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.

It was originally planed to build 50 "improved" destroyers: order on first 20 ships has been given out in November, 1916 (DD75-94), a month later the repeated order on remained 30 (DD95-124) has followed. Ships were built within the limits of the three-year program of 1916. Introduction of the USA into the First World War has led to increase in the order at 61 ship (DD125-185). Wickes class destroyers were built under two detailed designs: one has been developed by Bethlehem and applied on its yards (DD79-92, 95-112, 161-185), another by Bath Iron Works and used by all ship-building yards, except Bethlehem, and became known as "Liberty" (DD75-78, 93, 94, 113-160, 181-185). Among themselves these projects differed both by type of boilers and turbines, and a number of features of technological character. Usage of various machineries has led to that the ship built on various yards significantly differed by endurance. "Liberty" built by Bath Iron Works passed 3178 miles at 20kts speed. Bethlehem-built destroyers built by Fore River can made 3400 miles on 15kts and ships built by other Bethlehem`s branches had endurance only 2300-2400 miles at the same speed.

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.

Modernizations: 1918 - 1919, all destroyers early completed: - 1 x 1 - 76/23 or 2 x 1 - 37/(30 - 43); + (1 - 2) x 1 - 76/23 Mk 14

1920, DM Stribling, Murray, Israel, Luce, Maury, Lansdale, Mahan, Hart, Ingraham, Ludlow, Burns, Anthony, Sproston, Rizal; 1930, Gamble; 1931, Montgomery, Breese, Ramsay: - (1 - 2) x 1 - 76/23, 4 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCT; + 80 mines

1930s, all survived: + 2 x 1 - 12.7/90 (only 1 76mm gun on board)

Blakeley 25/5/1942 was damaged by a torpedo from German submarine at Martinique and repaired till September, 1942. Stansbury 8/11/1942 was damaged on a mine during operation "Torch". Montgomery 17/10/1944 was badly damaged on a mine E from Palau. Talbot 10/11/1944 was damaged at explosion of ammunition carrying by cargo carrier Mount Hood. Gamble 18/2/1945 was badly damaged by Japanese aircraft at Iwojima, for some reasons her repair have not started and 16/7/1945 she was scuttled off Guam.

As a result of attacks of Japanese aircraft and kamikazes at Okinawa following ships received damages of various severity level: Dorsey (26/3/1945, heavy), Rathburne (27/4/1945, heavy), Tattnall (20/5/1945), Roper (25/5/1945, heavy).

Dorsey 9/10/1945 during a typhoon was wrecked at coast of Okinawa and ultimately destroyed 1/1/1946. Hogan 8/11/1945 was sunk as a target off San Diego.