Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer

Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
USS Allen M. Sumner, the lead ship of her class, seen here in 1970.
Class overview
Name: Allen M. Sumner class
Builders: Various
Operators:
Preceded by: Fletcher class
Succeeded by: Gearing class
Subclasses: Robert H. Smith class
Cost: $8 million, excluding armament
In commission: 1943–75 (USN)
Planned: 70
Completed: 58
Lost: 4, plus 2 not repaired
Preserved: 2
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
  • 2,200-2,220 tons standard
  • 3,515 tons full load
Length:
  • 369 ft (112 m) waterline
  • 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) overall
  • 376 ft (115 m) overall (DD 725-728 & 730-734)
Beam:
  • 41 ft (12.5 m)
  • 40 ft (12 m) (DD 692-709)
  • 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m) (DD 744)
  • 41 ft 3 in (12.57 m) (DD 770-776)
Draft:
  • 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m) normal
  • 19 ft (5.8 m) full load
  • 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) full load (DD 735-40 & 749-751 & 771-773)
Propulsion: 4 Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler boilers; two General Electric or Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 60,000 shp (45 MW) total; two shafts
Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:
  • 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
  • 503 tons oil fuel (except DD 692-709 500 tons, DD 735-740 515 tons)
Complement: 336-363
Armament:

The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers. Often referred to as simply the Sumner class, this class was characterized by their twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts, dual rudders, additional anti-aircraft weapons, and many other advancements over the previous Fletcher class. The Allen M. Sumner design was extended 14 feet (4.3 m) amidships to become the Gearing class, which was produced in larger numbers.

Completed in 1943–45, four were lost in the war and two were damaged so badly they were scrapped, but the surviving ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. After being retired from the US fleet, 29 of them were sold to other navies, where they served many more years. Two still exist as museum ships, one in South Carolina, and one in Taiwan.

Description

The first ship was laid down in May 1943, while the last was launched in April 1945. In that time the United States produced 58 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers. The Allen M. Sumner class was an improvement of the previous Fletcher class, which were built from 1941 until 1944. In addition to three twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts replacing the Fletchers' five single mounts, Sumners had twin rudders, giving them better maneuverability for ASW work when compared to Fletchers. The 5-inch guns were guided by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System with a Mark 25 fire control radar linked by a Mark 1A Fire Control Computer stabilized by a Mark 6 8,500 rpm gyro. This fire control system provided effective long-range anti-aircraft (AA) or anti-surface fire. The Allen M. Sumners also had much more short-range anti-aircraft armament than the Fletchers, with 12 40 mm guns and 11 20 mm guns compared with 8 40 mm and 7 20 mm for a typical late-war upgraded Fletcher. The initial design retained the Fletchers' heavy torpedo armament of 10 21-inch (533 mm) tubes in two quintuple mounts, firing the Mark 15 torpedo. As the threat from kamikaze aircraft mounted in 1945, and with few remaining Japanese warships to use torpedoes on, most of the class had the aft quintuple 21-inch torpedo tube mount replaced by an additional 40 mm quadruple mount for 16 total 40 mm guns.[1][2]

The Allen M. Sumners achieved a 20% increase in 5-inch gun armament and almost a 50% increase in light AA armament on a hull the same length as a Fletcher, only 15 inches (38 cm) wider, and about 15 inches (38 cm) deeper in draft. The increase in standard displacement was only 150 tons, about 7.5%. Thus, the Allen M. Sumner class was a significant improvement in combat power at a small increase in cost.

See also Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer (DM), twelve of which were built on hulls originally intended as Allen M. Sumners. Gearing-class destroyers were of the same design, modified with a 14-foot (4.3 m) midship extension to carry more fuel to extend the ships' range.

Construction

Eighteen were built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Fourteen were built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Ten were built by Bethlehem Steel's Mariners Harbor shipyard on Staten Island. Six were built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. Five were built by Bethlehem Steel in San Pedro, California. Five were built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington. USS Barton was the first ship of the class to be laid down and the first to be commissioned. USS Henley was the last commissioned.

Service

The Allen M. Sumners served on radar picket stations in the Battle of Okinawa, as well as other duties, and had several losses. Cooper, Meredith, Mannert L. Abele, and Drexler were lost during the war, and Hugh W. Hadley was so badly damaged by a kamikaze attack that she was scrapped soon after the war ended. In addition, USS Frank E. Evans was split in half in a collision with HMAS Melbourne, and never repaired. After the war most of the class (except some of the light minelayers) had their 40 mm and 20 mm guns replaced by up to six 3-inch/50 caliber guns (76 mm), and the pole mast was replaced by a tripod to carry a new, heavier radar. On most ships one depth charge rack was removed and two Hedgehog mounts added. One of the two quintuple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tube mountings had already been removed on most to make way for a quadruple 40 mm gun mounting and additional radar for the radar picket mission. 33 ships were converted under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization II (FRAM II) program 1960-65, but not as extensively as the Gearings. Typically, FRAM Allen M. Sumners retained all three 5-inch/38 twin mounts and received the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), two triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes for the Mark 44 torpedo, and two new single 21-inch torpedo tubes for the Mark 37 torpedo, with all 3-inch and lighter guns, previous ASW armament, and 21-inch torpedo tubes being removed. Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) was also fitted; however, ASROC was not fitted. Ships that did not receive FRAM were typically upgraded with Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes in exchange for the K-guns, but retained Hedgehog and one depth charge rack.[2]

In Navy slang, the modified destroyers were called "FRAM cans", "can" being a contraction of "tin can", the slang term for a destroyer or destroyer escort.

Many Allen M. Sumners provided significant gunfire support in the Vietnam War. They also served as escorts for Carrier Battle Groups (Carrier Strike Groups from 2004) and Amphibious Ready Groups (Expeditionary Strike Groups from 2006). From 1965, some of the class were transferred to the Naval Reserve Force (NRF), with a partial active crew to train Naval reservists.

Disposition

USS De Haven c.1970 fitted with FRAM II modifications.

The ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. DASH was withdrawn from anti-submarine warfare (ASW) service in 1969 due to poor reliability.[3] Lacking ASROC, the Allen M. Sumners were left without a standoff ASW capability, and were decommissioned 1970-73, with most being transferred to foreign navies. The FRAM Sumners were effectively replaced as ASW ships by the Knox-class frigates (destroyer escorts prior to 1975), which were commissioned 1969-74 and carried a piloted helicopter, typically the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, and ASROC. After the Allen M. Sumners were retired from the US fleet, seven were sunk by the US in fleet training exercises and 13 were scrapped, while 29 were sold to other navies (two for spare parts), where they served for many more years. 12 were sold to the Republic of China Navy and 2 were sold to the Republic of Korea Navy. 2 were sold to the Shah of Iran and 1 was sold to Turkey. 1 was sold to Greece. 2 were sold to Venezuela, 2 to Colombia, 2 sold to Chile, 5 sold to Brazil and 4 to Argentina.

Currently, only USS Laffey (DD-724) located at Patriots Point, Charleston, South Carolina remains as a museum ship, although USS Taussig may eventually be preserved as well.

Ships in class

Ship Name Hull No. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate Reference
Allen M. Sumner DD-692 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 7 July 1943 15 December 1943 26 January 1944 15 August 1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping

externalities
Moale DD-693 5 August 1943 16 January 1944 28 February 1944 2 July 1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Ingraham DD-694 4 August 1943 16 January 1944 10 March 1944 15 June 1971 Sold to Greece 16 July 1971 as Miaoulis
Cooper DD-695 30 August 1943 9 February 1944 27 March 1944 N/A Torpedoed and sunk by destroyer Take while intercepting a Japanese convoy into Ormoc Bay 3 December 1944
English DD-696 19 October 1943 27 February 1944 4 May 1944 15 May 1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 11 August 1970 as Huei Yang
Charles S. Sperry DD-697 19 October 1943 13 March 1944 17 May 1944 15 December 1973 Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 as Ministro Zenteno
Ault DD-698 15 November 1943 26 March 1944 31 May 1944 16 July 1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Waldron DD-699 16 November 1943 26 March 1944 7 June 1944 17 May 1950 Sold to Colombia 30 October 1973 as Santander (DD-03)
20 November 1950 30 October 1973
Haynsworth DD-700 16 December 1943 15 April 1944 22 June 1944 30 January 1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 12 May 1970 as Yuen Yang
22 September 1950 19 May 1950
John W. Weeks DD-701 17 January 1944 21 May 1944 21 July 1944 31 May 1950 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 11/19/1970
24 October 1950 12 August 1970
Hank DD-702 17 January 1944 21 May 1944 28 August 1944 1 July 1972 Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Segui
Wallace L. Lind DD-703 14 February 1944 14 June 1944 8 September 1944 4 December 1973 Sold to Republic of Korea Navy 4 December 1973 as Dae Gu
Borie DD-704 29 February 1944 4 July 1944 21 September 1944 1 July 1972 Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Hipólito Bouchard (D-26)
Compton DD-705 28 March 1944 17 September 1944 4 November 1944 17 September 1972 Sold to Brazil 27 September 1972 as Mato Grosso
Gainard DD-706 29 March 1944 17 September 1944 23 November 1944 26 February 1971 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Soley DD-707 18 April 1944 8 September 1944 7 December 1944 13 February 1970 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise
Harlan R. Dickson DD-708 23 May 1944 17 December 1944 17 February 1945 1 July 1972 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 4 January 1973
Hugh Purvis DD-709 23 May 1944 17 December 1944 1 March 1945 15 June 1972 Sold to Turkey 1 July 1972 as Zafer (F 253)
Barton DD-722 Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine 24 May 1943 10 October 1943 30 December 1943 22 January 1947 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise.
11 April 1949 30 September 1968
Walke DD-723 7 June 1943 27 October 1943 21 January 1944 30 May 1947 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 3 January 1975
5 October 1950 30 November 1970
Laffey DD-724 28 June 1943 21 November 1943 8 February 1944 30 June 1947 Preserved as memorial and berthed at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina
26 January 1951 9 March 1975
O'Brien DD-725 12 July 1943 8 December 1943 25 February 1944 4 October 1947 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 12 January 1972
5 October 1950 18 February 1972
Meredith DD-726 26 July 1943 21 December 1943 14 March 1944 N/A Sunk 9 June 1944, Wreck sold and scrapped 5 August 1960
De Haven DD-727 9 August 1943 9 January 1944 31 March 1944 3 December 1973 Sold to Republic of Korea Navy, 5 December 1973 as Incheon
Mansfield DD-728 28 August 1943 29 January 1944 14 April 1944 4 February 1971 Sold to Argentina 4 June 1974 for spare parts
Lyman K. Swenson DD-729 11 September 1943 12 February 1944 2 May 1944 12 February 1971 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
Collett DD-730 11 October 1943 5 March 1944 16 May 1944 18 December 1970 Sold to Argentina in 1974 as Piedra Buena (D-29)
Maddox DD-731 28 October 1943 19 March 1944 2 June 1944 2 July 1972 Sold to Republic of China Navy as Po Yang
Hyman DD-732 22 November 1943 8 April 1944 16 June 1944 16 November 1969 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Mannert L. Abele DD-733 9 December 1943 23 April 1944 4 July 1944 N/A Sunk by an Ohka bomb during the battle for Okinawa 12 April 1945
Purdy DD-734 22 December 1943 7 May 1944 18 July 1944 2 July 1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
Drexler DD-741 24 April 1944 3 September 1944 14 November 1944 N/A Sunk by kamikaze 28 May 1945
Blue DD-744 Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Staten Island, New York 30 June 1943 28 November 1943 20 March 1944 14 February 1947 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/28/1977
14 May 1949 12 December 1949
15 September 1950 27 January 1971
Brush DD-745 30 July 1943 28 December 1943 17 April 1944 27 October 1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 as Hsiang Yang
Taussig DD-746 30 August 1943 25 January 1944 20 May 1944 1 December 1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy as second Lo Yang (DDG-914). As of 2015, her status is unknown.
Samuel N. Moore DD-747 30 September 1943 23 February 1944 24 June 1944 24 October 1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 10 December 1969 as Heng Yang (DD-2)
Harry E. Hubbard DD-748 30 October 1943 24 March 1944 22 July 1944 15 January 1947 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
14 May 1949 12 December 1949
27 October 1950 17 October 1969
Alfred A. Cunningham DD-752 23 February 1944 3 August 1944 23 November 1944 August 1949 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 January 1979
5 October 1950 24 February 1971
John R. Pierce DD-753 24 March 1944 1 September 1944 30 December 1944 1 May 1947 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974
11 April 1949 2 July 1973
Frank E. Evans DD-754 21 April 1944 3 October 1944 3 February 1945 11 May 1949 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 October 1969
15 September 1950 1 July 1969
John A. Bole DD-755 20 May 1944 1 November 1944 3 March 1945 6 November 1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
Beatty DD-756 4 July 1944 30 November 1944 31 March 1945 14 July 1972 Sold to Venezuela 14 July 1972 as Carabobo
Putnam DD-757 Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco 11 July 1943 26 March 1944 12 October 1944 6 January 1950 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
October 1950 6 August 1973
Strong DD-758 25 July 1943 23 April 1944 8 March 1945 9 May 1947 Sold to Brazil, 31 October 1973, as Rio Grande do Norte (D-37)
14 May 1949 31 October 1973
Lofberg DD-759 4 November 1943 12 August 1944 26 April 1945 15 January 1971 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
John W. Thomason DD-760 21 November 1943 30 September 1944 11 October 1945 8 December 1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 as Nan Yang
Buck DD-761 1 February 1944 11 March 1945 28 June 1946 15 July 1973 Sold to Brazil 16 July 1973 as Alagoas
Henley DD-762 8 February 1944 8 April 1945 8 October 1946 1 March 1950 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
23 September 1950 1 July 1973
Lowry DD-770 Bethlehem Steel Company, San Pedro, California, Terminal Island 1 August 1943 6 February 1944 23 July 1944 30 June 1947 Sold to Brazil 31 October 1973 as Espirito Santo
27 December 1950 29 October 1973
Hugh W. Hadley DD-774 6 February 1944 16 July 1944 25 November 1944 15 December 1945 Sold 2 September 1947 for scrap
Willard Keith DD-775 5 March 1944 29 August 1944 27 December 1944 20 June 1947 Sold to Colombia as Caldas (DD-02)
23 October 1950 1 July 1972
James C. Owens DD-776 9 April 1944 1 October 1944 17 February 1945 3 April 1950 Sold to Brazil 15 July 1973 as Sergipe
20 September 1950 15 July 1973
Zellars DD-777 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington 24 December 1943 19 July 1944 25 October 1944 19 March 1971 Sold to Iran 12 October 1973 as Babr
Massey DD-778 14 January 1944 12 September 1944 24 November 1944 17 September 1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974
Douglas H. Fox DD-779 31 January 1944 30 September 1944 26 December 1944 21 April 1950 Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 Ministro Portales (DD-17)
15 November 1950 15 December 1973
Stormes DD-780 15 February 1944 4 November 1944 27 January 1945 5 December 1970 Sold to Iran 16 February 1972 Palang (DDG-9)
Robert K. Huntington DD-781 29 February 1944 5 December 1944 3 March 1945 31 October 1973 Sold to Venezuela as Falcon
Bristol DD-857 Bethlehem Steel Company, San Pedro, California, Terminal Island 5 May 1944 29 October 1944 17 March 1945 21 November 1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 Hua Yang

See also

References

  1. ↑ ."The Sumner Class As Built Retrieved 25 August 2009."
  2. 1 2 Friedman, Norman "US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised Edition)", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis:2004, ISBN 1-55750-442-3.
  3. ↑ Friedman, p. 283
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