The massive industrial feat that flooded the oceans with 111 American destroyers

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Between 1917 and 1919, the United States Navy executed a staggering naval expansion. Driven by the urgent threat of submarine warfare, a program once intended for 50 ships ballooned into a massive production effort, creating a fleet of 'four-stack' destroyers that would eventually serve across the globe.

The Wickes-class program was a cornerstone of American industrial mobilization during World War I. Originally authorized by the Naval Appropriation Act of 1916 to produce 50 vessels, the sheer scale of the U-boat campaign forced a massive expansion. By the time production concluded, 111 Wickes-class destroyers had been built, a feat so significant that work on larger battleships and cruisers was actually delayed to prioritize their completion. This massive output peaked in July 1918, a month that saw 17 ships launched, including 15 on July 4th alone.

These 'flush-deck' ships were designed for high-speed operations, specifically to keep pace with the Lexington-class battlecruisers at 35 knots. To achieve this, the design utilized 26,000 horsepower—an increase of 6,000 horsepower over the preceding Caldwell class. However, the class was not without flaws. While the fuller hull form provided greater strength, the ships were notoriously short-ranged and 'wet' in heavy seas. The tapered stern, intended to aid depth charge deployment, actually caused the ships to dig into the water, increasing their turning radius and hindering anti-submarine effectiveness.

The class's legacy extended far beyond the Great War. During World War II, many of these aging vessels were repurposed. Some were converted into high-speed transports (APD) or minesweepers (DMS), often with half their boilers and stacks removed to increase fuel capacity and accommodate troops. Their service was truly international; under the Destroyers-for-Bases agreement in 1940, 23 ships were transferred to the British Royal Navy, while others served the Royal Canadian Navy and even the Soviet Navy. By the late 1940s, the era of the 'four-stacker' had largely come to an end as the ships were scrapped.

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