nearly sister-ship Kittiwake 1939
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Guillemot | L89 - K89 | 1334 | Denny, Dumbarton | 8.1938 | 6.7.1939 | 10.1939 | sold 6.1950 |
| Pintail | L21 - K21 | 1335 | Denny, Dumbarton | 8.1938 | 18.8.1939 | 11.1939 | sunk 10.6.1941 |
| Shearwater | L39 - K39 | 1880 | White, Cowes | 8.1938 | 18.4.1939 | 9.1939 | sold 4.1947 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
580 |
|
Displacement full, t |
740 - 745 |
|
Length, m |
71.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
7.77 |
|
Draught, m |
2.67 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
3600 |
|
Max speed, kts |
20 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 160 - 172 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V (HA), 4 DCT, 2 DCR (30) |
| Electronic equipment | presumably type 127 sonar |
|
Complement |
60 |
Project history: Initially classified as coastal sloops. As well as their direct predecessors of "Ð" class intended, first of all, for the ASW service. The beautiful ships, but very poorly adapted to the basic purpose. Their shallow draught was, more likely, a lack, than advantage as overall sonar performance directly depends on depth of its placement. Besides, the ships had no stock of displacement for serious strengthening of air defence weapons. Last circumstance would be not so important, it appear endurance of these ships sufficient for their usage somewhere outside of an inshore British waters. Alas, as a result of a small fuel stowage low endurance and seaworthiness have limited their usage in those places where the greatest threat from air first of all was expected.
Modernizations: 1940, all: + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, DC stowage was increased up to 60
1940, Shearwater: + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V
1941-1943, survived: + type 271 radar
1942, all survived: - 1 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
1/1946: 1 x 1 - 102/45 HA Mk III, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60), type 271 radar, type 127 sonar
Naval service: Pintail was mined and sunk off Humber 10.6.1941.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15