The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts - Hardcover

Franklin, Bruce Hampton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1557502803 ISBN 13: 9781557502803

Publisher: Naval Inst Pr, 1999

Synopsis

Destroyer escorts were built in greater numbers than any other kind of Allied fighting ship during World War II, and more than one hundred thousand American and British sailors served aboard these ships; yet until now, little has been written about their crucial role in the U.S. and Royal Navies. This book combines unique photographs, firsthand accounts, ship plans, and well-researched text to recapture the history of the largest class of destroyer escorts ever built--the Buckleys.

The American-designed destroyer escort was originally intended for transfer to Great Britain. But following America's entry into the war, the U.S. Navy also adopted the type, and it became the dominant antisubmarine vessel in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. First deployed in mid-1943 to help protect Allied supply ships, tankers, and transports from German and Japanese attacks, destroyer escorts sank by war's end more enemy submarines than any other kind of escort vessel. The Buckley class was the second largest class of major combatants in the U.S. Navy and provided the greatest number of warships to Great Britain through lend-lease. A portion of the Buckley class was converted to high-speed transports and landed underwater demolition teams ahead of the amphibious assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Many Buckley-class ships had careers extending beyond 1945, with several fighting in the Korean War and others operating as training vessels for naval reservists into the 1960s.

The book presents the first complete photographic record ever assembled of all 154 Buckley-class ships, including the only known photographs of several of these ships, recently located by the author in private collections in the United States and Great Britain. Selections of the original line-plan drawings of the class are also reproduced, providing valuable details of the ship's arrangements as designed. The text describes the development of the class, armament, major conversion programs, differences between the American and British ships, and the operational history of Buckleys in the U.S. and Royal Navies. Throughout the book, recollections and contemporary observations from the men who served aboard these ships are used to provide a personal touch to the history of these "Little Wolves."

About this title

Review

A winner. The details in this book reflect exhaustive and accurate research. Franklin has done an excellent job of collecting information and presenting it in an effective manner. The book will have great appeal to DESA and DECO members, libraries, modelers, and historians. There is no comparable book in the field. -- Rear Adm. Sheldon Kinney, USN, Ret.

An excellent history and detailed description of these important warships. The photos and notes are superb. -- Norman Polmar, Almanac of Seapower 2000

An exemplary contribution that provides an attractive model for further studies of major warship programs during World War II. -- Phillip K. Lundeberg, Curator emeritus of naval history, Smithsonian Institution

The Buckley class contained a number of ships that made history, and whose names will be familiar to many readers, but all members of the class should be remembered. This excellent book deserves the attention of every naval history enthusiast, for it contains much material that will be new to even the expert. It also sets a standard that future books on warship classes will have to work hard to equal. -- Warship International, No. 3, 1999

The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts is a must-have if you're modeling one, served aboard them, or love to read about warships. -- Ships in Scale, Nov/Dec 1999

This excellent and well produced book reviews the design and construction of the second largest class of major combatants in the U.S. Navy. In addition, the Buckley-class destroyer escorts provide the greatest number of warships to the United Kingdom under the terms of Lend-Lease. In Part I of this volume, the author outlines the origin, design, armament, conversion programmes, and service history. Part II contains the only complete photographic record of all 154 Buckley-class destroyer escorts and their variants. The book is completed by six appendices. These appendices contain a large amount of information which adds to the value of this comprehensively researched book. This volume will appeal to all warship enthusiasts and modellers and is highly recommended. -- Warship World, Autumn 1999

From Booklist

The subjects of Franklin's superior monograph constituted the most numerous class of U.S. Navy destroyer escorts during World War II. More than 150 were built, and they served in several allies' navies (some 50 in the British) in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. They fought long and hard, taking and inflicting heavy casualties in antisubmarine warfare. Later they survived the kamikazes off Okinawa. Many, rearmed or converted into destroyer transports, were still serving in friendly Third World navies 30 years after their launching. Franklin has comprehensively researched the book, and the effort has elicited much new and useful information, such as the design compromises that shortages of materials and facilities forced on even the lavish U.S. wartime production machine. Graphic material includes comprehensive plans as well as illustrations of most ships of the class. Lovers of World War II ships will accord Franklin and the publisher a hearty "Well done." Roland Green

About this edition

• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1557502803
• ISBN 13: 9781557502803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 210