Warship Perspective No.1:
Fletcher, Gearing & Sumner Class Destroyers in
World War Two
by Jeffrey J Herne

Reviewed by Bob Pearson

The United States Navy's Fletcher Class destroyer was to become the most numerous single class of destroyer bar none,with 175 being constructed. Later the design was modified into the Allen M Sumner class, and then even further to the Gearing class, the last of which was still serving the world's navies in the 1970s.

The three classes are covered in this volume in the Warship Perspective series, this 80 page soft-cover is in similiar format to the volume on Atlanta Class Cruisers previously reviewed. The bulk of the volume is devoted to photos of the three classes concerned. The only failing in this monograph is in the quality of the photographic editing. . many of the shots are underexposed or are enlarged past sharp clarity. But this is in no way detracts from the information they contain.

The next largest component in the volume is in colour profiles showing the various camouflage measures carried by the three classes, and it is here that the volume really shines. There are 18 of these included, and they all show port side, starboard side, planview and the turret and superstructure front/backs in colour. A page of colour swatches is also included.

Line drawings by Jeffrey Herne and Alan Raven illustrate the various components onboard and there are also large plans of the Fletchers USS LaVallette (1942), USS Fullam (1944), USS Black (1944); Sumner class USS Charles S Perry (1944), Gwin (minelayer - 1944); Gearing class USS Gearing (1945), Perkins (radar picket - 1945). Other drawings include various unit and ship emblems.

If you have any interest in any of the classes concerned then this volume will be very useful, the colour profiles alone make it very highly recommended research material. This and the Atlanta Class volume are available in Canada, or worldwide from Keith Butterley at the following rates.

Canada $40 Cdn
USA $30US ($45 Cdn)
International $35US ($53 Cdn)

My thanks to Keith for the review sample.