This book is part three of a six-book series devoted to the destroyer class ships (DD) of the U.S. Navy from 1901 to 2019. Part Three covers the Somers, Dunlap, Benham, Sims, Benson and Gleaves class ships commissioned from 1937 to 1943, over 120 destroyers designated DD-381 to DD-648. A true labor of love, the author Venner Milewski cites the eminent naval historian Samuel L. Morison, who provided his research material and proofed the original manuscript. Ship histories were researched in the Library of Congress and the Naval History and Heritage Command, and hundreds of photos are provided from the Mariners' Museum in Newport News VA. Of interest to modelers will be 20 pages of original camouflage design sheets for measures 31 and 32, with a summary table by DD number.

Starting with a helpful glossary of naval terms and abbreviations, each chapter covers an individual class with information on every ship in that particular class: name/hull #, builder/location, launch and commission dates, and a synopsis of the ship history. Each ship's photograph is included, typically, two or more photos with different camo schemes during WWII. The black and white photographs are exceptionally clear, and will provide modelers with the armament set up for a particular ship at different times during the war. Concluding each class chapter, there is a comprehensive table providing hull dimensions, power plant information, and various armament layouts (by ship and year). Notable destroyers covered in the book with multiple photos include:

• Laffey (DD 459)
• Bailey (DD 492)
• Lansdowne (DD 486)
• Farenholt (DD 491)
• Aaron Ward (DD 483)

all of which served in the Pacific theater, primarily the naval battles of the Guadalcanal campaign. These ships and each DD class have been kitted in 1/350th and 1/700th scale.

Ship model builders and naval historians will enjoy this book. Thanks to Casemate Publishers for the opportunity to review.