Mitscher class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Mitscher class destroyer was an experimental destroyer class of four ships that were built for the United States Navy
shortly after World War II
. Considerably larger than all previous destroyers, they would have been the first post-war destroyer class had they not been reclassified during construction as destroyer leaders (DL). Commissioned in 1953-1954, two of the class served until 1969, and were scrapped in the '70s. The other two were converted into guided missile destroyers (DDG), served until 1978, and were sold for scrap by 1980.
Beyond that, each ship had a different loadout of propulsion and other systems so as to determine the best course of action for future destroyer design.
In the early 1960s, the Mitscher class underwent modernization through the Class Improvement Program (CIP), which included the replacement of the boilers on the first two ships of the class.
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...
shortly after 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...
. Considerably larger than all previous destroyers, they would have been the first post-war destroyer class had they not been reclassified during construction as destroyer leaders (DL). Commissioned in 1953-1954, two of the class served until 1969, and were scrapped in the '70s. The other two were converted into guided missile destroyers (DDG), served until 1978, and were sold for scrap by 1980.
Description
All four Mitscher class ships were ordered 3 August 1948 and were named for admirals of the Second World War. Each ship displaced 3,331 tons light, 3,642 tons standard and 4,855 tons under full load with a length of 494 feet (151 m), a 50 feet (15 m) beam and a 26 feet (8 m) draft.Beyond that, each ship had a different loadout of propulsion and other systems so as to determine the best course of action for future destroyer design.
In the early 1960s, the Mitscher class underwent modernization through the Class Improvement Program (CIP), which included the replacement of the boilers on the first two ships of the class.
Ships in class
| Ship Name | Builder | Commission– Decommission |
Fate | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy... |
1953-1978 | Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 1 August 1980 | http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DDG35.htm | |
| Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy... |
1953-1978 | Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 13 December 1979 | http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DDG36.htm | |
| Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved... |
1954-1969 | Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 1 June 1973 | http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DL4.htm | |
| Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved... |
1954-1969 | Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 1 June 1975 | http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DL5.htm | |
External links
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/dd-927.htm
- http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/mitscher_class.htm