The Buckley-class destroyer escorts

About this book

Destroyer escorts were built in greater numbers than any other kind of Allied fighting ship during World War II, and more than one hundred thousand American and British sailors served aboard these ships; yet until now, little has been written about their crucial role in the U.S. and Royal Navies. This book combines unique photographs, firsthand accounts, ship plans, and well-researched text to recapture the history of the largest class of destroyer escorts ever built - the Buckleys. The book presents the first complete photographic record ever assembled of all 154 Buckley-class ships, including the only known photographs of several of these ships, recently located by the author in private collections in the United States and Great Britain. Selections of the original line-plan drawings of the class are also reproduced, providing valuable details of the ship's arrangements as designed. The text describes the development of the class, armament, major conversion programs, differences between the American and British ships, and the operational history of Buckleys in the U.S. and Royal Navies. Throughout the book, recollections and contemporary observations from the men who served aboard these ships are used to provide a personal touch to the history of these "Little Wolves."