When, in the early 1930s, the Americans began modernizing their navy, they considered the replacement of old destroyers from the Great War as one of the most urgent tasks. However, the new projects, disappointed and dissatisfied the sailors. Some of these vessels were heavily overloaded (e.g. Sims class and early Benson ships), as a result some of the weaponry had to be removed. By proceeding with the design of subsequent series of destroyers, efforts were made to respect the Treaty restrictions (London, 1936). The originally formulated requirements envisaged a destroyer with a displacement of 1,600 tons and armament consisting of not less than 4.5-inch (127 mm) guns and 10 x 533mm torpedo tubes and a speed of 36 knots. There were six variants of vessels slightly different from earlier Benson and Sims classes. It soon became apparent that additional requirements could not be met within the limits of this displacement. This mainly concerned making space for a 28-mm quadruple automatic cannon and more powerful ASuW weapons.
At long last The Original Tomcat has found an everlasting home. Never again will the book be out of print and unavailable to those seeking it. In this respect, Xlibris is superior to traditional publishers. At Xlibris, a book with small or modest sales is not allowed to languish and die. From now on, The Original Tomcat can be purchased from Xlibris.com, Amazon.com or other Internet book services. And for those who are not PC savvy, the book can be ordered at brick-and-mortar bookstores such as Borders or Barnes & Noble. Just ask for The Original Tomcat by Jackson Sellers, and decide whether you want it in dust-jacketed hardback or quality paperback. The worlds most famous class of destroyers, the Fletchers, joined the American fleet during World War II. There were 175 of these little gray workhorses, all heavily armed against threats from sea, land and air. No admiral ever had enough of them. Most fought in the Pacific War against Japan, serving anonymously alongside well-known aircraft carriers and battleships. Dozens of Fletchers ran with the big boys in mighty Fast Carrier Task Force 38/58 under Admirals Halsey, Spruance, Mitscher and McCain. The USS Colahan (DD-658) steamed this perilous but triumphant journey to Tokyo Bay, surviving when others didnt. This is the fifth and final edition of The Original Tomcat: A Fletcher Destroyer Goes to War. The book, which follows the Colahan through the climactic 1944/1945 battles of the Japanese-American Pacific War, was author-published four times in limited editions between 1994 and 1997. It was well received by Colahan shipmates and Fletcher-class destroyer fans, and it continues to be in demand. Here is a sampling of reader reactions: A wonderful work by a skilled writer. All ships should be so lucky as to have their exploits chronicled so well. Thomas J. Peltin, president of Tin Can Sailors, Inc. A magnificent piece of writing. Ray Loughrige, radioman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. Thank you for helping me relive my forgotten youth. Howard Ralby, fireman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. I am absolutely delighted with it. Dick Jones, signalman, ComDesRon 53 staff, Pacific War. Your story makes memories come alive. Clyde D. Killion, chief yeoman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. I commend you for your incredible effort. George Whitney, signalman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. Thanks, Jackson, for making an old sailor feel real good. George McLaughlin, torpedoman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. A great book, a real pleasure. Jim Exchange, baker, USS Colahan, Pacific War. A moving account of the Hazelwood rescue. Peter Dingman, medical officer, USS Colahan, Pacific War. You made the Colahan live again! Henry Gaffin, yeoman, USS Colahan, Pacific War. I couldnt put it down. The Colahan needed this, and we who served on the Colahan needed this. Jim Kinduell, gunnery officer, USS Colahan, Pacific War. A very impressive piece of work. Tim Rizzuto, ships superintendent, USS Kidd Memorial. This is much, much more than a ships history. George English, president of the USS Wedderburn Association. The Original Tomcat has found shelf space in several libraries interested in naval history the Library of Congress; the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington; East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Foundation in Baton Rouge, where a copy is on permanent display in the Colahan locker aboard the memorialized USS Kidd. General libraries offering the book include the Springfield-Greene County
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them. Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.
Few if any 20th century warships were more justly acclaimed than the destroyers of the U.S. Navy's Fletcher class. Admired as they were for their advanced and rakish design, it was their record as workhorses of the Pacific War that placed them among the most battle-tested and successful fighting ships of all time. This title describes the Fletchers and their Allen M. Sumnerand Gearing-class derivatives, their machinery, armament, and construction, with a listing of all 343 ships by hull number and builder. It features an operational history of the 287 ships commissioned during World War II, which traces the evolution of night surface action tactics in the Solomon Islands and the parallel development of the Combat Information Center; the drive across the Pacific and liberation of the Philippines with tables showing the rapid introduction of new squadrons; and the radar pickets' climactic stand against kamikaze aircraft at Okinawa. With summaries of losses and decorations and specially commissioned artwork, this is a definitive book on the wartime US destroyer classes.
Few if any 20th century warships were more justly acclaimed than the destroyers of the U.S. Navy's Fletcher class. Admired as they were for their advanced and rakish design, it was their record as workhorses of the Pacific War that placed them among the most battle-tested and successful fighting ships of all time. This title describes the Fletchers and their Allen M. Sumnerand Gearing-class derivatives, their machinery, armament, and construction, with a listing of all 343 ships by hull number and builder. It features an operational history of the 287 ships commissioned during World War II, which traces the evolution of night surface action tactics in the Solomon Islands and the parallel development of the Combat Information Center; the drive across the Pacific and liberation of the Philippines with tables showing the rapid introduction of new squadrons; and the radar pickets' climactic stand against kamikaze aircraft at Okinawa. With summaries of losses and decorations and specially commissioned artwork, this is a definitive book on the wartime US destroyer classes.
The crew of the Fletcher Class Destroyer USS Cassin Young were a mix of citizen sailors and Navy career men who were thrown together during a time of war. These men came from humble origins and overcame horrific circumstances and kamikaze attacks to help save the world.
