Destroyers.....

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Glider said:
Can anyone confirm that the US Destroyers did have directors for their 40mm guns, whereas the RN didn't?
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My understanding is that any RN DD with a twin bofors Mk V or USN LL supplied equivalent, had an associated MK51 director, as did USN destroyers. Theoretically, power worked Bofors/pom-pom singles or quad pom-poms would have an on-mount Mk14 or equivalent gyro gunsight.
 
U.S. Navy Wickes class destroyer USS Roper (DD-147) escorting a convoy, out of Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA) in 1942. Ships of the convoy are visible on the horizon. Roper is wearing Measure 12 (Modified) camouflage.
 
The Allies got really good value out of theior old DDs. For me, proves the man is as important as the hardware. Thinking of the Scrap Iron Flotilla here
 
Can I put a vote in for the old RN WW1 Destroyers. My Grandfather was an engineer on the SS Norfolk that was sunk by U552 on 18th June 1941. He and nearly all the crew were picked up by HMS Skate three days later. Being launched in Jan 1917 she must have been one of the oldests destroyers in the RN, but my Grandfather thought she was the most beautiful ship he had ever seen.

We have a letter of thanks from the captain, after the crew of the Norfolk sent a donation to the destroyers comfort fund. He had already been sunk once in WW2 and once in WW1.
 
USS Sterett (DD-407) aft portion of the ship, photographed from a crane at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 February 1943, at the end of an overhaul. Circles mark recent alterations, including the installation of 40mm guns on her after deckhouse. Note the photographer's shoes in lower left. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.



USS Dunlap



Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Arashi, photographed in 1940.
 
Juno Beach Centre - HMCS Assiniboine and the destruction of U-210

Completed in 1932, River class destroyer HMCS Assiniboine first served with the Royal Navy as HMS Kempenfelt. She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on October 19, 1939 and participated in numerous escort missions.



U-210 seen from HMCS Assiniboine, 6 August 1942



On the starboard side of HMCS Assiniboine, a fire caused by guns of U-210 threatens the bridge.



Damages inflicted to "A" Gun by enemy fire. One gunner was killed at his post and three others wounded during the attack.



At one point U-210 came so close that it was impossible for the Canadian destroyer to depress her guns low enough to target her.



U-210 was rammed by HMCS ASSINIBOINE as she dived and again as she resurfaced.



There were 37 survivors out of 43 crew members. Survivors from U-210 are escorted on board Assiniboine.
 
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ToughOmbre said:
The "Fletchers" are to DDs what the "Iowas" are to BBs.

And good looking ships to boot!

TO
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Not quite. They kept building destroyers after the Fletchers; I think most people here would accept that, say, the next eight classes of USN destroyers had some improvements over the Fletchers. They stopped building battleships after the Iowas, for the same reason they stopped building biplane fighters after the F3F.
 
12 August, 1942: Operation Pedestal- HMS ITHURIEL coming in to ram the Italian submarine COBALTO.



Photograph taken from HMS ITHURIEL showing the COBALTO from the destroyer's port side after ramming it.
 
The damaged tanker OHIO, supported by Royal Navy destroyers HMS PENN (left) and HMS LEDBURY (right), approaches Malta after an epic voyage across the Mediterranean as part of convoy WS21S (Operation Pedestal) to deliver fuel and other vital supplies to the besieged island. OHIO's back was broken and her engines failed during earlier German and Italian attacks. Because of the vital importance of her cargo (10,000 tons of fuel which would enable the aircraft and submarines based at Malta to return to the offensive), she could not be abandoned. In a highly unusual manoeuvre, the two destroyers supported her to provide buoyancy and power for the remainder of the voyage.



The damaged tanker OHIO finally enters Valletta on the morning of the 15th August, 1942 supported by Royal Navy destroyers, after an epic voyage across the Mediterranean as part of convoy WS21S.
 
A destroyer makes a smoke screen to cover the landing during the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe.



HMS BERKELEY settling down in the water after being bombed during the Combined Operations daylight raid on Dieppe. One of the destroyers boats is still alongside, empty but still attached to its davits. BERKELEY was torpedoed shortly afterwards by British forces.



HMS BERKELEY being torpedoed by RN after being bombed during the raid on Dieppe.



Wounded soldiers being helped on board the destroyer HMS ALBRIGHTON



Canadian troops on board a destroyer after the raid.



A wounded Canadian soldier being disembarked from the Polish Navy destroyer ORP at Portsmouth on return from Dieppe.



A naval motor-launch seen with four of the landing craft used during the raid on Dieppe.
 
Convoy PQ 18 at sea, 9/42. An underwater detonation erupts next to HMS ASHANTI. The destroyer HMS ESKIMO is seen in the foreground. Merchant ships are in the background.



Sailors placing a depth charge into position in a rack on the stern of the destroyer HMS ESKIMO, just out of harbour (possibly Hvalfjord)



A look-out and machine gunner on board HMS ESKIMO in northern waters.
 
HMCS St Croix (ex-USS McCook, DD-252) underway circa 1942. Sunk by U Boats 9/20/43 while escorting convoys ONS 202 and ONS 18, headed west from Britain. 67 men of its 147 crew were lost.(NavSource)



A ship of the same class, USS Mason which became HMS Broadwater.
 
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