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Old DDs in 42-43?


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#1 Aman

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Posted 23 December 2013 - 10:56 PM

was perusing the fancy logs and looking over the older DDs.  Many like the Barker have huge differences, such as ten knots of speed, and I'm wondering what was done to slow it down so much since it lost two torpedo mounts, a secondary mount, and some AA.

 

A number of Wickes and Clemson class DDs have these changes.

 

Thanks, just interested in the history.



#2 Cpt M

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Posted 25 December 2013 - 06:32 PM

was perusing the fancy logs and looking over the older DDs.  Many like the Barker have huge differences, such as ten knots of speed, and I'm wondering what was done to slow it down so much since it lost two torpedo mounts, a secondary mount, and some AA.

 

A number of Wickes and Clemson class DDs have these changes.

 

Thanks, just interested in the history.

It's a fairly long story, but the short version is as follows....

 

At the end of WWI, the USN found itself with a very large number (250+) of built and building Clemson/Wickes class DDs (aka 'flush-deck four-stackers').  Post war, many of these ships went immediately into reserve since the number was far in excess of peace time needs.   Between 1919 and 1930, a large number of these reserve ships were scrapped (especially the short ranged boats.  The design was not known for long range, and some of the boats from certain yards were worse than others.  These were subject to early scrapping).  Nevertheless, even with the scrapping of the short legged boats and the loss or retirement of others, at the start of the 1930s the USN still had a large number of these DDs in reserve. 

 

It was the during the late 1930s, that the USN took some of these reserve hulls into hand and converted them to other roles (fast minesweeper (DMS), fast mine layer (DM), and seaplane tenders (AVD)).  These conversions required the removal of all the TTs, some of the 4" guns and one or two of the boiler rooms (resulting the removal of 1 or 2 stacks and a reduction in speed to 24kts) to free up space and weight for new equipment.  One more round of conversions was done just before and during WWII.  These would result in the Fast Attack Transports (APD) and ocean escorts.  The APDs were converted from many of the converted DMs and DMS' as well as ships brought out of reserve.  All would end up with 2 boilers (and 2 stacks) and a reduced armament and speed with the freed up space used for the equipment and men of a full Marine company.  In order to increase their range, the ocean escorts lost a boiler with the space used for additional fuel (resulting in a reduction in speed) and generally had their armament changed.

 

As the war progressed, some of the previously converted DMs and DMS' reverted to their prior DD roles (with the removal of the minelaying or mine sweeping gear).  Other ships were brought out of reserve and converted in full or part to DD escorts.  

 

Consequently, the Clemson/Wickes class quickly reflected a vast array of different armament, speeds and configurations,  Some kept all their boilers and 4" guns,  others lost 1-2 boliers and had their 4" guns replaced by 3" guns.  And others would fall somewhere in between.  

 

The service that these old, outdated hulls provided cannot be underestimated.  The APD conversions were in the thick of every landing in the Med and the Pacific while the long range escort conversions provided vital coverage for the North Atlantic convoys.  And in an interesting prelude of the future, one 'flush-deck' assigned to experimental work, was used to develop the modern CIC.           






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