Gearing Class Destroyer overview.
In 1943, it became apparent that a change to the Sumner Class of destroyer was needed. That change was to add 14' of length to the hull so that an additional 160 tons of fuel could be carried and thereby increase the range of this new class by 30 % over that of a ship of the Sumner Class.
The first ship to recieve this new hull was the USS Gearing DD-710. It became the lead ship for the 2,200 ton Gearing Class destroyers. In all, 98 Gearing class destroyers were commissioned.
The following is a brief descrpition of a typical Gearing Class destroyer:
- Compliment = Normal 274 (14 O and 260 E) and wartime 345 (20 O and 325 E).
- Dimensions = 390'6" x 40'10" x 14'4" draft.
- Fuel capacity = 196,000 gallons.
- Range = 5,800 miles at 15 knots.
- Propulsion = Simply 4 boilers supplying 2 sets of turbines generating 60,000 s.h.p. to 2 shafts each with a 12.5' four-bladed propeller.
- Speed = 34.5 knots.
- Weapons = 3 - 5' 38 cal. twin gun mounts, 2 - quadruple 40mm gun mounts, 2 double 40mm gun mounts, 10 - single 20mm gun mounts, 2 - quintupled 21" torpedo tube mounts, 2 - depth charge release racks, and 6 - single K-gun depth charge throwers.
Soon after commissioning, most of the early Gearings traded their aft torpedo tubes for an additional quadruple 40-mm gun mount, and this change became standard for those still under construction. The navy also converted a number of the Gearings to radar pickets (DDR), in which case, each ship’s forward torpedo tubes were replaced with a heavy tripod mast to support an SP aircraft height-finding radar and various electronic warfare antennas.
The Gearing DDE's made an ideal platform to test new ASW weapons and sonars that the Navy was developing. Operational experiences gained from these DDE's, aided the Navy in developing ASROC - Antisubmarine Rocket and DASH - Drone Antisubmarine Helicopter. The longer Gearing hulls would provide an ideal platform for these new weapons, but the ships were aging and in need of major re-construction and overhaul.
By 1959, only 44 origional Gearing class destroyers had not been converted into either dedicated submarine warfare destroyers (DDE), hunter-killer destroyers (DDK), radar picket destroyers (DDR), or for special research.
The Secretary of the Navy instituted the FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation And Modernization) program. Only 49 Gearings of all types were scheduled for this program. On May 1, 1959, the Perry DD 844 was the first Gearing to commence the FRAM MK 1 conversion. Perry's conversion was completed on April 1, 1960 at a cost of $7.7 million.
The basic FRAM MK1 reconstruction consisted of the following:
- Below the main deck, all machinery and systems were either overhauled or replaced.
- Above the main deck, a new superstructure.
- Installation of ASROC
- Installation of DASH hanger and flight deck.
- Installation of the SQS-23 SONAR and dome.
- Installation of SPS-29, -37, or -40 air-search radar.
- 2 - MK-32 triple torpedo launchers.
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All topside machinery being either overhauled or replaced.
The FRAM MK1 program had two variants. They were as follows:
- Group A - The loss of mount 53 (aft) and the inclusion of MK10/11 Hedgehogs on each side of the bridge and the MK-32's located aft.
- Group B - The loss of mount 52 (forward 01 level). The inclusion of a practice 5" loading machine and the MK-32 both on the forward 01 level. They also recieved a larger ASROC and torpedo storage area.
There was also FRAM II, but that was mainly to update, overhaul and/or replace SUMNER class ships systems and machinery.
At the end of the FRAM program, 80 Gearings had recieved FRAM MK 1 conversion, while 15 were updated under FRAM MK II. FRAM added approximately 15 years of service to Gearing Class destroyers. Only a couple remain in foreign navies and one Joesph P. Kennedy Jr. DD 850, has been preserved as a museum.
DD-865 - pre FRAM.
DD-865 - post FRAM MK 1 Group B conversion.