The 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers were the first US

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 post-war destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

s (DD-927 to DD-930 were completed as frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

s). and later ships were equipped with B&W

Babcock and Wilcox

The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a U.S.-based company that provides design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and facilities management services to nuclear, renewable, fossil power, industrial and government customers worldwide. B&W's boilers supply more than 300,000 megawatts of installed...

 Bailey Meter Company's new automatic boiler combustion control system, and a modified hurricane bow/anchor configuration. These ships are listed as Hull-class destroyers in some references.

Description

The hedgehogs

Hedgehog (weapon)

The Hedgehog was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, that was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings...

 and 3 inches (76 mm) guns were removed from all ships during the 1960s and 1970s. In addition the fixed torpedo

Torpedo

The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...

 tubes were replaced by two triple 12.75 inches (323.9 mm) Mark 32 torpedo tube mounts

Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes

The Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes system is a torpedo launching system designed for the United States Navy. The Mark 32 has been the standard anti-submarine torpedo launching system aboard United States Navy surface vessels since its introduction in 1960, and in use aboard the warships of...

.

Eight of the class were modernized to improve their ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

 capabilities, becoming the Barry class. These ships were fitted with an eight cell ASROC

ASROC

ASROC is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates...

 launcher in place of the No. 2 5 inches (127 mm) gun, and with a variable-depth sonar

Sonar

Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...

 system.

Four of the destroyers—, , , and —were converted to guided missile destroyer

Guided missile destroyer

A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...

s.

As a test platform, the carried the Navy's prototype 8"/55 caliber Mark 71 gun

8"/55 caliber Mark 71 gun

The U.S. Navy's Major Caliber Lightweight Gun program was the 8"/55 caliber Mark 71 major caliber lightweight, single-barrel naval gun prototype that was mounted aboard the in 1975 to test the capability of destroyer-sized ships to provide shore bombardment support with the range previously...

 light-weight gun from 1975-1978 when the program was canceled, and the 5-inch mount was restored. remains the only modern destroyer-type to carry an 8 inches (203 mm) gun.

Nine ships were constructed by Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...

 of Bath, Maine

Bath, Maine

Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...

, five were built by Bethlehem Steel

Bethlehem Steel

The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...

 at the Fore River Shipyard

Fore River Shipyard

The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...

 in Quincy, Massachusetts

Quincy, Massachusetts

Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...

, two were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...

 at Pascagoula, Mississippi

Pascagoula, Mississippi

Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...

 and two were built by Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company

Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company

Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was a major shipbuilding and construction company, located in Seattle, Washington. The firm was established in 1898 on Elliott Bay in Puget Sound. The company was engaged in construction projects around the United States and built ships for the U.S. Navy at...

 in Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...

.

Of the 18 completed, nine were disposed of in fleet training exercises, five were sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, two are museums and two are available for donation as a museum and memorial.

These destroyers used the hull number

Hull number

Hull number is a serial identification number given to a boat or ship. A lower number implies an older vessel. The precise usage varies by country and type....

s 931 to 951, skipping over the numbers used to designate the war prizes DD-934 (the Japanese ex-Hanazuki), DD-935 (the German T-35), and DD-939 (the German Z-39).

Ships in class

Ship Name	Hull No.	Builder	Commission– Decommission	Fate	Link
Forrest Sherman USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) USS Forrest Sherman was the lead ship of her class of destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Forrest P. Sherman USN ....	DD-931	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1955–1982	Stricken, available for donation as museum/memorial, 10/10/1996
John Paul Jones USS John Paul Jones (DD-932) USS John Paul Jones , named for John Paul Jones, was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy.John Paul Jones was laid down by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath in Maine on 18 January 1954, launched on 7 May 1955 by Mrs. Carney, wife of Admiral Robert B. Carney and...	DD-932/DDG-32	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1956–1982	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 01/31/2001
Barry USS Barry (DD-933) USS Barry was one of eighteen Forrest Sherman-class destroyers of the United States Navy, and was the third US destroyer to be named for Commodore John Barry. Commissioned in 1954, she spent most of her career in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Mediterranean, but also served in the Vietnam War,...	DD-933	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1956–1982	Stricken, retained by Navy as museum, 01/31/1983; now museum in Washington, D.C.
Decatur USS Decatur (DD-936) The fourth USS Decatur was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named for Commodore Stephen Decatur USN ....	DD-936/DDG-31	Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...	1956–1983	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 07/21/2004
Davis USS Davis (DD-937) USS Davis , named for Commander George Fleming Davis USN , commanding officer of USS Walke , killed in action at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon in the Philippine Islands on 6 January 1945 and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer of the United States Navy laid down...	DD-937	Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...	1957–1982	Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 06/30/1994
Jonas Ingram USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938) USS Jonas Ingram , named for Admiral Jonas H. Ingram USN , awarded the Medal of Honor when a Lieutenant for his actions during the engagement of Vera Cruz on 22 April 1914, was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Quincy in Massachusetts on 15 June...	DD-938	Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...	1957–1983	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 07/23/1988
Manley USS Manley (DD-940) USS Manley , named for Captain John Manley , was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath in Maine. The keel was laid down on February 10, 1955. Manley was commissioned on February 1, 1957 and sponsored by Mrs. Arleigh A...	DD-940	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1957–1983	Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 06/30/1994
Du Pont USS Du Pont (DD-941) USS Du Pont , named for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont USN , was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath in Maine and launched by Mrs. H. B. Du Pont, great-great-grandniece of Rear Admiral Du Pont; and commissioned 1 July 1957, Commander W. J...	DD-941	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1957–1983	Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 12/11/1992
Bigelow USS Bigelow (DD-942) USS Bigelow was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was named for Watertender First Class Elmer Charles Bigelow , who was killed in action extinguishing a magazine fire while serving on board Fletcher during action against enemy Japanese forces off Corregidor in...	DD-942	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1957–1982	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/02/2003
Blandy USS Blandy (DD-943) USS Blandy was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer , named for Admiral William H. P. Blandy USN ,Blandy was built by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts and was launched 19 December 1956, sponsored by Mrs. John M. Lee, daughter of Admiral Blandy; and...	DD-943	Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...	1957–1982	Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 06/30/1994
Mullinnix USS Mullinnix (DD-944) USS Mullinnix was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix USN , who was killed in action during World War II, when USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-175 and sank southwest of Butaritari Island on 24 November...	DD-944	Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S... , Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...	1958–1983	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 08/23/1992
Hull USS Hull (DD-945) USS Hull , named for Commodore Isaac Hull USN , was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath in Maine. Laid down on 12 September 1956 and launched 10 August 1957, by Mrs. Albert G...	DD-945	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1958–1983	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/07/1998
Edson USS Edson (DD-946) USS Edson was a of the United States Navy, named for Major General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson USMC , who was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as Commanding Officer of the First Marine Raider Battalion on Guadalcanal, and the Navy Cross and Silver Star for other actions in world War...	DD-946	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1958–1988	Stricken, available for donation as museum/memorial, 06/14/2004
Somers USS Somers (DD-947) The sixth USS Somers was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer when her keel was laid down at the Bath Iron Works on 4 March 1958, she was launched on 30 May, and commissioned on 3 April 1959....	DD-947/DDG-34	Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...	1959–1982	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 07/22/1998
Morton USS Morton (DD-948) USS Morton was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commander Dudley "Mush" Morton USN , commanding officer of during World War II....	DD-948	Ingalls Shipbuilding Ingalls Shipbuilding Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...	1959–1982	Disposed of, sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 03/04/1992
Parsons USS Parsons (DD-949) USS Parsons began her career as a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral William S. Parsons , who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II....	DD-949/DDG-33	Ingalls Shipbuilding Ingalls Shipbuilding Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...	1959–1982	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/25/1989
Richard S. Edwards USS Richard S. Edwards (DD-950) USS Richard S. Edwards , named for Admiral Richard Stanislaus Edwards USN , was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer built by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company at Seattle in Washington and launched on 24 September 1957 by Mrs. W. B. Franke; and commissioned 5 February 1959, Comdr. Richard R....	DD-950	Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was a major shipbuilding and construction company, located in Seattle, Washington. The firm was established in 1898 on Elliott Bay in Puget Sound. The company was engaged in construction projects around the United States and built ships for the U.S. Navy at...	1959–1982	Disposed of in support of Fleet training exercise, 04/10/1997
Turner Joy USS Turner Joy (DD-951) USS Turner Joy was one of 18 s of the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Charles Turner Joy USN . Commissioned in 1959, she spent her entire career in the Pacific...	DD-951	Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was a major shipbuilding and construction company, located in Seattle, Washington. The firm was established in 1898 on Elliott Bay in Puget Sound. The company was engaged in construction projects around the United States and built ships for the U.S. Navy at...	1959–1982	Donated as a museum/memorial, 04/10/1991; now museum in Bremerton, WA

External links

• Forrest Sherman-class destroyers at Destroyer History Foundation