U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History

by Norman Friedman

For two decades Norman Friedman's account of the development of American destroyers has been a standard reference. The revised edition includes the two eventful decades of designs since the Spruance and Perry classes. The design evolution of the Arleigh Burke class, which has become the standard U.S. surface combatant, is described in detail for the first time, based on official sources. Friedman also describes the attempts to develop a follow-on class, beginning in the late 1980s and culminating in the current DD(X) program. Abortive attempts to develop new frigates are also detailed.
Friedman provides fully detailed and illustrated descriptions of all classes of U.S. destroyers, from their torpedo boat forebears onward. Detailed ship profiles by the renowned naval expert A. D. Baker III are included, along with section views that show internal arrangements. Engineering plant features and complete descriptions of antiaircraft and antisubmarine weapon systems also are given. An entire chapter is devoted to destroyer combat experience in World War II, which had a major influence on ship design and development. As the only history of U.S. destroyers based on internal, formerly classified papers of the U.S. Navy, the book is vital reading for all who have served on board these ships and for all who would like to understand the origins of the present destroyer force and its future.

Genres: Military History, Maritime, History, Nonfiction, Naval History

568 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

Norman Friedman is a prominent naval analyst and the author of more than thirty books covering a range of naval subjects, from warship histories to contemporary defense issues.

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the usual friedman thing. Exhaustive and exhausting details about every ship. The book cuts off in roughly 1982, with the Ticonderogas not yet in commission and the Burkes under design. This is a pity; I'd love to have his thoughts on the ships we have built in my lifetime.

A few things I noticed:

- The navy wanted destroyers to be fast and high endurance. This necessarily forced up displacements; a trend that was unwelcome but hard to resist.
- Nuclear power meant saturated steam, not very hot (inefficient) but the ability to sustain it forever. That means that the nuclear combatants had high sustained speeds but unimpressive sprint speeds.
- In the 1940s and 50s, ASW weapon ranges exceeded sensor ranges and "quality as a sonar platform" was the key attribute desired. Gradually, the LAMPS helicopter became the main ASW system for prosecuting and dispatching contacts.
- Since the 1960s, ship electronics are the biggest cost in dollars, power, and topweight.
- People were surprised how durable DDs were in the face of WW2 battle damage. For unarmored combatants they held up very well; sometimes they would fracture if e.g. the middle flooded, but otherwise they did remarkably well.
- The destroyer officers liked torpedoes because they gave them an offensive role; the rest of the navy was more interested in DD guns as part of the screening role.
- The whole concept of the "surface action group" post WW2 was based on DD experience particularly in the South Pacific
-

[Bobble Hat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic design history, covering the huge leaps from torpedo boats to guided missile ‘frigates’, class by class in vivid detail.

[Dan Cowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read -- but probably not for everyone. For those interested in how situations shape tools and weapons, rather than how weapons are used, this can be a real treasure as it charts the development of the modern destroyer in American service from the turn of the 20th century until the beginning of the 21st -- essentially the entire lifetime of the destroyer.

The book is chock full of design studies and narrative explaining how and why particular decisions were made about ship design, such as the fact that American destroyers tended to have a much greater provision for fuel, because it was recognized at an early point that they would need to cross long distances if they were to stay with the battle fleet and fulfill their purpose as "torpedo boat destroyers" and the guardians of the battleships.

[Dr. George H. Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text discusses the evolution of US DDs on a class by class evolutionary basis. The drawings here are very good indeed, and this typifies much of Norman's work. The research is also good in explaining why certain design choices were made, and this is what we look for in these kinds of books. I also note some insights are provided into a scattering of operational concerns, but here is where I wanted more. For example, I understand that welding and vibration problems existed in some classes, as might have been expected from the techniues being used at the time. Little of this is covered in any depth, and I learn a heck of a lot more about designs from reports about flaws and needed modifications. But this is quibbeling. Overall, I could not think of a better book to have on my DD type shelf than Norman's.