The Fletcher Class Destroyers

 

The Fletcher Class of destroyers in the US Navy were the most widely used in any navy during the World War II period. There were 175 of them built during a two and a half year period during the war. The Fletchers were a well liked "Tin Can" by officers and men alike. Some Commanders thought them to be the Perfect Fighting Destroyer. They were all considered Sister Ships, but no two were exactly alike. They were all flush deckers whereas earlier classes had a raised forecastle deck. There were two distinct differences in ships of the class. Earliest Fletchers had a rounded front wheelhouse with open bridge wings and a high gun director; later ones had a squared off wheelhouse with open bridge forward and on both sides; the gun director was also lowered to help alleviate the top heavy tendancy of the class. There were a few ships that were outfitted with an aircraft catapult, but it didn't work out very well and they were later outfitted like the others. The CLAXTON, being one of the earlier ships of the class, had the rounded front wheelhouse and high gun director. An open walkway was installed around the front of the wheelhouse in early 1944. It is beleived that the CLAXTON was the only "round front" ship of the class so equipped.

BASIC FLETCHER CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

MAIN ARMAMENT: 

FIVE 5"-38 Dual Purpose enclosed guns. MK 30. These were disposed with two forward and three aft, mounted on the centerline.

TEN 21" torpedo tubes disposed in two quintuple mounts on the centerline on the superstructure deck. Some ships of the class ended the war with only one quintuple torpedo mount. The forward mount being removed to allow installation of quad 40's on each side.

ANTIAIRCRAFT ARMAMENT (AA): 

The AA armament of the class varied widely, depending on when you looked at the individual ships. It usually increased any time a ship visited a Navy Yard. Most of the class ended the war with the following armament (including the CLAXTON): 40mm Bofors guns disposed with twin 40's each side forward of the bridge on superstructure deck, Twin 40's each side amidships on superstructure deck, one twin 40 elevated between 5" gun mounts 3 and 4. There were some in the class equipped with quad 40's at the amidships locations in lieu of the twins. 

20mm single Oerlikons Mk 4 located with 4 amidships, 2 each side, three were located on the fantail. The location and numbers of 20's varied widely in members of the class. There were a few of the "high bridge" ones that had 20's in the bridge area, one on top of the pilot house and two forward and below, but these usually fell victim to later modifications. Some of the class were fitted with twin 20's near the end of the war.

DEPTH CHARGE ARMAMENT: 

Two Mark 3 depth charge racks were located on the fantail and six "K gun" depth charge projectors were located abaft gun mount 4 on the main deck, three on each side.

RADAR EQUIPMENT: 

Model SG surface search radar. 

Model SC-3 (or SC-4) air search radar. The CLAXTON was one of the few in the class that was commissioned with a SA radar. It was replaced in 3 months.

Model FD fire control radar. Late in the war some of the class were fitted with fire control radars on the 40mm gun directors. The CLAXTON never was.

PROPULSION:

Two-12' dia. three bladed propellers driven by geared turbines. Four Babcock & Wilcox, 565 PSI boilers with superheaters. The class had one rudder which was too small with earlier ships, but was modified larger to improve turning radius and slow speed   maneuvering.

COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER (CIC):

Early in the war the Fletchers were the first destroyer class to be equipped with CIC's, they were located just below the bridge at main deck level and varied in size and equipment layout. The CLAXTON did not receive her CIC until early in 1944 at Mare Island Navy Yard. She was equipped for controlling fighter aircraft and was used for that purpose in the Phillipines and off Okinawa. There were others in the class so equipped.

COMPLEMENT:

The ships complement for the class was originally 273 officers and men in 1942. The addition of more AA armament and other requirements gradually increased this and it varied from ship to ship. 

                                More information about the Fletcher Class Destroyers can be found in the following references:

"Fletcher Class Destroyers" by Alan Raven

"United States Navy Destroyers of World War II" by John C. Reilly, Jr.

"The Destroyer THE SULLIVANS" by Al Ross

"History of the USS KIDD and the Fletcher Class Destroyers" by Turner Publishing Co.

                                                    Page updated    May 2, 2006

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