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Farragut class destroyer (1934)
Encyclopedia
The Farragut-class destroyers were a class of eight 1,365-ton destroyer
s in the United States Navy
.
Following provisions of the London Naval Treaty
of 1930, the ships were laid down between 1932 and completed by 1935. After more than 14 years since the last of the Clemson-class
was commissioned, the Farraguts were commissioned in 1934 and 1935.
These ships were slightly larger than their predecessors, faster and had only two stacks, versus the earlier four. They were the first of six classes of 1500-ton destroyers built in the 1930s to modernize the United States Navy, and all saw extensive front-line service during World War II
.
and Clemson class destroyer
were both long and comprehensive. Both classes had the pointed sterns that dug into the water greatly increasing turning diameter. This was addressed with the flat stern design on the Farragut class. The previous classes were flush deck designs, while providing good hull strength proved to be wet in high seas. This was addressed with the raised forecastle employed on the Farragut class. Cruising range on both the Wickes and Clemson classes had been a constant thorn in the side, the Clemson's wing tanks giving better range but at the cost of having high mounted fuel oil on both sides. The Farragut class corrected this by having a design range of 5800 nautical miles (10,741.6 km) as opposed to the Clemson's 4900 nautical miles (9,074.8 km). Steady improvements to both boilers and steam turbines allowed greater speed and a reduction from 4 to 2 smoke stacks.
The success of the efforts become clear with the testimony of Admiral Land, who was then the head of the Bureau of Construction and Repair
to the General Board, comparing the Farragut class to the Wickes and Clemson classes. Those advantages were:
This had all been accomplished on a displacement rise of only 22%.
. Worden
ran aground in Alaska
n waters in 1943. Hull
and Monaghan
were lost in a typhoon in 1944. The remaining five ships survived World War II
to be broken up for scrap shortly after the end of the war.
U.S. destroyers: an illustrated design history By Norman Friedman
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Following provisions of the London Naval Treaty
London Naval Treaty
The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...
of 1930, the ships were laid down between 1932 and completed by 1935. After more than 14 years since the last of the Clemson-class
Clemson class destroyer
The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...
was commissioned, the Farraguts were commissioned in 1934 and 1935.
These ships were slightly larger than their predecessors, faster and had only two stacks, versus the earlier four. They were the first of six classes of 1500-ton destroyers built in the 1930s to modernize the United States Navy, and all saw extensive front-line service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Design
The list of desired improvements from the earlier Wickes class destroyerWickes class destroyer
The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...
and Clemson class destroyer
Clemson class destroyer
The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...
were both long and comprehensive. Both classes had the pointed sterns that dug into the water greatly increasing turning diameter. This was addressed with the flat stern design on the Farragut class. The previous classes were flush deck designs, while providing good hull strength proved to be wet in high seas. This was addressed with the raised forecastle employed on the Farragut class. Cruising range on both the Wickes and Clemson classes had been a constant thorn in the side, the Clemson's wing tanks giving better range but at the cost of having high mounted fuel oil on both sides. The Farragut class corrected this by having a design range of 5800 nautical miles (10,741.6 km) as opposed to the Clemson's 4900 nautical miles (9,074.8 km). Steady improvements to both boilers and steam turbines allowed greater speed and a reduction from 4 to 2 smoke stacks.
The success of the efforts become clear with the testimony of Admiral Land, who was then the head of the Bureau of Construction and Repair
Bureau of Construction and Repair
The Bureau of Construction and Repair was the part of the United States Navy which from 1862 to 1940 was responsible for supervising the design, construction, conversion, procurement, maintenance, and repair of ships and other craft for the Navy...
to the General Board, comparing the Farragut class to the Wickes and Clemson classes. Those advantages were:
- The Farragut class was 3.3 knots faster
- The class had double the GM height (stability)
- They had 35% more armament; 5 × 5"/38 as opposed to the 4 × 4"/50
- All 8 torpedo tubes were on the preferred centerline position
- The guns were fed by power hoist from the magazines
- Sea-keeping was much improved over the flush deckers that preceded it.
- The radius of action increased by 450 nautical miles (833.4 km).
This had all been accomplished on a displacement rise of only 22%.
Armament
- As Built: They were the first to get five of the then new Mark 12 5"(127mm)/38cal gun installed in five Mark 21 dual-purpose single mounts. The forward two mounts (numbers 51 and 52) were partially enclosed. (see in picture) The midships mount (No 53) and the after two mounts (numbers 54 and 55) were open. Just aft of mount 53 were two trainable torpedo tube mounts with four 21" (533mm) tubes on each. On the 01 deck, aft of mount 52, there were two single .50 cal (12.7mm) machine gun (MG) mounts next to the port and starboard rails. Two more .50 cal MGs were on the main deck, midships.
- c 1943: Due to the need for greater anti-aircraft (AA) protection, the .50 cal MGs and Mount 53 were replaced by 20 mm and 40 mm AA weapons. The type and quantity varied from ship to ship depending on when and where they were refitted. Also depth chargeDepth chargeA depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
roll-off stern racks were added.
Operations
All ships were present at the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. Worden
USS Worden (DD-352)
The third USS Worden was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for John Lorimer Worden....
ran aground in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n waters in 1943. Hull
USS Hull (DD-350)
The third USS Hull was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Isaac Hull....
and Monaghan
USS Monaghan (DD-354)
USS Monaghan was the last ship built of the Farragut class destroyers. She was named for Ensign John R. Monaghan. The Monaghan was laid down 21 November 1933 at Boston Navy Yard, and launched 9 January 1935. She was sponsored by Miss Mary F. Monaghan, niece of Ensign Monaghan and commissioned 19...
were lost in a typhoon in 1944. The remaining five ships survived World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to be broken up for scrap shortly after the end of the war.
See also
- Farragut-class destroyer (1958)Farragut class destroyer (1958)The Farragut class was the second destroyer class of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. The class is sometimes referred to as the Coontz class, since Coontz was first to be designed and built as a guided missile ship, whereas the previous three ships were...
U.S. destroyers: an illustrated design history By Norman Friedman