Information about US Navy Ships, Past and Present. The destroyer evolved from the need of navies to counter a new ship which made a devastating debut in. Frigate definition is - a light boat propelled originally by oars but later by sails. Britain revived the term frigate using it to describe escort ships equipped with sonar and depth charges, and used these ships to guard convoys from submarines. In the postwar decades, the frigate also adopted an antiaircraft role, adding radar and surface.

One of the most famous and successful destroyer classes ever built was the U.S. Navy's Fletcher class that appeared during the World War period. A total of 175 sister ships proved to be the largest number for a destroyer class in the U.S. Navy inventory during the era.

They were completed in two and a half years, showing a stunning example of wartime mass production. Development of the Fletcher class vessels began in mid October 1939, when the U.S. Navy General Board stated the initial characteristics requirements for their new destroyers. The Navy needed a larger and more versatile, multipurpose destroyers, to replace the then principle Benson/Livermore tyoe ships, which were the final deve. The USS Hammann (DD-412) was a Sims class destroyer that was commissioned in 1939. In 1942, she rescued men from the stricken aircraft carrier Lexington. However, she may be best known for her final moments, in the Battle of Midway.

Having rescued the crew of the badly-damaged USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, it remained alongside to assist with repairs when the ships were attacked by a Japanese I-168 submarine, the Hammann eventually taking a torpedo and sinking. The Tamiya model kit faithfully captures all the details of this historic ship. Tamiya's designers have taken great care in researching the archives to bring the avid modeler the most accurate scale model.