Gleaves class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Gleaves-class destroyers were a class of 66 destroyer
s of the United States Navy
built 1938–1942, and designed by Gibbs & Cox
. The first ship of the class was the USS Gleaves (DD-423)
. The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Gleaves class. They were the production destroyer of the US Navy when it entered World War Two
.
They were virtually identical in appearance to the Benson-class destroyers
(DD-421)
, distinguishable only by the shape of their stacks— the Gleaves class had round stacks, and the Benson class had flat-sided stacks. Thus, the two classes were often collectively referred to as the BENSON/GLEAVES class,
Initially they were known as the Livermore- class destroyers because the design was standardized with USS Livermore (DD-429)
, after a requested design change — increasing temperature from 700 °F to 825 °F for follow-on ships from Gibbs & Cox.
"Gleaves emerged as the class leader for all the Gibbs & Cox-designed ships, which also included all sixteen FY 1939 and 1940 ships (DDs 429–444), as Bethlehem’s follow-on bid to build more [Benson- class] ships with its own machinery was rejected."
An article at the National Destroyer Veterans Association site notes:
Twenty one were in commission when the Japan
ese attacked Pearl Harbor
. Eleven were lost to enemy action during World War II, including Gwin, Meredith, Monssen, Bristol, Emmons, Aaron Ward, Beatty, Glennon, Corry, and Maddox.
Most were decommissioned just following World War II. Eleven remained in commission into the 1950s, the last withdrawn from service in 1956.
In 1954 Ellyson
and Macomb
were transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force where they served as the JDS Asakaze and JDS Hatakaze (DD-182).
was filmed on the USS Doyle
(DMS-34) and possibly the USS Thompson (DMS-38). In the 1951 novel
, the Caine is a Wickes-class
or Clemson class
destroyer minesweeper
.
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 of 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...
built 1938–1942, and designed by Gibbs & Cox
Gibbs & Cox
Gibbs & Cox is a U.S. naval architecture firm that specializes in designing surface warships. Founded in 1922 in New York City, Gibbs & Cox is now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia....
. The first ship of the class was the USS Gleaves (DD-423)
USS Gleaves (DD-423)
USS Gleaves , the lead ship of the Gleaves-class of destroyers, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral Albert Gleaves, who is credited with improving the accuracy and precision of torpedoes and other naval arms....
. The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Gleaves class. They were the production destroyer of the US Navy when it entered World War Two
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...
.
They were virtually identical in appearance to the Benson-class destroyers
Benson class destroyer
The Benson class was a class of 30 destroyers of the U.S. Navy built 1939–1943. The first ship of the class was the . The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Benson class....
(DD-421)
USS Benson (DD-421)
USS Benson was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral William S. Benson ....
, distinguishable only by the shape of their stacks— the Gleaves class had round stacks, and the Benson class had flat-sided stacks. Thus, the two classes were often collectively referred to as the BENSON/GLEAVES class,
Initially they were known as the Livermore- class destroyers because the design was standardized with USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the 1st ship of the United States Navy to be named for Samuel Livermore, the first naval chaplain to be honored with a ship in his name....
, after a requested design change — increasing temperature from 700 °F to 825 °F for follow-on ships from Gibbs & Cox.
"Gleaves emerged as the class leader for all the Gibbs & Cox-designed ships, which also included all sixteen FY 1939 and 1940 ships (DDs 429–444), as Bethlehem’s follow-on bid to build more [Benson- class] ships with its own machinery was rejected."
An article at the National Destroyer Veterans Association site notes:
"Some references identify the BENSON-GLEAVES class as the BENSON-LIVERMORE class. This was a designation for the FY 38-destroyer procurement coined by popular writers in compiling a number of fleet handbooks, for example James C. Fahey’s The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, volumes 1–4, 1939–45. Some handbooks further split the class, adding the Bristol (DD-453)USS Bristol (DD-453)USS Bristol was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral Mark Lambert Bristol. She was launched 25 July 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Powell Clayton, and commissioned 22 October 1941, Lieutenant Commander C. C...
as yet another division. According to tradition, however, a class is identified by the lead ship; hence BENSON-GLEAVES is the proper designation for this group of destroyers."
Twenty one were in commission when the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attacked Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Eleven were lost to enemy action during World War II, including Gwin, Meredith, Monssen, Bristol, Emmons, Aaron Ward, Beatty, Glennon, Corry, and Maddox.
Most were decommissioned just following World War II. Eleven remained in commission into the 1950s, the last withdrawn from service in 1956.
In 1954 Ellyson
USS Ellyson (DD-454)
USS Ellyson , a , is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Theodore Gordon Ellyson, a submariner who became the first officer of the U.S. Navy to be designated a naval aviator.-Initial operations:...
and Macomb
USS Macomb (DD-458)
USS Macomb was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore William H. Macomb and Rear Admiral David B. Macomb ....
were transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force where they served as the JDS Asakaze and JDS Hatakaze (DD-182).
Ships in class
(sunk 1943) (sunk 1942) (sunk 1942) (sunk 1942) (sunk 1943) (sunk 1945) (sunk 1973) (sunk 1944) (sunk 1952) (sunk 1943) (sunk 1942)See also
- List of destroyers of the United States Navy
- List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy
Film appearance
The 1954 movie The Caine MutinyThe Caine Mutiny (film)
The Caine Mutiny is a 1954 American drama film set during World War II, directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced by Stanley Kramer. It stars Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray, and is based on the 1951 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Herman Wouk The Caine Mutiny. The film...
was filmed on the USS Doyle
USS Doyle
USS Doyle has been the name of two ships in the United States Navy. The first was named for Richard Doyle, who fought during the Barbary Wars and was killed while in service in 1807...
(DMS-34) and possibly the USS Thompson (DMS-38). In the 1951 novel
The Caine Mutiny
The Caine Mutiny is a 1952 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Herman Wouk. The novel grew out of Wouk's personal experiences aboard a destroyer-minesweeper in the Pacific in World War II and deals with, among other things, the moral and ethical decisions made at sea by the captains of ships...
, the Caine is a Wickes-class
Wickes 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...
or 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...
destroyer minesweeper
Destroyer minesweeper
Destroyer minesweeper was a designation given by the United States Navy to a series of destroyers that were converted into high-speed ocean-going minesweepers for service during World War II. The hull number for such a ship began "DMS"...
.