Launched: 1942 Displacement: 2325 tons 2924 tons full load
Length: 376ft. Beam: 39ft. Speed: 38kts. Draft: 13ft. Endurance: 6,500 nm (15 kt)
Armament: Guns: 5x5in/38 dual-purpose AA: 5x40mm twin Bofors 7x20mm Oerlikons Torpedo Tubes: 2x5 21in
The largest single class of U.S. destroyers with 175 ships built, the Fletchers were the first "big" destroyers built for the U.S. Navy and fully broke from the treaty restrictions which had hampered earlier designs. The large increase in size over previous classes allowed a substantial increase in AA armament without reducing the main battery or torpedo loads. Because of their flush-deck design, the Fletchers were mainly stationed in the Pacific while the earlier forecastle designs were mainly sent to the Atlantic. Many Fletchers continued in service after the war and even through the 1960's.
|
