Fletcher Class Destroyer

Arguably considered one of the most successful class of destroyers to be built during the Second World War, the Fletcher Class was exactly what the U.S. Navy needed in it's war against the Axis. Weighing in at approximately 2,500 tons fully loaded, the 376 foot long Fletchers packed five 5-inch guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, six K-Gun depth charge throwers, and two depth charge racks mounted at the stern. Anti-Aircraft armament varied, but ranged between four 1.1-inch "Chicago Pianos" (Early ships had this weapon), six to ten 40mm Bofors in either twin or quadruple configurations, and seven to ten 20mm Oerlikon cannon in single or dual mounts. Propulsion was provided by four oil fired boilers and two geared steam turbines delivering over 60,000 horsepower. Crew compliment numbered some 329 officers and enlisted men. 175 of these destroyers were built and commissioned into the Navy during the war, the majority seeing action in the Pacific theater screening carriers and battleships, assisting in bombardment of Japanese strongholds, intercepting supply convoys, anti-submarine warfare, rescuing stranded sailors and airmen, and performing the highly dangerous assignment of radar picket duty. Eighteen Fletchers were lost to enemy action during the war, another one (The USS Spence) was lost in the midst of a typhoon that struck the Third Fleet in December, 1944. The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the officers and men of six other destroyers, and Navy Unit Commendation to a further eighteen. The Congressional Medal of Honor was also awarded posthumously to Ernest E. Evans, the skipper of the destroyer Johnston, for his actions against the Japanese Navy at the battle of Samar.

Postwar, the Fletchers soldiered on well into the 1970's, seeing further action off the shores of Korea and Vietnam. Most were refitted with improved guns, radar/sonar, and ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) weapons. Fifty-two were sold to foriegn countries (including former Axis nations), and it was not until 2001 that the last Fletcher class destroyer in service, the Mexican Navy's Cuitlahuac (Ex USS John Rodgers) was withdrawn from service. Currently, four destroyers are preserved as memorial/museum ships; the Velos (Ex-USS Charrette) in Greece, the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USS The Sullivans in Buffalo, New York, and USS Cassin Young in Boston, Massachusetts (Which is the ship I have attempted to potray in my drawing above). The Young is depicted in her 1944 guise with the measure 32/7D camouflage scheme.

I used "Fletcher Class DD's in Action" by Squadron Signal Publications as my primary reference, and the information above was found while browsing various sites on the World Wide Web.