USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 Destroyer Museum
at Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts.
Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) Program
The FRAM program of the US Navy was in response to the build up of the
Russian military threat of the cold war. Submarine detection and
destruction was now the priority. The Navy did a study that revealed
that the existent Gearing and Sumner class destroyers could be
modernized to meet these challenges at considerable costs savings over
building new ships. Thus the FRAM I and II came into being with each
ship in these classes being granted its own 18 month yard time.
The
ships were completely stripped to the main deck and all interior
machinery was overhauled or replaced. Electronics and state of the art
weapon systems were to be installed. More specifically, all secondary
WWII weaponry and the No. 2 twin 5in gun were removed. Kennedy received
a pair of Mk32 torpedo tube in place of the No. 2 forward mount. In
addition, Kennedy received an ASROC (Anti Submarine Rocket Launcher)
and control station between her stacks. ASROC fired a rocket at a
submarines position that would parachute out a Mk44 or 46 homing
torpedo in to the water. Looking at the starboard side of the Kennedy
in the adjacent picture, one can see the Mk 32 anti-submarime torpedoes
on the 01 level just under the bridge. These fired a mk 44 or mk 46
homing torpedo. On top of the signal bridge is the Mk37 5" gun fire
control director. This director computes all targetting information for
the twin 5"38 mounts. It also transmits and receives data from both CIC
and the IC compartments within the ship. Notice the cap on the forward
stack ,which was installed on all FRAM destroyers to protect against
nuclear overpressure.
A
hangar deck was created aft to launch and stow a DASH (Drone
Anti-Submarine Helicopter). This is a picture of the Drone Anti
Submarine Helicopter (DASH) aboard Kennedy in the early 60's. It was
supposed to remotely deliver a mk 44 or 46 homing torpedo to a
submarines location and then return to the ship. Though the initial
DASH had some problems, the program was quite successful in many ways
and a improved system would have been a great asset. Some state that
the primary end to DASH was lack of support in the fleet and not due to
malfuctions. Adjacent to the hangar itself was the ASROC stowage
compartment.
The
new ultra low frequency SQS-23 sonar (with a 40,000 yard range) was
installed forward to complement the ASW weaponry as well as an ECM
array installed aft of the ASROC. The adjacent picture shows the
secondary mast on DD850 with the Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and
Electronic Support Measures (ESM) antenna/domes. The domes are part of
the ESM AN/WLR1 system of surveillance. This system allowed for the
accessing of enemy ship and aircraft radio, radar, and navigation
transmissions. This information would reveal the location, type of
enemy weapon systems, and potential threat. On the ends of the mast,
were ECM equipment that tryed to confuse the enemy by interfering with
the enemies communication systems.
The superstructure and interior compartments were totally rebuilt to
accommodate and protect the increased amount of personnel needed to
maintain and operate the new equipment.
The
FRAM project was supposed to add 8-10 years on to the operating lives
of these ships. With Gearings still active in the world, the FRAM was
successful in maintaining technology and firepower.
Want more information about FRAM and it weapons systems? The Kennedy
Restoration Team in Association with Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical
Foundation has put together a informative page. Please goto: http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/fram.htm
A
hangar deck was created aft to launch and stow a DASH (Drone
Anti-Submarine Helicopter). This is a picture of the Drone Anti
Submarine Helicopter (DASH) aboard Kennedy in the early 60's. It was
supposed to remotely deliver a mk 44 or 46 homing torpedo to a
submarines location and then return to the ship. Though the initial
DASH had some problems, the program was quite successful in many ways
and a improved system would have been a great asset. Some state that
the primary end to DASH was lack of support in the fleet and not due to
malfuctions. Adjacent to the hangar itself was the ASROC stowage
compartment.
The
new ultra low frequency SQS-23 sonar (with a 40,000 yard range) was
installed forward to complement the ASW weaponry as well as an ECM
array installed aft of the ASROC. The adjacent picture shows the
secondary mast on DD850 with the Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and
Electronic Support Measures (ESM) antenna/domes. The domes are part of
the ESM AN/WLR1 system of surveillance. This system allowed for the
accessing of enemy ship and aircraft radio, radar, and navigation
transmissions. This information would reveal the location, type of
enemy weapon systems, and potential threat. On the ends of the mast,
were ECM equipment that tryed to confuse the enemy by interfering with
the enemies communication systems. 
The
FRAM project was supposed to add 8-10 years on to the operating lives
of these ships. With Gearings still active in the world, the FRAM was
successful in maintaining technology and firepower.