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Model showing original Gearing Class configuration


Custom model of DD-838/DDR-838 "USS Ernest G. Small" is an example of a Gearing ship originally built as a Frank Knox Class radar picket destroyer. The model is circa Korean War and shows the ship before it got FRAM modernization. The replication has many changes from the original Gearing configuration including main fire control director on bridge and number 838 on a turret.

Custom model of DD-763 "USS William Lawe" is an example of an original Gearing Class destroyer but replicated to circa 1977 - after the ship got a FRAM-1B modernization. Note removal of the #2 gun mount (replaced by triple torpedo tubes and a practice 5 inch reloading machine), sonar added underneath, ASROC added
between the funnels and addition of a hanger and helo-pad aft
with a DASH drone chopper aboard.

Custom model shows close up of the 8-tube ASROC launcher.

Custom model FRAM 1B replication shows hanger and torpedo laden DASH drone helicopter. However, as re-fit work varied greatly from ship to ship, we research extensively and work closely with the client to ensure accurate replication.




Depth charges and AA guns crowd the aft deck of a circa 1945 original Gearing destroyer. 600lb depth charges in cans rolled off the stern while K-guns along the railings fired 300lb charges over the sides to make for a wider killing zone.

The Gearing Class was basically a stretched version of the Allen M. Sumner Class. In an attempt to increase the speed and the range of the Sumners, a 14 foot section was added amidships to increase fuel capacity. It also made for a more favorable length-to-beam ratio. The class was followed by the Forrest Sherman Class.

DD-710 USS Gearing - lead destroyer of its class - was launched February 18th, 1945 at Kearny, NY.  The destroyer was named for three generations of naval men - Henry Chalfant Gearing, Henry Chalfant Gearing, Jr. and Henry Chalfant Gearing III - the latter being lost with his ship when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Solomons in 1942. USS Gearing - sponsored by Mrs. Thomas M. Foley (daughter of Commander Gearing) - was commissioned May 3rd, 1945 and stricken July 2nd, 1973.

Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM)

Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization - or FRAM - was a program to extend the useful lives of WWII era US Navy ships - specifically destroyers - during the time of the Eisenhower Administration who was seeking major cuts in US defense spending at the same time that the Navy faced a growing strategic threat from the Russian submarine force. With the Soviets having over 300 fast-attack submarines in service by 1957 and forecasted to pose an ominous threat with long range torpedoes by the 1960s, the US Navy - at the helm of Admiral Burke - found a solution to the problem in a combination of two "stand-off" weapon systems called ASROC and DASH.

ASROC  was an ASW (anti-submarine warfare) system for a 1-5 mile range that launched a solid-fuel rocket which carried a torpedo or depth-bomb payload. DASH  was a 900 lb coaxial drone helicopter with an ASW range of 22 miles. While both ASROC and DASH delivered the same weapon (MK-44 Torpedo) DASH was special in that it could be re-called if the target turned out to be friendly.

FRAM was not a simple process as it involved reconstruction of three different classes of destroyers, three different classes of Destroyer Escorts, and the Destroyer Tenders that would keep those destroyers and destroyer escorts armed and supplied. Occurring in the late-1950s to mid-1960s, the rebuilding of the ships was not only different per class of ships, but the installation (known as FRAM 1) or just a modernization of the ship (known as FRAM 2) could be different within a specific class as well. Furthermore, while many ships received FRAM, not all received DASH while others received DASH and ASROC. Finally there were some further differences from ship to ship.

The three main destroyer types that received FRAM reconstruction were the Fletcher, Sumner and Gearing classes. By 1965, 168 destroyers of all types had received FRAM reconstruction or modernization.

Gearing Destroyers and FRAM

Many Gearing destroyers had been earlier modified for specific missions (i.e. Radar Picket or DDR Frank Knox Class, Hunter-Killer destroyers or DDK Carpenter Class, and Anti-Submarine Warfare or DDE Basilone Class). FRAM was different for all variants. Eventually all but 3 of the 98 Gearings that were commissioned got FRAM rehabilitation or modernization.

FRAM 1: Developed primarily for the Gearing class, it was a complete reconstruction of the ship that extended the life of a destroyer by 8 years and was much more than FRAM 2. FRAM 1 included the rebuilding of the superstructure, rehabilitated the engines and electronics and installed ASROC, DASH, SQS-23 Sonar, new radars for air search, surface search and height-finding, and 2 triple Mk-32 torpedo launchers. FRAM 1 required the destroyer to lose one of its twin 5" caliber gun mounts. The FRAM 1 reconstruction was somewhat different for the top deck arrangement of the Gearings resulting in two distinct variants.

FRAM 1 "A": Removal of aft twin 5" caliber gun mount (Mount 53). Group A ships also received two Hedgehogs fitted on each side of the bridge at the O-1 level and had the Mk-32 triple torpedo launchers aft of the second stack.

FRAM 1 "B": Removal of the second twin 5" caliber gun mount (Mount 52, just in front of the bridge). In place of mount 52, a practice 5-inch reloading machine was installed and the Mk-32 triple torpedo launchers were placed aft of the loader. Group B ships also had more ASROC + torpedo storage area next to the port side of the DASH hangar. There are distinct differences in this group of ships with some having taller masts than others.

FRAM 2: Developed primarily for the Sumner Class, it did include most versions of Gearing destroyers and was mostly a modernization program. FRAM 2 extended the life of a destroyer by about 5 years, installed DASH, Mk-32 torpedo launchers, new air search, surface search and height-finding radars and variable depth sonar (VDS). There are distinct differences in this group of ships as regards the new 3" gun mounts being placed either "inline" or "offset".

FRANK KNOX CLASS Radar Picket - DDR variant
A total of 36 Gearing Class hulls were converted from DD to Frank Knox Class DDRs (January 1945 through 1953) and were fitted with early warning radar to serve as long range-warning picket vessels against aircraft attack. The first 24 ships were converted before commissioning. They were: DDR-711 Eugene A. Greene
DDR-713 Kenneth D. Bailey
DDR-714 William R. Rush
DDR-715 William M. Wood
DDR-742 Frank Knox
DDR-743 Southerland
DDR-784 McKean
DDR-805 Chevalier
DDR-806 Higbee
DDR-807 Benner
DDR-808 Dennis J. Buckley
DDR-817 Corry
DDR-829 Myles C. Fox
DDR-830 Everett F. Larson
DDR-831 Goodrich
DDR-832 Hanson
DDR-833 Herbert J. Thomas
DDR-834 Turner
DDR-835 Charles P. Cecil
DDR-838 Ernest G. Small
DDR-842 Fiske
DDR-863 Steinaker
DDR-870 Fechteler
DDR-873 Hawkins

Another 12 ships were converted in 1952 after being first commissioned as original Gearing Class destroyers:
DD/DDR-874 Duncan
DD/DDR-876 Rogers
DD/DDR-875 Henry W. Tucker
DD/DDR-877 Perkins
DD/DDR-878 Vesole
DD/DDR-879 Leary
DD/DDR-881 Bordelon
DD/DDR-880 Dyess
DD/DDR-882 Furse
DD/DDR-883 Newman K. Perry
DD/DDR-888 Stickell
DD/DDR-889 O'Hare

In 1960 all DDRs were reconverted back to DDs except the Duncan, Ernest G. Small, Frank Knox, Goodrich, Kenneth D. Bailey and Turner. Those 6 ships stayed as DDRs and underwent FRAM II conversion in 1960-1961. The remaining 30 ships that converted back to DD instead got a special FRAM 1 modernization later which included DASH. (See bottom table)

All DDRs when built or converted had the new SPS-8 radar installed with the antenna located aft of the No. 2 stack on the after superstructure as the antenna was too heavy for the tripod mast to support. At the same time the original SP radar was replaced with the Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN).

When FRAM I and II conversions began to occur in 1960, the radar antennas were again displaced. This time they were removed and replaced with new antennas on top of a new main mast forward of the number 1 stack that replaced the original tri-pod mast the ship had originally. This occurred on all 36 vessels of the Frank Knox Class. On the new main mast was the AN/SPS-10 and AN/SPS-40 radar sweep antennas. On top of the DASH Hangar (except for the 6 remaining DDRs) were installed the new ECM antennas. Of special note, 3 of the remaining DDRs received the very large SPS-30 height finding radar which had a 200+ mile range.

CARPENTER CLASS Hunter/Killer - DDK variant
Eight Gearing Class hulls were completed as Carpenter Class DDK "Hunter/Killer" ships:
DDK-764 Lloyd Thomas
DDK-765 Keppler
DDK-825 Carpenter
DDK-827 Robert A. Owens
DDK-858 Fred T. Berry
DDK-859 Norris
DDK-860 McCaffery
DDK-861 Harwood
The eight ships remained rated as DDKs until March 4, 1950 when the DDK and DDE types merged and they were then rated as DDEs. All eight vessels were reclassified back to DD on June 30, 1962.

The DDK conversion, which consisted of special equipment to locate, track and destroy enemy submarines, consisted of the MK-100 Underwater Fire control system to coordinate the firing of the MK-23 torpedo launchers using MK-35 or MK-37 homing torpedoes. The MK-56 fire control system controlled the MK-15 trainable Hedgehog weapons projector (Weapon B) which was installed where usually the second forward twin 5-inch gun mount would be located (Mount 52) on a standard Gearing.

These ships were eventually equipped with the MK-108 Weapon A which fired a fast-sinking 250-lb charge approximately 1000 yards. Combined with the latest radar of the time, the Carpenter Class ships had the highest ASW capability of any destroyer class prior to FRAM . While Hedgehog was eventually removed prior to FRAM as Weapon A was more effective, the Carpenter Class set the strategy for greater stand-off weapons which would be expanded in the FRAM program

BASILONE CLASS Anti-Submarine Warfare - DDE
Two Gearing Class destroyers (Basilone & Epperson) were converted to anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and completed as destroyer escorts (DDE). Five other "4-gun Gearings" were re-designated DDE on 4 March 1950. These seven ships formed the Basilone Class and were.
DDE-719 Epperson
DD/DDE-819 Holder
DD/DDE-820 Rich
DDE-824 Basilone
DD/DDE-847 Robert E. Wilson
DD/DDE-871 Damato

All seven ships underwent FRAM 1B reconstruction and by July 1962 all had been reclassified back as DDs. All ships kept their most forward 5 inch mount (Mount 51), lost the second mount (Mount 52) behind it and kept their aft 5 inch mount (Mount 53). In place of Mount 52, a practice 5 inch reloading machine was installed with the MK-32 triple torpedo launchers aft of the loader. The ships also received greater ASROC and torpedo storage areas next to the port side of the DASH hangar.