Ship Characteristics Board

Last updated
USS Norfolk (CLK-1/DL-1), the result of project SCB 1 USS Norfolk (DL-1) underway c1964.jpg
USS Norfolk (CLK-1/DL-1), the result of project SCB 1

The Ship Characteristics Board was a unit of the United States Navy.

Contents

The purpose of the Ship Characteristics Board was to coordinate the creation of 'ship characteristics' that are essential to the design of naval combatants and auxiliaries. Coordination was required because the operators and the designers of ships had different interests, perceptions, and concepts: as summarized by the naval historian Norman Friedman, "How to achieve the best possible compromise among competing bureaus has been one of the great dilemmas of 20th-century U.S. naval administration." [1]

This list of SCB projects is a useful exposition of the U.S. Navy's shipbuilding priorities in the first half of the Cold War.

History

The Ship Characteristics Board was founded in 1945 under the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations / OpNav. It was created after the body previously responsible for coordinating ships characteristics, the General Board, had been seen as ineffective in a series of earlier Navy bureau miscoordinations. [2] [3] The SCB would adjudicate between operational requirements set by the ship operators (the fleets and other operational forces) and the technological and fiscal constraints imposed on the ship designers (the Bureau of Ships / BuShips and the Bureau of Ordnance / BuOrd).

The SCB had nowhere near the same stature as its predecessor [the General Board], since in effect it was separated from the policy- and strategy-planning process. It was far more concerned with the details of design, and included representatives of all the bureaus, who had equal votes. Participants in SCB meetings recall cases in which the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery cast the decisive vote on weapons systems choices. From the surviving records it is not entirely clear who within OpNav worked up the lists of projects on which the SCB worked, at least at first. For a time that was both very important, given the poverty of the [post-World War Two] shipbuilding program and the lack of any integrated U.S. concept of future warfare. [4]

The SCB assigned numbers to its projects beginning in 1946. Not all projects would result in the construction of ships: some projects would remain conceptual only, or would be superseded by later projects.

In 1966 the successors to BuShips and BuOrd (NAVSHIPS and NAVORD) were moved to report to OpNav. The SCB role as an adjudicator became less relevant. [5] During the development of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates it was renamed the Ship Acquisition and Improvement Board (SAIB). [6] In the 1980s it was revived as the Ship Characteristics Improvement Board (SCIB), but without its former authority. [7]

USS Thresher loss

Thresher, the first result of project SCB 188, at sea on 24 July 1961 USS Thresher (SSN-593) bow.jpg
Thresher, the first result of project SCB 188, at sea on 24 July 1961

A decision by the SCB likely contributed to the 1963 loss of the nuclear submarine Thresher. The SCB had ordered BuShips to study increasing the test depth for future submarines from 700 to 1,600 feet, and this increase was approved after November 1956. Thresher's components were too far along in design to accommodate this change, but it was decided that they could be modified to enable a test depth of 1,300 feet. The irony is that the SCB's motives for this change were to enhance safety: not only to support greater combat survivability, but also out of a concern that the increased speed of nuclear submarines could cause them to inadvertently exceed the more shallow test depths while maneuvering. [8]

List of SCB projects

Review of the following lists of SCB projects will show:

All ship hull classification symbols shown (CLK, SS, DL, CVA, DE, etc.) are the symbols in use at the conception of the project, rather than when construction started. Explanations of these symbols are usually to be found in the linked articles on each ship or class.

Sequential numbering of SCB projects

SCB projects began in numeric sequence in 1946, and were originally listed in descending priority (the Norfolk cruiser/destroyer leader having top priority, the Tang submarines as second priority, etc.), [9] but such prioritization was eventually dropped. Several of the early projects actually began in 1945 - for example, the Mitscher-class destroyer (which in 1946 was assigned the project number SCB 5) was the ship design that out-performed the projected CL-154 class light cruiser design and led to that cruiser's cancellation in September 1945. [10]

SCB #Start dateDescriptionNotes
SCB 11946 Norfolk CLK [11]
SCB 21946 Tang class SS [12]
SCB 2AImproved SCB 2, original design of Grayback SS before conversion to SSG [13]
SCB 51946 Mitscher class DL [14]
SCB 61946Strategic CVA (aircraft carrier) concept [15]
SCB 6A United States class CVA, cancelled 23 Apr 1949 [16]
SCB 7194630 kt DE concept [17]
SCB 7A Fletcher class DD ASW mobilization concept [18]
SCB 81946 CVE ASW concept, became SCB 43 [19]
SCB 9194615 kt LST concept [20]
SCB 9A Terrebonne Parish class LST [21]
SCB 111946 Glacier AGB [22]
SCB 121946 MIGRAINE II: four SSR conversions [23]
SCB 12AMIGRAINE III: six SSR conversions [24]
SCB 131946 Northampton CLC [25]
SCB 141946 Paul Revere class APA [26]
SCB 151946 Tulare class AKA [27]
SCB 161946Fast AGC concept [28]
SCB 171946Fast LSD concept [29]
SCB 19Dec 1945 Kentucky BB anti-air concept [30]
SCB 221946Fast AOR concept [31]
SCB 231946Fast replenishment cargo ship concept [32]
SCB 241946Midget SS concept [33]
SCB 251946 LCU 1466 [34]
SCB 25A LCU 1608 [35]
SCB 261946 Hawaii CB aircraft carrier conversion concept [36]
SCB 26A1948 Hawaii CB missile conversion concept [37]
SCB 27 1946 Oriskany CVA jet aircraft conversion [38]
SCB 27A Essex class CVA modification [39]
SCB 27CEssex class CVA modification [40]
SCB 281946 Tunny SSG conversion [41]
SCB 321946Fast LST concept [42]
SCB 33SSG (guided missile submarine) concept [43]
SCB 34Aircraft-carrying submarine design study [44]
SCB 35Dec 1946 Barracuda class SSK [45]
SCB 361948New LCS(L) concept, merged into SCB 37 [46]
SCB 371948 Carronade LSM(R) [47]
SCB 38 Colorado BB radio control target conversion concept [48]
SCB 39 Guavina SSO conversion [49]
SCB 40SSE (submarine ammunition carrier) concept [50]
SCB 43CVE ASW concepts, cancelled Apr 1954 [51]
SCB 45A Agile class MSO and Acme class MSO [52]
SCB 46 DER conversions: 6 ships [53]
SCB 46ADER conversions: 2 ships [54]
SCB 46BDER conversions: 28 ships [55]
SCB 47 GUPPY II SS conversions [56]
SCB 47A GUPPY IA SS conversions [57]
SCB 47B Fleet snorkel SS conversions [58]
SCB 47C GUPPY IIA SS conversions [59]
SCB 48 Boston class CAG Terrier missile conversions [60]
SCB 49 Altair class AKS conversion [61]
SCB 50 AOR conversion concept [62]
SCB 51DE or PCE concept, became SCB 72 [63]
SCB 53DDE conversion [64]
SCB 54 CVL conversion [65]
SCB 561949 Albacore AGSS Phase I [66]
SCB 581949 Grouper SSK conversion [67]
SCB 60A LVT(A)5 modernization [68]
SCB 60B LVT(3) modernization [69]
SCB 63 Tweedy DE ASW upgrade [70]
SCB 63A Lewis DE ASW upgrade [71]
SCB 64Mar 1950 Nautilus SSN [72] [73]
SCB 64AMar 1950 Seawolf SSN [74] [75]
SCB 65 X-1 midget SS [76]
SCB 66SSM (submarine minelayer) conversion concept, cancelled 1 Oct 1952 [77]
SCB 671950 Closed cycle engine SSX concept [78]
SCB 67AClosed cycle engine SSX concept, cancelled 26 Oct 1953 [79]
SCB 68Apr 1950 Mackerel class SST [80]
SCB 69 Adjutant class MSC [81]
SCB 72Oct 1950 Dealey class DE [82]
SCB 74Various anti-air upgrades (e.g. Bofors 40 mm guns replaced with 3"/50 caliber guns) [83]
SCB 74A Fletcher class DD anti-air upgrades: 40 ships [84]
SCB 74E Iowa class BB anti-air upgrade concept [85]
SCB 75Nov 1950 Thomaston class LSD [86]
SCB 76Mobilization DD experiment concept [87]
SCB 77Jul 1951New AKA concept [88]
SCB 77ANov 1952New AKA with ro-ro capability concept [89]
SCB 78Paul Revere LPA [90]
SCB 79DDR (destroyer radar picket) conversions [91]
SCB 80 Forrestal class CVA [92]
SCB 82 Neosho class AO [93]
SCB 83 Hawaii CBC conversion concept [94]
SCB 84 Sailfish class SSR [95]
SCB 85Feb 1951 Forrest Sherman class DD [96]
SCB 85AForrest Sherman class (Hull sub-class) DD [97]
SCB 88 Gearing class DD completion concept [98]
SCB 89May 1951180-foot PC concept [99]
SCB 90May 1951290-foot PCE concept [100]
SCB 94Nov 1951 LCM(6) [101]
SCB 95 LCM(8) [102]
SCB 97 Rigel class AF [103]
SCB 110 Midway CVA and Franklin D Roosevelt CVA modernizations [104]
SCB 110A Coral Sea CVA modernization [105]
SCB 114A Suribachi class AE [106]
SCB 115AVS (aviation stores ship) [107]
SCB 116 Darter SS [108]
SCB 118 Barbero SSG conversion [109]
SCB 119Nov 1953 De Soto County class LST [110]
SCB 121 Skate class SSN [111]
SCB 122May 1954 Thetis Bay CVHA conversion [112]
SCB 123MCS conversions: Catskill, Ozark, Osage, Saugus , and Monitor (last 3 cancelled) [113]
SCB 124Improved SCB 116, original design of Growler SS before conversion to SSG [114]
SCB 125 Essex class CVA modification [115]
SCB 125AOriskany CVA modification [116]
SCB 126 Guardian class AGR conversion [117]
SCB 127Kitty Hawk class CVA, preliminary design [118]
SCB 127A Kitty Hawk class CVA, first two ships [119]
SCB 127BKitty Hawk class CVA follow on: America [120]
SCB 127CKitty Hawk class CVA follow on: John F. Kennedy [121]
SCB 129May 1954 Farragut class DL [122]
SCB 130Fletcher class DDC (destroyer corvette) conversion concept [123]
SCB 131Jun 1954 Claude Jones class DE [124]
SCB 132 Triton SSRN [125]
SCB 134 Albemarle AV P6M seaplane modification [126]
SCB 136Cove MSI (inshore minesweeper) [127]
SCB 137Original design of Halibut SSG with diesel-electric propulsion [128]
SCB 137AFinal design of Halibut SSGN with nuclear propulsion [129]
SCB 139 YP-654 class [130]
SCB 140 Galveston class CLG Talos missile conversion [131]
SCB 140AGalveston class CLG Talos missile flagship conversions: Little Rock and Oklahoma City [132]
SCB 1411954New LCM(3) concept [133]
SCB 142 Farragut class (Coontz sub-class) DLG [134]
SCB 143 Admirable class AM and Auk class AM conversion to PCE concepts [135]
SCB 144Essex class CVS FRAM upgrade [136]
SCB 146Providence class CLG Terrier missile conversion: Topeka [137]
SCB 146AProvidence class CLG Terrier missile flagship conversions: Providence and Springfield [138]
SCB 147YTB-752 class harbor tug [139]
SCB 147AYTB-760 class [140]
SCB 149Aug 1954LCU 1620 [141]
SCB 149BMar 1962LCU 1625 [142]
SCB 150 Barbel class SS [143]
SCB 151 Currituck AV P6M seaplane modification, cancelled 21 Aug 1959 after 52 days of construction [144]
SCB 152Jul 1955Fast catamaran LST with causeway concept [145]
SCB 153Alternative CV concept, cancelled 14 Sep 1955, influenced SCB 127A and SCB 160 [146]
SCB 154 Skipjack class SSN [147]
SCB 155Aug 1955 Charles F. Adams class DDG [148]
SCB 157Jul 1955 Iwo Jima class LPH [149]
SCB 158CN (nuclear cruiser) concept [150]
SCB 159 Block Island LPH conversion, cancelled 1958 [151]
SCB 160 Enterprise CVAN [152]
SCB 161 Grayback and Growler conversion from SS to SSG [153]
SCB 162Apr 1956LCM hydrofoil concept [154]
SCB 163CN concept [155]
SCB 165CN concept [156]
SCB 166Original design of Permit class SSGN [157]
SCB 166AImproved design of Permit class SSGN (ultimately reordered as SCB 188 SSNs) [158]
SCB 167CN concept [159]
SCB 168CN concept [160]
SCB 169 Long Beach CGN [161]
SCB 170Conversion of Guavina to a seaplane tender submarine [162]
SCB 172 Leahy class DLG [163]
SCB 172AJun 1960 Belknap class DLG [164]
SCB 173 Albany class CG conversions [165]
SCB 173A Baltimore class Polaris missile conversion concept [166]
SCB 174 Des Moines class CG conversion concept [167]
SCB 176 Commencement Bay class AV P6M seaplane conversion concept, cancelled 21 Aug 1959 [168]
SCB 177 Tallahatchie County AVB conversion [169]
SCB 178 Tullibee SSN [170]
SCB 179 Victory ship conversion to survey ship concept [171]
SCB 180 Ethan Allen class SSBN [172]
SCB 180A George Washington class SSBN [173]
SCB 1821957 Albacore AGSS Phase III [174]
SCB 182A1959Albacore AGSS Phase IV [175]
SCB 1831956 PCS concept [176]
SCB 1841956 SC concept [177]
SCB 185 Conrad class AGOR [178]
SCB 187Jan 1957 Raleigh class LPD [179]
SCB 187ARaleigh class LPD with flagship facilities: La Salle [180]
SCB 187B Austin class LPD [181]
SCB 188 Thresher / Permit class SSN [182]
SCB 188A Sturgeon class SSN [183]
SCB 188MLengthened Permit class SSNs: Flasher, Greenling , and Gato [184]
SCB 189 Bainbridge DLGN [185]
SCB 190 Proteus AS modernization [186]
SCB 191 Terror Middle East force flagship conversion concept [187]
SCB 192 Oxford class AGTR conversion [188]
SCB 194 Hunley class AS [189]
SCB 196 Sacramento class AOE [190]
SCB 198 Glover AGFF conversion [191]
SCB 199 Bronstein class DE [192]
SCB 199A Garcia class DE [193]
SCB 199B Brooke class DE [194]
SCB 199C Knox class DE [195]
SCB 202Apr 1958 High Point PCH [196]
SCB 203CVAN concept, became SCB 211 [197]
SCB 205AGMs for range instrumentation [198]
SCB 206Nov 1958 Gearing class DD FRAM I [199]
SCB 207 Dolphin AGSS [200]
SCB 208 Mars class AFS [201]
SCB 211CVAN concept [202]
SCB 211ACVAN concept, cancelled in favor of SCB 127C [203]
SCB 212Austere DDG (guided missile destroyer) concept, influenced SCB 172A [204]
SCB 214 Serrano AGS conversion [205]
SCB 215 Gilbert Islands AGMR conversion [206]
SCB 216 Lafayette class SSBN [207]
SCB 216A Benjamin Franklin class SSBN [208]
SCB 216 Mod 3 James Madison class SSBN [209]
SCB 218Aug 1960Albemarle ASGL satellite launch concept [210]
SCB 2191960 Plainview AGEH [211]
SCB 220 Nasty class PTF [212]
SCB 221Aug 196052 foot UDT reconnaissance boat [213]
SCB 222 Tuxtrun DLGN [214]
SCB 223 GUPPY III SS FRAM [215]
SCB 224 Cimarron class AO jumbo conversion: Mispillion sub-class [216]
SCB 225 Kingsport AG conversion [217]
SCB 226 Silas Bent class AGS [218]
SCB 227Mar 1961 Typhon DLGN concept [219]
SCB 228 Wright CC conversion [220]
SCB 229 Asheville class PGM [221]
SCB 231 NECPA CC concept [222]
SCB 232Suribachi class AE modernization [223]
SCB 233 Norton Sound AVM modification [224]
SCB 234Victory ship AS (submarine tender) conversion [225]
SCB 236 Sea Lift LSV [226]
SCB 238 Simon Lake class AS [227]
SCB 239Seahawk DD concept [228]
SCB 240Forrest Sherman class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 4 ships [229]
SCB 241Mitscher class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 2 ships [230]
SCB 242Sailfish SS FRAM II refit [231]
SCB 244 Samuel Gompers class AD [232]
SCB 245 Narwhal SSN [233]
SCB 247Jun 1962 Newport class LST [234]
SCB 248Nov 1962 Blue Ridge class LCC [235]
SCB 250CVAN concept [236]
SCB 251 Forrest Sherman class (Barry sub-class) DD modernization with ASROC [237]
SCB 252Jan 1964 Flagstaff PGH and Tucumari PGH [238]

Block numbering of SCB projects

By 1965 the numeric sequence was abandoned and SCB projects were organized by block numbers which arranged projects by ship types (valid until the 1975 ship reclassification), and a two digit suffix denoting the fiscal year of the construction phase of the project. [239] This suffix is not the start date of the project as a concept: SCB 400.65 actually began in November 1962, not in 1965, and SCB 409.68 actually began in February 1965, not in 1968. The existence of successive suffixes also does not necessarily mean that the design of ships of a class in any way changed, such suffixes are listed here for historical note only.

In effect, this new numbering scheme changed the focus of the SCB from design and development to procurement and budget compliance. As a result, concept-only designs would disappear from the historical record.

1965-1975 SCB block #Ship type
001-099Cruisers
100-199Carriers
200-299Destroyers/Frigates
_ 200-219Destroyer Escorts
_ 220-239Destroyers
_ 240-259Frigates (past Destroyer Leaders)
_ 260-280Patrol Frigates
300-399Submarines
400-499Amphibious
500-599Mine Warfare
600-699Patrol
700-799Auxiliaries
800-899Service Craft
900-999Special Purpose
SCB #Start dateDescriptionNotes
SCB 002Albany class CG AAW modernization (Chicago partially only, Columbus cancelled) [240]
SCB 003.68Boston class CAG AAW modernization, cancelled [241]
SCB 100.68CVS ASW concept, became SCB 100.71 [242]
SCB 100.71CVS ASW concept [243]
SCB 101.66Midway CVA modernization [244]
SCB 101.68Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA modernization, cancelled [245]
SCB 102.67 Nimitz class CVN [246]
SCB 103.68 Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA austere refit [247]
SCB 200.65Knox class DE (former SCB 199C) [248]
SCB 222.66Forrest Sherman class DD ASW modernization (former SCB 251)ibid
SCB 223.67DDG [249]
SCB 224 Spruance class DD [250]
SCB 226 Ticonderoga class DDG [251]
SCB 240.65Mar 1961Typhon DLGN concept (former SCB 227)ibid
SCB 241.66 California class DLGN [252]
SCB 243.66Farragut class DLG upgrade [253]
SCB 244.66Leahy class DLG upgrade [254]
SCB 246 Virginia class DLGN [255]
SCB 261 Oliver Hazard Perry class FFG [256]
SCB 300 Sturgeon-class SSN [257]
SCB 301 NR-1 [258]
SCB 302 Glenard P. Lipscomb SSN [259]
SCB 303 Los Angeles class SSN [260]
SCB 304 Ohio class SSBN [261]
SCB 350Conversion of Grayback from SSG to transport submarine (LPSS) [262]
SCB 351Conversion of Halibut from SSGN to SSN [263]
SCB 353Conversion of SSBN 627-636, 640-657 from Polaris A-3 to Poseidon C-3 [264]
SCB 355Conversion of SSBN 616-617, 619-626, 658-659 from Polaris A-3 to Poseidon C-3 [265]
SCB 400.65Nov 1962Blue Ridge class LCC (former SCB 248)ibid
SCB 401.65Jul 1955 New Orleans LPH (former SCB 157)ibid, [266]
SCB 402.65Austin class LPD (former SCB 187B)ibid
SCB 403.65 Charleston class AKA [267]
SCB 404.65 Anchorage class LSD, lead ship only [268]
SCB 404.66Anchorage class LSD, follow on ships [269]
SCB 405.65Jun 1962Newport class LST, lead ship only (former SCB 247)ibid, [270]
SCB 405.66Jun 1962Newport class LST: follow on ships (former SCB 247)ibid, [271]
SCB 406.65 LCU 1627 [272]
SCB 409.68Feb 1965 Tawara class LHA [273]
SCB 500.66Liberty ship MSS conversion concept [274]
SCB 501.66MSO (ocean minesweeper) concept [275]
SCB 502MSO modernization [276]
SCB 600Asheville class PGM (former SCB 229)ibid
SCB 602 Pegasus class PHM [277]
SCB 700.66Samuel Gompers class follow on: AD-39, cancelled (former SCB 244)ibid, [278]
SCB 701AVB (aviation logistics support ship) [279]
SCB 702.65 L Y Spear class AS [280]
SCB 703.65 Kilauea class AE [281]
SCB 704AGB (icebreaker) [282]
SCB 705Mars class AFS (former SCB 208)ibid
SCB 706 Cimarron class AO jumbo conversion: Ashtabula sub-class [283]
SCB 707 Wichita class AOR [284]
SCB 708.65Chauvenet class AGSibid
SCB 709Serrano AGS conversion (former SCB 214)ibid
SCB 710 Melville class AGOR [285]
SCB 711.65Sacramento class AOE (former SCB 196)ibid, [286]
SCB 713 Mission Buenaventura class AO jumbo conversion [287]
SCB 714AS (submarine tender) [288]
SCB 719 Edenton class ATS [289]
SCB 720Fast Deployment Logistic Ship FDL [290]
SCB 721 Pigeon class ASR [291]
SCB 723 Chauvenet AGS [292]
SCB 726Hayes class AGOR (former SCB 226)ibid
SCB 728 Wyman AGS [293]
SCB 734 Gyre class AGOR [294]
SCB 737 Emory S Land class AS [295]
SCB 739 Cimarron class AO [296]
SCB 744 Powhatan class ATF [297]
SCB 800.65 YP-654 class [298]
SCB 900.65Iowa class BB ASGL satellite launch concept [299]

CIP

The SCB also had a list of projects called Class Improvement Projects. These were usually changes of a lesser scope or risk than SCB projects; many were contingency plans to refurbish reserve ships had it been necessary to reactivate them. [300] No list of CIP numbers is available.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruiser</span> Type of large warships

A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles.

The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy, the United States Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II. They were typically half the length and a third the displacement of larger fleet carriers, slower, more-lightly armed and armored, and carried fewer planes. Escort carriers were most often built upon a commercial ship hull, so they were cheaper and could be built quickly. This was their principal advantage as they could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. However, the lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable, and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier was a similar concept to the escort carrier in most respects, but was fast enough to operate alongside fleet carriers.

The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a hull classification symbol to identify their ships by type and by individual ship within a type. The system is analogous to the pennant number system that the Royal Navy and other European and Commonwealth navies use.

USS <i>Hawaii</i> (CB-3) Never-completed third member of the US Navy Alaska-class large cruisers

USS Hawaii (CB-3) was intended to be the third member of the Alaska-class large cruisers. It was the first United States Navy ship to be named after the then-Territory of Hawaii. Because Hawaii's construction was delayed by higher-priority ships like aircraft carriers, her keel was not laid until December 1943, about two years after her sister ship Guam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization</span> Program of the United States Navy to extend the service lives of World War II-era ships

The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program of the United States Navy extended the lives of World War II-era destroyers by shifting their mission from a surface attack role to that of a submarine hunter. The FRAM program also covered cruisers, aircraft carriers, submarines, amphibious ships, and auxiliaries. The United States Coast Guard also used this term in the 1980s for the modernization of its Hamilton-class cutters.

<i>Forrest Sherman</i>-class destroyer Destroyer class of the US Navy

The 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers comprised the first post-war class of US destroyers. Commissioned beginning in 1955, these ships served until the late 1980s. Their weaponry underwent considerable modification during their years of service. Four were converted to guided-missile destroyers. This class also served as the basis for the Charles F. Adams-class guided-missile destroyers.

<i>Knox</i>-class frigate Class of Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates

The 46 Knox-class frigates were the largest, last, and most numerous of the US Navy's second-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) escorts. Originally laid down as ocean escorts, they were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975, in the 1975 ship reclassification plan and their hull designation changed from 'DE' to 'FF'. The Knox class was the Navy's last destroyer-type design with a steam turbine powerplant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification</span>

The United States Navy reclassified many of its surface vessels in 1975, changing terminology and hull classification symbols for cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts.

The names of commissioned ships of the United States Navy all start with USS, for United States Ship. Non-commissioned, primarily civilian-crewed vessels of the U.S. Navy under the Military Sealift Command have names that begin with USNS, standing for United States Naval Ship. A letter-based hull classification symbol is used to designate a vessel's type. The names of ships are selected by the Secretary of the Navy. The names are those of states, cities, towns, important persons, important locations, famous battles, fish, and ideals. Usually, different types of ships have names originated from different types of sources.

<i>Mitscher</i>-class destroyer Destroyer class of the US Navy

The Mitscher-class destroyer was an experimental destroyer class of four ships that were built for the United States Navy shortly after World War II. Considerably larger than all previous destroyers, but smaller than their immediate predecessor, the experimental Norfolk, they would have been the first post-war destroyer class had they not been reclassified during construction as destroyer leaders (DL). Commissioned in 1953–1954, two of the class served until 1969, and were scrapped in the 1970s. The other two were converted into guided missile destroyers (DDG), served until 1978, and were sold for scrap by 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radar picket</span> Station used to increase radar detection range

A radar picket is a radar-equipped station, ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a nation or military force to protect it from surprise attack, typically air attack, or from criminal activities such as smuggling. By definition a radar picket must be some distance removed from the anticipated targets to be capable of providing early warning. Often several detached radar units would be placed to encircle a target to provide increased cover in all directions; another approach is to position units to form a barrier line.

<i>Farragut</i>-class destroyer (1958) 1958 Destroyer class of the US Navy

The Farragut-class destroyer was a group of 10 guided-missile destroyers built for the United States Navy (USN) during the 1950s. They were the second destroyer class to be named for Admiral David Farragut. The class is sometimes referred to as the Coontz class, since Coontz was first to be designed and built as a guided-missile ship, whereas the previous three ships were designed as all-gun units and converted later. The class was originally envisioned as a Destroyer Leader class, but was reclassified as Guided-Missile Destroyers following the 1975 ship reclassification.

The United States Navy's Bureau of Ships (BuShips) was established by Congress on 20 June 1940, by a law which consolidated the functions of the Bureau of Construction and Repair (BuC&R) and the Bureau of Engineering (BuEng). The new bureau was to be headed by a chief and deputy-chief, one selected from the Engineering Corps and the other from the Construction Corps. The chief of the former Bureau of Engineering, Rear Admiral Samuel M. "Mike" Robinson, was named BuShips' first chief, while the former chief of the Bureau of Construction & Repair, Rear Admiral Alexander H. Van Keuren, was named as BuShips' first Deputy-Chief. The bureau's responsibilities included supervising the design, construction, conversion, procurement, maintenance, and repair of ships and other craft for the Navy; managing shipyards, repair facilities, laboratories, and shore stations; developing specifications for fuels and lubricants; and conducting salvage operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3-inch/50-caliber gun</span> Naval gun

The 3"/50 caliber gun in United States naval gun terminology indicates the gun fired a projectile 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter, and the barrel was 50 calibers long. Different guns of this caliber were used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard from 1900 through to 1990 on a variety of combatant and transport ship classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet carrier</span> Type of aircraft carrier

A fleet carrier is an aircraft carrier designed to operate with the main fleet of a nation's navy. The term was developed during World War II, to distinguish it from the escort carrier and other less capable types. In addition to many medium-sized carriers, supercarriers, as well as some light carriers, are also classed as fleet carriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter-killer Group</span> World War II groups of anti-submarine warships

Hunter-killer Groups, also known as Convoy Support Groups, were groups of anti-submarine warships that were actively deployed to attack submarines during World War II. The advances in signals intelligence such as high-frequency direction finding, in cryptological intelligence such as Ultra, and in detection technologies such as radar and sonar/ASDIC enabled the Allied navies to form flotillas designed actively to hunt down submarines and sink them. Similar groups also existed during the Cold War. A hunter-killer group would typically be formed around an escort carrier to provide aerial reconnaissance and air cover, with a number of corvettes, destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, and/or United States Coast Guard Cutters armed with depth charges and Hedgehog anti-submarine mortars.

The SSM-N-2 Triton was a supersonic nuclear land-attack cruise missile project for the United States Navy. It was in development from 1946 to 1957, but probably no prototypes were produced or tested. The Triton program was approved in September 1946, designated SSM-2 a year later, and redesignated SSM-N-2 in early 1948. A preliminary design was produced by 1950 as the XSSM-N-2, but was scaled down by 1955 and redesigned again in 1957. Triton was cancelled in 1957, probably as a result of the 1956 decision to focus the Navy's strategic weapons development on the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile. In any case, prototypes of the similar Regulus II missile had already flown, and Triton was redundant, offering only an increase in range from 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) to 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km), which Polaris was about to achieve along with many other advantages. Regulus II was itself cancelled in 1958, although testing of missiles already built continued for several years.

CL-154-class cruiser

The CL-154 class of 5-inch (127 mm) gun light cruisers was a United States Navy project from the last two years of World War II, with antecedents reaching back to 1938 and earlier. The CL-154 class was contemporary to the 6-inch (152 mm) gun Worcester-class light cruisers and the 8-inch (203 mm) gun Des Moines-class heavy cruisers: like them the CL-154 design incorporated the lessons learned of World War II combat. The Navy allocated six hull numbers to the CL-154 class for the planned construction, but unlike the Worcester and Des Moines classes the CL-154 class would be cancelled with no units named or constructed. Had these ships been built, they would have been given the hull classification CLAA on 18 March 1949.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 7
  2. ↑ Friedman, Battleships, pp 311-313
  3. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp 2-3
  4. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 3
  5. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 13
  6. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 5
  7. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 13
  8. ↑ Friedman, Submarines pp. 132-133
  9. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
  10. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 369
  11. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
  12. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
  13. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 31
  14. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 298
  15. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 237
  16. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 230
  17. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 265
  18. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
  19. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 340
  20. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 303
  21. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 303
  22. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  23. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 90
  24. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 90
  25. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  26. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
  27. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
  28. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
  29. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
  30. ↑ Friedman, Battleships, p. 390
  31. ↑ Wildenberg, 1996, p. 207
  32. ↑ Wildenberg, 1996, p. 207
  33. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 267
  34. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 383
  35. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 390
  36. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  37. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
  38. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
  39. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
  40. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 24-25
  41. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 178
  42. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
  43. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  44. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  45. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  46. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 254
  47. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 254, 256
  48. ↑ Friedman, Battleships, pp. 402-403
  49. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 89
  50. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, pp. 252-263
  51. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 340-342
  52. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  53. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 229-231
  54. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 231
  55. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 231-232
  56. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 41
  57. ↑ see linked Wiki article
  58. ↑ see linked Wiki article
  59. ↑ see linked Wiki article
  60. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 377
  61. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  62. ↑ Roberts, AO-105
  63. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 271-273
  64. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 246
  65. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 246
  66. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  67. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 80
  68. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 300
  69. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 300
  70. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161
  71. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161
  72. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 182
  73. ↑ Hewlett & Duncan, Nuclear Navy, p. 162
  74. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 186
  75. ↑ Hewlett & Duncan, Nuclear Navy, p. 162
  76. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 220
  77. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 99
  78. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 47
  79. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 48
  80. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 222
  81. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  82. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 273-274
  83. ↑ Friedman, Naval Anti-Air Guns, p. 1043
  84. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 118
  85. ↑ Friedman, Battleships, p. 390
  86. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 329-330
  87. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
  88. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 318
  89. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 319-322
  90. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  91. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
  92. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 256
  93. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  94. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 430
  95. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 94
  96. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 246-249
  97. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 249
  98. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  99. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 201
  100. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, pp. 207-208
  101. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
  102. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
  103. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  104. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 300
  105. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 300
  106. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  107. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  108. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 31
  109. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 178
  110. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 306-307
  111. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 128
  112. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 350
  113. ↑ Roberts, LSV-1-2
  114. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  115. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 296
  116. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 296
  117. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  118. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 274
  119. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 279
  120. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
  121. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
  122. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 295-297
  123. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 266
  124. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 275-279
  125. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 95
  126. ↑ Roberts, AV-4
  127. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
  128. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 179
  129. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 182
  130. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  131. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 386-387
  132. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 393
  133. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
  134. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 297
  135. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, pp. 207-208
  136. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  137. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 386-388
  138. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 393
  139. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  140. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  141. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 384, 386
  142. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 390
  143. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 33
  144. ↑ Roberts, AV-7
  145. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 337
  146. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 277
  147. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 258
  148. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 299, 307-309
  149. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 353
  150. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 405
  151. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 356
  152. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 278, 312
  153. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  154. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 393
  155. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 405
  156. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
  157. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  158. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  159. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
  160. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
  161. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 402
  162. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  163. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 299-303
  164. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 304-306
  165. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 394-398
  166. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 400
  167. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 400
  168. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 346
  169. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  170. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  171. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  172. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
  173. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
  174. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  175. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  176. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
  177. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
  178. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  179. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 364
  180. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 365
  181. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 365
  182. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 143
  183. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 146
  184. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 143
  185. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  186. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  187. ↑ Roberts, CM-5
  188. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  189. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  190. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  191. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  192. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 349-351
  193. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 355
  194. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 357
  195. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 359-361
  196. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 212
  197. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 317
  198. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  199. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 285
  200. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 122
  201. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  202. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
  203. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 282
  204. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 306
  205. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  206. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  207. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
  208. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
  209. ↑ see linked Wiki article
  210. ↑ Roberts, AV-4
  211. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 217
  212. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  213. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 398
  214. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 316
  215. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  216. ↑ Fahey, p. 63
  217. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  218. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  219. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 338
  220. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  221. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  222. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  223. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  224. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  225. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  226. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  227. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  228. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 364-370
  229. ↑ Fahey, p. 13
  230. ↑ Fahey, p. 12
  231. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  232. ↑ Fahey, pp. 49, 63
  233. ↑ Friedman, Submarines, p. 149
  234. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 339-344
  235. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 426-430
  236. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 318
  237. ↑ Fahey, p. 13
  238. ↑ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 257
  239. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 429
  240. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 398
  241. ↑ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 380
  242. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  243. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  244. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 219
  245. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 306
  246. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  247. ↑ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 301
  248. ↑ Fahey, p. 24
  249. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  250. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  251. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  252. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  253. ↑ Fahey, p. 12
  254. ↑ Fahey, p. 12
  255. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  256. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  257. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  258. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  259. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  260. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  261. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  262. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  263. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  264. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  265. ↑ Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  266. ↑ Fahey, p. 63
  267. ↑ Fahey, p. 44
  268. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 331-334
  269. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 331-334
  270. ↑ Fahey, pp. 42, 45 & 63
  271. ↑ Fahey, p. 45
  272. ↑ Fahey, p. 45
  273. ↑ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 374-381
  274. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  275. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  276. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  277. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  278. ↑ Fahey, p. 49
  279. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  280. ↑ Fahey, p. 63
  281. ↑ Fahey, p. 49
  282. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  283. ↑ Fahey p. 63
  284. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  285. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  286. ↑ Fahey, p. 63
  287. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  288. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  289. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  290. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  291. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  292. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  293. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  294. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  295. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  296. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  297. ↑ Crierie, SCB Numbers
  298. ↑ Fahey, p. 45
  299. ↑ Friedman, Battleships, p. 400
  300. ↑ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.