W and Z class destroyer

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HMS Zebra
Class overview
Operators: Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy
Naval flag of South Africa South African Navy
Flag of Canada Royal Canadian Navy
Naval flag of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia SFR Yugoslav Navy
Preceded by: U and V class
Succeeded by: C class
Subclasses: W, Z
In commission: 1943 - 1971
Completed: 16
Lost: 4 (as targets)
Retired: 12
General characteristics W class
Type: Destroyer
Displacement: 1,710 tons (1,730 tonnes)
2,530 tons full (2,570 tonnes)
Length: 362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a
Beam: 35.75 ft (10.90 m)
Draught: 10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion: 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers,
Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines,
40,000 shp (29.8 MW), 2 shafts
Speed: 36 kt / 32 kt full
Range: 4,675 nmi at 20 kt
Complement: 179 (225 as leader
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Radar Type 272 target indication
  • Radar Type 291 air warning
  • Radar Type 285 fire control on director Mk.III(W)
  • Radar Type 282 fire control on 40 mm mount Mk.IV
Armament:
  • 4 x QF 4.7 in (119 mm) L/45 Mk.IX, single mounts CP Mk.XXII
  • 4 x QF 2 pdr Mk.VIII, quad mount Mk.VII, or;
  • 4 x A/A mountings;
    • twin 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.V
    • single Bofors 40 mm Mk.III or "Boffin" Mk.V
    • single QF 2 pdr Mk.XVI
  • 8 (4x2) tubes for 21 in torpedoes Mk.IX
  • 2 racks & 4 throwers for 70 depth charges
General characteristics (Z class)
Displacement: 1,830 tons (1,860 tonnes)
2,530 tons full (2,570 tonnes)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Radar Type 293 target indication Radar Type 285 fire control on director type K
Armament: 4 x QF 4.5 in (114 mm) L/45 Mk.IV, single mounts CP Mk.V
Notes: Other characteristics as per W class

The W and Z class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 19431944. They were constructed as two flotillas, with names beginning with "W-" and "Z-", respectively, although, like the preceding U and V class, two of the flotilla leaders were named after historical naval figures (as had been Royal Navy practice during the inter-war years). They were known as the 9th and 10th Emergency Flotilla, respectively. They served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.

Contents

[edit] W class

[edit] Z class

[edit] See also

[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 1-85409-521-8