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C-DD/S11-2 (514) C-DE/S11-1 NAVY DEPARTMENT Bureau of Ships Washington, D.C. CONFIDENTIAL AIRMAIL From: Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas. To: The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, USN, New York The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, USN, Quincy The Commandant, Navy Yard, Boston   Subject: Destroyers and Destroyer Escort Vessels - Modification of Bows for Employment of Ramming Tactics on Submarines.   References: (A)   VCNO Conf. Itr. Op-23B-RLF;(SC)DD/Sl~l; Serial 0124523 of Apr. 1, 1943.   1.          Reference (a) directed the Bureau to proceed with measures to strengthen or modify the bows of subject ves sels to insure penetration of a submarine vessel if rammed.   2.          It is requested that working plans for the subject modification be prepared and distributed for the various Glasses of subject ships as indicated: Navy Yard, Boston - (1)   Plans for all destroyers prior to DD445. Plans thus developed for the DD421 and DD423 Classes will thus be applicable to the DD4S3 and DD459 Classes.   (2) Plans for all DD445 Class destroyers in which the bow has bean completed in accordance with original design.   (3) Plans for all GMT type (short hull) destroyer escort vessels in which the bow has been completed in accordance with original design. Supervisor of Shipbuilding, New York - (1)   Revised plans for destroyers of the DD445 and the DD692 Classes and for destroyer escort vessels of the GMT, DET, FMR and WGT Classes to incorporate the revised bow during construction.   (2)   Plans for destroyer escort vessels of the DET, FMR, and WGT Classes in which the bow has been completed in accordance with original design.

C-DD/S11-2 (514) C-DE/S11-1 CONFIDENTIAL AIRMAIL   Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Quincy - (1)   Plans for destroyer escort vessels of the TE Class to incorporate the revised bow during construction.   (2)   Plans for destroyer escort vessels of the TE Class in which the bow has been completed in accordance with original design.   5.          Addressees are encouraged to arrange for exchange of information regarding the work, and to expedite disseminatlon of the completed plans.   4.          For general guidance in plan development the following comments are submitted: (a)   It is important that the damage that will necessarily ensue to a ramming vessel be kept as far forward as possible. To this end, the cutting stem should not be heavily supported too far back into the structure of the vessel. At the same time, some reinforcement of the breast hooks appears necessary in order to make the ramming stem hold up against an angle blow against the submarine. The reinforced stem should be rigid enough of itself to cause the load incident to ramming to be well spread over the lighter structure aft of it.   (a)   It is considered that the ramming stem should be arranged to present a minimum of high tensile steel bearing area against the submarine in order to insure the maximum of cutting effort. A rather sharp ending is also desired in order that on an angling blow the stem will cut in and not slide off to the side. It is recognized that the sharp stem feature will have an adverse affect on the behavior of anchor chain across the bow.   (a)   The Design Agent for destroyers of the DD6D2 Class class has already presented to the Bureau's representative a preliminary proposal for that class whereby the stem bar below a point four to five feet above the waterline in the form of a 40.8 pound high tensile steel plate. This is considered a good provision for vessels of this class.   (a)   for subject vessels in which the bow design does not admit of a similar solution, it is recommended that side shell plates of 30.6-pound high tensile steel or shell doublers of 20.4-pound high tensile steel be fitted. These plates, about three feet wide, should be joined by welding at the   -2-

C-DD/S11-2 (514) C-DE/S11-1 CONFIDENTIAL AIRMAIL     stem end so that the edge of one plate presents the cutting edge. The plates must, of course, be secured by a generous amount of welding and small brackets to the pipe or bar stem where this is now fitted. It is recognized that it will be difficult, because of the swelling of lines near the lower end of the stem, to maintain these plate endlnge in the desired sharp forms all the way to the base line. Copy to;     Cominch     VCNO     Cinclant     Cincpac     Comdeslant     Comdespac     COTClant     COTCpac O-in-C, Hingham     DESBASE, San Diego     SUPSHIP, KEARNY     SUPSHIP, Seattle     SUPSHIP, Orange     SUPSHIP, Bath     SUPSHIP, Tampa     SUPSHIP, Houton     SUPSHIP, Staten Island     SUPSHIP, Terminal Island     SUPSHIP, San Francisco     SUPSHIP, Chickasaw     SUPSHIP, San Pedro     SUPSHIP, Wilmington     SUPSHIP, Neville Island     SUPSHIP, Bay City     NYMI     NYPS     NYPHIL     NYNOR     NYCHARL       -3-

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