UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

Ship project history: History of destroyers of this numerous family (272 ships were built), known as "flushdeckers", or "fourfunnells", begun in 1915, when leading particulars of the ships of the FY1916 program (DD69-74) were defined. The structure and armament arrangement have borrowed at previous class destroyers of Sampson class, but hull was designed the new. At the initiative of the Bureau of construction it has been fulfilled to flush-deck scheme, notably being dropped from a bow aftward (a depth in ship ends was the same, as on Sampson). Breadth of hull amidships have a little increased, while ship draught, on the contrary, was decreased. At the expense of new flush-deck architecture American designers tried to moderate susceptibility of new destroyers to pitching and roll (at the expense of some lightening of ship ends) and to raise a longitudinal strength. As because of decreased draught screws blades projected below a keel line, last has received a characteristic ledge in aft part. Project of new destroyer provided transition to triple-shaft machinery where HP cruising turbine worked on the central shaft. Similar decision allowed at bigger on 1000hp power to raise machinery efficiency. The sketch design provided a conclusion of smoke ducts from four boilers into three funnels (wide second funnel pooled two smoke ducts).

"Prototypes" were followed by destroyers of the "improved" class (Wickes). Machinery power increased in one and a half time was their basic difference from predecessors, that allowed to raise speed from 30 to 35kts. Larger weight of machinery has led to displacement growth on 90-100t. In remaining this project repeated four-funnel "prototypes". Unique change in architecture of the hull became abandoning from a cruiser stern and straight keel, without characteristic ledge.

Practically simultaneously with the order for 111 destroyers of Wickes class in 1918 the order for 162 ships of Clemson class has followed. Their main difference became increased approximately on 100t fuel stowage and, accordingly, increased full displacement. The wartime has left traces on conditions of commissioning: speed trials were excluded from contract conditions, they were changed by the requirement of development of a designed machinery power. These destroyers were built under three slightly differing projects: Bethlehem (DD251-335), Bath Iron Works (DD206-250, 336-347) and Newport News (DD186-205), the order for last six later was cancelled.

Some Clemson class ships at commission have received strengthened gun armament that spoke by occurrence of German submarines armed by 150mm guns in the end of the First World war. Five ships (DD231-235) have received the same number of 127/51mm guns instead of 102mm, and two (DD208 and 209) received 102mm guns in twin mounts.

Trials of the first completed destroyers have appeared to some extent discouraging: both "prototypes", and followed them serial "flushdeckers" have appeared notably "wetter", in comparison with predecessors, and the pitching even has increased, at the expense of narrower contours of ship ends. In addition, Yarrow boilers installed on many Clemson class ships, were too unsuccessfull

1937, DM Tracy, Preble, Sicard, Pruitt: - 4 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCT; + 80 mines

1938, Childs, Williamson; 1939, Clemson, Goldsborough, George E. Badger, Hulbert, William B. Preston; 1940, McFarland, Belknap, Osmond Ingram, Gillis, Greene, Ballard, Thornton: were converted to seaplane tenders: 2 boilers and its funnels were removed (with following data: 1202/1699t, 12500-13500hp, 25kt, 429t oil, 101 pers., 2 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90, seaplanes)

Reuben James 31/10/1941 was sunk in Northern Atlantic by German submarine U552 one month prior to the official introduction of the USA into the Second World War. Truxtun 18/2/1942 was wrecked during a storm at Newfoundland coast. Peary 19/2/1942 was sunk at Darwin (Australia) by Japanese D3A bombers from aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu. Pillsbury 1/3/1942 was sunk S off Java by Japanese cruisers Atago and Maya and destroyers. Edsall 1/3/1942 was sunk S off Java by Japanese battlecruisers Hiei and Kirishima. Pope 1/3/1942 was sunk in Java sea by Japanese cruisers Myoko and Ashigara. Stewart 20/2/1942 was damaged in Badoeng strait by Japanese ships and gone to dock in Surabaya for repair where 20/2/1942 she capsized, next damages has received 1/3/1942 at raid of Japanese aircraft. 2/3/1942, at surrender of Surabaya, she was scuttled. In February, 1943 she was salvaged by Japanese, repaired and under number 102 (patrol No102, P102) in September, 1943 was commissioned by IJN. After capitulation of Japan she was returned to the USA and 29/10/1945 formally commissioned under a former index DD224. She was stricken 17/4/1946 and sunk as target 24/5/1946. Sturtevant 26/4/1942 was lost at coast of Florida being stricken by American mine. On Wasmuth 29/12/1942 off Aleutian islands during a storm there was an explosion of own DCs, destroyer foundered. Borie 2/11/1943 was lost N off Azores after ramming of German submarine U405. Noa 12/9/1944 was lost at Palau as a result of collision with destroyer Fullman. Perry was lost 13/9/1944 on mines near to Palau. Hovey and Long were sunk by Japanese aircraft 6/1/1945 at Leyte island.

McFarland 16/10/1942 was damaged at Guadalcanal by Japanese aircraft. Parrott 2/5/1944 was badly damaged near to Norfolk at collision with a merchant vessel, never repaired and laid up in June, 1944. Brooks 6/1/1945 was damaged by kamikaze at Luzon. Clemson 10/1/1945 was damaged at collision with battleship Pennsylvania. Belknap was damaged by kamikaze at coast of Philippines 11/1/1945 and never repaired. Thornton 5/4/1945 was badly damaged at collision with tankers Ashtabula and Escalante, run ashore and never repaired.

As a result of attacks of Japanese aircraft and kamikazes at Okinawa following ships received damages of various severity level: Gilmer (25/3/1945), Southard (27/3/1945 and 27/5/1945), Hopkins (4/5/1945), Barry (25/5/1945, heavy). It has been decided not to repair latter ship, and use her as decoy for Japanese aircraft, she was sunk in this role 21/6/1945.

Southard 9/10/1945 during a typhoon was wrecked at coast of Okinawa and ultimately destroyed 14/11/1946.