1945 USS BASILONE. One of the 97 ships of the Gearing class, constructed in yards au over the USA between 1944 and 1946 and destined to see very long service.
THE GEARING CLASS
The Gearings were the best destroyers the US Navy had during the Second World War, heavily armed with the same weapons suite as the Sumners they succeeded but upon whose performance they improved thanks to their hulls being lengthened slightly by 14ft to increase fuel capacity. USS Basilone (DD 824) was built by Consolidated Shipbuilders. Begun early in 1945, she was launched on 22 December, after the cessation of hostilities. She had a shorter career than some of her sister-ships, being stricken in November 1977 and broken up.
POWERPLANT
One of the prime responsibilities of the US Navys destroyers during the Second World War was to protect the fleet aircraft carriers and to a lesser extent, the battleships which, by the end of the war, were being used exclusively for shore bombardment and that meant they had to be fast. That was achieved by installing very powerful machinery, and the four main classes of the period all developed over 50,000 horsepower to give them top speeds in excess of 35 knots (65km/h), even at a full load displacement of around 3500 tons.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Destroyer/radar picket
Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines producing a total of 60,000 shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 119m (390.Sft); beam, 12.45m (40.9ft)
Displacement: 261St standard; 3460t deep load
Draught: 4.4m (14.3ft)
Complement: 336
Speed: 36.5 knots (67.5km/h)
