I was on the Richard E. Byrd, DDG 23, in the early seventies. That class was supposedly one of MacNamera’s brain farts. The ship was designed as a multi-mission platform with electronics out the wazoo. A lot of the equipment still used vacuum tubes in that era. I was told that was one reason for the aluminum superstructure. Even then, the ship was top heavy. The ship rolled like you wouldn’t believe in storms.
The ship was sold to the Greek Navy for spare parts. They last used it for missile practice. From the picture that’s on the internet, I didn’t see the aluminum superstructure melting/burning.
I don't think you can blame Strange. The Adams class DDGs were designed and ordered during the Eisenhower Administration.
I rode the Benjamin Stoddert (another Adams class, DDG-22) through a typhoon and I thought she did VERY VERY well. Cut through 30ft wave like they were barely there. And yes, it was a rough ride...we were order to use our belts to strap ourselves into our racks to prevent injury. We saw blue water out the portals on the mess deck.
That said, nobody was eating or sleeping anyway. Even the saltiest of sailors were sick.
My assessment is based on the fact I was accustomed to flat-bottom amphibs at the time. Ever see 2,000 Marines sea-sick at the same time? It's a mess like you would not believe.