The
GEARING-class destroyers were basically a stretch-version of
the ALLEN M. SUMNER class They were barely distinguishable from
their predecessors, unless a GEARING and a SUMNER were side by
side. Then, the greater length of the GEARING’s hull amidships
was obvious.
The GEARINGs were the last World War II destroyers built by the
U.S. Navy, and many of them served well into the 1970s. Stricken
from U.S. Navy lists, a number of them continued their service
in foreign navies. They survived because they were large enough
to adapt to the changing requirements of new weaponry and
tactics.
To say they were superb ships is perhaps an
understatement.
