One of the true unsung heroes of the Second World War were the old WWI American 'Flush Deck' destroyers.

Built in rather large numbers for WWI, many of them served with distinction in that era, were retired, and then brought back out of mothball, modernized and served for, in some cases, five more years of conflict.

All of the 'Lend-Lease' ships sent to England in 1940 were four-stack flush deck destroyers. The first US shots fired at the Japanese, were from the USS Ward, a flush deck destroyer (as shown on the book's cover). The Ward was a particularly interesting ship, having been built in the record time of 17 1/2 days during WWI. It was later (as were many of these ships) converted for other uses. In the Ward's case, it became a fast transport and was sunk in 1944 while performing that mission.

Most were modified by the removal of one or two boilers and became long range ocean escorts. Not really needing 33-35 knots of speed to protect convoys, these ships had fuel in place of the removed boilers. Modernized with new guns and electronic suites, they operated until the end of the war. Those transferred to the Soviet Union were still being used as late as 1950, a remarkable achievement for a WWI vessel.

Squadron's book goes into each of the various builds of these ships and their fate. Many were scrapped as a result of the Naval Arms Reduction treaties of the 1930s, but even more were left for reuse and rehabilitation. Among the many other jobs were long range ocean escort (as mentioned earlier), fast minelayer, fast minesweeper (though I'd have thought a wooden ship more appropriate a several were lost in this form), and fast attack transport (carrying four landing craft and troops), and as a seaplane tender. Four were even converted as banana boats and several served what was to become the Coast Guard during Prohibition to counter rum-runners!

In all a really fascinating book, especially for those of us who are nautically challenged, and an excellent general reference on the type.

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