St. Croix 1942
St. Francis 1943
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Buxton (ex-DD265 Edwards) | H96 | Bethlehem, Squantum, USA | 4/1918 | 10.10.1918 | 4/1919 // 9.1942 | to UK 6.1945 | |
| St. Croix (ex-DD252 McCook) | I81 | Bethlehem, Quincy, USA | 9.1918 | 31.1.1919 | 4.1919 // 9.1940 | sunk 20.9.1943 | |
| St. Francis (ex-DD256 Bancroft) | I93 | Bethlehem, Quincy, USA | 11.1918 | 21.3.1919 | 6.1919 // 9.1940 | collision 14.7.1945 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
1190 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1590 |
|
Length, m |
94.5 wl 95.8 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
9.40 |
|
Draught, m |
3.00 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
exact data is not available in many cases, following machinery composition is somewhat conjectural 2 Curtis steam turbines / 1 geared steam turbine for cruising, 4 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
Buxton: 26000 St. Croix, St. Francis: 27000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
35 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 375 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
5000(14) |
|
Armament |
St. Croix, St. Francis: 4 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 1 x 1 - 76/23 Mk 14, 3 x 1 - 12.7/90, 4 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCR (10 - 15) Buxton: 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 3 x 1 - 12.7/90, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60) |
|
Electronic equipment |
St. Croix, St. Francis: type 141 sonar Buxton: type 271, type 286 radars, type 141 sonar |
|
Complement |
146 |
Project history: In May, 1940 Sir Winston Churchill has suggested US president Roosevelt to take
in 99-year use all English naval and aviation bases in Western hemisphere, in
exchange for 50 old destroyers. Originally the request has been turned down,
however after the heavy losses suffered by Royal Navy in the summer of the same
year, Churchill nevertheless managed to persuade Roosevelt, and 2.9.1940
president has signed the agreement.
Transferred destroyers concerned to numerous
class of "flushdeckers" built in the USA in
1917-1920. Their distinctive feature were flyshdecked
hull silhouette, a rhombic arrangement of main guns and powerful torpedo
armament. Ships were sectioned into some groups, differing by macinery
structure, number of funnels and a fuel stowage.
Transfer passed from September till November, 1940, part at once has arrived to RCN.
Though Admiralty was in great need in the ships for escort of Atlantic convoys,
destroyers received from the USA needed many
modernizing works to use them in this role.
Armament of "flushdeckers" has not undergone some serious changes or 20
years of service and approached for the anti-air and anti-submarine tasks a
little. Besides, insufficient, from the point of view of Admiralty, the
stability of ships demanded acceptance of measures for decrease of the top
weight.
As a whole update of former American destroyers
repeated update to which have undergone in 1940 on old British WWI-era
destroyers: British-constructed sonar was fitted, aft 102mm main gun was changed
by British 3`` AA, and American gun of the same calibre was demounted, as well
as pair of TT mounts. 4 DCTs were installed (rarely 2).
Modernizations: late 1940, St. Francis: - 1 x 1 - 102/50, 1 x 1 - 76/23, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 DCT, DC stowage increased up to 60
late 1940, St. Croix: - 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 4 DCT, DC stowage increased up to 60
1941-1942, most early commissioned ships: + type 271, type 286 radars
1941 - 1943, St. Francis: - 2 x 1 - 102/50, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + (2 - 4) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL. TT was moved to center line.
1942 - 1943, St. Francis: 1 boiler and its funnel were removed. Fuel stowage rose. Engine power and maximal speed were decreased.
1943-1944, some: - type 286 radar; + type 291 radar
Naval service: St. Croix was sunk by German submarine U305 S of Iceland 20.9.1943. St. Francis was sunk 14.7.1945 after collision with s/s Winding Gulf off Rhode Island.
© Ivan Gogin, 2015