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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

TORPEDO SHIPS

"S", "T", "U", "V" and "W" destroyers (1943 - 1944)

Grenville 1944

Savage 1944

nearly sister-ship Relentless as type 15 1967

Undine 1963

Troubridge (also Ulster, Zest) 1963

Termagant 1953

Tenacious 1963

  

Data variant	as completed
Displacement standard, t	1780 - 1810
Displacement full, t	2505 - 2545
Length, m	103.5 pp 110.6 oa
Breadth, m	10.9
Draught, m	4.32 - 4.37 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	40000
Max speed, kn	36.75
Fuel, t	oil 588
Endurance, nm(kts)	4675(20)
Armament	4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Savage: 1 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 2 x 1 - 114/45 QF Mk IV, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Ulysses, Volage, Whelp, Wessex: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Scorpion: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Terpsichore, Urchin: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Troubridge, Tyrian: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Tuscan: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC) Tumult: 4 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 x 1 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70 - 130 DC)
Sensors	Savage, Tumult: type 272, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar other S, T: type 271, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar Grenville, Ulysses, Undaunted, Undine, Ursa, Hardy, Vigilant, Kempenfelt: type 272, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar Urchin, Ulster, Urania, other V, W: type 276, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
Complement	180 - 225

Project history: By designing of 8 ships of "S" class, ordered in 1941, attempt considerably has been made to strengthen antiaircraft armament as at the expense of replacing of 40mm quadruple pompom by the newest twin 40mm Bofors-Hazemayer MG with radar fire control, and 120mm/45 guns in mounts with elevation angle increased to 55°. Shield of this mount had strongly oblique face, that together with stem fulfilled on Tribal class with bigger, than at "J" class, declination (for decrease of splashing on full speed), gave to the new ships very elegant appearance. Under the design armament supplemented 4 single Oerlikons, however by the moment of the completion there was a possibility to change them on the twins. At the same time, because of an availability delay, Hazemayers have not got on Scorpion and Savage on which their absence indemnified by increasing of Oerlikons number. Latter has been chosen for tests of twin 114mm DP turret mount created for "Battle" class: the first in the RN, intended for placing on so small ship as destroyer. Two single mounts of same 114mm calibre were placed aft, in order to avoid problems with supply by shells of two different types. Thus, this destroyer carried at once two new artillery systems (114mm single mounts were planned to be installed on subsequent destroyer classes).

The ships of two following classes, "Т" and "U", were designed on "S" class specification (difference was only in absence of the Arctic equipment). Shortage of Hazemayers has also affected: only three ships of "T" class were entered service with designed armament. Tumult was equipped with two experimental fixed torpedo tubes instead of the TT No1, soon after completion they were removed and replaced by regular TT bank.

The last 16 ships of "V" and "W" classes differed by Arctic equipment ("V" class, demounted early 1945) and transition to a new fire control system ("W" class). Only three of them not received Hazemayers.

Modernizations: mid-1943, Tumult: - 2 x 1 - 533 TT; + 1 x 4 - 533 TT

early 1944, Terpsichore: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX

early 1944, Troubridge, Tyrian, Tumult: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX

early 1944, Tuscan: - 1 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX

1944, Scorpion: - 1 x 2 - 20/70; + 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1945, almost all: - type 271 radar or type 272 radar, type 291 radar; + type 276 radar, type 293 radar

1945, Saumarez, Urania, Venus, Vigilant: - 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Termagant, Tumult, Tuscan: - 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 5 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Troubridge, Teazer, Tenacious, Terpsichore, Tyrian, Sioux: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Urchin: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 1 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX

1945, Volage: - 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 6 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Verulam: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Kempenfelt, Wager, Wessex, Whelp: + 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Wakeful: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1945, Wizard: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1/1946, Saumarez: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Scourge: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Savage: 1 x 2 - 114/45 RP.10 Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 114/45 Mk V, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Teazer, Tenacious: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Termagant: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 5 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Troubridge, Tyrian: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Terpsichore: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP MK XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Tumult: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 5 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Tuscan: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 5 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Grenville, Ulster, Undaunted, Undine, Ursa: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Urania: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Ulysses: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Urchin: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP MK XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Venus, Vigilant: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Verulam: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Virago: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Volage: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Kempenfelt, Wager: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Wakeful: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Whirlwind, Wrangler: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Wizard: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Whelp, Wessex: 4 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XXII, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (130), type 276, type 285, type 291 or type 293 radars, type 144 sonar

1952, Verulam, Vigilant, Virago, Volage, Wrangler; 1953, Ulster, Ulysses, Venus, Wakeful, Whirlwind; 1954, Grenville, Undaunted, Undine, Urania, Urchin, Ursa, Wizard; 1956, Algonquin; 1957, Troubridge. as Type 15 frigates had taken fully new silhouette, forecastle was enlarged and new aluminium alloy superstructure fitted. Data as given in the table.

late 1950s, early conversions: - 2 x 1 - 533 TT

1950s, Grenville, Undaunted: + flight deck for helicopter

1952, Teazer, Tenacious; 1953, Termagant, Terpsichore, Tuscan, Tyrian; 1954, Tumult: were converted to Type 16 frigates with data as given is the table.

Naval service: Swift 24.6.1944 was mined and sunk at Normandy coast. Hardy 30.1.1944 was sunk by an acoustic torpedo from German submarine U278. Tuscan 14.5.1943 was stricken by drifting mine and has failed for a long time. Ulster 1.4.1945 was damaged by close kamikaze strike and was under repair till August, 1945. Wizard in May, 1944 was badly damaged by explosion of own depth charges and has failed till April, 1945. Saumarez and Volage in 22.10.1946 were stricken by the mines laid by the Albanian pirates in Corfu Straits. Saumarez was too badly damaged and never repaired. Savage and Teazer used in propulsive tests in 1950s.

Ulster 1960

Teazer 1957

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15