''Fletcher'' - Class Destroyer

By Crusader1307

A US Navy "workhorse", The ''Fletcher''-Class of Destroyers were first designed in 1939, but due to design flaws, were not deployed until 1942. Lightly armored, but incredibly hardy fighters, over 600 were produced until 1945. The last ''Fletcher''-Class was decommissioned by The US Navy in 1971. A large amount of them were sold to foreign Navies. ''Fletchers'' displaced 2,700 tons, and were typically 400-feet long. Sitting 40-feet tall in the water, The US Navy - at the start of America's involvement in World War II, had 9 Classes of Destroyers. ''Fletcher''-Classes were the first "War Produced" as a suitable replacement. Armed with (5), 5-inch Main Guns, (4) 40 mm Guns, (4) 20mm Guns and (10) 21-inch Torpedo Tubes. They were formidable Warships, deployed in both The Atlantic and Pacific War Theaters. Featuring a 5,500 mile range, ''Fletchers'' were powered by twin steam turbines, fueled by 4 oil boilers. They could achieve 38 nautical miles per hour. Crewing 300 Officers and men, ''Fletcher''-Class Destroyers earned a good battle record in combat. Only 19 were lost in combat.