E and F-class destroyer: Difference between revisions

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m Design and description: replaced: manually-operated → manually operated
 
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|Builders=
|Operators=*{{navy|United Kingdom}}
*{{navynaval|Canada|1911}}
*{{navy|Kingdom of Greece|1935-naval|name=Royal Hellenic Navy}}
*{{navy|Dominican Republic}}
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All of the ships had the same main armament, four [[List of British ordnance terms#QF|quick-firing (QF)]] [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX & XII|{{convert|4.7|in|mm|adj=on}} Mark IX]] guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front to rear. The guns had a maximum elevation of 40° which was achieved by using a lowered section of the deck around the mount, the "well", that allowed the [[Breech-loading weapon|breech]] of the gun to be lowered below deck height.<ref>Whitley, p. 103</ref> They fired a {{convert|50|lb|kg|adj=on|1}} shell at a [[muzzle velocity]] of {{convert|2650|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} to a range of {{convert|16970|yd|m}}.<ref>Campbell, p. 48</ref> For [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence, they had two quadruple mounts for the [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF 0.5-inch Vickers Mk III]] machine gun on platforms between the [[funnel (ship)|funnel]]s. The E- and F-class ships were fitted with two quadruple mounts for [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s. The ships, except for the minelayers, were also equipped with two throwers and one rack for 20 [[depth charge]]s. The stern of the minelayers was fitted with a pair of [[sponson]]s that housed part of the mechanical chain-conveyor system and to ensure smooth delivery of her mines.<ref name=l1>Lenton, pp. 156–58</ref> To compensate for the weight of her Mark XIV mines, their rails, two 4.7-inch guns, their ammunition, both sets of torpedo tubes, their whalers and their [[davit]]s had to be removed.<ref>Friedman, p. 218</ref>
 
The main guns were controlled by an [[Admiralty Fire Control Clock]] Mk I that used data derived from the manually- operated [[List of British ordnance terms#DCT|director-control tower]] and the separate {{convert|9|ft|adj=on}} [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]] situated above the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. They had no capability for anti-aircraft fire and the anti-aircraft guns were aimed solely by eye.<ref>Campbell, pp. 14–15; Hodges & Friedman, pp. 12, 17</ref>
 
===Wartime modifications===
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|+ Construction data
!scope="col"|Ship
!scope="col"|Builder <ref name=l57/>
!scope="col"|[[Laid down]]<ref name=e63>English, p. 63</ref>
!scope="col"|[[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]]<ref name=l57>Lenton, p. 157</ref>
!scope="col"|Completed <ref name=e63/>
!scope="col"|Fate
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Exmouth|H02|2}} (flotilla leader)
|[[HMNB Portsmouth|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]
|15 May 1933
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| Sunk by the {{GS|U-22|1936|6}}, 21 January 1940
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Echo|H23|2}}
|rowspan=2|[[William Denny & Brothers]], [[Dumbarton]]
|20 March 1933
|16 February 1934
|22 October 1934
|Transferred to [[Hellenic Navy|Greece]] as ''Navarinon'' in 1944; returned to RN in 1956 and scrapped
|
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Eclipse|H08|2}}
|22 March 1933
|12 April 1934
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| Sunk by a mine, 24 October 1943
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Electra|H27|2}}
|rowspan=2|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]], [[Hebburn]]
| rowspan="2" |15 March 1933
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| Sunk in the [[Battle of the Java Sea]], 27 February 1942
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Encounter|H10|2}}
|29 March 1934
|2 November 1934
|Sunk in the [[Second Battle of the Java Sea]], 1 March 1942
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Escapade|H17|2}}
|rowspan=2|[[Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Company]], [[Greenock]]
| rowspan="2" |30 March 1933
|30 January 1934
|30 August 1934
|Scrapped 1947
|
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Escort|H66|2}}
|29 March 1934
|30 October 1934
| Torpedoed by the {{ship|Italian submarine|Guglielmo Marconi|1939|6}}, 8 July 1940; sank while under tow, 11 July
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Esk|H15|2}}
|rowspan=2|[[Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson]], [[Wallsend]]
| rowspan="2" |24 March 1933
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| Sunk by mine, 31 August 1940
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Express|H61|2}}
|29 May 1934
|2 November 1934
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|+ Construction data
!scope="col"|Ship
!scope="col"|Builder <ref name=e6/>
!scope="col"|Laid down <ref name=l59/>
!scope="col"|Launched <ref name=e6>English, p. 76</ref>
!scope="col"|Completed <ref name=l59>Lenton, pp. 158–159</ref>
!scope="col"|FatesFate
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Faulknor|H62|2}} (flotilla leader)
|[[Yarrow & Company|Yarrow]], [[Scotstoun]]
|31 July 1933
|12 June 1934
|24 May 1935
|Scrapped, 1946
|
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Fame|H78|2}}
|[[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]], [[Wallsend]]
|5 July 1933
|28 June 1934
|26 April 1935
|Sold to [[Dominican Navy|Dominican Republic]] as ''Generalisimo'' 1949, scrapped 1968
|
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Fearless|H67|2}}
|[[Cammell Laird]], [[Birkenhead]]
|17 March 1933
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| Torpedoed by Italian aircraft and scuttled, 23 July 1941
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Firedrake|H79|2}}
|Parsons, Wallsend
|5 July 1933
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| Sunk by the {{GS|U-211||6}}, 16/17 December 1942
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Foresight|H68|2}}
|Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
|21 July 1933
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| Torpedoed by an Italian bomber and scuttled by [[HMS Tartar (F43)|HMS ''Tartar'']], 13 August 1942
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Forester|H74|2}}
|[[J. Samuel White]], [[Cowes]]
|15 May 1933
|28 June 1934
|29 March 1935
|Scrapped, 1946
|
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Fortune|H70|2}}
|rowspan=2|[[John Brown & Company|John Brown]], [[Clydebank]]
|25 July 1933
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| Transferred to RCN as HMCS ''Saskatchewan'', 1943
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Foxhound|H69|2}}
|21 August 1933
|12 October 1934
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|Transferred to RCN as HMCS ''Qu'Appelle'', 1944
|-
|!scope="row"|{{HMS|Fury|H76|2}}
|J. Samuel White, Cowes
|19 May 1933
|10 September 1934
|18 May 1935
|Scrapped after mine and collision damage, 1944
|}
 
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[[File:HMS Fame 1942 IWM FL 13040.jpg|thumb|''Fame'' at anchor, 5 September 1942]]
''Fearless'', ''Escapade'', ''Faulknor'', and ''Foxhound'' of the 8th DF escorted ''Ark Royal'' and the [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Hood|51|2}} to [[Gibraltar]] in late June, where they formed [[Force H]]. Eight days later, they participated in the [[attack on Mers-el-Kébir]] against the [[Vichy French]] ships stationed there, together with ''Forester'', ''Foresight'' and ''Escort''.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 31</ref> The latter ship was sunk by an Italian submarine on 11 July while covering a [[Malta convoy]].<ref>Evans, pp. 50–51</ref> Most of Force H returned to the UK for a brief refit in early August, but upon their return at the end of the month, the 8th DF now consisted of ''Faulknor'', ''Forester'', ''Foresight'', ''Firedrake'', ''Fortune'', ''Fury'', and {{HMS|Greyhound|H05|2}}.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 35, 37</ref> On the night of 31 August/1 September, ''Esk'', ''Express'' and three other minelaying destroyers laid a minefield off the Dutch island of [[Texel]]. While doing so, the latter ship struck a mine that blew her bow off. While closing to render aid, ''Esk'' struck two mines that broke her in half with heavy casualties. ''Express'' was towed back to England for repairs that lasted until October 1941.<ref name=e74/> On 13 September, Force H met a convoy that was carrying troops intended to capture [[Dakar]] from the Vichy French that was escorted by {{HMS|Inglefield|D02|2}}, ''Eclipse'', ''Echo'', ''Encounter'', and ''Escapade''. Ten days later they [[Battle of Dakar|attacked Dakar]] where ''Foresight'' and ''Inglefield'' sank the {{ship|French submarine|Persée}}, ''Fortune'' sank the submarine {{ship|French submarine|Ajax||2}} a day later<ref>Rohwer, pp. 38, 42</ref> and ''Foresight'' sank the submarine {{ship|French submarine|Bévéziers|1935|2}} on the 25th. After the battle, ''Escapade'' and ''Echo'' returned to the Home Fleet and resumed their regular duties of fleet escort. On 17 October, ''Fame'' [[Ship grounding|ran aground]] and could not be [[Marine salvage|refloated]] for several months. The following day, ''Firedrake'' together with the destroyer {{HMS|Wrestler|1918|2}} and two Royal Air Force [[flying boat]]s sank the {{ship|Italian submarine|Durbo}}. ''Fury'', ''Encounter'', ''Faulknor'', ''Firedrake'', and ''Forester'' participated in the inconclusive [[Battle of Cape Spartivento]] on 27 November.<ref>English, pp. 65, 67, 69–70, 77–78, 80, 86</ref>
 
In 1941, the 8th DF escorted Force H as it covered multiple convoys and aircraft carriers flying off aircraft to Malta. While returning from one of the latter missions, ''Forester'', ''Foresight'', ''Faulknor'', ''Fearless'' and ''Foxhound'' sank {{GS|U-138|1940|2}} on 18 June. A month later, ''Fearless'' was crippled by Italian bombs on 23 July while escorting a convoy to Malta and had to be scuttled by her sister ''Foresight'' while ''Firedrake'' was badly damaged by near misses and had to return to Gibraltar for repairs. The ships of the 8th DF mostly returned home between August and October for repairs and refits. ''Encounter'' was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in April and spent several months under repair as she was badly damaged by bombs at Malta. The ship was then transferred to the Eastern Fleet in November and arrived at [[Singapore]] the following month. ''Eclipse'', ''Echo'', and ''Electra'' were assigned to the [[3rd Destroyer Flotilla]] of the Home Fleet at the beginning of 1941 where they escorted the larger ships of the fleet while they were searching for German [[commerce raider]]s and on other missions. ''Escapade'' began escorting [[Arctic convoys of World War II|convoys to Russia]] in August and continued to do so for most of the following year. ''Electra'' did the same for several months until she was detailed to escort the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}} and the battlecruiser {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}} to Singapore in October, together with ''Express''.<ref>English, pp. 65, 67–70, 76, 79, 80–82, 85</ref>
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* {{cite book |last1=Douglas |first1=W. A. B.|last2=Sarty |first2=Roger |author3=Michael Whitby |author4=Robert H. Caldwell |author5=William Johnston |author6=William G. P. Rawling |title=No Higher Purpose|series=The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1939–1943 |volume=2 |others=part 1 |year=2002|publisher=Vanwell |___location=St. Catharines, Ontario |isbn=1-55125-061-6|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s|year=1993 |publisher=World Ship Society|___location=Kendal, England|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Evans|first=Arthur S.|title=Destroyer Down: An Account of HM Destroyer Losses 1939–1945 |publisher=Pen & Sword Maritime|___location=Barnsley, UK|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84884-270-80|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/destroyerdownacc0000evan}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War |publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2009 |isbn=978-1-59114-081-8 |author-link=Norman Friedman}}
*{{cite book |last1=Hodges |first1=Peter |last2=Friedman |first2=Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |___location= London|isbn=0-87021-929-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War |publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998 |isbn=1-55750-048-7 |author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005 |edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
 
==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau |editor1-first=Roger |publisher=Mayflower Books|___location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Great Britain (including Empire Forces) |last1=Campbell |first1=N. J. M.|pages=2–85}}
 
{{E and F class destroyer}}