Modified "W" destroyers (1919-1924)
Wanderer 1919
Volunteer 1941
Worcester 1942
Wolverine 1942
Vansittart 1943
Whitshed 1944
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| 1st order (1/1918), Admiralty design | |||||||
| Whitehead | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 1918 | 6.1918 | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Wye | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1918 | 11.1918 | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Venomous (ex-Venom) | G98, D75 | John Brown, Clydebank | 5.1918 | 21.12.1918 | 6.1919 | BU 3.1947 | |
| Verity | F36, D63 | John Brown, Clydebank | 5.1918 | 19.3.1919 | 9.1919 | BU 3.1947 | |
| Volunteer | D71 | Denny, Dumbarton | 4.1918 | 17.4.1919 | 11.1919 | BU 3.1947 | |
| Vansittart | D64 | Beardmore, Dalmuir | 7.1918 | 17.4.1919 | 11.1919 | BU 2.1946 | |
| Wanderer | D74 | Fairfield, Govan | 8.1918 | 1.5.1919 | 9.1919 | BU 1.1946 | |
| Whitehall | D94 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend / Chatham DYd | 6.1918 | 11.9.1919 | 7.1924 | BU 10.1945 | |
| Wren | D88, D98 | Yarrow, Scotstoun / Pembroke DYd | 6.1918 | 11.11.1919 | 1.1923 | sunk 27.7.1940 | |
| Vimy (ex-Vantage) | Beardmore, Dalmuir | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Votary | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 12.1918 | ||
| Warren | Fairfield, Govan | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Welcome | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Welfare | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Thornycroft specials | |||||||
| Wishart | D67 | Thornycroft, Woolston | 5/1918 | 18.7.1919 | 6/1920 | BU 3.1945 | |
| Witch | GA6, D89 | Thornycroft, Woolston / Devonport DYd | 6/1918 | 11.11.1919 | 3/1924 | BU 7.1946 | |
| 2nd order (4/1918), Admiralty design | |||||||
| Witherington | D76 | White, Cowes | 9.1918 | 16.1.1919 | 10.1919 | BU 3.1947 | |
| Whitshed | FA7, D77 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 6.1918 | 31.1.1919 | 7.1919 | BU 2.1947 | |
| Wivern | D66 | White, Cowes | 8.1918 | 16.4.1919 | 12.1919 | BU 2.1947 | |
| Veteran | D72 | John Brown, Clydebank | 8.1918 | 26.4.1919 | 11.1919 | sunk 26.9.1942 | |
| Wild Swan | D62 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 7.1918 | 17.5.1919 | 11.1919 | sunk 17.6.1942 | |
| Wolverine | D78 | White, Cowes | 10.1918 | 17.7.1919 | 7.1920 | BU 1.1946 | |
| Werewolf | White, Cowes (ex-Swan Hunter, Wallsend) | 1918 | 17.7.1919 | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Worcester, 1945- Yeoman | D96 | White, Cowes / Portsmouth DYd | 12.1918 | 24.10.1919 | 9.1922 | damaged 23.12.1943, never repaired, BU 9.1946 | |
| Watson | Fairfield, Govan / Devonport DYd | 1918 | 1919 | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Vashon | Beardmore, Dalmuir | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Vengeful | Beardmore, Dalmuir | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Vigo | John Brown, Clydebank | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Virulent | John Brown, Clydebank | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Volage | John Brown, Clydebank | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Volcano | John Brown, Clydebank | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Wistful (ex-Vigorous) | John Brown, Clydebank | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Wager | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Wake | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Waldegrave | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Walton | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Whitaker | Denny, Dumbarton | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Wave | Fairfield, Govan | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Weazel | Fairfield, Govan | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| White Bear | Fairfield, Govan | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Wellesley | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Wheeler | Scotts, Greenock | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Whip | Scotts, Greenock | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Whippet | Scotts, Greenock | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1918 | ||
| Whelp | Scotts, Greenock | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Willoughby | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 12.1918 | ||
| Winter | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 12.1918 | ||
| Westphal | White, Cowes (ex-Swan Hunter, Wallsend) | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Westward Ho | White, Cowes (ex-Swan Hunter, Wallsend) | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Wrangler | Yarrow, Scotstoun (ex-White, Cowes) | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 9.1919 | ||
| Yeoman | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Zealous | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Zebra | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
| Zodiac | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1918 | --- | --- | cancelled 4.1919 | ||
|
Displacement normal, t |
1325 |
|
Displacement full, t |
Admiralty design: 1508 Thornycroft specials: 1530 |
|
Length, m |
95.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
Admiralty design: 9.00 Thornycroft specials: 9.37 |
|
Draught, m |
Admiralty design: 3.20 Thornycroft specials: 2.90 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Whitehall, Whitehead, Whitshed, Wild Swan, Willoughby, Winter: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Wivern, Witherington, Wolverine, Worcester, Werewolf, Westphal, Westward Ho: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 White-Forster boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
Admiralty design: 27000 Thornycroft specials: 30000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
Admiralty design: 34 Thornycroft specials: 35 |
|
Fuel, t |
Admiralty design: oil 367 Thornycroft specials: oil 374 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3210(15) |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 120/45 BL Mk I, 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk II or 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15 - 20 DC) |
|
Complement |
127 |
Project history: A Repeat 'W' class of 16 boats was ordered in January 1918, followed by 38 more in March-April, but only 9 of the first order and 7 of the second survived the wholesale cancellations which followed the Armistice. As before Thornycroft were permitted to build two to their own design, with added freeboard and more powerful machinery. The dimensions of the 'V&W' classes were followed but with a slightly different stern.
Because of the big sizes of new guns it was necessary to raise a little the bridge for review improvement that has led to weighting of a fore end and some deterioration of seaworthiness. This lack of the new ships was obvious at a designing phase, therefore at the initiative of Thornycroft which had an order on 2 ships, design received serious changes. For the expense of re-planning of boiler rooms on Wishart and Witch the second funnel managed to be removed aft, having exempted place for the bridge which was now distant from a stem notably further, than at Admiralty designed destroyers, that notably lightened a fore end. Only Thornycroft-built ships of 1st series were built in a similar way, and remaining not to delay limits for the readiness, have decided to build on invariable design. Therefore outwardly these destroyers practically did not differ from the predecessors of "V/W" classes. Ideas of Thornycroft were completely embodied in the design of ships of the next order (April, 1918). Outwardly they differed from 1st series by the bridge displaced in a stern and funnels, first of which was thicker, than second (on all earlier ships it was contrary).
The two sets of triple TT were repeated but the 120mm BL gun of the Shakespeare and Scott classes replaced the 102mm Mk.V, marking a major increase in gunpower. All were completed after the Armistice, most between April 1919 and July 1920, but Whitehall was towed to Chatham DYd and not completed until July 1924, Wren was completed at Pembroke DYd in January 1923 and Worcester was completed at Portsmouth in September 1922. The order for Watson was transferred to Devonport DYd and she is reported to have been launched in 1919 to clear the slip. Similarly Werewolf, Westphal and Westward Ho were transferred from J S While to Swan Hunter and Wrangler was transferred from J S White to Yarrow. As part of the November 1918 cancellation material for Whelp was transferred to Pembroke DYd, material for Watson to Devonport DYd, material for Warren to Chatham DYd and Vigo's boilers were transferred to Whelp.
Modernizations: 1924, all: AA armament consisted of 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II
1930s, all: + type 124 or type 127 sonar
spring - summer 1940, all: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V
1941 - 1942, all but Wren and Worcester: - 1 x 1 - 120/45 ("Y"); + 2 DCT, 1 DCR ( DCs stowage was 70 - 98 pcs)
1941 - 1942, most: + type 271, type 286 radars
(1 - 8.1942), Venomous, (5 - 8.1942), Whitehall; (1 - 5.1943), Wanderer; (4 - 10.1943), Verity: 1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 450t, engine power decreased to 15 000hp, maximal speed was 24.5kts, full displacement was 1730-1760t; - 1 x 1 - 120/45 ("A"), 1 x 1 - 76/40, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, type 124 or type 127 sonar; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 144 sonar
late 1942, Vansittart, Volunteer, Wishart, Witch, Whitshed, Witherington, Wivern, Wolverine, Worcester: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
(8/1942 - 1.1943), Volunteer; (1 - 6.1943), Vansittart: 1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 450t, engine power decreased to 15 000hp, maximal speed was 24.5kts, full displacement was 1730-1760t; - 1 x 3 - 533 TT
1943 - 1944, Volunteer, Veteran, Wolverine: - 1 x 1 - 120/45 ("A"), type 124 or type 127 sonar; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 144 sonar
1943 - 1944, Vansittart, Volunteer, Wanderer, Venomous, Verity, Whitehall, Wishart, Witch: - 2 x 1 - 40/39; + (2 - 3) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
1943 - 1944, most: - type 286 radar; + type 291 radar
1944, Witherington: - 1 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 - 76/40, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (DCs stowage was 20 pcs); + 1 x 2 - 57/47 6pdr 10cwt QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII
1944, Whitshed, Wivern: - 1 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (DCs stowage was 20 pcs); + 1 x 2 - 57/47 6pdr 10cwt QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII
late 1944, Witherington, Whitshed, Wivern: - 1 x 1 - 40/39; + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk.II/IV
1/1946, Venomous: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1/1946, Verity: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1/1946, Volunteer: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1/1946, Vansittart: 3 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
1/1946, Wanderer: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1/1946, Witch: 3 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
1/1946, Witherington: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 2 - 57/47 Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (20), type 271, type 291 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
1/1946, Whitshed: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 1 x 2 - 57/47 Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (20), type 271, type 291 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
1/1946, Wivern: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 1 x 2 - 57/47 Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (20), type 271, type 291 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
1/1946, Wolverine: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk VI, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 2 x 1 - 40/39 HA Mk II, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
Naval service: Wren 27.7.1940 was sunk by German He 111 bombers off British coast. Wild Swan 17.6.1942 was badly damaged by German Ju 88 bombers, soon collided with Spanish trawler in 100nm S of Ireland and sunk. Veteran 26.9.1942 was sunk by German submarine U404 off Sothern coast of Iceland. Worcester was mined in the North Sea 23.12.1943, badly damaged, not repaired and used as hulk; renamed Yeoman in 1945.
Whitshed
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15