CUS Miller (DD-1933)

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The news of the new Fubuki class destroyers being trialled in Japan sent a shockwave through the CUA hierarchy. The Fubuki's were more than a match for the Collins type and the previous Four Pipers. The answer for the CUA arrived in two parts. A revamped hull of the Collins class could be speedily produced to take the newly trialled 4.5" turret guns. A mixture of twin and single mountings were to be fitted to make use of the current layout with the new 1.1" AA guns fitted in tubs to round out the dual purpose surface and anti-aircraft weapons.

Fitted with one twin forward and three singles aft of the new 4.5" guns this proved to be a winner and three squadrons were built. The class was outmoded fairly quickly by the later destroyers and these ships spent a lot of their time acting as leaders to the Four Pipers of the Belmont type and the destroyers of the Appalachia/Collins types. In this role they were excellent and received an extension to the bridge structure to house the Capatain D and his staff. Some ships lost the Q turret for a quad 40mm. The others had their quad 1.1" replaced with twin 40mm from 1940 onward. More space was found for depth charge throwers. While the AA armament received more 20mm cannon as space could be found for the mountings. Four of the class went to the UK and operated in the Channel against German Destroyers and E-Boats. Those four ships had two single 20 mm fitted in the eyes of the ship.

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