STALWART destroyers (1918-1919/1919)
Stalwart 1919
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| 1st order (4/1917), Admiralty design | |||||||
| Success | F1A | Doxford, Pallion, UK | 1918 | 29.6.1918 | 4.1919 // 6.1919 | BU 6.1937 | |
| Swordsman | F3A | Scotts, Greenock, UK | 1918 | 28.12.1918 | 3.1919 // 6.1919 | BU 6.1937 | |
| 2nd order (6/1917), Admiralty design | |||||||
| Stalwart | F4A | Swan Hunter, Wallsend, UK | 4.1918 | 23.10.1918 | 12.1918 // 6.1919 | BU 6.1937 | |
| Tasmania | G97 | Beardmore, Dalmuir, UK | 12.1917 | 22.11.1918 | 1.1919 // 6.1919 | BU 6.1937 | |
| Tattoo | F2A | Beardmore, Dalmuir, UK | 12.1917 | 28.12.1918 | 1/1919 // 6.1919 | BU 1.1937 | |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1075 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1225 |
|
Length, m |
84.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
8.16 |
|
Draught, m |
2.75 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
27000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
36 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 301 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
2750(15) |
|
Armament |
3 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR |
|
Complement |
90 |
Project history: When it was realised
that reports of new German destroyer armaments had been exaggerated the
Controller suggested in February 1917 that destroyer construction should revert
to Modified 'R' class. They would be cheaper, faster to build, and 2kts faster.
Several improvements were incorporated after consultation with Captains (D) and
the various Commands. These included the provision of
more TT, a 'trawler' bow or sharply sheered
forecastle and a turtleback
forecastle. The original proposal for the 450mm TT was
for single fixed tubes firing 'cold' torpedoes, but the Admiralty
design was given training tubes, which meant that the
forecastle plating had to be cut away to allow the tube to train. This made the
boats very wet, for the open forecastle permitted spray to be thrown up over the
bridge. In the Thornycroft design two tubes were fixed athwartships,
firing through a narrow aperture, so the problem was avoided. The torpedoes were
fired by the CO, who carried two trailing leads in his pockets, permitting him
to fire at targets of opportunity. The Thornycroft boats also carried the
forecastle gun on a raised platform, further improving seakeeping. As weight was
critical in the Admiralty design it was soon realised
that the weight of the single 450mm TT was too much,
and the later boats were completed without them, to permit the heavier Mk.V
533mm torpedoes to be carried in the midships TT. In
June 1918 Senator was fitted with an aircraft
platform aft, allowing an aircraft to takeoff when the
destroyer went full speed astern.
Orders were placed for 24 boats in
April 1917, followed by 33 more in June, but Saturn
and Sycamore were cancelled in 1919.
Only 19 were completed by the Armistice. The class were completed from April
1918 to October 1919 apart from Shikari and
Thracian.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: No significant events.
© Ivan Gogin, 2015