{{Short description|U.S. Navy ship class (built 1939–1943)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=USS Meade (DD-602) off New York City on 20 June 1942 (19-N-30842).jpg |image_caption=USS ''Meade'' on 20 June 1942 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name=''Benson'' class |builders=* Bethlehem **Fore River, MA (8) **Staten Island, NY (5) **San Pedro, CA (4) **San Francisco, CA (9) *Boston Navy Yard, MA (2) *Charleston Navy Yard, SC (1) *Puget Sound Navy Yard, WA (1) |operators=*{{navy|United States|1912}} *{{navy|Italy|1947}} *{{naval|Taiwan}} |class_before={{sclass|Sims|destroyer|4}} |class_after={{sclass|Gleaves|destroyer|4}} |subclasses=*''Bristol'' class<ref name=History>[http://www.destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/bensonclass.html ''Benson'' class at DestroyerHistory.org]</ref> *''Artigliere'' class |built_range=1938–43 |in_commission_range=1940–51 |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=30 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost=4 (1 returned to service) |total_ships_retired=27 |total_ships_preserved= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Destroyer | displacement =*1620 tons standard, *2474 tons full load | length =*{{convert|341|ft|abbr=on|1}} waterline, *{{convert|348|ft|2|in|abbr=on}} overall | beam = {{convert|36|ft|1|in|abbr=on}} | draft =* {{convert|11|ft|9|in|abbr=on}} (normal), * {{convert|17|ft|9|in|abbr=on}} (full load) | power =*4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 Bethlehem Steel geared steam turbines; *{{convert|50000|shp|kW|abbr=on}} | propulsion =2 shafts | speed =*{{convert|37.5|kn|km/h|1}} *{{convert|33|kn|km/h|1}} full load | range ={{convert|6500|nmi}} at {{convert|12|kn|abbr=on}} | complement = 208 (276 wartime) | sensors = *Mk37 GFCS *1 × SC radar | EW = | armament =*'''As designed:''' * 5 × 5 in (127 mm) DP guns, * 6 × 0.50 in. (12.7 mm) guns, * 10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2 × 5), 10 torpedoes * 2 × depth charge tracks *'''DD-459 onward:''' * 4 × 5 in (127 mm) DP guns, * 4 × 40 mm Bofors guns (2 × 2), * 7 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, * 5 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (1 × 5), * 4–6 × K-gun depth charge throwers, * 2 × depth charge tracks | notes = *Ship data sources: *Destroyers.org,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benson.htm |title=''Benson'' Class at Destroyers.org |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-date=16 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116041221/http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benson.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Friedman, pp. 95–104, 470–471<ref name=Friedman1>Friedman, pp. 95–109, 470–471</ref> }} }}
The '''''Benson'' class''' was a class of destroyers of the U.S. Navy built 1939–1943. The thirty 1,620-ton ''Benson''-class destroyers were built in two groups. The first six were authorized in fiscal year 1938 (FY38) and laid down at Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts, and three naval shipyards.<ref name=History/> The remaining 24 "repeat ''Benson''s" were authorized in 1940–42 and built at four Bethlehem Steel yards. They were laid down after the first group was commissioned. These plus the "repeat ''Livermore''s" (also known as "repeat ''Gleaves''es") were also known at the time as the ''Bristol'' class. During World War II the ''Benson''s were usually combined with the ''Livermore''s (more correctly the ''Gleaves'' class) as the ''Benson''-''Livermore'' class; this persisted in references until at least the 1960s. In some references both classes are combined and called the ''Benson'' class. The ''Benson''- and ''Gleaves''-class destroyers were the backbone of the pre-war Neutrality Patrols and participated in every major campaign of the war.
==Namesake== The lead ship of the class was named after William Shepherd Benson, a graduate of the Naval Academy in 1877. He commanded {{USS|Albany|CL-23|6}}, {{USS|Missouri|BB-11|6}}, {{USS|Utah|BB-31|6}}, and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Benson was appointed first Chief of Naval Operations in 1915 and then served as CNO until he retired 25 September 1919. He died in Washington, D.C., 20 May 1932.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027011631/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/1041/benson.html USS ''Benson'' history website]</ref>
==Related classes== The ''Benson''s were originally envisioned as a single class of 24 ships, the first eight of which were ordered in fiscal year 1938 (FY38). Six of these were designed by Bethlehem Shipbuilding, to be built at Bethlehem's ''Fore River'' and at several government yards (as mandated by Congress), and two were designed by Gibbs & Cox, to be built at Bath Iron Works. All were to have {{convert|600|psi|abbr=on}} steam (references vary) superheated to {{convert|750|°F|abbr=on}}, with cruising turbines and double-reduction gearing to maximize fuel efficiency.<ref name=Friedman1/> After contract award, Bethlehem requested that their design be modified to use less-complex single-reduction gears and no cruising turbines. Bethlehem claimed they could achieve comparable fuel efficiency with the simpler machinery. This request was granted, but FY39 and FY40 ships, beginning with {{USS|Livermore|DD-429|2}}, would use the more complex machinery.<ref name=Register1>Bauer and Roberts, pp. 188–191</ref> So the class was known through World War II as the ''Benson''-''Livermore'' class, and this name persisted in many references until at least the 1960s.{{sfn|Silverstone|1965|pp=126–135}} In the spring of 1938 the Navy's Bureau of Steam Engineering requested that the FY39 and FY40 ships be modified for {{convert|850|°F|abbr=on}} superheat.<ref name=Friedman1/> It proved possible for Bath to build their two FY38 ships, ''Gleaves'' and ''Niblack'', to the new design. ''Gleaves'' was completed prior to ''Livermore'' and had a lower hull number, thus the class name is more correctly the ''Benson''-''Gleaves'' class.<ref name=Register1/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080118153104/http://www.destroyers.org/DD-Histories/DD-Classes/Intro-DD423.htm Archived notes on ''Gleaves'' class at Destroyers.org]</ref>
The only external difference between the ''Benson'' and ''Gleaves'' classes was the shape of the stacks; the ''Benson''s' were flat-sided and the ''Gleaves''es' were round.
After the Fall of France in 1940, and before the outcome of the looming Battle of Britain was certain, a rapid expansion of the Navy was envisioned. As not all facilities were equipped to produce the new {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer|1}}s or because of other concerns, an additional 72 "repeat" ''Benson''- and ''Gleaves''-class ships were ordered in FY41.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/shipbuilding-contracts/index-to-vol-23.html|title=US Navy Shipbuilding Contracts in the Navy Department Library, Index to Volume 23 (July to December 1940)}} (does not include government yards)</ref><ref>4 more Gleaves from Federal Shipbuilding in 01/1941 contract No. 1732</ref> 24 repeat ''Benson''s were built by several Bethlehem yards, while an additional 48 repeat ''Gleaves''es were built by various other builders.<ref name=Register1/> These were initially called the ''Bristol'' class after {{USS|Bristol|DD-453|2}}, a repeat ''Gleaves'' and the first of these to be completed, although the machinery of the repeat ''Benson''s was different from the repeat ''Gleaves''es. The repeat ships were ordered with reduced torpedo and gun armament and increased anti-submarine and light anti-aircraft armament.<ref name=Conway1>Gardiner and Chesneau, pp. 128–129</ref>
In some references the ''Benson'' and ''Gleaves'' classes are combined as the ''Benson'' class.<ref name=Friedman1/>
The ''Budget for the United States Government'' (as published) for fiscal year 41, starting on 1 July 1940 called for 8 destroyers to be built,<ref>page 669, "Replacement of Naval Vessels"</ref> and they were originally contemplated to be DD-445 ... DD-452, i.e. ''Fletchers''.<ref>Navy Department Appropriation Bill for 1941, Hearings, p. 616, 8 January 1940</ref> In June 1940, 8 ''Gleaves'' were ordered instead.
==Design== The ''Benson'' class was designed as an improved version of the {{sclass|Sims|destroyer|4}} with two stacks and a new "echeloned" machinery arrangement that featured alternating boiler and engine rooms, designed to give the ships a better chance at surviving torpedo damage. Loss of one compartment, or even two adjacent compartments, would no longer disable the entire propulsion system. They also introduced quintuple torpedo tube mounts. Their scantlings, or framing dimensions, were increased to carry the weight of the new machinery. This increased the ships' displacement by about sixty tons, to 1620 tons standard displacement.<ref name=Friedman1/><ref name=Conway1/>
===Engineering=== The ''Benson''s were all completed with "M"-type boilers, {{convert|600|psi|abbr=on}} steam (references vary) superheated to {{convert|750|°F|abbr=on}}, single-reduction gearing, and no cruising turbines.<ref name=Register1/> The main steam turbines were designed and built by Bethlehem Steel.<ref name=Friedman1/><ref name=Conway1/><ref>[http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/generalinformationbooks/421Benson_GIBook.pdf USS ''Benson'' (DD-421) and USS ''Mayo'' (DD-422) General Information Book with as-built data] at [http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/ |date=19 February 2009 }}</ref>
==Armament== The class was completed with four or five {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|0}} dual purpose guns (anti-surface and anti-aircraft (AA)), controlled by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System as in the previous ''Sims'' class. The introduction of two centerline quintuple torpedo tube mounts in this class was a significant improvement and was continued in subsequent World War II classes. This allowed a broadside of ten tubes with savings in space and weight compared to previous classes, which had twelve or sixteen tubes and an eight-tube broadside.<ref name=Friedman1/> However, most of the ''Benson''s spent most of the war with only five torpedo tubes equipped in favor of greater light anti-aircraft armament. This varied considerably in different ships as the war went on; for example, the specified pair of twin {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on}} guns were not widely available until mid-1942 and a quadruple {{convert|1.1|in|mm|abbr=on}} machine cannon mount and a {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}} gun were temporarily substituted.<ref name=Conway1/> In 1945 twelve ships (DD-600-601, 603–604, 608, 610, and DD-612-617) were modified for maximum light AA armament as an anti-''kamikaze'' measure, with four 5-inch guns, no torpedo tubes, twelve 40 mm guns in two quad and two twin mounts and four 20 mm guns in two twin mounts.<ref>Friedman, p. 107</ref> The first six ships landed a torpedo tube mount early in the war while on Atlantic service, but as they were transferred to the Pacific in early 1945 they were re-equipped with the torpedoes at the cost of a 5-inch gun.<ref name=Conway1/><ref name=Register1/> Photographs indicate that, as with most pre-1942 destroyers, the initial anti-submarine armament of two depth charge tracks was augmented with four or six K-gun depth charge throwers in 1941–42 on most ships.<ref>[http://www.navsource.net/archives/05idx.htm NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page]</ref>
==Service== The first six ships of the class began their careers on Neutrality Patrols, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II continued to serve in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, supporting operations in North Africa, Italy, and southern France until transferred to the Pacific in early 1945. Several of the remaining ships spent the entire war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Others served entirely in the Pacific, at first in the Solomon Islands or Aleutians and later in other campaigns.<ref>DANFS, various entries</ref> Three were lost in the war; two in the Pacific and one in the Mediterranean. A fourth lost the bow section but was rebuilt and returned to service. After the war the survivors were decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet in 1946–47; one was transferred to Italy and two were transferred to Taiwan in the 1950s.<ref>Gardiner & Chumbley, pp. 206, 455</ref> Modernization was considered in the 1950s but not implemented except on the transferred ships.<ref>Friedman, pp. 107–108</ref> The remainder were scrapped or otherwise disposed of in the late 60s and early 70s.<ref name=Register1/>
==Losses== USS ''Laffey'' and USS ''Barton'' were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942; USS ''Lansdale'' was lost to air attack in the Mediterranean Sea on 20 April 1944.<ref name=History/> Additionally, the bow section of USS ''Murphy'' was cut off in a collision with the tanker SS ''Bulkoil '' {{convert|75|nmi}} from New York on 21 October 1943 and sank with the loss of 38 crew. The rest of the ship was saved and was rebuilt and returned to service; thus ''Murphy'' was not officially considered lost.<ref>[http://destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/ussmurphy/ USS ''Murphy'' at DestroyerHistory.org]</ref><ref name="Sunken Warships- USS 2007">''Quest for Sunken Warships'' – USS ''Murphy'', 2007, 19 July 2007, Military Channel, 2-3am, MDT.</ref>
==Decorations== USS ''Laffey'' received a Presidential Unit Citation for her role in the Battle of Guadalcanal. USS ''Bailey'' received a Navy Unit Commendation for her service in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 26 March 1943. Also, USS ''Hilary P. Jones'' received a Navy Unit Commendation for her actions in the final operations in the Mediterranean Sea in September 1944.<ref name=History/>
{{clear}}
==Ships in class== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Ships of the ''Benson'' destroyer class |- ! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Hull no. ! scope="col" style="max-width: 9em;" | Builder ! scope="col" style="max-width: 6em;" | Laid down ! scope="col" style="max-width: 6em;" | Launched ! scope="col" style="max-width: 6em;" | Commissioned ! scope="col" style="max-width: 6em;" | Decommissioned ! scope="col" | Fate |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Benson|DD-421|2}} ! scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | DD-421 | rowspan=2 | Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts | rowspan=2 | 16 May 1938 | 15 November 1939 | 25 July 1940 | 18 March 1946 | data-sort-value="26 February 1954" | Transferred to Republic of China, 26 February 1954 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Mayo|DD-422|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-422 | 26 March 1940 | 18 September 1940 | 18 March 1946 | data-sort-value="8 May 1972" | Sold for scrap, 8 May 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Madison|DD-425|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-425 | rowspan=2 | Boston Navy Yard | rowspan=2 | 19 September 1938 | 20 October 1939 | 6 August 1940 | 13 March 1946 | data-sort-value="14 October 1969" | Sunk as target, 14 October 1969 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Lansdale|DD-426|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-426 | 30 October 1939 | 17 September 1940 | {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="20 April 1944" | Sunk by the Luftwaffe, 20 April 1944 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Hilary P. Jones|DD-427|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-427 | Charleston Navy Yard | 16 May 1938 | 14 December 1939 | 6 September 1940 | 6 February 1947 | data-sort-value="26 February 1954" | Loaned to Taiwan, 26 February 1954 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Charles F. Hughes|DD-428|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-428 | Puget Sound Naval Shipyard | 3 January 1939 | 16 May 1940 | 6 September 1940 | 18 March 1946 | data-sort-value="26 March 1969" | Sunk as target, 26 March 1969 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Laffey|DD-459|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-459 | rowspan=2 | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California | 13 January 1941 | 30 October 1941 | 31 March 1942 | {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="13 November 1942" | Sunk in First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Woodworth|DD-460|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-460 | 30 April 1941 | 29 November 1941 | 30 April 1942<br>21 November 1950 | 11 April 1946<br>14 January 1951 | data-sort-value="11 June 1951" | Transferred to Italy, 11 June 1951 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Farenholt|DD-491|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-491 | rowspan=2 | Bethlehem Staten Island, Staten Island, New York | 11 December 1940 | 19 November 1941 | 2 April 1942 | 26 April 1946 | data-sort-value="22 November 1972" | Sold for scrap, 22 November 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Bailey|DD-492|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-492 | 29 January 1941 | 19 December 1941 | 11 May 1942 | 2 May 1948 | data-sort-value="4 November 1969" | Sunk as target, 4 November 1969 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Bancroft|DD-598|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-598 | rowspan=4 | Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts | 1 May 1941 | 31 December 1941 | 30 April 1942 | 1 February 1946 | data-sort-value="16 March 1973" | Sold for scrap, 16 March 1973 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Barton|DD-599|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-599 | 20 May 1941 | 31 January 1942 | 29 May 1942 | {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="13 November 1942" | Sunk by {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Amatsukaze|1939|2}}, First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Boyle|DD-600|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-600 | 31 December 1941 | 15 June 1942 | 15 August 1942 | 29 March 1946 | data-sort-value="3 May 1973" | Sunk as target, 3 May 1973 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Champlin|DD-601|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-601 | 31 January 1942 | 25 July 1942 | 12 September 1942 | 31 January 1947 | data-sort-value="8 May 1972" | Sold for scrap, 8 May 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Meade|DD-602|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-602 | rowspan=3 | Bethlehem Staten Island, Staten Island, New York | 25 March 1941 | 15 February 1942 | 22 June 1942 | 17 June 1946 | data-sort-value="18 February 1973" | Sunk as target, 18 February 1973 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Murphy|DD-603|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-603 | 19 May 1941 | 29 April 1942 | 23 July 1942 | 9 March 1946 | data-sort-value="6 October 1972" | Bow section sunk in collision with SS ''Bulkoil'' {{convert|75|mi|km}} outside New York, 21 October 1943. Ship rebuilt and returned to service.<ref name="Sunken Warships- USS 2007"/> Sold for scrap, 6 October 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Parker|DD-604|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-604 | 9 June 1941 | 12 May 1942 | 31 August 1942 | 31 January 1947 | data-sort-value="25 May 1973" | Sold for scrap, 25 May 1973 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Caldwell|DD-605|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-605 | rowspan=7 | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California | 24 March 1941 | 15 January 1942 | 10 June 1942 | 24 April 1946 | data-sort-value="4 November 1966" | Sold for scrap, 4 November 1966 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Coghlan|DD-606|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-606 | 28 March 1941 | 12 February 1942 | 10 July 1942 | 31 March 1947 | data-sort-value="12 June 1974" | Sold for scrap, 12 June 1974 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Frazier|DD-607|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-607 | 5 July 1941 | 17 March 1942 | 30 July 1942 | 15 April 1946 | data-sort-value="6 October 1972" | Sold for scrap, 6 October 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Gansevoort|DD-608|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-608 | 16 June 1941 | 11 April 1942 | 25 August 1942 | 1 February 1946 | data-sort-value="23 March 1972" | Sunk as target, 23 March 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Gillespie|DD-609|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-609 | 16 June 1941 | 8 May 1942 | 18 September 1942 | 17 April 1946 | data-sort-value="16 July 1973" | Sunk as target, 16 July 1973 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Hobby|DD-610|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-610 | rowspan=2 | 30 June 1941 | 4 June 1942 | 18 November 1942 | 1 February 1946 | data-sort-value="1 June 1972" | Sunk as target, 1 June 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Kalk|DD-611|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-611 | 18 July 1942 | 17 October 1942 | 3 May 1946 | data-sort-value="20 March 1969" | Sunk as target, 20 March 1969 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Kendrick|DD-612|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-612 | rowspan=4 | Bethlehem Shipbuilding, San Pedro, California, Terminal Island | rowspan=2 | 1 May 1941 | 2 April 1942 | 12 September 1942 | 31 March 1947 | data-sort-value="2 March 1968" | Sunk as target, 2 March 1968 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Laub|DD-613|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-613 | 28 April 1942 | 24 October 1942 | 2 February 1946 | data-sort-value="14 January 1975" | Sold for scrap, 14 January 1975 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|MacKenzie|DD-614|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-614 | rowspan=2 | 29 May 1941 | 27 June 1942 | 21 November 1942 | 4 February 1946 | data-sort-value="1 June 1974" | Sunk as target, 1 June 1974 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|McLanahan|DD-615|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-615 | 2 September 1942 | 19 December 1942 | 2 February 1946 | data-sort-value="1 June 1974" | Sold for scrap, 1 June 1974 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Nields|DD-616|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-616 | rowspan=2 | Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts | 15 June 1942 | 1 October 1942 | 15 January 1943 | 25 March 1946 | data-sort-value="8 May 1972" | Sold for scrap, 8 May 1972 |- ! scope="row" | {{USS|Ordronaux|DD-617|2}} ! scope="row" | DD-617 | 25 July 1942 | 9 November 1942 | 13 February 1943 | 27 March 1946 | data-sort-value="16 March 1973" | Sold for scrap, 16 March 1973 |}
== Other Navies ==
=== Republic of China (Taiwan) === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" | Pennant ! scope="col" | Ship name ! scope="col" | Former name ! scope="col" | Acquired ! scope="col" | Fate |- ! scope="row" | DD-14 ! scope="row" | ROCS ''Lo Yang'' | USS ''Benson'' | 26 February 1954 | data-sort-value="1975" | struck in 1975, scrapped |- ! scope="row" | DD-15 ! scope="row" | ROCS ''Han Yang'' | USS ''Hilary P. Jones'' | 26 February 1954 | data-sort-value="1974" | struck in 1974, scrapped |}
=== Italy === {{Main|Artigliere-class destroyer}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" | Pennant ! scope="col" | Ship name ! scope="col" | Former name ! scope="col" | Acquired ! scope="col" | Fate |- ! scope="row" | D 553 ! scope="row" | ''Artigliere'' | USS ''Woodworth'' | 1951 | data-sort-value="1971" | struck in 1971, scrapped |}
==See also== * Livermore class destroyer * List of destroyers of the United States Navy * List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy *List of ship classes of World War II
==References== {{reflist}}
* [http://destroyerhistory.org/bensongleavesclass.asp?r=0&pid=100 Destroyerhistory.org: Benson/Gleaves ship list] * {{cite book | last = Bauer | first = K. Jack | author-link = K. Jack Bauer | author2=Roberts, Stephen S. | title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 1991 | location = Westport, Connecticut | isbn = 0-313-26202-0 }} * {{cite book | last = Friedman | first = Norman | author-link = Norman Friedman | title = US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2004 | location = Annapolis | isbn = 1-55750-442-3 | edition = Revised }} * {{cite book | last = Gardiner | first = Robert | author2=Chesneau, Roger | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946 | publisher = Conway Maritime Press | year = 1980 | location = London | isbn = 0-83170-303-2 }} * {{cite book | last = Gardiner | first = Robert | author2=Chumbley, Stephen | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 | publisher = Conway Maritime Press | year = 1995 | location = London | isbn = 1-55750-132-7 }} * {{cite book| title=U.S. Warships of World War II |last1=Silverstone |first1=Paul H. |publisher = Ian Allan Ltd |location = London |year=1965 |isbn = 0-7110-0157-X}} * {{DANFS}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Benson class destroyers}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110617013440/http://www.destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/ ''Benson''- and ''Gleaves''-class destroyers] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084018/http://destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/bensonclass/ ''Benson''-class destroyers] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation] * [http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benson.htm Tin Can Sailors @ Destroyers.org – Benson class destroyer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116041221/http://www.destroyers.org/Class/c-Benson.htm |date=16 November 2013 }} * [http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/generalinformationbooks/421Benson_GIBook.pdf USS ''Benson'' (DD-421) and USS ''Mayo'' (DD-422) General Information Book with as-built data] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090219202357/http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation] * [http://www.navsource.net/archives/05idx.htm NavSource Destroyer Photo Index Page]
{{Benson class destroyer}} {{WWII US ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson Class Destroyer}} Category:Benson-class destroyers Category:Destroyer classes Category:World War II destroyers of the United States