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The Benson-Gleaves class destroyers were fully engaged in a sea war with Germany by mid 1941.
With the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December of that year, the increasing and devastating U-boat on slaught on merchant shipping,
and the fleet reduction of the 1930's, the Benson-Gleaves ships took up all aspects of naval warfare to support a nation unprepared for war.
Fast, seaworthy, and versatile,
these ships participated as escorts for both supply and troop convoys, escort for naval task forces, and fire support missions. They fought U-boats, E-boats, human torpedo mini submarines, explosive laden motor boats, railroad guns,
German and Japanese aircraft, Japanese ships of the line, and even German Panzer divisions. Most of the early ships fought in the Atlantic but after Pearl Harbor the Gwin, Grayson, Meredith, and Monssen were transferred to the Pacific to strengthen our weak Pacific fleet. By early 1942, the emergency destroyer program, Bristol class or "repeat Benson class", joined the fleet and supported Atlantic and Pacific operations with their older sisters.
Showing great courage, these 96 ships fought well in those dim days of 1942 when the battles in the Pacific and the Uboat war in the Atlantic were still in doubt. By the time the war ended in the Pacific in September of 1945, the Benson-Gleaves class destroyers were awarded 495 Battle Stars and had fought from Iceland to Okinawa.
The Benson-Gleaves ships were supposed to hold out until the new Fletcher and Sumner class destroyers could join the fleet. Hold they did ....and then some.
This website is dedicated to the sailors, engineers, and naval yard workers who gave their all with these ships to
complete the final Victory in 1945. Though there are no preserved examples of this class of destroyer, the spirit of these ships will live on within this site and pass their history to generations to come.
We especially honor the Destroyers and men still on station.
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