The Fletcher-class destroyers didnt quite meet the requirements of the U.S. Navy: The ships contours and inadequate AA defenses were subject to criticism. The new class of destroyers had an elongated hull, which resulted in an increase in displacement but solved the stability issue. Most of the ships entered service after the end of World War II and served in the navies of 12 countries during the Cold War. USS Gearing didnt participate in World War II either—she was used to conduct training operations in the 1940s and 1950s.