The REUBEN JAMES (DD-245) in October of 1941, as lost. The ship is camouflaged in early Measure 2, with a graded system of Light Grey, Ocean Grey, and Dark Grey. The early paints were not as blue as the later versions.
REUBEN JAMES shows the results of the pre-war escort conversion program, with six 3"/50s replacing the former 4" mounts and two banks of torpedo tubes removed. A Y-gun depth charge projector (with reload racks) sits on the quarterdeck, with depth charge racks on the fantail. Five .50-caliber machine guns have been added to the ship, with the fifth gun sitting atop the old amidships searchlight tower - a common modification for the ocean escort CLEMSONs.
REUBEN JAMES would become famous as the first American ship sunk by the Axis during World War II, when the ship was hit by a torpedo from U-552 off Iceland. 100 of her crew were killed in action.