followed the Livermore class, although wartime expediency required less streamlining. However, all 5" guns were in enclosed mounts in this class.

Modification History
The difficulty of tracing the modifications to so many different ships is obvious; it must necessarily be abbreviated here. All ships traded their 12.7mm L/90 guns against 20mms in 1942, and received search and fire-control radars. Some had additional 20mm guns added. Atlantic ships had additional depth charge storage and more throwers, removing one quintuple torpedo mount. As time and availability permitted, starting in late 1942, these ships were equipped with 40mm twins, or alternatively for some time with a 28mm quad, and had open 5" guns (where used) replaced by enclosed mounts. Late in 1944, a number of ships received more AA guns instead of one quintuple mount. Between 1944 and 1945, twenty-four ships were rebuilt as fast minesweepers. Sixteen underwent Kamikaze refits in mid-1945. Armament varied. For examples, see below.

Service History
It is impossible to trace the service history of individual ships given the huge numbers concerned. Suffice it to say that ships of this class participated in every naval operation of World War II. Although most were scrapped in the 1940s, some were retained into the fifties. The majority of these destroyers was initially deployed to the Atlantic, while the later Fletchers went to fleet operations in the Pacific. However, as the Atlantic became less of a battlefield in 1944/45, many of the previously assigned destroyers went to the Pacific.

Ships in class: Benson-type
DD-421 Benson
DD-422 Mayo
DD-425 Madison
DD-426 Lansdale
DD-427 Hilary P. Jones
DD-428 Charles F. Hughes
Gleaves-type
DD-423 Gleaves
DD-424 Niblack

Livermore-type
DD-429 Livermore
DD-430 Eberle
DD-431 Plunkett
DD-432 Kearny
DD-433 Gwin
DD-434 Meredith
DD-435 Grayson
DD-436 Monssen
DD-437 Woolsey
DD-438 Ludlow
DD-439 Edison
DD-440 Ericsson
DD-441 Wilkes
DD-442 Nicholson
DD-443 Swanson
DD-444 Ingraham
Bristol-type
DD-453 Bristol
DD-454 Ellyson
DD-455 Hambleton
DD-456 Rodman
DD-457 Emmons
DD-458 Macomb
DD-459 Laffey
DD-460 Woodworth
DD-461 Forrest
DD-462 Fitch
DD-463 Corry
DD-464 Hobson
DD-483 Aaron Ward
DD-484 Buchanan
DD-485 Duncan
DD-486 Lansdowne
DD-487 Lardner
DD-488 McCalla
DD-489 Mervine
DD-490 Quick
DD-491 Farenholt
DD-492 Bailey
DD-493 Carmick
DD-494 Doyle
DD-495 Endicott
DD-496 McCook
DD-497 Frankford
DD-598 Bancroft

DD-599 Barton
DD-600 Boyle
DD-601 Champlin
DD-602 Meade
DD-603 Murphy
DD-604 Parker
DD-605 Caldwell
DD-606 Coghlan
DD-607 Frazier
DD-608 Gansevoort
DD-609 Gillespie
DD-610 Hobby
DD-611 Kalk
DD-612 Kendrick
DD-613 Laub
DD-614 Mackenzie
DD-615 McLanahan
DD-616 Nields
DD-617 Ordronaux
DD-618 Davison
DD-619 Edwards
DD-620 Glennon
DD-621 Jeffers
DD-622 Maddox
DD-623 Nelson
DD-624 Baldwin
DD-625 Harding
DD-626 Satterlee
DD-627 Thompson
DD-628 Welles
DD-632 Cowie
DD-633 Knight
DD-634 Doran
DD-635 Earle
DD-636 Butler
DD-637 Gherardi
DD-638 Herndon
DD-639 Shubrick
DD-640 Beatty
DD-641 Tillman
DD-645 Stevenson
DD-646 Stockton
DD-647 Thorn
DD-648 Turner

Stats Displacements:
Standard:
Benson etc.: 1,911 tons
Gleaves: 1,838 tons
Full:
Benson etc.: 2,591 tons
Gleaves: 2,572 tons
Length:
Benson etc.: 106,09m / 348ft 1 13/16"
Gleaves: 106,08m / 348ft 3 5/8"
Beam:
Benson etc.: 11,02m / 36ft 2 1/8"
Gleaves: 11m / 36ft 1 3/8"
Draft (Full Load):
Benson etc.: 4,10m / 13ft 9 3/4"
Gleaves: 4,97m / 13 8 1/4"
Crew (Officers/Men):
Benson etc.: 10 / 182
Gleaves: 9 / 199
Endurance:
Benson etc.: 3,880nm at 20 knots
Gleaves: 3,630 at 20 knots
Speed: 35 knots
Armor Belt: No belt armor
Deck: No deck armor
Barbettes: No barbette armor
Conning Tower: No conning tower armor
Armament and Equipment (As designed):
Main: 5 x 127mm L/38, in single mounts: two forward, superfiring, one in front of after deck house, two aft, superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 6 x 12.7mm L/90 in single mounts
Torpedoes: 10 533mm torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 2 x depth charge track, 10 depth charges
(Ingraham, May 1942):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 6 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 10 533mm torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track

(Quick, March 1944):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 4 x 40mm L/56 in two twin mounts, 7 x 20mm L/70
Torpedoes: 5 533mm torpedo tubes in one quintuple centerline mount
Depth Charges: 6 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track

(Parker, June 1945, after AAW1945):
Main: 4 x 127mm L/38, two forward superfiring, two aft superfiring
Secondary: None
AA: 12 x 40mm L/56 in two quad and two twin mounts, 8 x 20mm L/70 in two twin and two single mounts
Torpedoes: None
Depth Charges: 4 x K-Gun, 2 x depth charge track
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Gaming for 36 Years.

Jameson · **Jameson**

Well, it looks like you hijacked my thread. I really don't mind though, you put all the info down I was too lazy to write. Laughing

Just remember, the stats I came up with were for the destroyers in December of 41. Barely any in the classes had gotten their 20mm, 40mm or K-guns yet.
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Jameson · **Jameson**

Also, it is important to point out that many of the Wickes/Clemson class had been modified to fast destroyer transports or fast minesweepers by this time.

Lothar, I am impressed you got all the classes sorted properly. Many people get them mixed up as they are so similar. Wink

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lotharlutjens · **lotharlutjens**

I wasn't trying to Hi-Jack, I had just happened to be researching Destroyers and Destroyer Tactics for DR and had come across these lists, they weren't WWI, so I kinda skipped past them. Then when I saw your thread and ND posted that he would like more specific data I thought,"What the hey, I'll just help this out" because I knew right where all that Data was. I am very interested in these Destroyers, a proper Guadalcanal campaign would need many of these. This goes for the Japanese as well, not every Japanese DD was a Fubuki or a Kagero.
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Gaming for 36 Years.

Jameson · **Jameson**

NeuralDream · **NeuralDream**

For destroyer classes smaller than the Javelin (1690 tons standard disp.), we can't be sure for the armour, so let's do only these ones.

Mahan, Porter, Sims etc.
2/7/2 all of them.
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