Black

USS Black (DD-666) underway during the early 1950's, probably soon after she was recommissioned in July 1951. The ship is still essentially in her late World War II configuration.

History

Design

As the first class of destroyers produced by a wartime United States, the Fletcher-class was seen as a logical progression from the pre-war designs. The design firm of Gibbs and Cox took their experience in designing the previous Benson and Gleaves classes and sought to rectify the deficiencies in both designs. Coming in above 1,500 tons, the previous designs failed to meet the armament requirement of five (5) 5-inch guns and ten (10) torpedo tubes; they were seen as too small and top heavy. History would prove their third creation to be a war-winner; the mettle and venerability of the Fletchers were displayed regularly during the grueling combat of the Pacific campaign in World War II.

The Fletcher-class ships were the first destroyers in the US Navy to exceed 2,000 tons displacement. In a change from previous design practice, Fletchers had flush decks as opposed to the raised forecastle design seen on the Benson class. This increased her length but decreased her freeboard and improved her handling; overall, this was considered a very structurally sound and seaworthy design. An interesting design choice to note: early build Fletchers have the taller rounded-tower superstructure design – as seen on the in-game model for Fletcher – whereas late-build Fletchers (such as USS Kidd) had a superstructure that was lower in height with a flat-faced bridge.

In order to maintain the 38 knot speed despite the increase in tonnage, new propulsion machinery was utilized: boilers that were 20-30% more efficient and turbines that were 20% more powerful than predecessors were installed. Ultimately, a third of the internal space was consumed by propulsion machinery in a unique configuration. The forward boiler and turbine room were separated from the rear boiler and engine room via watertight bulkheads. Each individual segment ran the port and starboard propulsion screws, respectively. This configuration resulted in greater machine survivability from combat damage.

As required by U.S. Navy specifications, each Fletcher class ship was able to mount five (5) 5-inch guns in single, enclosed, dual-purpose mounts; two guns forward, two guns rear, and one amidships. All turrets were controlled by Mark 37 and Mark 22 fire directors. Feeding information to the gun computer, the main battery could all be remotely controlled if required. Furthermore, the class got to implement SG surface radar and "Variable-Time" proximity fuses — both novelties to the Navy — that allowed effective engagement of both surface and air threats.

Learning from the experience of Pearl Harbor, the Navy decided to invest in heavier anti-aircraft armament. After seeing their effectiveness during the Spanish Civil War, the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance (BuOrd) arranged manufacturing licences for Oerlikon 20mm and Bofors 40mm cannons. Anti-aircraft armament was constantly being changed throughout the war; USS Black, for instance, was armed with four (4) 20mm and four (4) 40mm AA guns for most of her time in the Pacific.

Finally, the class was able to mount ten (10) torpedoes in two quintuple-tube launchers amidships, the heaviest torpedo broadside of any U.S. Navy destroyer at the time. By also carrying depth charge launchers in conjunction with anti-submarine sonar, Fletchers were well-equipped to conduct anti-submarine operations as well. Overall, the class was armed with a plethora of tools to combat a myriad of threats.

In light of the mounting ferocity and desperation of Japanese kamikaze attacks against US carrier strike groups late into the Pacific campaign, the Navy saw it fit to increase anti-aircraft potency in picket ships however possible. In 1945, about 55 Fletcher-class destroyers – such as USS Kidd – had their forward torpedo tubes removed to install an anti-aircraft platform mounting two quad-barrel 40mm. In addition to the three existing dual-barrel 40mm emplacements, the total was brought up to fourteen (14) 40mm AA guns. Furthermore, the seven (7) single-barrel 20mm were replaced with six dual-barrel emplacements, bringing the total up to twelve (12) 20mm AA guns.

In the end, 175 Fletchers were produced from 11 shipyards throughout the United States. USS Black (DD-666) was the 138th Fletcher-class destroyer to be produced, named after Lieutenant Commander Hugh D. Black. Commander Black was killed in action as a result of the loss of USS Jacob Jones (DD-130, a Wickes-class destroyer) to a German U-boat off the New Jersey coast in 1942. With the sponsorship of Mrs. Black, Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey built the namesake destroyer and launched her on 28 March 1943.

Service

Following her completion and commissioning in 1943, USS Black headed for Pearl Harbor in preparation for her deployment into the Pacific Theatre. In late 1943, she sailed for Tarawa, where she remained until January 1944. USS Black did not see combat until February 1944, when she participated in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. Throughout 1944, USS Black participated in the battles of Saipan, Guam, and Leyte gulf, providing anti-air cover and assisting in shore bombardments. In late November, she returned to San Francisco for repairs. In February 1945, with her repairs complete, USS Black sailed to the Caroline Islands where she joined Task Force 58. The ship later participated in several coastal operations during the Battle of Okinawa. USS Black remained off the coast of Japan through early 1946 before again returning to the United States. The ship was decommissioned and placed in reserve in August 1946.

Historical Inaccuracies

• Black was constructed with a square bridge. The in-game model uses a round bridge.
• Historical overall Navy Blue paint scheme is missing. This scheme, known as Measure 21, only exists in the game as expendable camouflage.
• Black's hull number was only enlarged after she was recommissioned in 1951.

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  Ship's emblem of USS Black (DD-666).

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  Black underway in an unnamed Pacific harbor, May 1945.

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  Black at sea (date unknown) following her mid-1950s modernization, in which she lost one 5"/38 gun mount and received three 3"/50 twin mounts.

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  Black refueling from USS Eldorado (AGC-11), 14 November 1960.

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  USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling Black and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) in the Gulf of Tonkin, 12 September 1966.

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  Black patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin, as seen from the deck of USS Intrepid (CVA-11), circa 1966 or 1967.

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  Black at sea, circa 1968.