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USSErben underway in the 1950s
Class overview
Name	Fletcher class 2100-ton destroyer
Builders	Bethlehem San Francisco, CA (18) Staten Island, NY (15) San Pedro, CA (10) Bath Iron Works, ME (31) Federal Shipbuilding, NJ (29) Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, WA (21) Boston Navy Yard, MA (14) Consolidated Steel, TX (12) Charleston Navy Yard, SC (10) Puget Sound Navy Yard, WA (8) Gulf Shipbuilding, AL (7)
Operators	United States Navy  Argentine Navy  Brazilian Navy  Chilean Navy  Colombian National Navy  Hellenic Navy  Italian Navy  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force  Mexican Navy  Peruvian Navy  Republic of Korea Navy  Spanish Navy  Republic of China Navy  Turkish Navy  German Navy
Preceded by	Gleaves class
Succeeded by	Allen M. Sumner class
Subclasses	Ariake class Zerstörer 1 class Fante class Lepanto class Chungmu class Brown class
Cost	$6 million
Built	3 March 1941 to 22 February 1945
In commission	4 June 1942 to 1971 (USN), 2001 (Mexico)
Completed	175
Cancelled	9
Lost	19, plus 6 not repaired[1]
Preserved	4 USS Cassin Young USS The Sullivans USS Kidd Greek destroyer Velos
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	2,050 tons (standard) 2,500 tons (full load)
Length	369.25 ft (112.55 m) wl, 376.5 ft (114.8 m) o/a
Beam	39.5 ft (12.0 m)
Draft	17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion	60,000 shp (45,000 kW); 4 oil-firedboilers; 2gearedsteam turbines; 2 screws
Speed	36.5knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range	5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[2]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 ×lifeboats
Complement	329 officers and enlisted
Sensors & processing systems	Mk37 GFCS SCsurveillance radar SGair-search radar
Armament	Varied; see§ Armament

TheFletcher class was aclass ofdestroyers built by theUnited States duringWorld War II. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlierdestroyer leader types of thePorter andSomers classes. Some went on to serve during theKorean War and into theVietnam War.^[3]

TheUnited States Navy commissioned 175Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other destroyer class, and the design was generally regarded as highly successful. TheFletchers had a design speed of 38knots (70 km/h; 44 mph) and a principal armament of five 5-inch (127 mm) guns in single mounts with ten 21-inch (530 mm)torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts.^[4] TheAllen M. Sumner andGearing classes wereFletcher derivatives.

The long-rangeFletcher-class ships performed every task asked of a destroyer, fromanti-submarine warfare andanti-aircraft warfare to surface action.^[5] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in thePacific and served almost exclusively in thePacific Theater of Operations during World War II, during which they accounted for 29Imperial Japanese Navy submarines sunk.^{[5][failed verification]} In a massive effort, theFletchers were built byshipyards across theUnited States, and, after World War II ended, 11 were sold to countries that they had been built to fight against:Italy,Germany, andJapan, as well as other countries, where they had even longer, distinguished careers. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S. and one inGreece.

TheFletcher class (named forAdmiral Frank F. Fletcher,Medal of Honor recipient) was the largestdestroyerclass ordered. It was also one of the most successful and popular with their crews. Compared to earlier classes built for theUnited States Navy, theFletchers carried a significant increase in lethal firepower, includinganti-aircraft (AA) weapons and increased armor plating; this contributed to greaterdisplacement and overall weight and height increase. Theirflush deck construction added structural strength; however, it did make them cramped, as less crew space was available below decks compared with a raisedforecastle.

TheFletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. The growth in the design was in part a response to the challenge that had dogged U.S. Navy designs in coping with long range operations in thePacific Ocean. They were also to carry no fewer than five 5 in (127 mm) guns and ten deck-mountedtorpedo tubes on the centerline, allowing them to meet any foreign design on equal terms. Compared to earlier designs, theFletchers were large, allowing them to adapt to evolving defensive priorities through the addition of two40-millimeter (1.6 in) Bofors quadruple mount AA guns as well as six20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon dual AA gun positions. This addition to the AA suite required the deletion of the forward quintuple torpedo mount, a change done under the 4 April 1945 anti-kamikaze program.^[6]

Fletchers were also much less top-heavy than previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. They were fortunate in catching American production at the right moment, becoming "the" destroyer design, with only theFletcher-class derivatives, theAllen M. Sumner andGearing classes, following it.^[5]

The first design inputs were in the fall of 1939 from questionnaires distributed around design bureaus and the Office of theChief of Naval Operations. The design parameters were the armaments desired of the next destroyer. As such, the questions were of how many guns, torpedoes, and depth charges were seen as desirable. Also asked was at what point would the design grow large enough to become a torpedo target instead of a torpedo delivery system.^[7] The answer that came back was that five 5 in (127 mm)dual-purpose guns, twelve torpedoes, and twenty-eightdepth charges would be ideal, while a return to the 1,500-ton designs of the past was seen as undesirable. Speed requirements varied from 35 to 38knots (65 to 70 km/h; 40 to 44 mph), and shortcomings in the earlierSims class, which were top-heavy and neededleadballast to correct this fault, caused theFletcher design to be widened by 18 in (46 cm) ofbeam.^[8] As with other previous U.S. flush deck destroyer designs, seagoing performance suffered. This was mitigated by deployment to the Pacific Ocean, which is relatively calm compared to the Atlantic.^[9]

To achieve 38 knots with a 500-ton increase in displacement, power was increased from 50,000 shp (37,000 kW) to 60,000 shp (45,000 kW) compared to the previousBenson andGleaves classes. TheFletchers featured air-encased boilers producing steam at 600 psi (4,100 kPa) and 850 °F (450 °C), with two 350kW steam turbine driven electrical generators and a 100 kW emergency diesel generator.^[10] Typically,Babcock & Wilcoxboilers andGeneral Electricgearedsteam turbines were equipped, although other designs and manufacturers were probably used to maximize the rate of production.^{[citation needed]}

Main gun armament was five dual-purpose5-inch/38 caliber (127 mm) guns in single Mk 30 turrets (numbered bow-to-stern from one to five), guided by aMark 37 Gun Fire Control System, including a Mk 12fire control radar and a Mk 22 height-finder (replaced by the circular Mk 25 radar postwar) linked by aMark 1A Fire Control Computer and stabilized by a Mk 6 8,500 rpmgyroscope.

Ten 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inchMark 15 torpedo. Anti-submarine armament was two racks for 300-pound (140 kg) depth charges at the stern and sixK-gun 300-pound depth charge throwers amidships.

Anti-aircraft armament initially was light, with a quadruple1.1"/75 caliber gun located in an elevated tub between the number three and four 5-inch gun mounts and six Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (two in front of and below the bridge and four amidships). In June 1942, the 1.1" gun was replaced by a twin Bofors 40 mm gun mount; in some ships, another twin mount may have been added on thefantail between the depth charge racks. In February 1943, the fantail-mounted Bofors was removed and one twin mount was placed on each side of the aft funnel, bringing the total number of 40 mm guns to six.

In 1942 and 1943, the number of Oerlikon cannons was steadily increased, with ships modified before leaving the shipyard with a seventh 20 mm mount in front of the bridge behind the number two 5" gun mount and anywhere from one to three mounts on theflying bridge depending upon the configuration of the ship. In combat, commanders often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20 mm cannons. In June and July 1943, two more twin Bofors mounts were added in place of the 20 mm cannons in front of and below the bridge, giving a total of ten 40 mm barrels. With this modification, the Oerlikon cannons were rearranged and their number was standardized at seven; four amidships and three in a heart-shaped mount on the fantail.

Due to the increasing threat fromkamikaze attacks, beginning in July 1945 some ships returning to the United States for refits received further anti-aircraft modifications. The forward set of torpedo tubes was removed, providing space to replace the two amidships twin 40 mm guns with two quadruple mountings (for a total of fourteen guns). The seven single 20 mm guns were replaced with six twin mounts (four amidships and two on the fantail.

Three (Pringle,Stevens andHalford) were modified during construction by deleting the rear torpedo tube mount and the number 3 5-inch gun mount and putting anaircraft catapult in the space. This alteration was not a success and was not repeated. These three destroyers were later converted to the regularFletcher-class configuration.

NineteenFletchers were lost during World War II; a further six more were severely damaged, evaluated asconstructive total losses, and not repaired.^[1] Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. Of the 25Fletchers sunk or deemed as constructive total losses, 17 were lost between March and July 1945 off Okinawa.

• De Haven, sunk by Japanese aircraft offSavo Island, 1 February 1943
• Strong, sunk by a torpedo fired byNiizuki operating in the Kula Gulf from 11 miles away, believed to have been the longest range torpedo kill in history, 5 July 1943
• Chevalier, scuttled after being torpedoed by a Japanese destroyer and accidentally rammed in theNaval Battle of Vella Lavella, 6 October 1943
• Brownson, sunk by Japanese aircraft offCape Gloucester, 26 December 1943
• Hoel, sunk by Japanese surface ships, primarily from Japanese battleship Yamato in theBattle off Samar, 25 October 1944
• Johnston, sunk by Japanese surface ships, primarily from Japanese battleship Yamato in theBattle off Samar, 25 October 1944
• Abner Read, sunk bykamikazes inLeyte Gulf, 1 November 1944
• Spence, foundered inTyphoon Cobra, 18 December 1944
• Halligan, lost to a mine off Okinawa, 26 March 1945
• Bush, sunk bykamikazes offOkinawa, 6 April 1945
• Colhoun, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 6 April 1945
• Pringle, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 16 April 1945
• Little, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 3 May 1945
• Luce, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 4 May 1945
• Morrison, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 4 May 1945
• Longshaw, scuttled after running aground and receiving heavy shore fire south ofNaha, Okinawa, 18 May 1945
• William D. Porter, sunk by akamikaze off Okinawa, 10 June 1945
• Twiggs, sunk bykamikazes off Okinawa, 16 June 1945
• Callaghan, sunk byYokosuka K5Ykamikaze biplanes off Okinawa, 28 July 1945
• Newcomb, damaged bykamikazes off Okinawa, 6 April 1945. Decommissioned, 20 November 1945. Sold for scrap, 28 March 1946.
• Leutze, damaged bykamikazes off Okinawa, 6 April 1945. Decommissioned, 6 December 1945. Sold for scrap, 17 June 1947.
• Hutchins, damaged by asuicide boat off Okinawa, 27 April 1945. Decommissioned, 30 November 1945. Sold for scrap, January 1948.
• Haggard, damaged bykamikazes off Okinawa, 29 April 1945. Decommissioned, 1 November 1945. Sold for scrap, 3 March 1946.
• Evans, damaged bykamikazes off Okinawa, 11 May 1945. Decommissioned, 7 November 1945. Sold for scrap, 11 February 1947.
• Thatcher, damaged bykamikazes off Okinawa, 20 May 1945. Decommissioned, 23 November 1945. Sold for scrap, 23 January 1948.

With the outbreak of theKorean War many were returned to active duty. During this time 39 were refitted under projectSCB 74A, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes to accommodate other weapons. A new ahead-throwing weapon calledWeapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. Others carried trainableHedgehogs. Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare; these reverted to destroyer (DD) designation in 1962.

Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including:

Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. The lastFletcher in service,BAMCuitlahuac (ex-John Rodgers), left theMexican navy in 2001, meaning the total service life of theFletchers stretched over almost six decades and into the 21st century.^[1]

FourFletcher-class destroyers are preserved as museum ships. Three are in the United States and one is in Greece, although onlyKidd retains her World War II configuration.

Velos is the only vessel still in commission.Velos alongsideG. Averof are ceremonially commissioned by the Hellenic Navy having Palaio Faliro as their base. Their crew are active Officers of Hellenic Navy.Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment (as modernized in 1950s). In September 2019 its crew took her to Thessaloniki for a short 3-month stay. As of October 2020^[update], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over 157.000 visitors.

All three American museum ships have been designated asNational Historic Landmarks.^[11][12][13]

• USS The Sullivans (DD-537), inBuffalo, New York
• USS Kidd (DD-661), inBaton Rouge, Louisiana
• USS Cassin Young (DD-793), inBoston, Massachusetts
• Velos (D16), inPalaio Faliro,Greece

• USS Fletcher (DD-445), inNational Museum of the United States Navy,Washington, D.C.^[14]
• USS Radford (DD-446), inUSSOrleck Naval Museum,Louisiana^[15]
• USS Nicholas (DD-449), in the Veterans Memorial Museum inChehalis, Washington^[16] and at Center House,Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.^[17]
• USS Renshaw (DD-499), inPortsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum,Virginia
• USS Foote (DD-511), inNational Museum of the Pacific War,Texas^[18]
• USSHailey (DD-556), on a naval base inRio de Janeiro,Brazil
• USS Smalley (DD-565), inFreedom Park,Omaha,Nebraska
• USS Dyson (DD-572), inHeritage Veterans Memorial Plaza,Texas^[19]
• USSIzard (DD-589), inOhio State University,Ohio^[20]
• USS Caperton (DD-650)), aboardUSS Kidd (DD-661), inBaton Rouge,Louisiana
• USS Knapp (DD-653), inColumbia River Maritime Museum,Oregon^[21]
• USS Chauncey (DD-667), aboardUSS Kidd (DD-661), inBaton Rouge,Louisiana
• USS Monssen (DD-798), inFreedom Park,Nebraska
• Zerstörer 1 (D170) orZerstörer 6 (D180), inBundeswehr Military History Museum,Dresden^[22]
• Zerstörer 6 (D180), inMarbeck-Heiden train station,Marbeck^[23]
• ROCS Ching Yang (DD-9), inYuanzhiluxiuxian Park,Tainan City^[24] and Táinán jūn shǐ gōngyuán Park,Tainan City
• ROKS Chungmu (DD-91), inYongsan War Memorial,Seoul^[25][26]
• TCGİçel (D-344), inDerince Naval Base,Kocaeli,Turkey.

In 2018,Kidd was used as the filming location for the fictional USSKeeling DD-548 (codenamedGreyhound), from C. S. Forester's novelThe Good Shepherd, in her appearance in the book's 2020 cinematic adaptation,Greyhound.^[27][28]

On 14 April 2022, museum ship USSThe Sullivans sank at her pier in the Buffalo Naval Park. The depth of water prevented complete sinking. Since then, the ship has been refloated and restoration of the ship's electric system and interior spaces is ongoing.^[29]

On 29 March 2023, theMuseum ofAntidictatorial Struggle HSVelos D-16 sustained damage caused by a storm while docked at Nea Paralia,Thessaloniki. Two tug boats were sent out to prevent further damage by holding her in place. After an investigation by the Ministry of Shipping,^[30] the damage was deemed non-threatening to the stability and durability of the ship.^[31] Similarly on 19 November 2023 strong gales caused its stern to slam onto the promenade of Nea Paralia resulting in the stern being breached. The day after repair operations began.^[31][32]

• SeeList ofFletcher-class destroyers

• List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy

• Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991).Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants.Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
• Davis, Rick E. & Wright, Christopher C. (2010). "USN Aircraft-Handling Destroyers 1919 to 1943, Part I: 1919–1941".Warship International.XLVII (3):265–278.ISSN 0043-0374.
• Friedman, Norman (2004).US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 1-55750-442-3.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 0-83170-303-2.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1965).U.S. Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Ltd.ISBN 0-7110-0157-X.
• Toby, A. Steven (2015). "Note on High Speed Destroyers' Maneuverability".Warship International.LII (1):24–27.ISSN 0043-0374.
•  This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

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• Fletcher-class destroyers atDestroyer History Foundation
• Tin Can Sailors @ destroyers.org –Fletcher class destroyerArchived 24 November 2015 at theWayback Machine
• Destroyers Online,Fletcher class

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