Aylwin 1942
Dale 1944
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| DD348 | Farragut (ex-Smith, ex-Farragut) | 1448 | Bethlehem, Quincy | 9/1932 | 15.3.1934 | 6/1934 | stricken 1.1947 |
| DD349 | Dewey (ex-Phelps, ex-Dewey) | 154 | Bath Iron Wks | 12/1932 | 28.7.1934 | 10/1934 | stricken 11.1945 |
| DD350 | Hull | New York N Yd, Brooklyn | 3/1933 | 31.1.1934 | 1/1935 | foundered 18.12.1944 | |
| DD351 | MacDonough | Boston N Yd, Charlestown | 5/1933 | 22.8.1934 | 3/1935 | stricken 11.1945 | |
| DD352 | Worden | Puget Sound N Yd, Bremerton | 12/1932 | 27.10.1934 | 1/1935 | wrecked 12.1.1943 | |
| DD353 | Dale | New York N Yd, Brooklyn | 2/1934 | 23.1.1935 | 6/1935 | stricken 11.1945 | |
| DD354 | Monaghan | Boston N Yd, Charlestown | 11/1933 | 9.1.1935 | 4/1935 | foundered 18.12.1944 | |
| DD355 | Aylwin | Philadelphia N Yd | 9/1933 | 10.7.1934 | 3/1935 | stricken 11.1945 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
1358 |
|
Displacement full, t |
2064 |
|
Length, m |
101.8 wl 104.0 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
10.4 |
|
Draught, m |
3.53 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Curtis geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
42800 |
|
Max speed, kts |
36.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 600 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 6500 (12) |
|
Armament |
5 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 4 - 533 TT |
| Electronic equipment | QCA sonar |
|
Complement |
160 |
Project history: After mass-building of Clemson and Wickes classes destroyers in the end of the First World War and soon after the line of development of USN destroyers was interrupted on many years. All means, outlined to navy, expended to building of aircraft carriers, 'Washington' cruisers and battleships modernizations. The usual practice explained as reluctance of Congress to spend money to "unpresentable" ships, and indistinct sights of seamen on what destroyers are necessary to them, has led to that to the beginning of 1930th 'flushdeckers', making a basis of easy naval forces, became outdated.
Design works of new generation destroyer have begun in the first half of 1928 after by the General Board defined her main specifications: 4 127/51mm main guns, one 76mm AA gun, 12 TTs, larger, than at previous classes, dimensions (for improvement of seaworthiness and endurance). Using of machinery with the raised steam parameters (temperature and pressure) was provided. However it was soon found out what to hurry up with design works is not necessary, as it became known, that Congress does not plan assignment on destroyers building neither in 1928, nor in 1929 FYs. Supporters of installation of DP guns artillery used it, they offered replacement of 127/51mm SP guns by AA 127/25mm guns with corresponding fire control system. Similar replacement with that fact was proved, that shooting of destroyer on the big distances will be hardly effective because of its instability as gun platform, and on small distances short-barrelled antiaircraft 127/25mm guns do not yield to long-barrelled 127/51mm.
Designers returned to design work in early 1930. By the end of year some variants with standard displacement from 1350 to 1850t were ready. 127/25mm AA guns were used as main calibre, however soon have refused: by this time the new DP 127/38mm guns were ready which so exceeded short-barrelled 127/25mm gun that has followed immediate deciding to rearm designed ships. Simultaneously three triple TT have given way to two quadruple.
The ultimate variant of new destroyer design was ready in March, 1931. There was a full withdrawal from the ideas included in 'flushdeckers': all armament placed in a centreline, flushdeck hull was refused in favour of more traditional with a forecastle. With a view of the greatest possible economy of displacement longitudinal framing was provided and wide usage of welding instead of a riveting. For the same reasons only two fwd guns had enclosed mounts, aft mounts were opened. Light AA armament was limited by 4 12.7mm MGs, and anti-submarine by sonar and two DCRs (in a wartime installation of additional DCT was planed, for what the deck had necessary reinforcements).
The detailed design was developed by Bethlehem (usual practice of naval shipbuilding of the USA at that time: the Bureau of Construction prepared a sketch design, and working plans were fulfilled by one of private contractors).
Modernizations: mid-1941, all: + 2 DCR (14)
1942-1944, almost all survived: + SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars
5 - 9.1942, all: - 1 x 1 - 127/38 (No 3), 4 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 4 DCT (48 DC at all)
late 1942, all: - 3 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2. Full displacement was 2307-2335t.
1/1946, DD348: 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 21, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (48), SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars, QCA sonar
Naval service: Worden during landing at Aleutian 12.1.1943 was wrecked on coastal rocks at Amchitka island. Hull and Monaghan 18.12.1944 were lost during a typhoon off Luzon.
MacDonough 10.5.1943 was damaged in collision with destroyer-minelayer Sicard (engine rooms and aft boiler room were foundered) and was under repair till the end of a year.
Monaghan 1937
© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15