Robert H. Smith-class destroyer

Robert H. Smith-class destroyer
Class overview
NameRobert H. Smith class
Builders
Operators
Completed12
Retired12
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer minelayer
Displacement2,200 tons (standard)
Length376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft18 ft 10 in (5.74 m)
Propulsion4 Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler boilers; two General Electric or Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW) total; two shafts
Speed34 kn (63 km/h) max
Range4,600 nmi (8,500 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement363 standard
Armament

The Robert H. Smith class of destroyer minelayers was built by the United States during World War II. The class was named for naval officer Robert H. Smith.

These vessels were all originally laid down as Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers and converted during construction in 1944. In that time the United States produced twelve Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayers. Their original hull numbers were DD-735-40, 749-51, and 771-73.[2] None of the Robert H. Smith-class vessels ever laid a mine in wartime, though they were frequently employed in minesweeping. Minelayers did not carry torpedo tubes. Otherwise they were used interchangeably with other destroyer types. As radar pickets at Okinawa, Aaron Ward, Lindsey, and J. William Ditter were damaged by kamikazes, and Shea by a Baka bomb.[3] Five of the class served actively in the 1950s, but all survivors were mothballed by the end of the decade and were disposed of in the 1970s. None of this class received FRAM conversions.

  1. ^ Silverstone, p. 212
  2. ^ Silverstone, p. 212
  3. ^ Silverstone, p. 212