FRAM Destroyers
Among the destroyers, Gearing and Sumner classes would take precedence over the Fletcher and Benson classes. Destroyer conversions relied on experience with Fletcher class destroyers modernized for transfer to Spain and Germany in 1957. The first two destroyers began FRAM in Boston, Massachusetts and Long Beach, California shipyards in March 1959.
In order to provide the ships with a credible anti-submarine weapon, the FRAM upgrade centered on the addition of AN/SQS-23 SONAR and two new weapon systems, the ASROC rocket-assisted torpedo launcher with a range of 1–5 miles, and the DASH antisubmarine helicopter with a range of up to 22 miles (35 km). Both were armed with the new Mark 44 torpedo, which was also carried in torpedo tubes on the ships.
There were three different sets of FRAM upgrades. During refitting in the early 1950s, FRAM I Fletcher class destroyers gave up No. 2, 3 and 4 5"/38 caliber gun mounts. A trainable Mark 15 Hedgehog mount took the place of No. 2 gun, connected to a new, enlarged sonar suite. All topside 21" torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with 2 tubes mounted in the after deckhouse. One twin 3"/50 caliber gun mounts were placed aft, atop the after deckhouse. FRAM II changes saw the replacement of the Hedgehog mount with a Mark 108 ASW rocket launcher, the addition of 2 x 3 12.75" Mark 44 ASW Torpedo tubes and the removal of the 3-in guns for DASH hangar and flight deck. Only USS Radford (DD-446), USS Jenkins (DD-447) and USS Nicholas (DD-449) received the FRAM for Fletcher class destroyers.
Ships from the Gearing class were completely torn down and rebuilt from the hull up, including new engines, a much larger combat information center, and new sonar and radar systems. The 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes between the funnels were removed, and the 8-round ASROC battery placed there instead. The aft 3-inch/50 cal twin gun mount was removed, and that space used for the DASH's hangar and flight deck, with two new triple-tube launchers for the 12.75-inch Mk.44 torpedo's placed just behind the rear funnel. This modernization was designed to extend the life of the destroyer by at least eight years.
Read more about this topic: Fleet Rehabilitation And Modernization
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