CUS Huntington (DD-1941+)

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The Huntington class were the CUA Navys war emergency destroyer. Over 250 were eventually ordered with 220 being completed, 40 of which were 'sold' through the Lend/Lease scheme to other navys. Like the WW1 destroyers the CUA returned to a flush deck destroyer for its production line type. Ease of construction was the hallmark of these ships.

The first of the class was laid down in June of 1939 and completed in November 1941. From that month on 3-6 units were completed per month for the next 4 years. The armament was the standard three twin turrets of 4.5" guns which proved an extremely able weapon system under all conditions from the heat of the Equator in the East Indies to the searing cold of the Murmansk Sea and the dreaded Russian convoys. The original design showed two quintuple sets of torpedo tubes but in the end it was decided to delete the set aft of the last funnel in favour of exta anti-aircraft guns. The AA weapons suite was heavy on 40mm with one quad and six twin mountings being fitted. Eight (to twelve) 20mm rounded out what was a heavy armament for a ship of its size. Propulsion systems were kept to a relatively simple design also but was still enough to power the ships through to a full load one hour power run of just over 34 knots as an average for the class. The anti-submarine outfit was large in depthcharge throwers and rails from the start. The A/s weaponry being added to with hedgehog and later ahead throwing mortars.

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