A six-year pause followed the Bainbridge and Truxtun orders before five Smith-class destroyers appeared. A brief comparison with Britain's defence investment plan makes the same point: headlines do not supply supporting force structure or infrastructure. The Smiths displaced 710 tons at normal load and 916 tons fully loaded, carried a crew of 87, and could make 28 knots. They combined Parsons steam turbines with coal-fired boilers and capacity for 300 tons of coal. A prominent forecastle improved seaworthiness, while five 3-inch guns and three 18-inch torpedo tubes supplied the armament. Their range mattered because they were intended to protect fleet movements toward the Philippines and support operations across a wide ocean. Ordering five after a long gap left those commitments with few additional escorts.
Notable Point · 15:30-18:34
The six-year gap ends with five Smith-class destroyers
Five capable Smith-class ships followed a six-year pause in destroyer construction, leaving the Navy's supporting force far behind its ambitions.