Editing Clemson-class destroyer

{{short description|Destroyer class of the US Navy}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:USS Barker (DD-213) at anchor 1928.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Barker'' in 1928
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Clemson'' class
|Builders=
*Bethlehem
**[[Fore River Shipyard]], MA (10)
**[[Victory Destroyer Plant|Squantum Victory Yard]], MA (35)
**[[Union Iron Works|San Franscisco]], CA (40)
*[[William Cramp & Sons]], PA (25)
*[[New York Shipbuilding Corporation|New York Ship]], NY (20)
*[[Newport News Shipbuilding]], VA (14)
*[[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], CA (6)
*[[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]], VA (3)
*[[Bath Iron Works]], ME (3)
|Operators=
* {{navy|United States|1912}}
* {{coast guard|United States|1915}}
* {{navy|United Kingdom}}
* {{naval|Canada|1911}}
* {{navy|Soviet Union|1935}}
* {{navy|Empire of Japan}}

|Class before={{sclass|Wickes|destroyer|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Farragut|destroyer (1934)|4}}
|Subclasses={{sclass2|Town|destroyer|4}}
|Cost=
|Built range=1918–1922
|In service range=1919–1948
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=162
|Total ships completed=156
|Total ships cancelled=6 (DD-200 to DD-205)
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost= 20
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Destroyer]]
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=*1,215 tons (normal)
*1,308 tons (full load)
|Ship length= {{convert|314|ft|4.5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|30|ft|11.5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|9|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[boiler]]s, {{convert|300|psi|abbr=on}} [[saturated steam]]<ref name="proceedings">Thomas, Donald I., CAPT USN "Recommissioning Destroyers, 1939 Style" ''United States Naval Institute Proceedings'' September 1979 p.71</ref>
*2 [[gear]]ed [[steam turbine]]s
*{{convert|27600|hp|abbr=on}}
*2 shafts
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship speed={{convert|35.5|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=*4,900 [[Nautical mile|nmi]] (9,100 km)
*&nbsp; @ {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=
|Ship crew=*8 officers
*8 chief petty officers
*106 enlisted
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*4 × [[4"/50 caliber gun|4 inch/50 caliber guns]] (102 mm)
*1 × [[3"/23 caliber gun|3 inch/23 caliber gun]] (76 mm) ([[anti-aircraft]])
*12 × [[Mark 8 torpedo|21 inch]] [[torpedo tubes]] (4 × 3) (533 mm)<ref name="proceedings"/>
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''''Clemson'' class''' was a series of 156 [[destroyer]]s (6 more were cancelled and never begun) which served with the [[United States Navy]] from after [[World War I]] through [[World War II]].

The ''Clemson''-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by [[Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding|Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company]], [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]], [[William Cramp & Sons]], [[Bethlehem Steel Corporation]], [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] and [[Bath Iron Works]], some quite rapidly. The ''Clemson'' class was a minor redesign of the {{sclass|Wickes|destroyer|4}} for greater fuel capacity and was the last pre-World War II class of [[flush-deck]] destroyers to be built for the [[United States]]. Until the {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}, the ''Clemson''s were the most numerous class of destroyers commissioned in the United States Navy and were known colloquially as "flush-deckers”, "four-stackers" or "four-pipers".
{{check quotation}}
==Design evolution==
As finally built, the ''Clemson'' class would be a fairly straightforward expansion of the ''Wickes''-class destroyers.  While the ''Wickes'' class had given good service there was a desire to build a class more tailored towards the anti-submarine role, and as such several design studies were completed, mainly about increasing the ships' range.  These designs included a reduction in speed to between {{convert|26|-|28|kn|lk=in}} by eliminating two boilers, freeing up displacement for [[depth charge]]s and more fuel. This proposal foreshadowed the [[destroyer escort]]s of [[World War II]].<ref>Friedman, pp. 42–44</ref>  
[[File:Clemson-class destroyer inboard and ouboard profiles 1920s.png|thumb|left]]
Upgrading the gun armament from {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} to {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|0}} guns was also considered, but only five ships (DD-231 to DD-235) were armed with 5-inch guns. In addition, the tapered stern of the ''Wickes''-class destroyers resulted in a large turning radius and a correction to this defect was also sought, although this was not corrected in the final design.  In the end the General Board decided the {{convert|35|kn}} speed be retained so as to allow the ''Clemson'' class to be used as a fleet escort. The pressing need for destroyers overruled any change that would slow production compared to the proceeding ''Wickes'' class.  Wing tanks for [[fuel oil]] were installed on either side of the ships to increase the operational range.<ref name="Friedman, p. 44">Friedman, p. 44</ref>  This design choice meant the fuel oil would be stored above the waterline and create additional vulnerability, but the Navy felt a {{convert|4900|nmi|lk=in|adj=on}} range was worth the risk.<ref name="Friedman, p. 44"/> Additional improvements included provisions for 5-inch guns to be installed at a later date, an enlarged rudder to help reduce the turn radius, and an additional [[3"/23 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on|0}} anti-aircraft gun]] on the after deck-house.<ref>Friedman, pp. 44–45</ref>

The class resulted from a [[General Board of the United States Navy|General Board]] recommendation for further destroyers to combat the submarine threat, culminating in a total of 267 ''Wickes''- and ''Clemson''-class destroyers completed. However, the design of the ships remained optimized for operation with the [[battleship]] fleet.<ref>Friedman, p. 40</ref>

== Armament ==
[[File:USS Lamson (DD-328).jpg|thumb|Overhead view of {{USS|Lamson|DD-328|6}}.]]
The main armament was the same as the ''Wickes'' class: four [[4"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}}/50 caliber guns]] and twelve {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}} [[torpedo tubes]]. The [[Mark 8 torpedo]] was initially equipped, and probably remained the standard torpedo for this class, as 600 Mark 8 torpedoes were issued to the British in 1940 as part of the [[Destroyers for Bases Agreement]].<ref name="navyhist">{{cite web | title = Torpedo History: Torpedo Mk8 | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm | access-date = 29 Dec 2013 | archive-date = 15 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140915054904/http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Although the design provided for two [[anti-aircraft]] (AA) guns, most ships carried a single [[3"/23 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on|0}}/23 caliber]] AA gun, typically on the aft deckhouse. A frequent modification was replacing the aft 4-inch gun with the 3-inch gun to make more room for the [[depth charge]] tracks.<ref name="Friedman, p. 44"/> [[Anti-submarine]] (ASW) armament was added during or after construction. Typically, two depth charge tracks were provided aft, along with a [[Y-gun]] depth charge projector forward of the aft deckhouse.<ref name="Friedman, p. 45">Friedman, p. 45</ref>

Despite the provision for 5-inch guns, only seven ships were built with an increased gun armament. {{USS|Hovey|DD-208|6}} and {{USS|Long|DD-209|6}} had twin 4-inch/50 mounts for a total of eight guns, while DD 231–235 had four [[5"/51 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|0}}/51 caliber gun]]s in place of the 4-inch guns.

== In operation ==
As with the preceding ''Wickes'' class, the fleet found that the tapered cruiser stern, which made for a nice depth charge deployment feature, dug into the water and increased the turning radius, thus hampering [[anti-submarine]] work.<ref name="Friedman, p. 46">Friedman, p. 46</ref><ref name="destroyerhistory.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/wickesclass.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117160429/http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/wickesclass.html |archive-date=2006-01-17 |title=Wickes- and Clemson-class flush-deck destroyers}}</ref> While an increased rudder size helped, the answer would be in a redesigned stern, but this was not implemented. They were reported to be prone to heavy rolling in light load conditions.<ref name="Friedman, p. 45"/>  The flush deck gave the hull great strength but this also made the deck very wet.<ref name="Friedman, p. 46"/><ref name="destroyerhistory.org"/>

== Ships in class ==
{{main|List of Clemson-class destroyers}}

156 ''Clemson''-class destroyers were built, with an additional six cancelled.<ref>Gardiner 1985, p. 125</ref>

== History ==
[[File:NH 66721 Honda Point.gif|thumb|right|The Honda Point Disaster 1923.]]
[[File:US flushdeck destroyer base 1924.jpg|thumb|right|Seventy-seven "four-stackers" laid up at San Diego in 1924.]]
Fourteen ships of the class were involved in the [[Honda Point Disaster]] (aka Point Pedernales) in 1923, of which seven were lost.

Many never saw wartime service, as a significant number were decommissioned in 1930 and scrapped as part of the [[London Naval Treaty]]. About 40 ''Clemson''-class destroyers with [[Yarrow boiler]]s were scrapped or otherwise disposed of in 1930–31, as these boilers wore out quickly in service. Flush-deckers in reserve were commissioned as replacements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/ |title=DestroyerHistory.org Flush-decker page, retrieved 16 Oct 2013 |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018135845/http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1936 only some 169 of the flush deck destroyers would be left, four ''Caldwell'' class and the rest ''Wickes'' and ''Clemson'' class.<ref>Friedman, p. 49</ref> In 1937 four ''Clemson'' class were converted to [[destroyer minelayer]]s ([[hull classification symbol]] DM), joining several ''Wickes''-class ships in this role.

Nineteen were transferred to the [[Royal Navy]] in 1940 as part of the [[Destroyers for Bases Agreement]], where they became part of the {{sclass2|Town|destroyer|4}}. Others were upgraded or converted to [[high-speed transport]]s (APD), high-speed [[minesweeper]]s (DMS), [[destroyer minelayer]]s (DM), or [[seaplane tender]]s (AVD) and served through [[World War II]].  Four ''Wickes''-class DM conversions and the four ''Clemson''-class DM conversions survived to serve in World War II.

[[File:Clemson-class destroyer sinking c1942.jpg|thumb|''Clemson''-class destroyer (possibly [[USS Pope (DD-225)|USS ''Pope'']]) sinking, c. 1942.]]
Most ships remaining in service during World War II were rearmed with dual-purpose [[3"/50 caliber gun|3-inch/50 caliber gun]]s to provide better anti-aircraft protection.<ref>Morrison 1962 p. 39</ref> The AVD [[seaplane tender]] conversions received two guns; the APD high-speed transport, DM [[minelayer]], and DMS minesweeper conversions received three guns, and those retaining destroyer classification received six.<ref>Silverstone 1968 pp. 112, 212, 215, 276, 303</ref> Their original low-angle [[4"/50 caliber gun|4-inch/50 caliber gun]]s (Mark 9) were transferred to [[Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships]] for anti-submarine protection.<ref>Campbell 1985 p. 143</ref> For the ships converted to minesweepers, the twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes were replaced by minesweeping gear.<ref>[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]] (public domain)</ref>

{{USS|Stewart|DD-224|6}} was scuttled at [[Surabaya|Soerabaja]] on 2 March 1942, following the surrender of the [[Dutch East Indies]] to the Japanese. She was raised, repaired and recommissioned as [[USS Stewart (DD-224)#Imperial Japanese Navy|Japanese patrol boat ''PB-102'']] by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. She was surrendered to the US Navy following the end of World War II and was used as a target for aircraft. In addition, 17 ''Clemson''-class destroyers were lost during the war.

The wrecks of three ''Clemson''-class destroyers remain in the [[San Francisco Bay area]], {{USS|Corry|DD-334|6}} a few miles north of [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] on the [[Napa River]], {{USS|Thompson|DD-305|6}} in the southern part of the Bay where it was used as a bombing target in World War II,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/today |title=DestroyerHistory.org Flush-deckers today page, retrieved 16 Oct 2013 |access-date=16 October 2013 |archive-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017180350/http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/today/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the aforementioned USS ''Stewart'' in what is now the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greshko |first=Michael |title=Wreck of ‘Ghost Ship of the Pacific’ Found Off California |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/01/science/shipwreck-ghost-ship-pacific-drones.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1 October 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

A number of ships in the class were christened by the initial batch of women who enlisted in the Navy as [[Yeoman (F)]] in World War I.  The [[USS Hatfield (DD-231)|USS ''Hatfield'' (DD-231)]] was sponsored by Mrs. J. Edmond Haugh (Helen Brooks) who had been a Yeoman during the Great War.

==See also==

*[[List of United States Navy losses in World War II]]
*[[List of ship classes of the Second World War]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== References ==
* {{cite book| title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |author=Campbell, John |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{cite book| title=History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Supplement and General Index | url=https://archive.org/details/supplementgenera00mori | url-access=registration |author=Morison, Samuel Eliot |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |year=1962}}
* {{cite book | last = Friedman | first = Norman | author-link = Norman Friedman | title = US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2004 | location = Annapolis | isbn = 1-55750-442-3 | edition = Revised }}
* Gardiner, Robert, ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921'', London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. {{ISBN|0-85177-245-5}}.
* Gardiner, Robert and Chesneau, Roger, ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946'', London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980. {{ISBN|0-83170-303-2}}.
* Silverstone, Paul H., ''U.S. Warships of World War I'' (Ian Allan, 1970), {{ISBN|0-71100-095-6}}.
* {{cite book| title=U.S. Warships of World War II |author=Silverstone, Paul H. |publisher=Doubleday and Company |year=1968}}
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/05idx.htm NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4-50_mk9.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 4"/50 Gun Page]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-23_mk13.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 3"/23 Gun Page]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk10-22.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 3"/50 Gun Page]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PreWWII.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com Pre-WWII US Torpedoes]
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm US Navy Torpedo History, part 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915054904/http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm |date=2014-09-15 }}

==External links==
{{commons category|Clemson class destroyers}}
* [http://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/wickesclass/ ''Clemson''-class destroyers] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080809220031/http://www.destroyers.org/Class/cl-Clemson.htm Tin Can Sailors @ Destroyers.org ''Clemson'' class]

{{Clemson class destroyer}}
{{WWI US ships}}
{{WWII US ships}}

[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:Clemson-class destroyers| ]]
[[Category:World War I destroyers of the United States| ]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States| ]]
[[Category:World War II mine warfare vessels of the United States| ]]
[[Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States| ]]
[[Category:Seaplane tenders of the United States Navy| ]]
[[Category:World War II seaplane tenders of the United States| ]]