1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

Re: 1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (Joshua Kintner) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:17:45 GMT

You should be able to cram at least eight K-gun launchers in place of the rotating torpedo tube mounts on a Wickes or Clemson class DD. But those DDs would be long range escorts for cross Atlantic or Pacific convoys. The class of corvettes I'm talking about building would be coastal and up to medium range escorts, which could also serve as harbour protection against U-boat penetration. With there being a heavy wartime commitment to Britian in the Atlantic, and many fleet bases in the...

Re: 1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (NewGolconda) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:49:37 GMT

The converted DD's have some advantages over the corvettes, which were never designed for ocean escort.

Didnt you say you served at sea? Have you read any reports of the hability and seakeeping of the flush decked DD's?

I agree, the advantages of the Frigates/DE's over the old destroyers wont nessasarily show up in a 3-4 line data table.

Re: 1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Bender) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:55:01 GMT

In what way? Let's compare to the U.S.S. Broome in WWII configuration.

Flower Class Corvette.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_class_corvette
16kts. 3,500 miles @ 12kts.
1 x 4" gun plus MGs.
2 x Mk II depth charge throwers plus 2 x depth charge rails.
Reputation for poor sea keeping.

Evarts class DE.

Re: 1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (NewGolconda) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:45:46 GMT

The war emergency DE's and Frigates were far superior ships to converted old destoryers for the escort role.

But what you say is largely true.

Re: 1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (Dave Bender) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:37:03 GMT

You don't need new ships. In 1938 the U.S. Navy has about 100 flush deck DDs in mothballs, 50 of which which were given to Britain in 1940.
Wickes class DD. Laid down 1917.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/075.htm
Displacement. 1,154 tons.
4 x 4"/50 guns. 12 x 21" torpedo tubes.
Propulsion turbines. 2 shafts. 24,000 shp. 35 kts.

Proposed...

1938 USN ASW Corvette competition

feeds@yuku.com (Joshua Kintner) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:16:25 GMT
In response to the thoughts of the coming conflict, in which USA's most likely enemies, Germany, Italy, and Japan all have decent submarine fleets, it is decided to build a class of corvettes intended for short to medium range escort around the U.S. coast and local ports. A class of forty such ships will be constructed, depending on the design chosen.

The main requirements are the ships be armed with at least 1x4"/50 calibre gun firing a 33 lb shell, recycled from flush...