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Fletcher Destroyers.
This class encompasses some of the most successful American destroyers of the WWII period. And as it is typical to the Americans the number of ships constructed is enormous (175 ships being built). The first ship of the series was enlisted in the navy on June 4, 1942. At the beginning the destroyer was equipped with five closed turrets with one good 127mm gun/38 caliber gun, one 28mm AA-gun, four 20mm Erlicon AA-guns, two five-pipe 533mm torpedo launchers, six bomb launchers and two stern bomb throwers. The ship had an excellent combination of navigational, tactical and military characteristics.
These destroyers started their military career in November 1942 near the Guadalcanal Island, and immediately proved to be of use. Due to being equipped with radar, Fletcher DD-445 was not damaged in the famous Battle of Tassafaronga, the Americans having lost 4 heavy cruisers, and even was able to rescue crew from the Northampton cruiser.
During the war the destroyers underwent numerous modifications. The anti-aircraft weapons were considerably reinforced. At the end of the war the destroyer carried two very successful 40mm coupled Bofors AA-guns instead of a single 28mm gun (sometimes 5 guns were installed). The number of Erlicons was also increased to 10-11. To increase their submarine defense system Fletchers were equipped with fixed Hedgehog Mk.10 missile launchers, or even rotating Hedgehog Mk.15 missile launchers instead of the upper front turret.
The percentage of the Fletcher destroyers in the US Navy was constantly increasing. For instance, 22 of the 38 destroyers stationed on the former Emperor’s Base in Japan were of that class. The class was so good that the last of the ships was decommissioned from the US Navy only on July 15, 1972. After the war some of the destroyers were sold to other countries, the first being the DD-550 and DD-551. They were sold to Spain on May 15, 1957. Gradually, the destroyers became obsolete. However, in 2000 three ships were still serving in the reserve of the Mexican and Taiwan navies. That makes almost sixty years of service!
Fletcher Destroyers in the "Pacific Storm"
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