G and H class destroyer
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.png) HMS Hunter, a ship with the traditional bridge and wheelhouse layout |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |  Royal Navy Royal Hellenic Navy Brazilian Navy Argentine Navy Polish Navy ,  ,  |
| Preceded by: | E and F class |
| Succeeded by: | I class |
| Subclasses: | G, H, Havant |
| In commission: | 31 January 1936 (RN) - 1949 (RN) |
| Completed: | 24 (RN) |
| Lost: | 16 |
| Retired: | 6 |
| General characteristics G class (RN)[1] | |
| Type: | G and H destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,350 tons (1,376 tonnes) standard 1,854 tons (1,883 tonnes) full load |
| Length: | 323 ft (98 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draught: | 12.4 ft (3.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | 3 x Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 34,000 shp on 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 36 kt |
| Range: | 5,530 nmi at 15 kt |
| Complement: | 145 |
| Armament: |
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| General characteristics (H class (RN)) | |
| Displacement: | 1,340 tons (1,361 tonnes) standard 1,859 tons (1,888 tonnes) full load |
| Propulsion: | as per G class, except Hyperion; 1 x Admiralty boiler replaced by Johnson type |
| Armament: |
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| Notes: | Other characteristics as per above |
| General characteristics (Havant class) | |
| Armament: |
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| Notes: | Other characteristics as per H class |
| General characteristics (Grenville) | |
| Displacement: | 1,465 tons standard (1,488 tonnes) 2,053 tons full load (2,085 tonnes) |
| Length: | 330 ft (100 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 34.5 ft (10.5 m) |
| Draught: | 12.75 ft (3.89 m) |
| Propulsion: | 3 x Yarrow side-fired boilers, Parsons steam turbines, 38,000 shp on 2 shafts |
| Complement: | 175 |
| Armament: |
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| Notes: | Other characteristics as per above |
| General characteristics (Hardy) | |
| Displacement: | 1,455 tons standard (1,478 tonnes) |
| Length: | 337 ft (103 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion: | Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
| Notes: | Other characteristics as per Grenville |
The G and H class destroyers were a class of twenty-four destroyers of the Royal Navy (two later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and one to the Polish Navy) launched in 1935–1939. They served in World War II and sixteen were lost, with a seventeenth being written off as a constructive total loss. Other ships were built for the navies of Argentina, Brazil, and Greece.
Contents |
[edit] Design
[edit] G class
The G class were ordered as part of the 1933 naval construction programme, the H class following in 1934. They were generally repeats of the preceding F class, with a slight reduction in dimensions by the reduction of cruising turbines[1]. Armament in the Gs was as per the Fs, the 40° elevation of the guns in the CP (central pivot) Mark XVII being achieved by the simple but clumsy use of deck wells[1]. Glowworm trialled the new pentuple torpedo tubes PR Mk. I, her sisters retaining the quadruple Mk.VIII sets. All G class ships had tripod foremasts and pole mainmasts.
[edit] H class
The H class were repeats of the Gs, but a more satisfactory solution was found to achieve the gun elevation, by rearranging the breech end of the guns, the mountings CP Mk.XVIII could elevate to 40° without the need for the deck wells[1]. Despite the availability of the pentuple tubes as trialled in Glowworm, these were not fitted due to topweight concerns[1]. Design improvements and the increased use of welding resulted in a decrease in desplacement of some 50 tons. Hero and Hereward saw the introduction of a new style of bridge that would become standard on all Royal Navy fleet destroyers from the I class through to the Battle class of 1944. This was necessary as Hereward carried a prototype twin 4.7 inch gun mounting CP Mark XIX that was to be fitted to the Tribal and the J, K and N classes. This weapon had a trunion height 13 inches higher than the previous weapons, therefore it was necessary to raise the wheelhouse in order that the helmsman was able to see over the top. Raising the wheelhouse meant that it had to be placed in front of, rather than underneath, the bridge and it was given sloping, armoured faces, resulting in a characteristic wedge shape, with a sloping roof to give the bridge a view over the fo'c'sle. Internally, the H class were as per the G class, except Hyperion, which received a single Johnson type boiler that was both smaller, lighter and more economical than the Admiralty design[1]. All ships had pole masts fore and aft and were fitted with TSDS (Two Speed Destroyer Sweeps; minesweeping gear.)
[edit] Flotilla leaders
As per the E and F class, the flotilla leaders were built to an enlarged design, incorporating a fifth 4.7 inch gun in 'Q' position, between the funnels. They were based on the F class leader, Faulknor. Grenville was slightly shorter as she used compact Yarrow-type side fired boilers. Hardy could be identified by having a tripod foremast. Both ships were early wartime losses and consequently received no modifications[1].
[edit] Havant class
The Havants were laid down in 1938 for Brazil. They has pole masts forward and tripods aft, were completed without 'Y' gun on the quarterdeck, allowing an increase in depth charge stowage, and with the funnels cut down to improve the field of fire for A/A weapons. They were completed with rangefinders only, but later shipped the designed combined rangefinder-director on the bridge, as opposed to the separated functions of their half sisters. After commissioning into the Royal Navy, Handy and Hearty were renamed Harvester and Hesperus respectively to avoid confusion with Hardy[1]. The six Havant class destroyers initially formed the 9th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet assigned to anti-submarine protection of Scapa Flow.[2]
In late 1940 the 9th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet was transferred to the Western Approaches Command and re-designated the 9th Escort Group.[3] In March, 1942, the remaining five Havant class destroyers were designated group leaders of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force through the winter of 1942-43.[4] HMS Hurricane was leader of Escort Group B-1 for convoys HX-187, ONS-96, HX-193, ONS-108, SC-92, ON119/HX-201, ONS-124, HX-206, ONS-134, SC-105, HX-215, ON-151, SC-114, ON-162, SC-119, ONS-171, HX-230, ON-178 and HX-236. HMS Hesperus was leader of Escort Group B-2 for convoys SC-81, ON-97, SC-86, ON-107, HX-198, ONS-118, HX-203, ONS-128, HX-208, ONS-138, HX213, ONS-148, HX219, ON-159, SC-118, ON-170, SC-123, ONS-4, SC-129 and ONS-9. HMS Harvester was leader of Escort Group B-3 for convoys HX-188, ONS-98, HX-194, ONS-110, SC-93, ON-121/HX-202, ONS-126, HX-207, ONS-136, SC-106, ONS-146, HX-218, ON-157, SC-117, ONS-167, and was sunk while escorting HX-228. HMS Highlander was leader of Escort Group B-4 for convoys SC-82, ON-99, SC-87, ON-109, HX-199, ONS-120, HX-204, ONS-130, HX-209, ONS-140, HX-214, ONS-150, HX-220, ON-161, ONS-169, HX-229, ON-176, HX-234, and ON-183. HMS Havelock was leader of Escort Group B-5 in the Caribbean until escorting convoys ON-168, SC-122, SC-126 and ONS-7.[5][6]
[edit] Ships
[edit] Royal Navy
[edit] G class
| Ship | Pennant number | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallant, | H59 | Alexander Stephen and Sons, Linthouse | 26 September 1935, | Constructive total loss after striking a mine near Malta on 20 January 1941. |
| Garland, | H37 | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan | 24 October 1935. | Transferred to the Polish Navy as ORP Garland in 1940. Post war transferred to Dutch navy and scrapped in 1964 |
| Gipsy, | H63 | Fairfield, Govan | 7 November 1935 | sunk by a mine near Harwich on 21 November 1939. |
| Glowworm | H92 | John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston | 22 July 1935 | sunk while ramming the German cruiser Admiral Hipper on 8 April 1940. |
| Grafton, | H89 | Thornycroft | 18 September 1935, | Sunk by U 69 on 29 May 1940 |
| Grenade | H86 | Stephen | 12 November 1935 | sunk by air attack at Dunkirk on 29 May 1940. |
| Grenville | H03 | Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun | 15 August 1935, | sunk by a mine on 19 January 1940. |
| Greyhound, | H05 | Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness | 15 August 1935 | sunk by German dive-bombers in the Battle of Crete on 22 May 1941. |
| Griffin, | H31 | Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow | 15 August 1935. | Transferred to the Canada as HMCS Ottawa. |
[edit] H class
| Ship | Pennant number | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy | (H87) Flotilla Leader | Cammell Laird & Company, Birkinhead | 7 April 1936 | Sunk by gunfire from German destroyer Georg Thiele on 10 April 1940 in the First battle of Narvik. |
| Hasty, | H24 | William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton | 5 May 1936 | torpedoed by the German motor torpedo boat S-55 on 14 June 1942, sunk near Derna by Hotspur on 15 June 1942. |
| Havock, | H43 | Denny | 7 July 1936, | grounded near Kelibia, Tunisia and scuttled on 6 April 1942. |
| Hereward, | H93 | Vickers Armstrongs, Walker | 10 March 1936, | sunk by German Ju 87 dive-bombers near Plaka, Crete on 29 May 1941. |
| Hero, | H99 | Vickers Armstrong, Walker | 10 March 1936 | Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Chaudiere. |
| Hostile, | H55 | Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Greenock | 24 January 1936 | damaged by a mine on 23 August 1940 and sunk by Hero. |
| *Hotspur | H01 | Scotts | 23 March 1936. | Sold to the Dominican Republic's Navy 1949 |
| *Hunter | H35 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 25 February 1936, | sunk by German destroyers on 10 April 1940 in the battle of Narvik. |
| Hyperion, | H97 | Swan Hunter | 8 April 1936, | sunk by a mine near Pantelleria on 22 December 1940. |
[edit] Havant class
.jpg/180px-HMS_Hesperus_(H57).jpg)
These six ships were ordered by the Brazilian Navy but on the outbreak of World War II they were requisitioned by the Royal Navy. They are usually included with the H class.
| Ship | Pennant Number | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvester, ex-Handy, ex-Jurua | H19 | Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow | 29 September 1939 | Sunk by U-432 on 11 March 1943. |
| Havant, ex-Javary | H32 | J. Samuel White, Cowes | 17 July 1939 | Damaged by air attack during the battle of Dunkirk on 1 June 1940 and sunk by HMS Saltash |
| Havelock, ex-Jutahy | H88 | White | 16 October 1939 | broken up 1946 |
| Hesperus, ex-Hearty, ex-Juruena | H57 | Thornycroft | 1 August 1939 | Broken up 1946 |
| Highlander, ex-Juguaribe | H44 | Thornycroft | 19 October 1939. | Broken up in 1947 |
| Hurricane, ex-Japarua | H06 | Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow | 29 September 1939 | sunk by U-415 on 24 December 1943 |
[edit] Argentine Navy
Seven ships were built for the Argentine Navy as the Buenos Aires class, they were delivered in 1938. They were built by Vickers Armstrongs (Barrow), Cammell Laird and John Brown & Company (Clydebank).
[edit] Brazilian Navy
Brazil ordered six Jarua class ships from Britain in 1938. These ships were purchased by Britain on the outbreak of war in 1939 and are described above. The Brazilians decided to produce indigenous destroyers, the Acre class, at the Ihla das Cobras shipyard, Rio de Janeiro. The design was based on the H-class plans supplied by Britain but with 5-inch (127 mm) guns supplied by the USA. Although laid down in 1940, the ships were not completed until 1949-51.
[edit] Royal Hellenic Navy
Two ships, modified versions of the G class, were built for the Greek Royal Hellenic Navy by Yarrow.
- Vasilefs Georgios: Named after King George I, she served with the RHN during the Greco-Italian War. Damaged by German aircraft, she managed to reach the Salamis Navy Yard and was put in drydock for repairs, where after further damage during German air attacks, she was finally scuttled to prevent capture. The Germans raised and repaired her and she was commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as Hermes (ZG3) on 21 March 1942. Hermes was heavily damaged off Cape Bon on 30 April 1943 and scuttled on 7 May 1943.
- Vasilissa Olga: Named after Queen Olga, she served with the RHN during the Greco-Italian War. Along with other ships, escaped to Alexandria in May 1941 and joined the Allied forces. She was lost to German aircraft while anchored in Lakki Bay, Leros on 26 September 1943.
Two further ships, the Vasilefs Konstantinos and Vasilissa Sofia, named after King Constantine I and Queen Sofia respectively, were to be built in Greece, but construction halted due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Destroyers of World War Two, M. J. Whitley, 1988, Cassell Publishing ISBN 1-85409-521-8
- ^ HMS Hesperus, Peter Dickens, 1972, Profile publications, p.180
- ^ HMS Hesperus, Peter Dickens, 1972, Profile publications, p.181
- ^ HMS Hesperus, Peter Dickens, 1972, Profile publications, p.187
- ^ Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945, J. Rohwer and G. Hummelchen, 1992, Naval Institute Press ISBN 1-55750-105-X
- ^ North Atlantic Run, Marc Milner, 1985, Naval Institute Press ISBN 0-87021-450-0
[edit] References
- English, John. Amazon to Ivanhoe - British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s.
- March, Edgar J. British Destroyers, 1892-1953.
[edit] External links
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