The six Caldwell-class torpedo boat destroyers were authorized by Congress under the Act of 3 March 1915, "to have a speed of not less than thirty knots per hour [sic] and to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not to exceed $925,000.00 each ...Provided, that three of said torpedo-boats herein authorized shall be built on the Pacific Coast."
Built from 1916 to 1918, the six ships of the Caldwell class were the first of 279 ordered (6 of which were cancelled) to a flush-decked design to remove the forecastle break weakness of the preceding Sampson class and other "thousand tonners". They were effectively prototypes of the mass production Wickes and Clemson-class vessels which followed them, although somewhat slower (30–32 knots (56–59 km/h) vs. 35 knots (65 km/h)) and differing in some details. The forward sheer of the Caldwell class was improved to keep "A" mount from being constantly washed out; however, this was unsuccessful.[3] The Caldwells had a cutaway stern rather than the cruiser stern of the later ships, and thus had a tighter turning radius than their successors.[3][4] The armament of the Sampsons was retained, but the broadside 4-inch (102 mm) guns were relocated to "bandstands" aft of the bridge. There were differences in appearance; Caldwell, Craven and Manley were built with four "stacks" (funnels), while Gwin, Conner and Stockton had only three. The middle stack of the three-stack ships was wider due to combining two boiler uptakes. Once the mass-production destroyers made the design prevalent, the Caldwells and their successors became known as "flush-deck" or "four-stack" destroyers.[5]
The armament repeated that of the preceding Sampson-class of "thousand tonners", and would be retained in the subsequent mass production "flush deckers". While the gun armament was typical for destroyers of this period, the torpedo armament of twelve 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes was larger than usual, in accordance with American practice at the time. A factor in the size of the torpedo armament was the General Board's decision to use broadside rather than centerline torpedo tubes.[6] This was due to the desire to have some torpedoes remaining after firing a broadside, and problems experienced with centerline mounts on previous classes with torpedoes striking the gunwales of the firing ship.[7] The Mark 8 torpedo was equipped. The "bandstand" location of the waist 4-inch guns kept the mounts dry, but restricted the firing arc.
These ships carried a 3-inch (76 mm) 23 caliberanti-aircraft (AA) gun, typically just aft of the bow 4-inch gun. The original design called for two 1-pounder AA guns, but these were in short supply and the 3-inch gun was more effective. Anti-submarine (ASW) armament was added during World War I, or included in the initial design with DD-70 and DD-71. Typically, a single depth charge rack was provided aft, along with a Y-gun depth charge projector forward of the aft deckhouse.[8]
EngineeringEdit
As a somewhat experimental class, the Caldwells differed in their engineering. Conner and Stockton, built by Cramp, followed the class's original design, with three-shaft direct drivesteam turbines. A high-pressure turbine on the center shaft exhausted to low-pressure turbines on the outboard shafts. A geared cruising turbine was provided on the center shaft for fuel economy at low and moderate speeds. The remaining ships had two shafts with geared turbines and no cruising turbines.[9] This arrangement saw an increase from 18,500 to 20,000 shaft horsepower (13,800 to 14,900 kW) and the ships' speed from 30 to 32 knots (56 to 59 km/h; 35 to 37 mph). With a further increase in horsepower, this geared turbine arrangement was adopted for the mass-production classes.[2]Caldwell had an experimental "electric speed reducing gear" connecting the cruising turbines to the main turbines, a forerunner of the turbo-electric drive that would be used on several US battleships and aircraft carriers built from World War I through the 1920s.[3][8]
Friedman, Norman (2004). US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-442-3.
Gardiner, Robert, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921, London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
Gardiner, Robert and Chesneau, Roger, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980. ISBN0-83170-303-2.
Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I. London: Random House Group, Ltd. 2001. p. 147. ISBN1-85170-378-0.
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
Fitzsimons, Bernard, General Editor. The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 5, pp. 510–11, "Caldwell", and Volume 16, pp. 1717–18, "Leeds". London: Phoebus, 1978.
Silverstone, Paul H., U.S. Warships of World War I (Ian Allan, 1970), ISBN0-71100-095-6.
Silverstone, Paul H., U.S. Warships of World War II (Ian Allan, 1965), ISBN0-87021-773-9.
External linksEdit
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DestroyerHistory.org Flush Decker page
DestroyerHistory.org USS Craven page
NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page
DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 4"/50 Mks 7, 8, 9, and 10
DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com Pre-WWII US Torpedoes
US Navy Torpedo History, part 2 2014-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
October 17, 2023
caldwell, class, destroyer, caldwell, class, class, flush, deck, united, states, navy, destroyers, built, during, world, shortly, after, four, served, convoy, escorts, atlantic, other, were, completed, late, wartime, service, were, scrapped, during, 1930s, fou. The Caldwell class was a class of six flush deck United States Navy destroyers built during World War I and shortly after Four served as convoy escorts in the Atlantic the other two were completed too late for wartime service Two were scrapped during the 1930s but four survived to serve throughout World War II three of these in service with the Royal Navy under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement and the fourth as a high speed transport USS Caldwell in harbor in 1919Class overviewNameCaldwell classBuildersMare Island Navy Yard Norfolk Navy Yard Seattle Dry Dock Company William Cramp amp Sons Bath Iron WorksOperators United States Navy Royal NavyPreceded bySampson classSucceeded byWickes classSubclassesTown classBuilt1916 20In commission1917 45Completed6Retired6General characteristicsTypeDestroyerDisplacement1 020 tons standard 1 125 tons normal Length308 ft 94 m waterline 315 ft 6 in 96 16 m overallBeam31 ft 3 in 9 53 m Draft8 ft 2 4 m 11 ft 6 in 3 51 m maxPropulsion DD 69 71 74 Thornycroft boilers Parsons geared steam turbines two shafts 20 000 shp 15 MW DD 72 73 White Forster boilers Parsons direct drive turbines three shafts 18 500 hp 13 8 MW Speed DD 69 71 74 32 kn 59 km h 2 DD 72 73 30 kn 56 km h Complement146Armament4 4 in 102 mm 50 caliber guns 1 1 3 in 76 mm 23 caliber gun 12 21 in 533 mm torpedo tubes 4 3 Contents 1 Design and construction 2 Armament 3 Engineering 4 Ships in class 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and construction EditThe six Caldwell class torpedo boat destroyers were authorized by Congress under the Act of 3 March 1915 to have a speed of not less than thirty knots per hour sic and to cost exclusive of armor and armament not to exceed 925 000 00 each Provided that three of said torpedo boats herein authorized shall be built on the Pacific Coast Built from 1916 to 1918 the six ships of the Caldwell class were the first of 279 ordered 6 of which were cancelled to a flush decked design to remove the forecastle break weakness of the preceding Sampson class and other thousand tonners They were effectively prototypes of the mass production Wickes and Clemson class vessels which followed them although somewhat slower 30 32 knots 56 59 km h vs 35 knots 65 km h and differing in some details The forward sheer of the Caldwell class was improved to keep A mount from being constantly washed out however this was unsuccessful 3 The Caldwells had a cutaway stern rather than the cruiser stern of the later ships and thus had a tighter turning radius than their successors 3 4 The armament of the Sampsons was retained but the broadside 4 inch 102 mm guns were relocated to bandstands aft of the bridge There were differences in appearance Caldwell Craven and Manley were built with four stacks funnels while Gwin Conner and Stockton had only three The middle stack of the three stack ships was wider due to combining two boiler uptakes Once the mass production destroyers made the design prevalent the Caldwells and their successors became known as flush deck or four stack destroyers 5 Manley was converted to a prototype high speed destroyer transport hull classification symbol APD in 1939 with her forward stacks and boilers removed to give her the capacity to lift 200 Marines and four 11 m 36 ft Higgins assault boats LCP L LCP R or LCVP She saw action at Guadalcanal Kwajalein Saipan and the Philippines Three entered Royal Navy service in 1940 under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement as part of the Town class Conner serving as HMS Leeds provided cover at Gold Beach on 6 June 1944 her sisters served as convoy escorts All three survived the war two being sunk as targets and one scrapped postwar Armament EditThe armament repeated that of the preceding Sampson class of thousand tonners and would be retained in the subsequent mass production flush deckers While the gun armament was typical for destroyers of this period the torpedo armament of twelve 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes was larger than usual in accordance with American practice at the time A factor in the size of the torpedo armament was the General Board s decision to use broadside rather than centerline torpedo tubes 6 This was due to the desire to have some torpedoes remaining after firing a broadside and problems experienced with centerline mounts on previous classes with torpedoes striking the gunwales of the firing ship 7 The Mark 8 torpedo was equipped The bandstand location of the waist 4 inch guns kept the mounts dry but restricted the firing arc These ships carried a 3 inch 76 mm 23 caliber anti aircraft AA gun typically just aft of the bow 4 inch gun The original design called for two 1 pounder AA guns but these were in short supply and the 3 inch gun was more effective Anti submarine ASW armament was added during World War I or included in the initial design with DD 70 and DD 71 Typically a single depth charge rack was provided aft along with a Y gun depth charge projector forward of the aft deckhouse 8 Engineering EditAs a somewhat experimental class the Caldwells differed in their engineering Conner and Stockton built by Cramp followed the class s original design with three shaft direct drive steam turbines A high pressure turbine on the center shaft exhausted to low pressure turbines on the outboard shafts A geared cruising turbine was provided on the center shaft for fuel economy at low and moderate speeds The remaining ships had two shafts with geared turbines and no cruising turbines 9 This arrangement saw an increase from 18 500 to 20 000 shaft horsepower 13 800 to 14 900 kW and the ships speed from 30 to 32 knots 56 to 59 km h 35 to 37 mph With a further increase in horsepower this geared turbine arrangement was adopted for the mass production classes 2 Caldwell had an experimental electric speed reducing gear connecting the cruising turbines to the main turbines a forerunner of the turbo electric drive that would be used on several US battleships and aircraft carriers built from World War I through the 1920s 3 8 Ships in class EditShips of the Caldwell destroyer class Hull no Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm issioned Decomm issioned Fate Service notesDD 69 Caldwell Mare Island Navy Yard 8 December 1916 10 July 1917 1 December 1917 27 June 1922 Scrapped 1936DD 70 Craven Norfolk Navy Yard 20 November 1917 29 June 1918 19 October 1918 15 June 1922 Scuttled May 1946 Transferred to Royal Navy as HMS Lewes9 August 1940 23 October 1940DD 71 Gwin Seattle Dry Dock Company 21 June 1917 22 December 1917 20 March 1920 28 June 1922 Scrapped 1939DD 72 Conner William Cramp amp Sons 16 October 1916 21 August 1917 12 January 1918 21 June 1922 Scrapped March 1947 Transferred to Royal Navy as HMS Leeds23 August 1940 23 October 1940DD 73 Stockton William Cramp amp Sons 16 October 1916 17 July 1717 26 November 1917 26 June 1922 Scuttled July 1945 Transferred to Royal Navy as HMS Ludlow16 August 1940 23 October 1940DD 74 Manley Bath Iron Works 22 August 1916 23 August 1917 15 October 1917 14 June 1922 Scrapped 1946 Re designated AG 28 on 28 November 1938 Re designated APD 1 on 2 August 19401 May 1930 19 November 1945References Edit Campbell 1985 p 143 a b USS Craven DestroyerHistory org Retrieved 7 June 2015 a b c Gardiner p 123 Friedman p 36 Flush deckers DestroyerHistory org Retrieved 7 June 2015 Friedman p 24 34 Friedman p 24 a b Friedman p 37 Bauer K Jack Roberts Stephen S 1991 Register of Ships of the U S Navy 1775 1990 Major Combatants Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press p 172 ISBN 0 313 26202 0 Bibliography EditFriedman Norman 2004 US Destroyers An Illustrated Design History Revised ed Annapolis Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 442 3 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 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War I London Random House Group Ltd 2001 p 147 ISBN 1 85170 378 0 Campbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War Two Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 Fitzsimons Bernard General Editor The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare Volume 5 pp 510 11 Caldwell and Volume 16 pp 1717 18 Leeds London Phoebus 1978 Silverstone Paul H U S Warships of World War I Ian Allan 1970 ISBN 0 71100 095 6 Silverstone Paul H U S Warships of World War II Ian Allan 1965 ISBN 0 87021 773 9 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caldwell class destroyers Caldwell class destroyers at Destroyer History Foundation Caldwell class destroyers at Destroyers OnLine Tin Can Sailors destroyers org Caldwell class destroyer DestroyerHistory org Flush Decker page DestroyerHistory org USS Craven page NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page DiGiulian Tony Navweaps com 4 50 Mks 7 8 9 and 10 DiGiulian Tony Navweaps com Pre WWII US Torpedoes US Navy Torpedo History part 2 Archived 2014 09 15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caldwell class destroyer amp oldid 1156975399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
