Sims class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Sims-class consisted of 12 destroyer
s in the United States Navy
, built in seven various shipyards, and commissioned in 1939 and 1940. It was the last United States
destroyer class completed prior to World War II
. All Sims-class ships saw action in World War II, and seven survived the war. No ship of this class saw service after 1946.
Of the five ships lost, four were at the hands of the Japan
ese and one at the hands of the Germans
. Three of the seven survivors were undergoing overhauls that were left unfinished at war’s end and ultimately scrapped. The remaining four seaworthy ships were used as targets during the 1946 Operation Crossroads
atomic tests at Bikini Atoll
. One was sunk by the first blast, while the other three were sunk as targets two years later after serving as experimental platforms.
The Sims class ships were the sixth and final class of the "third-generation" 1500-ton pre-war destroyers that modernized the United States navy in the 1930s. They were the last built with a single engine room, changed with the Benson-class destroyers
for increased survivability. However they were also the first increased in hull length, and the precursor for the numerous larger, faster destroyer classes that marked war-time construction.
The Sims class introduced installation of Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System. Distinguished by a turret mounted gun director, the advanced system controlled by a Ford Mark 1 Fire Control Computer
mounted deep in the hull enabled automatic aiming of guns against surface or air targets with first-hit solutions in near real-time. The system would evolve and be used extensively to control most 5 inch guns on destroyers and larger ships, and remained in service on US ships until 1969.
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...
, built in seven various shipyards, and commissioned in 1939 and 1940. It was the last United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
destroyer class completed prior to 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...
. All Sims-class ships saw action in World War II, and seven survived the war. No ship of this class saw service after 1946.
Of the five ships lost, four were at the hands of the Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
ese and one at the hands of the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Three of the seven survivors were undergoing overhauls that were left unfinished at war’s end and ultimately scrapped. The remaining four seaworthy ships were used as targets during the 1946 Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
atomic tests at Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands....
. One was sunk by the first blast, while the other three were sunk as targets two years later after serving as experimental platforms.
The Sims class ships were the sixth and final class of the "third-generation" 1500-ton pre-war destroyers that modernized the United States navy in the 1930s. They were the last built with a single engine room, changed with 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....
for increased survivability. However they were also the first increased in hull length, and the precursor for the numerous larger, faster destroyer classes that marked war-time construction.
The Sims class introduced installation of Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System. Distinguished by a turret mounted gun director, the advanced system controlled by a Ford Mark 1 Fire Control Computer
Mark I Fire Control Computer
The Mark 1, and later the Mark 1A, Fire Control Computer was a component of the Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System deployed by the United States Navy during World War II and up to 1969. It was used on a variety of ships, ranging from destroyers to battleships . The Mark 37 system used tachymetric...
mounted deep in the hull enabled automatic aiming of guns against surface or air targets with first-hit solutions in near real-time. The system would evolve and be used extensively to control most 5 inch guns on destroyers and larger ships, and remained in service on US ships until 1969.
Ships in class
| Ship Name | Commissioned | Decommissioned | | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sims (DD-409) USS Sims (DD-409) USS Sims was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship to be named for William Sims, an Admiral who pushed for the modernization of the Navy.... |
1 August 1939 | Sunk by 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 aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged... , 7 May 1942. (14 survivors). |
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| Hughes (DD-410) USS Hughes (DD-410) USS Hughes was a World War II-era in the service of the United States Navy, named after Commander Edward Merritt Hughes.Hughes was laid down on 15 September 1937 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched on 17 June 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Edward M... |
21 September 1939 | 28 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... atomic tests at Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands.... , July 1946. Sunk as target, 16 October 1948. |
| Anderson (DD-411) USS Anderson (DD-411) USS Anderson was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral Edwin Alexander Anderson, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient.... |
19 May 1939 | 28 August 1946 | Sunk during Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... atomic tests (Test "Able"), at Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands.... , 1 July 1946. |
| Hammann (DD-412) USS Hammann (DD-412) USS Hammann was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Ensign Charles Hammann, a Medal of Honor recipient killed during World War I... |
11 August 1939 | Sunk by Japanese submarine I-168 Japanese submarine I-168 I-168 was a Kaidai class submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. At the Battle of Midway she sank two American warships: the aircraft carrier and the destroyer . At that time she was commanded by Lieutenant Commander Yahachi Tanabe.-Early career:The submarine was completed... during the Battle of Midway Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated... with the same torpedo spread (salvo) that also sunk the USS Yorktown USS Yorktown (CV-5) was an aircraft carrier commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 until she was sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the lead ship of the Yorktown class which was designed after lessons learned from operations with the large... (CV-5), 6 June 1942. (80 killed). |
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| Mustin (DD-413) USS Mustin (DD-413) USS Mustin was a Sims-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the first Navy ship of that name, in honor of Captain Henry C. Mustin , a pioneer of naval aviation.... |
15 September 1939 | 29 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... atomic tests at Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands.... , July 1946. Sunk as target off Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S... , 18 April 1948. |
| Russell (DD-414) USS Russell (DD-414) USS Russell was a World War II-era in the service of the United States Navy, named after Rear Admiral John Henry Russell.Russell was laid down on 20 December 1937 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia; launched on 8 December 1938; sponsored by Mrs. Charles H... |
3 November 1939 | 15 November 1945 | Sold for scrap, September 1947. |
| O'Brien (DD-415) USS O'Brien (DD-415) USS O'Brien was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named in honor of Captain Jeremiah O'Brien and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis and Joseph, who captured the HMS Margaretta on 12 June 1775 during the American revolution.The O’Brien... |
2 March 1940 | Torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19, with the same torpedo spread (salvo) which also sunk the USS Wasp USS Wasp (CV-7) USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class... (CV-7) and damaged the USS North Carolina USS North Carolina Five ships of the United States Navy and one of the Confederate States Navy have been named USS North Carolina in honor of the state of North Carolina.* The first was one of nine ships of the line authorized by Congress in 1816.... (BB-55), 15 September 1942. Sank 19 October 1942 out from Suva Suva Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,... while enroute to 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... for repairs. |
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| Walke (DD-416) USS Walke (DD-416) USS Walke was a World War II-era in the service of the United States Navy, named after Rear Admiral Henry A. Walke USN... |
27 April 1940 | Sunk in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Naval Battle of Guadalcanal The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles... , 15 November 1942. (88 killed). |
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| Morris (DD-417) USS Morris (DD-417) USS Morris , a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, was named after Commodore Charles Morris.... |
5 March 1940 | 9 November 1945 | Sold for scrap, 2 August 1947. |
| Roe (DD-418) USS Roe (DD-418) USS Roe was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Rear Admiral Francis Asbury Roe.... |
5 January 1940 | 30 October 1945 | Sold for scrap, August 1947. |
| Wainwright (DD-419) USS Wainwright (DD-419) USS Wainwright was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. The ship was named to honor Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, his son, Master Jonathan Wainwright, Jr., his cousin, Commander Richard Wainwright, and also Rear Admiral Richard WainwrightWainwright was... |
15 April 1940 | 29 August 1946 | Damaged in the Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945... atomic tests at Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands.... , July 1946. Sunk as target in Pacific, 5 July 1948. |
| Buck (DD-420) USS Buck (DD-420) The second USS Buck , a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, was named after Quartermaster James Buck, a Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient.-Early career:... |
15 May 1940 | Sunk by U-616 off Salerno Salerno Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea.... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... , 9 October 1943. (150 killed) |
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