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[spartangrayteam@yahoo.com]

Hi all! The game's once sparse collection of warships has definitely been filled greatly in recent years, including the addition of Western and gio963otto's Corvette Pack (https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,18113.0.html), but in my opinion, there is still a crucial lack of US Destroyer Escorts, which formed the backbone of many convoy and fleet escort duties in the Pacific Theatre, most notably the Battle off Samar. Below are the specifications for the John C. Butler class DE's, which played a prominent role in the aforementioned Battle off Samar:



Name:   John C. Butler class destroyer escort
Operators:    United States Navy
Preceded by:   Rudderow class destroyer escort
Succeeded by:   Dealey class destroyer escort
Planned:   293
Completed:   83
Cancelled:   210
Lost:   3
Retired:   80
Preserved:   0
General characteristics
Type:   Destroyer escort
Displacement:   1,350 long tons (1,372 t) (standard)
1,745 long tons (1,773 t) (full load)
Length:   306 ft (93.3 m)
Beam:   37 ft (11.3 m)
Draft:   Light: 9 ft 4 in (2.8 m)
Deep: 13 ft 4 in (4.1 m)
Speed:   24.3 kn (28.0 mph; 45.0 km/h) (trial)
24 kn (28 mph; 44 km/h) (service)
Complement:   Officers: 15
Enlisted: 183
Sensors and
processing systems:   Radar
Armament:   2 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal dual purpose guns
4 × 40 mm anti-aircraft guns (2×2); later, 10 × 40 mm guns (1×4, 3×2)
10 × 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons
2 × depth charge racks
8 × depth charge projectors
1 × Hedgehog

[HundertzehnGustav]

niiice.
i like the "flat" and more discrete look of that ship.
and a tall mast like that can hardly be seen on the horizon from a naked eye...

[tooslow]

This Destroyer Escort would make a useful addition to the game. Over 500 of them were built during WWII.  They could be used as convoy escorts or members of Hunter-Killer groups that included a Escort Carrier (CVE) and 5 or 6 DE's.  A lot of information regarding Destroyer Escorts can be found at  http://www.ussslater.org/index.html

Here's some more info on the John C Butler.  The specification given above is for the later modified DE.  The DE originally had a set of triple torpedo tubes that were eventually replaced by additional AA (primarily two twin 40mm mounts).

A picture ...


and a diagram ...




There are two major types of US Destroyer Escorts, the one above (actually representing several classes of DE's) that were armed with two 5-inch guns and an earlier type (also actually several classes) armed with three 3-inch guns.  The 3-inch gun was used only because the 5-inch guns were initially in short supply so the larger ships got them first.



This second, earlier type of Destroyer Escort could be represented by the Buckley Class ...



and an overhead shot (the guns are covered with tarps), but it gives a good overall view of the ship ...



and a diagram ...



and a specification ...

Buckley Class Destroyer Escorts
GENERAL INFORMATION
Length: “Long hull” 306' 0" x 300' 0"
Molded Beam: 37' 0"
Displacement: 1,400 long tons standard; 1,740 full load.
Draft: Light: 9' 4"; Deep: 13' 6"
Designed Complement: Officers, 15; Enlisted, 198.
Shaft Horsepower: 12,000
Speed: Trial: 23.6 knots; Service: 23.5 knots.
Screws: Two.
Rudders: Two.
Bridge: High, open.
Stack: One.
ARMAMENT
Gun battery: 3 x 3-inch/50 caliber dual purpose guns.
Initial: 1 x twin 40mm Bofors.
Later: 3 x twin 40mm Bofors.
Short range: 9 x single 20mm Oerlikon.
Anti-submarine battery: 2 x depth charge tracks, 8 x depth charge projectors, 1 x Hedgehog.
Originally: 1 x triple 21-inch Torpedo Tubes later replaced by 40mm & 20mm AA

and I'll finish with picture of the DE England that sank six Japanese submarines in twelve days!!!!



Hope someone can make either or both of these ... TS

[asheshouse]

Good quality drawings there TooSlow.
Any Hull Lines available anywhere?

[HundertzehnGustav]

i like the Buckley even more. look at that Bow...

It doesnt have the Bulky 5 incher up front.
2 3inchers and 4 20mm all in one spot and pointed at one target - and a set of hedgehogs too. No goddamn funny day for any Axis Pilot. hated these sumbitches in SHIII 
with the Hunts and the German Z Class Class the nicest looking DD/DEs to me
Not beautiful per se... but Business. They mean business. Mean Business.

[asheshouse]

The USS Buckley type is an excellent suggestion.
There are detailed plans including hull lines available in the Anatomy of the Ship Series, USS England.
In addition to their use by the USN 78 were commissioned into the Royal Navy where they were known as the Captain Class.

[tooslow]

Asheshouse,

I'm glad to hear that you are able to get the hull lines for the USS England.  I read somewhere that both the Buckley class and the Butler class DE's used the same hull and propulsion system ... the primary changes were in the armament.   The Butler class DE's were the type that Taffy 3 used in the uneven battle with the Japanese battleship fleet in the Philippines. 

You do such wonderful work it would be great if you decided to do either (or both) of these "boats".

[RealDarko]

Good request. Hope someone can take a go to it.

Hunter-Killer groups that included a Escort Carrier (CVE) and 5 or 6 DE's. 

I'm now searching info of those groups. Can made a nice campaign!

[HundertzehnGustav]

shafty weather, F4F, condors and submarines. with no land base... you either make it back to the CVE, or you (fookin) die.
even without being shot at, these were diffcult flights.