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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

TORPEDO SHIPS

"Battle" destroyers, 1st group (1944 - 1946)

Trafalgar 1945

Sluys 1963

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Armada R14, 1948- D14 658 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 12/1942 9.12.1943 7/1945 BU 11.1965
Barfleur R80, 1948- D80 1691 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 10/1942 1.11.1943 9/1944 BU 6.1966
Cadiz R09, 1948- D79 711 Fairfield, Govan 2/1944 16.9.1944 12/1946 to Pakistan 2.1957 (خیبر [Khaibar])
Camperdown R32, 1948- D32 707 Fairfield, Govan 10/1942 8.2.1944 6/1945 BU 9.1970
Finisterre R55, 1948- D55 708 Fairfield, Govan 12.1942 22.6.1944 9.1945 BU 6.1967
Gabbard R47, 1948- D49 1705 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 5/1943 16.3.1945 4/1946 to Pakistan 1.1957 (بدر [Badr])
Gravelines R24, 1948- D24 1127 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 8.1943 30.11.1944 6.1946 BU 4.1961
Hogue D74, R74, 1948- D74 1124 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 1/1943 21.4.1944 7/1945 BU 3.1962
Lagos R44, 1948- D44 1125 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 4/1943 4.8.1944 11.1945 BU 6.1967
St. James R65, 1948- D65 712 Fairfield, Govan 5.1943 7.6.1945 7/1946 BU 3.1961
St. Kitts R18, 1948- D18 1695 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 9/1943 4.10.1944 4.1946 BU 2.1962
Saintes R84, 1948- D84 660 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 6/1943 19.7.1944 9.1946 BU 9.1972
Sluys R60, 1948- D60 1128 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 11.1943 28.2.1945 9/1946 to Iran 1.1967 (آرتمیس [Artemiz])
Solebay R70, 1948- D70 659 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 2/1943 22.2.1944 10/1945 BU 8.1967
Trafalgar R77, 1948- D77 1693 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 2/1943 12.1.1944 7/1945 BU 7.1970
Vigo R31, 1948- D231 713 Fairfield, Govan 9/1943 27.9.1945 12.1946 BU 12.1964

 

Displacement standard, t

2315 - 2325

Displacement full, t

3290 - 3300

Length, m

108.2 pp 115.5 oa

Breadth, m

12.3

Draught, m

4.62 deep load

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

50000

Max speed, kn

35.75

Fuel, t

oil 727, diesel oil 40

Endurance, nm(kts)

4400(20)

Armament

Armada, Barfleur, Camperdown: 2 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk XI, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Finisterre: 2 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk XI, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Solebay, Trafalgar: 2 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk XI, 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Hogue, Lagos: 2 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk XI, 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Cadiz, Gabbard, St. James, Vigo: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Gravelines, St. Kitts: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 1 x 1 - 40/60 MK VII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Saintes: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Sluys: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

Sensors

Armada, Barfleur, Camperdown, Finisterre, Solebay, Trafalgar, Saintes, Gravelines, Hogue, Lagos, St. Kitts, Solebay: type 275, 2x type 282, type 291, type 293 radars, type 144Q sonar

Cadiz, Gabbard, St. James, Vigo, Sluys: 2x type 262, type 275, 2x type 282, type 291, type 293 radars, type 144Q sonar

Complement

247-308

Project history: The unique destroyer class created in the Britain in days of war taking into account its experience and taken symbolical part in operations. Works on the design of new destroyer of the 1942 Programme have begun in summer of previous year. For the first time in British practice DP guns in highly mechanized mounts and corresponding fire control system were provided. As a starting point for designing "L" class destroyers had been chosen, which dimensions have a little increased (basically a hull breadth) for arranging of heavier armament consisting of two twin 120mm DP turrets with 80° elevation angle, three twin 40mm Boforses with radar control, 6 single 20mm Oerlikons and two quadruple TTs. All main guns took places in a bow since experience of the first years of war has shown, that British destroyers seldom shoot aft. This decision later served as a reason to design criticism. It is necessary to mark, however, that "B" mount was installed freely enough, had circular rotation and "dead" aft sector was not so great, as it seems at first sight.

Transition to usage of a high-parameters steam (pressure of 50kgf/cm2, in comparison with 21 kgf/cm2 on previous classes, since "A") became the important innovation.

In March, 1942 the important decision to transition from 120mm to 114mm guns having the best ballistic characteristics and more heavy shell was accepted. The unitary cartridge developed for this gun has appeared too heavy for work with it on such small ships as destroyers. Therefore the gun (is more exact, its breech) has been re-designed to separate loading. Test of new artillery system has passed on destroyer Savage ("S" class). Simultaneously armament included 102mm/40 DP gun for star shells (instead of a traditional searchlight) and have increased to 4 number of twin Boforses. For raise of antiaircraft artillery efficiency it was supposed to equip the ships with stabilizers, but they have appeared only on Camperdown.

The order for the first 12 ships of new class was given out in April, 1942. Names for them there were the names of battles of British Army and Navy, as has given the general name of a series, "Battle". 4 more ships were ordered in August, 1942.

In 1944 design received last changes, concerning antiaircraft armament: additional single Boforses have appeared instead of Oerlikons, unsuccessful 102mm  gun was replaced by 2 Boforses.

Modernizations:

1/1946, Armada, Barfleur, Hogue, Camperdown: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 102/45 HA Mk III, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Hazemeyer Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60)

1/1946, Finisterre: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 102/45 HA Mk III, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Hazemeyer Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60)

1/1946, Solebay, Trafalgar: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

1/1946, Hogue, Lagos: 2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk IV, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 MK III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60 DC)

late 1940s, Saintes: - 2 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2x type 262 radars, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

late 1940s, Armada, Barfleur, Camperdown: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 2 - 40/60, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2x type 262 radars, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

late 1940s, Finisterre: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 2 - 40/60, 2 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2x type 262 radars, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

late 1940s, Solebay, Trafalgar: - 2 x 2 - 40/60, 2 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2x type 262 radars, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

late 1940s, Hogue, Lagos, Cadiz, Gabbard, St. James, Vigo, Gravelines, St. Kitts: - 2 x 2 - 40/60, 2 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2x type 262 radars, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

late 1940s, Sluys: + 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk IV ASWRL, type 147B sonar

early 1960s, Camperdown, Saintes, Cadiz, Gabbard: - 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG, 2x type 262 radars; + 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5

Naval service: Hogue was badly damaged in collision with Indian cruiser Mysore in 1959 (fore part from "A" turret was broken off) and disarmed in 1961.

Many thanks to Borys Estrin for additional information on this page.

St. James 1946

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15