Benham-class destroyer
_off_Kearny,_New_Jersey_(USA),_on_4_January_1939_(NH_97822).jpg) USS Benham, the lead ship of the class
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | list error: <br /> list (help) Federal Shipbuilding Boston Navy Yard Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Shipyard Charleston Navy Yard Puget Sound Naval Shipyard |
| Operators | .svg){kind=small} United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Somers-class destroyer |
| Succeeded by | Sims-class destroyer |
| Built | 1936–1939 |
| In commission | 1939–1946 |
| Completed | 10 |
| Lost | 2 |
| Retired | 8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 1,500 tons (standard) 2,350 tons (full load) |
| Length | 340 ft 9 in (103.86 m) |
| Beam | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 3 Boilers 2 Westinghouse Turbines: 50,000 shp (37 KW) |
| Speed | 37.7 knots (69.8 km/h; 43.4 mph) |
| Complement | list error: <br /> list (help) 16 officers 235 enlisted |
| Armament |
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Ten Benham-class destroyers were commissioned into United States Navy during 1938 and 1939. Much of their design is based upon the previous Gridley- and Bagley-class destroyers. Two of the class were lost during World War II, three would be scrapped in 1947, while the remaining five ships would be scuttled after being contaminated from the atomic bomb tests in the Pacific.
Ships in class
| Ship Name | Hull No. | Builder | Laid down | Commission | Decommission | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benham | DD-397 | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey | 1 September 1936 | 2 February 1939 | Torpedoed by Japanese at Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 15 November 1942, scuttled by Gwin[1] | |
| Ellet | DD-398 | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey | 3 December 1936 | 17 February 1939 | 29 October 1945 | Sold for scrap, 1 August 1947 |
| Lang | DD-399 | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey | 5 April 1937 | 30 March 1939 | 16 October 1945 | Sold for scrap, 31 October 1947 |
| Mayrant | DD-402 | Boston Navy Yard | 15 April 1937 | 13 September 1939 | 28 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, July 1946. Sunk as target, 4 April 1948 |
| Trippe | DD-403 | Boston Navy Yard | 15 April 1937 | 1 November 1939 | 28 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, July 1946. Sunk as target, Sunk as target, 3 February 1948 |
| Rhind | DD-404 | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard | 22 September 1937 | 10 November 1939 | 26 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, July 1946. Sunk as target, Sunk as target, 22 March 1948 |
| Rowan | DD-405 | Norfolk Navy Yard | 25 June 1937 | 23 September 1939 | Torpedoed by German E-boats while on convoy duty between Salerno and Oran September 11, 1943 | |
| Stack | DD-406 | Norfolk Navy Yard | 25 June 1937 | 20 November 1939 | 29 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, July 1946. Sunk as target, Sunk as target, 24 April 1948 |
| Sterett | DD-407 | Charleston Navy Yard | 2 December 1936 | 15 August 1939 | 2 November 1945 | Sold for scrap 10 August 1947 |
| Wilson | DD-408 | Puget Sound Navy Yard | 22 March 1937 | 5 July 1939 | 29 August 1946 | Damaged during Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, July 1946. Sunk as target, Sunk as target, 8 March 1948 |
See also
Media related to Benham class destroyers at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ^ Lenton, H. T. American Fleet and Escort Destroyers (New York: Doubleday, 1973), Volume 1, p.62.