_at_anchor_1928.jpg) USSBarker in 1928 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Clemson class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Wickes class |
| Succeeded by | Farragut class |
| Subclasses | Town class |
| Built | 1918–1922 |
| In service | 1919–1948 |
| Planned | 162 |
| Completed | 156 |
| Cancelled | 6 (DD-200 to DD-205) |
| Lost | 20 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 314 ft 4.5 in (95.822 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft 11.5 in (9.436 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 35.5knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph) |
| Range |
|
| Crew |
|
| Armament |
|
TheClemson class was a series of 156destroyers (six more were cancelled and never begun) which served with theUnited States Navy from afterWorld War I throughWorld War II.
TheClemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built byNewport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company,New York Shipbuilding Corporation,William Cramp & Sons,Bethlehem Steel Corporation,Mare Island Naval Shipyard,Norfolk Naval Shipyard andBath Iron Works, some quite rapidly. TheClemson class was a minor redesign of theWickes class for greater fuel capacity and was the last pre-World War II class offlush-deck destroyers to be built for theUnited States. Until theFletcher-classdestroyer, theClemsons were the most numerous class of destroyers commissioned in the United States Navy and were known colloquially as "flush-deckers”, "four-stackers" or "four-pipers".[check quotation syntax]
As finally built, theClemson class would be a fairly straightforward expansion of theWickes-class destroyers. While theWickes class had given good service there was a desire to build a class more tailored towards the anti-submarine role, and as such several design studies were completed, mainly about increasing the ships' range. These designs included a reduction in speed to between 26–28knots (48–52 km/h; 30–32 mph) by eliminating two boilers, freeing up displacement fordepth charges and more fuel. This proposal foreshadowed thedestroyer escorts ofWorld War II.[2]
Upgrading the gun armament from 4-inch (102 mm) to 5-inch (127 mm) guns was also considered, but only five ships (DD-231 to DD-235) were armed with 5-inch guns. In addition, the tapered stern of theWickes-class destroyers resulted in a large turning radius and a correction to this defect was also sought, although this was not corrected in the final design. In the end the General Board decided the 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) speed be retained so as to allow theClemson class to be used as a fleet escort. The pressing need for destroyers overruled any change that would slow production compared to the proceedingWickes class. Wing tanks forfuel oil were installed on either side of the ships to increase the operational range.[3] This design choice meant the fuel oil would be stored above the waterline and create additional vulnerability, but the Navy felt a 4,900-nautical-mile (9,100 km; 5,600 mi) range was worth the risk.[3] Additional improvements included provisions for 5-inch guns to be installed at a later date, an enlarged rudder to help reduce the turn radius, and an additional3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun on the after deck-house.[4]
The class resulted from aGeneral Board recommendation for further destroyers to combat the submarine threat, culminating in a total of 267Wickes- andClemson-class destroyers completed. However, the design of the ships remained optimized for operation with thebattleship fleet.[5]
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The main armament was the same as theWickes class: four4-inch (102 mm)/50 caliber guns and twelve 21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes. TheMark 8 torpedo was initially equipped, and probably remained the standard torpedo for this class, as 600 Mark 8 torpedoes were issued to the British in 1940 as part of theDestroyers for Bases Agreement.[6]
Although the design provided for twoanti-aircraft (AA) guns, most ships carried a single3-inch (76 mm)/23 caliber AA gun, typically on the aft deckhouse. A frequent modification was replacing the aft 4-inch gun with the 3-inch gun to make more room for thedepth charge tracks.[3]Anti-submarine (ASW) armament was added during or after construction. Typically, two depth charge tracks were provided aft, along with aY-gun depth charge projector forward of the aft deckhouse.[7]
Despite the provision for 5-inch guns, only seven ships were built with an increased gun armament.USS Hovey andUSS Long had twin 4-inch/50 mounts for a total of eight guns, while DD 231–235 had four5-inch (127 mm)/51 caliber guns in place of the 4-inch guns.
As with the precedingWickes class, the fleet found that the tapered cruiser stern, which made for a nice depth charge deployment feature, dug into the water and increased the turning radius, thus hamperinganti-submarine work.[8][9] While an increased rudder size helped, the answer would be in a redesigned stern, but this was not implemented. They were reported to be prone to heavy rolling in light load conditions.[7] The flush deck gave the hull great strength but this also made the deck very wet.[8][9]
156Clemson-class destroyers were built, with an additional six cancelled.[10]
Fourteen ships of the class were involved in theHonda Point Disaster (aka Point Pedernales) in 1923, of which seven were lost.
Many never saw wartime service, as a significant number were decommissioned in 1930 and scrapped as part of theLondon Naval Treaty. About 40Clemson-class destroyers withYarrow boilers were scrapped or otherwise disposed of in 1930–31, as these boilers wore out quickly in service. Flush-deckers in reserve were commissioned as replacements.[11] In 1936 only some 169 of the flush deck destroyers would be left, fourCaldwell class and the restWickes andClemson class.[12] In 1937 fourClemson class were converted todestroyer minelayers (hull classification symbol DM), joining severalWickes-class ships in this role.
Nineteen were transferred to theRoyal Navy in 1940 as part of theDestroyers for Bases Agreement, where they became part of theTown class. Others were upgraded or converted tohigh-speed transports (APD), high-speedminesweepers (DMS),destroyer minelayers (DM), orseaplane tenders (AVD) and served throughWorld War II. FourWickes-class DM conversions and the fourClemson-class DM conversions survived to serve in World War II.
Most ships remaining in service during World War II were rearmed with dual-purpose3-inch/50 caliber guns to provide better anti-aircraft protection.[13] The AVDseaplane tender conversions received two guns; the APD high-speed transport, DMminelayer, and DMS minesweeper conversions received three guns, and those retaining destroyer classification received six.[14] Their original low-angle4-inch/50 caliber guns (Mark 9) were transferred toDefensively Equipped Merchant Ships for anti-submarine protection.[15] For the ships converted to minesweepers, the twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes were replaced by minesweeping gear.[16]
USS Stewart was scuttled atSoerabaja on 2 March 1942, following the surrender of theDutch East Indies to the Japanese. She was raised, repaired and recommissioned asJapanese patrol boatPB-102 by theImperial Japanese Navy. She was surrendered to the US Navy following the end of World War II and was used as a target for aircraft. In addition, 17Clemson-class destroyers were lost during the war.
The wrecks of threeClemson-class destroyers remain in theSan Francisco Bay area,USS Corry a few miles north ofMare Island Navy Yard on theNapa River,USS Thompson in the southern part of the Bay where it was used as a bombing target in World War II,[17] and the aforementioned USSStewart in what is now the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.[18]
A number of ships in the class were christened by the initial batch of women who enlisted in the Navy asYeoman (F) in World War I. TheUSSHatfield (DD-231) was sponsored by Mrs. J. Edmond Haugh (Helen Brooks) who had been a Yeoman during the Great War.
