Gearing-class destroyer
1945 class of American destroyers
The Gearing class was a series of 98 destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the Allen M. Sumner class, whereby the hull was lengthened by 14 ft (4.3 m) amidships, which resulted in more fuel storage space and increased the operating range.
The first Gearing ships were not ready for service until mid-1945 and saw little service in World War II. They continued serving, with a series of upgrades, until the 1970s. At that time, many were sold to other nations, where they served many more years.
Procurement and construction
Thirty-one vessels were authorized on 9 July 1942:
DD-710 to DD-721 were awarded to Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny.
DD-742 to DD-743 were awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
DD-763 to DD-769 were awarded to Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco.
DD-782 to DD-791 were awarded to Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle.
Four vessels were authorized on 13 May 1943:
DD-805 to DD-808 were awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
Three vessels were authorized on 27 March 1943 under the Vinson–Trammell Act:
DD-809 to DD-811 were awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. (later cancelled)
The remaining 114 vessels were authorized on 19 July 1943 under the 70% Expansion Act:
DD-812 awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
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