The Buckley class resulted from the January 1942 expansion of the DE program from 50 ships to 300 ships. Availability of diesel engines was limited, however, by higher-priority submarine and landing craft  construction. Accordingly, the Navy asked General Electric to develop a steam-powered turbo-electric design—the TE type—that would develop the 12,000 shp and 24 knots of the original DE concept.
The resulting design consumed more space than the original geared turbine plant, so the Evarts-class hull was lengthened by six feet to accommodate it. Thereafter, the Buckleys’ 306 ft. “long hull” became the standard hull for all follow-on DE classes. Bethlehem Shipbuilding at Quincy Massachusetts prepared the detailed plans.
After World War II, the TEs were favored over other DE types for continued service, in part because commanders in the Pacific war preferred its combination of power and open bridge. BUILDERS
Bethlehem-Hingham, Quincy and San Francisco, Consolidated, Defoe, Dravo-Pittsburgh, and the navy yards at Charleston and Norfolk. MODIFICATIONS
During the war, plans were prepared to refit the entire class with two
5-inch/38 cal. guns. Eleven ships received this fit. 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.
Stacks: One
Initial Armament: 3 x 3-inch/50 dual purpose guns.
1 x twin 40mm gun; later 3 x twin 40mm guns.
9 x single 20mm guns.
3 x depth charge racks.
8 x depth charge projectors.
1 x Hedgehog. |
CONVERSIONS
In 1944, the Navy selected 50 TEs for conversion as fast transports (APDs). Forty-three were converted:
• Thirty-seven after completion as DEs.
• The last six while under construction.
Conversion of a fourth-fourth TE, England, was suspended at the end of the war.LOSSES
• Donnell was badly damaged by U-765, 3 May 1944, and not repaired, but used as a floating power station at Cherbourg, Normandy, France.
• Fechteler was sunk by U-967 off Oran, Algeria, 5 May 1944.
• Rich was mined off Quineville, Normandy, France, following the D-day invasion, 8 June 1944.
• Underhill was sunk by a Japanese midget suicide submarine, 25 July 1945.
• England and Bates (converted as APD 47) were damaged by suicide planes off Okinawa and not repaired following the war. DECORATIONS
• England received a Presidential Unit Citation for sinking six enemy submarines in twelve days, May 1944.
• Francis M. Robinson received a Presidential Unit Citation with Haverfield, Swenning, Willis, Janssen, and Wilhoite as part of a hunter-killer task group with escort carrier Bogue (CVE 9) in the Atlantic.
• Jenks received a Presidential Unit Citation with Pillsbury, Pope and Chatelain as part of a hunter-killer task group with escort carrier Guadalcanal (CVE 60).
• Buckley received a Navy Unit Commendation for her action in repelling boarders and sinking U-66 in May 1944.
• Underhill received a Navy Unit Commendation for action against enemy Japanese midget suicide submarines in which she was sunk, 25 July 1945.
• APD conversion Loy received a Navy Unit Commendation for anti-aircraft action off Okinawa, 1945. Sources: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Whitley, DESA, Global Security. | 
