Allen M . Sumner - class destroyer The " Allen M . Sumner " class was a group of 58 destroyer s built by the United States during World War II . Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayer s . Often referred to as simply the " Sumner " class , this class was characterized by their twin 5 " / 38cal - gun mounts , dual rudders , additional anti - aircraft weapons , and many other advancements over the previous " Fletcher " class . The " Sumner " design was extended amidships to become the " Gearing " class , which was produced in larger numbers . Completed in 1943 – 45 , four were lost in the war and one was damaged so badly it was scrapped , but the surviving ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s . After being retired from the US fleet , 29 of them were sold to other navies , where they served many more years . Two still exist as museum ships , one in South Carolina , and one in Taiwan . Description . The first ship was laid down in May 1943 , while the last was launched in April 1945 . In that time the United States produced 58 " Allen M . Sumner " - class destroyers . The " Sumner " class was an improvement of the previous " Fletcher " class , which were built from 1941 until 1944 . In addition to three twin 5 " / 38cal mounts replacing the " Fletcher " s ' five single mounts , " Sumner " s had twin rudders , giving them better maneuverability for ASW work when compared to " Fletcher " s . The 5 - inch guns were guided by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System with a Mark 25 fire control radar linked by a Mark 1A Fire Control Computer stabilized by a Mark 6 8 , 500 rpm gyro . This fire control system provided effective long - range anti - aircraft ( AA ) or anti - surface fire . The " Sumner " s also had much more short - range anti - aircraft armament than the " Fletcher " s , with 12 40 mm gun s and 11 20 mm gun s compared with 8 40 mm and 7 20 mm for a typical late - war upgraded " Fletcher " . The initial design retained the " Fletcher " s ' heavy torpedo armament of 10 21 " ( 533mm ) tubes in two quintuple mounts , firing the Mark 15 torpedo . As the threat from " kamikaze " aircraft mounted in 1945 , and with few remaining Japanese warships to use torpedoes on , most of the class had the after quintuple 21 " torpedo tube mount replaced by an additional 40 mm quadruple mount for 16 total 40mm guns . The " Sumner " s achieved a 20 % increase in 5 " gun armament and almost a 50 % increase in light AA armament on a hull the same length as a " Fletcher " , only 15 inches ( 38 cm ) wider , and about 15 " ( 38 cm ) deeper in draft . The increase in standard displacement was only 150 tons , about 7 . 5 % . Thus , the " Sumner " class was a significant improvement in combat power at a small increase in cost . See also " Robert H . Smith " - class destroyer minelayer ( DM ) , twelve of which were built on hulls originally intended as " Sumner " s . " Gearing " class - destroyers were of the same design , modified with a midship extension to carry more fuel to extend the ships ' range . Construction . Eighteen were built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny , New Jersey . Fourteen were built by Bath Iron Works in Bath , Maine . Ten were built by Bethlehem Steel ' s Mariners Harbor shipyard on Staten Island . Six were built by Bethlehem Steel ' s Union Iron Works in San Francisco , California . Five were built by Bethlehem Steel in San Pedro , California . Five were built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle , Washington . was the first ship of the class to be laid down and the first to be commissioned . was the last commissioned . Service . The " Sumner " s served on radar picket stations in the Battle of Okinawa , as well as other duties , and had several losses . " Cooper " , " Meredith " , " Mannert L . Abele " , and " Drexler " were lost during the war , and " Hugh W . Hadley " was so badly damaged by a kamikaze attack that she was scrapped soon after the war ended . After the war most of the class ( except some of the light minelayers ) had their 40 - mm and 20 - mm guns replaced by up to six 3 " / 50 caliber gun s ( 76 mm ) , and the pole mast was replaced by a tripod to carry a new , heavier radar . On most ships one depth charge rack was removed and two Hedgehog mounts added . One of the two quintuple 21 - in ( 533 mm ) torpedo tube mountings had already been removed on most to make way for a quadruple 40 - mm gun mounting and additional radar for the radar picket mission . 33 ships were converted under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization II ( FRAM II ) program 1960 - 65 , but not as extensively as the Gearings . Typically , FRAM " Sumners " retained all three 5 " / 38 twin mounts and received the Drone Anti - Submarine Helicopter ( DASH ) and two triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes for the Mark 44 torpedo , with all 3 - inch and lighter guns , previous ASW armament , and 21 " torpedo tubes being removed . Variable Depth Sonar ( VDS ) was also fitted ; however , ASROC was not fitted . Ships that did not receive FRAM were typically upgraded with Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes in exchange for the K - guns , but retained Hedgehog and one depth charge rack . In Navy slang , the modified destroyers were called " FRAM cans " , " can " being a contraction of " tin can " , the slang term for a destroyer or destroyer escort . Many Sumners provided significant gunfire support in the Vietnam War . They also served as escorts for Carrier Battle Groups ( Carrier Strike Groups from 2004 ) and Amphibious Ready Groups ( Expeditionary Strike Groups from 2006 ) . From 1965 , some Sumners were transferred to the Naval Reserve Force ( NRF ) , with a partial active crew to train Naval reservists . Disposition . The ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s . DASH was withdrawn from anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) service in 1969 due to poor reliability . Lacking ASROC , the Sumners were left without a standoff ASW capability , and were decommissioned 1970 - 73 , with most being transferred to foreign navies . The FRAM Sumners were effectively replaced as ASW ships by the Knox - class frigate s ( destroyer escorts prior to 1975 ) , which were commissioned 1969 - 74 and carried a piloted helicopter , typically the Kaman SH - 2 Seasprite . After the Sumners were retired from the US fleet , seven were sunk by the US in fleet training exercises and 13 were scrapped , and 29 were sold to other navies ( two for spare parts ) , where they served for many more years . 12 were sold to the Republic of China Navy and 2 were sold to the Republic of Korea Navy . 2 were sold to the Shah of Iran and 1 was sold to Turkey . 1 was sold to Greece . 2 were sold to Venezuela , 2 to Colombia , 2 sold to Chile , 5 sold to Brazil and 4 to Argentina . Two ships are now museum ships : at Patriot ' s Point , Charleston , South Carolina , and in Taiwan .