This is the third book on US Destroyers in Action and continues with the pre-war designed (and for the most part built) US Destroyers. As war became closer, the numbers of these ships planned was increased, though they all fell pretty much within treaty tonnage.

The first class is the Somers class of five ships; all designed as somewhat larger destroyer leaders and twin mount main armament. This is followed by the McCall class of twelve ships. Next up is the Sims class, also comprising twelve ships. The Benson class was considered to be the last of the totally pre-war destroyers with the last of the thirty-two ships commissioned by 1943. Finally, the Livermore class, which comprised sixty-four ships, the largest new ship build since the four-stack flush-deckers of WWI. Twenty of these ships were built as high speed minesweepers. They were reconverted back to destroyers in the early 1950s. Many of the Livermore class survived in foreign navies until the early/mid 1970s.

As with the previous editions, there are lots of excellent photographs and a brief history of each type. While pictures of  each individual ship of the later classes would be impossible to include, there are as many as possible in a variety of different of camouflage schemes.

Camouflage is as important to ship builders as it is to aircraft modelers and that is also well documented in this book. Included is an FS 595 chart to help modelers with the various colors. As usual, there are excellent profiles in the center that give a good representation of these camouflage schemes.

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

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