Lepanto-class destroyer

The Lepanto class was a class of five destroyers of the Spanish Navy, which originated from the US Navy Fletcher-class destroyers. They entered service in 1957, with the last one being decommissioned in 1988.[1]

Lepanto underway at sea, c. 1970s
Class overview
NameLepanto class
Builders
Operators Spanish Navy
Preceded byAudaz class
Succeeded byOquendo class
SubclassesFletcher class
Built1941–1943
In commission1957–1988
Planned5
Completed5
Retired5
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 2,050 long tons (2,083 t) standard
  • 2,500 long tons (2,540 t) full
Length376.5 ft (114.8 m)
Beam39.5 ft 10 in (12.29 m)
Draft17.5 ft 8 in (5.54 m)
Propulsion
Speed36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement329
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

History

These are ships used by the United States Navy during World War II and slightly modernized in electronics and weaponry at the beginning of the 1950s. They were once magnificent ships, which throughout the 1960s constituted the backbone of the Spanish Navy. Eventually, they were replaced in escort duties by the Descubierta-class corvettes in the early 1980s. However, they remained in service until well into the 1980s, when they were downright obsolete.

They received five destroyers of the Fletcher class for the Spanish Navy from the United States from 1957 to 1988 as part of the Military Assistance Program.

They were all put out of service between 1985 till 1988.

Characteristics
Main article: Fletcher-class destroyer

Before the takeover, the ships were modernized to a considerable extent. All but three 20 mm Oerlikon cannons were removed and the three 40 mm Bofors guns remained. The electronics were modernized and the mast was replaced by a tripod mast.

All five ships were retrofitted with two triple Mark 44 torpedo tubes on each side of the ship.

Ships in the class
Pennant Name Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
D21 Lepanto Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation 12 June 1941 31 May 1942 15 May 1957 31 December 1985
D22 Almirante Ferrandíz 4 July 1942 17 November 1987
D23 Almirante Valdés Bath Iron Works 23 February 1942 30 August 1942 1 July 1959 17 November 1986
D24 Alcalá Galiano Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation 7 June 1943 14 February 1944 3 November 1960 15 December 1988
D25 Jorge Juan Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company 30 June 1943 14 November 1943 1 December 1960 15 November 1988

See also

Citations
  1. "Lepanto D20 ex US Fletcher class Destroyer DD - Spanish Navy Armada Espanola". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
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