Wickes class destroyer

The "Wickes"-class destroyers were American destroyers built to create "a fleet second to none". The basic requirement for the class was a possible speed of 35 knots. Congress authorized the project's funding in 1916.

Background

With World War I now in its 2nd year and tensions between the United States of America and Germany increasing, the U.S. needed to expand the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Congress passed The Naval Appropriation Act of 29 August 1916, which called for a navy “second to none,” capable of protecting both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. It authorized orders for 10 battleships, 6 Lexington-class battlecruisers, 10 Scout Cruisers of the Omaha class, and 50 Wickes class destroyers with a 35 knots top speed. [ [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/wickesclass.html Wickes- and Clemson-class flush-deck destroyers ] ] .

Design

Armament consisted of 4 4"/50 caliber naval guns and 12 21" torpedo tubes. The design was flushed deck with four stacks. An increase in weight and cost was demanded by the increase in power. An even keel and near horizontal propeller shafts were designed to minimize weight increases. The armament would be considered to be about average for destroyers of this period. The class proved to be short ranged and wet in design. The fuel tankage would be expanded by 100 tons in the next Clemson class to correct the range problem. Only the development of at sea refueling (underway replenishment) UNREP would solve this issue however.

Production

The U.S. Congress would authorize 50 destroyers in the 1916 Naval expansion act. However the realization of the scope of the U-Boat campaign resulted in 111 being built. The 111 ships were built at Bath Iron Works, Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Union Iron Works, Mare Island Navy Yard, Newport News Shipbuilding, New York Shipbuilding and William Cramp and Sons shipyard.

Operations

A number of this class were transferred to the United Kingdom in the Destroyers for Bases Agreement. Others were converted to light minelayers with the designation DM. Some were converted to high speed transports with the designation APD. Most ships remaining in service during World War II were rearmed with dual-purpose 3"/50 caliber guns to provide better anti-aircraft protection. [Morrison 1962 p.39] The AVD seaplane tender conversions received 2 guns; the APD transport, DM minelayer, and DMS minesweeper conversions received 3 guns, and those retaining destroyer classification received 6. [Silverstone 1968 pp.112,212,215,276&303] Their original low-angle 4"/50 caliber guns (Mark 9) were transferred to Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships for anti-submarine protection. [Campbell 1985 p.143]

Wickes class ships

It should be noted that some of these ships are also referred to as being "Little" class, "Lamberton" class and "Tattanall" class to signify the yard that built them and to note the slight design differences from the Bath Iron Works ships. It is also worth noting that some of the non-Bath Iron Works units were actually commissioned prior to the class's lead ship, "Wickes". USS "Ward's" keel was laid 15 May 1918 and was launched only 17 days later on 1 June 1918.

ee also

*List of Wickes class destroyers

References

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External links

* [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/wickesclass.html "Wickes"-class destroyers] at [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/index.html Destroyer History Foundation]
* [http://www.microworks.net/pacific/ships/destroyers/wickes.htm The Pacific War: The U.S. Navy, page for "Wickes" class]