Favorite Destroyer
Moderators: Joel Billings, wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
- BrucePowers
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:13 pm
Favorite Destroyer
Gentlemen (and ladies)
I just received my Christmas present from my brother (yes, I know it was late but he got me what I wanted[:D][:D]). It is Norman Friedman's U.S. Destroyers an Illustrated Dsesign History. Do any of you have a favorite destroyer (U.S., Japanese, allied).
I like the Cravens. I play Seekreig a war game for naval miniatures. These were numerous enough by late 42 and give me some hitting power (4 extra torpedo tubes) for those small scenarios in the South Pacific (it was a dark and stormy night....).
I just received my Christmas present from my brother (yes, I know it was late but he got me what I wanted[:D][:D]). It is Norman Friedman's U.S. Destroyers an Illustrated Dsesign History. Do any of you have a favorite destroyer (U.S., Japanese, allied).
I like the Cravens. I play Seekreig a war game for naval miniatures. These were numerous enough by late 42 and give me some hitting power (4 extra torpedo tubes) for those small scenarios in the South Pacific (it was a dark and stormy night....).
For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful.
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
- BrucePowers
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:13 pm
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Oh by the way.... Did I mention I love these Norman Friedman books? The man is a very good author.
For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful.
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Porter [:D]
8 5" guns, whats not to like?
8 5" guns, whats not to like?
RE: Favorite Destroyer
USS Evans DD 552 My father served on her from the initail shake down cruises till May 11, 1945 where he was wounded.
The quore from the Presidential Citation:
For extraordinary heroism in action as support destroyer on radar picket station number 15 during an attack by approximately100 enemy Japanese planes, 40 miles northwest of the Okinawa Transport Area, May 11, 1945. Fighting valiantly against waves of hostile suicide planes plunging toward her from all directions, the USS EVANS sent up relentless barrages of anti-aircraft fire during one of the most furious air-sea battles of the war. Repeatedly finding her targets, she destroyed 14 enemy planes, assisted in downing three others and, by her vigilance and superb battle readiness, avoided damage to herself until subjected to a coordinated attack by five Japanese planes. Shooting one down clear of the ship, she was crashed by the other four with devastating effect. With all engineering spaces flooded and with a fire raging amidships, the gallant officers and men of the EVANS fought desperately against almost insurmountable odds and, by their indomitable determination, fortitude and skill, brought the damage under control, enabling their ship to be towed to port and saved. Her brilliant performance in this action reflects the highest credit upon the EVANS and the United States Naval Services.”
The quore from the Presidential Citation:
For extraordinary heroism in action as support destroyer on radar picket station number 15 during an attack by approximately100 enemy Japanese planes, 40 miles northwest of the Okinawa Transport Area, May 11, 1945. Fighting valiantly against waves of hostile suicide planes plunging toward her from all directions, the USS EVANS sent up relentless barrages of anti-aircraft fire during one of the most furious air-sea battles of the war. Repeatedly finding her targets, she destroyed 14 enemy planes, assisted in downing three others and, by her vigilance and superb battle readiness, avoided damage to herself until subjected to a coordinated attack by five Japanese planes. Shooting one down clear of the ship, she was crashed by the other four with devastating effect. With all engineering spaces flooded and with a fire raging amidships, the gallant officers and men of the EVANS fought desperately against almost insurmountable odds and, by their indomitable determination, fortitude and skill, brought the damage under control, enabling their ship to be towed to port and saved. Her brilliant performance in this action reflects the highest credit upon the EVANS and the United States Naval Services.”
- Cpt.Buckmaster
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:56 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Contact:
RE: Favorite Destroyer
The USS NICHOLAS, DD-449.
Why? Because it's my name! [:D]

Why? Because it's my name! [:D]

"In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard!"-Theodore Roosevelt
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Me, the WITP destroyer: Le Triomphant. It's a big destroyer (13 vps) with great AA capability. In my campaign as Japan, I have not yet managed to hit it with anything, while in my campaign with the allies, it fought valiantly at Rabaul, and was one of the few ships there to avoid great damage (took only 13 sys damage!) It also helped to stop the japanese from taking Rabaul Early.
"Hard pressed on my right; my left is in retreat. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
-Gen. Joffre, before the battle of the Marne
-Gen. Joffre, before the battle of the Marne
- BrucePowers
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:13 pm
RE: Favorite Destroyer
On second thought...
I may have to agree with Mr Frag. One shot those extra 4 torpedos are gone. Those 8 5 inch just keep firing and firing. I will have try that.[:D]
I may have to agree with Mr Frag. One shot those extra 4 torpedos are gone. Those 8 5 inch just keep firing and firing. I will have try that.[:D]
For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful.
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
RE: Favorite Destroyer
HMS Glowworm. Despite the cutesy name, thats a ship that had balls of purest brass.
Ramming speed!

Ramming speed!

RE: Favorite Destroyer
I'd have to say the 4 pipers. They look old and slow, but they can hold their own.
Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med
Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med
Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
-
Mike Scholl
- Posts: 6187
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 1:17 am
- Location: Kansas City, MO
RE: Favorite Destroyer
For the Pacific Theatre, the FLETCHER's.....Lot's of them, 10 tubes, 5-5", good AAA, good ASW, decent
cruising radius, what's not to like?....If you are talking a single DD for a surface fight, then the
SHIMAKAZE looks good with 15 "Long Lances" and 39 knots coupled with 6 5"---but her AAA and ASW
sucks.
cruising radius, what's not to like?....If you are talking a single DD for a surface fight, then the
SHIMAKAZE looks good with 15 "Long Lances" and 39 knots coupled with 6 5"---but her AAA and ASW
sucks.
RE: Favorite Destroyer
USS Johnston DD557. If you do not know why you should find out. You did not ask the class.
RE: Favorite Destroyer
One af my all-time fave books. Friedman is a research machine.I just received my Christmas present from my brother (yes, I know it was late but he got me what I wanted ). It is Norman Friedman's U.S. Destroyers an Illustrated Dsesign History. Do any of you have a favorite destroyer (U.S., Japanese, allied).
DMS Aaron Ward took a licking off Okinawa and kept on ticking. Er, well, sorta.

USS Johnston DD557. If you do not know why you should find out. You did not ask the class.
Yeah! GQ Johnny! A little one-on-one with Yamato, anyone?
- Attachments
-
- aaron ward.jpg (75.05 KiB) Viewed 601 times
Fear the kitten!
- madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
RE: Favorite Destroyer
I have a soft spot for the Farraguts... Don't ask why. I just like the "old-school" DDs. They're carrying the bulk of the war in my PBEM right now - escorting convoys, carriers, surface TFs and conducting ASW sweeps. Not to mention bombardments and fast raids. Not the most heavily armed or technologically advanced, but they are holding the line right now.
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
- BrucePowers
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:13 pm
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Madmickey;
Thanks for the reply. I will look up USS Johnston. As probably goes for most of you, doing research like that is fun. Thanks.
Thanks for the reply. I will look up USS Johnston. As probably goes for most of you, doing research like that is fun. Thanks.
For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful.
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
Lieutenant Bush - Captain Horatio Hornblower by C S Forester
- Ron Saueracker
- Posts: 10967
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2002 10:00 am
- Location: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Any "Goldplater" for US. Benhams most...weird, eh? Ever? Gonna have to say the RCN Tribals!![:D]


Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
RE: Favorite Destroyer
Gonna have to say the RCN Tribals!!
They could probably put it back into service, better then the subs we got shafted with.
- Ron Saueracker
- Posts: 10967
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2002 10:00 am
- Location: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
RE: Favorite Destroyer
ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag
Gonna have to say the RCN Tribals!!
They could probably put it back into service, better then the subs we got shafted with.
C'mon...the Upholders are not bad. Better than the Collins Class OZ has payed through the nose for. Actually, we should stick to building decent surface combatants and buy OZ subs and vice versa. Had we not had a wimpy PMO in the fifties, we could have been selling jets too instead of buying US cast offs.


Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
RE: Favorite Destroyer
While not a Japanese fanboy...how about the Shimakaze, I know AA & ASW were weak but a night time surface batttle with all those 24 inch torpes brings nightmares[&o]
RE: Favorite Destroyer
ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag
Gonna have to say the RCN Tribals!!
They could probably put it back into service, better then the subs we got shafted with.
C'mon...the Upholders are not bad. Better than the Collins Class OZ has payed through the nose for. Actually, we should stick to building decent surface combatants and buy OZ subs and vice versa. Had we not had a wimpy PMO in the fifties, we could have been selling jets too instead of buying US cast offs.
The Arrow the biggest "Fighter" with the most limited visibility. All it could do is shoot down big bomber missles could do the job a lot better. The pilot would have to pray if he meet an enemy fighter.









