US Destroyers 1934 - 45 : Pre War Classes

McComb, Dave & Wright, Paul [illustrator]

ISBN 10: 1846034434 / ISBN 13: 9781846034435

Published by Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2010

About this Item

Large format paperback, F. 48pp, colour plates & b/w illustrations, index, a nice fine copy. Osprey New Vanguard Series vol 162. An account of the 169 1500 - 1630 ton Destroyers introduced in the 1930s by the US Navy. 250 grams. Seller Inventory # 59349

Bibliographic Details

Title: US Destroyers 1934 - 45 : Pre War Classes

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Oxford

Publication Date: 2010

Binding: Soft cover

Illustrator: Wright, Paul

Condition: Fine

Edition: 1st edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

The US Navy's most modern destroyers as it entered World War II were 100 ships from eleven classes introduced in the 1930s: 1,500-tonners and 1,850-ton destroyer leaders designed to conform to the 1930 London Naval Treaty, plus the successor 1,570-ton Sims class and the first-commissioned 1,620- and 1,630-tonners of the Benson and Gleaves classes. Collectively, these destroyers carried the Navy through the war's first year when the outcome was in doubt: while most 1,500-tonners and leaders were assigned to front line duty in the Pacific before being relegated to secondary assignments, the later Bensons and Gleaves became the standard destroyers for Atlantic and Mediterranean operations and remained prominent in the Pacific throughout the war. This volume describes the fascinating design story behind these developmental classes – from the constraints of peacetime treaties to advances in propulsion engineering and wartime modifications. With an operational overview of their service and tables listing all 169 ships by class, builder, and initial squadron, this is a definitive guide to the pre-war US destroyer classes.

About the Author:

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. Paul's art has illustrated the works of Patrick O'Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others, and hangs in many corporate and private collections all over the world. A Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Paul lives and works in Surrey.