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Gearing-class destroyer

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USS Hanson in FRAM configuration, 4 August 1971
Class overview
NameGearing class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byAllen M. Sumner class
Succeeded byNorfolk class
Subclasses
In commission1945–1983
Planned152
Completed98
Cancelled54
Lost1
Retired98
Preserved5
General characteristics as originally built
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 2,616 long tons (2,658 t) standard
  • 3,460 long tons (3,520 t) full load
Length390.5 ft (119.0 m)
Beam40.9 ft (12.5 m)
Draft14.3 ft (4.4 m)
Installed power
  • 4 × boilers
  • 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed36.8 kn (68.2 km/h; 42.3 mph)
Range4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement350 as designed
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

The Gearing class was a series of 98 destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the Allen M. Sumner class, whereby the hull was lengthened by 14 ft (4.3 m) at amidships, which resulted in more fuel storage space and increased the operating range.

The first Gearings were not ready for service until mid-1945 and saw little service in World War II. They continued serving, with a series of upgrades, until the 1970s. At that time many were sold to other nations, where they served many more years.

Procurement and construction

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31 vessels were authorized on 9 July 1942:

  • DD-710 to DD-721 awarded to Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny.
  • DD-742 to DD-743 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
  • DD-763 to DD-769 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco.
  • DD-782 to DD-791 awarded to Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle.

4 vessels were authorized on 13 May 1942:

  • DD-805 to DD-808 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.

3 vessels were authorized on 27 March 1943 under the Vinson–Trammell Act:

  • DD-809 to DD-811 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. (later cancelled)

114 vessels were authorized on 19 July 1943 under the 70% Expansion Act:

  • DD-812 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. (later cancelled)
  • DD-813 to DD-814 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island. (later cancelled)
  • DD-815 to DD-825 awarded to Consolidated Steel, Orange. (815 and 816 later cancelled)
  • DD-826 to DD-849 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
  • DD-850 to DD-853 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy.
  • DD-854 to DD-856 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island. (later cancelled)
  • DD-858 to DD-861 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro.
  • DD-862 to DD-872 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island.
  • DD-873 to DD-890 awarded to Consolidated Steel, Orange.
  • DD-891 to DD-893 awarded to Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny. (later cancelled)
  • DD-894 to DD-895 awarded to Consolidated Steel, Orange. (later cancelled)
  • DD-896 to DD-904 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. (later cancelled)
  • DD-905 to DD-908 awarded to Boston Navy Yard. (later cancelled)
  • DD-909 to DD-916 awarded to Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island. (later cancelled)
  • DD-917 to DD-924 awarded to Consolidated Steel, Orange. (later cancelled)
  • DD-925 to DD-926 awarded to Charleston Navy Yard. (later cancelled)

(Of the missing numbers in this sequence - 722 to 741, 744 to 762, 770 to 781, and 857 were allocated to orders for Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers; 792 to 804 were awarded to orders for Fletcher-class destroyers.)

Cancelled vessels

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In March 1945, the orders for 36 of the above vessels were cancelled, and 11 more orders were cancelled in August 1945. Following the close of World War II, 7 further vessels were cancelled in 1946:

  • Castle and Woodrow R. Thompson, the last pair of the twelve vessels launched by Federal Shipbuilding at Kearny, were cancelled on 11 February 1946. They were sold on 29 August 1955, and scrapped.
  • Lansdale and Seymour D. Owens, both launched by Bethlehem at San Francisco, were cancelled on 7 January 1946. Their bows were used to repair other destroyers, and their remains were scrapped in 1958–1959.
  • Hoel and Abner Read, both building by Bethlehem at San Francisco, were cancelled on 12 September 1946, prior to launch and broken up on the slip.
  • Seaman, built by Todd Pacific Shipyards at Seattle; partially completed. Put in reserve on 25 June 1946, sold 12 September 1961, scrapped 22 September 1961.
  • Four unnamed vessels (DD-809 to DD-812) awarded to Bath Iron Works, and five others (DD-813, DD-814, and DD-854 to DD-856) awarded to Bethlehem at Staten Island, were cancelled on 12 August 1945.
  • Charles H. Roan (DD-815) and Timmerman (DD-816), both awarded to Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, were also cancelled on 12 August 1945. Their names were reallocated to Charles H. Roan and Timmerman respectively.
  • Three more unnamed vessels (DD-891 to DD-893) awarded to Federal Shipbuilding at Kearney, were cancelled 8 March 1945.
  • Ten more unnamed vessels (DD-894, DD-895, and DD-917 to DD-924) awarded to Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, and four more (DD-905 to DD-908) awarded to Boston Navy Yard, and another two (DD-925 and DD-926) awarded to Charleston Navy Yard, were all cancelled on 27 March 1945.
  • Nine more unnamed vessels (DD-896 to DD-904) awarded to Bath Iron Works, and another eight (DD-909 to DD-916) awarded to Bethlehem at Staten Island, were all cancelled on 28 March 1945.

Design

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The first ship was laid down in August 1944, while the last was launched in March 1946. In that time the United States produced 98 Gearing-class destroyers. The Gearing class was a seemingly minor improvement of the Allen M. Sumner class, built from 1943 until 1945. The main differences were that the Gearings were 14 ft (4.3 m) longer in the midship section, allowing for increased fuel tankage for greater range, an important consideration in Pacific War. More importantly in the long run, the increased size of the Gearings made them much more suitable for upgrades than the Allen M. Sumners, as seen in the wartime radar picket subclass, the 1950s radar picket destroyer (DDR) and escort destroyer (DDE) conversions, and the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) conversions 1960-1965. As designed, the Gearing class's armament was identical to that on the Allen M. Sumner class. Three twin 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber Mark 38 dual purpose (DP) mounts constituted the main battery. The 5-inch guns were guided by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System with a Mark 25 fire control radar linked by a Mark 1A Fire Control Computer stabilized by a Mark 6 8,500 rpm gyro. This fire control system provided effective long-range anti-aircraft (AA) or anti-surface fire. Twelve 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns in two quad and two twin mounts and 11 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons in single mounts were also equipped. The initial design retained the Allen M. Sumner class's heavy torpedo armament of ten 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes in two quintuple mounts, firing the Mark 15 torpedo. As the threat from kamikaze aircraft mounted in 1945, and with few remaining Japanese warships to use torpedoes on, most of the class had the aft quintuple 21-inch tube mounts replaced by an additional 40 mm quadruple mount (prior to completion on later ships) for 16 total 40 mm guns. Twenty-four ships (DD-742, DD743, 805-808, 829, 831-835, and 874-883) were ordered without torpedo tubes to allow for radar picket equipment; these were redesignated as DDRs in 1948.[1][2][3][4]

1946–1959 upgrades

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Chart showing the development of the Gearing class.
George K. MacKenzie, Leonard F. Mason, Henry W. Tucker, and Rupertus under the Story Bridge, Brisbane, Australia in January 1958.

Following World War II most of the class had their AA and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) armament upgraded. The 40 mm and 20 mm guns were replaced by two to six 3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber guns in up to two twin and two single mountings. One depth charge rack was removed and two Hedgehog ASW mortar mounts added. The K-guns were retained. Nine additional (for a total of 35) ships were converted to radar picket destroyers (DDR) in the early 1950s; these typically received only one 3-inch twin mount to save weight for radar equipment, as did the wartime radar pickets. Nine ships were converted to escort destroyers (DDE), emphasizing ASW. Carpenter was the most thorough DDE conversion, with 4 3-inch/70 caliber guns in twin enclosed mounts, two Weapon Alpha launchers, four new 21-inch torpedo tubes for the Mark 37 ASW torpedo, and one depth charge rack.[5]

FRAM I upgrade

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Sarsfield (top) as delivered and Rowan (bottom) after FRAM I.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, 79 of the Gearing-class destroyers underwent extensive modernization overhauls, known as FRAM I, which were designed under project SCB 206[6] to convert them from an anti-aircraft destroyer to an anti-submarine warfare platform. FRAM I removed all of the DDR and DDE equipment, and these ships were redesignated as DDs. FRAM I and FRAM II conversions were completed 1960–1965. Eventually all but three Gearings received FRAM conversions.[7]

The FRAM I program was an extensive conversion for the Gearing-class destroyers. This upgrade included rebuilding the ship's superstructure, electronic systems, radar, sonar, and weapons. The second twin 5-inch gun mount and all previous AA guns and ASW equipment were removed. On several ships the two forward 5-inch mounts remained and the aft 5-inch mount was removed. Upgraded systems included SQS-23 sonar, SPS-10 surface search radar, two triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes, an 8-cell Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) box launcher, and one QH-50C DASH ASW drone helicopter, with its own landing pad and hangar. Both the Mk 32 torpedo tubes and ASROC launched Mk. 44 homing ASW torpedoes. ASROC could also launch a nuclear depth charge. On 11 May 1962, Agerholm tested a live nuclear ASROC in the "Swordfish" test.[8][9][10]

In Navy slang, the modified destroyers were called "FRAM cans", "can" being a contraction of "tin can", the slang term for a destroyer or destroyer escort.[citation needed]

The Gyrodyne QH-50C DASH was an unmanned anti-submarine helicopter, controlled remotely from the ship. The drone could carry two Mark 44 homing ASW torpedoes. During this era the ASROC system had an effective range of only 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi), but the DASH drone allowed the ship to deploy ASW attack to sonar contacts as far as 22 nmi (41 km; 25 mi) away.[11] However, DASH proved unreliable in shipboard service, with over half of the USN's 746 drones lost at sea. This was possibly due to inadequate maintenance support, as other services had few difficulties with DASH. By 1970, DASH had been withdrawn from FRAM I ships, though it was retained into the early 1970s on FRAM II ships, which lacked ASROC. A limitation of drones in ASW was the need to re-acquire the target at ranges beyond the effectiveness of the controlling ship's sonar. This led to shift to the LAMPS program of manned helicopters, which the Gearing class were too small to accommodate.[12]

An upgraded version of DASH, QH-50D, remained in use by the United States Army until May 2006.[13]

FRAM I "A" Ships: (First 8 conversions) Removal of aft twin 5-inch gun mount (Mount 53). Group A ships also received two MK10/11 Hedgehogs fitted on each side of the bridge at the 01 level and had the MK-32 triple torpedo launchers aft of the second stack. FRAM I "B" Ships (remainder of conversions): Kept their forward 5-inch mount (Mount 51), lost the second mount (Mount 52) and kept their aft 5-inch mount (Mount 53). In place of mount 52, a practice 5-inch reloading machine was installed with the MK-32 triple torpedo launchers aft of the loader. Group B ships also received greater ASROC and torpedo storage areas next to the port side of the DASH hangar.[14][15]

FRAM II upgrade

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Norris after FRAM II.

The FRAM II program was designed primarily for the Allen M. Sumner class destroyer, but sixteen Gearings were upgraded as well. This upgrade program included life-extension refurbishment, a new radar system, Mark 32 torpedo tubes, DASH ASW drone, and variable depth sonar (VDS). Importantly, it did not include ASROC. FRAM II ships included six DDRs and six DDEs that retained their specialized equipment (1960–1961), as well as four DDRs that were converted to DDs and were nearly identical to the Allen M. Sumner class FRAM IIs (1962–1963). The FRAM II ships retained all six 5-inch guns, except the DDEs retained four 5-inch guns and a trainable Hedgehog in the No. 2 position. All FRAM IIs retained two Hedgehogs alongside either the No. 2 5-inch mount or the trainable Hedgehog mount. The four DDRs converted to DDs were armed with two new 21-inch torpedo tubes for the Mk. 37 ASW homing torpedo. Photographs of the six retained DDRs show no markings on the DASH landing deck, as well as a much smaller deckhouse than was usually provided for DASH, so they may not have been equipped with DASH.

Service and disposition

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Many of the Gearings provided significant gunfire support in the Vietnam War. They also served as escorts for Carrier Battle Groups (carrier strike groups from 2004) and Amphibious Ready Groups (Expeditionary Strike Groups from 2006). DASH was withdrawn from ASW service in 1969, due to poor reliability. Lacking ASROC, the FRAM II ships were disposed of in 1969–1974. With ASROC continuing to provide a standoff ASW capability, the Gearing FRAM Is were retained in service for several years, with most being decommissioned and transferred to foreign navies 1973–1980. They were replaced as ASW ships by the Spruance-class destroyers, which were commissioned 1975–1983. These had the same ASW armament as a Gearing FRAM destroyer, with the addition of improved sonar and a piloted helicopter, initially the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, and from 1984, the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk. Some Gearings served in the Naval Reserve Force (NRF) from 1973, remaining in commission with a partial active crew to provide training for Naval reservists. The last Gearing-class destroyer in US naval service was William C. Lawe, a FRAM I, decommissioned and struck 1 October 1983, and expended as a target 14 July 1999.[16]

Yang class

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The Taiwanese destroyer Liao Yang in 1993 (ex Hanson).
Chi Yang-class frigate ROCN Yi Yang has ten SM-1 missiles installed in two forward twin box launchers on top of the helicopter hangar, and two triple box launchers installed between the stack and the hangar.

After the Gearing-class ships were retired from USN service, many were sold abroad, including over a dozen to the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) in Taiwan. These ships, along with Fletcher-class destroyers and Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers also acquired then, were upgraded under the Wu Chin (Chinese: 武進) I, II, and III programs and known throughout the ROCN as the Yang-class (Chinese: 陽字號) destroyers as they were assigned names that all end with the word "Yang". The last batch of 7 WC-III program vessels, all of them Gearing class, were retired in the early 2000s.[17]

Under the most advanced Wu Chin III upgrade program, all World War II vintage weapons were removed and replaced with four Hsiung Feng II surface-to-surface missiles, ten SM-1 (box launchers), one 8-cell ASROC, one 76 mm (3 in) Otobreda gun, two Bofors 40 mm AA, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS and two triple 12.75 in (324 mm) torpedo tubes. The DASH ASW drones were not acquired, but hangar facilities aboard those ships that had them were later used to accommodate of MD 500/ASW helicopters.

After the Yang-class destroyers were decommissioned, the SM-1 launch boxes were moved to Chi Yang-class frigates to improve their anti-air capability.

Ships in class

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Ships of the Gearing destroyer class
Name Hull no. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned FRAM Decommissioned Fate
USS Gearing DD-710 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newark, New Jersey 10 August 1944 18 February 1945 3 May 1945 IB 2 July 1973 Sold for scrap, 6 November 1974
USS Eugene A. Greene DD-711 17 August 1944 18 March 1945 8 June 1945 IB 31 August 1972 Transferred to Spain, 31 August 1972
USS Gyatt DD-712 7 September 1944 15 April 1945 2 July 1945 22 October 1969 Sunk as a target, 11 June 1970
USS Kenneth D. Bailey DD-713 DDR-713 21 September 1944 17 June 1945 31 July 1945 II 20 January 1970 Sold to Iran, 13 January 1975, to be broken up for spare parts
USS William R. Rush DD-714 19 October 1944 8 July 1945 21 September 1945 IB 1 July 1978 Transferred to South Korea in 1978; retired in 2000; became museum ship; scrapped December 2016
USS William M. Wood DD-715 2 November 1944 29 July 1945 24 November 1945 IB 1 December 1976 Sunk as target off Puerto Rico during ReadEx 1-83 in March 1983
USS Wiltsie DD-716 13 March 1945 31 August 1945 12 January 1946 IB 23 January 1976 Sold to Pakistan, 29 April 1977
USS Theodore E. Chandler DD-717 23 April 1945 20 October 1945 22 March 1946 IB 1 April 1975 Sold for scrap, 30 December 1975
USS Hamner DD-718 25 April 1945 24 November 1945 12 July 1946 IB 1 October 1979 Sold to Taiwan, 17 December 1980
USS Epperson DD-719 DDE-719 20 June 1945 22 December 1945 19 March 1949 IB 1 December 1975 Transferred to Pakistan, 29 April 1977
USS Frank Knox DD-742 DDR-742 Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine 8 May 1944 17 September 1944 11 December 1944 II 30 January 1971 Transferred to Greece, 3 February 1971
USS Southerland DD-743 27 May 1944 5 October 1944 22 December 1944 IB 26 February 1981 Sunk as a target, 2 August 1997
USS William C. Lawe DD-763 Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California 12 March 1944 21 May 1945 18 December 1946 IB 1 October 1983 Sunk as a target, 14 July 1999
USS Lloyd Thomas DD-764 DDE-764 26 March 1944 5 October 1945 21 March 1947 II 12 October 1972 Sold to the Republic of China, 12 October 1972
USS Keppler DD-765 DDE-765 23 April 1944 24 June 1946 23 May 1947 II 1 July 1972 Sold to Turkey
USS Rowan DD-782 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington 25 March 1944 29 December 1944 31 March 1945 IB 18 December 1975 Ran aground and wrecked while under tow, 22 August 1977
USS Gurke DD-783 1 July 1944 15 February 1945 12 May 1945 IB 30 January 1976 Transferred to Greece, 17 March 1977
USS McKean DD-784 15 September 1944 31 March 1945 9 June 1945 IB 1 October 1981 Transferred to Turkey, 2 November 1982
USS Henderson DD-785 27 October 1944 28 May 1945 4 August 1945 IB 30 September 1980 Sold to Pakistan, 1 October 1980
USS Richard B. Anderson DD-786 1 December 1944 7 July 1945 26 October 1945 IA 20 December 1975 Transferred to Republic of China, 1 June 1977
USS James E. Kyes DD-787 27 December 1944 4 August 1945 8 February 1946 IB 31 March 1973 Transferred to Taiwan, 18 April 1973
USS Hollister DD-788 18 January 1945 9 October 1945 29 March 1946 IB 31 August 1979 Transferred to Taiwan, 3 March 1983
USS Eversole DD-789 28 February 1945 8 January 1946 10 May 1946 IB 11 July 1973 Transferred to Turkey, 11 July 1973
USS Shelton DD-790 31 May 1945 8 March 1946 21 June 1946 IA 31 March 1973 Sold to Taiwan, 18 April 1973
USS Chevalier DD-805 DDR-805 Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine 12 June 1944 29 October 1944 9 January 1945 II 5 July 1972 Transferred to South Korea, 5 July 1972
USS Higbee DD-806 26 June 1944 13 November 1944 27 January 1945 IB 15 July 1979 Sunk as a target, 24 April 1986
USS Benner DD-807 DDR-807 10 July 1944 30 November 1944 13 February 1945 II 20 November 1970 Sold for scrap, 18 April 1975
USS Dennis J. Buckley DD-808 24 July 1944 20 December 1944 2 March 1945 IB 2 July 1973 Sold for scrap, 29 April 1974
USS Corry DD-817 Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas 5 April 1945 28 July 1945 27 February 1946 IB 27 February 1981 Transferred to Greece, 8 July 1981
USS New DD-818 14 April 1945 18 August 1945 5 April 1946 IB 1 July 1976 Transferred to South Korea, 23 February 1977
USS Holder DD-819 23 April 1945 25 August 1945 18 May 1946 IB 1 October 1976 Transferred to Ecuador, 23 February 1977
USS Rich DD-820 16 May 1945 5 October 1945 3 July 1946 IB 10 November 1977 Sold for scrap, 5 December 1979
USS Johnston DD-821 26 March 1945 10 October 1945 23 August 1946 IB 27 February 1981 Transferred to Republic of China, 27 February 1981
USS Robert H. McCard DD-822 20 June 1945 9 November 1945 23 October 1946 IB 5 June 1980 Transferred to Turkey, 5 June 1980
USS Samuel B. Roberts DD-823 27 June 1945 30 November 1945 22 December 1946 IB 2 November 1970 Sunk as a target, 14 November 1971
USS Basilone DD-824 DDE-824 7 July 1945 21 December 1945 26 July 1949 IB 1 November 1977 Sunk in exercise, 9 April 1982
USS Carpenter DD-825 DDK-825 DDE-825 30 July 1945 30 December 1945[18] 15 December 1949 IB 20 February 1981 Leased to Turkey, 20 February 1981
USS Agerholm DD-826 Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine 10 September 1945 30 March 1946 20 June 1946 IA 1 December 1978 Sunk as a target, 18 July 1982
USS Robert A. Owens DD-827 DDK-827 DDE-827 29 October 1945 15 July 1946 5 November 1949 IB 16 February 1982 Transferred to Turkey, 16 February 1982
USS Timmerman DD-828 1 October 1945 19 May 1951 26 September 1952 27 July 1956 Sold for scrap, 21 April 1959
USS Myles C. Fox DD-829 14 August 1944 13 January 1945 20 March 1945 IB 1 October 1979 Transferred to Greece for spare parts, 2 August 1980
USS Everett F. Larson DD-830 DDR-830 4 September 1944 28 January 1945 6 April 1945 II 30 October 1972 Transferred to South Korea, 30 October 1972
USS Goodrich DD-831 DDR-831 18 September 1944 25 February 1945 24 April 1945 II 30 November 1969 Sold for scrap, 12 September 1977
USS Hanson DD-832 7 October 1944 11 March 1945 11 May 1945 IB 31 March 1973 Transferred to Republic of China, 18 April 1973
USS Herbert J. Thomas DD-833 30 October 1944 25 March 1945 29 May 1945 IB 4 December 1970 Transferred to Republic of China, 1 June 1974
USS Turner DD-834 DDR-834 13 November 1944 8 April 1945 12 June 1945 II 26 September 1969 Sold for scrap, 13 October 1970
USS Charles P. Cecil DD-835 2 December 1944 2 April 1945 29 June 1945 IB 1 October 1979 Sold to Greece, 8 August 1980
USS George K. MacKenzie DD-836 21 December 1944 13 May 1945 13 July 1945 IB 30 September 1976 Sunk as a target, 15 October 1976
USS Sarsfield DD-837 15 January 1945 27 May 1945 31 July 1945 IB 1 October 1977 Transferred to Republic of China, 1 October 1977 and become museum at An-Pin harbor TAI-NAN, TAIWAN.
USS Ernest G. Small DD-838 DDR-838 30 January 1945 14 June 1945 21 August 1945 II 13 November 1970 Transferred to Republic of China, 13 April 1971
USS Power DD-839 26 February 1945 30 June 1945 13 September 1945 IB 1 October 1977 Sold to Republic of China, 1 October 1977
USS Glennon DD-840 12 March 1945 14 July 1945 4 October 1945 IB 1 October 1976 Sunk as a target, 26 February 1981
USS Noa DD-841 26 March 1945 30 July 1945 2 November 1945 IA 31 October 1973 Loaned to Spain, 31 October 1973; Sold, 17 May 1978
USS Fiske DD-842 9 April 1945 8 September 1945 28 November 1945 IB 5 June 1980 Transferred to Turkey, 5 June 1980
USS Warrington DD-843 23 April 1945 27 September 1945 20 December 1945 IB 30 September 1972 Transferred to Taiwan, 24 April 1973, for spare parts
USS Perry DD-844 14 May 1945 25 October 1945 17 January 1946 IA 1 July 1973 Sold for scrap, 24 June 1974
USS Bausell DD-845 28 May 1945 19 November 1945 7 February 1946 IA 30 May 1978 Sunk as a target, 17 July 1987
USS Ozbourn DD-846 16 June 1945 22 December 1945 5 March 1946 IB 30 May 1975 Sold for scrap, 1 December 1975
USS Robert L. Wilson DD-847 2 July 1945 5 January 1946 28 March 1946 IB 30 September 1974 Sunk as a target, 1 March 1980
USS Witek DD-848 EDD-848 16 July 1945 2 February 1946 23 April 1946 19 August 1968 Sunk as a target, 4 July 1969
USS Richard E. Kraus DD-849 31 July 1945 2 March 1946 23 May 1946 IB 1 July 1976 Transferred to South Korea, 23 February 1977
USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD-850 Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts 2 April 1945 26 July 1945 15 December 1945 IB 2 July 1973 Museum ship at Battleship Cove
USS Rupertus DD-851 2 May 1945 21 September 1945 8 March 1946 IB 10 July 1973 Loaned to Greece, 10 July 1973
USS Leonard F. Mason DD-852 6 August 1945 4 January 1946 28 June 1946 IB 2 November 1976 Sold to Republic of China, 10 March 1978
USS Charles H. Roan DD-853 27 September 1945 15 March 1946 12 September 1946 IB 21 September 1973 Transferred to Turkey, 21 September 1973
USS Fred T. Berry DD-858 DDE-858 Bethlehem Shipbuilding, San Pedro, California 16 July 1944 28 January 1945 12 May 1945 II 15 September 1970 Scuttled as an artificial reef, 14 May 1972
USS Norris DD-859 DDE-859 29 August 1944 25 February 1945 9 June 1945 II 4 December 1970 Transferred to Turkey, 1 July 1974
USS McCaffery DD-860 DDE-860 1 October 1944 12 April 1945 26 July 1945 II 30 September 1973 Sold for scrap, 11 June 1974
USS Harwood DD-861 DDE-861 29 October 1944 22 May 1945 28 September 1945 II 1 February 1971 Transferred to Turkey, 17 December 1971
USS Vogelgesang DD-862 Bethlehem Staten Island, Staten Island, New York 3 August 1944 15 January 1945 28 April 1945 IB 24 February 1982 Sold to Mexico, 24 February 1982
USS Steinaker DD-863 1 September 1944 13 February 1945 26 May 1945 IB 24 February 1982 Sold to Mexico, 24 February 1982
USS Harold J. Ellison DD-864 3 October 1944 14 March 1945 23 June 1945 IB 1 October 1983 Transferred to Pakistan, 1 October 1983
USS Charles R. Ware DD-865 1 November 1944 12 April 1945 21 July 1945 IB 30 November 1974 Sunk as target 15 November 1981
USS Cone DD-866 30 November 1944 10 May 1945 18 August 1945 IB 1 October 1982 Transferred to Pakistan, 1 October 1982
USS Stribling DD-867 15 January 1945 8 June 1945 29 September 1945 IA 1 July 1976 Sunk as target, 27 July 1980
USS Brownson DD-868 13 February 1945 7 July 1945 17 November 1945 IB 30 September 1976 Sold for scrap, 10 June 1977
USS Arnold J. Isbell DD-869 14 March 1945 6 August 1945 5 January 1946 IB 4 December 1973 Sold to Greece, 4 December 1973
USS Fechteler DD-870 12 April 1945 19 September 1945 2 March 1946 IB 11 September 1970 Sold for scrap, 28 June 1972
USS Damato DD-871 DDE-871 10 May 1945 21 November 1945 27 April 1946 IB 30 September 1980 Transferred to Pakistan, 1 October 1980
USS Forrest Royal DD-872 8 June 1945 17 January 1946 29 June 1946 IB 27 March 1971 Sold to Turkey, 27 March 1971
USS Hawkins DD-873 Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas 14 May 1944 7 October 1944 10 February 1945 IB 1 October 1979 Sold to Taiwan, 17 March 1983
USS Duncan DD-874 DDR-874 22 May 1944 27 October 1944 25 February 1945 II 15 January 1971 Sunk as target, 31 July 1980
USS Henry W. Tucker DD-875 29 May 1944 8 November 1944 12 March 1945 IB 3 December 1973 Transferred to Brazil, 3 December 1973
USS Rogers DD-876 3 June 1944 20 November 1944 26 March 1945 IB 1 October 1980 Transferred to South Korea, 25 July 1981
USS Perkins DD-877 DDR-877 19 June 1944 7 December 1944 4 April 1945 II 15 January 1973 Transferred to Argentina, 15 January 1973
USS Vesole DD-878

DDR-878

3 July 1944 29 December 1944 23 April 1945 IB 1 December 1976 Sunk as target, 14 April 1983
USS Leary DD-879 11 August 1944 20 January 1945 7 May 1945 IB 31 October 1973 Transferred to Spain, 17 May 1978
USS Dyess DD-880 17 August 1944 26 January 1945 21 May 1945 IB 27 January 1981 Sold to Greece for spare parts, 8 July 1981
USS Bordelon DD-881 9 September 1944 3 March 1945 5 June 1945 IB 1 February 1977 Transferred to Iran, 1 July 1977
USS Furse DD-882 23 September 1944 9 March 1945 10 July 1945 IB 31 August 1972 Loaned to Spain, 1972; Sold, 17 May 1978
USS Newman K. Perry DD-883 10 October 1944 17 March 1945 26 July 1945 IB 27 February 1981 Transferred to South Korea, 27 February 1981
USS Floyd B. Parks DD-884 30 October 1944 31 March 1945 31 July 1945 IB 2 July 1973 Sold for scrap, 1 April 1974
USS John R. Craig DD-885 17 November 1944 14 April 1945 20 August 1945 IB 27 July 1979 Sunk as target, 17 June 1980
USS Orleck DD-886 28 November 1944 12 May 1945 15 September 1945 IB 1 October 1982 Transferred to Turkey, 1 October 1982
USS Brinkley Bass DD-887 20 December 1944 26 May 1945 1 October 1945 IB 3 December 1973 Transferred to Brazil, 3 December 1973
USS Stickell DD-888 5 January 1945 16 June 1945 31 October 1945 IB 1 July 1972 Transferred to Greece, 1 July 1972
USS O'Hare DD-889 27 January 1945 22 June 1945 29 November 1945 IB 31 October 1973 Loaned to Spain, 31 October 1973; Sold, 17 May 1978
USS Meredith DD-890 27 January 1945 28 June 1945 31 December 1945 IA 29 June 1979 Transferred to Turkey, 29 June 1979
World War II Destroyer Shipbuilders map from Department of Defense (DoD)

Survivors

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Five Gearing-class destroyers are preserved as museum ships: two in the United States, one in South Korea, one in Taiwan, and one in Turkey. The ROKS Jeon Buk (DD-916) (formerly the USS Everett F. Larson) was scrapped in December 2021, leaving five survivors out of the ninety eight ships built.

Surviving ships

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Surviving parts

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ ."The Sumner Class As Built Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25 August 2009."
  2. ^ Friedman, Norman (2004). US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 129–131. ISBN 1-55750-442-3.
  3. ^ Silverstone, Paul H. (1977) [1965]. U.S. Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0157-X.
  4. ^ Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 0-83170-303-2.
  5. ^ Friedman 2004, pp. 510–513.
  6. ^ Friedman 2004, pp. 285.
  7. ^ Gardiner and Chumbley, pp. 562-563
  8. ^ "FRAM". Gyrodynehelicopters.com. 1 September 1962. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  9. ^ Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 213–217, 240–245. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  10. ^ Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 201–206. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
  11. ^ "QH-50C". Gyrodynehelicopters.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  12. ^ Friedman 2004, pp. 282–283.
  13. ^ "Gyrodyne Today". Gyrodynehelicopters.com. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  14. ^ Pike, John. "DD-710 Gearing-class". www.globalsecurity.org.
  15. ^ "Special Feature - FRAM". www.navsource.org.
  16. ^ Friedman 2004, p. 510
  17. ^ John Pike. "Chao Yang-class [Gearing] Destroyer - Republic of China [Taiwan] Navy". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Naval Vessel Register".
  19. ^ "Destroyer Photo Index DD-873 / DDR-873 USS HAWKINS". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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