Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer explained

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. The class was named for Allen Melancthon Sumner, an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Often referred to as simply the Sumner, this class was distinguished from the previous by their twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts, dual rudders, additional anti-aircraft weapons, and many other advancements. The Allen M. Sumner design was extended 14feet amidships to become the, which was produced in larger numbers but did not see significant service in World War II.

Completed in 1943–45, four Sumners were lost in the war and two were damaged so badly they were 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. One still exists as a museum ship in South Carolina.

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, which were built from 1941 until 1944. In addition to three twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts replacing the Fletchers' five single mounts, the Sumners had twin rudders, giving them better maneuverability for ASW work when compared to the 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 larger set of short-range anti-aircraft armament than the Fletchers, with 12 40 mm guns and 11 20 mm guns compared with the 10 40 mm and 7 20 mm complement typical of a late-war standard Fletcher. The initial design retained the Fletchers' heavy torpedo armament of 10 21adj=onNaNadj=on 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 15inches 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 the destroyer minelayer (DM), twelve of which were built on hulls originally intended as Allen M. Sumners. The s were of the same design, modified with a 14feet midship extension to carry more fuel to extend the ships' range.

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. In addition, Frank E. Evans was split in half in a collision with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, and never repaired. 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 21adj=onNaNadj=on 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.[3] 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

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.[4] 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 s (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 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 located at Patriots Point, Charleston, South Carolina remains as a museum ship.

Other navies

Argentina

See main article: Seguí-class destroyer. The Argentine Navy acquired four Sumners as a more capable adjunct to their previously acquired Fletcher class destroyers. While one was merely to provide spare parts to keep the rest of the fleet serviceable, the other three would go on and serve through the Falklands War, in which they would take a minor role. Soon after the conflict, they were stricken and disposed of.

PennantShip nameFormer nameAcquiredFate
D-25ARA Segui1 July 1972data-sort-value="1983" Scrapped in 1983
D-26ARA Hipólito Bouchard1 July 1972data-sort-value="1984" Scrapped in 1984
D-29ARA Piedrabuena4 June 1974data-sort-value="1988" Sunk as a target in 1988
4 June 1974Not commissioned; cannibalized for spare parts

Ships in class

Ships of the Allen M. Sumner destroyer class
NameHull no.BuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
DD-692Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company7 July 194315 December 194326 January 194415 August 1973Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrappingexternalities[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD692}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/allen-m-sumner.html
DD-6935 August 194316 January 194428 February 19442 July 1973Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD693}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/moale.html
DD-6944 August 194316 January 194410 March 194415 June 1971data-sort-value="16 July 1971" Sold to Greece 16 July 1971 as Miaoulishttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/ingraham-iii.html
DD-69530 August 19439 February 194427 March 1944data-sort-value="3 December 1944" Torpedoed and sunk by destroyer while intercepting a Japanese convoy into Ormoc Bay 3 December 1944http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cooper.html
DD-69619 October 194327 February 19444 May 194415 May 1970data-sort-value="11 August 1970" Sold to Republic of China Navy 11 August 1970 as Huei Yanghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/english.html
DD-69719 October 194313 March 194417 May 194415 December 1973data-sort-value="8 January 1974" Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 as Ministro Zentenohttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/charles-s-sperry-dd-697.html
DD-69815 November 194326 March 194431 May 194416 July 1973Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD698}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/ault.html
DD-69916 November 194326 March 19447 June 194417 May 1950Sold to Colombia 30 October 1973 as Santander (DD-03) [{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD699}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/waldron.html
20 November 195030 October 1973
DD-70016 December 194315 April 194422 June 194430 January 1970Sold to Republic of China Navy 12 May 1970 as Yuen Yanghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/waldron.html
22 September 195019 May 1950
DD-70117 January 194421 May 194421 July 194431 May 1950Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 19 November 1970[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD701}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-w-weeks-dd-701.html
24 October 195012 August 1970
DD-70217 January 194421 May 194428 August 19441 July 1972data-sort-value="1 July 1972" Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Segui[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD702}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hank.html
DD-70314 February 194414 June 19448 September 19444 December 1973data-sort-value="4 December 1973" Sold to Republic of Korea Navy 4 December 1973 as Dae Gu[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD703}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/wallace-l-lind.html
DD-70429 February 19444 July 194421 September 19441 July 1972data-sort-value="1 July 1972" Sold to Argentina 1 July 1972 as Hipólito Bouchard (D-26)http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/borie-ii.html
DD-70528 March 194417 September 19444 November 194417 September 1972data-sort-value="27 September 1972" Sold to Brazil 27 September 1972 as Mato Grossohttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/compton.html
DD-70629 March 194417 September 194423 November 194426 February 1971Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrappinghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/gainard.html
DD-70718 April 19448 September 19447 December 194413 February 1970Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercisehttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/soley.html
DD-70823 May 194417 December 194417 February 19451 July 1972data-sort-value="4 January 1973" Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 4 January 1973[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD708}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/harlan-r-dickson-dd-708.html
DD-70923 May 194417 December 19441 March 194515 June 1972data-sort-value="1 July 1972" Sold to Turkey 1 July 1972 as Zafer (F 253)[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD709}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hugh-purvis.html
DD-722Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine24 May 194310 October 194330 December 194322 January 1947Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise.http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/barton-ii.html
11 April 194930 September 1968
DD-7237 June 194327 October 194321 January 194430 May 1947Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 3 January 1975[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD723}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/walke-iii.html
5 October 195030 November 1970
DD-72428 June 194321 November 19438 February 194430 June 1947Preserved as memorial and berthed at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD724}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/laffey-ii.html
26 January 19519 March 1975
DD-72512 July 19438 December 194325 February 19444 October 1947Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 12 January 1972[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD725}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-brien-dd-725-iv.html
5 October 195018 February 1972
DD-72626 July 194321 December 194314 March 1944data-sort-value="5 August 1960" Sunk 9 June 1944, Wreck sold and scrapped 5 August 1960http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/meredith-iii.html
DD-7279 August 19439 January 194431 March 19443 December 1973data-sort-value="5 December 1973" Sold to Republic of Korea Navy, 5 December 1973 as Incheon[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD727}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/de-haven-ii.html
DD-72828 August 194329 January 194414 April 19444 February 1971data-sort-value="4 June 1974" Sold to Argentina 4 June 1974 for spare parts[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD728}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mansfield.html
DD-72911 September 194312 February 19442 May 194412 February 1971data-sort-value="6 May 1974" Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD729}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lyman-k-swenson.html
DD-73011 October 19435 March 194416 May 194418 December 1970data-sort-value="1974" Sold to Argentina in 1974 as Piedra Buena (D-29)[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD730}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/collett.html
DD-73128 October 194319 March 19442 June 19442 July 1972Sold to Republic of China Navy as Po Yang[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD731}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/maddox-iii.html
DD-73222 November 19438 April 194416 June 194416 November 1969Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrappinghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hyman.html
DD-7339 December 194323 April 19444 July 1944data-sort-value="12 April 1945" Sunk by an Ohka bomb during the battle for Okinawa 12 April 1945http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mannert-l-abele.html
DD-73422 December 19437 May 194418 July 19442 July 1973data-sort-value="6 January 1974" Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/purdy.html
DD-74124 April 19443 September 194414 November 1944data-sort-value="28 May 1945" Sunk by kamikaze 28 May 1945http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/drexler.html
DD-744Bethlehem Staten Island, Staten Island, New York30 June 194328 November 194320 March 194414 February 1947Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 28 April 1977[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD744}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/blue-ii.html
14 May 194912 December 1949
15 September 195027 January 1971
DD-74530 July 194328 December 194317 April 194427 October 1969data-sort-value="9 December 1969" Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 as Hsiang Yanghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/brush-i.html
DD-74630 August 194325 January 194420 May 19441 December 1970data-sort-value="2013" Sold to Republic of China Navy as second Lo Yang (DDG-914). Sold as scrap in 2013.[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD746}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/taussig.html
DD-74730 September 194323 February 194424 June 194424 October 1969data-sort-value="10 December 1969" Sold to Republic of China Navy 10 December 1969 as Heng Yang (DD-2)http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/samuel-n-moore.html
DD-74830 October 194324 March 194422 July 194415 January 1947Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrappinghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/harry-e-hubbard-dd-748.html
14 May 194912 December 1949
27 October 1950 17 October 1969
DD-75223 February 19443 August 194423 November 1944August 1949Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 January 1979[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD752}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alfred-a-cunningham.html
5 October 195024 February 1971
DD-75324 March 19441 September 194430 December 19441 May 1947Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD753}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-r-pierce-dd-753.html
11 April 19492 July 1973
DD-75421 April 19443 October 19443 February 194511 May 1949Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 10 October 1969[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD754}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/f/frank-e-evans-dd-754.html
15 September 19501 July 1969
DD-75520 May 19441 November 19443 March 19456 November 1970data-sort-value="6 May 1974" Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD755}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-a-bole-dd-783-i.html
DD-7564 July 194430 November 194431 March 194514 July 1972data-sort-value="14 July 1972" Sold to Venezuela 14 July 1972 as Carabobohttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/beatty-ii.html
DD-757Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California11 July 194326 March 194412 October 19446 January 1950Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD757}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/putnam-ii.html
October 19506 August 1973
DD-75825 July 194323 April 19448 March 19459 May 1947Sold to Brazil, 31 October 1973, as Rio Grande do Norte (D-37)[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD758}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/strong-ii.html
14 May 194931 October 1973
DD-7594 November 194312 August 194426 April 194515 January 1971data-sort-value="6 May 1974" Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 for spare parts[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD759}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lofberg.html
DD-76021 November 194330 September 194411 October 19458 December 1970data-sort-value="6 May 1974" Sold to Republic of China Navy 6 May 1974 as Nan Yang[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD760}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-w-thomason-dd-760.html
DD-7611 February 194411 March 194528 June 194615 July 1973data-sort-value="16 July 1973" Sold to Brazil 16 July 1973 as Alagoas[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD761}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/buck-iii.html
DD-7628 February 19448 April 19458 October 19461 March 1950Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 6 January 1974[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD762}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/henley-iii.html
23 September 19501 July 1973
DD-770Bethlehem Shipbuilding, San Pedro, California, Terminal Island1 August 19436 February 194423 July 194430 June 1947Sold to Brazil 31 October 1973 as Espirito Santo[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD770}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lowry.html
27 December 195029 October 1973
DD-7746 February 194416 July 194425 November 194415 December 1945data-sort-value="2 September 1947" Sold 2 September 1947 for scraphttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hugh-w-hadley-dd-774.html
DD-7755 March 194429 August 194427 December 194420 June 1947Sold to Colombia as Caldas (DD-02)http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/willard-keith.html
23 October 19501 July 1972
DD-7769 April 19441 October 194417 February 19453 April 1950Sold to Brazil 15 July 1973 as Sergipe[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD776}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/james-c-owens.html
20 September 195015 July 1973
DD-777Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington24 December 194319 July 194425 October 194419 March 1971data-sort-value="12 October 1973" Sold to Iran 12 October 1973 as Babrhttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zellars.html
DD-77814 January 194412 September 194424 November 194417 September 1973data-sort-value="10 January 1974" Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 10 January 1974[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD778}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/massey.html
DD-77931 January 194430 September 194426 December 194421 April 1950Sold to Chile 8 January 1974 Ministro Portales (DD-17)[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD779}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/douglas-h-fox-dd-779.html
15 November 195015 December 1973
DD-78015 February 19444 November 194427 January 19455 December 1970data-sort-value="16 February 1972" Sold to Iran 16 February 1972 Palang (DDG-9)http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/stormes.html
DD-78129 February 19445 December 19443 March 194531 October 1973Sold to Venezuela as Falcon[{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD781}}] http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/r/robert-k-huntington.html
DD-857Bethlehem Shipbuilding, San Pedro, California, Terminal Island5 May 194429 October 194417 March 194521 November 1969data-sort-value="9 December 1969" Sold to Republic of China Navy 9 December 1969 Hua Yanghttp://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/bristol-ii.html

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. ."The Sumner Class As Built . Retrieved 25 August 2009."
  2. Book: Friedman, Norman . Norman Friedman . US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History . Naval Institute Press . 2004 . 129–131 . Annapolis . 1-55750-442-3 . Revised . .
  3. Web site: Special Feature – FRAM. www.navsource.org.
  4. Friedman, p. 283