The Wickes-class destroyers were a class of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917–19. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell-class and 156 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" type. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World War I, including USS Wickes, the lead ship of the class.


USS Crowninshield (DD-134) 1939-1940.jpgUSS CrowninshieldClass overviewNameWickes classBuildersVariousOperators United States Navy United Kingdom Navy Royal Canadian Navy Soviet Navy Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Netherlands NavyPreceded byCaldwell classSucceeded byClemson classSubclassesLittle (52 ships)Lamberton (11 ships)Tattnall (10 ships)TownBuilt1917–21In commission1918–46 (USN)Completed111Lost9 sunk in battle5 sunk as targets7 others sunk or destroyed in other waysRetired90 scrappedGeneral characteristicsTypeDestroyerDisplacement1,154 tons (normal)1,247 tons (full load)Length314 ft 4.5 in (95.82 m)Beam30 ft 11.25 in (9.43 m)Draft9 ft (2.74 m)Propulsion4 × boilers, 300 psi (2,100 kPa) saturated steam[​1]2 Parsons geared steam turbines, 24,610 hp (18,350 kW)[​1]2 shaftsSpeed35.3 kn (65.4 km/h; 40.6 mph)Complement100 officers and enlistedSensors andprocessing systems1 × SC radarArmament4 × 4 in (102 mm)/50 caliber guns[​1]1 × 3 in (76 mm)/23 caliber AA gun[​1]4 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes[​1]Notespopularly known as Flush Deckers, Four Pipers, Four-stackers, 1200-ton type

While some were scrapped in the 1930s, the rest served through World War II. Most of these were converted to other uses; nearly all in U.S. service had half their boilers and one or more stacks removed to increase fuel and range or accommodate troops.[​2] Others were transferred to the British Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy, some of which were later transferred to the Soviet Navy. All were scrapped within a few years after World War II.