The U.S. Navy's Gearing-class destroyers are an improved version of the Fletcher-class destroyers, with enhanced cruising performance, and are the final development of the Fletcher class. Commissioned in March 1945, initially 152 were planned to be built, but only 98 were produced due to the end of World War II. Most Gearing-class ships were commissioned after the war, and remained active in the U.S. Navy with refurbishment until the 1970s. Ships of this class were widely donated and sold to Western countries, and the last ship was retired in 2014.

The USS Sutherland DD-743 was laid down in 1944, and in 1964, she was refurbished with a focus on improving anti-submarine warfare capabilities based on FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization); she was removed from the register in 1981. This full-hull model kit from Takom comes with decals for four versions and photo-etched parts; a 1/72 MK38 38-caliber 5-inch twin gun is included as a bonus part.

Includes:

• Photo-etched parts
• And decals for 4 markings versions