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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

ESCORTS

KIL patrol gunboats (1917-1918)

Kildary 1918

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Kildary 3800   Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 1.11.1917 1917 sold 2.1920
Kildorough 3801 721 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 16.11.1917 1917 sold 2.1920
Kilfenora 3802 722 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 14.12.1917 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilgobnet 3803 723 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 14.12.1917 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilclare 3804 724 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 14.1.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilchrenan 3805 725 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 15.1.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildavin 3806 726 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 13.2.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildorrey 3807 727 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 14.2.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilfullert 3808 728 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 15.3.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilkeel 3809 729 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 27.3.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilcock 3810 730 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 27.4.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildimo 3811 731 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 27.4.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildysart 3812 732 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 11.5.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilgarvan 3813 733 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 27.5.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilchreest 3814 734 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 8.6.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilham 3815 735 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1917 10.6.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilblane 4001 164 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilbarchan 4002 165 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilberry 4003 117 George Brown, Greenock 1918 2.7.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilbeggan 4004 118 George Brown, Greenock 1918 23.9.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilbirnie 4005 119 George Brown, Greenock 1918 16.5.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilbrachan 4006   George Brown, Greenock 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilbride 4007 637 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1918 21.8.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilbrittain 4008 638 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilburn 4009 636 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1917 28.5.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilby 4010 639 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1918 --- ---  
Kilcar 4011 640 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1918 --- ---  
Kilcavan 4012 641 Hall Russell, Aberdeen 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilchattan 4013   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1917 13.4.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilchvan 4014   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 13.7.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilclief 4015   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 8.10.1918 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilclogher 4016   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 24.10.1918 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilcolgan 4017   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcommon 4018   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilconnell 4019   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcoole 4020   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcorney 4021   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcot 4022   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcreggan 4023   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcullen 4024   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilcurrig 4025   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kildale 4026   Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kildalkey 4027   Cochrane, Selby 1917 13.3.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildangan 4028   Cochrane, Selby 1917 15.3.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildare 4029   Cochrane, Selby 1917 10.4.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kildonan 4030   Cochrane, Selby 1917 11.4.1918 1918 sold 11.1919
Kildress 4031   Cochrane, Selby 1917 13.4.1918 1918 sold 11.1919
Kildwick 4032   Cochrane, Selby 1917 27.4.1918 1918 sold 11.1919
Kilfinny 4033   Cochrane, Selby 1917 10.5.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilfree 4034   Cochrane, Selby 1917 11.5.1918 1918 sold 11.1919
Kilglass 4035   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilgowan 4036   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilkee 4037   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilkenny 4038   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilkenzie 4039   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilkerrin 4040   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Kilkhampton 4041   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killadoon 4042   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killagon 4043   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killaloo 4044   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killane 4045   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killarney 4046   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killary 4047   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killegar 4048   Cochrane, Selby 1918 --- --- cancelled 12.1918
Killena 4049 736 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 9.7.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Killerig 4050 737 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 9.7.1918 1918 sold 11.1920
Killiney 4051 738 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 29.7.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Killour 4052 739 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 9.8.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Killowen 4053 740 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 6.9.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Killybegs 4054 741 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 7.9.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Killygordon 4055 742 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 10.10.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilmacolm 4056 743 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 3.10.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilmacrennan 4057 744 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 5.11.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilmaine 4058 745 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 5.11.1918 1918 sold 2.1920
Kilmallock 4059 746 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 4.12.1918 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmanahan 4060 747 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 17.12.1918 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmarnock 4061 748 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 31.3.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmartin 4062 749 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 31.3.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmead 4063 750 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 1.5.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmelford 4064 751 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 14.5.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmersdon 4065 752 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 30.5.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmington 4066 753 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 30.5.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmore 4067 754 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 17.7.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmuckridge 4068 755 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 28.7.1919 1919 sold 2.1920
Kilmun 4069 756 Smith`s Dock, South Bank 1918 11.10.1919 2.1920 // --- completed as cable vessel

 

Displacement normal, t

895

Displacement full, t

  

Length, m

55.5

Breadth, m

9.15

Draught, m

3.20

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VTE, 1 cylindrical boiler

Power, h. p.

1400

Max speed, kts

13

Fuel, t

coal 330
Endurance, nm(kts)  

Armament

28 ships: 1 x 1 -102/44 BL Mk IX, 2 DCR (12)

11 ships: 1 x 1 -102/44 BL Mk IX, mechanical minesweeping gear

14 ships: unarmed

Complement

39

Project history: In mid-1917 it was decided to build a type of auxiliary escort vessel with greater speed, endurance and seakeeping than trawlers, and from July 1917 orders were placed with six trawler-builders for a series of 'fast trawlers' (reclassified as patrol gunboats in January 1918). Financial approval to build a total of 85 was given in November 1917, as well as a directive giving them priority over the Admiralty 'Strath', 'Castle' and 'Mersey' type trawlers (16 projected 'Castles' ordered from Smith's Dock were cancelled to allow them to take on gunboats 3800-3815, and the same builder was appointed 'parent firm' for the rest. In March 1918 a revision of priorities resulted in the cancellation of 30 gunboat contracts, but material was to be sent to Smith's Dock, who would henceforward be sole builder of the 'Kil' class. All vessels shown as cancelled, except Kilbrachan (George Brown) had been transferred to Smith's Dock by November 1918 (the Kilbrachan was cancelled in December 1918). To mislead U-boats they were given identical bow and stern, and they were given an angular stem and stern reminiscent of a 'paper boat'. Very few were completed by the Armistice, and all formed part of the Auxiliary Patrol, at least 11 being fitted for minesweeping.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: The majority were completed without armament and went straight onto the Sale List, to be snapped up for mercantile conversion. The only one retained by the RN after 1920 was Kilmun, completed as a cable layer in February 1920. She was not sold until September 1946 and was wrecked in January 1950 as s/s Rask. Several were bought back into RN' and Commonwealth naval service in an auxiliary role in the Second World War.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-13