Benham-class destroyer

<h2 id="design">Design</h2>
The ten Benhams were part of a series of three classes with similar characteristics laid down 1935-1937. The other two were the Gridley class (4 ships) and the Bagley class (8 ships). All three featured four 5-inch (127 mm) dual purpose guns (anti-surface and anti-aircraft) and sixteen 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in four quadruple mounts as built, the largest number of torpedo tubes on any US destroyers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> Although all had only one stack, they differed primarily in their machinery. The Benhams were a <a href="/facts/Gibbs_%2526_Cox/2tXtyKF0">Gibbs & Cox</a> design with a new high-pressure boiler design that allowed a reduction from four boilers to three, with an efficient turbine arrangement resembling the <a href="/facts/Mahan-class_destroyer/lpR7fz92">Mahans</a>'. The Bagleys were a Navy design that duplicated the machinery of the preceding long-range Mahan class; this led to their prominent boiler uptakes around the single stack that were their main recognition feature. The Gridleys were designed by <a href="/facts/Bethlehem_Shipbuilding_Company/zWjYtSY3">Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company</a> with advanced high-pressure boilers (also built by Bethlehem) but turbines generally similar to the earlier <a href="/facts/Farragut-class_destroyer_(1934)/KSpX12dL">Farragut class</a>, which limited their range.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>

<h3>Engineering</h3>
Except for the 1850-ton <a href="/facts/Somers-class_destroyer/KbvBUw6o">Somers class</a>, the Benhams' propulsion plant was the most advanced yet installed in US destroyers. A new <a href="/facts/Babcock_%2526_Wilcox_boiler/AXewR098">Babcock & Wilcox boiler</a> design was used that allowed a reduction from four boilers to three, saving considerable space and weight. Steam pressure was increased from 400 psi (2,800 kPa) to 600 psi (4,100 kPa) (one reference says 565 psi), <a href="/facts/Superheated_steam/0ln3u8sy">superheated</a> to 700 °F (371 °C) as in the Gridleys.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> Features that improved fuel economy included boiler <a href="/facts/Economizer/snQPwxGp">economizers</a>, double reduction <a href="/facts/Gear/9KVHRfUR">gearing</a>, and cruising turbines. Range was somewhat less than in the Bagleys at 5,390 <a href="/facts/Nautical_mile/V4yJzvKw">nmi</a> (9,980 km; 6,200 mi) versus 6,940 nmi (12,850 km; 7,990 mi), possibly due to a smaller fuel capacity of 484 tons versus 504 tons. The main turbines developed 49,250 <a href="/facts/Horsepower/jRMwmIxA">shp</a> (36,730 kW) on Benham's trials and were manufactured by <a href="/facts/Westinghouse_Electric_(1886)/Nln2BzI3">Westinghouse</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<h3>Armament</h3>
The Benhams had the same armament as the Gridleys and Bagleys: four <a href="/facts/5-inch%2f38-caliber_gun/wPFbnX4p">5-inch/38 caliber dual purpose guns</a> (anti-surface and <a href="/facts/Anti-aircraft/fHtGQpLy">anti-aircraft</a> (AA)) in single mounts and sixteen <a href="/facts/American_21-inch_torpedo/QuJy0I3t">21-inch (533 mm)</a> torpedo tubes in quadruple mounts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> The <a href="/facts/Mark_15_torpedo/1jA2YglW">Mark 15 torpedo</a> was equipped.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> This was the heaviest armament in <a href="/facts/Torpedo/RLLPpktk">torpedoes</a> ever on US destroyers. Compared with the Mahans, they sacrificed one gun for four additional torpedo tubes. It was suggested that these ships could use "curved ahead fire", using the adjustable post-launch gyro angle of their torpedoes to launch a sixteen-torpedo spread ahead of the ship.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> One reason for the heavy destroyer torpedo armament was that, alone among the major navies, the last nine of the seventeen US <a href="/facts/Treaty_cruiser/b3v3YdQH">Treaty cruisers</a> built in the 1920s and 1930s lacked torpedoes; eventually all of the US Treaty cruisers' torpedoes were removed in 1941 in favor of additional heavy AA guns.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a>
As with most other US destroyers of this period, the 5-inch guns featured all-angle power loading and were <a href="/facts/Director_(military)/WB8M6K03">director controlled</a>, making them as effective as the technology allowed against aircraft. By late 1942, radio <a href="/facts/Proximity_fuse/hoHLIJxR">proximity fuses</a> (VT fuses) made them much more effective. As in the last two Maurys, the two forward 5-inch guns were in <a href="/facts/Gunhouse/Rn5mhFdW">enclosed mounts</a>, while the after guns were open. However, in the Benhams, the after two mounts were a Mark 30 Mod 1 base-ring type with an integral ammunition hoist fed from a handling room below each gun, as in an enclosed mount.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a> This allowed some of the class to be fitted with an enclosure for No. 4 gun and an open-top shield for No. 3 gun while on <a href="/facts/Neutrality_Patrol/pSeaMHbw">Neutrality Patrol</a> in the Atlantic in 1941; but the shields were removed later to save weight for light anti-aircraft armament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a> In common with all US surface combatants in the 1930s, the as-built light AA armament was weak; only four <a href="/facts/M2_Browning/mwbqBGBQ">.50 caliber machine guns</a> (12.7 mm) were equipped. It was apparently felt that the heavy AA armament would shoot down most incoming aircraft in all situations, but the <a href="/facts/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor/CLBkUVjC">attack on Pearl Harbor</a> showed that this was not true.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>
While on Neutrality Patrol, some of the class landed their after torpedo tube mounts and .50-caliber machine guns so that their <a href="/facts/Depth_charge/bLMx1yF9">Depth charge</a> and light AA batteries could be increased; photographs show six <a href="/facts/Oerlikon_20_mm_cannon/UL9r7E0U">Oerlikon 20 mm cannon</a> were added along with four <a href="/facts/K-gun/bLMx1yF9">K-gun</a> depth charge throwers and, reportedly, a <a href="/facts/Y-gun/bLMx1yF9">Y-gun</a> on some ships.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a> These ships later received two twin <a href="/facts/Bofors_40_mm_Automatic_Gun_L%2f60/zmDs1A9M">40 mm Bofors</a> mounts on their after deckhouses before being transferred to the Pacific. In 1945, Lang, Sterett, and Wilson also landed their remaining torpedo tubes and after 5-inch gun shields in favor of a total of four 40 mm twin mounts and four 20 mm twin mounts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a>

<h2 id="service">Service</h2>
This class, except Benham and Ellet, served on Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic and escort duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean as Destroyer Squadron 8 (with <a href="/facts/USS_Wainwright_(DD-419)/53bfxmNS">Wainwright</a> as <a href="/facts/Flagship/bkQIgekS">flagship</a>) from April 1940 to December 1941. Benham and Ellet were at sea in the <a href="/facts/Pacific_War/yNu6op98">Pacific</a> on <a href="/facts/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor/CLBkUVjC">7 December 1941</a> with <a href="/facts/USS_Dunlap/MB2zBAp1">Dunlap</a> and <a href="/facts/USS_Fanning_(DD-385)/M40d0kRg">Fanning</a> of the Mahan class as Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 12 (part of Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 6, with <a href="/facts/USS_Balch_(DD-363)/pLVRq8Ux">Balch</a> as flagship). Later, this four-ship division escorted the <a href="/facts/Aircraft_carrier/90vrSN0V">aircraft carrier</a> <a href="/facts/USS_Enterprise_(CV-6)/bya59ceo">Enterprise</a> during the <a href="/facts/Doolittle_Raid/f4BFwLoT">Doolittle Raid</a> on <a href="/facts/Empire_of_Japan/gMpNKg2W">Japan</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a>
In June 1942, while DesDiv 15 (Lang, Stack, Sterett and Wilson) escorted the aircraft carrier <a href="/facts/USS_Wasp_(CV-7)/dyxFkeLl">Wasp</a> to the Pacific, DesDiv 16 (Mayrant, Trippe, Rhind, and Rowan) remained in the Atlantic, supporting the <a href="/facts/Operation_Torch/7jNrT1Sd">Operation Torch</a> landings in North Africa in December 1942. In 1943 they served off <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a>, where Mayrant was badly damaged by a <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">German</a> air attack off <a href="/facts/Palermo/gCwkjXFg">Palermo</a> and Rowan sunk by an <a href="/facts/E-boat/8hn8SaKM">E-boat</a> (<a href="/facts/Torpedo_boat/lPtPPLD2">torpedo boat</a>) attack off <a href="/facts/Salerno/zqTIXxJk">Salerno</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a>
Meanwhile, the six Pacific destroyers operated in the <a href="/facts/Solomon_Islands/tcyQWq3Q">Solomon Islands</a> (where Ellet was ordered to sink the <a href="/facts/Royal_Australian_Navy/AkYhdo4B">Australian</a> <a href="/facts/Heavy_cruiser/b3v3YdQH">heavy cruiser</a> <a href="/facts/HMAS_Canberra_(D33)/Fc3KDA2x">Canberra</a> after the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Savo_Island/gK3vhYbT">Battle of Savo Island</a>), and were on hand for the <a href="/facts/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal/M6tGcrfI">Naval Battle of Guadalcanal</a>, 13–15 November 1942, in which Sterett was badly damaged and Benham sunk. Lang, Sterett, and Stack formed division "A-2" at the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Vella_Gulf/RwxgDKAv">Battle of Vella Gulf</a> in 1943 and, thereafter, all five remaining ships accompanied the advance through the <a href="/facts/Marshall_Islands/rRV4U7oD">Marshalls</a> and <a href="/facts/Marianas_campaign/vjMrdMp6">Marianas</a>. Reassigned as DesDiv 4 of DesRon 2, the former DesDiv 15 ships were at <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf/xpCyVT54">Leyte</a> and later <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Okinawa/r8CXlMc9">Okinawa</a>; Ellet was at <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima/Y7XzdshL">Iwo Jima</a>. In April 1945, Sterett and Wilson were both damaged in <a href="/facts/Kamikaze/4sEW1GcF">kamikaze</a> attacks while on <a href="/facts/Radar_picket/yv5e5KUf">radar picket</a> duty; Wilson remained in service while Sterett returned to service as the war ended. Sterett, Ellet, and Lang were scrapped in 1947. The others, contaminated as targets in the <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> <a href="/facts/Nuclear_weapon_test/s2srGDFP">atomic bomb tests</a>, were decommissioned and scuttled in deep water off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a> in 1948.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a>
<a href="/facts/USS_Sterett_(DD-407)/G25eLwoS">Sterett</a> earned 12 <a href="/facts/Battle_star/kAksj8Mg">battle stars</a>, the United States <a href="/facts/Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)/LVXET2nq">Presidential Unit Citation</a> for the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Guadalcanal/IHYalWdG">Battle of Guadalcanal</a> and the <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Vella_Gulf/RwxgDKAv">Battle of Vella Gulf</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a> and the <a href="/facts/Philippine_Republic_Presidential_Unit_Citation/A15RXEam">Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation</a> for her World War II service.

<h2 id="ships-in-class">Ships in class</h2>
Ships of the Benham destroyer class<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a><table><tbody><tr><th scope="col">Name</th><th scope="col">Hull no.</th><th scope="col">Builder</th><th scope="col">Laid down</th><th scope="col">Launched</th><th scope="col">Commissioned</th><th scope="col">Decommissioned</th><th scope="col">Fate</th></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Benham_(DD-397)/xa3hsprD">Benham</a></th><th scope="row">DD-397</th><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/Federal_Shipbuilding_and_Drydock_Company/F9pb59qp">Federal Shipbuilding</a></td><td>1 September 1936</td><td>16 April 1938</td><td>2 February 1939</td><td>—</td><td>Torpedoed by Japanese at <a href="/facts/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal/M6tGcrfI">Naval Battle of Guadalcanal</a> 15 November 1942, scuttled by <a href="/facts/USS_Gwin_(DD-433)/bywhhsuP">Gwin</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Ellet/wQC34bcU">Ellet</a></th><th scope="row">DD-398</th><td>3 December 1936</td><td>11 June 1938</td><td>17 February 1939</td><td>29 October 1945</td><td>Sold for scrap 1 August 1947</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Lang_(DD-399)/qHYX70hG">Lang</a></th><th scope="row">DD-399</th><td>5 April 1937</td><td>28 August 1938</td><td>30 March 1939</td><td>16 October 1945</td><td>Sold for scrap 31 October 1947</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Mayrant_(DD-402)/vq0s1lb7">Mayrant</a></th><th scope="row">DD-402</th><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Boston_Navy_Yard/M3GYKqeR">Boston Navy Yard</a></td><td rowspan="2">15 April 1937</td><td rowspan="2">14 May 1938</td><td>13 September 1939</td><td>28 August 1946</td><td>Damaged during <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> atomic tests at <a href="/facts/Bikini_Atoll/NrrgM5pd">Bikini Atoll</a>, July 1946. Scuttled off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a>, 4 April 1948</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Trippe_(DD-403)/zLRSBSHq">Trippe</a></th><th scope="row">DD-403</th><td>1 November 1939</td><td>28 August 1946</td><td>Damaged during <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> atomic tests at <a href="/facts/Bikini_Atoll/NrrgM5pd">Bikini Atoll</a>, July 1946. Scuttled off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a>, 3 February 1948</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Rhind/l1QbUwz7">Rhind</a></th><th scope="row">DD-404</th><td><a href="/facts/Philadelphia_Naval_Shipyard/PrGyx5mr">Philadelphia Naval Shipyard</a></td><td>22 September 1937</td><td>28 July 1938</td><td>10 November 1939</td><td>26 August 1946</td><td>Damaged during <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> atomic tests at <a href="/facts/Bikini_Atoll/NrrgM5pd">Bikini Atoll</a>, July 1946. Scuttled off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a>, 22 March 1948</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Rowan_(DD-405)/x50BbTqd">Rowan</a></th><th scope="row">DD-405</th><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Norfolk_Navy_Yard/zxg87WG5">Norfolk Navy Yard</a></td><td rowspan="2">25 June 1937</td><td rowspan="2">5 May 1938</td><td>23 September 1939</td><td>—</td><td>Torpedoed by <a href="/facts/Kriegsmarine/uaRl8jgc">German</a> <a href="/facts/E-boat/8hn8SaKM">E-boats</a> while on convoy duty between <a href="/facts/Salerno/zqTIXxJk">Salerno</a> and <a href="/facts/Oran/TQaLn6EQ">Oran</a> 11 September 1943</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Stack/x34k0jSG">Stack</a></th><th scope="row">DD-406</th><td>20 November 1939</td><td>29 August 1946</td><td>Damaged during <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> atomic tests at <a href="/facts/Bikini_Atoll/NrrgM5pd">Bikini Atoll</a>, July 1946. Sunk as target off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a>, 24 April 1948</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Sterett_(DD-407)/G25eLwoS">Sterett</a></th><th scope="row">DD-407</th><td><a href="/facts/Charleston_Navy_Yard/ccd3lj3s">Charleston Navy Yard</a></td><td>2 December 1936</td><td>27 October 1938</td><td>15 August 1939</td><td>2 November 1945</td><td>Sold for scrap 10 August 1947</td></tr><tr><th scope="row"><a href="/facts/USS_Wilson/nm3fIn9J">Wilson</a></th><th scope="row">DD-408</th><td><a href="/facts/Puget_Sound_Navy_Yard/upSCBgfg">Puget Sound Navy Yard</a></td><td>22 March 1937</td><td>12 April 1939</td><td>5 July 1939</td><td>29 August 1946</td><td>Damaged during <a href="/facts/Operation_Crossroads/tGWLh14I">Operation Crossroads</a> atomic tests at <a href="/facts/Bikini_Atoll/NrrgM5pd">Bikini Atoll</a>, July 1946. Scuttled off <a href="/facts/Kwajalein/3tJ4WG6T">Kwajalein</a>, 8 March 1948</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benham class destroyers.

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Gridley-class_destroyer/EtJjvoW4">Gridley-class destroyer</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Bagley-class_destroyer/jywgruAE">Bagley-class destroyer</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_destroyer_classes_of_the_United_States_Navy/gr3uHMXB">List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Navy_losses_in_World_War_II/NQK4mBwE">List of United States Navy losses in World War II</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_ship_classes_of_World_War_II/oGNNSUB8">List of ship classes of World War II</a></li></ul>

<h3>Citations</h3>

<h3>Sources</h3>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/K._Jack_Bauer/nuqHwkRe">Bauer, K. Jack</a>; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants. <a href="/facts/Westport%2c_Connecticut/aE6DqyyW">Westport, Connecticut</a>: Greenwood Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-313-26202-0.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Norman_Friedman/xXIfSk4w">Friedman, Norman</a> (2004). US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised ed.). Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 1-55750-442-3.</li>
<li>Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-83170-303-2.</li>
<li>Silverstone, Paul H. (1965). U.S. Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Ltd.</li>
<li> This article incorporates text from the <a href="/facts/Public_domain/YWKMDKw4">public domain</a> <a href="/facts/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships/1eWoFXWn">Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships</a>.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110707024640/http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/">Benham-class destroyers</a> at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/">Destroyer History Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051223153319/http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/classbenham.html">Benham class at DestroyersOnline.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benham.htm">Tin Can Sailors @ Destroyers.org - Benham class destroyer</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184341/http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benham.htm">Archived</a> 9 July 2021 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110707024820/http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/">"Goldplater" destroyers</a> at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/">Destroyer History Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150626115151/http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/">Comparison of 1500-ton classes</a> at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/">Destroyer History Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/generalinformationbooks/397benham_GIBook.pdf">USS Benham, USS Ellet, and USS Lang General Information Book with as-built data</a> at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/">Destroyer History Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/397.htm">Photo gallery of USS Benham at NavSource.org</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.navsource.org/archives/05idx.htm">NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Comparison of 1500-ton classes Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">USS Sterett Presidential Unit Citation at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/usssterett_puc/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/usssterett_puc/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Comparison of 1500-ton classes Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Bauer and Roberts, p. 187 <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Comparison of 1500-ton classes Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/1500ton/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">USS Benham, USS Ellet, and USS Lang General Information Book with as-built data at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/generalinformationbooks/397benham_GIBook.pdf" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/generalinformationbooks/397benham_GIBook.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Friedman, p. 469 <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Friedman, pp. 465-469 <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">"Torpedo History: Torpedo Mk 15". Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121109202125/http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121109202125/http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/keyport/html/part2.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Gardiner and Chesneau, pp. 112-116 <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Friedman, pp. 90-91 <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Bauer and Roberts, p. 187 <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">DiGiulian, Tony, 5"/38 Mark 12 gun at NavWeaps.com Archived 5 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-38_mk12.htm" target="_blank">http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-38_mk12.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">Photo gallery of USS Sterett (DD-407) at NavSource.org <a href="http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/407.htm" target="_blank">http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/407.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Friedman, pp. 203-204 <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Friedman, p. 194 <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">USS Mayrant (DD-402) photo gallery at NavSource.org <a href="http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/402.htm" target="_blank">http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/402.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Friedman, pp. 218-219 <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">Behham-class destroyers Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/benhamclass/</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">USS Sterett Presidential Unit Citation at Destroyer History Foundation Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/usssterett_puc/" target="_blank">http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/usssterett_puc/</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:31">Bauer and Roberts, p. 187 <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:32">Lenton, H. T. American Fleet and Escort Destroyers (New York: Doubleday, 1973), Volume 1, p.62. <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Benham-class destroyer open-in-new

Benham-class destroyer