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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

TORPEDO SHIPS

"S" destroyers (1918-1924)

Sardonyx 1919

Thracian 1939

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: 1919, Senator: - flying-off platform and plane

1930s, many survived: + type 124 or type 127 sonar

1938-1939, Stronghold, Sturdy, Thracian: - 1 x 1 - 102/40, 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + rails for 40 mines

late 1939, Scimitar: magnetic sweeps were tested (temporarily, to early 1940)

late 1940-early 1941, Sabre, Saladin, Shikari, Sardonyx, Scimitar, Scout: - 2 x 1 - 102/40, 1 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 6 DCT, 1 DCR (70 DCs totally)

late 1941-early 1942, Sabre, Saladin, Shikari, Sardonyx, Scimitar, Scout: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1941-1942, most survived: + type 286 radar

1942-1943, Shikari: + type 271 radar

late 1942-early 1943, Sabre, Saladin, Sardonyx: - 4 DCT; full displacement was 1400t

late 1942-early 1943, Shikari: - 1 x 1 - 76/40, 4 DCT (40 DCT totally); full displacement was 1385t

1943 - 1944, many survived: - type 286 radar; + type 291 radar

1/1946, Scimitar: 1 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk III, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 291 radar, type 124 or type 127 sonar

1/1946, Scout: 1 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk III, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 124 or type 127 sonar

1/1946, Saladin: 1 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk III, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 124 or type 127 sonar

Naval service: Speedy collided with merchant vessel in Sea of Marmara 24.9.1922. Tobago was stricken by Russian mine in Black sea 12.11.1920 and written off as constructive total loss. Tryphon stranded in Mediterranean 4.5.1919, declared as CTL and sold for scrap on Malta in September, 1920. Stonehendge wrecked near Smyrna 6.11.1920. Sturdy 30.10.1940 wrecked on rocks W of Scotland when escorting convoy. Thracian 24.12.1941 was badly damaged by Japanese aircraft at Hong Kong, ran aground, soon captured by enemy. Subsequently she was repaired commissioned by Japanese Navy 25.11.1942 as "Patrol No101". In September, 1945 she was returned to Britain but not entered Fleet list and handed over on BU. Thanet was sunk by Japanese cruisers Sendai and Yubari and destroyers Asagiri and Fubuki 27.1.1942 at coast of Malaya. Stronghold was sunk by Japanese cruiser Maya and destroyers Arashi and Nowake S of Java 2.3.1942. Tenedos was sunk by Japanese carrier bombers D3A1 at Colombo 5.4.1942.

Tilbury

Speedy

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15