Farragut-class destroyer (1934)

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USS Farragut (DD-348) - 19-N-14753.jpg
USS Farragut in 1935
Class overview
NameFarragut class
Builders
OperatorsFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by Clemson class
Succeeded by Porter class
Built1932–1935
In commission1934–1945
Completed8
Lost3
Retired5
General characteristics
Type Destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,365 tons standard
  • 2,064 tons full load [1]
Length341 ft 3 in (104.01 m)
Beam34 ft 3 in (10.44 m)
Draft16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts
Speed37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Range5,980 nautical miles (11,070 km; 6,880 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement
  • 10 officers, 150 enlisted (peacetime)
  • 250 (wartime)
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

The Farragut-class destroyers were a class of eight 1,365-ton destroyers in the United States Navy and the first US destroyers of post-World War I design. Their construction, along with the Porter class, was authorized by Congress on 29 April 1916, but funding was delayed considerably. Limited to 1,500 tons standard displacement by the provisions of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, the ships were laid down beginning in 1932 and were completed by 1935. After 12 years since the last of the previous class of American destroyers (the Clemson class) was commissioned, the Farraguts were commissioned in 1934 and 1935.

Contents

These ships were slightly larger than their predecessors, faster, and they had only two stacks, versus the four stacks common to all the earlier classes. The class was the first of six classes of 1,500-ton destroyers built in the 1930s to modernize the United States Navy, and all eight Farraguts saw extensive front-line service during World War II. [3] None were lost in battle, although only five survived the war. After numerous incremental improvements, the 1,500-tonners were succeeded by the 2,100-ton Fletcher class, which was not subject to treaty restrictions.

Design

The Farraguts were a considerable improvement from previous destroyers, taking advantage of technological advances during the 12-year gap in destroyer production. The impact of aircraft on naval warfare was reflected in their heavy dual-purpose main gun armament. They also had greatly improved machinery and greater fuel capacity that extended their range to 5,980 nautical miles (11,070 km; 6,880 mi) as opposed to the Clemsons'4,900 nautical miles (9,100 km; 5,600 mi). [4] [5] Their larger size and improved habitability soon earned them the nickname of "goldplaters" from the crews of older destroyers. [6]

The list of desired improvements compiled from the operational experience of the earlier Wickes and Clemson classes was both long and comprehensive. Both classes had pointed sterns that deeply dug into the water, greatly increasing turning diameter. [7] [8] This was addressed with the transom stern design of the Farragut class. The previous classes were flush deck designs; while providing good hull strength, this proved to be wet in high seas. [7] [8] This was addressed with the raised forecastle employed on the Farragut class. Cruising range on both the Wickes and Clemson classes had been a constant affliction of commanders; the Clemsons had been built with wing tanks giving better range, but at the cost of having high mounted fuel oil on both sides—a decidedly vulnerable feature in a ship without an armored belt such as a destroyer. [9] The Farragut class corrected this range deficiency by having a design range of 5,980 nautical miles (11,070 km; 6,880 mi) as opposed to the Clemson's4,900 nautical miles (9,100 km; 5,600 mi). [9] [5] Steady improvements to both boilers and steam turbines in the years between the Clemson and Farragut designs allowed this improved range, along with greater speed and a reduction from 4 to 2 stacks.

The success of the efforts become clear with the testimony of Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, head of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, to the General Board, comparing the Farragut class to the Wickes and Clemson classes. Those advantages were:

This had all been accomplished on a displacement rise of only 22%. [10]

The Farragut-class destroyers were considered unstable in heavy weather and in turns. This was compounded by war-time modifications that made them even more top-heavy. Two of the destroyers, Hull and Monaghan, sank as a result of the December 1944 typhoon. One of the survivors stated

"The only thing I could complain about is ever since we left [Seattle] the ship seemed top heavy. I was on there for two years. Ever since we left [the shipyard] in October 1944, she seemed to roll worse than she ever did. Even in the calmest weather and even when anchored, she seemed to roll lots more than she used to."

A court of inquiry after the loss concluded that [the] basic stability of the Farragut-class ships "is materially less than other destroyers." [11]

Engineering

The Farragut-class propulsion plant was considerably improved over the Clemson-class. Steam pressure and temperature were raised from 300 psi (2,100 kPa) saturated steam to 400 psi (2,800 kPa) steam superheated to 648 °F (342 °C). Superheated steam increased the efficiency of the turbines, improving the ships' range. [1] This was the first use of superheaters in a US destroyer. Economizers were also fitted; these used boiler exhaust gas to preheat the feedwater before it entered the boiler; these increased the ships' range by requiring less fuel to boil the water to steam. [12] The Farragut's turbines were Parsons-type reaction turbines manufactured by Bethlehem Steel. Each main turbine was divided into a high-pressure and a low-pressure turbine feeding into a common reduction gear to drive a shaft, [13] in a similar manner to the machinery illustrated below and at the following reference. [14] This general arrangement became standard for most subsequent steam-powered surface ships of the US Navy. Single-reduction gearing (as in the Clemsons) was used on the Farraguts; the Mahans and later classes had double-reduction gearing, which reduced the required size of the (then faster spinning) turbines still further. [12]

Armament

Service

All ships were present at the attack on Pearl Harbor, where Monaghan sank a Japanese midget submarine. [3] Three of the class were lost in the war: Worden ran aground in Alaskan waters in January 1943 and became a total loss, while Hull and Monaghan were lost in Typhoon Cobra in December 1944. The remaining five ships survived World War II; they were broken up for scrap shortly after the end of the war.

Ships in class

Ships of the Farragut class [18]
Ship NameHull no.BuilderLaid DownLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
Farragut DD-348 Fore River Shipbuilding 20 September 193215 March 193418 June 193423 October 1945Scrapped 1947
Dewey DD-349 Bath Iron Works 16 December 193228 July 19344 October 193419 October 1945Scrapped 1946
Hull DD-350 Brooklyn Navy Yard 7 March 193331 January 193411 January 1935—Lost in Typhoon Cobra, 17 December 1944
Macdonough DD-351 Boston Navy Yard 15 May 193322 August 193415 March 193522 October 1945Scrapped 1946
Worden DD-352 Puget Sound Navy Yard 29 December 193227 October 193415 January 1935—Grounded near Amchitka, Alaska, 12 January 1943
Dale DD-353 Brooklyn Navy Yard 10 February 193423 January 193517 June 193516 October 1945Scrapped 1946
Monaghan DD-354 Boston Navy Yard 21 November 19339 January 193519 April 1935—Lost in Typhoon Cobra, 17 December 1944
Aylwin DD-355 Philadelphia Navy Yard 23 September 193310 July 19341 March 193516 October 1945Scrapped 1946

See also

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Friedman, p. 463
  2. ↑ Friedman p. 403
  3. 1 2 "Farragut-class destroyers". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Friedman, pp. 44, 463
  5. 1 2 "The Farragut class". Destroyers Online. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  6. ↑ ""Goldplater"s". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  7. 1 2 Friedman, p.46
  8. 1 2 "Wickes and Clemson Classes". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 Friedman, p.44
  10. ↑ Friedman p.81
  11. ↑ Henderson, Bruce, Down to the Sea (An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II), copyright 2007
  12. 1 2 Friedman, p. 88
  13. ↑ "General Information Destroyer Number 438 U.S.S. Farragut" (PDF). Destroyer History Foundation. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Turbine and reduction gear illustration". Leander Project. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "United States of America 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12". NavWeaps Naval Weapons, Naval Technology and Naval Reunions. Tony DiGiulian. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  16. ↑ "General Information Destroyer Number 438 U.S.S. Farragut" (PDF). Destroyer History Foundation. pp. 9–10. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 125
  18. ↑ Bauer and Roberts, p. 183

Sources

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