One of the most famous and successful destroyer classes ever
built was the U.S. Navy’s Fletcher class that appeared during
the World War period. A total of 175 sister ships proved to be
the largest number for a destroyer class in the U.S. Navy
inventory during the era. They were completed in two and a half
years, showing a stunning example of wartime mass production.
Development of the Fletcher class vessels began in mid October
1939, when the U.S. Navy General Board stated the initial
characteristics requirements for their new destroyers. The Navy
needed a larger and more versatile, multipurpose destroyers, to
replace the then principle Benson/Livermore tyoe ships, which
were the final development of the pre-war destroyer design
restricted by the London Treaty.