nearly sister-ship Viscount 1918
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Valkyrie (ex-Malcolm) | F83, F86, F05 | Denny, Dumbarton | 5/1916 | 13.3.1917 | 6/1917 | BU 9.1936 | |
| Valentine (ex-Bruce) | F99, F30, D49, L69 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 8/1916 | 24.3.1917 | 6/1917 | sunk 15.5.1940 | |
| Valorous (ex-Montrose) | F92, G00, G20, L00 | Denny, Dumbarton | 5/1916 | 8.5.1917 | 8/1917 | BU 3.1947 | |
| Vampire (ex-Wallace), (10/1933- RAN) | F0A, G70, G50, D68 | White, Cowes | 10/1916 | 21.5.1917 | 9/1917 | sunk 9.4.1942 | |
| Valhalla (ex-Douglas) | F9A, G25, G45 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 8/1916 | 22.5.1917 | 7.1917 | BU 12.1931 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1188 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1400 |
|
Length, m |
95.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
9.00 |
|
Draught, m |
3.20 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
Vampire: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 White-Forster boilers Valentine, Valhalla: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Valorous, Valkyrie: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
27000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
34 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 367 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
2600(15) |
|
Armament |
4 õ 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 1 DCR (10) Vampire: 4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCR (10) |
|
Complement |
115 |
Project history: The new 'R' class promised to be able lo outstrip existing flotilla leaders and so the DNC was asked to design a new leader capable of a nominal speed of 34kts. The design which resulted was submitted in April 1916, and had the armament of the Parker class, but with superimposed new QF Mk.V guns aft as well as forward. Accommodation was better and the bridge was 4.6m further aft, but the overall length was 4.6m less. Even cost compared favourably, for at £200,000 the new leader would be £50,000 cheaper than the Lightfoot and only £6000 more than some of the Yarrow 'M' and 'R' class. The first two orders were placed with Denny Bros in April 1916, followed by three more from J S White and Cammell Laird in July, with delivery to be from June 1917. The new leaders were a great improvement over previous designs, with good seakeeping and a powerful armament, but ultimately served as divisional or half-leaders, as even more powerful leaders followed them into service quite quickly. They had a distinctive appearance, with a tall, thin fore funnel and a short fatter second funnel. They were distinguishable from the later 'V&W' boats by having a compass platform forward of the searchlight platform amidships.
By the end of 1930 "V" and "W" classes become outdated and were partly sold for BU and the majority of the remained was laid up to reserve. In 1938 it was offered to convert them to fast AA escorts. It allowed to supplement fleet with so necessary ships till 1940 when completion of the first special "Hunt" class ships was expected. In total under the program which has named "WAIR" it was supposed to rearm 20 "V" and "W" classes destroyers.
During their conversion all old armaments were replaced by 2 twin 102mm DP guns fore and aft and 2 quadruple 12.7mm MGs. Fwd superstructure became box-shaped and bigger. Works on the hull were limited to the insignificant re-planning of internal compartments called in basic changes in a construction of magazines, some (nearby by 2m) lengthening of a forecastle and removing of side oil fuel tanks over wl.
Modernizations: early 1920s, Valentine, Valhalla, Valorous, Valkyrie: - 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + 2 x 3 - 533 TT
1920s, Valhalla: + type 114 sonar
1920s, Valorous: + type 115 sonar
1930s, many: + type 124 or type 127 sonar
(11/1938 - 6.1939), Valorous; (6/1939 - 4.1940), Valentine: - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT (25 DC for 2 DCT and 1 DCR)
early 1940, Vampire: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT
1941 - 1942, Valorous: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
1942, Valorous: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 285 radar
1943-1944, Valorous: DC stowage rose up to 30 - 45, full displacement was 1665 - 1710 t, fuel stowage has fallen to 325 t; + type 286P, type 271 radars
1/1946, Valorous: 2 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (45), type 285, type 286P, type 271 radars, type 124 or type 127 sonar
Naval service: Vampire 9.4.1942 was sunk by Japanese D3A1 bombers from Akagi and Hiryu W of Ceylon. Valentine was sunk by German Ju 87 bombers 15.5.1940 in a mouth of Schelde.
Valentine 1919
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15