USS Halford

Let's Talk about a Ship:

USS Halford

Interesting Experimental  Aviation Destroyer

Fast History:

Statistics (before conversion to a conventional destroyer in 1944)

• Launched in October 1942

• 376.6 feet long

• 2,050 tons

• Original Armament: 4 5-inch/38 cal. guns, 1 quintuple 21-inch (533m) torpedo tube swivel.

• Anti-Aircraft Armament: 2 Bofors 40mm guns, 8 Oerlikon 20mm m.g.s.

• Aircraft: 1 catapult with up to 3 Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes.

• The USS Halford is known for being one of three Fletcher-class Aviation Destroyers. She carried three Kingfisher floatplanes, which were launched from a catapult, implemented by removing one 5-inch gun and one quintuple torpedo tube swivel. In 1943, Halford was sent to the Pacific Theater to help screen and scout for the Carrier Group. However, due to the growing effectiveness of the aircraft carrier, Halford returned to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in October 1943 for a refit that removed the catapult and its planes.

 Armament Statistics (After conversion to a conventional destroyer )

• Main Armament: 5 5-inch/38 cal. guns, 2 quintuple 21-inch (533m) torpedo tube swivels.

• Anti-Aircraft armament: 6 Bofors 40mm guns, 11 Oerlikon 20mm m.g.s.

• After Halford's conversion to a conventional destroyer in October 1943, she screened troopships heading for Guadalcanal, defending against submarines. Halford sailed with Admiral Jesse Oldendorf at the battle of Surigao Strait in  late 1944, participated in the recapture of the Philippines, and occupied Ominato Naval Base in September 1945. Halford was decomissioned on May 16, 1946, and she was scrapped in 1970.

World of Warships: Blitz Stats

• Recommended playstyle: Get in the capture circle, use dive-bombers to scout out Shimakazes, and HE-spam on destoyers while laying smoke.

• Great Scouting abilites

• Ship Consumables: 4 x Engine Boost I, 2 x Smoke Generator II, 3 x AA Defence II, 2 x Sonar I.

• In a Domination battle, stay at medium range, stealth torpedo and scout.

• Planes are Essex bombers: 12 F8F Bearcats; 1 squadron of 4; 35% of setting fire.

• You will not, and cannot take on a battleship in a torping run; Halford only has one launcher.

• Dispersion fairly good, but try focusing on scouting.

• Use torps for area denial.

• NEVER show your broadside to a BB with MORE THAN 8 GUNS; they will delete you! 

• Our friend, LordJim, has kindly released a helpful video on the Halford!

• Link to his channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LordJimWowBlitz