Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer

Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
USS Allen M. Sumner, the lead ship of her class, seen here in 1970.
Class overview
Name: Allen M. Sumner class
Builders: Various
Operators:
Preceded by: Fletcher class
Succeeded by: Gearing class
Subclasses: Robert H. Smith class
Cost: $8 million, excluding armament
In commission: 1943–75 (USN)
Planned: 70
Completed: 58
Lost: 4
Preserved: 2
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
  • 2,200-2,220 tons standard
  • 3,515 tons full load
Length:
  • 369 ft (112 m) waterline
  • 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) overall
  • 376 ft (115 m) overall (DD 725-728 & 730-734)
Beam:
  • 41 ft (12 m)
  • 40 ft (12 m) (DD 692-709)
  • 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m) (DD 744)
  • 41 ft 3 in (12.57 m) (DD 770-776)
Draft:
  • 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m) normal
  • 19 ft (5.8 m) full load
  • 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) full load (DD 735-40 & 749-751 & 771-773)
Propulsion: 4 Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler boilers; two General Electric or Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 60,000 shp (45 MW) total; two shafts
Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:
  • 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
  • 503 tons oil fuel (except DD 692-709 500 tons, DD 735-740 515 tons)
Complement: 336-363
Armament:

The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers. Often referred to as simply the Sumner class, this class was characterized by their twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts, dual rudders, additional anti-aircraft weapons, and many other advancements over the previous Fletcher class. The Allen M. Sumner design was extended 14 feet (4.3 m) amidships to become the Gearing class, which was produced in larger numbers.

Completed in 1943–45, four were lost in the war and one was damaged so badly it was scrapped, but the surviving ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. After being retired from the US fleet, 29 of them were sold to other navies, where they served many more years. Two still exist as museum ships, one in South Carolina, and one in Taiwan.

Description

The first ship was laid down in May 1943, while the last was launched in April 1945. In that time the United States produced 58 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers. The Allen M. Sumner class was an improvement of the previous Fletcher class, which were built from 1941 until 1944. In addition to three twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts replacing the Fletchers' five single mounts, Sumners had twin rudders, giving them better maneuverability for ASW work when compared to Fletchers. 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. The Allen M. Sumners also had much more short-range anti-aircraft armament than the Fletchers, with 12 40 mm guns and 11 20 mm guns compared with 8 40 mm and 7 20 mm for a typical late-war upgraded Fletcher. The initial design retained the Fletchers' heavy torpedo armament of 10 21-inch (533 mm) 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 torpedo tube mount replaced by an additional 40 mm quadruple mount for 16 total 40 mm guns.[1][2]

The Allen M. Sumners achieved a 20% increase in 5-inch gun armament and almost a 50% increase in light AA armament on a hull the same length as a Fletcher, only 15 inches (38 cm) wider, and about 15 inches (38 cm) deeper in draft. The increase in standard displacement was only 150 tons, about 7.5%. Thus, the Allen M. Sumner class was a significant improvement in combat power at a small increase in cost.

See also Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer (DM), twelve of which were built on hulls originally intended as Allen M. Sumners. Gearing-class destroyers were of the same design, modified with a 14-foot (4.3 m) midship extension to carry more fuel to extend the ships' range.

Construction

Eighteen were built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Fourteen were built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Ten were built by Bethlehem Steel's Mariners Harbor shipyard on Staten Island. Six were built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. Five were built by Bethlehem Steel in San Pedro, California. Five were built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington. USS Barton was the first ship of the class to be laid down and the first to be commissioned. USS Henley was the last commissioned.

Service

The Allen M. Sumners served on radar picket stations in the Battle of Okinawa, as well as other duties, and had several losses. Cooper, Meredith, Mannert L. Abele, and Drexler were lost during the war, and Hugh W. Hadley was so badly damaged by a kamikaze attack that she was scrapped soon after the war ended. After the war most of the class (except some of the light minelayers) had their 40 mm and 20 mm guns replaced by up to six 3-inch/50 caliber guns (76 mm), and the pole mast was replaced by a tripod to carry a new, heavier radar. On most ships one depth charge rack was removed and two Hedgehog mounts added. One of the two quintuple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tube mountings had already been removed on most to make way for a quadruple 40 mm gun mounting and additional radar for the radar picket mission. 33 ships were converted under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization II (FRAM II) program 1960-65, but not as extensively as the Gearings. Typically, FRAM Allen M. Sumners retained all three 5-inch/38 twin mounts and received the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), two triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes for the Mark 44 torpedo, and two new single 21-inch torpedo tubes for the Mark 37 torpedo, with all 3-inch and lighter guns, previous ASW armament, and 21-inch torpedo tubes being removed. Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) was also fitted; however, ASROC was not fitted. Ships that did not receive FRAM were typically upgraded with Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes in exchange for the K-guns, but retained Hedgehog and one depth charge rack.[2]

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.

Many Allen M. Sumners 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). From 1965, some of the class were transferred to the Naval Reserve Force (NRF), with a partial active crew to train Naval reservists.

Disposition

USS De Haven c.1970 fitted with FRAM II modifications.

The ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. DASH was withdrawn from anti-submarine warfare (ASW) service in 1969 due to poor reliability.[3] Lacking ASROC, the Allen M. Sumners were left without a standoff ASW capability, and were decommissioned 1970-73, with most being transferred to foreign navies. The FRAM Sumners were effectively replaced as ASW ships by the Knox-class frigates (destroyer escorts prior to 1975), which were commissioned 1969-74 and carried a piloted helicopter, typically the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, and ASROC. After the Allen M. Sumners were retired from the US fleet, seven were sunk by the US in fleet training exercises and 13 were scrapped, while 29 were sold to other navies (two for spare parts), where they served for many more years. 12 were sold to the Republic of China Navy and 2 were sold to the Republic of Korea Navy. 2 were sold to the Shah of Iran and 1 was sold to Turkey. 1 was sold to Greece. 2 were sold to Venezuela, 2 to Colombia, 2 sold to Chile, 5 sold to Brazil and 4 to Argentina.

Currently, only USS Laffey (DD-724) located at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina remains as a museum ship.

Ships in class

Ship Name Hull No. Builder Commission–
Decommission		 Fate Reference
Allen M. Sumner DD-692 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Moale DD-693 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Ingraham DD-694 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1971 Sold to Greece 16 July 1971 as Miaoulis
Cooper DD-695 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944 Torpedoed and sunk by destroyer Take while intercepting a Japanese convoy into Ormoc Bay 3 December 1944
English DD-696 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 11 August 1970 as Huei Yang
Charles S. Sperry DD-697 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1973 Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 as Ministro Zenteno
Ault DD-698 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1970 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Waldron DD-699 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1973 Sold to Colombia 30 October 1973 as Santander (DD-03)
Haynsworth DD-700 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944-c.1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 12 May 1970 as Yuen Yang
John W. Weeks DD-701 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1970 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 11/19/1970
Hank DD-702 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1972 Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Segui
Wallace L. Lind DD-703 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1973 Sold to Republic of Korea Navy 4 December 1973 as Dae Gu
Borie DD-704 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1972 Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Hipólito Bouchard (D-26)
Compton DD-705 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1972 Sold to Brazil 27 September 1972 as Mato Grosso
Gainard DD-706 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1971 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Soley DD-707 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944–1970 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise
Harlan R. Dickson DD-708 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1944-c.1972 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 4 January 1973
Hugh Purvis DD-709 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 1945–1972 Sold to Turkey 1 July 1972 as Zafer (F 253)
Barton DD-722 Bath Iron Works 1943–1968 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise.
Walke DD-723 Bath Iron Works 1944–1970 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 3 January 1975
Laffey DD-724 Bath Iron Works 1944–1975 Preserved as memorial and berthed at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina
O'Brien DD-725 Bath Iron Works 1944–1972 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 12 January 1972
Meredith DD-726 Bath Iron Works 1944 Sunk 9 June 1944, Wreck sold and scrapped 5 August 1960
De Haven DD-727 Bath Iron Works 1944–1973 Sold to Republic of Korea Navy, 5 December 1973 as Incheon
Mansfield DD-728 Bath Iron Works 1944–1973 Sold to Argentina 4 June 1974 for spare parts
Lyman K. Swenson DD-729 Bath Iron Works 1944–1971 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
Collett DD-730 Bath Iron Works 1944–1970 Sold to Argentina in 1974 as Piedra Buena (D-29)
Maddox DD-731 Bath Iron Works 1944–1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy as Po Yang
Hyman DD-732 Bath Iron Works 1944-c.1969 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Mannert L. Abele DD-733 Bath Iron Works 1944–1945 Sunk by an Ohka bomb during the battle for Okinawa 12 April 1945
Purdy DD-734 Bath Iron Works 1944-c.1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
Drexler DD-741 Bath Iron Works 1944–1945 Sunk by kamikaze 28 May 1945
Blue DD-744 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1971 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/28/1977
Brush DD-745 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 as Hsiang Yang
Taussig DD-746 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy as second Lo Yang (DDG-914). Sold for scrapping in 2013.
Samuel N. Moore DD-747 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 10 December 1969 as Heng Yang (DD-2)
Harry E. Hubbard DD-748 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1969 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping
Alfred A. Cunningham DD-752 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1971 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 January 1979
John R. Pierce DD-753 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1944–1973 (Decommoisioning phamplet) Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974
Frank E. Evans DD-754 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1945–1969 Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 October 1969
John A. Bole DD-755 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1945–1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
Beatty DD-756 Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island 1945–1972 Sold to Venezuela 14 July 1972 as Carabobo
Putnam DD-757 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1944–1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
Strong DD-758 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1944–1973 Sold to Brazil, 31 October 1973, as Rio Grande do Norte (D-37)
Lofberg DD-759 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1945–1971 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts
John W. Thomason DD-760 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1945–1970 Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 as Nan Yang
Buck DD-761 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1945–1973 Sold to Brazil 16 July 1973 as Alagoas
Henley DD-762 Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 1945-c.1973 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974
Lowry DD-770 Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro 1944-c.1973 Sold to Brazil 31 October 1973 as Espirito Santo
Hugh W. Hadley DD-774 Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro 1944–1945 Sold 2 September 1947 for scrap
Willard Keith DD-775 Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro 1944–1972 Sold to Colombia as Caldas (DD-02)
James C. Owens DD-776 Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro 1945–1973 Sold to Brazil 15 July 1973 as Sergipe
Zellars DD-777 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle 1944–1971 Sold to Iran 12 October 1973 as Babr
Massey DD-778 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle 1944-c.1969 Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974
Douglas H. Fox DD-779 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle 1944–1973 Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 Ministro Portales (DD-17)
Stormes DD-780 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle 1945–1970 Sold to Iran 16 February 1972 Palang (DDG-9)
Robert K. Huntington DD-781 Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle 1945–1970 Sold to Venezuela as Falcon
Bristol DD-857 Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro 1945–1969 Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 Hua Yang

References

  1. ↑ ."The Sumner Class As Built Retrieved 25 August 2009."
  2. 1 2 Friedman, Norman "US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised Edition)", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis:2004, ISBN 1-55750-442-3.
  3. ↑ Friedman, p. 283

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