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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

TORPEDO SHIPS

MAHAN destroyers (1936-1944)

Dunlap 1940

Conyngham 1944

Dunlap 1944

Project history: Yet on design stage Farragut class destroyers were criticised by USN chief staff for insufficient, from their point of view, torpedo armament. At discussion on the General Board about requirements to new destroyers which will be built under the FY1933 programme, the judgement of supporters of strengthening of torpedo armament has prevailed, and it was offered to prepare the design with 12 TTs. Soon a sketch design with 4 triple TT banks, arranged aside, and 5 single 127/38 SP guns, was ready. Last circumstance has called the sharp criticism from the chief of Department of Naval operations (analogue of HQ chief) and this design has been turned down.

In March, 1933 the new compromise variant was ready. By insignificant increase in a hull breadth and re-planning of an armament arrangement (main gun No3 was transferred to aft superstructure, and two of three TTs have placed aside behind aft funnel) it was possible to achieve desirable result, however wider hull conducted to speed decrease that was considered as unacceptable. The way out has been found by Gibbs and Сох Co., developed the compact machinery with sufficient high-pressure boilers and first-ever (on destroyers) double-reduction geared turbines. Though new machinery was appeared almost on 30t more heavy, than on Farragut class, it was on some thousands hp more powerful and much more sufficient: with 50t less fuel stowage Mahan had the same endurance as Farragut.

Under the FY1933 programme 16 ships were built, two more (DD384 and 385) under the FY1934 program. Latters differed from other class having both fwd guns on ring based mounts for the first time in USN: that has allowed to made easier ammunition feeding and to fulfil a mount completely enclosed. Often these ships are outlined as separate Dunlap class.

During raid of Japanese aircraft to Pearl Harbour 7.12.1941 Downes and Cassin, laying in a drydock, were badly damaged by fire. At scuttling of dock they have received additional damages. Hulls of both destroyers became so deformed, that actually were not subjects to repair. Rather undamaged have appeared only machinery and part of armament. Formally both destroyers have been repaired (though hulls have built anew, they have the same numbers, therefore from the bureaucratic point of view remained the same ships). Both new-built ships differed from other destroyers of the class by low opened "Admiralty" bridge, two TTs at the centreline and a new fire control system.

Modernizations: early 1942, Mahan, Cummings, Drayton, Lamson, Flusser, Reid, Case, Tucker, Cushing, Perkins, Smith, Preston, Dunlap, Fanning: - 1 x 1 - 127/38, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 7 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 4 DCT (44 DC at all)

early 1942, Conyngham: - 1 x 1 - 127/38, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 4 x 2 - 12.7/90, 4 DCT (44 DC at all)

late 1942, Shaw: - 1 x 1 - 127/38, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 1 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 4 DCT (44 DC at all)

1942 - 1944, almost all survived (except Cassin (ii), Downes (ii)): + SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars

1.1943 - mid-1944, Mahan, Cummings, Drayton, Lamson, Flusser, Reid, Case, Perkins, Smith, Dunlap, Fanning: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

spring 1943, Conyngham: - 4 x 2 - 12.7/90, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

late 1943 - mid-1944, Shaw: - 1 x 4 - 28/75; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

1944, Dunlap: - 1 x 4 - 533 TT

1.1945, Lamson: - 2 x 2 - 40/56, 2 x 4 - 533 TT; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

6.1945, Shaw: - 1 x 1 - 127/38, 5 x 1 - 20/70, 3 x 4 - 533 TT; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4

8.1945, Lamson: - 1 x 4 - 533 TT

1.1946, DD365, 368, 370, 371, 378, 385: 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 21, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 3 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (44), SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars, QCA sonar

1.1946, DD367: 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 21, 2 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (44), SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars, QCA sonar

1.1946, DD372, 375: 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 21, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (44), SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars, QCA sonar

DD384: 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 (44), SC, SG, Mk 12.22 radars, QCA sonar

Naval service: During raid of Japanese aircraft to Pearl Harbor 7.12.1941 Downes and Cassin, laying in a drydock, were badly damaged by fire. At scuttling of dock they have received additional damages. Hulls of both destroyers became so deformed, that actually were not subject to repair. Rather undamaged have appeared only machinery and part of armament. Formally both destroyers have been repaired (though hulls have built anew, they have the same numbers, therefore from the bureaucratic point of view remained the same ships).

Tucker 4.8.1942 was lost on American minefield in New Gebrides area. Cushing 13.11.1942 off Guadalcanal was sunk by Japanese battleship Hiei, cruiser Nagara and destroyer Teruzuki. Preston off Guadalcanal 14.11.1942 was sunk by Japanese cruiser Nagara and destroyers. Perkins 29.11.1943 was lost as a result of collision with Australian cargo vessel Duntroon off New Guinea. Mahan was damaged 27.10.1942 in collision with battleship South Dakota, 7.12.1944 off Philippines coast she received hits of three kamikazes and then should be scuttled. Practically in the same place and at the same time following ships received damages of various severity level at kamikaze attacks: Drayton (on December, 4th and 5), Lamson (7.12.1944). Reid 11.12.1944 was sunk by kamikaze at Mindanao.

Fanning 22.1.1942 was damaged in collision with destroyer Gridley. Shaw 7.12.1941 during raid of Japanese aircraft to Pearl Harbor received an air bomb hit, fire called explosion of fwd magazines, fore end was completely destroyed; repair lasted till the end of 1942; 2.4.1945 she was damaged at beaching, and so heavy, that its repair recognised inexpedient. Smith 26.10.1942 was badly damaged by Japanese aircraft and was under repair till spring of 1943.

Lamson 25.7.1946 was sunk at nuclear tests off Bikini. Conyngham was sunk as target 2.7.1948 during new weapons tests.

Drayton 1936

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15