Proposed 1980 Update of FRAM Gearing class Destroyers

[Christopher Wang]

From 1979 to 1980, the United States Navy proposed updating their remaining obsolete FRAM Gearing class destroyers in the Naval Reserve Force as escorts to protect trans-Atlantic convoys against Soviet submarines. Some of the proposed modernization included replacing the WWII-era 5"/38 twin-gun turrets with one or two Mark 45 5"/54 single-gun turrets, installing the Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Phalanx CIWS, and updating the radar, warning receivers, gun fire control system, and sonar. The US Government Accountability Office conducted a study on the proposal and concluded that while it was technically feasible to upgrade the reserve FRAM destroyers, it was not financially practical to retain and modernize them. Ultimately, the modernization proposal was dropped and the last of the FRAM Gearing class destroyers, USS William C. Lawe, would be decommissioned and struck from the US Navy on October 1, 1983.




REFERENCES:

JWH1975. (2023, September 30). Proposed 1980 update of WWII destroyers. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2023/09/30/proposed-1980-update-of-wwii-destroyers/

United States General Accounting Office. (1980, July 3). Report by the comptroller general of the United States: Retention of FRAM destroyers may be impractical. (LCD-80-76). Retrieved from https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1118946.pdf

 

[southwestforests]

A bit of a tangent, I have a soft spot for the Gearing FRAMs because of getting to spend a week on Dad's while I was in 5th or 6th grade.
They got the job done.
I don't know how much more could be added to their available displacement by that time in the 1970s without removing some things to compensate.
And the 1995 book I bought about them is currently out of town at Mom & Dad's house.
So, am unable to check to see if it mentions displacement use and margins.
The one Dad was XO of was already lugging around enough stuff for it to have 2 sonar domes.

 

[isayyo2]

Hi @Christopher Wang
Read Post #7 - 31 on this thread for insight into further planned FRAM refits:

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-missile-launcher-designations.42065/#post-621267

 

[that_person]

Very nice find. Curious about the weight difference between a Mk45 and double 5”/38

 

[TomS]

Very nice find. Curious about the weight difference between a Mk45 and double 5”/38

The Mk 38 twin on the Gearings weighed around 96,000 lbs, the Mk 45 around 54,000 lbs (with hoist). So lots of weight savings to be had. Especially with a reduction in mount numbers.

 

[Christopher Wang]

Very nice find. Curious about the weight difference between a Mk45 and double 5”/38

The Mk 38 twin on the Gearings weighed around 96,000 lbs, the Mk 45 around 54,000 lbs (with hoist). So lots of weight savings to be had. Especially with a reduction in mount numbers.

According to Gardiner and Chumbley (1995), a similar proposed modernization program was envisioned in the late 1960s for the Italian Navy's two Impetuoso class destroyers in which the ships' existing two Mark 38 5"/38 twin-gun turrets would be replaced with a Mark 45 5"/54 single-gun turret forward and a RIM-24 Tartar SAM launcher in the aft (p. 206).

SOURCE: Gardiner, R., & Chumbley, S. (Eds.). (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.

 

[Grey Havoc]

proposed 1980 update of WWII destroyers

I debated on this topic as perhaps it is too bland for general reading, but perhaps readers will be interested not only in WWII military technology but how decisions about it was made in later deca…

wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com

 

[Archibald]

I like that blog really ! Shared it with the France Fights On forum, the guys are hysterical LMAO. Seriously: it's a tresure trove.

Last B-24 in service: 1969, India. WDF ??!!!