In 1932, while the Hallettsville Class destroyers were starting their first refits, the Oakwood Class was commissioned:
The Oakwoods were the last new-build ships in the Texas Navy, replacing the 12 units of the Dallas Class over the next three years. By 1932, the Great Depression and the Dust-Bowl era had hit the Texas economy hard. After 1932, no new ships would be authorized for a five year period - only refits and rebuilds to keep costs down. The Oakwoods and four submarines, the S-18 Class, were allowed because they had been contracted before Congress imposed the restriction.
The Oakwoods were considered the best of the pre-war destroyers - fitted with the first fire directors installed for a dual-purpose battery (modified US Mk33s). Though they were extremely limited in capability, they provided an initial means of directing centralized fire agains aircraft.
Popular sentinement said the Oakwoods were what the Madisonville class
should have been, and what the Hallettsvilles aspired to be.