Paris class destroyer leader
Although hastily ordered following the launch of the first Fubuki class destroyers, the Paris class was already in the design stage as a flotilla leader. The existing proposals were quickly adjusted to compete with the new destroyers and the first vessel was laid down months after Fubuki launched.
To the rest of the world the Paris looked like the pinnacle of Antaran destroyer engineering, but in truth she ended up with the same problems as the original Fubuki, being very overweight and topheavy. They underwent many adjustments during their service career, mostly the removal of equipment. For half of World War 2, the class served in the Atlantic under the ASW role. As the war progressed they were further modified into radar pickets and were transferred to the Pacific from 1944-1946. They are commonly known as the most forgettable destroyer class in the navy.
Displacement - 2000 tonnes
Armament - 4x2 127m/45 (as built)
4x2 610mm torpedoes (as built)
Speed - 34.5 knots on trials (designed for 37 knots)
Range - 9200nm at 14 knots
(for future reference: I estimated the length of my 5" guns incorrectly, they are in fact L/45s, not L/50s)
One of the first actions to take place after the launch of the first ship, upon the discovery of its faults, was the removal of it's #2 turret, replacement of tripod masts, rebuilding of the forward superstructure, and the removal of the superfiring torpedo launcher.
Once newer, slightly lighter, and dual purpose twin mounts became available, they were mounted in favour of the older versions. The 610mm torpedo launchers were stripped and used aboard newer classes of ships, and in return they were swapped out with older 530mm launchers.
Blackwood was the only member of the class to sink a surface warship, Mochizuki, albeit it was 1946 and she was one of the few IJN destroyers to have enough crew to even sortie, and was very under staffed.
ARS Ellis had the most number of kills in her class, credited with sinking three U-boats from 1941-1943, unassisted.
From 1942, most of the class were outfitted for ASW work in the Atlantic, in terms of camoflauge and the amount of K-guns they tended to carry. Air search radar wasn't a priority in that theater and very few received full radar sets until 1944, when they were converted to radar pickets.
Paris, still in her Atlantic Standard 40, in the Pacific with full radar set and some of her K-guns removed in favour of more 20mm mounts.
The same vessel, in Standard 1 (full grey), as a radar picket.
Ships in class
Paris - scrapped, 1947
Blackwood - scrapped, 1947
Davis - torpedoed by submarine, 1941
Lincoln - scrapped, 1947
Ellis - torpedoed by aircraft, 1944
Langley - mined, 1943