Through Waters Deep – Destroyer Tour: Topside
For over one hundred years, destroyers have served as versatile naval workhorses. In World War II, US destroyers escorted convoys, hunted submarines, fought surface battles, bombarded shore positions, rescued downed airmen and stranded sailors, and served as radar pickets to detect and fight incoming kamikaze flights.
In my new novel Through Waters Deep, Ens. Jim Avery serves on a fictional Gleaves-class destroyer, the USS Atwood
While researching the Waves of Freedom series, I visited two World War II destroyers, the Fletcher-class USS Cassin Young at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston and the Gearing-class USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA. This week I’ll share photos from my tours:
Part 1—Topside: the various destroyer classes, and a bow-to-stern tour of the main deck.
Part 2—Below Decks: living quarters and working stations.
WWII Destroyer Classes
When the United States entered World War II, many of the old WWI-era destroyers were still in use, dubbed “four-pipers” for their four stacks or funnels. In the 1920s, isolationism and treaty restrictions severely inhibited shipbuilding, but in the 1930s, eleven classes of destroyers were built, about a dozen a year. Each class improved on the one before, culminating with the latest pre-war classes, the Benson and Gleaves (see USS Lansdale below).
Gleaves-class destroyer USS Lansdale, Boston Harbor, 14 October 1940 (US Navy photo)
As war broke out in Europe in 1939, the United States accelerated shipbuilding and design. The first Fletcher-class destroyers were laid down in 1941 and commissioned in April 1942 (see USS Cassin Young below). The Fletchers were larger and could carry more armament and radar equipment, and 175 were built during the war. Crews loved their capability and ruggedness.
Fletcher-class destroyer USS Cassin Young in the Pacific, 1944 (US Navy photo)
Further improvements were made in the late-war classes, the Allen M. Sumner and the Gearing (see USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. below). The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. is currently outfitted as in the Vietnam War.
Gearing-class destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Here’s a cutaway diagram of a Fletcher-class destroyer, but without the radars.
Technical drawing of a US Fletcher-class destroyer, published in All Hands magazine, 1954; note that the radars are missing (US Navy)
Bow to Stern
Let’s scan the USS Cassin Young from bow to stern. At the bow, we can see the anchor and the union jack (the flag with white stars on a blue background).
Bow of the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Next we see the forward 5-inch guns in front of the bridge.
Forward guns and bridge, USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The bridge superstructure contains the pilothouse and the captain’s emergency cabin, with the signal deck on top of the pilothouse, then the fire director, and several types of radar antennae on the mast.
Bridge superstructure, USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Aft of the bridge are the two funnels or stacks leading from the dual boiler (fire) rooms below, and the torpedo tubes (on the Gleaves-class destroyers, the torpedo tubes sat between the stacks).
Funnels (stacks) of the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Quarterdeck, torpedo tubes, aft guns, USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Past the quarterdeck sit the three aft 5-inch guns (there were usually only two on the prewar destroyers), antiaircraft guns, and depth-charge racks on the stern.
Aft guns and stern, USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Topside Tour
Come aboard! Pictures are taken on both the Cassin Young and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Up at the bow, we can see the anchor chains and the 5-inch guns more closely.
Anchor chains on the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Forward 5-inch gun on the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston – and Sarah Sundin. July 2014
Throughout the ship, you’ll see lines neatly coiled and hatches with ladders leading below decks.
Hatches (closed and open) on the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. July 2014 (Photos: Sarah Sundin)
Line on the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. July 2014 (Photos: Sarah Sundin)
Alongside the bridge superstructure we can see the whaleboat, ready to rescue stranded sailors or airmen, or to take men to shore for liberty.
Whaleboat hanging on its davits, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Toward the stern we can see the torpedo tubes (and my humidity-exhausted son). The Cassin Young carried ten torpedoes in this mount, while the earlier classes usually had a quintuple mount.
Torpedo tubes (and my son!) on USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
At the stern lie two depth charge racks, where explosives were rolled down to submarines below. Here we see the later model “teardrop” depth charge, while earlier in the war “ash can”-shaped depth charges were used.
Depth charge rack on USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Depth charge rack on USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
And at the stern, the ensign (US flag) flies proudly.
The ensign (flag) flying at the stern of the USS Cassin Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, July 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Next, go below decks to see how sailors lived and worked!
Sources:
McComb, Dave. US Destroyers 1934-45: Pre-War Classes. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2010.
McComb, Dave. US Destroyers 1942-45: Wartime Classes. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2010.
Wiper, Steve. Warship Pictorial: USS Buchanan DD-484. Tucson, AZ: Classic Warships Publishing, 2009.
Harmon, J. Scott. U.S.S. Cassin Young (DD-793): A Fletcher Class Destroyer. Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1984.
Friedman, Norman. U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1982.
Boston National Historical Park: USS Cassin Young. http://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/usscassinyoung.htm
Destroyer History Foundation website. http://www.destroyerhistory.org
Tin Can Sailors Website. http://www.destroyers.org/index.html
So cool! I really love getting to see the pictures. I’m sure I’ve said it a hundred times, but it really does add to the book!
Thanks, Raechel! Personally, I’ve never outgrown picture books 🙂
Really neat pictures! I live seeing how much research you put into making the book authentic for your readers. I appreciate it!
Thanks, Kelly! It really helps me visualize it.
So interesting!! 🙂
Thanks, Veronica!
I’ve toured a battleship and a submarine before. They’re really cool! So glad you took the time to do research. It makes your books so much more realistic! Thanks for sharing your pictures!
Thanks, Cari! I love touring ships!
very interesting pictures, they make me want to read the book even more.
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you enjoy the story!
This was a very interesting post. Thanks for sharing some of the information you learned about the different classes of destroyers. Through Waters Deep is next up on my TBR pile. I’m really looking forward to it. The apron is adorable.
Thank you, Debora! I hope you like the book!
I’m about 50 pages into it and hooked already. I wish I had more time to read these days. But since I have more energy since finishing treatment I’m getting into going to the gym which is a very good thing.
I come from a Military family so anytime I can read and see pictures about our Military I love it! It reinforces my love for your books to see your “research” and know you try to be as accurate as you can be. With the Military Forces being decreased by the Pentagon because of budget concerns, it gives pause to think what could happen again. Thanks for sharing your pictures and keep up the good work! I have read all of your books except the new one. Can’t wait to read “Through Waters Deep”.
Thanks, Debrah! Reading and writing about this era has definitely increased my appreciation for what our military does today!
Love the history!
Thanks, Natalie!
Beautiful apron. Would love to win..
Thanks, Bonnie!
Once again I am greatful to you for taking your readers on a tour with you! I really learned so much on this Destroyer Tour, Sarah. Thanks for sharing your pics & commentary.
Thanks, Sharon! I’m glad you enjoyed the tour!
Completely by chance, the book I read to review right after Through Waters Deep happened to be about the Navy as well. I actually knew/recognized a lot of the terminology thanks to your book!
That’s convenient 🙂
Thanks for all your research, so interesting. Looking forward to reading. The photos are great.
Thanks, Judy!
What wonderful pictures! It reminds me of when my family visited the Battleship New Jersey last year.
How fun! I’ve seen the USS Massachusetts and the USS Iowa recently. Gigantic! And those huge guns!
Thank you for all that information, Sarah. I was curious why they are called 5-inch guns?
The bore of the gun is 5 inches wide. I wondered the same thing when I first started my military research 🙂
neat photos Sarah!!
Thanks, Shelia!
How cool to visit!
Thanks, Tami!
I enjoy hearing about WWII era events, and particularly the women’s role. Your stories bring the facts to life.
Thanks, Cyd! I’m glad you enjoy the stories!
That was so cool! I don’t know why I thought the entrance to the guns was below deck!
Depends on the gun and the type of ship. For some of the guns, the handling room (where they passed shells and powder cases up to the guns) was below decks.
Next Spring, I will be visiting MA with my bff and fellow Sarah Sundin-loving bookworm. During our spring break together (teachers love spring break, too!!) we always try to visit something related to books we have read. Methinks a visit to the USS JP Kennedy would be right up our alley! Thank you for all of your lovely books, Sarah.
How fun! Fall River isn’t too far south of Boston. Battleship Cove has 3 great ships to tour – the battleship USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., and the sub USS Lionfish. Plus you can look inside a PT boat. Very nice place.
If you’re just in Boston itself, the Charlestown Navy Yard has the USS Cassin Young plus “Old Ironsides,” the USS Constitution.
Love the photos! I’ve always enjoyed touring boats.
Thanks, Laurie! I think visiting ships is fascinating.
[…] Part 1—Topside: the various destroyer classes, and a bow-to-stern tour of the main deck. […]
What a cute apron! I’d love to win! It would work perfectly as I’m making that Boston Cream Pie!
It would! And it’s machine-washable 🙂
Such a cute apron! I love it! Thanks for the cool pictures too!
Thanks, Morgan!
Very interesting
Simply incredible! Love it!
spectacular pictures. Thanks for sharing
Very interesting! It must have been really exciting to tour the ship! Loved reading and seeing the pictures. I really enjoy reading about WWII happenings, items, etc. so this really appealed to me!
I am so impressed with all of your research with your new book. Touring these ships and Boston can make everything seem more real instead of just thinking of it as a good fictional book. Thank you.
Very interesting enjoyed this very much
[…] Part 1—Topside: the various destroyer classes, and a bow-to-stern tour of the main deck. […]
Thank you so very much for picking me as the winner of the apron I am thrilled to pieces!