Fletcher Class Destroyer
Ship/ Class
Length
Beam
Disp.
Main Arm.
Speed
#
Date
Fletcher Class DD
376’ 6â€
39’
2,050 t
5x5â€
37.8
175
1941
ID: Plastic destroyer gaming piece: Fletcher class destroyer from the game Axis & Allies Europe 40 & Pacific 40.
The Story of the Fletcher Class: The Fletcher class was seen by many who sailed in them to be the definitive US World War II class of destroyers. The Fletchers were the first of the new “flush-deck†destroyer designs and represented a significant step-up in size and range from the previous Gleaves class. Armed with 5 of the superlative 5â€/38 dual-purpose guns in fully enclosed turrets and fully equipped with a solid array of lighter AA guns and ASW weapons and equipment, the Fletchers were about as capable as any destroyer built. The following Sumner and Gearing classes were slightly larger in size and had improved firepower by switching to twin turrets. Nevertheless this class, the largest ever class of ships with its 175 members, would come to represent more than any other the destroyer-men of the “tin can navy†who so often found themselves at the tip of the US Navy’s trident.
Usage Notes: Use this piece for “Global 1939†and “Invasion of Italy†Variants as a destroyer unit. Other US warships of interest may be: Portland class cruiser, Iowa class battleship, & Wasp class aircraft carrier.