October 1942 is the date on the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) microfilm of the outboard profile drawing (above) from the
Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. set for 1,630-ton DDs 483–490 (
Aaron Ward,
Buchanan,
Duncan,
Lansdowne,
Lardner,
McCalla,
Mervine and
Quick), commissioned the previous May–July. The drawing, which contains
Aaron Ward’s hull number, shows four 5-inch guns and one quintuple torpedo mount. The corresponding general arrangement drawings (below) also show side-by-side 40mm twin Bofors anti-aircraft guns aft, but this fit was not available until June 1942. Thus at least
Aaron Ward and her five DesRon 12 sisters (DDs 483–488) initially carried the earlier arrangement of a 1.1-inch cannon to starboard and a 20mm single Oerlikon to port in this position.
Click on any image to view it in more detail.
