O and P class destroyer

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"O and P" class
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1,540 tons (standard), 2,400 tons (design full), 2,625 tons (wartime full)
Length:	345 feet o/a
Beam:	35 feet
Draught:	13.5 feet
Propulsion:	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp, 2 shafts
Speed:	37 knots
Range:	472 tons oil, 3,850 nm at 20 kt
Complement:	176+
Armament (4.7 in armed "O" class):
4 x single 4.7 in guns QF Mark XII on mounting CP Mk.XVIII 1 x single 4 in gun QF Mk.V on mounting HA Mk.III 1 x quad tubes for 21 in torpedoes Mk.IX 1 x quad 2 pdr "pom-pom" mount Mk.VII Up to 6 x single 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 x throwers and 2 x racks for 70 depth charges
Armament (4 in armed "O" class):
4 x single 4 in guns QF Mark V on mounting HA Mk.III 2 x quad tube for 21 in torpedo Mk.IX Up to 60 mines (where fitted for) 1 x quad 2 pdr "pom-pom" mount Mk.VII Up to 6 x single 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 x throwers and 2 x racks for 70 depth charges
Armament ("P" class):
4 x single 4 in guns QF Mark V on mounting HA Mk.III 2 x quad tube for 21 in torpedo Mk.IX 1 x quad 2-pdr "pom-pom" mount Mk.VII Up to 6 x single 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 x throwers and 2 x racks for 70 depth charges

The O and P class were two class of destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1941 and 1942. They were also known as the 1st and 2nd Emergency Flotilla, respectively. They served as convoy escorts in World War II, and some were converted to fast second-rate anti-submarine frigates in the 1950s. The O and P class were based on the hull and machinery of the preceding J class, but with more sheer forward to counter the poor riding qualities of the Js and were the first construction of the War Emergency Programme based upon this hull.

1 O class
2 P class
3 See also
4 Bibliography

[edit] O class

The O-class ships were built in two groups of four. The first group had 4.7 in guns in low angle mounts which could only elevate to 40 degrees, therefore they were fitted with a 4 in anti-aircraft gun in place of one set of torpedo tubes. The second group had 4 inch guns in high angle mounts and were fitted to act as minelayers and could be recognised by the flat "beaver tail" stern over which the mines were dropped. When carrying mines they had to land Y gun, their torpedo tubes and depth charges. The designed anti-aircraft armament was a single quadruple "pom pom" and a pair of quadruple 0.5 in Vickers AA machine guns. The latter proved to be practically useless, and were replaced with the 20 mm Oerlikon gun as it became available, with a total of six single mounts eventually being carried. All ships survived the war. Five of the ships were involved in the Battle of the Barents Sea, Onslow being heavily damaged.

4.7 in armed ships:

Onslow - fitted out as flotilla leader
Offa
Onslaught
Oribi

4 in armed ships:

Obdurate
Obedient
Opportune
Orwell

[edit] P class

The P class were repeats of the O class, armed entirely with 4 in guns, in high angle mounts fitted with a new tall design of shield, as such they did not require to lose a set of torpedo tubes to take on further AA guns. They served mainly in the Mediterranean, where four ships were lost.

Pakenham (lost on 16 April 1943)
Paladin
Panther (lost on 9 October 1943)
Partridge (lost on 18 December 1942)
Pathfinder
Penn
Petard (ex-Persistent)
Porcupine (lost on 9 December 1942)

[edit] See also

Type 16 frigate: postwar conversion of some O and P class vessels into second-rate fast anti-submarine frigates

[edit] Bibliography

Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981, Maurice Cocker, Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-1075-7
Royal Navy Destroyers since 1945, Leo Marriot, Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-1817-0
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946, Ed. Robert Gardiner, Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-913-8
Destroyers of World War II, An International Encyclopedia, M. J. Whiteley, Arms and Armour Press, 1988, ISBN 1-84509-521-8