Editing Forrest Sherman-class destroyer (section)

==Description==
At the time they entered service, these ships were the largest US destroyers ever built, {{convert|418|ft|m|0|}} long, with a standard displacement of {{convert|2,800|t|LT}}. Originally designed under project [[Ship Characteristics Board|SCB 85]], they were armed with three {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on}}/54 caliber guns mounted in single turrets (one forward and two aft), 4 {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}}/50 caliber AA guns in twin mounts, as well as hedgehogs and torpedoes for ASW.{{sfn|Friedman|1982|pp=246–249}} However, over the years, weaponry was considerably modified. The [[hedgehog (weapon)|hedgehogs]] and {{convert|3|in|mm|0|sing=on}} guns were removed from all ships during the 1960s and 1970s. In addition the fixed [[torpedo tube]]s were replaced by two triple {{convert|12.75|in|mm}} [[Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes|Mark 32 torpedo tube mounts]]. 

{{USS|Hull|DD-945|2}} and later ships were built under SCB 85A with their [[Director (military)#For warships|fire control directors]] reversed from the SCB 85 configuration.{{sfn|Friedman|1982|pp=249}} They were equipped with [[Babcock & Wilcox|B&W]] Bailey Meter Company's new automatic boiler combustion control system, and a modified hurricane bow/anchor configuration. These ships are listed as ''Hull''-class destroyers in some references.

[[File:USS Decatur (DDG-31);h98177.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Decatur'' (DDG-31) after conversion to a guided-missile destroyer with one of the aft gun mounts replaced with a [[Mk 13 missile launcher]].]] 
===DDG conversions===
Four of the destroyers—{{USS|John Paul Jones|DD-932|2}}, {{USS|Parsons|DD-949|2}}, {{USS|Decatur|DD-936|2}}, and {{USS|Somers|DD-947|2}}—were converted to [[guided-missile destroyer]]s under SCB 240, armed with [[RIM-24_Tartar|Tartar missiles]].{{sfn|Fahey|1965|p=13}}

[[File:USS Barry.jpg|thumb|left|{{USS|Barry|DD-933}} with aft gun mount removed and replaced with an [[ASROC]] launcher.]]

===ASW Modernization===
Eight of the class were modernized to improve their [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]] capabilities under SCB 251: [[USS Barry (DD-933)|''Barry'']], [[USS Davis (DD-937)|''Davis'']], [[USS Jonas Ingram|''Jonas Ingram'']], [[USS Manley (DD-940)|''Manley'']], [[USS Du Pont (DD-941)|''Du Pont'']], [[USS Blandy|''Blandy'']], ''Hull'', and [[USS Morton|''Morton'']]; these ships became known as the Barry sub-class. These ships were fitted with an eight cell [[ASROC]] launcher in place of the No.&nbsp;2 5-inch (127&nbsp;mm) gun, and with a variable-depth [[sonar]] system. Six other ship modernizations were cancelled due to Vietnam War budget constraints.{{sfn|Fahey|1965|p=13}}

===8"/55 Mark 71 gun test===
As a test platform, the ''Hull'' carried the Navy's prototype [[8"/55 caliber Mark 71 gun|8"/55 caliber Mark 71 light-weight gun]] from 1975 to 1978 when the program was canceled, and the 5-inch mount was restored. ''Hull'' remains the only modern (post–World War II) destroyer-type ship to have carried an {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun.