List of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, organised chronologically by entry into service.

For further information on naming conventions, please see the article naming conventions for destroyers of the Royal Navy
RN Ensign
Ships of the Royal Navy

A - B - C - D - E - F - G
H - I - J - K - L - M - N
O - P - Q - R - S - T - U
V - W - X - Y - Z

aircraft carriers
amphibious assault shipping
battlecruisers
battleships
corvettes and sloops
cruisers
destroyers
frigates
mine countermeasure vessels
monitors
patrol and attack craft
Royal Yachts
submarines
support ships
survey vessels
fleet bases
shore establishments
hospitals and hospital ships
air stations
aircraft wings
fleets and major commands
squadrons and flotillas

Contents

[edit] Torpedo Boat Destroyers

In 1913, the large heteogeneous array of older Torpedo Boat Destroyer types were organised into the A, B, C and D classes according to their design speed and the number of funnels they posessed.

  • A class; (27-knot classes)
    • Havock class — 2 ships, 1893
    • Daring class — 2 ships, 1893–1894
    • Ariel class — 3 ships, 1894–1895
    • Charger class — 3 ships, 1894
    • Haughty class — 2 ships, 1895
    • Janus class — 3 ships, 1895
    • Snapper class — 2 ships, 1895
    • Banshee class — 5 ships, 1893–1894
    • Fervent class — 2 ships, 1895
    • Conflict class — 3 ships, 1894–1895
    • Handy class — 3 ships, 1895
    • Opossum class — 3 ships, 1895
    • Rocket class — 3 ships, 1894
    • Sturgeon class — 3 ships, 1894–1895
    • Swordfish class — 2 ships, 1895
  • B class (4-funnelled, 30-knot classes)
    • Quail class — 4 ships, 1895
    • Earnest class — 6 ships, 1896–1897
    • Spiteful class — 2 ships, 1899
    • Myrmidon class — 2 ships, 1900
  • C class (3-funnelled, 30-knot classes)
    • Star class — 6 ships, 1896–1897
    • Avon class — 3 ships, 1896–1897
    • Brazen class — 4 ships, 1896–1898
    • Violet class — 2 ships, 1897
    • Mermaid class — 2 ships, 1897–1898
    • Gipsy class — 3 ships, 1897
    • Bullfinch class — 3 ships, 1898
    • Fawn class — 6 ships, 1897–1899
    • Falcon class — 2 ships, 1899–1900
    • Greyhound class — 3 ships, 1900–1901
    • Thorn class — 3 ships, purchased 1901
    • Hawthorn special type — 2 ships, 1899, steam turbine specials
    • Thornycroft special — 1 ship, 1898
    • Armstrong-Whitworth special, — 1 ship, 1900
  • D class; (2-funnelled, 30-knot classes)
    • Desperate class — 4 ships, 1896
    • Angler class — 2 ships, 1897
    • Coquette class — 3 ships, 1897–1898
    • Stag special type — 1 ship, 1899
  • Taku type — 1 ship, 1900, ex-Chinese prize

[edit] Conventional destroyers

In 1913, lettered names were given to all Royal Navy destroyers, previously known after the first ship of that class. The River or E class of 1913 were the first destroyers of the Royal Navy with a recognisable modern configuration.

[edit] Guided-missile destroyers

  • County class — 8 ships (4 Batch I, 4 Batch II), 1961–1967
  • Type 82 — 1 ship, 1969
  • Type 42 — 14 ships (6 Sheffield, 4 Exeter, 4 Manchester), 1971–1983
  • Type 45 — 8 ships, scheduled for commissioning 2007–2014

[edit] See also