From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944. They were built by shipyards across the United States for service in World War II, and some served during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Ironically, many were sold to the very countries they had fought against: Italy, Germany, and Japan, as well as other navies, where they would go on to have even longer, distinguished careers. Several others were cancelled prior to being laid down.

The Fletcher class was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and popular with the destroyer men themselves. Compared to earlier classes built for the Navy, they carried a significant increase in anti-aircraft (AA) weapons and other weaponry, which caused displacements to rise. They also contained a flush deck which added to structural stability although it did make them rather cramped. The increased displacement allowed a heavier and a larger number of armaments to be carried as necessary. Throughout the course of World War II, the number of AA weaponry increased resulting in five twin 40 mm Bofors plus seven 20 mm weapons by 1945. Three were built (out of 6 planned) with aircraft catapults resulting in the deletion of one 5-inch mount and the after set of torpedo tubes, but this was not a success in operation and was not repeated. Those that were built in this configuration (Pringle, Stevens, Halford) were later converted to the normal configuration.

Seventeen were lost during the war and those left were put into reserve. A few were modified in 1945, replacing one set of torpedo tubes with greater AA armament.

With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. During this time 39 were refitted, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. Others carried trainable hedgehogs.

Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid 1950s, including those of: Argentina - five, Brazil - seven, Chile - two, Colombia - one, Greece - six, Italy - three, Japan - two, Mexico - two, Peru - two, South Korea - three, Spain - five, Taiwan - four, Turkey - five and West Germany - six. Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. The last Fletcher in service, BAM Cuitlahuac (ex-John Rodgers), left the Mexican navy in 2002, meaning that the total service life of the Fletchers stretched into the 21st century!

The Allen M. Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers were derivatives of the Fletcher class.

Profile of a Fletcher-class destroyer

diagram of Fletcher-class destroyer

General Characteristics (Baseline Fletcher class)

• Displacement: 2,050 tons (2,500 full load)
• Length: 376.5 ft
• Beam: 39.5 ft
• Draft: 12.5 ft
• Propulsion:
  • 4 Babcock & Wilcox oil fired boilers,
  • 2 General Electric geared steam turbines,
  • 2 screws
• Speed: 36.5 knots @ 60,000 shp
• Armament:
  • 5 5 inch (127 mm) / 38 cal. guns,
  • 6–10 40 mm Bofors AA guns (early ships carried 4 1.1 in guns)
  • 7–10 20 mm AA guns
  • 10 21" torpedo tubes (two quintuple launchers)
  • 6 K guns for depth charges
  • 2 depth charge racks
  • Complement: 329

External links

• Fletcher-class destroyers at Destroyer History Trust
• Destroyers Online, Fletcher class
• USS Cassin Young website
• Fletcher-class facts, USS Bush website