Author: Gardiner R.  

Tags: fighting ships  

ISBN: 085177 146 7

Year: 1980

Text
                    CONWAYS
ALL THE WORLD’S
FIGHTING
SHIPS
1922-1946

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CONWAYS ALL THE WORLD S FIGHTING SHIPS 1922-1946 CONWAY MARITIME PRESS
Editorial Director ROBERT GARDINER Editor ROGER CHESNEAU PRZEMYStAW BUDZBON (Soviet Union, Poland) N J M CAMPBELL (Great Britain) NORMAN FRIEDMAN (United States of America) OHN ROBERTS (Italy, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle and Far East, and Minor Naval Forces, except Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador) ROBERT L SCHEINA (Latin America, including the Minor Naval Forces excepted above) ERWIN SIECHE (Germany) IAN STURTON (Japan) MAREK TWARDOWSKI (Eastern Europe, except Poland — in association with Boris Lemachko) KARL-ERIK WESTERLUND (Scandinavia) I.ine drawings By Przemyslaw Budzbon, Andrzej M Jaskuh, John Roberts, Adam Smigielski and Marek Twardowski Book design By David Mills and Barry Kemp F»*t published in 1980 by Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 101 Fleet Street, London EC4Y IDE Reprinted 98 and 1992 ISBN 085177 146 7 © 1980 Conway Maritime Press Ltd Printed and bound in the UK by Page Bros (Norwich) Ltd
Contents Foreword Abbreviations GREAT BRITAIN (including Empire Forces) Introduction 2 The Royal Navy in 1922 7 Capital ships 14 Monitors 17 Aircraft carriers 17 Cruisers 26 Cruiser-minelayers 36 Destroyers 37 Escort destroyers 45 Submarines 47 Sloops 55 Frigates 58 Other escorts 62 Coastal forces 67 Amphibious warfare ships 72 Miscellaneous vessels 78 Auxiliary warships 81 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Introduction 86 The US Navy in 1922 90 Capital ships 97 Aircraft carriers 100 Cruisers H2 Destroyers 124 Destroyer escorts 135 Submarines 141 Patrol frigates 148 Minelayers 149 Minesweepers and patrol craft 150 Submarine-chasers 152 PT boats 154 Gunboats 155 Seaplane tenders 156 Amphibious warfare ships 158 US Coast Guard 164 JAPAN Introduction 167 The Japanese Navy in 1922 171 Capital ships 178 Aircraft carriers 179
Cruisers 186 Destroyers 192 Submarines 199 Escorts, patrol boats 205 Minelayers 207 Minesweepers 209 Submarine-chasers 210 Miscellaneous vessels 211 GERMANY Introduction 218 The German Navy in 1922 222 Capital ships 224 Aircraft carriers 226 Cruisers 227 Destroyers 232 Ex-enemy destroyers 236 Torpedo-boats 237 Submarines 239 Escorts 245 M nesweepers 245 Commerce raiders 246 S-Boats 248 Motor minesweepers 250 Miscellaneous vessels 252 Fighter direction ships 254 FRANCE Introduction 255 The French Navy in 1922 257 Capital ships 259 Aircraft earners 261 Cruisers 262 Destroyers 267 Torpedo-boats 271 Submarines 272 Escorts 276 Coastal craft 278 ITALY Introduction 280 The Italian Navy in 1922 284 Capital ships 289 Aircraft carriers 290 Cruisers 291 Destroyers 298 Torpedo-boats, destroyer escorts 302 Submarines 304 Coastal forces 312 Miscellaneous vessels 316 SOVIET UNION Introduction The Soviet Navy in 1922 318 322
Capital ships 325 Cruisers 326 Flotilla leaders 329 Destroyers 330 Submarines 332 Escorts 338 Guardships 339 Minesweepers 340 Motor torpedo-boats 341 Submarine-chasers 343 Miscellaneous vessels 344 EASTERN EUROPE Poland 347 Estonia 351 Latvia 353 Czechoslovakia 354 Hungary 355 Yugoslavia 355 Romania 359 Bulgaria 362 SCANDINAVIA Finland 363 Sweden 368 Norway 377 Denmark 381 WESTERN EUROPE Belgium 385 The Netherlands 385 Portugal 396 THE MEDITERRANEAN Spain 398 Greece 404 T urkey 406 Egypt 409 THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST Persia 409 Siam 410 China 411 Manchukuo 414 LATIN AMERICA Mexico 414 Colombia 415 Venezuela 415 Brazil 416 Paraguay 418 Uruguay 419 Argentina 419 Chile 422 Peru 423
MINOR NAVAL FORCES Albania Austria Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador Eire Iceland Iraq 424 424 424 425 425 425 425 425 Foreword This volume is the second of a series begun by Conway's All the World" j Fighting Ships 1H6D-1905, which dealt with a period for which there was little existing published material. Therefore it was only necessary to explain how - rather than why - the subject was covered. For the 1922-46 period there are already many reference bix'ks on warships, and so a few words about the aims of this volume are in order. Available published works fall into three basic categories, all of which have some positive disadvantages from the point of view of the student or enthusiast 1 Yearbooks and annuals These have virtually no access to primary sources; they are also subject to security restrictions and, often, inten- tionally misleading official information put out for propaganda pur poses. Yearbooks naturally concentrate on what is new, and so there is rarely any incentive to correct data in retrospect. 2. Pocket-books on navies or ship types. These are little more than fleet-lists, with no space to devote to the design background or general naval developments. 3. Monographsand detailed studies. This category contains many fine works of extreme importance m their own right, but by no means all navies and ship types have benefited from such studies (very few of the smaller navies have been covered, and even US cruisers are still without a definitive technical history). Iherefore, even if an avid enthusiast could afford to collect all available books, there would still be gaps in their coverage. Consequently ihe first aim of this book is to provide, in a single manageable volume, all the information that would otherwise require almost a library of naval reference works. The second aim concerns the quality of the information: each volume of this scries nvolves a major revaluation of published information with the advantage of hindsight, as well as the wide-scale use of unpublished sources, many of them available only recently. No warship is merely a collection of data, and this book's third aim is to back the bare technical details, wherever possible, with notes on the history and rationale of the design. Judgements on the quality of a ship can only be made with reference to her designer’s intentions, and similarly the policy of a navy cannot be understood outside the political and economic context in which it operated. These factors are covered in the introduction to each country. SCOPE The period covered is from the Washington Treaty to the end of the wartime building programmes In some ways this volume is more comprehensive than ns predecessor The concern is still predominantly with fighting ships, but the exclusions have been less rigid. Riverine and lake vessels have been included, as have many very small craft, such as MTBs, and even special attack craft like Italian chariots* or Japanese ‘Shinyo’ suicide boats, the criterion for inclusion being their relative historical importance. This has also dictated the inclusion of some purpose built auxiliaries (many of which have interesting techmeal features) as well as significaot conversions from warships. In many cases, the vessels of non-naval government agencies (coastguard, army, police or fishery protection services) have been omitted, or relegated to the Minor Naval Forces section at the end of the book All important designs and uncompleted warships have been included. NFW FEATURES Compared with the 1860-1905 volume, the most obvious new feature is the greatly expanded notes and illustrations to the tables of ships extant at the beginning of the period. This was necessary because the Washington Treaty forced the major powers to extensively rebuild many capital ships in lieu of new construction, while the pace of technological advance during the war years meant that older ships had to be more frequently, and more radically, refitted. These develop- ments belong here rather than the 1906-21 volume which will cover the details of the ships as built Apart from more detailed coverage, this volume has much new material to offer, in both text and illustration. For example, Eastern European sources have been widely used for those countries now in the Communist bloc, while many previously unpublished photos have been provided by a collector in the USSR Many of ihe smaller navies have been adequately covered for the first time; this is particularly true of countries like Finland, which suffered from war-inspired secuiity restrictions on the release of information. However, new information is not confined to the small or obscure navies: the US section contains for the first time succinct design histones of all significant warship classes entirely compiled from official records, while even the much-studied Royal Navy affords a few surprises, such as the projected cruiser designs of 1939-45, or the ‘oil-drum’ protective systems of the armed merchant cruisers. ORGANISATION The major naval powers - those with a modern battlefleet - come first. Thereafter countries are grouped geographically, to facilitate compari- sons between neighbouring navies. Finally there is a short section outlining minor naval forces, few of which have any claim to being real navies Dominion and Commonwealth navies are to be found under ‘Great Britain*, usually under the British classes to which most of them belonged The order wiihin each country is standard: a general introduction, followed by a statement of its fleet in 1922, then the post-1922 classes in type and chronological order. The type-divisions are conventional (Capital Ships, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, etc) in descending order of importance, but where a classification is very general (such as Coastal Forces) each class heading may be followed by a more precise designa- tion (such as MTB, MGB or ML). ILLUSTRATIONS Classes of ship of cruiser size and upwards are usually represented by both a photograph and a I nc drawing; wherever possible these are complementary - representing either different sister-ships, or the same
ship before and after alterations. The emphasis on appearance changes is earned into the captions for both types of illustrations which arc dated whenever and as accurately as possible. The line drawings, which were specially commissioned for this book, are reproduced to 1/1250 scale, except for a few dearly marked as 1/1500 which would otherwise have been too large to print horizon- tally Efforts have been made to obtain unpublished photos, but a clear representative shot has been preferred over a poor but unique one. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For help with photographs we are indebted to the following individuals and organisations. A D Baker III, Arngo Banlli C W Beilstein, John Bowen, P Budzbon, the Danish Navy, Aid Fraccaroli, Jean Havel, the Italian Navy, Boris Lcmachko, Jerzy Micinski, Bernard Millot, the Ministry of Defence (London), Musee de la Manne (Paris), Jacques Navarret, F C van Oosten of the Netherlands Navy Historical Branch, Norman Polmar, Antoni Ratajczak, G von Rauch, John Roberts, Robert L Scheina, Larry Sowinski, Lt Cdr Tamura, the US Coast Guard, the US Navy, P A Vicary, Karl-Erik Westerlund and Wright & Logan Photos arc credited after each capuon.all uncredited photos are from the Conway Picture Library Colleen in. NOTE Any correspondence incorporating additions or modifications to the information in this book should be directed to Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 2 Nelson Road, London SEIO 9JB Robert Gardiner Abbreviations АЛ, anti-aircraft A AW, anti-aircraft warfare ALW, Airborne Early Warning AMGB, armoured motor gunboat AP, armour-piercing approx, approximately Apr, April AS, anti submarine ASW, anti-submarine warfare ATW, ahead-throwing weapon Aug, August aw, above waler BOE, British destroyer escon bhp, brake horsepower Bl., breech-loading BM, (including) breech mechanism BPB, British Power Boats bn, British registered tons Bl H, British Thompson Houston BU, broken up r, circa cal, calibre (usually expressed after an oblique stroke following the bone diameter, eg * 16in/43‘) CIC, Combat Information Centre C in C, Cominjndcr-in-Chief cin, centime! rc(s) CMB, coastal motor boat CNO, Chief of Naval Operations Co, (iompany comm, commissioned comp, completed conv converted Corp Corporation erh, calibre radius head CT, conning tower CTL, construe live total loss cu, cubic cwt, hundredweight cyl, cylindrical (of boilcis); cylinders) (of engines) DC, depth charges) DCT, depth-charge thrower DE, destroyer escort Dec December disp, displacement. Note that for submarines, two figures separated by an oblique stroke indicate surface/submetgcd values; this system applies also to figures for range (endurance) and speed DNC, Director of Nasal Construction DP, dual-purpose DYd, Dockyard EEC, English Electric Company F, Fahrenheii Feb, February FNFL, Forces Nationales Francises Libres (Free French Forces) FRAM, Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernisation fs, feet per second fl, fool; feet FY, Fiscal Year gal, gatlon(s) GM, meiacentric height (distance between G, or centre of gravity, and M metacentre) GMSA, German Minesweeping Administrauon grt gross registered Ions HA, high-angle HDML, harbour defence motor launch HM, Hts/Hcr Majesty’s HMS, Hts/Hcr Majesty's Ship hp, horsepower HP, high pressure HQ, headquarters I, Island ihp, indicated horsepower in,inch(es) inc, including Jan,January JMSDF, Japanese Marit me Self Defence Force КС, Krupp Cemented kg, kilogratn(s) kt(s), knots kW, kilowatts LA, low-angle lb, pound(s) LCA, Landing Craft, Assault LCF, Landing Craft, Flak LCG, Landing Craft, Gun LCG(L), Landing Craft Gun (Large) LCG(M), Landing Craft, Gun (Medium) LC!(G), Landing Craft, Infantry (Gun) LCI(L), Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) LCI(S), Landing Craft, Infantry (Small) LCM, Landing Craft, Mechanical LCP, Landing Craft, Personnel LCP(R), Landing Craft, Personnel (Rocket) I CS, Landing Craft, Support LCS(L), Landing Craft, Support (I argc) LCS(M), Landing Craft, Support (Medium) LCS(S), Landing Craft, Support (Small) I CT, Landing Craft, Tank LCT R) Landing Craft Tank (Rocket) LCV, Landing Craft, Vehicle LCV(P), Landing Craft, Vehicle (Personnel) LP, low pressure I.SC, Landing Ship, Carrier LSF, I anding Ship, Ftgh er Direction LSD, Landing Ship, Dock I.SG, landing Ship, Gantry LSH(L), Landing Ship, Headquarters (1-arge) LSI, Landing Ship, Infantry I.SI(H), I anding Ship, Infantry (Hard) LSI(L), Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) IJSl(M), Landin Ship, Infantry (Medium) 1Л! S) Landing Ship, Infantry (Small) LSM, Landing Ship, Medium I SS, I.anding Ship, Stern Chute 1ST, Landing Ship Tank l.SV, Landing Ship, Vehicle m, metre(s) Mar, March МА/SB, motor anti-submarine boat max, maximum MG, machine gun(s) MGB, motor gunboat Mk, Mark ML, motor launcft mm, millimclrc(s) Note that calibres etc usually expressed as centimetres have for convenience all been given in millimetres MMS, motor minesweeper Mod, Model MT, military transport MTB, motor torpedo-boat nm, nautical miles No(s), Number(s) Nov, November N Yd, Navy Yard oa, overall Oct, October pdr, pounderfs) pp between perpendiculars psi. pounds per square inch QF, quick-firing RAN, Royal Australian Navy RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police RCN Royal Canadian Navy RIM, Royal Ind an Manne RIN, Royal Indian Navy RN, Royal Navy RNVR, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve RNZN, Royal New Zealand Navy RPC, Remote Power Control rpg, rounds per gun S South SAN, South African Navy SAP, semi-armour-piercing SB, Shipbuilders, Shipbuilding SE, single-ended Sept, September shp, shaft horsepower SNO, Senior Naval Officer sq,square STAAG, Stabil sed Tachymcttic Anti-Aircraft Gun std, standard STS, Special Tensile Steel sub, submerged I, ton(s). Long tons are used throughout. ТВ, torpedo-boat ТЕ, triple expansion TNT, trinitrotoluene TS, training ship TT, torpedo tube(s) UDT, Underwater D moltuon Team U.S, United States USCG, United States Coast Guard USCGC, United States Coast Guard Cutter USA, United States of America USN, United States Navy USS United States Ship USSR, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics VC, vertical compound VT, variable time (proximity) VTE, vertical triple expansion W, West Wks, Works wl, waterline yd(s), yard's)
Great Britain AND EMPIRE FORCES THE EFFECTS OF THE WASHINGTON TREATY Although the British Empire had reached its greatest extent by about 1920, Great Britain was still exhausted and impoverished by the 1914-18 War and heavily in debt to the United States, which had become the most powerful industrial and financial country in the world In these circumstances the acceptance of naval parity with the USA was clearly a correct decision Nor were ihe limitations of ships* individual displacements under ihe Washington Treaty undesirable, namely 35,000 tons standard for capital ships, 27,000 ions for aircraft carriers (two could be 33,000 tons), 10,000 tons for other war vessels, the calibre of guns being limited at I6in for capital ships and 8in for others with some limitations on the number of guns exceeding 6in in aircraft earners. Britain was allowed to build two new battleships, .Xe/son and Rodney - which, if much reduced from the cancelled 48,000-ton battlecruisers, were at least the most powerful in the world for over a decade-and retained 18 battleships and 4 battlecruisers until the new ships were completed, at which tunc 4 battleships would be scrapped The life of capital ships was fixed at 20 years, and no further new ships of this type were to be laid down by Britain, USA or Japan until November 1931 II was permuted to add 3000 tons of bulges and/or extra deck protection to existing ships and to complete the re-armouring of Renown. The total capital ship replacement tonnage was fixed al 525,000 tons standard displacement (no fuel or reserve feed waler but otherwise fully armed and equipped) for Britain and the L'SA, 315,000 tons for Japan and 175,000 tons for France and Italy. As there were few existing aircraft carriers, total tonnage was fixed at 135,000,81,000 and 60,000 tons respectively. The Washington Treaty was to remain in force until the end of 1936 One perhaps unforeseen consequence of this Treaty was rivalry in 10,000-ton 8in cruisers, a type which might otherwise have been uncommon. It should be stated that Britain and the USA (with the possible excepuon of the Lexington and Saratoga), always complied scrupulously wiih Treaty limits of dis- placement but Japan, Italy and later Germany did not. In international relations and diplomacy the 1920s and early 1930s might be called the period of the League of Nations, under the Coven- ant of which an international dispute should be settled by negotiation and arbitration, and if that failed by collective economic sanctions and ultimately by collective military action against the aggressor. Unfortu- nately ihe League was crippled from the start by the United Slates’ refusal to join, and in reality any action against an aggressor outside Europe would mean action by the Royal Navy probably on its own The League was also pledged to general progressive disarmament, and its aims, which had great popular support in Britain, were irreproachable in an ideal world of countries ruled by pacific and well-intentioned men In the 1930s, when the Japanese militaristsand Adolf Hitler took control and Mussohm became aggressive, there was in Britain a numerous, highly vocal body of opinion which clamoured for action in support of the League, together with opposition to any attempt to build up British naval forces - a dichotomy in which logic was absent. It would seem that throughout the 1920s and early 1930s economic factors would have been just as effective as treaties in limiting the replacement of obsolescent British ships, and it is interesting to note that one of the most persistent and savage attacks on the Naval Esti- mates by a Chancellor of the Exchequer was that by Winston Churchill on those of 1925-26 A potent means of financial restriction was the Ten Year Rule originated in August 1919 to the effect that no great war in which the British Empire would be engaged need be expected for the next ten years. This became automatically self-perpetuating in 1929 and was not finally cancelled until November 1933 During this period British naval strength was assessed as that necessary to defeat the Japanese fleet in the Western Pacific, but the development of Hong Kong was prohibited under the Washington Treaty, and t was decided in 1923 that a new naval base should be constructed on the Johore Strait, Singapore. Work progressed slowly and was suspended by the Labour Governments of 1924 and 1929-31, but when war came there was a base with possibly adequate coast defence batteries against attack from the south, although the problem of providing sulficient air and land defences against an overland attack from the north was never solved which, with persistent underestimates of Japanese efficiency, led to the disasters of 1941-42. In 1922-23 the net naval estimates were just under £65 million, but from 1923-24 to 1929-30 they were between £56 and 58 million except in 1925-26 at £60 5 million, the average number borne being about 100,000 The building programmes which escaped cancellation were not large, as shown by the following: 1922-23 2 battleships, 1 minelayer 1923-24 I submarine 1924-25 5 8in cruisers, 2 destroyers 1925-26 4 8in cruisers 1926-27 3 8in cruisers, 6 submarines 1927-28 1 Sin cruisers, 9 destroyers, 6 submarines, 2 sloops 1928-29 9 destroyers, 4 submarines, 4 sloops 1929-30 1 6in cruiser, 5 desiroyers, 3 submarines, 4 sloops THE LONDON NAVAL CONFERENCE The Wail Street crash of 1929 was the forerunner of world-wide depres- sion and financial crisis, and the London Naval Conference of 1930 w as able lo achieve further limitations in naval strength. An attempt by Britain to reduce capital ship limits to 25,000 tons and I2in guns failed, but it was agreed not to lay down any replacemen* ships until 1937 and to reduce existing numbers to 15 for Britain and LSA and 9 for Japan. Aircraft carrier limits were unchanged except for the inclusion of vessels under 10,000 tons, which were nol so considered under the Washington Treaty. Cruisers were divided into ships with guns of over 6 lin and those with 6.1in or less, and the old staff requirement of a total of 70 cruisers for the British Empire was reduced to 50. The United States’ preference for 8in cruisers was recognised and the quota of tonnage for the larger cruisers agreed-as USA 180,000, Great Britain 146,800 and Japan 108,400, with 143,500,192,200 and 100,450 for the smaller type. It was permissible to build 10,000-ton cruisers with 6.lin guns if desired. Destroyer quotas were 150,000 tons for Britain and USA and 105 OOOf r Japan, with individual limits of 1500 tons and Sin guns, though 16 per cent of the quota might be 1850 tons. For sub- marines the quotas were 52,700 tons for Britain, the USA and Japan, w ith limits of 2000 tons and 5. hn guns although three vessels might be up to 2800 tons with 6. lin guns. Neither France nor Italy agreed to this 2
Длчтх'Яо Hood amJ I1'ahant during the Jubilee Excrche*, June 1935 treaty, which was to expire with that of Washington at the end of 1936. The relatively low quotas obtained by Japan were probably a factor tn the rise of m 1 tarist elements which led to the nvasion of Manchuria in September 1931, landings at Shanghai in January 1932, notice to quit the League of Nations in February 1933 and abrogation of the Washington Treaty tn August 1934. Without the USA, the League (which in effect meant the British navy) was powerless to intervene Nearer home. Germany, which had been admitted to the League in 1926, saw the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933. Withdrawal from the general Disarmament Conference con- vened at Geneva in 1932, and notice to quit the League, followed in October 1933, tn May 1935 the Versailles Treaty was repudiated, the Franco-Soviet treaty of mutual assistance signed that month giving a convenient opportunity Meanwhile Italy had begun to plan an attack on Abyssinia in 1933’ the necessary ‘border incident' took place in December 1934 and Abyssinia submitted the dispute to the League in March 1935 Moreover in the spring of 1934, after Britain had ceased war debt repayments, the US Congress passed the Johnson Act pro- hibiting loans to any country in default to the USA This was the gloomy background to the financial difficulties of Great Britain. Large pay cuts in 1931, combined with bungling of their announcement, caused a mutiny in eight ships of the Atlantic Fleet at Invergordon, and in one with the North American and West Indies Squadron The cuts were quickly restored in part, but they should never have been made on the original scale. The net naval estimates fell to£5l.5to£52 million for 1930-31 and 1931-32,and to £50.5million for 1932-33, and then rose to £53.5 million in 1933-34, £56 5 in 1934-35 and £60 million in 1935-36 The average number borne, which was 95,000 in 1930-31, fell to a little below 90,000 for 1932-33 and 1933-34, and rose to 94,000 in 1935-36. It should be noted that the estimates and personnel for 1935-36 do not include a supplementary estimate for £4 85 million and provision for 101 >000 to be borne. The uncancelled building programmes were: 1930-31 3 6in cruisers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines, 4 sloops 1931-32 3 6in cruisers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines, 2 sloops, 2 minesweepers 1932-33 3 6t n cruisers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines, 2 sloops, 2 minesweepers 1933-34 3 6in cruisers, 9 destroyers. 3 submarines, 3 sloops, 1 patrol vessel, 2 minesweepers 1934-35 1 aircraft carrier, 4 6in cruisers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines, 2 sloops, 2 patrol vessels, 2 minesweepers. 1935-36 3 6in cruisers, 9 destroyers, 3 submarines, 1 sloop, 2 patrol vessels, 3 minesweepers; 7 ‘Tribal’ class destroyers were later added One of the cruisers of the 1931-32 Programme and two from that of 1932-33 were transferred to Australia For some time preparations had been under way for a further naval disarmament conference so that a new treaty could replace Washington and London when these expired at the end of 1936 Matters moved slowly, and tn June 1935 a bilateral agreement was signed with Ger many allowing the latter 35 per cent of British tonnage in all categories except for submarines, where the figure was 45 per cent with the right to parity if needed. It looked likely in the second half of 1935 that the League m ght impose sanctions against Italy if she attacked Abyssinia in earnest, and the Mediterranean Fleet was placed on a war footing. Sanctions (but not oil sanctions) followed the attack on Abyssinia in October 1935, and though no help could be looked for from France, there is no doubt that the reinforced Mediterranean Fleet would have quickly dealt with the Italian Navy if the latter had attacked, although very little would have been available for use elsewhere. It is regrettable that money was not found for strengthening the defences of Malta, and providing underground submarine pens in the Malta cliffs. In these circumstances the unrealistic Second London Naval Conference opened in December 1935. The resultant treaty was signed in March 1936 and limited capital ships to 35,000 tons and 14in guns, aircraft carriers to 23,000 tons and 6.1in guns, cruisers to 8000 tons and 6. lin guns and submarines to 2000 tons and 5. lin guns There were several escape clauses which nullified these limits, and as Japan left the confer- ence and Germany did not take pan, only Britain, USA and France of the major naval powers signed the treaty, though Italy announced her intention to accede in 1938. Britain kept to the limits until Lion and Temeraire of the 1938-39 Programme - which were never built. THE BUILD UP TO WAR The Abyssinian War was over by mid-1936 and the Mediterranean Fleet returned to normal, while in March 1936 Germany reoccupied the demilitarised Rhineland; in November 1936 the Rome-Berlin axis was announced and in 1937, the year tn which Japan began the attempt to conquer all China, Italy left the League of Nations Meanwhile, in July 1936, a particularly savage civil war broke out in Spain and lasted until the spring of 1939. Italy, Germany and Russia used it as a testing ground on land and in the air, but only Italy intervened to any great extent at sea. "Die Royal Navy carried out non intervention patrols and the saving of refugees. In August 1937 the Italian submarine Inde 3
GREAT BRITAIN narrowly m ssed the destroyer Havock with a torpedo. Asdic contact was obtained but not held, and a deliberate attack fa led to sink the I ride. It is a pity that this did not lead to the excessive confidence in asdic being questioned. Improbable as it seemed, Franco’s victory was the best possible result for Britain as he was clever enough to avoid entering the Second World War on the German side and the great danger of a Marxist Spain was avoided. It is not necessary Io relate the story of the Munich Agreement, the breaking up of Czechoslovakia, the guarantee given to Poland by Britain, the Russo German pact and the other events which preceded the outbreak of the Second World War; it must be noted however that although relations between the British and US Navies were generally excellent and far better than in the 1920s, the various Neutrality Acts would have made the wartime purchase of arms very difficult, and it was not until November 1939 that these were repealed in so far that war maidriei could be bought for cash and transported in British ships. Although Bnta n was now committed to re-armament, the Treasury continued to restrict naval expenditure, and the estimates for 1936-37 were only £70 million though increased by supplementaries to £81 million. In 1937-38 they were £78 million, with a further £27 million from the Defence Loans Act of 1937 which provided for up to £400 million from the Consolidated bund being spent on the Navy to the end of 1941-42. In 1938-39 the estimates were £96 million, including supplementaries with £30 million from the Defence Loans Act, while for 1939-40 these figures were £69 5 and £80 million, with a further £28.5 million from the £500 million Vote of Credit provided two days before war broke out. The average number borne rose from 100,000 in 1936-37 to 107 000 in 1937-38, 118,000 in 1938-39 and 161,000 in 1939-40. The build ng programmes were as follows (as previously, only ships actually completed are included): 1936-37 2 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers, 2 6in cruisers, 5 5.25in cruisers, 18 destroyers, 8 submarines, 2 sloops, 1 patrol vessel, 3 minesweepers 1937-38 3 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers, 5 6in cruisers, 2 5.25in cruisers, 15 destroyers, 7 submarines, 3 sloops, 3 patrol vessels, 4 minesweepers 1938-39 1 aircraft carrier, 4 6in cruisers, 3 5 25in cruisers, 3 fast minelayers, 3 submarines; also I aircraft maintenance ship, later light fleet carrier 1939-40 (excluding First War Emergency Programme) 1 aircraft carrier, 2 6in cruisers, 1 fast m nelayer, 16 destroyers 20 escort des- troyers, 2 sloops, 56 corvettes, 20 minesweepers The battleships of the 1938-39 and 1939-40 Programmes, 2 in each year, were never built. Although much larger than previous pro- grammes, the above were considerably smaller than was desirable as the dreaded prospect of having to fight Japan, Italy and Germany at the same time gradually became more real Certain problems were oeglected in the years of peace, largely due to over-strict financial control Oil and ammunition eserves were allowed to run down, as was manufacturing capacity for guns and armour plate, tn particular design facilities for new gun mountings. The problems of trade defence and the special vessels necessary such as small escort aircraft carriers, were neglected, though other escorts began to be provided in the 1939-40 Programme. As previously mentioned, much should have been done to improve Malta. Little had been done to modernise Rosy th, placed at 12 months* notice in 1928, and the defences of Scapa Flow were entirely inadequate Rights Io use Bere- haven, Queenstown and Lough Swilly in the Irish Free State were abandoned in April 1938, though there was no great pressure to do so. It was never possible to have an integrated Imperial naval defence as the Dominions were jealous of their autonomy, and though Australia had 2 8in cruisers btu t in the 1920s (to which 3 modern 6in ships originally built for Bnta n were added, as well as various other vessels) and New Zealand maintained 2 6in cruisers, Canada and South Afnca would do very little. All these omissions were secondary to the failure to provide adequate naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm suffered badly under the divided control of the Navy and Air Force, and was a favourite target for Treasury cuts. Britain fell far behind the USA and latterly also Japan tn numbers and quality of aircraft, and though naval control was restored in 1937-38 there was a senous shortage of trained personnel, in addi- tion, the tvpcs of aircraft which the Royal Navy required were often unsatisfactory, and there was little realisation of the importance of single-scat fighters, the tendency be ng to burden such aircraft with an observer. Shore-based aircraft intended for operations over the sea remained an RAF responsibility Completed ships in the navies of the British Empire at the outbreak of the Second World War comprised 12 battleships, 3 battlecruisers, 7 aircraft carriers, 15 Sin cruisers, 22 modern 6in cruisers, 27 older cruisers, 2 monitors, I minelayer, 184 destroyers, 57 submarines, 32 sloops, 6 patrol vessels and 47 minesweepers (a few older sloops and patrol vessels are excluded). Of ships over 10,000 tons standard, only 2 battleships and 1 aircraft carrier had been laid down since the First World War. WORLD WAR II It ts not intended to describe here the naval operations of the Second World War. Fortunately, the British army was thrown out of France in 1940 and Britain was able to fight a traditional maritime war instead of the continental land war of 1914-18. After the USA had been brought in by the Japanese attack of December 1941, the Allies were able to plan and carry out a joint return to Europe where and when this was most advantageous. On the whole, the Royal Navy was able to deal effec- tively with those of Germany and Italy from 1939 t 1941, without France from m d 1940 onwards By far the most dangerous part of these enemies’ naval forces were the German U-boats and aircraft, but the real menace of naval aircraft was not shown until the Japanese attacks of 1941. Although in November 1939 Churchill as First Lord promised Australia and New Zealand that if it came to the choice the Far East would be given priority uver the Mediterranean, there was no chance of this being made effective As it turned out the USA was able to protect Australia and New Zealand, and after the great American victory at Midway in June 1942, the Japanese naval menace assumed manageable proportions. The lust great naval danger was the U-boat campaign of 1942 and the first 5 months of 1943, which also ended in a great victory, but for Britain and America jointly. Opinions will always vary as to whether the Royal Navy obtained its fair share of the war effort. Excessive precautions were taken against invasion long after it had ceased to be practicable for Germany, and there were seldom if ever enough carrier- or shore-based naval aircraft. From 1939 to 1941 Britain was also wasteful of her scarce naval resources. The important aircraft carticrsCourageous andGlorious were virtually ihrown away, attempts were made to intervene at too many places in Norway, the futile Dakar expedition should never have occurred, and the sending of troops to mainland Greece should have been replaced by firmly establishing forces in Crete. Subsequently it is doubtful if too much effort was not spent on sending supplies to North Russia and even as late as the autumn of 1943 operations in the Aegean were continued in the absence of air cover, by that time obvious to anyone as an essential A vital lesson which emerges from the war, and confirms that of the First World VC ar, is that merchant shipping must be convoyed. Though seldom expressed in this way, the advantages were very simple: the convoy is live bait and attracts the submarine quarry to the killer ships and aircraft of the convoy escort. The total of the officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal •Marines reached 778 000 at the end of June 1944 with 73,500 Wrens and 12,000 Merchant Navy personnel under special agreements. Even so, there were so many of the smaller and auxiliary warships that it was difficult to man some of the larger vessels. Wartime building programmes concentrated on smaller ships, and some of the battleships and aircraft carriers of the prewar programmes were delayed in completion, most unfortunately in the case of the latter. A very large and somewhat unrealistic programme of aircraft carriers was planned after the early Japanese successes, but the largest carriers were never built and the others were reduced in number. Details of the various programmes, comprising only ships eventually completed, were: War Emergency 6 5.25in cruisers, 16 destroyers, 36 escort des- troyers, 24 submarines, 60 corvettes, 16 minesweepers (10 of the corvettes were Canadian-built) 1940-41 1 battlesh p, 1 monitor, 32 destroyers, 30cscort destroyers, 44 submarines, 18 sloops, 27 frigates, 25 corvettes, 50 minesweepers (of which 20 were Australian-built and 12 Canadian) 4
Introduction 1941-42 5 6in cruisers, I monitor, 2 fast minelayers, 40 destroyers, 52 submarines 9 sloops, 19 frigates, 3 corvettes, 15 minesweepers 1942-43 2 fleet aircraft carriers, 15 light fleet aircraft earners (of which 2 became aircraft maintenance ships), 1 6in cruiser, 4 I des- troyers, 36 submarines, 16 frigates, 14 corvettes, 10 minesweepers I94J-44 4 light nWt aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers, 16 submarines, 50 frigates, 17 corvettes, 24 minesweepers (of which 19 were Canadian-buih) 1944-45 7 destroyers In addition to the above programmes, 8 destroyers, 4 submarines and 4 corvettes building for foreign navies were taken over. Many of the ships in the above programmes were built very slowly and 2 fleet aircraft carriers, 13 light fleet aircraft carriers, 1 battleship, 4 6in cruisers, 51 destroyers, 19 submarines, 4 sloops, 20 frigates and 2 minesweepers were not completed until after the war. The very large number of minor and auxiliary warships mercantile conversions and landing craft arc not included in the outlines of the War Programmes There was consid erable switching of vessels between the Brit sh, Australian and Cana- dian navies, and the Australian Navy’s bu tding programmes for the war totalled 3 destroyers, 12 frigates and 36 minesweepers, all built in Australia. The Canadian Navy's programmes totalled 8 destroyers, 60 frigates, 1J 2 corvettes and 76 minesweepers; of these, 4 destroyers and 15 corvettes were built in Britain and the rest in Canada. The Indian Navy was increased by 6 sloops built tn Britain and by 17 minesweep- ers, 9 built in Britain, 4 in Australia and 4 in India. American Lend-1 ease supplied 38 escort aircraft car lers I >7 fri- gates, 22 corvettes and 37 minesweepers, of which 8 frigates, 7 corvet- tes and 15 minesweepers were built in Canada. These were all new ships, and in addition 50 older destroyers, 9 submarines and 10 Coast Guard cutters (sloops) were supplied. It may be noted that 2 Canadian-budt frigates and 8 corvettes were supplied to the USN, as were 10 British built corvettes which had seen sonic service. American policy towards Britain had altered very much since the days of the Neutrality Acts, even before the USA found itself at war In July 1940 the exchange of the 50 destroyers for the lease of British bases in the western hemisphere was agreed in principle, though not ratified until September In April 1941 British warships could refit in US dockyards, in July US forces relieved the British garrison in Iceland, in September 1941 the USN was allowed to escort convoys in the Atlantic and in November US merchant ships were allowed to be armed and to enter war zones In addition to the Royal Navy's parr in the defeat of the U-boats and in the North African and European andmgs, such actions as the night attack on Taranto, the Battle of Cape Matapan and the sinking of the Bismarck and Schamhost were famous victories. Losses were very heavy and for the British Empire were as follows for major ships (constructive losses are generally omitted as in many cases the ships could have been repaired if worthwhile): 1939 1 battleship, 1 aircraft earner, 3 destroyers, I submarine 1 AMC 1940 1 aircraft carrier, 3 cruisers, 37 destroyers, 24 submannes, 3 sloops, 2 corvettes, 4 minesweepers, 9 AMCs 1941 2 battleships, 2 battlecruisers, 1 aircraft carrier, 1 escort earner, 10cruisers, 1 fast minelayer, 1 monitor, 23 destroyers, 11 submarines, 3 sloops, 8 corvettes, 4 minesweepers, 4 AMCs 1942 2 aircraft carriers, 1 escort carrier, 13 cruisers, 49 destroyers, 20 submannes, 6 sloops, II corvettes, 9 minesweepers, 1 AMC 1943 1 escort carrier, 2 cruisers, 2 fast minelayers, 17 destroyers, 14 submarines, 1 sloop, I frigate, 5 corvettes, 8 minesweepers 1944 4 cruisers, 18 destroyers, 6 submarines, 2 sloops, 9 frigates, 8 corvettes, 9 minesweepers 1945 2 destroyers, 1 submarine, 1 sloop, 1 frigate, 4 corvettes, 5 minesweepers By 1946 the Royal Navy was only a small fraction of the strength of the US Navy, with no prospect of ever gaining equality again, and a new era had begun for Britain WEAPONS Guns British naval guns were generally designed for long accuracy life and good regularity and not for extreme performance. Wire wind- ing was still used for the 16in Mk I and for most 8in Mk VIIIs, but from the 6in Mk XXIII onwards medium guns were built with an *A* tube, jacket and breech ring, heavy guns having an inner ‘A’ tube as well which was added to smaller ones on relining. Some 4in QF Mk Vs had loose liners, but loose barrels became standard for most guns from 5.25in down, and designs were prepared for loose barrel 16in and 14in weapons. The accompanying table gives data for most of the guns introduced between 1922 and 1946 down to 4in BRITISH NAVAL GUN’S 1922-46 Bore Length Mark Weight (tons)/BM Projectile (lb) Muzzle Velocity (fs)* Range (yds)*/at elevation Remarks BL guns 16in/45/ll, HI 118 7 2375 r2485 C40.600 40* Never mounted l6in/45/l 108 2048 2586 39,100/40* afloat Mk 1 rifling 151П/42Л 100 1938 2614 2458 39,800 40* 33,550 30* Mk II rifling Old gun, new 14in/45/VIl 79/79.6 1590 2483 38,550/40* projectile 8in/50/V|l| 17.2 256 2805 30,650/45* 6tn/50/XXIII 6.9 112 2758 25,500/45* 6in/50/XXIl 9 100 2960 25,800/45’ QF guns 5.25|п/50Л 4 3 80 2678 23,500/45* 4.7in/45/Xll 3.24 50 2650 16,970/40* All 4 7m: 4.7m/5O,XI 3.35 62 2538 21,300/45° actual bore 4.724in 4.7in.M5flX 2.97 50 2650 17,200/45* 4 7in/40/VHl 3 09 50 2457 16,450/45* 4 5ui/45/l, III V 2.76/3.31 55 2449 21 150/45* All 4 Sin QF 4in/33/XXHI 0 7 35 8 1791 12,080/30* actual bore 4 45m 4iiV45/XVI. XXI 2 01/1.52 35.9 2660 19,850/45* Muzzle vclociiies are all new gun 80“F charge temperalure, and ranges are for these muzzle velocities 5
IVum/iw and other ihijn of ihe British Fleet де Gibruhiix about 1953 New versions were built of several older guns. Sometimes a new mark was given, as in the 4.7in BL Mk II, 4in QF Mk XXII, the Iasi variant of the Mk XII, and 12pdr/12cwt Mk V or, as in the 4in QF Mk V and 3in/20cwt Mk I, letters or asterisks were added to the existing numeral Among the more unusual guns were the 4 n QF Mk XIX made in large numbers for anti submarine use with a muzzle velocity of only 1290fs though 40.Seal long, and the 4.5in/8cwt produced at the end of the war for coastal forces, 18.9cal and firing a 14Jib shell at 1500fs. The standard light AA guns in 1939 were the 40mm 2pdr Mk VIII and the 0 Sin MG. The latter was of little use and it was not easy to increase the muzzle velocity of the 2pdr from 2040fs, though 2320-2400fs was a ttained. Trials in that year showed the superiority of the Swiss 20mm Oerlikon and Swedish 40mm Bofors which had a muzzle velocity of 2810-2890fs, and arrangements were made to man- ufacture both in Britain. The Bofors was by far the best of the wartime light AA w capons, but the air-cooled version is not recorded in a British warship before mid-194], and none of the various water cooled marks until November 1942. Projectiles tended to become heavier for a given calibre and of better shape as shown if the ranges of the 4 7in Mk IX and 4.Sin in the table are compared. AP shell was vastly improved on that of 1914-18 but was not entirely satisfactory at highly oblique impact. Starshell was found to need improvement, and shells containing dyes to give coloured splashes for easy identification were long absent, as were proximity (VT) fuzes, most of the early production going to the USN Although the performance of many guns would have been increased if tubular propellant had more widely replaced cord, the quality of propellant was enormously improved over that of 1914-18 and the loss of ships from spontaneousexplosionseliminated. Anti-flash precautions were gener- ally satisfactory, and the loss of Hood was not due to the causes that had blown up three battlecruisers at Jutland Many gun mountings suffered from initial troubles largely attribut able to shortage of design and development staff and facilities for some of the component parts. Requirements could also be too ambitious, the Sin twin mounting being a well-known example. The British lagged in introducing Remote Power Control (RPC), and the only stabilised triaxial mounting in service was the Hazcmeycr Bofors, first seen in Britain on a Dutch ship in 1940 and built by a Dutch subsidiary of the German Siemens firm. Surface fire control was as good in the British Navy as in any, but a most unfortunate error was made in adopting an AA control system in which course and speed of the target were estimated, and not as in the USA and Germany a tachymetric one with movement in range, bearing and elevation measured against a stabilised basis. Torpedoes Although for a lime torpedoes with oxygen enriched air were in vogue, the development of the highly efficient Brotherhood burner cycle engine caused a return to natural air well before the war, and except for the Japanese torpedoes which used pure oxygen, British ones had the best performance of any. There were seldom enough modern torpedoes and they were not issued to older ships Details of various British torpedoes of the period are given in the table. The 24. Sin torpedo was fitted in Helton and Rodney only, except that it was tried in Vivien and Vonoc in the 1920s; the 21in Mk VII was in some Sin cruisers; the 21 in Mk Vll I was for submarines, the 2 lin Mk IX was carried by cruisers and destroyers; and the 18in Mk XII was for aircraft Later versions of the Mks VIII and IX used tn the war had respectively 8051b and 8101b of explosive and could do 5700yds at 45kts and 11,000yds at 4lkls, while the 1 Sin Mk XVII of 1944, weighing 18661b, had 6001b of explosive and a range of 2500yds at 40kts. Neil her the electric 2 lin MkXI nor any British homing torpedo entered service during the war, though some aircraft used the slow American acoustic torpedo known as the Mk 24 mine or as Fido* against submarines As in most navies, non-contact pistols gave much trouble initially Mines The Royal Navy was in a far belter position regarding mines in 1939 than in 1914. Over 170,000 were laid during World W'ar II in protective fields and over 60,000 in enemy waters, of which two-thirds w ere laid by aircraft The Admiralty were responsible for all mines, and the development of a new magnetic mine was authorised in May 1936, a small trial order being placed in July 1939. The first were laid by aircraft in April 1940, the first acoustic mines m September 1942 and combined acoustic/magnetic in April 1943. It was possible to lay in 30ft BRITISH 1ORPEDOES 1922-46 Torpedo Weight (lb) Explosive (lb) Range (yds)/Spccd (kts) Date introduced 24.Sin Mk I* 5287 742 15.000/35 or 20.000/30 1924 2 Jin Mk VII- 4106 740 16,000/33 1926 21in Mk VIII 3353 750 5000/441 or 7000/40 1927 2lin Mk IX 3731 750 10,000/40 or 14,000/35 1930 I8in Mk XII 1548 388 1500/40 1936 •Oxygen enriched 6
Introduction/The Royal Navy in 1922 of water from 15,OOOft and in 12ft from 200ft. Moored mines could be laid from ships in up to 1000 fathoms, although the endurance of the thin mooring rope was low, and most were laid in 100 fathoms or less with few beyond 300 fathoms. The mine could be at up to 300ft below the surface. ASW weapons The tracking of submerged submarines by asdic (sonar) proved to be much more difficult than had been thought and, as only direction and not depth was indicated and contact was lost at 100-150yds when the submarine p scd under the asdic beam, there was a large degree of uncertainty in dropping depth charges over the stern. The standard Mk 7 DC had a 2901b amatol charge with a 20ft hull-splitting radius against a tin hull, while an aluminised minol charge increased this to 26ft The rate of sinking was 7-10fs, increased to 16.5 in the heavy DC which had a 1401b weight attached, and the initial 5-charge pattern was increased to a 10- or 14-chargc one with 5 or 9of the DCs heavy. The Mk 10 DC with a 1-ton charge was fired from a destroyer’s 2lin TT or later dropped over the stern of‘Captain’ class frigates. To allow the attacking ship to get clear of the effects of the burst at 220ft, two buoyancy chambers limited the sinking rate to 6fs. This type was introduced in March 1942, and the Mk 10*, with only one buoyancy chamber sinking at 21fsand bursting at 600ft, in April 1943 but neither were much used A better method of attack was to fire suitable projectiles ahead of the attacking ship while still in sound contact, and it is unfortunate that the various howitzers and mortars of 1918 were not developed between the wars. Hedgehog, which underwent sea trials in Westcott at the end of 1941 and was ready for service in January 1942, was a spigot mortar with 24 spigots in groups of 6, angled to give a 120ft diameter circle about 200 yds ahead of a stationary ship The 7in diameter bomb weighed 651b and had a 351b charge of Torpcx, an aluminised cyclonite explos ve. Sinking speed was about 22fs. A hit had to be scored, and Hedgehog did not achieve a kill until.November 1942. It was much better in relatively shallow waters than in the Atlantic About 35 ships whose forward gun was needed had a split version, with 12 spigots on either side coupled together. This was not satisfactory until April 1943. By far the best weapon was Squid, a triple 12in mortar firing a 3901b bomb with a 2071b minol charge and a sinking speed of about 42fs. The pattern was a triangle of 120ft side at about 275yds mean range ahead of the ship The bombs had time fuz.es and all three were set the same, and if two Squids were mounted (as was usual), the tw patterns were normally set 60ft apart in depth The new depth-determining Type 147 asdic was essential to Squid as the fuz.es were set automatically from the depth recorder while the mortars were fired automatically by the asdic range recorder. Squid wasordcred from the drawing board in 1942, sea trials in Ambuscade were in May 1943, and the first production unit was in Hadleigh Castle completed in September 1943. It was usually limited to new ships, and, apart from Ambuscade, the only destroyer to have Squid in the war was Escapade in January 1945 By the end of the war between 60 and 70 ships had been fitted, while over 500 had Hedgehog. The first Squid success was by Loch Killin on 31 July 1944. RADAR It would require a whole book to deal adequately with the development of radar, and only the briefest outline can be given here. An experimen- tal set was fitted to the minesweeper Saltburn in late 1936 but was not satisfactory, and it was not until August 1938 that a prototype air warning set, known as Type 79Y, working on a 7m wave length with a pulse output of 15-20к\Г. was fitted tcSheffield. A second set was soon fitted to Rodney, and in mid-1939 a Type 79Z of 70-90kW was installed in the AA cruiscrCw/etv. This developed into the Type 279, which was replaced gradually by the Type 281 on 3J-4m with a 350kW output, and first fitted at the end of 1940 to Dido. In smaller ships a widely used air warning set was Type 291 on 1.5m introduced in 1941. Precise indication of a target needed shorter wavelengths, and the generation of adequate power in the microwave region was solved by the develop- ment of the resonant cavity magnetron in 1940 The first 10cm surface warning set, Type 271, was fitted to the corvette Orchis in May 1941 and was highly successful. Types 272 and 273 were used in larger ships, and latterly 3cm sets were used in some destroyers, submarines and coastal forces craft. Other 10cm sets used later in the war were the Type 277 combined air and surface warning plus height-finder introduced in late 1943 and repheed by Types 294 and 295. All these had a pulse output of about 500k W, as did the air and surface target indicating Type 293 first fitted in late 1943. For main battery fire control the 50cm Type 284 was first fitted to Nelson in June 1940and was very successful, being later rep acedbythe 10cm Type 274. Other 50cm gunnery sets were Types 282 for dose- range AA introduced in early 1941,283 for main battery blind fire AA barrages fitted from late 1942 and 285 for long-range A A and also as an air and surface warning unit for small ships. Type 275 was a lOcth replacement for 285, introduced in 1945. In conclusion the experiences of Duke of York in the night action against Schamhorst may be noted The Type 273 detected the latter at 45,500yds, while the Type 284 initially delected the target at 34,000yds and could hold for bearing at 25,800yds. Radar spotting on shell splashes was limited to 21,500yds or less. THE ROYAL NAVY in 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (deep load) Fate Lord Nelson class AGAMEMNON 23.6.1906 17,683t Target ship. Sold Colossus class COLOSSUS 9.4.1910 23,O86t 24 1.27 Disarmed 1922-23. Orion class MONARCH 30.3.1911 25,870t Sold July 1928 Expended 20.1.25 THUNDERER 1.2 1911 25,870t Sold Dec 1926 King George V class AJAX 21.3.1912 26,630t Sold 9.11.26 CENTURION 18.11.1911 26,595t Target ship 1927. KING GEORGE V 9.10 1911 26,740t Scuttled 9.6.44 Sold Dec 1926 I run Duke clau BENBOW 12.11 1913 30,380t Sold March 1931 EMPEROR OF INDIA 27.11.1913 30,3801 Expended 1.7.31 IRON DUKE 12.10.1912 30,380t Gunnery TS 1931. MARLBOROUGH 24.10.1912 30,380t Sold 2.3.46 Sold 27.6.32 Queen Elizabeth class BARHAM 31.12.1914 33,590t Sunk 25.11.41 MALAYA 18.3.1915 33,5 30t Sold 20.2.48 QUEEN ELIZABETH 16.10.1913 34,O5Ot Sold 19.3.48 VALIANT 4 11.1914 33,910t Sold 19.3.48 WARSPITE 26.11.1913 33,670t Sold 12.7.46 Royal Sovereign class RAM11.1 1ES 12.9.1916 36,140t Sold 20.3-48 RESOLUTION 14.1.1915 32,8201 Sold 5.5.48 REVENGE 29.5.1915 32,820t Sold 19-18 ROYAL OAK 17.11.1914 31,250t Sunk 14 10 39 ROYAL SOVEREIGN 29.4.1915 32,700t Sold 5.4 49 Queen Elizabeth class By late 1926 all these ships had 4—4in QF Mk VAA (4x 1) replacing 2-3in, and they also underwent large refits as follows; Warspite 1924-26, Queen Elizabeth 1926-27, Malaya 1927-29, Valiant 1929-30 and Barham 1931-34. The funnels were trunked into one and bulges fined. increasing beam to 104ft (31.67m) with deep load displacement 35,060-35,710 ions (excluding 815 tons waicr protec- tion) in the first four and speed 23.5kls. In Barham the middle deck was increased to Sin on the flat over magazines, and the 6in easemates enclosed by Hin rear walls, so that deep load displacement was 35,970 tons or 36,785 tons with water protection. A single 8-barrel ed pompom was added to Va/iunr and two to Barham both ships also having a catapult installed and 2 TT removed The other three sh ps had 2 IT removed in 1930-31, while Valiant had a second 8-barrelled pompom in 1936 and Queen Elizabeth two in 1935. In 1938Barham had the remaining 2 IT removed and the 4in guns replaced by 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2), whilst in April 1940 a further 16-2pdr pompoms(2x8) were added. Barham sank in aboui 5 minutes from 3 torpedoes fired by U3JI but on a previous occasion had withstood a single torpedo 7
GREAT BRITAIN AU except Barham underwent second recons ructions. Malaya was taken n hand at Dcvonport between October 1934 and December 1936 The middle deck was increased to Sin over inagaz les and io 31 in over engine rooms, and the CT was replaced by a smaller one with Sin max The AA armament was now 8—4m QI* Mk XVI (4x2), 16-2pdr pompoms (2x8), the last 2 l Г were removed and a cross-deck catapult added with hangars for two aircraft The catapult was removed and the hangars converted toother uses tn late 1942 when 16-2pdr pompoms (2x8) were added, followed by 4--4tn QF Mk XVI (2x2) in January 1943 In September 1943 the 12-6in guns and the battery amto rwere removed, 2in plating being fitted over the ports By mid-1944, 4S-20mm Oerl kons were mounted and deep load spla cmeni had i tsen to 37,710 tons including water protection. During the war Malaya withstood one torpedo. Warspue’s second reconstruction, at Portsmouth from March 1934 to March 1937, was more radical, and data was now: Displacement. 36 450 tons deep load including 81S tons water tn protection compartments. Dimensions: Unchanged except 33ft lin (10.08m) mean deep load draught Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum bot ers, 80 OOOshp - 23.5kts, 3501 tons oil Armour Changed as follows - battery 2in, CT 3in-2in, middle deck Sin over magazines, 31m over engine and boiler rooms, main deck 3lin over forwar 1 belt Armament 8-15in/42 Mk 1 4x2, 30* elevation), 8-6in/45 Mk ХП 8-4inQF Mk XVI AA (4x2), 32-2pdr pompom 4x8) There was a e oss-dcck alapull and hangars for 2 aircraft, but the aircraft equipment was removed in 1943 Wa- pur was hit by a FX1400 guided AP bomb on 16.9.1943and near-missed by another, and was never fully repaired though patched up as a bombardment ship with 6 usable 15in, no 6 n 8-4in AA, 40 pompoms (5x8) and 35-20mm She was again patched up after a ground mine explosion on 13 6.1944 but her speed was reduced ta 15 5kts Va/iaiu's reconstruction at Dcvonport from March 1937 to \ovember 1939 andQurettbhaabcrA's at Portsmouth from August 1937 to December 1940 with a further month at Rosyth were the most comptc c of any of the class, and resulted in the following new data: Displacement: Vii/шнг (1939) 36,513 tons deep oad including 815 tons water protection. Quern H rabeih (1944) 38,450 tons Dimensions. Unch nged except Valiant 1939) 32ft lOin (10.01m) mean deep load draught, Quern Elizabeth (1944' 34ft in (IO.52m) Machinery 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80 OOOshp " 23 kts, Va/umr 3393, Queen Elizabeth 3366 tons oil Armour Changed as follows - battery nil, HA mountings 2m-1 in, CT 3in-2in, middle deck 5in over magazines, 3| n over engine and boiler rooms, main deck 3iin-2]in over forward belt Armament: 8-15tn/42 Mk I 4 2, 30*elevation), 20-4 Stn/45 QF Mk 1 or 111 (10>2), 32-2pdr pompom (4 <B) Aircraft equipment, removed in 1943, was as Warspite. Queen Elizabeth's close-range AA armament was increased by at least 54-20mm Oerltkons, and Va lant at one time had 47, while in 1946 the latter had 56-2pdr pompoms (7x8). Both ships were badly damaged by 'human tor- pedoes* on 19.12.1941 and Queen Elizabeth w hich had by far the worst damage, was out of service until June 1943 Valiant was again seriously damaged by the collapse of a floa tng dock on 8 8 1944 Queen Elizabeth in May 46 Royal Sovereign clast Modifications to this class were n t so extensive as to the Queen Elizabeths Royal Oak was refined in late 1922-24 and bulged, altering beam and deep load draught to 102ft lin x 31ft 6tn mean (21.11 x 9.60m) al 33,240 ions. She was again refitted n 1934-36 when the main deck was increased to Sin over magazines and 3}in over engine rooms. In the rest of the class lhe bulges were lightened by removing crushing tubes and wood and cement filling, and in 1942 the main deck over m gazines was increased by n in Royal Sovereign, Resolu- tion and Ramillus Die AA armament had been altered to 4—4inQFMk V(4x I) in all by late 1928 and the 2 forecastle deck 6in removed In 1931-38Retolunvn had 5-4in A A with an expel mental twin mounting, but all were re-armed with 8-4 n QF Mk XVI (4x2) in 1936-39. The four survtv ng ships had 4-6 n removed in 1942—43. Revenge had one 8-barrclled pompom in December 1931, and by ihe outbreak of war all had two, while two 4-barrellcd mountings were added in 1941-42 and up to 42 Oetlikons were mounted in 1944-45. The TT were reduced to 2 in 1931-34 and removed n 1938-39 except in Royal Oak, where they were replaced by 4 ТГ (above waler) in 1934-36. A catapult was filled to all except Revenge, but only Resolution retained one after 1939. Deep load displacements eventually reached 33,560-35,390 ions. Royal Oak was sunk by three torpedoes from U47 but Resolution and Ramilhes each survived one. Royal Sovereign tube Soviet Arlumtelsh being handed back al Portsmouth, 8.2 949
BATTLECRUISERS Name Launched Disp (deep load) Fate Indefatigable class AUSTRALIA 25.10 1911 21,350i Scuttled 12.4 24 Lion class LION 6.8.1910 3O,945t Sold 31.1.24 Tiger class TIGER 15.12.1913 35,7 lOt Sold 7 3 32 Renown class RENOWN 4.3.1916 32,730t Sold 19 3 48 REPULSE 8 1.1916 37,490t Sunk 10 12.41 Courageous class COURAGEOUS 5.2.1916 22,690t Converted GLORIOUS 20.4 1916 22,690t 1924-28 Converted Hood class HOOD 22 8.1918 46,680t 1924-30 Sunk 24.5.41 Tiger class Tiger's AA guns were finally changed to 4—4in QF Mk V (4x 1) in March 1929. Fuel was reduced to 300 tons coal and 3300 tons oil. Renown class Renown's first reconstruction was undertaken at Portsmouth from May 1923 to August 1926 and comprised the following alterations: Displacement: 37,150 tons deep load Dimensions: Beam 102ft 4in (31 19m) X 31ft 3in (9.53m) mean deep load Machinery Unchanged, 3O.25kts Armour; Belt 9in, lower edge 2in, main deck 4in over magazines, 21in-lin over boiler rooms, 3m over engine rooms, continued to side over deck slope at 4m-21in, main deck slope 4m by magazines, lower deck 4in-3fm over magazines beyond ‘A’ and *Y’, longitudinal bulkheads by boiler uptakes 2in, bulges fitted Armament: 15m unchanged, 15~4m BL Mk IX (5x3), 4—4in QF Mk V A A (4x1). One 4in triple was removed in March 1932, an 8-barrellcd pompom mounted in May 1932 and a second briefly from January to May 1936, whilst a catapult was fitted in May 1933. However, in September 1936/?елоош was taken in hand at Portsmouth for a second, more drastic reconstruction, completed 2 9 1939. Alterations were. Displacement: 36,080 tons deep load Machinery 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 120,000shp = 30 75kts, 4613 tons oil Armour: Barbette sides ‘A’ 6in main to upper deck, ‘B’ 6in main to forecastle deck, box protection to 4.5in guns and TT 2Jin- lin, CT 3in-2in, main deck 5in over 4 5in magazines, 24m over boiler rooms, 2?in over forward belt, lower deck 3iin by after belt bulkhead, boiler uptake longitudinal bulkheads removed Armament: 6-15m/42 Mk I (3x2, 30° elevation), 2O-4.5in/45 QF Mk 1 or III (10x2), 24—2pdr pompom (3x8), 8-2lin TT aw One cross-deck catapult was fitted, with hangars for 2 aircraft. The aircraft equipment was removed in 1943, although the catapult was also not earned from November 1940 to October 1941. A quadruple pompom was added in December 1943 and 64—20mm by 1944 The TT were removed in April 1945 By 1944, for reasons which arc not clear, deep load displacement had risen to 38,395 tons. Repulse had 2—4in BL Mk IX and 2-3in AA replaced by 4—4in QF Mk V AA (4x l)in November 1924, and was reconstructed at Portsmouth from April 1933 to May 1936. Alterations were. Displacement: 38,300 tons deep load Dimensions: 32ft 2in (9 80m) mean deep load Machinery: Unchanged, 28.3kts Armour: Main deck over magazines 5Jin, for 20ft abaft *Y’ 4Jin, over engine rooms 3Ji n continued to side, low er deck over forw ard magazines 41m, crushing tubes removed from bulges Armament: 1 Sin unchanged, 12—4in BL Mk IX (4x3),4—4in QF Mk XV AA (2x2), 4-4m QF Mk V AA, 16-2pdr pompom (2x8), 8-21in TT aw There was one cross-deck catapult, and hangars for 2 aircraft The 4in Mk XV were replaced by 2-4in Mk V in February 1939, and a third 8-barrelled pompom replaced a 4in triple in November 1940, while 8-20mm Oerlikons were added in 1941. Repulse was sunk by 5 torpedoes from Japanese aircraft. Courageous class Both ships were converted into fleet aircraft carriers. See main tables. Hood class Hood was never reconstructed, and modifications were largely confined to the A A armament The 4in Mk V A A guns were increased to 6 in December 1937 and to 8 in June 1938 when 2-5.5in w'ere removed, but in June-August 1939 8-4m Mk XVI (4x2) were mounted, all the 4in Mk V removed and the 2-5 Sin replaced. Finally tn April all the 5.Sin were removed and 6-4in Mk XVI (3x2) added. During the 1929-31 refit 2-8 barrelled pompoms were mounted, a catapult added (removed in June 1932), and oil fuel increased to 4615 tons A third 8-barrellcd pompom was added m December 1937 and the 2 submerged TT removed, while 5 UP rocket projectors were mounted in May 1940, deep load displacement being now 48,360 tons Hood was blown up by one or more 15in shells from Bismarck. Hood in 1937 MONITORS Name Launched Disp (deep load) Fate Gorgon class GORGON 9.6.1914 5746t Target ship. Abercrombie class ABERCROMBIE 15.4.1915 6150t BU 1928 BU 1927 HAVELOCK 29 4 1915 6150t BU 1927 ROBERTS 15.4.1915 6150t Target ship Lord Clive class LORD CLIVE 10.6.1915 5683t BU 1936 BU 1927 Marshal Hey class MARSHAL SOULT 24 8 1915 6900t BU 1946 Erebus class EREBUS 19.6.1916 8450t BU 1947 TERROR 18 5 1916 8450t Sunk 24.2.41 9
GREAT BRITAIN Marshal Soult was a base ship from 1940, her 4in guns were removed in 1937 and her 15m turret in 1940. The former 4in BL Mk IX and 3m HA m Erebus and Terror were replaced in 1939-40 by 6-4in QF Mk V HA, and in 1940 the upper deck was increased from 2in to 4in on the flat over 15in magazines and machin- ery, while the main deck aft was thickened by Im to 2fin-2in. When sunk by bomb near-misses Terror had 7-20mm, while the light AA in Erebus finally comprised 3 quadruple 2pdr, 1 single 2pdr, 1 single 40mm Bofors and 15-20mm. Deep load displacement rose to about 9400 tons in Terror and 9800 tons m Erebus, though oil fuel was reduced by 90 tons. CRUISERS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Name Launched Disp (deep load) Fate ARK ROYAL 5.9 1914 7400t Sold 1946 PEGASUS 96.1917 3300t BU 1931 ARGUS 2.12 1917 15,750t BU 1946 VINDICTIVE 17 1 1918 12,095t BU 1946 EAGLE 8.6.1918 26,800t Sunk 11.8 42 HERMES 11 9 1919 13,700t Sunk 9 4 42 Ark Royal was renamed Pegasus 21.12.34. She was used mostly as a depot ship, but a catapult was fitted in 1938 and she was re-armed with 4—3in/20cwt HA m 1940 A fighter catapult ship 1941-43, she was sold into mercantile service after the war. Argus had bulges added in 1925-26, and in 1937-38 she was fitted to operate Queen Bee target aircraft, but returned to operational service in the war. The flight deck was extended to 570ft and armament comprised 4-4m QF Mk V HA and 13-20mm Vindictive was converted back to a Hawkins class cruiser in 1923-25,with an armament of 6-7.5in, 3—4in HA, 4-3pdr saluting, 2-2pdr pompoms and 6-2lin TT (4 aw, 2 sub). A hangar, and for a time a compressed air catapult, were in the ‘B* gun position. She was demilitarised as a training ship in 1936-37 and was converted to a repair ship in 1939-40. Eagle's 5-4in HA were reduced to 4 in 1933, the gun between the funnels being replaced by 2pdr pompoms (lx 8). A second 8-barrelled pompom was added m 1937, and by 1942 there were also 12-20mm. Petrol capacity was increased in 1942 to 17,750gal. Eagle was sunk by 4 torpedoes from U73. Hennes was sunk by dive-bombers from Japanese aircraft carriers. A few 20mm guns may have been added by the time she was lost. Funous was under reconstruction 1922-25 and is described m the main tables. Eagle in 1935 MoD Hermes in 1938 MoD Name Launched Disp (deep load) Fate Boadtcea class BOA DICEA 14.5.1908 3915t BU 1926 Bnstol class GLASGOW 30.9.1909 5656t BU 1927 U'evmouth class DARTMOUTH 14 12 1910 5790t BU 1930 WEYMOUTH 18 11 1910 5770t BU 1928 YARMOUTH 12.4.1911 5875t BU 1929 Chatham class BRISBANE (RAN) 30.9.1915 6000t BU 1936 CHATHAM (RNZN) 19.11 1911 6005t BU 1926 DUBLIN 30.4.1912 5955t BU 1926 MELBOURNE (RAN) 30 5 1912 5945t BU 1928 SOUTHAMPTON 16 5 1912 5945t BU 1926 SYDNEY (RAN) 29.8.1912 5990t BU 1929 Birmingham class BIRMINGHAM 7 5 1913 5920t BU 1931 LOWESTOFT 23.4.1913 6000t BU 1931 ADELAIDE (RAN) 27 7 1918 6 lOOt BU 1949 Arethusa class AURORA (RCN) 30.9.1913 4410t BU 1927 PENELOPE 25.8.1914 4410t BU 1924 Caroline class CAROLINE 29 9.1914 4733t RNVR drill ship 1924 CARYS FORT 14 11 1914 4733c BU 1931 CLEOPATRA 14 1 1915 4733t BU 1931 COMUS 16 12.1914 4733t BU 1934 CONQUEST 20 1 1915 4733t BU 1930 CORDELIA 23 2 1914 4733c BU 1923 Calliope class CALLIOPE 17.12.1914 4695t BU 1931 CAMBRIAN 3 3 1916 4800t BU 1934 CANTERBURY 21 12.1915 4800t BU 1934 CASTOR 28.7.1915 4800t BU 1936 CHAMPION 29 5.1915 4695t BU 1934 CONSTANCE 12 9 1915 4800t BU 1936 Centaur class CENTAUR 6 1 1916 4870t BU 1934 CONCORD 1.4 1916 4870t BU 1935 Caledon class CALEDON 25.11 1916 5150t BU 1948 CALYPSO 24 1.1917 5150c Sunk 12.6.1940 CARADOC 23 12.1916 5150t BU 1946 Ceres class CARDIFF 12 4.1917 5290t BU 1946 CERES 24 3.1917 53O2t BU 1946 COVENTRY 6.7.1917 5240t Sunk 14.9.42 CURACOA 5 5.1917 5320t Collision 2.10 42 CURLEW 5.7 1917 5230t Sunk 26.5.40 Carlisle class CAIRO 19.11.1918 5210t Sunk 12.8.42 CALCUTTA 9.7 1918 5235t Sunk 1 6.41 CAPETOWN 28 6 1919 5180c BU 1946 CARLISLE 9.7.1918 5236c Constructive loss 9 10 43. BU 1948 COLOMBO 18 12.1918 5240t BU 1948 Hawkins class EFFINGHAM 8.6 1921 12,170i: Wrecked 17 5 40 FROBISHER 20.3.1920 12,300t BU 1949 HAWKINS 1.10.1917 12,1 10l BU 1947 ‘D’ class DANAE 26.1.1918 5780t BU 1948 DAUNTLESS 10.4.1918 5820t BU 1946 DELHI 23.8.1918 58OOt BU 1948 DESPATCH 24 9.1919 5930t BU 1946 DIOMEDE 29.4.1919 5850t BU 1946 DRAGON 29 12.1917 5730t Scuttled as breakwater 8.7 44 DUNEDIN 19.11.1918 5800t Sunk 24.11.41 DURBAN 29.5.1919 5800t Scuttled as breakwater 9.6.44 ‘E’ class EMERALD 19.5.1920 9106t BU 1948 ENTERPRISE 23 12 1919 9435t BU 1946 Birmingham class Adelaide was refitted in 1938-39, the removal of two coal-fired boilers causing a reduction to 23,500shp = 24 3kts. Max oil fuel was 1420 tons. The TT were removed and guns altered to 8-6in and 3-4in HA and later to 7-6in, 2-4in HA and 6-20mm. 10
The Royal Navy in 1972 Centaur class No 2 6in gun was removed from Centaur in 1925 and from Concord in 1929. Caledon class Calypso was torpedoed by an Italian submarine Caledon was converted to an A A cruiser in 1942-43, the forward superstructure being altered to accommodate a second twin 4in forward The new armament was 6-4in QF Mk XVI (3x2), 2 twin and 4 single 40mm Bofors and 15-20mm The twin Bofors were in triaxial mounungs Deep load displacement was given as 5320 tons, including 200 tons ballast Ceres class Coventry and Curlew were converted to AA cruisers in 1935-36 and armed with 10-4m QF Mk V (Юх 1) and one 8-barrelled 2pdr pompom (though Coventry initially had 2 such mountings). Both ships had 2-4m removed m 1939-40 and a third appears to have been removed from Coventry in 1942. She was scuttled after bomb damage, and Curlew was sunk by near-misses. Deep load displace- ments on conversion were 5468 tons (Coventry') and 5355 tons (Curlew) Curacoa was converted in 1939-40 and had 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2), with 1 quadruple and 2 single 2pdr pompoms and later also 5-20mm. With 200 tons ballast, deep load displacement was 5403 tons 19^-20inm. Four fixed above-water TT were removed from both ships in 1943—44. Effingham was reconstructed in 1937-38 and re-armed with 9-6m BL Mk XII on 30° mountings, 4—4in QF Mk V HA and 4-2lin fixed above-water TT. In 1939-40, 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2) replaced the earlier 4in, and two 8-barrelled 2pdr pompoms and a catapult were added During reconstruction 2 boilers were removed and the remaining 8 trunked into one funnel Oil fuel was increased to 2620 tons, and shp reduced to 58,000 = 29.75kts. Deep load displacement was 12,514 tons in 1938 ‘D’ class Diomede and Dunedin were loaned to the RNZN from 1924—25 until 1937 and Dragon and Danae (as Conrad) to Poland 1943-44 and 1944—46 Delhi was converted to an A A cruiser at New York N Yd in 1941, her 1942 armament being 5-5in/38 US, 8-2pdr pompom (2x4)and 8, later 10-20mm.By 1945deep load displacement had risen to 6400 tons. One 6in was removed from Danae, Dragon and Durban in 1942-43, and the first two had their 4in QF Mk V replaced by a twin 4in QF Mk XVI and 2 quadruple 2pdr pompoms added. By early 1944 only Despatch and Durban retained TT. Dunedin was sunk by 2 torpedoes from U124 and Dragon was damaged by a Marder. ‘E’ class The original 4x3 TT were increased to 4x4 in 1929 and a catapult was added to Emerald in 1934 and to Enterprise in 1936. These were retained until 1944 Enterprise had 1 quadruple 2 pdr pompom added m 1940 and a second in 1943, whilst Emera/J had two in late 1942. Both had 8TT removed m 1941-42, and 16 or 18-20mm were eventually added By 1945 deep load displacement had risen to 10,350 tons in Emerald and 10,220 tons in Enterprise FLOTILLA LEADERS Curlew about 1938 Carlisle class Cairo and Calcutta were converted to A A cruisers 1938-39 and Carlisle in 1939-40 All had 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2) and one quadruple 2pdr pompom, Cairo later having 2 single 2pdrs also and Carlisle 10-20mm. As converted, deep load displacements were 5215 tons (Cairo) and 5391 tons (Carlisle), the latter including 200 tons ballast Bombs caused the loss of Calcutta and Carlisle, and Cairo was scuttled after a torpedo hit from an Italian submarine Colombo, converted in 1942-43, had 6-4in QF Mk XVI (3x2), 2 twin and 4 single 40mm Bofors and 10-20mm, the twin Bofors being in triaxial mountings. Hawkins class In Hawkins 2—111 QF Mk V HA replaced the 3in at the end of 1924 and 2 more were added in 1927. In 1929-30 she was converted to oil fuel only, 2 coal-fired boilers being removed and oil capacity increased to 2740 tons. The 7.5in were removed under the London Treaty in 1936 but replaced in 1939, and in 1945 her armament was 7-7.5in, 4-4in QI' Mk V HA, 2 quadruple and 2 single 2pdr pompoms and 9-20mm Deep load displacement had risen to 13,160 tons Erobisher was used as a training ship in 1932-37 with 6 and later 5-7 5in and the rest were removed in 1937. She was not re-armed until 1942, then mounting 5-7.Sin, 5-4m QF Mk V HA, 4 quadruple 2pdr pompoms, and 7, later Frobisher about 1944 Name Fate Name Fate Marksman class: launched 1915, 1861t, (Abdiel 1945c) deep load ABDIEL BU 1936 NIMROD BU 1926 Improved Marksman class: launched 1916-17, 1912t deep load ANZAC (RAN) BU 1935 SAUMAREZ BU 1931 GRENVILLE BU 1931 SEYMOUR BU 1930 Shakespeare class, launched 1917-20, 2000t deep load BROKE Sunk 8.11.42 SPENSER BU 1936 KEPPEL BU 1945 WALLACE BU 1945 SHAKESPEARE BU 1936 Scott class: launched 1918-19, 2O55t deep load BRUCE Expended 22.11.39 MACKAY MALCOLM BU 1949 BU 1945 CAMPBELL BU 1947 MONTROSE Collision 10.6.1944, BU 1946 DOUGLAS BU 1945 STUART BU 1947 Shakespeare class U allace was converted in 1938-39 to an AA destroyer w’lth 4—4in QF Mk XVI (2x2) and eventually 1 quadruple and 2 single 2pdr pompoms, 4-20mm and 30 DC. Deep load displacement was 2145 tons and oil fuel 409 tons Broke and Keppel became escorts in 1941-42 with 3 later 2—4 7in, l-3in HA, 2 single 2pdrs, 6-21m TT, Hedgehog and 70-98 DC. Broke was sunk by coastal bat- teries at Algiers and it was intended to convert Keppel to a long range escort in 1944, but it is not certain if this was completed. Deep load displacement was to be 2280 tons, with 2-4.7in, 5-20mm, Hedgehog, 140 DCs, 25,OOOshp = 28kts and 575 tons oil. Scott class Stuart was transferred to the RaN in 1933. All were converted to escort destroyers in 1942-44 Typical armament was 3 later 2-4.7in, l-3m HA, 2 single 2pdr pompoms and 2-20mm (or 5-20mm), 6-2lin TT and 18-70 DCs, with a deep load displacement of 2185-2235 tons. A twin 6pdr/I0cwt in ‘A’ position was mounted in Campbell, Mackay and Montrose against E-boats Hedgehog appears to have been installed in Malcolm only. The first 4 7m QF Mk IX was tried in Mackay in 1928-29. DESTROYERS Name Fate Name Fate Australian *Г class launched 1910-15 , 750t deep load HUON Expended TORRENS Expended 9.4 30 24.11.30 PARRAMATTA BU 1929 WARREGO BU 1929 SWAN BU 1929 YARRA , BU 1929 7homycroft 'M' class, launched 1916, 1130t deep load PATRICIAN (RCN) BU 1929 RAPID BU 1927 PATRIOT (RCN) BU 1929 READY BU 1926 11
GREAT BRITAIN Name Fate Name Fate Yarrow later ‘ЛГ class: launched 1916-17, 1008-10511 deep load RELENTLESS BU 1926 SYBILLE BU 1926 RIVAL BU 1926 TRUCULENT BU 1927 SABRINA BU 1926 TYRANT BU 1938 Admiralty ‘R’ class’ launched 1916-17, 1200-1244t deep load RADSTOCK BU 1927 SKILFUL BU 1926 RAIDER BU 1927 SORCERESS BU 1927 REDGAUNTLET BU 1927 SPRINGBOK BU 1926 REDOUBT BU 1926 STARFISH BU 1928 RESTLESS BU 1936 STORK BU 1927 RIGOROUS BU 1926 STURGEON BU 1926 ROB ROY BU 1926 SYLPH BU 1927 ROCKET BU 1926 TANCRED BU 1928 ROMOLA BU 1930 TARPON BU 1927 ROWENA BU 1937 TELEMACHUS BU 1927 SABLE (exSalmon) BU 1927 TEMPEST BU 1937 SABLE BU 1937 TENACIOUS BU 1928 SARPEDON BU 1926 TFTRARCH BU 1934 SATYR BU 1926 THISBE BU 1936 SCEPTRE BU 1926 THRUSTER BU 1937 SHARPSHOOTER BU 1927 TORMENTOR BU 1929, wrecked SKATE BU 1947 TORRID BU 1937, wrecked Thomycroft ‘R' class: launched 1916-17, 1208c deep load RETRIEVER BU 1927 TAURUS BU 1930 ROSALIND BU 1926 TEAZER BU 1931 Modified‘R‘ class: launched 1916-17, TOWER BU 1928 1225-12421 deep load UNDINE BU 1928 TRENCHANT BU 1928 URCHIN BU 1930 ULSTER BU 1928 URSA BU 1926 UMPIRE BU 1930 URSULA BU 1929 Admiralty ‘S' class’ launched 1918-20, SABRE BU 1945 , 1225t deep load SPLENDID BU 1931 SALADIN BU 1947 SPORTIVE BU 1936 SARDONYX BU 1945 STALW ART (RAN) BU 1937 SCIMITAR BU 1947 STEADFAST BU 1934 SCOTSMAN BU 1937 STERLING BU 1932 SCOUT BU 1946 . STORMCLOUD BU 1934 SCYTHE BU 1931 STRENUOUS BU 1932 SEABEAR BU 1931 STRONGHOLD Sunk SEAFIRE BU 1936 STURDY 4.3 1942 Wrecked SEARCHER BU 1938 SUCCESS (RAN) 30.10.1940 BU 1937 SEAWOLF BU 1931 SWALLOW BU 1936 SENATOR BU 1936 SWORDSMAN (RAN) BU 1937 SEPOY BU 1932 TACTICIAN BU 1931 SERAPH BU 1934 TARA BU 1931 SERAPIS BU 1934 TASMANIA (RAN) BU 1937 SERENE BU 1936 TATTOO (RAN) BU 1937 SESAME BU 1934 TENEDOS Sunk SHAMROCK BU 1936 THANET 5.4 1942 Sunk SHARK BU 1931 THRACIAN 27.1.1942 BU 1947 SHIKARI BU 1945 TILBURY BU 1931 SIKH BU 1927 TINTAGEL BU 1932 SIMOOM BU 1931 TRIBUNE BU 1931 SIRDAR BU 1934 TRINIDAD BU 1932 SOMME BU 1932 TROJAN BU 1936 SPARROWHAWK BU 1931 TRUANT BU 1931 SPEAR BU 1926 TRUSTY BU 1936 SPINDRIFT BU 1936 TURBULENT BU 1936 Thomycrofi 'S' class: launched 1918-19, 1240t deep load TORBAY BU 1937 TOURMALINE BU 1931 TOREADOR BU 1937 Yarrow ‘S' class: launched 1918-19, 1060t deep load TOMAHAWK BU 1928 TURQUOISE BU 1932 TORCH BU 1929 TUSCAN BU 1932 TUMULT BU 1928 TYRIAN BU 1930 Admiralty ‘V* class: launched 1917-18, 148O-1523t deep load VALENTINE Sunk 15.5.1940 VENETIA Sunk 19.10.1940 VALHALLA BU 1931 VENTUROUS BU 1936 VALKYRIE BU 1936 VERDUN BU 1946 VALOROUS BU 1947 VERSATILE BU 1948 VAMPIRE Sunk VESPER BU 1947 VANESSA 9.4.1942 BU 1949 VIDETTE BU 1947 VANITY BU 1947 VIMIERA Sunk VANOC BU 1946 VIMY 9.1.1942 BU 1948 VANQUISHER BU 1948 (ex-Vancouver) VIOLENT BU 1937 Name Fate Name Fate VECTIS BU 1936 VIVACIOUS BU 1948 VEGA BU 1948 VIVIEN BU 1948 v VELOX BU 1947 VORTIGFRN Sunk VENDETTA Scuttled 15.3.1942 2.7.1948 Admiralty ‘NT’ class: launched 1917-18, 1490t deep load VOYAGER Wrecked 23.9.1942 WESTMINSTER BU 1948 WAKEFUL Sunk 29.5.1940 WHIRLWIND Sunk 5 7.1940 WALKER BU 1946 WHITLEY Sunk 19.5.1940 WALPOLE Damaged 6 1.45, BU 1945 WINCHELSEA BU 1945 WALRUS BU 1938 WINCHESTER BU 1946 WARWICK Sunk 20.2.1944 WINDSOR BU 1949 WATCHMAN BU 1945 WOLFHOUND BU 1948 WATERHEN Sunk 29.6.1941 W'RESTLER Constructive loss 6.6.1944, BU 1944 WESSEX Sunk W'RYNECK Sunk 24 5.1940 27 4 1941 WESTCOTT BU 1946 Thomycrofi 'V' and ‘\V* classes: launched 1917-18, 1512t deep load VICEROY BU 1948 WOLSEY BU 1947 VISCOUNT BU 1947 W'OOLSTON BU 1947 Admiralty Modified ‘\V’ class: launched 1918-19, 1508t deep load VANSITTART BU 1946 WHITSHED BU 1948 VENOMOUS BU 1947 WILD SW'AN Sunk 17.6 1942 VERITY BU 1947 WITHERINGTON BU 1947, Wrecked VETERAN Sunk W1VERN BU 1947 26.9.1942 VOLUNTEER BU 1948 WOLVERINE BU 1946 WANDFRER BU 1946 WORCESTER BU 1946 WHITEHALL BU 1945 WREN Sunk 27.7.1940 Thomycroft Modified ‘W’ class: launched 1919, 1530c deep load WISHART BU 1945 WITCH BU 1946 Admiralty ‘R* class Skate, after serving as a minelayer and then a magnetic minesweeper, became an escort destroyer with l-4in, l-12pdr HA, 4-20mm and 70 DCs Deep load displacement was 1360 tons Admiralty ‘S' class Thracian, beached and captured 16.12.41, served as the Japanese P101 1942-45. Thanet andStronghold were sunk by Japanese warships and Tenedos by bombers from aircraft carriers. The survivors mostly ended their days as escort destroyers with l-4in, l-12pdr HA, 4-20mm and 40-70 DC; deep load dis- placement was 1385-1400 tons. Thomycrofi ‘S' class Torbay and Toreador were transferred to the RCN as Champlain and Vancouver in 1928. Admiralty ‘V’ class Vampire and Vendetta were transferred to the RAN m 1933. Valentine, Valorous, Vanity, Vega, Verdun, Vimiera and Vivien were converted to AA destroyers 1938-40 with 4-4in QF Mk XVI (2x2); later 4—20mm were added The DC outfit was usually 30-45, and deep load displacement 1665-1710 tons, oil fuel being reduced to 325 tons. Vanessa, Vanoc, Vanquisher, Velox, Versatile, Vesper, Vidette and Vimy were converted to long-range escorts 1941-44 the fore boiler room was adapted to take extra oil so that shp became 15,000 = 25kts and oil fuel 445 tons; deep load displacement was 1690-1775 tons; and armament comprised 2-4in QF Mk V, 5-20mm, Hedgehog and 110 DCs. Vivacious became a short- range escort with the loss of l-4in and 3 TT, while Vampire, Vendetta, Venelia and Vortigem were little altered except that l-12pdr HA was optional to one set of ГТ, and 33 DCs were carried. Valentine and Vampire were sunk by bombs, Venetia and Vimiera by mines, and Vortigem by an E-boat torpedo. Vego as convened to an AA escort 12
The Royal Navy in 1922 Admiralty ‘IT class Voyager and Waterhen were transferred to the RAN m 1933 Westminster, Whitley, Winchester, Wolfhound and Wryneck were converted to AA destroyers (as ‘V’ class) 1938-40; Walker, Warwick, Watchman, Westcott, Winchelsea and Wrestler were converted to long-range escorts (as‘V’class) 1942—43, and Walpole and Windsor became short-range escorts with a final anti-E-boat armament of 2-4in, 2-6pdr/10 cwt, 3-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm, 3-2lin TT and 20 DCs. Voyager, Wakeful, Waterhen, Wessex and Whirlwind were little altered except for 33 DCs and, in Voyager and Waterhen, an optional 3in and 12pdr HA. Waterhen, Wessex, Whitley and Wryneck were sunk by bombs, Warwick and Whirlwind by U-boats and Wakeful by an E-boat, and Walpole and Wrestler were damaged by mines. Thomycroft ‘V’ and ,W' classes Viceroy, Wolsey and Woolston were converted to AA destroyers 1938-41, differ- ing from the Admiralty ‘Vs’ in having 331 tons of oil and an additional 2 single 2pdr pompoms. Viscount was converted to a long range escort in 1941, with 16,400shp = 26kts, 450 tons oil and armament as other ‘Vs’ except 140 DCs. Deep load displacements were 1750-1785 tons. Admiralty Modified ‘IVZ* class Vansittart, Venomous, Verity, Volunteer, Wanderer and Whitehall were converted in 1942-43 to long-range escorts, with 2-4 7in, 5-20mm, Hedgehog, 110 DCs; shp and fuel were as in Admiraltj ‘Vs’, and deep load displacements were 1730-1760 tons. Wren and Wild Swan retained their original armament, apart from l-12pdr HA in place of 3 TT, and the remaining 6 became short-range escorts, Whitshed, Wivem and Worcester having a twin 6pdr/10cwt Typical final armaments were 2-4.7in, 2-6pdr/10cwt, 3-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm, 3 TT, 20 DC(Wrttent) and 2-4 7in, l-12pdr HA, 4-20mm, 3 TT, Hedgehog and 70 DC (Wolverine). Deep load displacements were 1675-1720 tons. Wild Swan and Wren were sunk by bombs and Veteran by a U-boat Thomycroft Modified ’W’ class Both these vessels were converted to short-range escorts, Wishart having 3-4.7in, l-12pdr HA, 4-20mm and 98 DC, with a deep load displacement of 1690 tons ’ Vansinan as a long-range escort 1943 — — SUBMARINES Name Fate Name Fate ‘C’ class launched 1913 , 312t/373t CC1 (RCN) BU 1925 CC2 (RCN) BU 1925 ‘E’ class; launched 1916 , 667t/807t E48 BU 1928 'G' class launched 1915, 703t/837t G4 BU 1928 ‘Hi’ class; completed 1918, 364t/434t CH 14 (RCN) BU 1925 CH 15 (RCN) BU 1925 “Н2Г class: launched 1917-19, 438t/504t H21 BU 1926 H32 BU 1944 H22 BU 1929 H33 BU 1944 H23 BU 1934 H34 BU 1945 H24 BU 1934 H43 BU 1944 H25 BU 1929 H44 BU 1945 H26 BU 1928 H47 Collision 9.7.1929 H27 BU 1935 H48 BU 1935 H28 BU 1944 H49 Sunk 18.10.1940 H29 BU 1927 H50 BU 1945 H30 BU 1935 H51 BU 1924 H31 Sunk H52 BU 1927 24.12.1941 ’.7’ class: launched 1915- -17, 1204t/1820t Л (RAN) BU 1924 J4 (RAN) BU 1924 J2 (RAN) BU 1924 J5 (RAN) BU 1924 J3 (RAN) BU 1926 J7 (RAN) BU 1929 A class: launched 1916-17, 1980t/2566t K2 BU 1926 K14 BU 1926 K6 BU 1926 K15 BU 1924 K8 BU 1923 K16 BU 1924 Name Fate Name Fate K9 BU 1926 K22 BU 1926 K12 BU 1926 ‘K26’ class: launched 1919, 2140t/2530t K26 BU 1931 ‘LT class: launched 1917-18, 891t/1074t LI BU 1930 L5 . BU 1931 L2 BU 1930 L6 BU 1935 L3 BU 1931 L7 BU 1930 L4 BU 1934 L8 BU 1930 ‘L9* class: launched 1918-19, 914t/1089t L9 BU 1927 L20 BU 1935 Lil BU 1932 L21 BU 1939 L12 BU 1932 L22 BU 1935 L14 BU 1934 L23 Foundered 1946 L15 BU 1932 L24 Collision 14.1.1924 L16 BU 1934 L25 BU 1935 L17 BU 1934 L26 BU 1946 L18 BU 1936 L27 BU 1946 L19 BU 1937 L33 BU 1932 ‘L50’ class • launched 1918-19, 960t/1150t L52 BU 1935 L56 BU 1938 L53 BU 1938 L69 BU 1939 L54 BU 1938 L71 BU 1938 *M’ class; launched 1917-18, 1594-1633t/1946t Ml Collision М3. BU 1932 12.11.1925 М2 Lost 26.1.1932 ‘R’ class: 1 launched 1918, 410t/503t R4 BU 1934 R10 BU 1929 K26 had 4-18in beam TT removed in 1929. One 4in gun was removed in 1925-26 from L54, L56,L69 and L71, and fromL53 in 1935. The 12ingun was removed from М2 in October 1925, and she was fitted with a compressed air catapult and carried a small seaplane. M3's 12m and 3in guns were removed in July 1927, and she was converted to a minelayer with wet stowage for 100 mines Surface displacements for М2 and М3 were given as 1788 and 1745 tons respectively. SLOOPS Name Fate Name Fate Flower class: (Acacia type): launched 1915, 1275t deep load BLUEBELL BU 1930 LABURNUM Lost Feb 1942 DAFFODIL BU 1935 LILY BU 1930 DAHLIA BU 1932 MAGNOLIA BU 1932 FOXGLOVE BU 1946 MALLOW (RAN) Expended 1.8.1935 HOLLYHOCK BU 1930 VERONICA BU 1935 Flower class (Azalea type); launched 1915, 1287t deep load CLEMATIS BU 1931 HELIOTROPE BU 1935 Flower class (Arabis type): launched 1915-16, 1350t deep load CORNFLOWER Sunk MARGUERITE (RAN) Expended CROCUS 15.12.1941 BU 1930 ROSEMARY 1.8 1935 BU 1947 CYCLAMEN BU 1932 SNAPDRAGON BU 1934 DELPHINIUM BU 1933 VALERIAN Foundered GERANIUM (RAN) Expended VERBENA 22.10.1926 BU 1933 GODETIA 24 4.1935 BU 1937 WALLFLOWER BU 1931 LOBELIA Hulked 1924 WISTARIA BU 1931 (Newfoundland) LUPIN BU 1947 Flower class (Aubnetia type): launched 1916-17, 1450l deep load CORNWALLIS (RIM) BU 1946 HEATHER BU 1932 Flower class (Anchusa type): launched 1917-18, 1493t deep load BRYONY BU 1938 HAREBELL BU 1939 CHRYSANTHEMUM RNVR 1938 SWEETBRIAR BU 1927 ELPHINSTONE (RIM)Wrecked WINDFLOWER BU 1927 29 1.1925 Other sloops comprised Clive (RIM), Lawrence (RIM), Dwarf and Thistle (gunboats) and Espiegle. Also operated by the Royal Navy in 1922 were 6 P-boats, 8 PC-boats, the mmelaycrPnncest Margaret, 4 other minelayers (ex-‘M* class monitors, of which 2 were not converted until 1925), 3 early ‘Hunt’ and 59 later ‘Hunt’ class minesweepers (5 of the latter operating as survey vessels), 7 Ascot class paddle minesweepers, 12 ‘Insect’ class, 4 Fly class and 6 older river gunboats, 8 MLs and 8 40ft, 20 55ft and 3 70ft CMBs 13
GREAT BRITAIN CAPITAL SHIPS T These ships resembled the revolution- ary *G3’ battlecruisers cancelled under the Washington Treaty, but their speed had to be reduced drastically to comply wnh the 35,OOOt standard displacement limit, and unfortunate- ly they came out well under this. The three 16m turrets were forward, and 40° elevation was provided, whilst the 6in turrets with 60° elevation were aft on either beam, the middle ones also superfiring. Four of the 4 7in were forward of the 6in and a deck higher, the other two being on the quarterdeck. The torpedo tubes were forward, discharging at a small angle to the keel line, and equipment for oxygen enrichment of the torpedoes’ air was provided. The armour belt was internal and inclined at 15° to the vertical. It extended from the fore 16in to the after 6in barbette and at 33ft 6in draught from the middle deck 6ft 6in above to 5ft 9in below water. The thickness was 14in abreast the main armament and 13in elsewhere with a 12in-7m forward bulkhead between the middle and platform decks and a lOin one aft between the middle and lower decks. The funnel uptakes extended to the mam deck. The main turretshad 16in faces, llin-9in sides, 9in rears and 7Jin roofs, but the sec- ondary guns had only Ihn-lin and the 4.7m had noihing until shields were added during the war. The armour deck at the belt upper edge was 6Jin over the magazines and 3fin over the machinery, whilst the lower deck aft was 4}in ending in a 4in stern bulkhead These deck thicknesses are for armour only and do not include the 'in plating underneath. The internal bulges were designed to with- stand a 7501b TNT charge and amid- ships comprised an empty outer chamber, a water filled buoyancy chamber, a 1 Jin torpedo bulkhead about 12ft inboard and a com- partment to limit flooding from a strained torpedo bulkhead. Meta- NELSON class Displacement: 33,313t {Rodney 33,730t) standard; 41,250t extra deep load with buoyancy spaces filled Dimensions: 660ft pp, 710ft oa x 106ft x 28ft lin mean, 33ft 6in mean at 41,250t 201.16, 216.40 x 32 31 x 8.56, 10 21m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown-Curtis geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 45,OOOshp = 23kts Oil 38O5t {Rodney 3770t) Armour: Belt 14in-13in, bulkheads 12in—4m, funnel uptakes 9in-7in, barbettes 15m-12in, turrets 16m-7'm, CT 14in-6|in Armament: 9-16in/45 Mk I (3x3), 12-6in/50 Mk XXII (6x2), 6-4.7m/40QF Mk VIII HA (6x 1), 8-2pdr pompom (8x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 2-24 5in TT sub Complement: 1314; 1361 as flagship Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate NELSON Armstrong 28 12 1922 3 9.25 Aug 1927 BU 1948 RODNEY Cammell Laird 28 12.1922 17 12.25 Nov 1927 BU 1948 centric height was 11 ft at 41,250t with a stability range of 81°. There were four boiler rooms located abaft the two engine and two gearing rooms, the total length being 138ft. Tactical diameter was 670yds. The design was based on the heaviest armament and best magazine protection possible on the displace- ment, and the very limited area of side armour had to be accepted. Unfortu- nately the 16in guns and mountings gave considerable trouble initially and the rate of fire from the 6in and 4.7in mountings, both of which were power-worked, was much slower than had been expected These defects were gradually corrected and when Rodney and Bismarck engaged in 1941 the former quickly gamed the upper hand with some help from King George V. Rodney was not hit in this action, butAWson was twice damaged bv ground mines during the war, and an Italian 18in airborne torpedo which hit abreast the torpedo body room in September 1941 caused no less than 3750t of water to enter the ship. After this the torpedo installa- tion was removed from Nelson. Vari- ous proposals were made for increas- ing the depth of the belt and for improving the secondary armament, but only Nelson was taken in hand m 1937-38 and alterations were limited to 3in-2ijin armour on the lower deck forward and 4in to extend the forward bulkhead to the hold An aircraft catapult was fitted on Rodney's ‘X’ turret roof in 1936 and removed m 1942—43. It had alwass been intended that 8-barrellcd 2pdr pompoms should form the chief close range AA armament, but these were not available until 1931 when one was mounted m each ship, replacing the eight single guns. A second 8-barrelled mounting was added in 1935-36 and a third in 1938-39 Nel- son rccehed two more in June 1940 and a sixth in January 1942, whilst Rodney had a quadruple mounting Nelson, 11 9 1933 added in September 1941, and two more 8-barrelled mountings m Feb- ruary 1942. Nelson also received 4 quadruple US 40mm Bofors mount- ings in November 1944 and there is a record of a single Army Bofors being installed briefly in the spring of 1942. The number of 20mm Oerlikon guns eventually reached between 60 and 70 in each ship, and 4 UP rocket mount- ings w'ere fitted in Nelson during 1940—41. As usual, displacement rose during the ships’ careers: just before she was torpedoed Nelson displaced 43,300t at a draught of 35ft 3in for- ward and 34f: 6in aft, and in 1945 the figure was 44,054t Rodney displaced 43,140t in 1945. King George V 1941 14
Capital ships t This class were built to the London Treaty limits of 35,000t standard and 14in guns, though additions during construction and the lapsing of the treaty resulted in them being over the old limit 1 he design was more con ventional than that of Nelson, with a much greater area of armoured side, less protection to the main armament which was not concentrated forward, and much greater shp due to improvement in machinery weights. The Win mountings allowed 40° ele- vation and were arranged with the quadruples forward and aft and the twin superfiring forward The 5.25in, which served as anti destroyer and heavy A \ guns, had 70° elevation and were m two groups on each beam, with a fixed athwartships catapult between the groups and the inner mounung supei firing m each group. The armour belt was external and not inclined, except where it followed the slope of (he hull. It was taken to the main deck between the I4in bar- bettes and was 1 Sin tapering to 5Jin at the lower edge abreast the magazines, and 14in tapering to 4Ain abreast the machinery There were 12m fore and lOin aft bulkheads at the ends of this belt, and the lower strake of the belt was continued for about 40ft at either end with a thickness of 13in-l lin tap- ering to 5iin at the lower edge Bet- ween end barbettes the belt was exceptionally deep and at 32ft 6in mean draught extended from 10ft above to 13ft below water. The main turrets had 13in faces, 9in-7in sides, 7m rears and 6in roofs but the 5.25in had onh 2tn-lm protection and the previous he ivy Cl' was replaced by a light one high up on the signal deck. The main deck had 6m armour over the magazines and 5in elsewhere, while the lower deck forward had 5in—2Jin to the foremost watertight bulkhead and 41in aft to the steering gear where it was increased to 5in end- ing in a 4m stern bulkhead. During KING GEORGE V class____________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 36,727t standard, 42,076t deep load Dimensions’ 700ft pp, 745ft oa x 103ft x 29ft mean, 32ft 7in mean at 42,076i 213 36, 227 01 x 31 39 x 8 84, 9.93m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 110,000shp = 28kts Oil 3 OOt, later 4030t Armour. Belt 15m-4Jin, bulkheads 12in-4in, barbettes 13in-llin, turrets 13in-6in, CT 41in-2in Armament. 10-14in/45 Mk VII (2x4, 1x2), 16-5.25in/50 QF Mk I (8x2), 32-2pdr pompom (4x8), 2 aircraft Complement: 1422 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KING GEORGE V Vickers-Armstrong, 1.1.1937 21.2.39 11.12.40 BU 1957 Tyne PRINCE OF WALES Cammell Laird 1.1 1937 3.5 39 31 341 Sunk 10 12 41 DUKE OF YORK (ex-Anson) John Brown 5 5 1937 28.2 40 4 11 41 BU 1957 ANSON (ex J elite oe} Swan Hunter 20 7 1937 24.2 40 22 6.42 BU 1957 HOWE (ex-Beawy) Fairfield 1 6 1937 9 4 40 29 8 42 BU 1957 construction IJm splinter protection was added to the sides and crowns of the 14in and 5 25in magazines The amidships protection against tor- pedoes was a development of that m Nelson, the two outer chambers of the latter being replaced by a three- compartment sandwich of which the middle compartment was filled with oil and the other two left empty. When required for fuel the oil was replaced by seawater. The protective bulkhead was increased to IJm and rhe system was designed to withstand a 10001b TNT charge The designed metacentnc height was 6.1ft at light and 8 1ft at deep load. Each propeller shaft was driven by an independent unit of two boilers and a set of tur- bines, though the boilers could be cross connected if necessary. The units driving the outer shafts were located forward of those driving the inner. Unfortunately a small tactical diameter was not among the Staff Requirements and it amounted to 930yds. Although the 14m mountings were of more orthodox design than the 16m in Nelson, they gave considerable trouble in both Pnnce of Wales and King George V when engaging Bis march, and also in Duke of York against Schamhorst two and half years later The 5.25in turrets were cramped and too slow-firing to be ideal AA weapons, and 20-4.5in would probably have been better The armour protection against heavy shells was never seriously tested in action, though it is interesting to note that in spite of the deep belt a 15m shell from Bismarck hit Prince of Wales far below the belt lower edge It is however essential to explain how Pnnce of Wales was sunk by a prob able total of 1 3301b and 3 4501b tor- pedo warheads charged with the type of explosive used by the Germans in World War I. The 3301b explosion broke off the ‘A’ bracket of the port outer shaft which was seriously bent w'ith the loss of the propeller, the tur b nes driving this shaft were not stop- ped immediately, and the flood ng directly or indirectly caused by the rotating bent shaft effectively dis- abled the ship Subsequently three torpedoes with 4501b charges hit the starboard side, one of which bent the outer shaft wedging the propeller between the inner shaft and the hull, but it should be noted that the ship capsized to port The aircraft catapult was removed from the four surviving ships in 1943-45, and there was a great increase in close-range A A armament during the war The original 4 8 barrelled pompoms were increased to 6 in the last three ships as com- pleted, and eventually the four sur- vivors each had 8, with 6 quadruple pompoms in all but King George V, 1 quadruple 40mm Bofors in all and 2 Single Bofors in King George V and 14 m Howe. The greatest number of 20mm Oerlikons appears to be 65 UP rocket mountings were in the first two ships for a time initially, and Pnnce of Wales when lost had 5 8 barrelled and 1 quadruple pompom with a single Bofors and probably about 10 Oer- likons Displacement rose and stabihtv fell as additional weights were carried, and as completed Howe at extreme deep load was44,5lOt with GM 7 25ft and a stability range of 65Г, whilst the corresponding displacement for Anson in 1945 was 45,360t. LION class Displacement: 40,550t standard, 46,300t deep load Dimensions: 740ft pp, 785ft oa x 104ft x 30ft mean, 33ft 6in mean at 46,300t 225 55, 239 26 x 31 70 x 9 14, 10.21m Machinery. 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 130,000shp = 30kts. Oil 3720t Armour: Belt 15in-5Hn, bulkheads 13m-4in, barbettes 15in-12m, turrets 15in-6in, CT 41m-2in Armament: 9- 16in/45 Mk II or III (3x3), 16-5.25/50 QF Mk I (8x2), 48-2pdr pompom (6x8), 2 aircraft Complement: 1680 as fleet flagship 15
GREAT BRITAIN This class were to have been built under the escalation clause of the London Treaty which allowed 45,000t and 16in guns, and were far nearer the Navy’s requirements than the King George V. It does not appear to have been realised that Japan, Rus- sia and Germany had already started or were about to lay down ships approaching or exceeding 60,000г, and British political thinking of rhe day kept the Lion class to near 40,000t. In general layout and appearance they would have resem- bled the King George V but with a transom stern. The 16in guns and mountings were different from those in Kelson, being designed for a 23751b instead of a 20481b shell. The armour belt was a uniform 15in between bar- beries with a 5jin lower edge, and at 33ft 6in mean draught extended from lift above to 12ft below water. The Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate LION Vickers-Armstrong, 4 7 1939 - - - Tyne TFMERAIRE Cammed Laird 1.6.1939 _ _ _ CONQUEROR John Brown V* MB — THUNDERER Fairfield lower strake was continued as in King George V. The mam turrets had 15in faces, 10in-7in sides, 7in rearsand 6in roofs; deck, underwater and other protection was as in King George V except where indicated above, with the addition of 2in between the lower deck and nner bottom below the citadel bulkheads. The turbines and boilers were arranged as in King George V. Other wartime needs forced the suspension and then cancellation of this class, but under the 1945 Prog- ramme it was intended to lay down the Lion and Temeraire to a new design in 1946 for completion by 1952. Full derails of this design have not been found, but the upper limits were 50,000t standard with dimensions of 840ft x 118ft, and figures of 56,500t deep load and 810ft x 115ft x 34ft 3m mean at this displacement have been quoted. The armament would have comprised 9-16in/45 Mk IV guns in a new tvpe of triple mounting designed to have a firing interval of 20 seconds per gun instead of the usual 30, with 24-4.5in/45 QF Mk V guns and 10 6-barrelled Bofors mountings. Oil fuel capacity would probably have been between 5000 and 6000t and speed about 29kts. I he increased beam would have allowed much improved torpedo protection prob- ably against a 20001b I NT charge The project seems to have been aban- doned because 12tn deck armour was found to be necessary igainst possible AP bombs, and this would have required a much larger ship. The economic condition of Britain would in any case have forced the cancella- tion of these ships. This ship’s origins go back to an early 1939 project for utilising the 15in tur- rets from Courageous and Glonous in a 30kt ship for the Far Eastern fleet. The sacrifice in using these venerable turrets was less than might appear as they were a reliable and satisfactory design which could be modernised and given 30° elevation with thicker face and roof plates, and the 15in gun was only about 30fs down in muzzle velocity compared with a new British design. The one serious fault was that the turrets were designed for a ship with shell rooms below the magazines, and for the contrary arrangement, which was now stan- dard practice, it was necessary to have the magazine handing rooms on the low er deck above the shell rooms with fixed hoists from the magazines below. Although outwardly of differ- ent appearance, Vanguard resembled К ng George V in many ways. The 5.25m guns were in improved mountings and there was no provision for aircraft. The belt was reduced to 14in abreast the magazines and 13in elsewhere with a uniform 4jin lower edge, and the lower strake was con- tinued for some distance at 13m-l lin VANGUARD Displacement: 44,500t standard; 51,420t deep load Dimensions: 760ft pp, 814ft 4in oa x 108ft x 30ft 9|in mean, 34ft 10m mean at 51,420t 231 64, 248.20 x 32.92 x 9.38, 10.62m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 130,OOOshp = 30kts. Oil 4423t Armour: Belt 14in—4Jin, bulkheads 12in-4m, barbettes 13in—1 lin, turrets 13m-6in, CT 3in-lm Armament: 8-15in/42 Mkl(4x2), 16-5 25in/5O QF Mk I (8x2), 73-40mm Bofors (10x6, 1x2, llxl), 4-3pdr • saluting Complement: 1893 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate VANGUARD John Brown 2.10 1941 30 11.44 9 8 46 BU 1960 with a 41in lower edge. The main tur- rets had Bin faces, 9in-7in sides, 1 lin rears and 6in roofs. The main deck armour was 6in over the magazines and 5in over the machinery, and the lower deck was 5in-21in forward and 4 in-2iin aft The 5 25in guns had 2зт-Цт and there was more splinter protection than in King George V, including 2Jin-2m on the sides bet- ween the middle and lower decks beyond the heavy bell and extending nearly to bow and stern. The torpedo protection was similar to that in King George V with a IJin-llin protective bulkhead, and the compartment bulkheads outboard of this were taken to the middle deck instead of ending at the lower deck At the most favour- able position the system was designed to stand 13001b TNT. At deep load metacentric height was 8 2ft with a stability range of 68° The mam machinery was arranged as in King George V, and on the mile at 45,720t Vanguard developed 136,OOOshp = 31.57kts. As a result of war experi- ence there were 4 diesel and 4 turbine-driven dynamos instead of 2 and 6 respectively. Vanguard had a transom stern and a marked sheer forward, which made her a much better seaboat than previ- ous British battleships. Tactical diameter at full speed was 1025yds As often happened, weights increased during construction and 770t had to be added to the upper deck structure to meet the resultant higher stresses. Vanguard in May 1947 16
Monitors/Aircraft carriers MONITORS Abercrombie as completed These ships were a development of the World War I Erebus class, Roberts being buih to utilise the 1 Sin turret from Marshal Sou It whilst Abercrom- bie had one of the standby turrets orig- inally intended for Funous if the lat- ter’s 18in were failures. This turret was brought up to date and the mountings in both ships elevated to 30°. The 4m guns were on the upper deck in Roberts and on the shelter deck in Abercrombie The belt sloped outwards along the top of the bulge and ran between main and lower decks from well forward of the bar- bette to the mainmast. The turret had a 13in face, 11 in sides and rear and 5in or 6in roof, the armour deck at main deck level was 4in-2in with a greater area of 4in in Abercrombie, and in both ships there was a 6in-4m glacis and raised deck over the 15in magazine which also had lAin splinter protec- tion. The lower deck was 3in over the ROBERTS class Displacement: 7973t (Abercrombie 8536t) standard; 9150t (Abercrombie 9717t) deep load Dimensions: 373ft 4m oa x 89ft 9m x 13ft 6in (Abercrombie 14ft 5in) mean deep load //3 79 x 27.36 x 4.11 (4 39)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4800shp = 12.5kts. Oil 4911 Armour: Belt 5in-4in, barbette Sin, turret 13in-5in, (Abercrombie 13in-6in) CT 3tn-2in Armament: 2-15in/42 Mk I (1x2), 8—4m/45 QF Mk XVI AA (4x2), 16-2pdr pompom (1x8, 2x4) Complement: 442/460 Name Bu Ider Laid down Launched Comp Fate ROBERTS John Brown 30 4 1940 1.2.41 27.10 41 BU 1965 ABERCROMBIE Vickers-Armstrong, 26 4.1941 Tyne 31.3.42 5 5.43 BU 1954 steering gear The sandwich-type bulge was 17ft wide amidships with a 1 lin protective bulkhead, and the sys- tem was designed to stand a 10001b charge. During the war Roberts was hit by 2 11001b bombs which her armour withstood (although considerable damage was caused), while Abercrom- bie was twice damaged by moored contact mines, on the second occasion striking two of them As a result her wartime career was much less active than that of Roberts. The deep load displacement rose to about 9500t in Roberts and 9900t in Abercrombie. Roberts had 8 single 40mm Bofors added in July 1945 and the greatest number of 20mm Oerhkons in either ship appears to have been 20. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Originally designed as a light battle- cruiser but lust completed as a makeshift aircraft carrier, Funous was rebuilt with a lower hangar at the lev el of the previous forecastle deck and an upper hang ir and flight deck above A short flying-ofl deck was built over the bows, and the upper hangar opened on to this. There was no island until a small one was added in 1939, and the boiler uptakes were led aft to discharge either side of the round- down or lower hangar; this was an unsatisfactory arrangement and one not repeated in British fleet carriers as it led to problems with escaping heat and also meant that insufficient work- shop space was available, so that part of the lower hangar had to be thus used. The short forward flight deck w as disused before 1939 and the mam flight dec к which was 911ft w ide, had a usable length of 530ft, increased to 596ft in 1941 1 he hangars measured 550ft lower. 520ft upper x 5011 x 15tt; the two cruciform lifts were 46tt x 47ft, the forward one taking 12.5001b and the after 14,0001b and both serving cither hangar. Petrol stow ige. at JO.SOOgal. was limited 1 he flight deck was lin steel and the total ofotlu r deck protection 2in max 1 he origin il bulges had been increased in height to improve stabil- ity but the svstem was only designed Furious, 11 9 1933 FURIOUS fleet aircraft carrier Displacement. 22,450t standard; 27,165t deep load Dimensions: 735ft pp, 786ft 5in oa x 90ft lin over bulges x 28ft lin mean deep load 224.02, 239.70 x 27.46 x 8.56m Machinery: 4-shaft Brown-Curtis geared turbines, 18 Yarrow smalltube boilers, 90,000shp = 30kts. Oil 3830t Armour: Bell 3in Armament: 10-5 5in/5O Mk I (10x 1), 2-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (2x 1), 4—2pdr pompom (4x 1), 4—3pdr saluting, 36 aircraft Complement: 1218 Name Reconstruction Yard Fate FURIOUS June 1922-31.8.25 Devonport DYd BU 1948 to stand 4401b TNT A third 4in HA gun was added in 1931-32 and the 4 single pompoms were replaced by 2 8-barrelled mountings In 1939 Furious was completely re armed with 12-4m/45 QFMkXVI HA in twin mountings, and the 8-barrelled pompoms were increased to three. A fourth was added in April 1941 and subsequently up to 15 20mm Oerhkons. In spite of her unsatisfac- tory features Funous gave good ser- vice during the war, and emerged vir- tually unscathed. In 1942 her bulges were deepened to improve stability, which increased extreme deep load displacement to 28,495t and GM from 2.5 to 4.9ft Her general condition deteriorated and she was taken out of operational service in September 1944
GREAT BRITAIN This class were rebuilt from light battlecruisers and were in many respects similar to Furious but dif- fered in having an island and funnel on the starboard side of the flight deck. The short forward flight deck was given up in 1935-36 and the main flight deck (which had the same usable dimensions as in Furious) had two catapults fitted which could launch 80001b at 56kts or 10,0001b at 52kts. The upper and lower hangars were both 550ft long and did not have to be used for workshop space, whilst the two lifts were slightly larger at 46ft x 48ft. Petrol stowage was increased to 34,500gal. Deck protection was similar to that of Furious, and the ships were bulged largely for stability reasons, as the original beam was only 81ft. The system was designed to stand 4401b of TNT. The single pom- pons were replaced by 3 8-barrellcd ones in June 1935 in Glorious and a year later in Courageous, and the two ships could distinguished by the much longer after round-down in Glorious. Both were sunk by weapons against which their protection gave no defence, Courageous being hit by 2 torpedoes with 6601b charges from U29 and sinking in 15 minutes, whilst Glorious was caught unawares by Schamhorsl and Gneisenau and sunk by 1 lin shells in about 70 minutes. COURAGEOUS class fleet aircraft carriers Displacement: 22,500t standard; 27,560t (Glorious 27,400t) deep load Dimensions: 735ft pp, 786ft 7in oa x 90ft 6in over bulges x 27ft llin-28ft mean deep load 224.02, 239.75 x 27.58 x 8.51-8.53m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 18 Yarrow smalltube boilers, 90,000shp = 30kts. Oil 3685t (Glorious 3450t) Armour: Belt 3in Armament: 16-4.7in/40 QF Mk VIII HA (16x 1), 4-2pdr pompom (4x 1), 4—3pdr saluting, 48 aircraft Complement: 1216 Name Reconstruction Yard Fate COURAGEOUS June 1924—5.5.28 Devonport DYd Sunk 17.9.39 GLORIOUS Feb 1924-10.3.30 Rosyth and Sunk 8.6.40 Devonport DYds Courageous as reconstructed This famous ship was the first large aircraft carrier to be laid down as such for the Royal Navy. There was a high continuous flight deck 56ft above the deep load waterline with an unusually long stern overhang, and an island and funnel to starboard. The flight deck was an integral part of the hull structure, serving as the upper strength deck, and had a usable area of 720ft x 95ft. It was provided with two catapults that could launch 12,0001b at 66kts. There were two hangars measuring 568ft upper, 452ft lower x 60ft x 16ft, and three rectan- gular lifts, two measuring 45ft x 22ft and one 45ft x 25ft. These each had two platforms, of which the upper one travelled between the flight deck and upper hangar, and the lower one bet- ween the two hangars. This meant that it took three movements to trans- fer an aircraft from flight deck to lower hangar. Petrol stowage was 100,000gal. ARK ROYAL fleet aircraft carrier Displacement: 22,000t standard; 27,720t deep load Dimensions: 685ft pp, 800ft oa x 94ft 9in wl x 27ft 9in mean deep load 208.78, 243.83 x 28.88 x 8.46m Machinery: 3-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 102,000shp = 31kts Oil 4620t Armour: Belt 4Jin, bulkheads 3in-2Jin Armament: 16-4.5in/45 QF Mk I HA (8x2), 32-2pdr pompom (4x8), 4-3pdr saluting, 60 aircraft Complement: 1580 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ARK ROYAL Cammell Laird 16.9.1935 13.4.37 16.11.38 Sunk 14.11.41 The belt was taken to the lower hangar deck abreast the funnel, to the upper deck fore and aft of this and to the lower deck by the foward and after 4.5in magazines; there was a 3Jin armour deck at the various levels of the belt upper edge and over the steer- ing gear. There was sandwich-type underwater protection with a Ilin protective bulkhead 13ft 4jin from the side amidships. The system was designed to withstand a 7501b charge but trials while Ark Royal was build- ing showed that the bulkhead stiffen- ers had to be modified. There were 3 boiler and 3 engine rooms, and it should be noted that the tactical diameter was undesirably large at 1010yds. The 4.5in guns were in open-backed mountings and apart from blast effects could fire across the flight deck. Two more 8-barrelled pompom mountings were added in May 1941. Ark Royal gave excellent service in the first two years of the war though there were never enough aircraft for her full outfit to be carried. She was sunk by a single torpedo from U81 which hit very deep on the starboard 18
side and bottom abreast the starboard boiler room making a hole 130ft x 30h and causing violent vertical oscil- lations with an immediate 10° list. Flooding spread and eventually reached the middle and then the port boiler room via the smoke ducts which had no baffles and were taken across the shijj too low down. Electric power failed as there were no diesel dynamos, and after 14 hours the ship capsized Ark Royal in 1940 This class were the first aircraft car- riers with fully armoured hangars to be built for any navy, and an examina- tion of rhe armouring shows that resis- tance to 6in shells or to a destroyer’s guns at close range was considered at least as important as that to bombs. The weight of armour permitted only one hangar, and the flight deck was 38Й above deep load waterline. There was the usual island and funnel, and the flight deck had an effective length of 620ft in Illustrious and 670ft in the other two, later increased to 740ft in all by reducing the round-downs. The width remained at 95ft, and there was a single catapult capable of launching 11,000-14,0001b at 66kts. The hangar measured 458ft x 62ft x 16ft and the two rectangular lifts (which could take 14,0001b) 45ft x 22ft. Petrol stowage was 50,540gal, which was inconveniently insufficient for the 52-54 aircraft it was found possible to cany in 1944-45 using a permanent deck park with outrigger stowage. The belt amidships was taken to the hangar deck, to the flight deck only on the starboard side abreast the island, and to the upper deck for the last 30ft forward and aft. The hangar side armour was complete and extended well beyond the belt ends, merging with the belt only by the island, and the flight deck was 3in over the hangar armour and Uin at the ends and below the island. The lifts were not armoured The hangar deck was I tn outside the citadel where it formed the hangar floor and 3in-2Ain between the hangar walls and the belt, whilst the lower deck was 3in aft. Underwater protection was similar to Ark Royal’s but improved in detail, and the designed GM at deep load was 8.26ft. 1 actical diameter was about 1050yds, Illustrious in 1953 Uy courtesy of John Roberts ILLUSTRIOUS class fleet aircraft carriers Displacement: 23,000t standard; 28,620t deep load designed; 29,110-29,240t service Dimensions: 673ft pp, 753ft 3in oa x 95ft 9in wl x 28ft 6in mean at 29,200t 205.12, 229.58 x 29.18 x 8.69m Machinery: 3-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 111,OOOshp = 3O.5kts. Oil 4840t Armour: Belt 4Jin, hangar side 4Jin, bulkheads 4Jin-2Jin, flight deck 3in Armament: 16-4.5in/45 QF Mk III HA (8x2), 48-2pdr pompom (6x8), 33 aircraft Complement: 1229; up to 1997 later Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ILLUSTRIOUS Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 27.4.1937 5.4.39 25.5.40 BU 1956 VICTORIOUS Vickers-A rmst rong, Tyne 4.5.1937 14.9.39 15.5.41 BU 1969 FORMIDABLE Harland & Wolff 17.6.1937 17.8.39 24.11.40 BU 1953 and there were 3 boiler and 3 engine rooms. 1 he 4.5in guns were in low- crowned ‘between decks’ mountings; the light AA armament was altered during the war, Illustrious eventually having 40-2pdr (5x8), 3-40mm Bofors (3x1) and 52-20mm Oer- likons, whilst Formidable had 48-2pdr (6x8), 12 Bofors (12x I) and 34 Oerlikons and Victorious 40-2pdr (5x8), 21 Bofors (2x4, 2x2, 9x1) and 45 Oerlikons. The vertical armouring was not tested by gunfire during the war, but on 10.1.41 Illustrious survived 7 bomb hits and a near-miss, mostly 11001b with delayed-action fuzes, though the only 22001b went through the armoured flight deck and burst about 10ft above the hangar deck. While at Malta there was a further hit as well as several near-misses, one of which dis- abled the port machinery through shock damage. As a result Illustrious was out of action for 101 months, as was F onntdable for 6 months after two 22001b bomb hits on 26.5.41 when off Scarpanto. Neither of these hit the armoured flight deck, and though the only bomb that hit Victorious on 12.8.42 bounced off the armour, the unarmoured part of the flight deck and the lifts attracted more hits in total than the armoured part. Both Formidable and Victorious were twice hit by Kamikazes, the worst damage being in Formidable where the flight deck was holed by the bomb rel< sed shortly before the crash and an armour splinter cut several steam pipes in the centre boiler room.
GREAT BRITAIN Originally intended as the fourth ship of the Illustrious class, Indomitable was altered while building to accommo- date more aircraft at the price of 3in less armour on the hangar sides. The flight deck had effective dimensions of 680ft x 95ft, later lengthened to 745ft, and was raised by 14ft to accommodate a second hangar The catapult could launch 12,500-14,0001b at 66kts. The new upper hangar measured 458ft x 62ft x 14ft, and the after part of the origi- nal hangar was retained as the lower hangar with dimensions of 168ft x 62ft x 16ft. The forward lift was increased to 45ft x 33ft, the after one remaining at 45ft x 22ft, and both could take 14,0001b. Petrol stowage was 75,1 lOgal and it was found poss- ible to operate 56 aircraft. The 3in armoured flight deck was retained but there were some alterations in the decks outside this area, the lower gal- lery deck being 21in-2in over the magazines, and the lower or upper INDOMITABLE fleet aircraft carrier Displacement: 23,000t standard; 29,730t deep load Dimensions: 673ft pp, 753ft Ilin oa x 95ft 9in wl x 29ft mean deep load 205 12, 229.78 x 29.18 x 8 84m Machinery: 3-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, lll,000shp = 30 5kts Oil 4500t Armour: Belt 4Ain, hangar side IJin, bulkheads 3in-ljin, flight deck 3in Armament: 16-4 5in/45 QF Mk III HA (8x2), 48—2pdr pompom (6x8), 45 aircraft Complement: 1392; up to 2100 later Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate INDOMITABLE Vickers-Armstrong, 10.11.1937 26.3.40 10 10.41 BU 1955 Barrow hangar deck 1 Jin over machinery spaces. Indomitable had only 24—2pdr (3x8) when completed, and did not mount her full number until April 1942. In April 1944 12-40mm Bofors (2x4,2x2) were added and at the end of the war she also mounted 13 single Bofors and 36 Oerhkons. Indomitable was hit twice and near-missed three times by 11001b bombs on 12.8.42, both hits being near the lifts and not on armour while one near-miss caused an 8° heel. She was out of action for 6 months, and on 16 7.43 was hit by an airborne tor- pedo abreast the after end of the port boiler room. The burst was on rhe lower edge of the belt armour, the corner of a 4lm face hardened plate broke and armour fragments holed the protective bulkhead. Indomitable heeled 12i° and flooding occurred in the uptake space on the main deck but countcrfloodmg and a calm sea pre- vented a fate similar to that of Ark Royal, although the carrier was out of action for 8J months This class were a further development of I llustnous with a flight deck of 760ft effective length, 50ft above the deep load waterline. The catapult could launch 16,0001b at 66kts or 20,000lb at 56kts, and both the forward lift which measured 45ft x 33ft and the 45ft x 22ft after one could take 20,0001b. The upper hangar meas- ured 458ft x 62ft x 14ft and the lower hangar, which was aft, 208ft x 62ft x 14ft. The clear height of only 14ft prevented the powerful Vought Cor- sair single-seat fighter from being accommodated Petrol stowage was 94,650gal, which was low for the 81 aircraft that could be carried with a deck park. The armour belt was not taken above the lower hangar deck, and for much of its length only to the main deck, there being no upper deck. The 3in flight deck was retained with 2J-1 Jin on the lower hangar deck over the machinery spaces, while the magazines had separate 3in-2in crowns. Underwater protection resembled that of Illustrious. It was just possible to accommodate the Implacable about 1953 Bv ottrtoy of John Roberts IMPLACABLE class fleet aircraft carriers Displacement: 23,450t standard; 32,1 lOt deep load Dimensions: 673ft pp, 766ft 4m oa x 95ft 9in wl x 28ft 11m mean deep load 205 12, 233 57 x 29.18 x 8 81m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 148,000shp = 32kts. Oil 4690t (Indefatig- able 4810t) Armour: Bell 4|in, hangar side 2in, bulkheads 3in-2in, flight deck 3in Armament: 16-4 5in/45 QF Mk III HA (8x2), 44-2pdr pompom (5x8, 1X4), 60 aircraft Complement: 1585, up to 2300 later Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate IMPLACABLE Fairfield 21.2.1939 10.12.42 28 8 44 BU 1955 INDEFATIGABLE John Brown 3.11.1939 8.12.42 3.5 44 BU 1956 4-shaft machinery, there being four engine and four boiler rooms, and the smoke ducts from the two port boiler rooms were taken across the ship higher up than in the previous designs. The light AA guns were increased by 8-2pdr (2x4), 4 single 40mm Bofors and 51 Oerhkons in Implacable and by 10 single Bofors and 40 Oerlikons in Indefatigable. The only war damage was to Inde- fatigable from a Kamikaze plus 5501b bomb striking the flight deck at the base of the island with no very serious results. 20
Aircraft carriers Although this class fall outside the period of this volume as completed, their original design is important to the wartime development of aircraft carriers. The flight deck was 795ft x 102ft 6in clear abreast the island and 55ft above the deep load waterline, and there were two catapults capable of launching 30,0001b at 75kts. The two rectangular lifts were each 54ft x 44ft and could also take 30,0001b, while the upper and lower hangars each had a clear height of 17ft 6in and a combined floor areas of 52,100 sq ft, much greater than in former armoured flight deck carriers and only 480 sq ft less than in the previous Ark Royal. Petrol stowage was rela- tively limited at 103,300gal. The flight deck was to have 4in armour on lin steel, the lower hangar deck was 2lin-1 |in and magazines and steering gear had 4|in-2in vertical and 4in EAGLE class fleet aircraft carriers (original design) Displacement: 36,800t standard; 46,000t deep load Dimensions: 720ft pp, 803ft 9in oa x 112ft 9in wl x 31ft lin mean deep load 219.45, 244.97 x 34.37 x 9.47m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 152,OOOshp = 32kts. Oil 7490t Armour: Belt 4|in, hangar side Hin, bulkheads 4}in-l|in, flight deck 4in Armament: 16-4.5in/45 QF Mk III HA (8x2), 64-2pdr pompom, 78 aircraft Complement: 2740 Name Builder Laid down Launched 1 Comp Fate EAGLE (ex-AuJacious) EAGLE ARK ROYAL Harland & Wolff 24.10.1942 Vickers-Armstrong, 19.4.1944 Tyne Cammell Laird 3.5.1943 19.3.46 3.5.50 1.10.51 25.2.55 BU 1978 Cancelled Jan 1946 Stricken 1979 horizontal protection. The under- water protection was a modification of the previous sandwich with oil fuel, (replaceable by sea water) in the two outer compartments and was designed to stand a 12001b charge and possibly 20001b. A tactical diameter of about 720yds was anticipated, and oil fuel capacity was much greater than in previous carriers. The light AA armament, which originally included 60 Oerlikons, was among the first items to be altered and late 1945 fig- ures were 64-40mm Bofors (8x6, 2x2, 12x1) and 18 Oerlikons. Audacious was renamed Eagle in January 1946. Malta class as designed NB 1/1500 scale This class were ordered in July 1943 but it was not expected that any would be laid down before the first half of 1945, and under the 1945 programme it was decided to proceed with Malta and New Zealand for completion in 1950-51 and to defer the other two. The end of the war and financial con- siderations caused all to be cancelled. The design was much altered: one of the early projects was for a ship with 5 shafts and an armoured flight deck and hangars, but this was abandoned; it was eventually decided to depart from previous British practice in the interests of rapid operation of aircraft and to use an open hangar in which engines could be run up. The flight deck of lin steel measured 909ft x 136ft and there was the usual star- board island and funnel with a second island abaft it to accommodate the larger radar antennae. There were two centreline lifts 54ft x 46ft and two deck edge ones 56ft x 35ft, and they and the two catapults were designed for aircraft of 30,0001b. The flight deck, which was 51ft lOin above the MALTA class fleet aircraft carriers Displacement: 46,900t standard, 56,800t deep load Dimensions: 820ft pp, 916ft 6in oa x 115ft 8in wl x 34ft 6in mean deep load 249.93, 279.34 x 35.35 x 10.52m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 200,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil about 7500t Armour: Belt and bulkheads 4|in-l|in Armament: 16-4.5in/45 QF Mk V HA (8x2), 55-40mm Bofors (8x6, 7x1), 81 aircraft Complement: 2780/3535 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate MALTA John Brown - — — Cancelled Jan 1946 GIBRALTAR Vickers-Armstrong, - — — Cancelled Oct 1945 Tyne NEW ZEALAND Harland & Wolff - — — Cancelled Jan 1946 AFRICA Fairfield - — — Cancelled Oct 1945 deep waterline was not a strength deck, this function being taken by the hangar deck. The hangar area was about 57,000 sq ft with a clear height of 174ft. There were four boiler and four engine rooms divided into two groups with that for the outer shafts forward. The magazines and steering had box protection, and it had origi- nally been intended that the deck below the hangar deck was to have 6in armour but objections were raised on the grounds that a bomb which hit would be bursting in a confined space, and the armour was raised to the han- gar deck except at the sides, probably with some reduction in thickness for stability reasons. The underwater protection was similar to that in the Eagle class and occupied 21ft a side with expectations of standing a 20001b charge. The 4.5in guns of the faster firing Mk V pattern were to be in Mk VII mountings similar to the Mk VI widely used since the war but with a larger 14ft diameter roller path. Though built as an aircraft mainte- nance ship, Unicom also served as an aircraft carrier. The flight deck was 646ft x 80ft with a catapult able to launch 12,500-14,0001b at 66kts, and there were upper and lower hangars each with a clear height of 161ft. The forward lift was 46li x 33ft and the after one 46ft x24ft, each taking UNICORN light fleet aircraft carrier Displacement: 14,750t standard; 20,300t deep load Dimensions: 564ft pp, 646ft oa x 90ft wl X 24ft mean deep load 171.90, 196.90 x 27.43 x 7.32m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 24kts. Oil 3157t Armament: 8-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (4x2), 16-2pdr pompom (4x4), 35 aircraft Complement: 1200 21
GREAT BRITAIN 20,0001b. Petrol stowage was 36,000gal. Unicom resembled a short, high flight deck fleet carrier, with a starboard island and funnel. There were two engine and two boiler rooms and the flight deck was Zin thick with 3in-2in boxes round the magazines and a 1 4in protective bulkhead Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate UNICORN Harland & Wolff 29 6 1939 20 11 41 12.3 43 BU 1959 Colossus as completed against torpedoes. The close-range A A armament also included 16 Oer- likons. This class were of much lighter appearance than the Unicom and larger fleet carriers The flight deck had effective dimensions of 690ft x 80ft with a catapult capable of launch- ing 14,0001b at 66kts, and the two lifts were each 45ft x 34ft and could take 15,0001b. The single hangar meas- ured 445ft x 52ft x 174ft clear, and petrol stowage was 98,600gal Ocean was originally fitted as a night fighter carrier for 32 single-seat fighters. There was no armour except for mant- lets round the aircraft torpedo war- heads, and, except m the machinery spaces where the two boiler and two engine rooms were disposed en Eche- lon, no major longitudinal watertight bulkheads. The transverse watertight bulkheads were arranged so that the ship would survive two complete sec- tions being flooded by a torpedo hit on the line of a bulkhead. The earlier ships had up to 32 Oerlikons before these were replaced by between 12 and 21 single 40min Bofors in mid- 1945. Within their obvious limita- tions these were satisfactory ships and gave economical service in the post- war years. IV'arrior was loaned to Canada from 1946 to 1948 and Ven- geance to Australia from 1952 to 1955. On transfer to other navies, Colossus, Venerable, Vengeance and Warrior were renamed Arromanches, Karel Doorman, Minas Gerais and Indepcn- dencia respectively. COLOSSUS class light fleet aircraft carriers Displacement: 13,190t (Theseus, Triumph, Warrior 13,35Ot)standard; 18,040t (Theseus,Triumph,Warrior 18,300t)deep load Dimensions: 630ft pp, 693-695ft oa x 80fl w| x 23ft 3in mean deep load 192.02, 211.22-211 83 x 24 38 x 7 09m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 40,000shp = 25kts Oil 3196t Armament: 24—2pdr pompom (6x4), (Ocean 31-2pdr pompom (6x4, 7x 1)), 37 aircraft Complement: 1300 Name Builder Laid down Launched Cotnp Fate COLOSSUS Vickers-A rmstrong, 1.6.1942 30.9.43 16.12.44 To France 1946 Tyne GLORY Harland & Wolff 27 8 1942 27.11 43 2 4 45 BU 1961 OCEAN Stephen 8 11 1942 8.7 44 8 8 45 BU 1962 VENERABLE Cammell Laird 3.12 1942 30.12.43 17 1 45 To Holland 1948 VENGEANCE Swan Hunter 16 11 1942 23.2 44 15 1 45 To Brazil 1956 THESEUS Fairfield 6 1.1943 6.7 44 9 2 46 BU 1962 TRIUMPH Hawthorn Leslie 27 1.1943 2.10.44 9 5.46 Repair ship 1964 WARRIOR Harland & Wolff 12.12.1942 20.5 44 14.3.46 To Argentina 1958 PERSEUS (cx-Edgor) Vickers-Armstrong, 1.6.1942 26.3.44 19.10.45 Completed as Tyne aircraft mam- tenance ship PIONEER (ex-Marr) Vickers Armstrong, 2 12 1942 20.5 44 8 2 45 Completed as Barrow aircraft mam- tenance ship Perseus, 17.10 1952 MoD As originally designed very similar to the Colossus class but with reduced fuel and petrol stowage of75,000gal to compensate for strengthened decks and fittings to operate heavier air- craft. Magnificeni was loaned to Canada from 1948 to 1957. Hercules, Majestic, Powerful and Terrible were renamed Vikrant, Melbourne, Bonaventure and Sydney respectively on transfer. MAJESTIC class light fleet aircraft carriers (original design) Displacement: 14,000t standard; 17,780t deep load Dimensions: 630ft pp, 695ft oa x 80ft x 23ft mean deep load 192 02, 211 83 x 24 38 x 7 01m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,OOOshp = 25kts. Oil 3000t Armament: 24-2pdr pompom (6x4), 19-40mm Bofors (19x 1), 37 aircraft Complement: 1300 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate HERCULES Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne 12 10.1943 22.9 45 4 3 61 To India 1957 LEVIATHAN Swan Hunter 18.10.1943 7.6.45 — BU incomplete 1968 MAGNIFICENT Harland & Wolff 29.7.1943 16.11.44 21.5 48 BU 1965 MAJESTIC Vickers Armstrong, Barrow 15 4 1943 28 2 45 8.11.55 To Australia 1955 POWERFUL Harland & Wolff 27.11.1943 27.2.45 17.1.57 To Canada 1952 TERRIBLE Devonport DYd 19 4 1943 30.9 44 5 2 49 To Australia 1948 22
Magnificent in Feb 1957 MoD An enlargement of the Colossus and Majestic classes with considerably higher speed and able to operate 30,0001b aircraft. The catapult was to launch this weight at 75kts; the two lifts each measured 54ft x 44ft, while the hangar had 17ft 6in clear height, Elephant was renamed Hermes in November 1945. CENTAUR class light fleet aircraft carriers (original design) Displacement: 18,3lOt standard, 24,000t deep load Dimensions: 650ft pp, 737ft oa x 90ft wl x 24ft 8in mean deep load 198.12, 224 63 x 27.43 x 7.52m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 76,000shp = 29 5kts Oil 4000t Armament 8—4.5in/45 QF Mk III HA (4x2), 34—40mm Bofors (2x6, 11x2), 42 aircraft Complement: 1390 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ALBION Swan Hunter 23.3.1944 6.5.47 26.5.54 Stricken 1972 ARROGANT Swan Hunter — —• — Cancelled Oct 1945 BULWARK Harland & Wolff 10.5 1945 22.6.48 4.11 54 Extant 1980 CENTAUR Harland & Wolff 30 5 1944 22.4.47 1 9 53 BU 1972 HERMES (ы-Elephant) Vickers-Armstrong, 21.6 1944 16 2.53 18.11 59 Extant 1980 Barrow HERMES Cammell Laird — — —. Cancelled Oct 1945 MONMOUTH Fairfield — —• — Cancelled Oct 1945 POLYPHEMUS Devonport DYd — — — Cancelled Oct 1945 Audacity 1941 Formerly the German merchant ship Hannover of 5537t gross, captured m the West Indies in February 1940. The flight deck measured approxi mately 460ft x 60ft, and there was no hangar or lift, the aircraft being parked aft on the flight deck. Petrol stowage was 10,000gal Audacity was torpedoed by U7SI, the first torpedo stopping the ship, and two more which hit 70 minutes later causing her to break up and sink AUDACITY escort aircraft carrier Displacement: 1 l,000t deep load Dimensions. 467ft 3m oa x 56ft 3in wl x ?m 142.41 x 17.14 x ? Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 52OObhp = 15kts Armament: 1—4in/45 QF Mk V HA, 1- 6pdr, 4-2pdr pompoms (4x 1), 4-20mm, 6 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Laid down Launched Ct>mp Fate AUDACITY Bremer Vulcan ? 29.3.1939 June 1941 Sunk 21 12.41 Originally laid down as a fast cargo ship, Activity had a starboard island and a flight deck of 492ft effective length The hangar had a clear height of 21ft and the lift was 42ft x 20ft and could take 10,0001b Petrol stowage was limned at 20,000gal ACTIVITY escort aircraft carrier Displacement: 11, ?00t standard, 14,250t deep load Dimensions: 512ft oa x 66ft 5in x 25ft lin mean deep load 156.05 x 20.24 x 7.65m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 12,000bhp = 18kts. Oil 2000t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2), 24-20mm, 11 aircraft Complement: 700 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ACTIVITY Caledon 1.2.1940 30.5.42 14.10.42 Sold Apr 1946 23
GREAT BRITAIN Pretoria Castle about 1944 Originally a Union Castle liner of 17,392t gross, Pretoria Castle was taken up as an armed merchant cruiser in October 1939, purchased in July 1942 and converted to a trials carrier by Swan Hunter. The flight deck had an effective length of 550ft with a catapult capable of launching 14,0001b at 66kts, and the lift meas- ured 45ft x 34ft and could take 15,0001b. The hangar had a clear height of 17ft 6in and petrol stowage was 74,000gal. PRETORIA CASTLE escort aircraft carrier Displacement: 19,650t standard; 23,450t deep load Dimensions: 592ft oa x 76ft 4in wl x 29ft 2m mean deep load 180 44 x 23.27 x 8 89m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 16,000bhp = 18krs. Oil 2430t Armament: 4—4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x2), 28-20mm Aircraft complement varied Complement: ? Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate PRETORIA CASTLE Harland & Wolff ? 12 10.1938 9 4.43 Sold 26 1.46 Converted from fast cargo ships, this class had a flight deck of 495ft effec- tive length with a starboard island The lift was 45ft x 34ft and could take 15,0001b and the hangar had a clear height of 17ft 6in. Petrol stowage was over two and a half times that of Activ- ity at 52,OOOgal. Nairana was lent to the Netherlands from 1946 to 1948 under the name of Karel Doorman. VINDEX class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: 13,445t (Nairana 13,825t) standard; 16,830t (Nairana 17,2lOt) deep load Dimensions: 524ft oa X 68ft wl x 25ft 2in (Nairana 25ft 8in) mean deep load /59 71 x 20 73 x 7 67 (7 82)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 10,700bhp = 16kts. Oil 1655t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2), 16-2pdr pompom (4x4), 16-20mm, 18 aircraft Complement: 700-728 Similar to the Vindex class except as indicated above. Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate VINDEX Swan Hunter 1.7 1942 4 5 43 3 12 43 Sold 1947 NAIRANA John Brown 20 5 43 12.12 43 Sold 1948 CAMPANIA escort aircraft carrier Displacement: 12,450t standard; 15,970t deep load Dimensions: 540ft oa x 70fl w*l x 22ft 10m mean deep load 164 59 x 21.34 x 6.96m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 10,700bhp = 16kts. Oil 2230t Armament: 2-4m/45 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2), 16-2pdr pompom (4x4), 16-20mm, 18 aircraft Complement: 700 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate CAMPANIA Harland & Wolff 12.8 1941 17 6 43 7 3 44 BU 1955 The majority of British escort aircraft carriers were obtained on Lend-Lease from the USA They had been con- verted from mercantile hulls in vari- ous stages of construction or from completed ships in the earlier cases. Archer, converted from the Afor- macland by Newport News, had a flight deck of 438ft effective length with a small starboard island. The hangar was below the after part of the flight deck and had a clear height of 18ft 9in. The lift was 38ft x 34ft and took 12,0001b and the catapult could launch 70001b at 60 8kts. Petrol stow- age was drastically reduced from 87,500 to 36,000gal The 4in/50 guns were replaced by 4in QF Mk V HA m August 1942, 4—40mm Bofors (2x2) ARCHER escort aircraft carrier Displacement: 10,220t standard (with seawater ballast); 12,860t deep load Dimensions: 492ft wl x 69ft 6m wl x 21ft 10m mean deep load 149.96 x 21 18 x 6 65m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 8500bhp = 16.5kts Oil 1362t Armament: 3—4in/50 US Mk 9 (3x 1), 15-20mm, 16 aircraft Complement: 555 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ARCHER Sun 14 12.1939 17.11 41 To mercantile service 1945 were added m February 1943 with the 20mm reduced to 14 A great amount of ballast was required and this ini- tially comprised 1800t concrete and 1000t sea water. 24
Aircraft carriers Converted from the Rio Hudson, Rio Parana and Rio de Janeiro respec- tively by Bethlehem (Staten Island), Atlantic Basin and Tietjen-Laird. A fourth ship, Charger, was retained by the USN. The flight deck had an effective length of 410ft (later 442ft), and the hangar below the after part a clear height of 16ft. There was a star- board island and the lift and catapult were as in Archer except that the lift measured 42ft x 34ft. Petrol stowage was 75,000 reduced to 36,000gal, and ballast initially amounted to about 1930t. The 4in/50 guns were replaced by 4 n QF Mk V HA in August-Sep- tember 1942 in Biter and in October 1942 in Dasher. Avenger was hit by a torpedo from U15S abreast the bomb room which exploded, and the ship broke up and sank within 3 minutes, while Dasher AVENGER class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: 10,366t (Biter later 12,850t) standard; 15,125c (Biter later about 15,3OOt) deep load Dimensions: 492ft oa x 69ft 6in wl x 25ft 2in (Biter later 25ft 5in) mean deep load 149.96 X 21.18 x 7.67 (7.75)m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 8500bhp = 16.5kts. Oil 30611 (Biter later 1308c oil and 1097t cargo) Armament: 3-^in/50 US Mk 9 (3x1), 19-20mm, 15 aircraft Complement: 555 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate AVENGER Sun ? 27.11.1940 2.3.42 Sunk 15.11.42 BITER Sun ? 18.12.1940 1.5.42 To France 9.4.45 DASHER Sun 12 4.1941 1.7.42 Sunk 27.3.43 was sunk by an accidental petrol explosion attributed by the British to lack of safety precautions and by the Americans to lack of British experi- ence with bulk petrol. Provision of better petrol safety precautions, together with extra ballast, as the Brit- ish disliked the American practice of filling empty fuel tanks with sea waler, delayed the operational service of the next batch of Lend-Lease car- riers, which caused a dispute between the two navies in August 1943. Biter was renamed Dixmude on transfer to France. An improvement on previous Lend- Lease escort carriers with a longer hangar of 18ft clear height and two lifts each 42ft x 34ft and taking 14,0001b. The flight deck had an effective length of 438ft (later increased to 450ft), and there was a starboard island with a funnel well abaft it discharging at about flight deck level. There was one catapult capable of launching 70001b (Pursuer 10,0001b) at 60.8kts, and petrol stow- age, originally 151,500gal, was reduced to 41,000-52,800gal. Ballast was originally about 1040t. In Battler the 4in/50 guns were replaced by 3 (later 2) 4in QF Mk V HA in January 1943, and Pursuer, Striker and Fencer had respectively 4, 6 and 7 single Bofors added in July 1945, with a reduction to 4-20mm in Striker. ATTACKER class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: 10,200t standard; 14,170t deep load Dimensions: 491ft 7in-496ft lin oa x 69ft 6in wl x 23ft 7m mean deep load 149.91-151.20 x 21.18 x 7.19m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbines, 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 8500shp = 18.5kts. Oil 3018-3160t Armament: 2—4in/50 US Mk 9 (2x 1), 8—40mm Bofors (4x2), (Searcher 16-40mm Bofors (8x2)), 10 to 35-20mm, 18 to 24 aircraft Complement: 646 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ATTACKER Western Pipe 17.4.1941 27.9.41 10.10.42 To USA 5.1.46 BATTLER Ingalls 15.4.1941 4.4.42 15.11.42 To USA 12.2.46 CHASER Ingalls 28.6.1941 15.1.42 9.4.43 To USA 12.5.46 FENCER Western Pipe 5.9.1941 4.4.42 20.2.43 To USA 21.12.46 HUNTER Ingalls 15.5.1941 22.5.42 11.1.43 To USA 29.12.45 PURSUER Ingalls 31.7.1941 18.7.42 14.6.43 To USA 12.2.46 RAVAGER Seattle-Tacoma 11.4.1942 16.7.42 26.4.43 To USA 27.2.46 SEARCHER Seattle-Tacoma 20.2.1942 20.6.42 8.4.43 To USA 29.11.45 STALKER Western Pipe 6.10.1941 5.3.42 30.12.42 To USA 29.12.45 STRIKER Western Pipe 15.12.1941 7.5.42 29.4.43 To USA 12.2.46 TRACKER Seattle-Tacoma 3.11.1941 7.3.42 31.1.43 To USA 29.11.45 Trouncer and Trumpeter were com- pleted by Commerical Iron Works and Rajah, Slinger and Speaker by Willamette Iron and Steel. Generally similar to the previous class, but with a more powerful catapult launching 85001b at 73.8kts. The flight deck remained at 438ft in some, and petrol stowage was reduced to 36,000gal AMEER class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: U,400t standard; 15,390t deep load Dimensions: 495ft 3in-496ft 8in oa x69ft 6m wl x 25ft 5in mean 150.49-151.38 x 21.18 x 7.75m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbines, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 8500shp = 18kts. Oil 3160t Armament: 2-5in/38 US Mk 12 (2x1), I6-40nun Bofors (8x2), 27 to 35-20mm, 18 to 24 aircraft Complement: 646 25
GREAT BRITAIN except m Begum (34,860), Emperor (48,000) and Slinger (50,480t). The Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate 5in guns were in mountings allowing AMEER Seattle-Tacoma 18.7.1942 18 10.42 20.7.43 To USA 17.1.46 27° elevation and were not HA. Arbi- ARBITER Seattle-Tacoma 26 4 1943 9.9 43 31 12 43 To USA 3 3 46 ter had 4 single Bofors added in ATHELING Seattle-Tacoma 9.6.1942 7.9.42 1.8.43 To USA 6.12.46 May-July 1945, and Trouncer had BEGUM Seattle-Tacoma 3.8 1942 11 11.42 3 8 43 To USA 4 1 46 14in August 1945 with a reduction in EMPEROR Seattle-Tacoma 23.6.1942 7.10 42 6.8.43 To USA 12.2 46 20mm to 7. EMPRESS Seaule-Tacoma 9 9.1942 30 12.42 13.8 43 To USA 28 1.46 Slinger was damaged by a ground KHEDIVE Seattle-Tacoma 22.9 1942 27 12.42 23.8 43 To USA 26 1 46 mine which exploded under the engine room in 17 fathoms on 5 2 44, NABOB Seattle-Tacoma 20.10.1942 9 3.43 7.9.43 Constructive loss 22.8 44 and was out of action for 8J months. PATROLLER Seattle-Tacoma 27.11.1942 6.5.43 25.10.43 To USA 13.12.46 Nabob was torpedoed by (7354 in the PREMIER Seattle-Tacoma 31.10.1942 22 3.43 3.11.43 To USA 12.4 46 vicinity of one of the bomb rooms, PUNCHER Seattle-Tacoma 21.5.1943 8.11.43 5.2 44 To USA 16.1.46 and 150ft of her side was open to the QUEEN Seattle-Tacoma 12.3 1943 31.7.43 7 12 43 To USA 31.10.46 sea, but she was later able to steam RAJAH Seattle-Tacoma 17 12.1942 18 5 43 17.1 44 To USA 13 12 46 1090nm to port at lOkts under her RANEE Seattle-Tacoma 5.1.1943 2.6.43 8.11.43 To USA 21.11.46 own power She was nor considered REAPER Seattle-Tacoma 5.6 1943 22 11.43 21 2 44 To USA 20.5 46 worth repairing and the same was rhe RULER Seattle-Tacoma 25.3 1943 21.8.43 22 12.43 To USA 29 1 46 case with Thane, immobilised by a SHAH Seattle-Tacoma 13 11 1942 21.4.43 27.9.43 To USA 6 12 45 damaged shaft from a torpedo fired by SLINGER Seattle-Tacoma 25 5.1942 15.12.42 11.8.43 To USA 27 2 46 U482 near the Clyde Lightvessel. It SMITER Seattle-Tacoma 10.5.1943 27 9.43 20.1.44 To USA 6.4.46 would appear that protection had SPEAKER Seattle-Tacoma 9.10.1942 20 2.43 20.11 43 To USA 27.7.46 been much improved compared with Az'enger. THANE TROUNCER TRUMPETER Seattle-Tacoma Seattle-Tacoma Seattle-Tacoma 23 2.1943 1.2.1943 25.8 1942 15.7 43 16.6.43 15 12.42 19 11.43 31.1.44 4 8 43 Constructive loss 15.1 45 To USA 3.3.46 To USA 6.4 46 Empire Mac Alpine as completed MERCHANT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Also operated during World War II were bulk carriers sailing under the Red Ensign with a flight deck and an additional naval complement to operate and maintain the aircraft carried. All were returned to normal merchant service from 1945 Grain earners Empire Mac Alpine, Empire MacKendnck, Empire Mac Andrew, Empire Mac Dermott, Empire MacRae, Empire MacCallum. Launched December 1942-January 1944. Gross tonnage 7950-8250, 1-shaft diesel, 3300bhp = 12.5kts, l-4in/40 QF Mk IV or l-12pdr/12cwt, 2-40mm Bofors (2x1), 4-20mm, 4 aircraft. Flight deck 400ft effective length, lift 42ft x 22ft (10,0001b), hangar 24ft clear height, petrol 5000gal Oil tankers Empire Mackay, Empire MacColl, Empire MacMahon, Empire MacCabe (launched May-July 1943), Acavus, Adula, Alexia, Amaslra, Ancylus, Gadila, Macoma, Miralda, Rapana (convened 1942-44). Gross tonnage 7999-9249, 1-shaft diesel, 3300-4000bhp = ll-13kts, l-4in/40 QF Mk IV, 2-40mm Bofors (2x1), 4-20mm or 8-20mm, 3 aircraft. Flight deck 450ft effective length, no lift or hangar, petrol 5000gaL Gadila and Macoma operated under the Dutch mercantile flag CRUISERS Kent 1944 This class of seven ships included two —Australia and Canberra - which were built for the Australian Navy. The ammunition spaces were fairly well protected with 4in cemented armour on the most vulnerable areas and 3in-lin on the platform deck above, but otherwise there was only lin side plating and a 1 Jin lower deck protect- ing the machinery spaces and IJin-lin for the steering gear. There was a one compartment bulge 5Jft wide out- board of the wings amidships. The 8in guns were in mountings of novel design with 70° elevation and shell and charge were rammed in one oper- ation. The two Australian ships dif- fered in having oxygen-ennehed Mk VII torpedoes while the rest had Mk Vs. A catapult with one aircraft was fitted m 1931-32 but Australia did not have one until 1935 and Canberra not until late 1941. They were not handy KENT class Displacement: 9750-9870t (finally about 10,900t) standard; 13,400-13,540t (finally 14,490-14,910t) deep load Dimensions: 590ft pp, 63O-633ft oa x 68ft 4in x 20ft 6in (finally 22ft-22ft 7in) mean deep load 179 83, 192 02-192 93 x 20 83 x 6.25 (6 71-6.88)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons (Berwick, Australia, Canberra Brown-Curtis) geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,OOOshp = 31,5kts. Oil 3200-3400t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4in-lin, side lin, turrets and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 8-8in/50 Mk VIII (4x2), 4—4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 4—2pdr pompom (4x1), 8-2lin TT aw (2x4) Complement: 685-710 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BERWICK Fairfield 15.9 1924 30.3.26 15 2.28 BU 1948 CORNWALL Devonport DYd 9.10.1924 11.3.26 8.5.28 Sunk 5.4.42 CUMBERLAND V ickers-Armsr rong, Barrow 18.10.1924 16.3.26 23 1.28 BU 1959 KENT Chatham DYd 15 11.1924 16.3.26 22 6 28 BU 1948 SUFFOLK Portsmouth DYd 30.9.1924 16.2.26 31.5.28 BU 1948 AUSTRALIA John Brown 26 8.1925 17.3.27 24.4.28 BU 1955 CANBERRA John Brown 9.9.1925 31.5.27 10.7.28 Sunk 9 8.42
Cruisers ships, Kent's tactical diameter being 1040yds at 14kts. All the class except Canberra were reconstructed between 1935 and 1939. A 4Jin cemented armour belt extending for 6ft below the lower deck was added in way of the machinery spaces and transmitting station, and 4in internal armour was added to the sides of the boiler room fan compart- ments. To save weight the first ships reconstructed, Cumberland and Suf- folk , were cut down one deck abaft * Y’ turret. Aircraft were increased to 3 with an athwartships catapult and hangar except in Kent and Australia, and the TT were removed as they were later in A ustralia. In Cumberland the 4in HA guns were altered to 2 single Mk V and 2 twin Mk XVII and in Suffolk to 6 Mk XVII; both ships exchanged these for 8 Mk XVI (4x2) in 1939, while the other four had this armament on reconstruction The 4 single 2pdr pompoms were replaced by 2 quadruples in Cumberland and Suffolk and by 2 octuples in Berwick, Cornwall and Kent, while Australia had 1 quadruple replaced by 2 octuples in October 1942. Catapults and air- craft were removed from surviving ships from June 1942, and in Febru- ary 1943 Suffolk had eight-barrelled pompoms instead of 2 quadruples, Berwick having the reverse change in October 1943. These two and Cumber- land and Kent had 12 to 16 20mm in Canberra as completed 1945, while Australia, refitted after the Kamikaze damage of January 1945, had *X’ Sin turret removed and 10 twin and 8 single 40mm Bofors added. The unreconstructed Can- berra appears to have had 2 eight- barrelled pompoms in June 1942. The 3pdr saluting guns were all removed early in the war. Cornwall was sunk in 12 minutes by nine 250 to 5501b bombs and six near-misses, all boiler and engine rooms being put out of action. Suf- folk, hit by a 11001b bomb with three 5501b near-misses, was out of action from the after engine room to the stem, and had to be beached at Scapa after steaming at 15kts for 22J hours. Her repairs took 10 months; Kent's took a year, after a torpedo from an Italian aircraft had removed the star- board inner shaft and ‘A’ bracket. On the other hand Australia survived a total of six Kamikazes. Canberra received over 20 Sin to 4.7in shell hits at Savo Island in 3 minutes or less and was completely disabled and aban- doned after 5 hours when listing 30° and with fires out of control. She was scuttled 2 hours later. American accounts say that she was also twice torpedoed, but if so it is unlikely that she would have survived as long. A single 9.4in shell just above the belt putCumberland’s main machinery out of action at Dakar from loss of feed water, but Berwick's 4Jin belt and 4in magazine armour each deflected an 8m shell from the Admiral Hipper, though one of the lightly protected turrets was put out of action as also against Italian Sin cruisers previously. This class resembled the Kents but had no bulges. All had Mk VII tor- pedoes. A catapult with one aircraft was installed in 1932-33, and in 1937 the 4 single pompoms were replaced by 4 more 4in Mk V HA. Shropshire had previously mounted a quadruple pompom instead of two singles for a short time in 1934—35. London was reconstructed between December 1938 and March 1941 and much altered in appearance, somewhat resembling the Fiji class; unfortu- nately the weight added overstressed the hull and considerable trouble was experienced until it was strengthened. A 3Jin XC belt was added in way of the machinery spaces for 8ft below the lower deck, and aircraft increased to 3 with a hangar and athwartships catapult. The 4in Mk Vs were replaced by 8-4in Mk XVI (4x2)and I6-2pdr pompoms (2 x 8) were added. All had their catapults and aircraft removed in 1943, and torpedoes were changed to Mk IX in 1943-44; salut- ing guns were removed early in the "ar London had 6 single 40mm Bofors and 20-20mm added by the end of the war. Of the other ships, t^ei'onshire had 12 pompoms (3x4) added in March 1941 and in 1943-44 8in turret was removed, the 4in *. Vs were replaced by 8-4in Mk . 1 (4x2) and the pompoms increased to 24 (6x4), while in 1945 ’here were also 40-20mm. Shropshire LONDON class Displacement: 9830-9850t (finally 10,575-11,015t) standard; 13,315t (finally 14,280-14,580t) deep load Dimensions: 595ft pp, 63O-633ft oa x 66ft x 20ft 9in (finally 22ft 3in-22ft 8m) mean deep load 181.35, 192.02-192.93 x 20.12 x 6.32 (6.78-6.91)m Machinery: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000shp = 32.3kts. Oil 3210c (later 3000-30431) Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4in-lin, side lin, turrets and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 8-in/50Mk VIII(4x2), 4—4in/45 QFMk V HA (4x l),4-3pdr saluting,4—2pdr pompom (4x 1), 8-2lin TT aw (2x4) Complement: 700 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DEVONSHIRE Devonport DYd 16.3.1926 22.10.27 18.3.29 BU 1954 LONDON Portsmouth DYd 23.2.1926 14.9.27 31.1.29 BU 1950 SHROPSHIRE Beard more 24.2.1927 5.7.28 12.9.29 BU 1955 SUSSEX Hawthorn Leslie 1.2.1927 22.2.28 19.3.29 BU 1950 had 16 pompoms (2x8) in March 1941 and her previous 4in replaced by 8 Mk XVI (4x2) in February 1942; the ship was transferred to the RAN in 1943 as a replacement for Canberra. The TT were removed in 1945, and according to some accounts 15 single Bofors were added, though the records give 21-20mm. In September 1940 Sussex was hit by a 5501b bomb which burst in the starboard thrust block compartment when laying in York Hill Basin on the Clyde after a refit. A disastrous fire involved the whole after part of the ship and she was out of action for 21 months. On her return to service she had 8—4in Mk XVI (4x2) instead of the Mk Vs, and 2 octuple pompoms were added. ‘X’ 8in turret and theTT were removed in August 1944, and 2 octuple pompoms were added with a further increase to a total of 48 pom- poms (6x8) and 14—20mm in 1945. Sussex as completed 27
GREAT BRITAIN l rndon in Sept 1949 These ships resembled the London class, the most important differences being improvements to the turrets and shell supply A catapult was fitted in 1932, though both ships carried a seaplane in 1931 The 4in Mk Vs and single pompoms were replaced by 8-4inQFMkXVI(4x2)and 16-2pdr pompoms (2x8) in 1937. The 3pdr saluting guns were removed early in the war, and prior to her loss Dorset- shire had 9-20mm added. Norfolk had her catapult and aircraft removed in 1943, and during a long refit in 1944 ‘X’ 8m turret was removed, the 8-barrelled pompoms were replaced by 6 quadruple and the Mk VII tor- pedoes by Mk IX By the end of the war 10 single Bofors and 22-20mm had been added. Dorsetshire was sunk in about 8 minutes by 10 hits from 250-5501b bombs and several near misses. The NORFOLK class Displacement: 9925-9975t {Norfolk finally about 10,900t) standard; 13,425t {Norfolk finally 14,600t) deep load Dimensions: 595ft pp, 633ft—635ft Sin oa x 66ft x 20ft Ilin {Norfolk finally 22ft 8in) mean deep load 181.35, 192 93-193.67 x 20 12 x 6.37 (6 9l)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000shp = 32.3kts. Oil 32lOt (later 3OO5t) Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4in-lin, side lin, turrets and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 8-8in/50 Mk VIII (4x2), 4—4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4—3pdr saluting, 4—2pdr pompom 4x 1), 8-21in TT aw (2x4) Complement: 710 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DORSETSHIRE Portsmouth DYd 21 9.1927 29 1 29 30.9.30 Sunk 5 4 42 NORFOLK Fairfield 8.7.1927 12.12 28 30.4.30 BU 1950 HA magazine exploded, which doubt- less accounted in part for her rapid sinking. Both ships took part in the final action with the Bismarck, Nor- folk expending 527 8in shells and 8 torpedoes and Dorsetshire 254 shells and 3 torpedoes of which 2 hit and finally sank the German ship. Norfolk also took part in the action in which Schamhorsl was sunk, and was herself hit by 2 I lin shells, one of which went through ‘X’ ring bulkhead and roller path and overboard without explod- ing, while the other travelled across the ship and burst near the far side above the lov, er deck. A smaller version of the previous clas- ses, with reduced freeboard amid- ships and aft. The 8in turrets and shell supply were asm Norfolk but reduced from 8 guns to 6, and Mk VII tor- pedoes were carried. A catapult and aircraft were installed in 1931. The 2 single pompoms were removed in October 1933 and replaced by 2 and possibly 6 singles in February 1941. Armour was as in Norfolk except that there was a 3in belt 8ft deep covering the machinery spaces, and the lower deck above the belt was slightly increased to IJm. The saluting guns were removed early in the war. York was hit by an explosive motor boat carrying a 6601b charge on 26.3.1941 which immediately flooded both YORK Displacement: 8250t standard; 10,350t deep load Dimensions: 540ft pp, 575ft oa x 57ft x 20ft 3in mean deep load 164.59, 175.25 x 17.37 x 6.17m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000shp = 32.3kts. Oil 1900t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4in-lm, side 3in, turrets and ring bulkheads Im Armament: 6-8in/50 Mk VIII (3x2), 4—4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1), 6-21inTT aw (2x3) Complement: 623 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate YORK Palmer 16 5.1927 17.7 28 1.5.30 Abandoned 22.5 41 boiler rooms and the forward engine room. She was beached at Suda Bay and completely wrecked by 3 bombs (2 11001b) and many near-misses over a period of a month. The wreck was scrapped in 1952. 28
Cruise) s Similar to York but with 1ft more beam and vertical funnels. The 8m guns were in similar turrets but had 50" elevation instead of 7O9. Port and starboard catapults with 2 aircraft were installed 4 to 5 months after completion and the 2pdrs were removed in September 1933. Exeter took part in the famous action against the Admiral Graf Spee when she was hit by seven Ilin shells and splinters from several shorts, and put out of action with no Sin guns able to fire. She did not return to service for 14 months, then her secondary and lighter guns comprised 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2) and 2 8-barrelled pom- poms, the Mk VII torpedoes were replaced by Mk IX and, according to some accounts, the 8in elevation EXETER Displacement: 8390i standard; I0,490t (later about ll,000t) deep load D mensions: 540ft pp, 575ft oa x 58ft x 20ft 3in (later 21ft lin) mean deep load 164 59, 175.25 x 17.68 x 6.17 (6 43)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000shp = 32kts Oil 1900t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4m-lin, side 3in, turrets and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 6-8in/50 Mk VIII (3x2), 4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1), 6-2 lin TT aw (2x3) Complement: 630 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate EXETER Devonport DYd 1 8.1928 18 7 29 23.7.31 Sunk 1.3 42 increased to 70е. At the Java Sea battle an 8in hit in the after boiler room reduced speed to 16kts, and two days later when engaging the four cruisers of the Nachi class an 8in burst in the forward boiler room causing a serious fire and loss of all steam power. Further hits followed and the Exeter was abandoned and scuttled, but before the latter could take effect she was sunk by a torpedo from a Japan- ese destroyer. Surrey class (probable appearance if completed) Originally to have been built under the 1928-29 Programme for comple- tion by May 1932, this class would have resembled 4-turret versions of the Exeter in appearance, but with the forecastle deck continued to *X’ tur- ret. The ships were never laid down, and work on them was suspended on 23.8.1929. The belt covering the machinery spaces would have extended 9ft below the lower deck which here had 2|in armour on Ain plating, while the closing bulkheads extended for a further 5ft. There was IJin protection to the steering gear, and the platform deck over the ammunition spaces was to have 3in armour. Most of the defects in the protection of previous 8in cruisers were remedied at the price of 30kts speed, but though lin trunks were SURREY class Displacement: 10,000t standard; 12,664c deep load Dimensions: 570ft pp, 600ft oa x 64ft x 21ft 6in mean deep load 173.73, 182.87 x /9.5/ x 6.55m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 60,000shp = 30kts Oil 2450t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 5,m-3in, bell and bulkheads 5|in, turrets, trunks and ring bulkheads Im Armament: 8-8m/50 Mk VIII (4x2), 4—4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 16-2pdr pompom (2x8), 8-2Im TT aw (2x4), 2 aircraft Complement: 653 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate NORTHUMBERLAND Devonport DYd — — Cancelled 14.1.30 SURREY Portsmouth DYd — — — Cancelled 14.1.30 added to the turrets, the armour remained entirely inadequate. There would have been two catapults. A. prewar Ajux as completed 29
GREAT BRITAIN This class were I he only single- funnelled cruisers to be built for the Royal Navy since the 1880s. The 6in mountings allowed 60° elevation but the guns had hand ramming unlike those in Nelson and Rodney. The 4in Mk Vs were replaced by 8 Mk XVIs (4x2) in 1937 except in Achilles which did not have the latter until her refit of 1943-44 The belt was taken to the upper deck by the 3 boiler rooms to protect uptakes and fans, it only covered the machinery spaces and there was a Ilin deck above with llin-lfin over the steering gear and 2in-lin over the box protection. As in subsequent cruisers of the period the torpedoes were Mk IX, and as usual the saluting guns were removed early in the war, the catapult and aircraft from Ajax and Orton in 1941, and from Leander and Achilles in 1943. Ajax, Neptune and Orton had 2 4-barrelled 2pdr pompoms added in 1941-2 as well as 3 singles in Neptune, and Ajax had 8 40mm Bofors (2x4) instead of the quadruple pompoms in August 1943. During her refit in 1943-44 Achilles had *X* 6in turret removed, and 4 quadruple 2pdr pom- poms were added followed by 5 single Bofors ш 1945. There were also up to LEANDER class Displacement 6985-7270t standard, 9000-9280t (later 9460-9740t) deep load Dimensions: 522ft pp, 554ft 6inoa x 55ft Sin (Leander 55ft 2m) x 19ft-19ft 8in (later 19ft llin-20ft Sin) mean deep load 159.10, 169 01 x 16.97 (16 81) x 5.79-5 99 (6 07-6.22)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,OOOshp = 32.5kts. Oil 1680-1785t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 3lin-Iin, belt 3m on lin, bulkheads Ilin, turrets, trunks and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 8-6in/50 Mk XXIII (4x2), 4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 8-21in TT aw (2x4) 1 aircraft Complement: 570 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ACHILLES Cammell Laird 11.6.1931 1.9.32 6.10 33 To India 1948 AJAX Vickers-Armstrong, 7 2 1933 1.3 34 12 4 35 BU 1949 Barrow LEANDER Devonport DYd 8.9.1930 24.9.31 24.3.33 BU 1949 NEPTUNE Portsmouth DYd 24.9 1931 31 1 33 23 2 34 Sunk 19.12 41 ORION Devonport DYd 26 9 1931 24.11.32 18 1.34 BU 1949 18-20mm in 1945 in this class. Lean- der, completing long repairs at the end of the wrar, also had ‘X’ turret removed and later a quadruple and 3 single Bofors added. Neptune sank slowly after striking 3 or 4 moored mines, but Ijeander sur- vived a 24in torpedo at the Battle of Kolombangara which put 2 boiler rooms out of action, though being a ship of limited value in the Pacific her repairs took 25 months. Ajax was hit by a 11001b bomb in the middle boiler room and Orton by one on ‘A* roof and another on the bridge. Both were out of action for about 9 months Ajax and Achilles took part in the action with the Admiral Graf Spee, firing 732 and 1242 6in shells respectively. Both were hit by splinters from near mis- ses, and an 1 hn shell which hit Ajax put ‘X’ turret out of action and par- tially jammed *Y*. Leander and Achil- les were loaned to the New Zealand Navy from its formation on 1 10.1941 until 1945 and 1946 respectively. Achilles was renamed Delhi in Indian service. This class differed from the Leanders in having the machinery arranged on the unit system with the two boiler and two engine rooms alternated to give two self-contained units of which the forward drove the outer shafts. The 4in Mk Vs were retained in Syd- ney but replaced by 4 twin Mk XVIs in Hobart and Perth in 1938-39. Hobart had 2 quadruple 2pdr pompoms added in December 1941 and 3 twin 40mm Bofors on triaxial mountings in September 1944. There were also 10-20mm. ‘X’ turret, the catapult and the aircraft were apparently retained until the end of the war. Sydney was. completed for the Australian Navy, Hobart transferred on 29 9 1938 and Penh on 25 7.1939. Sydney was sunk in a mutually fatal action with the raider Konnoran. *A’ and ‘B’ turrets were put out of action by a torpedo, and -there were several 5 9in shell hits. She was last seen burning furiously. Perth was lost in the Sunda Straits battle from three torpedoes and a number of shells from Sin downwards Hobart was hit aft by a shallow-running torpedo in July 1943, and was out of service for 17 months. Apollo as completed PERTH class Displacement: 6830-7105t standard; 8850-9150t (Hobart later 9420t) deep load Dimensions: 522ft pp, 562ft 3in oa x 56ft 8in x 18ft 6in-19ft (later 19ft 7in) mean deep load 159.10, 171 37 x 17 27 x 5 64-5.79 (5.97)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,OOOshp = 32.5kts. Oil 1765-1837t (Hobart later 1553t) Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 3lin-lin, belt 3in on lin, bulkheads Ilin, turrets, trunks and ring bulkheads lin Armament: 8-6in/50 Mk XXIII (4x2), 4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 8-21 in TT aw (2x4), 1 aircraft Complement: 570 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate HOBART (ex-Apollo) Devonport DYd 15-2 1933 9 10 34 13.1 36 BU 1962 PERTH (cx-Amphion) Portsmouth DYd 26.6.1933 27.7 34 6.7.36 Sunk 1 3 42 SYDNEY (ex-Phaeton) Swan Hunter 8.7 1933 22.9.34 24.9.35 Sunk 19.11.41 30
This class generally resembled Perth but lacked ‘X’ turret, and were an attempt to build the smallest possible useful cruiser The deck was lin over the belt and steering gear and there was 2in-lin over the ammunition spaces. An unfortunate feature was that the 4in HA guns were a consider- able distance from their magazines Catapults and aircraft were removed in 1940-41, and the 4in Mk Vs were replaced by 4 twin Mk XVIs in Galatea in December 1940 and m Arethusa in September 1941. All had 2 quadruple 2pdr pompoms in 1940-41, replaced by 2 40mm quad- ruple Bofors in Arethusa in 1943-44, and also finally 8 to 11 20mm. In spite of their obvious weaknesses this class gave good service in Euro- pean waters Galatea was hit by three torpedoes from U557 and sank in three minutes, while Penelope was hit bv one from U410 when steaming at 26kts, and a second 16 minutes later sank her at once In this case the hits had been by the after engine and boiler rooms, but when Arethusa was hit by an airborne torpedo in November 1942 ‘A* and *B’ turrets were put out of action with flooding for 100ft and a serious fire. She was, however, got back to port though remained out of service for 12J months Aurora also survived a non- contact mine and later a 11001b bomb, the ship was named Chung King m Chinese service ARETHUSA class Displacement. 5220-5270t standard, 6665—6715t (later 7180-7400t) deep load Dimensions: 480ft pp, 506ft oa x 51ft x 16ft 6in (later 17ft 7in-18ft lin) mean deep load 146.30, 154.22 x 15.54 x 5.03 (S.36-S.5l)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 64,000shp = 32.3kts Oil 1250-1325t (later 1115-1150t) Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 3in-lin, belt 2}in, bulkheads lin, turrets lin Armament: 6-6in/50 Mk XXIII (3x2),4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1)(Aurora,Penelope 8-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (4x2)), 2-3pdr saluting (not Penelope), 6-21 tn TT aw (2x3), 1 aircraft (not Aurora) Complement: 500 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ARETHUSA Chatham DYd 25.1.1933 6.3.34 23.5.35 BU 1950 AURORA Portsmouth DYd 23 7.1935 20.8.36 12.11.37 To China 1948 GALATEA Scotts 2 6 1933 9.8.34 14 8 35 Sunk 14.12 41 PFNELOPE Harland & Wolff 30 5.1934 15.10.35 13 11 36 Sunk 18 2 44 A larger type of 6in cruiser, more in line with those building for other navies. The 6in triple mountings allowed 45° elevation and there were no upper cordite hoists, the charges being passed to the gunhousc via hand-ups. As tn the previous 6in cruisers the guns had hand ramming. The ring bulkheads extended down- wards for two decks so that only that of *Y’ reached the platform deck. There was a hangar abaft the bridge for two aircraft and an athwartships catapult (not fitted in Sheffield until May 1938) which was removed in 1943-44. The belt was raised to the uPper deck in way of the boiler rooms as in Perth, but was more extensive along the waterline though it did not cover the 6in ammunition spaces. The latter had a 2m-lin deck above them w*th I fin over the machinery spaces and Ilin-1| in over the steering gear Tactical diameter was 780yds at 14kts. ‘X’ 6in turret was removed in 1^44-45, and Birmingham had 4 40mm quadruple Bofors added m SOUTHAMPTON class Displacement- 9100t standard; 11,350t (later 12,190t) deep load Dimensions. 558ft pp, 591ft 6in oa x 61ft 8in x 20ft 4m (later 21ft 6tn) mean deep load 170 07, 180.28 x 18 79 x 6.20 (6.55)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 75,000shp = 32kts. Oil 1925-2070t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4Jin-lin, belt 41in, bulkheads 21in, turrets lin, trunks and ring bulkheads 2in-lin Armament: 12-6m/50 Mk XXIII (4x3), 8-4m/45 QF MkXVI HA(4x2),4-3pdr saluting, 8-2pdr pompom (2x4), 6-2lin TT aw (2x3), 3 aircraft Complement: 748 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BIRMINGHAM Devonport DYd 18.7.1935 1.9.36 18.11.37 BU 1960 GIJKSGOW Scotts 16.4.1935 20.6.36 9.9.37 BU 1958 NEWCASTLE Vickers-Armstrong, 4.10.1934 Tyne 23.1.36 5.3.37 BU 1959 SHEFFIELD Vickers-Armstrong, 31.1 1935 Tyne 23.7.36 25.8.37 BU 1967 SOUTHAMPTON John Brown 21 11.1934 10.3.36 6 3 37 Sunk 11 1 41 November 1944, while Glasgow dur- ing her 1944-45 refit had 4 quadruple and 4 single 2pdr pompoms added. Sheffield docs not appear to have had 4 quadruple and 10 single Bofors until 1946 The final number of 20mm Oer- likons ranged from 19 to 27. Southampton was hit by two or poss- ibly three 5501b bombs which caused violent fires in rhe after superstruc- ture and the forward boiler room The fires got out of hand and with all water and power lost, she was abandoned and sunk by a torpedo from Gloucester and four from Orton Glasgow, New- 31
GREAT BRITAIN castle and Birmingham were torpedoed and Sheffield struck a contact mine, but in all cases the damage was well forward or aft. The worst damaged was Glasgow, hit in December 1940 by two airborne torpedoes, one right forward and the other aft. The two inner shafts were seriously damaged and jammed, and the ship’s back was broken; however, she was eventually able to steam at 16kts. Her repairs took 9 months. Slightly enlarged Southaniptons differ- ing as above, the most important advance being the improved protec- tion to the turrets. The deck over the machinery spaces was increased slightly to Ilin-Lin. Manchester had 3 40mm single Bofors and 5-20mm added by the date of her loss, and IJverpool in the course of a very pro- tracted refit (1943-45) had the catapult and ‘X’ turret removed and her light A A guns increased to 6 quad- ruple and 4 single 2pdr pompoms, 7 40mm single Bofors and 5-20mm Gloucester was sunk by at least four heavy bombs and three near-misses, while Manchester, which was our of action for 9 months after an airborne torpedo hit aft, wras scuttled following a M ГВ torpedo hit be the after engine room which left only one shaft in operation. Liverpool was hit by an air- borne torpedo forward in October 1940 and the explosion of 5700gal of petrol on top of the floodwater caused the bow eventually to break off. She was out of action for a year, and in June 1942 another airborne torpedo which hit by the after engine room disabled all the shafts but one. Repairs and a subsequent refit lasted until July 1945. GLOUCESTER class Displacement: 9400t standard; 1 l,650t (later 12,330t) deep load Dimensions: 558ft pp, 591ft 6in oa x 62ft 4m x 20ft 7m (later 21ft 6in) mean deep load П0 07, 180.28 x 19.00 x 6.27 (6.5S)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 82,500shp = 32.3kts Oil 1950-2100t Armour: Box protection to ammunition spaces 4lin-lin, belt 41in, bulkheads 2|in, turrets 4in-2in, trunks and ring bulkheads 2in-lin Armament: 12-6in/50Mk XXIII (4x3), 8-4in/45QF MkXVI HA (4x2), 4—3pdr saluting, 8-2pdr pompom (2x4) 6-2lin TT aw (2x3), 3 aircraft Complement: 800 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate GLOUCESTER Devonport DYd 22.9.1936 19.10 37 31.1.39 Sunk 22.5.41 LIVERPOOL Fairfield 17 2 1936 24 3 37 2 11.38 BU 1958 MANCHESTER Hawthorn Leslie 28.3 1936 12 4 37 4 8 38 Sunk 13.8 42 Liverpool in Mar 1950 Originally intended to displace 10,000 tons standard, these cruisers differed considerably from the Southampton type. The 6in triple turrets allowed 45° elevation and ramming was by hand, but the endless chain shell and cordite hoists were direct to the gun- house with no break at the working chamber The after turrets were raised, with ‘Y’ at forecastle deck level The shell rooms for the 6in were above the magazines so that their crowns were formed by the lower deck and all the ring bulkheads extended to this level Unfortunately although the AA armament was increased, the 4in magazines were well forward of the guns and ammuni- tion supply was unsatisfactory. There was an athwartships catapult and hangar abaft the bridge. Box protec- tion to ammunition spaces was given up in this class, and replaced by extending the belt fore and aft. Hori- EDINBURGH class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 10,550t standard; I3,175t (Belfast later 14,900t) deep load 579ft pp,613ft 6inoa x 63ft 4in (Belfast later 66ft 4in) x 21ft (Belfast later 23ft 2in) mean deep load /76 47, 186.99 x 19.30 (20 22) x 6 48 (7 06)m 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 2250t (later 1990t) Belt 4jin, bulkheads 2^in, turrets 4in-2in, ring bulkheads 2in-lin 12-6in/50 Mk XXIII (4x3), 12-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (6x2), 4—3pdr saluting, 16-2pdr pompom (2x8), 6-2lin TT aw (2x3), 3 aircraft 850 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BELFAST Harland & Wolff 10 12 1936 17.3 38 3 8 39 Preserved 1971 EDINBURGH Swan Hunter 30.12.1936 31.3.38 6.7.39 Sunk 2.5.42 zontal protection was 3in over ammunition spaces, 2in over the machinery which was further aft than in Southampton, and 2in-Hin over the steering gear. Tactical diameter was 640yds at 12kts. Consideration was given to arming this class (or the next large cruisers, which were abandoned under the revised treaty limit of 8000 tons) with power loaded quadruple 6in turrets with rhe shell and charge rammed in one operation, but design work was suspended in January 1937. Belfast was badly damaged by a magnetic mine below the forward engine room in November 1939 which broke the ship’s back and fractured all the machinery feet She did not return to service until October 1942, having been bulged during these repairs and her beam increased by 3ft. 32
Cruisers She was refitted between August 1944 and April 1945 when the catapult and 4-4in were removed and light AA increased by 4 quadruple and 4 single 2pdr pompoms, with 14-20mm, while in July 1945 5 single Bofors replaced 6-20mm. Edinburgh had her 2 8-barrelled pompoms replaced by 2 quadruples in February 1942 and had also 6-20mm. She was hit by 2 tor- pedoes from V4S6 on 30 April 1942, one by the foremast and one aft which wrecked the steering gear and carried away (he starboard inner ‘A’ bracket. Later the stern abaft ‘Y’ turret broke off, but two days later, when attacked by three large destroyers, Edinburgh sank one of them. One torpedo, how- ever, hit on the opposite side (port) to the first two and Edinburgh was aban- doned and sunk by a torpedo from Foresight This class were designed as anti- aircraft cruisers with semi-automatic 5.25in guns on power loaded mount- ings allowing 70° elevation, but the slow delivery of the turrets resulted in a variation in armament. Bonaventure lacked ‘X’ and Dido and Phoebe ‘Q’, while Scylla and Charybdis had 4.5in in open backed shields. The 3in side armour covered the machinery spaces with a lin deck above and over the steering gear, and there was a 2in deck over (he combined magazines and shell rooms The turrets had only Jin plating Tactical diameter was 600yds at 14kts. Bonaventure and Naiad had their original armament when lost, while Hermione had 5-20mm added and Charybdis 10, the latter’s 4in being removed. Dido had *Q’ turret mounted, replacing her 4in, in Sept- ember 1941, but Phoebe remained a 4-turrel ship though her 4in was removed in 1942. ‘Q’ turret was removed from Cleopatra, Argonaut and Euryalus in 1943-44. A third quadruple pompom was added to Phoebe in 1942 and to Argonaut, buryalus and Scylla in 1944. Phoebe and Cleopatra had their pompoms replaced by 3 quadruple 40mm Bofors in 1943 and 1944 respectively, while DIDO class Displacement: 5600t standard; 6850t (later 7210-7515t Charybdis, Scylla 6975t) deep load Dimensions: 485ft pp, 512ft oa x 50ft 6in x 16ft 9m (later 17ft 6in-18ft 2in,Charybdis,Scylla 17ft)mean deep load 147 82, 156.05 x 15.39 x 5.11 (5 33-5 54, 5 18)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 62,OOOshp = 32 2kts. Oil 1042-1 lOOt Armour: Side 3in, bulkheads lin Armament: 10-5.25in/50 QF Mk I (5x2) (Bonaventure, Dido,Phoebe 8-5.2Sin + l-4in QF Mk V as starshell gun, Charybdis 8-4.5in/45 QF Mk HI (4x2)+ l-4in QFMk V,Scylla 8-4.5in/45 QFMk III (4x2)), 8-2pdr pompom (2x4), 6-21 in TT aw (2x3) Complement: 480-530 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ARGONAUT Cammcll Laird 21.11.1939 6.9.41 8.8.42 BU 1955 BONAVENTURE Scotts 30.8.1937 19.4.39 24.5 40 Sunk 31.3.41 CHARYBDIS Cammell Laird 9.11.1938 17.9.40 3.12.41 Sunk 23.10 43 CLEOPATRA Hawthorn Leslie 5 1.1939 27 3 40 5.12 41 BU 1958 DIDO • Cammell Laird 20.10.1937 18 7.39 30.9 40 BU 1958 EURYALUS Chatham DYd 21 10 1937 6 6 39 30.6 41 BU 1959 HERMIONE Stephen 6.10.1937 18 5.39 25.3.41 Sunk 16.6.42 NAIAD Hawthorn Leslie 26.8.1937 3.2.39 24.7.40 Sunk 11.3.42 PHOEBE Fairfield 2.9.1937 25.3.39 30.9.40 BU 1956 SCYLLA Scotts 19.4 1939 24.7.40 12 6.42 BU 1950 SIRIUS Portsmouth DYd 6 4 1938 18 9.40 6.5.42 BU 1956 Sinus had 5 single Bofors in 1944 and Argonaut 7 in 1945. These last two ships retained only 4-20mm while the rest had from 13 to 18. Bonaventure was sunk by two tor- pedoes from the Italian submarine Ambra, Naiad and Hermione by one each from U565 and U205 respec- tively, and Charybdis by two from T23 and T27. Scylla was badly damaged by a ground mine in June 1944 and never completely repaired; on the other hand, Phoebe twice survived a single torpedo and Cleopatra once, while Argonaut survived two at oppo- site ends of the ship. Dido, Cleopatra and Sinus survived hits by single bombs of between 550 and 11001b. Sinus in Aug 1947
GREAT BRITAIN These vessels were more compact than previous 6in ships and consid- ered in October 1941 (o be the best pattern for future cruisers The belt protected the 6in ammunition spaces and was here 31in reduced to 3'in by the machinery where it was taken to the upper deck The armour deck was 2in over the belt with ljin-1'in oxer the steering gear, and there was l»in on the transom stern. Except for their armour, the 6in turrets and ammuni- tion spaces were as in the Edinburgh class but the after turrets were one deck lower and the HA ammunition supply was much improved. Tactical diameter was 750yds at 14kts. Catapults and aircraft were not fitted to Fiji or Kenya', Nigeria's was removed in October 1941 and the rest of the class landed theirs between late 1942 and 1944 ’X* turret was removed from Bermuda and Jamaica in 1944-45 and from Mauritius and Kenya later m 1945 The first three had their light AA armament increased to 5 quadruple 2pdr pom- poms with 4 single pompoms in Ber- muda and Jamaica, later reinforced in these two by 4 and 2 single Bofors respectively. In Kenya the original pompoms were replaced by 5 twin and 8 single 40mm Bofors A quadruple Bofors mounting was added to New- foundland in May 1944 and two to Uganda in October, while Nigeria had 4 single Bofors in 1945 Between 6 and 24 20mm are shown as mounted at the end of the war. In September 1940 Fiji was hit by a torpedo from U32 which flooded the forward boiler room. She was back in service in 6 months and w as later sunk by one bomb hit and three near- misses. Two of the latter caused the forward engine and boiler rooms to flood rapidly, and Fyi was abandoned with a heavy hst and capsized in about 5 hours Tnnidad was hit by one of her own torpedoes which misran, on 29 March 1942 This blew a hole 45ft x 20ft in the port side abreast the bridge and one 10ft x 7ft in the starboard side, but she reached the Kola inlet and was patched. On her return she was hit by a heavy bomb which caused FIJI class Displacement: 8530t standard, 10,450t (later 10,830-1 l,090t) deep load Dimensions: 538ft pp, 555ft 6in oa x 62ft x 19ft 10m (later 20ft 4m-20ft 9m) mean deep load 163 98, 169 31 x 18 90 * 6 04 (6 20-6 32)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500shp = 31.5kts. Oil 1613—1700t Armour: Belt 31in-3}in, bulkheads 2in-ljin, turrets 2in-lin, ring bulkheads lin max Armament: 12-6in/50 Mk XXIII (4x3) (Ceylon, Newfoundland, Uganda 9-6in/50 Mk XXIII (3x3)) 8-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (4x2), 8-2pdr pompom (2x4) (Ceylon,Newfoundland, Uganda 12-2pdr pompom (3x4)), 6-2Im TT aw (2x3), 2 aircraft Complement: 730; 920 war Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BERMUDA John Brown 30 11.1939 11.9 41 21.8.42 BU 1965 CEYLON Stephen 27 4.1939 30.7.42 13.7.43 To Peru 1959 FIJI John Brown 30 3 1938 31 5.39 17.5.40 Sunk 22 5 41 GAMBIA Swan Hunter 24.7 1939 30 11 40 21.2.42 BU 1968 JAMAICA Vickers-Armstrong, 28 4 1939 16 11 40 29.6 42 BU 1960 Barrow KENYA Stephen 18 6.1938 18 8.39 27.9.40 BU 1962 MAURITIUS Swan Hunter 31 3.1938 19 7.39 1.1 41 BU 1965 NEWFOUNDLAND Swan Hunter 9 11 1939 19 12.41 20.1 43 To Peru 1959 NIGERIA Vickers Armstrong, 8 2 1938 18 7 39 23 9.40 To India 1957 Tyne TRINIDAD Devonport DYd 214.1938 21 3.40 14.10.41 Sunk 15 5.42 UGANDA Vickers-Armstrong, 20 7.1939 7 8 41 3.1 43 BU 1961 - Tyne a serious fire, and a ncar-miss which blew in the starboard patch, and had to be abandoned and scuttled by three torpedoes. Of the other ships Kenya was torpedoed near the stem, New- foundland on the rudder and Nigeria by the foremast, the last named being Kenya tn Oct 1949 considerably damaged and out of ser- vice for 104 months. Uganda was hit by a FX1400 guided AP bomb which passed through the ship and burst under the after engine room, wreck- ing this and putting three shafts out of action Repairs took 13J months The ship was transferred to Canada on 21.10.1944 and renamed Quebec, Gambia was loaned to New Zealand from 1944 to 1946 Ceylon, Neu found- land and Nigeria were renamed Coronel Bolognesi, Almirante Grau and Mysore on transfer to Peru and India Similar to the Dido class (of which they are sometimes considered mem- bers), these ships differed in the ab- sence of rake to funnels and masts and in that only 8-5 25in were ever mounted, Black Prince had 2 single Bofors added in 1944 and 6 more in 1945, while at that time 16 to 22 20mm were mounted. Spartan was hit by a Hs 293 guided bomb which caused damage so great that she sank BELLONA class Displacement: 5950t standard, 7350-7410t deep load Dimensions: 485ft pp, 512ft oa x 50ft 6in x 17ft 9in-17ft Ilin mean deep load 147.82, 156.05 x 15.39 x 5.41-5 46m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 62,000shp = 32kts Oil 1042-11001 Armour: Side 3in, bulkheads lin Armament: 8-5.25in/5O QF Mk I (4x2), 12-2pdr pompom (3x4), 6-2lin TT aw (2x3) Complement: 530 34
Cruisers m about Ц hours. Bellona was lent to New Zealand from 1948 to 1956, Black Pnnce from 1948 and Royalist from 1956. Diadem became Babur in Pakistani service. Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BELLONA Fairfield 30.11.1939 29.9.42 29.10.43 BU 1959 BLACK PRINCE Harland & Wolff 2 11.1939 27.8.42 20.11.43 BU 1962 DIADEM Hawthorn Leslie 15.12.1939 26.8 42 6.1.44 To Pakistan 1956 ROYALIST Scotts 21.3.1940 30.5.42 10.9.43 BU 1968 SPARTAN Vickers-Armstrong, 21.12.1939 27 8 42 10.8.43 Sunk 29 1 44 Barrow Similar to the Fiji class with three turrets, but with 1ft more beam, increased fuel oil, heavier A A arma- ment and no arrangements for air- craft. Ontario had 8 single pompoms added just before completion (and transfer to the RCN) which were soon changed to 4 pompoms and 4 single 40mm Bofors, while Swiftsure had 13 single Bofors added in 1945, replacing 22-20mm, Ontario retaining 6 of the latter. The increased beam improved stability and increased the deep load GM from barely 31ft in the Fijis to 4-4}ft. A third ship named Bel- lerophon was laid down at John Brown on 1.10.1941 but was altered to the Tiger class on the stocks. Only Superb was completed to the original design as Tiger, Blake and Defence (the last renamed Lion in 1957 and completed by Swan Hunter) were altered after the war Hawke was can- celled in 1945 and Bellerophon was to be built as one of the Neptune class. Superb resembled the Swiftsure but had a beam of 64ft which increased the deep load metacentric height to about 4Aft. Protection was similar with the addition of 3in plates to the downtakes, and the 6in mountings allowed 45° while those in the other ships would have been Mk XXIV elevating to 60° Superb originally had 10-20mm guns in addition to the armament quoted SWIFTSURE class____________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 8800t standard, 1 l,130t (Swiftsure later 1 l,240t, Ontano 11,480t) deep load Dimensions: 538ft pp, 555ft 6m oa x 63ft x 20ft 8in (later 20ft lOin-21ft 2m) mean deep load 163 98, 169 31 x 19.20 x 6 30 (6 35-6 4S)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500shp = 31 5kts. Oil 1850t Armour- Bek 3$in-3ftn, bulkheads 2in-ljin, turrets 2in-lin, ring bulkheads lin max Armament: 9-6in/50 Mk XXIII (3x3), I0-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (5x2), 16-2pdr pompom(4x4),6-21inTTaw (2x3) Complement: 855; 960 war Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ONTARIO (ex-Afinotaur) Harland & Wolff 20 11.1941 29 7.43 25.5.45 BU 1960 SWIFTSURE Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne 22.9.1941 4 2 43 22.6.44 BU 1962 TIGER class (original data) Displacement!: 8885t standard; ll,560t deep load Dimensions: 538ft pp, 555ft 6in oa x 64ft x 21ft lin mean deep load 163 98, 169.31 x 19.51 x 6 43m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500shp = 31 5kts. Oil 1900t Armour: Belt 3}m-3iin, bulkheads 2in-ljin, turrets 2in-lin, ring bulkheads lin max Armament: 9-6in/50 Mk XXIII (3x3), 10-4m/45 QF Mk XVI HA (5x2), 18-2pdr pompom (4x4,2 x 1), 8-40mm Bofors (8x1), 6-21 in TT aw (2 x 3) Complement: 867 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BELLEROPHON Vickers-Armstrong, — — — — (ex-Blake, cx-Tiger) Tyne BLAKE (ex-7’iger, Fairfield 17.8.1942 20.12 45 8.3.61 Extant 1980 ex Blake) DEFENCE Scotts 24.6.1942 2.9.44 20.7.60 BU 1975 HAWKE Portsmouth D Yd Sept 1943 — * — SUPERB Swan Hunter 23.6.1942 31.8.43 16.11.45 BU 1960 TIGER John Brown 1 10.1941 25.10.45 18.3.59 Extant 1980 (ex-Bellerophon) Superb in Oct 1947
GREAT BRITAIN PROJECTED DESIGNS 1939-45 Although nothing more novel than a modified Fiji or Dido was actually built during the war, consideration was given to numerous projects varying in main armament from 9-9 2in to6-5.25in. Of these only two types had some possibil- ity of being built. The first was a large Sin cruiser of which it was hoped to include 4 in the 1940 Supplementary Programme, then in the 1941 Programme, and which was abandoned after a hope that one might be laid down in 1942. Details would have been as follows: Displacement: 16,100t possibly 18,740t standard, c20,200t deep load (more if standard 18,740t) Dimensions: 650ft pp, 670ft wl x 80ft x c24fi mean deep load (larger if standard 18,740t) 198.12, 204 21 x 24.38 x 7 32m Machinery: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 110,000 (possibly 120,000)shp = 32Jkts. Oil 35OOt Armour: Belt 4lin, bulkheads 4in, turrets ?6in-2in, ring bulkheads ?3in Armament: 9-8in/50 Mk IX or X (3x3), 16-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (8x2), ?16-2pdr pompom (4x4), possibly 12-4in (6x2), 48-2pdr (12x4), 6-2lin TT aw (2x3), 3 aircraft Complement: ? A prototype 8in Mk IX gun was ordered but it was altered to the lighter Mk X during construction and never completed. The 41in belt would have been taken to the upper deck between ‘A* and ‘Y’ turrets, with 2inon this deck over the belt reinforced by 2in (or in the 18,740-ton ship 3in) over the ammunition spaces at platform level. Further armour details taken from the 18,740-ton design include lin on the side beyond the belt ends and on the transom stern, an armoured lower deck abaft ‘Y* turret (thickness not given) and, in addition to the 4in bulkheads at ‘A’ and ‘Y* turrets, several 2in-lin longitudinal and transverse bulkheads in way of the ammunition spaces. Particular attention was to be paid to good seakeeping - there was a long forecastle deck - and the tactical diameter was to be small. The second type which might have been built, owed much of its general conception to United States experience in the 1942-43 campaign in the Solomon Islands. The 1944 Programme included five large 6in cruisers, to be named Centunon, Edgar, Mars, Minotaur and Neptune, to which the suspended Bd- lerophon (originally of the Tiger class) was to be added. None of the five was ever ordered and all were cancelled in 1946 They were to be known as the Neptune class: D splacement: 15,350t standard; cl8,700t deep load Dimensions: 655fl wl x 76ft x c24ft mean deep load 199.64 x 23.16 x 7 32m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 108,OOOshp = 32Jkts. Oil 2850t Armour: Belt 4in, belt ends Ilin, bulkheads 4in, turrets ?4in-2in, ring bulkheads ?2m Armament: 12-6in/50 QF Mk 5 HA (4x3), 12—4.5in/45 QF Mk 5 HA (6x2), 20-40mm Bofors (10x2), 16-21in TT aw (4x4) Complement: 1050 The 6in guns would have been in Mk 25 mountings with 80° elevation, the 4 5in m the w’ell known Mk 6, and the Bofors in the triaxial mounting known as ‘Buster’. There were also to be 28-20mm. The 6in guns had similar ballistics to the USN 47cal Mk 16 introduced in the Brooklyn class, but the US triple mountings allowed 40° or 60° elevation and the only previous HA 6in triple was that in the French battleship Richelieu This had not been successful, and it may be noted that postwar British cruiser designs had HA 6in in twin mountings. The armour deck was 1 Jin but it is not clear whether the platform deck was also armoured over ammunition spaces. There were armoured longitudinal and transverse bulkheads to ammunition and machinery compartments, and in appearance they would have generally resembled the Southampton class. The large number of TT should, be noted. CRUISER-MINELAYERS Adventure as completed The first British warship to be com- pleted with a transom stern - which was found to be unsuitable for minelayers as the mines, when drop- ped into dead water caused by the stern, swung back and broke their horns on it Adventure was thus rebuilt with a cruiser stern, and transom sterns were not reintroduced until the Fiji class cruisers. The lin side was in way of the machinery spaces with a lin deck above and there were bulges similar to those in the Kent class. The 4 single pompoms were replaced by an 8 barrelled mounting in 1938, and 7-20mm were later added. Adventure was twice damaged by ground mines during the war and was converted to a repair ship in 1944. . A successful class of fast minelayers, also used for such duties as running special cargoes of ammunition to Malta. Apollo and Ariadne differed from the rest in having only 4-4in and 2 (Anadne 3) twin Bofors instead of the 2pdrs. These twin Bofors were on triaxial mounungs, but in Anadne they were replaced by US biaxial mountings in July 1945 when 5 single Bofors also replaced 10-20mm. ADVENTURE Displacement: 6740t standard; 8370t deep load Dimensions: 500ft pp, 520ft (later 539ft) oa x 59ft x 17ft 2in mean deep load 152.39, 158.49 (164.28) x 17.98 x 5.23m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines plus diesel-electric machinery for cruising, 6 Yarrow' boilers, 40,OOOshp = 28kts. Oil 1500t Armour: Side lin Armament: 4—4 7in/40 QF Mk VIII HA (4x 1), 4-3pdr saluting, 4-2pdr pompom (4x 1), 280 mines Complement: 395 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ADVENTURE Devonport DYd 29 11.1922 18 6.24 5 5 27 BU 1947 Abdiel 1943 ABDIEL class Displacement: 2650t standard; 4000t actual deep load later Dimensions: 400ft 6in pp, 418ft oa x 40ft x 14ft 9in mean deep load 122.07, 127.40 x 12.19 x 4.50m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72^000shp = 39 75kts. Oil 690-750t (Apollo, Ariadne 825t) Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 100-156 mines. Complement: 242-246 36
Cruiser-minelayers /Destroyers Apollo retained the tnaxial mount- ings, and eventually 6 single Bofors replaced 14—20mm. The rest of the class had up to 8-20mm. Abdiel was sunk by a ground mine, Latona was scuttled after a 2501b bomb m the engine room caused a serious fire and explosion among the munitions she • was carrying, and Welshman was tor- pedoed by U617. Manxman survived a torpedo abreast the engine room but was out of service for over 2 years Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ABDIEL White 29.3.1939 23.4.40 15.4 41 Sunk 10 9.43 APOLLO Hawthorn Leslie 10.10.1941 5.4.43 12.2.44 BU 1962 ARIADNE Stephen 15 11.1941 16 2.43 9.10 43 BU 1965 LATONA Thomycroft 4 4 1939 20.8.40 4 5 41 Sunk 25 10.41 MANXMAN Stephen 24 3 1939 5.9.40 20 6.41 BU 1971 WELSHMAN Hawthorn Leslie 8.6.1939 4.9.40 25.8.41 Sunk 1.2.43 Latona during trials By courtesy of John Roberts DESTROYERS Ambuscade 1942 AMAZON_________________________________________________________ Displacement: 1352t standard, 1812t (later 1980t) deep load Dimensions: 311ft 9in pp, 323ft oa x 31ft 7in x 12ft 7in (later 13ft Sin) mean deep load 95.02, 98.45 x 9.63 x 3.84 (4.09)m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown Curtis geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 39,500shp = 37kts Oil 428t Armament: 4—4.7in/45 BL Mk I (4x 1), 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1), 6-21m TT (2x3) Complement: 138 Name Builder Launched Fate AMAZON Thomycroft 27.1.1926 BU 1948 AMBUSCADE Displacement: 1173t standard, 1585t (later 1820t) deep load Dimensions: 307ft pp, 322ft oa x 31ft lin x 11ft 4in (later 12ft 6in) mean deep load 93.57, 98.14 x 9.47 x 3.45 (3.81)m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown-Curtis geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 33,000shp = 37kts. Oil 381t Armament: 4-4.7in/45 BL Mk I (4x 1), 2-2pdr pompom (2x1), 6-2lin TT (2x3) Complement 138 Name Builder Launched Fate AMBUSCADE Yarrow 15.1.1926 BU 1946 A prototype destroyer to a Thomycroft design laid down in early 1925 and completed in 1926 The 4 7in mountings allowed 30° elevation and had small shields which gave no splinter protection to the gun crews’ legs. The torpedoes were Mk IV In November 1939, 50 tons of ballast were added and for a time a 3in HA gun replaced 3 TT. As an escort destroyer in 1943-44, she was armed with 2-4.7in,4-20mm,6-21in TT and 95 DC, and m August 1944 she became a target ship for flying training. A Yarrow-designed prototype laid down in late 1924 and completed in 1926 Other designs were submitted by Denny, Hawthorn Leslie and White 1 he original armament was identical to that in Amazon. During the war Ambuscade had 3TT replaced by a 12pdrHA,and as an escort destroyer in early 1943 had 65 tons of ballast added and a Squid mounted, with 2-4.7in and noTT. Her final armament in this role was 3—4 7in, l-12pdr, 2-2pdr, 2-20mm, 3-21in TT and 70 DC, and she was eventually used as a target ship as Amazon. Bulldog as completed ‘A’ and *B’ classes Displacement: 1337—1360t (Keith 1400l) standard, 1747-1815t (Keith 1821t) (later 1930-1990t) deep load Dimensions: 312ft (Saguenay, Skeena 309ft) pp, 323ft (Saguenay, Skeena 320ft) oa x32ft 3in (Saguenay, Skeena 32ft 6in) X 12ft 3in (later 12ft Sin-13ft lin) mean deep load 95.10 (94.18), 98.45 (97.53) x 9.83 (9.91) x 3.73 (3.86-3.99)m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons (Acasta, Achates, Basilisk, Beagle Brown- Cunis)geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum (Anthony, Ardent Yarrow, Acheron, Saguenay, Skeena Thomycroft) boilers, 34,000shp — 35.25kts (Saguenay,Skeena 32,000shp = 35kts). Oil 380t Armament: 4—4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1), 8-2 lin TT (2x4) Complement: 138 (Keith 175) 37
GREAT BRITAIN Name Builder Launched Fate ACASTA John Brown 8 8.1929 Sunk 8.6.40 ACHATES John Brown 4 10 1929 Sunk 31.12 42 ACHERON Thorny croft 18 3.1930 Sunk 17.12.40 ACTIVE Hawthorn Leslie 9 7 1929 BU 1947 ANTFLOPE Hawthorn Leslie 27.7 1929 BU 1946 ANTHONY Scotts 24 4 1929 BU 1948 ARDENT Scotts 26.6.1929 Sunk 8.6.40 ARROW Vickers- 22.8 1929 Damaged 4 8 43, Armstrong, never repaired Barrow KEITH Vickers- 10.7.1930 Sunk 1.6.40 Armstrong, Barrow BASILISK John Brown 6 8 1930 Sunk 1.6.40 BEAGLE John Brown 26 9 1930 BU 1946 BLANCHE Hawthorn Leslie 29 5 1930 Sunk 13.11.39 BOADICEA Hawthorn Leslie 23 9.1930 Sunk 13 6.44 BOREAS Palmers 18.7.1930 To Greece 1944 BRAZEN Palmers 25.7.1930 Sunk 20.7.40 BRILLIANT Swan Hunter 9 10 1930 BU 1947 BULLDOG Swan Hunter 6 12 1930 BU 1946 SAGUENAY Thornycroft 11.7.1930 Collision, then TS 1943 SKFENA Thornycroft 10 10 1930 Wrecked 25 10.44 Saguenay and Skeena were built for Canada. The 4.7m QF Mk IX was intro- duced in this class and the 30° mountings had shields extending to near the deck. An unsuccessful 60° СР ХШ mounting was tried in Bulldog The torpedoes were Mk V, and Mk IV in the two Canadian ships; these were later changed to Mk IX in the RCN ships, the ‘B’ class and the surviving ‘As’. Acheron differed from the rest in having boilers with 500psi pressure instead of 275-300psi Most of the ships had l-3m HA replacing 4 TT in 1940, and later the majority of the survivors were re-armed as escort destroyers, Bulldog for example having 2-4.7in, 6-20mm, 4—2 lin TT, Hedgehog and 125 DC, while Boadicea had l-3in HA and 2-6pdr Hotchkiss for use against E-boats instead of the Hedgehog and 20mm. The classes were laid down in 1928-29 and completed in 1930-31. A now was damaged by the explosion of an ammunition ship. Acasta and Ardent were sunk by the Schamhorst and Gneisenau (the Schamhorsl herself being torpedoed by Acasta), Achates was sunk by Admiral Hipper, Acheron and Blanche by mines, Boadicea by an airborne torpedo and the others by bombs. Boreas became the Greek Salamis. ‘A’ class leader Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1540t standard, 2012t deep load 332ft pp, 343ft oa x 33ft 9in x 12ft 4in mean deep load 101 19, 104.54 x 10.29 x 3.76m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 39,OOOshp = 35kts. Oil 4251 5-4 7in/45QF MkIX(5x 1), 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1), 8-21m TT (2x4) 185 Name Builder Launched Fate CODRINGTON Swan Hunter 7.8 1929 Sunk 27 7.40 ‘C’ and ‘D’ classes Displacement: 1375—1400t standard; 1865-1942t (later 2040-2100t) deep load Dimensions: 317ft 9in pp, 329ft oa x 33ft x 12ft 5in (later 13ft-13ft 4m) mean deep load 96 85, 100 28 x 10 06 x 3.78 (3.96-4 06)m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum (Kem- penfelt Yarrow) boilers 36,OOOshp = 36kts Oil 461-473t Armament: 4-4 7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x1), l-3in HA, 2-2pdr pompom (2x 1) (not in Dainty, Decoy, Delight, Duchess), 8-21in 1 Г (2x4) Complement: 145 (Kempenfelt, Duncan 175) Name Builder Launched Fate KEMPENFELT White 29.10 1931 Wrecked 10 11.45 COMET Portsmouth DYd 30.9 1931 BU 1946 CRESCENT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.9.1931 Collision 25 6 40 CRUSADER Portsmouth DYd 30 9 1931 Sunk 14 9.42 CYGNET Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.9.1931 BU 1947 DUNCAN Portsmouth DYd 7.7.1932 BU 1945 DAINTY Fairfield 3.5.1932 Sunk 24.2.41 DARING Thornycroft 7.4 1932 Sunk 18 2 40 DECOY Thornycroft 7 6 1932 BU 1946 DEFENDER Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 7.4 1932 Sunk 11.7.41 DELIGHT Fairfield 2.6 1932 Sunk 29 7 40 DIAMOND Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 8 4 1932 Sunk 27.4 41 DIANA Palmers 16 6 1932 Collision 22 10 40 DUCHESS Palmers 19.7.1932 Collision 12 12.39 Slightly enlarged versions of the ‘B’ class with increased fuel and a 3m HA gun. Kempenfelt and Duncan were fitted as leaders Torpedoes were Mk V in Kempen- feh, Mk IV in the *C’ class and Mk IX in the ‘Ds’, the others later having this also. A 5 lin/50 QF was tried in Kempenfelt but proved too heavy, and a quadruple 2pdr pompom was successfully tried m Crusader m 1935-36. The 3in gun was removed from the ‘C’ class in 1936-38 and remounted instead of 4 TT in 1940-41. The surviving ships were later converted to escort destroyers with a typical armament of 3-4 7in,6-20mm, 4-2 lin TT, Hedgehog and 125 DC The two classes were laid down in 1930—31 and completed in 1932-33 Comet, Crescent, Crusader and Cygnet were transferred to Canada in 1937-38 becoming, respectively, Resngouche, Fraser, Ottawa and St Laurent, Kempenfelt (renamed Assinihcnne) in 1939, Diana (Margaree) in 1940 and Decoy (Kootenay) in 1943. Ottawa and Daring were sunk by U-boats and the rest by bombs *E’ and ‘F’ classes Larger than the rest of the ‘A’ class with an additional 4.7m gun. The torpedoes were Mk V, later replaced by Mk IX. Shortly before her loss by bombing, 4 TT were replaced by l-3in HA For a destroyer she was an unhandy ship with a full speed tactical diameter of 980yds> 380yds up on the class average. Codrtngton as completed Kempenfelt in Sept 1933 Displacement: 1350—1405t standard; 1886-19401 (later 2O25-2O95t) deep load Dimensions: 318ft 3in pp, 329ft oa x 33ft 3in x 12ft 6m (later 13ft—13ft 2m) mean deep load 97 00, 100.28 x 10.13 x 3.81 (3.96-4.01)m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons (Fortune, Foxhound Brown Curtis) geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 36,OOOshp = 36kts Oil 471t Armament: 4-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 8-2lin TT (2x4). See notes Complement: 145 Name Builder Launched Fate ECHO Denny 16 2 1934 To Greece 1944 ECLIPSE Denny 12 4.1934 Sunk 24 10.43 ELECTRA ~ Hawthorn Leslie 15 2 1934 Sunk 27 2 42 ENCOUNTER Hawthorn Leslie 29.3.1934 Sunk 1.3 42 ESCAPADE Scotts 30 1 1934 BU 1947 ESCORT Scotts 29 3 1934 Sunk 11.7 40 ESK Swan Hunter 19 3 1934 Sunk 31 8 40 EXPRESS Swan Hunter 29.5.1934 BU 1956 FAME Vickers- 28 6.1934 To Dominican Armstrong, Republic 1949 Tyne FEARLESS Cammell Laird 12.5.1934 Sunk 23.7.41
Destroyers Name Builder Launched Fate FIREDRAKE Vickers- 28.6.1934 Sunk 16.12.42 Armstrong, Tyne FORESTER White 28.6.1934 BU 1947 FORESIGHT Cammell Laird 29.6.1934 Sunk 12.8.42 FORTUNE John Brown 29 8 1934 BU 1946 FOXHOUND John Brown 12.10.1934 BU 1948 FURY White 10 9.1934 Constructive loss 21.6 44 Similar to the ‘C’ and ‘D’ classes with an improved hull form and 3 boiler rooms instead of 2. The 4 7in guns would elevate to 40° if the gun well covers were lowered, but AA defence was limited to the nearly useless 0.5in MG. The torpedoes were Mk IX. In all but Escort l-3in HA and between 1 and 4 20mm later replaced 4 TT. The surviving ships finally became escort destroyers with 3-4.7m, 6-20min, 4-21in TT, Hedgehog and 125 DC as a rule, though Escapade had 2-4 7m, 6-20mm, 4-2 lin T1, Squid and 60 DC and Express and Esk, fitted as minelayers, carried 2-4 7in, no TT and 60-72 mines The *E* and ‘F’ classes were laid down m 1933 and completed m 1934-35, Express, Fortune and Foxhound were transferred to Canada m 1943—44, becoming, respectively, Gatineau,Saskatchewan and Qu’Appelle. Fame ran aground at high speed on the Durham coast in 1940 and was burnt out, but was salved and rebuilt at Chatham Of the losses, Echpse,Esk andFury were mined,Escort andFiredrake torpedoed by submarines and Fearless and Foresight by aircraft, whilst Electra and Encounter were sunk in action with the Japanese. Echo was renamed Navannon and Fame became Generahsimo on transfer. CE’ and ‘F’ class leaders Displacement: 1460-1495t standard, 2009-2049t (later 2200t) deep load Dimensions: 332ft pp, 343ft oa x 33ft 9in x 12ft 6in (later 13ft 3m) mean deep load 101 19, 104.54 x 10.29 x 3.81 (4.04)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 38,000shp = 36.75kts. Oil 47It Armament: 5—4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (5x 1), 8-2lin TT (2x4) Complement: 175 Name Builder Launched Fate EXMOUTH Portsmouth DYd 7 2.1934 Sunk 21 1 40 FAULKNOR Y arrow 12.6.1934 BU 1946 Enlarged versions of the flotilla destroyers, with 5—4.7in and a slightly higher speed. Exmouth was torpedoed by a U-boat and Faulknor (which was not converted to an escort) had, with 40 tons of ballast and a complement of 201, a final armament of 3-4.7in, l-3in HA, 1 quadruple 2pdr pompom, 6-20mm, 8-2lin TT and 38 DC ‘G’, ‘H’ and T classes Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1335—1370t standard; 1854— 1890t (later 1980-2095t) deep load 312ft pp, 323ft oa x 33ft x 12ft 5in (later 13ft-13ft 4in) mean deep load 95 10, 98.45 x 10 06 x 3 78 (3 96-4.06)m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3 drum {Hyper- ion 2+1 Johnson) boilers, 34,000shp = 36kts. Oil 443-4611 4—4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 8-2 lin IT (2x4), ((Glowworm, ‘Г class 10-2 lin IT (2x5)) 145 Express prewar as a minelayer Name Builder Launched Fate GALLANT Stephen 26.9.1935 Constructive toss 5.4.42 GARLAND Fairfield 24.10.1935 To Netherlands 1947 GIPSY Fairfield 7.11.1935 Sunk 21 11 39 GLOWWORM Thomycroft 22 7.1935 Sunk 8.4 40 GRAFTON Thomycroft 18.9 1935 Sunk 29 5.40 GRENADE Stephen 12 11 1935 Sunk 29.5 40 GREYHOUND Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 15.8.1935 Sunk 22 5.41 GRIFFIN Vickers- Armstrong, В arrow 15.8.1935 BU 1946 HASTY Denny 5.5.1936 Sunk 15.6.42 HAVOCK Denny 7.7.1936 Wrecked 6 4 42 HEREWARD Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 10 3 1936 Sunk 29 5 41 HERO Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 10.3.1936 BU 1946 HOSTILE Scotts 24.1.1936 Sunk 23.8.40 HOTSPUR Scotts 23.3.1936 To Dominican Republic 1948 HUNTER Swan Hunter 25 2.1936 Sunk 10 4.40 HYPFRION Swan Hunter 8 4.1936 Sunk 22 12 40 ICARUS John Brown 26.11.1936 BU 1946 ILEX John Brown 28 1 1937 BU 1948 IMOGEN Hawthorn Leslie 30.10 1936 Collision 16 7.40 IMPERIAL Hawthorn Leslie 11.12.1936 Sunk 29.5.41 IMPULSIVE White 1.3.1937 BU 1946 INTREPID White 17.12.1936 Sunk 26.9.43 ISIS Yarrow 12.11.1936 Sunk 20.7.44 IVANHOE Yarrow 11.2.1937 Sunk 1 9.40 This group were slightly smaller than the ‘E’ and *F’ classes due mainly to the omission of cruising turbines. The ‘Gs’ had 4 7m mountings as in the ‘Es’ and ‘Fs’, but those in the rest could elevate to 40° without a gun well. A twin mounting with 4 7in/45 QF Mk XII was tried m Hereward. Many were later fitted with l-3in HA in place of half the TT, and most of the ‘Is’ were at limes employed as minelayers with 2-4.7in and all TT replaced by 60 mines. To increase stability the quintuple TT in the ‘Is’ were later converted to quadruple. They and the ‘Gs’ and ‘Hs’ had Mk IX torpedoes. The usual DC outfit was 40-45. Some were later converted to escort destroyers, typically with 2 or 3-4.7m, 6-20mm, 4-2lin TT, Hedgehog and 125 DC. The ‘G’, ‘H’ and T classes were laid down m 1934-36 and completed in 1936-38 Of the losses, Glowworm was sunk by the Admiral Hipper, Hunter by German destroyers, Grafton by a U-boat, Hasty by an E-boat, Hereward by an airborne torpedo, Gipsy, Hostile, Hypenon, Isis and Ivanhoe by mines and the rest by bombs Gnffin and Hero were transferred to the RCN, being renamed Ottawa and Chaudtere respectively; Garland and Hotspur were renamed Marnix and Trujillo respectively when sold. Ex-Turkish< destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery. Armament: Complement: 1370t standard; 1890l (later 2080t) deep load 312ft pp, 323ft oa x 33ft 6in x 12ft 5in (later 13ft 4in) mean deep load 95 10, 98.45 *10 21 * 3 78 (3 96)m 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 34,000shp = 35.5kts. Oil 443 4-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 8-21in TT (2x4) 145 Name Builder Launched Fate INCONSTANT (ex-Muavenct') ITHURIEL (ex-Gayrel) Vickers- Armstrong Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 24.2.1941 15.2 1940 To Turkey 1946 Constructive loss 28.11.42 As the ‘Gs’, ‘Hs’ and ‘Is’, but Mk IV torpedoes were carried from the beginning. Ithuriel was damaged beyond repair as a result of bombing. Inconstant reverted to her original name m Turkish service. 39
GREAT BRITAIN Ex-Brazilian destroyers Displacement: 1400t standard; 1930t (later 2020-2030t) deep load Dimensions: 312ft pp, 323ft oa x 33ft x 12ft 9in (later 13ft 1 in-13ft 3in) mean deep load 95 10, 98 45 x 10.06 x 3.89 (3.99^4.04)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 34,000shp = 35kts. Oil 443t Armament: 3-4 7in/45 QF Mk IX (3x 1), 8-21in TT (2x4) Complement: 145 MX Cussack as completed Name Builder Launched Fate HARVESTER (ex-HnnJv.Vickers- cx-Jurua) Armstrong, Barrow 29.9.1939 Sunk 11.3 43 HAVANT (cx-Javary) White 17.7 1939 Sunk 1.6.40 HAVELOCK (cx-Jutahy) White 16.10.1939 BU 1946 HESPERUS (ex-Hearty, cx-Juruena) Thomycroft 1.8.1939 BU 1946 HIGHLANDER (exjaguanbe) 1 hornycroft 17 10.1939 BU 1947 HURRICANE (cx-Japarua) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.9.1939 Sunk 24.12.43 TRIBAL class Displacement: 1854t standard designed; 1959t actual; 2519t (later 2710t) deep load Dimensions: 355ft 6in pp, 377ft oa x 36ft 6m (RCN 37ft 6in) x 13ft (later 13ft 8in) mean deep load 108 35, 114 91 x 11.13, 11.43 x 3 96 (4.16fin Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boikrs, 44,000shp = 36.25-36.5kts. Oil 505-516t Armament: 8-4.7in/45 QF Mk XII (4x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 4-2lin TT (1x4). Sec notes Complement: 190-250 Name Builder Launched Fate Generally similar to the *Gs’, ‘Hs’ and ‘Is’, except Whitehead torpedoes known as Mk Xs were fitted, these being later replaced by the Mk IVs. 110 DC were carried. Harvester and Hurricane were sunk by U boats, Havant by bombs. Grenville in July 1936 ‘G’, ‘H’ and T class leaders Displacement: 1455-1456t (Inglefield 1544t) standard; 2O33-2O53t (Inglefield 208it, later 2270t) deep load Dimensions: 326ft (Grenville 319ft) pp, 337ft (Grenville 330ft) oa x 34ft (Grenville 34ft 6in) x 12ft 9in (Inglefield later 13ft 6in) mean deep load 99.36 (97.23), 102.72 (100.58) x 10.36 (10.52) x 3.89 (4.1Ifin Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum (Gren- ville 3 Yarrow) boilers, 38,000shp = 36.5kts. Oil 470t Armament: 5-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (5x1), 8-2lin TT (2x4), (Inglefield 10-21in TT (2x5)) Complement: 178 Name Builder Launched Fate GRENVILLE Yarrow 15.8.1935 Sunk 19.1.40 HARDY Cammell Laird 7.4.1936 Sunk 10 4.40 INGLEFIELD Cammcll Laird 15.10 1936 Sunk 25.2.44 Enlarged versions of the ‘G’, *H’ and T flotilla destroyers with an extra 4.7in gun. The TT in Inglefield were later converted to quadruples, and 50 tons permanent ballast added. Her final armament appears to have been 4—4.7tn, l-3in HA, 4-20mm, 8-2 lin TT and 38 DC. She was sunk by an HS 293 glider bomb; Grenville was mined and Hardy lost in action with German destroyers. AFRIDI Vickers- 8.6.1937 Sunk 3.5.40 ASHANTI Armstrong, Tyne Denny 5.11.1937 BU 1949 BEDOUIN Denny 21 12 1937 Sunk 15 6.42 COSSACK Vickers- 8.6.1937 Sunk 27 10.41 ESKIMO Armstrong, Tyne Vickers- 3 9.1937 BU 1949 GURKHA Armstrong, Tyne Fairfield 7.7.1937 Sunk 9.4.40 MAORI Fairfield 2.9.1937 Sunk 12.2.42 MASHONA Vickers- 3.9.1937 Sunk 28 5.41 MATABELE Armstrong, Tyne Scotts 6.10.1937 Sunk 17.1.42 MOHAWK Thomycroft 5.10.1937 Sunk 16 4 41 NUBIAN Thomycroft 21.12 1937 BU 1949 PUNJABI Scotts 18.12.1937 Collision 1.5.42 SIKH Stephen 17.12 1937 Sunk 14 9.42 SOMALI Swan Hunter 24 8.1937 Sunk 24.9.42 TARTAR Swan Hunter 21.10.1937 BU 1948 ZULU Stephen 23.9 1937 Sunk 14 9.42 ARUNTA (RAN) Cockatoo 30.11.1940 Foundered 13.2.69 BATAAN (RAN) Cockatoo 15.1.1944 BU 1958 WARRAMUNGA (RAN)Cockatoo 6.2.1942 BU 1963 ATHABASKAN (RCN) Vickers- 18.11 1941 Sunk 29.4 44 HAIDA (RCN) Armstrong, Tyne Vickers- 25.8.1942 Preserved HURON (RCN) Armstrong, Tyne Vickers- 25.6.1942 1964 BU 1965 IROQUOIS (RCN) Armstrong, Tyne Vickers- 23.9.1941 BU 1966 ATHABASKAN (RCN) Armstrong, Tyne Halifax 14.5 1946 BU 1969 CAYUGA(RCN) Halifax 28.7.1945 BU 1964 MICMAC (RCN) Halifax 18.9.1943 BU 1964 NOOTKA (RCN) Halifax 26.4.1944 BU 1964 Mi? , Tartar,11.1941 MoD This class were quite distinct from previous British designs, and were intended to engage heavily armed destroyers such as the Fubuki class A strongly raked stem was introduced, adding 10ft to the forecastle deck. The 4.7in (of which the RAN and first 4 RCN ships had only 6) were in 40° twin mountings with open backed shields, and it was found necessary to replace‘X’ by two4in Mk XVI HA in the British units, except for Afndi, Gurkha and Mohawk (already sunk) The last 4 Canadian units were fitted with 8-4in QF Mk XVI (4x2) and 4 to 6-40mm from the beginning. During the war DCs were increased from 30 to 46 and finally the survivor*»had 2-40mm and/or 8 to 12-20mm added. Torpedoes were Mk IX Some extra stiffening had to be worked in, and tactical diameter was too great, averaging 815yds at 33kts. The British ships were laid down in 1936-37 and completed in 1938-39, while the Australian and Canadian vessels were begun in 1939-44 and completed in 1942-48 The Canadian ‘Tribals’ displaced 1927 tons standard nominal (2745 tons deep load). Of those lost, Mohawk and Athabaskan were torpedoed by destroyers, Cossack, Matabele, Somali by U-boats and Bedouin by an aircraft after gunfire damage. Sikh was sunk by shore batteries and the remaining five by bombs.
Destroyers ‘J’, ‘К’ and ‘N’ classes_____________________________________________ Displacement: 1690t standard designed; 1760-1773t actual; 233O-2384t (later 254O-2555t) deep load Dimensions: 339ft 6in pp, 356ft 6in oa x 35ft 8in x 13ft 8in- 13ft lOin(later 14ft 3in) mean deep load 103.48, 108.66 x 10.87 x 4.16, 4.22, (4.34)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 464t Armament: 6-4.7in/45 QF Mk XII (3x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 10—21in TT (2x5) Complement: 183-218 Name Builder Launched Fate JACKAL John Brown 25.10.1938 Sunk 12.5.42 JAGUAR Denny 22.11.1938 Sunk 26.3.42 JANUS Swan Hunter 10.11.1938 Sunk 23.1.44 JAVELIN John Brown 21.12.1938 BU 1949 JERSEY White 26.9.1938 Sunk 2.5.41 JERVIS Hawthorn Leslie 9.9.1938 BU 1949 JUNO Fairfield 8.12.1938 Sunk 21.5.41 JUPITER Yarrow 27.10.1938 Sunk 27.2 42 KANDAHAR Denny 21.3.1939 Sunk 20.12.41 KASHMIR Thornycroft 4.4.1939 Sunk 23.5.41 KELLY Hawthorn Leslie 25.10.1938 Sunk 23.5.41 KELVIN Fairfield 19.1.1939 BU 1949 KHARTOUM Swan Hunter 6.2.1939 Internal explosion 23.6.40 KIMBERLEY Thornycroft 1.6.1939 BU 1949 KINGSTON White 9.1.1939 Constructive loss 11.4.42 KIPLING Y arrow 19.1.1939 Sunk 11.5.42 NAPIER Fairfield 22.5.1940 BU 1956 NEPAL (ex-Norscman) Thornycroft 4.12.1941 BU 1956 NESTOR Fairfield 9.7.1940 Sunk 15.6.42 NIZAM John Brown 4.7.1940 BU 1955 NOBLE Denny 17.4.1941 To Netherlands 1942 NOBLE (ex-Piorun, ex-Nerissa) John Brown 7.5.1940 BU 1955 NONPAREIL Denny 25.6.1941 To Netherlands 1942 NORMAN Thornycroft 30.10.1940 BU 1958 Jervis, Kelly and Napier were fitted as leaders, and the last named with Nestor, Nizam and Norman were manned by the Australian Navy during the war and Piorun by the Polish. This class marked the introduction of longitudinal framing as standard practice in British destroyers, though it had been tried in the Ardent launched by Denny in 1913. They were also the first to have a single funnel since the Fervent and Zephyr of 1895. The 4.7m mountings were as in the ‘Tribals’, and in all except Juno, Kan dahar and Khartoum, a 4in QF Mk V HA gun was an alternative to one set of TT. The usual DC outfit was 45. Jervis for a time had one quadruple and one quintuple 'Fl' mounting, and as in subsequent des- troyers the torpedoes were Mk IX. Up to 4 single Bofors or 10-20mm were added by the end of the war. The ‘J’ and ‘K’ classes were laid down in 1937-38 and completed in 1939, dates for the ‘Ns’ being 1939 and 1940-42. The explosion in Khartoum origi- nated from a burst torpedo air vessel, Jaguar was torpedoed by a U-boat and Janus by an aircraft,Jersey, Jupiter and Kandahar were mined and the remaining seven were lost from bombing. Noble and Nonpareil became the Dutch Van Galen and Tjerk Hiddes in 1942. Jackal, 7.5.1939 ‘L’ and *M’ classes Displacement: 192O-1935t standard; 266O-2725t (later 2810-2840t) deep load Dimensions: 345ft 6in pp, 362ft 6m oa x 36ft 9m x 14ft 3in-14ft 5in (later 14ft 10m) mean deep load 10S.31, 110.49 x 11.20 x 4.34-4.39 (4.52)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 48,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 537t Armament: 6—4.7in/50QF MkXI (3x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 8-2lin TT (2x4). See notes Complement: 190-226 Name Builder Launched Fate GURKHA (ex-Lame) Cammell Laird 8.7.1940 Sunk 17.1.42 LAFOREY Yarrow 15.2.1941 Sunk 30.3.44 LANCE Yarrow 28.11.1940 Constructive loss 9.4.42 LEGION Hawthorn Leslie 26.12.1939 Sunk 26.3.42 LIGHTNING Hawthorn Leslie 22.4.1940 Sunk 12.3.43 LIVELY Cammell Laird 28.1.1941 Sunk 11.5.42 LOOKOUT Scotts 4.11.1940 BU 1948 LOYAL Scotts 8.10.1941 BU 1948 MAHRATTA (ex-Marksman) Scotts 28.7.1942 Sunk 25.2.44 MARNE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 30.10.1940 To Turkey 1959 MARTIN Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 12.12.1940 Sunk 10.11.42 MATCHLESS Stephen 4.9.1941 To Turkey 1959 METEOR Stephen 3.11.1941 To Turkey 1959 MILNE Scotts 30.12.1941 To Turkey 1959 MUSKETEER Fairfield 2.12.1941 BU 1955 ORKAN (ex-Myrmidon) Fairfield 2.3.1942 Sunk 8.10.43 Enlarged versions of the ‘J’ class with a heavier gun armament, the 4.7in Mk XI being considerably more powerful than the Mks IX and XII. They were in weatherproof mountingsallowing 50° elevation, but delays occurred and four of the class—Gurkha,Lance,Legion and Lively had 8-4inQF MkXVI HA (4 x 2). A 4in QF Mk V HA was an alternative armament to 4 'IT in all the 4.7in ships except Loyal, and by the end of the war 6 to 10-20mm were mounted. The reversion to quadruple TT was to save topweight, and it was also thought that 8 torpedoes were sufficient. The usual DC outfit was 110 in the 4in ships and 45 in the others. The ‘L* and ‘M’ classes were laid down in 1938-40 and completed in 1940-42 except for Mahratta which had to be rebuilt on another berth when Scotts was bombed in 1941 and did not complete until 1943. Laforey andAft/ne were fitted as leaders, and Orkan was manned by the Polish Navy. Lightning was torpedoed by an E-boat, Lance, Legion and Lively were bombed, and the other five were sunk by U-boats. Marne, Matchless, Meteor and Milne were renamed Maresal Fevzi Cakmak,Kilic AH Pasa, Piyale Pasa and Alp Arslan in Turkish service. Lookout, 16.10.1945 41
GREAT BRITAIN ‘O’ and ‘P’ classes Displacement: 154O-155Ot standard, 2220-2270t (later 2365-2430t) deep load Dimensions: 328ft 9in pp, 345ft oa x 35ft x 13ft 6in plater 13ft 1 lin—14ft 2in) mean deep load 100.20, 105.15 x 10.67 x 4.11 (4 24-4.32)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 37kts Oil 472t Armament: 4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x1), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 8-2lin TT (2x4). See notes Complement: 176-212 Name Builder Launched Fate OBDURATE Denny 19 2.1942 BU 1964 OBEDIENT Denny 30.4.1942 BU 1962 OFFA Fairfield 11.3.1941 To Pakistan 1949 ONSLAUGHT (ex-Pathfinder') Fairfield 9.10 1941 To Pakistan 1951 ONSLOW (ex-Pakenham) John Brown 31.3.1941 To Pakistan 1949 OPPORTUNE Thomycroft 21.1 1942 BU 1955 ORIBI (ex-Observer) Fairfield 14.1.1941 To Turkey 1946 ORWELL Thomycroft 2.4.1942 BU 1965 PAKENHAM (ex-Onslow) Hawthorn Leslie 28.1.1941 Sunk 16 4.43 PALADIN John Brown 116 1941 BU 1962 PANTHER Fairfield 28 5 1941 Sunk 9.10.43 PARTRIDGE Fairfield 5.8.1941 Sunk 18.12.42 PATHFINDER (ex-Onslaughl) Hawthorn Leslie 10.4.1941 Constructive loss 11.2.45 PENN Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 12 2.1941 BU 1950 PETARD (ex-Persistent) Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 27.3.1941 BU 1967 PORCUPINE Vickers- Amstrong, Tyne 10 6 1941 Constructive loss 9.12.42 A smaller utility design with ‘J’ class machinery in a slightly reduced ‘J’ hull. Onslow and Pakcnham were fitted as leaders. Obedient, Obdurate,Opportune and Orwell were intended as minelayers with 3-4in guns and up to 60 mines. Four ships - Offa, Onslaught, Onslow and Oribi - were fitted with 4.7in guns, the same 40° mountings as the ‘H’ class, and all 16 ships had an alternative of a 4in Mk V HA gun un place of 4 TT. This was always mounted in the ‘O’ class and initially in most of the ‘Ps’ Petard was re-armed in early 1945 with 4-4in.QF Mk XVI HA (2x2) and by that time 4 to 8-20mm were mounted. The usual DC outfit was 70. The above classes were laid down in 1939-41 and completed in 1941-42. Pakenham was scuttled after gunfire damage from two Italian torpedo-boats, Partridge and Porcupine were torpedoed by U-boats and Panther and Pathfinder bombed Offa, Onslaught and Onslow were renamed Tanq, Tughril and Tippu Sultan on transfer to Pakistan; Onbi became the Turkish Gayret. Obdurate postwar .By courtesy of John Roberts ‘Q* and ‘R’ classes Displacement: 1705-1725t standard; 2425-2480t deep load Dimensions: 339ft 6inpp, 358ft 3inoa x 35ft 8in x 13ft 10in-14ft lin mean deep load 103.48, 109.19 x 10.87 x 4 22-4.29m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 36.75kts. Oil 588t Armament: 4-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 4—2pdr pompom (1 x4), 8-2 lin TT (2x4) Complement: 175-225 Name Builder Launched Fate QUADRANT Hawthorn Leslie 28 2 1942 BU 1963 QUAIL Hawthorn Leslie 1.6 1942 Sunk 18.6.44 QUALITY Swan Hunter 6.10.1941 BU 1958 QUEENBOROUGH Swan Hunter 16.1 1942 BU 1975 QUENTIN White 5.11 1941 Sunk 2.12.42 QUIBFRON White 31 1 1942 BU 1972 QUICKMATCH White 11.4 1942 BU 1972 QUILLIAM Hawthorn Leslie 29.11.1941 To Netherlands 1945 RACEHORSE John Brown 1 6 1942 BU 1949 RAIDLR Cammell Laird 1 4.1942 To India 1949 RAPID Cammell Laird 16.7.1942 For disposal 1979 REDOUBT John Brown 2.5.1942 To India 1949 RELFN1LESS John Brown 15.7 1942 BU 1971 ROCKET Scotts 28 10.1942 BU 1967 ROEBUCK Scotts 10.12.1942 BU 1969 ROTHERHAM John Brown 21.3.1942 To India 1949 The ‘Q’ and ‘R* classes had a ‘J’ hull modified by a transom stern, ‘J* machinery and increased fuel capacity with the same armament as the 4 7m gunned ‘Os’. A 4in QF Mk V HA was alternative armament for one set of TT, but was never mounted in service. By the end of the w'ar light AA guns were increased by 2 to 4 single Bofors and 4 to 6-20mmor by 8-20mm. The DC outfit was also increased from 45-70 to 70-130 Stability was greater than in most destroyers with a calculated GM of 3.16ft at 2412 tons. The ships were laid down in 1940-41 and completed in 1942—43 Quiberon and Quickmatch were transferred to Australia in 1942 and Quadrant, Quality and Queenborough in 1945. Qutlliam and Rotherham were fitted as leaders. Quentin was torpedoed by an aircraft and Quail, mined on 15.11 43, sank under tow for repairs Qutlliam became the Dutch Banckcrt, and Raider, Redoubt and Rotherham were renamed Rana, Ranjit and Rajput by India. ‘S’, ‘T, ‘U’, *V’ and ‘W’ classes Displacement: 1710-1730t standard nominal; 1780-1810t actual; 2505-2545t deep load Dimensions: 339ft 6in pp, 362ft 9in oa x 35ft 8in x 14ft 2in-14ft 4in mean deep load 103 48, 110.56 x Ю87 x 4.32-4 37m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 36.75kts. Oil 588t Armament: 4—4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (4x 1), 2-40mm Bofors (1x2), 8-21in TT (2x4) Complement: 180-225 Name Builder Launched Fate SAUMAREZ Hawthorn Leslie 20 11.1942 BU 1950 SAVAGE > Hawthorn Leslie 24 9.1942 BU 1962 SCORPION Cammell Laird 26 8.1942 To Netherlands (ex-Sentinel) SCOURGE Cammell Laird 8.12.1942 1945 To Netherlands SERAPIS Scotts 25.3 1943 1946 To Netherlands SHARK Scotts 1.6.1943 1945 Sunk 6.6.44 SUCCESS White 3.4.1943 To Norway 1943 SWIFT White 15 6 1943 Sunk 24 6.44 TROUBRIDGE John Brown 23 9.1942 BU 1970 42
Destroyei s Name Builder Launched Fate TEAZER Cammell Laird 7.1.1943 BU 1965 TENACIOUS Cammell Laird 24 3 1943 BU 1965 TERMAGANT Denny 22.3.1943 BU 1965 TERPSICHORE Denny 17.6.1943 BU 1966 TUMULT John Brown 9.11.1942 BU 1965 TUSCAN Swan Hunter 28.5.1942 BU 1966 TYRIAN Swan Hunter 27 7.1942 BU 1965 GRENVILLE Swan Hunter 12.10 1942 For disposal 1979 ULSTER Swan Hunter 9.11.1942 Accommodation ship 1979 ULYSSES Cammell Laird 22.4 1943 BU 1970 UNDAUNTED Cammell Laird 19 7.1943 Sunk as target 1978 UNDINE Thomycroft 1.6.1943 BU 1965 URANIA Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.5.1943 BU 1971 URCHIN Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 8 3 1943 BU 1967 URSA Thomycroft 22 7 1943 BU 1967 HARDY John Brown 18 3 1943 Sunk 30 1 44 VALENTINE (ex-Kempenfelt) John Brown 2 9 1943 BU 1971 VENUS Fairfield 23.2.1943 BU 1972 VERULAM Fairfield 22 4.1943 BU 1972 VIGILANT Swan Hunter 22 12 1942 BU 1965 VIRAGO Swan Hunter 4 2 1943 BU 1965 VIXEN White 14.9.1943 BU 1965 VOLAGE White 15 12 1943 BU 1976 KEMPENFELT (ex-Vdlentine) John Brown 8 5 1943 To Yugoslavia 1956 WAGER John Brown 1.11.1943 To Yugoslavia 1956 WAKEFUL (ex-Zeftra) Fairfield 30 6 1943 BU 1971 5X ESSEX (ex Zcm Л) Fairfield 2.9 1943 To South Africa 1950 VC HELP Hawthorn Leslie 3.6.1943 To South Africa 1953 WHIRLWIND Hawthorn Leslie 30 8 1943 Sunk as target 1974 WIZARD Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29 9.1943 BU 1967 WRANGLER Vickers Armstrong, Barrow 30.12.1943 To South Africa 1956 Generally similar to the ‘Q’ and ‘R’ classes but with ‘Tribal’ class bows to make them less wet forward. The 4.7in were in improved mountings with 55° eleva- tion and better ammunition supply, and most of the ships had a triaxial twin Bofors replacing the quadruple pompom. Savage had an experimental 4 5m/45 Mk III/IV armament with the two forward guns in an enclosed 80° twin mounting, and the two after m single 55° ones. Scorpion, Volage, Wessex and U hjp had 4—2pdr pompoms (1x4) instead of Bofors, whilst Savage and Swift had only 20mm. The light AA armament at the end of the war was usually increased by 1 to 5 single Bofors and up to 12-20mm, and the DC outfit was 70 or 130. The above classes were laid down in 1941—42 and completed in 1943-44. Sauniares, 7roubridge, Grenville, Hardy and Kempenfelt were fitted as leaders. Svenner (exShark, transferred to Norway 1944) was torpedoed by a fleet ТВ, Hardy bv a U boat and Swift was mined. Valentine (cx-Kempenfeh) and Vixen became the Canadian Algonquin and Sioux. Ihe three Dutch transfers were named Kortenacr, Evertsen and Piel Hein respectively, Success became the Norwegian Stord and rhe two Yugoslavian units were renamed Kotor and Pula and the South African shipsjan van Ricbeeck,Sunon van derStel and Vrystaat. ‘Z’ and ‘Ca’ classes Displacement. 1710-1730t standard nominal, 251O-2575t deep load Dimensions* 339ft 6in pp, 362ft 9m oa x 35ft 8m x 14ft 3m-14ft 6in mean deep load 103.48, 110 56 x 10 87 x 4 34-4 42m Machinery. 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 36 75kts. Oil 588t Armament: 4-4 5in/45 QF Mk IV (4x1), 2^40mm Bofors (1x2), (Cap- rice 4—2pdr pompom (1x4)), 8-21m TT (2x4) Complement: 186-222 Name Builder Launched Fate MYNGS Vickers- 31 5.1943 To Egypt 1955 ZAMBESI Armstrong, Tyne Cammell Laird 21.11.1943 BU 1959 ZEALOUS Cammell Laird 28.2 1944 To Israel 1955 ZEBRA (ex-Wakeful) Denny 8.3.1944 BU 1959 ZENITH (cx-VIZersex) Denny 5.6.1944 To Egypt 1955 ZEPHYR Vickers- 15.7.1943 BU 1958 ZEST Armstrong, Tyne Thomycroft 14.10.1943 BU 1970 ZODIAC Thomycroft 11.3.1944 To Israel 1955 CAVENDISH John Brown 12 4.1944 BU 1967 (cxStbyl) CAESAR (ex-Ranger) John Brown 14.2 1944 BU 1967 CAMBRIAN Scotts 10 12.1943 BU 1971 (ex-Spit/ire) CAPRICE (ex-Swallow) Yarrow 16 9 1943 For disposal CARRON (ex-Strenuous) Scotts 28.3 1944 1979 BU 1967 CARYSFORT White 25 7 1944 BU 1970 (ex-Pique) CASSANDRA Yarrow 29.11.1943 BU 1967 (ex-Tourmaltne') CAVALIER (cx-Pellew) White 7.4 1944 Preserved Generally similar to the *S* to *W’ classes but with improved fire control and 4 Sin guns. The latter had a lower muzzle velocity than the 4 7m Mk IX but the shell was heavier and of much reduced air resistance Elevation was 55°, and in addition to the twin triaxial Bofors most ships had 4 single 2pdr pompoms, the exceptions being Myngs with a single Bofors, 2-2pdr, 2-20mm, Zebra 2-2pdr, 2-20mm, and Zambesi, Zest, Zodiac and Cassandra 6 to8-20mm The DC outfit was 70 or 130 in the ‘Zs’ and 80 or 130 in the ‘Cas’. The ships were laid down in 1942-43 and completed in 1944—45. Myngs and Cavendish were fitted as leaders The two Egyptian transfers were renamed El Qaher and El Fareh respectively; rhe Israeli vessels became Elath and Yaffa. ‘Ch*, ‘Co* and ‘Cr’ classes Displacement: 1710-1730t standard nominal, 251O-2535t deep load Dimensions: 339ft 6m pp, 362ft 9in oa x 35ft 8in x 14ft 3in-14ft 5in mean deep load 103 48, 110 56 x 10 87 x 4 34-4.39m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000shp = 36.75kts. Oil 588t Armament: 4—4 5m/45 QF Mk IV (4x 1), 2-40mm Bofors (1 x2), 4-21m TT(lx4) Complement: 186-222 Name Builder Launched Fate CHAPLET Thomycroft 18 7 1944 BU 1965 CHARITY Thomycroft 30.11.1944 To Pakistan 1958 CHEQUERS Scotts 30 10 1944 BU 1966 (ex-Champion) CHEVIOT Stephen 2.5.1944 BU 1962 CHEVRON Stephen 23 2.1944 BU 1969 CHIEFTAIN Scotts 26.2.1945 BU 1961 CHILDERS Denny 27.2.1945 BU 1963 CHIVALROUS Denny 22 6.1945 To Pakistan 1954 COCKADE Yarrow 7.3.1944 BU 1964 COMET Yarrow 22 6.1944 BU 1962 COMUS Thomycroft 14.3.1945 BU 1958 CONCORD Thronycroft 14.5.1945 BU 1962 (ex-Corso) CONSORT Stephen 19 10.1944 BU 1961 CONSTANCE Vickers- 22 8.1944 BU 1956 CONTEST Armstrong, Tyne White 16 12 1944 BU 1960 COSSACK Vickers- 10.5.1944 BU 1961 CREOLE Armstrong, Tyne White 22 11.1945 To Pakistan 1958 CRESCENT (RCN) John Brown 20 7.1944 BU 1971 CRISPIN White 23.6.1945 To Pakistan 1958 (ex-Craccher) CROMWELL Scotts 6.8 1945 To Norway 1946 (ex-Cretan) CROWN Scotts 19.12.1945 To Norway 1946 CROZIERS Yarrow 19 9.1944 To Norway 1946 CRUSADER (RCN) John Brown 5 10 1944 BU 1965 CRYSTAL Yarrow 12 2 1945 To Norway 1946 Similar to the ‘Ca’ class but with only 4 TT to compensate for the weight of RPC gear for the 4 5in The twin Bofors were in a triaxial mounting, except in 43
GREAT BRITAIN Chivalrous, Camus, Concord, Creole, Crispin, Cromwell and Crown which had a simpler biaxial mounting In all the class additional light ЛА comprised 2 single 2pdr pompoms or Bofors with 2-20mm or else 6-20mm only The DC outfit was 48, 70 or 108 The above classes were laid down in 1943-44 and completed ui 1945-46. Contest was the first British destroyer with an all-welded hull. The four units taken over by Pakistan were renamed Shah Jt han, Tatmur, Alamgir and Jahangir respectively, whilst the Norwegian vessels were renamed Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim and Stavanger. Cunson in 1949 BATTLE class (1st group) Displacement: 2315—2325t standard; 3290-3300t deep load Dimensions: 355ft pp, 379ft oa x 40ft 3in x 15ft 2in mean deep load 108 20, 115 52 x 12 27 x 4 62m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 50,OOOshp = 35.75kts Oil 727t, diesel fuel 40t Armament: 4—4 5in/45 QF Mark III (2x2), 8-40mm Bofors (4x2), 8-2lin TT (2x4) See notes Complement: 247-308 Name Builder Launched Fate ARMADA Hawthorn Leslie 9 12 1943 BU 1965 BARFLEUR Swan Hunter 1.11.1943 BU 1966 CADIZ Fairfield 16 9 1944 To Pakistan 1957 CAMPERDOWN Fairfield 8.2.1944 BU 1970 FINISTERRE Fairfield 22 6 1944 BU 1967 GABBARD Swan Hunter 16 3 1945 To Pakistan 1957 GRAVELINES Cammell Laird 30 11 1944 BU 1961 HOGUE Cammell Laird 21 4 1944 BU 1962 LAGOS Cammell Laird 4 8.1944 BU 1967 ST JAMES Fairfield 7.6 1945 BU 1961 ST KITTS Swan Hunter 4.10 1944 BU 1962 SAINTES Hawthorn Leslie 19.7.1944 BU 1972 SLUYS Cammell Laird 28 2 1945 To Iran 1967 SOLEBAY Hawthorn Leslie 22 2 1944 BU 1967 TRAFALGAR Swan Hunter 12 1 1944 BU 1970 VIGO Fairfield 27.9 1945 BU 1964 This class, laid down in late 1942 to early 1944 and completed in September 1944 to December 1946, were larger than previous destroyers and of longer range, being intended for operations in the Pacific. Armada, Barfleur, St James, Saintes, Solebay and Trafalgar were fitted as leaders. The bows were similar to those of the ‘Tribal* class, and Denny stabilisers were fined in Camperdown and Finisterre. The 4 5in twin mountings allowed 80° elevation and were both forward, while a 4in was fitted to Armada, Barfleur, Camperdown, Hogue and Trafalgar for use as a starshell gun In the later ships of the class 4 Bofors in twin STAAG units were mounted instead of 8 in twin triaxial mountings In most the light AA armament was supplemented by 6 single Bofors but in the first six to be completed the additional guns varied from 4 single Bofors and 2 single pompoms in Finisterre to 2 pompomsand 2-20mm m Armada. The original DC outfit was 60. In 1947 2—4 5m of the faster firing Mk V pattern, in an improved mounting, were tried in Saintes The two vessels transferred to Pakistan were renamed Khatbar and Badr respectively, and Sluys became the Iranian Artemiz. St James, 4 11.1946 BATTLE class (2nd group) Displacement: 2380-2400t standard; 3400-3420t deep load Dimensions: 355ft pp, 379ft oa X 40ft 6in x 15ft 4in mean deep Io id 108.20, 115.52 x 12.34 x 4 67m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 50,OOOshp = 35.75kts. Oil 727t, diesel fuel 40t Armament: 4-4 5in/45 QF Mk III (2 x2), 1-4 5in/45 QF Mk IV, 8-40mm Bofors (3x2, 2x1), 10-21in TT(2x5) Complement: 281-306 Name Builder Launched Fate AGINCOURT Hawthorn Leslie 29.1.1945 BU 1974 AISNE Vickers- 12.5.1945 BU 1970 ALAMEIN Armstrong, Tyne Hawthorn Leslie 28.5.1945 BU 1964 BARROSA John Brown 17 1 1945 BU 1978 CORUNNA Swan Hunter 29.5.1945 BU 1975 DUNKIRK Stephen 27 8 1945 BU 1965 JUTLAND Stephen 20.2.1946 BU 1965 (ex Malplaquef) MATAPAN John Brown 30.4.1945 BU 1978 Similar to the previous class bur with 3in more beam, 10 TT and an additional 4 5gun as a main armament of only 4—4 5in in ships of this size had been criticized. The single 4.5in was in a 55° mounting, and the 3 twin Bofors comprised 2 STAAG units and a biaxial mounting A US Mk 37 director was fitted in this class, and as completed the DC were replaced by a Squid mounted aft Although laid down m 1943-44, they w’ere not completed until 1946-48 Agincourt, Alamein, Corunna and Jutland were fitted as leaders. Eight units were cancelled. Albuera (Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne), Belleisle and Omdurman (Fair- field), Mons (Hawthorn Leslie), Namur, Navanno and San Domingo (Cammell Laird) and Oudenarde (Swan Hunter); of these all but Omdurman, Mons and S’an Domingo had been launched. A further eight of a modified type were also cancelled. These would have had 41ft beam and 4—4 5in/45 Mk V guns, and were the original Jutland and Pointers (Hawthorn Leslie), River Plate (Swan Hunter), Sr Lucia (Stephen), Somme (Cammell Laird), Talavera and Tnn- comalee (John Brown) and Waterloo (Fairfield). Jutland, Poictiers, Talavera and Tnncomalee had been launched. Two of this modified type, Anzac and Tobruk, were built in Australia but not laid down until the second half of 1946 and completed in 1950-51. Standard displacement was 2440 tons, deep load 3450 tons, and they differed in a light AA armament of 12 Bofors in 3 STAAG and 6 single mountings. WEAPON class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1965-1980t standard nominal, 2825t deep load 341ft 6in pp, 365ft oa x 38ft x 14ft 8m mean deep load 104.09, 111 25 x 11.58 x 4 47m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 40,OOOshp = 34kts. Oil 620t 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 6-40mm Bofors (2x2, 2x|), 10-2lin TT (2x5) 255-286 Name Builder Launched Fate BATTLEAXE Yarrow 12 6.1945 BU 1964 BROADSWORD Yarrow 5 2.1946 BU 1968 CROSSBOW Thornycroft 20 12.1945 BU 1972 SCORPION White 15.8.1946 BU 1971 (ex-Tomahawk, ex-Cenlaur) Originally intended as fleet anti submarine escorts, these destroyers were of novel appearance, and had two boiler and two engine rooms alternately arranged The twin Bofors were m STAAG mountings, and it was originally intended that 50 to 150 DCs would be earned, but as completed these and ‘B’ 4in mounting in Battleaxe and Broadsword, or ‘Y* in Crossbow and Scorpion, were replaced by 2 Squids. The class were laid down in 1944 and completed in 1947—48. Cancelled ships were Carronade, Claymore, Dirk, Grenade, Halbtrd and Poniard (Scotts), Culvenn, Howitzer and Longbow (Thornycroft), Cutlass and Dagger (Yarrow), Musket and Sword (ex-Celt) (White) and Rifle and Spear (Denny). Of these, Carronade, Culvenn and Cutlass had been launched. 44
Destroyers/Escort destroyers ESCORT DESTROYERS Scenpion in Oct 1947 HUNT class (Type 1) ‘G’ class Displacement: 1995t standard; 2740l designed deep load Dimensions: 341ft 6in pp, 365ft oa x 39ft 6in x 14ft 2in mean deep load 104.09, 111.25 x 12.04 x 4.32m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 40,000shp = 33.75kts. Oil 586t Armament: 4-4.5m/45 QF Mk V (2x2), 6-40mm Bofors (2x2, 2x1), 10-21inTT (2x5) Complement: ? This class would have been similar to rhe ‘Weapons* but with 18in more beam and a heavier main armament. All were cancelled and names would have been: Gael and Gallant (Yarrow), Gauntlet and Glowworm (cx-Gtft) (Thomycroft), Gift (ex-Glowworm, ex-Guinivere) and Guernsey (Denny) and Grafton and Greyhound (White). DARING class Displacement: 26lOt (designed), 2830t (actual) standard; 3360t (designed), 3580t (actual) deep load Dimensions: 366ft pp, 390ft oa x 43ft x 13ft 7in mean deep load 111.55, 118.87 x 13.11 x 4.14m Machinery: 2-shaft double-reduction geared turbines, 2 Forster Wheeler (Daring, Decoy, Delight, Diana Babcock & Wilcox) boilers, 54,000shp = 34.75kts Oil 590t Armament: 6-4.5in/45 QI* Mk V (3x2), 6-40mm Bofors (3x2), 10-21in TT (2x5) Complement: 278-330 Name Builder Launched Fate to 2 DAINTY White 16.8.1950 BU 1972 DARING Swan Hunter 10.8.1949 BU 1971 Itf Q DECOY (ex-Dragon) Yarrow 29.3.1949 To Peru 1970 DEFENDER (ex-Dogstar) Stephen 27.7.1950 BU 1972 DELIGHT (ex-Disdain, cx-Ypres) Fairfield 21 12 1950 BU 1971 DIAMOND John Brown 14.6.1950 Tender 1979 DIANA (ex-Druid) duchess Yarrow Thomycroft 8.5.1952 9.4.1951 To Peru 1970 For disposal 1979 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: lOOOt standard; 1420-1450t deep load 264ft 2Jin pp, 280ft oa x 29ft x 12ft 6in mean deep load 80.53, 85.34 x 8.84 x 3.81m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 19,000shp = 28kts. Oil 240t 4-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4) 147 Name Builder Launched Fate ATHERSTONE Cammell Laird 12.12.1939 BU 1957 BERKELEY Cammell Laird 29.1.1940 Sunk 19.8.42 BLENCATHRA Cammell Laird 6.8.1940 BU 1957 BROCKLESBY Cammell Laird 30.9.1940 BU 1968 CATTISTOCK Yarrow 22.2.1940 BU 1957 CLEVELAND Yarrow 24.4.1940 Wrecked 28.6.57 COTSWOLD Yarrow 18.7.1940 BU 1957 COTTESMORE Yarrow 5.9.1940 To Egypt 1950 EGLINTON Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 28.12.1939 BU 1956 EXMOOR Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 25.1.1940 Sunk 25.2.41 FERNIE John Brown 9.1.1940 BU 1956 GARTH John Brown 14.2.1940 BU 1958 HAMBLEDON Swan Hunter 12.12.1939 BU 1957 HOLDERNESS Swan Hunter 8.2.1940 BU 1956 LIDDESDALE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 19.8.1940 BU 1948 MENDIP Swan Hunter 9.4.1940 To China 1948 MEYNELL Swan Hunter 7.6.1940 To Ecuador 1954 PYTCHLEY Scotts 13.2.1940 BU 1956 QUANTOCK Scotts 22.4.1940 To Ecuador 1954 QUORN White 27.3.1940 Sunk 3.8.44 SOUTHDOWN White 5.7.1940 BU 1956 TYNEDALE Stephen 5.6.1940 Sunk 12.12.43 WHADDON Stephen 16.7.1940 BU 1959 Originally designed for 6-4in guns (and this number were issued for Atherstone, Fernie and Hambledon), but it was found that the first ship was dangerously unstable and that a serious error had been made in the calculations. They were accordingly ballasted and 2-4in removed. Denny fin stabilisers were a feature of this class, but these, though reducing the roll, gave a quick jerky motion. All except Exmoor and possibly Tynedale had 2pdr pompom added against E-boats, usually as a bow chaser. In 1945 Meynell had the quadruple pompom repheed by a twin biaxial Bofors, and the armament of the class included 2-20mm. The DC outfit was 50. All were laid down in 1939 and completed in 1940-41. Of the losses, Berkeley was bombed, and Exmoor torpedoed by an E-boat, Tynedale by a U-boat and Quom by a Marder. When sold, Cottesmore was renamed Ibrahim el Awal, Mendip became Lin Fu, and Meynell and Quantock became Preadente Velasco Ibarra and Presidente Alfaro respectively. Femie as finally completed with 4-4in guns Vt’hen the drawings were sealed in February 1945 this class incorporated the latest ideas in fleet destroyers, but their construction was greatly delayed, as the> were laid down in 1945-49 and completed in 1952-54. The beam/depth ratio was larger than in previous destroyers, and metacentric height was about 3 2tt at light and 3.5ft at deep load. Tactical diameter was 5OO-56Oyds at full sPeed The turbines were designed by Pametrada in five of the class, but in Diamond only the LP were of this type, the HP being Brown BTH, and Decoy and Diana had Yarrow EEC HP and LP. Steam conditions were 650psi and 85O°F. The 4.Sin were in 80° mountings, rhe Bofors in two STAAG, and one biaxial and a Squid was mounted in place of 70 DC. Eight of the class were cancelled. Danae (cx-Vimiera) (Cammell Laird), original Decuy and original Delight (Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne), Demon (Swan Hunter), Dervish (White), Desire and original Diana (Hawthorn Leslie) and Desperate (John Brown). Three ships of a slightly modified type, Vampire, Vendetta and Voyager, were built in Australia but not laid down until 1949-52 and completed in 1957-59. A fourth, U aterhen, was cancelled. Decoy and Diana were renamed Ferre and Palacios in eruvian service. Duchess was transferred to the RAN in 1964. 45
GREAT BRITAIN Bicester 1942 HUNT class > (Type 2) Displacement: 1050t standard; 1580—1625t deep load Dimensions: 264ft 21in pp, 280ft oa x 31ft 6m x 12ft 5in mean deep load 80 53, 85.34 x 9 60 x 3 78m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 19,000shp = 27kts Oil 265t (Avon Vale, Bramham, Cowdray 328t) Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 4—2pdr pompom (1x4) Complement: 168 Name Builder Launched Fate AVON VALE John Brown 23.10.1940 BU 1958 BADSWORTH Cammell Laird 17.3.1941 To Norway 1946 BEAUFORT Cammell Laird 9 6.1941 To Norway 1952 BEDALE Hawthorn Leslie 23.7.1941 To India 1953 BICESTER Hawthorn Leslie 5.9.1941 BU 1956 BLACKMORE Stephen 2 12.1941 To Denmark 1952 BLANKNEY John Brown 19.12.1940 BU 1959 BRAMHAM Stephen 29 1.1942 To Greece 1943 CALPE Swan Hunter 28.4.1941 To Denmark 1952 CHIDDINGFOLD Scotts 10.3.1941 To India 1953 COWDRAY Scotts 22 7.1941 BU 1959 CROOME Stephen 30.1.1941 BU 1957 DULVERTON Stephen 1.4.1941 Sunk 13.11 43 ERIDGE Swan Hunter 20 8.1940 Constructive loss 29.8.42 EXMOOR (ex Burton) Swan Hunter 12.3.1941 To Denmark 1953 FARNDALE Swan Hunter 30.9.1940 BU 1962 GROVE Swan Hunter 29.5.1941 Sunk 12.6.42 HEYTHROP Swan Hunter 30 10 1940 Sunk 20.3.42 HURSLEY Swan Hunter 25.7.1941 To Greece 1943 HURWORTH Vickers- 10.4.1941 Sunk 22.10.43 Armsirong, Tyne LAMERTON Swan Hunter 14 12 1940 To India 1953 LAUDERDALE Thomycroft 5 8.1941 To Greece 1946 LEDBURY Thomycroft 27.9.1941 BU 1958 MIDDLETON Vickers- 12.5.1941 BU 1957 Armstrong, Tyne OAKLEY Vickers- 30 10.1940 Sunk 16.6.42 Armstrong, Tyne OAKLEY (ex Tickham) Yarrow 15 1 1942 To Germany 1958 PUCKERIDGE White 6.3.1941 Sunk 6.9.43 SILVERTON White 4 12.1940 BU 1959 SOU THWOLD White 29.5.1941 Sunk 24.3.42 TETCOTT White 12.8.1941 BU 1956 WHEATLAND Yarrow 7 6 1941 BU 1959 WILTON Yarrow 17.10.1941 BU 1959 ZETLAND Yarrow 7 3.1942 To Norway 1954 Originally io have been Type 1, but given 2ft 6in more beam before launching or for the later units laying down Avon Vale, Bramham and Cowdray had extra oil fuel in place of stabilisers. A 2pdr pompom as bow chaser was mounted in Avon Vale, Bedale, Cowdray, Lamerton and Lauderdale. Two single Bofors are recorded in Beaufort and Exmoor and up to 4-20mm were carried. The DC outfit was 30 or 60. Laying down was in 1939-41 and completion in 1941-42. Bedale, Oakley (i) and Silverton transferred to the Polish flag and were renamed Slazak, Kujawtak and Krakmviak respectively Dulverton was sunk by an HS 293 glider bomb, Eridge was torpedoed by an Italian assault craft, Grove, Heythrop and Puckendge were torpedoed by U-boats and the other three losses were mined. The three Norwegian transfers were renamed (in the order given in the table) Arendal, Haugesund and Tromso; the Indian vessels became Godavan, Ganga and Goman, those transferred to Denmark became Esbern Snare, RolfKrake and Valdemar Sejr\ the Greek units were renamed Themistocles, Kriti and Aigaion; and Oakley (ii) became rhe West German Gneisenau. HUNT class (Type 3) Displacement: lOSOt standard; 1545- 1590t deep load Dimensions: 264ft 2Jin pp, 280ft oa x 31ft 6m x 12ft 3in mean deep load 80 53, 85.34 x 9 60 x 3 73m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 19,000shp = 27kts. Oil 265-328t Armament: 4—4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 2-21inTT(lx2) Complement: 168 Name Builder Launched Fate AIREDALE John Brown 12 8 1941 Sunk 15 6 42 ALBRIGHTON John Brown 11.10.1941 To Germany 1958 ALDENHAM Cammell Laird 27.8.1941 Sunk 14.12.44 BELVOIR Cammell Laird 18.11.1941 BU 1957 BLEAN Hawthorn Leslie 15.1.1942 Sunk 11.12.42 BLEASDALE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 23 7.1941 BU 1956 BOLEBROKE Swan Hunter 5.11 1941 To Greece 1942 BORDER Swan Hunter 3.2.1942 To Greece 1942 CATTERICK Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 22.11.1941 To Greece 1946 DERWENT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 22.8.1941 BU 1947 EASTON White 11 7 1942 BU 1953 EGGESFORD White 12.9.1942 To Germany 1958 ESKDALE Cammell Laird 16.3.1942 To Norway 1942 GLAISDALE Cammell Laird 5.1 1942 To Norway 1946 GOATHLAND Fairfield 3.2.1942 Constructive loss 24.7 44 HALDON Fairfield 27 4 1942 To France 1942 HATHERLEIGH Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 18 12.1941 To Greece 1942 HAYDON Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 2.4.1942 BU 1958 HOLCOMBE Stephen 14.4 1942 Sunk 12.12.43 LIMBOURNE Stephen 12 5 1942 Sunk 23 10 43 MELBREAK Swan Hunter 5.3.1942 BU 1956 MODBURY Swan Hunter 13 4 1942 To Greece 1942 PENYLAN Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 17 3 1942 Sunk 3.12 42 ROCKWOOD Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 13.6.1942 Damaged 11.11 43 STEVENSTONE White 23.11.1942 BU 1959 TALYBONT White 3.2 1943 BU 1961 TANATSIDE Yarrow 30 4.1942 To Greece 1946 WENSLEYDALE Yarrow 20.6.1942 Collision Nov 1944 • Similar to the Type 2 ‘Hunts’ but with 2 torpedo-tubes replacing 2—4in guns. Most of the later ships had extra oil fuel instead of stabilisers A 2pdr pompom as bow chaser was mounted in Albrighton, В leas dale, Eskdale, Glaisdale, Steven- stone and La Combattante Belvoir, Easton and Melbreak had 2 single Bofors added and up to6-20mm were carried Torpedoes were Mk IX, and 30or 70 DC were carried. The ships were laid down in 1940-41 and completed in 1942-43. Rockwood was damaged by an Hs 293, Airedale was sunk by bombing,Blean and Holcombe were torpedoed by U boats, Eskdale and Penylan by E-boats and Limboume by German destroyers, and the rest were lost from mines. ltzen- sleydale and Rockwood were not repaired after their mishaps. Units transferred to Greece were renamed Pindos, Adrias (constructive total loss 22 10.43), Hast- ings, Kanaris, Miaoulis and Adnas respectively; Norway’s pair became Eskdale (sunk 14 4 43) and Narvik, West Germany renamed her ships Raule and Bromrny, and Haldon became La Combattante (sunk 23.2.45). Talybont as completed 46
Escort destroyers/Submarines Brissenden as completed HUNT class (Type 4) Displacement: 1175t standard; 1700t (Brissenden 1750t) deep load Dimensions: 276ft pp, 296ft oa x 33ft 4in, 34ft lOin over rubbers, x lift 6in-llft 9in mean deep load 84.12, 90 22 x 10.16, 10 62 x 3.51, 3.58m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 19,000shp = 26kts. Oil 271t (Bnssenden 342t) Armament: 6—4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 4—2pdr pompom (1x4), 3-2hn TT (Ix3) Complement: 170 Name Builder Launched Fate BRECON Thomycroft 27 6 1942 BU 1962 BRISSENDEN Thomycroft 15.9.1942 BU 1965 These two ships, laid down in 1941 and completed in 1942-43, were a Thorny- croft design with a long forecastle deck giving them a markedly different appearance from other ‘Hunts*. Brissenden had extra oil fuel instead of stabilisers and mounted a 2pdr pompom as a bow’ chaser and 8-20mm, while Brecon in 1945 had 2 single 40mm Bofors and 2-20mm. The torpedoes were Mk IX and both ships carried 30 DC. Ex-US destroyers 50 US destroyers, launched 1917-20, were delivered to Britain from September 1940 in exchange for 99-year leases of sites for bases in the West Indies and British Guiana. Typical armament of surviving ships in 1945 was l-4in/50 QF USN Mk 9, l-I2pdr/12cwt HA, 3 or 4-20mm, 3-21in TT with Mk II tor- pedoes, and 60 or 80 DC. The ships concerned were Annapolis (RCN) (ex- Mackenzie), Bath (ex-Hopewell), Belmont (cx-Satlerlee), Beverley (ex-Branch), Bradford (cx-McLanahan), Brighton (ex-Cowell), Broadwater (ex-Mason), Broadway (ex-Hunt), Bumham (ex-Auhck), Burwell (ex-Laub), Buxton (ex- Edwards), Cameron (ex-Welles), Campbeltown (cx-Buchanan), Caldwell (ex- Hale), Castleton (ex-Aaron Ward), Charlestown (ex-Abbot), Chelsea (ex- Crowninshield), Chesterfield (ex-Welbom C Wood), Churchill (ex-Hemdon), Clare (ex-Abel P Upshur), Columbia (RCN) (ex-Haraden), Georgetown (ex-Maddox), Hamilton (RCN) (ex-Kalk, ex-Rogers), Lancaster (ex-Philip), Leamington (ex Twiggs), Leeds (ex-Conner), Lewes (ex-Conway, ex-Craven), Lincoln (ex- Yamall), Ludlow (ex-S lock ton), Mansfield (ex-Evans), Montgomery (ex-Wickes), Newark (ex-Ringgold), Newmarket (ex-Robinson), Newport (ex-Sigoumey), Niagara (RCN) (cx-Thatcher), Ramsey (ex-Meade), Reading (ex-Bailey), Rich- mond (ex-Fairfax), Ripley (ex-Shubrick), Rockingham (ex-Swasey), Roxburgh (ex-Foote), St Albans (ex-Thomas), St Clair (RCN) (ex-Wilhams), St Croix (RCN) (ex-McCook), St Francis (RCN) (ex-Bancroft), St Mary's (ex-Doran, ex-Bagley), Salisbury (ex-Claxton), Sherwood (ex-Rodgers, ex-Kalk), Stanley (ex-McCalla), Wells (ex-Tillman). SUBMARINES i, _______________-------П I- Oberon 1937 XI Displacement: 2425t standard; 2780t/3600t normal Dimensions: 363ft 6in oa x 29ft lOin x 15ft 9in mean normal load 110 79 x 9.09 x 4 80m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty and 2 ex-U126 diesels plus electric motors, 7000bhp/2400shp = I9.5kts/8kts. Oil 452t Armament: 6-21in TT (bow; 12 torpedoes), 4—5.2in/42 QF Mk I (2x2) Complement: 110 Name Builder Launched Fate XI Chatham DYd 16 6.1923 BU 1937 An experimental cruiser submarine w'lth a gun armament and fire control intended to engage a destroyer. She approached more nearly the double-hulled type than previous British submarines, and the pressure hull plating was lin thick, the designed depth limit being 350ft and the test depth 200ft Fuel stowage was mostly external, only 40,5t being within the pressure hull The surface machinery comprised 2 main diesels each of 3000bhp, and 2 auxiliaries from U126, each of 1200bhp, which drove the battery-charging generators. These generators could also drive the motors direct in which case the latter developed lOOObhp each The total surface power was thus 8000bhp, but rhe auxiliary diesels never achieved their designed output so that shaft revolutions, and hence those of the main diesels, were limited and lOOOhp lost. XI was laid down 2 11 21, completed 23.9.25 and, bedevilled by machinery troubles, was laid up in December 1933 Her torpedoes were Mk IV. Л7 as completed OBERON Displacement: 131 It standard; 1598t/1831t normal Dimensions: 269ft 8in oa x 28ft x 15ft 6in mean normal load 82 19 x 8.53 x 4.72m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 2950bhp/1350shp = 13.75kts/7.5kts. Oil 186c Armament: 8-2 lin TT (6 bow, 2 stern; 16 torpedoes), l-4in/40QFMkIV (later Mk XII) Complement: 54 Name Builder Launched Fate OBERON (ex-O7) Chatham DYd 24.9.1926 BU 1945 A prototype overseas patrol submarine of the saddle-tank type, laid down in 1924 and completed in 1927. The pressure hull plating was jin and design depth limit 500ft with test depth 200ft. Nearly all the fuel was carried in riveted external tanks and, as in other submarines of the time, leakage was a problem until welded tanks were installed during refits. The torpedoes were originally Mark IV, but Mk VIII were carried later. Designed speeds were 15kts/9kts but these were never attained. Oberon was laid up in 1944. OXLEY class Displacement: 1354t standard, 1636t/1872t normal Dimensions: 275ft oa x 27ft 7Jin x 15ft 8Jin mean normal load 83.82 x 8.42 x 4.79 m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers diesels plus electric motors, 3100bhp/1350shp = 15kts/8.5kts Oil 195t Armament: 8-2lin TT (6 bow, 2 stern), l-4in/40 QF Mk IV (later Mk XII) Complement: 55 Name Builder Launched Fate OTWAY Vickers- Armstrong, В arrow 7.9.1926 BU 1945 OXLEY Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.6.1926 Sunk 10 9.39 Laid down in 1925 and completed in 1927 for the Royal Australian Navy, this class were transferred to Britain in 1931. They were a Vickers design, similar to the Oberon, but with some improvements in hull form giving a higher speed A 20mm gun was later added to Otway. Oxley was accidentally torpedoed by HMS 7 nton 47
Oxley in Nov 1927 Rover as completed ODIN class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1475t standard; 1781 t/2038t normal 283ft 6m oa x 29ft Ilin x 16ft lin mean normal load 86.41 x 9.12 x 4 90m 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus 4520bhp/1390shp = 17 5kts/8kts. Oil 8-21 in TT (6 bow, 2 stern; 14 torpedoes) (later Mk XII) 53 electric motors, I74t i, l-4in/40QFMkIV Name Builder Launched Fate ODIN Chatham DYd 5.5.1928 Sunk 13.6.40 OLYMPUS Beardmore 11.12 1928 Sunk 8.5.42 ORPHEUS Beardmore 26.2.1929 Sunk 19.6.40 OSIRIS Vickers- 19 5.1928 BU 1946 Armstrong, Barrow OSWALD Vickers- 19.6.1928 Sunk 1 8.40 Armstrong, Barrow OTUS Vickers- 31.8 1928 Scuttled Armstrong, Barrow 1946 Improvements on rhe Oberon, particular attention being paid to reaching a higher speed They were laid down in 1927 and completed in 1929-30 I'he pressure hull plating was Jin, and design depth limit 500ft with test depth 300ft, thoughOlus at least went to 360ft, and it was found that some hull stiffening aft was required. Virtually all the oil was in external tanks and these also needed stiffening. Orpheus differed from the others in having Vulcan clutches No spare torpedoes were carried for the stern TT; the outfit comprised Mk I Vs and later Mark VIIls. A 20mm Oerlikon was added during the war to surviving boats. Of the losses, Olympus was mined, and Odin, Orpheus and Oswald were sunk by Italian destroyers. PARTHIAN class Displacement: 1475t standard; 1760t/2040t normal Dimensions: 289ft 2in oa x 29ft Ilin x 15ft Ilin mean normal load 88 14 x 9 12 x 4 85m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 4640bhp/1635shp = 17 5kts/8 6kts. Oil 159t Armament: 8-2IinTT(6bow,2stern; 14torpedoes), l-4in/40QFMkIV (later Mk XII) Complement: 53 Name Builder Launched Fate PANDORA (ex-Python) Vickers- Armstrong, Bar row 22.8.1929 Sunk 1 4.42 PARI HIAN Chatham DYd 22.6.1929 Sunk 10 8.43 PERSEUS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 22.5.1929 Sunk 6.12.41 PHOENIX Cammell - Laird 3.10.1929 Sunk 16 7.40 POSEIDON Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 21.6 1929 Collision 9 6.31 PROTEUS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 23.7.1929 BU 1946 Similar to the Odin class, but with an altered bow shape, laid down in 1928 and completed in 1930-31. All had Vulcan clutches and Parthian high capacity batteries. Output on all vessels was later reduced to 4340bhp/1635bhp. The torpedoes carried were Mk VIII, which was standard in all further British submarines of the period. Perseus carried l-4.7in/4O QF Mk X up to 1933 in place of the 4in gun. Surviving boats later in the war had a 20mm Oerlikon added and could take 18 М2 mines, layable from the TT, instead of their torpedoes. Pandora was bombed at Malta, Parthian and Perseus mined and Phoenix sunk by an Italian torpedo-boat. 48 Perseus as completed RAINBOW class Displacement: 1475t standard; 1763t/2030t normal Dimensions: 287ft 2in oa x 29ft Ilin x 16ft lin mean normal load 87 53 x 9 12 *4 90m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 4640bhp/I670shp = 17 5kts/8 8kts Oil 158t Armament: 8-2 hn TT (6 bow, 2 stern, 14 torpedoes), 1-4 7in/45 QF Mk IX See notes Complement: 53 Name Builder Launched Fate RAINBOW Chatham DYd 14 5 1930 Sunk 15.10 40 REGENT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 11.6.1930 Sunk 18 4 43 REGULUS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 11.6.1930 Sunk ?6 12 40 ROVER Vickers- 11.6.1930 BU 1946 Armstrong, Bar row Royalist (Beardmore) and Rupert (Cammell Laird) were cancelled. 1'his class, laid down in 1929 and completed 1930-32, were similar to the Parthians, but internal rearrangements saved 2fl in length, external plating was increased from lin to Jin max with welded fuel tanks, the TT were strengthened and the gun platform and bndge lowered. The diesels were later rated at 4IOObhp, but the reason for this reduction is not known. From 1931 gun armament was changed to l-4in/40 QF Mk XII (which Rainbow carried originally) Rainbow had high capacity batteries, and by 1945 Rover had a 20mm gun added and could take 18 М2 mines instead of her torpedoes. Rainbow was sunk by an Italian submarine and Regent and Regulus were probably mined. THAMES class Displacement: 1850t (Thames 1830t) standard; 2206t/2723t (Thames 2165t/268Ot) normal Dimensions: 345ft oa x 28ft 3in x 15ft Ilin (Thames 15ft 7Jin) mean normal load 105.15 x 8.61 *4 85 (4.76)m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty supercharged diesels plus electric motors 10,000bhp/2500shp = 22kts (Thames 22 5kts)/10kts. Oil 202t (Thames 216-224t) Armament: 6-2lin TT (bow; 12 torpedoes), I-4m/40 QF Mk XII Complement: 61
Submarines Name Builder Launched Fate THAMES Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 26.1.1932 Sunk 23 7.40 SEVERN Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 16.1.1934 BU 1946 CLYDE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 15.3 1934 BU 1946 Combined fleet and patrol type submarines laid down in 1931-33 and completed in 1932-35 It was originally intended to build 20 of ihe class but the policy was changed They approached rhe double-hull type with a pressure hull of ‘keyhole* section and plating reduced to Jin to save weight, giving a designed diving depth of 300ft and test depth of 200ft. The external fuel tanks were welded, which prevented the leakage problems of previous classes. The turbo- superchargers were driven by 2 400bhp auxiliary diesels via generators, and motors and increased the bhp of the main engines from 8000 to 10000. Severn and Clyde differed from Thames in various details and had buoyancy tanks in the superstructure to improve stability; in addition, Thames carried 1—4 7in/45 QF Mk IX until replaced by the 4in/40 in 1935 A 20mm gun was added to Severn and Clyde, and they could take 12 М2 mines as an alternative to torpedoes. Thames is believed to have been lost on a mine. PORPOISE Displacement: 1500t standard; 1768t/2053t normal Dimensions: 289ft oa x 29ft lOin x 15ft lOJin mean normal load 88.09 x 9.09 x 4.84m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 3300bhp/1630shp = 15.5kts/8.75kts, Oil 155-190t Armament: 6-21in TT (bow, 12 torpedoes), l-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX, 50 mines Complement: 59 Name Builder Launched Fate PORPOISE Vickers- 30.8.1932 Sunk 16.1.45 Armstrong, Barrow This minelayer, laid down in 1931 and completed in 1933, was of saddle-tank type with a hull form similar to the Parthian class. The 4.7in gun was replaced by a4in/40QFMkXIIin 1934. The mines were carried in the superstructure on an endless chain, the general layout resembling that of the converted W3, but the excessively slow diving of the latter was avoided by careful design of the mine casing Designed diving depth was 300ft and rest depth 200ft, whilst the fuel w as mainly in external welded tanks. In addition to the 50 mines of conventional type, 12 М2 mines could later be carried in place of the 12 torpedoes. Porpoise was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Severn about 1939 GRAMPUS class___________________________________________________ Displacement: 1520 standard, I810t/2157t normal Dimensions: 293ft oa x 25ft 6in x 16ft 10m mean normal load 89.30 x 7. 77 x 5 13m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiraltv diesels plus electric motors, 3300bhp/l630shp ='15.75kts/8.75kts. Oil 119-147t Armament: 6-21in TT (bow; 12 torpedoes), l-4in/40 QF Mk XII, 50 mines Complement: 59 Sturgeon, 29.3.1933 SWORDFISH class_______________________________________________ Displacement- 640i standard, 730t/927t normal Dimensions: 202ft 6in oa x 24ft x lift Ilin mean normal load 61.72 x 7.32 x 3 63m Machinery: 2-shafi Admiraltv diesels plus electric motors, 1550bhp/1440shp =13.75kts/10kts. Armament: 6-21m 14 (bow; 12 torpedoes), l-3in/20cwt Complement: 38 Name Builder Launched Fate STURGEON Chatham DYd 8.1 1932 BU 1946 SWORDFISH Chatham DYd 10.11.1931 Sunk Nov 1940 SEAHORSE Chath im DYd 15.11 1932 Sunk 7 1 40 STARFISH Chatham DY'd 14 3.1933 Sunk 9 1 40 •STurtfi-OH was lent to the Netherlands as Zeehond 11.10.43—14.9.45. This class, of saddle-tank type and intended for training and patrols in confined waters, were laid down in 1930-31 and completed in 1932-33. Internal arrangements were complicated and they were initially not very successful The original 3in gun was HA in Swordfish and Sturgeon and on a disappearing mounting which was found to ha\ e little advantage and added a good deal of topweight The designed diving depth was 30011, test depth was 200ft and the fuel tanks were internal Seahorse and Starfish were sunk by German minesweepers or trawlers, whilst Swordfish was lost off Ushant for unknown reasons. Name Builder Launched Fate GRAMPUS Chatham DYd 25.2.1936 Sunk 16 6 40 NARWHAL Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.8.1935 Sunk 30.7 40 RORQUAL Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 21.7.1936 BU 1946 CACHALOT Scotts 2.12.1937 Sunk 30.7.41 SEAL Chatham DYd 27.9.1938 Captured 5.5.40 Usually classed with the Porpoise, these five boats approached the double-hull npe, with a pressure hull shaped to include the principal fuel tanks. They were laid down in 1933-36 and completed in 1936-39, while P411-P413, which would have differed in having a circular section pressure hull, ordered from Scotts 13.1.41, were cancelled in September 1941. Stability was increased from that of Porpoise as was the reserve of buoyancy, and armament was the same apart from the later addition of a 20mm gun in Rorqual. Diving depth figures were also the same but fuel capacity was reduced. Grampus and Cachalot were sunk by Italian TBs, Narwhal doubtfully by a German aircraft, and Seal was damaged by a mine before capture SHARK class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 670t standard, 768t/960t normal 208ft 8in oa x 24ft x 11ft 10in mean normal load 63.60 x 7.32 x 3 61m 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 1550bhp/1440shp = 14kts/10kts (Sunfish 1900bhp/1440bhp = 15kts/10kts). Oil 39t 6-2Im TT (bow, 12 torpedoes), l-3in/20cwt 39 Name Builder Launched Fate SEALION Cammell Laird 16.3 1934 Scuttled 3.3.45 SHARK Chatham DYd 31.5.1934 Sunk 6.7.40 SALMON Cammell Laird 30.4.1934 Sunk 9.7.40 SNAPPER Chatham DYd 25.10.1934 Sunk 12 2 41 SEA WOLF Scotts 28.11.1935 BU 1945 SPEARFISH Cammell Laird 21 4 1936 Sunk 1.8 40 SUNFISH Chatham DYd 30.9.1936 Sunk 27.7 44 STERLET Chatham DYd 22.9.1937 Sunk 16.4.40 49
GREAT BRITAIN This class, laid down in 1933-36 and completed in 1934-38, were improved and simplified versions of the Swordfish class with the pressure hull lengthened amidships. Diving depth was unchanged. In Seawolf and Sunfish 12 М2 mines were later carried as an alternative to the torpedoes. Sterlet was sunk by German ASW craft, Shark by German minesweepers and aircraft,Spearfish by a U-boat, and Salmon probably by a mine. Sunfish, loaned to Russia 1944 as Bl, was sunk accidentally by British aircraft en route Snapper was lost for unknown reasons in the Bay of Biscay. Sealion was scuttled as an asdic target. Salmon about 1938 Triumph 1939 TRITON class (‘T’ class prewar programmes) Displacement: 1090t (Triton 1095t) standard; I326t/1575t (Triton 1331t/l585t) normal Dimensions: 275ft (Triton 277ft) oa, x 26ft 7m x 14ft 8in, 15ft max normal load 83 82 (84.43) x 8.10 x 4 47, 4 57m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers (Tigris, Torbay Admiralty, Tribune, Tarpon, Tuna MAN, Thunderbolt, Trident, Taku, Talisman Sulzer) diesels, 2500bhp/1450shp = 15.25kts/9kts Oil 132t (Trident, Torbay later 178t max) Armament: 10-21 in TT(6bow, 4external), l-4inQFMk XII. Sec notes Complement: 59 Name Builder Launched Fate TRITON Vickers- 5 10 1937 Sunk 18 12 40 THUNDERBOLT Armstrong, Barrow Cammell Laird 29.6.1938 Sunk 14.3.43 (cx-Thetis) TRIBUNE Scotts 8.12.1938 BU 1947 TRIDENT Cammell Laird 7 12.1938 BU 1946 TRIUMPH Vickers- 16.2.1938 Sunk 14.1.42 TAKU Armstrong, Barrow Cammell Laird 20.5.1939 BU 1946 TARPON Scotts 17 10 1939 Sunk 14.4 40 THISTLE Vickers- 25 10 1938 Sunk 10 4.40 TIGRIS Armstrong, Barrow Chatham DYd 31.10.1939 Sunk 10.3.43 TRIAD Vickers- 5.5.1939 Sunk Oct 1940 TRUANT Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 5 5 1939 Wrecked TUNA Armstrong, Barrow Scotts 10.5.1940 Dec 1946 BU 1946 TALISMAN Cammell Laird 29 1.1940 Sunk 16.9.42 TETRARCH Vickers- 14.11 1939 Sunk Oct. 1941 TORBAY Armstrong, Barrow Chatham DYd 9.4.1940 BU 1945 Thetis sank during trials 1.6.39 but was raised and reconditioned by Cammell Laird and renamed Thunderbolt. This class, laid down in 1936-38 and com- pleted in 1938—41, were built as patrol submannes instead of further units of the Thames class They were of saddle-tank type with lin pressure hull plating and an operational depth limit of 300ft. Of the external TT, two were originally in the bows and two amidships firing forward, but to improve sea- and depth- keeping the two bow TT were later removed from Ihundcrbolt and Triumph. Eventually in 7 of the surviving boats - Tribune, Tndent, Tuku, Tigris, Truant, Tuna and Torbay - the midships TT were altered to fire aft and an external stern tube was added. The torpedo outfit was respectively 16, 14 or 17 and subse- quently 18 М2 mines could be carried as an alternative. A 20mm Oerlikon gun was later added to surviving boats. Fuel was in internal tanks, but an extra 46 tons could be earned in adapted main tanks in Tndent and Torbay. The 3 boats of the 1938 programme, Talisman, Tetrarch and Torbay, had welded framing and were intended to carry 6 or possibly 8 mines port and starboard in vertical wells in the external tanks. Trials in Tetrarch were not very satisfactory and llkls was lost in surface speed, which was already considered rather low (even though Triton made 16.29kts on trials), so the requirement was cancelled. ‘Snort’ gear based on the German schnorkel, which enabled the diesels to be run at low power while ar penscope depth, was successfully tried in Truant in 1945. It may be remarked that this was a Dutch indention of 1927, and submarines fined with it came into the hands of the British and German navies in 1940 Of those lost, Thunderbolt was sunk by an Italian corvette, Tarpon by German trawlers, Thistle by U4, Triton, Triumph, Tigris, Talisman and Tetrarch probably by mines and Tnad from an unknow n cause off the coast of Libya Truant was wrecked on her way to the breakers. Undine as completed UNDINE class (‘U’ class prewar programmes) Displacement: 540t standard, 630t/730t normal Dimension: 191ft oa x 16ft lin x 15ft 2in max normal load 58 22 x 4 90 x 4.62m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman Ricardo diesels (electric drive) plus electric motors, 615bhp/825shp = 11 25kts/10kts. Oil 38t Armament: 6-21 in TT (4 bow, 2 external; 10 torpedoes), l-3in/20cwt See notes Complement: 27 Name Builder Launched Fate UNDINE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 5.10 1937 Sunk 7.1 40 UNITY Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 16.2.1938 Collision 29.4.40 URSULA Vickers- 16.2.1938 BU 1950 Armstrong, Barrow This class, laid down in 1937 and completed in 1938, were intended as replace- ments of the *H’ class for training and local patrols They were distinguished by electric drive when surfaced, the main motors being driven from the diesel- powered generators, and were of single-hull type with an operational depth limit of 200ft. The external TT were in the bows and resulted in a bluff form which was not very satisfactory in a seaway. On trials Undine made 12.45kts surfaced and 8.58kts submerged Ursula had only 8 torpedoes to compensate for the weight of the 3in gun, which only she carried, and she could subsequently carry 6 М2 mines as an alternative. Undine was sunk by German minesweepers; Ursula was loaned to the USSR as B4 from 1944 to 1949. ‘T’class (War Emergency and 1940 programmes) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1090t standard, 1327t/1567-1575t normal 273ft 3in—275ft oa x 26ft 7in x 14ft 7in-14ft lOin max normal load 83 28-83.82 x 8.10 x 4.44-4.52m 2-shaft Vickers (Tempest, Thom, Thrasher Sulzer, Traveller, Trooper Admiralty) diesels plus electric motors, 2500bhp/1450shp = 15.25kts/9kts Oil I29-I32t (Tactician, Tally Ho, Tantalus, Tantivy, Taurus later 215t max) 11-2lin TT (6 bow, 5 external; 17 torpedoes), l-4in/40 QF Mk XII 61 Name Builder Launched Fate TEMPEST THORN THRASHER TRAVELLER TROOPER TRUSTY TURBULENT P311 (ex- Tutankhamen) TACTICIAN TALLY HO TANTALUS Cammell Laird 10.6 1941 Cammell Laird 18.3.1941 Cammell Laird 28 II 1940 Scotts 27 8.1941 Scotts 5.3 1942 Vickers- 14.3.1941 Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 12.5 1941 Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 5.3 1942 Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 29 7 1942 Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 23.12.1942 Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- 24.2.1943 Armstrong, В arrow Sunk 13.2.42 Sunk 6.8.42 BU 1947 Sunk 8 12.42 Sunk 10 10 43 BU 1947 Sunk 14 3.43 Sunk 31.12.42 BU 1963 BU 1967 BU 1950 so
Submarines Name Builder Launched Fate TANTIVY Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 6.4.1943 Sunk 1951 TAURUS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 27.6.1942 BU 1960 TEMPLAR Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 26.10.1942 Sunk 1950 TRESPASSER Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.5.1942 BU 1961 TRUCULENT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 12.9.1942 Collision 12.1.50 Improvements in detail on the Triton class, laid down in 1939-42 and completed in 1941-43. All had welded framing, a 20mm gun and 5 external TT disposed as in the altered units of the Triton class; 18 М2 mines, laid successfully from TT in August 1941 during trials in Trusty, could be carried instead of torpedoes. The first seven given above belonged to rhe War Emergency Programme and they andP3// were275fr long with 132 tons oil in internal tanks; the rest had the bow external TT moved 7ft aft to fine the bow, and are listed as 273ft 3in with 3 tons less oil. In five of the 1940 Programme boats an additional 86 tons of oil could be stowed in modified main tanks. These converted tanks were riveted but were later replaced by welded ones. The 4in gun was later changed to a Mk XXII in Trusty, Tally Ho and Templar. Tempest was sunk by an Italian ТВ and the other five war losses are believed to have been mined. Taurus served as rhe Dutch Dolfijn 1948-53; Tantivy and Templar were expended as asdic targets. Truncheon as completed ‘T’ class (1941 and 1942 Programmes) Displacement: 1090t standard; 13l9-1327t/1571t normal Dimensions: 273ft 3in-273ft 6in oa x 26ft 7in x 14ft 8in-14ft lOin max normal load 83.28-83.36 x 8.10 x 4.47 ^4.52m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers (Thule, Tireless, Token, Tradewind, Trenchant, Tudor, Thermopylae, Totem, Truncheon, Turpin Admiralty) diesels plus electric motors, 2500bhp/1450shp = 15.25kts/9kts. Oil 129-132t, 215-218t max Armament: 11-21 in TT (6 bow, 5 external; 17 torpedoes), l-4in/40 QF Mk XII (Talent (iii), Tapir, Tam, Teredo, Tabard, Therm- opylae Mk XXII) Complement: 61 Name Builder Launched Fate TACITURN Vickers- 7.6.1944 BU 1971 Armstrong, Barrow TALENT (i) Vickers- 17.7.1943 To Netherlands Armstrong, 1943 Barrow TALENT (iii) Vickers- 13.2.1945 BU 1970 (ex-Tasman) Armstrong, Barrow TAPIR Vickers- 21.8.1944 BU 1966 Armstrong, Barrow TARN Vickers- 29.11.1944 To Netherlands Armstrong, 1945 Barrow TELEMACHUS I Vickers- 19.6.1943 BU 1961 Armstrong, Barrow Truculent ai the end of the war Name Builder Launched Fate TEREDO Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 27.4.1945 BU 1965 TERRAPIN Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 31.8.1943 Damaged 19.5.45 THOROUGH Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 30.10.1943 BU 1961 THULE Devonport DYd 22.10.1942 BU 1962 TIPTOE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 25.2.1944 BU 1975 TIRELESS Portsmouth DYd 19.3.1943 BU 1968 TOKEN Portsmouth DYd 19.3.1943 BU 1970 TRADEWIND Chatham DYd 11.12.1942 BU 1955 TRENCHANT Chatham DYd 24.3.1943 BU 1963 TRUMP Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 25.3.1944 BU 1971 TUDOR Devonport DYd 23.9.1942 BU 1963 TABARD Scotts 21.11.1945 BU 1968 THERMOPYLAE Chatham DYd 27.6.1945 BU 1970 TOTEM Devonport DYd 28.9.1943 To Israel 1964 TRUNCHEON Devonport DYd 22.2.1944 To Israel 1968 TURPIN Chatham DYd 5.8.1944 To Israel 1965 Further developments of the 1940 Programme ‘Ts’ laid down in 1941-44 and completed in 1943—46. Taciturn, Talent (cx-Tasman), Tapir, Tam, Teredo, Tip- toe, Trump, Tabard, Thermopylae, Totem, Truncheon and Turpin had welded Jin pressure hull plating and an operational depth limit of 350ft though they were test-dived to 400ft. All except possibly Tam could carry 86 tons additional fuel in external tanks which in most cases were welded initially. Three boats were transferred to the Netherlands, Talent being renamed Zwaardvisch, Tapir becomingZeehond (1948) and Tam becoming Tijgerhaai. Totem, Truncheon and Turpin were transferred to Israel 1964-68, receiving the names Dakar, Dolphin and Leviathan respectively. The armament was as in the 1940 Programme *Ts* except that all but Zwaard- visch are listed with 12 instead of 18 М2 mines though the torpedooutfit remains at 17. The reason for this is not known, but such additional items as more air-conditioning equipment and improved radar had made the boats difficult to trim in the fresher and less dense waters to be found near the mouths of large Far Eastern rivers where minelaying was most likely, and some reduction in load was desirable. Talent (ii) (Scotts), Theban and Threat (Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow) of the 350ft-depth boats were cancelled, as were Thor and Tiara (Portsmouth DYd) of the 300ft which had been launched 18.4.1944. Terrapin was badly damaged by Japanese depth charges and not considered worth repairing. ‘S’ class (War Emergency/1941 Programmes) Displacement: 715t standard; 842t (Safari, Scotsman, Sea Devil 814t)/990t normal Dimensions: 217ft oa x 23ft 9in xl3ft 10in-14ft 8in max normal load 66.14 x 7.24 x4.22-4.47m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty (P222, Seraph, Shakespeare Vickers) diesels plus electric motors, 1900bhp/1300shp = 14.75kts/9kts. Oil 67t (Safari,Scotsman,Sea Devil, 45t, later 85-92t max in most) Armament: 7-2lin TT (6 bow, 1 external, 13 torpedoes), l-3in/20cwt (Scotsman, Scythian, Sea Devil l-4in/40 QF Aik XII). See notes Complement: 48
Storm about 1944 Name Builder Launched Fate SAFARI Cammell Laird 18 11.1941 Lost 8.1.46 SAHIB Cammell Laird 19 1.1942 Sunk 24 4 43 SARACEN Cammell Laird 16 2.1942 Sunk 14 8 43 SATYR Scotts 28.9 1942 BU 1962 SCEPTRE Scotts 9.1.1943 BU 1949 P222 Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 20 9.1941 Sunk 12.12 42 SEADOG Cammell Laird 11.6.1942 BU 1948 SEA NYMPH Cammell Laird 29.7.1942 BU 1948 SEA ROVER Scotts 18 2.1943 BU 1949 SERAPH Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 25.10.1941 BU 1965 SHAKESPEARE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 8.12.1941 BU 1946 SIBYL Cammell Laird 29 4.1942 BU 1948 SICKLE Cammell Laird 27.8 1942 Sunk 14 6 44 SIMOOM Cammell Laird 12 10.1942 Sunk 15 11 43 SIRDAR Scotts 26.3.1943 BU 1965 SPITEFUL Scotts 5 6.1943 BU 1963 SPLENDID Chatham DYd 19 1.1942 Sunk 21 4.43 SPORTSMAN Chatham DYd 17 4 1942 Lost 24.9 52 SCOTSMAN Scotts 18 8 1944. BU 1964 SCYTHIAN Scotts 14.4.1944 BU 1960 SEA DEVIL Scotts 30.1.1945 BU 1965 SHALIMAR Chatham DYd 22.4.1943 BU 1950 SPARK Scotts 28.12.1943 BU 1949 SPIRIT Cammell Laird 20.7.1943 BU 1950 STATESMAN Cammell Laird 14.9.1943 BU 1961 STOIC Cammell Laird 9.4.1943 BU 1950 STONEHENGE Cammell Laird 23.3.1943 Sunk 20 3.44 STORM Cammell Laird 18 5 1943 BU 1949 STRATAGEM Cammell Laird 21.6 1943 Sunk 22 11 44 STRONGBOW Scotts 30 8 1943 BU 1946 STUBBORN Cammell Laird 11.11.1942 Sunk as target 1946 SURF Cammell Laird 10 12.1942 BU 1949 SYRTIS Cammell Laird 4 2.1943 Sunk 28 3 44 Improved and enlarged developments of rhe SAarA class with welded framing, originally intended for North Sea operations, laid down in 1940-43 and com- pleted in 1942-45, Sea Rover and Sirdar being completed by Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow. Safari, P222, Scotsman, Scythian and Sea Devil (and later Strongbow) were not fitted with the external TT. The last two to be launched, Sea Devil and Scotsman resembled the boats of the 1942 Programme, and with thicker welded pressure hull plating had an operational depth limit of 350ft compared with 300ft for the remainder. Of the normal fuel, 45 tons was in internal tanks, but in all except Safari, Scotsman and Sea Devil this was increased to 67 tons by converting part of two main tanks. It could be sup- plemented by a further 40 tons inScotsman andSea Devil or by 25 tons in most of the boats with 67 tons by using more of the mam tanks for fuel. The torpedo outfit was 12 if there was no external stern tube, and alternatively 12 М2 mines could be carried. A 20mm gun was later added to several of the class. Seraph was converted at Dcvonport in July/September 1944 to a high speed target with a cleaned up hull and casing, higher capacity batteries, up-rated motors and ‘T* class propellers which had a coarser pitch. On trials she attained 1647hp = 12.52kts at periscope depth and 16.75kts surfaced Sceptre,Satyr andStatesman were later converted in a similar way. Sahib, Saracen and P222 were sunk by Italian torpedo-boats or corvettes, Splendid by a German and Stratagem by a Japanese destroyer, and Sickle, Simoom and Syrtis probably by mines, whilst Stonehenge was lost for unknown reasons in the Malacca Straits. Satyr,Spiteful, Sportsman andStatesman were transferred to France in 1951-52, being renamed Saphir, Sirene, Sibylle and Sultane respectively. Saga as completed ‘S’ class (1942 and 1943 Programmes) Displacement: 715t standard, 8I4t (Sturdy, Stygian 842t)/990t normal Dimensions: 217ft oa x 23ft 9tn x 13ft llin-14ft lin (Sturdy,Stygian 14ft 8in) max normal load 66 14 x 7 24 x 4 24-4.29 (4 47)m Machinery: 2-shaft Admiralty diesels plus electric motors, 1900bhp/1300shp = 14.75kts/9kts. Oil 45c 85t max (Sturdy, Stygian 67t, 92t max) Armament: 6-21in TT (bow; 12 torpedoes), l-4in/40 QF Mk XII (Seneschal, Sentinel, Spearhead, Sanguine Mk XXII, Sturdy, Stygian, Subtle l-3in/20cwt). See notes Complement: 48 Name Builder Launched Fate SEA SCOUT Cammell Laird 24 3 1944 BU 1966 SELENE Cammell Laird 24 4 1944 BU 1961 SENESCHAL Scotts 23 4 1945 BU 1960 SENTINEL Scotts 27 7.1945 BU 1962 SIDON Cammell I aird 4 9.1944 Target 1957 SLEUTH Cammell Lai d 6.7.1944 BU 1958 SOLENT Cammell Lai d 8 6 1944 BU 1961 SPEARHEAD Cammell Laird 2 10 1944 To Portugal 1948 SPRINGER Cammell Laird 14.5.1945 To Israel 19^8 STURDY Cammell Laird 30.9 1943 BU 1958 STYGIAN Cammell I_aird 30.11.1943 BU 1949 SUBTLE Cammell Laird 27.1.1944 BU 1959 SUPREME Cammell Laird 24.2.1944 BU 1950 SAGA Cammell Laird 14.3.1945 To Portugal 1948 SANGUINE Cammell Laird 15.2.1945 To Israel 1958 SCORCHER Cammell Laird 18.12.1944 BU 1962 SPUR Cammell Laird 17.11 1944 To Portugal 1948 Generally similar to rhe 1941 programme ‘S’ class, this group were laid dow n in 1942-44 and completed in 1943-45. As will be seen from the above data, Sturdy and Stygian resembled 1941 Programme boats, and they had an operational depth limit of 300ft as against 350ft in the rest which had welded pressure hull placing. The torpedo outfit was 13 in Sturdy,Stygian and Subtle, which had an extra, external stern tube; 12 М2 mines could be carried by all boats as an alternative load. A 20mm gun was later mounted Selene, Solent and Sleuth were subsequently converted to high speed target submarines on the lines of Seraph. Sidon suffered an internal explosion 16.6.55, caused by concentrated hydrogen peroxide used in experimental torpedoes. Spearhead, Saga and Spur were renamed Neptuno, Nautilo and Narval in Portuguese service; Springer and Sanguine were renamed Tanin and Rahav by the Israelis. Usurper 1943 ‘U’ class (War Emergency and 1940 Programmes and 1941 ‘short hull’) Displacement: 540t standard, 630t (later 646t)/732t normal Dimensions: 196ft 10m (Unbeaten, Unique, Upholder, Uplight,Usk,Utmost 191ft, Undaunted, Union, Urchin, Urge 192ft 4in) oa x 16ft lin x 14ft 10m-15ft 3in max normal load 59.99 (58.22, 58.62) x 4.90 x 4.52-4.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman-Ricardo or Paxman diesels plus electric motors, 615bhp/825shp = 11.25kts/10kts. Oil 38t, later 55t Armament: 4—21in TT (bow; 8 torpedoes), l-12pdr/12cwt Complement: 31-33 52
Submarines Name Builder Launched Fate Name Builder Launched Fate UMPIRE UNA UNBEATEN UNDAUNTED UNION UNIQUE UPHOLDER UPRIGHT URCHIN URGE USK UTMOST P32 P33 P36 P38 P39 P47 Chatham DYd Chatham DYd Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Bar row Vickers- Armstrong, Bar row Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Bar row Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Annstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow- Vickers 30 12.1940 10 6.1941 9.7.1940 20 8.1940 • 1.10.1940 6.6 1940 8.7.1940 21 4 1940 30 9.1940 19.8.1940 7.6.1940 20 4.1940 15.12 1940 28.1.1941 28 4.1941 9.7.1941 23.8.1941 27.7.1942 Collision 19.7.41 BU 1949 Sunk 11.11.42 Sunk 13 5.41 Sunk 20 7.41 Sunk 23 10.42 Sunk 14 4 42 BU 1946 BU 1949 Sunk 28.4.42 Sunk 28.4.41 Sunk 24 11.42 Sunk 18 8.41 Sunk 23.8.41 Sunk 1.4.42 Sunk 23 2.42 Sunk 26.3 42 To Netherlands 1942 Sunk 25.12 42 BU 1958 BU 1949 BU 1946 BU 1946 BU 1950 BU 1950 BU 1950 BU 1946 UNSEEN (ex-P5Z) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow UNSHAKEN Vickers- (ex-P54) Armstrong, Barrow UPROAR (ex- Vickers- Ullswater, ех-РЗ!) Armstrong, Barrow UREDD (ex P41) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow UNIVERSAL Vickers- (ex P57) Armstrong, Tyne UNSPARING Vickers- (ex P55) Armstrong, Tyne UNSWERVING Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne UNTIRING Vickers- (ex-Upstarl) Armstrong, Tyne UPSTART (ex- Vickers- Untmng, ex P65) Armstrong, Barrow USURPER (ex-P56) Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne UTHER .Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne VANDAL (ex-P64) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow VITALITY Vickers- (ex-Untamed, cx-P58) Armstrong, Tyne VARANGIAN Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne VARNE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow VOX Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 16 4 1942 17.2.1942 27.11.1940 24 8 1941 10 11.1942 28.7.1942 19.7.1943 20 1 1943 24 11 1942 24.9.1942 6.4.1943 23 11 1942 8.12.1942 4.3.1943 22.1.1943 23 1 1943 BU 1949 BU 1946 BU 1946 Sunk 24 2 43 BU 1946 BU 1946 BU 1949 Sunk as target 1957 Sunk as target 1957 Sunk 3.10 43 BU 1950 Sunk 24 2 43 BU 1946 BU 1949 To Norway 1943 BU 1949 P48 P52 ULTIMATUM (ex-P34) ULTOR (сх /^З) UMBRA (ex-P35) UNBENDING (ex-P37) UNBROKEN (ex-P42) UNISON (cx-P43) UNITED (cx-P44) 15.4.1942 11.10 1942 11.2.1941 12.10.1942 15.3.1941 12.5.1941 4 11.1941 5.11.1941 18.12 1941 These boats were developments of the Undine class and were laid down in 1939-43 and completed in 1940-43. Untamed was renamed when salved follow- ing her loss on trials 30 May 1943. There were no external TT in this class; 6 М2 mines could later be carried instead of torpedoes. Oil fuel was later increased by using two of the main tanks to give a total of 55 tons, and the 12pdr gun was replaced by l-3in/20cwt. The bows were reshaped and lengthened in later units to improve behaviour in a seaway when surfaced and at periscope depth Several of the class operated with great success from Malta but losses were heavy Union, Upholder, Utmost, P38 and P48 were sunk by Italian TBs, Usurper bj a German anti-submarine vessel, Undaunted, Urge, Usk,P32,P33 and Uredd probably by mines, P36 and P39 by aircraft at Malta and Unbeaten accidentally by British aircraft, whilst Unique and Vandal were lost for unknown reasons to the west of Gibraltar and in the Firth of Clyde Several boats were transferred to foreign navies: Urchin became the Polish Sokol, later P97; P47 became the Dutch Dolfijn in 1942; P52 (ex-Polish Dzik) served in the Danish Navy 1946-57 as Springeren ; Unbroken and Unison went to Russia as B2 and B3 and served 1944—49; Uredd and Vame were transferred to Norway in 1941 and 1943 respectively, the latter being renamed Ula, and Untiring and Upstart served as the Greek Xifias and Amfitriti 1945-52. France received Vox, renaming her Сипе, as which she served 1943-46 before returning to Britain as P67. UNRIVALLI D 16.2.1942 BU 1946 ‘U’ class (1941 long hull and 1942 Programmes) (ex-P45) UNRUFFLED (ex-P46) UNRULY (ex-P49) Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.12 1941 28.7.1942 BU 1946 BU 1946 Displacement: 545t standard; 658~662t/740t normal Dimensions: 204ft 6in oa x 16ft lin x 15ft 3in max normal load 62.33 x 4.90 x 4.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman diesels plus electric motors 615bhp/825shp = 11.25kts/10kts. Oil 55t Armament: 4-2lin TT (bow; 8 torpedoes), l-3in/20cwt Complement: 33 53
GREAT BRITAIN Name Builder Launched Fate VAMPIRE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 20.7.1943 BU 1950 VELDT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.7 1943 BU 1958 VENTURER Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 4 5.1943 To Norway 1946 VIGOROUS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 15.10 1943 BU 1949 VIKING Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 5.5.1943 To Norway 1946 VIRTUE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.11.1943 BU 1946 VISIGOTH Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 30.11.1943 BU 1950 VOX Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 28.9 1943 BU 1946 UPSHOT Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 24.2.1944 BU 1949 L'RTICA Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 23.3 1944 BU 1950 VAGABOND Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 19 9.1944 BU 1950 VARIANCE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 22.5.1944 To Norway 1944 VARNE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 24 2 1944 BU 1958 VENGEFUL Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 20 7.1944 BU 1958 VINEYARD Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 8.5 1944 BU 1950 VIRULENT Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 23.5.1944 BU 1961 VIVID Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 15 9 1943 BU 1950 VOLATILE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 20 6.1944 BU 1958 VORACIOUS Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 11 11 1943 BU 1946 VORTEX Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.8.1944 BU 1958 VOTARY Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 21.8.1944 To Norway 1946 VULPINE Vickers- Armstrong, Tyne 28.12.1943 BU 1959 This class, laid down in 1942-43 and completed in 1943-45, were a further development of the ‘U’ type with the stern lengthened to give an easier angle of approach of water to the propellers in order to reduce noise and also a further fining of the bows. The hull had welded framing and the riveted plating was increased from jin to ,in so that the operational depth limit was increased to 300ft Cancellations were Ulex, Upas, Utopia, Veto, Vinle, Visitant at Barrow, and Unbridled, Upward, Vantage, Vehement, Venom, Verne and 8 unnamed units at Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne. Venturer, Viking, Vanance and Votary were renamed Ulstein, Utvaer, Utsira and Uthaug in Norwegian service; Veldt served in the Greek Navy 1944-57 asPipmios, Vengeful 1945-57 as Delfin, Virulent 1946—58 asArgonafiis and Volatile 1946-58 as Tnaina, and Vineyard and Vortex went to France in 1944, serving as Dons and Morse until 1947, when the latter was transferred to Denmark asSaelen Denmark also received Vulpine, renam- ing her Storen, and she and Saelen saw service until 1958. P611 class (ex-Turkish) Displacement 624 standard; 683t/856t normal Dimensions: 201ft 7in oa x 22ft 4in x lift 10m max normal load 61 44 x 6 81 x 3 61m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers diesels plus electric motors, 1200bhp/780shp = 13.7kts/8 4kts. Oil 34t Armament: 5-2lin TT (4 bow, 1 external; 9 torpedoes), l-4in/40 QF Mk XX Complement: 35 Name Builder Launched Fate Р611 (ex-Oruc Reis') Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.7.1940 To Turkey 1942 P612 (ex-Murat Reis) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 20.7 1940 To Turkey 1942 P614 (ex-Burak Reis) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 19.10.1940 To Turkey 1945 P615 (ex-Uluc Ah Reis) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 1.11.1940 Sunk 18.4.43 This class were saddle-tank boats with internal fuel tanks and a depth limit of 328ft (100m), laid down in 1939 and completed in 1941-42 P6U andP612 were only commissioned for delivery to Turkey. The torpedo outfit in P614 and P6/5 comprised 8 of the standard Mk VIII for the bow tubes and a Whitehead Mk X for the external stern lube. P615 was sunk by U123. The Turkish names were re-instated on delivery. Alderney in Jan 1950 ‘A’ class Displacement: 1120t standard; 1385t/1620t normal Dimensions: 279ft 3in oa x 22ft 3in x 17ft lin max normal load 85 ll x 6.78 x 5 21m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers (Acheron, Aeneas, Affray, Alanc, Artemis, Art- ful Admiralty) supercharged diesels plus electric motors, 4300bhp/1250shp = 18 5kts/8kts. Oil 165t, 219c max Armament: 10-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 4 external), l—lin/40 QF Mk XXII. See notes Complement: 61 Name Builder Launched Fate ACHERON Chatham DYd 25.3.1947 BU 1972 AENEAS Cammell Laird 25.10.1945 BU 1972 AFFRAY Cammell Laird 12.4.1945 Lost 17.4.51 ALARIC Cammell Laird 18 2 1946 BU 1971 ALCIDE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 12 4 1945 BU 1972 ALDERNEY Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 25.6.1945 BU 1972 ALLIANCE Vickers- Armstrong, В arrow 28.7 1945 Extant 1980 AMBUSH Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 24.9.1945 BU 1971 AMPHION (ex- Anchorite) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 31.8 1944 BU 1971 ANCHORITE (ex- Amphion) Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 22.1.1946 BU 1970 54
Submarines/Sloops Name Builder Launched Fate ANDREW Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 6.4.1946 BU 1977 ARTEMIS Scotts 26.8.1946 BU 1972 ARTFUL Scotts 22.5.1947 BU 1969 ASTUTE Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 30.1.1945 BU 1970 • AURIGA Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 29.3.1945 BU 1971 AUROCHS Vickers- 28.7.1945 BU 1967 Armstrong, Barrow This class, laid down in 1943-45 and completed in 1945-48, were designed for operations against the Japanese and had better habitability than previous boats. None was completed m time for war service and many were cancelled-Abelard and Acasta (Portsmouth DYd); Ace and Achates (Devonport DYd); Adept (Chatham DYd); Agate, Aggressor, Agile, Aladdin and Alcestis (Cammell Laird); Asgard, Assurance and Astarte (Scotts); Andromache, Answer, Antaeus, Antagon- ist, Ansae, Aphrodite, Approach, Arcadian, Ardent, Argosy and Atlantis (Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow); and Admirable, Adversary, Asperity, Austere, Awake and Aztec (Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne). Of these, Ace and Achates had been launched in 1945, and were used for ship target trials These two, plus Abelard and Acasta, would have had 6cyl Admiralty supercharged diesels due to supply difficulties for the 8cyl type, and would have been about Ikt slower with 3400bhp. A further 20 boats were projected at the end of 1944, but orders were never placed. The *A’ class approached the double hull type and the circular section welded pressure hull of Jin plating allowed a design depth of 500ft and test depth of 600ft It should be noted that they could operate at 500ft, the same figure quoted for Oberon to Rainbow representing an emergency maximum (some damage was to be expected if these exceeded the test depth of 200-300ft) Of the fuel 60 tons was in internal and 105 tons in external tanks, while an extra 54 tons could be carried in the main tanks. A 20mm Oerlikon was mounted and the four external TT comprised 2 bow and 2 stern. The torpedo outfit was 20 with 6 reloads for the internal bow tubes and 4 for the stern ones. Alternatively 18 М2 mines could be carried. The 4in Mk XXII was later removed, several boats receiving a 4in/33 QF Mk XXIII in ns place. All were intended to have ‘snorts’ though these were not always fitted initially Compared with previous British submarines, diving time, radar arrangements and sound insulation of auxiliary machinery were much improved. It was found that in certain sea conditions the first boats had a very undesirable rolling motion, and it was necessarj to separate the port and starboard main tanks, to relocate the external fuel tanks and to fit a bow buoyancy tank Excessive vibration of the penscopes had also to be corrected. The following US submarines served in the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease PSI I (ex-USN R3), PS 12 (ex-R17), PS 14 (ex-R19), PS51 (Polish Jastrzab, ex-S2S), PSS2 (ex-5/), PSS3 (ex^2/), Ps54 (ex-522), PS5 (ex,S24) and P5S6 (ex-529). The following captured German and Italian submarines were also employed Graph (ex (JS70), P7U (ex-X2, ex-Gahleo Galilei), P712 (Greek Matrozos, cx-Perla), P714 (French Narval, ex-Bronzo) X2S about 1944 X craft midget submarines (launched 1942-45) Displacement: (X) 26.9t/29.7t, (XT) 26.7t/29.8t, (XE) 30.3t/33.6t Dimensions: (X) 51ft 7Jinoa,(XT) 51ft 4Jin,(XE') 53ft ijm x 5ft 9Jin less side charges x (X) 7ft 4|in max,(XT) 6ft 1 lin,(XE) 7ft l|in 15.74, IS.66, 16.19 x 1.77 x 2.25, 2.11, 2 Um Machinery: 1-shaft Gardner diesel plus electric motors, 42bhp/30shp = 6-6.6kts/5-6kts. OilfX) 24341b, (XT) 11341b, (XE) 21481b Complement: 4 Class: X3-X10, X20-X25, XT1-XT6, XEI-XE9, XFll,XE12 Originating from a small submarine for river use under development for the army by Commander Varley in 1939, the prototype X3 and X4 were built by Varley Marine with assistance from Portsmouth DYd, the other X and XT boats by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow and the XE boats by Broadbent Markham of Chesterfield and Marshall of Gainsborough The XEs were intended for use aga nst the Japanese, and were more habitable than the Xs, while the XTs were for training only. The two side charges (X,XE craft only), which had clockwork time fuzes, each contained about 2 tons of explosive and were placed under the bottom of the ship attacked. It was possible for a diver to leave and return to the submerged craft. The depth limit of the X craft itself was 300ft, and they were towed to near the target by ‘S’ or *T’ class submarines. Great damage was done to the Ttrpttz and to the Takao by these craft. XS-X10 were lost during the former operation and X22 and XFll in collisions The surviving units were mostly stricken in 1945 Ъи\.ХЕ7 ,XE8 ,XE9 andXb 12 lasted until 1952-53,andX24 is preserved as a museum exhibit. XE10 was cancelled. SLOOPS BRIDGEWATER class Displacement: 1045t standard; 1600t deep load Dimensions: 266ft 4in oa x 34ft lin x 12ft 3in mean deep load 81 18 x 10.39 x 3 73m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2000shp = 16.5kts. Oil 282t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (2x1), 2-3pdr saluting Complement: 100 Name Builder Launched Fate BRIDGET Al FR Hawthorn Leslie 14.9.1928 BU 1947 SANDWICH Hawthorn Leslie 28 9.1928 Sold 1946 This class, laid down in 1928 and completed in 1929, were the first replacements for the ‘Flower’ sloops of World War I and were intended for foreign service and also for minesweeping During the Second World War their use as anti- submarine escorts was given priority, and the 1939 outfit of 15 DCs was increased to 40 and then to 80 One and later both 4in guns were HA; one gun was removed in 1943 and the 3pdrs earlier in the war, and 2 or 4—20mm had been added by 1943. Sandwi h as completed
GREAT BRITAIN HASTINGS class Displacement: 1045t standard; 1640t deep load Dimensions: 266ft 4in oa x 34ft lin x 12ft 6in mean deep load 81.18 x 10.39 x 3.81m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2000shp = 16.5kts. Oil 312t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (2x 1), 2-3pdr saluting Complement: 100 Name Builder Launched Fate FOLKESTONE Swan Hunter 12.2.1930 BU 1947 HASTINGS Devonport DYd 10.4 1930 BU 1946 PENZANCE Devonport DYd 10.4.1930 Sunk 24 8.40 SCARBOROUGH Swan Hunter 14.3.1930 BU 1949 Laid down in 1929 and completed in 1930-31, these ships were generally similar to the preceding class, with one of the 4in guns HA. Hastings stranded on a reef off Suakin in 1935 and when repaired was on fishery protection duties in 1937-38 and temporarily armed with l—4in/40 QF Mk IV, Scarborough and Folkestone were disarmed as surveying ships in 1938-39. They were re-armed with l-4in QF Mk V HA in late 1939, Folkestone having a second one for a time in 1942-43 and Scarborough a 12pdr HA during late 1941 to 1942. The other two ships had 2-4in QF Mk V HA during the war. As with other sloops the 3pdrs were removed and eventually 4 to 8-20mm were mounted. The DC outfit was increased as in the Bridgewater class, and Folkestone and Scarborough had Hedgehogs fitted Hastings alone could carry 18 to 22 mines. The only loss, Penzance, was torpedoed by a U boat. Scarborough prewar HINDUSTAN Displacement: 1190t standard Dimensions: 296ft 4in oa x 35ft X 10ft Ilin mean deep load 90.32 x 10.67 x 3.33m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2000shp = 16.25kts. Oil 320t Armament: 2-4in/40 QF Mk IV (2x1), 4-3pdr saluting Complement: 119 Name Builder Launched Fate HINDUSTAN Swan Hunter 12.5.1930 BU 1951 A lengthened version of the Hastings class with extra tropical fittings, laid down for India in 1929 and completed in 1930. The 4in guns were replaced by 2-4in/45 QF Mk V in 1943 and at the end of the war she had 2-20mm and Hedgehog fitted. She saw service with the Pakistani Navy from 1948. SHOREHAM/repeat SHOREHAM class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1105t (repeats 1060t) standard; 1590t (repeats 1515t) deep load 281ft 4in oa x 35ft x 10ft 6in-llft lin mean deep load 85.75 x 10.67 x 3.20, 3.38m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2000shp = 16.5kts. Oil 287-358t 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (2x 1), 4-3pdr saluting 100 Name Builder Launched Fate BI DEFORD Devonport DYd 1.4.1931 BU 1949 FOWEY Devonport DYd 4.11.1930 Sold 1946 ROCHESTER Chatham DYd 16.7.1931 BU 1951 SHORFHAM Chatham DYd 22.11.1930 Sold 1946 DUNDEE Chatham DYd 20.9.1932 Sunk 15.9.40 FALMOUTH Devonport DYd 19.4 1932 BU 1968 MILFORD Devonport DYd 11.6.1932 BU 1949 WESTON Devonport DYd 23.7.1932 BU 1947 Further developments of the Bndgezeater class (with a longer hull), laid down in 1929-31 and completed in 1931-33. One and later both of the 4in guns were HA Shoreham had only one 4in gun in 1933-34, and the after gun was temporarily removed from others when serving as C in C’s yachts on foreign stations During the war the 3pdrs were reduced to two and then removed, up to 6-20mm were added (Shoreham having l-2pdr and 3-20mm), and the DC outfit increased from 15 to 40 and then to 90. Only Fowey appears to have had Hedgehog. Dundee was torpedoed by a U-boat; Rochester had her 4in removed in early 1945 and became tender to the Navigation school Fowey andShorehani were sold into mercantile service, and Falmouth became the RNVR Calliope in 1952 Wellington as completed GRIMSBY class Displacement: 990t (RAN 1055-1070t) standard; 1480-1510t deep load Dimensions: 266ft 3in oa x 36ft x 9ft Uin-IOft lin mean deep load 81 15 x 10.97 x 3.02-3.07m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boikrs, 2000shp = 16.5kts (Parramatta, Warrego 2200shp = 16.85kts). Oil 347t (RAN 3l7t) Armament: 2-4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (2 x 1), l-3in/20cwt HA, 4-3pdr salut- ing. See notes Complement: 100 Name Builder Launched Fate ABERDEEN Devonport DYd 22 1.1936 BU 1949 DEPTFORD Chatham DYd 5.2.1935 BU 1948 FLEETWOOD Devonport DYd 24.3.1936 BU 1959 GRIMSBY Devonport DYd 19.7.1933 Sunk 25.5.41 LEITH Devonport DYd 9.9.1933 To Denmark 1949 LONDONDERRY Devonport DYd 16.1 1935 BU 1948 LOWESTOFT Devonport DYd 11.4 1934 Sold 1946 WELLINGTON Devonport DYd 29.5 1934 Master Mariners’ HQ ship 1947 PARRAMATTA (RAN) Cockatoo 18.6.1939 Sunk 27 11.41 SWAN (RAN) Cockatoo 28.3.1936 Sold 1964 WARREGO (RAN) Cockatoo 10.2.1940 BU 1966 YARRA(RAN) Cockatoo 28.3.1935 Sunk 4.3 42 In these ships, laid down in 1933-39 and completed in 1934—40, more considera- tion was given to the convoy escort role and the armament was increased from that in previous classes. Aberdeen,Swan and Yarra had 3-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (3x 1); Parramatta and Watrego were fitted with 3-4in/45 QF Mk XVI (1x2, lx 1) and Fleenvood 4 of these guns (2x2) Lowestoft only had 1-4.7in from late 1935 to early 1937, and Aberdeen (which never carried the 3pdrs)2—4in HA until August 1939. Grimsby,lamdonderry and Lowestoft had their 4.7 and 3in replaced by 4—4in QF Mk XVIs during 1939, while Swan had this armament in 1944; Parramatta and Warrego had the after single 4in replaced by a twin in 1941 and 1943 respectively. The 3m HA in Deptford, Leith and Wellington and 1—4in in Aberdeen were replaced by Hedgehog in 1943, and this was also added to Lowestoft and Fleetwood. The 3pdrs were removed during the war and 2 to 6-20mm added, the DC outfit rising from 15 to 90 or to 40 in RAN ships. Earlier in the war Grimsby and Lowestoft are listed as being able to carry 40 mines. Grimsby was sunk by bombs, Parramatta by a U-boat and Yarra by Japanese cruisers and destroyers. Leith and Lowestoft were sold into mercantile service in 1946, although Leith was later transferred to Denmark as Galathea. INDUS Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1190t standard 296ft 4m oa x 35ft 6in x 10ft 9in mean deep load 90.32 x 10.82 x 3.28m As Grimsby class except 2000shp = 16.25kts. Oil 3411 2—4.7in/45 QF Mk IX (2x 1), 4-3pdr saluting 119 Name Builder Launched Fate INDUS Hawthorn Leslie 24 .8 1934 Sunk 6 4 42 A more heavily armed version of Hindustan, laid down for India in 1933 and completed in 1935. She was sunk by bombs from Japanese aircraft. 56
Sloops Enchantress as the Admiralty yacht BLACK SWAN class______________________________________________ Displacement: 1300t standard; 1770-1945t deep load Dimensions: 299ft 6in oa x 37ft 6in x 10ft 1 lin-11ft Sin mean deep load 91.29 x 11.43 x 3.33-3.56m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiraltv 3-drum boilers, 4300shp = 19.75kts. Oil 403-428t Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4) Complement: 180 Name Builder Launched Fate BLACK SWAN Yarrow 7.7.1939 BU 1956 ERNE Furness 5.8.1940 BU 1965 FLAMINGO Yarrow 18.4.1939 To Germany 1959 IBIS Furness 28.11.1940 Sunk 10.11.42 BITTERN class_____________________________________________________ Displacement: 1190t (Enchantress 1O85t) standard; 1790t (Enchantress 1650t) deep load Dimensions: 282ft oa x 37ft x 11ft 5in (Enchantress 10ft lOin) mean deep load 85.95 x 11.28 x 3.48(3.30) Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Enchantress Brown-Curtis) geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 33OOshp = 18.75kts. Oil 393t Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2), 2-3pdr saluting. See notes Complement: 156 (Enchantress 128) Name Builder Launched Fate BITTERN White 14.7.1937 Sunk 30.4.40 ENCHANTRESS John Brown 21.12.1934 Sold 1946 (ex-Bitlem) STORK Denny 21.4.1936 BU 1958 Faster and more heavily armed than previous sloops, these vessels were laid down in 1934-36 and completed in 1935-38. Denny-Brown stabilisers were fitted in Bittern. Stork was completed as a surveying ship and not armed as above until 1939. Enchantress served originally as Admiralty yacht and her armament was 2—4.7in and 4-3pdrs, although a third gun was mounted until May 1936. She had a 3in/20cwt HA added in December 1940, and at the end of the war also had 4-20mm and a DC outfit of 60. A prototype of the split version of Hedgehog was tried in her in July 1942 but was not satisfactory. Stork in 1945 had, in addition to6-4in, Hedgehog and 90 DC. Bittern was bombed by German aircraft and scuttled by a torpedo. Enchantress was sold into mercantile service. EGRET class Displacement: 1250t standard; 1790t deep load Dimensions: 292ft 6in oa x 37ft 6in x lift 2in mean deep load 89.15 x 11.43 x 3.40m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3600shp = 19.25kts. Oil 370t Armament: 8-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (4x2), 2-3pdr saluting Complement: 188 Name Builder Launched Fate AUCKLAND Denny 30.6.1938 Sunk 24.6.41 (c-X-/7tTon) egret White 31.5.1938 Sunk 27.8.43 pelican Thornycroft 12.9.1938 BU 1958 Laid down in 1937 and completed in 1938-39, this class were slightly larger and aster versions of Bittern with two more 4in guns. As with other sloops, the 3pdrs *ere removed during the war, and by 1943 2-20mm had been added. ‘X’ 4in mounting was removed in 1942-43 in Pelican and Egret and the former had a Quadruple 2pdr pompom added in January 1944. By the end of the war she also A A“20mm, whilst the earlier war outfit of 40 DC had been increased to 120. ‘a«d was sunk by bombing and Egret was blown up by a Hs 293 guided These ships were developments of Egret, 7ft longer and Jkt faster, and were laid down in 1938-39 and completed in 1939—41. Denny-Brown stabilisers were fitted to all four. From 4 to 8-20mm guns were added during the war as well as Hedgehog, and the DC outfit was increased from 40 to 110. Black Swan could carry 34 mines. Ibis, the only loss, was sunk by an airborne torpedo. Erne became the RNVR Wessex in 1952; Flamingo was renamed Graf Spee in German service. Modified BITTERN class_________________________________________ Displacement: 1300-1340t standard; 1735-1758t deep load Dimensions: 292ft 6in oa x 37ft 6in x 10ft 1 lin mean deep load 89.15 x 11.43 x 3.33m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3600shp = 19kts. Oil 370t Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2). See notes Complement: 195 Name Builder Launched Fate JUMNA Denny 16.11.1940 Extant 1980 SUTLEJ Denny 1.10.1940 Extant 1980 GODAVARI Thornycroft 21.1.1943 Sold 1959 NARBADA Thornycroft 21.11.1942 BU 1959 These four sloops were built for the Indian Navy and were generally similar to Egret but with a different armament. They were laid down in 1940-41 and completed in 1941 or 1943. The last pair were fitted with 2-2pdr pompoms, and later additions in all vessels comprised 4 or 6-20mm (and Hedgehog in Sutlej only), whilst 80-88 DCs were carried if on anti-submarine duties. Jumna and Sultej were used as surveying vessels from 1957 and 1955; the other two were in Pakistani service, Godavari as Sind and Narbada zsjhelum, from 1948. Modified BLACK SWAN class Displacement: 1350-1490t standard; 1880-1950t deep load Dimensions: 299ft 6in oa x 38ft 6in x 11ft 2in—11ft 6in mean deep load 91.29 x 11.73 x 3.40-3.50m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4300shp = 19.75kts. Oil 390t Armament: 6-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (3x2). See notes Complement: 192 (Cauvery, Kistna 219) Name Builder Launched Fate ACTAEON Thornycroft 25.7.1945 To Germany 1958 ALACRITY Denny 1.9.1944 BU 1956 AMETHYST Stephen 7.5.1943 BU 1957 CHANTICLEER Denny 24.9.1942 Constructive loss 18.11.43 CRANE Denny 9.11.1942 BU 1965 CYGNET Cammell Laird 28.7.1942 BU 1956 HART Stephen 7.7.1943 To Germany 1959 HIND Denny 30.9.1943 BU 1958 KITE Cammell Laird 13.10.1942 Sunk 21.8.44 lapwing Scotts/ Stephen 16.7.1943 Sunk 20.3.45 LARK Scotts 28.8.1943 Constructive loss 17.2.45 MAGPIE Thornycroft 24.3.1943 BU 1959 57
GREAT BRITAIN Name Builder Launched Fate MERMAID Denny 11.11.1943 To Germany 1959 MODESTE Chatham DYd 29.1.1944 BU 1961 NEREIDE Chatham DYd 29.1 1944 BU 1958 OPOSSUM Denny 30.11.1944 BU 1960 PEACOCK Thomycroft 11.12.1943 BU 1958 PHEASANT Yarrow 21.12.1942 BU 1963 REDPOLE Yarrow 25 2.1943 BU 1960 SNIPE Denny 20.12.1945 BU 1960 SPARROW Denny 18.2.1946 BU 1958 STARLING Fairfield 14.10.1942 BU 1965 WHIMBREL Yarrow 25.8.1942 'Го Egypt 1949 \X ILD GOOSE Yarrow 14.10.1942 BU 1956 WOODCOCK Fairfield 26.11.1942 BU 1955 \X OODPECKER Denny 29.6 1942 Sunk 27.2.44 WREN Denny 11.8.1942 BU 1956 CAUVERY (RIN) Yarrow 15.6.1943 Extant 1980 KISTNA (RIN) Yarrow 22.4 1943 Extant 1980 The final class of wartime escort sloops and with 1ft more beam than Black Swan. They were laid down tn 1941-44 and completed in 1942-46. A further 5 ships, Nonsuch and Nymphe (Chatham), Partridge (Thomycroft), and Waterhen and UZrynecfc (Denny) were cancelled. All the class had Denny-Brown stabilisers of varying types Light AA armament varied Cygnet, Kile and Woodpecker had 8-2pdr pompoms (2x4), Kite having only 4 originally; Actaeon, Modeste, Nereide, Opossum, Bedpole, Snipe, Sparrow, Whimbrel and Woodcock had 4—40mm Bofors (2x2). In addition, Modeste was fitted with 4, later 2, single Bofors and Actaeon, Nereide, Opossum,Snipe andSparrow had 2 single Bofors. In 1945 the pompoms in Cygnet were exchanged for one and in 1947 for two twin Bofors, whilst Amethyst, Hart, M agpie, Mermaid, Peacock, Starling, Wild Goose and Wren had two twin Bofors added in 1944-45 Triaxial mountings were in Amethyst, Hart, Redpole, Starling, Whimbrel and Woodcock only. In 1945 two, possibly three, single Bofors were added to Redpole and two to Kistna. Up to 6-20mm were also carried in ships with Bofors or pompoms and 10 in those without. The normal DC outfit was 110 but an additional 50 in the Bofors magazine in place of these guns could be carried. Hedgehogs were apparently fitted only in Amethyst, Hart, Magpie and Pheasant. All five losses were due to U-boats. Actaeon was renamed Hipper on transfer to Germany, Han became Scheer andMermaid was renamedSchamhorst. Chanticleer was hulked as the base ship Lusitanta after being written off, whilst Lark was used by the Russians as Neptun from 1945 1'he Egyptian ship was renamed El Malek Farouq. Cauvery is now known as Kaveri. Amethyst about 1949 Ftshguard (ex-USCGC Tahoe) USCG Ex-US Coast Guard cutters The following ex-US Coast Guard cutlers were used by the Royal Navy: Banff (exSaranac), Culver (cx-Mendota), Fishguard (ex-Ta hoe), G or lesion (ex-hasca), Hartlanl (ex-Pontchartrain), Landguard (ex-Shoshone), Lulwonh (ex-Chelan), Sennen (ex-Champlain), Tolland (ex-Cayuga) and Walney (ex-Scbago). Culver was sunk by a U-boat 31.1.42 and Hartland and UZa/ney by gunfire at Oran I 8.11.42. By the end of the war typical armament was 1-4in/45 QF Mk V HA, l-3in/5O US HA, 2-2pdr pompom, 4—20mm, Hedgehog and 100 DC. These ships were transferred under Lend Lease April-June 1941. FRIGATES RIVER class (British- and earlier Canadian-built) Displacement: 1310-1460t standard; 1920-2180t deep load Dimensions: 301ft 4in oa x 36ft 8in x lift lOin—12ft 9in mean deep load 91.84 x 11.18 x 3.61-3.89m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 5500ihp = 20kts (Cam,Chelmer,Ettrick,Halladale,Helmsdale 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6500shp = 21kts. Oil 440t (646t in later ships) Armament: 2-4in/40 QF Mk XIX (2x 1), Hedgehog, 126 later 150 DC Complement: 140 Name Builder Launched Fate AIRE (TAMAR Mar-Dec 1946) Fleming & Ferguson 22.4.1943 Wrecked 20.12.46 ANNAN (RCN 1944-45) Hall Russell 29.12.1943 To Denmark 1945 AVON Hill 19 6 1943 To Portugal 1949 AWE Fleming & Ferguson 28.12.1943 To Portugal 1949 BALLINDERRY Bly th 7.12.1942 BU 1961 BANN (RIN Tir 1945) Hill 29.12.1942 TS 1948, extant 1979 BARLE (ex-USN) Canadian Vickers26.9.1942 To USA 1946 BRAID Simons 30.11.1943 To France 1944 CAM George Brown 31.7.1943 BU 1945 CHELMER George Brown 27.3 1943 BU 1957 Name Builder Launched Fate CUCKMERE Canadian Vickers24.10.1942 To USA 1946 (ex-USA) DART Bly th 10 10.1942 BU 1957 DERG Robb 7.1 1943 BU 1960 DEVERON (RIN Smiths Dock 12 10 1942 To Pakistan Dhanush 1945) 1948 DOVEY (ex- Fleming & 14.10.1943 BU 1955 Lamboume) Ferguson ETTRICK (RCN Crown 5.2.1943 BU 1953 1944-45) EVENLODE (ex- Canadian Vickers9.ll 1942 To USA 1946 USN Danville) EXE Fleming & 19.3.1942 BU 1956 Ferguson FAL Smiths Dock 9.11.1942 To Burma 1948 FINDHORN Canadian Vickers5.12 1942 To USA 1946 (ex-USN) FROME Blyth 1.6.1943 To France 1944 HALLADALE Inglis 28.1.1944 Sold (mercantile) 1949 HELFORD Hall Russell 6.2.1943 BU 1956 HELMSDALE Inglis 5.6.1943 BU 1957 INVER (ex-USN) Canadian VickerslS. 12.1942 To USA 1946 ITCHEN Fleming & 29.7.1942 Sunk 22.9.43 Ferguson JED Hill 30 7 1942 BU 1957 58 ।
Frigates Name Builder Launched Fate KALE Inglis 24.6.1942 BU 1957 LAGAN Smiths Dock 28.7.1942 Constructive loss 20.9 43, BU 1946 LOCHY Hall Russell 30 10.1943 BU 1956 LOSSIE (ex-USN) Canadian Vickers29 4.1943 To USA 1946 MEON (RCN 1944—45) Inglis 4.8.1943 BU 1966 MON NOW’ (RCN Hill 4 12.1943 To Denmark 1944-45) 1945 MOURNE Smiths Dock 24 9 1942 Sunk 15.6.44 MOYOLA Smiths Dock 27.8.1942 To France 1944 NADDER ''RIN Smiths Dock 15.9.1943 To Pakistan Shamsher 1944) 1948 NENE (RCN 1944-45) Smiths Dock 9 12 1942 BU 1955 NESS Robb 30 7 1942 BU 1956 NITH Robb 25.9.1942 To Egypt 1948, sunk 31.10.56 ODZANI Smiths Dock 19.5.1943 BU 1957 PARRET (ex-USN) Canadian Vickers29 4 1943 To USA 1946 PLYM Smiths Dock 4 2.1943 RNVR drillship 1948, expended 3.10.52 RIBBLE Simons 23.4 1943 To Netherlands 1943 R1BBLE (ex- Blyth 10 11 1943 BU 1957 Duddon) (RCN 1944-45) ROTHER Smiths Dock 20.11.1941 BU 1955 SHIEL (ex-USN) Canadian Vickers26.5.1943 To USA 1946 SPLY Smiths Dock 18 12 1941 To Egypt 1948 STRULE (ex- Robb 8 3.1943 To France 1944 Glenarm) SWALE Smiths Dock 16.1.1942 BU 1955 TAFF Hill 11.9.1943 BU 1957 TAVY Hill 3 4 1943 BU 1955 TAY Smiths Dock 18 3 1942 BU 1956 TEES Hall Russell 20 5.1943 BU 1955 ТЕМЕ (RCN 1944-45) Smiths Dock 11.11.1943 Constructive loss 29.3.45, BU 1946 TEST (RIN Ncza Hall Russell 30 5.1942 BU 1955 1946-47) TEVIOT Hall Russell 12.10.1942 BU 1955 TORRIDGE Blyth 16.8.1943 To France 1944 TOW'Y Smiths Dock 4 3.1943 BU 1956 1 RENT (RIN Kukn Hill 10 10 1942 Survey vessel 1946) Investigator 1951 1 WEED Inglis 24.11.1942 Sunk 7.1.44 USK Smiths Dock 3.4.1943 To Egypt 1948, scuttled 1956 waveney Smiths Dock 30 4 1942 BU 1957 WEAR Smiths Dock 1 6.1942 BU 1957 WINDRUSH Robb 18.6.1943 To France 1944 WYE Robb 16.8.1943 BU 1955 ANNAN (RCN) Canadian Vickers 12.9.1942 To USA 1942 CAPE BRETON Morton 24 11 1942 Sunk as (RCN) breakwater 1948 DUNVER (ex- Morton 10.11.1942 Sunk as Verdun) (RCN) breakwater 1948 GROU (RCN) Canadian Vickers7.8.1943 BU 1948 MATANE (ex- Canadian Vickers29 5 1943 Sunk as Stonnont) (RCN) breakwater 1948 MONTREAL(RCN) Canadian Vickersl2 6 1943 BU 1948 NADLR (ex-.4</ur) Canadian Vickers22.8 1942 To USA 1942 (RCN) NEW GLASGOW’ Canadian A arrow5.5 1943 Sold 1967 (RCN) NEW W ATERFORD Canadiin Yarrow3.7 1943 BU 1968 (RCN) OUTREMONT (RCN) Morton 3.7.1943 BU 1966 port colborne Canadian Yarrow21.4.1943 BU 1948 (RCN) PRINT E RUPER Г Canadian Yarrow3.2.1943 Sunk as (RCN) breakwater 1948 SI CA 1 HERIN’E’S Canadian Yarrow6.12.1942 W'eather ship (RCN) 1950 ST JOHN (RCN) Canadian Vickers25 8 1943 BU 1948 STORMON'l (RCN) Canadian Vickers 14 7.1943 Sold (mercanule) 1947 SW ANSEA (RCN) Canadian Yarrow 19 12.1942 BU 1968 \ alleyfield Morton 17.7.1943 Sunk 7.5.44 (RCN) WASKES1U (RCN) Canadian Yarrow6 12 1942 Sold (mercantile) W ENTWOR1 H (RCN) Canadian Yarrow6 3.1943 1947 BU 1948 The above ships, laid down in 1941-43 and completed in 1942-44, were intended as ocean-going anti-submarine escorts, for which purpose they were much superior to the smaller ‘Flower’ corvettes. They were built according to First Class mercantile practice with scantlings based on those of lightly built warship designs. Except in the 5 turbine ships, the engines were as in the ‘Flower* class but two sets were fitted. Oil fuel was limited to 440t in 24 of the first British-built ships, but the omission of minesweeping gear and a re- allocation of compartments allowed 646t in the remainder. The 8 RN ships built in Canada were originally intended for the USN with Asheville (ex-Hadur) and Natchez (ex-Annan) but were transferred under Lend-Lease. In Helms- dale, Hedgehog was later replaced by Squid and DCs reduced to 54 The light A A armament of 4 to 6-20mm was later increased to 12 in some, while in 1945 Inver had a twin 40mm Bofors as well as 2 singles, Мест and L'sk had 3 singles, Awe, Bann, Halladale, Helford,Jed, Kale, Ness, Nith, Tay , Teviot 2 singles, and Barle and Taff 1 single. Previously Roiher and Spey are recorded as mount- ing 2 single 2pdr pompoms, and Deveron, Мойте and Towy 1 or 2-6pdr Hotchkiss. When refitted in 1945 many of the Canadian-built RCN ships had their 2-4in Mk XIX guns replaced by 4in Mk XVI in a twin mounting for- ward All losses were caused by U-boats. RIVER class (later Canadian-built) Name Builder Launched Fate ANTIGONISH Canadian Yarrow 10 2 1944 Sold 1967 BEACON HILL Canadian Yarrow6 11 1943 Sold 1968 BUCKINGHAM (ex- Royal Mount) Davie SB 28 4 1944 BU 1966 CAP DE LA MADELEINE Morton 13.5.1944 BU 1966 CAPILANO Canadian Yarrow8 4 1944 Sold (mercantile) 1947 CARLPLACE Davie SB 6.7.1944 To Dominican Republic 1946 CHARLOTTETOWN G T Davie 16.9.1943 Sunk as breakwater 1948 CHEBOGUE Canadian Yarrow 16 8.1943 Constructive loss 4.10.44, BU 1948 COATICOOK Davie SB 25.11.1943 Sold and wrecked in tow 1947 EASTVIEW Canadian Vickersl7 11.1943 Sunk as breakwater 1948 FORT ERIE (ex-La Tuque) GT Davie 27.5.1944 BU 1966 GLACE BAY (ex-Lauzon) GT Davie 26 4.1944 To Chile 1946 HALLOWELL Canadian Vickers28 3.1944 Sold (mercanule) 1945; to Israel 1950 INCHARRON Davie SB 6.6.1944 Sold 1966, BU 1970 JOLIETTE Morton 12 11 1943 To Chile 1946 JONQUIERE GT Davie 28.10 1943 Sold 1967 KIRKLAND LAKE (ex-Sl Jerome) Morton 27.4.1944 BU 1947 KOKANEE Canadian Yarrow27.11 1943 Sold (mercantile) 1945 LA HULLOISE Canadian Vickers29 10 1943 BU 1966 LANARK Canadian VickerslO.12.1943 BU 1966 LA SALLE Davie SB 12.11.1943 Sunk as breakwater 1948 LAUZON (ex- Glace Bay) G T Davie 10.6.1944 Sold 1963 LEVIS GT Davie 26.11.1943 Sunk as breakwater 1948 LONGUEU1L Canadian Vickers30.10 1943 BU 1948 MAGOG Canadian Vickers22.9.1943 Constructive loss 14.10 44, BU 1947 ORKNEY Canadian Yarrow 18.9.1943 Sold (mercantile) 1947; to Israel 1950 PENETANG (ex- Ruuyn) Davie SB 6.7.1944 To Norway 1956 POUNDMAKER Canadian Vickers21.4 1944 To Peru 1947 PRESTONIAN (ex- Beauhamcns) Davie SB 22 6.1944 To Norway 1956 ROYAL MOUNT (ex Ahnngton) Canadian Vickersl5 4.1944 BU 1947 RUNNYMEDE Canadian Vickers27.ll 1943 BU 1948 ST PIERRE Davie SB 1.12.1943 To Peru 1947 SI STEPHEN Canadian Yarrow6 2.1944 W'eather ship 1947 S IE THERESE Davie SB 16 10 1943 Sold 1967 SEA CLIFF (ex-Megantic) Davie SB 8 7 1944 To Chile 1946 59
GREAT BRITAIN Name Builder Launched Fate SPRINGHILL Canadian Yarrow7.9.1943 BU 1948 STETTLER Canadian VickerslO.9.1943 Sold 1967 STONETOWN Canadian Vickers28.3.1944 Weather ship 1950 STRATHADAM Canadian Yarrow20.3.1944 Sold (mercantile) 1947; to Israel 1951 SUSSEXVALE (ex-Valdonan) Davie SB 12.7 1944 Sold 1967 THETFORD MINES Morton 30 10.1943 Sold (mercantile) 1946 TORONTO (ex- Giffard) Davie SB 18 9.1943 To Norway 1956 VICTORIAVILLE G T Davie 23.6 1944 Diving tender Granby 1967, stricken 1974 These vessels were similar to earlier units of the class except in their gun armament of 2—4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2). The light AA comprised 8-20mm and most had l-12pdr/12cwt HA also; according to British records this was in Antigonish, Glace Bay, Hallowell,Joliette, Kirkland Lake, Kokanee, Lauzon, Longueuil, Orkney, Poundmaker, Sea Cliff and Thetford Mines, but it was also in many others. All were RCN laid down in 1943-44 and completed in 1944. There were 20 named cancellations* Alexandria, Hardrock, Tisdale (Canadian Vickers), Foster, Henryville, Lingabar, Merritionia, Plessivtlle, Ran- ney Falls, St Romauld, Sussexvale (first) (G T Davie), Le Havre, Northumber- land, Pesaquid, Wulastock (Canadian Yarrow),St Agathe,St Edouard,Shipton, Westbury, Westville (Davie SB). Both losses were due to U-boats. RIVER class (Australian-built) Name Builder Launched Fate BARCOO Cockatoo 26 8 1943 BU 1972 BARWON Cockatoo 3 8 1944 BU 1962 BURDEKIN Walker 30 6 1943 BU 1962 DIAMANTINA • Walker 6 4 1944 Survey vessel 1959, extant 1979 GASCOYNE Morts Dock 20.2.1943 Survey vessel 1959, BU 1972 HAWKESBURY Morts Dock 24.7.1943 BU 1962 LACHLAN Morts Dock 25 3.1944 To New Zealand 1949, stricken 1974 MACQUARIE (ex-Culgoa) Morts Dock 3 3 1945 BU 1962 All RAN, laid down in 1942—43 and completed in 1943—46. Similar to other ‘Rivers’ except in gun armament This comprised 2-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x 1), Burdekin originally having 2—4in/40 QF Mk XIX (2x 1). The light AA comprised 6 to 8-20mm and later 1 to 3-40mm single Bofors. Modified RIVER class (Australian-built) Displacement: 1537t standard; 2187t deep load Dimensions: 301ft oa x 36ft 6in x 12ft 9in mean deep load 91.74 x IL 13 x 3.89m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 55OOihp = 19kts. Oil 610t Armament: 4-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x2), Hedgehog, 50 DC Complement: 177 Name Builder Launched Fate CONDAMINE Newcastle 4 11 1944 BU 1962 CULGOA (ex- Williamstown 22.9 1944 BU 1972 MacQuane) MURCHISON Evans Deakin 31.10.1944 BU 1962 SHOALHAVEN Walker 14.12.1944 BU 1962 These four, all RAN, were laid down in 1943 and completed in 1945—46, and had a 4in armament similar to that of the ‘Bay* class. The light AA guns initially comprised 6 to 8-20mm, and later up to 5—40mm single Bofors. A further 10 vessels were cancelled* Balmain, Campaspe (Morts Dock), Bogam (Newcastle), Murrumbidgee (Melbourne), Naomi, Nepean, Wimmera, Wollon- dilly (Cockatoo), Warburton (Evans Deakin) and Williamstown (Williamstown). LOCH class Displacement: 1435t standard; 2260t deep load Dimensions: 307ft oa x 38ft 7in x 12ft 4m mean deep load 93.57 x 11.76 x 3.76m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 55OOihp = 19.5kts, (Loch Arkaig, Loch Tralaig 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6000shp = 20kts). Oil 724t Armament: l-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (Loch Veyatie Mk XXI), 4-2pdr pompom (1x4), 2 Squid, 15 DC. See notes Complement: 114 Name Builder Launched Fate LOCH ACHANALT Robb 23 3 1944 To New Zealand (cx-Naver) (RCN 1948, BU 1966 1944-45) LOCH ACHRAY Smiths Dock 7 7 1944 To New Zealand 1948, BU 1967 LOCH ALVIE Barclay Curie 14 4 1944 BU 1965 (RCN 1944-45) LOCH ARKAIG Caledon 7 6 1945 BU 1960 LOCH CRAGGIE Harland & Wolff23.5.1944 BU 1963 LOCH DUNVEGAN Hill 25.3.1944 BU 1960 LOCH ECK Smiths Dock 25.4.1944 To New Zealand 1948, BU 1966 LOCH FADA John Brown 14.12.1943 Sold 1968 LOCH FYNE Burntisland 24.5.1944 BU 1970 LOCH GLENDHU Burntisland 18 10.1944 BU 1957 LOCH GORM Harland & Wolff8 6 1944 Sold 1961 LOCH INSH Robb 10 5 1944 To Malaysia 1964 LOCH KATRINE Robb 21.8.1944 To New Zealand 1949, BU 1967 LOCH KILLIN Burntisland 29 11 1943 BU I960 LOCH KILLISPORT Harland & Wolff6 7.1944 BU 1970 LOCH LOMOND Caledon 19 6 1944 BU 1968 LOCH MORE Caledon 3.10 1944 BU 1963 LOCH MORLICH (RCN 1944-45) Swan Hunter 25.1 1944 To New Zealand 1949, BU 1961 LOCH QUOICH Blyth 2.9.1944 BU 1957 LOCH RUTHVEN Hill 3.6.1944 BU 1966 LOCH SCAVAIG Hill 9.9.1944 BU 1959 LOCH SHIN Swan Hunter 23.2.1944 To New Zealand 1948, BU 1961 LOCH TARBERT Ailsa 19 10.1944 BU 1959 LOCH TRALAIG Caledon 12 2 1945 BU 1963 LOCH VEYATIE Ailsa 8 10 1945 BU 1965 GOOD HOPE (ex- Blyth 5 7.1944 Stricken 1976 Loch Boisdale) (SAN) NATAL (ex- Loch Swan Hunter 19 6 1944 Expended 1972 Cree) (SAN) TRANSVAAL (ex- Harland & Wolff2.8.1944 Stricken 1976 Loch Ard) (SAN) DERBY HAVEN (ex-Loch Assynt) Swan Hunter 14.12.1944 Completed as depot ship; to Iran 1949 WOODBRIDGE HAVEN (ex-Loch Tomdon) Swan Hunter 13.1.1945 Completed as depot ship, BU 1965 Improved ‘Rivers’ with much superior anti submarine armament, and with hulls designed for prefabrication. They were laid down in 1943—44 and com- pleted in 1944-46, Loch Fada being the lead ship. Fitting out was concentrated at Hendon Dock and Dalmuir Basin on the Wear and Clyde. 26 were con verted to ‘Bay’ class frigates with a heavier AA armament while under con- struction, and 54 were cancelled Lochs Affnc, Clume, Ericht (Ailsa), Awe, Enock, Eye, Eynort, Gotl, Houm, Inchard, Kirkaig, Laro, Lurgain, Ronald, Sheallag, Shiel, Stemster, Striven, Sunart, Swin, Tummel, Vanavic (Harland & Wolff), Badcall, Caroy, Knockie, Linnhe, Ryan, Scridain, Till (Pickersgill), Creran,Doine,Glashan, Harray, Ken, Linfem, Minnick, Ossian, Skaig,Steniiess (Smiths Dock), Eam,Skerrow (Hill), Erisort (Barclay Curie), Garve, Mabcrry (Hall Russell), Griam, Kirbister, Lyon (Swan Hunter), Kishom, Nell, Odaim (Robb), Tanna, Urigill, Vennachar, Watten (Blyth). Most if not all of these would have had a 4in Mk XXI gun Up to 10-20mm were carried, but only 4 in those later fitted with 2 Bofors (Loch Craggie, Loch Eck,Loch Glendhu) and none in those with 6 Bofors (Good Hope, Transvaal, Natal). 60
Mounts Bay about 1949 BAY class Displacement: 1600t standard, 2420t deep load Dimensions: 307ft oa x 38ft 7in x 12ft 9in mean deep load 93.57 x 11.76 x 3.89m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 55OOihp = 19.5kts. Oil 730t Armament: 4—4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA (2x2), 4—40mm Bofors (2x2) (also 2 or 4 single 40mm Bofors except in Bigbury Bay, Widemouth Bay), Hedgehog, 50 DC Complement: 157 Name Builder Launched Fate BIGBURY BAY (ex- Hall Russell 16.11.1944 To Portugal Loch Carloway) 1959 BURGHEAD BAY (ex- Hill 3.3.1945 To Portugal Loch Harport) 1959 CARDIGAN BAY (ex- Robb 28.12.1944 BU 1962 Loch Laxford) CARNARVON BAY (ex-Robb 15.3.1945 BU 1959 Loch Maddy) CAWSAND BAY (ex- Blyth 26.2.1945 BU 1959 Loch Roan) ENARD BAY (ex- Smiths Dock 31.10.1944 BU 1957 Loch Bracadale) LARGO BAY (ex- Ptckersgill 3.10.1944 BU 1958 Loch Fionn) MORECAMBE BAY Pickersgill 1.11.1944 To Portugal (ex-Loch Heili-n) 1961 MOUNTS BAY (ex- Pickersgill 8.6 1945 To Portugal Loch Kilbimie) 1961 PADSTOW BAY (ex- Robb 24.8.1945 BU 1959 Loch Coulside) PORLOCK BAY (ex- Hill 14.6.1945 To Finland Loch Seaforth, ex-Loch Muick) 1962 ST AUSTELL BAY Harland & Wolff 18.11.1944 BU 1959 (ex-Loch Lydoch) ST BRIDES BAY Harland & Wolff 16.1.1945 BU 1962 (ex-Loch Achilty) START BAY (ex- Harland & Wolff 15.2.1945 BU 1958 Loch Arklet) TREMA DOC BAY (ex- Harland & Wolff29.3.1945 BU 1959 Loch Amish) VERYAN BAY (ex- Hill 11.11.1944 BU 1959 Loch Swannay) WHITESAND BAY Harland & Wolff 16.12.1944 BU 1956 (ex-Loch Lubnaig) WIDEMOUTH BAY Harland & Wolff 19.10.1944 BU 1957 (ex-Loch Frtsa) WIGTOWN BAY (ex- Harland & Wolff26.4.1945 BU 1959 Loch Garasdale) ALERT (ex- Blyth 10.7.1945 Completed as Dundrum Bay, despatch vessel, ex-Loch Scamadale) BU 1971 SURPRISE (ex- Smiths Dock 14.3.1945 Completed as Gerrans Bay, despatch vessel, ex-Loch Canron) BU 1965 COOK (ex- Pickersgill 24.9.1945 Completed by Pegwell Bay, Dcvonport DYd ex-Loch Mochrum) as survev vessel DALRYMPLE (ex- Pickersgill 12.4.1945 Completed bv Luce Bay, ex-Loch Glass) DAMPIER (ex- Dcvonport DYd as survey vessel; to Portugal 1966 Smiths Dock 15.5.1945 Completed bv Heme Bay, Chatham JDYd as ex-Loch Eil) survev vessel OVi E.X (ex- Hall Russell 19.10.1945 Completed bv Thurso Bay, Ch uham DYd as ex-Loch Muick) survej, vessel Frigates This class had improved anti-aircraft and less effective anti-submarine arma- ment than the ‘Lochs*. They were laid down in 1944 and completed in 1945-46 except for Morecambe Bay and Mounts Bay (completed in 1949 by White and Thomycroft respectively) and the four survey vessels completed in 1948-50. Hollesley Bay (ex-Loch Fannie h) (Smiths Dock) was cancelled. Of those com- pleted as frigates, Carnarvon, Cawsand, Enard, Largo, St Ausull, Start, Tre- madoc, Whilesand and Wigtown Bay had four single Bofors, and Burghead, Cardigan, Morecambe, Mounts, Padstow, Porlock, St Brides and Veryan Bay two. These Had respectively 2 and 6-20mm, while the two ships without single Bofors had 8-20mm. CAPTAIN class (first group) (ex-US ‘GMT* class) Class (US number/name): Bayntun (BDE1), Bazely (BDE2), Berry (BDE3), Blackwood (BDE4), Burges (BDE12), Capel (DE266 Ше), Cooke (DE267 Dempsey), Dacres (DE268 Duffy), Domett (DE269 Eisner), Drury ex-Cockbum (BDE46), Foley (DE270 Gillette), Gardiner (DE274 O'Toole), Garhes (DE271 Fleming), Goodall (DE275 Reybold), Goodson (DE276 George), Gore (DE277 Herzog), Gould (DE272 Lovering), Gnndall (DE273 Sanders), Hoste ex-Mitchell (DE521), Inglis (DE525), Inman (DE526), Keats (DE 278 Tisdale),Kempthome (DE279 Trumpeter), Ktngsmill (DE280), Lawford (DES 16), Lawson (DES 18), Loring (DE52O), Louis (DE517), Manners (DE523), Moorsom (DE522), Moun- sey (DE524), Pasley ex-Lindsay (DES 19). Ex-Evarts class diesel-electric frigates delivered under Lend-Lease in 1943—44. Blackwood, Capel, Goodall and Gould were sunk by U-boats on 15.6 44, 26.12.44, 29.4.45 and 1.3.44 respectively and Lawford, serving as an LSH, by an aerial torpedo on 8.6.44, while Goodson and Manners were never repaired after damage by U-boats. Armament typically comprised S-3in/5O US HA, 9 to 15-20mm, Hedgehog and 160 DC, but a twin 40mm Bofors is also recorded in Bayntun, Bazely, Berry, Blackwood, Burges and Drury. At the end of 1944 it was approved to carry 2 Mk 10* DCs, and as these each weighed 30501b 16 other DCs had to be landed. Bentinck about 1944 MoD CAPTAIN class (second group) (ex-US ‘ТЕ’ class) Class (US number/name): Affleck (DE71 Oswald), Aylmer (DE72 Harmon), Balfour (DE73 McAnn), Bentinck (DE52 Bull), Bentley (DE74 Ebert), Bicker- ton (DE75 Eisele), Bligh (DE76 Liddle), Braithwaite (DE77 Straub), Bullen (DE78), Byard (DE55 Donaldson), Byron (DE79), Calder (DE58 Formoe), Conn (DESO), Cosby ex-Reeves (DE94), Cotton (DE81), Cranstoun (DE82), Cubitt (DE83), Curzon (DE84), Dakins (DE85), Deane (DE86), Duckworth (DE61 Gary), Duff (DE64 Lamons), Ekins (DE87), Essington (DE67), Fitzroy (DE88), Hoisted (DE91 Reynolds), Hargood (DE573), Holmes (DE572), Hotham (DE574), Narbrough (DE569), Redmill (DE89), Retalick (DE90), Riou (DE92), Rowley (DE95), Rupert (DE96), Rutherford (DE93), Seymour (DE98), Spragge (DE563), Stayner (DE564), Stockham (DE97), Thombrough (DE565), Torrington (DE568), Trollope (DE566), Tyler (DE567), Waldegrave (DE570), Whittaker (DE571). Ex-Buckley class turbo-electric vessels delivered under Lend-Lease in 1943—44. Bickerion and Bullen were sunk by U-boats on 22.8.44 and 6.12.44 respectively, and 8 were not repaired after damage by U-boats {Affleck, Red- mill), E-boats (Halsted, Trollope), ground mines (Dakins, Ekins), small contact mine (Duff) and torpedo or floating mine which ignited Hedgehog propellant (Whittaker). Typical armament was 3-3in/50 US HA, 8 to 10-20inni, Hedgehog and 160 DCs, but Bentinck, Braithwaite, Byard, Calder, Curzon, Duckworth, Duff and Essington had a twin 40mm Bofors for their main light AA, supplemented later by 7 single Bofors in Calder, Duckworth and Essington, while Cubitt had 2 singles only. A 2pdr pompom as an anti-E-boat bow chaser was added to many in 1944 and at the end of that year it was approved to carry 2 Mk 10* DCs, which could be done without reducing other armament. Hotham was retained by Britain until 1956 and was used for gas turbine experiments. 61
GREAT BRITAIN COLONY class (ex-US Tacoma class) Class (US number): Anguilla ex-Hallowell (PF72), Antigua exHammond (PF73), Ascension ex-Hargood (PF74), Bahamas ex-Hotham (PF75), Barbados ex-Halsted (PF76), Caicos ex-Hannam (PF77), Cayman ex-Harland (PF78), Dominica ex-Harman (PF79), Labuan ex-Gold Coast, ex-Harvey (PF80), Mont- serrat cx-Homby (PF82), Nyasaland ex-Hoste (PF83), Papua ex-Hoven (PF84), Penm ex-Sierra Leone, ex-Philhmore (PF89), Pitcairn ex-Pilford (PF85), St Helena ex-Pasley (PF86), Sarawak ex-Pauon (PF87), Seychelles ex-Peard (PF88), Somaliland ex-Popham (PF90), Tobago ex-Hong Kong, cx-Hobnes (PF81), Tortola ex-Peyton (PF91), Zanzibar ex-Prowse (PF92). Delivered under Lend-Lease in 1944. None was lost. Armament at the end of the war comprised 3-3in/5O US HA, 4-40mm Bofors (2x2), 4 to 10-20mm, Hedgehog and 64 DCs. OTHER ESCORTS KINGFISHER class patrol vessels (launched 1935-38) Displacement: 510-530t standard; 740-745t deep load Dimensions: 243ft 3in oa x 26ft 6in x 8ft mean deep load 14 14 x 8 08 x 2.44m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3600shp = 2Okts. Oil 160—172t Armament: 1—4in/45 QF Mk V (later HA), 30-60 DC Complement: 60 Class: Fairfield - Kingfisher Stephen - Mallard, Puffin Thomycroft - Kittiwake, Sheldrake Yarrow - Widgeon SHEARWATER class patrol vessels (launched 1939) Particulars as Kingfisher class except 580t standard, 233ft 3in oa x 25ft 6in x 8ft 9in mean deep load (71.09 x 7.77 x 2 67m), 132t oil. Class: Denny - Guillemot, Pintail White - Shearwater The Kingfisher and Shearwater classes were intended as a new version of the First World War P and PC boats for use as coastal escorts. They were not considered suitable for 1939-45 quantity production. Shearwater had a 12pdr added and most had 2-20mm eventually. Pintail was mined 10 6 41 and Puf- fin, moderately damaged when a midget submarine’s torpedo exploded when rammed 26.3.45, was not repaired. The rest were disposed of 1946-50. Clematis m late 1940 KIL class patrol vessels Class: Kilbimie, Kilbride, Kilchattan, Kilchrenan, Kildary, Kildwick, Kilham, Kilkenzie, Ktlkhampton, Kilmalcolm, Kilmarnock, Kilmartin, Kilmelford, Kil- mington, Kilmore (ex-BECl-15, ex-USN PCE827-841 in order as given). Ex-USN PCE842 class patrol vessels supplied under Lend-Lease. No war losses. Bryony 1942 as a minesweeper FLOWER class corvettes (launched 1940-42) Displacement: 1170t (900t-1110t actual in 1945) standard; 925t (1245—I390t) deep load Dimensions: 205ft (some 208ft 4in) oa x 33ft 2in x 13ft 7in—15ft 9in mean deep load 62.48(63.50) *10.11x4.14-4 80m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 2 cyl (some 2 Admiralty 3-drum) boilers, 2750ihp = 16 5kts. Oil 230t (Meadowsweet later 308t, Bal- sam, Godelia, Potentilla, Tamarisk 337t) Armament: l-4in/45 BL Mk IX (4in/40 QF Mk XIX in some), 40 DC (later Hedgehog, 72 DC). See notes Complement: 85—109 Class: Ailsa - Acanthus (to Norway 1942), Aconite (to France as Aconit 1941) Blyth - Anemone, Arbutus (i) G Brown - Alyssum (to France as Alysse 1941), Asphodel, Aubrietia, Auricula, Balsam (ex-Cheltner), Bellwort, Borage Cook, Welton & Gemmell - Azalea, Begonia (to USN as Impulse 1942) Crown - Burdock, Campion, Godelia (ii) (ex-Dart) Heliotrope (to USN as Sur- prise 1942), Hollyhock Ferguson - Honeysuckle, Hydrangea, Jasmine Fleming & Ferguson - Amaranthus, Bluebell, Campanula, Clover, Jonquil, Larkspur (to USN as Fury 1942), Monkshood, Montbrena (to Norway 1941), Tamarisk (ex-Ettrick) (to Greece as Tompazis 1943) Grangemouth - Candytuft (to USN as Tenacity 1942), Carnation (to Holland as Fnsio 1943—45), Celandine Hall - Coltsfoot, Hyderabad (ex-Nettle), Lavender, Lobelia (to France 1941), Poppy Hall Russell - Conander (ex-ins) (to France as Commandante Detrqyat 1942), Loosestrife, Marguerite, Marigold, Mignonette Harland & Wolff-Abeita, Ahsma, Anchusa, Arabis (i) (to USN as Saucy 1942, RN Snapdragon (ii) 1945), Armenia, Aster, Bergamot, Bryony, Buttercup (to Norway 1942), Calendula (to USN as Ready 1942), Camellia, Chrysanthemum (to France as Commandante Drogou 1942), Clarkia, Cowslip, Eglantine (to Norway 1941), Erica, Freesia, Fritillaty, Genista, Gentian, Gloxinia, Heartsease (ex-Pansy) (to USN as Courage \942), Heather, Hibiscus (to USN asSpiy 1942), Hyacinth (to Greece as Apostohs 1943), Kingcup, Mallow (to Yugoslavia as Nada 1944), Orchis, Peony (to Greece as Sakhtouris 1943), Periwinkle (to USN as Restless 1942), Picotee, Pimpernel, Rhododendron, Vervain (ex-Broom) Can- celled: Gloriosa, Harebell, Hemlock, Ivy, Ling, Marjoram Hill - Clematis, Columbine, Convolvulus, Lotus (i) (to France as Commandante d’Estienne d’Orves 1942), Meadowsweet, Mimosa (to France 19^2), Rockrose, Saxifrage Ingbs - Coreopsis (to Greece as Knezts 1943), Crocus, Oxlip, Pennywort, Spiraea, Starwort Lewis - Cyclamen, Dahlia, Dianella (ex-Daffodil), Myosotis, Narcissus, Sundew (to France as Roselys 1941) Philip - Mgella, Pentstemon Robb - Delphinium, Dianthus, Lotus (ii) (ex-Phlox), Petunia, Pink, Polyanthus Simons - Gardenia, Geranium, Potentilla (to Norway 1942—44), Primrose, Primula, Ranunculus (to France as Renoncule 1941), Rose (to Norway 1941), Salvia, Snapdragon (i), Violet, Woodruff Smith’s Dock - Gladiolus, Godetia (i), Samphire, Snowdrop, Snowflake (ex- Zenobia), Stonecrop, Sunflower, Sweetbriar, Thyme, Tulip, Verbena, Veronica (to USN as Temptress 1942), Vetch, Wallflower, Zinnia Also ex-Frcnch vessels Fleur de Lys (ex-La Dieppoise), La Bastiaise, La Malouine, Nasturtium (ex-La Paimpolaise) Canadian yards (All RCN, 10 lent by RN as indicated): Burrard - Agassiz, Chilliwack, Trail, Wetaskiwin (ex-Banff) Canadian Vickers - Chambly, Chicoutimi, Dauphin, Eyebnght (to RCN 1941—45), Lethbridge, Maxflower (to RCN 1941—45), Saskatoon, Trillium (to RCN 1941-45) Canadian Yarrow — Albemi, Edmundston, Nanaimo, Timmins, Vancouver (ex- Kitchener) Colbngwood — Barrie, Battleford, Collingwood, Drumheller, Galt, Halifax, Moose-Jaw, Onlha, The Pas, Woodstock Davie SB - Baddeck, Brandon, Buctouche, Hepatica (to RCN 1941-45), Pictou, Rimouski, Shediac, Snowberry (to RCN 1941—45), Spikenard (to RCN 1940), Windflower (to RCN 1940) G T Davie — Kitchener (ex-Vancouver), Levis, Lunenburg, Shawintgan Kingston - Charlottetown, La Malbaie (ex-Fort William), Napance, Prescott, Sudbury Manne Industries - Arrowhead (to RCN 1941—45), Bittersweet (to RCN 1941-45), Calgary, Camrose, Dunvegan, Fennel (to RCN 1941-45), Fredericton, Regina, Sherbrooke, Sorel Midland - Brentford, Midland Morton - Artnda, Louisburg (i), Matapedia, Summerside, Ville de Quebec (ex- Quebec) Port Arthur - Algoma, Cobalt, Kamsack, Kenogami, Morden, Oakville, Port Arthur, Rosthem, Weybum St John - Amherst, Moncton, Sackvtlle Victoria — Dawson, Dundas, Kamloops, New Westminster, Quesnell
Other escorts This class of readily built escorts had its origins in a sketch design of Smith’s Dock based on their whalecatcher Southern Pride but lengthened by 30ft. Many modifications were made under construction if possible, or as the oppor- tunity offered. These included extending the forecastle, and in some altering the hull section forward above Iwl to give more sheer and flare. Bilge keels were deepened, bridges improved, and splinter protection, increased electric power and steam heating and artificial ventilation in living spaces were pro- vided. 10 RCN corvettes (Calgary, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitch- ener, La Malbaie, Pon Arthur, Regina, Ville de Quebec and Woodstock) were 208ft 4in (63.50m) oa, and they and 5 others (Brentford, Midland, New West- minster, Timmins and Vancouver) had waterlube boilers. There was consider- able variation in armament from the standard given above. Delphinium, Erica, Hyacinth, Peony and Salvia had a 12pdr or 3in/20cwt AA in place of the 4in gun, while at one time Gloxinia (and possibly Mimosa, Primula, Samphire and Snapdragon) had a 3in or 12pdr in addition to the 4in. Mallow had l-4in and 2-6pdr Hotchkiss in 1945, and earlier more than 30 ships were so armed. Light AA by 1945 usually comprised l-2pdr and 2 to 4—20mm, or 3 to 6-20mm only. Losses were heavy: Alyssum 8.2.42, Arbutus 5.2.42, Asphodel 9.3.44, Bluebell 17.2.45, Gladiolus 16.10.41, Mimosa 9.6.42, Montbretia 18.11.42, Picotee 12.8.41, Polyanthus 20.9.43, Salvia 24.12.41, Vervain 20.2.45, Zinnia 23.8.41, Fleur de Lys 14.10.41, Charlottetown 11.9.42, Levis 19.9.41, Regina 8.8.44, Shawinigan 25.11.44 and Spikenard 11.2.42 (due to U-boats); Samphire 30.1.43 (Italian submarine); Auricula 5.5.42, Erica 9.2.43, Orchis constructive total loss 21.8.44, Pink constructive total loss 27.6.44, La Bastiaise on trials 22.6.40, Albemi 21.8.44 and Weybum 22.2.43 (mines); Marigold 9.12.42 and Louisburg 6.2.43 (aerial torpedoes); Hollyhock 9.4.42 (bombed and blew up); Snapdragon (i) 19.12.42 (near-missed by bombs); and Gardenia 9.11.42, Godetia (i) 6.9.40, Rose 26.10.44 and Windflower 7.12.41 (collision). The survivors were disposed of or converted to other uses from 1945 to 1956. Charlock 1944 Modified FLOWER class corvettes (launched 1942-44) Displacement: 980-1000t standard; 1350-1370t deep load Dimensions: 205ft (some 208ft 4in) oa x 33ft 2in x 14ft 3in-14ft 6in mean deep load 62.48(63.50) x 10.11 x 4.34-4.42m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 2 cyl (some 2 Admiralty 3-drum) boilers, 2750ihp = 16.5kts. Oil 337t Armament: l-4in/45 BL Mk IX (4in/40 QF Mk XIX in Canadian-buik), Hedgehog, 72 DC Complement: 109 Class: G Brown - Arabis (ii), Arbutus (ii) (both to RNZN 1944-48) Crown - Bugloss (to RIN as Assam 1945-48), Mimico (ex-Bulrush) (RCN) Ferguson - Burnet (to RIN as Gondwana 1945), Charlock (to RIN as Mahratta 1946-47), Forrest Hill (ex-Ceanothus) (RCN) Hall-Bemriy (to RIN as Sind 1945), Giffard (ex-Buddleia) (RCN). Cancelled: Balm Inglis - Longbranch (ex-Candytuft (ii)) (RCN) Canadian yards: Collingwood - Comfrey (to USN as Action 1943), Cornel (to USN as Alacrity 1943), Dittany (ex-USN Beacon), Fergus (ex-RCN Fort Francis) (RCN), Guelph (RCN), North Bay (RCN), Owen Sound (RCN), Smilax (ex-USN Tact),Statice (ex-USN Vim). Cancelled: Ingersoll (RCN) Kingston - Belleville (RCN), Flax (to USN as Brisk 1943), Frontenac (RCN), Honesty (ex-USN Caprice), Peterborough (RCN), Rosebay (ex-USN Splendor), Smiths Falls (RCN), Trentonian (RCN). Cancelled: Listowel (RCN), Renfrew (RCN) Midland - Cobuurg (RCN), Linaria (ex-USN Clash), Lindsay (RCN), Parry Sound (RCN), Strathroy (RCN), Thorlock (RCN), West York (RCN), Whitby (RCN), Willowherb (ex-USN- Vitality). Cancelled: Meaford (RCN) Monon - Asbestos (RCN), Atholl (RCN), Beauhamois (RCN), Hawkesbury (RCN), Lachute (RCN, Louisburg (ii) (RCN), Mandrake (to USN as Haste 1943), Memttonia (ex-RCN Pointe Claire) (RCN), Milfoil (to USN as Intensity 1943), Musk (to USN as Might 1943), Nepeta (to USN as Pert 1943), Norsyd (RCN), Privet (to USN as Prudent 1943), Riviere du I oup (RCN), St Lambert (RCN), Stellarton (RCN). Cancelled: Brampton (RCN), Simcoe (RCN). As indicated above, 7 w’ere transferred to Britain under Lend-Lease while 8 remained in the USN. This class incorporated the improvements gradually introduced in the earlier ‘Flowers’, including increased oil fuel. The Canadian-built RCN ships had waterlube boilers and they and the British-built Forrest Hill, Giffard, Longbranch and Mimico were 208ft 4in (63.50m) oa. Light AA consisted of 3 to 8-20mm with a 2pdr pompom in some. Trentonian was torpedoed by a U-boat 22.2.45 and Merrittonia wrecked 30.11.45; the rest were disposed of 1945-52. CASTLE class corvettes (launched 1943-44) Displacement: 1060t standard; 1590-1630t deep load Dimensions: 252ft oa x 36ft 8in x 13ft 6in-13ft 9in mean deep load 76.81 x 11.18 x 4.11-4.19m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2750ihp = 16.5kts. Oil 480t Armament: l-4in/40 QF Mk XIX, 1 Squid, 15 DC Complement: 120 Class: Ailsa - Tintagel Castle, Huntsville (ex-Wolvesey Castle) (RCN) Austin - Amberley Castle. Cancelled: Appleby Castle, Tonbridge Castle Barclay Curie — Berkeley Castle Blyth - Knaresborough Castle, Launceston Castle, Coppercliff (cx-Hever Castle) (RCN) G Brown -Alnwick Castle; rescue ship Barnard Castle. Cancelled: Bere Castle, Caldecot Castle, Norwich Castle Caledon - Carisbrooke Castle, Dumbarton Castle, Hurst Castle Crown - Farnham Castle, Hedingham Castle (ex-Gorey Castle). Cancelled: Oswestry Castle, Pendennis Castle, Rhuddlan Castle Ferguson - Tillsonburg (cx-Pembroke Castle) (RCN); rescue ships Rayleigh Castle, York Castle. Cancelled: Thombury Castle Fleming & Ferguson -Allington Castle (ex-Amaryllis), Lancaster Castle; rescue ships Maiden Castle, Scarborough Castle. Cancelled: A lion Castle, Warkworth Castle Harland & Wolff - Oxford Castle, Pevensey Castle, Amprior (ex-Rising Castle) (RCN), Petrolia (ex-Sherbome Castle) (RCN) Inglis - Oakham Castle, Humberstone (ex-Norham Castle, ex-Totnes Castle) (RCN). Cancelled: Calshol Castle, Dover Castle, Dudley Castle Lewis - Bamborough Castle, Caistor Castle, Denbigh Castle. Cancelled: Mon- mouth Castle Pickersgill - Leeds Castle, Morpeth Castle, Bowmanville (ex-Nunnery Castle) (RCN) Robb - Flint Castle, Hespeler (ex-Guildford Castle) (RCN), Orangeville (ex- Hedingham Castle) (RCN) Smith’s Dock - Hadleigh Castle, Kenilworth Castle, Kincardine (ex-Tamworth Castle) (RCN), Leaside (ex- Walmer Castle) (RCN), St Thomas (exSandgate Castle) (RCN) Swan Hunter — Portchester Castle, Rushen Castle, Shrewsbury Castle (Nor- wegian Tunsberg) Canadian yards (All cancelled): Collingwood -Bodiam Castle, Bolton Castle, Bramber Castle, Bridgnorth Castle, Brough Castle, Chepstow Castle, Chester Castle, Clare Castle, Clavering Castle, Clitheroe Castle, Corfe Castle, Comet Castle, Cowes Castle, Dhyfe Castle Kingston - Aydon Castle, Barnwell Castle, Beeston Castle, Bowes Castle, Devizes Castle, Egremont Castle Midland — Canterbury Castle, Carew Castle, Christchurch Castle, Clun Castle, Colchester Castle, Cowling Castle, Cromer Castle, Dunster Castle, Wigmore Castle Morton - Criccieth Castle, Fotheringay Castle, Helmsley Castle, Malting Castle, Malmesbury Castle, Raby Castle, Tremaion Castle, Tutbury Castle Five of these vessels were completed as convoy rescue ships, as indicated above. This class were a considerable improvement on the ‘Flowers’, the increased length, originally proposed by William Reed of Smith’s Dock, mak- ing them more suitable for Atlantic weather conditions, and the anti- submarine armament being rendered more effective by the installation of Squid. Light A A varied from 4 to 10-20mm. Three were sunk: Hurst Castle on 1.9.44 and Denbigh Castle on 13.2.45 by U-boats, and Tunsberg (ex-Shrewsbury Castle) by a mine on 12.12.44. The remaining RN ships were disposed of between 1955 and 1961; the RCN vessels were mostly sold for mercantile service in 1947, and all had gone by 1949. HALCYON class minesweepers (launched 1933-39) Displacement: 785-815t standard; 1330t deep load Dimensions: 245fl 6in oa x 33ft 6in x 10ft 3in mean deep load 74.83 x 10.21 x 3.12m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines (Halcyon, Harrier, Hussar, Skipjack, Speedwell VC; Niger, Salamander VTE), 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 1750shp = 17kts (1770ihp = 16.5kts; 2000ihp = 17kts). Oil 264t (223t; 223t) Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (1 HA, later 2x1 HA, finally 1 HA only); 40 DC as escorts Complement: 80 Class: Ailsa - Franklin, Jason J Brown - Halcyon, Skipjack Caledon - Scott Devonport DYd - Bramble, Britomart, Hebe, Leda, Seagull, Sharpshooter 63
GREAT BRITAIN Skipjack in 1940 Whitehaven during the war By council of John Roberts Grays - Gleaner, Hazard Hamilton - Gossamer, Speedwell, Speedy, Sphinx Thomycroft - Harner, Hussar White - Niger, Salamander Franklin, Gleaner, Gossamer, Jason and Scott were completed as surveying vessels but converted to minesweepers in 1939. The first five ships were remarkable in having 3 cylinder VC engines with poppet valves operated b\ rotary camshafts with enclosed forced lubrication, and Seagull was the first all welded ship to be completed for the Royal Navy. From 4 to 8-20mm guns were eventually added. Losses were heavy: Bramble 31.12.42 (gunfire German destroyers); Leda 20.9.42 (U-boat); Hebe 22 11.43 (mine); and Gossamer 24 6.42, Skipjack 1 6 40 and Sphinx 3 2 40 (bombs). Four were accidentally lost, Niger on a British moored magnetic mine 5.7.42, Bniomart and Hussar lost and Salamander constructive loss from rocket-firing Typhoons 27 8 44. The others, except for Franklin, Scott, Seagull and Shackleton (exSharpshooier) which became surveying ships, were disposed of 1946-50. BANGOR class (diesel-engined) minesweepers (launched 1940-42) Displacement: 590t standard, 690t deep load Dimensions: 162ft oa x 28ft x 9ft 4in mean deep load 49.38 x 8 S3 x 2.84 m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 2000bhp = 16 5kts. Oil 65t Armament: l-3in/20cwt HA (RCN l-12pdr/12cwt HA, Melville l-4in/40 QF Mk IV); 40 DC as escorts Complement: 60 Class: Denny - Bridlington, Bndport Harland & Wolff - Bangor, Blackpool Canadian yards (All RCN): Davie SB - Digby, Granby, Lachtne, Melville, Noranda, Truro Marine Industries — Brockville, Esquimalt, Transcona, Trots Rii teres Smaller than the Halcyon class and found to be cramped for magnetic or acoustic minesweeping gear. Lack of diesel manufacturing capacity limited the numbers built Most had 1 to 3-20mm added Esquimalt was sunk by a U boat 16 4 45 and the four RN ships disposed of in 1946, while some of the RCN vessels lasted until 1961 or later, either with that service or the RCMP. BANGOR class (VTE-engined) minesweepers (launched 1940-44) Displacement: 656-688t standard; 825-875t deep load Dimensions: 180ft oa x 28ft 6in x 9ft 9m-10ft 3in mean deep load (prop- eller ups to lift 8in-12ft 3in) 54 86 x 6 69 x 2.97-3 12, (3 56-3.73)m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2400ihp = 16 5kts. Oil 150t Armament: l-3in/20cwt HA or l-12pdr/12cwt HA (some l-4in/40 QF Mk IV); 40 DC as escorts Complement: 60-87 Class: Blyth - Blyth, Peterhead Lobnitz-Bude,Clydebank (to RIN asOnssa 1942),Cromer, Eastbourne,Felix- stowe, Fraserburgh, Lyme Regis (i) (to RIN as Rajputana 1942), Rhyl, Romney, Seaham, Tilbury (to RIN as Konkan 1942) Robb — Sidmouth, Stornoway Canadian yards: Burrard — Bellechasse (RCN), Chedabucto (RCN), Minas (RCN), Miramichi (RCN), Quinte (RCN), Wasaga (RCN) Canadian Vickers - Drummondmlle (RCN), Grandmere (RCN), Medicine Hat (RCN), Red Deer (RCN), Swift Current (RCN), Vegreville (RCN) Dufferin - Burlington (RCN), Fort York (ex-Mignan), Gananoque (RCN), Georgian (RCN), Godench (RCN), Niptgon (RCN), Parrsborough, Port Hope (RCN), Quahcum, Samia (RCN), Shtppigan, Stratford (RCN), Tadoussac, Thunder (RCN), Wedgeport, Westmount (RCN) North Vancouver - Canso (to RCN 1942-45), Caraquet (to RCN 1942-45), Chignecto (RCN), Cowichan (RCN), Guysborough (to RCN 1942), Ingontsh (to RCN 1943-45), Lockeport (to RCN 1942-45), Mahone (RCN), Malpeque (RCN), Outarde (RCN), Ungava (RCN) Port Arthur - Bayfield (to RCN 1941-45), Blaimtore (RCN), Fort William (RCN), Кc nor a (RCN), Kentville (RCN), Milltown (RCN), Mutgrave (RCN) Prince Rupert - Clayoqtiot (RCN), Courtenay (RCN), Kelowna (RCN), Quat- sino (RCN) Indian yards (All RIN): Garden Reach - Bihar, Deccan, Malwa, Oudh Hong Kong yards - (All completed by Japanese) Hong Kong & WTiampoa - Lantan (ex Beaulieu), Lyemun (ex-Looe) Taikoo - Taitam (ex-Portland), Waglan (exSeaford) Similar to the diesel-engined Bangor class but enlarged to accommodate boilers and VTE engines Chedabucto, Clayoquot, Cowichan, Mahone, Mal- peque, Minas, Mtramicht, Nipigon, Quatstno, Quinte, Ungava and Wasaga had 4in guns Light AA eventually comprised l-2pdr pompom and/or 1 to 3-20mm Losses were. Clayoquot 24 12.44 and Guysborough 17 3 45 (U-boats); Cromer 9 11 42, Felixstowe 18 12.43 and Mulgrave constructive loss 8 10 44 (mines), and Chedabucto 21 10 43 (collision) Most of the survivors were dis- posed of between 1946 and 1950, but numerous RCN ships remained until 1957-59 and a few RIN vessels beyond those dates. BANGOR class (turbine-engined) minesweepers (launched 1940-42) Displacement: 605l standard, 780t deep load Dimensions: 174ft oa x 28ft 6in x 9ft 8in mean deep load 53 04 x 6.69 x 2 95m Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2000shp = 16 5kts. Oil 150t Armament: l-3in/20cwt HA, (Cromarty, RIN ships 1-I2pdr/I2cwt HA); 40 DC as escorts Complement: 60-87 Class: Ailsa - Beaumaris, Bootle, Boston, Clacton, Dornoch, Hythe (ex Banff), Pol- ruan, Rye Blyth - Ardrossan, Bnxham, Cromarty, Dunbar, Greenock (to RIN as Baluchi- stan 1942), Hartltpool (to RIN as Kathiawar 1942) Hamilton -Harwich (to RIN as Khyber 1942), I Ifracombe, Llandudno, Middles- borough (to RIN as Kurnaon 1942), Newhaven (to RIN as Carnatic 1942), Padstow (to RIN as Rohilkand 1943), Rothesay, Tenby Philip - Whitehaven, Worthing Stephen - Lyme Regis (ii) (exSunderland), Poole Similar to other Bangors but with geared turbines. Hythe was sunk b\ a U-boat 11 1043 and Clacton and Cromarty by mines on 31 12 43 and 23 10 43 respectively. The survivors were disposed of 1947-50 except for Rohilkand and two RIN vessels which went to Pakistan, these lasting until 1956-61. Bendigo 1941 BATHURST class minesweepers (launched 1940-43) Displacement: 65Q-790t standard Dimensions: 186ft 2in oa x 31ft 2in x 9ft 10m mean deep load 56 74 * 9 50 * 3.00m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 3-drum boilers, 155O-2OOOihp = 15-16kts. Oil 124-1531 Armament: l-4in/45 BL Mk IX or l-4in/40 QF Mk XIX or l-4in/45 QF Mk XVI HA or l-12pdr/12cwt HA, l-40mm Bofors or l-2pdr pompom in some, 12 to 40 DC (up to 82 DC as escorts) Complement: 80-90 Class: (Australian yards) Broken Hill -Gawler (ex-Gambier), Kalgoorhe, Pine, Whyalla (ex-Glenelg) Cockatoo - Bathurst, Bendigo, Cessnock, Glenelg (RAN), Goulbum, Wollon- gong, Bengal (RIN), Madras (RIN) Evans Deakin - Ararat (RAN), Broome, Bunbury (RAN), Bundaberg (RAN), Fremantle (RAN), Gympie (RAN), Ipswich, Kiama (RAN), Launceston, Parkes (RAN), Townsville (RAN) 64
Other escoi is Morts Dock - Armtdale (RAN), Bumie, Colac (RAN), Deloraine (RAN), Dubbo (RAN), Inverell (RAN), Latrobe (RAN), Lismore, Lithgow (RAN), Mil- dura (RAN), Wagga (RAN), Warmambool (RAN), Bombay (RIN), Punjab (RIN) Newcastle - Strahan (RAN) Poole & Steele - Cootamundra (RAN), Cowra (RAN), Geraldton,Junee (RAN), Kapunda (RAN), Katoomba (RAN), Wallaroo (RAN) Walkers — Bowen (RAN), Cairns, Gladstone (RAN), Maryborough, Rockhamp- ton (RAN), Tam worth, Toowoomba Williamstown - Ballarat, Benalla (RAN), Castlemaine (cx-Castle Harbour) (RAN), Echuca (RAN), Geelong (RAN), Horsham (RAN), Shcpparton (RAN), Stawell (RAN) Cancelled Assam (RIN), Gondwhana (RIN),Sind (RIN), to be built at Garden Reach, India The 20 ships built for the RN were all lent to the RAN in the war, and were generally similar to the Bangor class but with shorter forecastles. 2-20mm were usually mounted if a Bofors or pompom were earned, and 3-20mm if these were absent. Armidale was torpedoed by Japanese aircraft 1.12 42 and Geelong and Wallaroo lost in collisions on 18.10 44 and 20 6.43 respectively. The rest were sold or otherwise disposed of from 1946 onwards, with a few surviving to the late 1960s or 1970s ALGERINE class (turbine-engined) minesweepers (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 940-980t standard; 1225—1265t deep load Dimensions: 225ft oa x 35ft 6in x 10ft 3in-10ft 6in mean deep load, 11ft 9in over propellers 68 58 x 10.82 x 3.12-3.20, 3 S8m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2G00shp = 16.5kts. Oil 235t Armament: l-4in/45 QF Mk V HA, 4—40mm Bofors (4x1) in Hare, Jewel, Liberty, 92 DC as escorts Complement: 85-138 war Class: Blyth - Brave, Fancy Harland & Wolff - Acute (ex-Alert), Alarm, Albacore, Algerine, Cadmus, Chamaeleon, Cheerful, Circe, Espiegle, Fantome, Hare, Jewel, Liberty, Loyalty (ex-Rattler), Muttne, Onyx, Pickle, Pincher, Plucky, Ready, Recruit, Rifleman, Rinaldo, Rosano, Spanker, Squirrel, Vestal Cancelled Marmion (i), Moon (i) A satisfactory type of minesweeper, larger and more spacious than the Ban- gor class. They were often used as anti-submanne escorts. Shortage of capacity for manufacturing turbine blading limited the number of the Algerines so engined Those without Bofors had 4 to 8-20mm, usually the latter. Losses were* * Loyally 22.8.44 (U boat), Algenne 15 11 42 (Italian submarine),Fantome constructive loss 20 5 43 and Squirrel 24 7 45 (mines), Alarm constructive loss 2.1.43 (bombs); and Vestal 26.7.45 (Kamikaze). Most of the surviving ships were disposed of in the 1960s ALGERINE class (VTE-engined) minesweepers (launched 1942-45) Displacement: 950-1030t standard, 1235-1325t deep load Dimensions: 225ft oa x 35ft 6in x 10ft 2in-10ft 9in mean deep load, 12ft 7in-13ft lin over propellers 68 58 x 10 82 x 3.10-3 28, 3.84-3 99m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2400ihp = 16 5kts. Oil 23O-239t Armament: l-4in/45 QF Mk V HA, 4—40mm Bofors (4x I) in Courier, Jaseur, Lioness,Serene, Wave, Welcome, 90-92 DC as escorts Complement: 85-138 war Class* Fleming & Ferguson - Cockatrice Lobnitz - Bramble, Fierce, L ly, Hound, Hydra, Lame (u), Lennox (ii), Niger (n) (ex-Disdain), Orestes, Pelorus, Rattlesnake, Rowena, Stormcloud, Sylvia, Tan- • ganyika, Waterwiich, Wave, Welcome Cancelled: Fireball, Gabriel, Happy Return Simons - Cancelled: Lame(i), Lennox (i) Canadian yards: Port Arthur - Border Cities (RCN), Fort Francis (RCN), Kapuskasing (RCN), L\ sander (ex RCN Hespeler), Manner (ex-RCN Kincardine), Mamuon (ii) (ex- RCN Orangez tile), Middlesex (RCN), New Liskeard (RCN), Orcadia, Oshawa (RCN), Ossorx, Pluto, Polans, Portage (RCN), Pyrrhus, Rockcliff (RCN), Romola, Rosamund, St Boniface (RCN), Sauli Ste Mane (ех-The Soo) (RCN), Wallaceburg (RCN), Winnipeg (RCN). Cancelled: Styx Redfern - Arcturus (ex USN), Coquette (ex RCN Boumanville), Couner (ex- RCN Ampnor), Felicity (ex-RCN Copperchff), Flying Fish (ex-RCN Tillson- burg), Golden Fleece (ex-RCN Humberstone), Gozo (ex-USN), Jaseur, Laertes, Lightfoot (ex-USN), Lioness (ex-RCN Petrolia), Maenad, Magiciennc, Mameluke, Mandate, Marvel, Mary Rose (ex-RCN Toronto), Melita (ex-USN), Michael, Minstrel, Moon (ii), (ex RCN Mimico), Myrmidon, Mystic, Nenssa, Octavia (ex USN), Persian (ex-USN), Postillion (ex-USN), Prompt (ex RCN nuntsalle), Providence (ex RCN Forrest Hill), Seabear (ex RCN St Thomas), Serene (ex-RCN Leastde), Skipjack (ex-RCN Solebay, ex-USN), Thisbe (ex- USN), Truelove (ex-USN), Welfare (ex-USN) Toronto - Antares (ex-USN), Anes (ex-USN), Clinton (ex-USN), Friendship (ex-USN), Regulus (ex-RCN Longbranch) Cancelled Nicator, Niger (i), Non- pareil, Nox, Odin Of the 62 Canadian-built ships completed, 19 were built for the RN, 16 transferred from the RCN and 15 from the USN under Lend Lease, leaving 12 in the RCN. Similar to other Algerines except in having VTE engines. The 12 RCN ships were used as escorts, not as minesweepers Light AA comprised 4 to 8-20mm in ships without Bofors Losses were all due to mines* Hydra (constructive loss) 10.11.44, Prompt (constructive loss) 9 5.45 and Regulus 12 1 45 Most of the remainder were disposed of in the late 1950s and 1960s. CATHERINE class (ex-US Auk class) minesweepers Class (US number/name): Catherine (BAM9), Cato (BAM 10), Chamois (BAM12), Chance (BAM 13), Combatant (BAM14), Cynthia (BAM15), Elfreda (BAM16, cx-Overseer AM321), Fairy (BAM25), Flonzel (BAM26), Foam (BAM27), Frolic (BAM28), Gazelle (BAM 17), Gorgon (BAM18), Grecian (BAM 19), Jasper (BAM29), Magic (BAM20), Pique (cx-Celenty) (ВАМИ), Pylades (BAM21), Steadfast (BAM31), Strenuous (Vita/ AM 129), Tattoo (BAM32), Tourmaline (Usage AM 130). Supplied under Lend-Lease. Akbar, Alice, Amelia, Amity, Augusta, Blaze, Brutus, Buffalo (BAM 1-8), Errant, Espoir, Exploit (BAM22-24) and Sepoy (BAM30) were retained by USN Losses were Cato 6 7 44, Magic 6 7.44 and Pylades 8.7.44 from Marders, and Chamois (constructive loss) 21.7.44 from a mine. BASSET class trawlers (launched 1935-38, RIN 1941-44) Displacement: 521-560t standard, 725-775t deep load Dimensions: 160ft 6in-164ft oa x 27ft lin-27ft 8in x 10ft 7in-llft 2in mean deep load 48 92-49 99 x 8 25-8 43 x 3 23-3 40m Machinery. 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, 85(X-950ihp = 12.5- 13kts Coal 180-196t (Mastiff 129t oil) Armament: l-4in/40 QF Mk IV or l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 4 later 25 DC Complement: 33 (RIN 48) Class: Robb - Basset, Mastiff Canadian yards (All RCN): Burrard - Comox Canadian Yarrow - Nanoose (ex-Nootka) Collingwood —Fundy Morton - Gaspe Indian yards (All RIN, 25 cancelled, 4 destroyed on slocks at Rangoon) Alcock Ashdown - Karachi, Lucknow Burn - Ahmedabad, Cochin (ex-Multan), Cuttack, Rampur (ex-Bansal), Shil- long Garden Reach - Amntsar, Madura, Poona, Travancore Hooghbe - Agra, Berar, Calcutta, Patna Scindia - Multan (ex-Cochin, ex Kolaba) Shalimar — Baroda, Lahore, Nasik Basset was the successful prototype for most of the subsequent trawlers built for the Navy; the second ship, Mastiff, was distinct in having oil firing These two and the RCN ships had 4in guns, though Basset later had a 12pdr. Up to 3-20mm were mounted The only loss, Mastiff, was mined in 1939 and the rest were disposed of 1945-50 Rattlesnake in Jan 1952 65
GREAT BRITAIN TREE, DANCE, SHAKESPEARIAN and ISLES class trawlers (launched 1939-1944) Displacement: 545t standard, 770t deep load Dimensions: 164ft oa x 27ft 8in x lift lin mean deep load 49.99 x 8.43 x 3.38m Machinery: 1 shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, 850ihp = 12.25kts Coal 183t Armament: l-4in/45 BL Mk IX or l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 30 DC Complement: 35—40 Class: Ardrossan - Acacia, Almond, Cotillion, Coverley, Coll, Gair say, Gorregan, Graemsay ,Jura, Kintyre, Mmcarlo (Norwegian Tromoy 1944-46) G Brown - Damsay Cochrane - Ash, Bay, Fandango, Foxtrot, Celia, Coriolanus, Fluellen, Саппа, Copmsay, Cumbrae, hday (Norwegian Tromoy 1944), Fara, Fetlar, Fiona, Foula ,Gtllstone, Grain, Hellisay, Hermetray, Imersay, Lingay, Longa, Oronsay, Orsay, Ronaldsay, Ronay, Rysa, Shapinsay, Sluna, Vatersay Cook, Welton & Gemmell - Birch, Blackthorn, Gavotte, Hornpipe, Hamlet, Horatio, Juliet, Laertes, Atlsa Craig, Annet, Arran, Balta, Benbecula, Bern, Blackbird (ex-Sheppey), Bressay, Brora, Bruray (Portuguese Р/ 1943), Bryher, Calvay, Colsay, Crowltn, Dabchick (ex-Thorney), Egilsay, Ensay, Fame, Flatholm, Fuday, Gantlly, Gulland, Gweal (ex-Broreray), Hanneray, Hams (ex-Gilsay), Hascosay, Hayling (Portuguese P3 1943), Hildasay, Hoxa, Hoy, Inchcolm, Ktllegray (RNZN), Kitiem, Lindisfarne, Lundy, Mewslone, Mmalto, Mull, Heave, Pladda, Rosevean, Sandray, Scalpay, Scaravay, Scarba (RNZN), Sheppey (ex-Raasay), Shillay, Skokholm, Stonechat (RCN), Sursay, Tahay, Tocogay, Trodday, Ulva, Vaceasay, Vallay, Whalsay (Portuguese P4 1943), Whitethroat (RCN), Wiay Crown - Earraid (ex-Gruna), Filla, Gruinard (Portuguese P7 1943) Ferguson - Juniper, Mangrove (Portuguese P2 1943), Mazurka, Minuet, Biggal, Hunda, Unst Fleming & Ferguson -Bardsey, Cava, Fnskay (Portuguese P8 1943), Kerrera (Norwegian Oksoy 1944) Goole SB - Chestnut, Deodar, Morris Dance, Pirouette, Macbeth, Ophelia, Burra, Bute, Fiaray, Mousa, Rousay, Ruskholm, Sanda (RNZN), Shia nr (Nor- wegian Jeloy 1944), Tiree Hall - Orfasy, St Kilda Hall Russell - Olive, Pine, Polka, Quadrille, Othello, Stroma Inglis - Elm, Fir, Rumba, Sarabande, Romeo, Rosalind, Oxna, Stronsay, Swttha Lewis - Caldy, Foulness, Grassholm, Inchkeith (RNZN), Inchmarnock, (Nor- wegian Karmoy 1944), St Agnes, Skomer, Steepholm, Trondra, Westray Robb - Hazel, Hickory, Saltarelo, Sword Dance, Skye, Staffa, Wallasea Smiths Dock - Rowan, Walnut, Whitethorn, Wistaria, Tango, Two Step (ex- Tarantella), Valse, Veleta, Islay Canadian yards (Those indicated loaned to RCN): Collingwood - Anticosti (RCN), Baffin (RCN), Caihff (RCN), Campobello, Miscou (ex Bowell, ex-Сатрета) (RCN) G T Davie - Dochet, Flint, Gateshead, Herschell Kingston - Ironbound (RCN), Liscomb (RCN) Midland - Magdalen (RCN), Manitoulin (RCN), Porcher (ex-Procher), Pros- pect, Texada This group, which were a development of the Basset class, comprised 20 ‘Tree’, 20 ‘Dance’, 12 ‘Shakespearian’ and 145 ‘Isles’ class, of which 16 were Canadian built Only the ‘Dance’ class had a 4in gun, while there were up to 3 or 4—20mm with 6 eventually in Annet, Bressay, Damsay, Fiaray, Foulness and Lindisfarne. ‘Isles’ class trawlers given ‘Bird’ names were used as controlled minelayers. Losses were: Juniper 1940 (gunfire); Laertes 1942 and Jura, Orfasy and Stronsay 1943 (submarine); Horatio 1943 and Pine and Wallasea 1944 (MTB); Colsay 1944 (human torpedo); Gatrsay 1944 (explosive motor boat); Chestnut and Hickory 1940, Almond and Ash 1941, Rysa 1943, Gamtlly 1944 and Coriolanus 1945 (mines); and Brora and Fiona 1941, Sword Dance and Саппа 1942, Campobello 1943 and Hildasay 1945 (accident). Most of the remaining \essels had been disposed of by 1950, though a few survived well into the 1960s. The ‘Isles’ dass trawler Lundy as a wreck disposal ship in 1949 Tut postwar By courtesy of John Roberts KIWI class trawlers (RNZN) (launched 1941) Displacement: 600t standard, 825t deep load Dimensions: 156ft pp x 30ft 3in x lift 6in mean deep load 47 55 x 9 22 x 3 51m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, lOOOihp = 14kts. Oil 220t Armament: l—4in/45 BL Mk IX, l-2pdr pompom, 40 DC Complement: 35 Class: Robb - Kiwi, Moa, Tui These ships resembled corvettes in appearance and differed from most traw- lers in being oil- and not coal-fired. Moa was sunk by bombing in 1943 but Kiwi was not "Sold until 1963 and Tui until 1969. Portuguese-type wooden hull trawlers (launched 1941-43)__________________________________________________________ Displacement: 500t standard; 615-640t deep load Dimensions: 129ft- 133ft 9in pp x 27ft 2in-27ft 9in x 12ft 4in-llft 10m mean deep load 39 32-40 77 x 8.28-8 46 x 3 76-3.61m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 500bhp = llkts, Oil 56-65t Armament: l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 25 DC Complement: 30 Class: A Monica - Prong (ex-Port Stanley), Proof (ex-Port Royal), Property (ex- Portrush) M Monica - Prophet (ex Portobello), Protest (ex Pon Patrick), Prowess (ex- Provost, ex-Portreath) Portuguese-type steel hull trawlers (launched 1941-42) Displacement: 452t standard; 564—5861 deep load Dimensions: 149ft oa x 25ft 5in x lift 5in-llft 9in mean deep load 45 41 x 7 75 x 3 48, 3.58m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 560bhp =11 5kts. Oil 80t Armament: l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 25 DC Complement: 30 Class: Alfeite - Probe (ex-Portaferry), Proctor (ex-Porltsham, cx-Portadown). Cancel- led: 2 units Uniao Fabril - Prodigal (ex-Porthleven), Product (ex-Porl Jackson), Professor (ex-Pопта doc), Promise (ex Pon Natal). Completed as mercantile: 2 units. The vessels of these two types were known as the Professor class, and were distinct from other trawlers built for the British navy in having diesel engines. Light AA comprised 3-20mm. All were sold m 1946.
Other escorts/Coastal forces Brazilian-type trawlers Six building in Brazil, transferred to that navy in 1942 CASTLE class trawlers (RNZN) (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 447t light; 625t deep load Dimensions: 125ft pp x 23ft 6in x 14ft max deep load 38 10 x 7.16 x 4.27m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, lOkts. Coal Armament: l-I2pdr/12cwt HA, 4 DC Complement: 42 Class: Mason - Manuka, Waikato. Cancelled. Waiau Patent Slip - Awatere Seager - Rimu, Taichat Senior Foundry-Htnau Stevenson & Cook - Aroha, Hdutapu, Matmai, Pahau,Putin, Watho, Watma, Waipu. Cancelled Wauti, Waikaka, Waikanae In many ways repeats of the First World War ‘Castle’ class and of rather old-fashioned appearance. Some were composite-hulled, and one 20mm gun was earned Punrt was mined in 1941 and the rest sold 1946—47 except Htnau and Rimu which survived until 1955. Butser 1943 HILLS class trawlers (launched 1941) Displacement: 750t standard; 1005c deep load Dimensions: 182ft 4in oa x 28ft 3in x 13ft 7in mean deep load, 17ft 2in max 55 57 x 8 61 x 4 14, 5 23m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, 970ihp = 12.25kts Coal 210c Armament: l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 55 DC Complement: 35 Class: Cook, Welton & Gemmell - Birdhp, Bredon, Butser, Duncton, Dunkety, Inkpen, Portsdown, Yes tor Based on builder’s mercantile Barnett of 1937, this class had a marked sheer forward There were 3-20mm guns as light AA U-boats sank Bredon in 1943 and Btrdhp in 1944, while the rest were sold 1945-46. Grenadier 1942 MILITARY class trawlers (launched 1942-44) Displacement: 830t standard; U90t deep load Dimensions: 193ft ca x 30ft x 14ft 10m mean deep load, 18ft 10m max 58.83 *9 14 * 4 52,$ 74m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, lOOOihp = 12 5kts. Coal 280t Armament: 1—4m/40 QF Mk XIX, 65 DC Complement: 40 Class: Cook, Welton & Gemmell - Bombardier, Coldstreamer, Fusilier, Grenadier, Guardsman, Home Guard, Lancer, Royal Manne, Sapper Based on a mercantile type of the builders with a marked sheer forward and the machinery further aft than usual They were the largest trawlers built for the Navy during the war, and make an interesting comparison with the ‘Flower’ class corvettes From 4 to 6-20mm were carried, with 8 in Fusilier, Lancer and Sapper. All were sold in 1946 In addition to the trawlers specially built for naval service, there were a ven large number of ex-mercantile vessels employed during the war. Although slow, most trawlers were highly seaworthy for their size, and were employed as convoy escorts, auxiliary patrol vessels, minelayers, minesweepers and for many other purposes. Altogether there were 25 naval survivors of the First World War programmes, 20 purchased in 1935, 1 in 1936, 20 in 1939 and over 1300 requisitioned between 1939 and 1945. These last include vessels for the Dominion navies and those originally of foreign ownership such as French or Belgian A considerable number had originally been First World War nasal vessels. Whalers included 6 completing m 1939 which were taken over, and nearly 200 requisitioned during the war, but on the whole the trawler type w-as preferred There were also 24 Admiralty drifters left from 1918 and about 550 requisitioned. COASTAL FORCES Note: The classifications MTB (motor torpedo-boats), MGB (motor gunboats) and МА/SB (motor anti-submarine boats) eventually merged into one, referred to as MTB Unless otherwise noted, all were hard chine wooden-hulled boats. ROUND TABLE class trawlers (launched 1941-42) Displacement. 440t standard, 590t deep load Dimensions: 137ft oa x 23ft 9in x 12ft 8m mean deep load 4 1 76 x 7.24 x 3.86m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, 600ihp = 12kts. Coal lOOt Armament* l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 4 DC Complement: 35 Class: Hall Russell - Sir Galahad, Sir Gareth, Str Kay, Sir Lamorack Lewis - Sir Agravame, Sir Geraint, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tnstram Based on Hall Russell’s mercantile Star of Orkney of 1936 and smaller than most naval trawlers with a noticeably high funnel One 20mm gun was carried They were all sold 1946—47. MTB1-12, 14-19 (launched 1936-39) Displacement: 18l standard Dimensions: 60ft 4in oa x 13ft 10m x 2ft 10m mean deep load 18.39 x 4 22 x 0.86m Machinery: 3-shaft Napier petrol engines, 1650bhp = 35.3-38kts trials. Petrol 960gal Armament: 2-18in TT (bow) (originally 2 stern troughs), 4 MG, could take 6 DC Complement: 9 British Power Boats 60ft type. MTB1 was ex-MTB7,7 cx-13 and 19 ex-/ The first RN MTB since the First World War. 10 were lost 1939-41 and the others became motor attendant craft or target service boats. MTB100 was converted in 1940 from the experimental MMS51 - a motor minesweeper built in 1938 She resembled the above but was 60ft oa x 13ft 3in (18 29 x 4 04m) and had 6 MGs. MTB 19 as completed with stern troughs MoD FISH class trawlers (launched 1941-43) Displacement: 590t standard, 830c deep load Dimensions: 161ft 6in oa x 25ft 2in x 13ft 3in mean deep load 49 23 x 7 67 x 4.04 m Machinery. 1-shaft VTE, 1 cyl boiler, 700ihp = 11.25kts Coal 197t Armament: l-12pdr/12cwt HA, 40 DC Complement: 35 Class: Cochrane -Bonito, Bream, Corncrake (ex-Afackerel), Grayling, Gnlse, Hemng, Mullet, Pollack, Redshank (ex Turbot), Whiting Based on Cochrane’s mercantile Gulfoss of 1929 There were 3-20mm as hght AV Corncrake and Redshank were controlled minelayers; the former foundered in 1943 and Hemng was lost in a collision the same year Redshank la ted until 1957, the rest having been sold in 1946 67
GREAT BRITAIN MTB332-343 (launched 1941) (ex-RCN) Displacement: 22.4t standard? Dimensions: 60ft oa x 13ft 3in 18.29 x 4 04m Machinery: 2-shaft Packard petrol engines, 2400bhp = 40kts. Petro! 960gal Armament: 4-0 Sin MG, 12 DC or 4 mines Complement: 12 MGB75 (later MTB413) about 1942 By courtesy of John Roberts BPB 60ft type. These do not appear to have been in active service for long No TT are listed. One was lost in 1942. MA/SB1-5 (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 19t standard Dimensions: 60ft oa x 13ft 11m x 2ft lOin mean deep load 18 29 x 4 24 x 0.86m Machinery: 2-shaft Napier petrol engines, HOObhp = 27.5-30.9kts trials. Petrol 740gal Armament: 4 MG, 10 DC Complement: 9 BPB 60ft type. These were essentially 2-shaft versions of MTB1 with DC and no TT. One was lost in 1941 and the rest became Air/Sea Rescue Craft MA/SB22-39 (launched 1941) Displacement: 23t standard; 28-3It deep load Dimensions: 63ft oa x 16ft 6in x 3ft 4in-3ft 6*in mean deep load 19.20 x 5 03 x 1 02-1 08m Machinery: 3-shaft Napier petrol engines, 1650bhp = 33kts or 2-shaft Packard, 2400bhp = 40kts. Petrol 1083gal Armament: l-20mm (in some), 2-0.5in MG, 2-0.303m MG, 10 DC Complement: 9 BPB 60ft type. Larger than the first МА/SB. One was lost in 1941 and the rest became air/sea rescue craft. MGB40-45 (ex-MA/SB) (launched 1940) Displacement: 24t standard Dimensions: 63ft oa x 16ft 5in 19 20 x 5.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Rolls-Royce petrol engines, 2200bhp = 40kts Armament: l-20mm, 2-O.5in MG, 2-O.3O3in MG, 2 DC Complement: 10 BPB 60ft type. Originally building for Norway and Sweden as MTBs but taken over. MGB44 and 45 became the Polish S2 and S3. MGB6-21, 46, 50-67 (ex-MA/SBs) (launched 1939-41) Displacement: 28-30t standard; 32—38t deep load Dimensions: 70ft oa x 19ft lOin x 3ft ljin-3ft Ulin mean deep load 21.34 x SOS x0 9S-1.2Im Machinery: 3-shaft petrol engines: MGB6-2I originally Napier (1650bhp = 27kts), later Packard (3600bhp = 38kts); others Rolls-Royce (3300bhp = 36.7kts). Petrol 2156-2350gal Armament: l-20mm, 2 to 4—0.5in MG, 1 to 4-О.ЗОЗш MG (MGB46 3-20mm); 2 DC (12-14 as A/S) Complement: 9-12 British Power Boats 70ft type. MGB46, later MTB433, was originally for Holland and SO-67 for France. A total of 6 were lost 1941-44. AfGB6/,a British Power Boat 70ft ex-MA/SB By courtesy of John Roberts MTB412-418, 430-432, 434-500, 502-509, 519-522 (launched 1942-45) Displacement: 37-46t standard; 46-53t deep load Dimensions: 71ft 9in oa x 20ft 7in x 4ft 21in-4ft 6in mean deep load 21.87 x 6.27 x 1.28-1 37m Machinery: 3-shaft Packard petrol engines, 3600—4O5Obhp = 38—lOkts trials. Petrol 2740gal Armament: 2-18in TT (bow), l-6pdr/7cwt Mk II or l-2pdr pompom, 2 to 4-20mm, 4-0 303in MG, 2 DC Complement: 12-17 British Power Boat type. МТВ412-418 were originally numbered in the range MGB74-81, and MTB430-432, 434-SOO in that of MGB107-176 MTB4I8,436,437&nd 4S3 were transferred to the Netherlands 1943-44 and. 459-466, 485, 486 atid 491 to the RCN War losses totalled 21. The original armament as MGB was l-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm, 2 MG and 2—4 DC, but this was much increased as MTB. MTBS09 and 520 had the 6pdr later replaced by a 4.5in/8cwt. This class were excellent sea boats and more heavily armed than earlier units. MTB71, 72 (launched 1940) Displacement: 25t standard Dimensions: 61ft oa x 15ft 4in x 3ft lin mean deep load 18 59 x 4 67 x 0.94m Machinery: 2-shaft Isolta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2300bhp = 41kts. Petrol 1172gal Armament: 2-18in TT (bow), 2-0 5in MG, 2-O.3O3in (or 6-0 303m MG); could take 6 DC Complement: 10 Vosper 61ft type. Originally building for Norway and taken over; two others were delivered to Norway as MTBS and MTB6. See under Norway for illustra- tion. MTB20-23, 29-30, 69-70, 218-221 (launched 1939-41) Displacement: 32-35t standard Dimensions: 71ft 9in oa x 16ft 4in (MTB218-221 72ft 7in x 17ft lin) x 3ft 4in-3ft 8in mean deep load 21 87 x 4.98 (22 12 x 5 21) x 1 02-1.12m Machinery: 3 shaft Isolta-Fraschini petrol engines, 3450bhp = 42.5—I5kts trials (MTB2I8-221 Hall Scott, 1800bhp = 27.3-30.2kts, later Packard, 3600bhp). Petrol 1210—1904gal Armament: 2-2lin TT (bow), 2-0.5in MG, 2-0.303in MG (or 10-0 303in MG), 8 DC or 4 mines Complement: 10 Vosper 72ft type. MTB20, 21 and 23 sold to Romania in 1940, 29 and 30 built as replacements, and 69, 70 and 218-221 built for Greece and taken over. Four were lost in 1942. MTB31^IO, 57-66, 73-98, 222-245, 347-362, 380-395, 523-537 (launched 1940-45) Displacement: 35-39.4t standard; 43.5—47t deep load Dimensions: 72ft 7in (MTB380 on, 73ft) oa x 19ft 2in (MTB347 on 19ft 5in) x 3ft 8in—4ft 2in mean deep load 22 12 (22 25) x 5.84 (S 92) x 1 12-1.27m Machinery: 3-shaft Packard petrol engines, 3600-4050bhp = 37—40kts. Petrol 251O-2577gal. See notes Armament: See notes Complement: 12-13 * Vosper 73ft type. MTB534-S36 were cancelled and 33,37,39 and 40 were lost incomplete. Other losses totalled 20. MTB90-92,94, 96,98,227 and 239 were loaned to France, and 222, 229, 231, 23S, 236 and 240 to the Netherlands. M.TB380 on differed in being flush-decked. MTB31-34 had Isoua-Fraschmi engines, and when the supply dried up Hall Scott engines were installed in others of the earlier boats until Packards were available. The earliest armament was 2-2lin TT (bow), 2-O.5in MG and 2-0.303in MG, with the ability to take 4 DC or 4 mines A 20mm was then added and the guns next changed to 3-20mm and 2 MG with 2-21in TT and 2 DC. MTB380-39S had 4-18in TT, 68
2-20mm, 4 MG and 2 DC, while the last group sacrificed 2 TT for a 6pdr/7cwt, which was replaced by a 4.5in/8cwt in MTBS28. The boats of this type were most successful and reliable. Experimental Vosper boats included the 68ft MTB102 with 3 Isotta- Fraschini engines built in 1937; the stepped 70ft MTB 103 with 2 Packards built in 1940; MTB379, the prototype for the 380 senes; and the 100ft MGB510 of 1943. MTB24, 25, 28, 49-56 (launched 1939-Л1)_____________________________ Displacement: 37t standard; 43l deep load Dimensions: 74ft 3in oa x 16ft 7in (MTB49-56 75ft 9in x 17ft) x 3ft 3Jin mean deep load 22 63 x 5 05 (23.09 x 5.18) x 1.00m Machinery: 3-shaft Isotta-Fraschim petrol engines, 3450bhp = 42.7kts trials (later Packard, 3600bhp, but MTB49-56 2-shaft Thomycroft, 2600bhp = 25.3-30kts trials). Petrol 1850-2000gal Armament: 2-2 lin TT (bow), 2-0.5in MG, 2-0.303in MG, (later 3-20mm, 2-0.303in MG), 4—6 DC or 4 mines Complement: 10-12 Thomycroft 75ft type. Very strongly built but MTB49-56 were too slow and were later used as target-towing boats for the War Office. One was lost in 1941. Smaller Thomycroft boats, mostly stepped and of 44 to 60ft oa were MTB26 and 27 (acquired from China), 67 and 68 (from Finland), 213-217 and 327—331 (from the Philippines) and the experimental MTB104-107 and 344-346 Los- ses totalled 11. MTB102, a Vosper experimental craft, m Feb 1938 By courtesy of John Roberts MTB41-48, 201-212, 246-257 (launched 1940-43) Displacement: 37-40.5t standard; 43.6-491 deep load Dimensions: 72ft lin-72ft 7in oa x 18ft2in-19ft 2in x 3ft 1 Ijin—4ft I Jin mean deep load 21 97-22 12 x 5.54-5 84 x/ 21-1.26m Machinery: 3-shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 2700bhp = 28-29.5kts trials (later Sterling, 3600bhp = 36kts). Petrol 2000-2543gal Armament: 2-21in TT (bow), 2-0.5in MG, 2-0.303in MG (later also I-20mm or 3-20mm, 4—0.303in MG), 2-4 DC or 4 mines Complement: 12 White 72ft type, essentially modified Vosper boats. MTB41-48 were lighter than the others Losses in the war amounted to 8. MTB89, an early Vosper 73ft boat, about 1940 MoD MTB424-429 (launched 1944) Displacement: 39t standard; 47t deep load Dimensions: 71ft 6in oa x 18ft x 4ft lin mean deep load 21 79 x 5 49 x 1.24m Machinery: 3-shaft Sterling petrol engines, 3600bhp = 39 5kts. Petrol 2300gal Armament: 2-18in TT, l-6pdr/7cwt Mk II, 2-20mm, 4 MG Complement: 17 White type To Poland on completion as S5-10. Less like Vosper boats than the preceding, with the heavier gun armament of most of the later MTBs MGB47, 48 (ex-MA/SB) (launched 1940) Displacement: 35t standard; 40t deep load Dimensions: 75fl oa x 16ft 8in x 3ft lOjin mean deep load 22 86 x 5 08 x 1 18m Machinery: 3-shaft Packard petrol engines, 3600bhp = 41kts Armament: l-20mm, 4-0.5in MG, 4—0 303in MG, 2 (or as A/S 12) DC or 4 mines Complement: 12 White 75ft type Built for Poland and requisitioned. MGB48 later became Polish Si Other White boats comprised MTB 101, an experimental 67ft hydrofoil built in 1939 and lost from hydrofoil failure in 1942, and MA/SB49, a 60ft boat, formerly Bulldog of the India Store Department MGBS01 as completed 1942 MoD MGB501 (launched 1942)___________________________________________ Displacement: 95t deep load Dimensions: 110ft wl x 19ft 6in x 4ft lin mean deep load 31 53 x 5 94 x 1 24m Machinery: 3-shaft Packard petrol engines, 3600bhp = 30 3kts Petrol 5000gal Armahent: 2-2 lin TT, 2-2pdr pompom (or l-2pdr, l-20mm), 4-0.5in MG, 12 DC Complement: 21 Camper & Nicholson 117ft type. An experimental prototype round bilge craft vsith steel frames Lost in 1942 MTB208, a White 72ft type, in 1940 69
Л blockade runner conversion of an MGB502 t>pe boat MGB502-509 (later 2002-2009) (launched 1942) Displacement: 86. St standard; 102 St deep load Dimensions: 117ft Sin oa x 19ft lin x 4ft 34in mean deep load 35.74 x 5 82 x 1 31m Machinery: 3-shaft Paxman diesel, 3000bhp = 27.4-28kts. Oil SOOgal Armament: l-6pdr Hotchkiss, l-2pdr pompom, 4-20mm, 2 DC (MGBS09 2-6pdr/7cwt Mk II, 2-20mm, 4—0.5in MG, 4-0.303in MG, 2 DC) Complement; 21 Similar to MG В 501 but with diesel engines and originally built for Turkey. Only 502,503 and 509 were completed as MGBs, the others being converted to mercantile blockade runners for traffic with Sweden. One MGB was lost. MTB/MGBS 11-518 (later 2011-2018) (launched 1944) Displacement: 93t standard; 113t deep load Dimensions: 117ft oa x 22fl 2in x 4ft 3iin mean deep load 35.66 x 6.76 x 1.31m Machinery: 3-shaft Packard petrol engines, 4050bhp = 33kts (MTB/MGBS11-513, 3600bhp = 31kts). Petrol 5190gaI Armament: 4-18in TT, 2-6pdr/7cwt Mk II, 4-20mm, 4 MG, 2 DC Complement: 30 A further development of MGB501. MTB/MGB2014, 2017 and 2018 had l-6pdr replaced by a 4.5in/8cwt. MGB312-335 (launched 1941)______________________________________ Displacement: 69t standard; 7St deep load Dimensions: 110ft oa x 17ft Sin x 5ft 8in mean deep load 33.53 x 5 31 x 1.73m Machinery: 3-shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 2700bhp = 27kts. Petrol 1800gal Armament: 2-2pdr pompom (1 pompom, l-2pdr Mk XIV in a few), 4—0.5in MG, 4—0.303in MG (later 6-20mm, 4-0.303in MG), 4 DC Complement: 16 Fairmile 110ft Type *C’ (modified Type ‘A’ MLs). War losses totalled 5. MTB2018 (tx-MGB518) in Oct 1948 By courtesy of John Roberts A Fairmile 'C type, MGB333 MoD MTB601-800, 5001-5029 (launched 1942-44)______________________ Displacement: 102t (90t as MGB) standard, 118c (107l as MGB) deep load (as MGB90 and 107) Dimensions: 115ft oa x 21ft 3in x 4ft 8m-4ft Ilin mean deep load 35 05 x 6 48 x 1.42-1.50m Machinery: 4-shaft Packard petrol engines, 48O0bhp = 29kts. Petrol SOOOgal (inc 2000gal in emergency tanks) Armament: See notes Complement: 14-30 Fairmile 115ft Type ‘D’. MTB601-695 were originally classed as MGBs but late in the war only 11 boats were so rated. Of the 5000 series, MTB5001-5003, 5005, 5007-5010, 5013, SO 15 and 5020 were completed as MTBs and the rest cancelled or converted to long range rescue craft for the RAF. Altogether 40 of the type were so converted. MTB726, 727, 735, 736, 743-746, 748 and 797 were transferred to the RCN in 1944 and some others were manned by Norway. As MGBs, the original armament was l-2pdr pom- pom, 2-20mm, 4-0 5in MG, 4-0.303in MG and 2 DC, to which 2-2lin TT were later added, but the last 11 MGBs finished with l-6pdr Hotchkiss, l-2pdr pompom, 4-20mm, 4 MG and 2 DC. As MTBs the eventual armament was 2-18in or 2 lin or 4—18in TT, 2-6pdr/7cwt Mk II (or in some 1 and a 6pdr Hotchkiss or 2pdr pompom), 2 to 3-20mm, 4-0.5in MG, 4-0 303in MG and 2 DC; as an alternative, 6-10 mines could be earned, and some had no TT and 32 DC. The gun records show a total of 171 boats with a 6pdr/7cwt at some time in their careers. MTBS007 and 5008 had a 6pdr/7cwt replaced by a 4 5in/8cwt. War losses in this successful if rather slow type were heavy and totalled 39. LEND-LEASE BOATS The following MTB/MGBs built in the USA were supplied under Lend-Lease (RN numbers are given)* Elco type: MTB259-268,307-326, MGB82-93. Losses: 11 MTBs, 2 MGBs. Higgins type: MTB419-423, MGB68-73,100-106,177-192. Losses: none. USN types: MTB269-271, 273 , 274. Losses: none 70 Two Fairmile ‘D’ type MTBs about 1943 MGB2001 (launched 1943) Displacement: 80t standard; 97t deep load Dimensions: 115ft oa x 21ft 3m x 4ft 5jin mean deep load 35 05 x 6.48 x 1 36m Machinery: 4-shaft Bristol petrol engines, 6600bhp = 30kts. Petrol SOOOgal (inc 2000gal in emergency tanks) Armament: l-6pdr Hotchkiss, l-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm, 4-0.Sin MG, 4—O.3O3in MG, 4 DC Complement: ? Fairmile 115ft Type ‘F’. The high bhp in this boat does not appear to have given high speed. Vosper type: MTB275-306,363-378,396-411. Losses: 6. Also MTB2S8, a BPB type built in England as private speculation and acquired by USN. Two French MTBs were towed to England in 1940 and numbered MGB98 and 99. Both were lost.
By courtesy of John Roberts MTB378a US-built Vosper 73ft type Steam gunboat class as completed Denny steam gunboats (launched 1941-42) Displacement: 175c (later 2O5t) standard; 255t deep load Dimensions: 145ft 8in oa x 23ft 4in x 4ft 7in, later 5ft 8in mean deep load 44 40 x 7.11 x 1 40, 1 73m Machinery: 2-shaft Metrovtck geared turbines, 1 Foster Wheeler or Lamont boiler 7200-8000shp = 34kts (later 30kts). Oil 50t (inc 30t in auxiliary tanks) Armament: See notes Complement: 27 Class: Denny -SGB 7, SGB8 {Grey Wolf) Hawthorn Leslie - SGB5 {Grey Owl), SGB6 {Grey Shark) Thomycroft -SGBI, SGB2 (both cancelled) White - SGB9 {Grey Goose) Yarrow -SGB3 {Grey Seal), SGB4 {Grey Fox) A steel-hulled, round-bilged gunboat intended to overcome the disadvan- tages of the noisy MTB/MGB engines. Unfortunately their machinery was extremely vulnerable and, after the addition of jin armour to the sides of the machinery spaces and the installation of a heavier armament, speed suffered. Except for SGB7, lost in 1942, they were given names in 1944. They were originally armed with 2-2pdr pompom, 4—0.5in MG and 2 bow 2 lin TT, but the gun armament was later increased by a 3in/20cwt HA, a 2pdr Mk XIV in some, and 2 or 3—20mm, and then all 2pdrs were replaced in most by a 6pdr/7cwt Mk II with no 0.5in MG and up to 7-20mm; 2 DCs were carried, and for minelaying 8 to 10 mines. Finally they were converted to wave making ’sweepers for pressure mines and armed with 4—20mm only A further 50, to be numbered SGB10-50 and 351-359, were never ordered. MLl 17 of the Fairmile *B' type as completed MoD MI 1368, an HD ML MoD Fairmile Type ‘A’ motor launches (launched 1940) Displacement: 66t standard Dimensions: 110ft oa x 17ft Sin x 5ft 6in mean deep load 33.53 x 5.3/ x 1.68m Machinery: 3 shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 1680bhp / 25kts. Petrol 1200gal Armament: l-3pdr Hotchkiss (later also 1 to 3-20mm), 12 DC, 6-9 mines as minelayers Complement: 16 Numbered ML100-111. Hard-chine wooden-hulled craft which suffered from a large turning circle and short range They were converted to minelayers in 1942. Losses totalled 4. Fairmile Type ‘B’ motor launches (launched 1940-44) Displacement: 75.5t standard; 85 6t deep load Dimensions: 112ft oa x 18ft 4in x 4ft 9in mean deep load 34 75 x 5.59 x / 45m Machinery: 2-shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 1120bhp = 18kts. Petrol 2300gal Armament: See notes Complement: 16 Numbered MLl 12-311,336-500,511-600,801-933,4001-4004 and 050-129 {ex-001-480). ML050-129 were RCN, 390, 391,412-421,436-441,474-477, 843, 844 and 872 RIN, 400-411 RNZN, 424-431 and 801-827 RAN, and 829-832 and 846-857 SAN; 492-500 and 511-553 were completed as rescue MLs A total of 11 were transferred to France, while 8 not included above were built for the USN A highly successful round-bilged wooden-hulled design of excellent seakeeping qualities and used for many varied duties including anti- submarine, minesweeping and minelaying A single 3pdr Hotchkiss was most often mounted but many had a 6pdr Hotchkiss, a 2pdr pompom, a 2pdr Mk XIV or a 40mm Bofors, with in addition 1 to 3-20mm. Some had 2-2pdr, or a 6pdr or 3pdr and a 2pdr. A Y-gun DC thrower was later carried, with up to 20 DC or 8-9 mines In 1940 2-21in TT taken from ex-USN destroyers were fitted to 60 of the earlier launches for anti-invasion work. War losses were heavy, amounting to 75 Admiralty harbour defence motor launches (launched 1940-44) Displacement. 44—46t standard, 52-54t deep load Dimensions 72ft oa x 15ft 10m x 4ft 7in mean deep load 21.95 x 4.83 x I 40m Machinery: 2-shaft Gardner, Gleniffer or Thomycroft diesels, 260- 330bhp = 1 l-12kts Oil 1650gal Armament: See notes Complement: 10 Numbered MLI0OI-16O0, though the highest in a completed craft is believed to have been 1494 MLl 109-1120 and 1261-1268 were RIN, 1183-1194 and 1348-1351 RNZN, 1321-1329, 1340-1347 and 1352-1359 RAN, and 1197-1208 SAN; 26 HDMLs were also transferred to France Wooden round-bilge launches of excellent seagoing performance for their size A single 2pdr Mk XI or XII (converted from sub-calibre guns) was originally mounted, but later a 2pdr pompom or 3pdr Hotchkiss, or in a few a 40mm Bofors, and often a 20mm or in some 2-20mm only, were installed; 8 DCs could be carried. War losses totalled 56. Conversions included anti-submarine launches 1-20 for dealing with midget submarines and manned torpedoes in the Normandy invasion, and fast despatch boats 10-81 There were also 4 Thomycroft motor launches built in 1939 for the Straits Settlements RNVR These were 14—16kt craft. One was lost and the others were numbered MLl 102-1104 after the HDMLs of these numbers had been lost, and were manned by the Burma RNVR Thomycroft motor minesweepers (launched 1937) Displacement: 52t standard Dimensions: 75ft oa x 14ft 4in x 5fl max deep load 22 86 x 4 37 x 1 52m Machinery: 3-shaft Thomycroft petrol engines, 1500bhp = 15kts Armament: None Complement: 11 Numbered MMS1 and 2. Considerably smaller than subsequent MMSs, these were wooden-hulled and were disposed of in 1939 to Turkey as Kavak and Canak. 71
GREAT BRITAIN Admiralty motor minesweepers (launched 1940-44) Displacement: 255t standard; 295t deep load Dimensions: 119ft 4in oa x 23ft 5in x 8ft 9in mean deep load 36.37 x 7.14 x 2.67m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 375-500bhp = 10-1 Ikts. Oil 24-26t Armament: l-20mm and/or 2-0.5in MG (2-20mm in some) Complement: 20 Designated M MS 1-118,123-312 and RCN Coquitlam,Cranbrook,Daerwood, Kalamalka, La Val/ёе, Llewellyn, Lloyd George, Revelstoke, Rossland and Sr Joseph. A successful wooden-hulled minesweeper design. Nos 129-132 and 154 were built for the RIN. Transfers comprised 5 io Holland, 3 to Russia, 7 to France, 1 to Greece and 9 to Belgium. Nos 141,142 and 238-241 were named Burfin,Cottel, Fichot,Jude, Quirpon and Si Barbe as danlayers in 1944. Of the original 318 MMSs, 23 were cancelled and 34 lost in the war. Admiralty motor minesweepers (launched 1943-45) Displacement: 360t standard; 430t deep load Dimensions: 140ft oa x 27ft Ilin x 10ft 4in mean deep load 42.67 x 8.51 x 3.15m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 500bhp = lOkts. Oil 54t Armament: 2-20mm (4—20mm in a few) Complement: 21 MMS1001-1090 and RCN Alder Lake, Ash Lake, Beech Lake, Birch Lake, Cedar Lake, Cherry Lake, Elm Lake, Fir Lake, Hickory Lake, Larch Lake, Maple Lake, Oak Lake, Pine Lake, Poplar Lake, Spruce Lake and Willow Lake. Larger than the previous class, and with a short forecastle. The RCN MMSs, apart from 6 cancelled, were transferred to Russia (as were 2 others), while 9 went to Holland and 2 to Norway. Other than the RCN, of the 90 original boats 4 were cancelled and 1 lost during the war. Other MMS included Nos 119-122 built in Newfoundland 1941-42 and requisitioned. They were between the two ‘Admiralty’ classes in size but speed was 9kts. They were named Emberley, OJerin, Marticot and Merasheen as danlayers in 1942. 152 US YMSs (motor minesweepers) were supplied under Lend-Lease, of which 10 were transferred to Greece. Their RN numbers ran from 2001 to 2284. War losses totalled 8, including 2 Greek boats. AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE SHIPS Glenroy at the end of the war Wright &Logan LSI(L) Landing Ship Infantry (Large) Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Armament Military load ARD PATRICK EL HIND GLENEARN GLENGYLE GLENROY KANIMBLA (RAN) KARANJA KEREN MANOORA (RAN) PERSIMMON WESTRALIA (RAN) 13 ships supplied under 7526/1939 5319/1938 9784/1938 9919/1939 9809/1938 10,985/1936 9890/1930 9890/1930 10856/1935 8244/1943 8108/1929 6711-7080/1943 14/976 14/? 18/1512 (diesel) 18/1382 (diesel) 18/1382 (diesel) 16.5/781 (diesel) 17/1700 17/1700 16/704 (diesel) 14/689 (diesel) 15.5/879 (diesel) 14/676 l-4.7in Mk V, l-12pdr 18 LCA, 2 LCP(R), 800 troops 1-4 7in Mk V ? 6-4in Mk XVI 24 LCA/LCS(M), 3 LCM, 1089 troops 6-4in Mk XVI 24 LCA/LCS(M), 3 LCM, 708 troops 6-4in Mk XVI 24 LCA/LCS(M), 3 LCM, 1098 troops l-4in Mk XVI, 2-3in 10 LCA, 1381 troops l-6in Mk VII, l-3in 9 LCP(L), 2 LCS(M), 2 LCM, 1500 troops l-6in Mk VII, l-3in 9 LCA, 1 LCS(M), 2 LCP(L), 2 LCM, 1296 troops 2-4in Mk XIX, 2-3in 8 LCA, 4 LCM(l), 1228 troops l-4in MkXIX, 1-I2pdrl8 LCA, 1 LCM, 1631 troops 3-4in Mk XIX ?LCs, 933 troops l-4in Mk XIX, 1-I2pdrl8 LCA, 2 LCV(P), 1 LCS(M)/LCM, 898-1458 troops Lend-Lease Numerous merchant vessels, with varying degrees of conversion, were emp- loyed as landing ships during the war; only those which were at some time classed as naval vessels are included in this and the following tables. The diesel fuel for Gleneam includes 640t as ballast and for Glengyle and Glenroy 662t. All had light AA armaments of 2pdr or 40mm and/or 20mm guns. The most effective conversions were the 3 ‘Glens’ which had luffing davits able to handle 3 LCAs, while the usual gravity davits only took one. The 3 RAN ships were former AMCs. Names were altered in Ard Patrick {ex- Lamont, ex-Clan Lamont), Keren {ex-Hydra, ex-Kenya) and Persimmon (ex- 72 Pampas, ex-Parramatta). The Lend-Lease ships were not ex-USN but US Maritime Commission C1-S-AY1 type ships made available to the Ministry of War Transport; their RN names were Cicero, Donovan, Gaheemore, Ormonde, Rocksand, Sainfoin, Sansovino, Sefton, Silvio, Str Hugo, Sir Visto, Empire Broadsword and Empire Javelin. Four LSI(L)s were lost: Karanja (bombed 12.11.42), El Hind (fire 14.4.44), Empire Broadsword (mined 2.7.44) and Empire Javelin (torpedoed by U-boat 28.12.44). Most of the rest were returned in 1946.
Amphibious warfare ships LSI(M) and (S) Landing Ship Infantry (Medium) and (Small) Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Armament Military load PRINCE BAUDOUIN 3219/1933 22/135 (diesel) 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/LCA/LCS(M), 384 troops PRINCE CHARLES 2950/1930 20.5/323 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/LCA/LCS(M), 270 troops PRINCE DAVID 6892/1930 20.7/1443 4-4in Mk XVI 8 LCA, 538 troops PRINCE HENRY 6893/1930 21.5/1409 4-4in Mk XVI 8 LCA, 538 troops PRINCE LEOPOLD 2950/1929 21/280 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/LCA/LCS(M), 255 troops PRINCE PHILLIPE 2938/1939 22/129 (diesel) 2-12pdr ? PRINS ALBERT 2938/1937 22/129 (diesel) 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/I.CA/LCS(M), 350 troops PRINSES ASTRID 2950/1929 21/285 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/LCA/LCS(M), 247 troops PRINSES BEATRIX 4136/1939 22/295 (diesel) 2-12pdr 6 LCA/LCS(M), 2 LCM(l), 396 troops PRINSES JOSEPHINE 2950/1930 21/285 2-12pdr 8 LCP(L)/LCA/LCS(M), 210 troops CHARLOTTE QUEEN EMMA 4136/1939 22/295 (diesel) 2-12pdr 6 LCA/LCS(M), 2 LCM(l), 372 troops Prince David and Prince Henry were former AMCs and had 40mm and 20mm light AA, while the rest had 2pdr and 20mm and could carry 6 DC. The landing craft were handled by gravity davits. Prince Philhpe was lost in a collision 15.7.41 and Prince Leopold sunk by a U-boat 29.7.44. The rest were returned or offered for sale in 1945—46. Prinses Astnd as an LSI(S) MoD LSI(H) Landing Ship Infantry (Hand) Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/od (t) Armament Military load BRIGADIER 2294/1928 21/101 l-12pdr 6 LCA DUKE OF WELLINGTON 3743/1935 20/120 (coal) l-12pdr 6 LCA, 420 troops INVICTA 4178/1939 22/120 (coal) i-12pdr 6 LCA, 450 troops ISLE OF GUERNSEY 2143/1929 18/? l-4in Mk XIX 6 LCA, 393 troops ISLE OF THANET 2701/1925 24/? l-4m Mk XIX 6 LCA, 424 troops LAIRDS ISLE 1783/1911 21/? — 6 LCA, 420 troops ROYAL SCOTSMAN 3288/1936 16/200 (diesel) l-12pdr 6 LCA, 485 troops ROYAL ULSTERMAN 3244/1936 16/194 (diesel) — 6 LCA, 485 troops ST HELIER 1952/1925 17/146 — 6 LCA, 420 troops ULSTER MONARCH 3791/1929 17/170 (diesel) l-12pdr 6 LCA, 580 troops These ships carried their LCAs under hand-operated radial davits or project- ing spurs, hence (H) in the type classification. All had 2pdr and/or 20mm as light AA. The above armaments are taken from the gun records and differ in some cases from those usually quoted. Names were changed in Brigadier (ex- Worthing), Duke of Wellington (ex-Duke of York) and Laird's Isle (ex-Riviera). All were returned in 1945-46. Ulster Monarch as an LSI(H) MoD LSS Landing Ship, Stem Chute ^ame Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Military load DAFFODIL 2678/1917 115/279 13 LCM(l) or 9 LCM(3) plus 50 MT vehicles of7|tons, 105 troops PRINCESS IRIS 2683/1917 11.5/279 13 LCM(l) or 9 LCM(3) plus 50 MT vehicles of 74 tons, 100 troops Former train ferries with mean deep load draughts of 9ft 8in and 10ft 4in Their armament was 4 single 2pdr and 5-20mm Daffodil was sunk by a mine r«peclively and able to carry locomotives and rolling stock as an alternative 18.3 45 and Princess Ins returned in 1946. "ad. For a short calm passage 14 LCM(l) or 11 LCM(3) could be carried. 73
GREAT BRITAIN LSG Landing Ship, Gantry Name Deep load/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Armament Military load DERWENTDALE 16,750/1941 11.7/728 (diesel) 1—4.7in Mk V 15 LCM(l), 268 troops DEWDALE 16,750/1941 11.7/728 (diesel) 1—4.7in Mk V 15 LC.M(l), 257 troops ENNERDALE 16,798/1941 11/1450 1—L7in Mk V 15 LCM(l), 266 troops RFA oil tankers converted while building. The gantries were designed to hoist to 23ft with LCMs on deck to provide sufficient freeboard. It was intended to LCM(l)s with a load of lOt. Light AA comprised 3-2pdr and also 6-20mm convert them to carry 3000t fresh water. They were disposed of in 1959-60. except in Ennerdale. The deep load mean draught was 27ft 6in but was limited LSC Landing Ship, Carrier Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Armament Military load EMPIRE CHARMAIN 7512/1942 11.5/? (diesel) 1—4in BL Mk VII 21 LCM, 323 troops EMPIRE ELAINE 7512/1942 11.5/1179 (diesel) l-4in BL Mk VII 21 LCM, 323 troops Bachaquero, one of the tankers convened to LSTs Heavy cargo ships handling the deck-stowed LCMs with large derricks. On passage Empire Charmain could stow 30 LCMs and Empire Elaine 26. It docs not appear that the former was ever a*naval ship. MoD LSD Landing Ship, Dock Four of these specially built ships were provided under Lend Lease. They were Eastway (ex-Battleaxe, ex-LSD9, ex В АРМ I), Highway (ex-Claymore, ex-LSD10, ex-BAPM2), Northway (ex-Cutlass, ex-LSDll, ех-ВАРМЗ'), Oceanway (ex-Dagger, ex-LSD12, ex-BAPM4). They were returned to the USN in 1946-47. LST Landing Ship, Tank Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Military load BACHAQUERO 6455/1937 10/850 18-40t or 22—25t tanks or 33 MT, 207 troops MISOA 6455/1937 10/910 18-40t or 22-25t tanks or 33 MT, 192 troops TASAJERA 5679/1938 8.25/660 18-40t or 22-25t tanks or 33 MT, 207 troops Converted from shallow-draught oil tankers trading from Lake Maracaibo. They had an articulated bow ramp and could not beach in such shallow water as LST(2)s. They were armed with 2-4in smoke mortars and 11 to 26-20mm, while Bachaquero also had 3-2pdr. All were returned in 1945. LST(l) Landing Ship, Tank Mk I (BOXER class - launched 1942) Displacement: 3616t designed (on arrival); 5970t deep load Dimensions: 390ft pp x 49ft x 18ft 5in max deep load (on arrival 5ft fore, 13ft aft) 118.87 x 14.94 x 5.61 (1.52, 3.96)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 7000shp = 16.25kts. Oil 1728t Armament: 2-4in smoke mortars, 12-20mm, 1 LCM/LCS, 13-40t or 2O-25t tanks, 27-3t lorries Complement: 169; 193 troops Class: Harland & Wolff - Boxer, Bruiser, Thruster Specially built ships with the funnel to starboard to give a clear tank deck and with a bow ramp and extension 145ft long and capable of taking 40t tanks; the lorries were stowed on the upper deck. The ships were not suitable for mass production and could not beach in sufficiently shallow water. Boxer became a fighter direction ship in 1944, a radar TS in 1947 and was scrapped in 1958, while Bruiser was sold in 1947 and Thruster became the Dutch Pelikaan. LST(2) Landing Ship, Tank Mk II The famous USN LST made available under Lend-Lease. A total of 115 were supplied of which 14 were lost in the war and the balance returned in 1945—47. In RN service they were usually armed with l-12pdr HA and 6-20mm. LST(3) Landing Ship, Tank Mk III (launched 1944—45) Displacement: 2300t light; 4980t deep load Dimensions: 347ft 6in oa x 55ft 3in X 12ft 5in mean deep load 105.92 x 16.84 x 3.79m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 55OOihp = 13.5kts. Oil 1400t Armament: 4-40mm Bofors (2x2), 6-20mm (or 10-20mm only), 15—40t or 2O-25t tanks, 14-3t lorries Complement: 118-190; 170-62 troops LST3043 one of the first batch of LST(3)s MoD British-built ships were numbered 3001 to 3045, of which 3004 3005, 3018, 3023, 3030, 3032-3034, 3039 and 3045 were cancelled or completed as mer- chant ships; Canadian-built ships were numbered 3501 to 353 7, of which 352/, 3526-3531, 3533 and 3535-3537 were cancelled or not completed as LSTs. Owing to lack of welding facilities and of diesel engines, these ships were heavier than the LST(2)s. Many received names in 1947, often those of Lend-Lease escort carriers, and a few survived into the 1970s. 74
Amphibious warfare ships LSH(L) Landing Ship, Headquarters, Large These ships had extensive communications equipment and comprised the former AMC Bulolo, OBVs Hilary and Largs, LSI(L) Keren and also Lothian (ex-City of Edinburgh), of 8036t gross, built in 1938, 16kts speed and 1402t oil fuel. Lothian mounted 4—4in Mk XVI and 2O-2Omm, but the armament of the others was reduced and finally comprised 5-40mm, 1 l-20mm (Bulolo), l-3in, 4-2pdr, 13-20mm (Hilary), l-3in, 2-2pdr, 14-20mm (Largs), or 8-40mm, 14-20mm (Keren). LSF Landing Ship, Fighter Direction An important feature of landings as their success depended on air superiority. The specially equipped ships were the former LST(l) Boxer, 3 LST(2)s, (Nos 13, 216 and 217), the convoy escort Antwerp, auxiliary AA vessels Palomares and Ulster Queen and also Stuart Рппсе, a 1948t gross 12kt coal-burner with 400t bunker capacity, built in 1940 and eventually armed with 24-20mm Boxer had 2 quadruple pompoms and 12-20mm, Ulster Queen 4—4in Mk XVI, 2 quadruple pompoms, 10-20mm and 14 DC, while Palomares had 4 quadru- ple pompoms and 12-20mm only. LST216 was lost in 1944 and Palomares, mined 24.1.44, was out of action for 14 months. LCI(L) Landing Craft, Infantry, Large A total of 220 were provided under Lend-Lease, of which 20 were altered to LCH for local HQ services; 10 were lost during the war. The usual British armament was latterly l-2pdr pompom and 3-20mm LCI(S) Landing Craft, Infantry, Small (launched 1943) Displacement: 1 lOt loaded Dimensions: 105ft lin oa x 21ft 5in x 3ft 6Jin mean loaded 32 03 x 6.53 x 1 08m Machinery: 2-shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 840bhp — 14.5kts. Petrol 4000gal Armament: 2 to 8-20mm Complement. 17, 102 troops Numbered 501 lo600, later 2501 to 2600, these were wooden-hulled Fairmile ‘H’ type vessels protected with jin steel applied as ‘scales’. Unlike the LCI(L)s, they were only short range craft 8 were lost during the war. LCS(L)2 Landing Craft, Support, Light Mk II A further 10 LCI(S)s were converted to support craft and numbered 251 to 260. They were armed with l-6pdr/7cwt Mk V in a Valentine tank turret, 2-20mm, and a 4in smoke mortar. Loaded displacement was 116t and com- plement 25. l-CS(L)257, a Landing Crafi Support, Light Mk II MoD An LC1 (1) as completed LCT(l) Landing Craft, Tank Mk I (launched 1940-41) Displacement: 372t loaded Dimensions: 152ft oa x 29ft x 4ft 4Jm mean loaded 46.33 x 8.84 x 1.33m Machinery: 2-shaft Hall-Scott petrol engines, 840bhp = lOktS. Petrol 3650gal Armament: 2-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm, 3—40t or 6-20t tanks Complement: 12 Numbered I to 30, these were of cellular steel construction and could be divided into 4 sections for transport as they were only short range. 15 were lost in the war An LCI(L) in 1944 MoD An LCI(S) as completed MoD LCT(2) Landing Craft, Tank Mk II (launched 1942-43) Displacement. 460t loaded Dimensions: 159ft Ilin oa X 31ft x 5ft 4m mean loaded 48 74 x 9 45 x / 63m Machinery: 3-shaft Napier petrol engines, 1050bhp = llkts. Petrol 8800gal See notes Armament: 2-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm; 3-40t or 7-20t tanks Complement: 12 Numbered 100 to 172, these were larger 3-shaft versions of the LCT(1), though some had 2 shafts with Paxman diesels giving 860bhp = 9kts, and later units had 3-shaft Paxman diesels producing 1500bhp = llkts. Fuel was increased in both these to 10,800gal. War losses totalled 19. 75
LCF(2)l as completed LCF(2) Landing Craft, Flak Mk II Two LCT(2)s converted to AA craft. No 1 is given as 455t light and mounted 4-4in QF Mk XVI (2x2) and 3-20mm with a complement of 81, while No 2 is listed as 369t light and had 8 single 2pdr pompoms and 4-20mm. Both were of the 3-shaft diesel type and both were lost in the war. LCT(R)(2) Landing Craft, Tank (Rocket) Mk II These retained their original numbers and had a false deck with 792-5in rockets electrically fired in salvos at a fixed range of 3500yds. Their comple- ment was 17 or 18 and loaded displacement 515t. LCT(3) Landing Craft, Tank Mk III (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 640t loaded % Dimensions: 192ft oa x 31ft x 5ft 5in mean loaded 58.52 x 9.45 x 1.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman diesels, lOOObhp = 10.5kts. Fuel 6200gal. See notes Armament: 2-2pdr pompom, 2-20mm; 5-401 or ll-30t tanks Complement: 12 Numbered 300 to 499 and 7001 to 7150, and basically an LCT(2) with a 32ft section added amidships. They divided into 5 sections for transport. Later units had 2-shaft Sterling petrol engines (lOOObhp = 10.85kts) and fuel was reduced to 5760gal petrol. 31 were lost in the war. LCT(5) Landing Craft, Tank Mk V A total of 172 were supplied under Lend-Lease, of which 29 were lost in the war. LCT(6) Landing Craft, Tank Mk VI Only 2 supplied under Lend-Lease. LCT(8) Landing Craft, Tank Mk VIII (launched 1945—47) Displacement: 810t loaded Dimensions: 225ft oa x 38ft x 4ft 9in mean loaded 68.58 x 11.58 x 1.45m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman twin diesels, 1760bhp = 11.9kts. Fuel 22,600gal Armament: 3-20mm; 8-30t tanks Complement: 22; 42 troops Designed by Thomycroft for the Far East and larger and more habitable than previous LCTs. They saw no operational service in the war. Numbers were to have been 4001-4200, but most were never completed. LCT4039 in June 1948 C By courtesy of John Roberts LCF(3) Landing Craft, Flak Mk III Diesel-engined LCT(3)s converted to AA craft. Loaded displacement was 515t. Nos 3-6 had 8 single 2pdr pompoms and 4-20mm with a complement of 68 and 7-18 4 single pompoms and 8-20mm with a complement of 76. War losses were 2 of the second group. LCT(R)(3) Landing Craft, Tank (Rocket) Mk III LCT(3)s fitted with a false deck and mounting 1044-5in rockets or 936 if tropicalised. Loaded displacement was 560t and complement 17 or 18. Origi- nal numbers were retained. One was lost in the war. LCG(L)(3) Landing Craft, Gun (Large) Mk III Diesel engined LCT(3)s converted to gunboats and displacing 500t loaded. Three retained their original numbers. They were armed with surplus guns for destroyers, Nos 1-20 having 2 single 4,7in QF Mk IX and Nos 21, 22, 26,424, 426 and449 2 single 4.7in BL. All had 2 to 4-20mm and a complement of 45-48. Nos 5-5, 424, 426 and 449 were lent to the USN. 4 were lost in the war. LCT(4) Landing Craft, Tank Mk IV (launched 1942-45) Displacement: 640t loaded Dimensions: 187ft 3in oa x 38ft 8in x 4ft 5Ain mean loaded 57.07 x 11.79 x 1.36m Machinery: 2 shaft Paxman diesels, lOOObhp = lOkts. Fuel ll,400gal Armament: 2-20mm; 6-40t or 9-30t tanks Complement: 12 Originally of lighter construction and greater beam than prev jus LCTs but later strengthened. They were numbered 500-1364. War losses totalled 39. LCF(4) Landing Craft, Flak Mk IV LCT(4)s converted to AA craft. Displacement loaded was 510t and comple- ment 76 with 4 single 2pdr pompoms and 8-20mm. Diesel fuel was 3100gal but 11,400 for the Far East. Numbers were 19-46, and 3 were lost in the war. LCG(L)939, as convened from an LCT(4) LCG(L)(4) Landing Craft, Gun (Large) Mk IV These were converted from LCT(4)s and retained their original numbers. Displacement loaded was 570t and complement 47-48. They were armed with 2-4.7in BL and 7-20mm, and differed from LCG(L)(3)s in that the 4.7in were superfiring. Diesel fuel was as in LCF(4)s. Serial numbers were 680,681,687, 764,811,831,893,939,1007 and 1062 of which 687,811 and 893 were lent to the USN. War losses amounted to 3. LCT(3)398 in 1944 MoD 76
Amphibious warfare ships LCG(M)(1) Landing Craft, Gun (Medium) Mk I (launched 1944) Displacement: 380t loaded Dimensions: 154ft 6in oa x 22ft 4in x 6ft lOJin mean loaded 41 09 x 6 81 x 2.10m Machinery: 2-shaft Paxman diesel, lOOObhp = 11.75kts Fuel 9780gal (13,82Ogal if ballast tank used) Armament: 2-25pdr Mk II or 2-17pdr Mk III, 2-20mm Complement: 31 Designed by John Brown’s to provide gun support with army weapons, namely the 25pdr field gun-howitzer or the 17pdr anti-tank gun. They had 2in max protection and could be flooded to ground in a known position and fire from map references. The guns were m turrets and ‘echelonned’ forward. Numbers ran from 101 to 200 but from the gun records 25pdrs were only mounted in Nos 103,108-121,125-129,132,133,143-148,150 and 115-190 and 17pdrs in 101,102,104-101,122-124 and 191-196. Nos 101 and 102 were lost. A Mk II version for the Far East was ordered but saw no service. Numbers wer t( be 501-524, and 2-25pdr guns were issued for Nos 513,514,516 and 5/7. There was also to be a rocket version called LCS(R) - Landing Craft, Support (Rocket) - and numbered 1-30, but only the prototype was com- pleted. 5O4-5in rockets were carried. MINOR LANDING CRAFT Landing ships carried a variety of landing craft, the most important of which are listed below: LCA (Landing Craft Assault). 1 i-13Jt, 414ft oa, able to carry 35 troops. 2030 built 1940-44. LCS(M) was an LCA with a 4in smoke mortar LCP (Landing Craft Personnel): LCP(2) and LCP(S) 3£t-54t, c420 British- built 1941-43; LCP(L) and LCP(R) 10?t, 1200 US-built 1940-43. Able to carry up to 30 troops. LCV and LCV(P) (Landing Craft Vehicle (and Personnel))- 11-llJt, 36ft oa, able to carry 36 troops or a 3t vehicle. c700 US-built 1942-43. LCM (Landing Craft Mechanised): The basic varieties used by the Royal Navy w-ere LCM(l)- 36t,48|fj oa, able to carry one 16t tank or 100 troops - of which 600 were British-built in 1940-44; LCM(3) - 52t, 50ft oa, able to carry one 30t tank or 60 troops - of which 650 were US-built in 1942-44; and the LCM(7) - 63t, 60’,ft oa, able to carry one 40t tank - of which 150 were Bntish-built in 1943—44. An LCM1) as built MoD An LCG(MX1) with armament as designed LCA 365, a later type with forward cox wain’s position, 1944 MoD An LCM<3) on trials MoD LCS{M)41 as completed 1943 'MoD LCP(L)s during exercises in June 1943 TheThornycroft-designed LCM(7) MoD
GREAT BRITAIN MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS ALBATROSS seaplane carrier Displacement: 4800t standard; 6350t deep load Dimensions: 443ft 9in oa x 61ft, 77ft 9in over sponsons X 17ft 3in mean deep load 135 25 x 18 59, 23.70 x 5 26m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 12,OOOshp = 2lkts. Oil 942t W Armament: 4—4.7in/40 QF Mk VIII HA, 4—2pdr pompom (4x1), 4-3pdr saluting, 9 aircraft Complement: 450 Name Builder Launched Fate ALBATROSS Cockatoo 23.2.1928 Sold 1946 Albatross was laid down for the Royal Australian Navy 5.5.26 and completed in January 1929. She was later transferred to Britain and commissioned in the RN 29.9.38. The hangar forward could accommodate 9 aircraft, though ini- tially 6 single-engmed Seagull amphibian flving boats were carried, and later 6 to 9 Walrus. Petrol stowage was 8300gal. The original compressed air catapult was replaced by one of the explosive powered type in December 1940. Albat- ross was converted to a repair ship in 1943, her lighter guns being changed to 8-2pdr pompom (2x4) and 6-20mm. She was hit by a Dackel slow pattern- running torpedo on 11.8 44 and was not repaired during the war. She was sold into mercantile service after the war. TERN class river gunboats (launched 1927-28) Displacement: 262t standard Dimensions: 168ft oa x 27ft x 4ft 3in mean deep load 51.21 x 8.23 x 1.30m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 1370shp = 14kts. Oil 60t Armament: 2-3in/20cwt HA (2x 1) Complement: 55 Class: Yarrow - Seamew, Tern. Designed for Chinese rivers with better accommodation than previous tvpes. Tern was scuttled at Hong Kong 19.12.41 and Seamew scrapped in 1947. PETEREL class river gunboats (launched 1927) Displacement: 3!0t standard Dimensions: 185ft oa x 29ft x 4ft 3in mean deep load 56 39 x 8 84 x 1.30m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 2250shp = 16kis. Oil 78t Armament: 2-3in/20cwt HA (2x 1) Complement: 55 Class: Yarrow - Gannet, Peterel. Similar to the Tern class but larger and faster Peterel was sunk at Shanghai 8.12.41 and Gannet transferred to China in 1942. Falcon as completed Tem on builder’s trials Sandpiper as completed SANDPIPER river gunboat (launched 1933) Displacement: 185t standard Dimensions: 167ft 4in oa x 30ft 8in x 2ft lin mean deep load 51.00 x 9.35 x 0.63m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 1 Admiralty 3 drum boiler, 600ihp = 11 25kts. Oil 26t Armament: 1-3.7in howitzer, l-6pdr Hotchkiss Complement: 35 Thornycroft built. A gunboat designed for very shallow waters. Transferred to China in 1942. FALCON nver gunboat (launched 1931) ROBIN river gunboat (launched 1934) Displacement: 372t standard Dimensions: 150ft oa x 28ft 9in x 6ft mean deep load 45.72 x 8.76 x I.83m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2250shp = 15kts. Oil 89t Armament: 1-3 7in howitzer, 2-6pdr Hotchkiss Complement: 55 Displacement: 226t standard Dimensions: 156ft 3in oa x 26ft 8in x 3ft 6in mean deep load 47.63 x 8.13 x 1.07m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 1 Admiralty 3-drum boiler, 800ihp = 12.75kts. Oil 41t Armament: 1-3.7in howitzer, l-6pdr Hotchkiss Complement: 35 Built by Yarrow. Shorter and of deeper draught than the preceding, and one of the few warships with a howitzer as main armament. Falcon was transferred to China in 1942. Built by Yarrow. Of deeper draught than Sandpiper and with a higher speed. Served as a boom depot ship at Hong Kong in 1941 and scuttled there 25.12.41. 78
Miscellaneous vessel SCORPION river gunboat (launched 1937) Displacement: 700t standard Dimensions: 208ft 9in oa x 34ft 8m x 6ft mean deep load 63 63 x 10 57 x 1.83m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4500shp = 17kts Oil 136t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (2x1), 1-3.7in howitzer, 2-3pdr saluting Complement: 93 Intended to serve as SNO’s ship on the Yangtze, Scorpion had better accom- modation but a much weaker armament than the ‘Insect’ class of 1915. The 4m guns were on 30" mountings. She was to have become an ASW vessel with 20 DC but was sunk by a Japanese destroyer 13.2.42 Built by White. Dragonfly as completed DRAGONFLY class river gunboats (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 625t standard, 715t deep load Dimensions: 196ft 6in oa x 33ft 8m x 6ft 2m mean deep load 59.89 x 10.26 x 1.88m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3800shp = 17kts Oil 90t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V (2x 1), 1-3 7m howitzer See notes Complement: 74 Class: Thomycroft - Dragonfly, Grasshopper White - Cancelled: Bee Yarrow - Locust, Mosquito Generally similar to Scorpion but smaller The 4in were on 30° mountings Dragonfh and Grasshopper were bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft 14.2.42. Locust and Mosquito were not completed until 1940 and had a quadru- ple 2pdr pompom in place of the howitzer. Mosquito was bombed and sunk 1 6 40, while Locust, whose later armament included 3-20mm and 20 DC, became an HQ ship in 1944 The 4 Iranian gunboats Chahbaaz, Charogh, Karkas and Simorgh were cap- tured in 1941 and sened in the RIN until 1946 under the namesHira,Nilam, Mon and ImI respectively. GUARDIAN netlayer (launched 1932) Displacement- 2860t standard, 3665t deep load Dimensions- 338ft oa x 53ft x 13ft 10m mean deep load 103 02 x 16 15 x 4 22m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiraltv 3-drum boilers, 6500shp = 18kts. Oil 734t Armament: 2-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (2x1) (later 2 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2)) Complement 181 The first specially built netlayer, not scrapped until 1962 The later twin 4in mounting was located aft and 14-20mm were subsequently added Built at Chatham. PROTECTOR netlayer (launched 1936) Displacement. 2820t standard, 3610t deep load Dimensions: 338ft oa x 53ft x 13ft 9in mean deep load 103 02 x 16 15 x 4 19m Machinery 2- shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 9000shp = 20kts Oil 707t Armament: l-4in/45 QF Mk V (later 2 QF Mk XVI HA (1x2)) Complement: 190 A faster version of Guardian, built by Yarrow, and surviving until 1970 She was hit by an airborne torpedo 118 41 and was out of action for 4 years. The original 4m gun was on a 30° mounting aft and was later replaced by the twin HA, while 7-20mm were finally added. Plover as completed PLOVER coastal minelayer (launched 1937) Displacement: 8O5t standard; 1020t deep load Dimensions: 195ft 3in oa x 37ft 6in x 10ft mean deep load 59.51 x 11.43 x 3 05m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 1400ihp = 14.75kts Oil 116t Armament: l-3in/20cwt HA, 100 mines Complement: 69 A purpose-built (Denny) coastal minelayer, not scrapped until 1969 The 3in was mounted aft and a 20mm forward, though prewar she only had 2 MGs. Plover laid over 15,000 mines during the war. There were also the smaller purpose-built controlled minelayers Linnet, Redstart and Ringdove (498t, launched 1938), and M1-M8 (346t, launched 1939-44). MEDWAY submarine depot ship (launched 1928) Displacement: 14,650t standard; 18,362t deep load with water protection Dimensions: 580ft oa x 85ft 4in x 23ft 2in mean deep load as above 176.78 x 26 01 x 7.06m Machinery: 2 shaft MAN diesels, 8000bhp = 15.5kts Oil 610t (plus 1880t for submarines) Armament: 4-4in/45 QF Mk V (4x1) Complement: 400 The majority of depot ^repair ships were converted merchant vessels and are excluded from this section Eight specially built ships with a powerful AA armament for their time and some with special underwater protection are however described Medway was designed to tend 18 ‘O’ and ‘P’ class submarines, increased to 21 in war. Built by Vickers-Armstrong (Barrow), she carried 144-2lin tor- pedoes and 3 spare 4in/40 QF Mk IV guns of which 2 were originally mounted as part of her armament Internal bulges, generally similar to those in Nelson, were provided with a total of 1374t water filling and a IJin torpedo bulkhead located 13ft inboard amidships and inclined sharply outwards above water. The upper deck was l|in amidships. Unfortunately Medway's topweight was considerably less than the builders had calculated and at deep load her GM was o'er 13ft. To avoid possible damage to submarines alongside her bilge keels were originally only 12in and she is recorded as rolling 42° each way with a period of 9 seconds and the loss of her main topmast Subsequently the bilge keels were increased to 36in. Medway was sunk by 2 or possibly 3 torpedoes from U372 on 30 6 42 A slightly smaller submarine depot ship, of the same general type but turbine propelled, was to be built at Chatham under the 1928-29 programme and to be named Maidstone, but this vessel was cancelled in 1929. Medway on builder’s tr als 79
GREAT BRITAIN RESOURCE fleet repair ship (launched 1928) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 12,3OOt standard, 15,580t deep load wnh water jackets of underwater protection full 534ft oa x 83ft 3in x 22ft Ilin mean deep load as above 162.76 x 25.37 x 6 98m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 7500shp = 15 5kts. Oil 1035t (plus 430t for other ships) 4—4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1) 581 Underwater and deck protection in this repair ship were similar to those in Medway, but GM did not exceed 9.1ft. In 1945 her light AA armament com- prised 4 single 2pdr pompoms and 10-20mm. Resource, built by Vickers- Armstrong (Barrow), was scrapped in 1954. Resource on builder s trials Wooli nch as completed WOOLWICH destroyer depot ship (launched 1934) Displacement: 8750t standard; 10,200t deep load Dimensions: 608ft oa x 64ft x 16ft 6in mean deep load 185.31 x 19.51 x 5.03m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 6500shp = 15.25kts. Oil 1112t Armament: 4-4in/45 QF Mk V HA (4x 1) Complement: 666 Built by Fairfield, and longer and of considerably less b am and draught than the preceding, UZoo/zwich had no special torpedo protection. The upper deck was Im over the machinery and the platform 2in over the ammunition spaces. Light A A is given in 1945 as 2-2pdr pompoms and 4-20mm. Woolwich carried 72-2 lin torpedoes and 200 DCs for her destroyers and was scrapped in 1962. MAIDSTONE class submarine depot ships (launched 1937-38)______________________________________________________ Displacement: 8900t standard; 11,815t (Forth 1 l,965t) deep load Dimensions: 531ft oa x 73ft x 20ft 2in (Forth 20ft 4in) mean deep load 161.84 x 22.25 x 6.15 (6.20)m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Forth Brown-Curtis) geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 7000shp = 17kts. Oil HOOt (plus 1200t diesel for submarines) Armament: 8-4.5in/45 QF Mk I HA (4x2), 8-2pdr pompom (2x4) Complement: 1167 Class: Forth, Maidstone The armament was much increased in this class with twin 4.5m fore and aft, and on the shelter deck amidships on either beam The quadruple pompoms were supplemented by 4-20mm, and 117—21in torpedoes were carried for submarines. There was no special torpedo protection, but the upper deck was lin between the end 4.5in except where covered by the lin shelter deck, and there was apparently 2in max over ammunition spaces on the platform deck. Both ships were built by John Brown. Maidstone was for disposal in 1978 and Forth in 1979. Maidstone in Oct 1948 By courtesy of John Roberts 80
Miscellaneous vessels/Auxiliary warships Tyne 1947 TYNE class destroyer depot ships (launched 1940) Displacement: 11,000t standard; 14,000t deep load Dimensions: 621ft 2in oa x 66ft x 20ft 7in mean deep load 189 33 x 20.12 x 6.27 m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 7500shp = 17kts Oil 1200t (plus 2000t for destroyers) Armament: 8-4.5in/45 QF Mk III HA (4x2), 8-2pdr pompom (2x4) Complement: 818 Class (builder): Hecla (John Brown), Tyne (Scotts) Special torpedo protection was re-introduced in this class with an internal sandwich bulge and a IJin torpedo bulkhead 10ft inboard. The middle deck was armoured with 2in NC and there were 3in cast steel rings round the ammunition hoist openings m the deck. The 4 5in twin mountings were in superfiring pairs fore and aft. Hecla had had 6-20mm added when lost, while Tyne eventually had 15. Each stowed 8О-211П torpedoes and 150 DCs for their destroyers GM was 3 8ft at deep load Hecla was mined on 15.5.42 and was out of action for 18 weeks, and on 11.11.42 she was sunk by 5 torpedoes from U505. Tyne was disposed of in 1973 ADAMANT submarine depot ship (launched 1940) Displacement: 12,700t standard; 16,500t deep load Dimensions: 658ft oa x 70ft 6in x 21ft 3in mean deep load 200.55 x 21.49 x 6.48m, Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 8000shp = 17kts. Oil 1310t (plus 1200t diesel for sub- marines) Armament: 8^4 5in/45 QF Mk HI HA (4x2), 16-2pdr pompom (4x4) Complement: 1273 Adamant, built by Harland & Wolff, had similar torpedo protection to the previous class except that the torpedo bulkhead was Hin, the middle deck was also armoured in the same way as in Tyne. Her armament differed in having 4 quadruple pompoms with 6-20mm, and 117-2Iin torpedoes were carried for submarines GM was increased to 6 2ft at deep load Adamant was scrapped in 1970. AUXILIARY WARSHIPS Athene 1942 ATHENE class aircraft transports (launched 1940-41) Displacement: 10,890t (Engadine 10,650t) deep load Dimensions: 487ft 8in oa x 63ft x 19ft llin-20ft 3in mean deep load 148.64 x 19.20 x 6.07-6.17m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE and LP turbine, 8300hp-= 17kts. Oil 980t Armament: l-4.7in/45 BL Mk I, 1—4in/45 QF Mk V HA, 4-2pdr pom- pom (4x 1) Complement: ? Class (builder): Engadine (Denny), Athene (Greenock, completed John Brown) Mercanule hulls acquired and completed as aircraft transports The magazines were protected by 1 Jin sides and 2in crowns From 7 to 10-20mm were eventually mounted and 16-20 aircraft could be transported with folded wings or 40 Hurricanes with the wings removed Stowage was provided for 28,500gai aviation fuel. The ships were returned to mercantile service in 1946 and scrapped 1962-63. armed merchant cruisers Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Guns/elevation/AA Fate alaunia 14,030/1925 15/1619 8-6in Mk VlI/2072-3in Repair ship 1944 ALCANTARA 22,209/1926 19/2680 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3iti Troopship 1943 andania 13,950/1921 15/1847 8-6m Mk Vll/1472-3in Sunk 15.6 40 antenor 11,174/1925 15/1170 6-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 arawa 14,462/1922 15/1712 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1941 ascania 14,013/1925 15/2200 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 ASTURIAS 22,048/1925 19/2710 8-6in Mk VlI/2O°/2-3in Laid up damaged Apr 1944 81
GREAT BRITAIN Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Guns/elevation/AA Fate AURANIA 13,984/1924 15/1591 8-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in Repair ship Arlifcx 1942 AUSONIA 13,912/1921 15/1586 8-6in Mk VII/14°/2-3in Repair ship 1942 BULOLO 6500/1938 15/624 (diesel) 7-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in HQ ship 1942 CALIFORNIA 16,792/1923 16/2713 8-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in Troopship 1942 CAN TON 15,700/1938 19/1318 8-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Troopship 1944 CARINTHIA 20,277/1925 16.2/2270 8-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in Sunk 7.6.40 CARNARVON CASTLE 20,063/1926 18/1420 (diesel) 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1944 CARTHAGE 14,182/1931 18/1288 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1943 CATHAY 15,225/1925 16/1340 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 CHESHIRE 10,520/1927 15/794 (diesel) 6—6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Troopship 1943 CHITRAL 15,346/1925 16/1850 7-6in Mk XII/30°/3-4in Mk V Troopship 1944 CILICIA 11,137/1938 16.5/1052 (diesel) 8-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Troopship 1944 CIRCASSIA 11,137/1937 16.5/1015 (diesel) 8-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 COMORIN 15,241/1924 16/1390 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Sunk 6.4.41 CORFU 14,170/1931 17/1380 8-6in Mk VII/2072-12pdr Troopship 1944 DERBYSHIRE 11,650/1935 16/740 (diesel) 6-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 DUNOTTAR CASTLE 15,007/1936 16/1372 (diesel) 7-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Troopship 1942 DUNVEGAN CASTLE 15,007/1936 16/1372 (diesel) 7-6in Mk XII/2072-12pdr Sunk 28.8.40 ESPERANCE BAY 14,204/1922 15/1701 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1941 FORFAR 16,402/1920 16/1728 8-6in Mk VI1/2072-3in Sunk 2.12.40 HECTOR 11,198/1924 15/1180 6—6in Mk VII/2072-3in Sunk 5.4.42 JERVIS BAY 14,164/1922 15/1859 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Sunk 5.11.40 KANIMBLA 10,985/1936 16.5/781 (diesel) 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in LSI(L) 1943 LACONIA 19,695/1922 16.5/1895 8-6in Mk VII/1472-3in Troopship 1941 LAURENTIC 18,724/1927 16.5/3536 (coal) 7-5.5in/2573—4in Mk V Sunk 4.11.40 LETITIA 13,475/1925 15/1760 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1941 MALOJA 20,914/1923 16/2725 8-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in Troopship 1941 MANOORA (RAN) 10,856/1935 16/704 (diesel) 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in LSI(L) 1942 MONOWAI (RNZN) 10,852/1924 19/1560 8-6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Troopship 1943 MONTCLARE 16,314/1922 17/1965 7-5.5in/2573-4in Mk V Depot ship 1942 MOOLTAN 20,952/1923 17/2876 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1941 MORETON BAY 14,193/1921 15/1701 7-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1941 PATROCLUS 11,314/1923 15/3073 (coal) 6-6in Mk XII/2072-3in Sunk 4.11.40 PRETORIA CASTLE 17,160/1938 19.5/1332 (diesel) 8-6in Mk XII/2072-12pdr Escort carrier 1942 QUEEN OF BERMUDA 22,575/1933 20/2300 7-6in Mk XII/2O°/2-3in Troopship 1943 RAJPUTANA 16,644/1925 17/2100 8-6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Sunk 13.4.41 RANCHI 16,738/1925 18/1885 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Troopship 1943 RANPURA 16,688/1925 17/2250 8-6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Repair ship 1944 RAWALPINDI 16,697/1925 17/2100 8-6in Mk VII/207- Sunk 23.11.39 SALOPIAN 10,515/1926 15/794 (diesel) 6—6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Sunk 13.5.41 SCOTSTOUN 17,046/1925 16/2495 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Sunk 13.6.40 TRANSYLVANIA 16,923/1925 16/2378 8-6in Mk VII/2072-3in Sunk 10.8.40 VOLTAIRE 13,245/1923 14.5/1430 8-6in Mk VII/200/- Sunk 4.4.41 WESTRAI.IA (RAN) 8108/1929 15.5/879 (diesel) 7-6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in LSI(L) 1943 WOLFE 16,418/1921 16.5/1728 7-6in Mk XII/2072-12pdr Depot ship 1941 WORCESTERSHIRE 11,402/1931 15/696 (diesel) 6—6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in Troopship 1943 PRINCE DAVID (RCN) 6892/1930 21.5/1470 4—6in Mk VII/2O°/2-3in LSI(M) 1943 PRINCE HENRY (RCN) 6893/1930 21.5/1470 4—6in Mk VII/20°/2-3in LSI(M) 1943 PRINCE ROBERT (RCN) 6892/1930 21.5/1470 4-6in Mk VII/2072-3in A A vessel 1943 The above, except the last three, were commissioned in 1939-40; Kanimbla went to the RAN 1941. A further ship, Rimutaka (16,575t/1923) was returned in 1939. The three RCN vessels were commissioned later in 1940. Some names were changed on taking up: Forfar (ex-Montrose), Salopian (ex-Shropshire), Scotstoun (ex-Caledonia) and Wolfe (ex-Montcalm'). The range of their arma- ment was severely limited and, except for Chitral which could reach 18,500yds and the two 5.5in ships a little over 16,000, none could exceed 15,500yds; the majority with 6in Mk VIIs without high velocity charges only ranged to 14,200yds and the three with 14° mountings to 11,900. Various attempts were made to improve this, 2-6in Mk VIIs being replaced by 6in Mk XIIs on 30° mountings in Alcantara (December 1940), Ausonia (May 1941) and Monowai (June 1942), while 4 guns were so replaced in Ranpura (November 1941). All 6in Mk VIIs were replaced by 6-6in Mk XII/300 in Asturias (October 1942), by 8 in Carthage (June 1942) and by 9 in Corfu (January 1943). In Canton the 6in Mk XIIs were increased to 9 in August 1942 and supercharges issued which gave 19,500yds at 20° with 1001b 6crh shells. In 1941^42 the 6in Mk VII in Alcantara, Carnarvon Castle, Cheshire and Worcestershire had 1121b 6crh shells which with special charges gave 17,500yds at 20°. The AA armament was also improved, Canton and Corfu having 4-4in Mk XVIs in 1942-3, while 2-2pdr pompoms were added to Alaunia, Canton, Cathay, Cilicia, Dunoltar Castle, Queen of Bermuda and Worcestershire, and the number of 20mm reached 10 in Canton. Catapults with one or two seaplanes were fitted to Alcantara, Asturias, Canton, Pretoria Castle and Queen of Bermuda in 1941, and to Cilicia and Corfu in 1943. To preserve the watcrplane and increase buoyancy if torpedoed, empty oil drums were packed on the between decks; the completeness of this varied widely, but its efficacy is shown by the Forfar, Salopian and Patroclus taking respectively 5, 6 and 7 torpedoes to sink. In addition to these Andania, Carinthia, Dunvegan Castle, Laurentic, Rajputana, Scotstoun and Transylvania were sunk by U-boats, Hector by bombs, Jervis Bay by Admiral Scheer, Rawal- pindi by Schamhorst and Voltaire by the raider Thor which had previously got the belter of a brush with Alcantara and severely mauled Carnarvon Castle, her 6-5.9in guns ranging to 20,000yds as against 14,200 for her opponents. The remaining loss, Comorin, was due to a fire which caused her to be scuttled. Rawalpindi fining out as an AMC By courtesy of John Bowen 82
Auxiliary warships By courtesy of John Bowen Canton before the funnel was cut down By courtesy of John Bowen Chural about 1940 i__ Covina as an OBV OCEAN BOARDING VESSELS Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Guns/AA Fate ARIGUANI 6746/1926 14/2159 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/I-3in Catapult ship 1941, accommodation ship 1942 CAMITO 6833/1915 15.5/2322 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Sunk 6.5.41 CAVINA 6907/1924 15.75/2172 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Returned 1942 CORINTHIAN 3151/1938 14.5/996 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/1- 12pdr TS 1943 CRISPIN 5051/1935 14.5/692 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12Pdr Sunk 3.2.41 HILARY 7403/1931 15.5/1975 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-3in HQ ship 1943 LADY SOMERS 8194/1929 16/1235 2-6in Mk VII/ l-3in Sunk 15.7.41 LARGS 4504/1938 17/778 (diesel) 2-6in Mk XI/1—3in HQ ship 1942 MALVERNIAN 3133/1937 14/956 (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Sunk 19.7.41 MANISTEE 5368/1920 13.5/? (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Sunk 24.2.41 MAPLIN 5824/1932 17/1197 2-6in Mk XI/? Catapult ship 1941, returned 1942 MARON 6487/1930 15.2/622 (diesel) 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Returned 1942 MARSDALE 4890/1940 14.5/705 2-6in Mk XI/l-12pdr Returned 1942 PATIA 5355/1922 13.5/? (coal) 2-6in Mk XI/l-3in Catapult ship 1941, sunk 27.4.41 REGISTAN 5886/1930 14.5/770 2-6in Mk XI/l-3in Returned 1941 TORTUGUERO 5285/1921 13.5/? (coal) See notes Returned 1942 Commissioned in 1940-41. Camilo had served as an escort ship in the First World War. Tortuguero is often listed with 2-6in guns but there is no record of any 6in issued to her. As catapult ships l-6in was removed and a rocket catapult added with one adapted Hurricane fighter or two in Maplin-, the latter had 1-3in AA added while light AA in some amounted to 2-2pdr pompoms and/or 4-20mm. 1 he range of the 6in guns did not exceed 14,200yds. Malver- nian was sunk by bombing and the others by submarines. ARMED BOARDING VESSELS AUXILIARY PATROL VESSELS These comprised 12 screw ships taken up in 1939-40. Gross tonnage varied widely: Vandyck was 13,241, Chakdina, Chakla and Chaniala 3033-3129, Tiona and St Tudno 2190-2326, Goodtvin, King Orry, Laird’s Isle and Mona’s Isle 1570-1877, Discovery 1062, and Fratton 757. Launching dates varied from 1905 to 1929, and King Orry had performed similar services in 1914—18. The usual armament was 2-4in/40 QF Mk IV, sometimes with a 12pdr HA, while Discot'en-, Fraiion and Goodwin appear to have only had the latter. Chakdina had her 4in replaced by 2-3in AA in 1941 and originally had one as well as the 4in. Goodwin and Mona’s Isle became auxiliary A A vessels in 1941. Losses were Chakdina, Chakla, Chantala, Fiona, Fratton, King Orry and Vandyck. CONVOY ESCORTS Only two ships were so classed, Antwerp and Malines of 2957 and 2980t gross, built in 1920-21 and hired in late 1940. They were armed with l-4in/45 QF Mk VH\, with 4—2pdr (4x 1) in Antwerp, and operated in the Mediterranean. Malines was sunk in July 1942 but salved in early 1943 and was re-armed in 1945, while Antwerp became a fighter direction ship in 1944 and was returned in 1945 There are believed to have been 89 of these, requisitioned 1939-42 and varying from tugs to coastal passenger vessels. They were mostly employed in the Far East, 36 being RN, 13 RAN, 3 RCN and 37 RIN. Kedah and Siang IFo were respectively 2499 and 2595t gross, and 19 were between 1020 and 1820-Bun Hong Liong, Bhadravati (RIN), GiangBee, Goodwin (ex-A A, ex-ABV), Haideri (RIN), Irrawadi (RIN), Kelanan, Kudat, Mata Han, Kelravali (RIN), Parvati (RIN), Princess Marie Jose, Raub, Sonavati (RIN), Sophie Marie (RIN), Tung Wo, Victoria Marie (RIN), Vyner Brooke and Wilcania (ex-Wyrallah') (RAN). Of these , Siang U7o, Giang Bee, Kudat, Mata Hari, Parvati, Raub, Sophie Marie, Tung IV'o and Vyner Brooke were lost, as were (it is believed) 11 of the smaller vessels. The heaviest guns mounted were I or 2-4in. Two vessels were former RN patrol gunboats sold in 1920-Hashemi (ex-Kildorough) (RIN) and Indira (cx-Kildysart) - while the sloop Pansy, also sold in 1920, retained her old name in the RIN. 83
GREAT BRITAIN SPECIAL SERVICE VESSELS Name Decoy name Gross tons/built Speed (kts/oil (t) Guns/21in TT BEAULY LOOE 1030/1924 11/? (coal) 4-4 in Mk IV/2 BOTLEA LAMBRIDGE 5119/1917 14/1482 (coal) 7-4in Mk IV/4 CAPE HOWE PRUNELLA 4443/1930 13.5/? (coal) 7-4in Mk IV/4 CAPE SABLE CYPRUS 4398/1936 13.5/853 (coal) 7-4in Mk IV/4 CITY OF DURBAN BRUTUS 5945/1921 15/540+936 coal 9-4in Mk IV/4 KING GRUFFYD MAUNDER 5072/1919 15/1325 (coal) 7-4in Mk IV/4 ORCHY ANTOINE 1090/1930 11/? (coal) 4—lin Mk IV/2 W'ILLAMETTE VALLEY EDGEHILL 4702/1928 15/898 (diesel) 9-4in Mk IV/4 Also known as ‘freighters* or as decoy ships, the above were updated versions of the First World War Q-ships and in addition to the above guns and TT carried DCs. They were armed in October 1939-March 1940 but achieved no success and were withdrawn as decoy ships in early 1941. Cape Howe and Willamette Valley were sunk by U-boats 21.6.40 and 29.6.40 respectively. Botha, Cape Sable, City of Durban and King Gruffyd served as AMCs until 1941-42, but as their 4in guns on 20° mountings only ranged to 9500yds they would have depended on torpedoes for any success, and they were all returned by mid-1942. The old patrol vessel PC14 also served as a decoy under the name of Chats- grove, and the French steamer Le Rhin of 2456t gross, 9.5kts, built in 1920, was used for various activities as Fidelity. When sunk by U43S on 30 12.42 she appears to have been operating as an aircraft decoy ship mounting 4—4in QF Mk XVI (2x2) and 4-2pdr pompoms (4x 1), as well as 2-75mm, l-37mm, and possibly 2-25mm French guns. It is not clear whether she still had the 4-2lin TT and 2 seaplanes with which she was credited, although MTB10S was on board at the time. Thanks at least in part to the Admiralty’s net defence for merchant ships, it took 5 torpedoes to sink her. SEA-GOING AUXILIARY AA VESSELS Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Guns/light AA Fate ALYNBANK 5151/1925 12/577 (diesel) 8—4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Blockship 9.6.44 FOYLEBANK 5582/1930 12/? (diesel) 8—4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Sunk 4.7.40 PALOMARES 1896/1937 16/136 (diesel) 6-4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Fighter direction ship 1943 POZARICA 1893/1937 16/136 (diesel) 6-4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Sunk 13.2.43 PRINCE ROBERT 6892/1930 21.5/1470 I0-4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Mercantile 1948 SPRINGBANK 5155/1926 12/400 (diesel) 8—4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Sunk 27.9.41 TYNWALD 2376/1936 21/292 6-4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Sunk 12.11.42 ULSTER QUEEN 3791/1929 18/170 (diesel) 6-4in Mk XVI/8-2pdr Fighter direction ship 1943 Prince Robert (RCN) was the former armed merchant cruiser convened in 1943, while the rest dated from 1940-41. All had their 4in guns tn HA twin mountings, and their 2pdr pompoms in two quadruple ones. Later Prince Robert also had 4 single 40mm Bofors and 9-20mm, while others had up to 6-20mm. Springbank had an athwartships catapult fitted in March 1941 and carried a Fulmar fighter. With their powerful AA armament these ships made valuable convoy escorts. Springbank was sunk by a U-boat, Tynwald by an Italian submarine or perhaps mined, Foylebank was sunk by bombs and Pozarica, hit by an airborne torpedo on 29.1.43, capsized from the effect of demolition charges used to remove underwater wreckage at the stern. AUXILIARY MINESWEEPERS Apparently 86 in number, including 4 former auxiliary patrol vessels. Of this total 44 were RN, 20 RAN, 5 RCN, 9 RNZN and 8 RIN. They were requisitioned in 1939-42 and during the war 2 RN vessels were transferred to the RAN and 3 RAN units to the USN. Gross tonnage varied from 44 to 1746, Kai, Kalavati (RIN), Orara (RAN) and Pangkor being over lOOOt. Losses totalled 24, of 91 to 927t gross. A 12pdr was often mounted, though some had l-4in. The ‘Hunt* class minesweeper Wexford, sold in 1921, became the RAN Doomba in 1939. Thames Queen 1940 COASTAL AUXILIARY AA VESSELS PADDLE MINESWEEPERS These comprised 6 screw {Conqueror, Coronation, Goodwin (cx-ABV), Kampar, Mona’s Isle (ex-ABV} and Queen Eagle} and 26 paddle vessels {Aristocrat, Balmoral, Bournemouth Queen, Crested Eagle, Emperor of India, Glen Avon, Glen Usk,Glen More, Goatfell, Golden Eagle, Helvellyn,Jeannie Deans, Laguna Belle, Loma Doone, Plinlimmon, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Empress, Ravens- wood, Royal Eagle, Ryde, Sandown, Scawfell, Skiddaw, Thames Queen, West- ward Ho! and Whippingham}', 20 of the latter were ex-minesweepers. They varied from 350 to 3044t gross and were mostly well below lOOOt. The usual armament was 2 to 6 single 2pdr pompoms plus MGs, but in many the latter were replaced or reinforced by 2 to 6-20mm. A few had l-12pdr and 2-2pdr, and the largest, the ex-dredger Coronation, had 2-3in/20cwt and 2-2pdr. Four were lost: Kampar, Crested Eagle, Glen Avon and Helvellyn. A total of 39 vessels requisitioned in 1939 (one in 1941) for work in British coastal waters. They varied between 235 and 825t gross and some dated back to the 1890s. As many as 20 became auxiliary coastal AA vessels in 1940-42, mostly in the latter year. Two, Queen of Kent and Queen of Thanet, were the former purpose-built RN minesweepers Atherstone and Melton sold in 1927. Losses as minesweepers totalled 10: Brighton Belle, Brighton Queen, City of Rochester, Devonia, Grade Fields, Mannion, Mercury, Snaefell, Southsea and Waverley-, the 27 not named above were Ambassador, Duchess of Fife, Duchess of Rothesay, Emperor of India, Essex Queen, Glen Avon, Glen More {ex-Glen Gower}, Glen Usk,Goatfell, Helvellyn, Jeannie Deans, Kylemore, Laguna Belle, Loma Doone, Medway Queen, Oriole, Plinlimmon, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Empress, Ravenswood, Ryde, Sandown, Scawfell, Skiddaw, Thames Queen, Westward Ho! and Whippingham. A 4in/40 QF Mk IV is recorded in Ryde and Southsea, but otherwise the heaviest gun was a 12pdr. R4
Auxiliary warships Corbrae as a minesweeper maintenance ship MINE DESTRUCTOR VESSELS These comprised 10 ships of 1597-2314t gross requisitioned in 1939-40 for use against magnetic mines. A 300t electro-magnet was carried in the bows, but the field from this was too near the ship and it was superseded by the much lighter and highly efficient LL-sweep. The usual armament comprised a 12pdr and MGs. The 10 ships were Andelle, Borde, Burlington, Bushwood, Corbrae, Corbum, Corfield, Queenworth, Springdale and Spnngtide. Of these, Corbum, Corfield and Queenworth were lost in 1940-41 and the rest later converted to minesweeper maintenance ships or to deperming vessels. Two specially built ships, Cybele and Cyrus, were ordered in September 1943 for use against German pressure or ‘oyster’ mines. They had no engines and were to operate under tow with no crew. Displacement was 3980t and dimensions 350ft pp x 60ft (106 68 x 18.29m). Laid down by Denny and Swan Hunter respectively, they were launched in January 1944 and completed by Scotts in May Cybele was expended in tests and scrapped m 1946, while Cyrus was wrecked in December 1944. AUXILIARY MINELAYERS Name Gross tons/built Speed (kts)/oil (t) Guns/mines Fate AGAMEMNON 7593/1929 15.5/1191 (diesel) 2-4in Mk V/530 Amenities ship 1944 BUNGAREE (RAN) 3155/1937 11/573 (coal) 2-4in Mk IV, l-12pdr/467 Returned 1946 HAMPTON 2839/1934 16 5/130 (coal) l-12pdr/270 Transport 1940 KUNG WO 4636/1921 15/? See notes Sunk 14 2 42 MENESTHEUS 7493/1929 15.5/1191 (diesel) 2-4in Mk V/410 Amenities ship 1944 PORT NAPIER 9600/1940 2-4m Mk V/550 Sunk 27 11.40 PORT QUEBEC 5936/1939 16/? (diesel) 2-4in Mk V/548 Repair ship Deer Sound 1944 PRINCESS VICTORIA 2197/1939 19/? (diesel) l-12pdr/244 Sunk 19.5.40 SHFPPERTON 2839/1935 16 5/130 (coal) 2-12pdr/270 Constructive loss 5 5.41 SOUTHERN PRINCE 10,917/1929 17/1874 (diesel) 2—4in Mk V/562 Accommodation ship 1945 TEVIOTBANK 5087/1938 15/490 (coal) l-12pdr/272 Returned 1944 Taken up in 1939—40 except for Bungaree (which from her gun records was not armed until 1942) and Kung tt'o (acquired in the Far East in 1941). The armament of the latter is not certain but is thought to have been 1—4in BL Mk IX or QF Mk IV The 4in QF Mk I Vs m Bungaree were replaced by 2-4in Mk V’s in Februarx 1944 These guns were m single HA mountings m all, as were the 12pdrs. Light AA in the 4in-gunned ships comprised 2-2pdr pompoms and 4 to 8-20mm, except that Southern Prince had 14—20mm only. They were intended to operate under cover of the main fleet and most were employed in such operations as taxing the Northern Barrage Port Napier was destroyed by fire, Princess Victoria mined and Sheppenon 2nd Kung Wo lost from bombing ARMED YACHTS Counting only vessels of oxer lOOt TM, at least 138 xvere commissioned in the RN, 4 in the RAN and 22 in the RCN of xvhich 15 xxere bought in the USA in 1940. One, Conqueror, became a coastal A A vessel and is noted in that classifi- cation, while the rest xvere used as ASW vessels, auxiliary patrol, SNO’s ships for minesweepers, armed boarding vessels and for many other purposes. A total of 28 are believed to have been lost. It was unusual for more than one 12pdr or occasionally two to be mounted in the larger yachts, though Surprise apparently had three, but several had a 4in BL Mk IX or QF Mk IV. The armed yacht Viva 11 served in the AS role until sunk on 8.5.1941 By courtesy of John Roberts 85
United States of America The United States emerged from World War I with an extremely powerful but relatively unbalanced fleet and a new strategic orienta- tion; both circumstances were to shape US naval development from then until World War II The imbalance resulted from the prewar disposition of Congress to fund capital ship but not cruiser construc- tion; nor were enough destroyers built before the United States entered World War I. Even the massive 1916 expansion programme called for ten battleships and six battlecruisers, but only ten light cruisers for a navy whose only other modern light cruisers were three small ‘scouts’ completed in 1908. Indeed, the cruiser shortage had been so great before the war that US destroyers, then somewhat larger than the world average, were frequently used as scouts, a role for which they were far too small. Nor were there specialised flotilla leaders. The 1916 pro- gramme called for 50 new destroyers, but the general shortage of US destroyers brought forth a scries of very large w'ar programmes which ultimately produced a nearly uniform class of 267 ‘flush-deckers’, a fleet so massive that it discouraged attempts to build new destroyers for over a decade. As in the case of the large World War II programme, the destroyer design had to be frozen for production reasons, and so could not reflect wartime lessons; the ‘flush-decker’ fleet, then, was obsoles- cent upon completion. Thus for the decade following World War I the US Navy built large ‘treaty’ cruisers which began to fill the gap in its fleet; however, this gap remained as late as the outbreak of war in 1941, and helps to explain the immense cruiser programme of World War II. In addition it developed the new technology of aircraft carriers, and it modernised its existing battleships under the terms of the Washington Treaty. Destroyer construction did not start until the 1930s when, with the ‘flush- deckers* very obviously wearing out, Congress was persuaded to pur- chase new ships As for submarines, the 1916 programme authorised 58 coastal craft and 9 ‘fleet boats,’ the latter perhaps equivalent in theory to the large British ‘K’ class of World War I. In fact although the coastal boats were built at once, the nine larger ships, designated the ‘V’ class, were not, their design and construction stretched out over more than a decade, and they bridged the gap between World War I technology and the beginnings of the very successful World War II ‘fleet boats.* Submarine construction in numbers did not begin until the 1930s, somewhat later than the resumption of destroyer building One important element of US sea power did not appear in standard tables of fleet strength: the large force of patrol aircraft, which, sea- based, were expected to provide a mobile naval air force to supplement the carrier aircraft operating with the battle fleet. Before World War II it was assumed that air bases would be relatively difficult to build, so that a naval force operating far from the United States would have to employ aircraft capable of operating from sheltered waters in its vicin- ity. Го this end the United States developed large flying boats, and a large force of tenders to service them. Budgetary restrictions kept this force small unul the late 1930s, but it is well to keep in mind that from the early 1920s onwards the Navy retained a permanent list of US-flag merchant ships together with conversion plans - including plans for seaplane tenders, as well as for aircraft carrier conversions of fast liners. This planning experience was probably valuable when large numbers of auxiliaries had to be converted during World War II. From 1919 onwards, this fleet was directed primarily at Japan, which the US Navy perceived as the next probable naval enemy. Prior to World War I the main strength of the US Navy was in the Atlantic, and from the Navy’s point of view the most probable war scenario was a German attempt to seize bases in the New World, an eventuality codenamed ‘Black’. Japan (‘Orange’) was the next most probable enemy, with the w'ar scenario an attempt to seize the Philippines, a US possession since 1899. With the elimination of the‘Black’ fleet in 1918, there was some consideration given the possibility of war with Britain (‘Red’) in consequence of trade rivalry, but far more attention wfent to the problems of an ‘Orange’ war, in which the US fleet would have to advance across the Pacific towards a decisive engagement in Japanese home w aters. After World War I the island chains of the Central Pacific w'ere mandated to Japan, and it had to be assumed that they would be fortified; at the least, the Japanese would be able to base submarines and aircraft in them, and so reduce the US fleet cn route to its surface battle. The only US possessions in the area were Guam and Wake; quite early it became evident that any extended campaign in the Western Pacific would require the seizure of temporary bases, and that an elaborate fleet tram of tenders of various types would be required if they were to be utilised. Even logistics w'ould be a serious problem, as every gallon of fuel oil would have to be transported from the United States over several thousand miles of potentially dangerous ocean With the signing of the Washington Treaty m 1922, the Japanese were fixed in the strength of the their battle line relauvc to that of the United States, but naval aircraft (not carriers) and submarines were not limited, and clearly the mandated islands might be used as bases for both, to even the odds prior to a decisive battle. Both Japanese and US strategists recognised this possibility, and it was responsible for a US emphasis on anti aircraft and anti-submarine weapons wnhin the battle fleet, an emphasis somewhat unusual in the early 1930s. On the other hand, US strategists tended to play down convoy operations, partly because the very large fleet of‘flush-deckers’ appeared to be sufficient for any such requirements Such dependence made the transfer of fifty ‘flush-deckers* to the Royal Navy in 1940 particularly painful, even though these ships were considered quite obsolete; by that time many ‘flush-deckers’ had been broken up under the terms of the London Treaty of 1930. As aircraft carriers developed, the outline of the ‘Orange* war changed, and more and more emphasis came to be placed on the events prior to the ultimate battle fleet engagement The US Navy came to see in its large, fast carriers the cores of powerful raiding and sea control forces, and it began to suspect that the Japanese would use their powerful heavy cruisers in a similar raiding role, attacking the necessar- ily long sea lines of communication in the Pacific Considerations of raiding warfare, perhaps carried on even by the three Japanese battle- cruisers, led, in the 1930s, to the design of fast battleships (/owa class) and then of very large cruisers (Alaska class); with the destruction of much of the battle fleet at Pearl Harbor it became clear that such formations, suitably concentrated into task forces, could replace the traditional battle fleet entirely. One important element of the ‘Orange* war was the requirement to seize islands as forward bases for the fleet; from the early 1930s onwards the US Marine Corps experimented wuth the technique of amphibious assault, and during the late 1930s designs for specialised assault ships were proposed. At least in theory, such assaults differed very considerably from their later European counterparts, in that many fewer troops had to be transported over infinitely greater distances. Moreover, in a navy limited by treaty in its earner fleet, air support was
Introduction a considerable problem, for a time it appeared that the best means for such support would be Marine scout bombers on pontoons, brought to the battle area by seaplane tenders. There was little interest in Atlantic warfare or, indeed, in World War I-stylc ASW until the late 1930s, when most destroyers were fitted with depth charge racks and planning for a new fleet of patrol craft (110ft sub-chasers and what would become the 173ft PC) began. As the European situation worsened, naval planners began to concentrate on the possibility of Axis penetration of Latin America, and the defence of the Canal Zone. An Atlantic Squadron and then an Atlantic Fleet were established, and the President announced a Neutrality Zone in the Western Atlantic, to be patrolled by the newest destroyers. By 1940 close liaison with the Royal Navy had been established, to the point where a visit that year to Britain by two senior US naval constructors, Admiral Mills and Captain Cochrane (who would soon become Chief of BuShips), had considerable impact on the emerging US naval pro- gramme. With the advent of Lend-Lease, warship designs adapted to British requirements, such as the destroyer escort, were begun. Most of these ships were taken over for US service after Pearl Harbor; that they had been begun much earlier was extremely fortunate. British requirements were responsible for the designs of the largest of the specially-built amphibious craft, the LST and LSD, as well as for the origin of the 180ft PCE/minesweeper and the Liberty Ship. Meanwhile the Maritime Commission, established in 1936 to revital- ise the US merchant marine, was producing a variety of standardised freighter and passenger ship designs, and was preparing for mass production. Most of the naval auxiliaries which made the Pacific war possible were converted from the products of these assembly lines; some had quasi-combatant roles. Moreover, the mass production facilities built up by the Maritime Commission produced specialised naval vessels, particularly the Casablanca class escort carriers, the Tacoma class frigates, and many LSTs. The immense US naval expansion actually began in 1940, when it appeared possible that Britain might be defeated and that the United States would have to fight a two-ocean war quite alone In the interest of rapid production, designs already in production were for the most part frozen, over some naval objections. These ships no longer conformed to treaty restrictions, but they had been developed from designs produced under treaty limits, and so did not fully realise the possibilities of the post-treaty period; the Cleveland class light cruisers were particularly unfortunate in this respect. Indeed, by the end of the war nearly all US warships might best be characterised as badly overloaded, somewhat topheavy, and severely cramped; but they proved effective, and the assembly line methods (particularly extensive welding) employed in their construction produced surprisingly few defective ships. Indeed, many of these ‘short service’ craft, particularly the smaller ones, saw long US and then foreign service; many still exist From a numerical point of view, the new navy of the 1940 expansion did not appear in great numbers until 1943; until then, it was the treaty navy which blocked Japanese expansion and began the counter- offensive in the Pacific, and which fought the opening phases of the US end of the Battle of the Atlantic. A few light cruisers and even the first Essex class fleet earner were commissioned during 1942, but carrier task force operations did not begin in earnest until mid-1943, and tactics were not really well fixed until late that year The immense new fleet train was ready for the extended Fast Carrier Task Force opera- tions of 1944—45, which in a sense recalled the ‘Orange’ \X ar Plan ideas of the 1930s, in much altered form. By this time the survivors of the prewar battle fleet had to be relegated to a secondary role, if only because they had not nearly the speed to keep up with the fast carriers; they saw employment mainly in amphibious operations, although they did have the distinction of fight- ing the last capital ship action in history, at Surigao Strait in October 1944. If one adopts the ‘high-low’ characterisation of the spectrum of warships, as advocated by Admiral Zumwalt, one might see the new ships of the Fast Carrier Task Force as the high end, by the end of the war Task Force 58 might consist almost entirely of post-treaty ships. The ‘low-end’ counterpart to this force was the amphibious Seventh Fleet: old, slow battleships, some of them reconstructed quite com- pletely, escort carriers, some of them with air groups comparable to those of the new fast light carriers, but not nearly the same speed (and with a primary shore support function, rather than an anti-ship role); and even destroyer escorts rather than destroyers in many cases, as the lower-speed amphibious formations did not require expensive fast escorts. The ASW forces in the Atlantic were composed very largely of these ‘low-end’ ships, whose main sophistication was in their ASW weapons and sensors. For that they were admirably equipped and quite effective. Such employment of escort carriers, by the way, differs markedly from British policy during the same period; but the Royal Navy had to use its older battleships for everything, and so could afford slow carriers in the first line. From a technical point of view, the emphasis in Pacific warfare was an emphasis on very long steaming endurance, but rough-water sea- keeping was of secondary importance: US warships, for example, often had far less freeboard than did their British contemporaries, and suf- fered accordingly in postwar North Atlantic exercises. Moreover, design practice early in the war, which emphasised additions to AA batteries and to AA ammunition stowed near those batteries, tended to reduce freeboard yet more, so that ships designed to an appropriate freeboard standard became quite wet as built. The big destroyers were notorious in this regard, and in the Sumners and Geanngs the forward gunhouses had to be reinforced against sea damage. The drive to long endurance, on the other hand, led to an extremely successful high-pressure boiler system, w-hich had exactly the effect desired. Moreover, US ships often had far greater bunker capacities than did their foreign contemporaries, a point of great consequence in high speed task force operations in enemy waters, where ‘topping off* was a potentially dangerous operation. The operations of the British Eastern Fleet in 1945 off Japan make a great contrast to the operations of the US Task Force 58, particularly in the frequency of fuellings required. The US Fleet prewar - Maryland class battleships off rhe California coast THE DESIGN PROCESS For the period 1922-46, US warships were designed to meet staff requirements (Characteristics) formulated by a senior naval board (the General Board); clauses of these documents are often cited in the paragraphs describing individual classes below. The General Board constantly asked how new ships would fit the ‘Orange’ War Plan, and indeed their fitness was often tested by the wargames of the Naval War College. Characteristics were developed after Hearings attended by, among others, representatives of the War College, the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, the War Plans Division, the Fleet Training Division, and the technical Bureaux which designed the ships and their equipment: Aeronautics, Construction and Repair (amalgamated with Engineering in 1940 to form the Bureau of Ships), Engineering, and Ordnance. These last organisations were totally independent, respons- ible only to the civilian Secretary of the Navy; their lack of co- ordination occasionally produced unfortunate results, such as the extreme overweight of new destroyers in 1939-41. In theory the Gen- eral Board submitted its Characteristics for approval by the civilian Secretary, and the Bureau of Construction and Repair (later Ships) designed ships to suit. In fact, however, others sometimes intervened. 87
UNITED STATES President Franklin D Roosevelt in particular took a very personal approach to his navy, and his influence is legendary. He was certainly responsible for the light carriers and also the escort carriers; he is often credited with the Alaskas, but that is very difficult to prove. He was responsible for the construction of the 110ft subchasers, perhaps largely because of his experience with similar craft in 1917-18 as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. During the war the President often intervened in naval construction programmes on the basis of personal approaches made to him; for example, such an approach appears to have been responsible for the Tacoma class frigate programme as well as for the Casablancas. It is also possible that the President’s relations with individual chiefs of Naval Operations enabled them to circumvent the findings of the General Board; such may have been the case in the 1936 decision in favour of a slower, more heavily armed battleship rather than the fast type favoured by the Board. Certainly the Presi- dent’s support of Admiral King as CNO made it easier for him to move the Characteristics function over to his own organisation (in the form of the Ship Characteristics Board, or SCB) at the end of the war. Unlike the Royal Navy, the US Navy generally did not permit civilian builders to produce designs for its ships. There were excep- tions, particularly for detail work, at times of heavy pressure on the Navy designers, such as during the expansion of the 1930s and during World War II In addition, Gibbs & Cox did much of the machinery design for many US destroyers of the late 1930s. The role of the civil firms expanded during wartime. For example, Gibbs & Cox was responsible for the redesign of the Atlanta class (Juneau), and George C Sharp designed the Casablanca class. The Electric Boat Company had designed many US submarines before World War I, but the Navy had then decided in favour of in-house design, and Electric Boat unsuccess- fully proposed several alternative submarine designs during the 1930s; only the small Mackerel was built to its plans. Perhaps the most interest- ing exception to the general rule against civilian designs was the con- struction of torpedo boats (PTs) to a variety of competing private designs. BUILDING PROGRAMMES In US practice, Congress authorises ships and then may or may not appropriate the funds to build them. ^Moreover, ships are referred to by the fiscal year in which they are authorised; for example, fiscal year (FY) 1935 (or 35) was the jear between 1 July 1934 and 30 June 1935. Typically the planning for a programme would begin two years before, since the Naval Bill would have to be presented in the autumn before the end of the Fiscal Year, le about the end of the previous calendar year. For most of the history of the Navy, Congress has funded new construction on a year-to-year basis; the Navy has tried to gain approval of multi-year programmes, and has generally tried to plan in terms of such programmes, whatever it has actually received. Of course, the authorisation of a large building programme has never ensured the realisation of that programme; the period betueen the wars is a good illustration of this truth. The true beginning of this period is the 1916 expansion programme, authorising a large new fleet (part of which remained uncontracted for in 1921): nine large submarines (‘V-boats’) and twelve destroyers (DD348-359). The submarines were gradually built, but in view of the large number of existing destroyers Congress was unwilling to build more. Attention was directed, rather, to the modernisation of the existing coal-burning battleships, which were in poor condition (Act of 18 December 1924) and to the conversion of the Lexington and Saratoga. There was also the problem of the cruiser deficiency: the Act of 18 December 1924 also instructed the President to lay down eight cruisers prior to 1 July 1927, ie in FY25-27. These became the P«n- sacola and Northampton classes. Their construction still left the US fleet grossly deficient in modern cruiser strength, but interest in a second Cruiser Bill waned during preparations for a new disarmament confer- ence, at Geneva, in 1927. With the failure of the conference, a new bill was introduced, and it became law in February, 1929: it called for the construction of fifteen cruisers, five each in FY29,30 and 31, as well as a carrier for the FY30 programme. Meanwhile all but the five latest oil burning battleships were rebuilt, under the FY28, 29 and 30 pro- grammes. The new cruiser programme fell foul of the London Treaty of 1930, which limited the United States to eighteen heavy cruisers (one of 88 which could not be laid down until after 1 January 1935), and of the Great Depression, which dried up government funds. In fact eight of the fifteen cruisers were ordered as planned, w hich left two more under the London limit; for a time one of the eight was planned as a flight- deck cruiser, but that was dropped when Naval War College analysis suggested that the semi-cruiser scheme would be ineffective. By late in FY30 matters were sufficiently bleak that new construction program- mes began to dry up, money was spent to lay down eight of the twelve destroyers authorised in World War I but nothing more. President Roosevelt entered office in 1933, convinced that a large Navy was vital, and that national recovery required large public works - which could include a naval programme. In fact the regular FY34 programme included only four 1850-ton destroyers and one more heavy cruiser (CA44), but under the National Industrial Recovery Act the President ordered four large light cruisers (CL40-43), two carriers (Yorktown and Enterprise), 20 destroyers (DD36O-379), four sub- marines (SS172-175), and two gunboats (Erie and Charleston). The next year Congress passed a revolutionary act, the Vinson- Trammell Act, which provided a ‘blanket’ authorisation of sufficient new construction to maintain an under-age Navy up to treaty limits, ie up to total tonnage limits in carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. No longer would Congress authorise individual ships on a year-by-year basis. The new total tonnage limits did sometimes have peculiar consequences; for example, at first there was only 20,400 tons available for CV9, which became the Essex - and additional carrier tonnage was required as she grew’ to 26,500 and then 27,500 tons on the drawing board. The Vinson-Trammell Act was intended to authorise an eight-year programme of 102 ships, but in fact it justified far more, as the tonnage limits were extended by later legislation. The actual FY35 programme was rather less ambitious: four cruisers (the last of the eighteen 8in ships, CA45, and CL46-48), as well as fourteen destroyers (DD38O-393) and six submarines (SS176-181). An addi- tional carrier (CV7) was built the follow'ing year using FY35 funds. By the end of the next (FY36) programme (CL49 and 50, DD394—408 and SS182-187) all allowable cruiser tonnage had been consumed, and the Navy was on the brink of a new battleship programme, as the long ‘building holiday’ ended. The 1936 London Treaty removed total tonnage limits, but the 1934 Act was not amended to reflect new ones. However, with the worsening world situation, the President asked, in January 1938, for a 20 percent increase in tonnage limits, which became the basis for a Second Vinson Act that May. The increases, to be spread over ten years, would amount to 3 battleships, 2 carriers, 9 light cruisers, 23 destroyers, and 9 submarines - puny figures compared to the expansion soon to occur. In fact the FY37 programme was rather small, in view of the mass of new construction filling the yards: it consisted only of destroyers, no longer limited to 1500 tons (DD409-420) and submarines (SS188-193). FY38 included the first two new battleships (BB55 and 56), additional destroyers (DD421-428) and submarines (SS57 and 58), two light cruisers (CL51 and 52), eight destroyers (DD429-436), and six submarines (SS 198-203), as well as a prototype fleet mine- sweeper (AM55). However, in answer to the President’s call for emergency additions, a Deficiency Bill added tw’o more 35,000 ton battleships (BB59 and 60), two more light cruisers (CL53 and 54), another minesweeper, a large seaplane tender (AV4), two small ones (AVP10 and 11), and a cruiser minelayer (CM5, Terror). A carrier, which became Hornet (CV8), was to be laid down the next fiscal year with FY39 funds. This programme showed two peculiarities. First, in order to speed production, CV8 was built to the design begun in 1932 for CV5 and 6. Second, although the design of a 45,000 ton battleship was already well under way, Congress specified its two additional ships as 35,000-tonners, and the Navy was glad to build repeat South Dakotas. By this time it was apparent that war was approaching, and that speed in construction would be very important; the Secretary of the Navy began to require that new ships duplicate existing prototypes wherever possible. For FY40 the destroyers (DD437-444) duplicated the earlier DD423 type, and the submarines (SS204—211) also dupli- cated the earlier class. This programme also included two battleships (BB61 and 62) and two light cruisers (CL55 and 56). In October 1939 the General Board called for a one-third increase in authorised tonnage (by 684,000 tons); however, this Act was not law
Introduction until 14 June 1940, and then called only for an increase of 167,000 tons. Then France fell, and on 19 July a second Act (the ‘Two-Ocean Navy Bill*) became law: it provided for a 70 per cent increase in total combatant tonnage: 200,000 tons of new carriers (79,500 for the earlier Act), 420,000 of cruisers (68,500), 250,000 of destroyers (none), 70,000 of submarines (21,000)-and 385,000 of battleships (none). There were to be two further increases in wartime: a total of 150,000 tons in December 1941, and 1 9m tons (versus 1.4m for the Second Vinson Act) in July, 1942 (500,000 tons each of carriers and cruisers, 900,000 of destroyers and escorts). These Acts more than covered the immense 1941 and war programmes. The proposed FY41 programme amounted only to two battleships (BB63 and 64), a carrier of new design (CV9), two cruisers (CL57 and 58), and the usual small groups of destroyers and submarines (DD445-452 - a new design - and SS212-219). However, in May the Secretary of the Navy announced a further programme: BB65 and 66, CV10-15, CA68-71, CL59-67, DD453-464 (repeat Bensons), DD465-482, (Fletchers, including six with catapults), DD483 to 497 (repeat Bensons), and 28 submarines. This was already a massive programme, but on 26 July 1940 the President approved still more: five Montanas, the six Alaskas, CA72-75, CV16-19, CL76-100, DD498-648 and SS248-284 This was, by and large, the fleet which fought the Pacific War. For FY42, which began in mid-1941, little more was sought: ultimately only two carriers (CV20 and 21), two cruisers CL101 and 102, replacing two cancelled for production reasons, 60 destroyers (DD649-708) and 23 more submarines (SS285-307) were ordered late in 1941 before construction program- mes were reorganised for the war effort in mid-1942 By this time there was little urgency in new construction, as the building yards were well occupied, with Lend-Lease as well as US orders. For example, the first destroyer escorts were already under construction The war programmes were drawn up partly on the basis of yard capacity rather than specific requirements. In some cases very large numbers of ships were ordered from several yards simultaneously in the hope that rather smaller numbers might become available m time, for example, at one point 1005 destroyer escorts were on order in the hope that 260 might become available during 1943 Similar considera- tions determined part of the landing craft programme, and there were constant conflicts between different programmes, particularly those involving diesel engines. In any case, in August 1942 the President approved a 690-ship, two-year programme: 10 Essexs (CV31-40), 4 larger carriers (CVB41^44, one of which was later disallowed), 17 heavy and 16 light cruisers, three 5in cruisers (CL119-121), 100 des- troyers (DD709-808), 420 of the new destroyer escorts, and 120 sub- marines. In October, 80 destroyer escorts were added, some of this effort being obtained at the expense of the five Montanas and CB3-6; later 24 escort carriers per year were added, and still later 50 Casablan- Thc US Fleet at the end of the war - an Independence and an Essex class carrier ahead of a line of battleships cas. More escorts were added almost continuously in the effort to get some of them in time to reduce the German submarine fleet; and the landing craft programme created more problems. In effect this pro- gramme covered FY43 and 44. On 27 May 1943 the President approved another, 413-ship pro- gramme: one CB was reinstated, and there were to be 3 fleet carriers (CV45-47), 4 heavy and 7 light cruisers (numbers 139-149), 82 des troyers (DD809-890), 110 submarines, and 205 destroyer escorts - which were almost immediately cancelled. Continuing programmes for light carriers (2 per year, CVL48 and 49) and escort carriers (8 per year) were also established. This was the last major programme to be approved in its entirety. An 84-ship programme was submitted early in 1945, calling for two more CVBs, six fleet carriers, 12 escort carriers, 4 heavy and 6 light cruisers, 36 destroyers and 18 submarines. These ships are often quoted as cancelled on 22 March 1945; that is the day the President disapproved all but the escort carriers Of the ships ordered under the two war programmes, the only ones cancelled in numbers were the cruisers still building at the end of the war, many destroyer escorts, and many submarines (1944): by 1944 it had become evident that those already in service were proving quite sufficient for the task al hand, and that Japanese ASW forces were far less efficient than had been expected. BATTLESHIP RECONSTRUCTIONS The United States emerged from the Washington Treaty with a combi- nation of what it considered relatively obsolete coal-burning battleships and twelve oil-burners incorporating the most modern ‘all or nothing’ protection against plunging shellfire However, only the five most recent ships also incorporated a modern underwater protective system, and only these ships had guns which might elevate beyond the former standard of 15°. The treaty permitted the reconstruction of existing battleships to provide them with enhanced defence against air attack (ie with more deck armour - which would also improve their resistance to plunging shellfire) and against underwater attack; however, no major modification to gun mountings was permitted. The US Navy immedi- ately planned major refits of all but the last five battleships, to incorporate modern underwater protection by replacing existing prop- ulsion with the turbo-electric system introduced in the Tennessees. In fact this ambitious programme was not proceeded with, but large scale work was done on the old coal-burners after a series of engineering casualties in the 1923-24 Winter Manoeuvres highlighted their prob- lems. Plans were also made to increase gun elevation (ostensibly to match modificauons made by Britain and France) but these were cancelled after Britain protested, and in fact such plans were revived only in 1941 (when they were cancelled again, this time in view of the urgency of other projects). The reconstructions of the first seven oil-burners, which followed, were more complete and did include higher gun elevations; but the enure reconstruction programme was halted by the Depression and so did not include the five latest dread- noughts. Plans for their reconstruction, and for extensive refits of the Nevada s andPennsylvanias, were underway in 1941 but were cancelled by the outbreak of war; the reconstructions actually carried out in wartime were extemporised and bore no great resemblance to prewar plans. Throughout the prewar period, a distinction was drawn between the former coal-burners and the later ships; the oldest ships were generally assigned to the Scouting Fleet (later as a training squadron), the new to the Battle Force, with New York and Texas first assigned to the Battle Force and then relegated to training duty after the Scouting Fleet was modernised and amalgamated with the Battle Fleet in the 1930s. In fact the oldest ships were saved from scrapping only by the outbreak of war in 1941. At that time a new distinction was being drawn, between the old 21kt battle line and the new fast battleships suitable for carrier operauons. Unlike Britain, the Umted States soon possessed enough fast battleships to be able to avoid any tactical combination between fast and slow battleships; the latter were generally assigned to shore bom- bardment duty, although they did fight the last battleship engagement of history, at Surigao Strait. There was some considerable debate during 1942-43 as to the value of the extensive reconstructions proposed for the 21 kt battleships sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor; ultimately rather austere conversions were carried out on Nevada and Pennsylvania, but much more work was 89
UNITED STATES done on California, West Virginia and Tennessee, which emerged as quite modern in all but their speed. The other two turbo-electric battleships,Maryland and Colorado, were little altered, except that the former, badly damaged by a Kamikaze, was partially rebuilt in 1945. Similarly, Idaho received a new secondary battery in 1944-45. WAR MODIFICATIONS Perhaps the greatest US naval deficiency prior to the outbreak of war was the absence of light anti-aircraft weapons: US warships, particu- larly destroyers, were unusually well equipped with 5in dual-purpose guns (by world standards), but the 1. lin machine gun, the US counter- part to the British 2pdr, had proven difficult to produce, and few were in service. In 1940 a special Board under then Rear Admiral (later CNO) E J King recommended emergency measures. All large ships would be fitted with four quadruple l.lin guns, with single locally- controlled 3in/50 weapons as an interim battery; many ships, including some of the battleships at Pearl Harbor, still mounted these weapons at the outbreak of war. The l.lin and its companion the 0.50cal machine gun were already considered obsolete, and by the end of 1940 the US Navy had fixed upon the twin 40mm Bofors gun as a replacement for the former, and the 20mm Oerlikon to replace the latter weapon. At first the improvement to destroyer A A batteries was to be limited to machine guns, but by early 1941 US assessments of British experience in Norway had suggested that a pair of twin Bofors would be a wise replacement for one of five 5in guns. In fact production of the 40mm was relatively slow, some destroyers not receiving their final AA bat- teries until 1944, although all larger ships had been re-armed by mid-1943. Although the twin Bofors was about the weight of the quadruple l.lin it replaced, most ships ultimately received quadruple Bofors instead. One of the remarkable developments of the war was the proliferation of such weapons far beyond the limits declared by the naval constructors - on the basis of such considerations as the blast of larger weapons, ammunition supply, and avoidance of sea damage. For example, in battleships, turret-top Bofors guns, considered wholly impractical before the war, were common by 1945. Indeed, the prolif- eration of light AA weapons, often governed only by available deck space, was a major factor in the overweight and topheaviness of virtu- ally all US warships by the end of the war. The general effect of these and other modifications was a vast increase in complements (which led both to crowding and to greater loads of stores) and in displacement; the latter was due not only to additions of battery and other equipment, but also to the fact that US designs typically provided for far more magazine volume than was required to stow the prewar ‘standard’ allowance. All this volume was put to use in wartime, with consequent great increase in ammunition weight. By 1945 many ships were in a critical stability condition, and many cruisers had one catapult removed to reduce topweight. Immedi- ately after the war AA batteries were reduced (not least to save expen- sive manpower) and in many cases one or two rangefinders from low turrets w’ere removed. Concomitants of the growth of AA firepower were the requirements for good overhead vision for the captain; for good splinter protection both for the bridge and for AA weapons on deck; and for AA fire control, often in the form of small local directors such as the Mk 51. The new guns also required clear arcs of fire, and consequently bridge wings were cut back in most ships. Open bridges w’ere built on top of the former superstructures, particularly in cruisers; however, the same influence can be seen in the bridges of the later Fletchers and of the Sumners and Gearings. In virtually all cases the extensive glassed-in bridge areas of prewar ships were plated over, and scuttles were sealed. In many cruisers internal aviation fuel lines (from lank to fuelling point near a catapult) were removed from the hull and relocated outboard, to reduce the fire hazard. Wartime developments in ASW were perhaps less visible. Des- troyers, which before the war had been fitted only with a pair of depth charge tracks aft, received first Y-guns and then K-guns; the latter were side projectors. The US Navy followed the Royal Navy in adopt- ing the Hedgehog depth charge mortar, but did not fit it in modern destroyers, preferring to reserve it for specialised escorts from ‘flush- deckers’ dowm through PCEs and fleet minesweepers. Smaller craft were fitted w’ith an equivalent rocket projector, Mousetrap, which had the virtue of eliminating the heavy recoil of the mortar. The great wartime technical development was radar, which sprouted throughout the fleet as early as 1940, and which substantially altered the appearance of all classes of US warships. Less visible modifications associated with its advent were the construction of radar (equipment) rooms and, perhaps far more importantly, of Combat Information Centres (CICs) in which information from radars and from other sources could be correlated to give the fullest possible picture of a developing situation. CICs also functioned as fighter control centres, and the radar outfits of some large ships - later of radar picket des- troyers and escorts as well - were designed as much to facilitate fighter control as shipboard gunnery. THE US NAVY IN 1922 BATTLESHIPS No Name Launched Disp (normal’) Fate No Name Launched Disp (normal*) 1 Fate Florida class BB30 FLORIDA BB31 UTAH Wyoming class BB32 WYOMING BB33 ARKANSAS Texas class BB34 NEW YORK BB35 TEXAS Nevada class BB36 NEVADA BB37 OKLAHOMA 12.5.1910 23.12.1909 25.5.1911 14.1.1911 30.10.1912 18.5.1912 11.7.1914 23.3.1914 21,825t 21,825t 26,000t 26,000t 27,000t 27,000t 27,500t 27,500t BU 1931 Target 1931, lost 1941 TS 1931, BU 1948 Expended 1946 Expended 1948 Memorial 1948 Expended 1948 Sunk 7.12.41 New Mexico class BB40 NEW MEXICO 23.4.1917 32,000t BU 1948 BB41 MISSISSIPPI 25.1.1917 32,000t Test ship 1948, . BU 1956 1 BB42 IDAHO 30.6.1917 32,000t BU 1948 California class BB43 TENNESSEE 30.4.1919 32,300t BU 1959 BB44 CALIFORNIA 20.11.1919 32,300t BU 1960 Maryland class » BB45 COLORADO 22.3.1921 32,600t BU 1959 BB46 MARYLAND 20.3.1920 32,600t BU 1959 BB47 WASHINGTON 1.9.1921 32,600t Expended 1924 BB48 WEST VIRGINIA 19.11.1921 32,600t BU 1961 * ‘Normal’ displacement includes two-thirds fuel plus all ammunition. — 1 — F Pennsylvania class BB38 PENNSYLVANIA BB39 ARIZONA 16.3.1915 19.6.1915 31,400t 31,400t Expended 1948 Sunk 7.12.41 This list does not include the pre-dreadnoughts, sold off under the Washington Treaty of 1921, nor the transitional South Carolina and Michigan (16,000t, 8-12in) and Delaware and North Dakota (20,000t, 10-12in); the latter pair were retained in service until the completion of the Colorado and West Virginia, then discarded in 1924. North Dakota became a target and was scrapped in 1931. 90
The US Navy in 1922 USN USN Advantage was taken of modernisation to re-site the hull secondary batteries, which had been quite wet. However, the new bulges did not improve sea-going performance, and the ships remained wet; they also tended to be quite stiff. Moreover, Texas and New York apparently performed poorly at sea due to their reciprocating engines; they showed particularly severe torsional vibrations, bad enough to threaten to crack their propeller shafts, at the standard fleet cruising speed of about 12-14kts. Florida was discarded under the 1930 London Treaty and Utah was converted into a target ship; Wyoming was converted into a training ship, her side armour and some of her guns being removed. Late in the 1930s Utah was used to test the new US anti-aircraft guns and fire control systems; she was sunk while serving in this capacity at Pearl Harbor. Projects to convert Wyoming first into an expeditionary force support ship and then back into a battleship failed, and she spent the war as a combination training ship and AA experimental unit. The three remaining units were little modernised during World War 11; Arkansas was given a new tripod foremast and new bridgework in 1942, and all three received additional AA weapons. In 1945 they retained their 6-5in/51 and 10-3in/50; Arkansas had 9 quadruple 40mm, her half-sisters 10; she had 28 single 20mm, whilst they had 44 and 1 twin 20mm gun as well. IT'wming at Norfolk N Yd, 6.6 1942 .V<w York at Norfolk N Yd, 1.2.1942 Aevada at Norfolk N Yd, 8.11.1944 Florida, Wyoming and Texas classes These six ships were built to a single basic design; in fact the 12in Arkansas and the Min New York were parallel design projects. All were reconstructed in the mid-1920s, the objections being primarily better protection (deck and under- water); in addition all were to be converted to burn oil fuel. Data became: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Displacement: (Florida) 21,986t standard, 27,726t full load; (Arkansas) 26,066t standard, 30,610t full load; (Texas) 27,000t standard, 31,924t full load Dimensions: (BB3O-31) 510ft wl, 521ft 6in oa x 106ft x 31ft Sin (155.44, 158.95 x 32.30 x 9.65m); (BB32-33) 554ft wl, 562ft oa x 106ft x 29ft 1 Hin full load (168.86,171 79 x 32.30 x 9.13m); (BB34-35) 565ft wl, 573ft oa x 106ft x 30ft 2in full load (172.21, 174.65 x 32.30 x 9.19m) 4-shaft Parsons turbines (BB34-35 2-shaft VTE), 4 (BB34-35 6) boilers, 28,000shp (BB34-35 28,100ihp) = 21kts Deck armour and anti-torpedo protection were the only addi- tions. In all, 3.5in was added to the second deck between the end barbettes with local strengthening, plus 1.75in on the third deck fore and aft and atop the conning tower and turret roofs. 1.25in was added over boilers (except in BB34,35) and O.75in over engines (except BB30, 31) (BB30, 31) 10-12in/45, 12-5in/51,8-3in/50 AA; (BB32^ 33) 12-12in/50, 16-5in/51,8-3in/50 AA; (BB34, 35) 10-14in/50 (5x2), 16-5in/51, 8-3in/50 AA Complement: (BB30, 31) 1171; (BB32, 33) 1242; (BB34, 35) 1290 The original design called for a thin watertight ‘splinter deck’ at about the waterline, separating the main belt from an upper belt; upon reconstruction a 3.5in deck was added to cover the upper belt, as in the later oil-burning battleships, and 1.75in was added to the third deck fore and aft of the main belt, m areas where there was already some considerable protection (eg 1.5in already forward in the two Floridas). Turret and conning tower roofs, already doubled up during or just after World War I, were reinforced with an additional layer of I 75in STS. The 3.5in deck armour consisted of two layers, only one of which was STS; however, Utah had two layers of STS, the upper layer reduced to 1 -25in; in all cases this deck was increased by another layer of 1.25in STS over the boilers. Moreover, in the later four ships the original upper deck had already been thickened by lin STS over magazines, so that there the total thickness was 3.5in. All six ships were reboilered with oil-fired boilers taken from the scrapped battleships and battlecruisers originally ordered under the 1916 Programme; A ete i ork and Texas had six boilers, the others four. One important factor in this rcboilering was that it reduced the volume of the boiler rooms so that the eflective depth of torpedo protection added by the bulges was considerably increased. An essential objective of modernisation was the provision of aircraft, using a catapult on a midships turret; this required the elimination of the mainmast, iowever, the Forces Afloat demanded two fire control positions, one of which -Counted on a dwarf tripod aft in the Arkansas and New York classes; the tahs had to make do with only the foremast position. Only in the latter pair were new fire controls fitted, together with new tripod foremasts: the weight of t e new system required a new mast in any case. Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Mexico classes The seven battleships of the Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Mexico classes were deficient, at the end of World War I, only in underwater protection and in the maximum elevation of their heavy guns; their reconstruction was earned out under the FY28, FY30, and FY31 programmes respectively. Data became: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Displacement: (Oklahoma) 29,067t standard; 31,706t full load; (Pennsyl- vania) 33,384t standard; 35,929t full load; (New Mexico) 33,420t standard, 36,157t full load Dimensions: (BB36, 37) 575ft wl, 583ft oa x 108ft x 29ft 8in full load (175.26,177.70 x 32.91 x 9.04m);(BB38,39) 600ft wl, 608ft oa x 106ft 3in x 30ft 3in full load (182.88,185.32 x 32.38 x 9.19m); (BB40-42) 600ft wl, 624ft oa x 106ft 3in x 31ft full load (182.88, 190.19 x 32.38 x 9.44m) (BB36, 37) 2-shaft Parsons turbines (Oklahoma VTE), 6 Bureau Express boilers, 25,000ihp = 20.5kts; (BB38, 39) 4-shaft Curtis turbines, 6 Bureau Express boilers, 33,375shp = 21kts; (BB40-42) 4-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 6 (BB40 4) Bureau Express boilers, 40,000shp = 22kts Armour was added on the second (protective) deck: 1.75in in BB38 and 39, 2in in the others, as well as underwater protec- tion in all 12-14in/50 (4x3) (BB36, 37 10-14in/45; BB38, 39 45 cal), 12-5in/51, 8-5in/25 AA Complement: (BB36) 1374; (BB39) 1052; (BB41) 1443 In each case work included an increase of gun elevation to 30°; apparently Britain and France no longer opposed such improvements. The usual new sets of boilers were fitted to increase the depth of underwater protection to be provided by bulges. New machinery was also fitted in several cases: Nevada received the geared turbines originally fitted experimentally to the scrapped North Dakota, and machinery originally ordered for the scrapped battleship Washington was split between Arizona and Pennsylvania. The three New Mexicos received entirely new geared turbines. Armour was added to the heavy deck, 2in in the Nevadas and New Mexicos, 1.75in in the Pennsylvanias. These figures do not of course indicate the extent to which the new multi-layered decks were not the equal of single thicknesses; the figures quoted do not give equivalent thick- nesses. In the four older ships the former rather wet hull secondaries were replaced by a deckhouse arrangement similar to that built into rhe New Mexicos, with 8-5in/25 A A and 2-5in/51 SP guns in open mounts above the deckhouse. As the Pennsylvanias and New Mexicos had originally been very similar, this reconstruction made them a nearly homogeneous class. The principal difference was in appearance: the Nevadas and Pennsylvanias were fitted with tripod masts, but those originally planned for the later ships were replaced with tower bridges, justified primarily on the basis of resistance to blast and to shellfire. Both Arizona and Oklahoma were sunk at Pearl Harbor; Nevada was badly damaged and Pennsylvania, the long-time flagship of the US fleet, much less so. In fact she operated for some considerable time during 1942, before being refitted at Mare Island. Both of these reconstructions involved the replacement of the former mixed secondary battery by 16-5in/38 in twin gunhouses, the addition of large numbers of light AA guns, the elimination of the tripod mainmast in favour of a squat tower, and the removal of the conning tower to save weight. The former two-tiered fire control position on the tripod was cut to 91
UNITED STATES Pennsylvania 1945 New Mexico 1942 one by the elimination of the secondary control position (and the installation of two Mk 37 directors for the 5in guns). The three New Mexicos were little altered, except m detail Idaho ended the war with a new secondary battery of 10-5in/38 in enclosed single mounts, fitted after battle damage; in 1945 she also had 10 quadruple 40mm and 43 Oerlikons. Mississippi was refitted at her captain’s insistence at Pearl Harbor following Kamikaze damage; at the end of the war she had no 5in/51, but 16-5in/25, 13 quadruple 40mm, and 40-20mm. New Mexico was far less extensively altered, and in 1945 had 6-5in/51, 8-5in/25, 10 quadruple 40mm, and 46 Oerlikons. Of the two earlier ships, Neva da ended the war with lOquadruple 40mm guns and 5 single and 20 twin 20mm, the fruits of a programme of AA improvement through the replacement of single by twin mounts. Pennsylvania also had 10 quadruple 40mm, but she had 27 single and 22 twin 20mm. California and Maryland classes California, Tennessee and IPest Virginia were among the most modern of the prewar fleet; with the Colorado and Maryland they formed the ‘Big Five*, homogeneous except for their main batteries. Prewar modernisation plans were deferred first because of the Depression and then because the ships were too urgently needed; however, it was planned to fit them with bulges to restore buoyancy and so to lift their belts out of the water, given the extra weight they had accumulated since completion. This work was actually earned out on Colorado and Maryland', the former was under refit at the time of Pearl Harbor. Even with the bulges, armoured freeboard was considered 2J-3ft below the optimum for gun engagements; the much wider bulges fitted to the three ships rebuilt in wartime were a more radical attempt to restore this freeboard. As reconstructed, Cti/i/omia, Tennessee and West Virginia had the following charac- tenstics: Displacement: {Tennessee) 34,858t standard; 40,345t full load Dimensions: 600ft wl, 624ft oa x 114ft x 33ft lin full load 182.88, 190.20 x 34.75 x 10.08m Machinery: 4 shaft turbines, 8 Bureau Express boilers, 29,500shp = 20.5kts. Oil 4700t, range 12,100nm at 15kts Armour: 3in added to second (protective) deck over magazines, 2in elsewhere, conning tower replaced by 5in structure from Brooklyn class cruisers Armament: 12-14in/50 {West Virginia 8-16in 45), 16-5in/38 (8x2), 40-40mm (10x4), 43-20mm (as fitted to Tennessee 1943) Complement: 2375 Tennessee was slightly damaged at Pearl Harbor and operated for some time m nearly her original configuration, but both California and West Virginia clearly required major reconstruction. Tennessee actually served as the prototype; the scheme was based on that adopted for Nevada but included the provision of new main battery directors (Mk 34 diverted from light cruisers being converted to light carriers) on modern-style tower masts. In addiuon, the heavy conning towers removed were replaced by light ones taken from Brooklyn class cruisers. The principal addition of armour was 3in of STS over the magazines and 2in elsewhere; the turret tops were also reinforced. At the end of the war these five ships varied greatly in their light batteries. Only Colorado retained her prewar 5in/51s (8) and 5in/25s; she also had 8 quadruple 40mm, as well as 39 single, 8 twin, and 1 quadruple 20mm Her sister Maryland, damaged by a Kamikaze, was refitted m 1945 with 8 twin 5in/38 m standard gunhouses, as well as 11 quadruple 40mm, 20 twin and 1 quadruple 20mm. Tennessee and West Virginia both had 10 quadruple 40mm; California had 14 Tennessee had 43 single 20mm, California 40 twin; West Virginia, 58 single, 1 twin, and 1 quadruple 20mm. Tennessee m May 1943 USN Maryland prewar U7«r Virginia 1945 California 1939 92
The US Navy in 1922 AIRCRAFT CARRIER DESTROYERS No Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate CV1 LANGLEY 1922* 12,700t Seaplane tender 1937,lost 1942 • Date of completion as carrier; originally built as fleet collier. ARMOURED CRUISERS No Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate CA2 ROCHESTER (ex-Saratoga, ex-New York) 2.12.1891 8200t Stricken 1938, sunk as blockship 1941 CA4 PITTSBURGH 22 8.1903 13,680t BU 1932 (ex-Pennsylvania) CA5 HUNTINGTON 18 4.1903 13,680t BU 1930 (ex-lVest Virginia) CA7 PUEBLO 25.4.1903 13,680t BU 1931 (ex-Colorado) CA8 FREDERICK 12.9.1903 13,680t BU 1930 (ex-Mary I and) CA9 HURON (ex- 21.7.1904 13,680t BU 1930 South Dakota) CA11 SEATTLE (ex- 18.3.1905 14,500t BU 1946 Washington) CA12 CHARLOTTE (ex- 6.10.1906 I4,500t BU 1930 North Carolina) CAB MISSOULA 5.12.1906 14,500t BU 1930 (ex-Afontana) St Louis Class CAI8 ST LOUIS 6.5.1905 9700t BU 1930 СЛ19 CHARLESTON 23 1 1904 PROTECTED CRUISERS 9700t BU 1930 No Name Launched Disp Fate New Orleans class CL22 NEW ORLEANS 4 12 1896 3430t BU 1930 (ex-Amazonas) CL23 ALBANY (ex- 14.1.1899 3430t BU 1930 Almirante Abreu) Olympia class OLYMPIA 5.11.1892 5865t Memorial 1957 Denver class CL16 DENVER 21.6 1902 3200t Sold 1933 CL17 DES MOINES 20.9.1902 3200t Sold 1930 CL 18 CHATTANOOGA 7.3.1903 3200t Sold 1930 CL19 GALVESTON 23.7.1903 3200t Sold 1933 CL20 TACOMA 2.6.1903 3200t Lost 1924 CL21 CLEVELAND 28.9.1901 3200t Sold 1930 LIGHT CRUISERS No Name Launched Disp Fate Chester class CL1 CHESTER* 26 6 1907 3750t BU 1930 CL2 BIRMINGHAM 29 5.1907 3750t BU 1930 CL3 SALEM 27.7.1907 3750t BU 1930 Omaha class CL4 OMAHA 14.12.1920 7O5Ot BU 1946 CL5 MILWAUKEE 24.3 1921 7050t To USSR 1944, BU 1949 CL6 CINCINNATI 23.5 1921 7O5Ot BU 1946 CL7 RALEIGH 25.10.1922 7O5Ot BU 1946 CL8 DETROIT 29.6.1922 7050t BU 1946 CL9 RICHMOND 29.9.1921 7050t BU 1947 CLIO CONCORD 15.12.1921 7050t BU 1947 CL 11 TRENTON 16.4.1923 7050t BU 1947 CI 12 MARBLEHEAD 9.10.1923 7050t BU 1946 CL13 MEMPHIS * Chester was renamed York 17.4.1924 in 1928 7050t BU 1947 No Name Fate* Pauldtng class launched 1909-12, 742t DD22 PAULDING CG17 1924, BU 1934 DD23 DRAYTON BU 1935 DD24 ROE CGI8 1924, BU 1935 DD25 TERRY CG19 1924, BU 1935 DD26 PERKINS BU 1935 DD27 STERETT BU 1935 DD28 McCALL CG14 1924, BU 1935 DD29 BURROWS CG10 1924, BU 1935 DD30 WARRINGTON BU 1935 DD31 MAYRANT BU 1935 DD32 MONAGHAN CGI5 1924, BU 1935 DD33 TRIPPE CG20 1924, BU 1935 DD34 WALKE BU 1935 DD35 AMMEN CG8 1924, BU 1935 DD36 PATTERSON CG16 1924, BU 1935 DD37 FANNING CG11 1924, BU 1935 DD38 JARVIS BU 1935 DD39 HENLEY CGI2 1924, BU 1935 DD40 BEALE CG9 1924, BU 1935 DD41 JOUETT CG13 1924, BU 1935 DD42 JENKINS BU 1935 Cassin class: launched 1912-15, 1036t DD43 CASSIN DD44 CUMMINGS DD45 DOWNES DD46 DUNCAN DD47 AYLWIN DD48 PARKER DD49 BENHAM DD50 BALCH DD51 O’BRIEN DD51 NICHOLSON DD53 WINSLOW DD54 McDOUGAL DD55 CUSHING DD56 ERICSSON Tucker class: launched 1915-16, lllOt DD57 TUCKER DD58 CONYNGHAM DD59 PORTER DD60 WADSWORTH DD62 WAINV RIGHT DD63 SAMPSON DD64 ROWAN DD65 DAVIS DD66 ALLEN DD67 WILKES DD68 SHAW Caldwell class: launched 1917-18, 10201 DD69 CALDWELL DD70 CRAVEN DD71 GWIN DD72 CONNER DD73 STOCKTON DD74 MANLEY Wickes class launched 1917-19, 1090t DD75 WICKES DD76 PHILIP DD78 EVANS DD79 LITTLE DD80 KIMBERLY DD81 SIGOURNEY DD82 GREGORY DD83 STRINGHAM DD84 DYER DD85 COLHOUN DD86 STEVENS CGI 1924, BU 1934 CG3 1924, BU 1934 CG4 1924, BU 1934 BU 1935 BU 1935 BU 1935 BU 1935 BU 1935 BU 1935 BU 1936 BU 1936 CG6 1924, BU 1934 BU 1936 CG5 1924, BU 1934 CG23 1926, BU 1937 CG2 1924, BU 1934 CG7 1924, BU 1934 BU 1936 CG24 1926, BU 1934 BU 1936 BU 1939 CG21 1926, BU 1934 BU 1946 CG25 1926, BU 1934 CG22 1926, BU 1934 BU 1936 To Britain 1940, scuttled 1946 Sold 1939 To Britain 1940, BU 1947 To Britain 1940, BU 1945 AG28 1938, APD1 1940, BU 1946 To Britain 1940, BU 1945 To Britain 1940, BU 1947 To Britain 1940, BU 1945 APD4 1940, lost 1942 BU 1937 To Britain 1940, BU 1947 APD3 1940, lost 1942 APD6 1940, BU 1946 Sold 1936 APD2 1940, lost 1942 Sold 1936 Milwaukee 1942 93
UNITED STATES No Name Fate* No Name Fate* DD87 McKEE Sold 1936 DD168 MADDOX To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD88 ROBINSON To Britain 1940, BU 1945 1949 DD89 RINGGOLD To Britain 1940, BU 1947 DD169 FOOTE To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD90 McKEAN APD5 1940, lost 1943 1952 DD91 HARDING Sold 1936 DD170 KALK (ex-Rodgers') To Canada 1940, BU 1945 DD92 GRIDLEY Sold 1939 DD171 BURNS DM11 1920, BU 1932 DD93 FAIRFAX To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD172 ANTHONY DM12 1920, expended 1937 1949 DD173 SPRISTON DM13 1920, expended 1937 DD94 TAYLOR Stricken 1938, BU 1945 DD174 RIZAL DM14 1920, BU 1932 DD95 BELL Sold 1939 DD175 MACKENZIE To Canada 1940, BU 1945 DD96 STRIBLING DM1 1920, expended 1937 DD176 RENSHAW BU 1936 DD97 MURRAY DM2 1920, BU 1936 DD177 O’BANNON Sold 1936 DD98 ISRAEL DM3 1920, sold 1939 DD178 HOGAN DMS6 1940, target 1945 DD99 LUCE (ех-ЛсЛ/0») DM4 1920, BU 1936 DD179 HOWARD DMS7 1940, BU 1946 DD100 MAURY DM5 1920, sold 1931 DD180 STANSBURY DMS8 1940, BU 1946 DD101 LANSDALE DM6 1920, sold 1939 DD181 HOPEWELL To Britain 1940, lost 1941 DD102 MAHAN DM7 1920, sold 1931 DD182 THOMAS To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD103 SCHLFY APD14 1943, BU 1946 1949 DD104 CHAMPLIN Expended 1936 DD183 HARADEN To Canada 1940, BU 1945 DD105 MUGFORD BU 1936 DD184 ABBOT To Britain 1940 BU 1947 DD106 CHEW BU 1946 DD185 BAGLEY To Britain 1940 BU 1945 DD107 HAZELWOOD 1X36 1930, BU 1936 DD108 WILLIAMS To Canada 1940, foundered 1946 Clemson class: launched 1918-21, 1190t DD109 CRANE BU 1946 DD186 CLEMSON AVP17 1939, AVD4 1940, APD31 DD110 HART DM8 1920, BU 1932 1944, BU 1946 DD111 INGRAHAM DM9 1920, expended 1937 DD187 DAHLGREN BU 1946 DDU2 LUDLOW DM10 1920, BU 1931 DD188 GOLDSBOROUGH AVP18 1939, AVD5 1940, APD32 DD113 RATHBURNE APD25 1944, BU 1946 1944, BU 1946 DD114 TALROT APD7 1942, BU 1946 DD189 SEMMES CG20 1932, AG24 1935, BU 1946 DD115 WATERS APD8, 1942, BU 1946 DD190 SATTERLEE To Britain 1940 lost 1942 DD116 DENT APD9 1942, BU 1946 DD191 MASON To Britain 1940, lost 1941 DD117 DORSEY DM SI 1940, lost 1945 DD193 ABEL P UPSHUR CGI5 1930, to Britain 1940, BU DD118 LEA BU 1945 1945 DD119 LAMBER TON AG21 1932, DMS2 1940, BU 1947 DD194 HUNT CG18 1930, to Britain 1940, BU DD120 RADFORD Target 1936 1947 DD121 MONTGOMERY DM17 1931, lost 1944 DD195 WELBORN C WOOD CGI9 1930, to Britain 1940, BU DD122 BRF.ESE DM18 1931, BU 1946 1947 DD123 GAMBLE DM15 1930, lost 1945 DD196 GEORGE E BADGER CG16 1930, AVP16 1939, AVD3 DD124 RAMSAY DM16 1930, BU 1946 1940, APD33 1944, BU 1946 DD125 TATNALL APD19 1943, BU 1946 DD197 BRANCH To Britain 1940 lost 1943 DD126 BADGER BU 1945 DD198 HERNDON CGI7 1930, to Britain 1940, to DD127 TWIGGS To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU USSR 1944 lost 1945 1951 DD199 DALLAS BU 1945 DD128 BABBITT BU 1946 DD206 CHANDLER DMS9 1940, BU 1946 DD130 JACOB JONES Lost 1942 DD207 SOUTHARD DMS10 1940, lost 1945 DD131 BUCHANAN To Britain 1940, lost 1942 DD2O8 HOVEY DMS11 1940, lost 1945 . DD132 AARON WARD To Britain 1940, BU 1947 DD209 LONG DMS12 1940, lost 1945 DD133 HALE To Britain 1940, BU 1944 DD210 BROOME BU 1946 DD134 CROWNINSHIELD To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD211 ALDEN BU 1945 1949 DD212 SMITH THOMPSON Lost 1936 DD135 TILLMAN To Britain 1940, BU 1945 DD213 BARKER BU 1945 DD136 BOGGS AG19 1931, DMS3 1940, BU 1946 DD214 TRACY DM19 1937, BU 1946 DD137 KILTY AG20 1931, DD137 1932, APD15 DD215 BORIER Lost 1943 1943, BU 1946 DD216 JOHN D EDWARDS BU 1945 DD138 KENNISON BU 1946 (cx-Stewart) DD139 WARD (ex-Cowell) APD16 1943, lost 1944 DD217 WHIPPLE BU 1946 DDI40 CLAXTON To Britain 1940, BU 1944 DD218 PARROTT Lost 1944 DD141 HAMILTON DMS18 1941, BU 1946 DD219 EDSALL Lost 1942 DD142 TARBELL BU 1945 DD220 MacLEISH BU 1946 DD143 yarnalL To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD221 SIMPSON BU 1946 1952 DD222 BULMER BU 1947 DD144 UPSHUR BU 1947 DD223 McCORMICK BU 1946 DD145 GREER BU 1945 DD224 STEWART Lost 1942, returned 1945,expended DD146 ELLIOT DMS4 1940, BU 1946 - 1946 DD147 ROPER APD20 1943, BU 1946 DD225 POPE Lost 1942 DD148 BRECKINRIDGE BU 1946 DD226 PEARY Lost 1942 DD149 BARNEY BU 1946 DD227 PILLSBURY Lost 1942 DD150 BLAKELY BU 1945 DD228 FORD BU 1947 DD151 BIDDLE BU 1946 DD229 TRUXTUN Lost 1942 DD152 DUPONT BU 1947 DD23O PAUL JONES BU 1947 DD153 BERNADOU BU 1945 DD231 HATFIELD BU 1947 DD154 ELLIS BU 1947 DD232 BROOKS APD10 1942, lost 1945 DD155 COLE BU 1947 DD233 GILMER APD11 1942, BU 1946 DD156 J FRED TALBOTT BU 1946 DD234 FOX BU 1946 DD157 DICKERSON APD21 1943, lost 1945 DD235 KANE APD18 1943, BU 1946 DD158 LEARY Lost 1943 DD236 HUMPHREYS APD12 1942, BU 1946 DD159 SCHENCK BU 1946 DD237 McFarland AVD14 1940, BU 1946 DD160 HERBERT APD22 1943, BU 1946 DD238 JAMES К PAULDING BU 1939 DD161 PALMER DMS5 1940, lost 1945 DD239 OVERTON APD23 1943, BU 1945 DD162 THATCHER To Canada 1940, BU 1946 DD240 STURTEVANT Lost 1942 DD163 WALKER Lost 1941 DD241 CHILDS AVP14 1938, AVD1 1940, BU 1946 DD164 CROSBY APD17 1943, BU 1946 DD242 KING BU 1946 DD165 MEREDITH BU 1936 DD243 SANDS APD13 1942, BU 1946 DD166 BUSH BU 1936 DD244 WILLIAMSON AVP15 1938, AVD2 1940, BU 1946 DD167 COWELL To Britain 1940, to USSR 1944, BU DD245 REUBEN JAMES Lost 1941 1949 DD246 BAINBRIDGE BU 1945 94
The US Navy in 1'922 No Name Fate DD247 GOFF BU 1945 DD248 BARRY APD29 1944, lost 1945 DD249 HOPKINS DMS 13 1940, BU 1946 DD250 LAWRENCE BU 1946 DD251 BELKNAP AVD8 1940, APD34 1944,lost 1945 DD252 McCOOK To Canada, lost 1943 DD253 McCALLA To Britain 1940, lost 1941 DD254 RODGERS (ex-Kalk) To Britain 1940, BU 1945 DD255 OSMOND INGRAM AVD9 1940,APD35 1944, BU 1946 (ex-Zngram) DD256 BANCROFT To Canada 1940, lost 1945 DD257 WELLES To Britain 1940, lost 1940 DD258 AULICK To Britain 1940, BU 1947 DD259 TURNER Water barge 1937, BU 1947 DD260 GILLIS AVD12 1940, BU 1946 DD261 DELPHY Lost 1923 DD262 McDERMUT BU 1932 DD263 LAUB To Britain 1940, BU 1947 DD264 McLanahan To Britain 1940, BU 1946 DD265 EDWARDS To Britain 1940, BU 1946 DD266 GREENE (ex-Anthony) AVD13 1940, APD36 1944, lost 1945 DD267 BALLARD AVD10 1940, BU 1946 DD268 SHUBRICK To Britain 1940, BU 1945 DD269 BAILEY To Britain 1940, BU 1945 DD270 THORNTON AVD11 1940, BU 1945 DD271 MORRIS BU 1936 DD272 TINGEY BU 1936 DD273 SWASEY To Britain 1940, lost 1944 DD274 MEADE To Britain 1940, BU 1947 DD275 SINCLAIR 1X37 1930, BU 1935 DD276 McCAWLEY BU 1931 DD277 MOODY Sold 1931 DD278 HENSHAW BU 1930 DD279 MEYER BU 1932 DD28O DOYEN BU 1930 DD281 SHARKEY BU 1931 DD282 TOUCEY BU 1931 DD283 BRECK BU 1931 DD284 ISHERWOOD BU 1931 DD285 CASE BU 1931 DD286 LARDNER BU 1931 DD287 PUTNAM Sold 1931 DD288 WORDEN Sold 1931 DD289 FLUSSER BU 1931 DD290 DALE Sold 1931 DD291 CONVERSE BU 1931 DD292 REID BU 1931 DD293 BILLONGSLEY BU 1931 DD294 CHARLES AUSBURN BU 1931 (ex-Ausfrum) DD295 OSBORNE Sold 1931 DD296 CHAUNCEY Lost 1923 DD297 FULLER Lost 1923 DD298 PERCIVAL BU 1931 DD299 JOHN FRANCIS BURNES BU 1931 (ex-Swasey) DD300 FARRAGUT BU 1931 DD301 SOMERS BU 1931 DD3O2 STODDERT 1X35 1930, AG18 1931, BU 1935 DD3O3 RENO BU 1931 DD3O4 FARQUHAR BU 1932 DD3O5 THOMPSON BU 1931 DD306 KENNEDY BU 1931 DD307 PAUL HAMILTON BU 1931 (ex-Hamilton) DD308 WILLIAM JONES BU 1932 DD309 WOODBURY Lost 1923 DD310 S P LEE (ex-Branch) Lost 1923 DD311 NICHOLAS Lost 1923 DD312 YOUNG Lost 1923 DD313 ZEILIN BU 1931 DD314 YARBOROUGH BU 1931 DD315 LA VALETTE BU 1931 DD316 SLOAT Expended 1935 DD317 WOOD BU 1930 DD318 SHIRK BU 1931 DD319 KIDDER BU 1930 DD320 SELFRIDGE BU 1931 DD321 MARCUS Expended 1935 DD322 MERVINE BU 1931 DD323 CHASE BU 1931 DD324 ROBERT SMITH BU 1931 DD325 MULLANY BU 1931 DD326 COGHLAN BU 1931 DD327 PRESTON BU 1932 DD328 LAMSON BU 1931 DD329 BRUCE BU 1932 DD330 HULL BU 1931 DD331 MacDONOUGH BU 1931 DD332 FARENHOLT BU 1931 DD333 SUMNER BU 1934 DD334 CORRY BU 1930 DD335 MELVIN BU 1931 DD336 LITCHFIELD BU 1946 DD337 ZANE DMS 14 1940, BU 1946 DD338 WASMUTH DMS 15 1940, lost 1942 DD339 TREVER DMS 16 1940, BU 1946 DD340 PERRY DMS 17 1940, lost 1944 DD341 DECATUR BU 1945 DD342 HULBERT A VP19 1939, AVD6 1940, BU 1946 DD343 NOA APD24 1943, lost 1944 DD344 WILLIAM В PRESTON AVP20 1939, A VD7 1940, BU 1946 DD345 PREBLE DM20 1937, BU 1946 DD346 SICARD DM21 1937, BU 1946 DD347 PRUI1T DM22 1937, BU 1946 •In the ‘fates’ column, CG followed by a number is the Coast Guard designation of a ship employed against rum-runners during Prohibition. Other designators (APD, AVD, AG) indicate alternative use as an auxiliary; almost all the old destroyers were redesignated as miscellaneous auxiliaries (AG) at the end of World War II and so are not noted. * Flush-deckers' Although these ships were all completed by 1922, some were so extensively modified between the wars as to be worthy of mention. A total of 169 units, including four of the prototype series (DD69-74 type) remained after the loss of twelve unitsand the disposal of 93 others. In addition,Sernmes (DD189) became a sonar test ship; Childs and Williamson became prototype fast seaplane tenders (AVP14 and 15 and then AVD1 and 2 in 1940), and Manley became the prototype fast transport (AG28, then APD1 in 1940) in 1938. Ultimately four- teen ships became AVDs; eighteen were converted to fast minesweepers (DMS) to join eight ships already converted to fast minelayers (DM). The APDs proved extremely useful in the Pacific, and a total of 26 ships were converted in wartime to join six prewar units. 1 he wartime total included six former AVDs (which became APD31-36); APD26-28 and 30 were cancelled. Later APDs were all former destroyer escorts. Data for APD flush-deckers became: Displacement: (Greene) 1315t standard; 1793t full load Dimensions: 314ft oa x37ft x 12ft 4in full load 95.71 x 11.28 x 3.76m Machinery: 2-shaft turbines, 2 boilers, 13,000shp = 22-24kts max (trial 27.6kts). Oil 429t Armament: (1945) 3-3in/5O, 2-40mm, 5-20inm, 4 DC projectors, 2 DC racks, 4 LCP(L) or LCP(R), 144 troops, no cargo Complement: 101 The major deletion in flush-decker ranks was the transfer of fifty to Britain, which left just 71 available as destroyers in the autumn of 1941; another unit, Dahlgren, although retaining destroyer status, served as a propulsion test ship. Of the 71,13 served as destroyers in the Asiatic Fleet, but the remainder were considered second-line types suitable for conversion to escort status. The escort conversion included the replacement of all 4in and 3in guns by 6-3in/50, two of them replacing the two after triple torpedo tubes. A total of 6-20mm and six DC projectors were also to be fitted. Of 37 conversions authorised, only 27 could be carried out before the outbreak of war (DD118, 95
UNITED STATES 126, 128, 130,142, 144,145, 147, 152-5, 157-60, 199,210,220,221,223,229, 239,240, 245, 246 and 341). The remaining ships, including Dahlgren, were to retain their 4in guns, but surrender the two after torpedo lubes in favour of six DC throwers and 6-20mm guns (DDI06, 109, 113-116, 125, 137-9, 148-51, 156, 164, 215, 231-6, 242, 243, 247, 248 and 250). The same re-armament was effected in surviving Asiatic Fleet units, and in Allen (DD66), the sole survivor of earlier destroyer classes. In addition, many units had one boiler removed for increased fuel stowage; in effect they were reduced to 25kts. By the end of the war very few of the surviving ‘flush-deckers’ had all four boilers: most had been reduced, therefore, to three funnels. Nine of the AVDs reverted to destroyer status late in 1943; they were not re-armed, but rather retained only two 4in guns and two boilers (two had been removed to provide aircraft fuel stowage). Six later became APDs, but two remained as destroyers until all the ‘flush-deckers* began to leave active service. In 1943 it was decided to fit twelve units with Hedgehog as an experiment, at the same time that Mousetrap was fitted to twelve Bensons-ten 3in conversions (DD118, 126, 128, 142, 144, 145, 220, 223, 246 and 341- the cost was two DC projectors and one or two 20mm guns, for a total of four) and two 4in ships (DD109 and 187, the latter the Dahlgren with only two 4in guns). At the end of hostilities in the Atlantic all were to be discarded, with the exception of a few to be retained for training. These, too, were stricken soon after the war. SUBMARINES No Name Fate No Name Fate ‘H’ class: launched 1913 and 1918, 358t standard SS29 H2 (ex- BU 1931 SS148 H5 BU 1931 Nautilus) SS149 H6 BU 1931 SS30 H3 (ex- BU 1931 SSI50 H7 BU 1931 Garfish) SS151 H8 BU 1931 SS147 H4 BU 1931 SS152 H9 BU 1931 ‘K’ class: launched 1913-14, 392t surface SS32 KI (ex- BU 1931 SS35 K4 (exWalrus) BU 1931 Haddock) SS36 K5 BU 1931 SS33 К 2 (ex- BU 1931 SS37 K6 BU 1931 Cachalot) SS38 K7 BU 1931 SS34 КЗ (ex-Orca) BU 1931 SS39 K8 BU 1931 ‘L’ class: launched 1915-16, 450t surface SS41 L2 BU 1932 SS46 L7 Sold 1925 SS42 L3 BU 1932 SS48 L8 Sold 1925 SS44 L5 Sold 1925 SS49 L9 BU 1932 SS45 L6 Sold 1925 SS51 LU BU 1932 *T class: launched 1918-19, 1107t surface SS52 T1 (ex-AAl, BU 1930 SS60 T2 (ex-AA2) BU 1930 cx-Schley) SS61 T3 (ex-AA3) В U1930 ‘N’ class, launched 1916-17, 340t surface SS53 N1 BU 1931 SS55 N3 BU 1931 SS54 N2 BU 1931 ‘O’ class: launched 1917-18, 52It surface SS62 01 Stricken 1938SS71 O10 BU 1946 SS63 02 BU 1945 SS72 Oil BU 1930 SS64 03 BU 1946 SS73 012 Merchant SS65 04 BU 1946 ship 1930, SS66 05 Lost 1923 scuttled 1931 SS67 06 BU 1946 SS74 013 BU 1930 SS68 07 BU 1946 SS75 014 BU 1930 SS69 08 BU 1946 SS76 015 BU 1930 SS70 09 Lost 1941 SS77 016 BU 1930 ‘K’ class: launched 1917-19, 510-530t normal SS78 R1 Sold 1946 SS93 R16 Sold 1945 SS79 R2 Sold 1946 SS94 R17 To Britain SS80 R3 BU 1948 1942, SS81 R4 Sold 1946 BU 1945 SS82 R4 Sold 1946 SS95 R18 Sold 1946 SS83 R6 Sold 1946 SS96 R19 To Britain SS84 R7 Sold 1946 1942, SS85 R8 Scuttled lost 1942 1936 SS97 R20 Sold 1946 SS86 R9 Sold 1946 SS98 R21 BU 1930 SS87 RIO Sold 1946 SS99 R22 BU 1930 SS88 Rll Sold 1946 SS100 R23 BU 1930 SS89 RL2 Lost 1943 SS101 R24 BU 1930 SS90 R13 Sold 1946 SS102 R25 BU 1930 SS91 R14 Sold 1946 SS103 R26 BU 1930 SS92 R15 Lost 1941 SS104 R27 BU 1930 ‘S’ class (first group): launched 1918-22, 854t normal SS105 SI To Britain SS134 S29 To Britain 1942, 1942, . BU 1946 sold 1949 SS123 S18 Sold 1946 SSI35 S30 Sold 1946 SS124 S19 Sold 1946 SS136 S31 Sold 1946 SS125 S20 Sold 1946 SS137 S32 Sold 1946 SS126 S21 To Britain SS138 S33 Sold 1946 1942, scuttled 1946 SS127 S22 To Britain SSI39 S34 Sold 1946 1942, BU 1945 SS140 S35 Expended 1946 SS128 S23 Sold 1946 SS141 S36 Lost 1942 SS129 S24 To Britain SS142 S37 Scuttled 1942, target 1947 1945 SS130 S25 To Poland SSI43 S38 Scuttled 1941, lost 1942 1945 SS131 S26 Lost 1942 SS144 S39 Lost 1942 SS132 S27 Lost 1942 SS145 S40 Sold 1946 SS133 S28 Lost 1944 SS146 S41 Sold 1946 ‘S’ class (second group): launched 1923-24, 906t normal SSI53 S42 Sold 1946 SS156 S45 Sold 1946 SSI54 S43 Sold 1946 SS157 S46 Sold 1946 SS155 S44 Sold 1946 SSI58 S47 Sold 1946 "S’ class (third group): launched 1919, 800t normal SS106 S2 BU 1931 ‘S’ class (fourth group): launched 1918-21, 875t normal SS107 S3 BU 1937 SSI 16 Sil Sold 1945 SS109 S4 Lost 1927 SSI 17 S12 Sold 1945 SSI 10 S5 Lost 1920 SSI 18 S13 Sold 1945 SS111 S6 BU 1937 SSI 19 S14 Sold 1945 SSI 12 S7 BU 1937 SS120 S15 Sold 1946 SSI 13 S8 BU 1937 SS121 S16 Scuttled 1945 SSI 14 S9 BU 1937 SS122 S17 Scuttled 1945 SSI 15 S10 BU 1936 ‘S’ class (fifth group): launched 1921, SSI59 S48 Sold 1946 903t normal SS161 S50 BU 1931 SSI60 S49 Sold 1931 SS162 S51 Lost 1925 GUNBOATS No Name Launched Disp Fate PG9 HELENA 30.1 1896 1397t Sold 1932 PG16 PALOS 23.4.1914 190t • Sold 1937 PG19 SACRAMENTO 21 2.1914 1140t Merchant ship ' Fermina 1947 PG20 MONOCACY 27.4.1914 190t Scuttled 1939 PG21 ASHEVILLE 4.7.1918 1270t Lost 1942 PG22 TULSA 25.8 1922 1270t Tacloban 1944, sold 1946 PG38 ELCANO 28.1.1884 620t Expended 1928 PG39 PAMPANGA Feb 1888 243t Expended 1928 PG40 QUIROS 24 1.1895 350t Expended 1923 PG42 VILLALOBOS 1896 350t Expended 1928 The US Navy also operated 50 ‘Bird’ class minesweepers (AM 1-54, AMU-12 and 49-50 were cancelled in 1918). Launched 1918-19, these tug- type vessels displaced 950t, were armed with 2-3in, and had a top speed of 14kts. Nine were reclassified as seaplane tenders (AVP 1-9) 1936, six as sub- marine rescue ships (ASR1-6) 1929, seven as salvage ships (ARS1-4, 11-12 1941, ARS32 1942), seventeen as fleet tugs (AT131-145 1942, and 168-169 1944; AT 132 became ARS32), and one as a net tender (YNg20 1940). Of the remainder, AM4 was lost in 1928, AM6 in 1923, AM8 in 1925 and AM37 in 1937. The Coast Guard operated four Gresham class cutters (launched 1897-98, 1190t, 4—6pdr, 14 5kts): Gresham (sold 1947), Manning (sold 1930), Algonquin (sold 1931) and Onondaga (sold 1924), the four Tampa class cutters (launched 1921, 1980t, 2-5in, 2-3in, 15kts): Tampa, Haida, Mojave and Modoc (all sold 1948); and also the following vessels: Seminole (860t, 4-6pdr, sold 1937), Tuscarora (launched 1902,739t, 2-6pdr, sold 1937),Snohomish (launched 1908, 879t, 2-lpdr, 12.5kts, sold 1934), Acushnet (as Snohomish, naval tug 1936), Seneca (launched 1508, 1445t, 13kts, 4—6pdrs,sold 1940), Yamacraw (launched 1908,1082t, 13krs,4—6pdr, sold 1935), Unalga (launched 1912,1180t, 12.5kts, 3-6pdr, sold 1947), Ossipee (launched 1915, 964t, 12.7kts, 4-6pdr, sold 1946) and Tallapoosa (as Ossipee). 96
Capital ships CAPITAL SHIPS The two Nonh Carolinas were the first battleships the US Navy built after the expiration of the Washington Treaty ‘building holiday*. As such they were the outgrowth of a long and tortuous process of design evolution, which began not with fast battleships but rather with an updated version of the traditional US type, concentrating on firepower and protection at the expense of speed. In 1935, however, the US Navy General Board decided that it would be useful at least to explore the type being built abroad, ie a fast but well-armed and well- protected ship. What decided the issue in favour of the fast ship was the need to operate carrier task forces; at one point it was suggested that two fast battleships combine with each of the two big carriers (Saratoga and Lex- ington) to form a task group. The threat presented by the three 26kt Longos was also an important factor. The General Board therefore approved a 3Okt, 9-14in gun ship, protected against 14in fire, using much the same arguments that would later be made in favour of the/owas. At virtually the last minute, however, the Chief of Naval Operations rejected this design, preferring a more traditional 27kt type, armed with 11—14in guns (later 12, in quadruple turrets), and it was his design which was ultimately adopted. Although 16in guns had figured in the earliest sketch designs, the Lon- don Treaty of 1936 limited new bat- tleships to Min guns, and it was this latter calibre which determined both the battery and the protection NORTH CAROLINA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: (Washington) 37,484t standard; 44,377t full load 714ft 6in wl, 728ft 9in oa x 108ft 4in x 32ft lljin full load 217.78, 222.12 x 33.01 x 10.04m 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 121,000shp = 28kts. Oil 6260t, range 17,450nm at 15kts Belt I2in-6.6in on O.75in STS backing, armour deck 5.5in-5in with L45in weather deck and 0.62in-0.75in splinter deck, bulkheads Ilin, barbettes 14.7in-16in, turrets 16in face, 7in roof, 9.8in side, U.8in rear, CT 14.7in-16in with 7in roof 9-16in/45 (3x3), 2O-5in/38 (10x2), 16-1.lin (4x4), 12-O.5in (12x 1), 3 aircraft 1880 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate BB55 NORTH CAROLINA New York N Yd 27.10.1937 13.6.40 9.4.41 Preserved 1961 BB56 WASHINGTON Philadelphia N Yd 14.6.1938 1.6.40 15.5.41 Sold 24.5.61 designed into the new ships; they were to be immune against Min (15001b) shells between 20,000 and 30,800yds (reduced on the inner edge to 19,000 against barbettes, and extended to 33,000 against magazines). The design made specific allowance for replacing the new quad- ruple Min turret with a triple 16in turret, in the event that an escalator clause in the London Treaty had to be invoked; this latter referred to Japan- ese acceptance of the Min limit. Japan, as it turned out, refused to agree to this limitation, and the US government invoked the escalator clause, so that in fact all the new US battleships were armed with the I6in gun. What such invocation could not do was change the armour distribu- tion, which was basic to the design. Thus against the 22501b 16in shell (which was less effective than the 27001b shell actually adopted), the Nonh Carolina immunity zone was only 21,000-27,000yds over maga- zines, and 23,200-26,000yds over machinery (as of November 1937). Both ships entered service just before the outbreak of war, although they were not fully effective until early 1942, due in part to severe pro- peller vibration difficulties. Washing- ton was the only modern US battleship to engage an enemy capital ship: she sank the Japanese battlecruiser Kirishima on the night of 13-14 November 1942. It appears in retrospect that from an operator’s point of view the North Carolina design was superior to the later, more cramped, South Dakota. At the end of the war each ship had 15 quadruple 40mm mounts; North Carolina had, in addition, 20 single and 8 twin 20mm, her sister 63 single, 8 twin and one quadruple mount. North Carolina herself was refitted and employed briefly postwar as a training ship, unique among the US treaty battleships. North Carolina at Norfolk N Yd, 3.6.1942 By courtesy of A D Baker III 97
UNITED STATES The four South Dakotas were an attempt to achieve effective protec- tion against 16in shellfire on a dis- placement limited to 35,000 tons by the London Treaty, without any sac- rifice of the speed achieved in the North Carolina design. It was also important to protect them against underwater hits, which were expected at very long range; ultimately an immune zone (against the 22501b 16in shell) of 18,000 to 30,000yds was required. The design solution was a combination of very steeply sloped internal side armour and a heavy armoured deck; in order to save weight the length of the vitals was reduced as far as possible, and some considerable cramping of upper- works (such as blast interference be- tween secondary guns and light AA) was accepted; even when these ships were being designed in 1937, the Gen- eral Board considered them poten- tially uncomfortable. The steeply sloped belt, no thicker than that of the North Carolinas, was continued into the armoured bulkhead of the torpedo protection, a novel system which had not been tested when the ships were laid down. Subsequent caisson exper- iments suggested that it was not entirely satisfactory, but by then not only the four South Dakotas but also theZowas had received it. Yet another unusual feature was the ‘tunnel* stern, in which the two outboard propellers were encased in massive skegs, with the two inboard units revolving in the tunnel thus formed. Among the func- SOUTH DAKOTA class Displacement: (South Dakota) 37,970t standard; 44,519t full load Dimensions: 666ft wl, 680ft oa x 108ft 2in x 35ft lin full load 202.99, 207.26 x 32.96 x 10.69m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 130;000shp = 27.5kts. Oil 6959t, range 15,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 12.2inon 0.875in STS, lower belt 12.2in-lin on 0.875in STS, armour deck 5.75in-6in with 1.5in weather deck and 0.625in spl nter deck, bulkheads Ilin, barbettes 11.3in-17.3in, turrets 18in face, 7.25in roof, 9.5in side, 12in rear, CT 16in with 7.25in roof Armament: 9-16in/45 (3x3), 2O-5in/38 (10x2), 12-1.lin (3x4), 12-O.5in as designed, 3 aircraft. See notes Complement: 1793 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate BB57 SOUTH DAKOTA New York SB 5.7.1939 7.6.41 20.3.42 Sold 25.10.62 BB58 INDIANA Newport News 20.11.1939 21.11.41 30.4 42 Sold 6.9.63 BB59 MASSACHUSETTS Bethlehem, Quincy 20.7.1939 23.9.41 12.5.42 Preserved 1965 BB60 ALABAMA Norfolk N Yd 1.2.1940 16.2.42 16.8.42 Preserved 1964 tions of the skegs were torpedo pro- tection for the propellers on the other side, and hydrodynamic refinements which permitted enough hull volume abreast the after magazines to provide sufficient torpedo protection there. South Dakota was unique in that she was fitted as a Force Flagship, with an extra conning tower level; as top- weight compensation, she received only 8 twin 5in/38 mounts, although she had 20-1.lin (5x4) compared with her half-sisters. Originally only she and Indiana were authorised under the FY39 Naval Appropria- tions Act; designs for theZowas were begun under the designation ‘BB59*. However, a Deficiency Appropria- tions Act of 25 June 1938 authorised two more 35,000-ton battleships, and these were ordered as Massachusetts and Alabama, even though at that time work was already well advanced on the Iowa design. As much as had been sacrificed in order to bring these ships to an acceptable standard of protection against 16in fire, in 1939 the Bureau of Ordnance developed a new 27001b 16in shell which required, once more, a new standard of protection: it was estimated that the South Dakota immune zone would shrink to 20,500-26,400yds, as would that of theZowa. In effect the Montana began as an attempt to design a ship, un- limited by Treaty, which would have roughly the characteristics of the South Dakota but against the new 27001b shell, which the Bureau claimed had more effectiveness than an 18in shell of more conventional form. All four ships were withdrawn from service immediately after World War II, although Massachusetts was refit- ted for further service. Her refit included considerable reductions in automatic weapons, presumably inci- dent to a reduction in operating per- sonnel. None of the four had seen really arduous service, and through the 1950s a variety of schemes to util- ise their hulls was proposed. For example, for a short time it was sug- gested that one of these ships, rather than a cruiser, become the first US fleet missile ship. South Dakota (and North Carolina') class hulls were also proposed as satellite-launching ships, as fast replenishment ships, and as helicopter assault ships - none of which appeared to be particularly economical. There was even a brief study of what it would take in the way of boost power to bring one of these ships up to the new fleet speed of 33kts, but that proved astronomically expensive. In August 1945 BB58 and 60 each had 12 quadruple 40mm mounts, BB57 17 and BB59 18. They also had, as 20mm batteries: 72 single (BB57); 48 single plus 4 twin (BB58); 31 single, 1 twin and 1 quadruple (BB59); and 56 single (BB60). South Dakota on 23.2.1943 By courtesy ofAD Baker III 98
Capital ships The four lowas were the largest and fastest battleships completed for the US Navy during World War II; in principle they were South Dakotas lengthened for higher speed, the increased displacement being used also to pass from 45 to 50cal 16in guns. In view of the past US prefer- ence for protection instead of high speed, 10,000 tons seems a very high price to pay for the jump from 27 to 33kts. However, the motivation, which parallelled that for the original 30k t North Carolina design, was the need for ships to form fast carrier task forces. US prewar stategists expected Japan to form such task forces out of her carriers and her large heavy cruis- ers, for attack upon US lines of com- munication to the Western Pacific prior to a decisive battle near the home islands; they felt that any fast carriers assigned to action against such task forces would have to be covered by heavy units capable, for example, of defeating the three Japanese Kongo class battlecruisers which might well be detached from the Japanese Battle Force as cover for the carriers - which indeed occurred in 1941. Design work began in 1938, after rumours of Japanese 46,000-ton battleships led the United States, Bri- tain , and France to agree to invoke the Escalator Clause of the 1936 London Treaty, to raise the limit on displace- ment from 35,000 to 45,000 tons; in fact the lowas as built exceeded the latter limit. The existence of three Kongos (the refit of the training ship Hiei was apparently unsuspected as late as 1940) set a lower limit of three lowas, with a fourth as insurance against the unavailability of any one of them, and similarly against require- ments in the Atlantic. Indeed, in 1940 it was expected that battleship con- struction would soon revert to the more traditional heavy type, and the first studies of what would become the Montana were made under the desig- nation ‘BB65*. However, on 19 July 1940 Congress passed a very large emergency construction programme, and the Secretary of the Navy decided that a large part of it would simply duplicate the latest classes already on order, as a means of saving time. Thus two more battleships, BB65 and 66, were ordered as lowas rather than as a new class. Only four out of the six ships were ever completed, and they served in the Fast Carrier Task Force in the latter part of the war. Iowa was built with an enlarged conning tower; to balance its topweight, she was never fitted with a quadruple Bofors gun on No 2 turret. Ironically, although she was thus designed as a Force Flag- ship, in fact her sisters also proved quite suitable for that role, New Jersey serving as Fifth Fleet flagship in 1945. Iowa's 20mm and 40mm outfit dif- fered from her sisters’: she carried 60 IOWA class Displacement: (Iowa) 48,1 lOt standard; 57,540t full load Dimensions: 860ft wl, 887ft 3in oa x 108ft 2in x 36ft 2|in full load 262.13, 270.43 x 32.96 x 11.02m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 212,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 762 It, range 15,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 12.lin on 0.875in STS, lower belt 12.Iin-l.6in on O.875in STS, armour deck 6in with 1.5in weather deck and 0.625in splinter deck, bulkheads 11.3in, barbettes 11.6in-17.3in, turrets 19.7inface, 7.25in roof, 9.5in side, 12.0in rear, CT 17.5in with 7.25in roof Armament: 9-16in/50, 2O-5in/38 (10x2), 80-40mm (20x4), 49-20mm, 3 aircraft. See notes Complement: 1921 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate BB61 IOWA New York N Yd 27.6.1940 27.8.42 22.2.43 Extant 1980 BB62 NEW JERSEY Philadelphia N Yd 16.9.1940 7.12.42 23.5.43 Extant 1980 BB63 MISSOURI New York N Yd 6.1.1941 29.1.44 11.6.44 Extant 1980 BB64 WISCONSIN Philadelphia N Yd 25.1.1941 7.12.43 16.4.44 Extant 1980 BB65 ILLINOIS Philadelphia N Yd 6.12.1942 — — Cancelled 11.8.45 BB66 KENTUCKY Norfolk N Yd 6.12.1942 20.1.50 — Sold for BU Sept 1958 of each. Wartime modifications included some extensions to the bridgework and major additions of light anti-aircraft weapons; surely an unexpected dividend of the great length adopted for high speed was the ease with which light weapons could be added without interfering with the arcs of fire of 16in and 5in guns. In 1945, Iowa had 19 and her sisters 20 quadruple 40mm mounts. Their 20mm batteries varied: Iowa had 52 single mounts, New Jersey 41 single and 8 twin, Missouri 49 single, and Wisconsin 47 single and 2 twin. The extra mounts in Iowa were atop No 2 turret in place of the 40mm. Illinois was cancelled in 1945; her engines were later installed in two Fast Replenishment Ships (AOE). Her sister Kentucky was suspended and ultimately launched to clear the building dock at Norfolk; during the 1940s and 1950s she was redesigned several times as a missile-launching battleship (BBG), but ultimately she was scrapped instead. Of her four sis- ters, all but Missouri (training ship) were laid up before the Korean War; they were then reactivated, and served for a time as fire support ships and Force Flagships before again being consigned to reserve in 1955-57. New Jersey alone was reacti- vated (and refitted) for fire support duty off Vietnam, 1967-69. By all accounts the four lowas were comfortable, fast ships, capable of making their somewhat extraordinary designed speed and unusually man- oeuvrable for their great length, thanks, perhaps, to their twin-rudder design. However, the long, narrow bow adopted for high speed made them somewhat wet, as did their limited freeboard due to large weight increases both during construction and due to wartime additions of anti- aircraft weapons. They were the only US battleships fast enough to keep up with fast carriers and proved useful as specialised flagships in a postwar world in which there were no longer targets suitable for battleship engagement. However, they were expensive to operate and so were soon withdrawn from service. Wisconsin at Philadelphia, 7.6.1944 USN 99
UNITED STATES Montana class design NB. 1/1500 scale The Montanas are the clearest proof that the Iowa design was a departure from normal American practice: slow ships (by the standards of their day) protected against the new 27001b 16in shell, and provided with extra weapons largely on the basis of the extra displacement required to pro- vide that protection. The design pro- cess was a long one, extended by the 1940 decision to build two repeat lowas instead of ships of a new design. At first an 18m gun scheme was con- sidered, but quite early twelve 16in/50 (at first in quadruple turrets, to save length) were adopted, with protection against the 27001b shell. The design was not feasible until the outbreak of war had removed the 45,000-ton limit; then it grew very rapidly to the figure shown. The final design showed a reversion to the externally armoured, bulged hull form of the North Carolinas and the adoption of a new 5in/54 secon- dary gun in twin enclosed mountings. The former change was adopted because of a strong feeling that the more steeply sloped internal armour would be extremely difficult both to fit and also to repair after battle dam- age; moreover, damage to the skin of the ship would cause local flooding. In a ship of very greatly increased dis- placement and beam, it would be possible to accept the heavier external belt. However, the resulting ship would not be able to pass through the existing locks of the Panama Canal. This last was no serious limitation MONTANA class Displacement: 60,500t standard; 7O,5OOt full load Dimensions: 890ft wl, 925ft oa x 121ft x 36ft 8in full load 271.27, 281.94 x 36.88 x 11.17m Machinery: 4-shaft turbines, 8 boilers, 172,000shp = 28kts full load. Oil 7300t, range 15,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 16. lin-10.2in on lin STS, internal belt 7.2in-lin, armour deck 6in-7.35in with 2.25in weather deck and O.62in-O.75in splinter deck, bulkheads 15.3in, barbettes 18in-21.3in, turrets 22.5in face, 9.15in roof, lOin side, 12in rear, CT 18in with 7.25in roof Armament: 12-16in/50 (4x3), 2O-5in/54 (10 x 2), 32—10mm (8x4), 20-20mm (20x 1), 3 aircraft Complement: 2149 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate BB67 MONTANA Philadelphia N Yd — — Cancelled 21 7.1943 BB68 OHIO Philadelphia N Yd — — — Cancelled 21.7.1943 BB69 MAINE New York N Yd — — Cancelled 21.7.1943 BB70 NEW HAMPSHIRE New York N Yd — — Cancelled 21.7.1943 BB71 LOUISIANA Norfolk N Yd — — — Cancelled 21.7.1943 because money had already been appropriated for a third set of locks quite wide enough for a Montana to pass through. As for the new secon- dary gun, it had been designed to pro- vide more stopping power against des- troyers; some loss in rate of fire against aircraft was acceptable. The new twin 5in/54 was specified for sev- eral wartime projects, including (at one lime) the Midways and a new anti-aircraft cruiser; ultimately it was superseded by the now-familiar Mk 42 automatic (single-barrel) version. Although the General Board thought in terms of four ships (one division) in fact five were authorised under the Act of 19 July 1940; all were to have been built in Navy Yards. They were suspended at Presidential direction in April 1942, owing to an apparent steel shortage; the same reason was given for cancellation of the new Panama Canal locks. The General Board was later to claim that ‘this shortage was more a matter of proper distribution and priority assignments rather than an actual shortage’, but all five ships were finally cancelled on 21 July 1943. The Montana design was one of a generally ill-fated generation of US warship designs produced just as Treaty restrictions were given up: they included new large 8in and 6in • cruisers, a new 7500-ton anti-aircraft cruiser - and the Alaskas. All died because just as the Treaty limits expired, and large amounts of money for new construction became avail- able, ii also became obvious that time was very short and that it was far bet- ter to build ships for which plans were in existence, than to build the (far more effective) ones which had yet to be designed in detail - hence the deci- sion in favour of repeat lowas for BB65 and BB66. Similar decisions were made for cruisers and for des- troyers. However, the design work which produced the Montanas was not totally wasted; for example, the machinery arrangement adopted for the Midways was quite similar to theirs. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS The US Navy was fascinated with the possibilities offered by the aircraft carrier almost from its inception; carrier designs were studied as early as 1918, with the assistance of a British constructor, later DNC, S V Goodall. Langley was converted from the collier Jupiter as an experiment, and showed the potential of carriers in early fleet prob- lems. By 1926 naval aircraft were considered so important that the Ranger was designed almost entirely on the basis of a study of the maximum number of aircraft which could be maintained at sea, given the tonnage limits of the Washington Treaty. Moreover, from the early 1920s onwards it was clear that, in an ‘Orange* war, treaty carrier tonnage would be insufficient. Plans were therefore prepared for the conversion of liners to second-line carriers, although until the late 1920s there were no US liners fast enough really to be satisfactory in this role. This programme included the design and construction of some long lead time mobilisation items, such as lifts, in the mid- 1930s, and even the design of a liner (P-4P) specially designed for emergency conversion to a carrier in 1938. The emergency conversion programme was not dropped until 1940, when the abatement of treaty restrictions and the size of the new construction programme appeared to make such lash-ups redundant. However, it was also apparent that the new carriers would not be available until about 1944 or 1945; the President became interested in emergency measures that would bring some light aircraft to sea for such 100 secondary duties as ASW. He was also interested in flight-deck ships for aircraft transport (eg for Lend-Lease delivery). These two features were fused in the escort carriers, many of which functioned more as aircraft ferries for front-line carrier task forces. Escort carrier development also benefited from British experience both in prewar planning and in the conversion of the Empire Audacity, US prewar conversion plans had been rather more grandiose. In addition, the success of the initial conversion (Long Island) inspired the President to see in the large fleet of Cleveland class cruiser hulls a resource for the production of emergency fleet carriers. His first proposals, in mid- 1941, were resisted by the technical bureaux, but a much more austere design, prepared on the basis of escort carrier practice, was proceeded with early in 1942 and proved quite successful. As for the fleet carriers, their role underwent considerable develop- ment between wars. From the early 1930s onwards the big carriers often combined with heavy cruiser escorts to form independent strike groups; experience in this type of operation was important in the formation of small carrier task groups early in World War II, and of course to the formation of the Fast Carrier Task Force which broke the Japanese fleet in the great battles of 1944. The pattern for fleet carriers was set with the prewar Yorktown (CV5) class and developed into the mass-production Essex. From this point of view the armoured-deck Midways were an anomaly inspired by the success of British
Aircraft carriers armoured-deck carriers* they were very expensive to build, and it turned out that their large flight decks could accommodate a rather unwieldy air group. Perhaps the most important wartime development in carrier opera- tions was the rise of the catapult. Modern hydraulic catapults first appeared in the York towns, but were little used prewar, partly in view of their low power. However, the small escort carriers were so slow that they required catapults to launch their torpedo-bombers, and their success in such operations led to increased use of flight deck catapults (which by now were far more powerful) on board the fleet carriers. By the end of the war a large proportion of all operational take-offs was by catapult; such a practice permitted a much larger area of the flight deck to be filled w ith ready aircraft than hitherto, and the aircraft could take off with heavier loads. Catapults also increased the value of the escort carriers as aircraft ferries: Army fighters were, in 1945, buih with catapult fittings as a matter of routine, and launched from escort carrier-ferries. This practice recalls the prewar concept of the Marine scout bombers being launched from seaplane tenders to operate out of advanced bases, and it had roughly the same virtue of permitting rapid deployment. In a sense the flying-off ferry concept was first tested in the delivery runs to Malta, eg by the US fleet carrier Wasp. These two convened battlecruisers were the first US fleet earners, and experience with them was responsible for the design of the Yorktown class of the early 1930s There were serious proposals for large carriers even before the Washington Treaty pre- sented the Navy with this pair of big, fast hulls; one such proposal was for a carrier built from material assembled for the battlecruiser Ranger, the least advanced of the six authorised in 1916 As finally completed, both ships were armed with 8in guns rather than with the 6in originally contemp- lated, presumably because of the imminent emergence of 8in ‘treaty cruisers’ capable of running them down at night or in bad weather. Plans to provide torpedo tubes were not, however, implemented. For many years both ships were carried on Navy lists as 33,000- tonners ‘exclusive of equipment for defence against air and submarine attack,’ in reference to the Washing- ton Treaty provision that existing cap- ital ships could be refitted for defence LEXINGTON class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: {Lexington 1936) 37,681t standard; 43,O55t full load 850ft wl, 888ft oa x 105ft 5in X 33ft 4in 259.08, 270.66 x 32.12 x 10.15m 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 16 Yarrow boilers, 180,OOOshp = 33.25kts. Oil 2400-3600t, range 10,500nm at 15kts Belt 7in-5in with I.25in deck over 0 75in STS, CT 2in with 2in roof. No protection for 8in guns 8-8in/55 (4x2), 12-5in/25 (12x1), 48-0.Sin, 63 aircraft. See notes 2327 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CV2 LEXINGTON Bethlehem, Quincy 8.1 1921 3.10.25 14.12.27 Sunk 8.5.42 CV3 SARATOGA New York SB 25.9.1920 7.4.25 16.11.27 Expended 25.7 46 against such attack, adding up to 3000 tons of diplacement; in fact the two big carriers exceeded 35,000 tons. By 1941 the SP main battery seemed outdated, and plans were made to replace it with 5in DP guns; Lexington when sunk was without her 8in guns but also without the 5in/38 DP weapons which were to have replaced them Her sister was refitted at about the same time, and she was also bulged to restore buoyancy gradually lost as weight was added - not to menuon additions of weight due to considerable numbers of new light AA guns. After her last refit in the spring of 1945Saratoga mounted 8 single and 4 twin 5in/38, 25 quadruple 40mm, and 16 single 20mm. She was far larger than an Essex, but actually earned fewer planes due to her relatively uneconomical design, which included a closed hangar and precluded a deck-edge lift The aircraft comple ment indicated in the table is for 1936 and at that time comprised 18 fight- ers, 40 bombers and 5 utility machines; petrol stowage was 137,450 US gallons in 1942. Saratoga in Puget Sound, 15.5 1945 By courtesy of A D Baker 111 101
UNITED STATES The first US carrier built from the keel up as such, Ranger was designed almost without operational experi- ence with carriers; her displacement was limited so as to extract the max- imum air fleet from a Washington Treaty limit of 69,000 tons of new carrier construction. Ranger was orig- inally designed with a flush deck, but in the course of construction it became apparent that even the aviators required an island. This and other changes added greatly to her tonnage, and she far exceeded her designed 13,800 tons. However, the original flush deck design shows in her hinged funnels, a feature not repeated until the abortive post- World War II flush-deck attack car- riers. Ranger was designed entirely without passive protection, but was armed with eight 5in/25 AA guns. Her original air group comprised 36 bombers, 36 fighters and 4 utility air- craft Petrol stowage was 135,840 US gallons. On trials, Ranger made 54,63Ishp = 29 9kts at 16,169t. In service she was relatively unsuccessful; in 1939, for example, in connection with proposals for new small carriers, her captain testified that she often pitched too much for flying operations, while the larger earners remained effective. Her major World War II service was limited to the North African opera- tion and a carrier raid on Norway m 1943 in company with the British Home Fleet, after which Ranger was relegated to training operations, with Sin guns removed as weight compen sation for new radars. A project to bulge her was abandoned in view of her low speed and small size. In 1945, as a training carrier, Ranger participated in the earliest trials of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) radar aircraft, which have RANGER Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 14,575t standard; 17,577t full load 730ft wl, 769ft oa x 80ft lin wl, 109ft 6in max x 22ft 5in full load 222.50, 234.39 x 24.40, 33.37 x 6.83m 2-shaft turbines, 6 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 53,500shp = 29.25kts. Oil 1567-235Ot, range 10,000nm at 15kts Side and bulkheads 2in (over magazines only), deck lin 8-5in/25 (8x 1), 76 aircraft See notes 1788 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CV4 RANGER Newport News 26 9 1931 25 2.33 4.7 34 Sold for BU 28 1 47 Ranger in late 1944 as a training earner USN These were in a sense the first modern US earners, the prototypes of the classic Essfxs of World War II. Unlike Ranger, they were designed in the light of experience with both large and small earners (Lexington and Saratoga on the one hand, Langley on the other) and represented a compromise solu- tion: the tonnage remaining after Ranger would go into two ships of about 20,000 tons each and one more small carrier. This solution was par- ticularly attractive because the Gen- eral Board considered groups of two carriers tactically useful. Another fac- tor in the design was a demand for protection, which parallelled increased interest in cruiser protec- 102 YORKTOWN class Displacement: (Enterprise') 19,875t standard; 25,484t full load Dimensions: 770ft wl, 809ft oa, 824ft 9in over flight deck x 83ft 2in wl, 109ft 6in max x 25ft lljin full load 234.69, 246.58, 251 38 x 25 34, 33.37 x 7 90m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons turbines, 9 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 120,000shp = 32 5kts Oil 2754—4360t, range 12,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 4in-2 5in over O.75in STS, armour deck 1 5m, bulkheads 4in, CT 4in with 2m roof Armament: 8-5in/38 (8x 1), 16-1. lin (4x4), 24-0 5in (24 x 1), 96 aircraft. See notes Complement: 2175 (1942) No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CV5 YORKTOWN Newport News 21.5.1934 4 4 36 30.9 37 Sunk 7 6 42 CV6 ENTERPRISE Newport News 16.7.1934 3 10.36 12.5 38 Sold for BU 1 7.58 CV8 HORNET Newport News 25.9.1939 14 12.40 20 10.41 Sunk 24.10 42
Aircraft carriers non (see ihe New Orleans class). As in the case of the Ranger, the aviators wanted a flush deck, but in fact they could not have both high speed (which meant a great deal of smoke to disperse) and folding funnels. Once a big funnel had been accepted, the aviators were willing to accept also a bridge and a flying control position; the latter had, indeed, been found extremely useful and would soon be installed on the Ranger, already under construction. For a time an armoured flight or hangar deck was considered, but not enough armour could be provided for this to be useful; armour then, was limited to a side belt and a deck cover- ing it, intended to protect against cruiser (6in) fire between 10,000 and 20,000yds at a 60° target angle. Tor- pedo protection was limited to 4001b TNT, the battleships built later were designed to resist 7001b. There were three catapults, two on the flight deck and one double athwartships on the hangar deck. The air group in 1938 consisted of 18 fighters, 36 torpedo- bombers, 37 dive-bombers and 5 util- ity machines. Aviation fuel capacity was 177,950 US gallons. On trials, Yorktown reached 120,517shp = 33.53kts at 22,963t. Hornet (CV8) was built as a repeat Yorktown to avoid delays attendant on a new design. She was lost within a year of her completion, and by 1943 only the much-damaged Enterprise remained in existence By this time she was greatly overweight, and in a large refit in the autumn of 1943 she was bulged to restore sufficient buoyancy and stability. She fought in nearly all the US carrier battles of the Pacific War, and was to have been preserved as the symbol of US naval operations in World War II; however, Enterprise was broken up in 1957. These must have been among the very first US warships designed to incorporate the new quadruple 1. lin machine gun. At the end of the war, Enterprise had, in addition to her 8-5in/38,11 quadruple 40mm, 8 twin 40mm, and 16 twin 20mm, She was then operating as a night-fighter car- rier, with a reduced air group optim- ised for night protection of the Task Force. Wasp was the last US carrier to be severely limited by treaty; she was designed to consume the tonnage left o\ er from the two 20,000-ton carriers Yorktown and Enterprise and was unfortunate in that the Forces Afloat wanted roughly the same characteris- tics on no more than 14,500 tons. The solution adopted was a modified Ranger, in which both improved sta- bility and improved protection were sought There was no hope of obtain- ing underwater protection, but there was an armoured deck; this anti- shellfire protection would be com- pleted, in wartime, by the addition of external belt armour Some transverse stability was bought by the adoption of an unusual asymmetrical hull form, which balanced the weight of the island superstructure. The first design studies included efforts to use the hangar deck for flvmg-off operations, to increase the rate at which aircraft could be launched, this was rejected, but two transverse catapults were installed, together with two on the flight deck. In addition, with the end of treaty restrictions in 1939, efforts were made to increase speed through increased engine power However, it does not appear that the planned side armour w as fitted, quite possibly the demands of other new ships, such as the new hght cruisers, were considered more pressing Hasp’s air group in 1942 consisted °* 27 fighters, 37 bombers and 12 torpedo-bombers. There were four WASP Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 14,700t standard (designed); 18,450t full load 690ft wl, 720ft oa x 81ft 7in wl, 100ft max x 23ft 3in full load 210.31, 219.45 x 24 86, 30.48 x 7.08m 2-shaft Parsons turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 70,000shp = 29 5kts. Oil 1602t, range 12,5OOnm at 15kts Belt 0.625in STS (backing for future installation of heavier belt), armour deck 1 25in 8-5in/38 (8x 1), 16-1.lin (4x4), 24-O.5in (24x1), 76 aircraft. See notes 2167 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CV7 WASP Bethlehem, Quincy 1.4.1936 4.4.39 25.4.40 Sunk 15.9 42 catapults (2 flight deck, 2 double ath- lion of one of the first quadruple wartships on the hangar deck), and 40mm guns shortly before the ship 162,000 US gallons aviation fuel could was lost. be earned War modifications were limited, but did include the installa- Wasp in 1942
UNITED STATES These ships were the core of the US Fast Carrier Task Force which won the Pacific war, and they formed the basis of the postwar carrier fleet as well. They were essentially enlarged, improved York towns, freed of treaty restrictions, with four more 5in/38 (and all starboard guns in twin gun- houses to free flight deck space); new high pressure boilers (symbolised by a much shrunken funnel despite a con- siderable increase in power); a newen Echelon machinery arrangement; bet- ter underwater protection (5001b TNT); more powerful catapults; and a second armoured deck, on the han- gar deck level, to detonate armour- piercing bombs before they reached the vitals below, covered by the origi- nal armour deck. Against non- armour-piercing bombs, the hangar deck would protect the entire hull structure; for example, it prevented Kamikazes from penetrating into the hull proper. As in the Yorktowns and Wasp and Ranger, the hangar and flight deck were built on as a super- structure. From an aircraft handling point of view, they repeated the exper- iment begun in the Wasp by incor- porating a large deck-edge lift; in practice this worked so well that in 1945 carrier commanders were asking that the forward centreline lift be replaced by a second deck-edge lift further forward. In contrast to the Yorktowns, the original Essex design also incorporated six rather than four quadruple l.lin machine guns; these were replaced by 40mm guns in the design phase, and even the first ships had far heavier light batteries. The original design called for three catapults, two on the flight deck and one athwartships on the hangar deck; later (in the design phase) one of the two on the flight deck had to be sup- pressed because of overweight. How- ever, the hangar deck catapult proved less than useful, and ultimately all ships had two flight deck units. As completed, CV9carried no flight deck catapults, CV16 had one and CV10-13, 17 and 18 had one flight deck and one double athwartships catapult. The 1942 aircraft comple- ment, quoted in the table, comprised 36 fighters, 37 dive-bombers and 18 torpedo-bombers. Aviation fuel capacity was 240,000 US gallons. The major war modification was a considerable increase in light AA weapons. As of 1940, it was planned to put four multiple machine guns (ultimately quadruple 40mm) on the island superstructure, with two more on the port sponsons which carried open 5in mounts, and one more at each end. Early ships were completed with eight quadruple 40mm; this soon rose to ten, with one more aft and one on the former catapult sponson to port. Units under construction were modified with clipper bows to take an additional mount forward. By the lat- ter part of the war, many ships had had their bridgework extended at the ESSEX class Displacement: (Essex) 27,208t standard; 34,88It full load Dimensions: 820ft wl, 888ft (CV9-13, 16-18, 20, 31 872ft) oa x 93ft wl, 147ft 6in max x 27ft 6in full load 249.93, 270.66 (265.78) x 28.34, 44.95 x 8.38m Machinery: 4-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 150,OOOshp = 32.7kts. Oil 4758~6330t, range 15,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 4in-2.5in, hangar deck 2.5in, armour deck over belt 1.5in Armament: 12-5in/38 (4x2, 4x 1), 32~40mm (8x4), 46-20mm (46x 1), 91 aircraft. See notes Complement: 2682 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CV9 ESSEX Newport News 28.4.1941 31.7.42 31.12.42 Stricken 15.6.75, BU CV10 YORKTOWN Newport News 1.12.1941 21.1.43 (ex-Bon Homme Richard) 15.4.43 Stricken 1.6.73, preserved CV11 INTREPID Newport News 1.12.1941 26.4.43 16.8.43 Decommissioned 15.3.74, in reserve 1980 CV12 HORNET Newport News 3.8.1942 30.8.43 (ex-Kearsarge) 29.11.43 Decommissioned 26.6.70, in reserve 1980 CV13 FRANKLIN Newport News 7.12.1942 14.10.43 31.1.44 Stricken 1.10.64, BU CV14 TICONDEROGA Newport News 1.2.1943 7.2.44 (ex-Hancock) 8.5.44 Stricken 16.11.73, BU CV15 RANDOLPH Newport News 10.5.1943 29.6.44 9.10.44 Stricken 15.6.73 CV16 LEXINGTON Bethlehem, Quincy 15.9.194 1 26.9.42 (ex-Cabot) 17.2.43 Active as CVT 1980 CV17 BUNKER HILL Bethlehem, Quincy 15.9.1941 7.12.42 20.5.43 Stricken 1.11.66, BU CV18 WASP (ex-Oriskany) Bethlehem, Quincy 18.3.1942 17.8.43 24.11.43 Stricken 1.7.72, BU CV19 HANCOCK Bethlehem, Quincy 26.1.1943 17.8.43 (ex-Ticonderoga) 15.4.44 Stricken, 31.1.76, BU CV20 BENNINGTON Newport News 15.12.1942 26.2.44 6.8.44 Decommissioned 15.1.70, in reserve 1980 CV21 BOXER Newport News 13.9.1943 14.12.44 16.4.45 Stricken 1.12.69, BU CV31 BON HOMME New York N Yd 1.2.1943 29.4.44 RICHARD 26.11.44 Decommissioned 2.7.71,in reserve 1980 CV32 LEYTE Newport News 21.2.1944 23.8.45 (ex-Crown Point) 11.4.46 Stricken 1.6.69, BU CV33 KEARSARGE New York N Yd 1.3.1944 5.5.45 2.3.46 Stricken 1.5.73, BU CV34 ORISKANY New York N Yd 1.5.1944 13.10.45 25.9.50 Decommissioned 30.9.76, in reserve 1980 CV35 REPRISAL New York N Yd 1.7.1944 Cancelled 12.8.45 CV36 ANTIETAM Philadelphia N Yd 15.3.1943 20.8.44 28.1.45 Stricken 1.5.73, BU CV37 PRINCETON Philadelphia N Yd 14.9.194 3 8.7 45 (cx-Valley Forge) 18.11.45 Stricken 30.1.70, BU CV38 SHANGRI LA Norfolk N Yd 15.1.1943 24.2.44 15.9.44 Decom missioned 30.7.71, in reserve 1980 CV39 LAKE CHAMPLAIN Norfolk N Yd 15.3.1943 2.11.44 3.6.45 • Stricken 1.12.69, BU CV40 TARAWA Norfolk N Yd 1.3.1944 12.5.45 8.12.45 Stricken 1.6.67, BU CV45 VALLEY FORGE Philadelphia N Yd 7.9.1944 18.11.45 3.11.46 Stricken 15.1.70, BU CV46 IWOJIMA Philadelphia N Yd 29.1.1945 — Cancelled 12.8.45 CV47 PHILIPPINE SEA Bethlehem, Quincy 19.8.1944 5.9.45 (ex-U7rigft/) 11.5.46 Stricken 1.12.69, BU cost of the lower forward 40mm starboard side at hangar deck level; CVI2 had 10; CV10, 11, 16-18, and mount, but on the other hand most and two more on the flight deck level, 31 had 17, and the others (except mounte< i a second quadruple 40inm on the port side aft, for a total of 17 or CV13, under refit) had 18. 20mm bat- in the port catapult sponson. In many 18 mounts. The ‘ultimate’ battery teries varied very widely; CV16 had cases, two more were mounted on the called for 18 quadruple 40mm and 35 30 twins plus five of the new power- hangar deck aft on the starboard side; twin 20min. In fact at the end of the operated quadruple 50cal machine three more abreast the island on the war CV9 and 38 had 11 40mm mounts; guns, and CV18 had 29 twins plus six 104
Aircraft carriers of ihe new weapons. The others had 20mm only: 61 single in CV9 and 10; 37 single and 19 twin in CV11; 35 single in CV12, 35 twin in CV14, 17, 21 and 32, 56 single in CV15; 59 single in CV19; 60 single in CV20; 56 single in CV31, 23 single and 16 twin in CV36; and 7 single and 53 twin in CV38 On trials, Intrepid reached 150,000shp = 32.73kts at 32,346t. CV50-55 were cancelled 27.4.1945 and Onskany was suspended in 1946 for redesign for jet operation; she was not completed until 1950. Most of her sisters were reconstructed along simi- lar lines In 1942 it appeared that the United States Navy would not be able to get any new fleet carriers before 1944, the planned date for the completion of Essex. As an emergency measure the President ordered the Navy to convert Cleveland class cruisers to carriers, a measure he had advocated since August 1941. The Bureau of Ships had objected that he would get only a mediocre earner and that in any case good earners could be had almost as fast; indeed, the Essex was actually completed in December 1942, before an\ of the new light carriers had entered service. However, the first three were commissioned between then and the completion of the second Essex; the remaining six, as well as five Essexs, were completed during the rest of 1943. Each light carrier displaced about a third as much as s fleet earner and could operate about half her air group; at one time it was proposed that light carriers supply combat air patrol support for a pair of fleet carriers whose air groups would be devoted instead to offensive strikes. The actual conversion was very simple and was adapted from escort carrier practice. The cruiser hull was bulged for stability; it was necessary, therefore, to replace the ‘Class A’ armour of the cruiser with ‘Class B’, which could be welded to the new bulge Delays in providing the latter caused the first two ships to be com- pleted with no side armour at all. Ini- tial plans called for no island and a ship control position under the for- ward edge of the flight deck, but INDEPENDENCE class Displacement: (Independence) 10,662t standard, 14,7511 full load Dimensions: 600ft wl, 622ft 6in oa x 71ft 6m wl, 109ft 2in max x 24ft 3in full load 182.88, 189.74 x 21.79, 33 27 x 7 39m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, J00,000shp — 13,000nm at 15kts Armour; Belt 5in on 0.63in STS, bulkheads 5in, armour deck over belt 2in (no belt 31.6kts. Oil 2633t, range in CVL22, 23) Armament: 24-40mm (2x4, Complement: 1569 8x2), 22-20mm , 30 aircraft. See notes No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVL22 INDEPENDENCE (ex-CL59 Amsterdam) New York SB 1.5.1941 22.8 42 1.1.43 Expended 29.1.51 CVL23 PRINCETON (ex-CL61 Tallahassee) New York SB 2.6.1941 18 10 42 25.2.43 Sunk 24 10 44 CVL24 BELLEAU WOOD (ex-CL76 New Haven) New York SB 11.8.1941 6.12.42 31.3.43 To France Sept 1953 • CVL25 COWPENS (ex-CL77 Huntington) New York SB 17.12.1941 17.1.43 28.5.43 Sold for BU 1.11.59 CVL26 MONTEREY (ex-CL78 Dayton) New York SB 29.12.1941 28.2.43 17.6.43 Stricken 1 6 70, BU CVL27 LANGLEY (ex-Crown Point, ex-CL85 Fargo) New York SB 11 4.1942 22 5 43 31.8 43 To France Jan 1951 CVL28 CABOT (ex-CL79 Wilmington) New York SB 13.3.1942 4.4.43 24.7.43 To Spain 30 8.67 CVL29 BATAAN (ex-CL99 Buffalo) New York SB 31 8 1942 1.8 43 17.11.43 Sold for BU 1 9.59 CVL30 SAN JACINTO (ex- Reprisal, ex-CL100 Newark) New York SB 26.10.1942 26.9 43 15.12.43 Stricken 1.6.70, BU experience with the first escort car- riers led to the provision of CVE-t\ pe island well forward Initial plans also called for 5in guns fore and aft, but only the first ship was so fitted, after trials she received quadruple 40mm guns in these positions instead, and none of the later light carriers had any weapon more powerful than the 40mm There was 1 flight deck catapult, and in 1942 the air group consisted of 12 fighters, 9 bombers and 9 torpedo-bombers, 120,000 US gallons aviation fuel could be stowed. On trials, San Jacinto made 104,805shp = 31 74kts at 14,220t The light carriers were considered successful but badly cramped, and all passed from service soon after the end of the war. Two were recommissioned and refitted as ASW carriers, and two others were transferred to France, the remainder were never recommis- sioned postwar. In 1945, CVL22-24 and 29 all had 2 quadruple and 10 twin 40mm guns, plus 4-20mm. CVL25, 27 and 28 had 9 twin mounts and 5 twin 20mm; CVL26 had 9 twin 40mm and 8 twin 20mm; and CVL 30 had 9 twin 40mm and 22 single 20mm Belleau Wood shortly after commissioning. 18 4.1943 USN 105
UNITED STATES i These very large carriers were inspired by US interest in British armoured flight deck carriers, the lat- ter, however, in contrast to contem- porary US carriers, had little protec- tion below the flight deck. The great size of the Midways resulted from an attempt to provide an armoured flight deck tn addition to an armoured han- gar and protective (over belt) decks. Once this kind of weight had been accepted, it was easy to require in addition protection against 8in rather than 6in cruiser fire; after all, the main Japanese cruiser force mounted the heavier rather than the lighter weapon, and in 1942, when the Mid- ways were designed, it was still consi- dered that the carrier might fall victim to cruisers attacking at night or in bad weather. Thus the Characteristics ultimately adopted required protect- ion against 8in/55 heavy shells by the combination of protective deck and belt between 15,000 and 22,000yds. Torpedo protection was finally on a battleship scale, and the machinery was minutely compartmented as in the abortive Montana class The new carrier also employed the 5in/54 DP gun originally planned for the Mon- tanas, albeit in single mounts arranged along the sides of the hull, to avoid encroachment on the flight deck. At first four ships, CVB41-44, were planned. However, the Presi- dent was sceptical of the value of such MIDWAY class Displacement: (Afidway) 47,387t standard; 59,9011 full load Dimensions: 900ft wl, 968ft oa x 113ft wl, 136ft max x 34ft 6in full load 274.32, 295.04 x 34.44, 41.45 x I0.51m Machinery: 4-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 12 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 212,000shp = 33kts. Oil 6003-10,032t, range 15,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 7.6in (7in starboard side) with 2in STS abo\e belt to hangar deck, flight deck 3.5in, hangar deck 2in, armour deck over belt 2in STS, bulkheads 6 3in Armament: 18-5in/54 (18x1), 84-40mm (21x4), 68-20mm (34x2), 137 aircraft. See notes Complement: 4104 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVB41 MIDWAY Newport News 27.10.1943 20.3.45 10.9.45 In service 1980 CVB42 FRANKI IN D ROOSEVELT (сх-Cora/ Sea) New York N Yd 1.12.1943 29.4.45 27.10.45 Stncken 1.10.77, BU CVB43 CORAL SEA Newport News 10.7.1944 2.4.46 1.10.47 In service 1980 CVB44 — — — — — Cancelled 11.1.1943 CVB56 — — — — — Cancelled 28.3.1945 CVB57 — — — — — Cancelled 28.3.1945 large ships, which he felt would not be ready in time for war operations, he went so far as to require the General Board to ask operational commanders whether thev would not in fact prefer an equivalent tonnage of much smal- ler ships (he appears to have had escort carriers in mind). At first only two ships were approved, and then a third, but CVB44 was cancelled on 11.1 43. Two more ships, CVB56 and 57, were to have been included in the abortive 1945 programme, but were cancelled on 28.3 1945. The aircraft complement quoted in the table relates to 1945 and comprises 73 fighters and 64 bombers Stowage capacity for 350,000 US gallons avia- tion fuel wac nawided Тлр! Лихте? . iVAr4.M*dtwvis.ag“.;hG for Coral Sea are 215,520shp = 33.03kts at 58,600t. In 1945 there was a general feeling that such large carriers were a mis- take, that they were too expensive and that their very large air groups were too large for efficient operation, given current tactics. However, for a time after the war they were the only car- riers large enough to operate many types of jet fighter and, perhaps more importantly, the new strategic bomber, the AJ Savage. At present sole World War II ships remaining ii front-line US service. Midway working up, 20.10 1945 By courtesy ofAD Baker III
Aircraft carriers In 1943 Admiral King ordered a con- tinuing programme of two light car- riers per year to replace expected wastage; the two new ships would be ready by December 1945, by which time he estimated that two of the orig- inal light carriers would have been lost The new ships were to be based on the Baltimore class hull, no heavy cruisers would be convened, but the use of a hull already in production would, it seemed, make for a simpler design. Ultimately in fact, an entirely new hull was designed, without the bulge of the earlier Independence class. Protection was generally on the scale of the larger Essex, and thus rep- resented a decrease as compared with the Baltimore-, the flight deck was strengthened to take 20,0001b air- craft; and a new island, similar to that of the Commencement Bay class escort carriers, was provided. The anti- aircraft battery was strengthened, but not to the point of providing 5in guns Only two ships were built, by the time another pair might have been SAIPAN class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 14,500t standard (designed); 17,800t trial 664ft wl, 683ft 7in oa x 76ft 8m wl, iO8ft max x 27ft max 202.38, 208.35 x 23.36, 32 91 x 8 22m 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 120,OOOshp = 33kts. Oil 2400t max, range 13,000nm at 15kts Belt 4in on 0 63in STS backing, bulkheads 4in, armour deck 2.5in 40-40mm (5x4, 10x2), 32-20mm (16x2), 48 aircraft. See notes 1821 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVL48 SAIPAN New York SB 10.7.1944 8.7.45 14.7.46 Stricken 15 8 75, BU CVL49 WRIGHT New York SB 21.8.1944 1.9.45 9.2.47 Stricken 1.12.77 ordered, the war had ended. On trials, Saipan achieved 119,247shp = 32.26kts at 17,490t. The aircraft car- ried comprise 36 fighters and 12 torpedo-bombers, for which 140,000 US gallons aviation fuel could be stowed. The two ships were rather cramped for jet operations, and were laid up in the mid 1950s after terms as training carriers The first of a long line of US escort earners, Long Island was converted from the cargo ship Mormacmail in 1941; at first her role was to be aircraft transport, but quite soon she was classed as a combatant. The conver- sion work benefited somewhat from British experience with the Empire Audacity, converted at about the same time, and indeed subsequent US con- versions were transferred to the Royal Navy. Long Island was originally a diesel-powered C-3 cargo ship, and her captain considered her far too slow; consequently future US C-3 conversions were made from steam- powered ships One of the Bntish diesel C-3s, Charger, was however retained by the US Navy as a training ship. Unlike Long Island (and Empire Audacity') she and the British C 3 con- versions all had small island supers- tructures. They could be disting- uished from later US escort carriers by the absence of funnels. Each ship had a flight deck catapult. Long Island's capacity was 10 observation and 6 bomber aircraft, and her aviation fuel bunkerage was 100,000 US gallons; Charger had stowage for 90,000 US gallons. In 1*^ Long Island was modified as an aircraft transport; her flight deck was made lighter, since it would no longer have to take landing loads, and her catapult was replaced bv a more pow- erful type, as she would fly off the aircraft she was carrying. By that time many Army fighters were being built u*th temporary catapult fittings for Precisely such delivery. At the end of the war Long Island carried two in. 50, one 5in/38, and 20 twin 20mm LONG ISLAND, CHARGER escort aircraft carriers Displacement: (Charger) ll,800t standard; 15,126t full load Dimensions: 465ft wl, 492ft oa x 69ft 6in wl, 102ft (Charger 111ft 2in) max x 25ft 2in full load 141.73, 149 96 x 21.18, 31.08 (33 88) x 7.66m Machinery: (Charger) 1-shaft diesel, 8500bhp = 16.5kts. Oil 1365-3061t Armament: 3-4in (Long Island l-4in, 2-3in/50), 10-20mm (LongIsland 4-0.5m), 36 (Long Island 16) aircraft See notes Complement: 856 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE1 LONG ISLAND - Sun (ex-Af ormacmail) 11.1.1940 2.6.41 Sold 1949 CVE30 CHARGER (ex-BAVG4, Sun ex-Rio de la Plata) 1.3.1941 3.3 42 Sold 1947 Long Island at Puget Sound N \ d, 5.2 1944 USS 107
UNITED STATES Block hland 1943 These steam-powered successors to the original Long Island incorporated a longer flight deck with two rather than one lift. In February 1942 it was decided to add an island, as in the first British diesel ships. Twenty ships were converted, of which ten were assigned to the Royal Navy; thePrinre William, of the next series (hulls 31-54), was also of this type. Com- pared to the specially built Casablanca type, they were slower but had a greater cruising radius and greater cargo and fuel capacity; in 1943 they were described as above average in habitability and quite manoeuvrable, even with only a single screw. How- ever, their merchant ship origins showed in the cambered and sheered hangar deck, which sometimes made aircraft handling difficult in rough weather. In addition, the Royal Navy considered their survivability insuffi- cient and rebuilt escort carriers which it received via Lend-Lease. There was one catapult, and the air group con- sisted (1942) of 16 fighters and 12 torpedo-bombers. Aviation fuel capacity was 90,000 US gallons. In 1943 a revised design, 35ft longer and with better underwater protection, was worked out, but instead the repeat Sangamon was chosen for the FY44 programme as the Commencement Bay class. The value of the Bogues shows in their postwar retention as aircraft trans- ports. In 1945 these ships were armed with 2-5in/38,10 twin 40mm, and 27 (25 in CVE11) single 20mm. BOGUE class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: (Nassau) 9393t standard; 13,89It full load Dimensions: 465ft wl, 495ft 8in oa x 69ft 6in wl, 111ft 6in max x 23ft 3in full load 141.73, 151.08 x 21.18,33.99 x 7.09m Machinery: 1-shaft Allis-Chalmers turbine, 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 8500shp = 16.5kts. Oil 1746-34201, range 26,300nm at J5kts Armament: 2-5in/51, 4-40mm, 10-20mm, 28 aircraft. See notes Complement: 890 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE9 BOGUE (ex- Steel Advocate) Seattle-Tacoma 5 15.1.1942 26.9.42 BU Nov 1960 CVE11 CARD Seattle-Tacoma ? 21.2.1942 8.11.42 BU 1971 CVE12 COPAHEE (ex- Steel Architect) Seattle-Tacoma ? 21.10.1941 15.6.42 BU May 1961 CVE13 CORE Seattle-Tacoma ? 15.5.1942 10.12.42 BU 1971 CVE16 NASSAU Seattle-Tacoma ? 4.4 1942 20.8.42 BU June 1961 CVE18 ALTAMAHA Seattle-Tacoma ? 22.5.1942 15.9.42 BU 1961 CVE20 BARNES Seattle-Tacoma ? 22.5.1942 20.2.43 BU Feb 1960 CVE21 BLOCK ISLAND Seattle-Tacoma ? 6.6.1942 8.3.43 Sunk 29.5.44 CVE23 BRETON Seattle-Tacoma ? 27.6.1942 12.4.43 BU 1972 CVE25 CROATAN Seattle-Tacoma ? 3.8.1942 28.4.43 BU 1971 CVE31 PRINCE WILLIAM Seattle-Tacoma 18.5.1942 23.8.42 9.4.43 BU Mar 1961 SANGAMON class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: (Sangamon) 10,494t standard; 23,875t full load Dimensions: 525ft wl, 553ft oa x 75ft wl, 105ft 2in max x 30ft 7in full load 160.02, 168.55 x 22.86, 32.05 x 9.32m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 13,5OOshp = Armament: 2-5in/51, 8—40mm (4x2), 12-20mm, 31 aircraft. See notes Complement: 1080 (1945) 18kts. Sec notes No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE26 SANGAMON (ex-AO28, Federal, Kearny ex-Esso Trenton) 13.3.1939 4 11.39 25.8.42 BU 1960 CVE27 SUWANNEE (ex- Federal, Kearny AO33, ex-Markay) ? 4.3.1939 24.9.42 BU June 1962 CVE28 CHENANGO (ex-AO31, Sun ex-Esso New Orleans) ? 1.4.1939 19.9.42 BU July 1962 CVE29 SANTEE (ex-AO29, Sun ex-Seakay) > 4 3.1939 24.8.42 BU May 1960 USN Santee at Norfolk N Yd, 11.9.1942 USN Bogue on 20.6.1943
Aircraft carriers In mid-1942 Henry J Kaiser, who was already mass-producing merchant ships, proposed to build a hundred auxiliary carriers within a year by similar methods. At this time the President was much impressed with the urgent need for more carriers, and the result was fifty Casablancas. They were smaller than the Bogues and more cramped, but they were also faster and could carry more aircraft, the 1943 air group comprised 9 fight- ers, 9 bombers and 9 torpedo- bombers Aviation fuel capacity was 100,000 US gallons In August 1943 the US Navy decided to retain all the Casablancas for itself and to transfer to the Royal Navy all the new Bogues then being completed. All were laid up at the end of the war, and in postwar analyses of future escort carrier requirements they were always considered too small to be use- ful for anything but helicopters However, they appear to have oper- ated quite successfully m the Pacific, their duties including the amphibious support role; it was these ships which fought the action off Samar. The standard battery in 1945 was l-5in/38, 8 twin 40mm and 20 single 20mm. CASABLANCA class carriers Displacement: (Ltscombe Bay) 8188t standard, 10,902l full load Dimensions: 490ft wl, 512ft 3in oa x 65ft 2in wl, 108ft lin max x 20ft 9m full load 149.35, 156.14 x 19.86,32.94 x 6.32m Machinery: 2-shaft Skinner Unaflow turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 9000shp = 10,200nm at 15kts Armament: l-5in/38, 8-40mm (4x2), 12-20mm, 27 aircraft See notes Complement: 860 19kts. Oil 2228t, range No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE55 CASABLANCA Kaiser, 3.11.1942 5.4.43 8.7 43 BU 1947 (ex-Alazon Bay, Vancouver ex-Ameer) CVE56 LISCOME BAY Kaiser, 9.12 1942 19.4.43 7.8 43 Sunk 24.11.43 Vancouver CVE57 ANZIO (ex- Kaiser, 12.12.1942 1.5.43 27.8.43 BU Mar 1960 Coral Sea, ex- Vancouver Alikula Bay) CVE58 CORREGIDOR Kaiser, 17.12.1942 12.5.43 31.8.43 BU 1960 (ex-Anguilla Vancouver Bay) CVE59 MISSION BAY Kaiser, 28 12.1942 26.5.43 13 9.43 BU Jan 1960 (ex-Athehng) Vancouver CVE60 GUADALCANAL (ex- Kaiser, 5.1.1943 5.6.43 25.9 43 BU Jan 1960 Astrolabe Bay) Vancouver CVE61 MANILA BAY (ex- Kaiser, 15.1 1943 10.7.43 5 10 43 BU Feb I960 Bucarelt Bay) Vancouver CVE62 NATOMA BAY Kaiser, 17.1.1943 20.7.43 14 10.43 BU Feb 1960 (ex-Begum) Vancouver CVE63 ST LO (ex-Midway, Kaiser, 23.1.1943 17.8.43 23.10.43 Sunk 25.10.44 ex-Chapin Bay) Vancouver CVE64 TRIPOLI (ex- Kaiser, 1.2.1943 2.9.43 31.10.43 BU Jan 1960 Dtdnckson Bav) Vancouver CVE65 WAKE ISLAND (ex- Kaiser, 6.2.1943 15.9.43 7.11 43 BU 1947 Dolomi Bay) Vancouver CVE66 WHITE PLAINS (ex- Kaiser, 11 2 1943 27.9.43 15.11.43 BU Aug 1959 Elbour Bay) Vancouver CVE67 SOLOMONS (ex- Kaiser, 19 3 1943 6.10.43 21 11.43 BU 1947 Nassuk Bay, ex- Vancouver Emperor) CVE68 KALININ BAY Kaiser, 26.4.1943 15.10 43 27 11.43 BU 1947 Vancouver CVE69 KASAAN BAY Kaiser, 11.5.1943 24.10.43 4.12.43 BU Mar 1960 Vancouver CVE70 FANSHAW BAY Kaiser, 18.5.1943 1.11.43 9.12.43 BU 1959 Vancouver CVE71 KITKUN BAY Kaiser, 31.5.1943 8.11.43 15 12 43 BU 1947 Vancouver CVE72 TULAGI (ex- Kaiser, 7 6 1943 15.11 43 21.12.43 BU 1947 Fortaleza Bay) Vancouver CVE73 GAMBIER BAY Kaiser, 10.7.1943 22.11.43 28 12.43 Sunk 25.10.44 Vancouver CVE74 NEHENTA BAY Kaiser, 20.7.1943 28.11 43 3 1 44 BU June 1960 (ex-Khedtve) Vancouver CVE75 HOGGATT BAY Kaiser, 17.8.1943 4.12.43 11 1.44 BU May 1960 Vancouver CVE76 KADASHAN BAY Kaiser, 2.9.1943 11.12.43 18.1.44 BU June 1960 Vancouver • CVE77 MARCUS ISLAND Kaiser, 15.9.1943 16.12.43 26,1.44 BU June 1960 (ex-Kanalku Vancouver Bay) CVE78 SAVO ISLAND Kaiser, 27.9.1943 22.12.43 3 2 44 BU June 1960 (cx-Katta Bav) Vancouver CVE79 OMMANEY BAY Kaiser, 6.10.1943 29.12.43 11.2 44 Sunk 4 1.45 Vancouver CVE80 PETROF BAY Kaiser, 15 10.1943 5.1.44 18 2 44 BU Sept 1959 Vancouver CVE81 RUDYERD BAY Kaiser, 24.10.1943 12.1.44 25.2 46 BU 1960 Vancouver CVE82 SAGINAW BAY Kaiser, 1.11.1943 19.1.44 2.3.44 BU Apr 1960 Vancouver CVE83 SARGENT BAY Kaiser, 8.11 1943 31.1.44 9.3.44 BU Sept 1959 Vancouver CVE84 SHAMROCK BAY Kaiser, 15.11.1943 4.2.44 15 3.44 BU Nov 1959 Vancouver 109
UNITED STATES Sargent Bay in mid 1944 USN No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE85 SHIPLEY BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 22.11.1943 12.2.44 21.3.44 BU Jan 1961 CVE86 SITKOH BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 23.11.1943 19.2.44 28.3.44 BU 1961 CVE87 STEAMER BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 4.12.1943 26.2.44 4.4.44 BU 1959 CVE88 CAPE ESPERANCE (ex-Tananek Kaiser, Vancouver 11.12.1943 3.3.44 9.4.44 BU Jan 1961 Bay) CVE89 TAKANIS BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 16.12.1943 10.3.44 15.4.44 BU Nov 1960 CVE90 THETIS BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 22.12.1943 16.3.44 21.4.44 Sold 1965 CVE91 MAKASSAR STRAIT (ex Uli taka Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 29.12.1943 22.3.44 29.4.44 Stricken 1.9.58, target CVE92 WINDHAM BAY Kaiser, Vancouver 5.1.1944 29.3.44 3.5.44 BU Feb 1961 CVE93 MAKIN ISLAND (fix-Woodcliff Kai er, Vancouver 12.1.1944 5.4.44 9.5.44 BU 1947 Bay) CVE94 LUNGA POINT (ex-Alason Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 19.1.1944 11.4.44 14.5.44 BU Nov 1960 CVE95 BISMARCK SEA (fiX-Alikula Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 31.1.1944 17.4.44 20.5.44 Sunk 21.2.45 CVE96 SALAMAUA (ex- Angutlla Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 4.2.1944 22.4.44 26.5.44 BU 1947 CVE97 HOLLANDIA (ex- Astrolabe Kaiser, Vancouver 12.2.1944 28.4.44 1.6.44 BU Nov 1960 Bay) CVE98 KWAJALE1N (ex- Bucareli Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 19.2.1944 4.5.44 7.6.44 BU Jan 1961 CVE99 ADMIRALTY Kaiser, 26.2.1944 10.5.44 13.6.44 BU 1947 ISLANDS (ex-Chapin Bay) Vancouver CVE100 BOUGAINVILLE (ex-Didrickson Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 3.3.1944 16.5.44 18.6.44 BU 1960 CVE101 MATANIKAU (ex- Dolomi Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 10.3.1944 22.5.44 24.6.44 BU Nov 1960 CVE102 ATTU (ex- Elbour Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 16.3.1944 27.5.44 30.6.44 BU 1949 CVE103 ROI (ex-Alava Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 22.3.1944 2.6.44 6.7.44 BU 1947 CVE104 MUNDA (ex- Tonowek Bay) Kaiser, Vancouver 29.3.1944 8.6.44 8.7.44 BU Oct 1960 1 1Л
Aircraft carriers These were the most successful of the escort carriers The four Sangamons were converted from fleet oilers, and consequently had much longer flight decks than the C-3 and Casablanca types. Conversion was actually some- what delayed in view of the shortage of tankers in 1942, and in fact propos als to convert their sister-ships had to be dropped for the same reason. Instead hulls 31-54 were repeat C-3 conversions, all but the first (Pnnce U illiam) going to the Royal Navy, in their place the US Navy retained ail of the Casablancas. However, for the 1944 Programme a modified Sanga- mon was ordered as the Commencement Bay class. Perhaps the most notable feature of these classes was their huge oil capac- ity, retained from the original tanker configuration. The Sangamons could carry 12,876t oil as cargo (which could be used as fuel); in 1945 they were rated for 4780t fuel, plus ballast, for 23,900nm at 15kts. Even when not using the cargo tanks, they had a very long radius of action. The engine-aft configuration shows in the location of the after elevator well forward of that m other escort carriers. In the repeat class the engine spaces were further subdivided and some tanks converted permanently to salt water ballast, but considerable oil capacity remained. The repeat design also incorporated a revised island similar to that in the contemporary Saipans, and a more powerful catapult, the H4C(replacing the H2 of the earlier ships, and also installed in CVE25 and 31-54). The new ships were also faster; they replaced the single 5in/51 of their predecessors with 2-5m/38 A second catapult was added, as well as futher bulkheading. The Sangamons were employed in the Pacific during the early shortage of fleet carriers, and ail participated in the North African invasion, where they flew off P-40s. They were the onlv escort carriers capable of operat- ing the F6F Hellcat, and at the end of the war the Sangamons and Com- mencement Bays were the only escort carriers considered capable of operat- ing postwar ASW aircraft, some of the latter class were rebuilt for ASW and remained active for a decade postwar. Others operated Marine air support units during the Korean War. In 1945 thcSangamons were armed with 2-5in/38, 2 quadruple 40mm, 10 twin 40mm, and 21 (19in CVE29) single 20mm By way of comparison, the Commencement Bay class had 2-5in/38, 3 quadruple and 12 twin 40mm, and 20 single 20mm. Kuh Gulf on 1 10 1950 CSV COMMENCEMENT BAY class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: (Commencement Bay) 18,908t standard; 21,397t full load Dimensions: 525ft wl, 557ft lin oa x 75ft wl, 105ft 2in max x 27ft Ilin full load 160.02, 169.90 x 22 86, 32.05 x 8.50m Machinery: 2-shaft Allis-Chalmers turbines, 4 Combustion Engineering boilers, 16,000shp = 19kts. Oil 1789t (see notes) Armament: 2-5in/38, 36-40mm (3x4, 12x2), 20-20mm, 33 aircraft. See notes Complement: 1066 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CVE105 COMMENCEMENT BAY Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 23.9.1943 9.5.44 27.11.44 Stricken 1.4.71 (ex-Sz Joseph Bay) CVE106 BLOCK ISLAND (ex-Sunset Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 25 10.1943 10.6.44 30.12.44 BU June 1960 CVE107 GILBERT ISLANDS (ex-Sz Andrews Todd Pacific, Tacoma 29.11.1943 20.7.44 5.2 45 Stricken 15.10.76 Bay) CVE108 KULA GULF (ex- Vermillion Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 16.12.1943 15.8.44 12.5.45 BU 1971 CVE109 CAPE GLOUCESTER (ex-Willapa Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 10.1.1944 12.9 44 5 3.45 Stricken 1 4 71 CVE110 SALERNO BAY (ex-Winjah Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 7.2.1944 26.9.44 19.5 45 BU 1962 CVE111 VELLA GULF (ex- Totem Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 7.3.1944 19.10.44 9 4.45 BU 197) « CVE112 SI BONEY (ex- Frosty Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 1.4.1944 9.11.44 14 5 45 BU 1971 CVE113 PUGET SOUND (ex-Hobart Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 12.5.1944 30.11.44 18.6.45 BU 1962 CVE114RENDOVA (ex- Mosser Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 15.6.1944 28.12.44 22 10.45 BU 1971 CVE115 BAIROKO (ex- Portage Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 25.7.1944 25.1.45 16.7.45 BU Jan 1961 CVE116BADOENG STRAIT (ex-San Alberto Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 18 8 1944 15 2.45 14.11 45 BU 1972 Bay) CVE117SAIDOR (ex- Saltery Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 29.9 1944 17.3.45 4.9.45 BU 1971 CVE 118 SICILY (ex- Sandy Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 23.10 1944 14 4 45 27.2 46 BU Mar 1961 CVE119 POINT CRUZ (ex- Trocadero Bay) Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 4.12.1944 18.5.45 16.10.45 BU 1971 CVE 120 MINDORO Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 2.1.1945 27.6.45 4.12.45 BU Sept 1960 CVE121 RABAUL Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 29.1.1945 14.7.45 30.8.46 BU 1972 CVE 122 PALAU Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 19.2 1945 6 8 45 15 1 46 BU 1960 CVE123 TINIAN Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 20.3.1945 5-9.45 30.7.46 BU 1971 CVE 124 BASTOGNE Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 2 4 1945 — — Cancelled 11.8 45 CVE125 ENIWETOK Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 20.4 1945 — — Cancelled 11.8.45 CVE126 LINGAYEN Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 1.5.1945 — — Cancelled 11.8.45 CVE 127 OKINAWA Todd-Pacific, Tacoma 22.5.1945 — — Cancelled 11.8.45
UNITED STATES CRUISERS The U S Navy ended World War I with a varied assortment of cruisers, only three of which, the Birmingham class ‘scouts’, could in any way be considered modern: by 1918 they were both too small and too slow to function effectively in tactical combination with the new ‘flush-decked’ destroyers. The ten Omahas, then under construction, were fast enough, although later they would be criticised as too lightly built and over-armed. Beyond these ships there were the survivors of the ten large (pre-dreadnought sized) prewar armoured cruisers, as well as some ships which dated back to the 1890s, two large ‘semi-armoured cruisers’, and eight small protected cruisers, six of them designed primarily as gunboats {Cleveland class). Most were laid up, but the Clevelands served in the Special Service Squadron in the Caribbean, and some of the big armoured and semi-armoured cruisers made roomy flagships: Seattle served as Flagship US Fleet 1923-27 (she was relieved by the battleship Texas'); Huron and then Pittsburgh (1927-31; relieved by Houston) as Flagship Asiatic Fleet; Pittsburgh as Flagship US Naval Forces Europe; Rochester as Flagship Destroyer Squadrons Scouting Fleet (then Special Service Squadron, 1927, and ultimately Receiving Ship Manila); and Charleston served as Flagship Destroyer Squadrons Battle Fleet (decommissioned 1923). These elderly ships survived until the London Treaty of 1930; in fact Seattle and Rochester remained as receiving ships throughout World War II. Of the Birminghams, only the name ship of the class was in service in 1922, as Flagship Special Service Squadron, and she was soon laid up. None of the elderly ships could fill the two essential cruiser roles: fleet support in combination with destroyers, both for defence against hostile destroyers and for torpedo attack on an enemy battle line; and a combination of independent operations and ‘strategic scouting* - dis- tant cruising in hostile waters, raiding, and protecting the long lines of communication across the Pacific. The advent of the 8in cruiser made it impossible to assign such tasks to 6in ships such as the Omahas, and in view of the grave shortage of modern US cruisers serious proposals to modernise some of the armoured cruisers were made in 1922 and again in 1929. In fact the eighteen 8in ships ultimately built by the United States were all assigned the distant operations role, which was com- bined with the role of support for detached carrier operations; by the outbreak of World War II such operations had come rather to resemble the later Task Force strike pattern. The chief defect of the 8in gun was its low rate of fire - about 3 rounds per gun per minute compared to 9 or 10 for the 6in - so that at night or in bad weather the 8in cruiser might do poorly, especially against fast-moving targets such as destroyers. Consequently it was US policy to assign 6in cruisers to the direct support role: in the prewar fleet organisation, the 6in cruisers were concentrated in the Battle Force, the 8in units in the Scouting Force. Both types were provided with extensive aircraft facilities for indepen- dent operations; it was argued, for example, that a ship hunting com- merce raiders would'have to depend upon her scout aircraft for her information It should be noted that US design practice required a covered hangar for cruiser aircraft, but not for battleship spotting planes. In addition, the US Navy tended to favour very large cruisers in view of the distances over which it expected to fight. The latter policy was challenged by the terms of the London Treaty of 1936, which restricted further cruiser construction to 8000 tons and the 6in gun. After a long and painful study of alternative designs, there were two chief contenders: an 8000-ton 6in design employing a new twin dual-purpose weapon, and a 6000-ton design armed entirely with 5in guns. The second type had relatively few supporters, but won out when the Bureau of Ordnance admitted that it could not produce its new gun in time: any design with a mixed battery of 6in and 5in guns was clearly unsatisfactory. This was the origin of the four Atlantas; for the next ships the new 6in twin weapon was again proposed, and in fact plans for a ship with five such mounts were drawn. However, difficul- ties in remaining within the treaty limit delayed completion of the design and then the outbreak of war ended the limits. The new ships were built as modified versions of the last 10,000-ton 6in cruisers. 112 Meanwhile a new study of the cruiser programme was begun by the General Board, it shaped the very large World War II building pro- gramme. By this lime proposals for a 12in-gun ‘super-cruiser’ had been cir- culating within the Navy for some time. Such a ship would be ideal for the traditional 8m-gun cruiser roles, and moreover would be able to crush existing Sin ships. It was argued that any Japanese attempt to outmatch her would deplete rhe Japanese battle fleet; a US fast battle- ship would of course be better, but those would be in short supply. Moreover, at this time the concept of the carrier strike force was becoming more and more important, so much so that a memorandum by the War Plans Division observed that the carrier programme should determine the character of the cruiser programme. This concept was the origin of the Alaska class. Quite possibly no Baltimore class heavy cruisers would have been built, had there not been severe constraints of shipyard space and industrial resources; the papers of 1939-40 clearly indicate that Sin cruisers were considered very much a second-class investment. The great needs were for ships to support fast carriers, and for ships to support the Battle Fleet; for the second function, a 6in cruiser was required. As for the Atlantas, the major commanders afloat had little use for them; most refused, for example, to support a pro- posed enlarged Atlanta armed with 5in/54 guns. Clevelands, or better yet a more powerful 6in design, were greatly favoured, and this feeling shows in the size of the Cleveland programme. In fact the Alaskas were the sole survivors of a series of cruiser designs of 1940, which included enlarged (and better-protected) Sin and 6in cruisers, both killed off by a decision to repeat existing classes as far as possible in the interest of numbers of ships. This explains the main features of the large FY41 programme, but does leave sonic question as to why a further division of the unpopular Atlantas (CL95-98) was ordered. One suspects that, given the size of the prog- ramme and the desire to have ships in numbers as soon as possible (given the great need for cruisers) these four ships were ordered, using slipways which in any case were too small to take Clevelands. War experience favoured the Cleveland decision, in that the existing heavy cruisers fared badly in the Solomons partly because of their low rate of fire. However, the light cruisers had not the reach required to counter Japanese torpedo tactics, and the old argument that short range was quite enough in conditions of poor visibility was largely invalid m an age of radar. By 1943 the Bureau of Ordnance had perfected not merely the 6in DP gun but also an automatic 8in weapon, which would permit construction of a true dual-pupose cruiser: a ship capable both of long-range fire and of the destruction of fast-moving targets such as destroyers; the Des Moines class was ordered. Of course, by the time it materialised the situation had changed beyond recognition and there was no longer much need for anti-ship fire. At the end of the war, then, the United Stares operated a large force of 6in and 8in cruisers, of which the former were almost all retired in 1948-50, perhaps because of the far greater efficacy of 8m fire in shore bombardment. The surviving 5in ships did not fare much better; in any case, their value had been questioned as early as 1940, on the theory (which proved correct) that modern battleships would be al least as effective as AA platforms. However, in wartime the AA cruisers were effective enough for a new design to be started in 1944. It was aban- doned the next year on the theory that destroyers could do the same job, possibly quite as well, at a much lower unit cost - and a greater net survivability. War modifications to existing prewar cruisers were extensive, and were generally concerned with AA actions: open-topped conning posi- tions were built on top of the former bridgework, bridge windows were plated in, bridge wings were cut away to clear arcs of fire, many additional A A weapons were mounted, and conning towers were removed as weight compensation. Several of the earliest heavy cruisers were extensively rebuilt. However, the Omahas, which were not too much older, were little altered, partly in view of their worn-out state
Cruisers (due to their light construction); they had been considered briefly for conversion to A A cruisers in 1941. US cruisers, except for the Alaska class ‘large cruisers’, were num- bered consecutively regardless of the distinction between light and heavy cruisers. At first the Omahas and the 8in ‘treaty cruisers’ were classified as ‘light cruisers* in view of their light protection compared to that of the old armoured cruisers. Later a distinction was drawn between ‘heavy cruisers’ (CA) with 8in guns and ‘light cruisers’ (CL) w ith 5in and 6in guns; in a few cases light cruisers were actually larger than some heavy cruisers The 5in ships were sometimes also described as anti-aircraft cruisers (CLAA) These ships, the first of the US treaty cruisers, emphasised firepower in their designs: protection was limited to that effecuve against destroyers (Sin fire), which would, it was thought, be their chief adversaries. It was expected that their own 8in guns would outrange those of 6in cruisers, and that it would be impossible to provide protection useful against 8in fire at the short ranges at which such fire might be effective. However, dur- ing the construction of the Pensacola*, и became evident that they would be able to accommodate director fire control, and so would be able to fight at ranges at which protection against 8m fire might indeed be possible - hence the New Orleans design. They were not designed for any specific immune zone, but later calculations showed that machinery and magazines would have been proof against 5.1in/5O fire outside 8000yds. However, the belts over both would have been penetrable by an 8m/5O shell, such as the Japanese employed, at 24,000yds; the deck over magazines would have been penetrable beyond 16,000 and that over the machinery, btAond 13,000, which figures suggest PENSACOLA class Displacement: (Salt Lake Cuy) 9097t standard; 1 l,512t full load Dimensions: 570ft wl, 585ft 8in oa x 65ft 3in x 19ft 6in full load 113.14, 118.51 x 19.89 x 5.94m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons turbines, 8 White-Forster boilers, 107,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 1411-2116t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 2.5in over machinery with lin deck, 4in side and 1.75in deck over magazines, barbettes 0.75in, gunhouses 2.5m face, 2in top, O.75in side and rear Armament: 10-8in/55 (2x3, 2x2), 4-5in/25 (4x 1), 6-2lin TT (2x3), 4 aircraft Complement: 631 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA24 PENSACOLA New York N Yd Oct 1926 25.4.29 6 2 30 Sunk 10.11.48 CA25 SALT LAKE CITY New York SB June 1927 23 1.29 11 12.29 Sunk 25.5.48 just how shocking the success of director fire proved to be. Protection of the gunhouses and the barbettes (the latter penetrable at all ranges by 8in fire) was even less impressive. One other protective feature, inherited from the Omaha class light cruisers, was the arrangement of alternating fire and engine rooms, which did assure some resistance to single machinery hits, either shell or tor- pedo Salt Lake City achieved 107,746shp = 32 78kts at 10,524t on trial. As built the ships were somewhat wet and, until the addition of deep bilge keels, they were considered bad rol- lers. Prewar modifications included also the elimination of the TT (which ended up aboard destroyer escorts) and the addition of four 5in/25 AA guns as well as the emergency AA improvements of 1941. At that time the massive mainmasts were cut down, and during the war they, m company with other US heavy cruis- ers, received bridge modifications including the fitting of a new open bridge. In \945 Pensacola was refitted along lines similar to those followed in the surviving Northampton*', her tall foremast was cut down. The star- board catapult was landed as a topweight-saving measure. At the end of the war Pensacola had 7 and her sister 6 quadruple 40mm She had twin 20mm guns, her sister had 20 single mounts. Pensacola as completed
UNITED STATES These ships resulted from a General Board query (February 1926) as to the result of sacrificing one or two 8in guns while providing bulkheads to divide up the two large fire rooms of the earlier ships, as well as a forecastle (for seakeeping) and better aircraft facilities; it was felt that the earlier ships might well be overgunned (none, however, had yet been com- missioned). Design studies showed that in fact the 3-turret 9-gun design accepted was superior, for example in weight, to an alternative 4-turret 8-gun type. For a time it appeared that some sacrifice in side armour pro- tection would be required, but in fact these ships gained slightly in protec- tion. All came out quite light, but that appears not to have been suspected at the time of design. Trial figures (for Chicago) were 107,780shp = 32.5kts at ll,062t. These cruisers were not designed to any standard of immune zone, but a 1933 US Navy study showed that they would be proof against 5. lin (des- troyer) fire outside 7000yds (magazines) or 8000yds (machinery). However, against 6in/50 fire they would be limited to a band between 10,000 and 21,000yds (magazines); the belt over their machinery would resist such fire beyond 13,000yds, but on the other hand the deck over the machinery would be penetrable at that range. There would be no immunity at all against 8in/5O fire: the belt over the magazines would be penetrated at 24,000yds, the deck at 13,000 This kind of disparity was one strong argument in favour of a consis- tent specification by immune zone, as in the New Orleans class of 1929. Three ships, Augusta, Chicago, and Houston, were built as flagships, with NORTHAMPTON class Displacement: (Northampton) 9006t standard; ll,420t full load Dimensions: 582ft wl, 600ft 3in oa x 66ft lin x 19ft Sin full load 111.40, 182 96 x 20 14 x 5.92m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons turbines, 8 White-Forster boilers, 107,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 1417-2108t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 3in over machinery with lin deck, 3.75in side and 2in deck over magazines, barbettes 1.5in, gunhouses 2 5in face, 2in roof, 0 75in side and rear Armament: 9-8in/55 (3x3), 4-5in/25 (4x1), 6-2hn TT (2x3), 4 aircraft Complement: 6t7 (CA29, CA30 734—748 plus staffs) No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA26 NORTHAMPTON Bethlehem, Quincy 12 4.1928 5.9.29 May 1930 Sunk 1.12.42 CA27 CHESTER New York SB 6.3.1928 3.7.29 June 1930 BU Nov 1929 CA28 LOUISVILLE Puget Sound N Yd 4.7.1928 1.9.30 Mar 1931 BU 1960 CA29 CHICAGO Mare Island N Yd 10.9.1928 10 4.30 Mar 1931 Sunk 30.1 43 CA30 HOUSTON Newport News 1.5.1928 7.9.29 June 1930 Sunk 1.3 42 CA31 AUGUSTA Newport News 2.7.1928 1.2.30 Jan 1931 BU Apr 1960 additional accommodation secured by an extension of the forecastle aft to the two catapults. Prewar modifications included the removal of the TT, which ultimately went to destroyer escorts, and the addition of four more 5in/25 AA guns. War modifications proceeded in two major stages: first, the foremast was cut down, the bridgework simplified, and an open bridge fitted, relatively late in the war the three surviving units had the mainmast replaced by a lattice for- ward of the second funnel; the after superstructure became a base for 20mm guns and for the main and sec- ondary directors. At the end of the war CA27 and 28 each had 5 quadru- ple 40mm guns and 13 twin 20mm; CA31 had 4-quadruple and 4 twin 40mm, as well as 20 single 20mm. Chicago off Mare Island, 20.12.1942 tAS'V These two ships were the survivors of what was to have been a class of five, CL (later CA) 32-36: the others were built to a new design emphasising pro- tection. When the CL32 design was approved in 1929, it was no more than a Northampton with a slightly longer hull and no bulbous bow; it was throught that the latter feature might cause pounding in a fast cruiser. Very soon it became obvious that the Northamptons were extemely light and that there might be considerable ton- nage available for extra protection, but the design was very nearly frozen and little could be done. Extra armour was applied m the form of a second PORTLAND class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: (Indianapolis) 10,258t standard; 12,755t full load 592ft wl, 610ft oa x 66ft x 21ft full load 180.44, 185 93 x 20.12 x 6.40m 4-shaft Parsons turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 107,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 1417-2125t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Belt 2.25inover O.75in STS over machinery with 2.5indeck, 5.75inover magazines with 2.125in deck, barbettes 1.5in, gunhouses 2.5in face, 2in roof, O.75in side and rear 9-8in/55 (3x3), S-5m/25 (8x 1), 8-0 5m (8x 1), 4 aircraft 807 (Indianapolis, alternate fleet flagship, 917) No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA33 PORTLAND Bethlehem, Quincy 17.2.1930 21.5.32 23.2.33 BU Dec 1959 CA35 INDIANAPOLIS New York SB 31.3.1930 7.11.31 15.11.32 Sunk 29.7 45 114
layer on top of the machinery and much thicker magazines, but the lat- ter still suffered from the defect that they extended above the waterline. This feature had been introduced in view of the danger of underwater explosion, but was criticised as the danger of 8in fire became more evi- dent. Immune zones were not specified at the time of design, but calculations made in 1933 showed the magaz nes protected between 12,000 and 2O,5OOyds (aft) and between 12,000 and 23,000yds (forward) against 8in/5O fire; however, the belt over the engines could be penetrated at 24,000yds whereas the deck over them was penetrable beyond 16,000yds. Moreover, the gunhouses for the 8in guns duplicated those of earlier ships, and so were easily penetrable at all realistic ranges. However, it was estimated that the magazines could be immune to 5.1 in/50 Tire at all ranges, and that the machinery would be immune beyond 6000yds. Trials figures for Indianapolis were 108,317shp = 32.86ktsat 1 l,144t. In the course of design the TT of the earlier ships were eliminated and the secondary battery doubled; the bridgework was enlarged (both ships were flagships, partly because the New Orleans design was so tight that none of the new-design ships could be so fitted) and the tripod foremast con- siderably lowered. The mainmast was also far lighter than in the previous class, searchlights and the after con- ning position being built up around the second funnel, to clear arcs of fire for the eight AA guns aft. War mod- ifications included the simplification of the bridgework, with a new open bridge built on top of the forward superstructure; the mainmast was eliminated in favour of a lattice struc- ture forward of the second funnel. This reconstruction, completed in both ships by May 1943, was the pro- totype for Northampton class refits later in the war. Indianapolis served as Fifth Fleet Flagship, and had the unfortunate distinction of being the last major US war loss of World War II. At that time her surviving sister had 4 quadruple and 4 twin 40mm guns, as well as 12 single 20mm. Indianapolis in July 1945 USN These seven ships link the Wichita and wartime American heavy cruisers with their very lightly protected fore- bears. By the late 1920s there was growing apprehension concerning the light protection of the large cruisers under construction, whose director- controlled 8in guns might well prove effective even at high speed and at great range. However, the Bureau of Construction and Repair maintained that a 10,000-ton ship of high speed armed with 8in guns could not be well protected. Not until the first US treaty cruisers were completed did it become obvious that they were about 1000 tons below the treaty limit. In 1929 the US Navy began a fifteen- cruiser programme, to consist of three groups: CL (later CA) 32-36, 37^41 and 42—46. This programme would be interrupted by a combination of the London Treaty of 1930 and the Great Depression, but in 1929 the General Board approved a design very similar to the previous Northampton class for CL32-36, with the hope that the next group might be built to much the same design, in the interests of minimising delays. That was not to be. There was considerable pressure within the Navy for a better-protected cruiser, and the Bureau of Construc- tion and Repair had to admit that by accepting some internal cramping (and ultimately by abandoning theen Echelon machinery arrangement) a better-protected ship might be NEW ORLEANS class Displacement: (New Orleans') 10,136t standard; 12,463t full load Dimensions: 578ft wl, 588ft oa x 61ft 9in x 22ft 9in full load 176.18, 179.22 x 18.82 x 6.93m Machinery: 4 shaft Westinghouse turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 107,OOOshp = 32.7kts. Oil 1241-1861t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 5in-3.25in on O.75in STS with 2.25in deck over machinery, 4in-3in side and 2.25in deck over magazines, barbettes 5in (6in in CA37, 38, 5.5in in CA39,44), turrets 6in face, 2.25in roof, 1.5in side Armament: 9-8in/55 (3x3), 8-5in/25 (8x 1), 8-O.5in (8x 1), 4 aircraft Complement: 868 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA32 NEW ORLEANS New York N Yd 14.3.1931 12.4.33 18.4.34 BU Oct 1959 CA34 ASTORIA Puget Sound N Yd 1.9.1930 16.12.33 1.6.34 Sunk 9.8.42 CA36 MINNEAPOLIS Philadelphia N Yd 27.6.1931 6.9.33 20.6.34 BU July 1960 CA37 TUSCALOOSA New York SB 3.9.1931 15.11.33 17.8.34 BU July 1959 CA38 SAN FRANCISCO Mare Island N Yd 9.9.1931 9.3.33 23.4.34 BU May 1961 CA39 QUINCY Bethlehem, Quincy 15.11.1933 19.6.35 9.6.36 Sunk 9.8.42 CA44 VINCENNES Bethlehem, Quincy 2.1.1934 21.5.36 24.2.37 Sunk 9.8.42 115
UNITED STATES achieved. In fact, ultimately, it proved possible to replace the former lightly-protected gunhouse mounting of the 8in guns by a true turret, for a .Minneapolis on 15.9.1941 USN The United States signed the London Treaty of 1930, which severely limited further 8in cruiser construc- tion, partly because it appeared that a ship with twelve 6in guns could be built on 10,000 tons with protection actually superior to that of a heavy cruiser; such a ship might be able to overwhelm the 8in cruiser through its much higher rate of fire. However, development of the New Orleans design produced a much better pro- tected heavy cruiser, and in fact the Brooklyns marked a reversion to firepower at some expense in protec- tion. This class also introduced the hangar sunk into the hull aft which would be a feature of subsequent American cruisers, as well as a system of longitudinal framing intended to reduce hull weights. They had a new rapid-firing 6in gun which employed semi-fixed ammunition. Two catapults were installed. Apparently the main factor which convinced the General Board to specify fifteen 6in guns was the attache import that the Japanese Mogamis would mount fifteen 6. lin guns on 8500 tons (March 1933). Ultimately an immune zone against 6in shell-fire of 8000-23,000yds (60° target angle) was specified; this con- siderable zone resulted from armour improvements in the course of detail design bought, in many cases, by weight-saving in the hull. In fact the Savannah suffered serious bow dam- age in a 1939 storm, which suggested that perhaps the weight-saving had been excessive. The seven Brooklyns retained the machinery arrangement of their heavy cruiser predecessors, but the last two ships, Helena and Sr Louis, had alter- nating engine and boiler rooms, and 5in/38 rather than 5in/25 secondaries; their weapons, moreover, were mounted in twin gunhouses and their superstructures rearranged. Savan- 116 great advance in protection. At this time the Bureau of Ordnance con- vinced the General Board to shift from Characteristics written in terms of BROOKLYN class Displace Dimensi Machine Armour: А плате Complei :ment: (Savannah) 9i 767t standard; 12,207t full load Ft 4in oa x 61ft 9in x 22ft 9in full load 2 x 18.82 x 6.93m is turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 100,000shp = 32.5kts. Oil 1321-1982t, range 15kts 625in STS, armour deck 2in, barbettes 6in, turrets 6.5in face, 2in roof, 1.25in side and with 2.25in roof :3), 8-5in/25 (8x 1) (St Louis, Helena, 8-5in/38 (4x2)), 8-0.5in, 4 aircraft ons: 600ft wl, 6081 182.88, 185.4 :ry: 4-shaft Parsor 10,000nm at ' Bell 5in on 0. . rear, CT 5in, :nt: 15-6in/47 (5> nent: 868 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CL40 BROOKLYN New York N Yd 12.3.1935 30.11.36 18.7.38 To Chile 1951 CL41 PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia N Yd 28.5.1935 17.11.36 28.7.38 To Brazil 1951, stricken 1973 CL42 SAVANNAH New York SB 31.5.1934 8.5.37 30.8.38 BU Feb 1960 CL43 NASHVILLE New York SB 24.1.1935 2.10.37 25.11.38 To Chile 1951 CL44 PHOENIX New York SB 15.4.1935 12.3.38 18.3.39 To z\rgentina 1951 CL47 BOISE Newport News 1.4.1935 3.12.36 1.2.39 To Argentina 1951 CL48 HONOLULU New York N Yd 10.9.1935 26.8.37 7.9.38 BU Jan 1960 CL49 ST LOUIS Newport News 10.12.1936 15 4.38 Dec 1939 To Brazil 1951, stricken 1975 CL50 HELENA New York N Yd 9 12.1936 28.8.38 14.12.39 Sunk 6.7.43 nah's trials figures were 95,879shp = 33.33kts at ll,601t. War modifications followed the usual pattern of bridge alterations, the removal of the conning tower, and the fitting of many automatic AA weapons. However, with the advent of German guided missiles in 1944, it appeared that the 5in/25 was no longer adequate, and Savannah was specific armour thicknesses to ones written in terms of an immune zone: for the new cruiser, this was to be 12,000-24,000yds at a target angle of 60° (against the 8in 2601b shell). At first the new design was to apply only to CL37-41, but of the five previous ships, three (CL32, 34 and 36) were to be built in navy yards and so the cost of a new design u'ould be minimised in their case. They were, therefore, built to the new design; CL33 and 35 were built as planned, but given extra armour on the basis of weight savings discovered in the earlier ships. Of the next group of cruisers, CA37 and 38 were slightly modified, incorporating a new lightweight 8in gun. By the time they had been laid down it was clear that the New Orleans design was uncomfortably close to the treaty limit, and when quadruple l.lin machine guns were requested for the next ship, CA39, rigorous weight- saving, including some reduction in protection, was necessary. The last bulged and re-armed with twin 5in/38s. All others were to have been similarly reconstructed, but only Honolulu received the full refit; in addition,Philadelphia was bulged but not re-armed. Light AA batteries varied consider- ably at the end of the war. All but CL46 and 47 (which had 4 twin 40mm) had a combination of 4 quad- ship of the class, CA44 (Vincennes), repeated the CA39 design. On trials, the name ship made 110,503shp = 32.47kts at U,179t. For a class intended specifically for high survivability, the record of three ships sunk in a few minutes in a cruiser battle off Guadalcanal seems disappointing, although others of the class showed great ruggedness in combat. Wartime modifications were reltatively minor: the bridgework was reduced, the armoured conning tower eliminated, and an open bridge fitted; one crane (and, much later, one of the two catapults) was landed, and light AA weapons considerably multiplied. Thus, in August 1945, the four sur- viving ships of this class had six quad- ruple 40mm and a variety of 20mm batteries: 14 twin in СЛ32, 8 twin in CA36,28 single in CA37 and 26 single in CA38. In СЛ36 at least there were plans to add a twin 40mm mount on No 2 8in mount, but these were never carried out. ruple and 6 twin 40mm. CL40,41,42 and 48 each had 10 twin 20mm; CL43 had 9. The others retained only single 20mm: 19 in CL46, 18 in CL47 and 8 in CL49. Philadelphia on 9.5.1945 USN
Cruisers This ship was a heavy-cruiscr version of the Brooklyns, and the direct ances- tor of the wartime Baltimores. Under the 1930 London Treaty, the United States was permitted to lay down one heavy cruiser in 1934 and one in 1935. The 1934 ship, Vincennes, was largely a repeat version of the previous heavy cruiser; but for 1935 the Bureau of Construction and Repair and the Bureau of Engineering proposed a new design based on Brooklyn, which would have the superior aft aircraft arrangement (which would permit a better secondary battery arrange- ment), better stability and freeboard, increased steaming radius, and better protection, as the new ship might have the same deck protection as Quincy and yet have an extra 200 tons to be expended in protection. In fact it turned out that using this tonnage was skating rather close to the 10,000-ton limit, so much so that at first Wichita entered service without two of her 5in/38 secondary guns. However, she also benefited from improved protec- tion, and received a new 8in turret in which the guns were mounted further apart to cure a serious dispersion problem being encountered in exist- ing heavy cruisers. The 5in/38 gun was specified during construction; Wichita was far enough along that the twin mount was not practicable for WICHITA Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 10,589t standard; 13,015t full load 600ft wl, 608ft 4in oa x 61ft 9in x 23ft 9in 182.88, 185.42 x 18.82 x 1.24m 4-shaft Parsons turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 100,000shp = 33kts. 10,000nm at 15kts Belt 6in-4in on 0.63in STS, deck 2.25in, barbettes 7in, turrets 8in face, 2.75in rear, CT 6in with 2.25in roof 9-8in/55, 8-5in/38 (8x 1), 8-0.5in (8x 1), 4 aircraft 929 Oil 1323-1984t, range roof, 3.75in side, 1.5in No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA45 WICHITA Philadelphia N Yd/ 28.10.1935 16.11.37 16.2.39 New York SB BU Nov 1959 her, and in fact the topweight of the two last 5in/38 in open mounts had to be balanced by 200 tons of pig iron in her bottom. The arrangement of sec- ondary guns adopted survived in the Baltimores, which had twin gun- houses in place of the original six single weapons of the Wichita. There were 2 catapults. Wichita employed 6.4in ‘Class A’ side armour, compared to the 5.5in ‘Class B’ of Vincennes, which made her immune to 8in AP fire at 10,000 rather than at 16,400yds (90° target angle); the decks of both ships could be penetrated at 22,000yds or beyond. In 1939 the Bureau of Ordnance pro- duced a new longer AP shell which was expected to penetrate the Wichita belt at 15,700yds and the Vincennes at 18,000; however, it would have a flat- ter trajectory and would not penetrate their deck armour inside 22,300yds. The newer shell had the virtue of permitting firing at a lower muzzle velocity and so greatly increasing gun life, a critical problem with the previ- ous very high muzzle velocities emp- loyed. This newer shell was the one for which immune zones were calcu- lated in the Baltimores and in later ships. For comparison with earlier types, Wichita would have been immune to belt penetration beyond 12,000yds, given a 60° target angle and the new shell. Wichita was little altered during World War II. In the late 1940s it was planned to convert her into a guided missile cruiser, but two Baltimore class hulls were selected instead. In August, 1945 she was armed with 4 quadruple and 4 twin 40mm, and 18 single 20mm. The Bureau of Ord- nance wanted to re-arm her with 6 twin 5in/38, but it is not clear whether this plan was ever seriously reviewed, even though it was listed in the official Armament Summary. Wichita prewar By courtesy of A DRakerlll 117
UNITED STATES These ships, the smallest of modern US cruisers, are also surely the most overrated, particularly as regards speed: they nexer made 40kts, and indeed on tnals the name ship did not touch 34kts at full power (75,871shp =33.27kts at 7404c) - which should have been no surprise given the design speed of 33kts. They resulted from a long period of re examination of US cruiser requirements, begun as the 1936 London Treaty forbade much further construction of the traditional US large cruiser. Moreover, in a legal sense they were replacements for the Omahas, which had served through- out the post-WWI period as destroyer leaders. The Sin design was evolved alongside a senes of designs employ- ing a new twin DP 6in/47 gun, and was adopted at least in part due to delays in the design of the latter weapon. Ultimately the rationale adopted was that a new small cruiser should work with destroyers, and should be effective in AA and in anti destroyer protection of the flanks of the battle line. The 6000-ton displacement came from a limit due to the tonnage avail- able for replacement of over-age ships plus unused Treaty tonnage; the ships as designed were slightly overweight. Protection was scaled against a 5 lin AP projectile (60° target angle), for an immune zone of 6000-16,000yds. The 5in/38 battery was somewhat unusually arranged, with two mounts in the waist, so that the broadside was seven rather than eight twin mounts. Some of the papers in the General Board file on this class suggest that the waist guns were to be used for star- shell firing. After the original programme of four ships, four more (CL95 to 98) were ordered as part of the very large naval expansion programme of 1940. They differed from the original group in having open bridges and additional light AA weapons in place of the two waist 5in gunhouses; there was also ATLANTA class Displacement: (Atlanta) 6718c standard; 8340t full load Dimensions: 530ft wl, 541ft 6in oa x 53ft 2in x 20ft 6in 767.55, 765 05 x 16 21 x 6 25m Machinery: 2-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 75,OOOshp = 32.5kts. Oil 1360t, range 8500nm at 15kts Armour: Belt and bulkheads 3.75in, armour deck 1.25in, gunhouses 1.25m, deck over magazines (underwater) 1.25in Armament: 16-5in/38 (8x2), 16-1. lin (4x4), 16-40mm (8x2), 8-20mm, 8-21in torpedo tubes (2x4), sec notes Complement: 623 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CL51 ATLANTA Federal, Kearny 22.4.1940 6.9 41 1942 Sunk 13 11 42 CL52 JUNEAU Federal, Kearny 27.5.1940 25.10.41 1942 Sunk 13.11 42 CL53 SAN DIEGO Bethlehem, Quincy 27.3.1940 26.7.41 10.1 42 BU Dec 1960 CL54 SAN JUAN Bethlehem, Quincy 15 5.1940 6.9 41 28 2.42 BU 1962 CL95 OAKLAND Bethlehem, San Francisco 13.7.1941 23 10.42 Dec 1942 BU 1962 CL96 RENO Bethlehem, San Francisco 12 8.1941 23 12 42 1943 BU 1962 CL97 FLINT (ex-Spokane) Bethlehem, San Francisco 23.10 1942 25.1.44 31.8.44 BU 1966 CL98 TUCSON Bethlehem, San Francisco 23.11 1942 3 9 44 3 2.45 Stricken 1966 CL119 JUNEAU Federal, Kearny 15.9.1944 15 7.45 15.2 46 BU Mar 1961 CL120 SPOKANE Federal, Kearny 15 11.1944 22.9.45 17.5 46 Sold for BU 17.5.73 CL121 FRESNO Federal, Kearny 12.2.1945 5 3.46 27.11 46 BU 1966 considerable additional splinter pro- tection As in other classes, wartime increases in light AA weapons increased topweight to a dangerous extent, so much so that drastic reduc- tions became necessary in 1945. For example, the Atlantas were designed with three quadruple 1.1m, added a fourth on the fantail and later replaced all with twin 40mm. The repeat ships began with a total of six twin 40mm but received far more: Reno com- pleted with eight twin 40mm as well as sixteen 20mm, for example. In 194S it was decided that the TT would be landed to reduce topweight, and this was actually done inOakland and Tuc- son. As in the Clevelands and Balti- mores, in 1942 the Bureau of Ships proposed a modified design which would reduce topweight by lowering some guns (in this case by lowering Nos 2 and 5 mounts to the main deck level, and Nos 3 and 4 to the 01 level), reduce superstructure profile, and improve watertight integrity, more light AA would be accommodated (four quadruple and six twin 40mm). CL119-121 were ordered to the new - design, and completed postwar; the main change as compared to the war- time plan was the elimination of the TT. When the question of additional repeat Atlantas was raised in 1944, the General Board sought an improved design with 5in/54 guns, this ship was actuality designed and was very nearly ordered in 1945 and again postwar. The Atlantas were unique among wartime US cruisers in having sonar and a respectable depth-charge bat- tery, however, they were not nearly manoeuvrable enough to use such weapons effectively, and the latter were removed as weight compensa- tion. After some action in the Sol- omons, most of their duty was in AA screening of fast carrier formations, apparently quite successfully. Fhnt at San Francisco, 1 12 1944 USN 118
Cruisers These were the most numerous of US wartime cruisers, perhaps the most numerous of all time. Of a grand total of 52 ordered, 29 were completed as cruisers (including 2 to a modified design) and 9 as light aircraft carriers. So massive a production run was due not to excellence of design but rather to the decision, m 1940, to go ahead with repeat versions of existing ships in the interest of numbers. In fact the original decision to build ships of this design was made m order to get ships as fast as possible m 1939 CL55 and 56 were to be 8000-tonners (limned by the London Treaty of 1936) armed with five twin 6in/47 DP guns, the weapons ultimately mounted aboard the IV'orceners about ten years later. It proved extremely difficult to produce an acceptable design within the limit, but with the advent of war the treaty limit could be discarded. The General Board favoured a new design, an anti-aircraft cruiser armed with a new 5 4in weapon (which ultimately became the 5in/54), but accepted a Helena modified for heavier dual- purpose firepower instead. Ulti- mately, modifications quite distorted the original design; for example, much longer engineering spaces were adopted However, the limitations inherent in the prewar treaty-limited hull continued to plague the new ships, and the Clevelands were badly top-heavy by the end of World War II It did not help that they had been designed to take advantage of the weight to be saved bj adopting aluminium deckhouses, whereas the wartime aluminium shortage made it necessary to use steel instead. Trials figures (Biloxi) were 103,505shp = 3L93kts at 14,000t CLEVELAND class Displacement: (Biloxi) 11,744 t standard, 14,13It full load Dimensions: 600ft wl, 610ft Im oa x 66ft 4in x 24ft 6in full load 182.88, 185.95 x 20 22 x 7.47m • Machinery: 4 shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, I00,000shp = 32. range lljOOOnm at 15kts 5kts. Oil 1507-2100t, Armour: Belt 5in-3 5in, armour deck 2in, bulkheads Sin, barbettes 6in, turrets 6.5in face, 3m top, 3inside, 1.5m rear, CT 5in with 2.25m roof Armament: 12-6in/47 (4x3), 12-5in/38 (6x2), Complement: 1285 28—40mm (4x4, 6x2), 10-20mm (Юх 1), 4 aircraft Sec notes No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CL55 CLEVELAND New York SB 1.7.1940 1.11.41 June 1942 BU Feb 1960 CL56 COLUMBIA New York SB 19.8.1940 17.12.41 June 1942 BU 1960 CL57 MONTPELIER New York SB 2.12 1940 12.2.42 Sept 1942 BU 1960 CL58 DENVER New York SB 26.12.1940 4 4.42 Oct 1942 BU Nov 1960 CL 59 AMSTERDAM New York SB 1.5.1941 22.8.42 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL60 SANTA FE New York SB 7.6.1941 10.6.42 Nov 1942 BU 1960 CL61 TALLAHASSEE New York SB 2.6.1941 18.10 42 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL62 BIRMINGHAM Newport News 17.2 1941 20.3.42 Jan 1943 BU Dec 1959 CL63 MOBILE Newport News 14.4.1941 15.5.42 Mar 1943 BU 1960 CL64 VINCENNES (ex-Fhnt) Bethlehem, Quincy 7.3.1942 17.7.43 21.1.44 Expended 1966 CL65 PASADENA Bethlehem, Quincy 6.2.1943 28.12.43 8.6.44 Stricken 1 12.70 CL66 SPRINGFIELD Bethlehem, Quincy 13.2 1943 9.3.44 9.9.44 Sold for BU 31.7.78 CL67 TOPEKA Bethlehem, Quincy 21.4.1943 19.8.44 23.12 44 Stricken 1.12.73 CL76 NLW HAVEN New York SB 11.8.1942 6.11.42 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL77 HUNTINGTON New York SB 17.12.1941 17.1.43 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL78 DAYTON New York SB 29.12 1941 28.2.43 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL79 WILMINGTON New York SB 13.3.1942 4.4.43 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL80 BILOXI Newport News 9.7.1941 23.2.43 21.8.43 BU 1962 CI 81 HOUSTON (ex- Vicksburg) Newport News 4.8.1941 19.6.43 Dec 1943 BU 1960 119
UNITED STATES From CL64 onwards, the ships had a new open bridge with a protected conning position below, and without the conning tower formerly used; a similar design was adopted for the Baltimore class heavy cruisers. In mid-1942 the Bureau of Ships pro- posed a modified design, in which the turrets, 5m gunhouses, and 40mm guns were all lowered, both to lower the centre of gravity and to shorten the ammunition hoists; the super- structure would be redesigned to clear arcs of AA fire (including the provi- sion of a single funnel); main trans- verse bulkheads were made intact up to the second deck; and the hangar aft was halved in size both to improve watertight integnty and to increase accommodation, the latter partly to compensate for the transfer of the 5in handling rooms from the superstruc- ture to the hull. A parallel plan for the Baltimore class was also submitted These changes preceded ihe entrance of any Cleveland into service; they were based on general war experience. In August 1942 it was decided that although CL103-105 would have to be completed to the existing design, CL106-118 could be built to the new one. In fact, CL112-115 were cancel- led in 1944 because of interference with other construction, including the Worcesters, and CL108-111 and 116-118 were all cancelled at the end of the war. Newark (CL 108) was completed to the launching stage and employed in underwater explosion tests; only Fargo and Huntington were ever completed to the 1942 design. AA armament varied considerably from ship to ship: CL55 and 56 car- ried 8-40mm (4x2) and 13-20mm (13x1); CL57 and 58 had 24-40mm (4x4, 4x2) and 17-20mm (17x1), CL60, 64-66, 80 and 81 had 24-40mm (4x4, 4x2) and 21-20mm (21x1), CL62 and 63 had 28-40mm (4x4, 6x2) and 21-20mm (21x1); and CL 106 and 107 carried 28M0mm (6x4, 2x2) and 21-20mm (21x1). Other ships were as given m the table. Perhaps the clearest indication of the topweight problem in these ships is the drastic character of the No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CL82 PROVIDENCE Bethlehem, Quincy 27.7.1943 28 12 44 15 5 45 Sold for BU31.7 78 CL83 MANCHESTER Bethlehem,Quincy Sept 1944 5.3 46 Oct 1946 BU 1961 CL84 BUFFALO Federal, Kearny — — — Cancelled 16 12 40 CL85 FARGO New York SB 11.4.1942 22.5.43 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL86 VICKSBURG (ex- Cheyenne) Newport News 26 10 1942 14 12.43 12.6 44 BU Sept 1964 CL87 DULUTH Newport News Nov 1942 13 1 44 Sept 1944 BU 1961 CL88 — Federal, Kearny — — — Cancelled 16 12 40 CL89 MIAMI Cramp 2 8.1941 12 8 42 28.12 43 BU 1962 CL90 ASTORIA (ex- Wilkes-Barre) Cramp 6.9.1941 6.3.43 17.5.44 Stricken 1.11 69 CL91 OKLAHOMA CITY Cramp 8.3 1942 20 2 44 22.12 44 Stricken 15 12 79 CL92 LITTLE ROCK Cramp 6.3 1943 27 8 44 17.6 45 Stricken 22 11.76, preserved CL93 GALVESTON Cramp 20.2.1944 22 4 45 25.5 46 Stricken 21 12 73 CL94 YOUNGSTOWN Cramp — — — Cancelled 12 8.45 CL99 BUFFALO New York SB 31.8.1942 1.8 43 — Convened to CVL 1942 CL100 NEWARK New York SB 26 10 1942 26 9 43 — Converted to CVL 1942 CL101 AMSTERDAM Newport News 3 3 1943 25.4 44 8 1 45 Stricken 2 1 71 CL 102 PORTSMOUTH Newport New s 28.6 1943 20 9 44 25.6 45 Stricken 1 12.70 CL103 WILKES-BARRE New York SB 14.12.1942 24 12.43 1.7.44 Expended May 1972 CL 104 ATLANTA New York SB 25.1.1943 6 2 44 3 12 44 Expended 1965 CL105 DAYTON New York SB 8.3.1943 19 3 44 7 1 45 BU 1962 CL106 FARGO New York SB 23.8.1943 25.3.45 9 12 45 Stricken 1 3.70 CL 107 HUNTINGTON New York SB 4.10.1943 8 4 45 23.2 46 BU June 1962 CL108 NEWARK New York SB 1942 — — Hull BU 1949 CL 109 NEW HAVEN New York SB Aug 1941 — — Cancelled 12 8 45 CL110 BUFFALO New York SB 1942 — — Cancelled 12.8 45 CL111 WILMINGTON Cramp 1941 — — Cancelled 12 8 45 CL112 VALLEJO New York SB — — — Cancelled 5 10 44 CL113 HELENA New York SB —• — — Cancelled 5 10 44 CL114 — New York SB — — — Cancelled 5.10 44 CL115 ROANOKE New York SB — — Cancelled 5 10 44 CL116 TALLAHASSE Newport News 2.6 1941 — — Cancelled 12 8 45 CL117 CHEYENNE Newport News 1941-42 — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CL118 CHATTANOOGA Newport News — — — Cancelled 12 8 45 countermeasures adopted in 1945 in many ships one of the two catapults was removed, and in some the range- finder of No 1 turret was removed as well, not to mention severe restric- tions on ready-use AA ammunition and even on radar and countermeas- ures gear. All but Manchester (CL83) had been laid up by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, but six ships were later rebuilt as missile cruisers and plans to utilise the other hulls were made through the 1950s and early 1960s, probably the most spec- tacular involving ihe Atlanta, which was used for simulated nuclear blast experiments. Protection generally corresponded with that of the Helena, except that the immune zone was specified for a 90° rather than a 60° target angle - 9400-21,700}ds against the 1051b 6in shell At this time the Bureau of Ord- nance had a new 1301b shell, which was far more destructive, but an attempt to pass to larger light cruisers protected against it failed on produc- tion grounds. These standard heavy cruisers shared a common ancestry - and appearance - with the slightly earlier Clevelands’, they began as ‘improved Wichitas’, ic as improved versions of the heavy cruiser version of the Brooklyn class Baltimore as complied from which the Clevelands were evolved. However, enough time was taken in their design for the hull to grow considerably, so that they did not suffer from the sort of topweight disease which afflicted the smaller Clevelands. Armour was improved only slightly over that of the Wichita, most of the extra tonnage going instead into hull strength, stability, and extra DP and AA weapons, the Baltimores were credited with an immune zone (90° target angle) of 120 BALTIMORE class Displacement: (Baltimore) 14,472t standard; 17,0311 full load Dimensions: 664ft wl, 673ft 5in oa x 70ft 10m x 24ft full load 202.39, 205.26 x 21.59 x 7.32m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 120,000shp = 33kts. Oil 1200-2250t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 6in-4in, armour deck 2 5m, barbettes 6.3in, turrets 8in face, 3in roof, 3 75in-2m sides, 1 5in rear, CT 6in with 3in roof, side over magazines (underwater) 3in with 2 5in deck Armament: 9-8in/55 (3x3), 12-5in/38 (6x2), 48-40mm (11x4, 2x2), 24—20mm, 4 aircraft. Sec notes Complement: 2039
Cruisers 15,700-24,000yds (2601b shell). When the ships were being designed, the Bureau of Ordnance was introduc- ing a new series of super-heavy shells, that for 8m weighing 3351b. Against this projectile, the immune zone would shrink to 19,600-21,100yds. A much larger ship was required if the old immune zone were to be restored in the face of the new shell, but such a course was rejected in 1940 due to the same considerations which prompted continuation of Cleveland production. As in the case of the Clevelands, a modified design was prepared and adopted m 1942; it became the Oregon City sub-class. Of ships ordered after the first group of CA68-75, CA130-136 were repeat Baltimores because design work for the new ships was behind schedule and would have retarded them. CAI34 was later re- ordered as the first of a new Newport News class with 8in rapid-fire guns. CA 122-124 became the Oregon City class, and CA126-129, 137 and 138 were cancelled at the end of the war. CAI25, Northampton, became a prototype fleet flagship. On trials, Boston recorded 118,536shp = 32.85kts at 16,570t. CA68-71 carried 12x4 40mm, CA72-75 had 22, CA 130-133, 135 and 136 28 (14x2) and CA122-124 20 (10x2) 20mm compared with data given in the table. There were 2 catapults, and only 2 aircraft were in fact earned in all but CA68-71. Unlike the Clevelands, the Balti- mores remained in service after World War II, some serving as flagship/firc support ships in Vietnam Five became missile cruisers. No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA68 BALTIMORE Bethlehem, Quincy 26.5.1941 28.7.42 15.4.43 Stricken 15.2.71 CA69 BOSTON Bethlehem, Quincy 30.6.1941 26.8.42 30.6.43 Stricken 1.11.73 CA70 CANBERRA (cx- Pittsburgh) Bethlehem, Quincy 3.9.1941 19.4.43 14.10.43 Stricken 31.7.78 BU CA71 QUINCY (ex- St Paul) Bethlehem, Quincy 9.10.1941 23.6.43 15.12.43 Stricken 1.10.73 CA72 PITTSBURGH (ex-Albany) Bethlehem, Quincy 3.2.1943 22.2.44 10.10.44 Stricken 1.7.73 CA73 ST PAUL (ex- Rochester) Bethlehem, Quincy 3.2.1943 16.9.44 17.2.45 Sold for BU 31.7.78 CA74 COLUMBUS Bethlehem, Quincy 28.6.1943 30.11.44 8.6.45 Stricken 9.8.76, BU CA75 HELENA (ex- Des Moines) Bethlehem, Quincy 9.9.1943 28.4.45 4.9.45 Stricken 1.1.74 CA122 OREGON CITY Bethlehem, Quincy 8.4.1944 9.6.45 16.2.46 Stricken 1.11.70 CAI23 ALBANY Bethlehem, Quincy 6.3.1944 30.6.45 15.6.46 Extant 1980 CA124 ROCHESTER Bethlehem, Quincy 29.5.1944 28.8.45 20.12.46 Stricken 1.10.74 CA125 NORTHAMPTON Bethlehem, Quincy 31.8.1944 27.1.51 7.3.53 Stricken 1.12.77 CAI 26 CAMBRIDGE Bethlehem, Quincy — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CAI 27 BRIDGEPORT Bethlehem, Quincy — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CAI 28 KANSAS CITY Bethlehem, Quincy — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CA129 TULSA Bethlehem, Quincy — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CAI 30 BREMERTON New York SB 1.2.1943 2.7.44 29.4.45 Stricken 1.10.73 CA131 FALL RIVER New York SB 12.4.1943 13.8.44 1.7.45 Stricken 9.2.71 CAI 32 MACON New York SB 14.6.1943 15.10.44 26.8.45 Stricken 1.11.69 CAI 33 TOLEDO New York SB 13.9.1943 6.5.45 27.10.46 Stricken 1.1.74 CAI 35 LOS ANGELES Philadelphia N Yd 28.7.1943 20.8.44 22.7.45 Stricken 1.1.74 CAI 36 CHICAGO Philadelphia N Yd 28.7.1943 20.8.44 10.1.45 Extant 1980 CAI 37 NORFOLK Philadelphia N Yd — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 CAI 38 SCRANTON Philadelphia N Yd — — — Cancelled 12.8.45 Columbus off New York, 6.7.1945 By courtesy of AD Baker III Albany in June 1946 as completed USN 121
UNITED STATES Although these large cruisers are often considered capital ships (in view of their main batteries and their gen- eral appearance) in fact they were simple developments of US cruiser doctrine and requirements; they were in effect, heavy cruisers finally unen- cumbered by the Treaty limits of 8in guns and a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons. They are often described as white elephants, since by the lime two out of the six originally ordered finally appeared in 1944 the tactical concepts which had inspired them had been completely superseded. However, that is not to deny their validity in the context of 1940, when nearly all senior US commanders afloat enthusiastically supported a ‘super-cruiser’, to replace the exist- ing 8in type. It is often said, too, that these ships were imposed on the Navy by President Roosevelt, but such statements are at best difficult to ver- ify. What is clear is that a 12in cruiser project surfaced in the Bureau of Con- struction and Repair as early as 1938, and that the President may well have inspired it on the basis of his notions of foreign ‘battlecruiser’ and ‘super- cruiser* development. Later discus- sions always began with the 12m ship, often designated CA2 to distinguish it from a conventional heavy cruiser (CA1) as one alternative in a spectrum of possible future cruisers. Cruiser practice shows in the provi- sion of one rather than two rudders (which, unfortunately, ensured a very large tactical diameter) and m the requirement for enclosed stowage for aircraft. This latter wras responsible for the unusual aircraft arrangement: hull depth aft was too restricted to permit a hangar tn the conventional location there. However, it should be noted that the abortive light and heavy cruiser designs of 1940, which were related to this one, also showed aircraft amidships; the Bureau of Aeronautics flirted briefly with this idea, but ultimately rejected it. In 1945—46 there were proposals to remove the two catapults and replace them with an additional pair of twin 5in/38 gunhouses; a single catapult (no hangar) was to be fitted on the fantail. The 12in/50 guns were a new design and, because they were unique among wartime US ships, they were the most expensive heavy US guns of their period. The initial Alaska design called for eight guns in two triple and one twin turret, and the design finally adopted (three triples) was justified in part because it would simplify turret production. Armour was designed to assure immunity against the 12in 11401b shell between 18,000 and 24,000yds at target angle of 60° - a requirement tspical of prewar cruiser ALASKA class Displacement: (Alaska) 29,779t standard; 34,253t full load Dimensions: 791ft 6in wl, 808ft 6in oa x 91ft lin x 31ft 10m full load 241.25, 246 43 x 27.76 x 9 70m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 150,OOOshp = 33kts Oil 3619t, range 12,000nm at 15kts Armour: Bell 9in-5in, armour deck 3.8in—4in with 1.4in weather deck and 0.625in splinter deck, barbettes llin-13in, turrets 12.8in face, 5in roof, 5.25in-6m side, 5 25in rear, CT 10 6in with 5in roof Armament: 9-12in/50 (3x3), 12-5in/38 (6x2), 56—40min (14x4), 34-20mm Complement: 1517 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CB1 ALASKA New York SB 17.12.1941 15.8 43 17 6 44 BU July 1961 CB2 GUAM New York SB 2 2.1942 12.11 43 17.9.44 BU Aug 1961 CB3 HAWAII New York SB 20.12 1943 11.3 45 —. BU Jan 1960 CB4 PHILIPPINES New York SB — — Cancelled 24.6 1943 CB5 PUERTO RICO New York SB — — — Cancelled 24.6 1943 CB6 SAMOA New York SB — — Cancelled 24.6 1943 Alaska at Philadelphia N Yd, 30.7.1944 USN practice The original Characteristics specified the protection of machinery spaces only against 8in (cruiser) fire, but in view nf the positioning of the 5in magazines in way of these spaces, the designers had to provide uniform protection against 12in fire there too. Neither ship was modified during the war, and both were laid up soon afterwards. Hawaii was retained incomplete, at first for conversion to a missile ship; later she was very nearly converted to a command ship, a kind of larger sister for Northampton They were expensive to maintain, and a poor substitute for a battleship; moreover, in the postwar naval world, even a Baltimore could quite over- power any Soviet cruiser, so that there were no more potentially hostile 8m cruisers to overwhelm - not to men- tion that, with a plenitude of carriers, surface commerce raiders presented rather less of a threat than prewar planners had imagined. 1 122
Cruisers Л*ewport Newt as completed These three ships were the culmina- tion of wartime US cruiser design. As soon as the Bureau of Ordnance per- fected the automatic 6in/47 DP gun on which it had been working since 1937, it realised that the same princi- ples could be applied to triple the rate of fire of the Sin gun; detailed weight estimates for twin and triple turrets became available in July, 1943 and a new cruiser to mount these weapons was almost immediately designed and ordered as the next class. Such weapons would overcome the great defect of existing 8in guns - excess- ively slow fire — so slow that it was almost impossible to hit fast Japanese ship» in night actions; at the same time they would greatly outrange the existing fast-firing 6in weapons. At first a twin installation in Oregon City hulls was contemplated, on the theory that these ships might not even be delayed by the change; however, the General Board was already dis- satisfied with existing heavy cruiser designs and felt that by demanding a completely new ship with triple tur- rets it would provide the postwar fleet with at least some satisfactory cruis- ers; otherwise the war might end with nothing but an inadequate six-gun ship under construction. New fea- tures not connected directly w th the guns included a unit machinery arrangement similar to that in battle- ships and unique among US cruisers, and a separate ‘bomb deck’ to improve protection against bombing DES MOINES class Displacement: (Des Moines') 17,255t standard; 20,934t full load Dimensions: 700ft wl 716ft 6in oa x 75ft 4in x 26ft full load 213.36, 218.39 x 22.96 x 7.92m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 120,000shp = 33kts (at 19,930t). Oil 3006t, range 10,500nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 6in-4in, deck 3.5in plus 0.75in and lin weather deck, bulkheads 5in-4in, barbettes 6.3in, turrets 8m face, 4in roof, 3.75in-2in sides, 1.5in rear, armoured pilot house 6.5in-5.5in Armament: 9-8in/55 (3x3), 12-5in/38 (6x2), 24-3in/50 (12x2), 24-20mm (12x2), 4 aircraft (not carried as completed) Complement: 1799 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CA134 DES MOINES Bethlehem, 28.5.1945 27.9.46 17.11.48 In reserve 1980 CAI 39 SALEM Quincy Bethlehem, 4.6.1945 25.3.47 9.5.49 In reserve 1980 CAI 40 DALLAS Quincy Bethlehem, -Js __ Cancelled 6.6.46 CA148 NEWPORT NEWS Quincy Newport News 1.10.1945 6.3.47 29.1.49 Stricken 1978 (not counted in computation of the immune zone against the 8in 2601b shell - 15,700-28,000yds). As the decision to pass to a new class was made in mid-1943, the next cruisers to be ordered were CA139-142 and CL143-149. In October, 1943 CAI34 was added to the new class (Des Moines) to bring it to five ships; the question was also asked wiiether CL143, 148 and 149 were shifted to the new heavy cruiser design, but CL144, 145, 146 and 147 were retained as units of a new 6in DP cruiser class (Worcester) largely in order to ensure that some of the new twin DP 6in/47 mounts were sent to sea. A late-war (1945) programme, which would have added CAI50-153, was never approx ed by the President, leaving, at the end of the war, eight prospective members of the Des Moines class. CA142, 143 and 149 were all suspended, although materi- als for them were held pending a deci- sion as to their fate. Indeed, Admiral King argued strongly for their com- pletion on the theory that a homogeneous group of eight such ships would be extremely valuable. However, he was overruled and later CA140 and 141, which were little advanced, were cancelled. The three ships completed appear to have been successful, Newport News serving as a flagship and fire support ship until she was decommis- sioned in 1975. The new 8in rapid-fire gun appears to have worked well in service, the sole exception being a tur- ret explosion in Newport News in 1972, which completely disabled No 2 mount. On trials, Des Moines achieved 125,630shp = 32.66kts at 2O,532t. These very large ‘light cruisers’ were designed to mount the twin 6in/47 automatic DP gun originally prop- osed by the Bureau of Ordnance as early as 1937, and intended for the Cleveland as originally designed, in 1939. The project was revived in 1941, with General Board Charac- teristics calling for twelve 6in DP guns, no 5in secondary battery, pro- tection limited to a very thick deck (up to 6 or 7in) and a speed of at least 33kts. Later the Board accepted con- ventional side protection comparable to that of the Clevelands, and by the time the design had been completed early in 1944 the Chief of the Bureau of Ships saw it as an effective replace- ment for the now seriously ovcrlo ided Clevelands He observed, too, that not even the new 5in/54 DP weapon WORCESTER class Displacement: (Worcester) 14,700t standard (design); 17,997t full load Dimensions: 664ft wl, 679ft 6in oa x 70ft 8in x 24ft 9in full load 202.39, 207.11 x 21 54 x 7.54m Machinery: 4-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 120,000shp = 33kts. Oil 2400t, range 8000nm at 15kts Armour: Belt 5in-3in with 3.5in armour deck and lin weather deck, bulkheads 4in, barbettes 5in, turrets 6.5in face, 4in roof, 2in-3in side and rear Armament: 12-6in/47 (6x2), 24-3in/50 (11 x2, 2x1), 12-20mm (6x2) Complement: 1401 No Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate CL144 WORCESTER New York SB 29.1.1945 4.2.47 25.6.48 Stricken 1.12.70 CL145 ROANOKE New York SB 15.5.1945 16.6.47 4.4.48 Sold for BU 22.2.72 CL 146 VALLEJO New York SB — — —‘ Cancelled 11.8.1945 CL 147 GARY New York SB — — — Cancelled 11.8.1945 123
UNITED STATES would suffice against the guided mis- siles being introduced by the Germans and, presumably, the Japanese; the big 6in with a proximity fuze might well be not merely useful, but abso- lutely necessary. However, the suc- cess of the 6in/47 design inspired the Bureau of Ordnance to develop an automatic 8in/55, which was suitable for heavy cruisers not much larger than the Worcesters’, the General Board at one point recommended that all seven new light cruisers contemp- lated (CL143-149) be re-ordered as large heavy cruisers. Ultimately pro- duction delays in the 8in gun and the need to send at least a few 6in DP weapons to sea modified this decision, so that four ships were ordered as 6in/47DP light cruisers CL144-147, of which only two were ultimately completed. Protection was to ensure immunity against the 6in 1051b shell between 9300 and 28,000yds (90° target angle); against 10001b SAP bombs dropped from any altitude; and against 12in 10001b AP bombs dropped from below 7500ft. Bomb protection included a separate ‘bomb deck’ Roanoke late in her career USN by courtesy of Norman Polmar above the principal armoured deck, as in battleships and some heavy cruis- ers. On trials Worcester made 122,096shp = 32.8Ikts at 16,940t. The design included the usual quartet of floatplanes aft with their catapults; these were never, however, installed, although the hangar and crane were. Similarly, the original design included 12 quadruple 40 mm guns and 2O-2Omm; both ships were, however, armed exclusively with the new 3in/5O gun as completed. DESTROYERS Before World War I, the US fleet was overbalanced in favour of battleships and against cruisers and destroyers. However, a major element of the US response to the German U-boat offensive was a very large destroyer-building programme. A specialised AS W destroyer was proposed, but, unlike the destroyer escort of twenty years later, it was not built, since ships of the existing design could be duplicated far more rapidly. The result was a vast fleet of ‘flush-deckers’; in 1919 the United States had, built and building, the largest fleet of modern destroyers in the world. Postwar scrappings eliminated only the twenty earliest destroyers. Of the earlier classes, many of the 750-ton ‘flivvers’ and the broken-deck ‘thousand-tonners’ were transferred to the Coast Guard for service against ‘rum-runners’ attempting to evade Prohibi- tion. All had raised forecastles and so were better sea boats than the ‘flush-deckers’; it is interesting that they were retained until the mid 1930s, although mass scrapping of the later boats (as a consequence of the London Treaty) began in 1931. In any case more than half of the large US destroyer fleet of the 1920s and 1930s was retained out of commission at any one time, and studies of convoy and ASW require- ments above the needs of the battle fleet usually concluded that recommissioning existing destroyers would be better than building specialised ASW ships. This view was not too different from that prevailing after World War II, when the United States again possessed a large fleet of modern destroyers (and, this time, escorts) well beyond the needs of the active navy. In some important ways the ‘flush-deckers’ were obsolescent even before they began to appear in numbers in 1919. The British ‘V & W’ class set a new standard for destroyer design, and the US ships had inadequate firepower to match it, particularly since the forward gun was useless in a head sea. However, the vast size of the existing fleet made it difficult for the Navy to ask Congress for new construction; even a scheme for the reconstruction of existing units was rejected because of the expense entailed. Thus new US destroyers did not begin to appear until the mid-1930s. They did, however, show emphases not present in other navies: all had DP main batteries with special DP fire controls to match, and all had provision for depth charges. The latter were not generally mounted in peacetime, partly because treaty limits on displacement encouraged strict peacetime limits. Thus wartime standard displacements were far greater than peacetime figures, partly because they incorporated far greater ammunition loads. 124 As the new destroyers began to enter service in greater and greater numbers, it became possible to assign ‘flush-deckers’ to alternative duties. Some had already been converted into fast minelayers, and indeed the first generation of such conversions was replaced during the 1930s. Others became fast minesweepers (DMS), light seaplane ten- ders (A VD), and fast transports (APD); these conversions still retained ASW weapons and were sometimes used for ASW operations in war- time. Perhaps as importantly, a programme of conversions roughly comparable to the British ‘Wairs’ was carried out. It is described in greater detail below. At first the destroyers benefited little from the King Board AA recommendations; they were to receive only additional 0.50cal guns. However, in 1941 a much more sweeping programme, to fit twin Bofors guns to all destroyers which could take them, was begun. By 1944 all the prewar 5-gun destroyers had surrendered one 5in gun in favour of a pair of twin 40mm guns. Of the 4-gun, 16-tube type, only the Gridleys could not take at least one twin 40mm; they alone of the prewar destroyers never received this weapon. It is noteworthy that, unlike the Royal Navy, the US Navy preferred to surrender guns rather than torpedo tubes in order to increase light AA batteries: one reason why was the character of the Pacific War, in which there were frequent night surface engagements as late as mid-1943. In fact US destroyers participated in the last major surface action of the war, the Battle of Surigao Strait, in which a division of Fletchers delivered a text-book torpedo attack to sink the Japanese battleship Fuse, others severely damaged her sister Yamashiro. By that time, however, it was clear that in the closing stages of the Pacific War air defence would be the most important task of the destroyers. Orders were given to convert 12 (ultimately 24) of the new Gearings to radar pickets, and at the same time plans were drawn for emergency A A refits of most of the modern destroyers; these generally envisaged replacement of all torpedo tubes (except one bank in Fletch- ers, Sumners, Gearings) by Bofors guns. However, the need for des- troyers was so urgent that there could be no question of mass refits: the big A A refits were to be done only on a ‘not to delay’ basis, either during scheduled overhauls or else following severe damage.
Porter on 28 4 193S USV FARRAGUT class Displacement: (Farragut) 1358t standard, 2064t full Dimensions: 334ft wl, 341ft 3in oa x 34ft 3in x lift 7in 101 80, 104.01 x Ю44 x 3 S3m Machinery: 2-shaft Curtis turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 42,800shp = 36 5kts Oil 200-600i, 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 5—5in/38 (5x1), 4—0 5in, 8—21in TT (4x2) Complement: 160 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD348 FARRAGUT Bethlehem, 15.3 1934 BU 1947 (exSmith, ex-P arragut) Quincy DD349 DEWEY (ex- Bath Iron Wks 28 7 1934 BU 1947 Phelps, ex- Dewey) Sunk 18 12 44 DD350 HULL New York N Yd 31.1 1934 DD351 MAC- Boston N Yd 22 8.1934 BU 1947 DONOUGH DD352 WORDEN Puget Sound 27 10 1934 Sunk 12 1 43 N Yd DD353 DALE New York N Yd 23.1 1935 BU 1947 DD354 MONAGHAN Boston N Yd 9.1 1935 Sunk 18 12 44 DD355 AYL WIN Philadelphia 10 7 1934 BU 1947 N Yd With these eight ships the US Navy set the pattern for its prewar destroyers. A high forecastle was adopted m view of the extreme wetness of the ‘four-stackers’, and these ships also introduced the DP 5in/38 gun, which armed all subsequent US destroyers of the prewar and war period This weapon was controlled by a new DP director, the Mk 33, which made these and later US destroyers effective AA as well as anti-destroyer ships ASW gear was limited to a sonar and a listening device; the fantail was strengthened for depth-charge racks but none was fitted as part of the allowance w hich made up the standard displacement In the interest of weight saving, moreover, shields were provided only for Nos 1 and 2 guns: they were considered primarily as weather protection. In fact all these ships were built well under the London Treaty 1500-ton limit, which freed some displacement for the enlargement of later ships, wrhen, in 1936, the limit was shifted from one on individual ships to a limit on total destroyer tonnage Farragut's trials figures were 46,266shp = 38.59kts at 1594t As in other 5 gun prewar destroyers, war modifications included the replacement of one 5in gun by a pair of twin Bofors, as well as considerable additions of depth charges and 20mm machine guns. The ‘ultimate’ battery, reached by 1944, was 2 twin 40mm, 5-20mm, plus 4 K-guns and 2 depth-charge racks. PORTER class__________________________________________________ Displacement: (Phelps) 18341 standard; 2597t full load Dimensions: 372ft wl, 381ft 1 in oa x 37ft x 13ft full load 113.39, 116 15 x 11.28 x 3.96m Machinery: 2-shaft turbines, 4 Babcock & \X ilcox boilers, 50,OOOshp = 37kts Oil 235-635t, range 6500nin at 12kts Armament: 8-5in/38 (4x2), 8-1 lin (2x4), 2-0 5in, 8-21in TT (2x4) Complement 194 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD456 PORTER New York SB 12 12 1935 Sunk 26.10 42 DD3>7 SELFRIDGE New York SB 18 4 1936 BU 1947 DD358 McDougal New York SB 17 7.1936 Stricken 1949 DD359 WINSLOW New York SB 21.9 1936 Stricken 1957 DD360 PHELPS Bethlehem, 18 7 1935 BU 1947 Quincy DD361 CLARK Bethlehem, 15 10.1935 BU 1946 Quincy DD362 MOFFETT Bethlehem, 11 12 1935 BU 1947 Quincv DD363 BALCH Bethlehem, 24 3.1936 BU 1946 Quincy In 1922 the United States possessed the largest destroyer fleet in the world, but few light cruisers tu ‘lead’ destroy er flotillas, and no programme of new con- struction which might produce specialised ‘leaders’ such as those common m Stlfndge in April 1944 as rebuilt US\’ other navies Attempts to convince Congress to authorise such ships failed because of the mass of newly completed destroyers; all through the 1920s the General Board considered a series of abortive leader designs Finally, however, eight ships, limited in displacement to 1850 tons by the London Treaty of 1930, were procured The original design called for six single 5m/38, but it proved possible to substitute eight twin single purpose mounts The result rather resem bled a light cruiser Trials figures (name ship) were 47,271shp = 37 17kts al 2180t It was a very tight design, and studies just before the outbreak of war showed that a considerable reduction in battery would be necessary should dual-purpose weapons be desired. Modernisation plans ulumately called for two twin and one single DP 5in/38, plus two twin and one quadruple 40mm and 6-20mm; both TT banks would be retained. Modernisation came late in the war, most of these ships spent much of the war with No 3 twin 5in mount replaced by light AA, for example, Moffett had a quadruple 40mm there, as well as 3 twin 40mm and 6-20mm. By 1944 only Selfridge retained all four gunhouses. DD357, 358, 359 and 360 were rebuilt, DD362 ended the war half-converted at Charleston Of the refitted ships, DD 357,359 and 360 had the emergency AA modification of 1945, in which all TT were landed and two quadruple 40mm added, the 20mm battery was reduced to two twin mounts In 1945 DD358 and 359 were con- verted into radar pickets as AG126 and 127, for service with the Operational Development Force, it appears that only Winslow (AG 127), saw much service of this type, and she was laid up in 1950. MAHAN class Displacement: (Mahan) 1488t standard; 2103t full load Dimensions: 334ft wl, 341ft 4in oa x 35ft 5m x 12ft 4m full load 101.80, 104 04 x 10.67 x 3.76m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 49,OOOshp = 36.5kts Oil 201-522t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 5-5in/38 (5x 1), 4-O.5in, 12-2in TT (3x4) Complement: 158 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD364 MAHAN Bethlehem, Staten I 1510.1935 Sunk 7.12 44 DD365 CUMMINGS Bethlehem, Staten I 11.12.1935 BU 1947 DD366 DRAYTON Bath Iron Wks 26.3.1936 BU 1947 DD367 LAMSON Bath Iron Wks 17.6.1936 Expended 2 7.46 DD368 FLUSSER Federal, Kearny 28.9.1935 BU 1948 DD369 REID Federal, Kearny 11 1.1936 Sunk 11 12 44 DD370 CASE Boston N Yd 14 9.1935 BU 1948 DD371 CONYNGHAM Boston N Yd 14 9 1935 Expended 2 7 48 DD372 CASSIN Philadelphia N Yd 28.10.1935 BU 1948 DD373 SHAW Philadelphia N Yd 28.10 1935 BU 1946 DD374 TUCKER Norfolk N Yd 26 2 1936 Sunk 4 8 42 DD375 DOWNES Norfolk N Yd 22 4 1936 BU 1948 DD376 CUSHING Puget Sound N Yd 31.12.1935 Sunk 13.11 42 DD377 PERKINS Puget Sound N Yd 31 12 1935 Sunk 29 11.43 DD378 SMITH Mare Island 20.2 1936 BU 1947 N Yd 125
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate DD379 PRESTON Mare Island N Yd 22.4 1936 Sunk 14.1.42 DD380 DUNLAP Bethlehem, Staten I 18.4.1936 BU 1948 DD381 FANNING Bethlehem, Staten I 18.9.1936 BU 1948 These ships are significant for later US warship development because they introduced what were, for the time, extreme steam conditions; their boilers, suitably developed and enlarged, powered most of the warships whose long endurance was so important for Pacific warfare. At the same time it proved possible to add four more TT at no loss in gun battery: a quadruple tube was substituted for No 3 gun of the Farragut, which in turn was moved aft to the shelter deck, and length was conserved by moving the two waist tubes out to either beam. The total broadside thus remained unchanged, but there were now', in effect, four reload torpedoes. Another major innovation was the provi- sion of gun crew’ shelters for the superimposed weapons fore and aft. In the last two ships built to this basic design, Dunlap and Fanning, both forward guns were mounted in fully enclosed gunhouses, as in later ships, and consequently there was no need for a forward gun crew shelter. On trials, Mahan made 44,477 shp = 37 8kts at 1749t. Tw'o ships of this class, Cassin and Downes, were almost completely destroyed at Pearl Harbor, their machinery and main batteries were installed on new hulls built at Mare Island. They were unique in having only two banks of torpedo tubes, both on the centreline, and had Admiralty-style bndgework. Three very similar ships were built for the Brazilian Navy, their weapons apparently supplied by the United States Greenhalgh, Mans E Barros, and Marciho Dias. As refitted in 1943-44, these ships had 4-5in, 2 twin 40mm, and 5 (8 before 40mm fitted) 20mm. Further increases were planned m 1945. in January the two waist TT were to be removed, and the twin Bofors replaced by quadruple mounts. Only DD367 w-as so refitted; in June, as part of the emergency AA refit programme, the third TT was to be removed, and 2 twin 40mms mounted between the funnels. There would also be 4 twin 20mm. In fact only Shaw was so refitted, she proved badly top-heavy, and had to have her No 3 5m gun landed BAGLEY class Displacement: (Bagley) I646t standard; 2245t full load Dimensions: 334ft wl, 341 ft 4in oa x 35ft 6in x 12ft lOin full load 101 80, 104 04 x 10 82 x 3.91m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 49,000shp = 38 5kts Oil 337-504t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 4-5in/38, 4-0.5in, 16-21in TT (4x4) Complement: 158 No Name Builder Launched fate DD386 BAGLEY Norfolk N Yd 3.9.1936 BU 1947 DD387 BLUE Norfolk N Yd 27 5 1937 Sunk 22.8 42 DD388 HELM Norfolk N Yd 27.5.1937 BU 1947 DD389 MUGFORD Boston N Yd 31 10 1936 Expended 22 3 48 DD390 RALPH TALBOT Boston N Yd 31.10.1936 Expended 8.3 48 DD391 HENLEY Mare Island N Yd 11.1 1937 Sunk 3 10.43 DD392 PATTERSON Puget Sound N Yd 6.5.1937 BU 1947 DD393 JARVIS Puget Sound N Yd 6.5.1937 Sunk 9.8 42 The Mahan class represented, in effect, an attempt to achieve maximum des- troyer gun battery at the possible expense of torpedo battery, it was alleged, for example, that the raised centreline torpedo tube might well be ineffective in combat. Before any Mahans had been completed to test this view, a new destroyer class was designed, trading one gun for a fourth bank of torpedo tubes The resulting ship still had a broadside of only eight tubes, but by 1936 it appeared that torpedoes could beset to turn through wide angles after launch, so that a single ship could fire all sixteen torpedoes in a single heavy salvo. These ships fall into two groups: Bethlehem Steel built four Gndleys (DD38O, 382, 400 and 401) and the Navy Yards built eight Bagleys (DD386-393). It appears that the former were much flimsier, perhaps for higher speed (for w hich bonuses were paid); they alone of modern US destroyers recei\ ed no 40mm guns in wartime, only (ultimately) 8-20mm. All ships has 2 DC racks 'I rials figures were47,265shp = 38.99ktsat 1774t (Grid/ry), and 47,191shp = 36 Sktsat 1969t (Blue) In 1945 all four Gndleys lost two TT banks upon re-assignment to the Atlantic Fleet. The Bagleys, on the other hand, were fitted with a twin Bofors aft, plus 6-20mm, without loss of other armament, prior to the emergency AA refit programme of 1945, when all four TT banks would have been removed. The emergency battery envisaged, 2 quadruple and 2 twin Bofors, and 2 twin 20mm, was not fitted to any of these ships. GRIDLEY class Displacement: (Gndley) 1590t standard; 2219t full load Dimensions: 334ft wl, 340ft 10m oa x 35ft 10m x 12ft 9in full load 101.80, 103.89 x 10.67 x 3.89m Machinery: 2-shaft Bethlehem turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 50,000shp = 38.5kts. Oil 194-525t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 4-5in/38 (4X 1), 4-0.5in 16-2lin TT (4x4) Complement: 158 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD38O GRIDLEY Bethlehem, Quincy 1.12.1936 BU 1947 DD382 CRAVEN Bethlehem, Quincy 25.2.1937 BU 1947 DD400 McCALL Bethlehem, San Francisco 20 11.1937 BU 1948 DD401 MAURY Bethlehem, San 14.2.1938 BU 1946 Francisco Mugford m Feb 1945 USN 126
Destroyers SOMERS class Displacement- Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: (Sampson) 2047t standard; 2767t full load 372ft wl, 381ft oa x 36ft Ilin x 12ft 5m full load 113.39, 116.13 x 11.25 x 3.78m 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 52,OOOshp = 37kts. Oil 23O-627t, range 7500nm at 15kts 8-5in/38 (4x2), 8-1.lin (2x4), 2-0 Sin, 12-21in TT 294 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD381 SOMERS Federal, Kearny 13.3.1937 DD383 WARRINGTON Federal, Kearny 15.5.1937 DD394 SAMPSON Bath Iron Wks 16.4.1937 DD395 DAVIS Bath Iron Wks 30.7.1938 DD396 JOUETT Bath Iron Wks 24.9.1938 BU 1947 Sunk 13.9.44 BU 1946 BU 1947 BU 1946 These five ships were mod fied versions of the Porter class, with a single funnel and three rather than two banks of TT: they had the most powerful torpedo broadside in the US Na\\ when completed. They were also extremely top- heavy; initial wartime modifications included the removal of one bank of tubes as well as No 3 gunhouse The ultimate battery envisaged matched that of the Porters, except that No 2 position was to be occupied by a twin rather than a quadruple 40mm gun - a measure of their lesser reserve of stability. Only two ships, DD395 and 396, were rebuilt, and both ultimately received the emergency A A refit as well, with a total of 14-40mm guns and 2 twin 20mms. Trials figures (Somers) were 51,525shp — 39.4kls at 2139t. Jouitt at New York in 1939 C5.V BENHAM class Displacement: (Benham) 1657t standard; 2250t full load Dimensions: 334ft wl, 340ft 9 in oa x 35ft 6in x 12ft lOin 101.80, 103 86 x 10.82 x 3 91m Machinery: 2-shaft \\ estinghouse turbines, 3 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 50,000shp = 38 5kls Oil 194—484t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament 4-5in/38, 4-0 5in, 16-21in TT (4x4) Complement: 184 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD397 BENHAM Federal, Kearny 16.4.1938 Sunk 15.11.42 DD398 ELLET Federal, Kearny 11.6.1938 BU 1947 DD399 LANG Federal, Kearny 27.8.1938 BU 1947 DD402 MAYRANT Boston N Yd 14.5.1938 Expended 4.4.48 DD403 TRIPPE Boston N Yd 14.5.1938 Expended 3.2.48 DD404 RHIND Philadelphia 28.7.1938 Expended 22.3 48 N Yd DD405 ROWAN Norfolk N Yd 5.5.1938 Sunk 10 9 43 DD406 STACK Norfolk N Yd 5.5.1938 Expended 24 4.48 DD407 STERETT Charleston 27.10.1938 BU 1947 N Yd DD408 WILSON Puget Sound 12.4.1939 Expended 8.3.48 N Yd These ships were simple derivatives of the Bagleys with three rather than four boilers: hence the much less prominent trunked uptakes. All four guns were mounted on base-ring mountings, where previously only Nos 1 and 2 had been so mounted. It is perhaps worth noting that these ships, and indeed all the new classes back to the Mahans, had been designed in the almost total lack of operational experience with modern destroyers; by 1935, when the Benhams were in the design stage, complaints as to the flimsiness of the Farraguts were beginning to be heard, On trials, Benham reached 49,250shp = 37.9ktsat2038t. Some of the Benhams were the earliest of the US ‘fleet’ destroyers to be assigned to Atlantic escort duty in 1940; they were refitted for ASW service, and two after banks of tubes removed as space and weight compensation for a Y-gun, depth charges and light AA weapons. Later even the Pacific Fleet units were similarly modified, all surviving vessels ultimately receiving a pair of twin 40mm aft, as well as 4-20mm. Three units (DD399, 407 and 408) received the 1945 emergency AA modification, surrendering their remaining pair of TT in favour of two more twin 40mm, each single 20mm was replaced by a twin mount. SIMS class Displacement: (Sims) 1764t standard; 2313t full load Dimensions: 341ft wl, 348ft 4in oa x 36ft x 12ft lOin full load 103.94, 106.17 x 10.97 x 3.9lm Machinery. 2-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 3 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 50,000shp = 35kts. Oil 298-459t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 5-5m/38, 4-0 5in, 8-2lin TT (2x4) Complement: 192 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD409 SIMS Bath Iron Wks 8.4.1938 Sunk 7 5 42 DD410 HUGHES Bath Iron Wks 17.6.1939 Expended 16 10.48 DD41I ANDERSON Federal, Kearny 4.2.1939 Expended 1.7.46 DD412 HAMMANN Federal, Kearny 4.2.1939 Sunk 6.6.42 DD413 MUSTIN Newport News 8.12.1938 Expended 18.4.48 DD414 RUSSELL Newport News 8.12.1938 BU 1947 DD415 O’BRIEN Boston N Yd 20.10.1939 Sunk 19 10.42 DD416 WALKE Boston N Yd 20.10.1939 Sunk 14 11.42 DD417 MORRIS Norfolk N Yd 1 6.1939 BU 1947 DD418 ROE Charleston 21.6.1939 BU 1947 N Yd DD419 WAINWRIGHT Norfolk N Yd 1.6.1939 Expended 2.7.48 DD420 BUCK Philadelphia 22.5.1939 Sunk 9.10.43 N Yd In 1936 the Chief of Nasal Operations completed a review of US destroyer design At the same time the new London Naval Treaty shifted the limit on destroyer tonnage from a limit per ship (retaining, however, an upper limit of 3000 tons) to a limit on total tonnage; however the need for large numbers of destroyers, and a desire to avoid a radical shift which would require a long design period, made it advisable not to exceed the old 1500-ton limit by very much: the Sims class was designed to displace 1570 tons, although in fact all came out quite heavy. A reappraisal of the destroyer’s role in the standard US scenario of a fight across the Pacific led to restoration of the fifth 5in gun, and in fact the Mahan arrangement was repeated. However, as ships were completed grossly over- weight (in some cases they were 120 tons over in light condition), the Bureau of Construction and Repair proposed a variety of revisions including mounting two banks of tubes on the centreline, thus eliminating one of the waist banks. The broadside was unchanged, and in fact now the after bank of tubes could be used in more severe weather This was accepted in September 1939, and many ships w ere completed to the new standard The tubes thus made surplus were instal- led on board the new Atlanta class AA cruisers. 2 DC racks (10 charges) were carried. One important source of overw-eight in these ships was the engineering plant; there had been poor communication between the overall designers, in the Bureau of Construction and Repair, and the machinery designers, in the Bureau of Engineering. Consequently these two organisations were merged into the New Bureau of Ships m 1940; that still left an independent Bureau of Ordnance responsible for armour, guns and gun mountings. In effect these ships, as redesigned, were the prototypes for the large series of Benson-Livermore class destroyers Thes introduced the new Mk 37 Gun Fire Control System, which for the first time in a destroyer required a computer room below decks, but 127
UNITED STATES Rot in 1943 USN which was to be extremely successful during World War II. Sims achieved 45,340shp = 35 4kls at 2220t on trials. The enure class served tn the Atlantic prior to the outbreak of war, modifica- tions for escort work included the elimination of No 3 5in gun in favour of a Y-gun and automatic weapons, and later all received a pair of twin 40mm in the former No 3 posiuon; they also had 4-20mm. Three were refitted in 1945: DD413,414and 417. They received two more twin 40mm m lieu of their tubes; in DD4I4, two single 20mm were replaced by twins. BENSON/GLEAVES class Displacement: (Niblaclt) 1839 standard; 2395t full load Dimensions: 341ft wl , 348ft 4in oa x 36ft lin x 13ft 2in full load 103 94, 106 17 x 11 00 x 4 01m Machinery: 2-shaft Wesunghousc turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 50,OOOshp = 35kts Oil 302—453t, range 6500nm at 12kts Armament: 5-5in/38 !, 6-0 5in, 10-21in TT (2x5). See notes Complement: 208 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD421 BENSON Bethlehem, 15 11 1939 To Taiwan Quincy 26.2 54, stricken 1975 DD422 MAYO Bethlehem, 26 3.1940 Stricken 1.12.70 Quincy DD423 GLEAVES Bath Iron Wks 9 12 1939 Stricken 1 11 69, DD424 preserved NIBLACK Bath Iron Wks 18.5.1940 Stricken 31.7 68 BU DD425 MADISON Boston N Yd 20.10 1939 Stricken 1.6 68 DD426 LANSDALE Boston N Yd 20 10 1939 Sunk 20 4.44 DD427 HILARY P Charleston 14.12.1939 To Taiwan 26.2.54, JONES N Yd stricken 1975 DD428 CHARLES F Puget Sound 16 5 1940 Stricken 1 6 68, HUGHES N Yd target DD429 LIVERMORE Bath Iron Wks 3 8 1940 Expended 1950 (ex-Grayson) DD430 EBERLE Bath Iron Wks 14.9.1940 To Greece Apr 1951, stricken 1972 DD431 PLUNKETT Federal, Kearny 9 3 1940 ToTaiwan 16.2 59, stricken 1975 DD432 KEARNY Federal, Kearny 9 3.1940 Stricken 16 71 DD433 GWIN Boston N Yd 25.5 1940 Sunk 13.7.43 DD434 MEREDITH Boston N Yd 24.4 1940 Sunk 15 10.40 DD435 GRAYSON Charleston 7.8 1940 Stricken 16 71 (cx-Livermore) N Yd DD436 MONSSEN Puget Sound 16 5 1940 Sunk 13.11.42 N Yd DD437 WOOLSEY Bath Iron Wks 12 2 1941 Stricken 1.7.71 DD438 LUDLOW Bath Iron Wks 11 11 1940 To Greece 21.1 51, stricken 1972 DD439 EDISON Federal, Kearny 23 II 1940 Stricken 1 4 66 DD440 ERICSSON Federal, Kearny 23 11 1940 Stricken 1 6.70 DD441 WILKES Boston N Yd 31 5 1940 Stricken 1970 DD442 NICHOLSON Boston N Yd 31 5 1940 To Italy 15.1 51 DD443 SWANSON Charleston 2 11 1940 Stricken 1970 N Yd DD444 INGRAHAM Charleston 15.2 1941 Sunk 22.8.42 N Yd DD453 BRISTOL Federal, Kcarn у 25 7.1941 Sunk 12 10.43 DD454 ELLYSON Federal, Kearny 25 7.1941 To Jap m 19.10.54, to Taiwan 1970 DD455 HAMBLETON Federal, Kearny 26 9 1941 Stricken 1.6.71 DD456 RODMAN Federal, Kearny 26.9.1941 To Taiwan 28.7.55, expended 1976 DD457 EMMONS Bath Iron Wks 23 8 1941 Sunk 6 4.45 DD458 MACOMB Bath Iron Wks 23 9 1941 To Jap in 19 10 54, to 1 uwan 19 0 DD459 LAFFEY Bethlehem, San Francisco 29 11 1941 Sunk 13 11 42 DD460 WOOD- WORTH Bethlehem, San Francisco 29.11.1941 To Italy 25.5.51 DD461 FORREST Boston N Yd 14 6 1941 BU 1946 DD462 I ITCH Boston N Yd 14 6 1941 Stricken 1 7 71 DD463 CORRY Charleston N Yd 28 7 1941 Sunk 6 6 44 DD464 HOBSON Charleston N Yd 8 9 1941 Sunk 27 4 52 DD483 AARON WARDFederal, Kearny 22.11 1941 Sunk 7 4.43 DD484 BUCHANAN Federal, Kearny 22.11 1941 To Turkey 28 4 49, stricken 1976 DD485 DUNCAN Federal, Kearny 20.2.1942 Sunk 12.10 42 DD486 LANSDOW NE Federal, Kearny 20 2 1942 To Turkey 28 4 49, stricken 1973 DD487 LARDNER Federal, Kearny 20.3 1942 To Turkey 28 4 49, stricken 1974 DD488 McCalla Federal, Kearny 20 3.1942 To'Turkey 28 4 49, stricken 1973 DD489 MERV1NE Federal, Kearny 3 5 1942 Stricken 1 7 68, BU DD490 QUICK Federal, Kearny 3 5 1942 Stricken 15 1 72 DD491 FARENHOLT Bethlehem, Staten I 19 11.1941 Stricken 1.6 71 DD492 BAILEY Bethlehem, Staten I 19 12 1941 Stricken 1 6 68, BU DD493 CARM1CK Seattle-Tacoma 8 3 1942 Stricken 1 7 71 DD494 DOYLE Seattle-Tacoma 17 3.1942 Stricken 1.12.70 DD495 ENDICOTT Seattle-Tacoma 5 4 1942 Stricken 1 11 69, BU DD496 McCOOK Seattle-Tacoma 30 4 1942 Stricken 15.1.72 DD497 FRANKFORD Seattle-Tacoma 17.5.1942 Stricken 1.6.71 DD598 BANCROFT Bethlehem, Quincy 31.12 1941 Stricken 16 71 DD599 BARTON Bethlehem, Quincy 31 1 1942 Sunk 13 11 42 DD600 BOYLE Bethlehem, Quincy 15 6 1942 Stricken 16 71 DD601 CHAMPLIN Bethlehem, Quincy 25.6.1942 Stricken 2.1.71 DD602 MEADE Bethlehem, Staten I 15 2.1942 Stricken 16 71 DD603 MURPHY Bethlehem, Staten I 29 4.1942 Stricken 1.11.70, BU DD604 PARKER Bethlehem, Staten I 12 5.1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD605 CALDWELL Bethlehem, San Francisco 15.1.1942 Sold for BU 4 11.66 DD606 COGHLAN Bethlehem, San Francisco 12 2 1942 Stricken 1 7.71 DD607 FRAZIER Bethlehem, San Francisco 17 3.1942 Stricken 1 7 71 DD608 GANSEV OORT Bethlehem, San Francisco 11 4.1942 Stricken 1 7 71 DD609 GILLESPIE Bethlehem, San Francisco 8 5.1942 Stricken I 7.71 DD610 HOBBY Bethlehem, San Francisco 4 6.1942 Stricken 1.7 71 DD61I KALK Bethlehem, San Francisco 18 7 1942 Stricken 1 6 68, BU 128
Destroyers No Name Builder Launched Fate DD612 KENDRICK Bethlehem, San Pedro 2 4 1942 Stricken 1.5.66, target DD613 LAUB Bethlehem, San Pedro 28.4.1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD614 MACKENZIE Bethlehem, San Pedro 27.6 1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD615 McLanahan Bethlehem, San Pedro 7.9.1942 Stricken *1.7.71 DD6I6 NIELDS Bethlehem, Quincy 1.10.1942 Stricken 5.9.70, BU DD617 ORDRONAUX Bethlehem, Quincy 9.11.1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD618 DAVISON Federal, Kearny 19.7 1942 Stricken 15.1.72 DD619 ED\X ARDS Federal, Kearny 19.7 1942 Stricken I 7.71 DD620 GLENNON Federal, Kearny 26.8.1942 Sunk 10.6.44 DD621 JEFFERS Federal, Kearny 26.8 1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD622 MADDOX Federal, Kearny 15 9 1942 Sunk 10 7.43 DD623 NELSON Federal, Kearny 15.91942 Stricken 1.3.68, BU DD624 BALDWIN Seattle Tacoma 14.6 1942 Stranded 16.4 61, scuttled DD625 HARDING Seattle-Tacoma 28.6.1942 BU 1947 DD626 SATTERLEE Seattle-Tacoma 17.7 1942 Stricken 1.12.70 DD627 THOMPSON Seattle-Tacoma 10 8.1942 Stricken 1 7.71 DD628 WELLES Seattle-Tacoma 7.9.1942 Stricken 1.3.68, BU DD632 COWIE Boston N Yd 27 9 1941 Stricken 1.12 70 DD633 KNIGHT Boston N Yd 27.9.1941 Stricken 1.6.67, target DD634 DORAN Boston N Yd 10 12 1941 Stricken 15.1 72 DD635 EARLE Boston N Yd 10.12 1941 Stricken 1.12 69, BU DD636 BUTLER Philadelphia N Yd 12.2 1942 BU 1948 DD637 GHERARDI Philadelphia N Yd 12.2.1942 Stricken 1.6.71 DD638 HERNDON Norfolk N Yd 5.2 1942 Stricken 1.7.71 DD629 SHUBRICK Norfolk N Yd 18.4.1942 BU 1947 DD640 BEATTY Charleston N Yd 20.12.1941 Sunk 6 11.43 DD641 TILLMAN Charleston N Yd 20.12 1941 Stricken 1.6.70, BU DD645 STEVENSON Federal, Kearny t 11.11 1941 Sold for BU Apr 1970 DD646 STOCKTON Federal, Kearny 11.11.1941 Stricken 1.7.71 DD647 THORN Federal, Kearny 28 2 1943 Stricken 1.7.71 DD648 TURNER Federal, Kearny 28 2 1943 Sunk 3 1 44 The last destroyers designed and built prewar, these were also the only ones to survive the wave of scrapping at the end of World War II, many were transferred abroad after 1945, but none now- survives They were derived from thcSimi class first by passing from three to four (smaller) boilers arranged en echelon (hence the two funnels) and then by adopting quintuple TT, two banks on the centreline. 1 he Bensons were official!} 1620-ton destroyers, although in fact all were far heavier. The very similar Gleaves class, officially ten tons heavier, could be distinguished by round rather than flat-sided funnels; both groups arc listed together here, the Benson class consisting of DD421, 422, 425-428, 459, 460, 491, 492, and 598-617, the Gleaves class of DD 423, 424, 429-444, 453-458, 461-464, 483-497, 618-641 and 645-648. In fact a more fundamental distinc- tion could be drawn between the original 10-tube 5-gun ships of the 1937-39 Programmes (DD421-444) and later units (DD453 onwards) jrdered with 4-5in guns, 4-40mm (2 x 2), 7-20mm (7x1), 5-2 lin IT (1x5), and 4 or 6 DCTs and 2 DC racks as ultimately armed (other arrangements were used until the 40mm guns became available in some cases). At first DD453—464, ordered in mid-1940, were to have been the last of these ‘small’ destroyers, but in fact production continued as a means of keeping up destroyer deliveries as produc- tion of the much larger Fletchers began Indeed, further (slightly enlarged) Bensons were very nearly ordered for the FY42 programme as a ‘sea control’ type. During 1941 the Navy ordered the elimination of unnecessary curves in super- structures as a time-saver m production, all ten ships built at Seattle-Tacoma (DD493-497 and 624-628) and the last ten built by Federal at Kearny (DD618-623) and 645-648) had square-faced bridges with directors on their pilot houses rather than on pedestals. Trials figures (Livermore) were 50,400shp = 37.58kts at 2O73t. There were many variations in battery; 4-gun ships for a time mounted one quadruple 1 lin machine gun and a 20mm gun aft m place of the assigned battery of two twin Bofors atop the after deckhouse. Of the first senes, ships had five guns and one TT bank for a time, but by late in the war four guns and ten tubes were standard. All tubes were of course eliminated in those ships modified for maximum AA battery in 1945. In 1943, twelve of the later units (DD493, 609, 620, 622, 623, 635, 637-689 and 646-648) were each fitted with three Mousetrap ahead-throwing ASW rocket launchers. The experiment proved a failure, but this was the only such installation in wartime modern US destroyers; only destroyer escorts and the old ‘flush-deckers’ ever received Hedgehog in wartime. Ultimately the standard 10-tube AA battery was 2 twin 40mm and 4-20mm, with provision in DD421—428 and 431 for temporary removal of one bank of lubes in favour of four more 20mm. Ships of both groups received the 1945 refits, which left them with 2 quadruple and 2 twin 40mm, and 2 twin 20mm Twelve Atlantic Fleet Bensons (DD454—458,461,462,464,621,625,636 and 637) were converted into destroyer minesweepers (DMS19-30) in 1944; their TT and No 4 gun were removed. Twelve more (DD489,490,493-496,618,627 and 632-635) followed in 1945 as DMS31-42. Twelve of these DMSs were the only Bensons retained in active service after the war. Livermore about 1944 USN 129
UNITED STATES FLETCHER class Displacement: (Fletcher) 2325t standard, 2924t full load Dimensions: 369ft Im wl, 376ft Sin oa x 39ft 7m x 13ft 9in full load 112 50, 114.73 * 12 07 *4 19m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 60,000shp = 38kts (at 2550t) Oil 492t, range 6S00nm at ISkts Armour: Side 0 75in, deck over machinery 0 Sin Armament: 5-5in/38, 4-1.lin (1X4), 4—20mm, 10-21m TT Complement: 273 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD445 FLETCHER Federal, Kearny 3.5 1942 Stricken 1 8.67, BU DD446 RADFORD Federal, Kearny 3 5.1942 Stricken 15.7.69, BU DD447 JENKINS Federal, Kearny 21 6 1942 Stricken 2.7 69, BU DD448 LA VALLETTE Federal, Kearny 21.6.1942 Stricken 1 2.74 DD449 NICHOLAS Bath Iron Wks 19 2.1942 Stricken 30.1.70, BU DD4S0 O’BANNON Bath Iron Wks 14 3.1942 Stricken 30 1.70, BU DD451 CHEVALIER Bath Iron Wks 11.4.1942 Sunk 7 10 43 DD452 PERCIVAL Federal, Kearny — Cancelled 7 1.46 DD465 SAUFLEY Federal, Kearny 19 7.1942 Stricken 1.9.66, target DD466 WALLER Federal, Kearny 15.8.1942 Stricken 15.7.69, target DD467 STRONG Bath Iron Wks 17 5 1942 Sunk 5 7.43 DD468 TAYLOR Bath Iron Wks 7.6 1942 To Italy 2 7.69 DD469 DE HAVEN Bath Iron Wks 28 6 1942 Sunk 1 2.43 DD470 BACHE Bethlehem, Staten I 27 7 1942 Stricken 1 3 68 DD471 BEALE Bethlehem, Staten I 24.8 1942 Stricken 1.10 68 DD472 GUEST a Boston N Yd 20.2 1942 To Brazil 5.6.59, stricken 1978 DD473 BENNETT Boston N Yd 16 4 1942 To Brazil 15.12.59, stricken 1978 DD474 FULLAM Boston N Yd 16 4 1942 Expended 7.7.62 DD475 HUDSON Boston N Yd 3 6 1942 Stricken 1.12.72 DD476 HUTCHINS Boston N Yd 20 2 1942 BU 1948 DD477 PRINGLE Charleston N Yd 2 5 1942 Sunk 16.4.45 DD478 STANLY Charleston N Yd 2.5.1942 Stricken 1.12.70 DD479 STEVENS Charleston N Yd 24 6 1942 Stricken 1971 DD480 HALFORD Puget Sound N Yd 29 10.1942 Stricken 1.5.68, BU DD481 LEUTZE Puget Sound N Yd 29 10 1942 BU 1947 DD482 WATSON Federal, Kearny — Cancelled 7.1.46 DD498 PHILIP Federal, Kearny 13 10 1942 Stricken 1 10.68, BU DD499 RENSHAW Federal, Kearny 13 10 1942 Stricken 14 1.70, BU DD500 RINGGOLD Federal, Kearny 11.11 1942 To W Germany 14.7 59, stricken 1972 DDS01 SCHROEDER Federal, Kearny 11.11.1942 Stricken 1.10.72 DD5O2 SIGSBEE Federal, Kearny 7 12.1942 Stricken 1.12 74 DD503 STEVENSON — — Cancelled DD504 STOCKTON — — Cancelled DD5O5 THORN — — Cancelled DD506 TURNER — — Cancelled DD5O7 CONWAY Bath Iron Wks 16 8 1942 Stricken 15.11 69, BU DD5O8 CONY Bath Iron Wks 16 8.1942 Stricken 2.7.69, target DD509 CONVERSE Bath Iron Wks 30.8.1942 To Spam 15 7 59 DD510 EATON Bath Iron Wks 20.9 1942 Stricken 2.7.69 DD511 FOOTE Bath Iron Wks 11.10.1942 Stricken 1.10.72 DD512 SPENCE Bath Iron Wks 27.10 1942 Sunk 18.12 1944 DD513 TERRY Bath Iron Wks 22.11 1942 Stricken Apr 1974 DD514 THATCHER Bath Iron Wks 6 12 1942 BU 1948 DD515 ANTHONY Bath Iron Wks 20 12 1942 To W Germany 17.1.58 DD516 WADSWORTH Bath Iron Wks 10.1.1943 To W Germany 6.10.59 DD517 WALKER Bath Iron Wks 31.1.1943 To Italy 2.7 69, stricken 1977 DD518 BROWN SON Bethlehem, Staten I 24 9 1942 Sunk 26.12.43 DD519 DALY Bethlehem, Staten I 24 10 1942 Stricken 1.12 74 DD520 ISHERWOOD Bethlehem, Staten I 24.10 1942 To Peru 15.12.60 DD521 KIMBERLY Bethlehem, Staten I 4 2 1942 To Taiwan 1 6 67 DD522 LUCE Bethlehem, Staten I 6.3.1943 Sunk 3.5.45 DD526 ABNER READ Bethlehem, San Francisco 18 8 1942 Sunk 1 11 44 DD527 AMMEN Bethlehem, San Francisco 17.9.1942 BU 1961 DD528 MULLANY (ex-Beatty) Bethlehem, San Francisco 10 10 1942 To Taiwan 6 10.71 DD529 BUSH Bethlehem, San Francisco 27.10.1942 Sunk 6.4.45 DD53O TRATHEN Bethlehem, San Francisco 22.10 1942 Expended 1.11.72 DD531 HA7FLWOOD Bethlehem, San Francisco 20 11 1942 Stricken 1.12.74 DD532 HEERMANN Bethlehem, San Francisco 5.12 1942 To Argentina 1 8.61, stricken 1977 DD533 HOEL Bethlehem, San Francisco 19.12.1942 Sunk 25.10.44 DD534 McCORD Bethlehem, San Francisco 10 1 1943 Expended 1 11.72 DD535 MILLER Bethlehem, San Francisco 7.3,1943 Stricken 1 12 74 DD536 OWEN Bethlehem, San Francisco 21.3.1943 Stricken 15 4.73 DD537 THE SULLIVANS (ex Putnam) Bethlehem, San Francisco 4 4.1943 Preserved 1974 DD538 STEPHEN POTTER Bethlehem, San Erancisco 28 4 1943 Stricken 1 12 72 DD539 TINGEY Bethlehem, San Francisco 28 5.1943 Stricken 1 11 65, target DD540 TWINING Bethlehem, San Francisco 11.7.1943 To Taiwan 6.10.71 DD541 YARNALL Bethlehem, San Francisco 25 7 1943 To Taiwan 10 6.68 DD544 BOYD Bethlehem, San Pedro 29.10.1942 To Turkey 1 10.69 DD545 BRADFORD Bethlehem, San Pedro 12.12 1942 To Greece 27 9 62 DD546 BROWN Bethlehem, San Pedro 21 2.1943 To Greece 27.9.62 DD547 COWELL Bethlehem, San Pedro 18 3 1943 To Argentina 17.8 71 DD55O CAPPS Gulf SB 31 5 1942 To Spain 15 5 57 DD551 DAVID W TAYLOR Gulf SB 4 7.1942 To Spain 15 5 57, stricken 1978 DD552 EVANS Gulf SB 4 10 1942 BU 1947 DD553 JOHN D HENLEY Gulf SB 15.11.1942 BU 1970 DD554 FRANKS Seattle-Tacoma 7.12 1942 Stricken 1 12.74 DD555 HAGGARD Seattle-Tacoma 9 2 1943 BU 1946 DD556 HAILEY Seattle-Tacoma 9 3.1943 To Brazil 20 7 61 DD557 JOHNSTON Seattle-Tacoma 25 3.1943 Sunk 24.10.44 DD558 LAWS Seattle-Tacoma 22 4 1943 Stpckcn 15.4 73 DD559 LONGSHAW Seattle-Tacoma 4 6 1943 Sunk 18 5 45 DD560 MORRISON Seattle-Tacoma 4.7.1943 Sunk 3 5 45 DD561 PRICHETT Seattle-Tacoma 31.7.1943 To Italy 10.1.70, stricken 1975 DD562 ROBINSON Seattle-Tacoma 28 8 1943 Stricken 1 12.74 DD563 ROSS Seattle-Tacoma 10 9 1943 Stricken 1 12 74 DD564 ROWE Seattle Tacoma 30.9.1943 Stricken 1.12.74 DD565 SMALLEY Seattle Tacoma 17 10 1943 BU 1966 DD566 STODDARD Seattle-Tacoma 19 11 1943 Expended 1 6 75 DD567 WATTS Seattle-Tacoma 31 12 1943 Stricken 1.2 74 DD568 WREN Seattle-Tacoma 29 1.1944 Stricken 1.12.74 DD569 AULICK Consolidated, Orange 2 3.1942 To Greece 21.8 59 DD57O CHARLES AUSBURNE Consolidated, Orange 6 3.1942 To W Germany 12.4.60, BU 1967 DD571 CLAXTON Consolidated, Orange 1 4 1942 To W Germany 15.12 59 130
Destroyers USN Ktdd at Hunter’s Point in July 1945 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD658 COLAHAN Bethlehem, Staten I 3.5.1943 Stricken 1.8.66, target DD572 DYSON Consolidated, 15.4.1942 To W Germany DD659 DASHIELL Federal, Kearny 6 2.1943 Stricken 1.12 74 Orange 17.2.60 DD660 BULLARD Federal, Kearny 28.2.1943 Stricken 1.12 72 DD573 HARRISON Consolidated, 7.5.1942 To Mexico DD661 KIDD Federal, Kearny 28.2 1943 Stricken 1 12.74 Orange Aug 1970 Stricken 15.4.71 DD574 JOHN Consolidated, 7.5.1942 To Mexico DD662 BENNION Boston N Yd 4.7.1943 RODGERS Orange Aug 1970 DD663 HEYWOOD L Boston N Yd 6 10.1943 To Japan 10.3.59, DD575 McKEE Consolidated, 2.8.1942 Stricken 1 10.72 EDWARDS BU 1976 Orange DD664 RICHARD P Boston N Yd 6.10.1943 To Japan 10 3.59, DD576 MURRAY Consolidated, 16.8.1942 BU 1966 LEARY BU 1976 Orange DD665 BRYANT Charleston 29.5.1943 Stricken 1.6 68 DD577 SPROSTON Consolidated, 31.8.1942 Stricken 1.10.68, N Yd Orange BU DD666 BLACK Federal, Kearny 28.3 1943 Stricken 21.9.69 DD578 WICK PS Consolidated, 13.9.1942 Expended 1.11.72 DD667 CHAUNCEY Federal, Kearny 28.3.1943 Stricken 1.10 72 Orange DD668 CLARENCE К Federal, Kearny 18 4.1943 To Turkey 14 1.67 DD579 WILLIAM D Consolidated, 27.9.1942 Sunk 10.6.45 BRONSON PORTER Orange DD669 COTTEN Federal, Kearny 12.6.1943 Stricken 1 12.74 DD58O YOUNG Consolidated, 11.10.1942 Stricken 1.5.68, DD670 DORTCH Federal, Kearny 20.6.1943 To Argentina Orange BU 1.8.61, DD581 CHARRETTE Boston N Yd 3 6 1942 To Greece 15.6 59 stricken 1977 DD582 CONNER Boston N Yd 18.7.1942 To Greece 15.9 59 DD671 GATLING Federal, Kearny 20.6 1943 Stricken 1 12 74 DD583 HALL Boston N Yd 18.7.1942 To Greece 9.2 60 DD672 HEALY Federal, Kearny 4 7 1943 Stricken 1.12.74 DD584 HALLIGAN Boston N Yd 19.3.1943 Sunk 26 3.45 DD673 HICKOX Federal, Kearny 4 7.1943 To S Korea DD585 HARADEN Boston N Yd 19.3.1943 Expended 1.11.72 15 11 68 DD586 NEWCOMB Boston N Yd 4.7.1943 BU 1947 DD674 HUNT Federal, Kearny 1.8.1943 Stricken 1.12 74 DD587 BELL Charleston 24.6.1942 Expended 1.11.72 DD675 LEWIS Federal, Kearny 1.8.1943 To Brazil 2.8.67 N Yd HANCOCK DD588 BURNS Charleston 8 8 1942 Expended 1 11 72 DD676 MARSHALL Federal, Kearny 29.8.1943 Stricken 12.7.69, N Yd BU DD589 IZARD Charleston 8.8.1942 Stricken 1.5.68, DD677 McDERMUT Federal, Kearny 17 10.1943 Stricken 1.4 65, N Yd BU BU DD590 PAUL Charleston 7.4.1943 Stricken 1.5.68, DD678 McGOWAN Federal, Kearny 14.11.1943 To Spain 31.11.60 HAMILTON N Yd BU DD679 McNAIR Federal, Kearny 14.11.1943 Stricken 1.12.74 DD591 TWIGGS Charleston 7.4 1943 Sunk 16 6 45 DD680 MELVIN Federal, Kearny 17.10.1943 Stricken 1.12 74 N Yd DD681 HOPEWELL Bethlehem, 2 5 1943 Stricken 2 1 70 DD592 HOWORT H Puget Sound 10 1 1943 Expended 8.3.62 San Pedro N Yd DD682 PORTER* Bethlehem, 13 6.1943 Expended 1 3 75 DD593 KILLEN Puget Sound 10.1.1943 Stricken 1.1.63, FIELD San Pedro N Yd target 1967 DD683 STOCKHAM Bethlehem, San 25.6.1943 Stricken 1.12.74 DD594 HART (ex- Puget Sound 25.9.1944 Stricken 15 4 73 DD684 WEDDER- Francisco Mansfuld) N Yd Bethlehem, San 1.8 1943 Stricken 1.10 69, DD595 METCALFE Puget Sound 25.9.1944 Stricken 2.1.71 BURN Francisco BU N Yd DD685 PICKING Bethlehem, 1 6.1943 Expended 1 3 75 DD596 SHIELDS Puget Sound 25 9.1944 To Brazil 1 7.72 Staten I N Yd DD686 HALSEY Bethlehem, 30.6.1943 To S Korea 27.4.68 DD597 WILEY Puget Sound 25.9.1944 Stricken 1.5.68, POWELL Staten I N Yd BU DD687 UHLMANN Bethlehem, 30.7.1943 Stricken 15 7 72 DD629 ABBOT Bath Iron Wks 17.2.1943 Stricken 1 12 74 Staten I DD630 BRAINE Bath Iron \X ks 7 3 1943 To Argentina DD688 REMEY Bath Iron Wks 25 7.1943 Stricken 1 12 74 1 8 61 DD689 WADLEIGH Bath Iron Wks 7 8.1943 To Chile DD631 ERBEN Bath Iron Wks 21.3 1943 To S Korea 1.5.63 July 1962 DD642 HALE Bath Iron Wks 4 4.1943 To Colombia DD690 NORMAN Bath Iron Wks 28.8.1943 Stricken 15.4.73 Dec 1960, SCOTT stricken 1973 DD691 MERTZ Bath Iron Wks 11.9 1943 Stricken 1 10 70 DD643 SIGOURNEY Bath Iron Wks 24.4.1943 Stricken 1.12 74 DD792 CALLAGHAN Bethlehem, 1.8.1943 Sunk 28.7.45 DD64 STEMBEL Bath Iron Wks 8 5 1943 To Argentina 1.8.61 San Pedro DD649 ALBER T W Charleston 29.5.1943 Stricken 14.4 71 DD793 CASSIN Bethlehem, 12.9.1943 Stricken 1.12 74 GRANT N Yd San Pedro DD65O CAPER TON Bath Iron Wks 22.5 1943 Stricken 1.12 74 DD794 IRWIN Bethlehem, 31.10 1943 To Brazil 10.5.68, DD651 COGSWELL Bath Iron Wks 5.6 1943 'To Turkey 1 10 69 DD795 PRESTON San Pedro extant 1980 DD652 ING I RSOLL Bath Iron Wks 28 6 1943 Stricken 20.1.70, Bethlehem, 12.12.1943 To Turkey BU San Pedro 15.11.69 DD653 KNAPP Bath Iron Wks 10.7 1943 Stricken 6 3 72 DD796 BENHAM Bethlehem, 30 8.1943 To Peru 8.10.61 DD654 BEARSS Gulf SB 25.7.1943 Stricken 1.12.74 Staten I DD655 JOHN HOOD Gulf SB 25.10 1943 Stricken 1.12.74 DD797 CUSHING Bethlehem, 30 9.1943 To Brazil 20 7.61, DD656 VAN VAI - Gulf SB 19.12 1943 To Turkey 28 2.67 Staten I extant 1980 KINBURGH DD798 MONSSEN Bethlehem, 30 10 1943 BU 1964 DD657 CHARLES J Bethkhem 3.4 1943 Stricken 1970 Staten I BADGER Staten I DD799 JARVIS Seattle-Tacoma 14 2.1944 To Spain 3 11 60 131
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate DD800 PORTER Seattle-Tacoma 13 3 1944 Stricken 1 10.72 DD80I COLHOUN Seattle-Tacoma 10 4.1944 Sunk 6.4 45 DD802 GREGORY Seattle-Tacoma 8 5 1944 Stricken 1 5.66, training ship DD803 LITTLE Seattle-Tacoma 22 5 1944 Sunk 3 5 1945 DD804 ROOKS Seattle-Tacoma 6 6 1944 To Chile July 1962 This was by far the largest class of US destroyers, and the first to break completely with design practices which had been built up under the London Treaty of 1930 The great jump in displacement, to an official figure of 2100 tons, permuted them to mount a multiple machine gun (at first the quadruple 1. lin weapon) as well as 5-5in/38 and 10 TT; moreover, it guaranteed enough reserve buoyancy and stability to permit retention of all 5in gunsand TT even as the AA battery increased to 5 twin 40mm and 7-20mm. The flush deck hull added strength, but reduced internal hull volume, so that the new design was perceived as somewhat cramped even before the ships were laid down Most older Navy men regard the Fletchers as the most satisfactory of US destroyers, far belter than the overweight Sumners which succeeded them (and whose construction was interleaved with theirs). As in the case of the Bensons, the Navy ordered a simplified superstructure wherever possible to speed production; the new bridge design also increased the ov erhead view available to the captain; this modifcation applied to DD518-522, 526-541, 544-547, 554-568, 581-591, 594-597, 629-644, 649-691 and 792-804 Most gaps in the numerical scries of Fletchers are due to repeat Bensons, but there were also a few cancellations (DD523-525, 542, 543 and 548-549 on 16 December 1940) as well as abortive experimental ships (DD452 and 482, for experimental engineering plants, and 503-506, which would have been light destroyers). Of the ships completed, six were to have had a catapult in place of No 3 gun and No 2 TT bank, with 2—40mm (1 x 2) and 8-20mm (DD476-481) but in fact only three (DD477, 479 and 480) were so modified, and they proved disappointing, although at least one saw combat m this form All ships were fitted with 6 DCTs and 2 DC racks On trials, Stembel reached 60,000shp = 35. Ikts at 2800t. The Fletchers ran through several configurations of light AA, most notably 3 twin 40mm plus 10(11 in high bridge ships) 20mm and then 5 twin 40mm plus 7-20mm; the two additional twin 40mm were added forward of the bridge. Some ships were modified for increased AA firepower in 1945, one TT bank being removed and two twnn Bofors replaced by two quadruple mounts. Some Fletchers withdrawn from reserve during the Korean War were similarly mod- ified In 1945-47 nearlv all ships of this class were reduced to reserve, but many were reactivated upon the outbreak of the Korean War, 39 being converted nto a new 4-gun, 5-tube, 3in/5O configuration. Haynesworth as completed with ‘Admiralty’ stylcbridge ALLEN M SUMNER class Displacement: (Blue) 2610t standard; 3218t full load Dimensions: 369ft wl, 376ft 6m oa x 40ft lOin x 14ft 2in full load 112.48, 114.76 x 12.45 x 4.32m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 60,000shp = 36 5kts Oil 379-504t, range ЗЗООпт at 20kts Armament: 6-5in/38 (3x2), 12-40mm (2x4, 2x2), Il-20mm, 10-2lin TT. See notes Complement: 336 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD692 ALLEN M SUMNER Federal, Kearny 15 12.1943 Stricken 15 8.73 DD693 MO ALE Federal, Kearny 16 1.1944 To Greece July 1972 DD694 INGRAHAM Federal, Kearny 16 1 1944 To Greece July 1971 DD695 COOPER Federal, Kearny 9 2 1944 Sunk 3.12 44 DD696 ENGLISH Federal, Kearny 27 2 1944 To Taiwan 11 8 70 DD697 CHARLES S SPERRY Federal, Kearny 13 3 1944 To Chile 8 1.74 DD698 AULT Federal, Kearny 26 3 1944 Stricken 16.7.73 DD699 WALDRON Federal, Kearny 26.3.1944 To Colombia 30.10 73 DD700 HAYNS- WORTH Federal, Kearny 15.4.1944 To Taiwan 12.5.70 DD701 JOHN W WEEKS Federal, Kearny 21.5.1944 Stricken 12 8.70, BU DD7O2 HANK Federal, Kearny 21 5 1944 To Argentina 1.7.72 DD7O3 WALLACE L LIND Federal, Kearny 14 6.1944 To S Korea Dec 1973 DD704 BORIE Federal, Kearny 4 7 1944 To Argentina 1.7.72 DD705 COMPTON Federal, Kearny 17 9.1944 To Brazil 27.9 72 DD706 GA1NARD Federal, Kearny 17 9 1944 Stricken 1970 DD707 SOLEY Federal, Kearny 8.9.1944 Stricken 13.2.70, BU DD708 HARLAN R DICKSON Federal, Kearny 17 12 1944 Stricken 1 7.72 DD709 HUGH PURVIS Federal, Kearny 17 12.1944 To Turkey 15 2 72 DD722 BARTON Bath Iron Wks 10.10.1943 Stricken 1.10 68, BU DD723 WALKE Bath Iron Wks 27 10 1943 Stricken 1 2 74 DD724 LAFFEY Bath Iron Wks 21.11.1943 Expended 29.3.77 DD725 O’BRIEN Bath Iron Wks 8.12.1943 Stricken 18 2.72 DD726 MEREDITH Bath Iron Wks 21 12 1943 Sunk 9.6 44 DD727 DE HAVEN Bath Iron Wks 9.1.1944 To S Korea Dec 1973 DD728 MANSFIELD Bath Iron Wks 29 1.1944 To Argentina June 1974 for spares, BU 1978 DD729 LYMAN К SWENSON Bath Iron Wks 12.2 1944 Stricken 1.4.74 DD730 COLLETT Bath Iron Wks 5.3.1944 To Argentina Apr 1974 DD731 MADDOX Bath Iron Wks 19 3 1944 To Taiwan 6 7.72 DD732 HYMAN Bath Iron Wks 8.4.1944 BU 1970 DD733 MANNERT L ABELE Bath Iron Wks 23 4 1944 Sunk 12.4 45 DD734 PURDY Bath Iron Wks 7.5.1944 Stricken 2.7.73 DD741 DREXLER Bath Iron Wks 3 9 1944 Sunk 28 5.45 DD744 BLUE Bethlehem, Staten I 28 11 1943 Stricken 1 2.74 DD745 BRUSH Bethlehem, Staten I 28 12.1943 To Taiwan 2 12.69 DD746 TAUSSIG Bethlehem, Staten I 25 1 1944 To Taiw'an 6 5.74 DD747 SAMUEL N MOORE Bethlehem, Staten I 23.2.1944 To Taiwan 2.12.69 DD748 HARRY E HUBBARD Bethlehem, Staten I 24.3 1944 BU 1970 DD752 ALFRED A CUNNING- HAM Bethlehem, Staten I 3 8 1944 Stricken 1 2 74 DD753 JOHN R PIERCE Bethlehem, Staten I 1.9 1944 Stricken 2 7 73 DD754 FRANK E EVANS Bethlehem, Staten I 3.10.1944 Sunk in collision 2 6 69 DD755 JOHN A BOLE Bethlehem, Staten I 1 11 1944 Stricken 1 4 74 DD756 BEATTY Bethlehem, Staten I 30 11 1944 Stricken Aug 1972 DD757 PUTNAM Bethlehem, San Francisco 26.3 1944 Stricken 6 8.73 DD758 STRONG Bethlehem, San Francisco 23 4 1944 To Brazil 31.10.73 DD759 LOFBERG Bethlehem, San Francisco 12 8 1944 Stricken 1 4 74 DD760 JOHN W THOMASON Bethlehem, San Francisco 30 9 1944 To Taiwan 6 5.74 DD761 BUCK Bethlehem, San Francisco 11.3 1945 To Brazil 16 7.73 DD762 HENLEY Bethlehem, San Francisco 8 4 1945 Stricken 2.7.73 DD770 LOWRY Bethlehem, San Pedro 6 2 1944 To Brazil 29 10 73 DD774 HUGH W HADLEY Bethlehem, San Pedro 16.7.1944 BU 1947 DD775 WILLARD KEITH Bethlehem, San Pedro 29 8 1944 To Colombia 1.7.72, stricken 1977 DD776 JAMES C OWENS Bethlehem, San Pedro 1 10 1944 To Brazil 16 7 73 DD777 ZELLARS Todd Pacific, Seattle 19.7 1944 To Iran Mar 1971 DD778 MASSEY Todd Pacific, Seattle 19.8 1944 Stricken 17.9 73 DD779 DOUGLAS H FOX Todd-Pacific, Seattle 30 9.1944 To Chile 8 1 74 DD78O STORMES Todd-Pacific, Seattle 4 11.1944 To Iran Mar 1971 for spares DD781 ROBERT К HUNTING- TON Todd Pacific, Seattle 5.12 1944 To Venezuela 31 10 73 DD857 BRISTOL Bethlehem, 29 10 1944 To Taiwan 22 9.69 San Pedro 132
Destroyers In October 1941 the Bureau of Ships proposed a new destroyer design based on its new twin enclosed 5in/38, the same weapon already in production for heavier ships. One great advantage claimed over the Fletcher was reduced crowding along the centreline, which might make it easier to mount additional light AA weapons. At the same time the General Board began to work towards a new heavy destroyer of higher speed, which early in 1942 was proposed as a 2500- tonner; the Bureau of Ships proposal, employing a hull similar to that of the Fletcher and essentially the same machinery, was to be an ‘interim* type. In fact more of these ‘intenm* ships were ordered than of any other US destrover design, although many were built to a modified design as Gearings. Trials produced figures of 61,657shp = 32 99kts at 3086t (Afoa/e). In a sense theSiwmers were the victims of all that added centreline space, in that the Forces Afloat were able to demand more and more AA weapons (ultimately 2 quadruple and 2 twin 40mm and 1 l-20mm) which in turn contributed to a severe over- weight problem, in the end the ships could not attain the speeds of their predecessors, and at the same time required more power to remain at cruising speed, so that their range proved inadequate These problems were evident in the first units completed in 1943, and they were responsible for the Gearing design. There was one other problem. The ships were designed with an Admiralty-style (partly closed) bridge, which proved very unpopular in service, early units had to be refitted, although a division of Sumners fought at Nor- mandy with the original closed bridge. 6 DCTs and 2 racks were fitted In 1944 twelve ships (DD 735-740,749-751 and 771-773) were completed as destroyer-minelayers, capable of carrying up to 120 mines each, they were not fitted with TT but had 4 DCTs and 8-20mm. As the US Navy had by then shifted to using aircraft for mining enemy waters, it is not clear whether any of these ships ever operated as a minelayer, although four were severely damaged on AA picket duty off Okinawa. Strong at San Franusco, 2 5 1945 USN Southerland аь a radar picket 1945 GEARING class Displacement" Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: (GoodncA) 2616t standard, 3460t full load 383ft wl, 390ft 6in x 40ft lOin x 14ft 4in full load 116.74, 119.03 x 12.45 x 4 37m 2 shaft General Electric turbines, 4 Babcock & Wilcox boil- ers, 60,000shp = 36.8kts Oil 740t, range 4500nm at 20kts 6-5in/38 (3x2), 12-40mm (2x4, 2x2), U-20mm, 10-2 Im TT 336 No Name Builder Launched Fate DD7I0 GEARING Federal, Kearn> 18 2 1945 Stricken 2.7 73 DD711 EUGl NE A Federal, Kearny 18 3.1945 To Spain 31.8 72 GREENE DD712 GYATT Federal, Kearny 15 4.1945 Stricken 22.10.69, BU DD7I3 KENNETH D Federal, Kearny 17 6 1945 To Iran 13.1 75 BAILEY for spares » DD714 WILLIAM R Federal, Kearnv 8 7.1945 To South Korea RUSH 1.7.78 DD7I5 WILLIAM M Federal, Kearny 29.7.1945 Stricken 1.12.76 WOOD DD716 WILTSIE Federal, Kearny 31 8.1945 To Pakistan 29 4 77 DD717 THEODORE E CHANDLER Federal, Kearny 20.10.1945 Stricken 1 4.75 DD718 HAMNER Federal, Kearny 24.11.1945 In reserve 1980 DD719 EPPERSON Federal, Kearny 22.12.1945 To Pakistan 29.4 77 DD720 CASTLE Federal, Kearny 1946 Sold incomplete Aug 1955 DD721 WOODROW R THOMPSON Federal, Kearny 1946 Sold incomplete Aug 1955 DD742 FRANK KNOX Bath Iron Wks 17.9.1944 To Greece 30 1 71 DD743 SOUTHER- LAND Bath Iron Wks 5.10.1944 In reserve 1980 DD763 WILLIAM C LAWE Bethlehem, San Francisco 21.5.1945 In reserve 1980 DD764 LLOYD THOMAS Bethlehem, San Francisco 5.10.1945 To Taiwan 12 10 72 DD765 KEPPLER Bethlehem, San Francisco 24.6 1946 To Turkey 30 6.72 DD766 LANSDALE Bethlehem, San Francisco 20.12.1946 BU incomplete 1959 DD767 SEYMOUR D OWENS Bethlehem, San Francisco 24.2.1947 BU incomplete 1959 DD768 HOEL Bethlehem, San Francisco — Cancelled Sept 1946 DD769 ABNER READ Bethlehem, San Francisco — Cancelled Sept 1946 DD782 ROWAN Todd-Pacific, Seattle 29 12.1944 To Taiwan 18 12 75 DD783 GURKE Todd-Pacific, Seattle 15.2.1945 To Greece 17.3.77 DD784 McKEAN Todd Pacific, Seattle 31.3.1945 In reserve 1980 DD785 HENDERSON Todd-Pacific, Seattle 28.5.1945 In reserve 1980 DD786 RICHARD В ANDERSON Todd-Pacific, Seattle 7 7.1945 To Taiwan 10.6 77 DD787 JAMES E KYES Todd-Pacific, Seattle 4.8.1945 To Taiwan 18.4.73 DD788 HOLLISTER Todd-Pacific, Seattle 9.10 1945 Stricken 31 8 79 DD789 EVERSOLE Todd-Pacific, Seattle 8 1.1946 To Turkey 11 7 73 DD790 SHELTON Todd-Pacific, Seattle 8.3.1946 To Taiwan 18.4 73 DD791 SEAMAN Todd-Pacific, Seattle 20.5.1946 BU incomplete 1962 DD8O5 CHEVALIER Bath Iron Wks 29 10 1944 To South Korea 5.7.72 DD806 HIGBEE Bath Iron Wks 12.11.1944 Stricken 15.7.79 DD8O7 BENNER Bath Iron Wks 30.11.1944 Stricken 1.2.74 DD808 DENNIS J BUCKLEY Bath Iron Wks 20.12 1944 Stricken 2 7 73 DD817 CORRY Consolidated, Orange 28 7.1945 In reserve 1980 DD818 NEW Consolidated, Orange 18.8.1945 To South Korea 23 2 77 DD819 HOLDER Consolidated, Orange 25.8.1945 To Ecuador 1.9.78 DD820 RICH Consolidated, Orange 5.10 1945 Stncken 15 12.77 BU DD821 JOHNSTON Consolidated, Orange 19.10.1945 In reserve 1980 DD822 ROBERT H McCARD Consolidated, Orange 9.11.1945 In reserve 1980 DD823 SAMUEL В ROBERTS Consolidated, Orange 30.11 1945 Stncken 2 11 70, BU DD824 BASILONE Consolidated, Orange 22.12.1945 Stricken 1.11.77, BU DD825 CARPENTER Consolidated, Orange 28 12.1945 In reserve 1980 DD826 AGERHOLM Bath Iron Wks 30.3 1946 Stricken 1 12 78, target DD827 ROBERT A OWENS Bath Iron Wks 15.7.1946 Stricken 1 10.79 DD828 TIMMERMAN Bath Iron Wks 19 5 1951 BU 1959 DD829 MYLES C FOX Bath Iron Wks 13.1.1945 Stricken 1.10 79 DD830 EVERETT F LARSON Bath Iron W'ks 28.1 1945 To South Korea 23.2.77 DD831 GOODRICH Bath Iron Wks 25.2.1945 BU 1978 DD832 HANSON Bath Iron W'ks 11.3.1945 To Taiwan 18.4 73 DD833 HERBERT J THOMAS Bath Iron Wks 25.3 1945 To Taiwan 6 5.74 DD834 TURNER Bath Iron Wks 8.4.1945 Stricken 26.9.69, BU DD835 CHARLES P Bath Iron Wks 22 4.1945 Stricken 1 10 79 CECIL 133
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate DD836 GEORGE К MACKENZIE Bath Iron Wks 13 5 1945 Sunk as target 17 10 76 DD837 SARSHELD Bath Iron Wks 27 5 1945 To Taiwan 1 10 77 DD838 ERNEST G SMALL Bath Iron Wks 14.6.1945 To Taiwan Feb 1971 DD839 POWER Bath Iron Wks 30 6.1945 To Taiwan 1 10.77 DD840 GLENNON Bath Iron Wks 14.7.1945 Stricken 1.10.76, BU DD841 NOA Bath Iron Wks 30 7.1945 To Spain 31 10 73 DD842 FISKE Bath Iron Wks 8 9 1945 In reserve 1980 DD843 WARRINGTON Bath Iron Wks 27 9.1945 Stricken 1.10 72 DD844 PERRY Bath Iron Wks 25.10 1945 Stricken 2.7.73 DD845 BAUSSELL Bath Iron Wks 19 11 1945 Stricken 30 5 78, target DD846 OZBOURN Bath Iron Wks 22 12.1945 Stricken 1 6.75 DD847 ROBERT L WILSON Bath Iron Wks 5 1.1946 Stricken 30.9.74 DD848 WITEK Bath Iron Wks 2 2 1946 Stricken 17 9 68, target DD849 RICHARD E KRAUS Bath Iron Wks 2.3 1946 To South Korea 30.10.72 DD85O JOSEPH P Bethlehem, 26 7.1945 Stricken 2 7 73 KENNEDY Jr Quincy DD851 RUPERTUS Bethlehem, Quincy 21 9 1945 To Greece, 10.7.73 DD852 LEONARD F MASON Bethlehem, Quincy 4 1 1946 To Taiwan 10.3.78 DD853 CHARLES H ROAN Bethlehem, Quincy 15 3 1946 To Turkey 21.9.73 DD858 FRED T BERRY Bethlehem, San Pedro 28.1.1945 Stricken 15 9.70, BU DD859 NORRIS Bethlehem, San Pedro 25 2 1945 To Turkey 7 7 74 DD860 McCAFFERY Bethlehem, San Pedro 12.4 1945 Stricken 30.9.73 DD861 HARWOOD Bethlehem, San Pedro 22.5 1945 To Turkey 17.12 71, Sunk 22.7.74 DD862 VOGEL- GF.SANG Bethlehem, Staten I 15.1 1945 In reserve 1980 DD863 STEINAKER Bethlehem, Staten I 13 2.1945 In reserve 1980 DD864 HAROLD J ELLISON Bethlehem, Staten I 14.3 1945 To Egypt 6.10 79 DD865 CHARLES R WARE Bethlehem, Staten I 12 4 1945 Stricken 12 12 74 DD866 CONE Bethlehem, Staten I 10.5.1945 In reserve 1980 DD867 STRIBLING Bethlehem, Staten I 8 6.1945 Stricken 1.7.76, target DD868 BROWNSON Bethlehem, Staten I 7.7.1945 Stricken 30.9.76, BU DD869 ARNOLD J ISBELL Bethlehem, Staten I 6.8 1945 To Greece 4 12 73 DD87O FFCH1ELER Bethlehem, Staten I 19.9.1945 Stricken 11.9.70, BU DD87I DAMATO Bethlehem, Staten I 21.11 1945 To Egypt 6 10 79 DD872 FORREST ROYAL Bethlehem, Staten I 17 1.1946 To Turkey 27.3.71 DD873 HAWKINS (ex Beany') Consolidated, Orange 7 10 1944 Stricken 1 10.79 DD874 DUNCAN Consolidated, Orange 27 10.1944 Stricken 1 9.73 DD875 HENRY W TUCKER Consolidated, Orange 8 11 1944 To Brazil 3 12.73, extant 1980 DD876 ROGERS Consolidated, Orange 20 11 1944 In reserve 1980 DD877 PERKINS Consolidated, Orange 7.12.1944 To Argentina 15 1 73, extant 1980 DD878 VESOLE Consolidated, Orange 29.12 1944 Stricken 1 12 76 DD879 LEARY Consolidated, Orange 20 1.1945 To Spain 31 10.73 DD880 DYESS Consolidated, Orange 26 1 1945 In reserve 1980 DD881 BORDELON Consolidated, Orange 3 3 1945 To Iran 1 2.77, for spares DD882 FL’RSE Consolidated, Orange 9 3 1945 To Spain 31.8 72 DD883 NEWMAN К PERRY Consolidated, Orange 17.1.1945 In reserve 1980 DD884 FLOYD В PARKS Consolidated, Orange 31 3 1945 Stricken 2.7 73 DD885 JOHN R CRAIG Consolidated, Orange 14 4.1945 Stricken 27.7.79 DD886 ORLFCK Consolidated, Orange 12 5 1945 In reserve 1980 DD887 BRINKLEY BASS Consolidated, Orange 26 5.1945 To Brazil 3 12 73 DD888 STICKELL Consolidated, Orange 16 6.1945 To Greece 1 7.72 DD889 O’HARE Consolidated, Orange 22 6 1945 To Spain 31.10.73 DD890 MEREDITH Consolidated, Orange 28 6 1945 Stricken 29 6 79 These were the ultimate development of the wartime US destroyer: they were Sumners lengthened by 14ft to increase fuel capacity and, at the same time, reduce wavemaking resistance and so restore some speed Indeed, they were often referred to as ‘long hull Sumner s’ A total of 116 ships was ordered, with 36 more (DD891-926) included in a 1945 programme vetoed by the President that March. Of the ships actually ordered, 93 were completed to the original design, and another four (DD719, 824, 825 and 827) were completed postwar to a modified design as prototype ASW escorts. Another unit, funmeman, was completed to a modified destroyer design as a test ship for very high power, lightweight (100,OOOshp) machinery, but proved unsuccessful. Five others remained incomplete for a decade after the war, their completion frequently considered On trials, Forrest Roy al achieved 65,464shp = 33 82kts(full load) at 3195t DC armament was 6 throwers and 2 racks. In January 1945 Admiral King ordered the conversion of twelve ships (DD742, 743, 805-808, 829 and 873-877) to radar pickets, a tripod mainmast replacing the forward TT bank In May another dozen were designated: DD830-835 and 878-883. By this time the emergency AA refit programme was underway, replacing the after bank of tubes with a third quadruple 40mm. Radar pickets thus lost all their TT, with their near-sisters reduced to a single bank. The pickets were important enough for US-style earner task force tactics for a further twehe to be converted postwar, under the FY52 programme (DD711-714, 784, 817, 838, 842, 863, 870, 888 and 889). All the Gearings remained in service after 1945 Many were converted into specialised ASW ships to test tactics against the new fast submarines it was assumed the Russians would soon have in quantity, and at the end of the 1950s all theGeanngs were subject to FRA M reconstruction In 1980 a few USN ships soil remain in resen e, the sole survivors of the immense World War II destroyer programme Gearing on 2 5 1945 as completed By courtesy of A D Baker III
Destroyer escorts DESTROYER ESCORTS ‘GMT’ class Displacement: (Brennan) 1192t standard, 1416t full load Dimensions: 283ft 6in wl, 289ft Sin oa x 35ft 2in x 86.41, 88 22 x 10.72 x 3 07m 10ft Im full load Machinery: 2-shaft General Motors diesels, 6000bhp = 19.5kts. Oil 131-197t, range 6000nm/12kts Trials (Andres') 5870shp = 2O.95kts at 1436t Armament: 3-3in/50, 4-1 lin(lx4), DC racks Complement: 156 9-20mm, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT, 2 No Name Builder Launched Fate DES EVARTS Boston N Yd 7.12.1942 BU July 1946 DE6 WYFFELS Boston N Yd 7.12.1942 To China Aug 1945 DE7 GRISWOLD Boston N Yd 9.1.1943 BU Jan 1947 DE8 STEELE Boston N Yd 9.1.1943 BU Jan 1947 DE9 CARLSON Boston N Yd 9 1 1943 BU Dec 1946 DE10 BEBAS Boston N Yd 9 1 1943 BU Feb 1947 DE11 CROUTER Boston N Yd 26 1.1943 BU Dec 1946 DEB BRENNAN Mare Island N Yd 22.8.1942 BU Aug 1946 DE14 DOHERTY Mare Island N Yd 29 8 1942 BU Dec 1946 DE15 AUSTIN Marc Island N Yd 25.9.1942 BU Feb 1947 DE16 EDGAR G CHASE Marc Island N Yd 26.9.1942 BU Apr 1947 DE17 EDWARD C DALY Mare Island N Yd 21.10.1942 BU Feb 1947 DE18 GILMORE Mare Island N Yd 22.10 1942 BU Mar 1947 DE19 BURDEN R HASTINGS Mare Island N Yd 20 11 1942 BU Mar 1947 DE20 LE HARDY Mare Island N Yd 21 11 1942 BU Jan 1947 DE21 HAROLD C THOMAS Marc Island N Yd 18 12 1942 BU Feb 1947 DE22 WILEMAN Mare Island N Yd 19 12.1942 BU Feb 1947 DE23 CHARLES R GREER Mare Island N Yd 18 1.1943 BU Mar 1947 DE24 WHITMAN Marc Island N Yd 19.1.1943 BU Feb 1947 DE25 WINTLE Marc Island N Yd 18 2.1943 BU Aug 1947 DE26 DEMPSEY Marc Island N Yd 19.2.1943 BU May 1947 DE27 DUFFY Mare Island N Yd 16.4.1943 BU Aug 1947 DE28 EMERY (ex- Eisner) Mare Island N Yd 17.4.1943 BU Aug 1947 DE29 STADTFIELD Mare Island N Yd 17 5 1943 BU Aug 1947 DE30 MARTIN Mare Island N Yd 18.5.1943 BU July 1947 DE31 SEDERSTROM Marc Island (ex- Gillette) N Yd 15 6 1943 BU Feb 1948 DE32 FLEMING Mare Island N Yd 16 6.1943 BU Feb 1948 DE33 TISDALE Marc Island N Yd 28 6.1943 BU Mar 1948 DE34 EISELE Mare Island N Yd 29 6.1943 BU Feb 1948 DE35 FAIR Mare Island N Yd 27.7.1943 Sold June 1947 DE36 MANLOVE Marc Island N Yd 28 7.1943 BU Mar 1948 DE37 GREINER Puget Sound N \d 20 5 1943 BU Mar 1947 DE38 WYMAN Puget Sound N Yd 3 6 1943 BU June 1947 DE39 LOVERING Puget Sound N Yd 18 6 1943 BU Jan 1947 DE40 SANDERS Puget Sound N Yd 18 6.1943 BU June 1947 DE41 BRACKETT Puget Sound N Yd 1 8 1943 BU June 1947 DE42 REYNOLDS Puget Sound N Yd 1 8.1943 BU May 1947 OE43 MITCHELL Puget Sound N Yd 1 8 1943 BU Jan 1947 DE44 DONALDSON Puget Sound N Yd 1.8 1943 BU Aug 1946 DE45 ANDRES Philadelphia N Yd 24.7.1942 BU Feb 1946 DE47 DECKER Philadelphia N Yd 24.7.1942 To China Aug 1945, Sunk Nov 1954 DE48 DOBLER Philadelphia N Yd 24.7.1942 BU July 1946 DE49 DONEFF Philadelphia N Yd 24.7.1942 BU Jan 1947 DE50 ENGSTROM Philadelphia N Yd 24.7.1942 BU Jan 1947 DE256 SEID Boston N Yd 22.2.1943 BU Feb 1947 DE257 SMARTT Boston N Yd 22.2.1943 BU Aug 1946 DE258 WALTER S BROWN Boston N Yd 22.2 1943 BU Aug 1946 DE259 WILLIAM C MILLER Boston N Yd 22.2 1943 BU May 1947 DE260 CABANA Boston N Yd 10.3.1943 BU June 1947 DE261 DIONNE Boston N Yd 10 3 1943 BU July 1947 DE262 CANFIELD Boston N Yd 6.4.1943 BU July 1947 DE263 DEEDE Boston N Yd 6 4 1943 BU July 1947 DE264 ELDEN Boston N Yd 6.4 1943 BU July 1947 DE265 CLOUES Boston N Yd 6 4 1943 BU June 1947 DE301 LAKE Mare Island N Yd 18 8.1943 BU Jan 1947 DE3O2 LYMAN Mare Island N Yd 19.8.1943 BU Jan 1947 DE3O3 CROWLEY Mare Island N Yd 22.9.1943 BU Jan 1947 DE304 RALL Mare Island N Yd 23.9 1943 BU Apr 1947 DE305 HALLORAN Mare Island N Yd 14 1 1944 BU Apr 1947 DE306 CONNOLLY Mare Island N Yd 15 1 1944 BU June 1946 DE307 FINNEGAN Mare Island N Yd 22 2 1944 BU June 1946 DE308 CREAMER Mare Island N Yd 23 2 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE309 FLY Mare Island N Yd 10.4 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE310 DELBERT W HALSEY Mare Island N Yd 11.4 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE311 KEPPLER Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled Mar 1944 DE312 LLOYD THOMAS Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled Mar 1944 DE313 WILLIAM C LAWE Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled Mar 1944 DE314 WILLARD KEITH Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled Mar 1944 DE315 — Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled Mar 1944 DL527 O’TOOLE Boston N Yd 2.11.1943 BU Mar 1946 DE528 JOHN J POWERS Boston N Yd 2.11.1943 BU Feb 1946 DE529 MASON Boston N Yd 17 11 194? BU Apr 1947 DE530 JOHN M Boston N Yd BERMINGHAM 17 11 1943 BU Mar 1946 135
UNITED STATES *TE’ class Displacement: (Joseph C Hubbard) 1432t standard, 1823t full load Dimensions: 300ft wl, 306ft oa x 37ft x lift 3in full load 91 44, 93.27 x 11 28 x 3 43m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 2 boilers, 12,OOOshp = 23kts. Oil 359t, range 6000nm at 12kts. Trials (Buckley): 12,200shp = 23 7kts at 1673t. Armament: 3-3in/5O, 4-1.lin (1x4), 8-20mm, 2-21in TT (1x3), 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT, 2 DC racks Complement: 186 No Name Builder Launched Fate DE51 BUCKLEY Bethlehem, Hingham 9.1.1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE53 CHARLES LAWRENCE Bethlehem, Hingham 16 2.1943 Stricken Sept 1964, BU DE54 DANIEL T GRIFFIN Bethlehem, Hingham 23 2.1943 To Chile 1.12 66 DE56 DONNELL Bethlehem, Hingham 13.3.1943 Sold for BU Apr 1946 DE57 FOGG Bethlehem, Hingham 20.3.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, BU DE59 FOSS Bethlehem, Hingham 10 4.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, BU DE60 GANTNER Bethlehem, Hingham 17 4.1943 To Taiwan May 1966 DE62 GEORGE W INGRAM Bethlehem, Hingham 8.5.1943 To Taiwan July 1967 DE63 IRA JEFFERY Bethlehem, Hingham 15.5.1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE65 LEE FOX Bethlehem, Hingham 29 5.1943 BU 1966 DE66 AMESBURY Bethlehem, Hingham 5.6 1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE68 BATES Bethlehem, Hingham 6.6.1943 Sunk 25.5.45 DE69 BLESSMAN Bethlehem, Hingham 19.6.1943 To Taiwan July 1967 DE70 JOSEPH E CAMPBELL Bethlehem, Hingham 26 6.1943 To Chile 1 12 66, stricken 1973 DE153 REUBEN JAMES Norfolk N Yd 6 2 1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE 154 SIMS Norfolk N Yd 6.2.1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE155 HOPPING Norfolk N Yd 10 3.1943 BU 1966 DE 156 REEVES Norfolk N Yd 22 4.1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE 157 FECHTELER Norfolk N Yd 22.4.1943 Sunk 4.5.44 DE 158 CHASE Norfolk N Yd 24.4.1943 Sold for BU Nov 1946 DE159 LANING Norfolk N Yd 4 7 1943 Stricken 1.3.75 DE 160 LOY Norfolk N Yd 4 7.1943 BU 1966 DE161 BARBER Norfolk N Yd 20.5.1943 To Mexico 17.2.69 DE198 LOVELACE Norfolk N Yd 4.7.1943 Stricken 1967, target DE199 MANNING Charleston N Yd 1 6 1943 Stricken 30.7 68, BU DE200 NEUENDORF Charleston N Yd 1 6.1943 Sunk as target July 1967 DE20I JAMES E CRAIG Charleston N Yd 22.7.1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE202 EICHEN- BERGER Charleston N Yd 22.7 1943 Stricken 1 12.72 DE203 THOMASON Charleston N Yd 23 8 1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE204 JORDAN Charleston N Yd 23.8 1943 BU July 1947 DE205 NEWMAN Charleston N Yd 9 8.1943 BU 1966 DE206 LIDDLE Charleston N Yd 9 8.1943 Stricken Apr 1967 BU DE207 KEPHART Charleston N Yd 6 9.1943 To S Korea Aug 1967 DE2O8 COFER Charleston N Yd 6.9.1943 BU 1968 DE209 LLOYD Charleston N Yd 23 10.1943 BU 1968 DE210 O1TER Charleston N Yd 23 10 1943 Stricken Nov 1969, BU DE211 JOSEPH C HUBBARD Charleston N Yd 11 11.1943 Stricken Nov 1969, BU DE212 HAYTER Charleston N Yd 11.11.1943 To S Korea Dec 1966 DE213 WILLIAM T POWELL Charleston N Yd 27.11.1943 BU 1966 DE214 SCOTT Philadelphia N Yd 3 4 1943 BU 1967 DE215 BURKE Philadelphia N Yd 3.4.1943 To Columbia June 1968 DE216 ENRIGHT Philadelphia N Yd 29.5.1943 To Ecuador 14 7.67 DE217 COOLBAUGH Philadelphia N Yd 29 5 1943 Stricken 1.7 72 DE218 DARBY Philadelphia N Yd 29 5 1943 Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE219 J DOUGLAS Philadelphia BLACKWOOD N Yd 29.5.1943 Stricken Jan 1970, BU DE22O FRANCIS M ROBINSON Philadelphia N Yd 29 5.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 DE221 SOLAR Philadelphia N Yd 29 5 1943 Lost 30 4 46 DE222 FOWLER Philadelphia N Yd 3.7 1943 BU 1966 DE223 SPANGEN- BERG Philadelphia N Yd 3.7 1943 BU 1966 DE575 AHRENS Bethlehem, Hingham 21.12.1943 BU 1967 DE576 BARR Bethlehem, Hingham 28 12.1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE577 ALEXANDER J LUKE Bethlehem, Hingham 28 12 1943 Stricken May 1970, BU DE578 ROBERT I PAINE Bethlehem, Hingham 30 12 1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE633 FOREMAN Bethlehem, San Francisco 1.8.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, BU DE634 WHITEHURST Bethlehem, San Francisco 5 9 1943 Stricken Jul} 1969, BU DE635 ENGLAND Bethlehem, San Francisco 26 9 1943 BU Nov 1946 DE636 WITTER Bethlehem, San Francisco 17.10 1943 BU Nov 1946 DE637 BOWERS Bethlehem, San Francisco 31.10 1943 To Philippines Apr 1961, BU 1966 DE638 WILLMARTH Bethlehem, San Francisco 21.11.1943 BU 1968 DE639 GENDREAU Bethlehem, San Francisco 12 12 1943 Stricken 1 12.72 DE640 FIEBERLING Bethlehem, San Francisco 2.4 1944 Stricken 1.3 72 DE641 WILLIAM C COLE Bethlehem, San Francisco 29.12.1943 Stricken 1 3.72 DE642 PAUL G BAKER Bethlehem, San Francisco 12.3.1944 BU 1970 DE643 DAMON M CUMMINGS Bethlehem, San Francisco 18 4.1944 Stricken 1 3.72 DE644 VAMMEN Bethlehem, San Francisco 21.5.1944 Expended Feb 1971 DE665 JENKS Dravo, Pitts- burgh 11.9.1943 BU 1968 DE666 DURIK Dravo, Pitts- burgh 9 10.1943 BU 1967 DE667 WISEMAN Dravo, Pitts- burgh 6.11 1943 Stricken 15 4.73 DE675 WEBER Bethlehem, Quincy 1.5.1943 Stricken 1960 BU DE676 SCHMITT Bethlehem, Quincy 29.5.1943 To S Korea May 1967 136
Destroyer escorts No Name Builder Launched Fate DE231 HODGES Charleston 9.12.1943 Stricken 1.12.72 N Yd DE677 FRAMLNT Bethlehem, 28 6 1943 Sold 1961 DE579 RILEY Bethlehem, 29.12.1943 To Taiwan Quincy Hingham 10.7.68 DE678 HARMON Bethlehem, 25.7 1943 BU 1967 DE58O LESLIE L В Bethlehem, 8 1 1944 Stncken 15.1 72 Quincy KNOX Hingham DE679 GREENWOOD Bethlehem, 21.8.1943 BU 1967 DE581 McNULTY Bethlehem, 8 1 1944 Stricken 11.2.72 Quincy Stricken Sept 1968, Hingham DE680 LOESLR Bethlehem, 11.9 1943 DE582 METIVIER Bethlehem, 12.1 1944 Stricken June 1968, Quincy 25.9.1943 BU Hingham BU DE681 GILLETTE Bethlehem, Stricken 1.12.72 DE583 GEORGE A Bethlehem, 12.1.1944 Stricken Jan 1965, Quincy 15.10.1943 Sunk 24 7 45 JOHNSON H ngham BU DE682 UNDIRHILL Bethlehem, DE584 CHARLES J Bethlehem, 15 1.1944 Stncken June 1968, Quincy Stncken Dec 1969, KIMMEL Hingham target DE683 HENRY R Bethlehem, 30 10 1943 DE585 DANIEL A Bethlehem, 15.1 1944 Stncken Jan 1965, KENYON Quincy BU JOY H ngham BU DE693 BULL Defoe, Bay City 25.3.1943 To Taiwan DE586 LOUGH Bethlehem, 22.1.1944 Stricken Nov 1969, Aug 1966 Hingham BU DE694 BUNCH Defoe, Bay City 29.5.1943 BU 1965 DE587 THOMAS F Bethlehem, 22 1 1944 Stricken 1 12 72 DE695 RICH Defoe, Bay City 22.6.1943 Sunk 8 6 44 NICKEL Hingham DE696 SPANGLER Defoe, Bay City 15.7.1943 Stricken 1.3.72 DE588 PEIFFER Bethlehem, 26.1.1944 Stricken Jan 1966, DE697 GEORGE Defoe, Bay City 14 8 1943 BU 1970 Hingham target DE698 RABY Defoe, Bay City 4.9.1943 StnckenJune 1968, DE589 TINSMAN Bethlehem, 29 1.1944 Stricken 15.5 72 BU Hingham DE699 MARSH Defoe, Bay Qty 25.9.1943 Stricken 15.4.73 DE684 DE LONG Bethlehem, 23 11 1943 Stncken July 1969, DE700 CURRIER Defoe, Bay City 14.10 1943 Stncken Jan 1966, Quincy target target DE685 COATES Bethlehem, 9.12.1943 Stricken Feb 1970, DE701 OSMUS Defoe, Bay City 4.11.1943 Stricken 1.12 72 Quincy Bethlehem, BU DE702 EARL V Defoe, Bay City 24.11 1943 BU 1968 DE686 EUGENE E 23 12 1943 Stncken June 1968, JOHNSON ELMORE Quincy BU DE703 HOLTON Defoe, Bay City 15.12.1943 Stncken 1.11.72 DE706 HOLT Defoe, Bay City 15.2.1944 To S Korea DE704 CRONIN Defoe, Bay City 5 1.1944 Stricken June 1970, 19 6.63 BU DE707 JOBB Defoe, Bay City 4 3.1943 Stricken Nov 1969, DE7O5 FRYBARGER Defoe, Bay City 25.1.1944 Stricken 1.12.72 BU DE789 TATUM Consolidated, 7.8 1943 BU 1960 DE7O8 PARLE Defoe, Bay City 25 3 1944 Stricken July 1970, Orange BU DE790 BORUM Consolidated, 14.8.1943 Stricken 1965, BU DE709 BRAY Defoe, Bay City 15.4.1944 Expended 26.3.63 DE791 MALOY Consolidated, 18.8 1943 BU 1966 Oranee ‘WGT class Stricken June 1970, DE792 HAINES Consolidated. 26.8.1943 Stricken 1960, BU DE339 JOHN C Consolidated, 11.12.1943 Oranee BUTLER Orange BU DE793 RUN ELS Consolidated, 4 9 1943 Stncken 1960, BU DE340 O’FLAHFRTY Consolidated, 14 12 1943 Stncken 1 12.72 Orange Orange DE794 HOLE IS Consolidated, 11 9 1943 Stricken 15.9.74 DE341 RAYMOND Consolidated, 8 1.1944 Stncken 1972 Orange Orange Stncken 15.3.72 DE795 GUNASON Consolidated, 16.10.1943 Stricken 1.9.73 DE342 RICHARD W Consolidated, 11.1.1944 Orange SUESENS Orange DE796 MAJOR Consolidated, 23 10 1943 Stricken 1 12.72 DE343 ABER- Consolidated, 14 1 1944 Stricken May 1967, Orange CROMBIE Orange target DE797 WEEDEN Consolidated, 27.10.1943 Stricken June 1968, DE344 OBERRENDER Consolidated, 18.1.1944 Sunk 9.5.45 Orange BU Orange DE798 VARIAN Consolidated. 6.11 1943 Stricken 1.12 72 DE345 ROBERT Consolidated, 22.1.1944 Sunk as target Orange BRAZIER Orange Jan 1968 DF.799 SCROGGINS Consolidated, 6.11 1943 Stncken Jan 1965, DE346 EDWIN A Consolidated, 25.1.1944 Stricken 1 12 72 Orange BU HOWARD Orange DE800 JACK W Consolidated, 18.12 1943 Stricken 1.8.72 DE347 JESSE Consolidated, 29.1.1944 Stricken 1.1.68, WILKE Orange RUTHER- FORD Orange target •L DE348 KEY Consolidated, 12.2 1944 Stricken 1 3 72 * Robert Brazier 1944 Orange DE349 GENTRY Consolidated, 15.2 1944 Stricken 15 1 72 . ” a Orange ГПУ»*. * I '.’4 c DE350 TRAW Consolidated, Orange 12.2.1944 Sunk as target Aug 1968 DE351 MAURICE J Consolidated, 19 2 1944 Stricken 1 5 66, MANUEL Orange target ‘TEV r’ and ‘WGT ’ classes DE352 NAIFEH Consolidated, Orange 29.2 1944 Sunk as target Juh 1966 Displacement: (KiZey) l430t standard; 181 It lull load DE353 DOYLE C Consolidated, 4.3.1944 Stricken 1.12 72 Dimensions: 300ft wl, 306ft oa > 37ft x lift 2in full load BARNES Orange 91 44, 93.27 X 11.28 x 3 40m DF354 KENNETH M Consolidated, 7 3 1944 Stricken 1972 Machi nery: 2-shaft General Electric (*WGT class Westinghouse) tur- VCILLETT Orange bines,12,000shp = 6000nm at 12kts 23kts. Oil 348t (‘WGT class 347t), range DE355 JACCARD Consolidated, Orange 18.3.1944 Sunk as target Nov 1967 Armament: 2-5in/38 (2x1), 4-40mm (2X2), 10-20mm, 3-21m 11 DE356 LI OYD E Consolidated, 21 3.1944 Stncken 15 1 72 (1X3), 1 Hedgehog , 8 DC 1,2 DC racks ACREE Orange Complement: 156 DE357 GFORGE E Consolidated, 8 4 1944 Stncken 1.12 72 No Name Builder Launched Fate DE358 DAVIS MACK Orange Consolidated, 11.4 44 Sunk as target ‘TEV’ class Orange Jan 1966 DE224 RUDDEROW Philadelph ia 14 10 1943 Stricken Nov 1969, DE359 WOODSON Consolidated, 29.4.1944 Stricken 1.7 65, N Yd BU Orange BU DE225 DAY Philadelphia 14 10 1943 Stricken June 1968, DE360 JOHNNIE Consolidated, 2.5.1944 Stricken 1972 N Yd target HUTCHINS Orange DE23O CHAFFEE Charleston 27 11.1943 Sold for BU DE361 WALTON Consolidated, 20.5.1944 Stricken Sept 1968 N Yd June 1948 Orange BU 137
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate DE362 ROLF Consolidated, Orange 23.5.1944 Stricken 1.12.72 DE363 PRATT Consolidated, Orange 1 6 1944 Stricken 15.3.72 DE364 ROMBACH Consolidated, Orange 6.6.1944 Stricken 1.3.72 DE365 McGINTY Consolidated, Orange 5 8.1944 Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE366 ALVIN C COCKRELL Consolidated, Orange 8.8.1944 Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE367 FRENCH Consolidated, Orange 17.6 1944 Stricken 15 5 72 DE368 CECIL J DOYLE Consolidated, Orange 1.7.1944 Stricken 1.7.67, target DE369 THADDEUS PARKER Consolidated, Orange 26 8.1944 Stricken Sept 1967, BU DE37O JOHN L Consolidated, WILLIAMSON Orange 29 8 1944 Stricken Nov 1970, BU DE371 PRESLEY Consolidated, Orange 19 8.1944 Stricken June 1968, BU DE372 WILLIAMS Consolidated, Orange 22.8 1944 Sunk as target July 1967 DE373 WILLIAM C LAWE Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE374 LLOYD THOMAS Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE375 KEPPLER Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE376 KLEINSMITH Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE377 HENRY W TUCKER Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE378 WEISS Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE379 FRANCOV1CH Consolidated, Orange — Cancelled June 1944 DE402 RICHARD S BULL Brown SB, Houston 16.11 1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE403 RICHARD M ROWELL Brown SB, Houston 17 11.1943 Stricken June 1968, BU DE404 EVERSOLE Brown SB, Houston 3.12.1944 Sunk 28.10.44 DE405 DENNIS Brown SB, Houston 4 12 1943 Stricken 1 12.72 DE406 EDMONDS Brown SB, Houston 17 12.1943 Stricken 15.5.72 DE407 SHELTON Brown SB, Houston 18 12.1943 Sunk 3.10.44 DE408 STRAUS Brown SB, Houston 30.12.1943 Sunk as target May 1966 DE409 LA PRADE Broun SB, Houston 31 12 1943 Stricken 15 1.72 DE410 JACK MILLER Brown SB, Houston 10.1.1944 Stricken June 1968, BU DE411 STAFFORD Brown SB, Houston 11.1.1944 Stricken 15 3.72 DE412 WALTER C WANN Brown SB, Houston 19 1.1944 Stricken June 1968, BU DE413 SAMUEL В ROBERTS Brown SB, Houston 20.1.1944 Sunk 25.10.44 DE414 LE RAY WILSON Brown SB, Houston 28.1.1944 Stricken 15 5.72 DE415 LAWRENCE C TAYLOR Brown SB, Houston 29.1.1944 Stricken 1.12.72 DE416 MELVIN R NAWMAN Brown SB, Houston 7.2 1944 Stricken 1.7.72 DE4I7 OLIVER MITCHELL Brown SB, Houston 8.2.1944 Stricken 15.3.72 DE418 TABBERER Brown SB, Houston 18.2.1944 Stricken 1.7.72 DE419 ROBERT F KELLER Brown SB, Houston 19.2.1944 Stricken 1.7.72 DE420 LELAND E THOMAS Brown SB, Houston 28.2.1944 Stricken 1.12.72 DE421 CHESTER T O’BRIEN Brown SB, Houston 29 2.1944 Stricken 1972 DE422 DOUGLAS A MUNRO Brown SB, Houston 8.3.1944 Sunk as target Jan 1966 DE423 DUFILHO Brown SB, Houston 9 3.1944 Stricken 1 12.72 DE424 HAAS Brown SB, Houston 20.3.1944 Stricken July 1966 BU DE438 CORBESIER Federal 13.2 1944 Stricken 1.12.72 DE439 CONKLIN Federal 13.2.1944 Stricken Oct 1970, BU DE440 McCOY REYNOLDS Federal 22.2.1944 To Portugal 7 2 57 DE441 WILLIAM SEIVERLING Federal 7 3.1944 Stricken 1 12 72 DE442 ULVERT M MOORE Federal 7 3 1944 Sunk as target July 1966 DE443 KENDALL C CAMPBELL Federal 19.3.1944 Stricken 15.1.72 DE444 GOSS Federal 19.3.1944 Stricken 1 3 72 DE445 GRADY Federal 2.4 1944 Stricken June 1968, BU DE446 CHARLES E BRANNON Federal 23 4 1944 Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE447 ALBERT T HARRIS Federal 16.4 1944 Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE448 CROSS Federal 4 7.1944 Stricken 1 7 66, BU DE449 HANNA Federal 4 7.1944 Stricken 1 12 72 DE450 JOSEPH E CONNOLLY Federal 6.8.1944 Stricken Julv 1970, BU DE451 WOODROW R THOMPSON Federal — Cancelled June 1944 DE452 STEINAKER Federal — Cancelled June 1944 DE508 GILLIGAN (ex- Donaldson) Federal 22.2.1944 Stricken 1 3 72 DE509 FORMOE Federal 2.4 1944 To Portugal 7 2 57 DE510 HEYLIGER Federal 6.8 1944 Stricken 1.4.66, BU DE531 EDWARD H ALLEN Boston N Yd 7.10 1943 Stricken 1 7 72 DE532 TWEEDY Boston N Yd 7.10.1943 Stricken Julv 1969, target DE533 HOWARD F CLARK Boston N Yd 8 11.1943 Stricken 15 5 72 DE534 SILVERSTEIN Boston N Yd 8.11.1943 Stricken 1.12.72 DE535 LEWIS Boston N Yd 7.12.1943 Sunk as target Jan 1966 DE536 BIVTN Boston N Yd 7 12.1943 stricken 30 6 68 DE537 RIZZI Boston N Yd 7.12.1943 Stricken 1972 DE538 OSBFRG Boston N Yd 7 12.1943 Stricken 1972 DE539 WAGNER Boston N Yd 27.12 1943 BU 1978 DE54O VANDIVIER Boston N Yd 27.12 1943 Stricken 1.11.74 DE541 SHEEHAN Boston N Yd 27 12.1943 Cancelled Jan 1946 DE542 OSWALD A POWERS Boston N Yd 27 12 1943 Cancelled Jan 1946 DE543 GROVES Boston N Yd 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE544 ALFRED WOLF Boston N Yd 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE545 HAROLD J ELLISON Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE546 MYLES C FOX Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DF547 CHARLES R WARE Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE548 CARPELOTTI Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE549 EUGENE A GREENE Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE550 GYATT Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE551 BENNER Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE552 KENNETH D BAILEY Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE553 DENNIS J BUCKLEY Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 DE554 EVERETT F LARSEN Boston N Yd — Cancelled June 1944 Rudderow in July 1944 USN 138
Destroyer escorts ‘DET’ and ‘FMR’ classes Displacement: (Edsall) 1253t standard; 1602t full load Dimensions: 300ft wl, 306ft oa x 36ft 7in x 10ft 5in full load 91 44, 93.27 x 11 15 x 3 20m Machinery: 2 shaft Fairbanks MorseCDET’ class General Motors) diesel, 6000bhp = 21kts. Oil (’FMR’ class) 320t, range 10,800nm at 12kts. Trials: (Levy) 5150shp = 20 2kts at 1525t Armament: 3-3in/50,2-40mm(l x 2),8or 10-20mm,3-21inTT(l x 3), 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCTs, 2 DC racks Complement: 186 No Name Builder Launched Fate 'DET class DE99 CANNON Dravo, 25.5.1943 Wilmington To Brazil Dec 1944 DE100 CHRISTO- PHER Dravo, 19.6.1943 Wilmington To Brazil Dec 1944 DE101 ALGER Dravo, 8.7.1943 Wilmington To Brazil Mar 1945, stricken 1964 DE 102 THOMAS Dravo, 31.7.1943 Wilmington To China Oct 1948 DEI03 BOSTWICK Dravo, 30 8.1943 Wilmington To China Dec 1948 DE 104 BREEMAN Dravo, 4.9.1943 Wilmington To China Oct 1948 DE 105 BURROWS Dravo, 2.10.1943 Wilmington To Holland June 1950, BU 1968 DEI 12 CARTER Dravo, 29 2.1944 Wilmington 1 о China Dec 1948 DEI13 CLARENCE L EVANS Dravo, 22.3.1944 Wilmington To France Mar 1952, BU 1960 DE 162 LEVY Federal, Newark 28.3.1943 Stricken 1.8.73 DE 163 McConnell Federal, Newark 28.3 1943 Stricken 1.10.72 DEI64 OSTFRHAUS Federal, Newark 18.4.1943 Stricken 1.11.72 DE165 PARKS Federal, Newark 18.4.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 DE 166 BARON Federal, Newark 9.5.1943 To Uruguay May 1952 DE 167 ACREE Federal, Newark 9.5.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 DE 168 AMICK Federal, Newark 27.5.1943 To Japan June 1955, to Philippines 13 9.76 DE 169 ATHERTON Federal, Newark 27.5.1943 To Japan June 1955, to Philippines 13.9.76 DEI 70 BOOTH Federal, Newark 21.6.1943 To Philippines 15.12.67 DE171 CARROLL Federal, Newark21.6.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, BU DE 172 COONER Federal, Newark 25.7.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 DE 173 ELDRIDGE Federal, Newark 25.7.1943 To Greece Jan 1951 DE 174 MARTS Federal, Newark 8.8.1943 To Brazil Mar 1945 DEI75 PENNE WILL Federal, Newark 8.8.1943 To Brazil Aug 1944 DE 176 MICK A Federal, Newark 22.8.1943 BU 1967 DE177 REYBOLD Federal, Newark22.8.1943 To Brazil Aug 1944 DE 178 HERZOG Federal, Newark 5.9.1943 To Brazil Aug 1944 DE 179 McANN Federal, Newark 5.9.1943 To Brazil Aug 1944 DE 180 TRUMPETER Federal, Newark 19.9.1943 Stricken 1.8 73 DE 181 STRAUB Federal, Newark 19.9.1943 Stricken 1 8 73 DE 182 GUSTAFSON Federal, Newark 3.10.1943 To Holland Oct 1950 DE183 SAMUEL S MILES Federal, Newark 3 10.1943 To France Aug 1950 DE184 WESSON Federal, Newark 17.10.1943 To Italy- Jan 1951 DE 185 RIDDLE Federal, Newark 17.10.1943 To France Aug 1850 DE 186 SWEARLR Federal, Newark 31 10.1943 To France Sept 1950 DE187 STERN Federal, Newark 31.10.1943 lo Holland May 1951 DE188 O’NEILL Federal, Newark 14 11.1943 To Holland Oct 1950 DE189 BRONSTEIN Federal, Newark 14 11.1943 To Uruguay May 1952 DE190 BAKER (ex-Raby) Federal, Newark 28.11.1943 To France Mar 1952 DE191 COFFMAN Federal, Newark 28.11.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 DE 192 EISNER Federal, Newark 12.12.1943 To Holland May 1951 DE 193 GARFIELD Federal, Newark 12.12.1943 THOMAS (ex- Wilham G Thomas) To Greece Jan 1951 DE 194 WINGFIELD Federal, Newark 30.12.1943 To France Sept 1950 DE 195 THORNHILL Federal, Newark 30.12.1943 To Italy Jan 1951, stricken 1976 DE 196 RINEHART Federal, Newark 9 1.1944 To Holland June 1950 DE 197 ROCHE Federal, Newark 9 1 1944 Expended 11 3.46 DEu39 BANGUST Western Pipe & 6 6.1943 Steel, San Pedro To Peru Feb 1952 DE740 WATERMAN Western Pipe & 20.6.1943 Steel, San Pedro To Peru Oct 1951 DE741 WEAVER Western Pipe & 4 7.1943 Steel, San Pedro To Peru Oct 1951 DE742 HILBERT Western Pipe & 18.7.1943 Steel, San Pedro In reserve 1972 DE743 LAMONS Western Pipe & 1.8 1943 Steel, San Pedro In reserve 1972 DE744 KYNE Western Pipe & 15 8.1943 Steel, San Pedro In reserve 1972 DE745 SNYDER Western Pipe & 29.8.1943 Steel, San Pedro Stricken 1.8.72 DE746 HEMMINGFR Western Pipe & 12.9.1943 Steel, San Pedro To Thailand July 1959 DE747 BRIGHT Western Pipe & 26 9 1943 Steel, San Pedro To France Nov 1950 DE748 TILLS Western Pipe & 3.10.1943 Steel, San Pedro Stricken Sept 1968, target DE749 ROBERTS Western Pipe & 14 11.1943 Steel, San Pedro Stricken Sept 1968, BU DE75O MCCLELLAND Western Pipe & 28 11.1943 Steel, San Pedro In reserve 1972 DE751 GAYNIER Western Pipe & 1943 Steel, San Pedro Cancelled Sept 1944 DE752 CURTIS W Western Pipe & 1943 W HOWARD Steel, San Pedro Cancelled Sept 1944 DE753 JOHN J Western Pipe & 1943 VAN BUREN Steel, San Pedro Cancelled Sept 1944 DE763 CATES Tampa SB 10.10 1943 To France Nov 1950 DE764 GANDY Tampa SB 12 12.1943 To Italv Jan 1951, stricken 1971 DE765 EARL К OLSEN Tampa SB 13.2.1944 In reserve 1972 DE766 SLATER Tampa SB 13.2.1944 To Greece Mar 1951 DE767 OSWALD Tampa SB 25 4.1944 In reserve 1972 DL768 EBERT Tampa SB 11.5.1944 To Greece Mar 1951 DL768 NEAL A SCOTT Tampa SB 4 6 1944 Stricken June 196S DE770 MUIR Tampa SB 4 6.1944 To S Korea 1956, stricken 1977 DE771 SUTTON Tampa SB 6.8.1944 To S Korea 1956, stricken 1977 DE772 MILTON LEW IS Tampa SB 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 DE773 GEORGE M CAMPBELL Tampa SB 1944 Cancelled Sept 1944 139
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate DE255 SELLSTROM Brown SB, Houston 12.5.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, BU DE774 RUSSELL Tampa SB 1944 Cancelled DE316 HARVESTON Consolidated, 22.5.1943 Stricken Jan 1966, MCOX Sept 1944 Orange target •FMR’ c lass DE317 JOYCE Consolidated, 26.5.1943 Stricken 1.12.72 DE129 EDSALL Consolidated, 1 11.1942 Stricken June 1968, Orange Orange BU DE318 KIRKPATRICK Consolidated, 5 6.1943 Stncken 1.8 74, DE130 JACOB JONES Consolidated, 29 11.1942 Stricken Dec 1970 Orange target Orange DE319 LEOPOLD Consolidated 12 6 1943 Lost 10.3.44 DE131 HAMMANN Consolidated, 13 12 1942 Stricken 1.10 72 Orange (ex-Langley) Orange DE320 MENGES Consolidated, 15 6 1943 Stricken Jan 1971 DE132 ROBERT E Consolidated, 3.1.1943 BU 1967 Orange PEARY Orange DE321 MOSLEY Consolidated, 26 6 1943 Stricken Jan 1971 DE133 PILLSBURY Consolidated, 10 1 1943 Stricken Jan 1965, Orange Orange BU DE322 NEWELL Consolidated, 29.6.1943 Stricken 23.9 68, DEI 34 POPE Consolidated, 12 1.1943 Stricken Dec 1970 Orange BU Orange DE323 PRIDE Consolidated, 3.7.1943 Stricken Jan 1971 • DEBS FLAHERTY Consolidated, 17.1.1943 BU 1966 Orange Orange DE324 FALGOUT Consolidated, 24.7.1943 Stricken 1.6.75 DEB6 FREDERICK Consolidated, 24.1.1943 Sunk 24.4.45 Orange C DAVIS Orange DE325 LOWE Consolidated, 28 7.1943 Stricken Sept 1968 DEB7 HERBERT Consolidated, 19 1.1943 Stricken 1.7.72 Orange C JONES Orange DE326 THOMAS J Consolidated, 21 8 1943 To Tunisia DEB8 DOUGLAS L Consolidated, 24.1.1943 Stricken 1 10.72 GARY(ex-Guiy) Orange 27.10.73 HOWARD Orange DE327 BRISTER Consolidated, 24 8 1943 Stricken 23 9 68, DEB9 FARQUHAR Consolidated, 13 2.1943 Stricken 1 10.72 Orange BU Orange DE328 FINCH Consolidated, ?8 8.1943 Stricken 1.2.74, DEMO J R Y Consolidated, 7.3.1943 Stricken Dec 1970 Orange target BLAKELY Orange DE329 KRETCHMER Consolidated, 31 8.1943 Stricken 30 9.73 1 DE141 HILL Consolidated, 28 2 1943 Stricken 1965, Orange Orange target DE33O O’REILLY Consolidated, 2 10 1943 Stricken Jan 1971 DE142 FESSENDEN Consolidated, 9.3 1943 Expended 1965 Orange Orange DE331 KOINER Consolidated, 5 10.1943 Stricken Sept 1968, DE143 FISKE (Consolidated, 14.3.1943 Sunk 2.8.44 Orange BU Orange DE332 PRICE Consolidated, 30.10.1943 Stricken 1.8.74, 1 DE144 FROST Consolidated, 21.3.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, Orange target Orange BU DE333 STRICKLAND Consolidated, 2.11.1943 Stricken 1.12.72 DE145 HUSE Consolidated, 23.3 1943 Orange Orange DE334 FORSTER Consolidated, 13.11 1943 To S Vietnam DE146 INCH Consolidated, 4 4 1943 Stncken 1.10.72 Orange 25.9 71 Orange DE335 DANIEL Consolidated, 16 11 1943 Stricken 15 1 71 1 DE147 BLAIR Consolidated, 6 4.1943 Stricken 112 72 Orange Orange DE336 ROY 0 HALE Consolidated, 20 11.1943 Stricken 1.8.74, DE148 BROUGH Consolidated, 10.4.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, Orange target Orange BU DE337 DALE W Consolidated, 22 12 1943 Stricken Jan 1971 DE149 CHATELAINE Consolidated, 21.4 1943 Stricken 1 8.73 PETERSON Orange Orange DE338 MARTIN H Consolidated, 29 12 1943 Stricken Jan 1966, ( DEI 50 NEUNZER Consolidated, 27.4.1943 Stncken 1972 RAY Orange BU Orange DE382 RAMSDEN Consolidated, 24.5.1943 Stricken 1 8.74, DE151 POOLE Consolidated, 8.5.1943 Stricken 2.1.71 Orange target Orange DE383 MILLS Consolidated, 26.5.1943 Stricken 1.8.74 DEI52 PETERSON Consolidated, 15.5.1943 Stricken 2.1.71 Orange Orange DE384 RHODES Consolidated, 29.6.1943 Stricken 1 8.74, 1 DE238 STEWART Brown SB, 22.11.1942 Stricken 1.10.72 Orange target Houston DE385 RICHEY Consolidated, 30 6.1943 Stricken June 1968, DE239 STURTEVANT Brown SB, 3 12.1942 Stricken 1.12 72 Orange target Houston DE386 SAVAGE Consolidated, 15 7 1943 Stricken I 6.75, DE24O MOORE Brown SB, 21.12 1942 Stricken 1.8 73 Orange target Houston DE387 VANCE Consolidated, 16 7 1943 Stricken 1 6 75, 1 DE 241 KEITH (ex- Brown SB, 21.12.1942 Stricken 1.11.72 Orangc target Sc on) Houston DE388 LANSING Consolidated, 2 8 1943 Stricken 1.2 74, DE242 TOMICH Brown SB, 28.12.1942 Stricken 1 11 72 Orange target Houston DE389 DURANT Consolidated, 3 8 1943 Stricken 1 4.74, DE243 J RICHARD Brown SB, 6 1.1943 Stricken Jan 1971, Orange target WARD (ex- Houston BU DE39O CALCATERRA Consolidated, 16 8 1943 Stricken 2.7.73 James R Ward) Orange DE244 OTTER- Brown SB, 19.1.1943 Stricken 1.8.74, DE391 CHAMBERS Consolidated, 17.8.1943 Stricken 1.3.74, STETTER Houston target Orange target DE245 SLOAT Brown SB, 21.1.1943 Stricken Jan 1971 DE392 MERRILL Consolidated, 29.8.1943 Stricken 2.4.72 Houston Orange DE246 SNOWDEN Brown SB, 19 2.1943 Stricken Sept 1968, DE393 HAVERFIELD Consolidated, 30.8 1943 Stricken June 1969, I Houston BU Orange BU DE247 STANTON Brown SB, 21.2.1943 Stricken Dec 1970 DE394 SWENNING Consolidated, 13.9.1943 Stricken 1972 Houston Orange DE248 SWASEY Brown SB, 18.3.1943 Stricken 1.11.72 DE395 WILLIS Consolidated, 14.9 1943 Stricken 1972 Houston Orangc DE249 MARCHAND Brown SB, 20.3 1943 Stricken Dec 1970 DE396 JANSSEN Consolidated, 4 10 1943 Stricken 1972 I Houston Orange DE250 HURST Brown SB, 14.4.1943 To Mexico 1.10.73 DE397 WILHOITE Consolidated, 5 10.1943 Stricken July 1969, Houston Orange BU DE251 CAMP Brown SB, 16.4.1943 To S Vietnam 20.7.70 DE398 COCKRILL Consolidated, 29.10.1943 Stricken 1 8.73 Houston Philippines 1975 Orange DE252 HOWARD D Brown SB, 26.4.1943 Stricken Jan 1965, DE399 STOCKDALE Consolidated, 30.10.1943 Stricken 1972 I CROW Houston BU Orange DE253 PETTIT Brown SB, 28.4.1943 Stricken 1.8.73 DE400 HISSEM Consolidated, 26.12.1943 Stricken 1 6.75, Houston Orange target DE254 RICKETTS Brown SB, 10 5.1943 Stricken 1.11.72 DE401 HOLDER Consolidated, 27.11.1943 Lost 11 4 44 Houston Orange 140
Destroyer escorts/Submarines Although nominally divided into six classes, the destroyer escorts built by the United States during World War II were actually variants of a single design, and so are all treated together here. They originated in a series of design studies for escort vessels ordered by the General Board in 1940; a major factor in US interest was the success of the British Hunt class, particularly after the Mills Cochrane mission to the Royal Navy. Early projects were dropped in view of the small saving they represented compared to a much more capable conventional des- troyer; moreover, destroyers were already in production and so could be had sooner. What saved the concept was British interest in light second-rate des- troyers. On 23 June 1941 the British Supply Council in North America asked the Secretary of the Navy to release some escort destroyers, and a long-term programme of 100 units was raised. The principal changes requested were a dual-purpose mam battery (three 3in/50 rather than two single-purpose 4in/50) and a triple torpedo tube, against surface raiders; the latter would be provided out of stocks released by escort conversions of existing ‘flush-deckers’, although later new production was required. The bridge was a British type, with the conn one level above the helm. Despite Bureau of Ships arguments that repeat destroyers could be delivered far more readily, the President approved the production of 50 British destroyer escorts (BDE) on 15 August 1941. These ships were to have been powered by geared turbines, for a speed of 24kts. However, gear-cutting presented a production bottleneck, and diesel engines of submarine type had to be substituted; they added 34ft on length and 130 tons. Moreover, landing craft orders squeezed diesel production, the origi- nal design had called for eight 1500hp diesels, four driving through electric motors and four through small gears Now the geared diesels were eliminated, at a cost of 41kts. Ships of this type were ‘short hulls’ or ‘GMTs’, for *GM Tandem’ (diesel) drive The next propulsive system to be explored was turbo-electric: the original horsepower was retained, but the hull had to be lengthened; it turned out that the lengthening balanced off the increase in displacement and the speed of these 1 E units was about 24kts. The longer hull was standardised for ease of production, other propulsive alternatives explored were a geared turbine using relatively small gears (‘WGT’), the original diesel-electric system in a long hull (‘DET’), and a geared diesel drive (‘FMR’, for reduction geared, also half power). Orders, of course, greatly exceeded the original fifty: at its peak, the DE programme envisaged the completion of 1005 units - 105 ‘GMTs’, 154 ‘TEs’, 252 ‘TEVs’ (‘TEs’ with Sin guns), 293 ‘WGTs’, 116 ‘DETs’ and 85 ‘FMRs*. Many of these were ordered specifically to ensure the completion of 260 units during 1943, in fact over 300 were delivered that year. Mass cancellations began in the autumn of 1943: 305 in September and October, another 135 in 1944, and 2 in 1946 Many DEs were converted to fast light transports (APD); 44 ‘TEs’ and 51 ‘TEVs’, against a programme of 50 of each There was also a programme for twenty conversions to radar pickets, of which only seven were completed, at the end of the war (DE51, 57, 153, 213, 223, 577 and 578). Many others were converted in the 1950s as part of the North American air defence system. DE armament varied greatly during the war The original design embodied space and weight reservations for the installation of two enclosed 5in/38 in place of the 3in/5O, and the ‘TEVs’ and ‘WGTs’ were completed to this standard. At one time it was planned to convert ail DEs as weapons became available, but this programme was abandoned for the ‘GMTs’; these ships were the only DEs which never mounted torpedo tubes. Ironically, too, the Royal Navy, which had originally specified tubes, asked that they be deleted from DEs transferred to it. On the other hand, it was the Royal Navy which specified the installation of Hedgehogs, with which all DEs were fitted. Externally, all but the ‘TEVs’ and ‘WGTs’ had the original high British-style bridge, similar, incidentally, to that of the 180ft mmesweeper/PCE - another class built originally to an Admiralty requirement In the ships designed for Sin guns, a lower bridge was employed, similar to that originally installed in the Sumner class destroyers and in a few destroyer reconstructions; it, too, was derived to some extent from contemporary British practice. This type of bridge was not installed in 3in ships converted to 5m guns - USS Camp, following an April 1945 collision, and 11 out of a projected 40‘TEs* (DE217-219, 678-680, 696-698 and 700-701; the ‘ТЕ’ conversions were carried out in the autumn of 1945) Nor was it installed in the radar picket ‘TEs’, which received a pair of 5in guns as well as a new CIC and a heavy radar mainmast. In many ships the triple TTs were removed, replaced on refit by four Army model single Bofors guns. Moreover, a few late-production ships were completed without the tubes: six ‘WGTs’ (DE448-450. 510, 537 and 538) had a single quadruple 40mm aft, 3 twin 40mm, and 10 single 20mm In four ‘TEs’ (DE575-578), four Army type 40mm replaced the triple tubes. Oster haus 1943 as completed USN SUBMARINES Before 1919 US submarine design emphasised underwater perfor- mance and quick diving; in consequence, US submarines were gener- ally unseawonhy on the surface - incapable, for example, of traversing the North Atlantic unescorted. The performance of the German sub- marines was thus a considerable shock. The German concept was to emphasise surfaced performance, regarding the submarine as a sub- mersible torpedo-boat which might use her submersibility as a means of concealment, for example during an approach to a target. However, she would depend upon her surface performance for true mobility. These concepts shaped US submarine development in the postwar period, and are responsible for the characteristics of the large US ‘fleet boats’ of World War II. In fact the hull form of the Argonaut was based directly on German practice, and the Cachalots were based on the German U135 design of World War I. For some considerable time, too, US submarines were powered by diesels built under a German licence, although the new generation of lightweight diesels introduced in the 1930s was of entirely domestic origin. The other major factor in US submarine development was the expec- tation of Pacific warfare: the submarine fleet would be required both to interfere with Japanese operations in waters inaccessible to the US surface fleet, and to provide vital strategic intelligence - both of which functions it carried out very effectively in the war. Such operations required a long cruising radius and long endurance on station, both of which militated against small submarines of the type built by other navies during the 1930s. No account of the US submarine force can be complete without mention of its misfortunes due to poorly functioning torpedoes; the torpedo problem was not really solved until 1943, after which the submarine force proved so successful that the programme for new tonnage was cut back in 1944: boats already in operation were begin- ning to run out of targets. Submarines sank the bulk of Japanese merchant tonnage destroyed by US forces in the Pacific, and thereby severely hampered Japanese operations For example, the Japanese main fleet was based in the then Dutch East Indies in 1944 not for strategic reasons but because it was at the source of its oil; tanker traffic was too uncertain for the fleet to be able to operate from home waters. Wartime modifications were extensive, generally involving the addi- tion of light AA weapons, the replacement of light deck guns by heavier ones (culminating in the installation of the ‘wet’ 5in/25 single-purpose gun), and large increases in the number of‘limber’ (free-flooding) holes to improve diving time; a relatively slow dive was the legacy of the US emphasis on surfaced performance. Radar, both for air search and for surface search and fire control, was installed, as well as a wide variety of sonars, including special mine-detection sets which permitted US submarines to penetrate the ASW mine barrages of the Sea of Japan and so operate in Japanese home waters. Later in the war there were also homing torpedoes for anti-escort operations, analogous to the German ‘Gnat’. Uj Вт 1943 4 ...J.--.-.Л-/ BARRACUDA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2119t/2506t 325ft wl, 334ft 6m oax 27ft 7in x 15ft 2in 99.06, 101.96 X 8.41 x 4.62m 2-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 6200bhp = 18.7kts/9kts 6-2lin IT (4 bow, 2 stern), I-5in/51 85 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS163 BARRACUDA Portsmouth N Yd 17.7.1924 BU 1945 (ex VI) SS164 BASS (ex-V2) Portsmouth N Yd 27.12.1924 Scuttled 14.7.45 SS165 BONITA Portsmouth N Yd 9 6.1925 BU 1945 141
UNITED STATES The first post WWI submarines, these fast fleet boats were the first of nine (V7-V9) authorised as part of the big 1916 programme They were about twice the sue of the surviving ‘S’ class boats, and were even larger than the three wartime‘T class boats broken up under the London Treaty of 1930. However, as they were being designed, interest within the Navy shifted towards very long-range cruiser submarines of relatively modest speed, modelled (in theory) on the German cruisers of World War I This led to the design of the much larger minelayer Argonaut (V4) and of the two heavy-gun cruisers Narwhal and Nautilus, VS and V6 Nomenclature demands some explanation when all US submarines were distinguished only by a letter and a number, these were ‘V boats’. In 1931 the submarines were named and at the same time were given new letter number combinations based on their names, in this case Bl to B3. However, these three submarines were also at one time designated SF (fleet submarines) 4 to 6\ Argonaut was SF7, and the two Narwhals SF8 and 9 The large, relatively unsuccessful‘T* class was numbered SF1-3 under this system Propulsion was by two direct-drive diesels plus two others driving through motor-generators (‘composite system’) and much of the increase in size com- pared to the earlier ‘S’ class can be traced to the requirement for high speed to keep up with the battle fleet, range was 6000nm at 1 Ikts (surfaced) They were designed to dive to 200ft (pressure hull axis). The 5in gun was replaced by a 3in weapon in 1928. The three ‘Bs’ were not particularly successful, and they were laid up for some time prior to the outbreak of war. They were partly re engined prewar, the original Sulzer generating diesels being replaced by MAN units of higher power. War service was limited to training, and plans to convert them to transport submarines (APS2—4) were abandoned; all were stricken 10 March 1945. ARGONAUT Displacement: 2878l/4045t Dimensions: 360ft wl, 381ft oa x 33ft 8in x 16ft 109.73, 116 13 x 10.26 x 4 88m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 3175bhp/22OOshp = 13 65kts/7.43kts (trials) Armament: 4-21in TT (bow), 2-6in/53, 2-O.3in, 60 mines Complement: 86 No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI66 ARGONAUT (ex-W) Portsmouth N Yd 10.11.1927 Lost 10.1 43 This large submarine, originally numbered V4, was unique among US types in that she was designed specifically as a minelayer Her design evolved from the series of long range cruiser studies begun in 1919. Characteristics of 11 April 1923 called for ability ‘to withstand pressure for operating at 300ft’ and an endurance of 90 days with a radius of not less than 6000nm at lOkts (normal fuel) and not less than 18,000nm at lOkts (maximum fuel). The relative lack of interest in speed shows in a note that ‘if vibration speeds are found to be absolutely unavoidable, they shall be confined between 11 and 13kts’; continu- ous reliable sea speed was to be 15kts on the surface These characteristics also called for fitting to carry one observation aircraft, and for two mine tubes aft as well as four bow TT. The cruiser studies included much larger ships, and concentrated on surface armament (two 6in/53 cruiser guns in Argonaut, but 7in and even 8in types in the larger studies), aircraft and mines This series began in 1919 and by October 1920 some schemes showed displacements as great as 20,500 tons. This was far too great a jump from the previous figure of about 2000, and when the Bureau of Construction and Repair resumed its studies in 1922 it returned to the original ideas of 1919 for a far simpler craft; a Design History notes that ‘at this time a great many of the problems pertaining to larger sizes of submarines had already been worked out on submarines VI to V3 and many of the devices installed on American submarines as a result of war experience had been tried out on S48 to 51. In the meantime additional information had been obtained from German sources and many plans of larger German submarines were available for exami- nation and study . . the Bureau of Engineering had by this time practically determined to make MAN diesel engines the standard type for propelling machinery on American submarines’. The hull was also of German origin: initially, it was to have duplicated that of Vl, but the Commander of the Control Force (Rear-Admiral M M Taylor) asked that the US bulbous bow type be compared to the German type, and the latter proved far superior. Argonaut was converted to a transport submarine (renumbered APS1) and with Nautilus carried Manne raiders to Makin Island on 17-19 August 1942 Range was 18,000nm at 10kts/50nm at 5kts. Naru-hal in April 1943 refitted with external TT USN NARWHAL class Displacement: 2987t/3960t Dimensions: 355ft wl, 371ft oa x 33ft 3in x 16ft Ilin 108 21, 113 08 x 10 13 x 5 16m Machinery: 2 shaft diesels plus electnc motors, 5633bhp/1600shp = 17 44kts/8kts (trials) Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern), 2-6in/53, 2-0.3in Complement: 89 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS167 NARWHAL (ex V5) Portsmouth N Yd 17 12 1927 BU 1945 SSI68 NAUTILUS (ex-V6) Mare Island N Yd 15 3 1930 BU 1945 These two ships were cruiser submarine equivalents of the Argonaut, with a pair of stern tubes in place of her two minelaying tubes They were the largest US submarines until the advent of the nuclear submarine Nautilus thirty years later. Characteristics required a maximum speed of I7kts on the surface, and omitted the aircraft called for in the cruiser-minelayer. Both ships were re-engined with Fairbanks-Morse diesels in 1940-41 and their composite powerplants replaced by the diesel-electnc type used in more modern fleet boats. Range was 18,000nm at 10kts/50nm at 5kts. Much of their wrar service was devoted to the transport of raid ng parues. The major war alteration was the addition of four external TT, two forward and two under the raised gundeck amidships. Dolphin 1935 DOLPHIN Displacement: 1688t/2215t Dimensions: 319ft 3in oa x 27ft Ilin x 13ft lin 97 31 x 8 SI x 3.99m Machinery: 2 shaft diesels plus electric motors, 3500bhp/1750shp = 17kts/8kts Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-4m/50, 4-0.3in Complement: 63 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS169 DOLPHIN Portsmouth N Yd 8.3.1932 BU 1946 This relatively unsuccessful submarine marked the beginning of a trend away from the large cruiser submarines and towards a more modest long-range type. By the end of 1927 it appeared that any new submarine would be required to operate in the Western Pacific, over 300nm from base; it would, therefore, Argonaut at Mare Island, 18.7.1942 USN 142
Submarines require an endurance of about 12,000nm and 60 to 90 days. Speed would be relatively unimportant, but handiness and a good torpedo battery would be valuable reliability, habitability, and torpedo battery would be far more impor- tant (han surface speed, especially as the submarine would probably be operat- ing very much on her own, away from the battle fleet A War Plans Division memorandum suggested that displacement be held below 1600 tons and that reliable sea speed be set at 12-14kts, with a maximum under favourable condi- tions of 15-17. The torpedo battery would duplicate that of the previous class (including three reloads per tube) but the gun battery might be reduced to a single 5in weapon War Plans saw the new boat as a prototype, but wanted the Navy to continue to build cruiser submarines meanwhile in view of the back- wardness of the US submarine fleet. In fact, funds were short enough to prohibit such a programme instead, the last three of the 1916 boats, V7 to V9, were robe of the new type (actually V8 and V9 were completed to an even smaller design) Design features included a small conning tower, closer in size to that of an ‘S’ class boat than to that of the previous cruisers. As in previous classes, drive was composite, which the General Board favoured as a step on the way to an all-electric system (as was, in fact, ultimately adopted). Contrary to the initial recommendations of the War Plans Division, Dolphin carried only 18 torpedoes and a 4in deck gun, she could not quite make the desired cruising radius either, range being 6000nm at 10kts/50nm at 5kts She was employed mainly for training during World War II, and in retrospect it is interesting that about ten years later fleet boats of much the same displacement had so much better military qualities. Cuttlefish prewar PORPOISE class Displacement: 1316c standard; 1934t submerged Dimensions: 289ft wl, 301ft oa x 24ft Ilin x 14ft lin 88.09, 91.75 x 7.59 x 4 29m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electrics plus electric motors, 4300shp/2085shp = 19kts/lOkts Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-3in/5O, 2-0 5in, 4-0 3in Complement: 54 No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI72 PORPOISE Portsmouth N Yd 20.6.1935 BU 1957 SSI 73 PIKE Portsmouth N Yd 12.9.1935 BU 1957 Tarpon 1944 SHARK class_____________________________________________________ Displacement: 1315t standard, 1968t submerged Dimensions: 290ft wl, 298ft oa x 25ft lin x 15ft lin 88 39, 90 83 x7.64 x4 60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electncs plus electric motors, 4300shp/2085shp = 19 5kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-3in/5O, 2-0 5in, 4-0 3in Complement: 54 No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI 74 SHARK Electric Boat 21 5 1935 Lost 11 2 42 SSI75 TARPON Electric Boat 4 9.1935 Lost 26 8.57 CACHALOT class Displacement: 1120t standard, 1650t submerged Dimensions: 265ft wl, 271ft lin oa x 24ft 9in x I4ft 80 77, 82 88 x 7.54 x4.27m Machinery: 2 shaft diesels plus electric motors, 2770bhp/1600shp = 17kts/8kts Armament 6-2 lin TT (4 bow), l-3in/5O, 3-0.5in, 4-0 3in Complement: 51 PERCH class Displacement: 1330t standard; 1997t submerged Dimensions: 292ft 6in wl, 300ft 6in oa x 25ft 2in x 15ft 2m 89.16, 91 59 x 7 67 x 4 62m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electncs plus electric motors, 4300shp/2366shp = 19.25kts/8kts Armament. 6-2Im TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-3in/5O, 2-0 5in, 4-0.3in Complement: 54 No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI 70 CACHALOT Portsmouth 19 10 1933 BU 1947 N Yd SS171 CUT! LEFISH Electric Boat 21 11.1933 BU 1947 These two units, the last of the ‘V boats’, were somewhat stunted by the overall submarine tonnage limitation of the 1930 London Treaty A major factor m their design was the unfavourable comparison between the best of the German boats of World War I, U135, and Dolphin-, it seemed that on 1200 tons it should be possible to attain an operating depth of 250ft (compared to 185ft in the German submarine), three months and 16,000nm (but at 7kts) endurance, plus the usual 6 tube battery (with 14 or even 15 reloads), and a surface speed of 17kts. In fact matters were considerably simplified by the acceptance of a two-diesel powerplant (to shafts or generators for recharging), and the final Characteristics called for two quick reloads per tube, and a total of 16 torpedoes The gun was reduced to a 3in/5O, typical of US submarines up to World War II. Final Characteristics called for an endurance of ll.OOOnm at lOkts, including allowances for battery charging, fouling and average sea states, this, with a submerged range of 50nm at 5kts, was achieved The argument in favour of relatively small units was that the point of the submarine programme was to maintain in the probable operating area (the Western Pacific) ‘the maximum number of potential torpedo hits and the maximum serv ice of information to the Commander in Chief It would be about 3900nm each way, for a cruise of 33 days, or a total of 75 per patrol At the same time the United States would be permitted to build, by December 1936, a total of 25,100 tons over the V7-V9 (assuming, incorrectly, that V8 and V9 would duplicate V7), in addition, 14,830 tons of replacements could be laid down in 1937-39. A requirement sometimes stated for forty boats would consume 48,000 tons even on a unit displacement as low as 1200, but to go much below the Cachalot design would be to give up the long endurance absolutely necessary Innovations included extensive welding and the first US 1 orpedo Data (Fire Control) Computer. Both boats were refitted during World зг II, receiving superstructures similar to those of wartime fleet boats; their war patrols were unsuccessful and they were employed for training No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI 76 PERCH Electric Boat 9 5 1936 Lost 3.3 42 SSI77 PICKEREL Electric Boat 7.7.1936 Lost Apr 1943 SSI 78 PERMIT (ex-Pmno) Electric Boat 5.10 1936 BU 1957 SS179 PLUNGER Portsmouth N Yd 8 7.1936 BU 1957 SSI 80 POLLACK Portsmouth N Yd 15 9 1936 BU 1947 SS181 POMPANO Mare Island 11 3.1937 Lost Aug 1943 The first four boats of these classes, of two distinct designs, were financed by the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933; characteristics substantially repeated those of the Cachalots, except that displacement was increased to 1300 tons to reduce crowding in the machinery spaces As in Cachalot, endurance was reduced from the previous 90 to 75 days Increased siz.e made possible increased engine power, and surface speed specified rose from 16 5 to 18.8 kts The Bureau of Engineering later noted that by this time it was clear that a total redesign of submarine engines was in order if submarines were to meet the severe speed and flexibility requirements of the General Board, if torsional vibration problems associated with direct diesel drive were to be eliminated, and if the dependence on foreign licences inherent in the use of MAN engines were to be removed A high speed diesel with electric drive was selected ‘so as to benefit from the Railroad Dieselization Program (which had been initiated by the Navy) - and as the only way to obtain the flexibility and reliability of multiple engines’ (Bureau of Engineering memorandum, February 1939) With this system a submarine could proceed at high speed on the surface using three of her four engines, while she charged her batteries on the fourth; performance under the former direct drive system would have been limited (in a later boat) to 13J rather than 18kts in this condition. These classes introduced air conditioning. Five boats had two external tubes added forward after the out- break of war (SSI 72, 173, 175, 177 and 178) All survivorshad their superstruc- tures remodelled Range for all boats was ll.OOOnm at 10kts/50nm at 5kts 143
UNITED STATES SALMON class Displacement: 1449t standard; 22lOt submerged Dimensions: 300ft wl, 308ft oa x 26ft 2in x 15ft 7in 91.44, 93 88 x 7.98 x 4 75m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels (composite drive) plus electric motors, 5500shp/2660shp = 21kts/9kts. See notes Armament: 8-21in TT (4 bow, 4 stern), l-3in/50, 2-O.5in, 2-O.3in Complement: 59 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS182 SALMON Electric Boat 12.6.1937 BU 1946 SSI 83 SEAL Fleet nc Boat 25.8.1937 BU 1957 SSI 84 SKIPJACK Electric Boat 23.10 1937 Sunk 16 10 48 SS185 SNAPPER Portsmouth N Yd 24 8 1937 BU 1948 SS186 STINGRAY Portsmouth N Yd 6.10.1937 BU 1947 SS187 STURGEON Mare Island N Yd 15.3.1938 BU 1948 Sargo 1944 SARGO and SEADRAGON classes Displacement: 1450t standard Dimensions: 302ft 6in wl, 310ft 6in oa x 26ft lOin x 16ft 8in 92.20, 94.64 x 8.18 x S08m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels (composite drive; diesel-electric in Seadragons) plus electric motors, 55OOshp (Seadragons 5200shp)/2740shp = 20kts/8.75kts Armament: 8-21in TT (4 bow, 4 stern), l-3in/5O, 2-0.5in, 2-O.3in Complement: 59 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS188 SARGO Electric Boat 6.6.1938 BU 1947 SSI 89 SAURY Electric Boat 20.8 1938 BU 1947 SS190 SPFARFISH Flectnc Boat 29 10 1938 BU 1947 SS191 SCULPIN Portsmouth N Yd 27.7.1938 Lost 19 11.43 SS192 SQUALUS Ponsmouth N Yd 14.9.1938 BU 1948 SS193 SWORDFISH Mare Island N Yd 1.4.1939 Lost Jan 1945 SS194 SEADRAGON Electric Boat 21.4.1939 BU 1948 SS195 SEALION Electric Boat 25.5.1939 Lost 25.12.41 SS196 SEARAVEN Ponsmouth N Yd 21.6.1939 Expended 11.9.48 SSI 97 SEA WOLF Portsmouth N Yd 15.8. 1939 Lost 3.10.44 These submarines reverted to direct drive via hydraulic couplings, as it was feared that flooding might disable an all electric system such as had been introduced in the Porpoise class-which had not yet been completed when these boats were laid down The Seadragons, SS193-197, reverted to diesel-electric reduction gear drive and in fact no later US ‘fleet submarine* employed the earlier composite system. The reversion saved some length, which went into a double battery capacity as well as into longer TT. Two tubes were added aft, for a total of eight (and 24 torpedoes, 12 forward, 8 aft, and 4 externally). As an alternative, 32 mines (to be laid via the TT) could be carried, half tn the after torpedo room. Characteristics called for a speed of 17ktson the surface on three engines, and 8Jkts underwater for one hour. Endurance was to be 11,000nm at lOkts with a 30 per cent power reserve for battery charging, and these boats were to be able to operate at 2kts underwater for 48 hours with air-conditioning and auxiliary machinery operating. There were actually two very similar sub-classes, of which the second (SS188-197) w'as slightly larger. One of these ships, Squalus, sank in a cele- brated 1939 accident, reportedly as a consequence of a defective main induction hatch; she was raised, renamed Sailfish, and recommissioned in 1940. War modifications followed those in other prewar and early-war submarines, includ- ing considerable reductions in superstructure. Tauiogon 15 5 1940 as completed US\ TAMBOR class Displacement: 1475t standard Dimensions: 302ft 6in wl, 307ft 2in oa x 27ft 3in x 15ft 92.20, 93 63 x 8 31 x 4.S7m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electrics, plus electric motors, 5400shp/ 2740shp = 20kts/8.75kts Armament: Complement: 10—21 in TT (6 bow, 4 stern), l-3in/50, 2-0 5in 60 No Name Builder Launched Fate SSI 98 TAMBOR Electric Boat 20.12 1939 BU Mar 1960 SS199 TAU TOG Electric Boat 27.1 1940 BU 1960 SS200 THRESHER Electric Boat 27 3 1940 BU 1948 SS201 TRITON Portsmouth N Yd 25.3.1940 Lost 15.3 43 SS202 TROUT Portsmouth N Yd 21.5.1940 Lost 29 2.44 SS203 TUNA Mare Island N Yd 2.10.1940 Expended 25.9 48 SS206 GAR Electric Boat 7 11.1940 BU 1959 SS207 GRAMPUS Electric Boat 23.12 1940 Lost 5 3 43 SS2O8 GRAYBACK Electric Boat 31 1 1941 Lost 27 2 44 SS209 GRAYLING Portsmouth N Yd 4.9.1940 Lost 9 9.43 SS210 GRENADIER Portsmouth N Yd 29.11 1940 Lost 22 4 43 SS211 GUDGEON Mare Island N Yd 25.1.1941 Lost Apr 1944 For the submarines of the FY39 programme two TT were added forward, at a cost of about 15 tons. I he 6-tube salvo had been debated for some years, and the Submarine Conference re ected it in 1935 largely in the belief that it would require an advance in displacement to 1750 tons. In 1937 it became obvious that so great a sacrifice would not be needed, and the major units afloat voted unanimously for 6 forward tubes, in an improved Sargo design Torpedo capacity remained unchanged, and diesel electric propulsion was reintroduced In these boats all torpedoes were carried internally, 16 forward and 8 aft. Each torpedo reload rack could hold two mines, for a total capacity of 40 mines plus 4 torpedoes. Diving depth was 250ft, but this equated to a collapse depth of 500ft; range was as for thcSalmons The Gar class (FY40) was also designed to operate at 250ft, but two boats were to be tested at 300ft, and the next class was designed for operation at 300ft. Marlin 1943 MACKEREL, MARLIN Displacement: 825t (Marlin 800t) standard; 940t (910t) normal surfaced; 1190t (1165t) submerged Dimensions: 243ft lin oa (Marlin 238ft Ilin) x 22ft lin (21ft 8in) x 14ft (13ft) normal 74.09 (72 82) x 6 73 (6.60) x 4 27 (3.96)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 1680bhp (Marlin 1700shp) = 16 2kis (Marlin 16.5kts) surfaced Armament- 6-21m ГТ, l-3in/5O, 2-O.5in, 2-0.3in Complement: 42 No Name Builder Launched Fate SS2O4 MACKEREL Electric Boat 28.9.1940 BU 1947 SS205 MARLIN Ponsmouth 29.1 1941 BU 1946 • N Yd 144
Submarines These two small submarines were built largely at the instance of Admiral T C Hart, the General Board's submarine expert, who feared that the ‘fleet boats’ were becoming too large, and who looked forward to replacements for the many ‘S’ class boats about to become over-age. They were justified as ‘patrol’ or coast defence units, but met very great resistance on the part of the submariners, who felt that a 1500-ton ‘fleet boat’ could do quite as much, but could also function in the all-important Western Pacific. Ultimately two boats were built under the FY39 programme, one (SS2O4) to an Electric Boat Company design, and the other to a Navy in-house design; after the war Electric Boat built six modified Mackerels for Peru, with ‘guppy’ sails and a deck gun. Mackerel had direct drive, Marlin diesel-electric through motor-generators. Designed depth was 250ft, and there were 6 TT and 12 torpedoes. Although the Board of Inspection and Suryey was very favourably impressed with these small submarines, neither saw effec- tive war service and both were discarded. The need which Hart forsaw for large numbers of boats to protect the Hawaiian Islands, the US coast and the Canal Zone never really materialised. Argonaut, Tench class, as completed Barbero, Balao class, as completed GATO, BALAO and TENCH classes Displacement: 1526t (Balao class 1525t, Tench class 15700 standard; 1810t (Tench class 18450 normal; 24 lOt (Balao, Tench classes 24150 submerged Dimensions: 311ft 9in (Tench class 311ft 8in) oa x 27ft 3in x 15ft 3in (Tench class 15ft Sin) normal 95.02 (95.00) x 8.31 x 4.65 (4.7O)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electrics plus electric motors, 5400shp/2740shp = 2O.25kts/8.75kts Armament: 10-21in TT (6 bow, 4 stern), l-3in/50,2-0.Sin, 2-0.3in. See notes Complement: 60 (peace); 80 (war) No Name Builder Launched Fate Gato class SS212 GATO Electric Boat 21.8.1941 Stricken 1960 SS213 GEENLING Electric Boat 20.9.1941 Stricken 1960 SS214 GROUPER Electric Boat 27.10.1941 Sold for BU 1970 SS215 GROWLER Electric Boat 22.11.1941 Lost 8.11.44 SS216 GRUNION Electric Boat 22.12.1941 Lost 30.7.1942 SS2x7 GUARDFISH Electric Boat 20.1.1942 Expended 1961 SS218 ALBACORE Electric Boat 17.2.1942 Lost 7.11.44 SS219 AMBERJACK Electric Boat 6.3.1942 Lost 16.2.43 SS22O BARB Electric Boat 2.4.1942 To Italy 1955 SS221 BLACKFISH Electric Boat 18.4.1942 Stricken 1959 SS222 BLUEFISH Electric Boat 21.2.1943 Stricken 1959 SS223 BONEFISH Electric Boat 7.3.1943 Lost 18.6.45 SS224 COD Electric Boat 21.3.1943 Preserved 1975 SS225 CERO Electric Boat 4.4.1943 Sold for BU 16.9.70 SS226 CORVINA Electric Boat 9.5.1943 Lost 16.11.43 SS227 DARTER Electric Boat 6.6.1943 Lost 24.10.44 SS228 DRUM Portsmouth N Yd 12.5.1941 Preserved 1968 SS229 FLYING FISH Portsmouth N Yd 9.7.1941 BU 1960 SS23O FINBACK Portsmouth N Yd 25.8.1941 BU 1959 SS231 HADDOCK Portsmouth N Yd 20.10.41 Stricken 1959 SS232 HALIBUT Portsmouth N Yd 3.12.1941 BU 1947 SS233 HERRING . Portsmouth N Yd 15.1.1942 Lost 1.6.44 SS234 KINGFISH Portsmouth N Yd 2.3.1942 Stricken 1960 SS235 SHAD Portsmouth N Yd 15.4.1942 Stricken 1960 SS236 SILVERSIDES Mare Island N Yd 26.8.1941 Preserved 1973 SS237 TRIGGER Mare Island N Yd 22.10.1941 Lost 28.3.45 SS238 WAHOO Mare Island N Yd 14.2.1942 Lost 12.10.43 SS239 WHALE Mare Island N Yd 14.3.19r2 Stricken 1960 SS240 ANGLER Electric Boat 4.7.1943 Stricken 15.12.71 SS241 BASHAW Electric Boat 25.7.1943 Stricken 1969 SS242 BLUEGILL Electric Boat 8.8.1943 Expended 2.12.70 SS243 BREAM Electric Boat 17.10.194 Expended 8.11.69 SS244 CAVALLA Electric Boat SS245 COBIA Electric Boat SS246 CROAKER Electric Boat SS247 DACE Electric Boat SS248 DORADO Electric Boat SS249 FLASHER Electric Boat SS250 FLIER Electric Boat SS251 FLOUNDER Electric Boat SS252 GABI LAN Electric Boat SS253 GUNNEL Electric Boat SS254 GURNARD Electric Boat SS255 HADDO Electric Boat SS256 HAKE Electric Boat SS257 HARDER Electric Boat SS258 HOE Electric Boat SS259 JACK Electric Boat SS260 LAPON Electric Boat SS261 MINGO Electric Boat SS262 MUSK A L- LUNGE Electric Boat SS263 PADDLE Electric Boat SS264 PARGO Electric Boat SS265 PETO Manitowoc SS266 POGY Manitowoc SS267 POMPON Manitowoc SS268 PUFFER Manitowoc SS269 RASHER Manitowoc SS270 RATON Manitowoc SS271 RAY Manitowoc SS272 REDFIN Manitowoc SS273 ROBALO Manitowoc SS274 ROCK Manitowoc SS275 RUNNER Portsmouth N Yd SS276 SAWFISH Portsmouth N Yd SS277 SCAMP Portsmouth N Yd SS278 SCORPION Portsmouth N Yd SS279 SNOOK Portsmouth N Yd SS280 STEELHEAD Portsmouth N Yd SS281 SUNFISH Mare Island N Yd SS282 TUNNY Mare Island N Yd SS283 TINOSA Mare Island N Yd SS284 TULLIBEE Mare Island N Yd Balao class SS285 BALAO Portsmouth N Yd SS286 BILLFISH Portsmouth N Yd SS287 BOWFIN Portsmouth N Yd SS288 CABRILLA Portsmouth N Yd SS289 CAPELIN Portsmouth N Yd SS290 CISCO Portsmouth N Yd SS291 CREVALLE Ponsmouth N Yd SS292 DEVILFISH Cramp SS293 DRAGONET Cramp SS294 ESCOLAR Cramp SS295 HACKLEBACK Cramp SS296 LANCETFISH Cramp SS297 LING Cramp SS298 LIONFISH Cramp SS299 MANTA Cramp SS300 MORAY Cramp SS301 RONCADOR Cramp SS302 SABALO Cramp SS303 SABLEFISH Cramp SS304 SEAHORSE Mare Island N Yd SS305 SKATE Mare Island N Yd SS306 TANG Mare Island N Yd SS307 TILEFISH Mare Island N Yd 14.11.1943 Preserved 1969 28.11.1943 Preserved 1970 19.12.1943 Preserved 1976 25.4.1943 To Italy 1955 23.5.1943 Lost 12.10.43 20.6.1943 BU 1963 11.7.1943 Lost 13.8.44 22.8.1943 Stricken 1960 19.9.1943 •Stricken 1960 17.5.1942 Stricken 1959 1.6.1942 Stricken 1960 21.6.1942 BU 1959 17.7.1942 Stricken 19.3.67 19.8.1942 Lost 24.8.44 17.9.1942 Stricken 1960 16.10.1942 To Greece 1958 27.10.1942 To Greece 1957 30.11.1942 BU 1971 13.12.1942 To Brazil 1957 30.12.1942 To Brazil 1957 24.1.1943 BU 1961 30.4.1942 BU 1961 23.6.1942 Stricken 1959 15.8.1942 Stricken 1960 22.11.1942 BU 1961 20.12.1942 Stricken 20.12.71 24.1.1943 Expended 12.9.69 28.2.1943 Stricken 1960 4.4.1943 Sold for BU 1971 9.5.1943 Lost 26.7.44 20.6.1943 Stricken 1969 30.5.1942 Lost June 1963 23.6.1942 Stricken 1960 20.7.1942 Lost 16.11.44 20.7.1942 Lost Feb 1944 15.8.1942 Lost April 1944 11.9.1942 Stricken 1960 2.5.1942 Stricken 1960 30.6.1942 Expended 19.6.69 7.10.1942 Lost 1961 11.11.1942 Lost 26.3.44 27.10.1942 Stricken 1963 12.11.1942 Sold for BU Jan 1971 7.12.1942 Preserved 1.8.79 24.12.1942 Sold for BU June 1972 20.1.1943 Lost Dec 1943 24.12.1942 Lost 28.9.43 22.2.1943 Sold for BU Jan 1971 30.5.1943 Expended 14.8.68 18.4.1943 Expended 1961 18.4.1943 Lost Oct 1944 30.5.1943 Sold for BU 4.12.68 15.8.1943 BU 1958 15.8.1943 Preserved 1972 7.11.1943 Preserved 1972 7.11.1943 Expended 16.7.69 14.5.1944 Expended 18.6.70 14.5.1944 Stricken 1.12.71 4.6.1944 Preserved 1973 4.6.1944 Sold for BU 29.7.71 9.1.1943 Sold for BU 4.12.68 4.3.1943 Sunk 16.10.48 17.8.1943 Lost 24.10.44 25.10.1943 To Venezuela 1960 145
UNITED STATES No Name Builder Launched Fate SS366 SS367 HAWKSBILL ICEFISH Manitowoc Manitowoc 9.1.1944 20.2.1944 To Holland 1953 To Holland 1953 SS3O8 APOGON (ex- Electric Boat 10.3.1943 Sunk 26.7.46 SS368 JALLAO Manitowoc 12.3.1944 Stricken 26 6 74 Abadejo) SS369 KETE Manitowoc 9.4.1944 I ost Mar 1945 SS309 ASPRO (ex- Electric Boat 7.4 1943 Stricken 1962 SS370 KRAKEN Manitowoc 30.4.1944 To Spain 24.10.59 Acedia) SS371 LAGARTO Manitowoc 28.5 1944 Lost 3 5 45 SS3IO BA TFISH (ex- Electric Boat 5 5 1943 Preserved 1972 SS372 LAMBREY Manitowoc 18.6.1944 BU 1971 Acoupa) SSe73 LIZARDFISH Manitowoc 16.7.1944 T Italy 5 3.66 SS3I1 ARCHERFISH Electric Boat 28 5 1943 Expended 16.10 68 SS374 LOGGERHEADManitowoc 13.8.1944 Sold for BU SS312 BURRFISH (ex- Electric Boat 18 6 1943 Stricken 31.7.69 Aug 1969 Annllo) SS375 MACABI Manitowoc 19.9 1944 BU 1971 SS313 PERCH Electric Boat 12 9.1943 Stricken 1.12.71 SS376 MAPI RO Manitowoc 9.11.1944 To Turkes 1960 SS314 SHARK Electric Boat 17 10.1943 Lost 24.10.44 SS377 MENHADEN Manitowoc 20.12.1944 To Spain 1971 SS315 SEALION Electric Boat 31.10.1943 Stricken 1977 SS378 MERO Manitowoc 17.1.1945 To Turkey 20.4.60 SS316 BARBEL Electric Boat 14.11.1943 Lost 4.2.1945 SS379 NEEDLEFISH Manitowoc — Cancelled SS317 BARBERO Electric Boat 12.12.1943 Stricken 1.7.64 29.7.1944 SS318 BAYA Electric Boat 2.1 1944 Stricken 30.10.72 SS380 NERKA Manitowoc — Cancelled SS3I9 BECUNA Electric Boat 30 1 1944 Preserved 1976 29 7 1944 SS320 BERGALL Electric Boat 12 12.1944 To Turkey 17 10 58 SS381 SAND LANCE Portsmouth 25.6.1943 To Brazil 1963 SS321 BESUGO Electric Boat 27 2 1944 To Italy 1966 (ex-Ojanco, N Yd SS322 BLACKFIN Electric Boat 12 3 19*44 To Greece 1972 ex-Orca) SS323 CAIMAN (ex- Electric Boat 30 3 1944 To Turkey SS382 PICUDA (ex- Portsmouth 12.7.1943 To Spain 1 10 72 Blariquillo) July 1972 Obispo) N Yd SS324 BLENNY Electric Boat 9.4.1944 Stricken 15.8.73, SS383 PAMPANITO Portsmouth 12.7 1943 Preserved 1975 target N Yd SS325 BLOWER Electric Boat 23.4.1944 Lost 3.4.53 SS384 PARCHE Portsmouth 24.7.1943 Sold for BU SS326 BLUEBACK Electric Boat 7.5.1944 To Turkey 1948 N Yd July 1970 SS327 BOARFISH Electric Boat 21 5 1944 To Turkey 1948 SS385 BANG Portsmouth 30.8.1943 To Spam l.xO 72 SS328 CHARR (ex Electric Boat 18 6.1944 Stricken 20.12.71 N Yd Bocaccio) SS386 PILOTFISH Portsmouth 30.8.1943 Sunk 16 10 1948 SS329 CHUB (ex- Electric Boat 18 6 1944 To Turkey 1948 N Yd Bonaci) SS387 PINTADO Portsmouth 15.9.1943 Sold for BU 20.1.69 SS33O BRILL Electric Boat 25 6 1944 To Turkey 1948 N Yd SS331 BUGARA Electric Boat 2 7 1944 Lost 1.6.71 SS388 PIPEFISH Portsmouth 12.10.1943 Sold for BU 20 1.69 SS332 BULLHEAD Electric Boat 16 7.1944 Lost 6.8.45 N Yd SS333 BUMPER Electric Boat 6 8.1944 To Turkey 1950 SS389 PIRANHA Portsmouth 27 10.1943 Sold for BU 11 8 70 SS334 CABEZON Electric Boat 27.8.1944 Sold for BU N Yd 28.12.71 SS390 PLAICE Portsmouth 15.11.1943 'To Brazil 1963 SS335 DENTUDA (ex -Electric Boat 10.9.1944 Sold for BU N Yd Capidoli) 20.1.69 SS391 POMFRET Portsmouth 27.10 1943 To Turkey 3 5.72 SS336 CAPITAINE Electric Boat 1.10.1944 To Italy 5.3.66 N Yd SS337 CARBONERO Electric Boat 15 10.1944 Stricken 1.12.70 SS392 S TERLET (ex- Portsmouth 27.10 1943 Expended 31 1.69 SS338 CARP Electric Boat 12 11 1944 Stricken 20.12 71 Pudiano) N Yd SS339 CATFISH Electric Boat 19 11 1944 To Argentina SS393 QUEENFISH Portsmouth 30. IL 1943 Expended 1963 7.1.71 N Yd SS34O ENTEMEDOR Electric Boat 17 12 1944 To Turkey SS394 RAZORBACK Portsmouth 27.1.1944 To Turkev (ex-Chickwick) 24.8.73 N Yd 17.11 70 SS341 CHIVO Electric Boat 14 1 1945 To Argentina SS395 REDFISH Portsmouth 27 1.1944 Expended 6 2 69 7.1.71 N Yd SS342 CHIPPER Electric Boat 4 2.1945 Stricken 1.10.71 SS396 RONQUIL Portsmouth 27.1.1944 To Spain 1.7.71 SS343 CLAMAGORE Electric Boat 25.2.1945 Preserved 1979 N Yd SS344 COBBLER Electric Boat 1.4.1945 To Turkey SS397 SCABBARD- Portsmouth 27.1.1944 To Greece 26 2.65 21 11.73 FISH N Yd SS345 COCHINO Electric Boat 20 4 1945 Foundered 26 8 49 SS398 SEGUNDO Portsmouth 5.2 1944 Stricken 8.S.70 SS346 CORPORAL Electric Boat 10 6 1945 To Turkey N Yd 21.11.73 SS399 SEA CAT P< rtsmouth 30.11.1944 Stricken 2.12.68 SS347 CUBERA Electric Boat 17 6 1945 To Venezuela 1972 N Yd SS348 CUSK Electric Boat 28 7 1945 Stricken 24.9.69 SS400 SEA DEVIL Portsmouth 28 2.1944 Expended 1965 SS349 DIODON Electric Boat 10 9.1945 Sold for BU N Yd June 1972 SS401 SEA DOG Portsmouth 28.3.1944 Stricken 2 12 68 SS35O DOGFISH Electric Boat 27.10.1945 To Brazil 28.7.72 N Yd SS351 GREENFISH Electric Boat 21.12.1945 To Brazil 19.12.73 SS402 SEA FOX Portsmouth 28.3.1944 To Turkey (zx-Doncella) N Yd Dec 1970 SS352 HALFBEAK Electric Boat 19.2.1946 Stricken 1.7.71 SS403 ATULE Portsmouth 6.3.1944 To Peru 31.7.74 (ex Dory) N Yd SS353 DUGONG Electric Boat Cancelled SS404 SPIKEFISH Portsmouth 26.4.1944 Stricken 1.5.63 23.10.1944 (cx-Shiner) N Yd SS354 EEL Electric Boat Cancelled SS405 SEA OWL Portsmouth 7.5.1944 Sold for BU 3.6 71 23.10.1944 N Yd SS355 ESPA DA Electric Boat — Cancelled SS406 SEA POACHER Portsmouth 20.5.1944 To Peru 1.7.74 23.10.1944 N Yd SS356 JAWFISH (ex- Electric Boat Cancelled SS407 SEA ROBIN Portsmouth 25.5 1944 Sold for BU 3 6.71 Fanegal) 29.7.1944 SENNET N Yd SS357 ONO (ex- Electric Boat — Cancelled SS408 Portsmouth 6.6.1944 Stricken 2.12.68 Friar) 29.7.1944 N Yd SS358 GARLOPA Electric Boat Cancelled SS409 PIPER Portsmouth 26.6 1944 Stricken 1 7.70 29.9 1944 (cx-Awa) N Yd SS359 GARRUPA Electric Boat Cancelled SS410 THREADFIN Portsmouth 26 6.1944 To Turkey 15.8.73 29.7.1944 (ex-So/e) N Yd SS360 GOLDRING Electric Boat Cancelled SS4U SPADEFISH Mare Island 8.1.1944 Sold for BU 29.9.1944 N Yd Oct 1969 SS361 GOLET Manitowoc 1 8.1943 Lost 14.6.44 SS412 TREPANG (ex- Mare Island 8.1.1944 Expended 16 9.69 SS362 GUAVINA Manitowoc 29 8 1943 Expended 14.11.67 Senorita) N Yd SS363 GUITARRO Manitowoc 26.9.1943 To Turkey 1954 SS413 SPOT Mare Island 19.5.1944 To Chile 1962 SS364 HAMMER- Manitowoc 24.10.1943 To Turkey 1954 N Yd HEAD SS414 SPRINGER Mare Island 3.8.1944 To Chile 1961 SS365 HARDHEAD Manitowoc 12.12.1943 To Greece 26.7.72 N Yd 146
Submarines No Name Builder Launched Fate SS415 STICKLEBACK Mare Island N Yd 1.1.1945 Lost 29.5.58 SS416 TIRU Tench class Mare Island N Yd 16.0.1947 Stricken 1.7.75 SS417 TENCH Portsmouth N Yd 7.7.1944 To Peru for spares 16.10.76 SS418 THORNBACK Portsmouth N Yd 7.7.1944 To Turkey 24.8.73 SS419 TIGRONE Portsmouth N Yd 20.7.1944 Expended 25.10.75 SS420 TIGRANTE Portsmouth N Yd 9.8.1944 Stricken 1.10.73 SS421 TRUTTA (ex- Tomaiaie') Portsmouth N Yd 18.8.1944 To Turkey June 1972 SS422 TORO Portsmouth N Yd 23.8.1944 BU 1965 SS423 TORS К Portsmouth N Yd 6.9.1944 Preserved 1972 SS424 QUILLBACK (ex-Trembler) Portsmouth 1.10.1944 Stricken 23.3.73 SS425 TRUMPET- FISH Cramp 13.5.1945 To Brazil 15.10.73 SS426 TUSK Cramp 8.7.1945 To Taiwan 18.10.73 SS427 TURBOT Cramp — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS428 ULUA Cramp — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS429 UNICORN Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS430 VANDACE Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS431 WALRUS Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS432 WHITEFISH Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS433 WHITING Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS434 WOLFFISH Cramp — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS435 CORSAIR Electric Boat 3.5.1946 BU 1964 SS436 UNICORN Electric Boat 1.8.1946 BU incomplete 1958 SS437 WALRUS Electric Boat 20.9.1946 BU incomplete 1958 SS475 ARGONAUT Portsmouth N Yd 1.10.1944 To Canada 1968 SS476 RUNNER Portsmouth N Yd 17.10.1944 BU 1963 SS477 CONGER Portsmouth N Yd 17.10.1944 Sold for BU June 1964 SS478 CUTLASS Portsmouth N Yd 5.11.1944 To Taiwan 12.4.73 SS479 DIABLO Portsmouth N Yd 1.12.1944 Sunk Dec 1971 SS480 MEDRF.GAL Portsmouth N Yd 15.12.1944 Expended Aug 1970 SS481 REQL’IN Portsmouth N Yd 1.1.1945 Stricken 20.12.71 SS482 IREX Portsmouth N Yd 26.1.1945 Sold for BU 13.9.71 SS483 SEA LEOPARD Portsmouth N Yd 2.3.1945 To Brazil 27.3.73 SS484 ODAX Portsmouth N Yd 10.4.1945 To Brazil 28.7.72 SS485 SIRAGO Portsmouth N Yd 11.5.1945 Stricken 1.6.72 SS486 POMODON Portsmouth N Yd 12.6.1945 Sold for BU 28.12.71 SS487 REMORA Portsmouth N Yd 12.7.1945 To Greece 29.10.73 SS488 SARDA Portsmouth N Yd 24 8.1945 BU 1965 SS489 SPINAX Portsmouth N Yd 20.11.1945 Stricken 11.10.69 SS490 VOLADOR Portsmouth N Yd 17.1 1946 To Italy 18.8.72 SS491 POMPANO Portsmouth N Yd — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS492 GRAYLING Portsmouth N Yd — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS493 NEEDLEFISH Portsmouth N Yd — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS494 SCULPIN Portsmouth N Yd — Cancelled 12.8.1945 SS516 WAHOO Mare Island N Yd — Cancelled 7.1.1946 SS522 AMBERJACK Boston N Yd 15.12.1944 To Brazil 17.10.73 SS523 GRAMPUS Boston N Yd 15 12.1944 To Brazil 8.7.72 SS524 PICKEREL Boston N Yd 15 12.1944 To Italy 18.8.72 SS525 GRENADIER Boston N Yd 15 12 1944 To Venezuela 15.5.73 SS526 DORADO Boston N Yd — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS527 COMBER Boston N Yd — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS528 SEA PANTHER Boston N Yd — Cancelled 29.7.1944 SS529 TIBURON Boston N Yd — Cancelled 29.7.1944 These slightly improved Gars of the FY41 and war programmes were the US ‘fleet boats.’ The basic design was lengthened slightly for improved stability, and for subdivision of the engine rooms into two compartments with a pressure-proof watertight bulkhead between them. The size of auxiliary ballast tanks was increased to compensate for the range of variation in weights inciden- tal to 24 torpedoes or 40 mines. The longer and more stable hull made possible the installation of 2000 rather than 1600bhp diesels, but in fact the more powerful engines planned for FY42 and later boats were never installed. How- ever, more powerful generators were fitted for this later upgrade. Some units had electric motors coupled directly to the propeller shafts (SS343-352, 365-367, 377, 405—410, and all units from SS415 onwards). The Galas were designed to operate at 300ft; weight saved in subsequent units went into heavier hull construction, and all boats frofn SS285 onwards were designed for opera- tion at 400ft. In 1945 it was claimed that the latest units (SS475 group) had a collapse depth of 750ft and an operating depth of450ft, and could stow a total of 28 torpedoes. Range was ll,000nm at 10kts/96nm at 2kts. War modifications to the earlier boats included considerable reductions in their bridgework, in part to permit them to mount 20mm and 40mm light AA guns on a ‘cigarette deck’ fore and aft. As in the previous classes, these boats were at first armed with a single 3in/50 abaft the conning lower; their Charac- teristics called for a mounting adaptable to larger weapons, and 4in/50 and ultimately 5in/25 guns were installed. Later-construction boats were completed with alternative gun mount positions fore and aft of the conning tower, and some boats mounted two 5in/25s late in the war; a few boats had rockets for shore bombardment. Specifically, SS285-291 were equipped with l-4in/50, l-40mm and 2-0.5in; SS292-312 had l-5in/25, l-40mm and 2-0.5in; and SS313-352, 365-378, 381-426, 435, 475-490 and 522-525 were fitted with l-5in/25, 1-40mm and l-20mm. All earlier boats were disposed of at the end of World War II, but most of the very successful Gatos were retained, many being rebuilt as ‘guppies’ or as ‘fleet snorkels’; some remain in foreign service, and for the first two postwar decades they comprised the bulk of the US submarine force. Gate in Nov 1944 USX 147
UNITED STATES PATROL FRIGATES ASHEVILLE and TACOMA classes Displacement: 1509t {Natchez 1412t) standard; 2238t {Long Beach 2230t) full load Dimensions: Asheville class 283ft wl, 301ft 6in x 36ft 6in x 13ft 2in full load 86.25, 91.90 x 11.13 x 4.01m Tacoma class: 285ft6inwl,3O3ft I linoa x 37ft 6in x 12ft 8in 87.02, 92 63 x U.43 x 3 8fm Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 3 boilers, 5500 ihp = 20kts Oil 674t (Tiicoma class 768t), range 9500nm at 12kts {Tacoma class- unofficial) Armament: 3-3in/5O, 4—40mm (2x2), 9-20mm (4-20mm in Ashevilles, 2-3in/50,4—40mm, 4-20mm in weather ships), 1 Hedgehog, 8 DC projectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 190 (weather ships 176) Peonainl945 USN No. Name Builder Launched Fate PF1 ASHEVILLE (ex- HMS Adur) Canadian Vickers 22 8.1942 To Argentina June 1946 PF2 NATCHEZ (ex- HMS Annan) Canadian Vickers 12.9 1942 To Dominican Republic July 1947 PF3 TACOMA Kaiser, Richmond 7.7 1943 To S Korea Oct 1951 PF4 SAUSALITO Kaiser, Richmond 20 7.1943 To S Korea 1953 PF5 HOQUIAM Kaiser, Richmond 31.7.1943 To S Korea Oct 1951 PF6 PASCO Kaiser, Richmond 17.8 1943 'Го Japan 1953 PF7 ALBUQUERQUE Kaiser, Richmond 14 9.1943 To Japan 1953 PF8 LVERETT Kaiser, Richmond 29.9 1943 To Japan Mar 1953 PF9 POCATELLO Kaiser, Richmond 17 10 1943 Sold Sept 1947 PF10 BROWNSVILLE Kaiser, Richmond 14 11.1943 Sold Sept 1947 PF 11 GRAND FORKS Kaiser, Richmond 27.11.1943 Sold May 1947 PF12 CASPER Kaiser, Richmond 27 12 1943 Sold May 1947 PF 13 PUEBLO Kaiser, Richmond 20 1.1944 To Dominican Republic Sept 1947 PF14 GRAND ISLAND Kaiser, Richmond 19 2 1944 To Cuba June 1947 PF15 ANNAPOLIS American SB, Lorain 16.10.1943 To Mexico Nov 1947 PF 16 BANGOR American SB, Lorain 6.11.1943 To Mexico Nov 1947 PF 17 KEY WEST American SB, Lorain 29.12.1943 Sold May 1947 PF18 ALEXANDRIA American SB, Lorain 15 1.1944 BU 1947 PF19 HURON American Cleveland 3.7.1943 Sold 1948 PF20 GULFPORT American Cleveland 21 8 1943 BU 1947 PF2I BAYONNE American Cleveland 11 9 1943 To Japan 1953 PF22 GLOUCESTER Walter Butler, Superior 12.7.1943 To Japan 1953 PF23 SHREVEPORT Waller Butler, Superior 15.7 1943 BU 1947 PF24 MUSKEGON Waller Butler, Superior 25.7.1943 To France Mar 1947 PF25 CHARLOTTES- VILLE Walter Butler, Superior 30 7 1943 To Japan Jan 1953 PF26 POUGHKEEPSIE Walter Butler, Superior 12.8 1943 To Japan 1953 PF27 NEWPORT Walter Butler, Superior 15 8.1943 To Japan 1953 PF28 EMPORIA Walter 30.8 1943 To France Butler, Superior Mar 1947 PF29 GROTON Walter Butler, Superior 14.9.1943 To Colombia Mar 1947 PF30 HINGHAM Walter Buller, Superior 27.8 1943 BU 1947 PF31 GRAND RAPIDS Walter Butler, Superior 10 9 1943 BU 1947 PF32 WOONSOCKET Walter Butler, Superior 27 9 1943 To Peru Sept 1948 PF33 DEARBORN (ex- Tolcdo) Walter Butler, Superior 27.9 1943 Sold July 1947 PF34 LONG BEACH Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 5 5.1943 To Japan 1953 PF35 BELFAST Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 20 5 1943 Lost 17 11 48 PF36 GLENDALE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 28 5.1943 To Thailand 1951 PF37 SAN PLDRO Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 11.6 1943 To Japan 1953 PF38 CORONADO Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 17 6.1943 To Japan Jan 1953 PF39 OGDEN Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 23 6 1943 To Japan 1953 PF40 EUGENE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 6 7.1943 To Cuba June 1947 PF41 EL PASO Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 16 7.1943 Sold Oct 1947 PF42 VAN BUREN Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 27 7 1943 BU 1947 PF43 ORANGE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 6.8.1943 Sold Sept 1947 PF44 CORPUS CHRISTIE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 17 8 1943 Sold Oct 1947 PF45 HUTCHINSON Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 27.8.1943 To Mexico Nov 1947 PF46 BISBEE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 7 9 1943 To Colombia Feb 1952 PF47 GALLUP Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 17 9 1943 To Thailand Oct 1951 PF48 ROCKFORD Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 27 9 1943 To S Korea Nov 1950 148
Patrol frigates/Minelayers No Name Builder Launched Fate PF49 MUSKOGEE Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 18.10.1943 To S Korea Nov 1950 PF50 CARSON CITY Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 13.11.1943 To Japan Apr 1953 PF51 BURLINGTON Consolidated Steel, San Pedro 7 12 1943 To Colombia 1953 PF52 ALLENTOWN Froemming, Milwaukee 3.7.1943 To Japan Apr 1953 PF53 MACHIAS Froemming, Milwaukee 22 8.1943 To Japan 1953 PF54 SANDUSKY Froemming, Milwaukee 5 10.1943 To Japan 1953 PF55 BATH Froemming, Milwaukee 14.11.1943 To Japan Dec 1953 PF56 COVINGTON Globe, Superior 15 7.1943 To Ecuador Aug 1947 PF 57 SHEBOYGAN Globe, Superior 31 7 1943 To Belgium Mar 1947 PF58 ABILENE (ex- Bndgcport') Globe, Superior 21 8 1943 To Holland May 1947 PF59 BEAUFORT Globe, Superior 9.10.1943 BU 1947 PF60 CHARLOTTE Globe, Superior 10 10.1943 To mercantile service 1948 PF61 MANITOWOC Globe, Duluth 30 11.1943 To France Mar 1947 PF62 GLADWYNE (ex- Wor test er) Globe, Duluth 7.1.1944 To Mexico Nov 1947 PF63 MOBERLY (ex- Scranton) Globe, Duluth 26.1.1944 Sold Dec 1947 PF 64 KNOXVILLE Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 10 7.1943 To Dominican Republic Sept 1947 PF65 UNIONTOWN. (ex-C.hattanooga) Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 7.8.1943 To Argentina June 1946 PF66 READING Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 28 8 1943 To Argentina June 1946 PF67 PEORIA Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 2.10.1943 To Cuba June 1947 PF68 BRUNSWICK Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 6.11.1943 BU 1947 PF69 DAVENPORT Leatham D Smith SB, Superior 8.12 1943 Sold June 1946 PF70 EVANSVILLE Leatham D 27.11.1943 To Japan Smith SB, Superior Oct 1953 PF71 NEW BEDFORD Leatham D 29.12.1943 Smith SB, Superior Sold Nov 1947 PF93 LORAIN (ex- 72 oanoke) American SB, 18.3.1944 Lorain To France Mar 1947 PF94 MILLEDGEVILLE American SB,5.4 1944 (ex-Sitka) Lorain Sold Apr 1947 PF95 STAMFORD American SB,- Lorain Cancelled Dec 1943 PF96 MACON American SB,- Lorain Cancelled Dec 1943 PF97 LORAIN (ex- Siika") American SB,- Lorain Cancelled Dec 1943 PF98 VALLEJO American SB,- Lorain Cancelled Dec 1943 PF99 ORLANDO American SB,1.12.1943 Cleveland Sold Nov 1947 PF 100 RACINE American SB,15.3 1944 Cleveland Sold Dec 1947 PF 101 GREENSBORO American SB,9.3.1944 Cleveland Sold Feb 1948 PF 102 FORSYTH American SB,20 5.1944 Cleveland To Holland July 1947 These ships, modelled on the British ‘River’ class, were the Maritime Commis- sion’s attempt to reduce the shortage of ocean escorts. Its yards could not build to naval specifications, instead, the ‘River’, already adapted to mercantile standards, was further adapted to US prefabricated building methods and the British powerplant replaced by a US-type triple expansion reciprocating engine. The result, although externally quite similar to the destroyer escort, was con- sidered decidedly inferior. It had a much larger turning circle, and its hull structure showed many more discontinuities and hence was considered far weaker, particularly in the face of underwater explosions The frigates were also criticised as very hot below decks, perhaps due to their British design origin, with its emphasis on North Atlantic operations Two ‘Rivers’ were obtained from Canada to serve as prototypes; they became PF1 and 2 in a new series. Another hundred were ordered from the Maritime Commission; four were cancelled (PF95-98). PF72-92 were transferred to the Royal Navy, which named them after British colonies, the remainder were manned by the US Coast Guard. PF17, 18,20,23, 24,28-33,40,41,66-69, 71, 93,94 and 99-102 operated as weather ships, with a balloon hangar replacing the after 3in/50 gun Many were transferred to other navies in this form, and operated postwar as part of the international North Atlantic weather organisa- tion. In addition, Asheville (PF1) served as trials ship for Squid, which the US Navy was considering for adoption, in 1944. In 1945, 28 units were transferred to the Soviet fleet. When returned these were laid up in Japan, but at the outbreak of the Korean War they were recommissioned for the US and Korean navies; others went to Japan. All other frigates were discarded at the end of the war, as the\ were inferior to the destroyer escorts in everything but cruising endurance. MINELAYERS TERROR (launched 6.6.1941) Displacement: 5875t standard; 8640t full load Dimensions: 440ft wl, 454ft lOin oa x 60ft 2in x 19ft 7in full load 134.11, 138.63 x 18.34 x 6.00m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric turbines, 4 boilers, 11,OOOshp = 18kts. Oil 1834t, range 10,000nm at 15kts Armament: 4-5in/38 (4x 1), 8-0.5in, 900 mines Complement: 481 Terror was the only US minelayer really well suited to operations in forward areas. CM1 and 2 were cruisers converted during World W'ar I and no longer available upon the outbreak of war; СМ3 and 4 were converted coastal passenger ships, in existence in 1941 but never used as minecraft (Oglala, CM4, was sunk at Pearl Harbor and then raised as a repair ship, Aroostook, СМ3, was redesig- nated a cargo ship, AK44). CM8-12 were coastal passenger ships converted after the outbreak of war to lay coastal fields. In addition, in 1944-45 the Army transferred eight coastal mineplantcrs (ACM 1-3 and 5-9) built in 1942 War- time minelaying operations were carried on by aircraft, destroyers and sub- marines; although only Argonaut had been designed for this task, all submarines were equipped to lay mines through their torpedo tubes The destroyer minelayers comprised eight ‘flush-deckers’ (see 1922 table) and the following Sumners converted during building DM23 Robert II Smith (ex-DD735, Bath Iron Wks, launched 25.5.44, stricken 26 2.71), DM24 Thomas E Eraser (ex- DD736, Bath Iron Wks, 10 6 44, stricken 1.11.70), DM25 Shannon (ex- DD737, Bath Iron Wks, 24.6 44, stricken 1.11.70), DM26 Напу E Bauer (ex-DD738, Bath Iron Wks, 9.7.44, stricken 15 8.71), DM27 Adams (ex- DD739, Bath Iron Wks, 23.7.44, stricken 1.12.70), DM28 Tolman (ex-DD740, Bath Iron Wks, 13.8.44, stricken 1.12 70), DM29 Henry A Wiley (ex-DD749, Bethlehem Staten I, 21 4.44, stricken 15 10.70), DM30 Shea (ex-DD75O, Bethlehem Staten I, 20.5.44, stricken 1972), DM31 7 William Ditter (cx- DD751, Bethlehem Staten I, 4 7 44, BU 1946), DM32 Lindsey (ex-DD77I, Bethlehem San Pedro, 5 3 44, stricken 1.10 70), DM33 Gwin (ex-DD772, 149
UNITED STATES Bethlehem San Pedro, 9 4.44, to Turkey 22.10.71) and DM34 Лигой Ward (ex-DD773, Bethlehem San Pedro, 5.5.44, BU 1946). Tenor (CM5) was the only minelayer built for the purpose by the US Navy; she is most interesting because of the varied uses to which the same basic design was put: netlayer, special transport, and, postwar, mine countermeasures ship. One key to this xersatility was the capacious mine deck aft, which was totally enclosed Its six tracks were designed to accommodate 648 Mk VI mines, with another 478 on tracks stowed on the first and second platforms, and about 70 more as cargo on special tracks amidships on the mine deck; access between hold and mine deck was by two lifts. Later mines were somewhat larger, and total capacity is usually given as 800 or 875. I'hc mine hold and mine deck area were protected against splinters. When the question of a new minelayer was first raised, speeds from 16.5 to 25kts were considered, but the higher range was rejected because of cost. The speed chosen, 18kts, was a compromise figure- somewhat abo\ e that demanded of fleet auxiliaries. Construction was to warship rather than auxiliary standards: for example, there was a double bottom extend- ing around the sides, as in a cruiser, and it was proposed that the wing tanks be kept filled to the waterline in wartime MINESWEEPERS & PATROL CRAFT Minesweepers are included with patrol craft because, in several impor- tant cases, both types used a common design, and in addition the fleet minesweepers often served in wartime as ASW escorts and indeed were designed to incorporate important ASW capabilities. Both scries derived from World War I forebears: the ‘Bird’ class minesweepers, which were essentially large fleet tugs, formed the bulk of the US Mine Force between the wars, and its advancing age prompted the design of the Raven class, the large fleet mineweeper of the Second World War. British Lend-Lease requirements led to the design of the 180ft Admir- able class which supplemented the Ravens and their successors the Auks. There was actually a specialised ASW variant of the Admirable, the PCE; ironically, only this version was transferred to the Royal Navy. As for the larger craft, they were equipped for ASW, and in the 1950s a number were converted as pure ASW craft for transfer to small navies. Wartime requirements also led to the purchase of numerous trawlers for conversion to minesweepers, and to the construction of a large series of wooden coastal minesweepers (YMS). Only the Navy- built fleet ’sweepers and the YMSs are described in detail here, because only they were heavily enough armed to operate as combatants outside US harbours. Some YMSs were completed instead as escorts (PCS). During World War I the US Navy built two classes of ASW craft: 110ft ‘sub-chasers’ (SC) and much larger ‘Eagle-boats’ (PE) built on a mass production basis by Ford and roughly comparable to the British ‘Р-Boats.’ In 1937 efforts began to design an Eagle-boat replacement; in peacetime it would train reservists, and in wartime it might free destroyers from coastal ASW tasks The President, who had been involved in the earlier programme for 110ft sub-chasers, felt that the 165ft steel type envisaged was too expensive, and that upon mobilisa- tion it might be well to have some design which could be built m small boatyards; the World War II submarine-chaser (SC) was the result. The 165ft type evolved into a 173ft PC; some were completed as minesweepers, then converted into PCs. The various patrol craft - PCEs, PCs, PCSs and SCs - all formed a single numerical sequence, although in fact they represented vastly differing capabilities. Many were transferred to overseas navies, and many still exist in the smaller navies; a few PCs and PCEs were built postwar to modified plans, for overseas navies, and the World War fl SC design also formed the basis for some postwar construction War- time modifications were relatively minor, being concerned mostly with the introduction of ahead-firing weapons. Hedgehog was proposed for both PCs and PCEs, but its deck recoil was too heavy for anything short of the PCE; it w as also fitted to Admirable and Auk class minesweepers. For the smaller types, a rocket-propelled ASW bomb - Mousetrap - was evolved: it was fitted in all SCs, PCs and PCSs. For the minesweepers, the single great development of ihe war was the influence mine, acoustic or magnetic, which required a great increase in electric power for specialised sweeping devices. All units converted for minesweeping required additional, rather powerful generators, and the Auk class differed from its pre-wrar design pre- decessor, the Raven, primarily in the replacement of geared diesel by diesel-electric drive, the latter providing generator capacity without any excessive increase in ship size. At the end of the war, reported advances in Japanese mine technol- ogy led to a demand for ‘mine locators’ (what would now be called ‘minehunters’) and several landing craft were converted for this pur- pose; they were redesignated AMC(U). RAVEN and AUK class minesweepers (launched 1940-45) Displacement: 810t (Auk class 890т) standard; 1040t (Auk class 1250t) full load Dimensions: 215ft wl, 220ft (Auk class 221ft 2in) oa x 32ft 2in x 9ft 4in (АиЛ class 10ft 9in) full load 65.54, 67.06(67.41) x 9.80 x 2.84 (3.28)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel (Auk diesel-electric), 2880shp = 18kis. Oil 200t, range 6370nm at 16.5kts Armament: 2-3in/5O, 4-20mm, 1 Hedgehog, 4 DC projectors, 2 DC racks. See notes Complement: 105 Class (fate): Norfolk NYd (AM55-AM57)-Raven (stricken 1967),Osprey (lost 5 6.44),/lu/< (discarded 1959) Defoe, Bay City (AM58-AM61) - Broadbill (stricken 1.7.72), Chickadee (to Uruguay 1966), Nuthatch (expended Dec 1967), Pheasant (stricken 1.12.66) General Engineering (AM62-AM65, АМЮ0-АМЮЗ, AM314-AM320, AM340): Sheldrake (stricken 30.6.68), Skylark (lost 28.3.45), Starling (stricken 1 7 2), Swallow (lost 22 4.45), Heed (stricken 1 3 67), Herald (stricken 1.7.72), Motive (expended 1968), Oracle (stricken 1.12 66), Champion (ex- Akbar) (stricken 1.7.72), Chief (ex-Alice) (stricken 1.7.72), Competent (cx- Amehe) (stricken 1.7.72), Defense (ex-Ami(y) (stricken 1 7.72), Devastator (cx- Augusta) (stricken 1 7 72), Gladiator (cx-Blaze) (stricken 1.7 72), Impeccable (ex-Brutus) (stricken 1.7.72), Ardent (ex-Bиffalo) (stricken 1.7.72) Pennsylvania Shipyard (AM104-AM107) - Pilot (stricken I 7 72), Pioneer (stricken 1.7.72), Portent (mined 22 1 44), Prevail (sold for BU 10 1 64) Winslow Marine (AM108-AM111)-Pursuit (stricken 1.7.60),Requisite (strick- en 1964), Revenge (ex-Right) (sold for BU 6.10 67), Sage (stricken I 7 72) American SB, Lorain (AMI 12-AM115, AM383-AM386) - Seer (to Norway 1962), Sentinel (lost 12.7 43), Sm# (sold for BU 17.11.67),Skill (lost 25.9.43), Surfbird (decommissioned 18.2 70), Spng (stricken 1.7 72), Tanager (stricken 1972), Tercel (stricken 1 7.72) American SB, Cleveland (AMI 16-AM119, AM387-AM390) - Speed (to S Korea 1967), Strive (to Norway 1959), Steady (to Taiwan 1968), Sustain (to Norway 1959), Toucan (to China 1964), Towhee (stricken 1 5 69), Waxwing ( to China 1965), Wheatear (stricken 1.7 72) John H Mathias ЧАМ120-AM122) — Sway (to Mexico 19.9.72), Swerve (mined 9 7.44), Swift (stricken 1.7.1972) Savannah Machine & Foundry Co(AM123-AM125, AM371-AM378)-5ywM (stricken 1.7.72), Threat (stricken 1.7 72), Tide (mined 7.6.44),Minivet (mined 29.12 45), Murrelet (to Philippines 1965), Peregrine (stricken 1 2.69), Pigeon (sold for BU 6.10 67), Pochard (sold for BU 17.11.67), Ptarmigan (to S Korea July 1963), Quail (sold for BU 17.11.67), Redstart (to China 1965) 150
Minesweepers & patrol craft Gulf SB, Madisonville (AM126-AM131, AM341, AM379-AM382) - Token (sold for BU 17.11.67), Tumuli (stricken 1967), Velocity (stricken 1.7.72), Vital (BU 1956), Usage (to Britain 1943),Zeal (stricken 1967), Dextrous (ex-Scpoy) (to S Korea 1967),Roxe//e (stricken 1.7.7 2), Ruddy (to Peru 1960),Scoter (stricken 1.7.72), Shoveller (to Peru 1960) Associated (AM321-AM324) - Overseer (ex-Elfreda) (to Turkey 1947), Spear (ex-Erranr) (stricken 1.7.72), Triumph (ex-Espoir) (to Norway 1961), Vigilance (ex Exploit) (to Philippines 1967) These 220ft minesweepers were the first new ones ordered by the US Navy since the ‘Birds’ of World War I They were intended to serve also as minelayers, with a capacity for 80 mines, and this requirement led in turn to a larger design than might otherwise have been required. There was also provision for carrying depth charges, although there were no DC projectors, so that the minesweeper could not lay an effective pattern. However, she was to have sonar, and in that sense could be an effective ASW craft. After the first two had been ordered, it became evident that magnetic mines would have to be swept; it would be impossible to accommodate the requisite 540kW diesel generator, and so diesel-electric drive was adopted instead, with arrangements permitting some power to be diverted to the magnetic sweep gear. The hull had to be redesigned and displacement considerably increased, but this Auk class visually resembled its parent Raven design and both are usually brought together The original Characteristics required a battery of 2-3in/5O DP guns and four 0.50cal machine guns. In wartime, DC projectors were fitted, and Hedgehog installation in the 220ft and 180ft ’sweepers was considered second in priority only to that in destroyer escorts. In 1944 the standard armament was 2-3in/50 (one scheduled for replacement by two single 40mm), 8-20mm, four projectors, tw stern DC racks, and a Hedgehog just abaft the forward 3in gun. In 1945 some vessels had l-3in, 2—40mm (2 x 1), 8-20mm, all were designed to stow 80 mines as minelayers. Although the 180fi type was simpler to build, production of the 220ft type continued through the war, the programme consisted of AM55—65, (66-80 were cx-trawlers, 81-99 PC hulls), 100-131, 314-341, and 371-390. Of the gaps in this series, 132-135 were ex-trawlers, 136-165 were 180-footers, 166-213 were cancelled in April 1942, 214-311 were 180-footers, 312 and 313 were never contracted for, 342-350 were not assigned, 351-366 were 180-footers, and 367-370 were 180-footers cancelled in 1944. In addition AM332-333 and 336-339 were cancelled in 1943. Of the 1942 scries, at least some were to have been Algerine class minesweepers built in Canada; of 15 originally ordered, 9 were transferred to the Royal Navy and 6 more cancelled and then re-ordered for the Royal Navy. Several units were modified postwar as ASW escorts for service in Allied navies, they’ were considered somewhat superior to PCEs. However, ASW equipment was removed from active minesweepers, all of which were suffering from severe overweight by the end of World War II *— ________-—-________ PCE867 1945 ADMIRABLE class minesweepers and PCE class escorts (launched 1942-44) Displacement: 850t trial (PCE design) Dimensions: 180ft wl, 184ft 6in oa x 33ft lin x 9ft 54.86, 56.24 x 10 08 x 2 74m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2000bhp = 15.Ikts trial (14.3kts sustained). Oil 140t, range 8500nm at 12kts Armament: (PCE) l-3in/50, 6-40mm (3x2), 4-20mm, 1 Hedgehog, 4 DC projectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 96 Class (fate): Tampa SB (AM136-15I, AM214-AM221) - Admirable (to USSR July 1945), Adopt (to USSR July 1945), Advocate (to USSR June 1943),Agent (to USSR Julv 1943), Alarm (to USSR Aug 1953, Alchemy (to USSR Aug 1943), Apex (to USSR Aug 1943), Arcade (to USSR Aug 1943), Arch (to USSR Sept 1943), Armada (to USSR Sept 1943), Aspire (to USSR Sept 1943), Assail (to USSR Oct 1943), Astute (to USSR July 1945), Augury (to USSR July 1945), Ramer (to USSR July 1945), Bombard (to USSR July 1945), Crag (ex-Craig) (to Mexico 1962), Cruise (stricken 1.7 72), Deft (BU Jan 1959), Delegate (to China May 1946), Density (discarded 1960), Design (discarded 1960), Det ice (to Mexico 1962), Diploma (to Mexico 1962) illamette Iron & Steel (AMI52-AM165, AM351-AM360) - Bond (to USSR Aug 1945), Buoyant (sold May 1946), Candid (to USSR Aug 1945), Capable (to LSSR Aug 1945). Captivate (to USSR Aug 1945), Caravan (toL’SSR Aug 1945), Caution (to USSR Aug 1945), Change (discarded 1960), Clamour (discarded 1959), Climax (discarded 1959), Compel (discarded 1959), Concise (discarded 1959), Control (discarded 1958), Counsel (stricken 1.7.72), Adjutant (cancelled Nov 1945), Bittern (cancelled Nov 1945), Breakhom (cancelled Nov 1945), Cariama (cancelled Nov 1945), Chukor (cancelled Nov 1945), Creddock (to Burma 1967), Dipper (sold Jan 1961), Dotterel (cancelled Nov 1945), Drake (stricken 1.7.61), Driver (cancelled Nov 1945) American SB, Lorain (AM222-AM231, AM255-AM266) - Disdain (to USSR May 1945), Dour (to Mexico 1962), Eager (to Mexico 1962), Elusive (to China May 1946), Embattle (to China May 1946), Embroil (cancelled June 1944), Enhance (cancelled June 1944), Equity (cancelled June 1944), Esteem (cancelled June 1944), Event (cancelled June 1944), Jubilant (to Mexico 1962), Knave (to Mexico 1962), Lance (to China Aug 1945), Logic (to China Aug 1945),Lwrid (to China Aug 1945), Magnet (to China Aug 1945), Mainstay (discarded 1959), Marvel (to USSR May 1945) Measure (to USSR May 1945), Method (to USSR May 1945), Mirth (to USSR May 1945), Nimble (to China June 1948) Puget Sound Bridge (A«M232-AM237, AM361-AM370) - Execute (to Mexico 1962),Faafi(y (to Mexico 1962),ForKy(loUSSRMay 1945), Fixity (sold 1949), Flame (cancelled June 1944), Fortify (cancelled June 1944), Dunlin (discarded 1946), Gadwall (sold 1968), Gavia (to China Mac 1946), Greylag (stricken 1.10.67), Harlequin (to Mexico 1962), Harrier (discarded 1959) Hummer (cancel- led June 1944), Jackdaw (cancelled June 1944), Mednck (cancelled June 1944), Minah (cancelled June 1944) Commercial Ship Repair (AM238-AM245, AM294—AM301) - Garland (dis- carded 1960), Gayety (to Vietnam June 1962), Hazard (sold for BU 22.10. 68), Hilarity (to Mexico 1962), Inaugural (discarded 1961), Illusive (cancelled June 1944), Imbue (cancelled June 1944), Impervious (cancelled June 1944), Salute (lost 8.6.45),Saunter (sold April 1945),Scout (to Mexico 1963),Scrimmage (sold 1962), Scuffle (to Mexico 1963), Sentry (to Vietnam July 1962), Serene (to Vietnam Aug 1963), Shelter (to Vietnam Aug 1963) Savannah Machine & Foundry Co (AM246-AM254) -Implicit (to China June 1948), Improve (sold 1948), Incessant (sold 1949), Incredible (sold 1959), Indica- tive (to USSR May 1945), Inflict (lost 24 4 53), Instill (to Mexico 1962),Intrigue (to iMexico 1962), Invade (to Mexico 1962) Gulf SB, Madisonville (AM267-AM282) - Notable (discarded 1946;, Nucleus (to USSR May 1945),O/>ponen/(discarded 1960),Palisade (to USSR May 1945), Penetrate (to USSR May 1945), Peril (t< USSR May 1945), Phantom (to China June 1948), Pinnacle (to China June 1948), Pirate (lost 12.10.50), Pivot (to China Aug 1948), Pledge (lost 12 10 50), Project (to Philippines May 1948), Prime (to China May 1946), Prowess (to Vietnam 1970), Quest (to Philippines June 1948), Rampart (to USSR May 1945) General Engineering (AM283-AM293) - Ransom (to Mexico 1963), Rebel (to Mexico 1963), Recruit (to Mexico 1963), Reform (to China June 1948), Refresh (toChinaJune 1948),Reign (discarded 1959), Report (discarded 1963),Reproof (completed as merchant ship Harcourt Malcolm 1947), Risk (completed as merchant ship George Gamblin 1947), Rival (cancelled June 1944), Sagacity (cancelled June 1944) Associated SB (AM3O2-AM311) - Signet (cancelled June 1944), Skirmish (to Dominican Republic 1959),Scurry (ex-Skurry) (stricken 1 5.67),Spectacle (sold May 1947), Specter (stricken 1.7.72), Staunch (stricken 1 4.67), Strategy (sold for BU 1969), Strength (hulked 1968), Success (to Mexico 1963), Superior (to Mexico 1962) Pullman Standard Car, Chicago - PCE827-PCE866 Albina, Portland - PCE867-PCE890 Willamette Iron & Steel - PCE891-PCL934 The Ravens were relatively complex and difficult to build, partly because of their dual minesweeping/minclaying function. In the spring of 1940 the Bureau of Ships began to investigate an alternative single-purpose design, to emphasise ‘excellent seakeeping qualities permitting the minesweepers to sweep and keep station in all kinds of weather; second, simplicity of design to permit production in large numbers with ipinimum cost in lime and money*. The result was the 180ft Admirable, which irslightly modified form served also as the PCE escort. Changes in favour of mass production included the abandonment of electric drive in favour of a pair of diesels plus a 540k W generator, as in the modified PCs, hull design was also simplified, with the double-bottom of the earlier ship abandoned in favour of a hull deepened amidships for greater freeboard and girder strength It was expected that even the lead ship might be built faster than a Raven/Auk, for no more than two-thirds the cost of the more complex design. However, by the time the new design was ready, there was no immediate requirement for more US minesweepers, the design was, therefore, offered to the Royal Navy. Its bridge was modified to reflect British practice, and therefore resembled that of the contemporary destroyer escort, also intended for British use However, the Admiralty rejected it on the ground that thcRangor of similar size was inadequate; the British wanted (and got) Ravens instead. The Bureau now modified its minesweeper into an escort to meet British staff requirements. Meanwhile, the US Navy, loo, needed more escorts, and it appeared, in the autumn of 1941, that the need to use PC engines in other classes would preclude production of more PCs (beyond 122 on order) until after January 1944; it appeared that none of the other engines available would fit the PC hull. Although this prediction ultimately proved false, it inspired a suggestion to accept the slow 180ft hull as a substitute PC, and in November the District Craft Board suggested that thirty units be ordered as coastal minesweepers (AMc) plus another twenty as PCs (reclassified PCE); others were ordered as escorts for the Roxal Navy. The 180-footer was considered quite inferior to the 173ft PC because of the staff requirement for a 22kt speed in a sub-chaser; ultimately, however, it proved far more seaworthy and hence a far better convoy escort/cor- xette Similarly, the AMcs were reclassified as fleet sweepers (AM) before completion War programmes comprised a total of 174 minesweepers (AM136-I65, 214-311, 351-366 and 391-420) of which the last series (which was cancelled) was to have replaced units transferred to other navies. They were to have had no Hedgehogs, as weight compensation for a more powerful anti-aircraft battery. AM227-231,236, 237, 243-5 and 290-3 were all cancelled in 1944, and 351-5, 358 and 359 in November 1945. In addition AM214 and 215 were completed as Sperrbrechers, to sweep magnetic mines using special coils around their hulls; and AxM359 was completed as a degaussing vessel (YDG11). PCE827-841 were all transferred to the Royal Navy as the ‘Kil’ class. In 151
UNITED STATES mid-1943 PCE842-866 and 935-946 were ordered modified to a convoy rescue configuration, PCER, but only thirteen (848-860) were so completed Others were modified for plane guard and weathership duty off Hawaii 882,884-6, 897-900 and 902-4 in 1944, and842,844-7,870,871,874,880,881 and893-6 . in mid-1945 PCE876,879 and 883 became degaussing ships (YDG8-10); 878 was converted into a drill minelaying and recovery ship (ACM4) for the Pacific Fleet PCE901 was con\ erted into a transport (AG72) to support Navy activities on San Clemente Island ff the California coast. Six, including 873 and 877, became amphibious control craft (PCEC). The choice of the PCE as an interim ASW craft was ironic, in that production took considerably longer than expected and PCs were built with alternate engines. PCE861 -6,887-90, and 905-960 were cancelled; of the latter, 905-9 became AM232-6 and 911-920 became AM351-6O, reflecting the higher prior- ity placed on minesweepers for assault, rather than slow escorts. CIVILIAN CRAFT TAKEN OVER FOR PATROL AND MINESWEEPING By 1940 it was clear that large numbers of patrol and minecraft would be needed well before the large programme in hand could produce them; the only other source of such craft was the civilian fleet, particularly, in the case of minccraft, the fishing fleet Thus twenty steel trawlers became AM66-81 and A M132-135, ten more were taken over by the Coast Guard. They are not described in detail because, unlike the other AMs, they could not be used for convoy or offensive operations. In addition, wooden fishing vessels were taken over as coastal sweepers (AMcl-35, 56-60 111-112 and 149), of these, Goshawk, A Mc4, later became AM79. The Navy also built a large senes of what amounted to Tuna clippers, 97ft long and armed with a pair of O.SOcal machine guns: AMc36-55 and 61-110 AMcl 13-142 were re-ordered as the first series of 180ft steel minesweepers, AM 136-165; 143-148 and 200-202 were reclassified as yard patrol craft (YP381-389), and 150-199 were re-ordered as coastal transports (APcl-50). A ibnirable i п 1943 (/.S X Commandeered yachts served in a variety of roles, depending upon their size; many were redesignated several times in wartime Twelve were classified as gunboats (PG52-61, 72 and 85); three became MTB tenders (AGB) and one a surveying ship (AGS); Dauntless (PG61) served as Admiral King’s ‘flagship’, berthed at the Washington Navy Yard, through the war 1 he largest of these converted ships, Vixen (PG53), served as Flagship Submarines Atlantic Fleet. Somew hat smaller yachts served as ‘patrol yachts’ (PY1O-32) and those smaller still as coastal patrol yachts (PYcl-52); the distinction between these two scries is not clear in retrospect. At a further remove, many cabin cruisers became yard patrol craft (YP). The first eleven yachts taken over were, instead, classified in the PC category; PC454—460, 509-510, 523 and 826; all were later renumbered in the PYc (46-52), PY (18, ex PC459)and YP (ex-510 and 523) senes, 457 was lost as a PC The district patrol craft series included many Coast Guard craft taken over at the end of Prohibition in 1934-36, as well as numerous ex-yachts and some Navy-built 75ft craft (at least YP78-82, 242-246 and 583-591), in addition there was a senes of 128-footers, YP618-646 Gaps in this sequence suggest the number of civilian craft taken over: only about 69 craft were taken over from ihe Coast Guard, most of them standard 75-footers. SUBMARINE-CHASERS PC597 1943 PC (173ft) class Displacement: (PC1084, 1945) 414t standard; 463t full load Dimensions: 170ft wl, 173ft Sin oa x 23ft 2in x 7ft 9in full load 51.82, 52 93 x 7 06 x 2.36m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2880bhp = 19kts (18 2kts sustained). Oil 49t, range 4800nm at 12kts. Trial (PC461): 21.16kts (displace- ment not given, but much closer to 300t than above figures) Armament: l-3in/5O, l-0mm, 2 Mousetrap, 2 DC projectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 59 Class: Albina, Portland - PC569-PC572, PCS78-PCS82, PC815-PC820, PC1077-PC1082 Brown, Houston - PC565-PCS78, PC608-PC611, PC1251-PC1254 Commercial Iron Wks, Portland - PC596-PC599, PC776-PC814, PC1586-PCIS92 Consolidated SB, New York - PC483-PC487, PCS63, PC564, PC600-PC603, PC1191-PC1210, PC1237-PC1240, PC1264, PC1265, PC1S46-PC15S9 Defoe, Bay City - PC4S1, PC452, PC471-PC482, PC542-PC549, PC583-PC587, PCI 119-РСП66 Dravo, Pittsburgh - PC490-PC494, PC573, PC592-PCS9S, PC1S93-PC1597 Dravo, Wilmington -PC495, PCS74-PCS77 Gibbs Gas Engine, Jacksonville - PC612-PC615, PCI 181 -PCI 190 Jakobson, Oyster Bay - PC1S98, PC1599 Jeffersonville - PC559-PC562, PC624-PC627 Geo Lawley, Neponset - PC461-PC470, PC616-PC619, РСЮ83-РС1118 Luders Marine, Stamford - PC556-PC558, PC604 PC6O7, РС12П- PC1120, PCI255-PC1259 Nashville Bridge - PC620-PC623, PC1241-PC1250, PC1600, PC 1601 Penn-Jersey, Camden - PC1221-PC1224, PC1602, PC1603 Leatham D Smith SB, Sturgeon Bay-PC496,PC550,PC551 ,PCS88-PC591, PC821-PC825, PC1I71-PC1180, PC1225-PC1230, PC1260-PC1263, PCIS60-PC1S85 Sullivan, Brooklyn - PC488, PC489, PC552-PCSS5, PCI 167-PC1170, PC1231-PC1236 Of the many large ASW craft (PCs, PCSs and PCEs) built by the US Navy during World War II, these were the only ones designed for the purpose, and even they were closely connected with the large minesweeper programme. Their development began with 1938 Characteristics calling for a replacement for the ageing World War I Eagle boat. They were to serve as coastal escorts, sub- hunters off bases and focal points, units for the development of submanne/sub- chaser tactics, and also as ASW cover for the fleet during sorties and entrance to bases. A speed of 22kts was intended to provide a lOkt margin over the typical convoy, and the endurance of 3000nm at 12kts was set by the requirement to escort such a convoy from San Diego to Balboa in the Cana! Zone. Two were ordered under the 1938 experimental programme: one diesel-powered 165ft long and with a forecastle (PC451), and one steam powered, 173ft long and with a flush deck (PC4S2). The Bureau of Construction and Repair argued in favour of steam on the theory that it provided greater power and hence could drive a larger vessel at 22kts; existing (submarine-type) diesels of about l500bhp each would limit size and hence payload 3 his problem was only exacerbated by the President’s suggestion that two rather than one 3in/5O be carried, a suggestion possibly inspired by criticism to the effect that many submarines, surfaced, could outshoot a‘sub killer’ armed only with a single weapon. The Bureau chose the longer flush decked hull, with diesel power, the experimental steam plant of 452 was still proving troublesome as late as 1944 It announced this decision in July 1940, with PC451 in service and showing great promise on trials; many critics in the fleet derided the ships actually built as wet, due to their flush- decked hull form, and slow on trial. The Bureau’s reply was essentially that the forecastle boat, although drier, would be even slower if loaded as deeply as the 173ft type actually adopted. In November 1940, with coastal yards unable to build more minesweepers of the standard Auk type, the Bureau of Ships decided to use the same (PC4S2) hull for a minesweeper, with a pair of900hp diesels and a 540kW diesel generator for magnetic sweeping; eighteen were built on the Great Lakes. These boats were never entirely satisfactory and in 1944 were converted to sub chasers. However, they were not re-engined, and their speed was, therefore, limited to 17kts: they became PC1586-1603. There were relatively few war modifications. Hedgehog was to have been fitted, but it would have replaced the forward 3in/5O; instead, Mousetrap, originally a temporary measure, was made permanent, with no loss of gun battery. However, in most units the after 3in/5O was replaced by a single 40mm gun. In addition 24 units were converted toPGMsin 1944 (PGM9-32), wnhone 3in/5O forward, a twin 40mm aft, six 20mm, one 60mm trench mortar, two 0 50cal machine guns, and two smokescreen generators. Another 35 were converted to amphibious control craft, PC(C). Although the PCs in genera! did not make their designed 22kts, they did carry wartime loads far heavier than those initially envisaged, and after all they were the only units of the sea-going patrol fleet capable even of approaching this required speed By mid-war they were no longer very badly needed, as the submarine war had shifted to mid-Atlantic and they were competing with landing craft for diesel power. PC1092-1118 and 1570-1585 were cancelled 152 J
Submarine-chasers SC724 in 1942 l/VV SC (110ft) class Displacement: (SC633, 1944) 1211 standard; 136t full load Dimensions: 107ft 6in wl, 110ft 10m oa x 17ft x 6ft 2in full load 32 77, 33 78 x 5.18 x 1 88m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2400bhp = 21kts. Oil 18t, range 1500nm at I2kts Armament* (SC1474) l-40mm, 3-20mm, 2 Mousetrap, 2 DC projectors, 1 DC rack Complement: 27 Class: American Car & Foundry -SC449 Walter E Abrams, Halesite-SC672,SC673,SC67S-^SC6S/ ,SC1333SC1340 American Cruiser, Detroit - SC5II, SC512, SC658, SC659, SC682SC687 Annapolis Yacht - SC521, SC522, SC688-SC691, SC1309-SC1314 Burger, Manitowoc - SC66O, SC661, SC1059, SC1060 Calderwood, Manchester -SC692 ,SC693 ,SC1358-SC1361 ,SC1SO2 ,SC1503 Dachel-Carter, Benton Harbor - SC664, SC665 Davtona Beach - SC668, SC669, SC694-SC697, SC1302SC1308, SCI484-SC1487 Delaware Bay, Leesburg - SC648, SC&49, SC698-SC703, SC1325-SC1328 Dingle Boat, St Paul - SCI000-SC1002 Donovan, Burlington - SC1029, SC1030, SCI504-SCI506 Dooleys Basin, Fort Lauderdale - SC710,SC711 Elizabeth Citv - SC515-SC518, SC638-SC641, SC704-SC709, SC1276-SC1287 ,SC1488-SC1491 Fellows & Stewart, Wilmington -SCIOO3-SCIO12,SC137O-SC1375 Fisher, Detroit - SC499, SC500, SC662, SC663, SC712—SC721, SCI347SC1350 Gulf Manne Ways, Galveston -SC1O57, SC1058 Harbor Boat, Terminal Island - SC722-SC729 Harns & Parsons, Greenwich - SC1061, SC1062, SCI321SC1324, SCIS07SC1509 Hihebrant, Kingston - SC674, SC765, SC730-SC733 Inland Waterways, Duluth - SC670, SC671, SC1059, SC1060 Island Docks, Kingston - SC996-SC999 Geo W Kneass, San Francisco - SC990-SC995 Thomas Knutson, Halesite - SC1498-SC1501 Al Larson, Terminal Island - SC734, SC735 1 ibertj, Brooklyn - SC736, SC737 Mathis Yacht, Camden - SC507, SC508, SC524-SC529, SC630-SC635, SC1023-SC1028, SC 1067SC 1072 John E Matton. Waterford - SC985SC989 Peterson Boat, Sturgeon - SC536SC539, SC642SC645, SC 1031 -SC1038, SCI517SCI520 Juhus Peterson, Nyack - SC652, SC653, SC738SC743, SC1315-SC1320 Perkins & Vaughan, Wickford - SC1065, SC1066, SC1298SC1301, SC1510SCI5I6 Peyton, Newport Beach - SC772SC775, SC1362SC1365 Quincy Adams, Quinsy - SC513, SC514, SC628, SC629, SC744-SC751, SC1266-SC1275, SC1474-SC1479 Rice Bros, E U™\hb<w-SC503,SC504,SCl039SC1046,SCl314SCl346, SC1480-SC14S3 Robinson Marine, Benton Harbor - SC540, SC54I, SC646, SC647, \C752-SC759 * A Robinson, Ipswich - SC676,SC677,SC760-SC767,SC1288-SC1297 Seabrook Yasht - SC501, SC502, SC768SC771 Simms Bros, Dorchester-SC977-SC980,SC1329-SC1332,SC1492SC1495 Snow, Rockland - SC656, SC657 John Trumpy, Gloucester - SC1O73-SCIO76 Vent nor - SCIO47SCIO52 \ ictory, Holland -SC1063,SCI064 Vineyard, Milford - SC519, SC520, SC636, SC637, SC981SC984, SC1351SC1354,SC1496, SC 1497 Weaver, Orange - SC666, SC667 Westergard, Rockport - SC497, SC498, SC530, SC531, SC650, SC651, SC654,SC655 Wilmington Boat -SC1053SC1056, SC1366-SC1369 The fleet of 110ft submarine-chasers built in World War II was directly descended from a similar fleet built m 1917-18; Franklin D Roosevelt had expedited the construction of the earlier fleet as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and, as President, was much struck by the poteniial for building many such craft in boatyards, in 5 to 8 weeks, in the event of mobilisation. Formal Characteris- tics of 1937 called for operation in coastal and harbour waters, and the protection of fleet anchorages; they were to carry one 3in/23 gun (in preference to a 1 lin automatic weapon also suggested), and 14 depth charges Endurance would be l>00nm at 12kts, half the standard for the PC. Although the General Board wanted a speed of 22kts, as in the PC, it was willing to settle for far less, as commercially available petrol engines were to be used, to facilitate mass produc- tion in wartime. Similarly, the 110ft length was chosen because a longer (120ft) boat would have required saw*n rather than bent frames. Three experimental boats were built under the 1938 programme. SC449 (Luders), SC450 (Elco), and SC453 (Bureau of Ships); the last was adopted for mass production. It had a new hull form, based on that of the World War I sub-chaser but steel-reinforced amidships to take far more powerful ‘pancake’ diesels and beamier, with hull lines flattened aft for decreased resistance at full speed. The Bureau claimed that she could reach 22kts, and that her hull form would show its superiority over a more conventional one up to 24kts. The wheelhouse was aluminium rather than steel. In fact the high-pow’er diesel did not prove very readily adaptable to mass production, and of a total of 435 completed, 231 had two 500hp rather than 1200hp diesels, and consequently could make only 16kts Nor could these wooden boats be readily produced, partly because of a relative dearth of US wooden boatbuilders by 1941. Quantity deliveries were not made until 1943-44, and by then coastal ASW craft were not so badly needed: 37 were cancelled in August 1943. About 200 were transferred to Allied navies, 8 were converted to motor gunboats to harass Japanese small craft traffic in the South-West Pacific, and 35 were converted to SC(C)s, ‘control’ and communications relay craft for amphibious operations As production was not sufficient in 1942, eight Cana- dian Fairmile *B’ motor launches were acquired under ‘reverse Lend-Lease’; they became SC1466-1473. In 1945 a total of 72 were transferred to the Coast Guard for air-sea rescue (AVR). Armament was to have been l-3in/23, 2-0 50cal machine guns, and depth charges. However, during 1942 the Mousetrap ASW weapon was developed, and all SCs mounted it forward. In addition, gun armament was increased, in 1943 the ‘ultimate’ battery was specified as l-3in/5O DP (which had been rejected as far too heavy in the 1937 studies), 3-20mm, two DC throwers, and DC racks. A year later the standard was l-40imn forward, with the balance of the armament as in 1943. Most boats were so armed by 1945, although five boats had a 3in/23, as did one of the surviving Fairmiles The PGMs had one 3in/23 or 40mm forward, one 40mm aft, four twin 0 50cal machine guns, one 60mm mortar and one multi barrel bazooka 1 his modification included a considerable reduction in the height of the bridgework, and the addition of light splinter protection. 153
F.W56J as completed 1942 USN PCS class submarine-chasers and YMS class motor mine- sweepers (launched 1942-45) Displacement: (PCS1405, 1944) 2511 standard; 278t full load Dimensions: 130ft wl, 136ft oa x 24ft 6in x 7ft 9in full load 39 62, 41 45 x 7.47 x 2.36m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 800bhp = 14 Ikts (trial) Armament: (PCS) l-3in/5O, l-40mm, 2-20mm, 2 Mousetrap, 4 DC pro- jectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 57 (YMS 60) Astoria Marine - PCS1464, PCS 1465 Ballard, Seattle - PCS1457, PCS 1458 Bellingham Iron Wks - PCS 1461 -PCS 1463 Burger, Manitowoc - PCS1423, PCS1424, PCS1449, PCS1450 Colberg, Stockton - PCS1402-PCS1404 Dachel-Carter, Benton Harbor - PCS 1417-PCS 1420 Gibbs Gas Engine, Jacksonville - PCSI429-PCS1440 Greenport Basin - PCSI405-PCS1412 Harbor Boat, Terminal I - PCS1441-PCS1444 Hiltebrant, Kingston - PCS 1425-PCS1428 Robert Jacob, New York - PCS 1388-PCS1395 Moican & Ericson, Tacoma - PCS 1455, PCS 1456 San Diego Marine - PCS1445-PCS1448 South Coast, Newport Beach - PCSI396-PCS1401 Stadium, Cleveland - PCS14I3-PCSI416 William F Stone, Oakland - PCS 1421, PCS 1422 Tacoma Boat - PCS 1451-PCS1454 Western, Tacoma - PCS1459, PCS 1460 Wheeler, Brooklyn - PCS1376-PCS1387 Associated, Seattle - YMS287-YMS296 Astoria Marine - YMS100-YMS103, YMS135-YMS142, YMS422-YMS425 Ballard, Seattle - YMS326-YMS333 Bellingham Iron \X ks - YMS269-YMS276, YMS342-YMS345, YMS410- YMS413, YMS480, YMS48I Burger, Manitowoc - YMS I07-YMS112, YMS155-YMS162 Campbell, San Diego - YMSI51-YMS154 Colberg, Stockton - YMS94-YMS99 Dachel-Carter, Benton Harbor - YMS163-Y WS170 Gibbs Gas Engine, Jacksonville - YMS54-YMS65, YMS346-YMS357, YMS464-YMS472 Henry C Grebe, Chicago - YMS84, YMS85, YMS171-YMS182, YMS279, YMS280, YMS405-YMS409, YMS418-YMS421 Greenport Basin - YMS20-YMS31, YMS183-YMS194, YMS375-YMS382, YMS453-YMS459 Harbor Boat, Terminal I - YMS 117-YMS 120, YMS313-YMS316, YMS393-YMS396, YMS473, YMS474 Hcrrcshoff, Bristol - YMS18, YMS19 Hilt ebrant, Kingston - YMS32-YMS38, YMS195-YMS206, YMS442- YMS445, YMS462, YMS463 Robert Jacob, New York - YMS39-YMS41, YMS207-YMS215, YMS358-YMS362, YMS438-YMS441, YMS446-YMS448 Kruse & Banks, North Bend - YMS121-YMS124, YMS265-YMS268 Al Larson, Terminal I - YMS86, YMS87, YMS320-YMS325 J M Martinac, Tacoma - YMS 125-Y \1S 128, YMS2I6-YMS221, YMS277-YMS278 Mojean & Ericson, Tacoma - YMS222-YMS225, YMS426-YMS429, YMS479 Henry В Nevins, New York - YMSl-YMSll, YMS308-YMS312, YMS397-YMS404 Northwestern, Bellingham - YMS285, YMS286 Rice Bros, E Boothbay - YMS12-YMS17, YMS303-YMS307 Frank L Sample, Boothbay Harbor - YMS104-YMS106, YMS226-YMS234 San Diego Marine - YMS U3-YMS116, YMS143-YMS146, YMS475, YMS476 Seattle SB - YMS334-) \IS341 South Coast, Newport Beach - YMS88-YMS93, I \JS259-YMS2&f, YMS317-YMS319, YMS449-YMS452 Stadium, Cleveland - YM S 76-YMS83 , YM S235-YM S240 , YMS389-YMS392, YMS414-YMS417, YMS460, YMS461 William F Stone, Cleveland - YMS299-YMS302 Tacoma Boat - YMS129-YMS132, YMS241-YMS246, \ \tS297, YMS298, YMS430-YMS433, YMS477, YMS478 Weaver, Orange - YMS66-YMS75, YMS247-YMS258, YMS37I-YMS374 Western, Tacoma - YMS 133, YMS134, YMS 147-YMS150 Wheeler, Brooklyn - YMS42-YMS53 These small minesweepers, nominally intended for harbour protection (the Y’, or Naval District, designator originally meant ‘Yard’) actually made long overseas voyages and swept for invasion forces. They were inspired by the contemporary British 105ft motor minesweeper, and originally were to have been built on 110ft sub-chaser hulls. However, with the advent of magnetic mines they required considerable enlargement to accommodate a third diesel to power a magnetic sweep. Wooden construction was adopted for simplicity, as in the case of the smaller sub-chasers; the requirement for non-magnctic hulls did not arise until after World War II. However, it was necessary to provide for particularly strong hull construction against the effects of nearby ground mine detonations There were three sub-classes: YMS1-I34 had two funnels, 135-445 had one, and 446-481 had none visible. Eighty more, of the first series, were laid down for the Royal Navy as BYMSl-80, many others being transfer- red from the later senes. Others went to the French, Norwegian, and Sosict Navies. Although the YMS could make only 1 Skis, and the requirement for a sub- chaser was a speed of 22kts, the shortage of such craft was so severe that the construction of one hundred sub-chasers on YMS hulls was ordered in June 1942. It appeared that the elimination of the 540kW magnetic sweeping diesel would buy a 50 per cent increase in endurance (to 3000nm at 12kts) as well as a second 3in/5O gun, 52 depth charges, and a Hedgehog. In fact this was far too ambitious; the YMS conversions, which were designated PCS to distinguish them from the PC and the AM conversion (PCE), in the end had only a single 3in/5O, a 40mm gun, and the Mousetrap rocket projector Not surprisingly, many, after completion, were released for subsidiary duties. In any case the PCS appeared only after the need for coastal escorts had largely subsided. Only ninety numbers were assigned (PCS/376-1465) of which 31 were cancelled; of the 59 built, 5 had been laid down as YMSs, while many of the cancelled PCSs were built as YMSs. In 1944, 22 PCSs were refitted as sonar training ships, with a Hedgehog in place of the 3m/5O gun forward. PCS1377, 1378, 1380-87, 1392, 1417, 1423,1424, 1426, 1431, 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, 1448 and 1449. Thirteen more w'ere converted to PCS(C)s for control of landing craft, a small deckhouse replacing their after 40mm guns: 1379, 1389, 1390, 1391, 1402, 1403, 1418, 1421, 1429, 1452, 1455, 1460 and 1461. There were also five YMS conversions (38, 176, 311,389 and 390) but these proved unsatisfactory and were discontinued. Two units (PCS1464 and 1465) were completed as mine location and recovery craft, for use in fleet anchorages; they were intended to recover enemy air-laid mines which might be unsweepable by existing techniques (AMc203, 204); this programme also included the conversion of four coastal minesweepers (AMcS6, 88, 97 and 98) In a PCS n required the removal of the after 40mm gun and one 20mm, and the relocation of the other 20mm to the pilot house roof. Nine units became survey ships (AGS6-14). PCS1458, 1388, 1396, 1404, 1457, and YMS195, 242 , 262 and 263. Finally YMS344 and 480 became mobile degaussing ships, YDG6and 7. PT BOATS Elco, Higgins, Vosper and Huckins types Displacement: 54t (Vosper type 44,9t) full load Dimensions: Elco type: 80ft x 20ft 8in x 5ft 3in 24.38 x 6.30 x 1.60m Higgins type: 78ft 6in x 20ft lin x 5ft 3in 23.93 x 6.12 x 1.60m Vosper type: 72ft 6in x 19ft 3in x 5ft 6in 22.10 x 5.87 x I 68m Machinery: 3-shaft petrol engines, 4050bhp = 39kts (1 hour rate, Vosper type 3375bhp = 38.75kts). Petrol 3000gal (Higgins type 2850gal, Vosper type 2960gal), range 500nm at 20kts (Vosper tvpe 570nm at 20kts) Armament: See notes Complement: 17 (Vosper tvpe 10-12) Class: Elco - PT20-PT68, PT103-PT196, PT314-PT367, PT372-PT383, PT486-PT563, PTS65-PT624, PT731-PT790 Higgins - PT71-PT94, PT197-PT254, PT265-PT313, P1450-PT485, PT625-PT660, PT791-PT808 Vosper - PT368-PT371, PT384-PT449, PT661-PT730 Huckins - PT95-PT102, PT255-PT264 US interest in modern MTBs dates from the mid-1930s, when it became apparent that the type was being revived in overseas navies such as the Royal Navy; the United States had previously imported Thornycroft-type CMBs, and of course many such craft had been employed by rum-runners during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Prototypes were ordered under the same experimental authorisation of 1938 which produced the prototype SC and PC designs; among them was a Bnush Hall-Scott craft which became PT9 and, ultimately, the prototype of US PTs. It became a pattern boat for PT10-19 and also for 154
Pl'Cl-12'у the latter were ASW versions ordered as stop-gaps in view of the impending shortage of PC and SC hulls; all 23 were ultimately turned over to the Royal Navy, and/JTC73-36 were completed asPT33-44 and 57-68 (PTC37-60 were built for Lend-Lease). Of low-numbered boats, PT1-8 were unsuccessful experimental types. PT 10-19 were 70ft Elco (Electric Boat Co) craft; they were enlarged to 77ft to provide space for four rather than two torpedoes, and Elco went on to build PT20-68, the craft was then again enlarged to the 80ft type which became standard in wartime: PT103-196,314-367,372-383,486-553, 565-624,731-760 and 761-790. Higgins of New Orleans produced a modified version of the original British boat, a 78-footer,P770, it became the prototype of the other major US class PT71-94, 197-254, 265-313, 450-485, 625-660 and 791-808 In addition there was a Huckins type (JPT95-102 and 255-264) which was generally relegated to training; and there was the standard British Vosper type, generally built for Lend-Lease (PT368-371, 384-449 and 661-730’, of these at least 384-399 went to the RN and400-499 and 661-687 to the Soviet Union; the United States also built BPT21-68 for Lend-Lease). Mam Eko and Higgins boats were transferred under Lend-Lease, and at the end of the war PT623-24, 761-790 and 797-808 were all cancelled. During the war Higgins produced a prototype lightweight ‘Hellcat’, which the Navy acquired as PT>64 Although it showed greatly improved perform- ance, it could not carry heavy gun battery; by that time (1944) Pl* boats were frequently employed more as gun- than as torpedo-boats The original PT batten was 4-21 in torpedoes in tubes, necessary to keep gvros aligned, and two twin 0.50cal guns During the war, the tubes were eliminated and aircraft torpedoes in racks substituted, ultimately many boats had, in addition, one 40mm right aft and one 37mm aircraft gun right forward (1944); still later many were fitted with a pair of 12-tube 4 5in rocket launchers PT588, an Elco type, m Oct 1944 (Army type), replacing the two forward torpedoes; in 1945 it was intended to use 5in spin-stabilised rockets instead of the 4 5in Most boats carried a portable 60mm mortar as well, and in many cases the two twin 0.50s of the earlier boats were replaced by single 20mm guns. In other cases it appears that a 20mm forward supplemented the two twin 0.50s (Elco class, which had a longer forecastle); 2 single 0 50cal weapons were also earned, and there were 2 DCs Vosper boats (1945) had 2 torpedo tubes, l-20mm, 2-0 5in MG and 4 DCs in chutes A few boats were fitted with an experimental power-driven quadruple 20mm mount (Elco Thunderbolt) aft This increase in gun armament indicates the transformation of the Pl role from torpedo attack to the destruction of Japanese inter-island barge traffic, largely by gunfire, PTs often also attacked shore targets, particularly with their rockets. The postwar US evaluation was that they were useful but not cost-effective, and all were sold. A squadron of four new PTs, 809-812, was built for evalua- tion, and indeed was the bridge to more recent fast fighting craft, such as the PTFs of the 1960s. GUNBOATS Before World War II, the United States operated two classes of gun- boats, both intended for peacetime duties' river craft (PR) on the Yangtze in China, and sea-going units for the Special Service Squadron in the Caribbean. The latter were influenced by a clause in the London Treaty of 1930 which permitted ships of up to 2000 tons armed with guns of up to 6in calibre, le the Ene and Charleston For its part the Royal Navy used the same clause to build ASW/AAW escorts, the sloops, that the United States did not is an indication of a lack of interest in coastal trade protection (te convoy AAW) in the US Navy of the early' 1930s The four river gunboats built between the wars were the only US combatants of their time to be built abroad, by the Kiangnan Dock & Engineering Co of Shanghai In wartime, the gunboat category expanded to include ships more properly considered escorts, the ‘Flower’ class corvettes obtained under ‘reverse Lend-Lease.’ The patrol frigates (PF) were also origi- ERIE class (launched 1936) Displacement- 2000t standard; 2339t trial (design) Dimensions: 308ft wl, 328ft 6in oa x 41ft 3in x 11ft 4in standard (design) 93 88, 100 13 x 12.57 x 3 45m Machinery. 2-shaft turbines, 2 boilers, 6200shp = 20kts Oil 489t, range 8000nm at 12kts Armour: Belt 3 5in, deck 1.25in over machinery, hn over magazines, side 2.875in over forward magazines, 3in-2in over after magazines, CT 4in with 1.25in roof Armament: 4-6in/47 (4x 1), 16-1. lin (4x4), 1 aircraft Complement: 236 Class (builder, fate) PG50/’ne(New York NYd, lost 12.11 42),PG51C/iar/t’S- A’« (Charleston, sold 25 3.48) Trie and Charleston were imaginative attempts to combine peacetime and wartime missions in the one class of surface combatants not limited by the London Treaty of 1930 ‘sloops’ of up to 2000 tons, with speeds of up to 20kts, and armed with guns of 6 lin or lesser calibre Given the battle-line speed of about 20kts, and usually less, such ships might well be designed to replace screening cruisers in wartime. They would also be useful in coastal or convoy ASW , and so might free destroyers (whose numbers were limited by treaty) for other duties In the convov role, their 6in guns would be a useful counter to converted merchant raiders, considered a major problem before World W ar II, when it was assumed that submarines would not carry on unlimited commerce nally included m the gunboat category. Closer to true gunboats w'ere small patrol craft (SC and PC) converted to motor gunboats (PGM) to harass Japanese coastal traffic in the South Pacific, and to support amphibious operations; they arc described under their original desig- nations. There were also landing craft converted to gunboats for amphibious fire support: LCI(G), (M) and (R); LCS(LX3); and LSM(R) Once again, all are described under the LCI(L) and LSM. As for the prewar gunboats, one on the Yangtze fled up-river from the Japanese and w’as turned over to the Chinese Government; one was captured at Shanghai, three fled to the Philippines; and Panay had already been sunk by Japanese bombers in 1937, in a famous incident which very nearly led to war at that time. Ene was torpedoed in 1942, but her sister Charleston survived the war on the Alaskan station. She carried out patrol and escort missions, but also was able to employ her 6m guns to support the Aleutian landings in 1943 warfare since such warfare had been outlaw’ed. Minelaying was another possible wartime duty. In peacetime, the United States required gunboats with impress- ive firepower and relatively limited draught for operations in the Caribbean and in Central America, where the Marines repeatedly interv cued to keep the peace. Peacetime cruising also required considerable habitabilitv, which made it dif- ficult to provide military features within a hull limned by treaty, and the requirement to save weight accounts for the unusual hull form actuallv adopted. Relatively little power was required to have a 2000-ton ship at 20kts-on trials Ene developed 5940shp = 20.4ktsat 2281t-and in fact the power requirement could be reduced by cutting waterline length (and wetted area - at this speed resistance was largely frictional). However, the wartime role demanded a long fantail for depth-charge racks, depth-charge projectors, and perhaps mine rails. A long bow was required to keep the forward 6in gun dry; hence the pronounced clipper bow and the apparently old-fashioned counter stern. Both peace and war missions required a scout aircraft, but the designers were unable to find space or weight for a catapult, and had to settle for a crane and a stowage space amid- ships, the aircraft would have to take ofl directly from the water The gun mounts were the final example of weight saving apparent in the design: there w as not enough weight for power loading or for fully-enclosed shields, and in fact 6in elevation had to be limited 'I his class introduced the new 6in/47 gun with its powder enclosed in a cartridge, had there been no such gun, the old 5in/51 would have been selected in preference to the more awkward 6in/53 of earlier ships, with its bag ammunition. The wartime role demanded protection, but once again the treaty limit precluded very much. As in the carrier IV «.«/>, the solution adopted was io fit internal protection, including deck armour, and to make provision for a belt to be fitted upon the suspension of treatv limits in wartime It does not, however, appear that this was ever done in cither case. Indeed, Charleston, the surviving ship, was little modified in wartime 155
Panay on trials 30 8 1928 WAKE class river gunboats Displacement: 370t Dimensions: 150ft wl, 159ft 5in oa x 27ft lin x 5ft lin mean 45.72, 48.59 x 8 25 x I 55m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Tnornycroft boilers, 1950ihp = 14 5kts Armament: 2-3in/23 Complement: 70 Class (fate): PR3 Wake (ex-Guam) (to China 1946), PR4 Tmuila (to China Mar 1942). PANAY class nver gunboats Displacement: 450t Dimensions: 180ft wl, 191ft lin oa x 28ft lin x 5fl 3in 54.86, 58.24 x 8 56 x I 60m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Thomycroft boilers, 2250ihp = 15kts Armament: 2-3in/5O Complement: 70 Class (fate): PR5 Panay (lost 12 12 37), PR6 Oahu (lost 6 5 42) LUZON class river gunboats Displacement: 560t Dimensions: 198ft wl, 210ft 9in oa x 31ft lin x 5ft 7in 60.35, 64.24 x 9.47 x 1.70 m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Thomycroft boilers, 3150ihp = 16kts Armament: 2-3in/5O Complement: 70 Class (fate): PR7 Luzon (lost 3.2.45), PR8 Mindanao (lost 5.5.42). Six river gunboats for service on the Yangtze were authorised under the programme for FY25: four of 180ft length, and two of 200ft. The reasoning behind this distinction is unclear, as several experienced river gunboat com- manders observed that the shorter the boat, within limits, the better she would negotiate the twists of the river, and the farther up-river she would be able to penetrate. However, as the Design History notes, ‘It is important as a factor in American influence in China that these vessels outclass in smartness of finish and appearance the gunboats of all other nationalities’. In fact the group of six boats was d v i led into three classes. Wake and Tutuila of 150ft, Panay and Oahu of 180ft (as originally designed, and as all were to have been), and Luzon and Mindanao of 198ft. Only Tututla avoided capture by steaming up-river to Chunking, she was turned over to the Chinese in March 1942. Panay was sunk in 1937, and Wake was captured by the Japanese at Shanghai on the outbreak of war. The three larger boats withdrew to ihe Philippines, where two were scuttled and Luzon was lost. TEMPTRESS class Displacement: 1375t full load Dimensions: 190ft wl, 205ft (PG62-71 205ft 2in) oa x 33ft x 14ft 7in max 57 91, 62.48 (62.54) x 10.06 x 4 45m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 2 boilers, 2750ihp = 16.5kts. Oil 337t Armament: (1945) 2-3in/5O (PG62-71 1—4in/50, l-3in/5O), 4-20mm, I Hedgehog, 4 DC projectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 90 (PG62-71 87) Class (fate): Smiths Dock tPG62) - Temptress (ex HMS Veronica) (lost Jan 1947) Crown (PG63) - Surprise (ex-HMS Heliotrope) (to China 1947) Harland & Wolff (PG64-PG67, PG70) -Spry (ex-HMS Hibiscus) (sold 1947), Saucy (ex-HMS Arabis) (sold 1947), Restless (ex-HMS Penunnkle) (sold 1947), Ready (ex-HMS Calendula) (sold 1948), Courage (ex-HMS Heartsease, ex- Pansy) (lost Dec 1958) Cook Welton (PG68) - Impulse (ex-HMS Begonia) (sold 1946) Fleming & Ferguson (PG69) - Fury (ex-HMS Larkspur) (sold 1946) Grangemouth (PG71) - Tenacity (ex-HMS Candytuft) (sold 1947) Collingwood (PG86-PG88, PG97-PG99) - Action (ex-HMS Comfrey) (sold 1952), Alacrity (ex-HMS Cornel) (sold 1948), Beacon (ex HMS Dittany) (sold 1956), Splendor (ex-HMS Rosebay) (sold 1950), Tact (ex HMS Smil ax) (to Argentina 1946), Vim (ex-HMS Stance) (sold May 1947) Kingston (PG89, PG90) - Brisk (ex-HMS Flax) (sold 1955), Capnce (ex-HMS Honesty) (sold Dec 1946) Midland (PG91) - Clash (ex-HMS Ltnana) (sold 1948), Vitality (ex-H MS Wil- lowherb) (sold May 1947) Morton (PG92-PG96) - Haste (ex-HMS Mandrake) (sold 1949), Intensity (ex- HMS Milfoil) (sold 1956), Might (ex-HMS Musk) (sold 1957), Pert (ex-HMS Nepeta) (sold 1956), Prudent (ex-HMS Privet) (to Italy 1949) Earlv in 1942 the US Navy had a large ASW programme in progress, but almost no ASW craft in commission; it was desperate for complete or almost complete hulls. British-built corvettes were transferred as the ‘gunboats’ PG62-7I, and fifteen more were ordered in Canada as PG86-100, of which seven (PG88, 90, 91 and 97-100) were turned over to the Royal Navy upon completion. The principal difference between British- and Canadian-built ships was in the gun battery: one 4in/50 forward in the former, with a 3in/5O aft, and two 3in/50 in the latter. Externally, the later series had a raised gun/Hedgehog platform forward, whereas in the ex British ships both were much closer to deck level. All these ships began, of course, with British weapons and radars, and were gradually refitted to US standards. Similarly, the US Navy ordered ten Canadian frigates as PG101-110, only two averc retained, and they became the prototype frigates, PF1 and 2; PG111 210 were .reclassified as PF3-102 (see under ‘Frigates’). PG72 and 85 were ex- yachts; numbers 73-84 were not used. SEAPLANE TENDERS Before World War II the US Navy faced the twin problems of a large requirement for air support in its progress across the Pacific, and a severe treaty and legislative limitation on the number of aircraft carriers it could build. It appeared, moreover, that there would be no easy way to construct island bases for land aircraft. Although seaplanes and floatplanes suffered some considerable loss of performance as com- pared to their land-based counterparts, then, they might well be the only aircraft available in forward areas, apart from those assigned to task forces. Prewar Navy programmes therefore included several types of seaplane tender. At first, the primary distinction was between ships intended to operate two full squadrons of patrol aircraft (AVs) and those, limited in draught so that they could operate out of small harbours, which might operate only a single squadron of twelve seap- lanes (AVPs, descended from converted minesweepers and destroyers, AVDs). In each case the tender was intended to provide quarters for aircrew as well as repair facilities, which in the larger tenders might include stowage for spare wings and even hulls. Both AVs and AVPs 156 had to be well armed, since they would constitute the shore defence of a patrol plane base. In addition, in 1940 the Marines developed a new concept: they would fit their scout bombers with floats, and use them to defend newly-acquired bases. The scout bombers would be trans- ported to their bases by ‘seaplane carriers’, which would deliver them by catapult, as that would be far quicker than crane. In fact the concept of a separate ‘seaplane carrier’ was rejected, but the Currituck class was designed to incorporate a larger hangar and a flush-decked catapult. However, it soon became apparent that airstrips would not be too difficult to build and, moreover, that the escort carriers would provide numerous landplane ferries; the ‘seaplane carrier’ concept was aban- doned entirely and the Curritucks were employed as conventional seap- lane tenders. The primary role of their aircraft was reconnaissance, with bombing and torpedo attack as secondary functions. Despite the rise of land- based naval reconnaissance aircraft, they were maintained through the war and in fact new patrol seaplanes were developed postwar, tenders
Seaplane tenders being modified to handle them. Their great advantage was their mobil- ity; an airstrip for a big bomber was far more difficult to build than was one to handle a carrier-type single-engined aircraft. The prewar seaplane tender force consisted of three large units: AV 1 (IV'ngftz) a ‘Hog Island’ cargo ship converted in 1921, AV2 (Jason) a collier stricken in 1936, and AV3 (Langley), originally the first US carrier, de-rated and cut down in 1937, plus fourteen former flush- decked destroxers converted in 1938—40 (forward boilers replaced by fuel tanks for seaplanes, all tubes removed, and former 4m SP guns replaced by two 3in/50s; thev were redesignated AVD1-14; nine reverted to destroyers 1943), and nine former minesweepers of the World War I ‘Bird’ class (AVP1-9, ex-AMl, 10, 18, 19,23,27, 34,41, 51). CURTISS class (launched 1940)___________________________________ Displacement: 12,053t trial Dimensions. 508ft wl, 527ft 4in oa x 69ft 3in x 21ft 4in max 154 84, 160 73 x 21 II x 6 50m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons turbines, 4 Babcock & Wikox boilers, 12,000shp = 18kts. Oil 2164t Armament: 4-5in/38, 10-0 5in MG Complement: 1195 Class (builder, fate): AV4 Curtiss (New York SB, discarded 1963), AV5 Albemarle (New York SB, helicopter repair ship 1965). Norton Sound 1945 OlflllTf i 1 йГ’НЗА! 111±1T - - ’□LELflLUI 1МД1-1 ГШРГР'’' ' BARNEGAT class (launched 1941-45) Displacement: (Matagorda) 2040t standard, 25511 full load Dimensions: 300ft wl, 310ft 9in oa x 41ft lin x 12ft 5in full 91.44, 94.72 x 12.52 x 3.78m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 6080bhp = 20kts. Oil 260t, range 6000nm at 12kts Armament: 2-5in/38 (2x I), 4-0 Sin (design) Complement 367 (including aviation unit) Class: Puget Sound N Yd (AVP10-AVP13) - Barnegat, Biscayne, Casco, Mackinac Boston N Yd (AVP21, AVP22) - Humboldt, Matagorda Lake Washington (AVP23-AVP26, AVP33-AVP55) - Absecon, Chincoteague, Coos Bay, Half Moon, Barataria, Bering Strait, Castle Rock, Cook Inlet, Corson, Duxbury Bay,Gardiners Bay,Floyds Bay, Greenwich Bay,Hatteras,Hempstead, Kamishak, Magothy, Matanzas, Metomkin, Onslow, Orca, Rehoboth ,San Carlos, Shehkof, Suisun, Timbalter, Valcour Associated (AVP29-AVP32) - Rockaway, San Pablo, Unimak, Yakutat These small seaplane tenders, capable of handling one squadron each, were intended to operate out of small harboursand atolls, special emphasis was placed on shallow draught and consequently on weight-saving. In wartime they were also used to escort groups of larger tenders (A Vs) and therefore had considerable ASW armament, and sonar, these features were also considered necessary for ships which might well operate independently in contested waters. Aviauon fuel stowage was 80,000 US gallons The gap between AVP-13 and A VP-21 is explained by the redesignation of AVP14-20 as AVD (destroyers) 1-7 in 1940 In view of the very large numbers on order, some were considered surplus as early as 1943, and AVP27,28,56 and 57 were completed as MTB tenders (AGP6-9). In addition AVP23 was con verted into a catapult training ship for cruiser and battleship aviators, using surplus equipment from cancelled Cleveland class cruisers AVP42-47 were cancelled in April 1943, vicums of the strong demand for diesel engines for escorts and for amphibious craft The battery originally envisaged was 2-5in/38, but by 1942 the assigned ‘ultimate’ battery was four of these weapons (with 8-20mm and, in many cases, two DC racks) In fact, few ever mounted so heavy a battery, although in 1944 mans retained two 5in/38 and in some No 2 gun was being moved aft to cover the blind spot there. At that lime there were two standard batteries: l-5in/38, 1 quadruple and 2 twin 40mm, and 6-20mm; or 2-5in and 4-20mm Coos Bay (AVP25) was unique, late in the war, in having Mousetrap, as well as 2-5in/38. In 1945, with US forces nearing Japan, three ships (AVP21,22 and 29) were selected for conversion to press ships at Philadelphia, New York, and Boston; they were to have been redesignated AG121-123. This work was cancelled on 24 August 1945 and they were reconverted to AVPs The AVPs combined very long range, thanks to their diesel-electric plants, with good habitability and seaworthiness, in 1948—49, eighteen (including two former AGPs) were transferred to the Coast Guard. CURRITUCK class (launched 1943-44)_________________________ Displacement: 14,000t trial; 15,092г max Dimensions: 520ft wl, 540ft 5in oa x 69ft 3in x 22ft 3in max 158 50, 164 72 x 21 ll x 6.78m Machinery 2-shaft Parsons turbines, 4 Babcock & Wikox boilers, 12 OOOshp = 19.2kts. Oil 2324t Armament- 4-5in/38, 8-1 lin (2x4), 4-0 5in MG Complement. 1247 Class (builder, fate): AV7 Cumttuk (Philadelphia N Y’d, stricken 1.4 71), A\ 11 Norton Sound (Todd, San Pedro, extant 1980 as guided missile trials ship), AV12 Pine Island (lodd, San Pedro, stricken 1.2 71), AV13 Salisbury Sound (ex Puget Sound) (Todd, San Pedro, discarded 1970s). The large Curtiss and Cumtu<.k class fleet seaplane tenders were designed to service up to two full squadrons, and to earn out minor repairs on their quarterdecks As such, they had bomb and aviation fuel capacities (Curtiss class 269,620, Currituck class 278,000 US gallons) comparable to those of carriers, but no protection to match All that could be done for theCurtiss class was to provide a four lav er torpedo protection svstem over the machinery, and to try to keep aviation fuel tanks well below the waterline A 1941 proposal to provide 2in STS over much of the third deck n the later Cumtucks, at the expense of 2 ft 6in more beam, was rejected at a late stage The two groups differed largely in that the latter were redesigned with more deck area aft (and a flush-decked H-5 catapult) to enable them to carry Marine Corps dive bombers with floats, for advanced base operation, the use of a single funnel similarly reflects an attempt to increase hangar space for stowage. As an alternative, the War Plans Division foresaw the use of these ships as mobile bases for coastal patrol aircraft; how ever, like the Marine Corps scheme, this one was not carried through, and iheCurritucks performed as conventional tenders TANGIER, POCOMOKE, and KENNETH WHITING class Displacement: U,760t (Kenneth Whiting class 12,000t) trial Dimensions: 492ft oa x 69ft 6in x 23ft 9in max 149 96 x 21.18 x 7 24m Machinery: 1-shaft turbine, 2 boilers, 8500shp = 16kts (Pocomoke 9350shp = 17kts) Oil 1309t (Pocomoke 1313t, Kenneth Whil- ing 1556t) Armament. (1945) l-5m/38, 4-31П/50 DP, 8-40mm (4x2), 15-20mm (Kenneth Whiling 12-40mm, 2x2, 2x4, 16-20mm) Complement: 1075 (Kenneth Whiting 1077) 157
UNITED STATES Tangier as completed Class (builder, fate): AV8 Tangier (ex-Sea Arrow) (Mixire, sold 1963), AV9 Pocomoke (ex-Bxihequer) (Ingalls, discarded 1961), AV 10 CAandeleur (Vi estern Pipe,stricken 1.4 71), AVHKcnneth U Airing (Todd,! icoma, discarded 1961), AV15 Hamlin (Todd, Tacoma, discarded 1961), AVI6 St George (Todd, Tacoma, discarded 1963), AV 17 Cumberland Sound (Ttxld, Tacoma, BU 1964), AV18 Townsend (Todd, Tacoma, cancelled Aug 1945), AV 19 Calibogue (Puget Sound N Yd, cancelled Oct 1944), AV20 Hobe Sound (Charleston N Yd, cancelled Oct 1944) The big tenders, built to Navy standards, were Ux> expensive for mass production, as in other cases, standard Maritime Commission C 3 hulls were substituted. Two acquired from shipping lines became Tangier (AV8) and Pocomoke (AV9); others, AV10 (C3—Sl-Bl) and AV14—20 (niodilicd C3-S-AIs), were built to Navy accounts (of which AV19-20 were cancelled in November 1944 and AVI 8 in August 1945). Conversion generally involved the elimination of cargo masts aft and the substitution of the characteristic seap me tender flush deck, with a heavy crane capable of hoisting a large patrol bomber aboard In lhePocomokes this crane was right aft; in the Kenneth It hunig(.\\ 14) class, forward against the superstructure, leaving space for a second 5in/38 aft Aviation fuel capacity actually exceeded that of the specially built ships: 312,000gal as against 278,000 for aCumiuck, 269,000 for Curnss and 291,000 lor Pocomoke. Chandeleur (AV 10) was considered a separate class, intermediate between AV9 and 14 AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE SHIPS The large US amphibious fleet derived from two very different streams of development The first, an indigenous one, was concerned with relatively small operations, cither in the Caribbean, where prewar the US Mannes had an important peacekeeping mission, or else in the island chains of the Pacific, where the function of a landing w ould be to secure a base for fleet support in the fleet’s movement across the Pacific towards Japan. In the latter case troops and their equipment would have to be transported over very great distances and then landed without any opportunity to regroup. Transports and cargo ships, then, would have to be ‘combat-loaded*, with that matfnel to be landed first most accessible; this would be relatively low-density loading. The Marines and the US Army therefore concentrated on developing, between the wars, a senes of small landing craft which could be carried on the davits of converted transports: this effort culminated in the wartime LCVP and LCM. There was also a series of artillery and tank lighters, too large for davit stowage, which could be carried, empty, on deck and then launched by crane. For most of the prewar period it had to be assumed that wartime transports would be converted merchant ships, perhaps with heavier booms and davits and defensive weapons. However, late in the 1930s the Maritime Commission began design work on a specialised Marine Corps transport, which would incorporate a stern ramp to permit quicker loading of lighters normally carried on deck. Two such craft were built, as the ‘attack transports’Doyen and Feland, each capable of carrying a battalion of the Marine Expeditionary Force. At the time of their design, it was pointed out that the new minelayer Terror appeared to offer more internal space for vehicles, albeit al some increase in displacement; in 1943 two minelayers and four netlayers derived from Terror were modified and completed as LSVs (Landing Ships Vehicle). However, no further ramped ships were built in view of the large number of beaching ships and craft developed as a direct consequence of the other major element n US amphibious development, the requirement for European operations, which came into existence only after the United States began to supply Britain under Lend-Lease. A European invasion would require a density of tanks and other vehicles so great as to be far beyond the capacity of any system of lighters and converted merchant ships, or even ramped ships such as thcDoyens. The Royal Navy improvised beaching Tank Landing Ships from Lake Maracaibo shallow-draught tankers, but clearly a large force would be needed for any major landing, and a recourse was therefore had to the United States. Two major types were envisaged: a Tank Landing Craft (Atlantic) capable of crossing the ocean under its own power, and beaching to supply tanks and vehicles at the far side; and a much smaller Tank Landing Craft, which would be unable to cross the Atlantic but might be carried across m another new type of ship, in effect a powered floating drydock or ‘TLC Carrier*. These ships became, respectively, the LST, the LCT, and the LSD. The LCT proved useful enough to prompt development of versions of gicater range, in effect intermediate between it and the LS I': these evolved into the LSM. In all of these designations, ‘S’ denoted a ship, and ‘C* a craft which could be carried aboard ship; for example, an LCT, empty, was often carried in chocks on board an LST, which could launch н by- heeling over. The other major wartime amphibious craft was the LCI(L), intended only to land infantry. It originated in a requirement for a ‘raiding’ craft for Commando operations and for raids such as the one at Dieppe; the LCI(L) was limited to infantry. The basic hull form proved so useful that many were converted for a variety of support tasks. As for larger ships, most US attack transports and cargo ships were developments of rhe mass production ‘Victory’ and C-3 class hulls; others were specialised designs, but none except the first two had the prewar stern ramp. Some were converted from merchant ships taken over by the Navy; their ‘attack’ status derived from the provision for launching beaching craft from their davits. By 1943 the need for close in support at the beach itself had pro- duced the first of a scries of specialised support craft, which are described separately below. Most were converted from landing craft, but there were also ‘motor gun boats’ (PGMs) converted from SC and PC hulls. Finally, amphibious warfare required a degree of detailed command and control nor previously appreciated. The US Navy built a number of specialised command ships (AGCs); in effect, these were the first combatant ships in history whose ‘main batteries’ were mounted on other ships, and which, therefore, vvere valuable principally because of their command facilities, radios, and fighter-control radars 1 he need for such units was so acute that in 1944 the large Coast Guard cutters of the Bibb class, which had served as convoy flagships in the Atlantic, were all converted to the AGC role, as was the light seaplane tender Biscayne On a more detailed level, control and communications craft were required to operate with the beaching craft, and large numbers of landing craft as well as patrol and minecrafl were converted for this role. Many appear never to have been redesignated. No destroyer escorts were converted, although three became control craft (DECs) postwar. APPALACHIAN and MOUNT McKINLEY classes command ships (launched 1943—45) Displacement: 13,910c trial Dimensions: 435ft wl, 459ft 3in {Mount McKinley class 459ft 2in) oa x 63ft x 24ft max 132 59, 139.98 (139 96) x 19.20 x 7.32m Machinery: 1 shaft turbine, 2 boilers, 6600shp = 17kts. Oil 4240t Armament: 2-5in/38, 8-40mm (4x2), 2&-20mm (10x2) Complement: 507 + 368 HQ personnel (Mount McKinley 622 + 441) iro
The attack transport Fremont on 13.2.1944 USN The command ship Eldorado in Nov 1944 USN BAYFIELD class attack transports Displacement: 16,100t full load Dimensions: 465ft wl, 492ft oa x 69ft 6in x 26ft 6in full load 141.73, 149.96 x 21.18 x 8.08m Machinery: 1-shaft General Electric turbine, 2 boilers, 8500shp = 18kts. Oil 1282t Armament: (1945) 24-26 LCVPs, 2 LCM(3)s, 55OOt cargo, 1500 troops, 2-5in/38, 8-40mm (4x2), 24-20mm (12x2) Complement: ? Class (fate): Federal, Kearny (AGC1-AGC3) - Appalachian (BU 1960), Blue Ridge (BU 1961), Rocky Mount (discarded 1960) Moore (AGC5) - Caloclin (ex-Mary Whitridge) (BU 1960) North Carolina SB (AGC7-AGC17) - Mount McKinley (ex-Cyclone) (discarded 1960s), Mount Olympus (ex-Eclipse) (discarded 1961), Wasatch (ex-Fleetwing) (BU 1961), Auburn (ex-Kalhay) (BU 1961), Eldorado (ex-Monsoon) (discarded 1960s), Estes (ex-Morning Star) (discarded 1960s), Panamint (ex-Nori hem Light) (BU 1961), Teton (ex-Wit ch of the Wave) (BU 1961), Adirondack (BU 1961), Pocono (discarded 1960s), Taconic (discarded 1960s) These ships provided both headquarters and air control facilities for the amphbious assault; they were so important that in 1944 the six surviving ‘Treasury’ class Coast Guard cutters were withdrawn from Atlantic convoy service and converted into additional AGCs. The light seaplane tenderBiscayne (AGC18,ex-AVPl 1) was similarly converted in 1943. All other AGCs were built on cargo ships hulls. Ancon (AGC4) was a former transport and before that had been a Panama Rail Road liner; she served at Sicily, Salerno, Normandy and Okinawa. Wartime units built for the purpose split into two classes: Appalachian (AGC1-3 and 5, on C2-S-B1 hulls, comparable to AKA53-100) and Mount McKinley (AGC7-17, on C2-S-AJ1 hulls). In each case the conver- sion entailed building up the hull one full deck height between the forward and after kingposts; a new lattice mast was stepped on the superstructure to carry a big air search radar. In addition, many units carried a height-finding radar for fighter control on top of one leg of the forward kingpost. The converted Coast Guard cutters retained their Coast Guard designations, but for a time Duane was designated AGC6, which accounts for the gap in the series above. DOYEN class attack transports (launched 1942) Displacement: 6720t full load Dimensions: 405ft wl, 414ft 6in oa x 56ft x 18ft 6in /23.45, 126.34 x 17.07 x 5.64m Machinery: 2-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 8000shp = 19kts. Oil 1772t Armament: (1945) 16 LCVPs, 1100 troops, 4-3in/50, 4-40mm (2x2), 8-20mm Complement: 472 Class: Doyen (APA1), Feland (APA11). HARRIS and DICKMAN classes attack transports (‘Hog Islanders’) (launched 1940-42) isplacemcnt: 21,300t full load Dimensions: 534ft wl, 535ft 2in oa x 72ft (Dickman class 72ft 4in) x 30ft 6in (Dickman class 30ft 3in) max 162.77, 163.12 x 21.95(22.05) x 9.30 (9.22)m .Machinery: 2-shaft Bethlehem turbines, 8 boilers, 12,000shp = 17.5kts (Dickman 10,000shp = 16.7kts). Oil 4449t Armament: (1945) 33 (Harris 22) LCVPs, 2-4 LCM(3)s, 3991t cargo, 1650-1900 troops, 4-3in/50,6-40mm(l x 2, 1x4), 20-20mm (10x2) Complement: 693 Class: Harris class-/7am'j (ex-President Grant) (APA2), Hunter Liggett (ex-Pan A merica) (APA14), TaskerH Bliss (ex-President Cleveland) (AP42),Hugh L Scott (ex-Presidenl Pierce) (A P43); Dickman class - Joseph T Dickman (ex-President Roosevelt) (APA 13), Henry T Allen (ex-President Jefferson) (APA 15), J Franklin Bell (ex-Presidenl McKinley) (APA16), American Legion (APA17) Class: Bayfield, Bolivar, Callaway, Cambria, Cavalier, Chilton, Clay, Custer, Du Page, Elmore, Fayette, Fremont, Henrico, Knox, Lamar, Leon, Alpine, Barnstable, Burleigh, Cecil, Dade (ex-Lorain), Medocino, Montour, Riverside, Westmoreland, Hansford (ex-Gladwin), Goodhue, Goshen, Grafton (APA33-APA48, APA92, APA93, APA95, APA96, APA99-APA102, APA104, APA106-APA109) WINDSOR and FUNSTON classes attack transports Displacement; 13.2OOt full load Dimensions: 450ft wl, 473ft lin oa x 66ft x 25ft max 137.16, 144.20 x 20.12 x 7.62m Machinery: 1-shaft Bethlehem turbine, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 8000shp = 17.5kts Armament: (1945) 24 LCVPs, 2 LCMs, 1 LCP(L), 1 LCP(R), 3895t cargo, 1468 troops, 2-5in/38, 8—40mm (4x2), 24-20mm (12x2) Complement: 466 Class: Windsor class - IV’inJjor (APA55), I eedstown (ex-Wood) (APA56), Adair (APA91), Dauphin (APA97), Dutchess (APA98), Queens (APA103), Shelby (APA 105);Funston class-Frederick Funston (APA89),JamesO’Hara (APA90), Griggs (APA110), Grundy (APA111), Guilford, (APA 112), Stika (APA113), Hamblen (APA114), Hampton (APAI15), Hannover (APA116) ORMSBY and SUMTER classes attack transports Displacement: 12,775t (Sumter 13,900t) full load Dimensions: Onnsbv class: 435ft wl, 459ft 3in oa x 63ft x 24ft full load 132.59, 139.98 x 19.20 x 7.32m Sumter class: 445ft wl, 468ft 9in x 63ft x 23ft 3in 135.64, 142.88 x 19.20 x 7.09m Machinery: 1-shaft General Electric turbine, 2 boilers, 6000shp = 16.5kts. Oil 1380t (Sumter class 1235t) Armament: (1945) 26 LCVPs, 2 LCM(3)s, 1500 (Sumter class 1650) troops, 2-5in/38, &-40mm (4x2), 28-20mm (14x2) (Sumter class 2O-2Omm, 10x2) Complement: 524 (Sumter class 449) Class: Ormsby class - Ormsby (APA49), Pierce (APA50), Sheridan (АРЛ51); Sumter class - Sumter (APA52), Warren (APA53), Vayne (APA54), Baxter (APA94) 159
HASKELL class attack transports (‘Victory’ hull) Displacement: 14,800t full load Dimensions: 436ft 6in wl, 455ft oa x 62ft x 24ft max 133.05, 138.69 x 18.90 x 7.32m Machinery: 1-shaft Westinghouse turbine, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 85OOshp = 16 5kts. Oil 1177t Armament: (1945) 21-22 LCVPs, 2 LCM(3)s, 1-2 LCP(L)s, 1 LCP^R), 2900t cargo, 1561 troops, 1—5in/38, 12-40mm (1x4, 4x2), 10-20mm Complement: 536 Class: Haskell (APA 117), Hendry (APA118), Highlands (APA119), Hinsdale (АРА 120),Hocking (APA121), Kenton (АРА 122), Kittson (АРА 123),Lu Grange (АРА 124), Lanier (APA 125),Sr Mary’s (APA 126), Allendale (APA 127), Arenac (APA128), Marvin H McIntyre (ex-Arlington) (APA129), Attala (APA130), Bandera (APA131),Famwe// (APA\32),Beckham (APA 133), Bland (APA 134), Bosque (APA135), Botetourt (APA136), Bowie (APA137), Braxton (APA138), Broadwater (APA 139), Brookings (APA 140), Buckingham (APA 141), Clearfield (APA 142), Clermont (APA 143), Clinton (APA 144), Colbert (APA 145), Collings- worth (APA 146), Cottle (APA 147), Crockett (APA 148), Audubon (APA 149), Bergen (APA150), LaPorte (APA151), Lattmer (APA 152), Laurens (APA153), Lowndes (APA 154), Lycoming (APA 155), Mellette (APA 156), Napa (APA 157), Newberry (APA158), Darke (APA159), Deuel (APA160), Dickens (APA161), Drew (APA 162), Eastland (APA 163), Edgecombe (APA164), Effingham (APA 165),Fond du Lac (APA 166), Freestone (APA 167),Gage (APA 167), Galla- tin (APA 168), Gosper (APA169), Granzn7/e (APA 170), Grimes (APA 171), Hyde (APA 173), Jerauld (APA 174),Kames (APA 175), Kershaw (APA 176),Kingsbury (APA 177), I ander (APA 178), Lauderdale (APA 179), Lavaca (APA 180), Oconto (APA 187), Olmsted (APA 188), Oxford (APA 189), Pickens (APA 190), Pondera (APA 191), Rutland (APA 192), Sanborn (APA 193), Sandoval (APA 194), Lenawee (APA 195), Logan (APA196), Lubbock (APA 197), McCracken (APA 198), Magoffin (APA 199), Marathon (APA200), Menard (APA201), Menifee (APA2O2), Meriwether (APA203), Sarasota (APA2O4), Sherburne (APA2O5), Sibley (APA206), Mifflin (APA207), Talladega (APA2O8), Tazewell (APA209), Telfair (APA210), Missoula (APA211), Montrose (APA212), Moun- trail (APA213), Natrona (APA214), Navarro (APA215), Neshoba (APA216), New Kent (APA217), Noble (APA218), Okaloosa (APA219), Okanogan (APA22O), Oneida (APA221), Pickaway (APA222), Pitt (APA223), Randall (APA224), Bingham (APA225), Rawlins (APA226), Renville (APA227), Rock- bridge (APA228), Rockingham (APA229), Rockwell (APA23O), Saint Croix (APA231), San Saba (APA232), Sevier (APA233), Bollinger (APA234), Bot- tineau (APA235), Bronx (APA236), Bexar (APA237), Dane (APA238), Glynn (APA239) ANDROMEDA class attack cargo ships (C2-S-B1) Displacement: 13,905t full load Dimensions: 435ft wl, 459ft 3in oa x 63ft x 26ft max 132.59, 139.98 x 19.20 x 7.92m Machinery: 1 shaft General Electric turbine, 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 6000shp = 16.5kts. Oil 1553t Armament: (1945) 15-16 LCVPs, 8 LCM(3)s, 1 LCP(L), 4450t cargo, l-5in/38, 8-40mm (4x2), 12-20mm Complement: 404 Class: Andromeda (AKA 15), Aquarius (A.KA16), Centaurus (AKA 17), Cepheus (AKA 18), Thuban (AKA 19), Virgo (AKA20), Achemar (AKA53), Algol (AKA54), Alshain (AKA55), Ameb (AKA56), Capricornus (AKA57), Chara (AKA58), Diphda (AKA59), Leo (AKA60), Muliphen (AKA61), Shehak (AK A62), Theenim (AKA63), Tolland (AKA64),Shoshone (AKA65),Southamp- ton (ЛКА66), Starr (AKA67), Stokes (AKA68), Suffolk (AKA69), Tate (AKA70), Todd (AKA71), Caswell (AKA72), New Hanover (AKA73), Lenoir (AKA74), Alamance (AKA75), Torrance (AKA76), Towner (AKA77), Trego (AKA78), Trousdale (AKA79), Tyrrell (AKA80), Valencia (AKA81), Venango (AKA82), Vinton (AKA83), Waukesha (AKA84), Wheatland (AKA85), Wood- ford (AKA86), Duplin (AKA87), Uvlade (AKA88), Wamck (AKA89), Whiteside (AKA90), Whitley (AKA91), Wyandot (AKA92), Yancey (AKA93), UZtnsron (AKA94), Marquette (AKA95), Mathews (AKA96), Memck (AKA97), Montague (AKA98), Rolette (AKA99), Oglethorpe (AKA 100), Ottawa (AKA 101), Prentiss (AKA 102),Rankin (AKA 103),Seminole (AKA\Q4),Skagit (AKA 105), Union (AKA 106), Vermilion (AKA 107), Washbum (AKA 108) GILLIAM class attack transports and ARTEMIS class attack cargo ships Displacement: 6800t (Artemis class 6740t) full load Dimensions: 400ft wl, 426ft oa x 58ft x 15ft 6in 121.92, 129.85 x 17 68 x 4.72m Machinery: 2-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 6000shp = 18kts Oil 1475t (Artemis class 1400t) Armament: (1945) 13 LCVPs 1 LCP(L), 1032t cargo, 849 troops, 1—5in/38, 8-40mm (4x2), 10-20mm (Artemis class 11-13 LCVPs, 2 LCM(3)s, 1 LCP(L), 900t cargo, 12-20mm) Complement: 283 (Artemis class 303) Class: Gilliam class - Gilliam (APA57), Appling (APA58), Audrain (APA 59), Banner (APA60), Barrow (APA61), Bemen (APA62), Bladen (APA63), Brat ken (APA64), Briscoe (APA65), Brule (APA66), Bruleson (APA67), Butte (APA6S), Carlisle (APA69), Carteret (APA70), Catron (APA71), Clarendon (APA72), Cleburne (APA73), Colusa (APA74), Cortland (APA75), Crenshaw (APA76), Crittenden (APA77), Cullman (APA78), Dawson (APA79), Elkheart (APA80), Fallon (APA81), Fergus (APA82), Fillmore (APA83), Garrard (APA84), Gas- conade (APA85), Geneva (APA86), Niagara (A PA 87), Presidio (APASS); Artemis class - Artemis (AKA21), Athene (AKA22), Aurelia (AKA23), Birgit (AKA24), Circe (AKA25), Corvus (AKA26), Devosa (AKA27), Hydrus (AKA28), Lacerta (AKA29), Lumen (AKA30), Medea (AKA31), Mellcna (AKA31), Ostara (AKA32), Pamina (AKA33), Polana (AKA34), Rcnate (AKA35), Roxane (AKA36), Sappho (AKA37), Santa (AKA38), Scania (AKA39), Sehnur (AKA40), Sidonia (AKA41), Sircma (AKA42), Sylvania (AKA43), Tabora (AKA44), Troilus (AKA45), Turandot (AKA47), Vakria (AKA48), Vanadis (AKA49), Ventas (AKA50), Хета (AKA51), Zenobia (A KA 52). Unlike conventional freighters (AKs) and transports (APs) attack transports (APA/AKA) were designed to unload their cargoes over the side into landing craft which they carried; in a sense their beaching craft were their mam bat tenes. 'Phis distinction was recognised in February 1943 with the redesignation of many ships from AP to APA; examples are noted below. AKAs were ‘combat loaded,’ so that the materiel needed first in an assault was most accessible 1 his was relatively inefficient, but not so much as the loading of vehicles in beaching craft aboard an LSD. Moreover, AKAs and APAs were quite fast compared to an LST or LSD. The first two, Doyen (APA1, ex-AP2) and Feland (APA11, ex-AP18) were designed with Caribbean operations in mind. Most others were conversions. World War I emergency-built ‘Hog Islanders’ split into tw’o classes- Hams (APA2, 3, 12 and 14 with near-sisters AP42 and 43) and Dickman (AP13 and 15-17; APA15 became AG90 in 1945). APA4 and 5 (of which APA4 was lost in 1943) were former Grace Liners built in 1928. APA 6-9 were former Baltimore Mail Liners of 1918-19. APA 10 and 22-24, the Harry Lee group, were former American Export Liners. AH remaining APAs were built under Maritime Commission auspices, as part of a large programme begun in 1936 to rebuild the US merchant marine APA 18-20, 29 and 30, and AP103 and 104 were C3As built prewar for American President Lines; they constituted the President Jackson class. The Arthur Middleton Class (APA25-27, C3P) had been built for the American-South Africa Line; the Crescent City class (APA21,28,31 and 32, and AP105, C3 Delta) for the Delta Line. Ж ith these prew-ar-designed specialised classes in service, production of attack transports shifted to standardised types: C3-S-A2 (Bayfield class; APA33-48, 92-93,95-96,99-102, 104, and 106-109), C3-S-A3 (ITmdsor class: APA55-56, 91,97-98, 103 and 105); C3-S1-A3 (Funston class: APA89-90and 110-116); C2-S-B1 (Ormsby class: APA49-51); C2-S-E1 (Sumter class: APA52-54 and 94). The Gilliam class were specially designed as attack trans- pons and cargo ships and were rather smaller than the other types listed here (Mantime Commission special design S4-SE2-BD1 APA57-88 as well as AKA21-52). The bulk of US attack transports were redesigned Victory Ships (VC-2-S-AP5s): APA 117-247, of which 181-186 and 24(3-247 were cancelled Attack cargo ships were far less numerous. None pre-dated the Maritime Commission; they fell intoArcnirur (AKAI, 6-8 and 11; AF11 similar, all C2), Procyon (C2: AKA2-4 and 12-14), Fomalhaut (Cl; AKA5, soon reclassified as AK22), Alhena (modified C2: AKA9), AImaak (C3-E: AKA 10), Andromeda (C2-S-B1: AKA 15-20, 53-68 and 88-100; very similar were the C2-S-AJ3: AKA64—87 and 101-108), and Artemis (S4-SE2-BEL AKA21-52) classes. AKA 109-111 of theC2-S-Bl class were cancelled in 1945. The later ships of the A J3 class were sometimes called the Rankin class postwar; in wanime they were included with the other C2s. 160
Amphibious warfare ships Lining as APD55 (cx-DE159) on 8.8 1945 USN APD37 series light transports (launched 1943-45) Displacement: (Croslev, TEV) 1725c standard, 2U4i full load Dimensions: 300ft wl, 306ft oa x 37ft x 12ft 7in full load 91.44, 93 21 x 11.28 x 3.84m Machinery: 2-shaft turbine, 2 boilers, 12,OOOshp = 23 6kts. Oil 347t, range 5000nm at 12kts Armament: l-5in/38, 6-40mm (3x2), 6-20nun, 2 DC racks, 4 LCVPs, 162 troops, deck cargo aft plus petrol stowage for vehicles Complement; 203 Class: Yokes (cx-DE668), Pavhc (ex-DE669), Odum (ex-DE670), Jack C Robinson (ex-DE671), Bassett (ex-DE672),<7o/m P Gray (ex-DE673), Crosley (ex-DE226), Crtad (ex-DE227), Ruchamkm (ex-DE228), Kirwin (ex-DE229), Kinzer (ex-DE232), Register (ex-DE233), Brock (ех-ОЕ234),.7оЛи Q Roberts (e.x-DE235), W illiam M Hobby (ex-DE236), Ray К Edwards (ex-DE237), Arthur L Bristol (ex-DE281), Truxton (ex-DE282), Upham (ex-DE283),Ringness (ex-DE59O), Knudson (ex-DE591), Rednour (ex-DE592), Tollberg (ex-DE593), U dhamj Pattison (ex-DE594),Afym (ex-DE595), Walter В Cobb (ex-DE596), Earle В Hall (ex-DE597),Hany LCorl (ex-DE598),Be/er (ex-DE599),Jru/iurA Raven (ex-DF600), Walsh (ex-DE601), Hunter Marshall (ex-DE602), Earhart (ex-DE603), U alter S Gorka (ex-DE604), Rogers Blood (cx-DE6O5),Francovich (ex-DE606), Joseph M Auman (ex-DE674), Don О Woods (ex-DE721), Beverly W Reid (ex-DE722), Kline (ex-DE687), Raymond W Herndon (cx-DE688), Sinbner Diachenko (ex-Alex Diachenko, ex-DE690), Horace A Bass (ex-DE691), Wantuck (cx-DE692), Gosselin (ex-DE710), Begor (ex-DE711), Cavallaro (ex- DE712), Donald W Wolf (ex-DE713), Cook (ex-DE714), Walter X Young (ex- DE715), Balduck (ex-DE716), Burdo (ex-DE717), Kleinsmith (ex-DE718), Ueiir (ex-DE719), Carpellotti (ex-DE720). (APD69-APD74, APD87- APD136) In addition to the vessels listed above, APDs also comprised the converted ‘flush-dcckcrs* APD1-36 (see 1922 table) and some ‘TE’/‘ I LV’ senes con- verted after completion as DEs (APD37-68, 75-86 and 139). APDs were intended to land raiding parties and, in the case of some of the ex-destroyer escorts, to support the underwater demolition teams (UDTs) which cleared beach obstacles. Some destroyer or DE sound gear was retained, as well as some ASW weapons, and the ships had a secondary role of escorting amphibious groups; their 4in and 5in guns also provided close support of landings. The destroy er escort conversions w ere better arranged and had provision fora deck load of cargo and vehicles aft. ‘ТЕ’ and ‘TEV’ conversions differed only in bridge configuration, the ‘TEs’ retaining their original high bridges Three APDs were converted as flagships APD55 and 86 for UDTs and APD63 as flagship of an APD division. In APD55 a twin Bofors replaced the cargo crane aft; in the other two this was a quadruple mounting LSV class landing ships (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 5875t (LSV3-6 5625t) standard Dimensions: 440ft wl, 455ft 6in (LSV3-6 451ft 3in) oa x 60ft 3in x 20ft 134 11, 138.84 (137 54) x 18 36 x 6.10m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 11,OOOshp = 20 3kts Armament: See notes Complement: 564 Class: Willamette Iron & Steel(LSV\,2)-Catskill (ex-CM6),Ozark (ex-CM7). Ingalls (LSV3—6) - Osage (ex-AN3), Saugus (ex-AN4), Monitor (ex AN1), Montauk (ex-AN2) In 1940, when the first attack transports were being designed, Terror was proposed as an alternative solution, with more space for vehicles on about the same displacement; moreover, plans already existed. This proposal was shelved, but a modified Tenor was ordered as a netlayer (AN); although it was far larger than required (the British Protector, 3695t full load, was the model), it had the great advantage that plans already existed - and it did have that large cargo space aft, fully enclosed. The design was modified to omit the STS protective plating of the minelayer and the stern cut down to permit net handling aft About 4ft was cut from their bows for net and buoy handling forward, and they had single rather than twin funnels. Four were ordered, as AN1-4, under the 1940 programme; the same programme also included two repeat Tenors, CM 6 and 7. In 1943 all four netlayers and the two repeat Terrors were redesigned ass chicle transports, with a ramp aft to permit them to unload amphibious vehicles from the capacious decks there. The former minelayers retained the four single 5in/38 of their original designs; the ex-netlayers had a twin mount afi in place of two singles, but in wartime this was replaced by a single 5in/38. Typical loads were (ex-CM6 and 7) 44 DUKW amphibious trucks and 800 troops, (ex-AN 1 and 2) 19LVT amphibious tractors, 29 DUKW, 800 troops; (ex-AN3 and 4) 21 I.VTs, 31 DU К Ws, 800 troops. All carried 14 LCVPs on deck and in davits, and all had a large crane aft. All were laid up in 1946; LSV6 was renamed Galilea and redesignated a net carrier (AKN), These ships were again redesignated mine countermeasures ships in 1955, and Catskill and Ozark were actually converted for this role in the mid-1960s. Monitor (LSV5) in 1944 USN LSD class landing ships Displacement: 4032t light; 7930t sea-going Dimensions: 454ft wl, 457ft 9in oa x x 72ft 2in x 15ft 10m sea-going 138.38, 139 52 x 22.00 x 4.83m Machinery: 2-shaft Skmner Uniflow (LSD13-27, 2 shaft turbines); 2 boilers, 7400ihp = 15.4kts (LSD 13-21, 25-27 7000shp, LSD22-24 9000shp = 15.6kts). Range 7400nm at 15kts Armament: 3 LCT(5)sor(6)sor 2 LCl(3)sor(4)sor 14 LCM(3)sor 1500t cargo or 41 LVTsor47 DUKWs, l-5in/38, 12-40mm(2x2, 2 x4), 16-20mm. With temporary decks up to92 LVTsor 108 DUKWs Complement: 254 Class: Moore, Oakland (LSD1-LSD8) — Ashland, Belle Grove, Carter Hall, Epping Forest, Gunston Hall, Lindenwold, Oak Hill, White Marsh Newport News (LSD 13-LSD19) - Casa Grande (ex-HMS Portway, cx-Spear), Rushmore (ex-HMS Swashway, ex-Sword), Shadwell (ex-HMS Waterway, ex- Tomahawk) Cabildu, Catamount, Colonial, Comstock Boston N Yd (LSD20, LSD21, LSD26, LSD27) - Donner, Fort Mandan, Tortuga, Whetstone Gulf SB (LSD22-LSD24) - Fort Manon, Fort Snelling, Point Defiance Philadelphia N Yd (LSD25)-Son Marcos. Perhaps the most unusual of the specialised amphibious craft of World War II was the Landing Ship Dock or LSD, a kind of self-propelled drydock capable of moving pre-loaded beaching craft over long distances Like the LS I and LCT, it originated m a British Staff Requirement, in this case for a ‘TLC carrier’, although at first it was designated a ‘truck transport* and the emphasis appears to have been on the ability to carry large numbers of vehicles plus large beaching craft to move them on to the beach. The original specification called for a flooding deck aft to take either two of the large British LCTsor three of the new US type LCT(S), with tanks aboard Optional loads included fourteen LC.M(3)s each with one medium tank (the LCT could carry five) or cargo; detachable decks could be fitted to carry vehicles, with ramps permitting loading into landing craft. One unusual feature of the original requirement was the high speed specified, 17kts, with an endurance of SOOOnm at 15kts. There were two w anime classes; LSD 1-8 had Skmner Uniflow reciprocating steam engines, whereas LSD9-27 had steam turbines. The original British requirement was for seven, and ultimately LSD9-15 were to have been transfer- red, but the last three were retained for US service. San Marcos (LSD25)on 22.4 1945 USN 161
UNITED STATES LS \f(R)S0I as complcicd LST class landing ships Displacement: 1625t light; 2366t beaching (500t load), 4080t sea-going (1675t load) Dimensions: 316ft wl, 328ft oa x 50ft x 3ft Ilin forward, 9ft lOin aft (beaching condition) 96 32, 99.98 x 15.24 x 1.19,3 00m Machinery: 2 shaft diesel, 1800bhp = 12 Iktsat 3960t. Range 24 OOOnm at 9kts Armament: (1945) 7-40inm, 12-20mm interim (8-40mm (2x2, 4x1), 12-20mm ultimate battery), 163 troops Complement: 111 Class: LST1-LST1152 The ‘Large Slow Target’ is surely the best-remembered of the alphabet soup of World War II amphibious craft. Developed initially in response to the British request for an Atlantic Tank Carrier capable of bringing tanks from US factories directly on to foreign beaches, the Landing Ship Tank proved extremely adapt- able and surprisingly durable: some survive m navies even today. The basic requirement called for a capacity of about twenty 25-ton tanks or equivalent vehicles, some of which might be stowed on the weather deck, with an elevator or, in later units, a ramp down on to the main (tank) deck for exit via the bow ramp. Sustained speed was to have been lOkts, but in fact the LSTs were generally slower, and this was the primary complaint against them. Required endurance, 5000nm, was greatly exceeded in practice. The original requirement called for the capability to carry one LCT (complete) ‘either as deck cargo or m the hold. This is necessary in order to solve the problem of transporting the shallow draught TLC (LCT) from America to the United Kingdom’. There were great variations from ship to ship For example, some had only two davits, others six, all carrying LCVPs By late in the war many had 7-40mm and 12 single 20mm, but all were scheduled for 2 twin and 4 single 40mm (with two Mk 51 directors), and the l2-20mm single mounts. A total of 1152 ships were built; the series from LSTS42 onwards had less payload and a heavier battery, plus a 4000gal per day distilling plant and other added deadweight. Ships from LSTS 13 onwards (except 53/) had a ramp rather than an elevator from weather to tank decks. Many were transferred to the Royal Navy, which built its own LST as the Mk 3, with frigate-type steam machinery replacing the US diesel type. The United States, too, tried to build a steam LST (to achieve better speed) and this appeared postwar as LST1153 The US LST was generally referred to as a Mk 2, with the original Bnush ship-type LST designated Mk 1 A total of 83 were converted to or completed as auxiliaries: battle damage repair ships (ARBI-12), motor torpedo boat tenders (AGP4—5, 10-11 and 14-20), aircraft engine repair ships (ARVE/ARVA3-6), salvage craft tenders ARST1-3), landing craft repair ships (ARL1—41; ARL42—47 w ere cancelled in August 1945), stores issue ships (AKS16-19, later APB) and self-propelled barracks ships (APB35-48, some never designated LST in the first place, but all built on LST hulls). LSM class LSM class landing ships Displacement: 520t light; 743t landing; 1095t sea-going Dimensions: 196ft 6in wl, 203ft 6inoa x 34ft 6in x 3ft 6in forward, 7ft aft (beaching condition) S9 89, 62.03 x 10.52 x / 07, 2.13m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2800bhp = 13 .2kts at 928t. Range 4900nm at 12kts Armament: 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks or 6 LVT or 9 DUKW, 48 troops, 2—40mm (1x2), 4-20mm Complement: 60 Class: LSM1-187, LSM200-400, LSM413-S00, LSM537-588. LSM(R) class fire support ships Displacement: 7831 (LSM(R) 196-199-826t, LSM(R)40l^l2, SO1-536 994t) Dimensions: 196ft 6in wl, 203ft 6in oa x 34ft 6in x 5ft 6in (LSM(R) 196-199 5ft 9in LSM(R)401-4I2,501-536 6ft 9in) 59.89, 62.03 x 10.52 x 1.68(1.75, 2.06)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2800bhp = 13kts. Range 4900nm at 12kts (LSM(R)4O1-412, 501-536 3000nm at 12kts) Armament: !-5in/38, 2-40mm, 3-20mm, 105 rocket launchers (LSM(R)196-199, 85 rocket launchers, LSM(R)4OI-412, 501-536, 4-40mm (2x2), 8-20mm (4x2), 4—4.2in mortars, 20 rocket launchers) Complement: 81 (LSM(R)401^12, S01-S36 143) Class: LSM(R)I88—LSM(R)199, LSM(R)40l—LSM(R)412, LSM(R)50l— LSM(R)S36. Early in 1943 the Bureau of Ships began studies of an ocean-going tank lighter, intermediate in size between the LST and LCT, and with higher speed, to permit tactical combination with the fast LCI(L); ‘it was recognized that such a type would be considerably larger than LCT6 and would therefore have to be capable of making long ocean voyages under its own power . . . the landing displacement of the new type LCT ... is nearly three times that of the LC1 6, whereas the tank cargo carried is 165 tons as compared with 150 tons for the LCT6 This results primarily from the requirement for higher speed, but also from the fact that the new type LCT requires greater freeboard, greater strength, and provision for carrying the tank crews in order to be a satisfactory type for long ocean voyages. . . The new type LCT not only has greater freeboard, but has watertight deckhouse structure built along each side of the tank deck to provide additional reserve buoyancy and improved stability at large angles. The resulting craft therefore should be satisfactory for long ocean passages, except in extreme storm conditions. Since the cargo deck is open, only non-perishable cargo should be carried on long voyages Rapid self-drainage of this space is necessary and would be provided. . . For loads, such as trucks, with less density than tanks, the deck area becomes the determining factor in the load that can be carried. For the new type LCT, the deck area available for ferrying vehicles is about twice that of LCT-6. . .’ (Bureau of Ships memo on the preliminary design, 28 August 1943). The result of this discussion was soon redesignated LSM (Landing Ship Medium) instead of LCT(7). It became a priority item in the 1944 and 1945 amphibious programmes, and ultimatch a total of 558 were ordered, but LSM188-199 were converted to support ships (rocket), or LSM(R), with a single enclosed 5in gun aft and four 4 2in mortars, plus between 85 and 105 rockets Forty-eight more units were redesigned as LSM(R)4O1-412 and S01-S36; they had their superstructures moved right aft, with the 5in gun forward, and carried 10 automatic rocket launchers in place of the simple rails of the earlier emergency conversions. They also had two rather than one twin 40mm gun. Finally, four units, LSM549-S22, became salvage lifting vessels, ARS(D)s, in 1945. LCi(L)463 1943 LCI(L) class large landing craft Displacement: 194t (LCI(L)35l-lO98 209t) light; 238t (258t) landing, 387t (385t) full load Dimensions: 153ft wl, (LC1(L) 351-1098 159ft) 158ft 6in oa x 23ft Sin x 2ft 8in(2ft lOin) forward, 5ft (5ft 3in)aft (beaching condition) 46.63 (48.46), 48.31 x 7.21 x 0.81 (0.86), 1.52 (1.60)m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2320bhp = 15 5kts Oil 120t, range 8700nm at 12kts (LCI(L) 351-1098 1 lOt, 8000nm at 12kts) Armament: 188 troops or 75t cargo (sca-going) (LCI(T) 351-1098 209 troops), 4-20mm (LCI(L) 351-1098 5-20mm) Complement: 24 (LCI(L)35l-1098 29) Class: LCl(L)l-LCI(L)U39. The Landing Craft Infantry (Large), which was the basis for numerous specialised amphibious types, was itself designed as a large raiding craft lor commando operations. An Admiralty Staff Requirement of 30 April 1942 called for 300 craft, each to carry 200-250 troops (no cargo) at 20kts (not less than 14) with an endurance of 500nm at 15kts. These craft had to be built in the United States in view of the saturation of British building capacity, but they would be too large to cross the Atlantic as deck cargo: they had to be able to cross on their own, given extra fuel stowage. They were to beach, and to land troops from gangways: no elaborate bow doors would be required, and this would permit them to utilise a more ship-like form that that of the LST, and consequently to achieve better speed. The basic design was fixed by May 1942 at 153ft length, a modified PC hull form having been considered and then rejected By that time it was designated a special transport (APY) and design files noted that ‘the vessel is to be of such arrangement that it can be adapted to the transporting of packaged cargo which is susceptible of manhandling’; ultimately a capacity of 75 tons of cargo was provided. LCI(L)l-350 had low, square-cut, conning towers; LCI(L)351-1098 had tall round ones, as in the LSM; of the latter series, 641-657, 691-716, 762-7S0, 782-821,866-884,1024-1033, and 1033-1098 had bow doors and conventional ramps rather than gangways. Many were converted for specialised duties: LC(FF)s (49 converted) as flotilla flagships for LCIs, LCI(G)s and LC(L)s; LCI(M)s (42 converted) for pre-landing barrage, with a single 40mm gun and 3-4.2in chemical mortars; LCI(R) for rocket bombardment, with 6-5in rocket launchers in place of the mortars (36 converted); LCI(G)(86 converted) with six optional batteries: 2—40mm, 3-20mm, 6-0.50cal MGs and 10 Mk 7 rocket launchers; 3-40mm, 2-20mm, 5-0.50cal MGs and 8 Mk 1 rocket launchers; 1 A?
Amphibious Warfare Ships 2-40mm, 4-20mm and 10 Mk 7 rocket launchers; l-40mm, l-3m/50 gun, 4-20mm and 10-0 50caI MGs; or l-40mm, 3-20mm and 24 rocket launchers. In addition, a series of 130 support ships, LCS(L) (3)s, were built on new LCI(L) hulls completely rearranged internally; they mounted a 3in/50 or a twin 40inm on the bow, two more twin 40mm (one in No 2 position, one aft), plus 4-20mm and 10 Mk 7 rocket launchers, and were in effect small shallow- draught gunboats suitable for close-in fire support as well as for interdicting inter-island barge traffic. The first LC1<L) was completed on 9 October 1942 and production ended in October 1944, bv which time these relatively inflexible, cramped craft were no longer necessary LCS(L) completions extended between 20 June 1944 and March 1945, most coming in the autumn of 1944 Five were converted to underwater object locators, AMC(U)7-11, in 1945. LCT(5) and LCT(6) class landing craft Displacement- 283c (LCT(6) 309t) landing Dimensions: I05ftvvI, 114ft 2in(LCT(6) 119ft lin)oax 32fi8inx 2ft 10m (3ft 7m) forward, 4ft 2m (4ft) aft 32 00, 34 80 (36.30) x 9 96 x 0 86(1 09), I 21 (1.22)m Machinery: 3-shaft diesel, 675bhp = 8kts. Range 1200nm at 7kts Armament: 4 medium or 3 heavy tanks or 150t cargo, 2-20mm Complement: 11 (LCT(6) 13) Class: LCT1-LCT146S The Landing Craft, Tank was the largest of all US shipborne amphibious craft; it could be carried only by an LST, on deck, and then launched broadside, empty Alternatively, the LCT could be carried in sections, each weighing less than 50 tons, which were buoyant and so could be bolted together in the water. The class originated with a British request for a US version of a Thornycroft design for a lank lighter about 100ft long, capable of carrying heavy and medium tanks; the Admiralty Staff Requirement of November 1941 called for a capacity of six 10-ton trucks or three 50-ton tanks or six 27-ton medium tanks, two abreast. They were to serve primarily as point-to-point lighters for a European invasion mounted from the United Kingdom, and were not expected to be seaworthy enough for an Atlantic crossing, in fact one important function of the LSD was to transport loaded LCTs over great distances. The US LCT design based broadly on the Admiralty requirement was ready within a month of receipt of the Admiralty requirement, and production was very rapid The initial design was designated Mk V, as there were already four types of much larger British tank transports, roughly comparable to the later US LSM. The initi il production LCT(5) was followed by an enlarged LCT(6), designed to perform, a secondary function as a causeway between an LST and the shore: it had a detachable stern plate, with a hp beneath it for the LST ramp to engage; the LCT(5) superstructure was split in half to permit vehicles to run the entire length of the craft. 500 LCT(5)s were succeeded by 965 LCT(6)s all being completed between 29 June 1942 and 22 December 1944. Postwar survivors were reclassified LCU (for Utility) and additional craft of the same type were built under several postwar programmes The I .Cl s were the smallest US landing craft to receive numbers in their own right, as LC11-1465 They began with the designator YTL, for yard (ielocal,or short-range) tank lighter. LCT Mk 7 became the LSM, the Landing Ship, Medium, and LCT(8) was a British type unrelated to the US designs Six LCT(6)s were converted to underwater object locators, AMC(U) 1-6, in 1945. LCV, LCVP, LCM(3), LCP(L)/LCP(R) type shipborne landing craft Displacement: LCVP 8t light; LCM(3) 23.2t light, 52t full load; LCP 8t loaded Dimensions: LCV, LCVP. 36ft oa x I Oft 6in x 2ft Zin forward, 3ft aft (light) 10 97 x 3.20 x 0 66, 0 91m LCM 50ft oa x 14ft lin x 3ft forward, 4ft aft (light) /5 24 x 4.29 x 0 91, 1 22m LCP: 36ft 8in x 10ft 10m x 3ft 6m (loaded) 11.18 x 3.30 x / 07tn Machinery: LCV: 1-shaft diesel (225bhp) or petrol (250hp) engine = 9kts. Range !02nm at 9kts LCVP: 2-shaft diesel, 220-450bhp = 8kts loaded. Range 850nm at 6.25kts LCP. 1-shaft diesel or petrol engine, 15O-25O(b)hp = 8kts loaded Range 50nm at 8kts (petrol), 130nm at Skis (diesel) Armament: 36 troops or 60001b vehicle, 2-0.3in (LCVP, LCM 1 tank or 26 8t cargo or 60 troops, 2-0. Sin, LCP 36 troops or 6700-81001b cargo, 2-0 3in) Complement: 3 (LCM 4) T he earliest US efforts in amphibious development were devoted to specialised boats which, carried in the davits of transports, could negotiate surf and beach on target shores. All were designed for loading after launch, troops clambering down nets imo boats, and vehicles being loaded (relatively slowly) by boom The first US surf boils were designed by the Eureka (Higgins) company of New Orleans; experiments began in 1936 with a 28ft type based on a 1926 design used bv trappers The Marines contracted for a 32ft version to carry 24 troops (September 1940) and the Admiralty ordered a slightly larger type, 36ft 8in long, to carry a full British platoon. This LCP(L) or landing craft, personnel (large) was the basis for later US craft: 2140 were built during the war. Its main defect was the difficulty experienced by heavily loaded men attempting to leap the 4ft or more over its bow, and it was superseded by a ramped version, the LCP(R), 2572 of which were built in wartime. Both were wooden, and proved vulnerable to beach obstacles in landings in 1942. These boats could carry only troops, but the troops would need vehicles, at least light tanks, when they came ashore The LCP(R) was redesigned with a large armoured ramp as the LCV, capable of carrying such tanks, 2366 were built A modified, armoured, armed, version, the LCVP, was the standard small landing craft of World War II- 22,492 were built in wartime It could carry 3 tons of vehicles or 36 men By December 1941 it had become evident that medium rather than light tanks would be required for amphibious assaults, and a 50ft craft was designed. The Bureau of Ships proposed a flat-decked lighter, bur Higgins’ design for an enlarged LCVP was procured instead as the LCM(3); earlier marks denoted British types. A total of 8631 were built, and they were the largest craft carried in davits. The need to carry still heavier tanks led to the LCT design, which had to make sea passages under its own power However, a modified LCM, the Mk 6, was built with an extra 6ft section inserted- it was required to carry the 30-ton Sherman tank It could not be carried in davits, and had to travel in sections or in the well deck of an LSD: a total of 2513 were built. Mks 4 and 5 were British types, as was the Mk 7; the Mk 8 was the postwar US LCM. The other principal means of ship-to-shore transport used in landings was the amphibious vehicle, the DUKW truck or the LVT tractor The LSVs were designed specifically to launch such vehicles from their ramps aft, to permit particularly quick reinforcement of the beach, the Marines even developed amphibious trailers for them, and both were sometimes used for close fire support, one version of the LVT mounting a self-propelled how itzer turret w ith a 75mm gun and another mounting a light tank turret with a 37mm anti-tank gun. DUKWs sometimes came ashore in initial assaults with 105mm howitzers aboard. USX’ LCS(L)45 on 22.5.1946 LCS(L)(3) class fire support craft Displacement: 250t light, 387t full load Dimensions: 153ft wl, 158ft oa x 23ft 8in x 5ft 7m full load 46.63, 48.16 x 7.21 x 1.70m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 2320bhp = 15 5kts. Oil 76t, range 5500nm at 12kts Armament: l-3in/5O, 4—40mm (2x2), 4—20mm, 10 rocket launchers Complement: 71 Class: LCS(L)l-LCS(L)130. LCS(S) class fire support craft Displacement: 9 8t (LCS(SXZ) 10.3t) Dimensions: 36ft 8m oa x 10ft 10m x 3ft 6in 11.18 x 3.30 x 1.07m Machinery: 1-shaft petrol engine, 250hp = 12kts. Range 115nm at 12kts (LCS(SX2) 1-shaft diesel, 225bhp = 11 5kts. Range 135nmat 11 5kts) Armament: See notes Complement: 6 The earliest US close support craft for landings was a converted LCP(L) designated LCS(S), for Landing Craft Support (Small), a comparison with larger British types. It could be carried in the davits of an attack transport, and was armed primarily with rockets and smoke pots, the first to silence machine gun fire on the beach, the second to provide cover. There were two marks: (LCS(SXl) had 2-0.50ca! or 3-0.30cal or 1-0 50 and 2-0.30caI machine guns plus two rocket launchers; Mk 2 had 1-0 50, 2-0 30, and two 12-rocket laun- chers Both had light armour on their bridges, and a total of 558 was delivered. Amphibious commanders liked them, and particularly favoured the fact that 163
UNITED STATES they cotild be carried aboard transports, but wanted more powerful weapons, such as 20mm guns. Meanwhile the Bureau of Ships proceeded with its LCS(LX3)design based on the LCI(L) hull (and described under that heading). The Bureau also studied a number of other alternatives, including a modified version of the LCC control craft (which was not proceeded with), a PCS (with an armoured pilot house and one twin 40mm rather than one single aft, not built), a modified 173ft PC (built as a PGM and described under the PC), a modified SC (PGM - see under SC), a modified PT (unofficially modified in the field as a barge destroxer, but not for amphibious operations), and, finally, an LC1'(5) fitted as a gun or flak ship. The latter might have been transported on the deck of an LST, but the Bureau did ‘not consider the launching of an LCT(5) converted to LCG or LC1- from the deck of an LST to be a practicable operation’. Similar conversions in British service were practicable in view of ihe short distances from British ports to the invasion beaches in Europe. By October 1943 it had been decided that fire support requirements might best be met by a combination of a small craft which might be carried on board transports (the LCS(S)) and a sea-going craft preferably combining the functions of a gunboat (LCG) and an AA craft (LCF, or Landing Craft, Flak) - the LCS(LX3). A destroyer escort conversion with three 5in/38s looked extremely promising but was ultimately rejected, as was a conversion of the 180ft PCE. Meanwhile the Forces Afloat converted many existing LCI(L)s to support craft (as described under LC1(L)). These conversions extended bevond the end of the LCS(L) programme, for example, in June 1945 Admiral King ordered the conversion of additional LCI(G)s to bring the fleet of 207 ships (125 LCS(L)s and 82 LCI(G)s) up to a total of 400. US COAST GUARD The United States is unusual in having a second military sea force, the Coast Guard, which in peacetime is part ot the civil government (in 1922-46 under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department) but in w'ar becomes part of the Navy; in fact the Coast Guard fell under naval jurisidictionon 1 November 1941. Peacetime tasks arc the enforcement of maritime law (including laws against smuggling) and assistance to life and property on the sea; the latter includes the International Ice Patrol and the operation of harbours. Indeed, the Coast Guard was formed in 1915 by the amalgamation of the Revenue Cutter Service, formed in 1790, and the Lifesaving Service; in 1939 the Lighthouse Service merged with the first two. The Coast Guard fleet included a wide range of‘cutters’, the largest of which were similar to Navy gunboats, as well as motor launches for harbour and coastal operations, and a fleet of buoy tenders. This fleet grew spectacularly during the 1920s in the face of an explosion of smuggling (‘rum-running’) brought on by Prohibition. In 1924 the Navy transferred twenty destroyers (numbered CGI-20 in Coast Guard sen ice-see 1922 table): 13 of the 750-ton typeand7‘thousand- lonners’; fiv e more ‘thousand tenners’ (CG21-25) were added in 1926, and six ‘flush-deckers’ became CGI5—20 in 1930, replacing six of the earliest ships. At the same rime there was a massive patrol boat pro- gramme, which at its peak produced 203 74ft 11 in boats, numbered between CG100 and CG302\ 51 of them were transferred to the Navy upon the expiration of Prohibition, and formed the core of the YP force. There were also thirteen 99ft Sin boats (210 tons), which were named; some of these, too, went into the Navy district patrol force during the 1930s. However, the Coast Guard retained its larger ‘cut- ters’, which performed valuable ASW service in wartime. The ‘Treas- ury’ class also served as amphibious command ships. Moreover, the new generation of Coast Guard motor launches, most notably the 83-footers, were employed m European waters. In addition, the Coast Guard provided a large pool of trained person- nel, who manned a total of 30 destroyer escorts, 75 frigates, 22 trans- ports, 9 attack transports, 15 cargo ships, 5 attack cargo ships, 18 petrol tankers, 76 LSTs, 28 LCIs, and 33 smaller Navy craft, as well as 288 Army vessels. At the end of the war the Coast Guard took over many sub chasers as it attempted to develop a long-range search and rescue branch to deal with aircraft lost at sea, and apparently for a time operated the weather ships converted in 1944—45. LAKE (250ft) class Coast Guard cutters (launched 1927-31) Displacement: 1662t trial, 2075t full load Dimensions: 239ft wl, 250ft oa x 42ft x 12ft Ilin trial 72.85, 76.20 x 12.80 x 3.94m Machinery: 1-shaft General Electric turbine, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 3350shp = 17kts. Oil 300t Armament: l-5in/51, l-3in/5O, 2-6pdr Complement: 97 Class (fate): Bethlehem, Quincy (WPG45-W PG49)-CAf7uM (to Britain 1941),PoMtc/iur/nzi« (to Britain 1941), Tahoe (to Britain l941),CAaznp/ain (to Britain 194l),ALWo/u (to Britain 1941) General Engineering (WPG5O-WPG53) - Itasca (to Britain 1941), Sebago (to Britain 1941), Saranac (to Britain 1941), Shoshone (to Britain 1941) United Dryock (WPG54) - Cayuga (to Britain 1941) These ten turbo-electric units were direct successors to four Tampa class cutters completed in 1921-22; there were differences in the electrical systems of the two groups of five. They introduced a new hull form the Tampa s had been designed in 1916 with the plumb bow and counter stern of previous ships, but ice patrol in the North Atlantic showed that the latter feature was undesirable: heavy seas coming up under the counter caused severe shocks. In this design, therefore, a slightly raking stem and a cruiser stern were adopted, together with some increase in power All were transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend- Lease See also under Great Britain Northland during ihe war NORTHLAND Coast Guard cutter (launched 5.2.1927) Displacement: 1785t trial Dimensions: 200ft wl, 216ft 7in oa x 39ft x 13ft Sin trial 60.96, 66.02 x Ц.89 x 4.17m Machinery: I-shaft diesel, lOOObhp = 11.5kts Armament: 2-6pdr, 1-lpdr, 1 aircraft Complement: 107 This ice-reinforced cutter (built by Newport News) was designed as a successor to the Bear, for Arctic service; she was an early example of largely w’elded hull construction, with diesel electnc propulsion. Bilge keels were not fitted in view of the likelihood of ice damage, another unusual feature was the provision, at first, of sails as insurance against ice damage to the single propeller The latter were removed in 1936. In wartime Northland (WPG49) was armed: she carried, at the end of the war, two single 3in/5O, 4-20mm, two depth charge racks and two K-guns, and was equipped with sonar as well as air and surface search radar. TREASURY class Coast Guard cutters (launched 1936-37) Displacement: 2350t trial Dimensions: 308ft wl, 327ft oa x 41ft x 12ft 6m trial 93.88, 99.67 x 12 50 x 3.81m Machinery: 2-shaft Westinghouse turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 5250shp = 19kts. Oil 561t, range 9500nm at llkts Armament: 2-5in/51, 2-6pdr, 1-lpdr, 1 aircraft Complement: 123 164
Bibb about 1942 USN Class (fate): Charleston N Yd (WPG31) - Bibb (in service 1980) Philadelphia N Yd (WPG32, WPG33, WPG35, WPG37)-Campbell (in service 1980), Duane (inservice 1980), Ingham (inservice 1980),Taney (inservice 1980) New York N Yd (WPG34, WPG36) - Alexander Hamilton (sunk 30 1 42), Spencer (engineering training school 23.1.74) These seven large cutters were perhaps the most successful built by the Coast Guard, at least up to the present senes. Design requirements included a speed of 20kts and space on deck aft for both an aircraft and a large towing bitt well forward of rudders and propellers. The aircraft had to be carried in a hangar. Onginally the Coast Guard planned to enlarge the very successful ‘Lake’ class, increasing beam to add deck area and increasing length ot 316ft for extra speed. The Coast Guard vessel was of conventional transverse framed single-screw design; however, at the same time the Navy was designing the Erie class to a similar specification, with the new longitudinal framing and twin screws Its design was adapted for Coast Guard use the new 327ft cutter retained the hull framing, basic lines, and compartmentauon of the gunboat, but used heavier scantlings and was altered in stem, stern, and skeg form to reflect Coast Guard requirements; in addition the superstructure was cut down to provide a long open quarterdeck. The class was originally to have included ten ships; three were apparently switched to the later Owasco class when the latter was ordered in 1941 Origin- ally, all seven vessels carried 2-5in/5l forward, plus 2-6pdr and 1-lpdr How- ever, in 1941 the aircraft was landed and replaced by a third 5in/51; in 1941, for example, Duane had 3-5in and 3 single 3in/5O, as well as DC racks and К guns; bv that time these ships were being used as ASW escorts m the North Atlantic. Armament varied m wartime. For example, in 1942 Bibb showed 3m guns in ‘A’, ‘С’, ‘P’ and ‘X’ positions, and 5in/5I in ‘B* and *Q’. Perhaps the most powerful battery carried was four 5in/38 in enclosed mounts (eg Taney, 1944) Through 1944 their principal employment was as convoy flagships. However, that autumn all six surviving units were converted as amphibious flagships (AGC), with their superstructures built up amidships for additional accommo- dation, one or two additional pole masts were stepped Batteries were sharply reduced Duane was cut to 2 quadruple 40mm, 3 twin 40mm (one forward, two superfiring aft), and 8-20mm Her sisters had two open merchant ship type 5in/38,as well as 3 twin 40mm and 4 or 8 (Ingham,Spencer) 20mm So important was the AGC conversion that 1850-ton destroyers were withdrawn from Pacific service to replace the big ‘cutters’ as convoy flagships, and their reconstruction delayed accordingly All six returned to their Coast Guard configurations post- war. О WASCO class Coast Guard cutters (launched 1944—45) Displacement* 2010t full load Dimensions* 255ft oa x 43ft x 16ft full load 77.12 x 13 .11 x 4 88m Machinery 1-shaft Westinghouse turbine, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 4000shp = 19kts Oil 390t, range 12,200nm at 12kts Armament. 4-5in/38 (2 x 2), 8—40mm (2 x 4), 4-20mm, 1 Hedgehog, 6 DC projectors, 2 DC racks Complement: 276 Class (fate): Western Pipe, San Pedro (WPG39-WPG44, WPG64-WPG68) - Owasco (sold 7 10 74), Winnebago (sold 7 10 74), Chautequa (decommissioned I 8 73), Sebago (ex-Wachusett) (decommissioned 29 2.72), Iroquois (sold 1 6 65), Wachusett (ex Huron) (sold 18 11 74), Escanaba (ex-Otsego) (decommissioned 28 6 73), Winona (decommissioned 31 5.74), Klamath (decommissioned 1 5 73), Minnetonka (ex-Sunapee) (decommissioned 31 5 74), Androscoggin (sold 7.10.74) Coast Guard Yd, Curtis Bay (WPG69, WPG70) - Mendota (decommissioned 1.11.73), Ponchartram (cx-Okeechobee) (decommissioned 19 10.73) The odd number of these vessels built, thirteen, reflected a requirement to replace three over-age units (which were originally to have been replaced by the ‘Treasury’ class) and then to replace ten units transferred to Britain (‘Lake* class). Although they were authorised in July, 1941, they had alow priority and none was laid down prior to the summer of 1943, completions began in the late spring of 1945 and none actually saw war service They reverted to turbo-elecinc drive and presented a rather foreshortened, almost topheavy appearance The superstructure was broken into two blocks to accommodate an aircraft, a requirement dropped (in part at Navy insistence) soon after the outbreak of war The other major wartime change was the inclusion of a super-firing Hedgehog forward There were also six К guns and a pair of DC racks aft, like the larger ‘Treasury’ type, they were considerably reduced m armament after the end of hostilities. They appear not to have been nearly as satisfactory in service the last 255-footer was decommissioned in 1974, whereas six years later five ‘Treasury’ class vessels remain active. WIND class Coast Guard cutters (icebreakers') (launched 1942-43)__________________________________________________________ Displacement. 6515t full load Dimensions: 269ft oa x 63fl 6in x 25ft 9m max 81 99 x 19 36 x 7 8Sm Machinery. 2-shaft diesel, 12,000bhp = 16 8kts trial Oil 1370i, range 50,000nm at 1 Ikts Armament: 4— 5in/38 (2x2), 12—40mm (3x4), 6-20mm, 1 Hedgehog, 6 DC projectors, 2 DC racks, 1 aircraft Complement: 316 Pastwind showing postwar modifications USCG
UNITED STATES Class: WAG278 Northwind, WAG279 Eastwind, WAG28O Southwind, WAG281 Westwind, WAG282 Northwind. These icebreakers were built by Western Pipe, San Pedro, both for Navy and for Giast Guard service; their armament matched that of the 255ft cutlers. At least the Navy units, and possibly all, were designed to provide iceward protec- tion during the Murmansk run, as noted by an internal Navy memo to reduce their armament upon conclusion of the war in Europe By that time three of the Coast Guard units (WAG278, 280 and 281) had been supplied to the Soviet Union under Lend Lease, and they were returned in 1949 The two Navy units were completed only after the war. Northwind (ii) and Westwind arc still in service. Equipment included an aircraft (generally a J2F) carried on a platform abaft the funnel and handled by crane All were completed with bow propellers, but these proved impractical in service near Greenland and were removed, the spaces for their machinery being converted to cargo holds. The Coast Guard units may have been designed specifically to supply US bases established in Greenland in 1941. A wartime view of Algol quin USCG ALGONQUIN (165ft ‘A’) class Coast Guatd cutters (launched 1932-34) Displacement: 1005t full load Dimensions: 150ft wl, 165ft oa x 36ft X 12ft 3in full load 45.72, 50.29 x /0.97 x 3.73m Machinery: 1-shaft Westinghouse turbine, 2 Foster Wheeler boilers, 1500shp = 12.5kts. Oil 156t, range ЗЗООпт at lOkts Armament: 2-3in/50 Complement: 61 (98 in 1945) Class (fate): Pusey & Jones (WPG75, WPG76, WPG78) - Algonquin (BU 1948), Comanche (sold 1949), Mohawk (sold Nov 1948) Defoe, Bay City (WPG77, WPG79, WPG80) - Escanaba (lost 13.6.1943), Onondaga (sold Dec 1954), Tahoma (sold 1955). Replacements for obsolete ‘rugboat’-typc cutters developed from the Tallapoosa class launched in 1915, which was the first flush-decked type with good freeboard, the Algonquins were further intended to operate in severe ice condi- tions, with plating doubled around the bow, a cut-away forefoot, short length and medium draught. Wartime additions to armament were 2--20mm guns, 2 DC racks, 4 K-guns, and Mousetrap (all but Onondaga). Nemesis postwar USCG THETIS (165ft ‘B’.) class Coast Guard cutters (launched 1931-34)__________________________________________________________ Displacement: 334t trial Dimensions: 160ft 9in wl, 165ft oa x 23ft 9in x 7ft 8in trial 49 00, 50 29 x 7.24 x 2.34m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 1340bhp = 16kts Armament: (1945) 2-3in/5O, 2-20mm, 2 DC racks, 2 DC projectors, 2 Mousetrap Complement: 50 (75 in 1945) Class (fate): Mathis (WPC100, WPC108) - Argo (sold 1955), Galatea (to Dominican Republic 1948) Lake Union (WPC101, WPC102, WPC105) - Anadne (decommissioned 23.12.68), Atalanta (sold Dec 1954), Cyane (sold Dec 1954) Bath Iron Wks (WPC103, WPC104, WPC106, WPC109, WPC110, WPC114, WPC115) -Aurora (decommissioned 17.1.68), Calypso (ex-AG35) (sold 1955), Daphne (sold 1955), Hermes (sold May 1958), Icarus (to Dominican Republic 1948), Perseus (sold 1962), Thetis (to Dominican Republic 1948) Manitowoc (\X PC107, \\ PCI 13) — Dione (discarded 1970s),Pandora (discarded 1959) Marietta :WPC111, WPC112, WPC116)-Nemesis (decommissioned 20 11 64), Nike (discarded 1970s), Triton (sold 16.1.69) Unlike the later ‘A’ type, these units were a direct consequence of Coast Guard experience during Prohibition, and indeed were intended to counter improvements in ‘rum-runner’ cargo ship effectiveness against trailing tactics by the earlier 125ft class. They were ,thus, roughly comparable to the later Navy PCs (and indeed may have inspired the original designauon of the PC as a ‘ 165ft sub-chaser’) whereas the ‘A* class was more comparable to the 180ft PCE. Of eighteen built, one (Electra) was transferred to the Navy as the Presidential yacht Mayflower Icarus, unassisted, actually sank a German submarine. The prewar battery of l-3in/23 and 2-1 pdr machineguns was increased, in wartime, to 2-3in/5O, 2-20mm, 2 depth-charge racks, 2 К guns and Mousetrap. The Coast Guard classed these units as WPCs and the ‘A’ class as WPGs, or gunboats. Harriet Ixne 1944 ACTIVE (125ft) class Coast Guard cutters (launched 1926-27) Displacement: 232t trial Dimensions: 120ft wl, 125ft oa x 23ft 4in x 7ft 36 58, 38 10 x 7.11 x 2.13m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 600bhp = 13.3kts Armament: (1945) l-3in/23 DP (none in Ewing Moms), 2-20mm, 2 DC racks, 2 Mousetrap Complement: 38 (46 in 1945) Class (fate): Active, (extant 1980), Agassiz (decommissioned 13.10 69), Alert (sold 28.10.1969), Antietam (lost 14.9.44), Bonham (sold 1959), Boutwell (sold 1964), Cahoone (discarded 1970s), Cartigan (discarded 1970s), Colfax (ex- Montgomery) (sold 1956), Crawford (sold 1947), Diligence (sold 1964), Div (sold 1948), Ewing (decommissioned 23.6.67), Faunce (sold 1964), Frederick Ixc (discarded 1970s), General Greene (decommissioned 15.11.68), Harriet Lane (sold 1949),Jackson (lost 14 9.44), Kimball (decommissioned 31.12 68), Legare (discarded 1970s), Manon (sold 1963), McLane (decommissioned 31 12.68), Morris (decommissioned 7 8.70), Nemaha (sold 1958), Pulaski (sold 1957), Reliance (sold June 1948), Rush (sold 1964), Tiger (sold 1948), Travis (sold 1963), Vigilant (sold 1956), Woodbury (sold 1963), Yealon (decommissioned 18.7.69), Cuyahoga (deleted 1978), (WPC125-WPC157). The construction of these craft was a consequence of Prohibition: although the small motor launches were able to compete with rum-running craft in close coastal waters, it soon became apparent that it would be necessary to trail the foreign cargo carriers supplying the coastal craft, to prevent cargo transfer. The design emphasised seaworthiness and cruising radius, and they were powered by twin diesels of the highest power available, with mechanical clutches and reversing gear, direct reversing engines were precluded by the degree of fast manoeuvring expected In World War II they were classed as sub-chasers (WSC), although they were in fact considerably slower than the new 110ft wooden type By the end of hostilities their original single 3in/23 had been joined by 2-20mm guns, 2 depth-charge tracks aft, and Mousetrap Only Ewing Morris had no 3in gun. All were built by New York SB. COAST GUARD LAUNCHES Under Prohibition, the Coast Guard built up a very large force of coastal craft, most notably the 203 74ft 1 lin motor launches, which at that time represented the largest US postwar building programme. The Navy transferred 19 World War I sub-chasers to the Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard also built a variety of speedboats and fast ‘picket boats’. «Most of these craft had no ASW function However, from 1941 onwards, the Coast Guard built 230 83ft patrol boats, which did serve abroad; they were armed with l-20mm gun, 4 depth charge tracks, and Mousetrap, and thus were perhaps roughly equivalent to the British HDMLs. There were also nine 80ft (1937) and six 78ft (1929-31) motor launches, which were presumably design predecessors of the 83ft type. Originally all of these craft were numbered in a CG series; however, in wartime they were renumbered in a five-digit series of which the first two were the length: thus the 74ft 1 lin boats became 74300-74351; the 78ft CG400-405 became 78300-78305; the 80ft CG406-414 became 80300-80308, and ihe 83fi CG450-489, 491-499 and 600-634 became 83300-83383, whereas later 83fi boats became simply 83384-83529. 166
Japan In 1853 and 1854, Commodore Perry interrupted Japan’s 250 years of self-imposed isolation, and forced her to sign trade and consular agreements. The intrusion of these unwanted interlopers, backed as they were by overpowering force, was reluctantly agreed to, but was also deeply resented, their presence being contrary to Japan’s most fundamental religious and social beliefs; an unwritten, and apparently very far-fetched, national programme was accordingly formulated in the 1860s (and passed down to later generations), providing for the gradual elimination of the occidental powers from their colonies and privileges in the Far East, and for the creation of an Asian empire under Japanese hegemony. The independence of Japan itself was saved by the internal reforms that followed the 1868 Meiji Restoration, and the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War ended Chinese interference in Korea. 1 he wars of 1904—05 and 1914—18 removed Russian and German influence in the Orient; Japan’s plans for China were shown by the merciless ‘21 Demands’ of 1915, while her ‘8-6’ and ‘8-8’ naval construction pro- grammes matched the United Slates’ huge 1916 programme ship for ship. From the Russo-Japanese War onwards, Japan made exceptional sacrifices, in both money and human lives, to protect her interests, for example spending in 1921 32 per cent of her entire national revenue on naval purposes, 17.5 per cent on new' construction alone. In 1920 and 1921, America was advised repeatedly through diplomatic channels that fortification of the naval base of Cavite, in the Philippines, would be treated as a casus belli; after the costly efforts to oust the Russians from Port Arthur, Japan had no intention of allowing another powerful fortress to be built on her doorstep. JAPAN AND THE NAVAL TREATIES The post-World War I Pacific arms race was of short duration, being ended in 1921-22 by the Washington Conference and subsequent Treaty limiting naval armaments, which set a 5-5-3 ratio for the capital ships of Britain, America and Japan. Japan’s interests were seemingly jeopardised by the lower figure, and by the termination of the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Alliance, also prescribed in the Washington ‘package’, but two factors safeguarded her security. Britain and America had Atlantic and Mediterranean commitments, so neither would find it easy to assemble an overwhelming force in the Orient, and associated with the Naval Limitations Treaty was the Four-Power Treaty, which, by prohibiting the development of fortified bases in the Western Pacific, Philippines and China Sea cast of Singapore, pro- tected Japan from the reidy advance of a hostile American fleet. Japan’s external policy in the 1920s was milder than in earlier years, and at home some effort was made to curb spending on armaments. The spirit of the League of Nations and the peaceful outcome of the ruinous arms race put militarism into temporary eclipse. Certain irrit- ants, however, remained. The lower capital ship ratio suggested an inferiority that offended national pride, and the summary ending of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty rankled. Relations with the United States, since 1915 never more than cordial, were not improved by the racial slurs implicit in the 1924 American Immigration Act. The rise of the Kuomintang threatened the rebirth of China and a rival Oriental nationalism. From 1929 the worldwide depression provided an economic spur to renewed Japanese militarism, which was manifested m an unpleasant process of‘government by assassination’, and a more active prosecution of the national programme. Manchuria was invaded and became a client-state. Within the Government and armed forces, a struggle took place between the conservative ‘Strike-North’ faction, favouring an all-out war on Soviet Russia, and the more radical and ultimately victorious ‘Strike-South’ faction, which proposed seizing Japan’s sources of oil and raw materials in Malaya and the East Indies. The 1930 London Conference, called because of a looming arms race in cruisers, established total tonnage limits for cruisers, destroyers and submarines (for which the Washington Treaty had limited only indi- vidual displacements and gun calibres). The 10-10-7 ratio for British, American and Japanese cruisers was acceptable to Japan, but the Naval Staff was much less happy with its 52,700 tons of submarines, the same as for Britain and America, as this would allow too few of the large boats necessary. Her subsequent attitude to naval disarmament was cynical in the extreme: in 1934, preparing for yet another conference, she proposed firstly a common upper limit for the British, American and her own navies, ic that all three, irrespective of national commitments, should be the same size, and secondly that all ‘offensive’ naval weapons, meaning aircraft carriers and submarines, should be abolished. Such unrealistic proposals received no support from other countries, and at the end of the year Japan gave notice of termination of the 1922 Washington Treaty. Following definite rejection of the com- mon limit proposals in January 1936, Japan withdrew from the second London Conference and, the 1922 and 1930 Treaties expiring on 31 December 1936, thereafter refused to agree to qualitative or quan- titative limits proposed by other powers, or to give details of her own construction plans. JAPANESE NAVAL STRATEGY The ‘Strike-South’ plans provided for a sudden pre-emptive attack south.; the slender American, British, French and Dutch forces in the area would be swept aside or annihilated. Japan’s conquests, her man- dated islands, and the US islands of Wake and Guam, would be strongly fortified, so that Britain, or more particularly America, would be deterred by the cost in lives and materials from attempting re- conquest. In time, America would always be able to outbuild Japan, and to offset this Japan emphasised technical developments - new torpedoes, dive bombers, long range scouting and attack submarines - to keep ahead. If Japan’s strike south was not followed by a quick peace, the loss of Wake and Guam would delay an American fleet advancing to relieve or re-take the Philippines; the US ships would be decimated and their crews exhausted by constant air and torpedo attack, and on arrival in the Far East would face the Japanese Fleet, close to its bases, fresh for battle, equal or only slightly inferior in numbers, and with individually superior ships. In accordance with this strategy, and following the national tradi- tion, the Japanese Navy concentrated all on the offensive, on preparing for big spectacular battles leading to the final crushing blow. As resources were limited, no balanced plan could be made for a long or a defensive war. The capital ship actions of Tsushima and Jutland were studied exhaustively, but commerce warfare was not, as it did not fit into the romantic Japanese concept of war; the lessons of the 1914-18 U-boat campaigns were ignored. Japanese submarines were intended to locate and attack battleflects, and not to prey on the long American lines of communication. Similarly, defence against submarines was neglected, and the Japanese merchant ships, unconvoyed, were sup- posed to fend for themselves. In summary, Japanese war plans fatally underestimated American resolve and resources. The fanatical courage, extraordinary disregard for death, and other warrior attributes of the Samurai, together with the huge territorial gains of the early months of the war, proved unavailing against the products of overwhelming industrial power. DESIGN PRACTICE Japanese design and construction techniques followed western (mainly British) practice up to 1914; it should be remembered that the first home-built battleships were only begun in 1905. The last warship constructed outside Japan, the battlecruiser Kongo, was delivered in 1913, and the last major warship machinery in 1920. As Japan wished- even after 1918 - to keep up with the latest technological advances, co-opcration with the Royal Navy and British armament companies 167
JAPAN continued, although on a more limited scale than hitherto. The 1921-23 Semphill Mission helped to tram the first Japanese naval airmen, and assisted in designing the aircraft carrier Hosho. In 1923, Japan was authorised to buy plans of the large German submarine cruisers U183-U190, designed but not built during the war, and in the year following one 8in gun and mounting were ordered from the Elswick Ordnance Co, samples of the latest AP projectiles from Had- fields, and new battleship fire control equipment from Barr & Stroud. Co-operation with Britain faded in the late 1920s, as Japan became reluctant to trade full details of her later designs and equipment on a reciprocal basis. Her naval constructors, thenceforth working alone, had nothing comparable with the British wealth of data, accumulated from wartime battle experience and from the extensive trials of the immediate postwar period, to assist in designing new ships for the 1930s. Furthermore, a reluctance to attempt ab initio design calcula- tions meant that the parameters of new types were obtained by the second-rate ‘trial and-error’ process of scaling up from existing ships. Japan, having a smaller fleet and fewer resources than her rivals, necessarily aimed in the inter-war years for better weapons and indi- vidual ship-for-ship superiority. She was successful with certain weapons, as will be discussed below, but the design of superior war- ships by constructors with less experience and data to draw on was an impossible task. The constructors were handed down specifications for new ships (in Britain, ‘Staff Requirements’) which simply could not be attained on the displacements stipulated by the naval treaties. Success- ful warship design is a compromise among the conflicting demands of offence (usually guns, torpedoes and aircraft), defence (armour and anti-torpedo protection), and speed To increase two of these is inevit- ably to reduce the third. Japanese constructors made ingenious attempts to save weight, by sacrificing habitability and sometimes freeboard, but, in attempting to produce ships w’hich were ahead on all counts, cut too many corners; the ships were often overweight, by much more than the margin usually allowed, or of the correct weight but thoroughly unsatisfactory, with insufficient structural strength or stability. In the second case, extensive reconstructions were required, from which there emerged splendid ships, indeed superior to foreign counterparts, but now very far above the displacement limits, a minus point which naturally did not feature in contemporary accounts. This method of producing superior ships lacks elegance and a proper appreciation of economy in design; in retrospect, it would have been better, if more dishonest, to have designed ships of greater displace- ment from the beginning, and to have built them in just one step. In preparing for war, no attempts were made to plan mass- production methods for escorts or other ship types, or to arrange for necessary improvisations in construction when particular materials were likely to be in short supply. • JAPANESE WARSHIP TYPES The different Japanese ship types will now be discussed in turn. Battleships. 1 he ten older battleships, completed between 1913 and 1921, were very thoroughly modernised before 1941, being given better protection against air and torpedo attack, increased elevation for main batteries, augmented A A armament and, in many cases, length- ened hulls to take advantage of more powerful machinery. As recon- structed, they were considerably faster than the older American ships, but like contemporary British ships, which they resembled, had inferior protection; armour thicknesses were less and distribution pre- dated the ‘all-or-nothing’ scheme introduced in the Nevada. Pride of place in the Japanese Fleet went to the giant new Yantato and Musashi, which entered service soon after Pearl Harbor. In these 63,000t ships, designed between 1934 and 1937, and begun in the latter year, Japan produced the largest and most powerful battleships ever built, far exceeding the treaty restrictions. In the West, nothing was known of these ships until almost the end of the war, as the mist of secrecy around post-1936 Japanese construction became for the Yamatos an all-enveloping fog. Aircraft carriers and naval aviation. In naval aviation, the Japanese were at first behind Britain both technically and operationally, but during the 1920s made rapid advances, since they were ready learners and imitators of western techniques and equipment. As in America, the 168 Naval Air Service was an integral part of the navy, so was not plagued with the problems of divided control faced by the British Fleet Air Arm. By about 1936, Japan was roughly level with America in general development, and well ahead of Britain in carrier aircraft design. In the early 1930s, a larger number of small earners was preferred to a few big ones, but later in the decade Japan, like Britain and America, turned to larger ships. In December 1941, Japan led the British and American navies in ship-based air power, having ten carriers (six large, four small) against the American eight, of which only three were in the Pacific. As might be expected, the Japanese carriers emphasised offence, carrying the largest number of aircraft at high speeds, with good A A armament, but only very limited protection. Little consideration was given to damage control until the carriers’ vulnerability was shown at Midway. The Zero (‘Zeke’) fighters, ‘Kate’ torpedo bombers and other aircraft in service in 1941 were superior to their American counterparts, but newer types were hardly in the pipeline, and would not enter service until too late, in 1944—15. The aircrews were superbly trained, but men lost in the heavy fighting in 1942 were never adequately replaced; petrol was insufficient for proper flight training, so that successive batches of Japanese aviators were increasingly unable to meet American airmen on level terms. Cruisers. Japan was the first country to start building cruisers up to the Washington Treaty limits (the four Nachis were announced late in 1922), and was quicklv followed by Britain and America. The 18 heavy cruisers in service in December 1941 were magnificently aggressive ships, fast, heavily armed with guns and torpedoes, and adequately protected The first 12 exceeded designed displacements by around lOOOt apiece, possiblv because of poor control of weights as a way of getting round treaty restrictions; having long slim hulls and very high horsepower, they were easily able to take later increases of torpedo and AA armament, stability being maintained by added bulges, with little reduction in speed. The Mogami class, which followed, had serious problems. Designed to impossible specifications (15-6 1 in guns and 152,OOOshp for 37kts on only 8500t), the name ship lacked stability, and was unable to train her turrets properly because her hull had been deformed by defective welding. Returned to dockyard hands for repairs, strengthening, and the fitting of bulges, Mogami emerged at Il,200t, a displacement more appropriate to her size and power. The backbone of Japan’s light cruiser force in December 1941 was the elderly 5500-ton class, the most recent dating from 1925. The Agano class, which joined the fleet during the war, were fast and heavily armed w’ith torpedoes, suiting them for the standard Japanese light cruiser role of destrov er leader, but to western eyes the guns armament was weak and protection insufficient. Destroyers. Perhaps the most original Japanese efforts in warship construction were in their destroyers, the twenty-four ships of the Fubuki class (‘Special Tvpe’), completed 1928-32, leading the world’s navies m design and armament. For the first time, destroyers carried 5in guns in twin enclosed turrets, which in later units of the class elevated to 75°, making them dual-purpose weapons. The 24in tor- pedo, with a 50 per cent larger warhead than the 21 in weapon standard m other major navies, was introduced in Japanese destroyers (and cruisers) during the 1920s; the existence of this large weapon was not made public. Propulsion was by compressed air (Type 90), but be- tween 1928 and 1933 first an oxygen-enriched and then a fully oxj gen- fuelled torpedo was developed. 1 he oxygon-fuelled ‘Long Lance’ Type 93 torpedo of 1933 could run at 49 kts for 22,000yds, more than three times the range of the 2lin American model, and proved a nasty surprise for Allied admirals in the Java Sea and many later battles. Like the cruisers, many torpedo craft were unstable or too lightly constructed, the best known incident being the capsizing of the torpedo-boat Tomozuru in a March 1934 storm. Remaining afloat, she was towed into port keel up, righted, and re-built, rejoining the fleet some 15 percent heavier, two knots slower, and with lighter armament. Similar changes were made to other torpedo-boats and the destroyers of the Haisuharu and Shiratsuyu classes, which had also been designed for maximum performance on severely restricted displacement. Even the ‘Special Type’ destrov ers had their weaknesses; in September 1935 the Hatsuyukt lost her bows up to the bridge in a typhoon, resulting in a general strengthening of hulls, ballasting and reduction of upper- works.
Introduction JAPANESE SUBMARINE CLASSES Class Japanese Description Translation Series Observations A Ko-gata A Model I Al, 2, M - HQ submarines В Olsu-gata B-model I Bl, 2, 3, 4 - scout submarines C (old) — — Ha Cl, 2, 3 - Vickers type (British ‘C’ class) C (new) Hei-gata C-niodel I Cl, 2, 3, 4 - attack submarines 1) '1 ei-gata D-mode! 1 Dl, 2 - transport submarines J Jun(yo) sen(suikan) Cn iser submarine I JL IM, 2, 3 К Kai(gun) chu Medium Navy design RO KI, 2, 3,4 (old), 5, 6 (new) KD Kai(gun) dai Large Navy design I К 1)1, 2, За, 3b, 4, 5, 6a, 7 К RS Kirai scn(suikan) Minelaying submarine I KS Kai(gun) sho Small Navy design RO KT Kai(gun) toku chu Medium special Navy design RO Old type L — RO LI, 2, 3, 4 - old Vickers type (British ‘L’ class) SH Sen(suikan) ho Support submarine I SS Sen(suikan) yuso sho Small supply submarine Ha ST Sen(suikan) taka Fast submarine I STo Sen(suikan) toku Special submarine 1 Very large cruiser submarines SIS Sen(smkan) taka sho Small fast submarine Ha Submarines. As mentioned earlier, the Japanese had a highly developed and unique concept of submarine warfare; squadrons of large submarines would operate as part of the battle fleet, to locale and sink enemy battle forces. For long distance reconnaissance numerous submarines carried small catapult-launched seaplanes, which ranged as far as the US west coast. Convoys and merchant ships were regarded as very subsidiary targets, for which few torpedoes were allocated. From 1919, experiments started with large submarines, at first to British and German designs, to find the type best suited to Japanese needs. The resulting boats were very long-range, but not very handy, and had inferior habitability, equipment and weapons to American equivalents, following the expiry of the Naval Treaties in December 1936, many more submarines were laid down, the larger boats includ- ing three highly specialised types: the А-type, or headquarters sub- marine, the В-type intended for scouting and the C-typc, or attack submarine, to which the D-type (transport submarine) was added during the war, when constant air attack prevented the supply and reinforcement of the southern islands by surface ships. In 1945, three huge submarines of the ‘STo’ class, each carrying 3 aircraft and designed to combine the functions of the A, В and C types, entered service, but they were too late to be tested in action. Midget submarines to ambush the advancing US battle fleet and attack it in its bases were developed from 1931. Other ship types. The four large, fast seaplane carriers, each able to carry 24 aircraft, or 12 aircraft and 12 midget submarines, were another peculiarly Japanese concept. As the naval warfare for which they were designed did not develop, two were converted into conventional light aircraft carriers. The fleet train expanded in the 1930s as Japan prepared to move south. Large merchant ships were adopted for ready conversion to seaplane carriers, transports, depot ships and the like. The China incident caused the construction of large numbers of patrol boats, gunboats and small transports, and also landing craft for amphibious attacks. These were modelled on civilian fishing boats, and could be lowered from the decks of large transports. Personnel. In action, of course, it is very often the men behind the guns, and not differences in the paper specifications of the ships, that count. Although conscription was introduced to the Japanese Navy after 1930, and living conditions aboard ship were hard and cramped, the Japanese sailor was dedicated, well-trained and efficient. Intensive battle practice was carried out under realistic combat conditions in remote and stormy areas of the North Pacific, and paid off handsomely in the early months of the war. The training in night work, and excellent vision of look-outs, went a long way towards offsetting the Japanese lack of radar. THE JAPANESE NAVY AT WAR, 1941-45 Between 7 and 11 December 1941, Japan attacked Malaya, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, Wake and Pearl Harbor. Although the outbreak of hostilities was not unexpected, the number and scale of Japanese assaults came as a shock to the Allied powers. Most important navally was the Pearl Harbor operation, which, although it crippled the American battleship force, was much less profitable to Japan than it might have been. Its political ineptitude, in bringing America un- ditided into the war, is well known; tactically, the attacks were of dubious value, as the American aircraft carriers were not m port, and the shore installations and fuel tanks were left intact; strategically, the operation was hardly necessary, as the American War Plan was for the battle force to fight its way towards the Philippines, straight for the decisive battle for which Japan had long been preparing. The initial conquests to March 1942 were unexpectedly easy, and led to a euphoric feeling of invincibility, the so-called ‘victory disease’, with the result that, instead of consolidating her gams, Japan tried to extend her defensive perimeter, the conquest of another broad swathe from the Aleutians through Midway and the Gilberts to the Solomons and New Guinea was planned, making the island part of her empire more far-flung, and increasing demands on the navy, merchant ship- ping and the limited stocks of fuel. In May 1942 came the Coral Sea battle, the first of many Pacific actions between carrier-borne aircraft, in which the opposing ships never sighted each other. The battle, Japan’s first setback, checked her movement south, and show'cd that the American carrier threat was not to be despised. The Midway operation was intended to draw them into battle and overwhelm them, after which a peace could be patched up At Midway, however, Japan’s striking sword broke at the hilt; she lost very heavily in carriers, planes and trained men, and was immediately afterwards plunged into the campaign of attrition for the Solomons. Al lhe end of 1942, after one year of war, Japanese and American naval losses were roughly comparable (each had lost iwo battleships, four large carriers and two light cruisers; Japan had also lost two small carriers, four heavy cruisers and 21 destroyers to America’s five heavy cruisers and 26 destroyers), but Japan had nothing to match the huge American construction programme, which by then was turning out unprecedented numbers of ships and aircraft at unheard-of rates. Japanese replacements, whether of ships, aircraft or men, were of lower quality; thus for the splendid carriers lost at Midway were substituted inferior and slower ships, converted liners, depot ships and the like. The new carrier air groups, much less skilled than those destroyed, were thrown into the hopeless defence of Rabaul in 1943 and again Destroyers of the Japanese Fleet in review, Dec 1928, with Mutsuki class vessels in the foreground and ‘Special Type’ destroyers beyond 169
JAPAN wiped out; the second hasty and painful rebuilding took another six months, and turned out still poorer and worse-trained aircrews. The American counter-offensive had two prongs: in the south-west Pacific, almost two years of heavy fighting in the Solomons and along the north coast of New Guinea broke the Bismarck Barrier and isolated Rabaul, while in the Central Pacific a carefully prepared invasion fleet, protected by massive new carrier task forces, advanced through the Gilbert and Marshall Islands to the Marianas. The attack on Saipan (June 1944) drew out the Japanese Fleet, and in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, described by Monson as the ‘greatest carrier action of all time’, it was finally stripped of its naval air arm; in the first day of the battle, Japan lost 300 planes to America’s 30, leading to the derisive description ‘the Marianas Turkey Shoot’ for the air fighting. From June 1944 the American carrier forces rampaged far and wide, covering the Philippine landings and sweeping unchecked from Saigon and the South China Sea to Formosa and Japan. The remnants of the Imperial Navy, without air cover, were crushed at Leyte Gulf in a futile and ill-coordinated attempt to check the American invasion, and in April 1945 a last suicidal sortie by the giant battleship Yaniato failed some 200 miles short of its goal, Okinawa. The American and Japanese submarine operations, w'hich made an interesting contrast in style and effectiveness, should also be men- tioned. American submarines from 1943 operated freely and success- fully against Japanese communications, sinking cargo ships, trans- ports, warships and the tankers carrying precious fuel from Borneo and Sumatra to the homeland. Japanese anti-submarine operations were ineffective; the escorts were too few', and better at detecting than killing submarines. Japanese submarines w’ere less active operationally than US submarines, and much less enterprising than German U-boats; they failed dismally in their part of the Pearl Harbor attack and m the reconnaissance before Midway, and only briefly in 1942 were they used successfully in their planned role against the American battle fleet. Badly handled, and vulnerable because of their size, they began to suffer heavy losses when properly equipped AS vessels started arriving in the Pacific in the first half of 1944. NOTES Displacements. The normal displacement (in British or long tons = 1016kg) used for Japanese warships designed before the Washington Treaty was the displacement of the ship ready for sea, but with 25 per cent of the fuel, 75 per cent of the ammunition, one-third to two-thirds of stores and lubricating oil, and without reserve feed water. The standard displacement (in long tons) introduced for comparative pur- poses in the Washington Treaty was the displacement of the ship ready for sea, with full stores, ammunition and complement, but without fuel, lubricating oil or reserve feed water. From 1920, Japanese war- ships were designed using the trial displacement (in metric tons, or tonnes, = 1000kg). This was the displacement ofthe ship ready for sea, with two-thirds of the full load of fuel, ammunition, stores, lubricating oil and reserve feed water. It follows from these definitions that the difference between full load and standard displacement should be greater than the total oil fuel carried, and the difference between trial and standard displacements should be roughly twice the difference between the full load and trial displacement. However, discrepancies can be found for certain classes, possibly because Japanese calculations of standard displacements were frequently perfunctory and sometimes (as for many prewar cruisers and destroyers) intentionally misleading. Ships often exceeded design displacement figures; if known, the actual figures have been put in the notes, but the distinction is not always apparent Unexpectedly large differences between full load and trial displacements can sometimes be explained if the former figure is for the completed ship and the latter for the ship as designed. (All displacements have been converted to long tons.) Gun calibres. The Japanese practice, from about 1917, of rounding-off exact gun calibres to the nearest centimetre has caused problems for compilers. For example, the exact metric equivalent of three inches is 7.62cm, but the calibre of the standard 3in/40 AA gun was frequently approximated in official lists to 8cm; this approximate figure is sometimes reconverted to its exact equivalent, 3 15in, and the gun listed, erroneously, as being of 3.1m or 3.2m calibre. The precise calibres of certain cruiser guns have presented similar but less tractable complications. Recent reference books state that the larger pre-World War I cruisers had the Elswick pattern Sin (20.3cm)/45 gun, the early Treaty cruisers a 7 9in(20 0cm)/50 gun derived from this, and the later Treaty cruisers a further development, an 8in (20.3cm)/50 weapon. This double change of calibre is inherently unlikely, and it would not be surprising to find (hat all the Treaty cruisers, and the aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga, had the same weapon, the apparent differences resulting from the rounding-off just mentioned. The calibre of this weapon is given as 8in, which is more probable from the balance of evidence. The main armament of light cruisers changed about 1914 from an Elswick pattern 6tn (15 2cm)/50 gun to a Japanese 5.5in (14.0cm)/50. The 1931 Programme Afogami class introduced a new 6. lin (15.5cm)/60 gun, used in the definition of light cruisers in the 1 ondon Naval Treaty, and subsequently also fitted in the Yamalo class battle- ships (1937) and the light cruiser Oyodo (1939 Programme). However, the gun listed for the Agano class light cruisers, also of the 1939 Programme, is a new 5.9in (15.0cm)/50 or 6in (15 2cm)/50 weapon The addition of a 5.9in gun to the existing 6.1 in and 6in (old) guns w'ould seem to produce an excessive and undesirable multiplicity of similar calibres, with complications of ammunition manufacture and storage; the new gun was therefore probably of 6in calibre. There is still some uncertainty in this, as the re-arming of the .Vfogu/Hi class with Sin guns at the time the Agunos w ere building would have made many spare 6.lin guns available, future investigators may well show the Agmius, 6in/50 weapons to be non-existent, (he actual guns being the estab- lished 6 lin/60s. The Japanese Fleet in Chinese waters, Feb 1941 170
The Japanese Navy in 1922 THE JAPANESE NAVY BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Second class coast defence ships MISHIMA (ex-Admira/ Seniavin) 22.8.1894 4200t Depot ship 1928 Sunk as target 1936 OKINOSH1MA 12.5.1896 (ex-Gt m ral- Admiral Graf Apraksin) First class coast defence ships 42001 Hulked 1922 BU 1939 FUJI 31 3 1896 12,533i Training hulk 1922.' BU 1948 SHIK1SHIMA 1 11 1898 14,850г Hulked 1923 BU 1948 ASAHI 13 3 1899 15,200t Depot and repair ship 1923. Sunk 25 5 42 SUWO (ex Pohieda) 24.5.1900 13,500t Hulked 1922. BU 1946 HIZEN (ex-Rctvizan) 23.10.1900 12,700t Target. Sunk 1924 MIKASA 8 11 1900 15,140t Museum ship 1923 I\\ AMI Cex-Orel) Rattleships 19.7.1902 c!5,000t Target. Sunk 1924 KASHI MA 22.3 1905 16,400t BU 1923 KATOR1 4 7 1905 15,950i BU 1923 SATSUMA 15 11 1906 19,350i Target Sunk 1924 AK1 Karachi Jass 15 4.1907 19,800l Target Sunk 1924 SETTS U 1 uso class 30 3.1911 21,433t Target ship 1924 BU 1947 1 USO 28.3 1914 30,600t Sunk 25 10 44 YAMASHIRO Ise class 311 1915 30,600t Sunk 25.10 44 ISE 12 11.1916 31,260t Sunk 18 7 45 HYUGA Kagato class 27.1 1917 31,260t Sunk 24 7 45 NAGATO 9 11 1919 33,800t Expended 29 7.46 MUTSU A'ctgu class 31.5 1920 33,8OOt Lost 8 6 43 KAG.A 17.11 1921 39,900t Converted 1923-28 1 OSA 18 12 1921 39,900t Target Sunk 9.2.25 > jtndihtro. Sept I'JZS Fuso class. In 1927-28 the foremast was rebuilt and 6-3in/40 A A guns added Both ships subsequently underwent major reconstruction, Fuse between 1930 and 1933, and Yamashiro between 1930 and 1935, with the following alterations: hull lengthened aft, new machinery, improved horizontal and anti-torpedo protec- tion, elevation of main armament increased (from 30° to 43°), augmented A A armament and addition of aircraft facilities Full details of the improved protec- tion (which almost certainly included thicker armour on the barbettes and turret roofs) are not known, but deck protection over vitals was increased to 7in, and the total weight of armour went up from 8588t to 12,199l. The fore funnels were removed, and towering pagoda bridges replaced the previous built up tripods Following experience with Fuse, Yamashiro differed slightly the dead angle for ‘C’ turret was forward instead of aft, allowing a larger bridge, and the catapult was moved from this turret to the quarterdeck Data was now; Displacement: 34,700t standard, 38,536t trial Dimensions: Changed as follows-689ft wl,698ftoa x 100ft 6m x 3lfi9in 210 00, 212 75 x 30 64 x 9 69m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 6 boilers, 75,000shp = 24 7kls. Oil 5100t Armour: Changed as follows - deck 3 8in (middle deck), 2in (upper deck) See notes above Armament: 12-14in/45 (6x2), 14-6in/50 (14x1), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 16-25mm AA, 3 aircraft Complement: 1396 1 he light AA armament was increased to 2O-25mm in 1941, and to 37-25mm in June 1944. A post Midway proposal, to convert these ships to hybrid battleship-carriers on the same lines as Hyuga and Ise (‘X’ and *Y turrets replaced by flight deck, hangar, lift and catapults), was dropped after the aircraft and pilot losses in the Battle of the Philippine Sea Both ships were sunk in the Battle of Surigao Strait, part of the Leyte Gulf operations Fuse went down after taking two torpedo hits from US destroyers, and Yamashiro from four destroyer torpedoes and numerous 16in and 14in shells Ise class In 1926-28 the foremast was rebuilt, and 1-2 aircraft added Both ships under- went major reconstruction, Ise between 1935 and 1937, and Hyuga between 1934 and 1936, being altered similarly to the Fuso class. The total weight of aimour increased from 9525t to 12,644t Data was now Displacement: 35,S00t {Hyuga 36,000t) standard, 39,535t (Wvuga 39,03It) trial Dimensions: Changed as follows - 700ft wl, 7O8fl oa x 104ft x 30ft 2in 213 36, 215.80 x 31 70 x 9.2lm Machinery: 4 shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 80,000shp — 25.3kts Oil 53l3t Armour; Changed as follows - deck 3.8in (middle deck), 2in (upper deck). Sec notes for Fuso class Armament: 12-14in/45 (6x2), 16-5 5in/5O (16x 1), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 2O-25nim AA, 3 aircraft Complement: 1376 As a result of the carrier losses at Midway, both were converted in 1943 into hv brid battleship-carriers. ‘X’ and ‘Y’ turrets were removed, and a hangar and Bight deck built on to the quarterdeck. The 22 seaplanes were to be launched bv catapult, and recovered from the sea by crane, as the deck was much too short for landing. The 5 Sin armament was removed and the AA armament increased Data now became: Displacement: 35,3501 standard, 38,065t trial Dimensions: Changed as follows - length 720ft 5in oa, draught 29ft 7in 219 62, 9 03m Machinery: Unchanged except 4249t oil Armament: 8-14in/45 (4x2), 16-5in/40 DP (8x2), 57-25mm AA, 22 aircraft Complement: 1463 The light AA armament was increased to 104-25mm AA in June 1944, and 6 28 barrelled rocket launchers added in September 1944 The two catapults were removed in October, and no aircraft were aboard in the Leyte Gulf operations Both were sunk in shallow water at Kure by US aircraft, and were broken up after the war. 171
Nagaio class The appearance of this class was altered in 1924, when the forefunnel was trunked aft, the adoption of a clinker screen (1921) having failed to keep smoke away from the massive heptapodal foremast. Both ships underwent major reconstruction between 1934 and 1936, being altered similarly to (heFwso class; however, unlike the three earlier classes, the machinery was not increased in power, although the ships were reboilered and the turbines slightly uprated Deck protection over machinery and magazines was increased, and additional armour added to the barbettes above and below the main deck; the turret roofs were probably made thicker. The total weight of armour went up from 10,396t to 13,O32t. Data was now: Displacement: 39,120t standard; 42,753t trial Dimensions: Changed as follows - 725ft 4in wl, 738ft Oin oa x 108ft 2in x 31ft 2in 221.07, 224.94 x 32.96 x 9.49m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 10 boilers, 82,OOOshp = 25kts. Oil 5600t Armour: Belt 11.8in, deck 2.7in (main), 5in (middle), barbettes 11.8in + 4.9in (above deck), 3in + 8.4in (below deck), turrets 14in, conning tower 14.6in-3.8in Armament: 8-16. lin/45 (4x2), 18-5.5in/50 (18x I), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2) 2O-25mm AA, 3 aircraft Complement: 1368 Nagato about 1928 The light AA armament in Nagato was increased to 68-25mm in June 1944, two 5.5in being removed, and to 98-25mm in 1945, when trial displacement reached 42,893t. There was one catapult. Mutsu was accidentally destroyed in the Inland Sea by an internal explosion, probably originating in a magazine. Nagaio survived the war, although considerably damaged, and was used as a target in the Bikini A-bomb tests. Kaga class The construction of these battleships (26.5kts, Ilin belt, 10-16in guns) was suspended soon after they were launched, and they were cancelled under the terms of the Washington Treaty. Kaga was completed as an aircraft carrier and is described in a later section; Tosa was used as a target for torpedoes and diving shells, the results being used to design the protection of the Yaniato class. Kii class Four high-speed battleships of the Kii class (Kii, Owari, No 11, No 12: 42,600t normal, 29.7kts, 11.5in belt, 10-16in guns) were cancelled at the same time as the Faga class. The builders had been selected but no keels laid; in appearance, they would have been almost identical with the Amagi class battlecruisers. 172
The Japanese Navy in 1922 BATTLECRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Kongo class KONGO 18.5.1912 27,500t Sunk 21 11.44 HIEI 21.11.1912 27,500t Sunk 13.11.42 KIRISHIMA 1.12 1913 27,500t Sunk 15 11.42 HARUNA 14.12 1913 27,500t Sunk 28.7.45 A magi class AMAGI 41,200t BU 1923 AKAGI (22.4.1925) 41,200t Converted 1923-27 ATAGO — 41,200t BU 1923 TAKAO (ex-Ashitaka') — 41,200t BU 1923 Kongo class The class underwent major reconstruction, following which they were reclass- ified as battleships, as follows: Kongo 1929-31, Kirishima 1927-30, Haruna 1927-28. All three were reboilered, the forefunnel being remosed and the second enlarged and heightened, while bulges were fitted and the horizontal protection greatly strengthened (the total weight of armour was increased from 6502t to 10,313D The elevation of the main armament was increased from 33° to 43' Data was now: Displacement: 29,330t standard; 31,785t normal Dimensions: Unchanged except 95ft 3in beam and 28ft 4in draught 29 04, 8 65m Machinery: Changed as follows - 10 boilers {Haruna 16), 25 9kts. Oil 3292t, coal 266It Armour: Changed as follows - middle deck 4.7in over magazines, 3.2m over machinery, barbettes and turret roofs increased by 3in Armament: 8-14in/45 (4x2), 16-6in/50 (16x1), 4-3in/40 AA {Kongo 7-3m), 4-2lin TT sub, 3 aircraft Complement: 1118 Hici was reconstructed and demilitarised as a training ship between 1929 and 1932 Her main characteristics became: standard displacement l9,500t on draught 20ft 9in 6 30m), output 13,800shp = 18kts with only 11 of the 36 boilers, no armour belt, armament 6-14in/45 (3x2), 16-6m/50 (16x1), 4-3in/40 AA. The 6in guns were subsequently removed. All four shipN underwent further reconstruction as follows- Kongo 1935-37, Hiei (remilitarised) 1936-40,Kirishitna 1934-36,Haruna 1933-34. The hull was rebuilt aft, increasing the length, and the machinery completely renewed, the original power being more than doubled The AA armament was increased, 419 extra tons of armour w'orked into the barbettes, and a catapult installed Z/ici’s fire contiol arrangements and bridge structure layout served as a model for the Varnaio class. Data now became: Displacement: Kongo 3l,720t, Hiei 32,350t, Kirishima 31,9S0l, Haruna 32,156t standard; Kongo 35,740t, Hiei 36,400t, Haruna 36,023t trial Dimensions: Changed as follows - length 720ft 6in wl, 738ft 7in oa, draught 31ft 1 lin 219.61, 222.05, 9.72m Machinery. Changed as follows - 8 boilers (Hiei, Haruna 11), 136,000shp = 30 5kts Oil 6330t Armament: 8-14 n/45 (4x2), 14-6m/50 (14x1), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 4—40mm AA, 8-13 2in AA (w0-25min AA in 1936), 3aircraft Complement 1437 Hui about 192X Armament changes to Kongo and Haruna during the war were as follows: in 1943, the light AA armament was increased to 34—25mm, in 1944 radar was added, and the secondary and light armament became 8-5in, 12-5in/4O DP (6x2), 34-25inm AA In October 1944 the light AA armament was IOO-25inm, and m Haruna in 1945 118-25mm, with some depth charges Kongo blew up and sank two hours after being hit by one torpedo from the US submarine Sealion. Hiei, crippled by over 50 shell hits of 8m calibre downwards in the first Battle of Guadalcanal, was finished off by four airborne torpedoes Kirishima was totally disabled by gunfire from USS Washingion in rhe second Battle of Guadalcanal (she was hit by 9 16m and over 40 5m shells, at only 8400yds range), and had to be scuttled Haruna, sunk in shallow water near Kurc by US aircraft, was broken up in 1946. A magi class The construction of these battlecruisers (30kts, 10m belt, 10-16in guns) was suspended before they were launched, and they were cancelled under the terms of the Washington Treaty. Akagi was completed as an aircraft carrier and is described in a later section, the others were demolished on their slipways. Tour battlecruisers or fast battleships (Nos 13-16, 47,500t normal, 30kts, 13in belt, 8-18m guns) were cancelled at the same time as the Akagi class No names or builders had been selected, and no keels were laid. ARMOURED CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Asama class ASAMA 22 3 1898 9700t Training ship 1937 TOKIWA 6.7.1898 9700t BU 1947 Convened 1928-29 Yakumo class YAKUMO 8 7.1899 9850t BU 1947 Adzuma class ADZUMA 24 6 1899 9456t Hulk 1941, Izutno class IZUMO 19.9.1899 9750t BU 1946 Sunk 28.7 45 1WATE 29 3 1900 9750t Sunk 25.7.45 Kasuga class KASUGA 22.10.1902 7628t Hulked 1942, NISSHIN 9.2.1903 7698t sunk 18.7.45 Discarded 1935, Ikoma class IKOMA 9.4.1906 13,750l sunk as target 1936 BU 1923 Ktirama class KURA MA 21.10 1907 14,6361 BU 1923 IBUKI 21.11.1907 14,636t BU 1923 Asama class Rated as first class coast defence ships Asama underwent armament changes like У'akumo's, the main deck 6in guns being removed by 1937. Tokiwa, rebuilt as a minelayer, is described in a later section Yakumo Rated as a first class coast defence ship. Yakumo was used for training from 1921. In 1924, 4—3in QF and 12—47mm QI*’ guns, and three 18in TT were removed, and replaced by I—3in AA; following a further refit in 1930-33, the armament was 4-8m/45, 12-6m QF, 4-3in QF, 1 -3m AA, no TT, and perfor- mance after rebodering was 7000ihp = 16kts In 1945 the 8in turrets were replaced by 5in DP guns on bandstands, the final armament being 4-6in QF (4x 1), 4-5in/40 DP (2x2), l-3in AA, I2-25nim AA, with speed about 9kts Adzuma Rated as a first class coast defence ship, Adzurna had been used for training from 1914 Armament changes in 1924 were as in Yakumo, and after a further refit in 1930 she carried 4-8in/45, 8-6m QI , 4—3in QF, l-3in AA, 2-18m TT; performance after reboilering was 94OOihp = 16kts. 173
JAPAN Knakami 1941 Magara 1943 I sumo class Rated as first class coast defence ships. Iwaie was used for training from 1923, but Izumo served as Flagship of Naval Forces in China from 1932 to 1942, only becoming a training ship in 1943 Armament changes m 1924 were as in Yakumo, but with one 18in TT removed . After refits in 1930-31, Izumo was armed with 4-8m/45, 8-6in, 4—3in QF, 1—3in AA, no TT, and Iwaie with 4—8in 45, 8-6in, 2-3in QF, 3—3in A A, 3 MG, no TT; performance after reboiknng was 7000ihp = 16kts. In 1944-45 the 8in turrets were replaced by Sin DP guns on bandstands, the final armament being 4-6in QF (4* * 1)14-5in/40 DP (2x2), l-3in AA (Iwaie 3-3in AA), 14-25mm AA (Iwaie 9-25mm AA), 2-13.2mm AA (not in Iwaie) with speeds around 12kts. Both ships, sunk in shallow water at Kure by US aircraft, were broken up postwar. Kasuga class These ships, rated as first class cruisers, were used for training from 1927. In 1924, 2-3in QF and the 47mm QF were removed, and replaced by l-3in AA. After a further refit in 1933, Kasuga's armament was l-10in/45,2-8in/45 (1 x2), 4—6in 40 QF (4x1), 4—3in QF, l-3in AA, 4-18in TT. Kasuga, sunk in shallow water at Yokosuka by US aircraft, was broken up postwar. Ikoma/Kurama class These three ships, re-rated as first class cruisers in 1921 (previously battlec- ruisers), were discarded in accordance with the Washington Treaty. LIGHT CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Tenryu class TENRYU 11.3.1918 3948t Sunk 18 12.42 IATSUTA 29.5.1918 3948t Sunk 13 3 44 Кита class KU MA 14.7.1919 5500t Sunk 11.1.44 TAMA 10.2.1920 5500t Sunk 25.10.44 KITAKAMI 3.7.1920 5500t BU 1946 OI 15.7 1920 5500t Sunk 19 7 44 KISO 14.12.1920 55OOt Sunk 13 11 44 Hagar a class NAGARA 25 4 1921 5570t Sunk 7.8 44 ISUZU 29.10.1921 5570t Sunk 7.4 45 NATORI 16.2.1922 5570t Sunk 18 8 44 YURU 15.2.1922 5570t Sunk 25.10.42 KINU 29.5.1922 5570t Sunk 26.10.44 ABUKUMA 16.3 1923 5570t Sunk 26.10 44 PROTECTED CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Chiiose class СНГ1 OSE Niilaka class 23 1.1898 4760t Discarded 1928 Sunk as target 19 7.31 NIITAKA 15.11.1902 3366t lost in storm 26 8.22 TSUSHIMA Tone class 15.12.1902 3366t Hulked 1930. Sunk 1944 TONE Chikuma class 24 10.1904 4100t Discarded 1931. Sunk as target 1933 CHIKUMA 1.4 1911 5000t Discarded 1931 HIRADO 29.6.1911 5000t Discarded 1939. BU 1947 YAHAGI 3.10.1911 5000t Hulked 1940. BU 1947 Chiiose This ship was rated as a second class cruiser. I-3in A A replaced 2-3in QF in * 1924. Kiitaka class Rated as second class coast defence ships. In 1924, l-3in AA replaced 2-3in QF in Tsushima", this ship was sunk at Yokosuka, probably by US aircraft. Tone and Chikuma classes The four ships were rated as second class cruisers. The Chikuma class was reboilcred in 1924, 6 boilers replacing the original 16, and 2-3m/40 AA were added. 2-3in QF were removed from Hirado and Yahagi around 1932. Tenryu class This class, and later ships m this section, were rated as second class cruisers The pole foremast was replaced by a tripod in 1930-31, and 2-13 2mm AA were added in 1939, but the class was not otherwise modernised. Both ships were victims of US submarine torpedoes, the boats being Albacore and Sandlance respectively. I Кита class A flying-off platform for an aircraft was installed forward in 1927, with a hangar in the bridge. The platforms were removed about 1935, when Кита and lama were fitted with a tripod mainmast, and a catapult for an aircraft between Nos 5 and 6 5.Sin guns. Eight 24in ГТ replaced the original 2lin TT in 1940. In 1941, Kitakami and Oi were rebuilt as torpedo cruisers, in a most unusual conversion. Nos 5,6 and 7 5.5in guns were removed, 200ft sponsons, extending from the first funnel to the mainmast, increased overall beam from 47ft Sin (14 4m) to 57ft 3in (17 45m), and supported ten quadruple 24m TT, easily the heaviest torpedo battery ever mounted afloat Data became: displacement 5870t standard, and armament 4-5.5in/50 (4x 1), 8-25mm AA, 4G-24in TT (10x4). Oi was further rearmed in 1943, the remaining 5.5in guns being replaced by 4-5in/40 DP (2x2, fore and aft), and 28-25mm AA being added. Torpedo cruisers became doubtful bargains as the possibility of a fleet action faded alter Midway, so in 1942-43 Knakami was converted into a fast transport, with armament 4-5in/40 DP (2x2), 18-25mm AA, 8-24m TT (2x4), and 6(?) 14m Daihatsu landing craft In January 1944 she was hit in the aft engine room by a British submarine torpedo, and was rebuilt as a Kaiten (suicide submarine) carrier; data was then: displacement 5640t standard, 6960t trial, armament 4-5in/40 DP(2x2), 67-25mm AA, 8 Kaiten, 18 DCs, and performance with the two turbines and two shafts remaining 35,OOOshp = 23kts Nos 5 and 7 5.5in guns in Tama and Kiso were replaced by 2-5in/40 DP(1 x2) in July 1944, when the light A A armament was increased to 44-25mm and 6-13.2mm. Кита was sunk by torpedoes from the British submarine Tally Ho off Penang; Tama, damaged m the Battle of Cape Engano, was finished off bv 3 torpedoes from the US submarine^a/Zao Kitakami was used postwar as a repair ship for repatriation transports before being scrapped. Oi was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine Flasher, whereas Kiso was a victim of US carrier aircraft in Manila Bay. 174
The Japanese Navy in 1922. Nagara class This class was completed with a flying-off platform forward and a hangar in the bridge, but no aircraft was carried (except briefly by Yura and Abukuma in 1926-27)until a catapult was added to the platform in about 1927. Abukuma was repaired with a bow likeVaAu’s after colliding with Kitakami tn 1930. Between 1931 and 1936 the pole mainmast was replaced by a tripod, and the catapult moved aft, between nos 5 and 6 5.Sin guns In 1943, nos 5 and 7 5 Smgunswcrc replaced by 2-5in/4O DP (1 x 2), when the light AA armament was augmented to 22-25mm and 2-13.2mm; the torpedo battery was reportedly increased to 24-24in TT. 1 he displacement of the surviving units increased to 6050t by June 1944, with 36-25mm AA and speed reduced to 33.4kts. Isuzu was re-armed as an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1944, with an armament of 6-5in/40 DP (3x2), 38-25mm AA, 8-24in TT (4x2) All were war losses. Three were sunk by US submarine torpedoes: Nagara (sunk by Croaker), Isuzu (Charr and Gabilan), and Naion (Hardhead). Yuru, crippled by Manne aircraft off Guadalcanal, was sunk by Japanese destroyers, whereas Kinu and Abukuma were despatched by US aircraft in the retreat from the Leyte Gulf Battle. DESTROYERS (THIRD CLASS) Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Asakase class ASA К AZ E 28 10.1905 3811 Minesweeper 1923 Sold 1928 WAKABA 25.11 1905 3811 Minesweeper 1923 Sold 1928 USHIO 18.6 1905 38It Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 NENOHI 30 8.1905 381t Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 KISARAG1 6.9.1905 3811 Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 KAMIKAZE 15.7.1905 381t Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 HATSUSHI MO 13 5 1905 38h Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 YUGURE 17.11.1905 381t Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 11ARUKAZE 25 12.1905 381t Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 YAYOI 7 8 1905 381t Sold 1925 01 IE 10 1 1906 381t Sold 1925 H1BIK1 31 3.1906 381t Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 HAISUYUKI 8 3 1906 38h Minesweeper 1923. Sold 1928 YUDACH1 26 3 1906 38h Minesweeper 1923 Sold 1928 NOWAKI 25.7.1906 381t Sold 1924 MIKAZUK1 26 5 1906 381t Sold 1928 SHIGURE March 1906 381t Sold 1925 IIATSUHARU 12 5.1906 381t Sold 1925 HAYAKAZE April 1906 3811 Sold 1925 SI11RATSUYU 12.2.1906 381i Sold 1928 SHIRAYUK! 19 5 1906 381t Sold 1928 MATSUKAZE 23.12 1906 381t Sold 1925 NAGATSUKI 15.12 1906 381t Minesweeper No ll 1926. Sold 1930 YL’NAGI 22.8.1906 381t Sold 1925 UZUKI 20 9.1906 381t Sold 1925 MINAZUKI 5.11.1906 381t Minesw eeper No 10 1926 Sold 1930 HAYAГЕ 22.5.1906 381t Sold 1925 KI К UZUKI 18.4.1907 381t Minesweeper Ko 12 1926 Sold 1930 URANA.M1 8.12 1907 381t Minesweeper No 8 1926 Sold 1930 IS0NAM1 21 1! 1908 38h Minesweeper Ko 7 1926. Sold 1930 AYANAMI 20 3 1909 381t Minesweeper Vo 9 1926 Sold 1930 Ihe units converted to minesweepers were rearmed with 2-4 7in/45 and 2-3in 40 guns DESTROYERS (SECOND CLASS) Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Sakura class SAKURA 20 12 1911 605t Sold 1931 TACH IRAN A 27 1 1912 605t Sold 1931 Kaba class KABA 6 2.1915 665t Sold 1931 MATSU 5.3.1915 665t Sold 1931 KASHIWA 14.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 KATSURA 4.3.1915 665t Sold 1931 KAEDE 20.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 KIRI 28.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 KUSUNOKI 5.3.1915 665t Sold 1931 UME 27.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 SAKAKI 15.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 SUGI 16.2.1915 665t Sold 1931 Momo class MOMO 12.10.1916 835i Sold 1940 KASHI 1.12.1916 835t Sunk 10.10.44 HINOKI 25.12.1916 835t Sold 1940 YANAGI 24.2.1917 835t Hulked 1940. К no kt class ENOKI 5.3.1918 850t BU 1947 Minesweeper Vo 10 NARA 28 3.1918 850t 1930. Sold 1938 Minesweeper Ko 9 TSUBAKI 23.2.1918 850t 1930 Sold 1938 Sold 1932 KUWA 23.2.1918 850t Sold 1932 KEYAKI 15.1 1918 850t Sold 1932 MAKI 28 12.1917 850t Sold 1932 Atomi class MOMI 10.6.1919 850t Hulked 1932 KAYA 10.6.1919 850t Sold 1939 NIRE 22 12.1919 850t Tender 1940. NASHI 26.8.1919 850t BU 1948 Sold 1939 TAKE 26.8 1919 850t Tender 1940 KAKI 20.10.1919 850t BU 1947 Tender 1940 KURI 19.3.1920 850t BU 1947 Sunk 8 10.45 TSUGA 17.4.1920 850t Sunk 15.1.45 FUJI 27.11.1920 850t Patrol Boat No 36 KIKU 13.10.1920 850t 1939. BU 1947 Patrol Boat No 31 AOI 9.11.1920 850t 1939. Sunk 30.3.44 Patrol boat No 32 HAGI 29 10 1920 850t 1939. Sunk 23.12 41 Patrol boat No 33 SUSUKI 21.2 1921 850t 1939. Sunk 23.12.41 Patrol Boat No 34 ASHI 3.9.1921 850t 1939 Sunk 3 7.44 Tender 1940. TSUTA 9.5.1921 850t BU 1947 Patrol Boat No 35 WARABI 28.9.1921 850t 1939 Sunk 2 9 43 Lost 24 8 1927 HASU 8.12.1921 850t BU 1946 HISHI 30.5.1921 850t Patrol Boat No 37 SUMIRE 14.12.1921 850t 1939 Constructive total loss 24.1.42 Tender 1940, YOMOGI 14.3.1922 850t BU 1948 Patrol Boat No 38 Г A DE 15.3.1922 850t 1939. Sunk 25.11.44 Patrol Boat No 39 Wakaiake class WAKATAKE (No 2) 24.7.1922 900t ' 1939. Sunk 23 4 43 Sunk 30.3.1944 KURETAKE (Vo 4) 21.10 1922 900t Sunk 30 12 1944 SANAE (No 6) 15.2.1923 900t Sunk 18 11 1943 SAWARAB1 (.Vo S) 1.9.1923 900t Lost 5 12 1932 ASAGAO (V«> 10) 4.11.1922 900t BU 1948 YUGAO (No 12) 14.4.1923 900t Patrol Boat No 46 10.11 44 FUYO (Vo /6) 23.9.1922 900t 1942 Sunk 10 11 44 Sunk 20 12.43 KURUKAYA (Vo IS) 19 3.1923 900t Sunk 10.5.44 At ото class Kashi served in the Manchukuo Navy as Hat U'ei between 1937 and 1913. She was renamed Kott when returned to Japan for use as a convoy escort
JAPAN Enpki class 1'he units converted to minesweepers were rearmed with 2-4.7in/45 guns and 2 MGs. Morni class Nine ships, as listed above, were convened to patrol boats in 1939, data became: displacement 1162i trials, armament 2-4.7in/45, 6-25nun AA, 60 DCs, and performance with one boiler removed 1200shp = 18kts. All except No 31 had sterns modified in 1941 so they were able to carry and launch one 46ft Daihatsu landing craft with 150 troops The light AA armament of No 31 was increased to 8-25mm in 1941. Nire,Take, Kaki,Ashi andSumire, disarmed in 1939, were re-rated as lenders in 1940; data became: displacement 755t standard, armament 1 or 2—4.7in/45, 2-2Im TT and performance with two boilers removed 9000shp = 14kts. Used for training, four were renamed in 1944—45 as follows: Tomanura No 1 (ex-Xire), Osu (ex-Kaki), Tomariura No 2 (ex-AsAt), Mnaka (ex-Sumire). Warabi was lost by collision with the cruiser Jintsu, several were lost during the war, while Kuri hit a mine postwar. Wakatake class Originally numbered, the names being assigned in 1928. Five further units were cancelled following the Washington Treaty. Yugao was converted to a patrol boat in 1939-40, data becoming: displacement 1130t trials, armament 2-4 7m/45, 8-25min AA, 60 DCs, and performance with one boiler removed 10,OOOshp = 18kts. Wartime armament of the unconverted ships was 2-4 7m/45, 6-25mm AA, some 13.2mm AA, 4-21in TT (Asagao 2-21in IT), 36-48 DCs Sawarabi capsized and sank in heavy w’eather in 1932, six were war losses (five to US submarines, Wakatake to US carrier aircraft), and Asagao survived, heavily damaged. Umikaze class As converted to minesweepers, displacement was 1030t standard, armament l-4.7in/40, 4-3in and speed 24kts. Minekaze class Yakaze was refitted m 1937 as control ship for the radio-controlled target sh p Settsu, with one or two 4 7in guns and all torpedo tubes removed In 1939-40, Nakakaze andShimakaze were convened to patrol boats, characteristics becom- ing: displacement 1700t trials, armament 2-4.7in, 10-25mm AA, 2-21inTT, 16 DCs, and performance with one boiler removed 19,250shp = 20kts. In 1941 they were modified to carry and launch two Daihatsu landing craft with 250 troops, the 4.7in gun aft being removed. Unconverted ships had hulls streng- thened, ballast added and oil fuel capacity reduced in 1937/9. Speeds fell to 34.5-36kts, and displacements increased to 1552-1692t. Towards the end of the war surviving units were used as Kaiten carriers and aircraft rescue ships, with one or two 4 7in gunsand up to 20-25mm AA. Tenof this class were war losses’ Tachikaze to US carrier aircraft, Nadakaze to a British submarine, and the other eight to US submarines. Kamikaze class Launched as numbered units, names not being assigned until 1928. Two further ships of this class were cancelled following the Washington Treaty. Following 1941-42 reconstructions, the data became: displacement 1523t normal, arma- ment 3-4 7m/50 DP, 10-25mm AA, 4-2 Im TT (2x2). The 1 ght AA in surviv- ing units became 13 to 2O-25mm and 4-13.2mm by June 1944, with speed down to 35kts. Seven of the class became war losses; Hayate was sunk by shore batteries in the first attack on Wake Island, Hatakaze and Oite were victims of carrier aircraft, and the other four went down to US submarine torpedoes DESTROYERS (FIRST CLASS) Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Umikaze class UMIKAZE 10 10 1910 1150t Minesweeper .Vo 7 YAMAKAZE 21.1.1911 1150t 1930. Sold 1936 Minesweeper Vo 8 Urakaze class URAKAZE 16 2.1915 907t 1930. Sold 1936 Hulked 1936 Amaisukaze class AMATSUKAZE 5.10.1916 1227t Sunk 18 7.45 Sold 1935 ISOKAZE 5.10.1916 1227t Sold 1935 TOKITSUKAZE 27 12 1916 1227t Hulked 1935. HAMAKAZE 30.10.1916 1227t BU 1948 Sold 1935 Kawakaze class KAWAKAZE 10.10.1917 1130t Sold 1934 TANIKAZE 20.7 1918 U30t Hulked 1935. Minekaze class MINEKAZE 8.2.1919 1345t BUH946 Sunk 10.2.44 SAWAKAZE 7.1 1919 1345t BU 1948 OK1KAZE 3 10 1919 1345t Sunk 10 1.43 HAKAZE 21 6.1920 1345t Sunk 23.1 43 YAKAZE 10.4.1920 1345t Target 1942, NADAKAZE 26.6.1920 1345t BU 1948 Patrol Boat No 2 SHIMAKAZE 31.3.1920 13451 1939. Sunk 25 .7.45 Patrol Boat .Vo 1 AKIKAZE 14.12.1920 1345t 1939. - Sunk 13 1.43 Sunk 3.11.44 SHIOKAZE 22.10.1920 1345t BU 1948 YUKAZE 28.5.1921 1345t BU 1947 HOKAZE 12.7.1921 1345t Sunk 6.7.44 TACHIKAZE 31 3.1921 1345t Sunk 17.2 44 NOKAZE 1.10 1921 1345t Sunk 20 2.45 NAMIKAZE 24.6.1922 1345t To China 1947 as NUMAKAZE 25.2.1922 I345t Shen Yang BU Sunk 19.12.43 Kamikaze class KAMIKAZE (No I) 25.9 1922 1400t Wrecked 7 6.46. ASAKAZE (No 3) 8.12.1922 1400t BU Sunk 23.8.44 HARUKAZE (No 5) 18.12.1922 1400t BU 1947 MA 1 SUKAZE (No 7) 30 10.1923 I400t Sunk 7 6 44 HAI AKAZE (No 9) 15.3.1924 1400t Sunk 12 I 45 OITE (No //) 27.11.1924 1400t Sunk 17.2 44 HAYATE (No 13) 23.3.1925 1400t Sunk 11.12.41 ASANAGI (No IS) 21.4.1924 1400t Sunk 22 5 44 YUNAGI (No 17) 23.4 1924 1400t Sunk 25 8.44 SUBMARINES In 1922, Japanese submarines were numbered in sequence, but between 1924 and 1927 they were re-numbered according to size in three senes, the ‘Ha* series for third class submarines (under 500 tons), the ‘RO’ senes for second class submarines (500-1000 tons) and the ‘Г scries for first class submarines (over 1000 tons). Numberings in these series continued until 1945 SUBMARINES (THIRD CLASS) Number Launched Disp (surface) Fate Cl class - Vickers type 1 Ha 1 (ex-.Vo 8) 19 5 .1908 286t Sold 1928 Ha2 (ex-.Vo 9) 19.5.1908 286t Sold 1928 C2 class — Vickers type Ha3 (ex-.Vo 10) 4 3.1911 291t Sold 1928 Ha4 (ex-Vo 11) 18 3.1911 291t Sold 1928 Ha5 (ex-.Vo 12) 27.3.1911 291t Sold 1928 Vickers — Kawasaki type Наб (ex-.Vo 13) 18 7.1912 304t Sold 1928 Schneider-Laubeuf type Ha9 (ex-.Vo 14) 8 7.1918 529t Sold 1928 Ha 10 (ex-.Vo 15) 7.4.1914 457t Sold 1928 C3 class - Vickers type Ha7 (ex-.Vo 16) 15.3.1916 290t Sold 1928 Ha8 (ex-.Vo 17) 15.3.1916 290t Sold 1928 The original No 14 became the French Armide in 1915; the No 14 listed above was built as a replacement. SUBMARINES (SECOND CLASS) Number Launched Disp (surface) Fate Fiat-Laurenti type RO1 (ex-.Vo 18) 28 7.1919 717t Sold 1930 RO2 (ex-.Vo 21) 22.11.1919 7I7t Sold 1930 RO3 (ex-Vo 31) 10.3.1921 740t Sold 1930 RO4 (ex-.Vo 32) 22.6.1921 740t Sold 1930 RO5 (ex-Vo 33) 17.9.1921 740t Sold 1930 KI class RO 11 (ex-No 19) 15.10.1917 735t Sold 1931 RO 12 (ex-No 20) 1 12.1917 735t Sold 1931 K2 class ROB (ex-.Vo 22) 31.3.1919 755t Hulked 1931. ROH (ex-No 23) 26 8.1919 755t BU 1948 Sold 1932 RO 15 (ex-No 24) 14 10.1920 755t Sold 1931 176
The Japanese Navy in 1922 1.1 class - Vickers type RO51 (ex-No 25) 25.10.1919 902t Sold 1940 RO52 (ex-No 26) L2 class - Vickers type 9.3.1920 902t Sold 1932 RO53 (ex-No 27) 6.7.1920 902t Sold 1938 RO54 (ex-No 28) 13.10.1920 902t Sold 1939 RO55 (ex-No 29) 10.2.1921 902t Sold 1939 RO56 (ex-No 30) КЗ class 11.5.1921 902t Sold 1940 RO 16 (ex-No 34) 24.2.1921 755t Sold 1932 RO 17 (ex-No 35) 25.3.1921 755t Sold 1936 RO 18 (ex-No 36) 28.12.1920 755t Hulked 1936. BU 1948 RO19(ex No 37) 22.4.1921 755t Sold 1936 RO20 (ex-No 38) 26.10.1920 755t Sold 1932 RO21 (ex-No 39) 26.10.1920 755t Sold 1932 RO22 (ex-No 40) 15.10.1921 755t Sold 1932 RO23 (ex-No 41) 25.10.1921 755t Sold 1932 RO24 (ex-No 42) 8.12.1919 755t Sold 1932 RO25 (ex-No 43) K4 class 17.7.1920 755t Sold 1936 RO26 (ex-No 45) 18.10.1921 770t Hulked 1940. BU 1948 RO27 (ex-No 58) 22.7.1922 770t Hulked 1940. BU 1947 RO28 (ex-No 62) 13.4.1922 770t Hulked 1940. BU 1948 13 class - Vickers type RO57 (ex-No 46) 3.12.1921 889t BU 1946 RO58 (ex-No 47) 2.3.1922 889t BU 1946 RO59 (ex-No 57) KT class 28.6.1922 889t BUH946 RO29 (ex-No 68) 5.12.1922 665t Sold 1936 RO30 (ex-No 69) 18.1.1923 665t BU 1947 RO31 (ex-No 70) Feb 1923 665t Scuttled 5.4.46 RO32 (ex-No 71) 19.3.1923 665t BU 1947 K4 class Five further units of (his class, Nos 63-67, were cancelled in 1922. 13 class These boats were used for (raining from 1941 RIVER GUNBOATS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate SUMI DA 26.6.1903 126t Sold 1935 FUSHIMI 5.8.1906 180l Sold 1935 TOBA 7.11.1911 250t To China 1945 as Yang Chi Seta class SETA 30.6.1922 340t To China 1945 as Chang Teh KATATA 16.7.1922 340t BUH946 HIRA 14.3.1923 340t Constructive total loss 26.11.44. BU HOZU 19.4.1923 340t Constructive total loss 26.11.44. BU Toha's 2-3in/28 guns were replaced by 2-3in/40 AA cI935, and the light armament from 1940 was 3-25mm AA, 1-13.2mm AA. The guns were removed in 1945 for use ashore. 1 he armament of the Sera class c 1940 was 2-3m/40 AA, 6-25mm A A. The 25mm AA were subsequently replaced by 5-13.2mm AA inSeia and Kaiaur, the guns were removed from these ships in 1945 for use ashore. Hira and Hozu, reduced to wrecks by Chinese aircraft on the Yangtse in 1944, were broken up later. MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate KATSURIKI 5.10.1916 2000t Converted 1936 TSUGARU (ex-Pallada) 26.8.1899 673 It Discarded 1922. Sunk as target 1924 ASO (ex-Bayan) 12.6.1900 7726t Discarded 1930. Sunk as target 1932 KT class RO30-RO32 were used for training from 1940. GUNBOATS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate Second class UJ1 14.3.1903 620t Sold 1932 SAGA 4 10.1912 785c Sunk 22.1.45 Al AKA (ex-Nakoso) 11.4.1922 880t To China 1945 as An Tung Eirsi class * CHIHAYA 26.5.1900 I243t BUH939 YODO 18.11 1907 1250t Converted 1927 MOGAMI 25.3.1908 1350t Sold 1928 Saga was rearmed during the 1930s, the armament becoming l-4.7in/45, 3-3in/40 AA, 6 MG; she was sunk by US aircraft at Hong Kong. Ataka was refitted with a tripod foremast and rearmed in 1937, the armament becoming l-4.7in/45,2-3in/40 AA, 8-13.2mm AA, 2-7.7mm MG. Bulges were added to improve stability, increasing the displacement to 1094t and the beam to 32ft lin Chihaya was used as a TS from 1927. Used for surveying duties from 1927, Yodo was hulked in 1940 and broken up postwar. Only 2-3in guns were fitted from 1927. Kaisuriki was rearmed with 2-3in/40 AA guns in 1931. Employed on surveying duties from 1936, she was re-rated as a survey ship in 1942, and sunk by a US submarine 21.9.44. The above two ex-Russian cruisers were fitted for minelay- ing and rated as minelayers in 1920. There were also the Natsushima, Sokuten, Toshima, Kuroshinta, Ashikazt, Katoku, Kurokami, Kalashima, Ento, Enoshima, Kurosaki, Ninoshinta, Washizaki. These 420t tender-type minelaying (and minesweeping) vessels were launched between 1911 and 1920. They were rearmed in 1941/2, when the armament became l-3in/40 AA, 120 mines; one or two 13.2mm AA were added in 1944/5. The old 3rd class destroyers Marakumo and Yugure (launched 1898-99) were removed from the effective list in 1921 and rerated as depot ships for mine- sweepers and torpedo boats; they were also fitted for minesweeping. Their fates are not known. MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS Thomycroft built four 55ft CMBs for Japan in 1920. Nos 615 and one other, number unknown, were later used for training, and sold c 1939; the third boat, No 1149, still existed at Kure as a tender in 1945. The fate of the fourth boat, number unknown, is uncertain. 177
JAPAN CAPITAL SI 1 IPS The ultimate battleships, with the greatest displacement, biggest guns and heaviest armour of all time. Yamato and Musashi were ordered in the 1937 3rd Supplementary Pro- gramme, the second pair in the 1939 4th Supplementary Programme. Their historv, even in the design stage, consisted of a senes of super- latives; no fewer than 23 different pro- jects were considered before plans were finalised. Yamato and Shinano were built in new or enlarged docks, whereasMusashi was launched from a conventional slipway at a record 35,737t. Special precautions, includ- ing a 408t camouflage net for Musashi, were needed to keep their building secret. A heaxy-hft ship,KosAino, was constructed to transport 18.lin guns and mountings to rhe shipyards. Protection was designed to give immunity against 1 Sin shells between 22,000 and 33,000yds, and against a It bomb dropped from 15,000ft. Below the belt (inclined at 20е to the vertical) was a 7.9in-3in anti-torpedo bulkhead (14° inclination) which extended to the outer bottom along machinery spaces, but was carried under the magazines fore and aft as extra protection against mines. The connection of the bell to this bulkhead was weak, and the inboard bulkheads inelastic, so that the ami-torpedo pro- tection fell below expectations. Each triple turret had a total revolving weight of 2530t, and the range at 45° elevation with a 32201b AP projectile was 45,960% ds, rate of fire being 1.5-2 rounds per gun per minute. There were (wo catapults. The designed displacement figures listed above were exceeded, actual figures being 63,000t (approx) stan- dard, 68,010t trial, 71,659t full load. The 6-6.lin guns amidships were removed in 1943, to make room for an additional 12-5in/40 DP (6x2), although these were only fitted in Yamato. The light AA armament in this ship was increased to 36-25mm in 1943, 98-25mm in April 1944, 113-25mm in July 1944 and YAMATO class Displacement: 62,315t standard; 67,123t trial; 69,990t full load Dimensions: 800ft 6in pp, 839ft 1 lin wl, 862ft 9in oa x 121ft lin x 34ft lin 244.00, 256.00, 263.00 x 36.90 x 10.40m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 150,000shp = 27kts. Oil 6300t Armour: Belt 16 lin, deck 9 lin-7 9in, barbettes 21.5in-2in, turrets 25 6in-7.6in, conning tower 19.7in-l 1.Sin Armament: 9-18.1m/45 (3x3), 12-6. lin/60 (4x3), 12-5in/40 DP (6x 2), 24-25mm AA, 4-13.2mm A A, 7 aircraft Complement: 2500 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate YAMATO Kure N Yd 4.11.1937 8.8 40 16.12.41 Sunk 7 4 45 MUSASHI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 29.3.1938 1.11 40 5 8 42 Sunk 24 10.44 SHINANO Yokosuka N Yd 4.5.1940 (8.10.44) (19.11.44) Converted 1942-44 No Ill Kure N Yd 7.11 1940 — — BU incomplete 1942 15O-25mm in 1945. The data for Musashi were 36-25mm in 1943, 54—25mm early m 1944, 115-25mmin April 1944 and 13O-25mm in July 1944. The construction of Shinano and No 111, which would have had mar- g nally thinner armour than the first pair and a modified A A armament, was suspended in December 1941 and cancelled in 1942. Shinano, about 50 per cent complete, was completed as an aircraft carrier (described later), but No 111 ,30 per cent complete, was Yamato on trials 30.10.1941 dismantled in the building dock. No 797, of similar type, proposed in the 1942 5th Supplementary Programme, was cancelled before being named or ordered. Two further ships, No 798 and 799, with 6-20in guns and prob- ably 18in side armour, were also proposed and cancelled in 1942. Neither completed ship had an opportunity of justifying her exis- tence, as both perished under the fury of American air attacks after brief careers. Musashi was sunk by between 10 and 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, part of the Leyte Gulf operations, and УЪинпо by between 9 and 13 tor- pedoes and 6 bombs while approach- ing Okinawa. The design of this type was begun in 1939, and tests on the 12.2in (31cm) gun and the proposed underwater protection system w-ere carried out in 1940-41. Plans were finalised in 1941, but in 1942, when more details of the US Alaska class became known, the proposed main armament was altered to 9-14.2m < 36cm) in three triple tur- rets (B65 type). The construction of two ships, A’os 795 and 796, to this design was approved in the 1942 Programme, but they were never named,ordered or laid down, because B64 type Displacement: 32,000t standard; 34,800t trial Dimensions: 787ft 5in wl, 802ft 6m oa x 89ft 3m x 28ft lOin 240.00, 244.60 x 27.20 x 8.80 m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 160,000shp = 33.0krs. Oil 4545t Armour: Belt 7Am, deck 5in Armament: 9-12 2m/50 (3x3), 16-3 9in/65 AA (8x2), 12-25mm AA, 8-13 2mm AA, 8-24in TT, 3 aircraft Complement: ? of more important wartime priorities. The ships would has e been rated as ‘super А-type (ie heavy) cruisers’, not battlecruisers (cf Alaska class), and in appearance would have been less mas- sive Yamatos. 178
Aircraft carriers AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Hosho was laid down as the naval oiler Hiryu, but conversion into an aircraft carrier was ordered in 1920. The revised design was prepared with the aid of the British Semphill Technical M ssion, and Hosho was fitted out in the Yokosuka N Yd. The flight deck was 519ft x 74ft 6in. The small star- board side island and tripod mast were removed in 1923 after trials; the funnels, which were hinged to lie horizontally during flying operations, were fixed in the upright position in 1934. The flight deck was lengthened aft in 1944, to give an overall length of 579ft 5in (176.60m). Hosho underwent various changes in armament; the 2-3in A A were replaced by 8-25mm AA (4x2) in 1941, and the 4-5.Sin guns by a further 8-25mm (4x2) in 1942. The aircraft complement was reduced to 21 in 1934, and 11 in 1942. She was used for training during the war, and by 1945 armament was 6-25mm AA (3x2) only. She was scrapped after the war following use as a repatriation transport. Construction of a sister ship, Shokaku, was cancelled because of the Washington Treaty. HOSHO_______________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 7470t standard; 9330t trial; 10,000t full load Dimensions: 510ft pp, 541ft 4in wl, 551ft 5in oa x 59ft lin x 20ft 3in 155.45, 165.00, 168.10 x 18.00 x 6.17m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 30,000shp = 25kts. Oil 2695t, coal 940t Armament: 4-5.5in/50 (4x 1), 2-3in/40 AA (2x 1), 2 MG, 26 aircraft Complement: 550 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate HOSHO Asano, Tsurumi 16.12.1919 13.11.21 16.12.22 BU 1947 Hosho about 1928 Akagi 1942 Akagi was laid down as a 41,200t bat- tlecruiser of the ‘8-8’ programme; construction was suspended in Feb- ruary 1922, and conversion to an air- craft carrier began on 19.11.1923. Conversion of a second battlecruiser, Amagi, was cancelled when this ship was wrecked on the stocks by the 1923 earthquake; the battleship Kaga was converted instead. The official stan- dard displacement is listed above, but the actual figure wasc30,000t. There were two hangars, with the flush flight deck 624ft x 100ft on top mainly for landings; two flying-off platforms forward enabled planes to take off from the hangar decks. The boiler uptakes led to two funnels on the starboard side, the larger curving downwards and the smaller upwards, both below flight deck level. Akugi was taken in hand for a com- plete reconstruction at Sasebo X Yd between 1935 and 1938. The hangars were lengthened by about 80ft, the flying-off platforms removed, and the flight deck extended almost the full length of the ship (817ft 6in x 100ft). П he aircraft complement was increased to 91, although 72 was the operational maximum. A small island was fitted to port amidships, the 8in turrets were removed, and the two lifts increased to three A 4ft wide bulge either side increased stability and Underwater protection, and the AKAGI Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 26,900t standard; 33,82It trial (after 1938 36,500t standard; 40,650t trial; 42,750t full load) 771ft Oin pp, 816ft 8in wl, 855ft 4inoa x 95ft x 26ft 6in (after 1938 821ft 5in wl, 855ft 2inoa x 102ft 9in x 28ft 7in) • 235.00, 249.00, 260.70 x 29.00 x 8.07 m (250.36, 260.67 x 31.32 x 8.71m) 4-shaft geared turbines, 19boilers, 131,200s'.ip = 31kts. Oil 3900t, coal 2lOOt. (After 1938 133,OOOshp = 31.2kts. Oil 6000t) Belt 10m, deck ?in, casemates ?in, turrets ?lin 10-8in/50 (2x2, 6x1), 12-4.7in/45 AA (6x2), 22 MG, 60 aircraft (after 1938 6-8in/50 (6x1), 12-4.7in/45 A A (6x2), 28-25mm AA, 91 aircraft) 2000 Builder Laid down Launched Comp KurcNYd 6.12.1920 22.4.25 25.3.27 Fate Sunk 5.6.42 Name AKAGI two funnels were replaced by a single long downward curved stack, still to starboard. Akagi's flight deck and hangars were wrecked by bombs from US dive-bombers at the Battle of Midway; uncontrollable fires were started, and the ship was abandoned and scuttled. Akagi as completed 179
JAPAN Kaga 1942 The Kaga was laid down and launched as a 39,900t battleship of the ‘8-8’ programme; construction was suspended in February 1922, and conversion to an aircraft carrier in place of the battlecruiser Amagi began in 1923. The official standard dis- placement is listed above, but the actual figure was c30,000t. Hangar, flight-deck and flying-off platforms followed the same pattern as the Akagi, although the flight deck was shorter (562ft x 100ft). Funnel arrangement differed, the boiler uptakes being trunked aft along the outside of the upper hangar deck to outlets over the quarterdeck, an unsatisfactory arrangement. The Kaga was taken in hand for a complete reconstruction at Sasebo N Yd between 1934 and 1935. The hull was lengthened aft by 34ft, the han- gars were extended forward, the flying-off platforms removed, and the flight deck extended the full length of the ship (815ft 6in x 100ft). The air- craft complement was increased to 90, although 81 was the operational max- imum, and this figure was reduced to 66 in 1942. A small island was added to starboard, forward of amidships, and a third lift was fitted. The addi- KAGA Displacement: 26,900t standard; 33,1611 trial (after 1935 38,200t standard; 41,869t trial; 43,650t full load) Dimensions: 715ft lin pp, 754ft 5in wl, 782ft 6in oa x 97ft x 26ft (after 1935 788ft Sin wl, 812fl 6in oa x 106ft 7in x 31ft lin) 218.00, 230.00, 238.50 x 29.60 x 7.93m (240.30, 247.65 x 32.50 x 9.48m) Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 91,OOOshp = 27.5kts. Oil 3600t, coal 1700t. (After 1938 8 boilers, 127,400shp = 28.34kts. Oil 5300t) Armour: Belt Ilin, deck ?in, casemates ?lin, turrets ?in Armament: 10-8in/50 (2x2, 6x1), 12-4.7in/45 AA (6x2), 22 MG, 60 aircraft (after 1938 10-8in/50 (10x1), 16-5in/40 DP (8x2), 22-25mm AA, increased to 3O-25mm in 1941, 90 aircraft) Complement: 1340 (after 1938 2016) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KAGA Kawasaki, Kobe 19.7.1920 17.11.21 31.3.28 Sunk 4.6.42 tion of bulges to improve stability increased the beam by 9ft 6in, and the long trunked boiler exhausts were replaced by a single downward curved funnel to starboard. The 8in turrets were removed, and the guns replaced in four additional casemates aft. Hit by 4 bombs from US dive-bombers at the Battle of Midway, uncontrollable fires wrecked Kaga's flight deck and hangars; abandoned, she sank when the aviation fuel tanks exploded. Kaga as completed Ryujo 1942 Ryujo, built under the 1927 Pro- gramme, was planned with a single hangar, but to double the aircraft complement a second hangar was added without enlarging the ship, ^vhich turned out to be lightly built, overloaded and unstable. The flight deck measured 513ft 6in x 75ft 6in. In a reconstruction between 1934 and 1936, the armament was reduced, the hull strengthened and extra bulges added. The forecastle was raised a deck in 1940 to improve seakeeping. Ryujo was sunk by 4 bombs and a torpedo in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. RYUJO Displacement: SOOOt standard; 9990t trial (after 1936 10,600t standard; 12,53 It trial; 13,650t full load) Dimensions: 548ft 7in pp, 575ft 5in wl, 590ft 4in oa x 66ft Sin x 18ft 3in (after 1936 beam 68ft 2in x 23ft 3in) 167.00, 175.39, 179.90 x 20.32 x 5.56m (20.78 x 7.08m) Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 6 boilers, 65,OOOshp = 29kts. Oil 2490t Armour: Light protective plating along machinery and magazine spaces Armament: !2-5in/40 DP (6x2), 24 MG, 48 (operational max 37) aircraft (after 1936 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 4-25mm, increased to 22-25mm in 1942, 24-13mm AA) Complement: 600 (after 1936 924) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate RYUJO Yokohama Co, Yokohama 26.11.1929 2.4.31 9.5.33 Sunk 24.8.42 Ryujo 9.9.1934
Aircraft carriers Soryu, built under the 1931-32 Sup- plementary Programme, was the model for nearly all the later Japanese carriers, fast, lightly built, and intended to deliver blows but not receive them The flight deck was 711ft 6m x 85ft 4in, and the two han- gars were served by three lifts. The small island was to starboard, and just abaft two funnels discharged almost horizontally just below flight deck level Soryu was hit by 3 bombs from US dive-bombers in the Bittie of Midway, burst into flames, and blew up when the fires reached the aviation fuel tanks. SORYU Displacement. 15,900t standard; 18,500t trial; 19,800t full load Dimensions: 688ft 9in pp, 728ft 2in wl, 746ft 6in oa x 69ft I Im x 25ft 210.00, 222.00, 227.50 x 21.30 x 7.62m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, I52,OOOshp = 34 5kts Oil 3670t Armour: Belt 1 8in, deck lin (machinery), 2.2in (magazines) Armament: 12-5in/40 DP (6x2), 28-25mm AA, 71 (operational max 63) aircraft Complement. 1100 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate SORYU Kure N Yd 20 11 1934 23.12 35 29.12.37 Sunk 4.6 42 Soryu on trials, 22.1.1938, when she made 34 9kts Hiryu (1931-32 Supplementary Prog- ramme) was a slightly enlarged and modified 5orvu; the beam was increased by Im for a 20 per cent increase in oil capacity, the protection was strengthened and the forecastle raised by a deck. The flight deck was 711ft 6in x 88ft 6m, and as in Soryu the two hangars were served by three lifts. The island was almost amidships and to port (the second and last Japanese carrier with this arrange- ment) where it partly balanced the two horizontally-discharging funnels to starboard Hiryu was hit by 4 bombs from US dive-bombers in the Battle of Midway, wrecking flight deck and hangars; she had to be aban- doned and scuttled, the last of the 4 Japanese carriers sunk in the Battle. HIRYU_______________________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 17,3OOt standard, 19,930t tnal; 21,900t full load Dimensions: 688ft 9in pp, 731ft 9in wl, 745ft Ilin x 73ft 3in x 25ft 9in 210.00, 222 93, 227 40 x 22.32 x 7.84m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 153,OOOshp = 34.3kts Oil 4400t Armour: Belt 3.5in (machinery), 5.9in (magazines), deck lin (machinery), 2.2in (magazines) Armament* 12-5in/40 DP (6x2), 31-25mm AA, 73 (operational max 64) aircraft Complement: 1101 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate HIRYU Yokosuka N Yd 8 7.1936 16.11.37 5 7.39 Sunk 5 6.42 7.uikaku 1944 NB. 1/1500 scale Approved tn the 1937 3rd Sup- plementary Programme, Shokaku and /utkaku were enlarged and much improved Hiryus, most of the extra displacement being used to increase armour thickness, although there was still no protection for the 794ft 6in X 95ft flight deck or the double hangars These ships were considered the most successful Japanese carriers To help prevent the disastrous fires which occurred in other carriers at Midway, the air spaces around the aviation fuel tanks were filled with concrete (1942) Armament changes were as follows- SHOKAKU class Displacement: 25,675t standard, 29,330t trial; 32,10St full load Dimensions. 774ft 6in pp, 820ft 3m wl, 844ft lOin oa x 85ft 4in x 29ft Im 236.06, 250.00, 257.50 x 26.00 x 8.87 m Machinery: 4-shafi geared turbines, 8 boilers, 160,000shp = 34.2kts. Oil 4lOOt Armour: Belt 1.8in (machinery), 6 5m (magazines); deck 3 9in (machinery), 5. lin (magazines) Armament: I6-5in/40 DP (8x2), 42-25mm AA, 84 (operational max 72) aircraft Complement: 1660 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate SHOKAKU Yokosuka N Yd 12 12.1937 1.6.39 8.8 41 Sunk 19 6.44 ZUIKAKU Kawasaki, Kobe 25 5.1938 27.11.39 25.9.41 Sunk 25.10 44 181
JAPAN 1943, 70-25mm AA; July 1944 (Zuikaku), 96-25mm AA, 6 28- barrelled rocket launchers. Wartime reports of a third ship of this class, Ryukaku, sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea, were erroneous; Ryukaku never existed, the ship lost being the much smaller Shoho Shokaku, basing survived extensive damage at the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942; 2 bombs) and Santa Cruz (Oct 1942; 6 bombs) was sunk by 3 torpedoes from the US submarine Cat alla m the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Zuikaku was sunk by 6 torpedoes and 7 bombs from US aircraft in the Battle of Cape Engano, part of the Leyte Gulf operations. Shokaku, 23 8 1941, shortly after completion These ships were conversions from submarine support ships, the original names being Takasaki and Tsurugisaki respectively. Tsurugisaki, completed as a support shipon 15.1.39, was con- verted 1941-42, whereas Takasaki was taken over for conversion while fitting out The original diesel motors were replaced by destroyer boilers and turbines. The single hangar, served by two lifts, was topped by a flight deck 590ft 6in x 75ft 6in, leng- thened mZutho in 1943 to631ft 1 lin. Armament changes in Zuiho were as follows; 1943, 48-25mm AA; 1944, 68-25mm AA, 8-28 barrelled rocket launchers Zuiho was sunk by bombs and torpedoes from US aircraft in the Battle of Cape Engano. Shoho was sunk by 11 bombs and up to 7 tor- pedoes in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first Japanese carrier loss. ZUIHO class Displacement: 11,262t standard; 13,730t trial; c!4,200t full load Dimensions: 607ft pp, 660ft 9in wl, 671ft Ilin oa x 59ft 9in x 21ft 9in 185.02, 201 45, 204.80 x 18 20 x 6 64m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 28kts Oil c2600t Armament: 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 8-25mm AA, 30 aircraft Complement: 785 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ZUIHO Yokosuka N Yd 20 6 1935 19 6.36 27 12.40 Sunk 25 10 44 SHOHO Yokosuka N Yd 3 12 1934 1.6.35 26.1 42 Sunk 7.5 42 Shoho, on 20 12 1941 shortly before com- mi ssonmg 182
Aircraft carriers Ryuho 1944 Ryuho was originally built as the sub- marine support ship Tatgei, com- pleted 31.3.35, and taken in hand for conversion and renaming in 1941. The diesel motors were replaced by destroyer-type boilers and turbines. The single hangar had two lifts and was topped by a flight deck 607ft x 75ft 6in, lengthened in 1944 to 650ft. Armament changes were as follows: 1943, 42-25nim AA, 6-13 2mm AA, 1944,61-25mm AA, 28-13.2mm AA, 6 DCs Ryuho was an unsuccessful conversion, with a weak hull, poor internal subdivision, and a real speed RYUHO Displacement: 13,360t standard; 15,060t trial; c 16,700t lull load Dimensions: 647ft 5in pp, 689ft wl, 707ft 4m oa x 64ft 3in x 21ft lOin 197.32, 210.00, 215 60 x 19.58 x 6.67m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 26.5kts. Oil c2900t Armour: Deck 0.4in Armament: 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 38-25mm AA, 31 aircraft Complement: 989 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate RYUHO Yokosuka N Yd 12 4 1933 16 11.33 28 11 42 BU 1946 severely damaged by US aircraft at These ships were begun as the 27,500grt, 24kt, NYK Line pas- senger liners Kashiwara Maru and Izumo Man, taken over in 1940 while on the stocks, renamed and con- verted They were the first Japanese carriers with the funnel included in the island structure, it was angled outboard to carry’ smoke away from the flight deck Two hangars were fit- ted, with two lifts, and a flight deck 690ft x 89]. ft Although intended for service with the fleet, they were not as good as the purpose-built ships; the water-tight subdivision was poor, the hangars cramped for height, and the JUNYO class Displacement* 24,140t standard, 26,523t trial; c28,300t full load Dimensions: 675ft lOin pp, 706ft 4m wl, 719ft 6in oa x 87ft 7in x 26ft 9in 206 00, 215.30, 219 30 x 26.70 x 8 15m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 6 boilers, 56,250 shp = 25.5kts. Oil c2800t Armour. Almost ml Armament: 12-5in/40 DP (6x2), 24-25mm AA, 53 aircraft Complement 1187-1224 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate JUNYO Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 20.3.1939 26.6.41 5.5.42 BU 1947 HIYO Kawasaki, Kobe 30.11.1939 24.6 41 31 7.42 Sunk 20.6.44 sea speed only about 22-2 3kts Armament changes were as follows: 1943, 4О-251ПШ AA, July 1944 damaged, to be used as a repatriation transport before going to the ship- (Junyo) 76-25mm A A, 6 28-barrelled breakers. Hiyo was sunk by a US air- borne torpedo in the Battle of the rocket launchers Junyo survived the war, although twice severely Philippine Sea Taiho 1944 NB 1/1500 scale TAIHO Displacement- Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement 29,300t standard; 33,660t trial; 37,720t full load 780ft lOin pp, 830ft lin wl, 855ft oa x 90ft Ilin x 31ft 6in 238 00, 253.00, 260.00 x 27.70 x 9.59m 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 160,OOOshp = 33.3kts Oil 5700t Belt 2.2in (machinery), 5.9m (magazines), flight deck 3 lin, lower hangar deck 4.9m 12-3.9m/65 AA (6x2), 51-25mm AA, 84 (operational max 53) aircraft 1751 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate TAIHO Kawasaki, Kobe 10.7.1941 7 4 43 7.3.44 Sunk 19.6 44 Approved in the 19394th Supplemen- tary Programme, 7 aiho was a mod ilied Shokaku, with an armoured flight deck (the first Japanese earner so protected, and probably suggested bv (he experience of HMS Illustrious in Jan 1941). Compared with Shokaku, one deck was omitted to maintain stability, and the hull plat- ing was extended ar the bow to the 844ft x 98ft 6in flight deck. The fun- nel was included in the island struc- ture and was angled outboard, as in Juuyo. Taiho was armed with the new twin 3.9in AA mounting, also fitted in the Akusuki class destroyers Two further slightly enlarged ships prop- osed in the 1942 Programme (Nos SOI, 802), and five more in the 1942 Supplementary Programme (Nos 5021-5) were never begun Taiho was hit by one torpedo from the US sub- marine Albacore in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and blew up when petrol vapour, having spread through the ship because of inept damage con- trol, ignited. 183
Built as seaplane earners under the 1931-32 Supplementary Programme, the original completion dates being 25.7.38 and 15 12.38 respectively. Taken in hand during the war for conversion to aircraft carriers, Chitose by Sasebo N Yd in 1943-44 and Chtyoda by Yokosuka N Yd in 1942-43, beam being increased by 6ft 7in. The flight deck, 590ft 6in x 75ft 6in, covered a single hangar which was served by two lifts. The A A armament was increased to 48-25mm AAinJulyl943 Both ships sank after bomb damage in the Battle of Cape Engano. CHITOSE class Displacement: 11,190t standard; 13,43It trial; c 15,300t full load Dimensions: 570ft 10m pp, 610ft wl, 631ft 7in oa x 68ft 3in x 24ft 8in 174.00, 185.93, 192.50 x 20.80 x 7.51m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines plus diesel motors, 4 boilers, 44,000shp/12,800bhp = 28.9kts. Oil c3000t Armament: 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 3Q-25mm AA, 30 aircraft Complement: c800 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate CHITOSE Kure N Yd 26.11.1934 29 11.36 1 1.44 Sunk 25.10 44 CHIYODA Kure N Yd 14.12.1936 19 11.37 31 10.43 Sunk 25.10.44 Shinano was laid down as the third Yamato class battleship, but construc- tion was suspended in Dec 1941, and after the Battle of Midway she was converted into a carrier. The single hangar, served by two lifts, was built at forecastle deck level, and was covered by an armoured flight deck, 839ft Ilin x 131ft 3in. The full battleship deck and underwater pro- tection was retained, but the belt armour was halved in thickness. The funnel arrangement was as in Junyo and Taiho. Intended as a support ship for carrier task forces, Shinano carried reserve aircraft, fuel and ordnance, but only a limited number of her own aircraft (hangar capaicity was about 70 planes). The Unryu class carriers, approved m the 1941-42 War Construction Pro- gramme, were of Hiryu вре, but with a larger island on the starboard side and two lifts in place of three. The flight deck was 711 ft 6in x 88ft 6in, except Katsura#:, 703ft 9in x 88ft 6in. Cruiser-type machinery was fitted in all except Katsuragi and Aso, which had less powerful destroyer boilers and turbines, with some loss in speed. Six 28-barrelled rocket launchers were added to (he armament in 1944—45 One further ship of this type proposed in the 1942 Programme (No 800) and ten more in the 1942 Sup- plementary Programme (Nos 5002, 5005, 5008-15) were never begun. Unryu was sunk by two torpedoes from the US submarine Redfish m the East China Sea. Amagi, sunk in shal- low water at Kure by US aircraft bombs, was broken up after the war, as were Katsuragi (after use as a repat- riation transport) and the three incomplete ships. SHINANO Displacement: 62,000t standard; 66,984t trial; 71,890t full load Dimensions: 800ft 6in pp, 839ft Ilin wl, 872ft 8in oa x 119ft lin x 33ft lOin 244.00, 256.00, 266.00 x 36.30 x 10.30m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 150,000shp = 27kts Oil 8900t Armour: Belt 8.lin, flight deck 3.1in, hangar deck 7 5in Armament: 16-5in/40 DP (8x2), 145-25mm AA, 12 28-barrelled rocket launchers, 47 aircraft Complement: 2400 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate SHINANO Yokosuka N Yd 4.5.1940 8 10.44 19.11.44 Sunk 29 11 44 The biggest aircraft carrier of the war (and first exceeded in standard displacement by the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise, launched 1960), Shinano was not fully complete when hit by 4 torpedoes from the US sub- marine Archerfish. With poor water- tight integrity and a crew untrained in damage control, she remained afloat for 7 hours, a tribute to the under- water defence system. UNRYU class Displacement: 17,150t (Amagi 17,460t, Katsuragi 17,260t) standard; 19,780t (Amagi, Ikoma 20,120t, Katsuragi 19,880t, Kasagi 20,020t) trial; Unryu c22,400t, Amagi c22,800t, Katsuragi 22,534t full load Dimensions: 679ft 2in pp, 731ft 8in wl, 746ft lin oa x 72ft 2in x 25ft 9in (Katsuragi, Aso 25ft 6m) 207.00, 223 00, 227.40 * 22 00 * 7 85(7.76)m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 152,000shp = 34kts (Katsuragi, Aso 104,000shp = 32kts). Oil 3670t Armour: Belt 1.8in (machinery), 5.9in (magazines); deck hn (machinery), 2.2in (magazines) Armament: 12-5in/40 DP (6x2), 51-25mm AA (Amagi, Katsuragi 89-25mm AA), 65 (Katsuragi, Kasagi, Aso 64; Ikoma 53) aircraft Complement: 1595 (Katsuragi, Aso 1500) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate UNRYU Yokosuka N Yd 1.8.1942 25.9 43 6 8.44 Sunk 19.12 44 AMAGI M tsubishi, Nagasaki 1.10 1942 15.10.43 10 8.44 Sunk 24.7.45 KATSURAGI Kure N Yd 8.12.1942 19.1.44 15.10.44 BU 1947 KASAGI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 14.4.1943 19.10.44 - BU 1947 ASO Kure N Yd 8.6 1943 1.11 44 - BU 1947 I КОМА Kawasaki, Kobe 5.7 1943 17.11.44 - BU 1947 Katsuragi on trials, about Oct 1944 By courtesy of Lt Cdr Tamura 184
Aircraft carriers Ibuki was laid down and launched at Kure as a herfvy cruiser of modified Mogami type; her construction was suspended after launching, and con- version to an aircraft carrier, with flight deck 672ft 5in x 75ft 6in, a single hangar and two lifts, com- menced at Sasebo Nl Yd in November 1943 The conversion was never com- pleted, as construction was stopped in March 1945 with the ship about 80 per cent complete. Ibuki design IBUKI Displacement: 12,500t standard; 14,570t trial Dimensions: 616ft 2in pp, 650ft 9in wl, 672ft 7in oa x 69ft 7in x 20ft 8in 187.80, 198 35, 205 00 x 21 20 x 6 31 Machinery. 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 72,000shp = 29kts Armament: 4—3in/60 AA, 48-25mm AA, 6 28 barrelled rocket launchers, 30 DCs, 27 aircraft Complement: 1015 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate IBUKI Kure N Yd 24 4 1942 21.5 43 BU 1947 Chuyo 1943 These ships were converted passenger liners, the mercantile names being Kasuga Mani, Vine ata Mani and Nitta Mam Yawata Mam and Nitta Mam were completed as 17,|00grt, 22 2kt NYK Line ships, and were conxened to escort carriers in 1942 by Kure N Yd. Kasuga Mam was taken over for conversion at Sasebo N Yd in May 1941 while fitting out. Although comparable with allied escort carriers, the Taiyo class were used as aircraft transports and for flight training. The flight deck was 564ft 3in x77ft. The light AA armament mounted in 1943 was 22-25mm AA, 5-13 2mm AA in Chuyo, and 24-25mm AA in Taiyo and Unyo. In Jul\ 1944, the last two were armed with 4—5in/40 DP (2x2), 64-25mm AA, 10-13.2mm AA. All three were victims of US submarine torpedoes, from Rasher, Barb and Sailfish respectively. TAIYO class escort aircraft carriers Displacement: 17,830t standard; 19,700t trial Dimensions: 551ft 2m pp, 569ft Ilin wl, 591ft 4m oa x 73ft 10m x 25ft 5in (Taiyo 26ft 3in) 168.00, 173.70, 180.24 x 22.50 x 7.74{8.OO)m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 25,2OOshp = 21kts Armament: 8-5in/40 DP (Taiyo 6-4.7in/45 AA), 8-25nim AA, 27 aircraft Complement: 850 (Taiyo 747) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate TAIYO Mitsubishi, 19 9 1940 15 9 41 Sunk IS 8 44 UNYO Nagasaki Mitsubishi, 31.10.1939 31.5.42 Sunk 16.9.44 CHUYO Nagasaki Mitsubishi, 20 5 1939 25.11 42 Sunk 4 12 43 Nagasaki Kaiyo on trials. 15 II. 1943, when she made 52.600shp = 23.7kts This ship was originally the I2,755grt, 2l.5kt, OSK passenger liner Argentina Mam, used as a troop transport from December 1941 and taken oxer for conversion to an escort earner in December 1942 (her sister- ship Biazil Mam, also earmarked for conversion, was sunk in August 1942 before work could begin). Destroyer- type boilers and turbines replaced the original diesel motors, and she xxas used as an aircraft transport and for flight training. The light AA arma- ment xvas increased in July 1944 tv 44—25mm, and a number of 28 barrelled rocket launchers were instal- led, along xvith 8 depth charges. Kaiyo, severely damaged by US air- craft in Beppu Bay at rhe end of the war, was broken up in situ. KAIYO escort aircraft carrier Displacement 13,600l standard; 16,4S3( trial Dimensions: 50St 6in pp, 523ft 7in wl, 546ft 5in oa x 71 fl lOin x 26ft 5in 155 00, 159 59, 166.55 x 21.90 x 8.04m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines. 4 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 23kts Armament 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 24—25mm AA, 24 aircraft Complement: 829 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate KAIYO Mitsubishi, Nagasaki > 9.12.1938 23.11.43 BU 1948 185
JAPAN Shinyo was originally the 18,184grt 21 kt NDL (German) passenger hner Schamhorst, purchased in February 1942 and converted by Kure N Yd 1942-43. Some of the steel used in the conversion came from .Vo 111, the fourth (cancelled) unit of the Yamato class. 1'he flight deck was 590ft 6m x 80ft 6in, and the light AA armament was increased early in 1944 to 42-25inin, and m July 1944 to 5O-25inm Shinyo was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine Spadefish. The Kamakawa Maru (ex-Chichibu Маги) a NYK passenger liner requisitioned as a transport in 1941 was to have been convened to an escort carrier but was sunk on 28 4.43. SHINYO escort aircraft earner Displacement: 17,5OOt standard; 20,586t trial Dimensions: 606ft Ihn pp, 621ft 3in oa x 84ft x 26ft 10m 185 00, 189 36 x 25.60 x 8 18m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 26,OOOshp = 22kts Armament: 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 3O-25mm AA, 33 aircraft Complement: 942 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate SHINYO Deschimag, Bremen ? 14.12 1934 15 12 43 Sunk 17.11 44 Sftinyoon trials, 1.11 1943 CRUISERS The Sendai class, approved in the 1921-22 Estimates, were similar to the Nagara class, but with an improved arrangement of boilers, the uptakes leading to four instead of three funnels. The actual normal dis- placement was 5900t. The hull of Kako, cancelled under the terms of the Washington Treaty, was demolished on the slipway. The ships were completed wnh a flying-off plat- form forward and a hangar in the bridge, but no aircraft was carried until a catapult was added to the plat- form in J929 Jintsu was repaired with a bow like .VaAo’s after colliding with rhe destroyer Warabi in 1927. Ail had the pole mainmast replaced by a tripod in 1934, when the catapult was moved aft, between nos 6 and 7 5.Sin guns. The seventh gun was re-sited further aft (the change in position being less in Naka than in the others). The armament was modified in 1943, Naka in 1934 SENDAI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery Armour: Armament: Complement: 5195t standard; 5595t normal; 7100t full load 500ft pp, 520ft wl, 534ft 9in oa x 48ft 5in x 16ft lin 152.40, 158 53, 163 03 x 14 17 x 4 9Im 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 90,OOOshp = 35 2kts. Oil lOlOt, coal 570t Bek 2.5in, deck l.lin 7-5.5in/5O f7x 1), 2-3in/40 AA (2x 1), 2 MG, 8-24in TT (4x2), SO mines 450 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate NAKA Mitsubishi, 10.6 1922 24 3.25 30 11.25 Sunk 17 2.44 Yokohama SENDAI Mitsubishi, 16 2 1922 30 10 23 29 4 24 Sunk 2.1143 Nagasaki JINTSU Kawasaki, Kobe 4 8 1922 8.12.23 31.7.25 Sunk 13.7.43 KAKO Sasebo N Yd 15 2 1922 - - Cancelled 17.3.22 to become 7—5.5in/5O(7x 1), 2-5in/40 actions in the Solomons fighting. Sen- and torpedoes from light cruisers and DP, 44-25mm AA, 6-13.2mm AA. dai, heavily hit by 6in gunfire in the destroyers in the Battle of Kolomban- Naka was sunk by US carrier air- Battle of Empress Augusta Bav, was gara. craft off Truk in the Carolines and the finished off by carrier aircraft, other two were victims of surface whereasjintsu was crushed by gunfire
Yubariun builder's (rials This ship was originally proposed under the 1917 Programme as a small cruiser with experimental machinery, to be named Ayase. As finallv approved, in the 1921-22 Estimates, she was designed by Captain Hiraga for a heavy armament and high speed on the smallest possible displacement; gun and torpedo broadsides, speed and endurance were (he same as for the 55OOt cruisers, on only 58 per cent of their displacement (as designed). The side armour, fitted internally and slightly inclined, contributed to the longitudinal strength, an innovation also incorporated in Kako and later heavy cruisers The designed dis- pla einent figures (listed in the table) were considerably exceeded, actual YUBARI Displacement: 2890t standard; 3141t normal Dimensions’ 435ft pp, 447ft 10m wl, 455ft 8m oa x 39ft 6in x lift 9in 132 59, 136.50, 138 90 x 12.04 x 3.58m Machinery: 3-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 57,750shp = 35.5kts. Oil 830t, coal lOOt Armour: Belt 2.3m, deck Im, gunhouses Im Armament: 6-5.5in/50 (2x2, 2x 1), 1—3in 40 AA, 2 MG, 4-24in TT (2x2), 34 mines Complement: 328 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate YUBARI Sasebo N Yd 5.6.1922 5.3.23 31.7.23 Sunk 28.4 44 values as completed being 3387t stan- dard, 3560t normal, 4075t trial and 4400t (approx) full load, and trial speed with 57,990shp was only 34.8kts. The funnel height was increased in 1924, and shields fitted to the TT in 1927. The single 5.5in guns were removed in 1943, when the armament became 4—5.5m/50 (2x2), 12-25mm AA, 8-13.2mm AA,4-24in TT (2 x 2); speed had by then fallen to about 32kts. Yubari was hit by a tor- pedo from L’S submarine Bluegill on 27 April 1944 and sank the next day. Kako 1939 These ships, the first heavy cruisers built to Washington Treaty restric- tions, were hurriedly authorised in 1922 under the 1922-29 Programme to compensate the builders for capital ships cancelled under the Treaty. To save weight without sacrificing lon- gitudinal strength, the hull was flush decked with a characteristic wavy sheer line, which allowed for a designed freeboard of 28ft at the bows and 15ft aft. The designed displace- ment figures above were nevertheless exceeded; actual displacements w’ere 8I00t standard, 9433t trial. In 1932-33, the 3in AA guns were replaced by 4-4.7in/45 AA (4x1), 8-13.2mm AA added, and the launch- ing platform replaced by a catapult. T he single gunhouses were an uneconomical arrangement, and when taken in hand for reconstruc- tion, Furutaka by Kure N Yd in 1937-39 and Kako by Sasebo N Yd in 1936-37, the Sin guns were rear- ranged in twin turrets (lin armour), the fixed torpedo tubes replaced by rotating mountings, and bulges fitted. Displacement was increased to 8700t standard, 10,34 It trial, with a beam of 55it 7in (16.93m) and draught of 18ft 5m (5.61m). The speed fell to 33kts and the revised armament was 6-8m./50 (3x2), 4-4.7in/45 A A (4* 1), 8-25mm AA, 4-13.2mm AA and 8-24in TT (2 x 4), with 1 catapult and 2 aircraft Both ships were sunk m the heavy fighting for Guadalcanal,Furutaka by gunfire and a torpedo from US cruisers in the Battle of Cape Esperance, and Kako by the US sub- marine S44 FURUTAKA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament Complement: 7100t standard; 8450( trial 580ft Oin pp, 602ft 2in wl, 607ft 6m oa x 51ft 9in x 18ft 3in 176.78, 183.53, 185.17 x 15.77 x 5.56m 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 102,000shp = 34 5kts. Oil 1400t, coal 400t Belt 3in, deck 1.4in, gunhouses lin 6-8in/50 (6x1), 4-3in/40 AA (4x1), 2MG, 12-24m TT (6x2), 1 aircraft 625 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate FURUTAKA Mitsubishi, 5.12 1922 25.2.25 31 3.26 Sunk 11.1042 Nagasaki KAKO Kawasaki, Kobe 17.11.1922 10.4.25 20.7.26 Sunk 10.8 42 Kako in 1930 187
JAPAN Aoba 1945 The Aoba class, approved in the 1922-29 Programme, were improved Furuiakas, with 8in guns in twin tur- rets and a heavier secondary arma- ment; they were the first Japanese cruisers with catapults. Designed dis-- placement figures were handsomely exceeded, the actual standard dis- placement being 8300t. 8-13.2mm AA were added in 1932. Both ships were modernised by Sasebo N Yd 1938 -40, when bulges were fitted and the fixed TT replaced by 8-24in TT (2x4) in rotating mountings Displacement was increased to 9000t standard, 10,65It trial, with a beam of 57ft 9in (17.60m) and draught of 18ft 7in (5.66m). The speed fell to 33kts, the revised light AA armament was 8-25mm and 4-13 2mm, and 2 aircraft were carried. During the war, the light AA arma- ment of Aoba was increased to 15-25mm in May 1944, and 42-25mm in July 1944,4-24in TT were removed AOBA class Displacement: 7100t standard; 8760t trial Dimensions: 582ft 3in pp, 602ft 4in wl, 607ft 6in oa x 51ft 1 lin x Ibfi 9m /77 48, 183.58, 185 17 x 15.83 x 5.71m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 102,000shp = 34.5kts Oil iSOOt, coal 450t Armour: Belt 3in, deck 1.4in, turrets lin Armament: 6-8in/50 (3x2), 4-4.7irV45 AA (4x 1), 2 MG, 12-24in TT (6x2), 1 aircraft Complement: 625 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate AOBA Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 4 2.1924 25 9.26 20 9 27 Sunk 28.7 45 KINUGASA Kawasaki, Kobe 23.1.1924 24.10.26 30 9.27 Sunk 14 11.42 and the remaining quadruple mount resited on the centreline Aoba, sunk by US aircraft at Kure in shallow water, was broken up in 1948. Kinugasa was sunk by US carrier-borne aircraft in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Kinugasa as completed Haguro 1944 This class, approved in the 1922-29 Programme, were the first heavy cruisers ordered to the displacement limits of the Washington Treaty. The inclined side armour was thicker than in the Aoba class, and underwater protection comprised a triple hull and an arched longitudinal bulkhead. The standard displacement as published is listed above; the actual figure was 10,980. All four ships were extensively refitted 1934-36, when the 4.7in guns were replaced by 8~5in/40 DP (4x2), 4-13.2mm AA added, the fixed TT replaced by 8-24in TT (2x4) in rotat- ing mounts and a second catapult installed. The class was further mod- ernised in 1940-41, when the light AA NACHI class Displacement: 10,000t standard; 13,120t tnal (actual) Dimensions: 631ft 2m pp, 661ft lin wl, 668ft 6in oa x 56ft 11m x 19ft 4in 192.39, 201 50, 203 7b x 17.34 x 5 90m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 130,000shp = 35.5kts. Oil 2470t Armour: Belt 3.9in, deck 1.4in, turrets lin, turret bases 3in Armament: 10-8in/50 (5x2), 6^.7in/45 AA (6x 1), 2 MG, 12-24in TT (4x3), 2 aircraft Complement: 773 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate MYOKO Yokosuka N Yd 25.10.1924 16.4.27 31.7.29 Scuttled 8.7.46 NACHI Kure N Yd 26.11.1924 15.6.27 26 11.28 Sunk 5.11.44 HAGURO Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 16.3.1925 24 3.28 25.4.29 Sunk 16 5.45 ASHIGARA Kawasaki, Kobe 11 4 1925 22 4.28 20.8.29 Sunk 8.6.45 188
Cruisers armament was increased, the TT armament doubled, the bridge and foremast modified, and bulges fitted to maintain stability. Displacement was increased to 13,000t standard, 14,743t trial, with a waterline length of 661ft 9m (201 70m), beam 68ft (20.73m) and draught 20ft 9in (6 32m). The speed fell to 33 8kts, and the revised arma- ment was 10-8m/50 (5x2), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 8-25mm AA, 4-13 2mm A A and 16-24in TT (4x4), with 2 catapults and 3 aircraft. During the war the light AA armament was increased to 24-25mm in May 1944, and to 52-25mm in July 1944, when the 'IT armament was halved (2x4). Myoko, laid up unrepaired at Sin- gapore after being torpedoed in the Leyte Gulf Battle and again by US submarine Bergall in December 1944, was scuttled in the Malacca Straits after the war Na chi was sunk by US carrier-borne aircraft in Manila Bay, Haguro by 8 torpedoes from British destroyers in a classic action off Penang, and Ashigara by 5 torpedoes from HM submarine Trenchant near the Banka Strait. 'J he Takao class, approved tn the 1927-31 Programme, were improved Nachis, the main alterations being a more massive bridge structure, TT at upper deck level in rotating instead of fixed mountings, and an upright sec- ond funnel They were the first cruisers since the Tenryu class to have bridge protection The main arma ment could be elevated to 70°, giving limited use against aircraft The stan- dard displacement as published is listed above; the actual figure was 11,350t 7 akao and Atago were exten- sively modernised in 1939-40, with the addition of bulges, an enlarged bridge structure and doubling of the secondary armament and torpedo bar- ters Displacement increased to 13,400t standard, 14,604t trial, with a waterline length of 661ft 9in (201 70m), beam 68ft (20.73m) and draught 20ft 9in (6 32m). The speed fell to 34 2kts and the revised arma- ment was 10-8in/50 (5x2), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 8-25mm AA, 4-13 2min AA and 16-24m TT, with 2 catapults and 3 aircraft. Changes to Maya and Chokai were less extensive the 4.7m AA were replaced by 8-5m/40 DP (4x2), and 4—13.2mm AA were added M<nu was severely damaged bv US aircraft at Rabaul m November 1943, ‘C’ turret being demolished, and was rebuilt with the following rev ised particulars trial displacement I3,140t, armament 8-8in/50 (4x2), 12-5m,'4O DP (6 x 2), 30-25mm A A, 2 aircraft During the war, the light A A armament in the other three units was increased to26-25mm in March 1944, and 6O-25mm (,M<»yu 66-25mm) in July 1944, with some DCs Atago and Маха were each sunk bv • our torpedoes from US submarines in the Leyte Gulf Battle preliminaries, TAKAO class Displacement: 9850t standard; 12,781t trial Dimensions 631ft 8in pp, 661ft 8in wl, 668ft 6in x 59ft 2in x 20ft lin 192.54, 201 67, 203.76 x 18.03 x 6.11m Machinery: 4 shaft geared turbines, 12 boilers, 130,OOOshp = 35.5kts. Oil 2570t Armour: Belt 3.9in (machinery), 4 9m (magazines), deck 1.4in, turrets lin Armament: 10-8in/50 (5x2), 4-4.7in/45 AA (4x1), 2-40mm (2pdr) AA, 8-24m TT (4x2), 3 aircraft Complement: 773 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate TAKAO Yokosuka N Yd 28 4.1927 12.5.30 31 5.32 Sunk 31 7.45 ATAGO Kure N Yd 28.4.1927 16.6.30 30.3.32 Sunk 23.10.44 MAYA Kawasaki, Kobe 4.12.1928 8.11.30 30.6.32 Sunk 23.10.44 CHOKAI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 26.3.1928 5.4.31 30.6.32 Sunk 25 10 44 the attackers being Darter and Dace respectively. Takao survived tw'o tor- pedoes from Darter on the same occasion, and returned to Singapore, where she was sunk in shallow water by explosive charges from the British midget submarine XE3. Refloated Takan on trials, 31.3.1932, when she made 139,500shp=35.5kisai 12,175t after the war, she was scuttled 27.10 46 in the Malacca Straits. Chokai was sunk by dive-bombing attacks, with some help from des- trover gunfire, in the Battle of Samar during the Leyte Gulf operations. 189
JAPAN л Kumano 1944 The Alogujjns, approved in the 1931 Supplementary Programme, were designed as light cruisers (8500t stan- dard, 6 lin guns), although larger than man} heavy cruisers. The trials of Mogami and Mikurna showed up welding defects in the hull, doubtful stability and distortions preventing training of turrets. Both were rebuilt 1936-38 with strengthened hulls and bulges to improve stability; the revised characteristics were: 11,200c standard and I3,230t trial displace- ment, dimensions 616ft 2m pp, 649ft lOin wl x 63ft x 19ft 4in (187.80, 198.06 x 19 20 x 5.90m), speed 35kts and light AA armament 8-25mm and 4-13 2mm (replacing 4-40mm). Suzuya and Kumano were completed with these modifications. All four ships were re-armed as heavy cruisers by Kure N Yd in 1939-40, with an additional bulge, the modified characteristics being: 12,400t stan- dard and 13,668t trial displacement, dimensions 649ft 7in wl x 66ft 3m x 19ft 5in (198.00 x 20.20 x 5 90m), speed 34.9kts and main armament 10-8in/50 (5x2). Mogami, heavily damaged by US aircraft at Midway, underwent repairs and a third recon- struction at Kure N Yd in 1942-43: ‘X’ and * Y’ turrets were replaced bv a flight deck over the aft third of the ship, and 11 seaplanes were to be car- ried with 2 catapults (because of shor- tages, the actual complement was 6 planes, and on occasion only 2 were carried) The displacement fell to 12,206t standard and 13,670t trial on 19ft 4m (5 89m) draught, the speed rose to 35kts, and the light AA arma- ment was increased to 3O-25mm. During the war, the light AA arma- ment of Suzuya and Kumano was increased to 2O-25mm in 1943, to MOGAMI class Displacement: 8500t standard; 10,993t trial Dimensions: 620ft lin pp, 646ft 4in wl, 661ft lin oa x 59ft Im x 18ft Im 189 00, 197.00, 201 SO x 18 00 x 5 SOrn Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 10 boilers, 152,000shp = 37kts. Oil 2163t Armour: Belt 3 9in (machinery), 4.9in (magazines), deck 2.4in-l 4in, turrets lin Armament: I5-6.lm/60 (5x3), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 4-40mm (2 pdr) AA, 12-24m TT (4x3), 3 aircraft Complement: 850 Name Builder Laid down Launchci d Comp Fate MOGAMI Kure N Yd MIKUMA Mitsubishi, Nagasaki SUZUYA Yokosuka N Yd KUMANO Kawasaki, Kobe 27.10.1931 24.12.1931 11.12.1933 5.4 1934 14.3.34 31 5 34 20 11 34 15 10 36 28 7 35 29 8 35 31 10 37 31 10 37 Sunk 25.10.44 Sunk 6.6 42 Sunk 25.10.44 Sunk 25 11 44 3O-25mm AA in January 1944, and to 5O-25mm AAin July 1944. Two units of a slightly modified Mogami class, approved in the 1941 Programme, were laid down in 1942 Ibuki was converted to an aircraft carrier while under construction (sec above), and the unnamed No 301 was cancelled and demolished on the slip shortly after construction started. Mogami, damaged by gunfire in the Battle of Surigao Strait, was despatched by US torpedo-bombers. Mikurna was sunk by US aircraft m the Battle of Midway. Suzuya was sunk by carrier-borne aircraft bombs in the Battle of Samar, and Kumano, damaged in this battle and disabled subsequently by submarine attacks, was finished off by aircraft bombs in Dasol Bay, Philippines. Mogami on trials, 20 3 1935. Al full load (12,669т) she made I54,266shp-36kts Tone 1945 Approved m the second 1932 Sup- plementary Programme, Tone and Chikuma were designed as light cruisers (8500t standard, 12-6 lin guns in four triple turrets). The naval treaties expired while they were being built, enabling them to be completed as heavy cruisers. The main arma- ment was concentrated forward, to keep the quarterdeck clear for the extensive aircraft arrangements, as these very successful ships were intended as the ‘eyes’ of the cruiser force. Only 5 aircraft were actually carried. The side armour was inclined outboard at 30° to the vertical, and a thinner extension to the double bot- tom formed the anti-torpedo bulk- head. The light AA armament was increased to 57-25mm m June 1944. 190 TONE class Displacement: 1 l,215t standard; 13,1 lOt trial; 15,200t full load Dimensions: 620ft 5m pp, 649ft 7in wl, 661ft lin oa x 60ft 8in x 21ft 3in 189.10, 198,00, 201.SO x 18 SO x 6 47m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 152,OOOshp = 35kts Armour: Belt 3 9in (machinery), 4.9in (magazines), deck 2.5in-1.2in, turrets lin Armament: 8-8m/50 (4x2), 8-5in/40 DP (4x2), 12-25mm AA, 12-24in TT (4x3), 6 aircraft Complement: 850 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate TONE Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 1 12.1934 21.11.37 20.11.38 Sunk 24.7.45 CHIKUMA Mitsubishi, Nakasaki 1.10.1935 19.3 38 20.5.39 Sunk 25.10.44 Tone, sunk in shallow water near bombs and a torpedo in the Battle of Kure by US aircraft, was broken up in Samar: 1948. Chikuma was sunk by aircraft
Cruisers Kashii in Julv 1941 This class vvas ordered under the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Programme as training cruisers; used during the war as administrative flagships of submarine fleets, escort squadrons, etc The armament was altered as fol- lows m 1943 4-5.5in/50 (2x2), 6-5m/40 DP (3x2), 2O-25mm A A, no TT, by July 1944 the catapult had been removed, and the light AA armament became 30-25mm, 8-13.2mm, with 100 DCs Four further ships, Nos 815-8 (5800t), proposed in the 1942 Programme, were cancelled before being named or ordered Kaion was damaged by US aircraft near Truk, and finished off by cruisersand destroyers,andKashn by US aircraft in the China Sea Kashima survived the war to be used on repat- riation duties before being scrapped. Kashiwara was cancelled and disman- tled on the slipway before being launched. KATORI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement 5890t standard; 6180t trial 405ft 2in pp, 425ft 9in wl x 52ft 4in x 18ft lOin 123.50, 129.77 x /5.95 x 5.75m 2-shaft geared turbines plus diesel motors, 3 boilers, 8000hp = 18k^s Deck 2in 4-5.5in/50 (2x2), 2-5in/40 DP (1x2), 4-25mm AA, 4-21in TT (2x2), 1 aircraft Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KATORI Mitsubishi, 24.8 1938 Yokohama 17.6.39 20.4.40 Sunk 17.2.44 К ASH IMA Mitsubishi, 6.10.1938 Yokohama 25.9.39 31.5.40 BU 1947 KASHII Mitsubishi, 30.5.1940 Yokohama 14.2.41 5.12.41 Sunk 12 1 45 KASHIWARA Mitshubishi, 23 8 1941 Yokohama -- — Cancelled 1941, BU This class was built under the 1939 4th Replenishment Programme as lightly protected, fast leaders for des- troyer squadrons The armament was originally planned as 8-6in guns, only 6 TT and no aircraft The light AA armament was increased to 46-25mm by 1944, to 52-25mm in surviving units in March 1944 and to 61-25mm in July 1944 'Ihe aft set of TT in Sakawa may have been removed by 1945. Agatto was torpedoed near Truk by the US submarine Skate', .Voshiro was sunk bv carner-borne aircraft in the retreat from the Battle of Samar, Yahagi succumbed to bomb and tor- pedohits during the Yamato's last sor- tie, and Sakaua survived the war to be expended tn the Bikini atomic bomb tests. AG ANO class Displacement: Dimensions* Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 6652t standard; 7590t trial; 8534t full load 531ft 6in pp, 564ft 4in wl, 571ft 2in oa x 49ft lOin x 18ft 6in 162 00, 172.00, 174.10 x 15 20 x 5 63m 4-shaft geared turbines, 6 boilers, lOO.OOOshp = 35kts. Oil 14O5t Belt 2.2m (machinery'), 2m (magazines), deck 0.7in, turrets lin 6-6in/50 (3x2), 4-3in/65 AA (2x2), 32-25mm AA, 8-24in TT (2x4), 16 DCs, 2 aircraft 730 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate AGAN’O Sasebo N Yd 18.6 1940 22.10.41 31.10.42 Sunk 17.2.44 NOS HI RO Yokosuka N Yd 4 9 1941 19.7.42 30.6 43 Sunk 26 10.44 YAHAGI Sasebo N Yd 1111.1941 25.10.42 29.12.43 Sunk 7.4.45 SAKAWA Sasebo N Yd 21.11.1942 9.4.44 30.11.44 Expended 2.7.46 Sakawa, fining out at Sasebo, 24 11.1944 By courtesy of Lt Cdr Tamura
JAPAN These ships were built as the Chinese Xing Hai and Ping Hat respectively. Japanese help with the construction of Ptng Hat having ended in 1933, she was launched and completed with assistance from a German mission. .\i«g Hat was captured by Japanese units in the Yangtze River on 13.12.37 and subsequently handed over to the Wang Ching-Wai (Nank- ing proJapanese puppet) Govern- ment Ping Hai, sunk in shallow water in the Yangtze on 23.9.37, was raised, repaired and also handed over. In 1943-44, both were taken over by the Japanese Navy, refitted and renamed. The main armament of loshima became 6-5in/40 DP; the armament of Yasoshima was appar- ently 3-5in/40 DP (1x2, 1x1), arranged as in the Matsu class des- troyers, and 2O-25mm AA and 4-2lin TT loshima was torpedoed and sunk off Honshu by the US submarine Shad, Yasoshima by US carrier air- craft in Luzon. Ex-Chinese light cruisers Displacement: 2500t normal Dimensions: 350ft Oin pp, 360ft Oin oa x 29ft Oin x 13ft Oin 106 68, 109.73 x Ц.89 x 3.96m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 9500shp = 22 2kts Armour: Deck lin, turrets lin Armament: 6-5.5in/50 (3x2), 6-3in AA (6x 1) (Ping Hat 3-3.5in AA, 3x 1), 8 MG, 4-21in TT (2x2), 2 aircraft (never carried) Complement: 340 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate IOSHIMA YASOSHIMA Harima Co, Harima 1930 Kiangnan, 9 7 1931 Shanghai 10.10.31 29.9 35 1932 18 6 36 Sunk 19.4 44 Sunk 25 11 44 Oyodo, approved in the 1939 4th Replenishment Programme, was planned as a flagship for scouting submarine flotillas; the main arma- ment was forward and a very large (45m) catapult for six E15K recon- naissance seaplanes was installed aft. The type of warfare planned was hardly practicable by 1943, and the aircraft were not ready, so Oyodo was completed with a normal 18m catapult, offset to port, and carried only 2 planes. The 6. lin guns were from the Mogami class; the light AA armament was increased to 52-25mm in 1945. Eight further ships of the type ('Niyodo* ie 'Oyodo Xo 2’, of the 1939 Programme, Nos 810-814 of the 1942 Programme and Nos 5037-38 of* the 1942 Modified Programm) were never begun. Oyodo, sunk in shallow water at Kure by US aircraft, was broken up in 1948. Oyodo at Kure, 25.4.1943 By countsy of Lt Cdr Tamura OYODO Displacement: 8164t standard; 10,252t trial; 11,433t full load Dimensions: 590ft 7m pp, 620ft lin wl, 630ft 3in oa x 54ft 6in x 19ft 6m 180 00, 189 00, 192 10 x 16 60 x 5 95m Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, 6 boilers, 110,OOOshp = 35kts Armour: Belt 2in, deck 1.4in, turrets lin Armament: 6-6.1in/60 (2x3), 8-3.9in/65 AA (4x2), 12-25mm AA, 2 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate OYODO Kure N Yd 14 2.1941 2 4 42 28 2.43 Sunk 28 7 45 DESTROYERS MUTSUKI class Displacement: 1315t : standard, 1445t normal Jin pp, 328ft 9m wl x 20ft x 9ft 9in 100.20 x 9.16 x 2.96m l geared turbines, 4 boilers, 38,500shp = 37.2kts. Oil Dimensions: 320ft ( 97.54, Machinery: 2-shafi 420t n/50 DP (4x 1), 2 -7 7mm MG, 6-24in TT (2x3), 18 Armament: 4-4 7ii DCs Complement: 150 Name Builder Launched Fate MUTSUKI (No 19) Sasebo N Yd 23.7.1925 Sunk 25.8.42 KISARAGI (No 21) Maizuru N Yd 5.6.1925 Sunk 11.12.41 YAYOI (No 23) Uraga, Tokyo 11.7.1925 Sunk 11 9.42 UDZUKI (No 25) Ishikawaiima, Tokyo 15.10.1925 Sunk 12.2.44 SATSUKI (No 27) Fujmagata, Osaka 25 3.1925 Sunk 21 9 44 MINADSUKI (No 28) Uraga, Tokyo 25.5.1926 Sunk 6.6.44 FUMIDSUKI (No 29) Fujmagata, Osaka 16.2.1926 Sunk 18 2 44 NAGATSUKI (No 30) Ishikawajima, Tokyo 6.10.1926 Sunk 6.7 43 KIKUDSUKI (No 31) Maizuru N Yd 15 5.1926 Sunk 4 5 42 M1KADSUKI (No 32) Sasebo N Yd 12 7.1926 Sunk 28 7 43 MOCHIDSUKI (No 33) Uraga, Tokyo 28 4.1927 Sunk 24 10 43 YUDSUKI (No 34) Fujinagata, 4.3.1927 Sunk 12.12.44 Osaka The Mutsuki class, approved in the 1923 Programme, laid down 1924-26 and completed between Dec 1925 and Oct 1927, was an improved Kamikaze class, with 24in TT instead of 2 lin; the class was fitted for minelaying and minesweep- ing. Originally known by numbers only, the names were assigned in 1928 All were refitted as fast transports in 1941-42, data becoming: displacement 1590t standard, 1883t trial, armament 2-4.7in/50 DP, 10-25mm AA, 6-24in TT, 36 DCs, with speed down to 33.9kts. The light AA armament in surviving units was increased in June 1944 to 2O-25mm and 5-13.2mm. All were war losses, many being destroyed in the Solomons fighting in 1942—43. Udzukt was tor- pedoed by US PT boats, Mtnadsuki by US submarine and the remainder were sunk by shore-based or carrier aircraft. 192
Destroyers FUBUKI class Displacement: 1750t standard; 2O57t trial Dimensions: 367ft Oin pp, 378ft 3in wl, 388ft 6in oa x 34ft x 10ft 6in Hl.86, 115.30, 118.41 x 10.36 x 3.20m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 50,000shp = 38kts. Oil 500t Armament: 6-5in/50 DP (3 x 2), 2-13mm A A, 9-24in TT (3 x 3), 18 DCs Complement: 197 Name Builder Launched Fate FUBUKI (No 35) Maizuru N Yd 15.11.1927 Sunk 11.10.42 SHINONOME (No 36) Sasebo N Yd 26.11.1927 Sunk 18.12.41 USUGUMO (No 37) Ishikawajima, Tokyo 26.12.1927 Sunk 7.7.44 SHIRAKUMO (No 38) Fujinagata, Osaka 27.12.1927 Sunk 16.3.44 ISONAMI (No 39) Uraga, Tokyo 24.11.1927 Sunk 9.4.43 SHIRAYUKI (No 40) Yokohama Co, Yokohama 20.3.1928 Sunk 3.3.43 HATSUYUKI (No 41) Maizuru N Yd 29.9.1927 Sunk 17.7.43 MIYUKI (No 42) Uraga, Tokyo 26.6.1928 L ost 29.6.34 MURAKUMO (No 43) Fujinagata, Osaka 27.9.1927 Sunk 12.10.42 URANAMI (No 44) Sasebo N Yd 29.11.1928 Sunk 26.10.44 SHIKINAMI (No 45) Maizuru N Yd 22.6.1929 Sunk 12.9.44 AYANAMI (No 46) Fujinagata, Osaka 5.10.1929 Sunk 15.11.42 ASAGIRI (No 47) Sasebo N Yd 18.11.1929 Sunk 28.8.42 SAGIRI (No 4S) Uraga, Tokyo 23.12.1929 Sunk 24.12.41 YUGIRI (No 49) Maizuru N Yd 12.5.1930 Sunk 25.11.43 AMAGIRI (No 50) Ishikawajima, Tokvo 27.2.1930 Sunk 23.4.44 OBORO(No 5D Sasebo N Yd 8.11.1930 Sunk 16.10.42 AKEBONO (No 52) Fujinagata, Osaka 7.11.1930 Sunk 13.11.44 SAZANAMI (No 53) Maizuru N Yd 6.6.1931 Sunk 14.1.44 USHIO (No 54) Uraga, Tokyo 17.11.1930 BU 1948 TheFubuki class, or ‘Special Type’, destroyers were approved in the 1923 (Nos 35-39), 1926 (Nos 40-43) and 1927 (Nos 44-54) Programmes, laid down 1926-30 and completed between March 1928 and Aug 1932. Known originally by numbers, the names were assigned in 1928. When introduced, the ‘Special Type’ were the best armed destroyers afloat; the twin enclosed turrets elevated to 40° in Nos 35-44 and 75° in the intermediate group, Nos 45-54. The seaworthiness was improved by eliminating the well-deck in front of the bridge. All were rebuilt in 1935-37 to improve stability and hull strength, data becom- ing: displacement 2090t standard, 2389t trial, speed 34kts, oil fuel 490-500t and complement 215-221. ‘X’ turret was removed in surviving units in 1943-44 to make room for more AA guns; the armament became 4-5in/50 DP (2x2), 14-25mm AA, 4-13.2mm AA, 36 DCs, with complement 238-250. The light AA armament was increased in June 1944 to 22-25mm and 10-13.2mm. Miyuki was sunk prewar in a collision w th the destroyer Inazuma. Eighteen ships were war losses; Shinonome and Amagiri were mined, Fubuki, Ayananii and Yugiri were sunk in action with US surface ships,Sagin was torpedoed by a Dutch and Usugumo, Shirakumo, Isonami, Shikinami and Sazanami by American submarines, and the remaining 7 went down to land- or carrier-based aircraft Ayamam at Yokohama, 5.9.1931 AKATSUKI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1680t standard; 1950t trial 350ft Oin pp, 371ft 9in wl x 34ft x 10ft 9in 106.68, 113.30 x 10.36 x 3.28m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 50,000shp = 38kts. Oil 475t 6-5in/50 DP(3x2), 2-13mm AA, 9-24in TT (3 x 3), 14 DCs 197 Name Builder Launched Fate AKATSUKI Sasebo N Yd 7.5.1932 Sunk 13.11.42 HIBIKI Maizuru N Yd 16.6.1932 To USSR 1947 as Writkv. BU 1963 IKAZUCHI Uraga, Tokyo 22.10.1931 Sunk 14.4.44 INAZUMA Fujinagata, 25.2.1932 Sunk 14.5.44 Osaka The Akatsuki class, comprising the last 4 units of the ‘Special Type’, was approved in the 1927 Programme, laid down in 1930 and completed between Aug 1932 and March 1933. Hibiki was the first welded Japanese warship. The reduced number of boilers meant the first funnel was thinner than in theFubuki class. All were rebuilt in 1935-37 to improve stability and hull strength, data becoming: displacement 1980t standard, 2264t trial, speed 34kts, oil fuel 49Q-500t and complement 221. ‘X’ turret was removed in 1941—42 to allow more AA guns; the armament became 4—5in/50 DP (2x2), 14—25mm, 4-13mm AA, 36 DCs. By June 1944 the light A A armament in surviving units was 22-25mm and 1Q-I3mm, and in 1945 Hibiki had 28-25mm AA. Akatsuki was sunk by gunfire from US cruisers and destroyers near Guadal- canal, whereas Inazuchi and Inazuma were victims of US submarine torpedoes. HATSUHARU class___________________________________________ Displacement: 1490t standard; 1650t trial; 1802t full load Dimensions: 339ft 7in pp, 346ft lin wl, 359ft 3inoa x 32ft lOin x 9ft Ilin 103.50, 105.50, 109.50 x 10.00 x 3.03m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 42,000shp = 36.5kts. Oil 500t Armament: 5-5in/5O DP(2x2,1 x 1), 2-13mm AA,9-24inTT(3x3), 14 DCs Complement: 200 Name Builder Launched Fate HATSUHARU Sasebo-N Yd 27.2.1933 Sunk 13.11.44 NENOHI Uraga, Tokyo 22.12.1932 Sunk 4.7.42 HATSUSHIMO Uraga, Tokyo 4.11.1933 Sunk 30.7.45 WAKABA Sasebo N Yd 18.3.1934 Sunk 24.10.44 YUGURE Maizuru N Yd 6.5.1934 Sunk 20.7.43 ARIAKE Kawasaki, Kobe 23.9.1934 Sunk 28.7.43 The Hatsuharu class, approved in the 1931 Programme, laid down 1931-33 and completed between September 1933 and March 1935, were designed for max- imum performance on a displacement restricted by the 1930 London Treaty. The ships were smaller than the preceding classes, but had the same heavy TT armament and the added topweight of a superfiring 5in gun on the forecastle, so that stability was suspect; after the Tomozuru capsized, the Hatsuharu and Nenohi (the only units complete) were rebuilt, with one set of TT suppressed and the superfiring gun moved to upper deck level aft. The displacement rose to 1715t standard, 2066t trial, and speed fell to 33.3kts. The other ships in the class were modified similarly while building. Because of the torpedo reload arrange- ments, the second funnel was offset slightly to starboard of the centreline. With ‘X’ turret removed in 1942-43, the armament became4-5in/50 DP(2x2), 13 to 21-25mm AA, 4-13.2mm AA, 36 DCs. All were war losses; Nenohi was torpedoed by a US submarine, Hatsushimo was mined, and the remaining four were sunk by land- or carrier-based aircraft. 193
_ L JAPAN Kawakaze as completed SHIRATSUYU class Displacement: 1685t standard; 1950t trial Dimensions: 339ft 7in pp, 352ft 8in wl x 32ft 6in x lift 6in 103 50, 107.50 *9 90 x 3.50m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 42,000shp = 34kts. Oil 500t Armament: 5-5m/5O DP(2x2, 1 x 1), 2-13mm AA, 8-24in TT(2x4), 16 DCs Complement: 180 Name Builder Launched Fate SHIRATSUYU Sasebo N Yd 5.4.1935 Sunk 15.6 44 SHIGURE Uraga, Tokyo 18.5.1935 Sunk 24.1.45 MURASAME Fujinagata, Osaka 20.6.1935 Sunk 6.3.43 YUDACHI Sasebo N Yd 21 6.1936 Sunk 13.11.42 SAMIDARE Uraga, Tokyo 6 7.1935 Sunk 25 8 44 HARUSAME Uraga, Tok\o 21.9 1935 Sunk 8.6 44 YAMAKAZE Uraga, Tokyo 21.2.1936 Sunk 25.6.42 KAWAKAZE Fujinagata, Osaka 1.11.1936 • Sunk 6.8.43 UMIKAZE Maizuru N Yd 27.11.1936 Sunk 1.2.44 SUZUKAZE Uraga, Tokyo 11 3.1937 Sunk 26 1 44 TheS/nrarruyu class, approved in the 1931 (first 6 units) and 1934 Programmes, laid down 1933-35 and completed between August 1936 and August 1937, were very similar to the rebuilt Hatsuharu class, but with quadruple TT instead of triples. ‘X’ turret was removed in 1942-43 to allow more AA guns; the arma- ment became 4—5m/5O DP (2x2), 13 to 21-25mm AA, 4—13.2mm AA, 8-24in TT, 36 DCs on 2O42t trial displacement All were war losses; Shiratsuyu was sunk in collision with a tanker, Harusame by US aircraft, .Mura same, Yudachi and Kawakaze tn action with US surface ships and the remaining 5 by US submarine torpedoes. ASASHIO class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1961t standard; 2330t trial 364ft 2in pp, 377ft 4in wl, 388ft oa x 33ft Ilin x 12ft lin 111.00, 115.00, 118.26 x 10.35 x 3.69m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 50,000shp = 35kts. Oil 500t 6-5in/50 DP (3 x 2), 4-25mm AA, 8-24in TT (2 x4), 16 DCs 200 Name Builder Launched Fate ASASHIO OSHIO MICHISHIO ARASHIO NATSUGUMO YAMAGUMO MINEGUMO ASAGUMO ARARE KISUMI Sasebo N Yd 16 12 1936 Maizuru N Yd 19.4.1937 Fujinagata, 15 3.1937 Osaka Kawasaki, Kobe 26.5.1937 Sasebo N Yd 26 5.1937 Fujinagata, 24 7 1937 Osaka Fujinagata, 4 11.1937 Osaka Kawasaki, Kobe 5.11.1937 Maizuru N Yd 16.11.1937 Uraga, Tokyo 18 11.1937 Sunk 4.3.43 Sunk 20.2.43 Sunk 25.10.44 Sunk 4.3.43 Sunk 12.10 42 Sunk 25.10 44 Sunk 5.3.43 Sunk 25.10.44 Sunk 5.7.42 Sunk 7.4 45 The Asashio class, approved in the 1934 Programme, laid down 1935-37 and completed between August 1937 and June 1938, were larger than the two preceding classes, and marked the end of Treaty restrictions. The distribution of the main armament reverted to that of the ‘Special Type’, and the class set a pattern for later Japanese fleet destroyers. The new, advanced steam turbines were at first unreliable, and defective steering caused poor manoeuvrability, but problems were ironed out by Dec 1941. As in earlier types, ‘X’ turret was removed m 1943-44 and replaced by more light AA guns, the armament becoming 4-5in/50 DP (2x2), 12-25mm AA. The light AA armament was increased by June 1944 to 28-25mm and 4-13.2mm with 36 DCs, on a dis- placement of 2000t standard, 2370t trial and 2635t full load All were war losses, Oshio and Arare were victims of US submarine torpedoes, Mtchishio, Yamagumo, Minegumo and Asagumo were sunk in action with US surface ships (3 in the Battle of Surigao Strait), and the remaining 4 went dow n to US land- or carrier-based aircraft. KAGERO class Displacement: 2O33t standard; 2450t trial Dimensions: 364ft 2in pp, 381ft 3in wl, 388ft 9in oa x 35ft Sin x 12ft 4in 111 00, 116 20, 118 SO x 10.80 x 3.76m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 35kts Armament: 6-5in/50 DP (3x2), 4-25mm AA, 8-24in TT (2x4), 16 DCs Complement: 240 Name Builder Launched Fate KAGERO Maizuru N Yd 27.9 1938 Sunk 8 5.43 KUROSHIO Fujinagata, Osaka 25.10.1938 Sunk 7 5.43 OYAHIO Maizuru N Yd 29.11 1938 Sunk 8.5 43 HATSUKAZE Kawasaki, Kobe 24.1.1939 Sunk 2.11.43 NATSUSHIO Fujinagata, Osaka 23.2 1939 Sunk 8 2 42 YUKIKAZE Sasebo N Yd 24.3.1939 To China 1947 as Tan Yang HAYASHIO Uraga, Tokyo 19.4 1939 Sunk 24 11.42 MAIKAZE Fujinagata, Osaka 15.3.1941 Sunk 17.2.44 ISOKAZE Sasebo N Yd 19.6 1939 Sunk 7 4 45 SHIRANUI Uraga, Tokyo 28.6.1938 Sunk 27.10.44 AMATSUKAZE Maizuru N Yd 19 10 1939 Sunk 6 4 45 TOKITSUKAZE Uraga, Tokyo 10.11.1939 Sunk 3 3 43 URAKAZE Fujinagata, Osaka 19.4 1940 Sunk 21.11.44 HAMAKAZE Uraga, Tokyo 25 11 1940 Sunk 7 4 45 NOWAKI Maizuru N Yd 17.9.1940 Sunk 26.11.44 ARASHI Maizuru N Yd 22 4.1940 Sunk 7 8 43 HAGIKAZE Uraga, Tokyo 18.6 1940 Sunk 7.8 43 TANIKAZE Fujinagata, Osaka 1.11.1940 Sunk 9.6.44 The Kagero class, approved in the 1937 (first 15 units) and 1939 (last 3 units) Programmes, laid down 1937-39 and completed between November 1939 and June 1941, were very similar to the preceding Asashio class (but without their ‘wrinkles’) and were regarded as ideal fleet destroyers. ‘X’ turret was removed in 1943-44 and replaced by more light AA guns, the armament becoming 4-5in/50 DP (2x2), 14-25mm AA, 36 DCs. The light A A was increased by June 1944 to 18 to 24—25mm and 4—13.2mm. Hamakaze was the first Japanese destroyer with radar (1943). Seventeen of the class were war losses. Kuroshio to mines, Natsushio, Urakaze and Tanikaze to US submarine torpedoes,Hatsukaze,.Maikaze,Nowaki, Arashi and Hagikaze to US surface ships and the other 8 to land- or carrier-based aircraft. Asagumo, 14.9.1939 194
Destroyers removed, and 10 more 25mm AA added; the light AA armament was increased by June 1944 to 28-25mm and 4-13.2mm. Sixteen ships of this type (Nos 733-748, 2750t standard) planned in the 1942 Programme were never begun. Shimakaze was sunk by US carrier aircraft off Cebu, Philippines. YUGUMO class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 2077t standard; 2480t trial 366ft pp, 383ft lOin wl, 391ft oa x 35ft 5in x 12ft 4in 111.55, 117.00, 119.17 x 10.80 x 3.76m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 35kts — Armament: Complement: 6-5in/50 DP (3x 2), 4-25mm AA, 8-24in TT (2x4), 36 DCs 228 AKITSUKI class Name Builder Launched Fate YUGUMO Maizuru N Yd 16.3.1941 Sunk 6.11.43 AKIGUMO Uraga, Tokyo 11.4.1941 Sunk 11.4.44 KAZEKUMO Uraga, Tokyo 26.9.1941 Sunk 8.6.44 MAKIKUMO Fujinagata, Osaka 5.11.1941 Sunk 1.2.43 MAKINAMI Maizuru N Yd 27.12.1941 Sunk 25.11.43 ТАКANAMI Uraga, Tokyo 16.3.1942 Sunk 1.12.42 NAGANAM1 Fujinagata, Osaka 5.3.1942 Sunk 11.11.44 TAM AN AM I Fujinagata, Osaka 20.12.1942 Sunk 7.7.44 SUZANAMI Uraga, Tokyo 12.3.1943 Sunk 11.11.43 ONAMI Fujinagata, Osaka 31.8.1942 Sunk 25.11.43 FUJINAMI Fujinagata, Osaka 20.4.1943 Sunk 27.10.44 KISHINAMI Uraga, Tokyo 19.8.1943 Sunk 4.12.44 HAYANAMI Maizuru N Yd 19.12.1942 Sunk 7.6.44 KIYONAMI Uraga, Tokyo 17.8.1942 Sunk 20.7.43 OKINAM1 Maizuru N Yd 18.7.1943 Sunk 13.11.44 11 AMAN AM I Maizuru N Yd 18.4.1943 Sunk 11.11.44 ASASHIMO Fujinagata, Osaka 18.7.1943 Sunk 7.4.45 KIYOSHIMO Uraga, Tokyo 29.2.1944 Sunk 26.12.44 HAYASHI MO Maizuru N Yd Nov 1943 Sunk 26.10.44 AKISHIMO Fujinagata, Osaka 5.12.1943 Sunk 13.11.44 The Yugumo class, ordered in the 1939 (first 12 units) and 1941 (16 units, of which only 8 were built) Programmes, laid down 1940-42 and completed between September 1941 and May 1944, closely resembled the Kagero class, but had an improved bridge and increased elevation for the main armament (75°, against 55°). Radar was installed from 1943, when 2-25mm AA were added. ‘X’ turret was removed in 1943-44, and replaced by light AA guns, the gun armament becoming 4-5in/50 DP (2x2), 15-25mm AA. From June 1944 the light AA armament was 15 to 28-25mm and 4—13.2mm, but in some units *Y’ turret was replaced by the standard 5in/40 DP mounting, the gun armament then being 2-5in/50 DP, 2-5in/40 DP, 12-25mm AA. The names selected for the eight units proposed in the 1941 Programme but later cancelled were Untigiri, Yamagiri, Tanigiri,Kazvagiri, Taekaze, Kiyokaze, Saiokaze and Mura- kaze. Eight more ships proposed in the 1942 Supplementary Programme (Nos 5041-8) were never begun. All the completed ships were war losses; Makikumo to mines, Akigumo, Kazekumo, Tamananii, Kishinami and Hayanami to US submarine torpedoes, Yugumo, Makinami, Takanami and Onami to US surface ships, Kiyoshimo to PT boats and aircraft, and the other 9 to land- or carrier-based aircraft. Displacement: 27011 standard; 3430t trial; 3700t full load Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 413ft fin pp, 433ft lin wl, 440ft 3in oa x 38ft lin x 13ft 7in 126.00, 132.00, 134.20 * 11.60 * 4.15m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 52,OOOshp = 33kts. Oil 1097t 8-3.9in/65 DP (4x2), 4-25mm AA, 4-24in TT (1x4), 72 (Suzursuki 34) DCs 300 Name Builder Launched Fate AKITSUKI Maizuru N Yd 2.7.1941 Sunk 25.10.44 TERUTSUKI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 21.11.1941 Sunk 12.12.42 SUZUTSUKI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 9.3.1942 BU 1948 HATSUSUKI Maizuru N Yd 3.4.1942 Sunk 25.10.44 NIITSUKI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 29.6.1942 Sunk 6.7.43 WAKATSUKI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 24.11.1942 Sunk 11.11.44 SH1MOTSUKI Mitsubishi, Nagasaki 7.4.1943 Sunk 25.11.44 FUYUTSUKI Maizuru N Yd 20.1.1944 BU 1948 HANATSUK1 Maizuru N Yd 10.10.1944 BU 1948 WITSUKI Uraga, Tokyo 25.9.1944 To China 1947 as Fen Yang, BU 1963 HARUTSUKI Sasebo N Yd 3.8.1944 To USSR 1947 as (?) Pospeschny, BU? NATSUTSUKI Sasebo N Yd 2.12.1944 BU 1948 MOCHITSUKI Sasebo N Yd — BU 1945 The Akitsuki class, ordered in the 1939 (first 6 units) and 1941 (10 units, of which only 6 were completed) Programmes, laid down 1940-43 and completed between June 1942 and August 1945, were planned originally as fast AA escorts for carrier task forces; the design was amended to include one set of TT, DCTs and DCs, and proved xery successful. The light AA armament was increased during the war, to 15-25mm by 1943, 29-25mm and 4—13.2mm in June 1944 and to between 40 and 51-25mm in 1945. Mochitsuki was dismantled on the stocks from March 1945, and the last 3 units of the 1941 Programme (Kiyotsuki, Otsuki and Hatsuki, were never begun. Further units proposed during the war (Nos 770-85 of the 1942 Programme, Nos 5061-83 of the 1942 Supplementary Programme) were also never begun. Six of the class were war losses: Shimotsuki to a US submarine, 2 (Akitsuki, Wakatsuki) to US carrier aircraft, and the other 3 to US surface ships (Terutsuki to PT boats). Harutsuki in Feb 1945 By courtesy of Ij Cdr Tamura SHIMAKAZE Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2567t standard; 3000t trial 395ft 4in pp, 413ft 5in wl z 36fl 9in x 13ft 7in 120.50, 125.00 x 11.20 x 4.14m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 75,OOOshp = 39kts 6-5in/50 DP (3 x 2), 6-25mm A A, 15-24in IT (3 x 5), 18 DCs > Name Builder Launched Fate SHIMAKAZE Maizuru N Yd 18.7.1942 Sunk 11.11.44 Shimakaze, approved in the 1939 Programme and built between August 1941 and May 1943, was the prototype of a new’ heavy destroyer, with advanced machinery producing 50 per cent more power than earlier types; her best recorded performance was 79,240shp = 40.9kts. In 1944 ‘X’ turret was 195
JAPAN ESCORT DESTROYERS MATSU class TACHIBANA class Displacement: 1262г standard, 1506t trial * Dimensions: 302ft 4m pp, 321 ft 6in wl, 328ft linoa x 30ft 8in x 10ft lOin 92 IS, 98 00, 100 00 x 9 35 x 3.30m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 19,000shp = 27.8kts Armament: 3-5in/40 DP (1x2, 1x1), 24-25mm AA, 4-24m TT (1x4), 36 DCs Complement: > Name Builder Launched Fate MATSU Maizuru N Yd 3 2.1944 Sunk 4 8.44 MOMO Maizuru N Yd 25 3.1944 Sunk 15.12 44 TAKE Yokosuka N Yd 28 3.1944 To UK, BU 1947 UME Fujinagata, 24.4 1944 Sunk 31 1.45 Osaka KUWA Fujinagata, 25.5 1944 Sunk 3 12.44 Osaka MAKI Maizuru N Yd 10 6 1944 To UK, BU 1947 KIRI Yokosuka N Yd 27.5 1944 To USSR 1947 SL’GI Fujinagata, 3 7.1944 To China 1947 Osaka as Hui Yang MO MI Yokosuka N Yd 16 6 1944 Sunk 5 1.45 H INOKI Yokosuka N Yd 4.7.1944 Sunk 7.1 45 KASHI Fujinagata, 13 8.1944 To USA 1947. Osaka BU 1948 KAYA Maizuru N Yd 30 7 1944 To USSR 1947 KAEDE Yokosuka N Yd 25 7 1944 To China 1947 as Hen Yang. Hulked SAKURA Yokosuka N Yd 6 9.1944 Sunk 11 7.45 NARA Fujinagata, 12 10 1944 BU 1948 Osaka TSUBAKI Maizuru N Yd 30.9 1944 BU 1948 KEYAKI ‘ Yokosuka N Yd 30 9 1944 To USA 1947. Target 1947 YUNAGI Fujinagata, 25 11.1944 BU 1947 Osaka The Matsu class, approved in the 1942 Supplementary Programme, was laid down 1943-44 and completed between April 1944 and January 1945. Designed for simplicity and rapid construction, they were analogous to the American destroyer escorts, but much more heavily armed 1 he 6-2lin TT in a sextuple mounting originally proposed were dropped, and a quadruple 24m mounting installed The light AA armament was increased to 28 or 29-25mm by 1945 The two sets of machinery were arranged in separate units to prevent a single hit immobilising the ship 11 further units were cancelled in 1944 before construc- tion began Seven of the class were war losses: Memo to a US submarine, Sakura to a mine, Ume and Momt to US aircraft, and the other 3 to US surface ships. Memo in June 1944 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1289t standard, 1555t trial 302ft 4in pp, 321 ft 6in wl, 328ft lin oa x 30ft Sin x 11ft lin 92 IS, 98 00, 100 00 x 9 3S x 3 37m 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 19,000shp = 27.8kts 3-5m/40 DP (1x2, 1x1), 60 DCs 24-25mm AA, 4-24in TT (1x4), Name Builder Launched Fate TACHIBANA Yokosuka N Yd 14 10 1944 Sunk 14 7.45 NIRE Maizuru N Yd 25.11 1944 BU 1948 TSUTA Yokosuka N Yd 2 11 1944 To China 1947 as Hua Yang. Hulked HAGI Yokosuka N Yd 27.11.1944 To UK 1947. BU KAKI Yokosuka N Yd 11 12 1944 To USA 1947. BU SHI1 Maizuru N Yd 13.1.1945 To USSR 1947 NASHI Kawasaki, Kobe 17 1 1945 Sunk 28 7 45 SUM1RE Yokosuka N Yd 27 12 1944 To UK 1947. Target 1947 ENOKI Maizuru N Yd 27 1 1945 Sunk 26 6 45 KUSUNOKI Yokosuka N Yd 18 1.1945 To UK 1947 BU ODAKE Maizuru N Yd 10 3 1945 To USA 1947. BU HATSUZAKURA Yokosuka N Yd 20.2.1945 To USSR 1947 KABA Fujinagata, Osaka 27.2.1945 To USA 1947. BU HATSUYUME Maizuru N Yd 25.5 1945 To China 1947 as Hsin Yang YAEZAKURA Yokosuka N Yd 17.3.1945 BU incomplete 1945 TOCHI Yokosuka N Yd 28.5.1945 BU incomplete 1945 YADAKE Yokosuka N Yd 1 5 1945 BU incomplete 1945 KATSURA Fujinagata, Osaka 23.6.1945 BU incomplete 1945 WAKARAKURA Fujinagata, Osaka — BU 1945 AZUSA Yokosuka N Yd — BU 1945 SAKAKI Yokosuka N Yd — BU 1945 KUZU Yokosuka N Yd — BU 1945 HISHI Maizuru N Yd — BU 1945 The Tachibana class, approsed in the 1942 Supplementary Programme (first 13 units) and 1943—44 Programme (20 units, of which only one was completed), were laid down 1944—45 and completed between January and June 1945. They were very similar in design to the Matsu class, but had a simplified hull, without tumblehome or curies (except at the bow and stern). The Tachibanas could be distinguished from the Matsus by the modified foremast and narrower fore- funnel 9 units listed above were dismantled in 1945 while still incomplete, 4 after launching and 5 on the stocks, the other units of the 1943-44 Programme were never begun, neither were 80 more proposed in the 1944 -45 Programme. Tachibana andNasht were sunk by US carrier aircraft;.Vasfti was raisedin 1955, repaired, and used by the JMSDF for radar trials Enoki, mined in shallow water, was salved after the war and scrapped.
Torpedo boats/Submarines TORPEDO-BOATS TOMOZURU class Displacement: 535t standard; 65It trial, 737t full load Dimensions: 254ft 3in pp, 259ft 2in wl, 269ft oa x24ft 3in x 8ft 2in 77 SO, 79 00, 82.00 x 7 40 x 2.50m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, ll,000shp = 3Okts. Oil 150t Armament: 3-5in/50 DP (1x2, 1x1), 1—10mm AA, 4-21in T1 (2x2) Complement: 113 Name Builder Launched Fate TOMOZURU Maizuru N Yd 1 10.1933 Sunk 24.3.45 CHIDORI Maizuru N Yd 1 4.1933 Sunk 24.12 44 MANAZURU Fujinagata, Osaka 11.7.1933 Sunk 1.3.45 HATSUKARI Fujinagata, Osaka 19 12.1933 BUcl946 TheTomosurw class, approved in the 1931 Programme, were laid down 1931-33 and completed between November 1933 and November 1934. As designed, they were practically small destroyers, but turned out to be dangerous!} unstable because of excessive topweight Tomozuru capsized in heavy weather while running trials 12.3 34, but was brought into port and righted. 'Ihe class was rebuilt with a lighter armament and about 60t of permanent ballast, data becoming displacement 600t standard, 758t trial, 815t full load, speed 28kts and armament 3-4.7in/45 (3x1), 1-7 7mm, 2-21in 1“Г (1x2) In 1942, *Y’ 4.7m gun was removed, and the light A/\ armament increased to 10-25mm, with provision for 48 DCs Tomozuru and Manazuru were sunk by US carrier aircraft, and Chidon by a US submarine Kiji 1945 OTORI class Displacement: 840t standard, 945t trial; 1040t full load Dimensions: 278ft lOin pp, 284ft 9in wl, 290ft 4in oa x 26ft lOin x 9ft lin 85.00, 86.80, 88.50 x 8.18 x 2.76m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, I9,000shp = 3O.5kts Armament: 3-4.7in/45 (3x1), l-40mm AA, 3-21in TT (1 x3) Complement: 113 Name Builder Launched Fate OTORI Maizuru N Yd 25.4.1935 Sunk 12.6.44 KASASAGI Osaka IW, Osaka28.10.I935 Sunk 26 9.43 HIYODORI Ishikawajima, Tokyo 25 10 1935 Sunk 17.11 44 HAYABUSA Yokohama Co, Yokohama 28.10.1935 Sunk 24.9.44 НАТО Ish kawajima, Tokyo 25.1.1937 Sunk 16.10.44 SAGI Harima Co, Harima 30.1.1937 Sunk 8.11.44 KARI Mitsubishi, Yokohama 20.1.1937 Sunk 16 7.45 KIJI Tama, Okayama 26.1 1937 To USSR 1947 The Otori class, approved in the 1934 Programme, laid down in 1934-36 and completed between October 1936 and September 1937, were an enlarged Tomozuru class. In 1944 ‘Y’ 4.7in gun was removed, and the light AA armament increased to ll-25mm, with provision of 48 DCs; standard displacement was increased to 1043t. Eight further ships of this class were cancelled, and replaced by submarine chasers Nos 4-11. Seven of the class were war losses, Otori, Hayabusa, Hato to US carrier aircraft and the other 4 to US submarines Chidon after reconstruction, 2.12.1936 SUBMARINES KD1 class KD2 class Displacement: 1390t standard; 1500t/2430t Dimensions: 285ft 5in pp, 300ft oa x 28ft lOin x 87.00, 91.44 x 8.81 x 4.60m 15ft Im Machinery: 4-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 20kts/lOkts 5200bhp/2000shp = Armament 8-21m TT, 1-4 7in/45, l-3in/40 Complement: 60 Number Builder Launched Fate 151 (ex-Vo 44) Kure N Yd 29.11.1921 Sold 1941 Displacement: 1390t standard; 1500t/2500t Dimensions: 310ft 4in pp, 330ft lOin oa x 25ft lin x 16ft lOin 94.60, 100.85 x 7.64 x 5.14m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 22kts/lOkts 6800bhp/200shp = Armament: 8-2lin TT, l-4.7in/45, l-3in/40 Complement: 60 Number Builder Launched Fate 152 (ex-A’o 51) Kure N Yd 12.6.1922 BU 1948 This first class submarine, approved in the 1919 Programme and built between 1921 and June 1924 as Ao 44, was renumbered in 1924. Mainly experimental, the design, based on British plans, was notable for its long range. 20,000nm at lOkts/lOOnm at 4kts 151 was used for training from 1930; in 1932 the machin- ery was reduced to 2 shafts and 2 diesel motors, and the 3in gun was removed This first class submarine, approved in the 1920 Programme and built between 1922 and May 1925 asA’o 5/, was renumbered in 1925.Thedesign of this second large experimental boat closely followed the German U139-, compared with ISl, surface range was halved, but submerged endurance was unchanged Five further units of this type, Nos 52-56, were cancelled in 1922 following the Washington Treaty 152, used for training from 1940, was renumbered //52 in May 1942. Disarmed and laid up in July 1942, she was scrapped postwar. 197
JAPAN lIS3 1942 KD3a class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1635t standard; 1800t/2300t 310ft pp, 330ft oa x 26ft 2in x 15ft lOin 94 49, 100 58 *7.98 x 4.83m 2 shaft diesels plus electric motors, 6800bhp/1800shp = 20kts/8kts 8-2lin TT, 1—4.7in/45 64 Number Builder Launched Fate 153 (cx-No 64) Kure N Yd 5.8.1925 BU 1948 154 (ex-No 77) Sasebo N Yd 15.3 1926 BUH946 155 (ex No 78) Kure N Yd 2.9.1925 BUH946 158 Yokohama N Yd 3.10 1925 Scuttled 1.4.46 Approved in the 1923-28 Programme, these first class submarines were laid down in 1924-25 and completed between March and December 1927. The des gn was based on the experimental ISl and ISl, owing more to the latter Range was lO.OOCnm at 10kts/90nm at 3kts. All were relegated to training duties between March and July 1942, and in May all were renumbered, 153 becoming 1153 etc. 1158 was converted into a Kaiten earner in 1945, 2 Kaitcn suicide submarines replacing the 4.7in gun. All four survived the war, 1158 to be scuttled by the US Navy and the others to be broken up. KD5 class Displacement: 1575t standard; 1705t/2330t Dimensions: 296ft 1 Im pp, 313ft wl, 320ft 6in oa x 26ft 1 lin x 15ft 5m 90 50, 95 40, 97 70 * 8.20 * 4 70 Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 6000bhp/18shp = 2O.5kts/8 2kts Armament: 6-21in TT, l-3.9in/50, 1-13.2mm Complement: 70-82 Number Builder Launched Fate 165 Kure N Yd 2.6 1931 Sunk 27.6 45 166 Sasebo N Yd 2.6.1931 Sunk 17 7.44 167 Mitsubishi, Kobe 7.4 1931 Lost 29 8 40 Further first class submarines, these vessels were approved in the 1927-31 Programme, laid dow n in 1929 and completed between August and December 1932. Thej were very similar to the KD4 class, and had the same surface and submerged endurance, but differed in gun armament 167 sank accidentally during fleet manoeuvres and was never refloated. 165 and 166 were renumbered 1165 and 1166 in May 1942; 1166 was torpedoed by»the British submarine Telemachus, and //65, converted into a Kaiten carrier on the same lines as the earlier *KD’ boats, was lost while on a Kaitcn mission. /65 in 1932 KD3b class Displacement: I635t standard; 18OOt/23OOt Dimensions: 308ft 5in pp, 324ft 6in wl, 331ft 4m oa x 25ft 1 Im x 16ft lin 94.00, 98 90, 101.00 x 7 90 x 4 90 Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 6800bhp/l800shp = 20kts/8kts Armament: 8-2lin TT, 1-4 7in/45 Complement: 79 Number Builder Launched Fate 156 Kure N Yd 23.3.1928 Scuttled 1.4 46 157 Kure N Yd 1.10 1928 Scuttled 1.4 46 159 Yokosuka N Yd 25.3.1929 Scuttled 1.4.46 160 Sasebo N Yd 24.4.1929 Sunk 17.1.42 163 Sasebo N Yd 28.9.1927 BU 1940 The KD3b class, approved tn the 1923-28 Programme, laid down in 1926-27 and completed between March 1929 and March 1930, closely resembled the KD3a class. with only slight differences in the shape of bow, stern and conning tower 163 was sunk in collision with 160 on 2 February 1939, raised m Januarv 1940 and scrapped; 160 was sunk by a British destroyer in the Java Sea The three surviving units were renumbered in May 1942,156 becoming 1156 etc, and were used for training from July 1942. They were convened into Kaiten carriers in 1945,2 Kaitens replacing the 4.7in gun, and were scuttled by the US Navy after the war KD4 class Displacement: 1635t standard; 1720t/2300t Dimensions: 298ft 7in pp, 313ft wl, 320ft 6in oa x 25ft 7in x 15ft lOin 91 00, 95 SO, 97 70 * 7 80 * 4 83m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 6000bhp/1800shp = 20kts/8.5kts Armament: 6-21in TT, l-4.7in/45 Complement: 58 Number Builder Launched Fate 161 Mitsubishi, Kobe 12.11.1927 BU 1942 162 Mitsubishi, Kobe 29.11.1928 Scuttled 1.4.46 164 Kure N Yd 5.10 1929 Sunk 17 5 42 These vessels were almost identical in appearance with the preceding KD3b class, but slightly shorter and with two fewer torpedo tubes. Range was 10,800nm at 10kts/60nm at 3kts. Approved in the 1923-28 Programme, the boats were laid down 1926-28 as first class submarines and completed between April 1929 and August 1930 161 was sunk in a collision on 6 October 1941, raised in February 1942 and scrapped. 162 was renumbered 1162 in May 1942, and used for training from July 1944; like the other older submarines, she was convened into a Kaiten carrier m 1945,2 Kaitens replacing the 4.7in gun. 164 is believed to have been torpedoed by the US submarine Triton. KD6a class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1400t standard, 1785t/2440t 322ft 10m pp, 336ft 7m wl, 343ft 6in oa x 26ft 1 lin x 15ft 98 40, 102.60, 104.70 * 8 20 * 4 58m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 9000bhp/l800shp = 23kts/8.2kts 6-21in TT, l-3.9in/50 {171-173 1-4 7m/45), 1-13.2mm 60-84 Number Builder Launched Fate 168 Kure N Yd 26 6.1933 Sunk 27 7 43 169 Mitsubishi, Kobe 15.2 1934 Sunk 4 4 44 170 Sasebo N Yd 14 6 1934 Sunk 10 12.41 171 Kawasaki, Kobe 25.8.1934 Sunk 1.2.44 172 Mitsubishi, Kobe 20.6 1935 Sunk 10 11.42 173 Kawasaki, Kobe 20.6 1935 Sunk 27.1.42 First class submarines, approved in the 1931 Programme, laid down in 1932-34 and completed between July 1934 and Janauary 1937, these were enlarged versions of the KD5 type, the extra displacement being used to increase surface speed and fuel capacity. Surface range was 14,000nm at lOkts, submerged endurance almost unchanged at 65nm at 3kts. 170 was sunk in the Pearl Harbor operations, and 173 was torpedoed by the US submarine Gudgeon. The remain- ing units were renumbered m May 1942, 168 becoming 1168 etc 1171 was modified as a transport in 1942, the gun and some spare torpedoes being removed to enable a 46ft Daihatsu landing craft, vehicles or stores to be carried on deck. The last four units of the class were sunk in the Solomon and Central Pacific areas. KD6b class Displacement: 1420t standard; 1810t/2564t Dimensions: 322ft 10m pp, 336ft 7in wl, 344ft6moa x 26ft 1 lin x 15ft lin 98 40, 102.60, 105.00 x 8 20 * 4 60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 9000bhp/l800shp = 23kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT, 1-4 7in/45, 4-13.2mm Complement: 60-84 Number Builder Launched Fate 174 Sasebo N Yd 28 3.1937 Sunk 12 4.44 175 • Mitsubishi, Kobe 16.9.1936 Sunk 4 2 44 198
Submarines These two units, laid down in 1934—35 and completed in December 1938 and September 1937, were almost identical with the KD6a class. They were approved in the 1934 Programme and rated as first class submarines. Surface range was 10,000nm at 16kts, but the submerged endurance was unchanged. They were renumbered//14 ixv&lllS respectively in May 1942.1174, like//11, was modified as a transport in 1943, the gun being removed etc. Both were sunk by US forces in the Central Pacific area. /7 as completed KD7 class Displacement: 1630t standard; 1833t/2602t Dimensions: 323ft 6in pp, 336ft 7in wl, 346ft 2in oa x27ft lin x 15ft lin 98.60, 102.60, 105.50 x 8.25 x 4.60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 8000bhp/1800shp = 23.1 kts/8kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, l-4.7in/45, 2-25mm Complement: 88 Number Builder Launched Fate 176 • 7.6.1941 Sunk 16/17.5.44 177 ♦ 20.12.1941 Sunk >3.10.44 178 • 24.2.1942 Sunk >28.5.43 179 • 16.7.1942 Lost 14.7.43 180 ♦ 7.2.1942 Sunk 26.4.44 181 ♦ 2.5.1942 Sunk >16.1.44 182 ♦ 30.5.1942 Sunk ?1.9.43 183 • 21.1.1943 Sunk 28/29.4.44 184 • 12.12.1942 Sunk ?19.6.44 185 • 16.9.1943 Sunk ?22.6.44 •Sources give conflicting information, Kure N Yd, Yokosuka N Yd, Kawasaki (Kobe) and Mitsubishi (Kobe) all being quoted. These first class submarines, approved in the 1939 Programme, laid down from 1940 and completed between August 1942 and September 1943, were very similar to the KD6 classes. Surface range was 8000nm at 16kts, and submerged endurance 50nm at 5kts. All were renumbered in May 1942,/76 becoming 1176 etc. 1176, Illi and 1181 were modified as transports in 1942-43 on the same lines as//7/. //79 foundered on a training exercise in 1943; refloated in 1957, her hull was used by the JMSDF for test purposes. The remainder of the class were sunk by US forces in the north, central and south-west Pacific areas; the dates of some successful attacks are uncertain. //76 on 31.7.1942 JI class Displacement: 1970t standard; 2135t/2791t Dimensions: 308ft 5in pp, 308ft 2in wl, 319ft 1 lin oa x 30ft 3in x 16ft 5in 94.00, 93.93, 97.50 x 9.22 x 5.00m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels plus electric motors, 6000bhp/2600shp = 18kts/8kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, 2-5.5in/40 Complement: 92 Number Builder Launched Fate Il (ex-A’o 74) Kawasaki, Kobe 15.10.1924 Sunk 29.1.43 12 (ex-.X'o 75) Kawasaki, Kobe 23.2.1925 Sunk 7.4.44 13 (ex-.Vp 76) Kawasaki, Kobe 8.6.1925 Sunk 9/10.12.42 14 Kawasaki, Kobe 22.5.1928 Sunk 25.12.42 These first class submarines were approved in the 1923-28 Programme, laid down in 1923-26 and completed between March 1926 and December 1929, and were based on the plans of the German U142 type (U-cruisers). The first three boats were renumbered on completion. The surface range was very impressive, 24,400nm at lOkts, but the submerged endurance was similar to that of the smaller KD boats, 60nm at 3kts. The upper hull and conning tower were lightly protected. Oxygen-fuelled Type 95 2lin torpedoes replaced compressed air models in 1939-41 II and 12 were modified as transpons in 1942-43, the aft 5.Sin gun and some spare torpedoes being removed to enable a 46ft Daihatsu landing craft, vehicles or stores to be carried on deck. All four units were sunk in the south-west Pacific area, //, 13 and 14 while supplying beleaguered island bases. JIM class Displacement: 2080t standard; 2243t/2921t Dimensions: 308ft 5in pp, 308ft 7in wl, 319ft 1 lin oa x29ft 9in x 16ft 2in 94.00, 94.06, 97.50 x 9.06 x 4.94m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 6000bhp/2600shp = 18kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT, l-5.5in/40, 1 aircraft Complement: 93 Number Builder Launched Fate 15 Kawasaki, Kobe 19.6.1931 Sunk 19.7.44 A first class submarine, approved in the 1928-31 Programme, laid down in 1930 and completed in July 1932. /5 was very similar to the JI class, but adapted for long-range scouting, a hangar and catapult replacing the 5.5in gun aft. The hangar was in two sections, and contained a dismantled seaplane, which could be assembled on the catapult when required - a time-consuming process during which the submarine was exposed to attack. Performance figures were as for the JI class. The 5.Sin gun was temporarily replaced by l-5in/40 DP between February and July 1936. The hangar and catapult were removed in 1940 and replaced by a second 5.5in/40 gun, the vessel then becoming an attack sub- marine. IS was sunk by an American DE east of Guam. J2 class Displacement: 1900t standard; 2243t/30611 Dimensions: 302ft 2in pp, 314ft wl, 323ft 2in oa x 29ft 9in x 17ft 5in 92.10, 95.70, 98.50 x 9.06 x S.31m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 8000bhp/2600shp = 20kts/7.5kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, l-5in/40 DP, 1-13.2mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 97 Number Builder Launched Fate 16 Kawasaki, Kobe 31.3.1934 Sunk 714.7.44 This first class submarine was approved in the 1931 Programme, laid down in 1932 and completed in May 1935; she was almost identical with IS, but had a modified gun armament and more powerful machinery. The surface range was reduced to 20,000nm at lOkts, but the submerged endurance was unchanged at 60nm at 3kts. 16 was sunk in the Saipan area, possibly by an American attack on the day given. 18 on 12.4.1939 J3 class Displacement: 22311 standard; 2525t/3538t Dimensions: 340ft 7inpp, 350ft 1 lin wl, 358ft 7inoa x 29ft lOin x 17ft 3in 103.80, 106.95, 109.30 x 9.10 x 5.26m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel plus electric motors, ll,200bhp/2800shp = 23kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT, l-5.5in/40, 2-13.2mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 100 Number Builder Launched Fate 17 Kure N Yd 3.7.1935 Sunk 22.6.43 18 Kawasaki, Kobe 20.7.1936 Sunk 31.3.45 199
JAPAN Approved in the 1934 Programme, these first class submannes were laid down in 1934-35 and completed between March 1937 and December 1938 They were built to a Japanese cruiser submarine design, developed mainly from the KD3 and KD4 classes, but with aircraft arrangements as in IS and 16. Surface range was 14,000nmat 16kts, submerged endurance the same as for the earlier J boats. In 1943 2-25mm AA replaced 1-13 2mm AA, and 18 was modified as a Kaiten carrier in 1944—45,4 Kaitens replacing the hangar and catapult. Both were sunk by American forces, 17 in the Aleutians, and 18 near Okinawa. A first class submarine, approved in the 1941 War Programme, laid down in 1942 and completed in April 1944 She differed from the Al class in having less powerful machinery, and lower surface and submerged speeds. The weight and space saved was used to increase oil fuel capacity, surface range was increased io 22,OOOnm at 16kts, but submerged endurance was only slightly improved at 75nm at 3kts. There was one catapult. 112 was lost in the Central Pacific area, but the exact cause and date are uncertain 121 1930 IN 1945 KRS class Displacement: 1142t standard, 1383t/1768t Dimensions: 269ft wl, 279ft 6in oa x 24ft 8m x 14ft 6in 82 00,85 20 x 7 52 x 4 42m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 2400bhp/l lOOshp = 14 5kts/7kts Armament: 4-2hnTT, 1-5 5in/40, 42 mines Complement: 51-70 Number Builder Launched Fate 121 (ex No 48) Kawasaki, Kobe 30.3 1926 BUC1946 122 (ex-No 49) Kawasaki, Kobe 8 11 1926 Sunk 10.6.45 123 (ex No SO) Kawasaki, Kobe 19 3 1927 Sunk >29.8.42 124 Kawasaki, Kobe 12 12 1927 Sunk 20.1 42 These submarines were approved in the 1919 Programme, laid down 1924—26 and completed between March 1927 and December 1928 They were practically identical to the ex German //25 (Japanese 01, BU 1928) and served as first class minelayers. The first three were renumbered when launched. Range was 10,500nm at 8kts/40nm at 4 5kts All were renumbered in 1939,72/ becoming 1121 etc. In 1940 they were refitted for refuelling reconnaissance seaplanes, petrol tanks being added on deck 1123 was sunk off Guadalcanal, 1124 m the East Indies. The other two were used for training from 1943, 1122 being torpedoed by the US submarine Skate A1 class as completed Al class Displacement: 2434t standard, 2919t/4149t Dimensions: 355ft 8in pp, 367ft 5m wl, 373ft oa x 31ft 4in x 17ft 7in 108 40, 112 00, 113 70 x 9 55 x 5 36m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 12,400bhp/2400shp = 23 5kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT, 1-5 5in/40, 2-25mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 114 Number Builder Launched Fate 19 Kure N Yd 20 5 1939 Sunk 11 or 15 6.43 no Kawasaki, Kobe 20.9 1939 Sunk 4 7.44 Ill Kawasaki, Kobe 28 2 1941 Sunk after 11 1.44 The design of these first class submannes - which were approved in the 1937 and 1939 Programmes, laid down 1938-39 and completed between February 1941 and May 1942 - was developed from the J3 class, with extra communication equipment so they could act as headquarters ships for submarine flotillas, the hangar and catapult were in front of the conning tower for the first time, with the 5.5in gun aft. Surface range was 16,OOOnm at 16kts, whilst submerged endurance was 60nm at 3kts. Two further units proposed in the 1943 Pro- gramme were never begun 19 was sunk by US forces in the Aleutians, 110 near Saipan, and Ill was reported missing near Samoa. A2 class Displacement: 2390t standard, 2934t/4172t Dimensions: 355ft 8in pp, 367ft 5in wl, 373ft oa x 31ft 4in x 17ft 8tn 108.40, 112 00, 113.70 x 9.55 x 5 39m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 4700bhp/1200shp = 17 7kts/6 2kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, l-5.5in/40, 2-25mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 114 Number Builder Launched Fate 112 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk after 5.1 45 AM class Displacement: 2620t standard, 3603t/4762t Dimensions: 355ft 8m pp, 373ft oa x 38ft 5in x 19ft 4m 108 40, 113 70 x 11.70 x 5 89m Machinery: 2 shaft diesels plus electric motors, 4400bhp/600shp = 16 7kts/5 5kts Armament: 6-21in TT, l-5.5m/40, 7-25mm AA, 2 aircraft Complement: cl 14 Number Builder Launched Fate 113 Kawasaki, Kobe 1944 Sunk 16 7.45 114 Kawasaki, Kobe 1944 BUH946 115 Kawasaki, Kobe 12 4 1944 BU incomplete 1945 II Kawasaki, Kobe 10.6.1944 BU incomplete 1947 These vessels were laid down in 1943 under the 1941 War Programme as first class submarines, 113 and 114 were completed in December 1944 and March 1945. The largest Japanese submarines built before the STo class, they were planned as advanced headquarters (А-type) submannes, but were modified to operate as scouting units with the STo class. The hangar was built slightly to starboard of the centreline and partly under the conning tower, which was offset to port One catapult was fitted The machinery was still less powerful than in the A2 class, and the range slightly reduced, being 21,OOOnm at 16kts/60nm at 3kts. Two large hollow tubes extending upwards from the conning tower formed a primitive schnorkel. Three further units of this class proposed in the 1942 Modified Programme (Nos 5094—96) were never begun 113 was sunk by US forces off the Japanese coast, and 114 was scrapped postwar The construc- tion of IIS and 11 was halted while they were fitting out, and their hulls were demobshed, Il postwar after sinking in a storm in September 1945. Bl class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2198t standard; 2589t/3654t 335ft 1 Impp, 350ft 9m wl, 356ft 7inoa x 30ft 6in x 16ft lOin 102.40, 106.92, 108 70 x 9 30 x 5 I4m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 12,400bhp/2000shp = 23 6kts/8kts 6-2lin TT, 1-5 5m/40, 2-25mm AA, 1 aircraft 101 Number Builder Launched Fate 115 Kure N Yd 7.3 1939 Sunk 10.11.42 117 Yokosuka N Yd 19 7 1939 Sunk 19 8 43 119 Mitsubishi, Kobe 16 9 1939 Sunk 25 11 43 121 Kawasaki, Kobe 24 2.1940 Sunk >27 or 29 11 43 123 Yokosuka N Yd 24 11 1939 Sunk ?26 2 42 125 Mitsubishi, Kobe 8 6 1940 Sunk ?3 or 20 9 43 126 Kure N Yd 10.4 1940 Sunk 24.10 44 127 Sasebo N Yd 6 6 1940 Sunk 12 2 44 128 Mitsubishi, Kobe 18 12 1940 Sunk 17.5 42 129 Yokosuka N Yd 29 9 1940 Sunk 26.7 44 130 Kure N Yd 17 9 1940 . Sunk 13 10 42 131 Yokosuka N Yd 13 3.1941 Sunk 13 6.43 132 Sasebo N Yd 17 12 1940 Sunk 24 3 44 133 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1 5 1941 Sunk 13 6 44 134 Sasebo N Yd 24.9.1941 Sunk 13 11 43 135 Mitsubishi, Kobe 24 9 1941 Sunk 22 11 43 136 Yokosuka N Yd I 11 1941 Scuttled 1 4 46 137 Kure N Yd 22 10 1941 Sunk 19.11 44 138 Sasebo N Yd 15.4.1942 Sunk 12 11 44 139 Sasebo N Yd 15 4 1942 Sunk ?26 11 43 200
Submarines Approved in the 1937 and 1939 Programmes, these first class submarines were laid down between 1938 and 1940 and completed between September 1940 and April 1943 The design was developed from the KD6 class as a specialised scouting type, and was generally an improved but slightly smaller Al, with the hangar moulded into the conning tower. Surface range was 14,000nm at 16kts and submerged endurance 96nm at 3kts From 1941 several units were modified asattack submarines, a second 5.5in gun replacing the hangar and catapult. 136 and 137 were refitted as Kaiten carriers in 1944, when the 5.5in gun and the aircraft facilities were removed; 136 carried six Kaitens, and 137 four. This relatively large class saw extensive service in the different war theatres, includ- ing blockade-running to occupied France, and only one survived the war. Almost all were sunk by US forces, but 127 was sunk by British destroyers near Addu Atoll, and 134 was torpedoed by the British submarine 7 auras off Penang IIS on trials, 15.9.1940 B2 class Displacement: 2230t standard; 2624t/3700t Dimensions: 335ft Ilin pp, 350ft 9in wl, 356ft 7in oa x 30ft 6in x 17ft lin 102.40, 106.92, 108.70 x 9.30 x 5.20m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 11,000bhp/2000shp = 23.5kts/8kts Armament: 6-21in TT, 1-5 5in/40, 2-25mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 101 Number Builder Launched Fate 140 Kure N Yd 1942 Sunk between 29.11.43 and 3.12.43 141 Kure N Yd 1943 Sunk 28.11.44 142 Kure N Yd 1943 Sunk 23.3.44 143 Sasebo N Yd 1943 Sunk 15.2.44 144 Yokosuka N Yd 1943 Sunk 29.4.45 145 Sasebo N Yd 1943 Sunk 28 10.44 These first class submarines were almost identical in design with the Bl class, and had the same surface and submerged ranges. They were approved in the 1941 War Programme, laid down in 1942, and completed between July 1943and January 1944 As in the Bl class, some units were modified as attack submarines with a second 5.5m gun replacing the hangar and catapult. 144 was modified as a Kaiten carrier in 1944, 4 Kaitens being fitted in place of the 5.5in gun and aircraft facilities All were sunk by US forces, mainly in the Central Pacific and Philippine areas. Eight further units proposed in the 1942 Ptogramme (Nos 702-9) were never begun. B3 class Displacement: 2140t standard; 2607t/3688t Dimensions: 335ft Ilin pp, 350ft 9in wl, 356ft 7in oa x 30ft 6in x 7ft 102.40, 106.92, 108.70 x 9.30 x 5.19m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 4700bhp/1200shp = 17 7kts/6.5kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, l-5.5in/40, 2-25mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 101 Number Builder Launched Fate 154 Yokosuka N Yd 1943 Sunk 28.10.44 156 Yokosuka N Yd 1943 Sunk 18.4.45 158 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 Scuttled 1 4.46 These first class submarines, laid down in 1942/3 under the 1941/2 War Prog- ramme and completed between Marchand September 1944, were very similar to the preceding В1 and B2 classes, but with much less powerful machinery, giving lower surface and submerged speeds. The weight and space saved was used to increase fuel oil capacity: surface range increased to 21,000nm at 16kts and submerged endurance was slightly up at 105nm at 3kls. 156 and 158 were convened to Kaiten carriers in 1944, the 5.5in gun and aircraft facilities being replaced by four Kaitens (six Kaitens in 1945). 158 sank the US cruiser Indianapolis on 29 July 1945; it is not clear whether Kaitens were used in this attack. 18 further units proposed in the 1941 Programme {162,164-166) and 1942 Modified Programme (Nos 5101-5114) were never begun. Eighteen B4 class submarines (Nos 5115-5132), similar to the B3 class but with more powerful machinery to give a surface speed of 22.5kts, were proposed in the 1942 Modified Programme but never begun. Cl class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2184t standard; 2554t/3561t 340ft 7inpp, 350ft Ilmwl,358fi7inoa x 29ft lOin x 17ft7in 103 80, 106 95, 109.30 x 9.10 x 5.35m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 23 6kts/8kts 8-21m TT, l-5.5in/40, 2-25mm AA 101 12,400bhp/200shp = Number Builder Launched Fate 116 Mitsubishi, Kobe 28.7.1938 Sunk 19.5 44 118 Sasebo N Yd 12.11.1938 Sunk 11.2.43 120 Mitsubishi, Kobe 25.1.1939 Sunk 3 9 43 122 Kawasaki, Kobe 23.12 1938 Sunk 5 10 or 4.11.42 124 Sasebo N Yd 12.11 1939 Sunk 10 or 11 6.43 These first class submarines were laid down in 1937-38 under the 1937 Prog- ramme and completed between March 1940 and October 1941. The design was developed from the KD6 class as a specialised attack class, and was generally similar to the Al and Bl classes, but without the aircraft facilities. Range was 14,000nm at 16kts/60nm at 3kts. They carried a Type A midget submarine on deck aft for the Pearl Harbor attack. 116 was modified as a transport submarine in 1943, the 5.5in gun and some spare torpedoes being replaced by a 46ft Daihatsu landing craft, or vehicles, stores and other equipment. All were sunk by US forces in the Pacific theatre {116 by the DE England'). C2 class Displacement: 2184t standard; 2557t/3564t Dimensions: 340ft 7inpp, 350ft 1 lin wl, 358ft 7moa x 29ft lOin x 17ft7in 103.80, 106 95, 109.30 x 9 10 x 5.35m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 11,000bhp/2000shp = 23.5kts/8kts Armament: 8-2lin TT, l-5.5in/40, 2-25mm AA Complement: 101 Number Builder Launched Fate 146 Sasebo N Yd 1943 Sunk after 27.10 44 147 Sasebo N Yd 1943 Scuttled 1 4.46 148 Sasebo N Yd 1943 Sunk 23.1.45 These first class submarines were almost identical in design with the Cl class, and had the same surface and submerged ranges, but were not fitted to carry midget submarines. They were laid down in 1942 under the 1941 \X ar Pro- gramme and completed between February and September 1944.147 and 148 were convened to Kaiten earners in 1944, the 5.5m gun being replaced by four Kaitens (six Kaitens in 1945). 148 was sunk by US forces near Yap while on a Kaiten operation. Nine further units of the this class, 149-151 of the 1941 War Programme and Nos 710-713 of the 1942 Programme, were cancelled before construction began. C3 class Displacement: 2095t standard; 2564t/3644t Dimensions: 335ft 1 lin pp, 350ft 9in wl, 356ft 7in oa x 30ft 6in x 16ft lOin 102.40, 106.92, 108.70 x 9.30 x 5.12m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 4700bhp/1200shp = 17.7kts/6.5kts Armament: 6-2lin TT, 2-5 5in/40, 2-25mm AA Complement: 101 Number Builder Launched Fate 152 Kure N Yd 1943 Sunk 24 6.44 153 Kure N Yd 1943 Scuttled 1.4.46 155 Kure N Yd 1943 Sunk ?28.7.44 201
JAPAN Ihese first class submarines were laid down in 1942 under the 1941-42 War Programme and completed between December 1943 and April 1944 Thedesign was generally similar to the preceding Cl and C2 classes, but utilised a В1-3 class hull and, following the trend shown in the A3 and B3 classes, had much less powerful machinery, giving lower surface and submerged speeds. The weight and space saved was used to increase fuel oil capacity, surface range was increased to 21,000nm at 16kts and the submerged endurance improved con- siderably, to 105nm at 3kts. 153 was converted to a Kaiten carrier m 1944, the 5 5in gun aft being replaced by four Kaitens (six Kaitens in March 1945). 152 was sunk by US forces near the Azores while blockade running, and 155 near Tinian Seventeen further units of this class, 157 and 159 of the 1941-42 War Programme and 15 of the 1942 Modified Programme, were cancelled before construction began. Twenty-five C4 class submarines (Nos 5156-80), similar to the C3 class but with more powerful machinery to give a surface speed of 2O.5kts and only one 5 5in gun, were proposed in the 1942 Modified Programme but never built. ST class 1944 ST class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1070t standard; 1291t/I450t 249ft 4in pp, 257ft 7in wl, 259ft 2in oa x 19ft x 17ft Ilin 76 00, 78 50, 79 00 x 5 80 x 5 46m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 15 8kts/l9kts 4-21 in TT, 2-25mm A A 31 2750bhp/5000shp = Number Builder Launched Fate 1201 Kure N Yd 1944 To USA 1945 1202 Kure N Yd 1944 Scuttled 1946 1203 Kure N Yd 1944 To USA 1945 1204 Kure N Yd 16 12.1944 Sunk incomplete 22 6 45 1205 Kure N Yd 15.2 1945 BU incomplete 1948 1206 Kure N Yd 26 3 1945 BU incomplete 1946 These first class submarines were developed from the experimental submarine No 71, and were Japan’s first attempt at producing true submarines (as opposed to submersibles). There were laid down in 1944 under the 1943-44 Programme, and completed between February and May 1945. The hull and conning tower were streamlined, extensive use of prefabrication and electric welding cut building times to about ten months, and the battery capacity was increased, the ships, the first operational type with a schnorkel or 'Guppy*, compared well with the German Type XXIs Surface range was 5800nm at 14kts, submerged endurance was 135nm at 3kts, or 17nm at 19kts followed by 36nm at 3kts Only three of the class were completed; four units were broken up postwar (1205, 1206, also 1207 and 1208, construction of which had been suspended in 1945 while on the stocks), and 91 further units were never begun (1209-1223 of the 1943-44 Programme, and 76 more boats projected in the 1944—45 Programme). I3S1 1945 SH class Displacement: 2650t standard; 3512t/429Ot Dimensions: 351ft Im pp, 360ft 1 lin wl, 364ft 2in oa x 33ft 4in x 20ft 2in 107 00, 110.00, 111.00 x 10 15 x 6 14m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 3700bhp/1200shp = 15.8krs/6.3kts Armament: 4—2 lin TT, 2-3in trench mortars, 7-25mm AA Complement: 90 Number Builder Launched Fate 1351 Kure N Yd 1944 Sunk 14.7.45 1352 Kure N Yd 23 4 1944 Sunk incomplete 22 6.45 First class submarines, laid down m 1943 under the 1942 Programme, and completed in January 1945 (1351), these vessels were designed as mobile supply bases for seaplanes and flying boats. The 390t of cargo included 3651 of aviation fuel, fresh water, bombs and torpedoes. The armament originally planned was 1-5 5in/40 and 4-25mm A A, but 5 5in guns were in short supply, so the trench mortars were fitted instead, and the number of AA guns increased Range was 13,000nm at 14kts/100nm at 3kts. 1351 was sunk by a US submarine in the East Indies, and 1352 by US air attack /353, of the same class, and three very similar but slightly enlarged units were never begun. 1361 as completed DI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1440t standard, 1779t/2215t 231ft 4in pp, 239ft 6in wl, 241ft 2in oa 70.50, 73 00, 73 50 x 8.90 x 4.76m 2 shaft diesels plus electric motors, 13kts/6 5kts l-5.5m/40, 2-25mm AA 60 x 29ft 2in x 15ft 7m 1850bhp/1200shp = Number Builder Launched Fate 1361 Kure N Yd 1943 Sunk 30 5 45 1362 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1943 Sunk 13 or 18 1 45 1363 Kure N Yd 1943 Lost 29 10.45 1364 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1943 Sunk 15 or 16 9 44 1365 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 Sunk 28 11 44 1366 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 Scuttled 1 4 46 1367 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 Scuttled 1 4 46 1368 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 Sunk 27.2.45 1369 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 BUH946 1370 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 Sunk 26 2 45 1371 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 Sunk 24 2 45 1372 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 Sunk 18 7 45 The DI class laid down in 1943 under the 1942 Modified Programme and completed between May and November 1944, were designed as transport submarines, to run supplies, troops and equipment to beleaguered island gar- risons m the south-west Pacific and Philippine areas. Rated as first class sub- marines they were originally planned to carry 2-2lin TT, but these were removed after trials with 1361 Two 13m landing-craft were carried in wells on the deck aft, and two large rubber boats could also be used for landing. There w’as capacity for 82t cargo and 110 men Surface range was 15,000mn at lOkts and submerged endurance 120nm at 3kts. In 1944-45 1361,1363,1366-1370 and 1372 wereconvened to Kaiten earners, the 5.5in gun being replaced by five Kaitens Eight of the class were sunk by US forces in the Pacific theatre; 1363 was accidentally mined u’hilc underway postwar. 92 further units of this class, proposed in the 1943-44 Programme, were never begun. D2 class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1660t standard, 1926t/2240t 232ft 1 lin pp, 241ft 2in wl, 242ft 9in oa x 29ft 2in x 16ft 7in 71 00, 73.50, 74 00 x 8 90 x 5 05m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 13kts/16 5kts l-5.5in/5O, 2-25mm AA 60 1750bhp/1200shp = Number Builder Launched Fate 1373 Yokosuka N Yd 1944 Sunk 14 8 45 1374 Yokosuka N Yd — BU incomplete 1945 These first class submarines, laid down in 1944 under the 1943-44 Programme and completed in April 1945 (/373), were slightly enlarged modifications of the DI class, with the same surface range and slightly less submerged endurance, lOOnm at 3kts One landing craft, 150t petrol and 1 lOt cargo could be earned /373 was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine Spikefish as hostilities were ending; the incomplete hull of 1374 was demolished on the stocks from April 1945. The 1943-Л4 Programme also included 1375-1378 and a further 140 projected units, but none of these was ever begun. i 202
Submarines STO class Displacement: 3530t standard; 5223t/656Ol Dimensions: 380ft 7in pp, 394ft wl, 400ft 3in oa x 39ft 4in x 23ft 116.00, 120.10, 122.00 x 12.00 x 7.02m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 7700bhp/2400shp = 18.7kts/6.5kts Armament: 8-2lin TT, l-5.5in/5O, 10-25mm AA, 3 aircraft Complement: 144 Number Builder м Launched Fate 1400 Kure N Yd 1944 Scuttled 1946 1401 Sasebo N Yd 1944 Scuttled 1946 1402 Sasebo N Yd 1944 Scuttled 1.4.46 1403 ?Kure N Yd Cancelled 1945 1404 Kure N Yd 7.7.1944 Sunk incomplete 28.7.45 1405 Kawasaki, Kobe — BU incomplete 1945 Laid down in 1943—44 under the 1942 Modified Programme and completed between December 1944 and July 1945, these first class units were the largest submarines of their day. The design was based on a proposal by Admiral Yamamoto for a submarine-launched bombing attack on the Panama Canal locks; the original proposal was for a surface displacement of 4550t and an aircraft capacity of two bombers, subsequently increased as above. Range was 30,OOOnm at 16kts/60nm at 3kts. The aircraft facilities were arranged as in the AM class, with a hangar below and to starboard of the conning tower, which was offset to port. There was one catapult. 1402 was redesigned while building and completed as a supply tanker, able to carry a large quantity of oil fuel. 1403 and 12 further units 1406-1417, were cancelled in 1945, before the keels were laid (it is possible, but not confirmed, however, that the hull of 1403 was irreparably damaged in an air raid soon after being laid down), and 1405, laid down in September 1944, was demolished on the slip in 1945. L4 class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 988t standard; 996t/1322t 243ft pp, 250ft oa x 24ft 3in X 12ft 4in 74.07, 76.20 x 7.38 x 3.77m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 2400bhp/1600shp = 16.5kts/9kts 6-2lin TT, l-3in/40 AA, 1 MG 47-60 Number Builder Launched Fate RO60 (ex-No 59) Mitsubishi, Kobe 22.12.1922 Lost 29.12.41 RO61 (ex-No 72) Mitsubishi, Kobe 19.5.1923 Sunk 31.8.42 RO62 (ex-No 73) Mitsubishi, Kobe 19.9.1923 BU cl946 RO63 (ex-No 84} Mitsubishi, Kobe 24.1.1924 BU cl946 RO64 Mitsubishi, Kobe 19.8.1924 Sunk 12.4.45 RO65 Mitsubishi, Kobe 25.9.1925 Sunk 4.11.42 RO66 Mitsubishi, Kobe 25.10.1926 Sunk 17.12.41 RO67 Mitsubishi, Kobe 18.3.1926 BUcl946 RO68 Mitsubishi, Kobe 23.2.1925 BUH946 Second class submarines, laid down between 1921 and 1924 under the 1921-28 Programme and completed between September 1923 and July 1927, these boars were the final Japanese version of the British *L* class submarine design. They were slightly larger than the units of the L3 class, and had two more torpedo tubes. The first four units were renumbered in 1924. Range was 55OOnm at 10kts/80ninat4kts. RO62-RO64 ,RO67 an<3RO68 were used for training from 1942. Five of the class were sunk during the war, RO60 by shipwreck on Kwajalein, RO66 in a collision with RO62, and the other three by action of US forces. K5 class Displacement: 700t standard; 940t surface Dimensions: 234ft 7in wl, 248ft 4in oa x 22ft x 12ft Ilin 71.50, 75.70 x 6.70 x 3.95m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 2900bhp/1200shp = 19kts/8.2kts Armament: 4-2lin TT, l-3in/40 AA, l-13.2mm AA Complement: 42 Number Builder Launched Fate RO33 Kure N Yd 10.10.1934 Sunk 29.8.42 RO34 Mitsubishi, Kobe 12.12.1935 Sunk 5.4.43 Second class submarines, laid down in 1933-34 under the 1931 Programme and completed in October 1935 and May 1937, these units were based on the earlier К1-4 and KT medium submarine designs, with much improved performance. Surface range was 8000nm at 12kts and submerged endurance 90nm at 3.5kts. RO33 was sunk by an Australian destroyer near Port Moresby and R.O34 by an American destroyer in the Solomons. RO46 1944 K6 class Displacement: 960t standard, 1115t/1447t Dimensions: 251ft pp, 259ft 2in wl, 264ft lin oa x 23ft 2in x 13ft 4in 76.50, 79.00, 80.50 x 7.05 x 4.07m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 4200bhp/1200shp = 19.7kts/8kts Armament: 4-2 lin TT, l-3in/40 A A, 2-25mm AA Complement: 54 Number Builder Launched Fate RO35 Mitsubishi, Kobe 4.6.1942 Sunk 725.8.43 RO36 Mitsubishi, Kobe 14.10.1942 Sunk 13.6.44 RO37 Mitsubishi, Kobe 30.6.1942 Sunk 22.1.44 RO38 Mitsubishi, Kobe 24.12.1942 Sunk after 19.11.43 RO39 Sasebo N Yd 6.3.1943 Sunk 2.2.44 RO40 Mitsubishi, Kobe 6.3.1943 Sunk 16.2.44 RO41 Mitsubishi, Kobe 5.5.1943 Sunk 723.3.45 RO42 Sasebo N Yd 25.10.1942 Sunk 10/11.6.43 RO43 Mitsubishi, Kobe 5.6.1943 Sunk 26.2.45 RO44 Tamano, 1943 Sunk 16.6.44 Tamano RO45 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1943 Sunk 730.4.44 RO46 M tsubishi, Kobe 1943 Sunk 725.4.45 RO47 Tamano, 1943 Sunk 726.9.44 Tamano RO48 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1943 Sunk 714.7.44 RO49 Tamano, 1943 Sunk 75.4.45 Tamano RO50 Tamano, 1943 Scuttled 1.4.46 Tamano RO55 Tamano, 1944 Sunk 7.2.45 Tamano RO56 (ex-KO75) Tamano, 1944 Sunk 79.4.45 Tamano The K6 second class submarines, laid down 1941—43 under various 1940-42 Programmes and completed between March 1943 and November 1944, were enlarged and improved versions of the K5 class. The final Japanese medium submarine design, they had a range of 5000nm at 16kts/45nm at 5kts. The 3in gun was added during construction, the original plans not providing for any guns. Only one of the class survived the war, the remainder being victims of action by US forces in the Pacific theatre. 61 further units of this class approved in the 1941 and 1942 Modified Programmes (RO5I-ROS4, RO70-RO74, RO76-RO79 and R0200-R0227}, together with nine units (Nos 715-723) proposed in the 1942 Programme, were never begun. RO68 on 29.10.1925
JAPAN jjj KS class as completed KS class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 525t standard; 601 t/782t 188ft 4in pp, 194ft 1 lin wl, 199ft lOinoa 57.40, 59.40, 60 90 x 6 00 x 3.51m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 14 2kts/8kts 4-2lin TT, 2-25mm AA 38 x 19ft 8in x 11ft 6in 1100bhp/760shp = Number Builder Launched Fate ROIOO Kure N Yd 6 12.1941 Sunk 25.11.43 RO101 Kawasaki, Kobe 17 5.1942 Sunk 15.9.43 RO 102 Kawasaki, Kobe 17.5.1942 Sunk 14.5.43 RO 103 Kure N Yd 6.12.1941 Sunk after 28.7.43 RO104 Kawasaki, Kobe 11.7.1942 Sunk 23.5.44 RO105 Kawasaki, Kobe 11.7.1942 Sunk 31.5.44 RO106 Kure N Yd 30.5.1942 Sunk 22.5 44 RO 107 Kure N Yd 30.5.1942 Sunk ?12.7.43 RO108 Kawasaki, Kobe 26.10.1942 Sunk 26.5.44 RO 109 Kawasaki, Kobe 1942 Sunk ?29 4 45 RO 110 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 11.2.44 RO111 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk ? 10 6.44 RO112 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 11 2.45 RO113 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 12.2 45 RO 114 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 17.6.44 RO115 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk ?31.1.45 RO 116 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 24.5.44 RO117 Kawasaki, Kobe 1943 Sunk 17 6.44 Number Builder Launched Fate HA101 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1944 BUcl946 HA102 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 BUcl946 HA103 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1944 Scuttled 1.4 46 HA104 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1944 BUH946 HA105 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1945 Scuttled 1 4.46 HA106 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1944 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA 107 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA108 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA109 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1945 Scuttled 1 4.46 HA110 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 1945 Lost incomplete 16 4 46 НАШ Mitsubishi, Kobe 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 НА112 Mitsubishi, Kobe 1945 BU incomplete cl 946 Third class submarines, laid down in 1944—45 under the 1943—44 Programme and completed between November 1944 and August 1945. They were small transport submarines, to supply isolated island garrisons, and could carry 60t or 103m’ cargo. They were built to a simplified design, and extensive use of prefabrication and electric welding reduced construction time to about five months. Range was 3000nm at lOkts 146nm at 2-3kts. All twelve units were scrapped or scuttled after the war, except Ha 110, which sank after springing a leak 88 further units proposed in the 1944 45 Programme (Hal 13-Ha200) were never begun. STS class as completed Laid down in 1941—42 under the 1940 and 1941 Programmes and completed between August 1942 and January 1944, these second class submarines were small medium boats intended for use in coastal waters. The planned armament was replaced by l-3in A A, surface range was 3500nm at 12kts and submerged endurance 60nm at 3kts. Nine further units of this class, approved in the 1942 Programme, were never begun. All were war losses, many being sunk in the central and south-west Pacific areas and in the Philippines. Five of this class and one larger boat were credited to the US DE England, operating with an escort group, in only eight days (RO 104-RO 106, RO108, ROU6 and 116). STS class No 71 Displacement: 195t standard, 213t/240t Dimensions: 140ft 5in oa x 10ft lOin x 10ft 2in 42 80 x 3.30 x 3 10m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 13. lkts/21 3kts 300bhp/1800shp = Armament: 3-18in IT Complement: 11 Number Builder Launched Fate 71 Kure N Yd 1938 BU 1940 A small experimental submarine, laid down in 1937 under the 1937 Third Reinforcement Programme and completed in August 1938, designed to test new propulsion machinery and for a high submerged speed. The original plans provided for German Daimler-Benz diesel motors, intended performance figures being 1200bhp/1800hp = 18kts/25kts, with a surface range of 3830nm at 12.5kt$ and a submerged endurance of 35nm at 7kts. However, Japanese machinery had to be used, resulting in the reduced power and speed listed in the table; the actual surface range was only 2200nm at 12kts, whilst submerged endurance was 38nm at 7kts. No 71 was scrapped after being used for extensive trials; the data gained was used in the design of the high-speed wartime ST and STS classes. SS class as completed SS class Displacement: 370t standard; 429t/493t Dimensions: 138ft 5in pp, 144ft 4in wl, 146ft oa x 20ft x 13ft 3in 42 20, 44.00, 44.50 x 6.10 x 4 04m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 400bhp/150shp » 10kts/5kts Armament: l-25mm AA Complement: 21 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 320t standard, 377t/440t 164ft pp, 173ft Ilin oa x 13ft lin x lift 3in 50 00, 53 00 x 4.00 x 3 44m 1-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 400bhp/1250shp « 10.5kts/13kts 2-2lin TT, 1-7.7mm MG 22 Number Builder Launched Fate HA201 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA202 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA2O3 Sasebo N Yd 1945 BU 1948 HA204 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Lost 29 10.45 HA2O5 Sasebo N Yd 1945 BUH946 HA206 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 10.7.1945 Lost incomplete 25.8.45 HA207 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 5 4.46 HA208 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 1.4.46 HA2O9 Sasebo N Yd 1945 BU 1946 HA210 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 5.4.46 HA 211 Kawasaki, Tanagawa 24.4.1946 BU incomplete 1946 HA212 Kawasaki, Kobe 25.6 1945 BU incomplete cl 946 HA213 Mitsubishi, Kobe 29.7.1945 BU incomplete cl 946 HA214 Mitsubishi, Kobe 15.8.1945 BU incomplete C1946 HA215 Sasebo N Yd 15 6.1945 • Scuttled incomplete 5.4.46 HA216 Sasebo N Yd 1945 Scuttled 5.4.46 HA217 Sasebo N Yd 26.6.1945 Scuttled incomplete 5.4.46 HA218 Sasebo N Yd 2.7.1945 BU incomplete 1946 HA219 Sasebo N Yd • 12.7.1945 Scuttled incomplete 5.4.46 HA221 Kawasaki, Kobe 4.8.1945 BU incomplete C1946 HA228 Sasebo N Yd 18.7.1945 Scuttled incomplete 5.4.46 HA229 Sasebo N Yd 27.7.1945 BU incomplete 1946 HA230 Sasebo N Yd 1946 BU incomplete 1946 204
Submarines/Escorts/Patrol boats Laid down from March 1945 under the 1943-44 Programme, and completed from May 1945, these third class submarines were derixed from the experimen- tal No 71 Intended to protect the Japanese islands against the advancing Americans, they had high underwater speed, good manoeuvrability and schnorkels Although built as rapidly as possible, onK ten were completed by the end of the war, and none was used operationally. Surface range was 3000nm at lOkts, and the submerged endurance lOOnm at 2kts All units, w'hether complete or not, were scrapped or scuttled after the war, exceptHa204, which was wrecked, and Ha206, which sank in a storm, the hulls of two incomplete boats were launched after the war to clear the slips 16 further units (Ha220, Ha222-Ha227 ,Ha231-Ha238 and Ha246) were broken up on the stocks post- war (it is not certain that Ha234 and Ha236 were ever begun, although material was assembled for their construction), and another 50 units were never begun (Ha239-Ha24S ,Ha247-Ha279, and ten unnumbered units projected in 1945). Yu 1001 class (built 1944-45) Displacement: 392t surface Dimensions: 160ft 9in oa x 16ft 5m x 8ft 9in 49.00 X 5 00 x 2 67m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 700bhp/?shp = 12ktsPkts Complement: ? Class: Yul001-Yul014 As Yul class YuI007, YuIOll, Yul0l3 and Yul014 survived the war and were scrapped in 1947-48, the fates of the other ten units are not known. Construction of a further (Yu200l) class began in 1945, but details arc not available; little progress was probably made. Yul class (built 1943-44) Displacement: 273t/370t Dimensions 129ft 7in pp, 134ft 2in oa x 12ft lOin x 9ft 8in 39 50, 40 90 x 3.9 x 2.95m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motors, 400bhp/75shp = 10kts/5kts Armament: l-37mm AA Complement: 13 Class: Yul-Yul2 The Japanese Army designed, built and operated two classes of small trans- port submarines, roughly comparable with the Navy’s SS class, to help supply beleaguered island garrisons in the south west Pacific 40t cargo could be carried. YulO and Yul2 survived the war, and were scrapped in 1947; the fates of the other ten units are not known. EX-GERMAN AND ITALIAN SUBMARINES Eight ex-German and Italian submarines, as follows, were operated by the Japanese Navy between 1943 and 1945 ROSOO (ex-l/5//, transferred to Japan in July 1943 and used for trials, BU 1946); RO501 (ex-U1224, transferred soon after completion, sunk 13.5.44 by an American DE off the Azores en route for Japan); 1501,1502, ISOS and 1506 (ex-Ul81, U862, U219 and U195, seized in May 1945 after the surrender of Germany, serving briefly in the Japanese Navy, and scuttled or BU 1946-47); and 1503 (e.x-UIT24, ex-Commandante Capellini, scuttled 15 4.46) and 1504 {cx-UIT25, cx-Luigi Torelh, scuttled 16 4 46). The two Italian boats were in Japanese ports at the time of the Italian surrender, they were seized and turned over to the Germans until May 1945, when they were i icorporated into the Japanese Navy. For full details of all these vessels see under Germany and Italy. ESCORTS, PATROL BOATS ——-----------------------------------------—------' Shimushu class 1944 SHIMUSHU class (Type A) escorts (launched 1939-40) Displacement: 860t standard; 1004t trial Dimensions. 237ft 10m pp, 250ft wl, 255ft oa x 29ft lOin x 10ft 72 50, 76.20, 77.72 x 9.10 x 3.05m Machinery 2 shaft diesels, 4200bhp = 19.7kts Armament: 3—4.7in/45 (3x1), 4-25mm AA, 12 DCs Complement: 150 Class (builder, fate) Shimushu (Mitsui, Tamano, to USSR 1947), Hachijo (SaseboN Yd, BU 1948),Kunashin (Tsurumi, Yokohama, lost 4.6.46), Ishigaki (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 31.5.44) These general-purpose escorts, built between 1938 and 1941, were the pro- totypes for the war construction escort programme. The anti-submarine arma- ment was increased to 24 DCs in 1942, and 60 DCs and a 3in DCT in 1943; the light AA armament was increased to 15-25mm in 1943 Kunashin was wrecked while on repatriation duties postwar. Four further units of this type proposed in the 1942 Programme (Nos 790-793) were never begun ETOROFU class (Improved Type A) escorts (launched 1942—43) Displacement* 870t standard; 1004t trial Dimensions: 237ft lOin pp, 250ft wl, 255ft oa x 29ft lOin x 10ft 72.50, 76 20, 77.72 x 9.10 x 3.05m Machinery. 2-shaft diesels, 4200bhp = 19.7kts Armament: 3-4.7in/45 (3x1)(Kanju 2-4.7in/45 (2x 1)), 4-25mm AA, 36 DCs Complement: 147 Class (builder, fate): Etorofu (Hitachi, Sakurajima, to USA 1947, BU), Oki (Uraga, Tokyo, to China 1947 as Ku An), Sado (Tsurumi, Yokohama, sunk 22.8.44), Matsuwa (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 22.8 44), Fukue (Uraga, Tokyo, to UK 1947, BU), Tsushima (Tsurumi, Yokohama, to China 1947 as Lin An), Multure (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 2.9.43) Wakamija (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 23.11 43), Kanju (Uraga, Tokyo, sunk 15.8.45), Hirado (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 12.9 44), Amakusa (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 9.8.45), Manju (Mitsui, Tamano, BU 1946), Kasado (Uraga, Tokyo, BU 1948), Iki (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 24 5 44). These ships, built between 1942 and 1944, were slightly improved versions of theShimushu class, and earned more depth charges The anti-submarine arma- ment was increased to 60 DCs and a 3in DCT in 1943, and the light AA armament to 15-25mm (Kanju 21-25mm). Kanju was sunk by Soviet and Amakusa by US aircraft, and the other six units sunk were torpedoed by US submarines. Etorofu in Mav 1943
JAPAN Nomi as completed MIKURA class (Type B) escorts (launched 1943-44) Displacement: 940t standard; 1004t trial Dimensions: 237ft lOin pp, 254ft 3in wl, 258ft 5in oa x 29ft lOin x 10ft 12 50, 11.SO, 18.11 x 9.10 x 3.06m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 4200bhp — 19.5kts Armament: 3-4 7in/45 (1x2, lx 1), 4-25mm AA, 120 DCs Complement: cl 50 Class (builder, fate): Mikura (Tsurumi, Yokohama, lost ^bout 2.SAS), Miyake (Tsurumi, Yokohama, BU 1948), Awaji (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 2.6.44), Kurahashi (Tsurumi, Yokohama, to UK 1947, BU), Nomi (Tsurumi, Yokohama, sunk 15 4 45), Chibun (Tsurumi, Yokohama, sunk 12 1.45), Yashiro (Hitachi, Sakurajima, to China 1947 as Cheng An),Kusagaki (Tsurumi, Yokohama, sunk 7 8 44). These ships, built between 1942 and 1944, were improved versions of the Type A ships, and designed as anti-submarine rather than general purpose ships. The construction time was between six and twelve months. In 1944-45 the light AA armament was increased to 14, and later 18-25mm (Miyake 16-25mm). There was 1 3in DCT. Chiburi was sunk by US carrier aircraft, Mikura by causes unknown, and the other three units lost were torpedoed by US submarines. Ukuru class 1944 UKURU class (Improved Type B) escorts (launched 1944-45) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 940t standard; 1004t trial 237ft lOin pp, 254ft 3in wl, 258ft 5in oa x 29ft lOin x 10ft 12 SO, 77.50, 18.17 x 9.10 x 3.06m 2 shaft diesels, 4200bhp = 19 5kts 3-4 7in/45 (1x2, 1X1), 6-25mm AA, 120DCs cl50 Class (builder, fate): Ukuru (Tsurumi, Yokohama, to JMSDF 1948), Hibun (Hitachi, Sakura ima, sunk 22.8 44), Shonan (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 25 2 45), Daito (Hitachi, Sakurajima, lost 16 11 45), Okinawa (Tsurumi, Yokohama, sunk 30 7 45), Ките (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 28 1 45), Ikuna (Hitachi, Sakurajima, to JMSDF 1948), Shinnan (Uraga, Tokyo, to JMSDF 1948), Yaku (Uraga, Tokyo, sunk 23.2.45), Aguni (Tsurumi, Yokohama, BU 1948), Mokuto (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 4.4 45), Inagi (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 9.8.45), Uku (Sasebo N Yd, to USA 1947, BU),Chikubu (Uraga, Tokyo, to JMSDF 1948), Habushi (Mitsui, Tamano, to USA 1947, BU), Sakito (Hitachi, Sakurajima, BU 1947), Kuga (Sasebo N Yd, BU 1948), Oga (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 2 5 4S), Kozu (Uraga, Tokyo, to USSR 1947),Kanawa (Mitsui, Tamano, to UK 1947, BU), Shiga (Sasebo N Yd, to JMSDF 1948), Amann (Tsurumi, Yokohama, to UK 1947, BU),Hodaka (Uraga,Tokyo, to USA 1947, BU 1948),Hafeuro (Hitachi, Sakurajima, to UK 1947, BU),Zwo (Maizuru N Yd, BU c!946), Takane (Mitsui, Tamano, BU 1947), Ikara (Uraga, Tokyo, BU c\946),Shisaka (Hitachi, Sakurajima, to China 1947 as Hui An), I kino (Uraga, Tokyo, to USSR 1947), Otsu (Hitachi, Sakurajima, BU 1948), Urumi (Uraga, Tokyo, BUc 1946),Muroisu (Uraga,Tokyo, BUc\946),Tomoshin (Sakurajima, Osaka, BU unlaunched 1947). These ships, built in 1944—45, were very similar to theAfiftura class, but with a simplified hull form, and with construction simplified by prefabrication techniques building limes were as low as 4-5 months They were constructed in three scries, Nos 310-339 of the 1941 Programme (Ukuru class), Nos 5251-5284 Shonan in July 1944 of the 1942 Modified Programme (Yaku class), and Nos 4701-4721 of the 1943-44 Programme (inagi class). The light AA armament was increased in 1944-45 to 16 and later 2O-25mm There was 1 3in DCT. Eight of the class were war losses; Makuto was mined, Okinawa and Inagi were sunk by US aircraft and five units were US submarine victims. Daito was mined postwar. 30 further numbered units were cancelled in 1944 (18 numbers between 5251 and 5284 of the Yaku class, and 12 numbers between 4701 and 4721 of ihe/wui,n class), together with an additional 79 unnumbered units proposed in the 1944-45 Programme. Type C escorts (launched 1944-45) Displacement: 745t standard, 7971 trial Dimensions: 206ft Sin pp, 216ft 6in wl, 221ft 5in oa x 27ft 7in x 9ft 4in 63.00, 66.00, 61 SO x 8.40 x 2.90m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 1900bhp = 16.5kts Armament: 2-4.7in/45, 6-25mm AA, 120 DCs Complement: 136 Class (fate): No 1 (sunk 6.4 45), No 3 (sunk 9 1 45), No 5 (sunk 21 9 44), No 7 (sunk 14.11.44), No 9 (sunk 14.2.45), No II (sunk 10.11.44), No 13 (sunk 14.8.45),No IS (sunk 6.6.44),No 77 (sunk 12.1.45),No/9 (sunk 12.1 45),No 21 (sunk 6.10 44), No 23 (sunk 12.1.45), No 25 (sunk 3.5.35), No 27 (to UK 1947, BU),No 29 (BU 1948),No 3/ (sunk 14 4 45),No33 (sunk 28 3 45),No 35 (sunk 12.1 45), No 37 (to USA 1947, BU), No 39 (sunk 7 8 45), No 41 (sunk 9 6.45), No 43 (sunk 12.1.45), No 45 (BU 1948), No41 (sunk 14 8 45),No49(to USA 1947,BU),No57 (sunk 12.1.45),NoS3 (sunk7.2.45),No55(toUK 1947, BU),No 57 (BU 1947),No 59 (BU 1947),No 61 (BUc 1946),No 63 (BU 1948), No6S (sunk 14.7.45), No 67 (to China 1947 as Ymg Ku),No 69 (sunk 16.3.45), No 71 (to USSR 1947), No 73 (sunk 16.4.45), No 75 (lost after 23 8 45), No 77 (to USSR 1947),No 79 (to USSR 1947), No81 (to China 1947 as Mukden), No S3 (BU incomplete 1948), No 85 (to China as Shin An), No 81 (to USA 1947, В U), No 89 ((BU incomplete 1947), No 95 (BU 1948), No 97 (BU incomplete 1947), No 10S (to USSR 1947), No 101 (to China 1947 as Chao An), No 205 (to China 1947 as Chang An), No 207 (to USA 1947, BU), No 2/3 (sunk 18.8.45),No 2/5 (toChina 1947 asLiao Hai), No 217 (to UK 1947, BU),No 2/9 (sunk 15.7 45), No 221 (to USSR 1947), No 223 (BU incomplete 1947), No 225 ((BU 1948), No 227 (to USSR 1947). The Type C escorts (kaibokan) were laid down from September 1943 under the 1943—44 Programme and completed betw een March 1944 and the end of the war. The design was a smaller and simplified version of Type В and extensive use was made of prefabrication techniques and electric welding, the hull was without sheer or camber, and the fittings \ery austere, enabling construction time to be reduced to between three and eight months. The class received odd numbers, in sequence. Building yards were as follows (the builders of particular units are generally not known): Mitsubishi, Kobe; Kyowa, Osaka; Nihonkai, Toyama; Tsurumi, Yokohama, Maizuru N Yd, Naniwa, Osaka, Niigata. The light AA armament was increased in 1944—45 to 12 and later 16-25mm. The hulls of six more units were demolished on the slipways in 1945 (Nos 93,101, 109,117,229,235). 67 further units were cancelled in 1944 before construction began (Nos 91,99,103,111,113,115,119-203,209,211,231,233,237-263),as were another 168 projected in the 1944—45 Programme (No 265 onwards). No 17 on 13 4 1944 Type D escorts (launched 1944 45) Displacement: 740t standard; 925t trial Dimensions: 213ft 3in pp, 223ft lin wl, 228ft oa x 28ft 2in x 10ft 65.00, 68.00, 69.50 x 8 60 x 3.05m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbine, 2 boilers, 2500shp = 17.5kts Armament: 2-4.7in/45, 6-25mm AA, 120 DCs Complement: 160 206
Escorts/Patrol boats/Minelayers Class (fate): No 2 (BU 1948), No4 (BU 1948),No6 (sunk 13.8.45),NoS (toUK 1947, BU), No 10 (sunk 27.9.44), No 72 (to USA 1947, BU), No 14 (to China 1947 as CAi Nan), No 16 ((to UK 1947, BU), No 18 (sunk 29.3.45), No 20 (sunk 29 12.44), No 22 (to USA 1947, BU), No 24 (sunk 28.6 44), No 26 (to USA 1947, BU), No 28 (sunk 14.12 44), No 30 (sunk 28 7 45), No 32 (to UK 1947, BU), No 34 (to USSR 1947),No 36 (to USA 1947, BU), No 38 (sunk 25.11 44), No 40 (to China 1947 as Cheng An), No 42 (sunk 10.1 45), No44 (toUSA 1947, BU),No46 (sunk 17.8.45),No48 (to USSR 1947),No 50 (BU 1948),No52 (to USSR 1947), No54 (sunk 15 12 44), No 56 (sunk 17 2 45),No5S(toUSA 1947, BU), No 60 (to UK 1947, BU), No 62 (BU 1948), No 64 (sunk 3.12 44), No 66 (sunk 13 3.45), No 68 (sunk 24 3 45), No 72 (sunk 1.7.45), No 74 (sunk 14 7 45),No 76 (to USSR 1947), No 78 (to USSR 1947), No 82 (sunk 10 8.45), No 84 (sunk 29 3 45),No/02(toUSSR 1947), No 104 (to China 1947 as Tai An), No 106 (to USA 1947, BU), No 112 (sunk 18.7 45),No /76 (BUc 1946),No 118 (to China 1947 as Chieh 12), No 124 (BU 1948), No 126 (to UK 1947, BU), No 130 (sunk 29.3.45), No 132 ((BU 1948), No 134 (sunk 6.4.45), No 138 (sunk 2.1.45), No 142 (to USSR 1947), No 144 (sunk 2.2.45), No ISO (to USA 1947, BU), No 154 (to UK 1947, BU), No 156 ((to UK 1947, BU),No 158 (to USA 1947, BU),No 160 (to UK 1947, BU),No 186 (sunk 2 4.45),No 190 (BU 1948), No 192 (to China 1947 as Tung An), No 194 (to China 1947 as Chieh 6), No 196 (toLSSR 1947), No 198 (to China 1947 as Chieh !4),No200 (BU 1948), No 202 (BU 1947), No 204 (BU 1948). The Type D escorts (kaibokan) w ere laid down from October 1943 under the 1943-44 Programme and completed between March 1944 and the end of the war The design was very similar to Type C, but because of a shortage of diesel motors, turbine machinery was installed, slightly increasing maximum speed but greatly reducing endurance (4500nm instead of 6500nm, at 16kts). The building time was between four and nine months The class received even numbers, in sequence. Building yards were Mitsubishi, Nagasaki, Kawasaki, Kobe, Ishikawajima, Tokyo (a complete list of the builders of particular units is not available). As with the Type C units, the light AA armament was increased in 1944-45 to 12 and later 16-25mm, and there was 1 3in DCT The hulls of A os 70,80 and 122 were demolished on the slipways in 1945. 72 further units were cancelled in 1944 before construction began (Nos 86-100, 108,110, 114,120, 128, 136,140,146,148,152,162-184,188 and 206-286), as were another 60 projected in the 1944-45 Programme (No 288 onwards). No 8 in Feb 1944 OTHER VESSELS To help overcome the shortage of escorts, two purpose-built target ships were taken over and refitted in 1945 Hitachi (launched 1943, 164It standard) was re-armed as an escort with 2-4.7in/45, 28-25mm AA guns and 36 DCs Her performance with 2-shaft geared turbines was 4400shp = 19 3kts. She was scrapped m 1947 Ohania (lauched 1944, 2670t) was taken over while building and armed with 2-4.7in/45, 32-25mm AA guns and 36 DCs Her performance with destroyer-type 2-shaft geared turbines was 52,000shp = 32.5kts. She was sunk by U.S. aircraft 10.8.45. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, thirteen obsolete destroyers were converted into patrol boats; details of the conversions are given m the 1922 table. All except one of the destroyers were given numbers instead of names The vessels mod- ified were Momi class No 31 (ex-Kiku), ho 32 (ex-Aoi), No 33 (ex Hagi), No 34 (ex- Susuki),No 35 (ex-Tsuta),No 36 (ex-Fuji),No 37 (ex-Hishi),No38 (ex-Yomogi) and No 39 (ex-Tade) Wakatake class No 46 (ex-Yugao) Minekaze class No 1 (ex-Shitnakaze), No 2 (ex-Nadakaze) and Sawakaze Nine ex-AUied ships served as patrol boats in the Japanese Navy (full details of all except No 105 can be found in the appropriate sections of the different navies) No 101 The ‘S’ class destroyer Thracian was beached at Hong Kong on 25 12 41, taken over by the Japanese, she was repaired, and entered service on 25.11 42. Her armament was apparently unchanged, but boiler power was reduced, and her performance became 10,000shp = 25kts. Reclassified as a training ship in March 1944, she was returned to Britain after the war and broken up at Hong Kong. No 102 The Sentnies class destroyer Stewart (DD224) was captured, badly damaged, m a Soerabaia drydock She was re-armed and extensively altered, with a tripod foremast and the first funnel trunked into the second, and entered service on 15 6 43. The data became displacement 1515t trial, armament 2-3in/40 AA, 2-13.2mm AA (1944: 2-3in/40 AA, 16-25mm AA, 72 DCs), 28,500shp = 26kts, complement c 120. No 102 was returned to the USA after the war, and was scuttled off San Francisco after use as a target. No 103 The US Bittern class minesweeperFincA was sunk at Bataan by Japan- ese artillery on 11.4.42. She was salvaged, repaired, re armed with 2-3in/40AA and 48 DCs, and entered service on 1 4 43 No 103 was sunk by US aircraft No 105 (ex Ararat) The origin of this 1200t US ship is obscure, and further particulars are not known She was sunk by a US PT boat on 29.11 44. No 107 The old US tug Genesee (ex Monocacy), scuttled at Corregidor on 5.5 42, was salvaged, repaired and re-armed with 2-3in/40 AA and 48 DCs,and entered service on 20.4.44. She was sunk by US aircraft. No 104, No 108 These two Dutch gouvemementsmarine patrol vessels were scuttled at Tjilatjap and Tandjong Pnak respectively in March 1942. Formerly Valk and Arend, they were salvaged, repaired and re armed with l-3in/40 AA, 8-25mm A A, 2-13.2mm AA and 48 DCs, and they entered service on 31 1 44 and 31.7 44 No 104 was accidentally mined 24 8 45, No 108 was sunk by US aircraft 28 3 45. No 106 The Dutch destroy er Bancken, scuttled at Soerabaia in March 1942, was salvaged and refitted by the Japanese. She was re-armed with 2-3in/40 AA, 12-25mm AA, 24 DCs and 2-46ft landing craft, but work, except on the engines, was incomplete in August 1945. No 106 was sunk as a target in the Madura Straits in September 1949 No 109 The Dutch gouvemementsmarine patrol vessel Fazant, scuttled at Tandjong Pnak in March 1942, was salvaged, repaired, and re-armed with l-3in/40 AA and 48 DCs, and entered service on 15 10 44 No 109 was returned to the Netherlands in 1946, and became the Indonesian Kartika in 1951 She was sold in 1954. MINELAYERS TOKIWA (launched 1898) Shirataka as completed Displacement: 9240t standard Dimensions: 408ft pp, 442ft oa x 67ft x 24ft 4m 124.36, 134.72 x 20.42 x 7 43m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 18,000ihp = 21.3kts Armour: Belt 7in-3 Sin, deck 2in, turret 6in, casemates 6m Armament: 2-8in/45 (1x2), 8-6in/40 (8x1), 2-3in, l-3in AA, 200-300 mines Complement > Displacement- Dimensions: Machinery: Armament- This old armoured cruiser was converted 1928-29, losing her after 8in turret and lower deck 6in guns; actual speed after rebuilding was about 16kts. She was refuted in 1940, when the armament became 4—6in/40 (4x1), l-3in AA, 2-40mm AA, 35-25mm AA, 200-300 mines, 80 DCs, with a further reduction m speed to 12kts. Sunk in shallow water at Ominato by US aircraft 8 8.45, 1 oktwa was broken up postwar SHIRATAKA (launched 1929) 1345t standard; 1516l trial 259ft lOin pp, 275ft 7in wl x 37ft Ilin x 10ft 2in 79.20, 84.00 * 11.55 x 3 10m 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 2000ihp = 16kts 3-4.7in/45 (3x1), 1 MG, 100 mines Complement: ? Shirataka, built 1927-29 under the 1923 Programme by Ishikawajima, Tokyo, was a dual purpose minelayer/netlayer, being fitted to carry six anti-submarine nets She was refitted as an escort in 1943-44, the minelaying equipment being replaced by 36 DCs, and was torpedoed by a US submarine on 31 8 44 207
JAPAN ITSUKUSHIMA (launched 1929) Displacement: 1970t standard; 2O47t trial Dimensions: 328ft lin pp, 341ft 2in wl x 38ft lOin x 1 Oft 7in 100.00, 104 00 x 11 83 x 3.22m Machinery: 3-shaft diesels, 3OOObhp = 17.0kts Armament: 3-5.5in/50 (3x1), 2-3in/40 AA, 300 mines, 2 DCs Complement: 235 Shirataka as completed Iisukushima, built 1928-29 by Uraga, Tokyo, under the 1923 Programme, was the first Japanese diesel-engined surface ship, her design was said to be inspired by the British cruiser-minelayer A dventure. She was also equipped for netlaying. She was refitted in 1944, when the armament became 3-5.5in/50, 2-25mm AA, 6-13.2mm AA and 400 mines on a standard displacement of 2330t, and was torpedoed 7.10 44 by a Dutch submarine. .?-/ Tsubame 1931 SARUSHIMA (launched 1933) Displacement: 566l standard; 574t trial Dimensions: 219ft lOin pp, 229ft 8in wl x 24ft 7in x 6ft lin 67 00, 70 00 x 7.49 X 1 85m Machinery: 2 shaft diesels, 2100bhp = 18 Okts Armament: 2-3in/40 AA (2x1), 1-13.2mm AA, 120 mines Complement: ? Sanshima, built 1933-34 under the 1931 Programme, was a slightly modified Kamone class light minelayer/netlayer. She was refitted as an escort in 1943-44, when the minesweeping gear was replaced by 36 DCs. Built by Mitsubishi, Yokohama. KAMOME class (launched 1929) Displacement: 450t standard; 502t trial Dimensions: 206ft 8in pp, 214ft Ilin wl x 23ft 7in x 6ft Ilin 63.00, 65.50 x 7.20 x 2.10m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 25OOihp = 19kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 1-13 2mm AA, 120 mines Complement: 56 Class (builder, fate): Катете (Osaka, Osaka, sunk 27.4 44), Tsubame (Mit- subishi, Yokohama, sunk 1.3 45) These ships, built 1928-29 under the 1923 Programme, were light minelayer/netlayers for coastal and inshore use. They were refitted as escorts in 1943-44, when the minesweeping gear was replaced by 36 DCs. OKINOSHIMA (launched 1935) Displacement: 4400t standard, 4920t trial Dimensions: 370ft 9in pp, 391ft 4in wl x 51ft 8in x 18ft 113 00, 119.29 x 15.74 x 5.49m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 9000shp = 20kts Armament: 4-5 5in/5O (2x2), 2-3in/40 AA, 500 mines, 1 aircraft Complement: ? The construction of this large cruiser-minelayer was approved in the 1931 Programme, and she was built by Harima betw-een 1934 and 1936 When not minelaying, she could be used as a long-range escort Okinoshima was torpedoed by a US submarine 11.5.42. YAEYAMA (launched 1931) Displacement: 1135t standard; 1358t trial Dimensions: 280ft 6in pp, 292ft wl x 34ft Ilin x 9ft 4in 85.50, 89 00 x 10.65 x 2 84m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 4800ihp = 20kts Armament: 2-4.7in/45, 2 MG, 185 mines Complement: 150 Yaeyama 1933 TSUGARU (launched 1940) Yaeyama, built 1930-32 under the 1927 Programme at Kure N Yd, was another minelayer/netlayer, and also the first all welded Japanese warship. She was refitted as an escort in 1943-44, the minelaying equipment being replaced by 36 DCs, and was sunk by US carrier-based aircraft on 24.9.44. Displacement: 4000t standard; 4330t trial Dimensions: 372ft Sin pp, 397ft wl, 408ft 6in oa x 51ft 3in x 16ft 2in 113 60, 121 00, 124.50 x 15.61 x 4 92m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 9000shp = 20kts Armament: 4-5in/40 DP (2x2), 4-25mm AA, 600 mines, 1 aircraft Complement: ? Naisushma as completed Built al Yokosuka N Yd 1939-41 under the 1937 Programme, this vessel was an improved but slightly smaller Okinoshima, and was torpedoed by a US sub- marine on 29.6.44. Two further units planned in the 1942 Programme (Nos 898 and 899) were never begun. NASAMI class (launched 1933-34) Displacement: 450t standard; 502t trial Dimensions: 219ft lOin pp, 229ft 8m wl x 24ft 7m x 6ft 3in 67.00, 70.00 x 7.50 x 1.90m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 2300bhp = 19kts Armament: 2-3in/4O AA (2x 1), 1-13.2mm AA, 120 mines Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): Nasami (Harima, Aioi, sunk 1.4.44), Naisushima (Ishikawajima, Tokyo, sunk 22.2.44) These ships, built 1932-34 under the 1931 Programme, were light minelayers/netlayers, very similar to the К among class. SOKUTEN, HARASHIMA and AJIRO classes (launched 1938—43) Displacement: 720t standard; 738t trial Dimensions: 228ft pp, 241ft 2in wl, 247ft 8in oa x 25ft 9in x 8ft 6in 69 50, 73 50, 75.50 x 7 85 x 2 60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 3500bhp (Sokuten class 3600bhp) = 20kts Armament: 2-40mm AA (Hiroshima and Ajiro classes l-3in/40 AA), 2-13.2mm AA, 120 mines Complement: 100 208
Minelayers /Minesweepers Class (builder, fate): Sokuien class - Sokuien (Mitsubishi, Yokohama, sunk 25.7.44), Shirakami (Ishikawajima, Tokyo, sunk 3.3.44), Naryu (Mitsubishi, Yokohama, sunk 16.2.45), Kyosai (Ishikawajima, Tokyo, to UK 1947, BU), Ukishima (Ishikawajima, Tokyo, sunk 16.11.43); Hiroshima class - Hiroshima (sunk 27.7.43), Hoko (sunk 29.8.43), Ishikazi (to USA 1947, BU), Takashima (lost 10.10.44), Saishu (Sasebo N Yd, to China 1947 as Yung Ching), Niizaki (BU 1947), Yurijima (sunk 14.1.45), Nuwashtma (BU c!946),Maeshtma (CTL 18.10. 44), Moroshima (never begun); Ajiro class -Ajiro (Hitachi, Innoshima, sunk 1.10.44). These ships were approved and built as follows: Sokuien class, 1937 Pro- gramme, built 1937-40, Hiroshima class, 1939 Programme, built 1939—42, Ajiro, 1941 Programme, built 1943. The Hiroshima class were built byTsurumi, Yokohama (3 units), Mitsubishi, Yokohama (2), Mitsui, Tamano (2), Hitachi, Sakurajima (2) and Sasebo N Yd (1), but the builders of individual ships are not known. They were designed as multi-purpose light minelayers/netlayers/es- corts. In 1943—44 the radius of action was improved by using water ballast tanks for storing oil fuel, and their performance as escorts was increased by substitut- ing 36 DCs for the minelaying equipment. The light AA armament was augmented in 1944, 6-25mm replacing 2-13 2mm. 13 other units of the Ajiro class (nos 461—473) were cancelled before construction began, as were 8 more proposed in the 1942 Programme (nos 850-857), and 12 of an improved type planned in the 1942 Modified Programme (nos 5421-5432). HATSUTAKA class (launched 1939-44) Displacement: 1608t standard; 1860t trial Dimensions: 270ft 8in pp, 283ft lOin wl, 298ft 3in oa x 37ft lin x 14ft 5in 82.50, 86.50, 90.90 x 11.30 x 4.40m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 6000shp = 20kts Armament: 4-40mm AA (Wakatake (2-3in/40 AA), 4-25mm AA, 360 mines Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): Hatsutaka (Harima, Aioi, sunk 16.5.45), Aotaka (Harima, Aioi, sunk 26.9.44), Wakatake (Harima, Aioi, to UK 1937 as Laburnum). These ships were approved in the 1937 and 1939 Programmes, and built between 1938 and 1941. They were designed as multi-purpose minelayers/net- layers/escorts, and in 1943—44 their escort capabilities were increased by sub- stituting 36 DCs for the minelaying equipment. A fourth unit, Asadori, pro- posed m the 1942 Programme, was cancelled before construction began, as was an improved unit (Ko 8 i9) from the same programme. Laburnum served in the Malayan Navy at Singapore until scrapped in 1956. Kamtshtma as completed KAMISHIMA class (launched 1945)_________________________ Displacement: 766t standard; 787t trial Dimensions: 228ft pp, 240ft 6m wl, 244ft 5in oa x 25ft 9in x 8ft 6in 69.50, 83.30, 74.50 x 7.85 x 2.60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 1900bhp = 16.5kts Armament: 2—40mm AA, 13-25mm AA, 120 mines, 36 DCs Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): Kamishima (Sasebo N Yd, to USSR 1947), Awashima (Sasebo N Yd, to USA 1947, BU). This class of light minelayers was designed for rapid construction. 9 units were planned in the 1943-44 Programme, and 11 more were projected in the 1944- 45 Programme, but only two from the first group were built, priority being given to the construction of Koryu and Kaiten midget submarines. "i HATSUSHIMA class cablelayers/minelayers (launched 1940-41) Displacement: 1564t standard; 1670t trial Dimensions: 225ft 5in pp, 230ft wl, 262ft 3in oa x 35ft 5in x lift 7in 68.70, 70.00, 79.93 x 10.80 x 3.53m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 2300ihp = 14kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 2-13.2mm AA, 12 mines Complement: ? Hatsutaka on 31.10.1939 Class (builder, fate): Hatsushima (Kawasaki, Kobe, sunk 28.4.45), Tsurushima (Kawasaki, Kobe, to civilian use 1945), Odaie (Harima, Harima, sunk 27.3.45), Tateishi (Harima, Harima, sunk 21.3.45). These ships were intended as cablelayers, with subsidiary netlaying and minelaying capabilities. In 1943-44, however, they were refitted as minelayers- /escorts, the armament becoming l-3in/40 AA,6-25mm AA and 120 mines plus DCs. MINESWEEPERS Wl 1944 Wl class (launched 1923-24) Displacement: 615t standard; 6911 trial Dimensions: 235ft pp, 243ft 9in wl, 250ft 2in oa x 26ft 4in x 7ft 6in 71.63, 74.30, 76.26 x 8.03 x 2.29m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 3 boilers, 4000ihp = 20kts Armament: 2—4.7in/45 (2x1), l-3in/40 A A Complement: 92 Class (builder, fate): Wl (Harima, Harima, sunk 10.8.45), W2 (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 1.3.42), W3 (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 9.4.45), W4 (Sasebo N Yd, scuttled 13.7.46). This class were suitable for use as minesweepers or escorts; the minesweeping equipment was removed from Wl, W3 and W4 in 1944, when they were refitted with l-4.7in/45 (aft), 5-25mm AA and 36 DCs. W5 class (launched 1928) Displacement: 620t standard; 706t trial Dimensions: 236ft 3in pp, 246ft lin wl, 252ft 7in oa x 27ft lin x 7ft 5in 72.00, 75.00, 77.00 x 8.25 x 2.25m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 3 boilers, 4000ihp = 2 Ikts Armament: 2-4.7in/45 (2x1), l-3m/40 AA, 1 MG Complement: 87 Class (builder, fate): 1175 (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 4.11.44), W6 (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 26.12.41) These two ships were slightly enlarged versions of the Wl class. U75 was refitted as an escort in 1944, when the armament became l-4.7in/45(aft), 5-25mm AA, 36 DCs. 209
JAPAN W13 as completed W13 class (launched 1933-44) Displacement: 500i standard; 55It trial Dimensions: 226ft 4m pp, 236ft 3in wl, 242ft 9in oa x 26ft 1 lin x 6ft 9m 69.00, 72.00, 74 00 x 8.20 x 2.07m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 3200ihp = 2Okts Armament: 2-4 7in/45 (2x1), 2-13.2mm AA Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): W13 (Fujinagata, Osaka, sunk 12.1.42), W14 (Hitachi, Sakurajima, sunk 12 1 42), IF/5 (Fujinagata, Osaka, sunk 5 3.45), W16 (Mit- sui, Tamano, sunk 11.9.43). These vessels were rebuilt in 1935 to improve stability; the funnel and bridges were cut down, and permanent ballast added. Data became: 6911 standard, 787t tnal, speed 18kts. The minesweeping gear in W15 was replaced by 36 DCs in 1944, and the light AA armament increased to 5-25mm. W13 and WI4 were both sunk by shore batteries in the attack on Tarakan, Borneo W17 class (launched 1935) Displacement: 578t standard, 696t trial Dimensions: 220ft lOin pp, 229ft 8in wl, 237ft lOin oa x 25ft 9in x 8ft 3in 67.30, 70.00, 72.50 x 7.85 x 2.52m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 3200ihp = 19kts Armament: 2-4 7in/45 (2x 1), 2-13.2mm AA Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): W17 (Hitachi, Sakurajima, BU 1947), W18 (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 26 11 44). Very similar to the preceding class. They were modified as escorts in the same way as other minesweepers in 1943—44, the minesweeping gear being replaced by 36 DCs and the light AA armament increased to 5-25mm. W7 class (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 630t standard; 738t trial Dimensions: 220ft lOin pp, 233ft 1 lin wl, 237ft lOinoa x 25ft 9in x 6ft 7in 67.30, 71 30, 72.50 x 7.85 x 2.00m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 3850shp = 20kts Armament: 3-4 7in/45 (3x 1), 2-25mm AA Complement: 88 Class (builder, fate): U”7 (Mitsui, Tamano, sunk 15.4.44), W8 (Uraga, Tokyo, scuttled 13.7 44), U”9 (Maizura N Yd, sunk 2.2 42), W10 (Ishikawajima, Tokyo, sunk 10.12.41), Wl! (Uraga, Tokyo, sunk 28 3.45), W12 (Ishikawa- jima, Tokyo, sunk 6.4.45). This class closely resembled the preceding W17 class, W7, W8, Wil and Wil were modified as escorts in 1943-44, when the after 4.7in gun was removed, the light AA armament increased to 9-25mm AA, and the minesweeping gear replaced by 36 DCs. i W19 class (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 648t standard, 743t trial Dimensions: 220ft lOinpp,233ft Ilin wl,237ft lOinoa x 25ft9m x 8ft7in 67 30, 71.30, 72 50 x 7 85 x 2.61m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 3850shp = 20kts Armament: 3-4.7in/45 (3x1), 2-25mm AA Complement: ? Class (fate): W19 (constructive total loss 10 12 41), Ц720 (sunk 4 5.45), W21 (to USA 1947, BU), 1V22 (sunk 11 11.44), W23 (to USSR 1947), W24 (sunk 15.7.45), W25 (sunk 4.7.44), 1Г26 (sunk 17.2.44), W27 (sunk 10.7.45), W28 (sunk 29.8 44), W29 (sunk 7.5 45), W30 (sunk 11.11 44), W33 (sunk 9 8.45), W34 (sunk 21.5.45), IF38 (sunk 20.11.44), W39 (sunk 20 7.45), W41 (sunk 4.1.45). The ships of this class were almost identical with the U77 class; the builders included Harima, Harima (4 units), Ishikawajima, Tokyo (2), Mitsubishi, Yokohama (2) and Fujinagata, Osaka (2), but the builders of individual units are not known In all except W19 and W26, the minesweeping gear wras replaced by 36 DCs, and the light AA armament increased to 9-25mm (1944). A further 63 units were never begun: W31, W32, W35-W37, W40, W42-W88, and Nos 820-9. Twenty-two old destroyers were modified as minesweepers between 1923 and 1930; details of the modifications are given in the 1922 tables. Twelve of the destroyers retained their names, but ten were given numbers. The vessels modified were: Asakaze class - Asakaze, Wakaba, Ushio, Nenohi, Kisaragi, Kamikaze, Hatsushimo, Yugure, Harukaze, Hibiki, Hatsuyuki, Yudacht, No 7 (ex-fsonami), No 8 (ex-Uranami), No 9 (ex-Ay an a mi), No 10 (ex-Minazuki), No 11 (ex-Nagatsuki) and No 12 (ex-Kikuzuki)-, Enoki class-No 9 (ex-Nara) and No 10 (ex-Enokiy, Unukaze class - No 7 (ex-Umikaze) and No 8 (ex-Yamakaze). Two British minesweepers, full details of which will be found in the British section, were also taken over. W101 (ex-Taiiam, ex-Ponland) and WI02 (ex- Waglan, exSeaford), were captured at Hong Kong in December 1941 while building, and completed to a slightly modified design, with a raked funnel and Japanese guns. The revised particulars were: 667t trial displacement, 2200ihp = 15.8kts, armament 1-4 7in/45, 8-25mm AA, 36 DCs, complement c60. W101 was sunk by US aircraft off Cape Padaran; W102 was returned to Great Britain in 1947 and scrapped. SUBMARINE-CHASERS Ch2 1935 CH3 (built 1935-36) Displacement: 270t standard; 280c trial Dimensions: 173ft 11 in pp, 180ft 5in w'l x 18ft 4in x 7ft 2in 53.00, 55.00 x 5.60 x 2.18m Machinery: 2500bhp = 20kts Armament: 2—40mm AA Complement: 45 During the war, 3-25mm AA, 1 DCT and 36 DCs were added to the armament. Ch3 was scuttled after the war. CHI class (built 1933-34) Displacement: 266t standard; 276t trial Dimensions: 203ft 5in pp, 210ft wl x 19ft 4in x 4ft Sin 62 00, 64.00 x 5.90 x 1.43m Machinery: 3400bhp = 24kts Armament: 2—40mm AA, 2-7.7mm MG Complement: 45 Class: Chl,Ch2 These two ships were reconstructed to improve stability in 1935, after the capsizing of the Tomozuru; data became: displacement 376t standard, 400t full load, speed 21kts. In 1944, 3-25mm AA replaced the 2 MG, and a DCT and 36 DCs were added. Ch2 was a war loss and Chi was scuttled postwar. CH51 class (built 1936-37)_______________________________________ Displacement: 170t standard; 172t trial Dimensions: 141ft 9in pp, 146ft wl x 15ft 9in x 5ft 7in 43.20, 44.50 x 4.80 x 1.70m Machinery: 3000bhp = 23kts Armament: l-40mm AA, 18 DCs Complement: ? Class: Ch51, Ch52 These ships were re-rated as auxiliary submanne-chasers in 1942, when depth charge capacity was increased to 20-30 DCs, and as tugs in 1944. Both survived the war. 210
Submarine chasers/Miscellaneous vessels CH53 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 170t standard; 177t trial 141ft 9in pp, 146ft wl x 15ft 9in X 5ft 8in 43.20, 44.50 x 4.80 x 1.73m 3000shp = 23kls 1—40mm AA, 18 DCs ? Ch53 was a near sister to ChSl and Ch52, and like them was re-rated as an auxiliary submarine-chaser in 1942, when the depth charge capacity was increased to 20-30 DCs, and as a tug in 1944. Ch53 survived the war. 17 CM 1939 CH4 class (built 1937-39) Displacement: 2911 standard; 304t trial Dimensions: 177ft 2in pp, 182ft lin wl x 18ft 4in x 7ft lin 54.00, 55.50 x 5.60 x 2.15m Machinery: 2600bhp = 20kts Armament: 2—40mm AA, 36 DCs Complement: ? Class: Ch4-Cht2 In 1944-45,3-25mm AA were added to the armament of this class. Ch3,Ch4, Ch5 and Ch9 survived the war; Ch3 and СЛ5 were scuttled by the Allies, Ch4 was scrapped and Ch9 was transferred to China asFu Ling. The other units were war losses. CH 13 class (built 1939-42) Displacement: 438t standard; 453t trial Dimensions: 152ft 7in pp, 160ft 9in wl x 22ft x 9ft 46.50, 49.00 x 6.70 x 2.75m Machinery: 1700bhp = 16kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 2-13.2mm AA, 36 DCs Complement: ? Class: Chl3-Ch27 In 1944, 3-25mm AA were added to the armament of surviving units. ChlS, ChI9,Ch20, Ch21 and Ch23 were broken up after the war, and the remainder were war losses. CH28 class (built 1941-44) Displacement: 420t standard; 435t trial Dimensions: 152ft 7in pp, 160ft 9in wl x 22ft x 8ft 7in 46.50, 49.00 x 6.70 x 2.63m Machinery: 1700bhp = 16kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 2-13.2mm AA, 36 DCs Complement: ? Class: Ch28-Ch89 In 1944, 3-25mm AA were added to the armament of surviving units. Ch38, Ch41 ,Ch42,Ch44,Ch47,Ch49,Ch5l ,Ch52 and Ch56 survived the war;CA47 was scuttled by the Allies,Ch42, Ch44, Ch47, Ch52 and Ch56 were scrapped, ChSl sank in a storm, Ch38 was transferred to Russia and Ch49 to China as Ya Lung. Ch59, Ch62 and Ch64-Ch89 were never begun. MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS I Д Hashidate as completed HASHIDATE class gunboats (launched 1939-40) Displacement: 999t standard; 1092t trial Dimensions: 249ft 4in pp, 257ft 7in wl x 31ft lOin x 8ft 76.00, 78.50 x 9.70 x 2.45m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 4600shp = 19.5kts Armament: 3-4.7in/45 (1x2, 1x1), 4-25mm AA Complement: 170 Class (builder, fate): Hashidate (Sakurajima, Osaka, sunk 22.5.1944), Uji (Sakurajima, Osaka, to China 1945 as Chang Chi'). These ships were built 1939-41 for service against China. The light AA armament was increased to 9-25mm during the war, and depth charges were added. Hashidate was torpedoed by a US submarine. The following ships, full details of which will be found in the appropriate sections of the different navies, also served in the Japanese Navy as gunboats: Nanyo (ex-Lyeman, ex-Looe). This British Bangor class minesweeper was taken over at Hong Kong in December 1941 while building, and completed as a gunboat (2—4.7in/45). The displacement listed (1200t) is however much greater than the 672t of the Bangors, suggesting a very drastic revision of the original design, a case of mistaken identity, or a typographical error. Nanyo was sunk by US aircraft 23.12.43 in the Formosa Straits. Nanshin (ex-Rurn) and Nankai (ex-Regulus). Dutch gouvemcmentsmanne minelayers, taken over by the Japanese while building, and modified as gun- boats. Nanshin was never finished (the remains were broken up cl 946) because she was cannibalised for materials and spare parts; her proposed armament was 4-4.7in/45 and 8-25mm AA. Nankai, completed with 3-3in/40 AA,4-25mm AA, was sunk by a submarine in the Java Sea 16.7.45. Okitsu (ex-1 .epaiito). The light minelayer Lepanto was scuttled at Shanghai on 9.9.43 following the Italian surrender. She was salvaged, refitted as a gunboat (700l displacement, l-3in/40 AA, 8-25mm AA, 36 DCs, complement 184) and incorporated in the Japanese Navy on 1.3.44. She was transferred to China as Sien Ning 1946. ATAMI class river gunboats (launched 1929) Displacement: 206t standard; 225t normal Dimensions: 148ft 7in pp, 148ft 7in wl x 20ft 8m x 3ft 45.30, 45.30 x 6.30 x 0.92m Machinery: 2-shafi triple expansion, 2 boilers, 1300ihp = 16.7kts Armament: J - 3in/40 AA, 6 MG Complement: 77 Class (builder, fate): Alami (Fujinagata, Osaka, to China 1946 as Yung Ping), Futami (Fujinagata, Osaka, to China 1946 as Yung An). These ships were approved in the 1927 Programme and built between 1928 and 1930. The light A A armament was increased about 1940, 5-25mm guns replacing the 6 MG, and in 1945 both ships were disarmed, the guns being taken for use ashore. 211
JAPAN FUSHIMI class river gunboats (launched 1939) TSUKUSHI survey ship (launched 1941) Displacement: 304t standard, 344t trial; 368t full load Dimensions: 159ft lin pp, 164ft wl x 32ft 2in x 4ft 2in 48 SO, SO 00 x 9.80 x / 26m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 22OOshp = 17kts Armament: l-3in, 2-25mm AA Complement: 64 Displacement: 1400t standard, 1575t trial Dimensions: 260ft 2in pp, 272ft 4in wl x 34ft 9m x lift 10m 79 30, 83 00 x 10.60 * 3 60m Machinery: 3-shaft diesels, 5700bhp = 19 7kts Armament: 4-4.7in/45 AA, 1 aircraft Complement: > Class (builder, fate): Lushimi (Fujinagata, Osaka, to China 1946 as Kiang Hsi), Sumida (Fujinagata, Osaka, to China 1946 as Kan Chang). These ships were approved in the 1937 Programme and built between 1938 and 1940. The light AA armament was increased to 8-25nim in 1942-43, but in 1945 both ships were disarmed, the guns being taken for use ashore. This heavily armed survey ship built by Mitsubishi, Yokohama, was designed for use in enemy-held areas; she was mined off the coast of New Ireland 4.11 43. Two further units, No 847 and Miho, No 5418, were never begun. КОТАКА river gunboat (launched 1930) Displacement: 50t standard, 61 7t tn al Dimensions: 98ft 5in pp, 100ft lin oa x 16ft lin x 2ft lin 30 00, 30 SO x 4 90 x 0 64m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 540bhp = 15.5kts Armament: 5 MG Complement: ? This tiny gunboat, approved in the 1927 Programme and built by Mitsui, Tamano, in 1929-30 for service on the upper Yangtze river, was sunk by Chinese aircraft 31.5 44 while in use as a communications ship. Her wartime armament was 3-7.7mm MG. The following ex-enemy river gunboats were taken over by the Japanese during World War II: Tatara (ex-UZa&e, ex-Guam) and Karatsu (ex-Lucon). The US Wake was cap- tured by the Japanese at Shanghai on 8 12.41 Her wartime armament of 2-3in, 13-25mm AA guns was removed in 1945 for use ashore. She was transferred to China in 1946 as Tai Yuan. Luzon, another US river gunboat, was sunk by Japanese batteries at Corregidor on 5 5 42 but raised, repaired, and incorpo- rated in the Japanese Navy on 1.8.42; she was scuttled before the American reoccupation of Manila. Suma (ех-МогЛ). The British gunboat Moth, scuttled at Hong Kong on 12.12.41, was raised, repaired and incorporated in the Japanese Navy on 1.7.42. She was mined 19.3 45 in the Yangtze river Maiko (ex-Afacou). Macau, taken over by Japan in 1943 because of Portugal’s alignment with the Allies, was incorporated in the Japanese Navy on 15.8 43 In 1946 she was transferred to China as Wu Feng. Narumi (ex-Ermanno Carlotlo). The Italian gunboat Ermanno Carloito, scuttled at Shanghai on 9 9 43 following the Italian surrender, was incorporated in the Japanese Navy on 15.10 43 Her armament was removed in 1945 for use ashore She, too, was transferred to China in 1946, recening the name Kiang Kun. A type coastal escorts (built 1945) Displacement: 278t standard; 277t trial Dimensions: 150ft lOin pp, 159ft lin wl x 17ft 9in x 7ft 9in 46.00, 48.50 x 5.40 x 2.36m Machinery: 800bhp = 15kts Armament: 1—40mm AA, 6-25mm AA, 60 DCs or 4 DCs and 2 Kaiten Complement: ? These A type coastal escorts, with steel hulls, were designed for mass produc- tion, but the only two laid down (No 1 and No 2), although launched, were incomplete in August 1945. В type coastal escorts (built 1945) Displacement: 280t standard; 285t tnal Dimensions: 114ft 10m pp, 123ft wl x 20ft x 8ft 35 00, 37 50 x 6.09 x 2 4Sm Machinery: 800bhp = 12.5kts Armament: l-40mm AA, 6-25mm AA, 60 DCs or 8 DCs and 1 Kaiten Complement: ? These В type coastal escorts were designed with wooden hulls, and were even simpler in construction than the A type. 22 units within the sequence No 101—157 were laid down in 1945, but none was launched before the Japanese surrender. Another 78 units planned were never begun. 212 NOTORO seaplane carrier Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 14,050t standard 455ft 8in pp x 58ft x 26ft 6in 138 88 x 17 68 x 8 08m 2-shaft ТЕ, 4 boilers, 5850ihp = 12kts 2—4.7in/45, 2-3m/40 A A 10 aircraft 155 Name Builder Launched Fate NOTORO Kawasaki, Kobe 3 5.1920 BU 1947 Notoro was originally built as an oiler of the Shiretoko class in 1919-20; she was converted into a seaplane earner and aircraft transport in 1924. The seaplanes were handled by derricks and stowed on the former well decks, which had been covered by a light platform. Reconverted into an oiler in 1942,.\rotoro survived the war and was broken up in 1947. KAMOI seaplane carrier Displacement: 17,000t standard, !9,240t trial Dimensions: 488ft 6in pp, 496ft oa x 67ft x 27ft 8m 148 90, 1S1 18 У 20 42 x 8 43m Machinery: 2-shaft electric drive turbines, 2 boilers, 9000shp = 15kts Armament: 2-5.5in/50, 2-3in/4O AA, 12 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate KAMOI New York Co, Camden 8.6.1922 Sunk 5 4.45 Kamen, hke Notoro, was originally an oiler, and was built 1921-22 in the United States; she underwent conversion to a seaplane carrier on similar lines in 1932-33. Her maximum capacity was 22 seaplanes. Reconvened into an oil- tanker in 1943,Kanm was sunk by US aircraft in Hong Kong harbour; her hull was demolished after the war. CHITOSE class seaplane carriers Displacement: 11,023t standard; 12,350t trial Dimensions: 570ft lOin pp, 603ft 4in wl x 61ft 8m x 23ft 8in 174 00, 183 90 x 18 80 x 7.21m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines plus diesel motors, 4 boilers, 44,000shp/12,800bhp = 29 Okts Armament: 4-5m/40 DP (2x2), 12-25mm AA, 24 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate CHITOSE Kure N Yd 29 11.1936 Convened 1943 CHIYODA Kure N Yd 19 11.1937 Converted 1942 These ships, laid down 1934-35 under the 1931 Programme and completed in July and December 1938, were the first Japanese purpose-built seaplane carriers. The seaplane handling area amidships was covered by a large platform, supported on pillars which also carried the diesel uptakes. There were four catapults. The sterns of both ships were altered in 1941 so that they could carry and launch 12 midget submannes, the seaplane capacity being halved. They were converted into conventional light aircraft earners in 1942—43 (see above), to help offset the heavy carrier losses in the 1942 campaigns.
Chitose on trials 18.7.1938 MIZUHO seaplane carrier Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: I0,929t standard, ll,960t trial 570ft lOin pp, 602ft 4in wl x 61ft 8in x 23ft 3m 174.00, 183.60 x 18.80 x 7.08m 2-shaft diesels, 15,2OObhp = 22kts 6-5in/40 DP (3x2), 12 25mm AA, 24 aircraft ? Name Builder Launched Fate MIZUHO Kawasaki, Kobe 16.5.1938 Sunk 2.5 42 Mizuho, laid down in 1937 under the 1937 Programme and completed tn February 1939, was very similar to the Chitose class but with less powerful machinery Four catapults were fitted She was able to carry and operate midget submarines from the beginning; when transporting tw el ve of these, the seaplane capacity was halved. Mizuho was torpedoed by a US submarine. NISSHIN seaplane carrier Displacement. 11,317t standard; 12,300t trial Dimensions: 570ft lOin pp, 616ft lOin wl X 64ft 8in X 23ft 174 00, 188 00 x 19 70 x 7.00m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 47,000bhp = 28kts Armament: 6-5.5in/50 (3x2), 18-25mm AA, 20 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate NISSHIN Kure N Yd 30 11 1939 Sunk 22.7.43 Nisshin, laid down in 1938 under the 1937 Programme and completed m February 1942, was a faster and heavier armed Mizuho, she was fitted for minelaying, carrying 700 mines and 12 seaplanes as an alternative to 20 sea planes. There were two catapults Her stern was altered in the same way as the Chitose class in 1942, to enable her to operate 12 midget submarines. Nisshin was sunk by US aircraft in the south-west Pacific area. Two slightly larger ships of this type proposed in the 1942 Programme (Nos 863 and 864) were never begun SEAPLANE TENDERS (EX-MERCHANT SHIPS) Nine merchant ships were taken over between 1937 and 1942 and adapted as seaplane carriers The 8 seaplanes carried were launched from two catapults on the well deck aft and recovered by derrick Single 6in guns were fitted at bow and stern, and 2-13 2mm AA in the bridge wings. The list of ships, which ranged between 6000 and 9000grt, was as follows Kagu Maru,Kamikau>a Maru, Kimikawa Maru, Kinugasa Maru, Kiyokaua Maru, Kumkawa Maru, Sagara Maru,Sanuki Maru,Sanyo Maru. Kanukawa Maru was lost as a seaplane lender m May 1943, the others were re-converted to transports 1941-43. AKITSUSHIMA flying-boat tender (launched 1941) Displacement: 4650t standard, 4900t trial Dimensions: 357ft 7in pp, 370ft 9in wl, 387ft oa x 51ft lOin x 17ft 9in 109.00, 113 00, 117 95 x 15 80 x 5.40m Machinery 2-shaft diesels, 8000bhp = 19kls Armament: 4-5m/40 DP, 10-25mm AA, 1 large flying boat Complement: ? Akitsushima, laid down by Kawasaki, Kobe, in 1940 under the 1939 Programme and completed in April 1942, was designed to handle and operate a single large flying boat. She was sunk by US carrier aircraft 24.9.44 Construction of three sister-ships, one named Chihaya, plus six of smaller and one of larger type, never began. SHIMANE MARU class aircraft transports (launched 1944—45) Displacement: 11,800t standard, 14,270i trial Dimensions: 492ft lin pp, 502ft wl, 526ft 7in oa x 65ft 7in x 29ft lOin 150 00, 153.00, 160 50 x 20.00 x 9.10m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 8600shp = 18kts Armament 2-4.7in/45, 52-25mm AA, 12 aircraft, 16 DCs Complement: ? Class (builder, fate): Shimane Maru (Kawasaki, Kobe, sunk 24 7.45),Otakisan Maru (Kawasaki, Kobe, sunk incomplete 25.8.45) These ships, begun as 1TL type standard tankers, were taken over in 1944 for conversion The design, generally resembling Allied escort carriers or merchant aircraft carriers, provided for a flight deck 508ft x 75ft, with a single lift to the hangar below. The overall length above is that of the unconverted tanker design. ShimaneMaru, although intended as a convoy escort, could not be used because of shortage of aircraft, pilots and fuel, plans were in hand to convert her to a coal-burning freighter when she was sunk by US aircraft The incomplete hull of Otakisan Maru was mined postwar Similar conversions for three other tankers, Nos 14 and 16 of the 1TL type and one of the 3TL tvpe, planned in 1944-45 never began. YAMASHIRO MARU class aircraft transports (launched 1944) Displacement: 10,100grt, 15,613t trial Dimensions: 485ft 7m pp, 516ft 6in oa x 66ft 1 lin x 29ft 6in 148 00, 157 43 x 20 40 x 9 00m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbine, 2 boilers, 4500shp = 15kts Armament: 16-25mm AA, 8 aircraft, 120 DCs Complement: 221 Class (builder, fate) Yamashiro Maru (Mitsubishi, Yokohama, sunk 17.2 45), Chigusa Maru (Yokohama, Yokohama, completed 1949 for civilian use) These ships, begun as 2TL type standard tankers, were chartered by the Japanese Army in 1944 for an even simpler conversion than the Shimane Maru class The flight deck was much shorter (410ft x 75ft), and the 8 aircraft were stowed aft, as there was no hangar or lift Yamashiro Maru was never used operationally; she was sunk by US aircraft before plans to convert her to a coal burning freighter could be implemented. Chigusa Maru was incomplete in August 1945 AKITSU MARU class landing ships with flight decks (launched 1941-42) Displacement: 11,800t standard Dimensions: 471ft 7m pp x 64ft x 25ft 9in 143 75 x 19.50 x 7 86m Machinery 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 7500shp = 20kts Armament. 2-3in/40 AA, 10-3in field guns, 20 aircraft Complement: ? Class (builder, fate) Akitsu Maru (Harima, Harima, sunk 15.11 44), Nignsu Maru (Harima, Harima, sunk 12 1 44) These passenger liners were taken over by the Japanese Army in 1944 while on the stocks, and modified as landing ships, the 20 landing craft carried being launched through stern doors. The bridge and funnel were moved to starboard, to allow the installation of a 403ft x 74ft flight deck for flying off the ship’s aircraft The single lift was at the after end of this deck Plans to remove Akitsu Maru’s stern derrick and extend the flight deck to allow landings were never put into effect Both ships were torpedoed by US submarines. 213
JAPAN KUMANO MARU landing ship with flight deck (launched 1944) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 8000t standard; 10,330t trial 465ft 9m pp, 501ft oa x 64ft 3in x 23ft 141 96, 152.70 x 19.58 x 7 00m 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, lO.OOOshp = 19kts 8-3in/40 AA, 6-25mm AA, 8 to 37 aircraft > Kumano Maru, begun as an M type standard freighter, was taken over by the Japanese Army while building and modified as a landing ship The 12 56ft and 13 46ft landing craft were launched through hinged stern doors. A flight deck, 360ft lOin x 70ft 6in, allowed the take off of the aircraft carried, the exact number depending on the type of plane and the number of landing craft carried This ship was reconverted to a regular freighter after the war and returned to civilian use. SHINSHU MARU landing ship (launched 1935) Displacement: 9000t standard; ll,800t trial Dimensions: 492ft 2in pp x 72ft 2m x 26ft 9in 150.00 x 22.00 x 8.16m Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, SOOOshp = 19kts Armament: 5 to 8-3m/40 AA, 20 aircraft Complement: ? Shinshu Maru, designed and built by Harima for the Japanese Army, was the world’s first purpose-built landing ship. Twenty landing craft could be launched through stern doors, and heavy items of equipment could be dis- charged into lighters from large ports on either side amidships. Shinshu Maru was sunk in shallow water by a stray Japanese torpedo in the Java landings, 1 3.42. She was raised and repaired in 1943, and finally sunk 5.1 45 by US aircraft off Formosa T1 class landing ships (launched 1944-45) Displacement: 1500t standard; 1770t trial Dimensions: 292ft pp, 308ft Sin wl, 315ft oa x 33ft 5in x lift lOin 89.00, 94.00, 96.00 x 10.20 x 3.60m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbine, 2 boilers, 9500shp = 22kts Armament: 2-5in/40 DP (1x2), 15-25mm AA Complement: ? Class (fate): T1 (sunk 27.7 44), T2 (sunk 5 8 44), T3 (sunk 14 9.44), T4 (sunk 4 8 44), T5 (sunk 14 9 44), T6 (sunk 25.11.44), T7 (sunk 27.12.44), T8 (sunk 24.12.44), T9 (to USA 1947, BU), T10 (sunk 25.11 44), Til (sunk 7.12.44), T12 (sunk 13.12.44), T13 (to USSR 1947), T14 (sunk 15.1.45), T15 (sunk 17.1.45), T16 (to China 1947 as IV'u Z), T17 (sunk 2.4.45), T18 (sunk after 18.3.45), T19 (to UK 1947, BU), T20 (lost 25.9.46), T21 (sunk 10.8.45), T22 (BU incomplete 1946) These ships were built between 1943 and 1945 as high-speed, well armed landing ships to support isolated island garrisons m the south-west Pacific area The design was simple and straightforward, and the 5 landing craft carried were launched by rails from the stern. The escort and ASW capabilities of the class were increased in May 1944, when 4 DCTs and 42 DCs were added, and from September 1944, when the light AA armament was increased to 26-25mm and 5-13.2mm. Surviving units were adapted in 1944-45 to carry 2 Koryu or 6 Kaiten midget submarines, the cargo capacity being reduced. The construction of 24 further units of this class (Г23-Т46) was cancelled in 1945. SS class landing ships (launched 1942-Л4) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 933t trial 193ft 7in pp, 206ft 9in oa x 31ft 6in x 9ft 2in 59.00, 63.02 x 9.60 x 2.80m 2-shaft diesels, HOObhp = 13.5kts l-3in/40 AA, 4-20mm AA, 4-7.7mm AA, 1 mortar Class (fate): SSZ (ex-Koryu Maru, sunk 13.1 45), SS2 (ex-Banryu Maru, sunk 13.9.44), SS3 (cx-Kairyu Maru, sunk 27.3 44), SS4 (sunk 1944), SS5 (sunk 30.11.44), SS6 (sunk 4.12.44), ),SS7 (to civilian use 1946), SS# (sunk), SS9 (sunk 4.12.44), SS10 (sunk), SS/Z (sunk 1945), SSI2 (to civilian use 1945), SS13 (to civilian use 1945), SS 14 (sunk),SS/5 (sunk),SS/6 (lost April 1946), SS17 (sunk 5.6.45), SS18-SS20 (to civilian use 1945-46), SS21 (sunk 1.6.45), SS22 (sunk 8 8.45) This class, designed and begun for the Japanese Army, were taken overby the Navy in 1942; in appearance they resembled civilian coasters, with machinery aft. Their bows were strengthened; when carrying out landings, they would be run on to the beach, and vehicles landed through bow doors and down a hinged ramp. In 1944—45 the 20mm AA were replaced by 25mm AA Five further units, numbers not known, were being built in August 1945; four were broken up on the stocks, and the fifth completed for civilian use. T101 class landing ships (launched 1944) Displacement: 950t standard; 994t trial Dimensions: 236ft 3in pp, 246ft lin wl, 264ft oa x 29ft lOin x 9ft 6in 72.00, 75 00, 80 47 x 9 10 x 2.89m Machinery: 3-shaft diesels, 1200bhp = 13.5kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 6-25mm AA Complement: 90 Class (fate): T101 (sunk 28 10 44), T102 (sunk 26 10.44), T127 (sunk 24 9.44), T12S (sunk 4.6.44), T149 (constructive total loss 12.1.45, BU c!946), T150 (sunk 27.7.44) This Navy class was on the same lines as early Allied LST ty pcs, the vehicles carried being landed on the beach from the drawbridge-type bow Shortage of diesel motors caused most of the planned ships to be completed with geared turbines (see ТЮЗ class). In May’ 1944 the light A A armament was increased to 8-25nnn, and 12 DCs were added, the light AA armament was further increased to 21-25mm in surviving units in September 1944. T149 on trials 2 3 1944 ТЮЗ class landing ships (launched 1944—45) Displacement: 870t standard; 1004t trial Dimensions: 236ft 3in pp, 246ft Im wl, 264ft oa x 29ft lOin x 9ft Sin 72.00, 75.00, 80 47 x 9 10 x 2.94m Machinery: 1-shaft geared turbine, 2 boilers, 2500shp = 16kts Armament: l-3in/40 AA, 6-25mm AA Complement: 90 Class (fate): ТЮЗ (sunk 4.7.44), ТЮ4 (sunk 13.12.44), T10S (sunk 11.10.44), ТЮ6 (ex-SB120, sunk 15.12.44), T107 (ex-SB123, sunk 5.1.45), T108 (cx- SB/25, BUH946),77/0(toUK 1947, BU),77//(sunk24 11 44),T112 (sunk 5.11 44), T113 (sunk 25.11 44), T114 (sunk 17.2.45), T115 (BU c 1946), T129 (sunk 14 8 44), T130 (sunk 4 7 44), T131 (constructive total loss 12 1.45, BU H946), 7732 (sunk 27.12.44), T133 (sunk 4 8.44), T134 (sunk 4.10.44), T135 (sunk 18 10 44), T136 (sunk 18 10 44), T137 (to USSR 1947), 1138 (sunk 26.10.44), T139 (sunk 6.11.44), T140 (sunk 12.1.45), T141 (sunk 25.11.44), T142 (sunk 25 11 44), TI43 (sunk 8.2.45), T144 (BUcl946), 7745 (ex>SB//5, constructive total loss 4.4.45), T146 (ex-SBII8, sunk 28.4.45), T147 (ex- SB112, to UK 1947, BU), 775/ (sunk23.11.44),7752 (sunk2.8.44),T153 (BU .1947), T154 (sunk 5.1.45), T157 (sunk 24.12.44), T1S8 (sunk 10.10.44), T159 (sunk 12.12.44), T160 (sunk 24.11 44), T161 (sunk 25.11 44), T172 (to China as Lu Shan 1947), T173 (sunk 22.5 45), T174 (BU 1948), T175 (lost incomplete 18.9.45), T176 (lost incomplete 18.9 45); SB101^SB106 (BU 1947), SB107 (sunk Mar 1945),SB1O8^SB111 (BU 1947-48),SB112 (u>NwVasT147 1945), SB113 (sunk 28 7 45), SB 114 (BU cl947), SB 115 (to Navy as T145 1945), SB116 (BU 1947), SB//7 (BU 1947), SB1I8 (to Navy as T146 1945), SB119 (BU 1947), SB120 (to Navy as T106 1944), SB121 (BU 1947), SB122 (BU 1947), SBI23 (to Navy as T107 1944), SB124 (BU 1947), SB125 (to Navy as TI08 1944), SB126 (BU 1947), SB127 (BU incomplete 1947), SBI28 (BU incomplete 1947) 214
Miscellaneous vessels The ТЮЗ class was a turbine-powered version of the TI01 class, identical apart from machinery arrangements and a taller, thinner funnel. Army vessels were prefixed ‘SB’. The armament changes during the war were the same as for the T101 class. The following numbers in the Navy sequence were not used: 7109, T116-T126, T148 ,T1S5, T1S6 ,T162, T163, T166-T171 and T177-T2O3 (the ships which would have had these numbers were either handed over to the Army, or cancelled) T164 and 7765 were cancelled in 1945 while on the stocks Six of the Army ships were handed over to the Navy in 1944-45 and renum- bered. In addition to the above, the following cargo vessels were requisitioned while under construction and converted into landing ships Mayasan Maru, Tamatsu Maru, Takatsu Maru, Kibitsu Маги, Hyuga Maru, Scttsu Maru and Tokitsu Maru All were sunk or irreparably damaged during the war, except Settsu Maru and Tokitsu Maru which were converted for civilian use after the war. 775/ on 20.4 1944 LANDING CRAFT The standard Japanese landing craft was the 14m (46ft) Daihatsu (naval designa- tion, the army designation was LB D), 3229 of which were built between 1935 and 1945. The displacement was 20-21.4t, on dimensions 47ft Ilin x lift x 2ft 6m (14.60 x 3.35 x 0 75m), and the performance 60-150bhp = 7.5-8 5kts The armament was 2-7.7mm MG (2 or 3-25mm AA in later versions), ten tons of cargo could be carried, and there wras a crew of 12 Many Daihatsu were adapted as anti submarine patrol craft, with 2-25mm AA and 4 DCs or 1-13 2mm A A and 2-21 in torpedoes Various other types, with broadly similar characteristics, were developed from the Daihatsu during the war: Type Naval designation Army designation Number built 10m Shohatsu SB C 20 13m Chuhatsu — ?3 15m Moku Daihatsu — 1140 17m Toku Daihatsu N-L-BD 163 T2 of the T1 class T1 class motor torpedo boats (built 1941) Displacement: 17t standard, 20.5t full load Dimensions: 60ft oa x 14ft lin x 2ft 2in 18.30 x 4.30 x 0 65m Machinery: 1860bhp = 38 5kts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes (or 6 DCs), 2-7 7mm MG Complement: 7 This class was designed on similar lines to the 19-metre experimental boat built m 1940 and comprised six boats, Nos 1-6. Nos 2-6 were war losses, and No 1 was scrapped after the war. T23, T25 and T31-T39 classes motor torpedo boats (built 1943-45) Displacement: 20t standard, 24-25 2t full load Dimensions: 59ft Im oa x 14ft lin x 2ft 2in-2ft 5in 18.00 x 4.30 x 0.65-0.74m Machinery: 530bhp = 17kts (T25, T32 lOOObhp = 21.5kts,T31 800bhp = 20kts,T33900bhp = 21kts,T34,T38 1400bhp = 27 5kts, T35 1840bhp = 35kts, T36 800bhp = 21.5kts,T37 1200bhp = 25kts, T39 1440bhp = 27kts) Armament 2-18m torpedoes, l-25mm AA or 1-13 2mm AA Complement: 7 The standard Japanese MTB type. The multiplicity of classes w'as due to the different machinery installations, which also accounted for the slightly different draughts and full load displacements. The 238 units completed were produced in the following sequences. T23 201-207, 401-410, 451-456; T25: 468, 484-488,T31.208-240,T32-301-308, T33 500-505,T34 151-165;T35 469, 482, 483, 494-499, 801-937, 529-537; T36; 411-450 , 470-473; T37: 327-2 T38 241-286,457-467,506,528 and T39 474-481 At least 34 were sunk or irreparably damaged during the war 402,453 (T23); 219, 220,222,223,225, 228,232,233,236,239 (T31);5OO (T33);482,483,493,496,498,805,806,810, 812-814,820,823 (J35);416,428 (T36); 241,245-247,249-251,254,256,258 (T38). The remainder were surrendered, and scrapped in 1946-48. ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS Thirteen fast cargo liners and freighters, of between 5000 and ll,000grt and with speeds of 16.5-21 kts, were taken over in 1941-42 and converted into armed merchant cruisers for commerce raiding. The armament fitted varied: 4 to 8 guns of 4.7m, 5.5m or 6in calibre were carried and some ships had seaplanes, TT or a minelaying capability The ships converted were the Aikoku Maru,Akagt Maru,AsakaM aru, Awal a M aru, Bangkok M aru, Gokoku M aru, Hokoku Maru, Ktnryu Maru, Kiyozumi Maru, Kongo Maru, Noshiro Maru, Saigon Maru and Ukushima Maru. The guns carried were behind fixed shields, and could not be concealed, so that the ships could not be disguised when raiding. Because of this, and because Allied counter-measures had become relatively effective by 1942-43, the raiding campaign was unsuccessful. Hokoku Maru was sunk in a celebrated action with the Indian minesweeper Bengal and the Dutch (mercantile) tanker Ondma on 1111 42, Akagi Maru and Kongo Maru were sunk by US carrier aircraft, and the remainder were converted to transports in 1942-43 A T38 type MTB at speed, in June 1944 19-metre motor torpedo boat (built 1940) Displacement: 18 7t standard Dimensions: 62ft 4in oa x 14ft lin x 3ft Ilin 19 00 x 4 30 x I 20m Machinery; 1860bhp = 35kts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, 17.7mm MG Complement: > 1 his experimental boat underwent comparative trials with the ex-Chinese No 1 and the Italian-built MAS (motor gunboat) No 1 in 1940 Her fate is unknown T14 of the T51 type in June 1944 215
JAPAN T14 class motor torpedo boats (built 1944—45) Displacement: 14. St full load Dimensions: 49ft 2in oa x 12fi x 2ft 15 00 x 3.65 x 0 62m Machinery: 92Obhp = 33 Okts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, l-25mm AA or 1-13.2mm AA Complement: 7 These boats were smaller than the standard type and had a better performance 47 boats were completed: Nos 538-555,839-848 and 871-889, of which 549, 869-877, 879 and 883 were war losses, and the remainder broken up after the war, together with the incomplete 890-894 Nos 895-900 were never begun. T15 class motor torpedo boats (built 1944-45) Displacement: 15t full load Dimensions: 49ft lOin oa x 12ft 6in x 2ft lin 15.20 x 3.80 x 0.64m Machinery: 920bhp = 35kts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, l-25mm AA or 1-13 2inm A A Complement: 7 The T15 class was very similar to the T14 class. 29 boats are known to have been built, Nos 1001-1008 and 1011-1031, of which 1013 was a war loss, and the remainder broken up after the war. H35 and H38 classes motor gunboats (built 1943-44) Displacement: 25l standard til38 24.8t) Dimensions: 59ft lin oa x 14ft lin x 2ft 5in 18 00 x 4 30 x 0.74 (H38 0 73)m Machinery; 1840bhp = 34kts (H38 1400bhp = 27kts) Armament: 3-25mm AA Complement: 7 These two classes had the same hulls and machinery as the T35 and T38 classes of motor torpedo-boats. The two types were interchangeable, ic the gunboats could land their four depth charges and the triple 25mxn mounting, and be fitted with 2-18in torpedoes and one 25mm or 13.2mm gun instead T he boats of the H35 class were numbered in the ranges 27-32 and 201-207, of which at least one, No 28, was a w ar loss; the H38 boats were in the ranges 10-26 and 51-100 of which ten, Nos 10, 11, 19, 20 , 25, 52, 55 , 61, 62 and 67 were war losses; surviving units were broken up after the war. Three further boats of this type were used in training Kaiten (human torpedo) pilots. They carried no arma- ment, and their fates are unknown. H61 class motor gunboats (built 1944 45) Displacement: 25.6l standard Dimensions: 62ft 4in x 14ft 4in x 2ft 5in 19.00 *4 38 x 0.73m Machinery: 600bhp = 17 5kts Armament: 3-25mm AA Complement: 7 T51 class motor torpedo boats (built 1942—45) Displacement: 75t standard (No 10 80t); 84 2 full load (No 10 90t) Dimensions: 106ft 3in oa x 16ft 5m x 3ft Sin 32 40 x 5.00 x 1 Um Machinery: 3600bhp = 29kts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, 3-25mm AA Complement: 18 The boats of this class had diesel motors, and were much slower than earlier types Like the H35 and H38 classes, they could double as motor torpedo-boats, carrying 2-18in torpedoes instead of the gun and DC armament. The boats of the H61 class were numbered in the ranges 33-46,101-124 and 218-245, but not all these were completed (only 105 boats of the H2, 35, 38 and 61 classes combined were completed). Nos 33-36,41,46,102,106,113,222 and 223 were war losses, and the remainder were broken up after the war. These large boats, based on the German S-boats, were intended as division boats for the smaller standard craft. 8 DCs were carried, rising to 12 if no torpedoes were fitted. 8 boats were completed, Nos 10-17, of which 10 and 72 were war losses and the remainder scrapped after the war, together with the incomplete 18 and 19. Nos 20-27 and 5441-5458 were never begun. CAPTURED MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS Full details of the following boats will be found in the appropriate sections of the different navies. Ex-Chinese The Chinese motor torpedo boats Nos 1 and 2 were captured at Canton in 1938. Incorporated in the Japanese Navy in 1939, they were used for training; their fates are unknown. Ex-Dutch The Dutch motor torpedo boats TMIII and 4-21 were scuttled at Soerabaia in March 1942; salvaged, they were repaired and incorporated in the Japanese Navy after renumbering* 101 (ex-TMIII'), 102 (ex TM4), 103 (ex- TM6), 104 (ex-TM8\ 105 (ex-TM9), 106 (ex-TM10), 107 (ex-TMll), 108 ex-TM!2),109 (tx-TM13),110 (?x-TM!4),lll (ex-TM15\l 12 (ех-ТМ5),ПЗ (ex-TM7),l 15 {tx-TM16),116 (cx-TM17),l 17 (ex-TM!8),l 18 (ex-TM19),l 19 (exTM20), 120 (ex-TM21). The exact correspondence of the renumbering is not certain. Nos 102,109-113 and 115-117 were war losses, and 103-108 were broken up after the war; the fates of 101 and 118-120 are uncertain. Ex-Philippine The Philippine motor torpedo boat QI 11, scuttled at Corregidor in May 1942, was salvaged and incorporated in the Japanese Navy as No 114. She was a war loss. 19m type motor launches (built 1936-38) Displacement: lOt (approx) standard Dimensions: length 62ft 4in 19.00m Machinery: ?bhp = 19kts Armament: 1-7.7mm MG Complement: > About 48 boats of this type, numbered from No 3537, were built No details of the fates of individual boats are known. 15m type motor launches (built 1938-39) Displacement: lOt (approx) standard Dimensions: 49ft 2in x 10ft lOin x 1ft Ilin 15 00 x 3 30 x 0 60m Machinery: 120bhp = llk.es Armament: 1-13 2mm AA or 1-7.7mm MG Complement: ? About 40 of this type were built for general duties on Chinese rivers, numbers carried were 1035-1038 and others. Some boats had ordinary machinery and propellers, others had aircraft engines with the propellers in the air. Details of the fates of individual boats are not available. Hl and H2 classes motor gunboats (built 1940, 1942-43) Displacement: 26t standard (H2 24 7t) Dimensions: 59ft lin oa x 14ft 9in x 2ft 8in (H2 3ft lin) 18.00 x 4.50 x 0.82 (0.93)m Machinery: 1840bhp = 33kts (H2 2100bhp = 33.5kts) Armament: 2-20mm AA, 2-7.7mm MG Complement: 8 The H1 class boat, No 7, was the prototype, an ex-Italian MAS, built in Italy in 1940 and used for comparative trials; Nos 2-9 of the H2 class were built in Japan in 1942-43 2 DCs were carried. Nos 1,3,4,5, 7 and 8 were war losses; the others were broken up after the war. 25t type motor launches (built 1940-44) Displacement: 26t standard Dimensions: 59ft x lift 6in x 2ft 4in 18.00 x 3.50 x 0.70m Machinery: 300bhp = llkts Armament: 2-13.2mm AA Complement: ? Around 80 boats of this type were built for general duties on Chinese rivers; numbers carried were 1164-1173, 1179-1180, 1357-1366 and others. The steering position and machinery were protected by bullet-proof plating (0.2in), and the propellers were in tunnels. Details of the fates of individual boats are not available 216
Miscellaneous vessels SHINYO type suicide craft (built 1944 45) Displacement: 1.35-2.15t Dimensions: 16ft 9in-21ft 4in oa x 5ft 6in-6ft lin x 1ft lin-lft 2in 5.10-6.50 x 1.67-1.86 x 0.33-0.36m Machinery: 62-134bhp = 2O-28kts Armament. 1-13.2mm AA (Shinyo 5 only), 2-4.7in rockets Complement 1 (Shinyo 5 2) These motorboats, the surface equivalent of Kamikaze aircraft, were built in large numbers from early 1945; the monthly rate was 400-600 boats by the end of the war, and total production was around 6000. The rockets on either quarter were designed to spoil the enemy gunners* aim, and an explosive charge of TNT - which could be replaced by two depth charges — was in the bow These boats, and the Japanese Army versions (Maru-Ni and K-gata-tei types) had few succes- ses A type midget submarines (built 1934—42) Displacement: 45.3t submerged Dimensions. 78ft 5m oa x 6ft lin x 6ft lin 23.90 x 1 85 x 1.85m Machinery: 1-shaft electric motor, 600hp (submerged) = 19-24kts Armament: 2-18in 'IT Complement: 2 This class comprised numbers/, 2 (\934)tHal яп<ЗНа2 (\936)tHa3-Ha52 and Ha54-Ha61 (1938-42), the first two built without, and the others with, conning towers They were designed for use in a fleet action or for attacking defended harbours (submerged endurance was 17nm at 19ktsor SOnm at 2kts), and could be launched from the large seaplane carriers and the Cl class submarines; their operations included the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Sydney and Diego Suarez (Madagascar) The remaining A type boats were relegated to training as new midget submarine classes were developed В and C types midget submarines (built 1943-44) Displacement: 49t submerged Dimensions: 81ft 8m oa x 6ft 2in x 6ft 2in 24.90 x 1 88 x 1.88m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motor, 40bhp/600shp = 6.5kts/18.5kts Armament: 2-18in 'IT Complement: 3 The main problem of the A type boats was the lack of a diesel motor/generator for recharging batteries during an operation, this was remedied in the one В type boat, Ha53y which was the prototype for the 15 C type, Ha62-Ha76. The surface range was 350nm at 6 5kts, and the submerged endurance 120nm at 4kts; these boats could be carried on the T1 class landing ships. The M-Kanamono type was a minelaying version of the C type, carrying four mines instead of two torpedoes; one boat of this type was built in 1944-45. C type midget No 69 aboard the landing ship 73, 17.8.1944 D type (KORYU) midget submannes (built 1944-45) Displacement: 58.4t submerged Dimensions: 86ft lin oa x 6ft 8in x 6ft 7in 26 25 x 2 04 x 2.00m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus electric motor, 150bhp/500shp = 8kts/16kts Armament: 2-18in ТГ Complement: 5 The Koryu type had a more powerful diesel motor/generator than the В and C tvpes, for quicker battery recharging, and were generally larger and more seaworthy. The surface range was lOOOnm at 8kts and the submerged endurance 125nm at 2.5kts. The boats could be used as suicide craft, when an explosive charge would replace the torpedoes. Hall, the prototype, was completed in January 1945; the use of mass production techniques reduced building time to 2 months, and it was planned to have 570 boats ready by September 1945. However, a shortage of materials and Allied bombing reduced this figure to 115 (by August) which could be carried into action on the T1 class landing ships (2 Koryu). All remaining boats, whether completed or not, were scrapped after the war. KAIRYU type midget submarines 1945 Displacement: 18 94t surface, 18.97t submerged Dimensions: 56ft 8m x 4fi 3in x 4ft 3m 17.28 x 1.30 x 1.30m Machinery; 1-shaft diesel plus electric motor, 85bhp/80bhp = 7.5kts/10kts Armament: 2-18in torpedoes Complement: 2 The Kairyu type, for local defence, was a reduced A type, with side fins (the prototype S-Kanamono boat was an actual A type, modified); the two torpedoes carried were slung on either side below the hull. The boats could be used as suicide craft, when a 600kg (13201b) explosive charge would replace the tor- pedoes. The surface range was 450nm at 5kts and the submerged endurance 36nm at 3kts These boats could be built in 30 days, production began in February 1945, and it was planned to have 760 ready by September 1945, however, the actual figure by August was 212 boats All Kairyu boats, whether completed or not, were scrapped after the war. A Type 1 Kaiten aboard Kitakami 26.2 1945 KAITEN 1 type human torpedoes (built 1944—45) Displacement. 8 2t submerged Dimensions: 48ft 5m x 3ft 3in x 3ft 3in 14.75 x 1.00 x 1.00m Machinery: 550bhp = 30kts Armament: - Complement I These craft were based on the body of a Type 93 torpedo and about 400 were built. They were for last-ditch coastal defence, and were also carried m specially adapted surface ships and submarines. They were fitted with a 1550kg (34101b) warhead. In early versions an escape hatch enabled the pilot to escape once he had set the craft on a collision course, but later versions were without the hatch, and were thus analogous to the Shinyo motor boats and Kamikaze aircraft KAITEN 2 and 4 types human torpedoes (built 1945) Displacement: 18.lt submerged (Kaiten 4 18t) Dimensions: 54ft lin x 4ft 5in x 4ft 5in 16 50 x /35 x / 35m Machinery: 1500bhp = 40kts Armament: Complement: 2 The Kaiten 2 was powered by a special hydrogen peroxide engine, but shortages and Allied bombing prevented more than a few being built; theKaitt?i 4 reverted to the standard liquid oxygen engine, but had a larger warhead, 1800kg (39601b) as against 1550kg (34101b). The tot il output of Kaiten 2 and-/ is believed to have been only about 20 craft (the Kaiten 3 was an experimental craft which was not put into production). 217
I Germany The evolution of the post-WWI navy of the German Republic reflected the political complications that accompanied the rebirth of the entire nation at that time. The Vorlaufige Reichsmarine (‘interim’ German Navy) was established by law on 16 April 1919 under the command of Vice-Admiral von Trotha. Before really defining the future role of the navy he faced his first big problem. Backed by von Trotha and believ- ing that the German people - angry about the strong terms of the Versailles Treaty-would agree with his decision that ‘the honour of the navy* must be saved, Vice-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, on 21 June 1919, ordered the scuttling of all German ships interned at Scapa Flow. As compensation, the Allies demanded that further warships be deli- vered, and the optimists among the German leadership had to abandon the belief that the ceded vessels could be used to form the core of a new navy; the naval terms of the Versailles Treaty and the pronouncements of the Allied Military Control Commission remained unchanged. All that was left to Germany were the elements of a thoroughly antiquated coast-defence force: 8 pre-dreadnoughts (including 2 in reserve) which had been withdrawn from active service during World War I, 8 light cruisers (2 reserve), 16 destroyers and 16 torpedo-boats (4 of each in reserve) New construction was severely limited in terms of displace- ment, armament and launching schedules; submarines were strictly forbidden (as was military aviation), and many coastal fortifications had to be dismantled. However, the limit on personnel was much more important than all these materiel restrictions, since the Reichsmarine was allowed to comprise a maximum of only 15,000 officers and men. EARLY DEVELOPMENTS In the early postwar years, great numbers of ex-imperial Navy sailors and officers were fighting in the Marinefreikorps in what was virtually a civil war against the insurgent Communists and radical Socialists, this ‘red army* also being partially composed of ex-sailors. The Marine- freikorps later became the famous Brigade Rode andBrigade Loewenfeld\ these Bngaden were later disbanded and the ex-naval personnel concen- trated in the Brigade Erhardt. The problem of what to do with this ‘grey navy’ was an important one, since were they to be counted as naval personnel there would be little room left for ‘real’ sailors to man the ships. A revolt against the Versailles Treaty was planned, and on 13 March 1920 the Brigade Erhardl occupied Berlin during the Kapp- Luttwitz uprising. Navy counter-riots at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven were among the many factors that led to the establishment of a Socialist government. The Socialists were naturally suspicious of win Trotha and strong pressure-groups demanded that he be relieved of duty; they had their way, and in October 1920 he was replaced by Admiral Paul Behnke. The task facing the new head of the Reichsmarine was to consolidate the navy, build a fresh structure of authority, and train a new generation of 218 naval officers. The Bildungsinspektion (Training Department) under Rear-Admiral Erich Raeder thus became the vital element in a tiny naval administration. It is a significant fact that the aims of the Reichsmarine were not imposed by the government or by the ministry of the Reichswehr, but defined by the navy itself; they were set forth in a September 1920 memo by Rear-Admiral William Michaelis: 1 The imposition of authority and the laws of the state in coastal areas 2 The control of territorial waters along the German coast 3 The prevention of piracy in German waters 4 The defence of the coasts against annexation by other coastal states nearby 5 The control of coastal sealanes, especially those to East Prussia 6 The carrying out of courtesy visits overseas ‘to demonstrate the standards of efficiency and the attitudes of the whole nation’ 7 The provision of security against a blockade by smaller Baltic countries 8 The carrying out of ‘cultural duties’ such as hydrographic survey, fishery protection and oceanography Nevertheless, at the end of the period of the Vorlaufige Reichsmarine (31 March 1921), conservative forces and the former high-ranking officers of the Imperial Germany Navy had quickly established them- selves, either in the Army or in the administration; by a law of 31 March 1921 the Reichswehr was founded, together with the Reichsmarine, both services being composed of regular soldiers. In the years under Behnke the duties of the Reichsmarine were close to those defined by Michaelis. In October 1923 the crew of the cruiser Hamburg put down a Commun- ist uprising in the city of the same name. The first overseas visits, in the early 1920s, were restricted to North Sea and Baltic ports by budgetary considerations, the first world cruise not taking place until 1927-28. Old, worn-out ships were gradually modernised, concentrating mainly on the installation of new boilers since the existing ones had long since become unsafe to operate; higher speeds could thus be reached faster, although the 17-18kts maximum was still far too slow. The first new vessel of any size - the cruiser Emden - was laid down in 1921 but because of the muddled political situation and the country’s economic condition took four years to build. THE RISE OF RAEDER In 1924 Vice-Admiral Hans Zenker became Behnke’s successor, remaining in office until 1928. An evaluation of possible conflicts with Poland showed that her ally, France, could be the future naval enemy, so German naval strategy had as its primary tasks the free flow of German North Sea shipping and the repulse of any French task force that might enter the Baltic. It was believed that Britain and the United
Tirpitz fitting out in 1940 States would remain neutral in a development such as this. The con- struction of new ships in the early 1930s for the Reichsmarine - light cruisers, destroyers and torpedo-boats, even the Schanihorst and Hip- per classes - must be seen in this context. The second aspect of German naval strategy arose from the simple question of what was to happen with the training cruisers deployed overseas if a conflict broke out. A steadily growing school of young naval officers claimed that these units should not return but carry out disruptive operations against French interests overseas; thus was born the strategy of long-range commerce raiding using surface vessels. The leadership of the Reichsmarine was not entirely in tunc with the Reichstag, and their acceptance of the Weimar Republic was relatively cool. On the other hand, the German political parties had something of a love-hate relationship w ith regard to the armed forces. For example, the 'Panzerschijj question’ was an important issue in the 1928 Reichstag elections, the German Social st Party (SPD) campaigning under the slogan ‘Food not Panzerkreuzer’ The opinions of the German naval leadership concerning the Volkerbund were similarly significant. As the terms of the Versailles Treaty were basically incorporated into the Volkerbund laws, the German militarists regarded them as an instru- ment imposed by the victorious Allies to keep Germany in her place. Even so, unlike the Army, the Navy regarded participation in the Volkerbund as useful for naval re-armament and Germany’s acceptance as one oi Europe’s major powers This first decade of the new republic was a time of social movement; the high-ranking officers from the old Imperial German Navy began to retire or othcrw ise left the service and a generation of new, technocratic officers appeared. TheReichsmarine was interested in taking pan in any talks about worldwide armament reductions (which w'ould imply the acceptance of Germany as one of the major naval powers), but at the same time the secret development of‘forbidden’ weapons was initiated. Steps were taken to found a naval air arm (various activities were going on in Sweden) and to keep up to date with submarine development (by setting up a foreign-based design bureau). One of the people involved in these activities was Kapt z S Lohmann, the head of iheSectianspoit- abteilung (Ocean Transport Department), who had a sound economic background and good contacts with shipping companies. His depart- ment began to co-ordinate clandestine developments with and orders for industry. He managed to conceal the nature of his activities by creating a chain of fictitious firms across Europe, taking his money from the Ruhrfonds (a secret fund subscribed to by the Ruhr industries) and bv selling surplus stocks of wartime military equipment, including old ships. However, after the collapse of one of the country’s largest companies, Phoebus AG, a Berlin newspaper quickly uncovered the tact that Lohmann had been engaged to create a powerful propaganda and advertising instrument to further Germany’s naval adventures. Although public opinion dismissed the w'hole thing as the ‘Phoebus affair’, and despite the fact that Lohmann retired and died in 1928, the Reichsmarine was acutely embarrassed. To avoid such happenings in future, the surreptitious re-armament programme was removed from the official budget and financed by a secret ‘B-Budget’ known only to a handful of people. At a more public level, the ‘pocket-battleship’ quarrel (Panzer- schiffsftage) became one of the most controversial issues of German domestic policy, characterised by an overwhelming Socialist rejection of this t\ pe of ship. I n this situation the Reichsmarine needed a new C in C with a fresh outlook - a candidate acceptable to all parties. This was to be Erich Raeder. Soon after World War I, this Tight-hand man’ of von Trotha was considered to have a very important future. Following the Kapp-Liittwitz uprising his superiors managed to ‘hide’ him until 1922 in the Naval Historical Library. During this period he wrote two volumes of the official German World War I naval history concerning surface raider operations. These books show very clearly his preference for a worldwide commerce raiding system carried out by surface units, a doctrine which was fostered by his experience of witnessing the High Seas Fleet lying impotent for most of the war, inactive in harbour and unable to change the course of events, and one which formed his later naval strategy. Chief of Staff to Admiral Hipper during the early years of World War I, he wras head of the Training Department from 1922 until 1924; in 1925 he became chief of the Baltic Station, one of the three top positions in the Reichsmarine. The leadership of this sober- minded professional with a strict moral code was characterised by his painstaking attention to detail and his authoritarian outlook. He did have political leanings but insisted on keeping the Navy out of political arguments and maintaining good relationships with all political fac- tions within the Weimar Republic He was cautious enough not to push forward too energetically the Reichsnianne's enthusiasm for a prog- ramme of new ships to replace the older units: Panzerschiff'B’ (the later Admiral Scheer) was not accepted by the Reichstag until 1931, and the Schifjbauersatzplan (replacement construction programme) not until 1932. 1 he latter called for the build-up of a new German naval force (Phase I 1930-36, Phase II (secret) 1936-43) and was innocuously referred to as the Umbauplan (rebuilding plan), but it was in fact the first official step to renege on the terms of the Versailles Treaty by the government, although the financial viability of the programme was very uncertain owing to the economic crisis Ihe 1932 Geneva disarmament conference (to which Germany was invited for the first time) achieved no positive results towards a halt in international naval arms development, the delegates focussing mainly on questions concerning land forces In 1933 the National Socialist German Labour Party (NSDAP) obtained a majority in the Reichstag, and Adolf Hitler became chancellor. Hitler’s political aims were 219
GERMANY centred around a clear rejection of the terms of Versailles and the re arming of the Army and Navy to re establish Germany as a world power, but he quickly realised that a massive military build-up would provoke both the Soviet Union and Great Britain, and this explains his wish to get a naval agreement with the latter, to ‘have his back free’ for the struggle with Communism. I Ie also tried to use his influence in the design of capital ships. 1 he 1935 Anglo-German Naval Agreement established the ‘35 per cent formula’: Germany was allowed to build 35 percent of the British warship tonnage in aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, etc; in submarine tonnage, 45 per cent could be built as a first stage, with parity to follow al a later dale In the ensuing years Britain tried to keep arms reduction talks going with all the naval powers, but nothing significant was ever achieved. On 28 April 1939 Hitler repudiated the Anglo-German naval agreement completely. NEW STRATEGIES In the years from 1933 to 1937 the overall Reichsniarine (Kriegsmarine from 21 May 1935) strategy changed to one involving primarily Atlan- tic warfare; France was regarded as the future enemy. During the Spanish Civil War, Germany was a member of the international Non- Intervention Committee (NIC), and units of the Kriegsmarine carried out patrol duties German naval aid to Franco was on a far smaller scale than that provided by the Luftwaffe or the //cer, it consisted only of some one dozen advisers training Spanish sailors and helping in naval administration and development, the patrolling units of the Knegs- rnarine NIC detachment remaining neutral. Hitler showed great interest in all naval questions, knowing astonish- ing details out of reference books by heart. He was demanding a battleship force because he needed powerful ships for his aggressive policy and as a strong lever in international politics. During the crisis in May 1938 it became evident to the German naval hierarchy for the first time that Hitler believed that a naval confrontation with Britain was possible. He ordered the battleships *F* and ‘G’ (Bismarck and Tirpitz) to be finished ahead of schedule, the submarine programme to be accelerated, the battlecruisers Schamhorsi and Gneisenau to be upgun- ned, and the construction of six ‘H’ class battleships to be completed with all despatch. Raeder had a different opinion as to how Britain might be defeated: he knew that the only chance would be extensive commerce raiding on the high seas. This would require more ‘pocket- battleships’, long range light cruisers, scouts (Spahkreuzer) and sub- marines; a mighty battle fleet would be as useless as it had been in World War I because Britain would again blockade the North Sea. During internal discussions within the Navy, this original concept was modified in order to accommodate Hitler’s battleship ambitions, and thus was born the ‘Z-Plan’ - although in its intitial version it was rejected by the Fiihrer He countered Raeder’s opposition by threaten- ing the appointment of a civilian overlord for the whole programme of naval construction, just as he had appointed Dr Fritz Todt to show the ‘lazy* Army how the NSDAP wanted those programmes to be man- aged. The final ‘Z-Plan’ was adopted on 1 March 1939 and consisted of the following ships, which would remain in commission until 1948 (figures in parentheses give the numbers of ships to be commissioned, or under construction, in 1939): 4 aircraft carriers (2); 8 battleships (4); 5 battlecruisers (2); 8 heavy cruisers (8, including the ‘pocket- battleships’); 13 light cruisers (9); 22 scouts (-); 68 destroyers (30); 90 torpedo-boats (36); 249 submarines (129); 302 small fighting vessels (187); 10 mineships/minelayers (3); and 909 auxiliaries (123). (It must be pointed out that German sources and books differ surprisingly in the figures for the ‘Z Plan’, the figures given here are based on the projects quoted in this book.) The plan overruled the contention of Donitz and his sympathisers that the real ‘equalisers’ in a war with Britain would be the submarines and that U-boat production should be given top prior- ity. Shortly before World War II the situation within the Kriegsmarine was therefore schismatic. Hitler, who in his early political career had criticised the Imperial German Navy’s concept of a vast battle fleet as being only a source of Communist-inspired mutinies, and now sanc- tioned a huge fleet as a political instrument. The Kriegsmarine, believ- ing in the strategy of long-range surface commerce raiding, had to live with a naval construction programme not only consisting of a powerful surface fleet, but also including a medium-sized submarine arm. It is questionable whether a task force composed of a carrier, ‘H’ class battleships, ‘P’ class cruisers and scouts could have operated success- fully without any base and being supplied only from ships. The acceleration of this ambitious building programme created an acute shortage of materials (especially high-grade steel) and dockyard personnel In addition there arose a fierce struggle and deteriorating relationships among the three services as each strove for priority treat- ment — one must keep in mind that at the same time the German panzer divisions were forming, and Goring was rapidly building up his bomber fleet. The creation of an operational naval air arm was also being jeopardised by Goring’s insistence that ‘everything with wings belongs to me’. In 1939, all the capital ships in commission had had their design characteristics heavily interfered with by political requirements, only two genuine battleships were m the final stages of fitting out, and the construction of the carrier w'as being delayed by technical problems and the lack of interest shown by the Luftwaffe. Remaining in the background through all this discussion about warship details and naval programmes amongst technicians, militarists and politicians was a man working to build up and train the nucleus of the future German submarine fleet — Karl Donitz. When he became commander of the U-boat arm in 1935 he had no precise orders from the Naval High Command (Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine,or OKM), and was able to assume personal responsibility for its running, thereby developing the famous Rudeltaktik. Dontiz regarded the submarine as a torpedo-carrying vessel operating on the surface, attacking at night and being able to dive in case of emergency. He believed that the Allied convoy system would be quickly reintroduced in the event of a war with Britain, and championed the method of operating submarines in strong ‘wolfpacks’ (Ruder) However, in August 1939 only 51 German U boats were operational - far too few to operate in packs, since only one-third of the boats could be in action at any one time, another third being on their outward or homeward voyages and the remaining third being in port under refit. WORLD WAR II When war with Poland was declared on 1 September 1939, the/Cnegs- nianne had taken its precautions, the ‘pocket-battleship’ Admiral Graf Spec had left Germany on 21 August 1939, destination South Atlantic, and her sister-ship Deutschland had left on the 28th, destination North Atlantic; between 19 and 21 August, 21 submarines had sailed to take up waiting positions around the British Isles, commanded by men who would soon become famous - Prien, Schepke, Kretschmer, Schult/c, Schuhardt and others. After the declaration of war by France and Great Britain, the Kriegsmarine surface raiders, after a three-week standby, began to carry out their duties. Naval operations against Poland were only a minor part of that particular Blitzkrieg. In the North Sea, destroyers cosered by light cruisers laid mine barrages. , The OKM carried out its programme of surface commerce raiding very audaciously with its small numbers of ships, anxious to reverse the reputation for cowardice that built up around the Imperial German Navy in World War I. This led, of course, to spectacular losses of ships engaged on raiding missions: Admiral Graf Spee had to be scuttled in the Rio de la Plata estuary after battle damage and a slick propaganda exercise by the British that convinced her commander that he was heavily outgunned. During the attack on Norway the Germans had suffered ship losses that might be considered acceptable in view of the value of the objective, but it was nevertheless impossible to replace these ships during the war. The brand new cruiser Blucher was sunk in the narrows near Oslo, the light cruisers Konigsberg and Karlsruhe were lost off central Norway, and at Nan ik half the German destroyer force had to be scuttled Bismarck was sunk in 1941 after an unlucky torpedo hit had smashed her rudders. After the loss of Bismarck the Allies began systematically to hunt down and sink the widespread network of German supply ships; com- merce raiding with capital ships w’as brought to an end. Hitler feared the loss of more capital ships and also anticipated an Allied invasion of Norway, so he ordered most of them there to form a ‘fleet in being’; however, vast quantities of oil w'ere being transferred to Italy, so cutting down the activities of German capital ships anyway. At the same time, the U-boats were gaining incredible victories, convincing Hitler that capital ships w’ere completely outdated instruments of sea power. 220
The German Fleet at Kiel about 1937 The final clash on this question came after the convoy battle near Bear Island, the German Operation ‘Rainbow’, on 31 December 1942 and 1 January 1943. The heavy cruisers Admiral Hipper and Liitzow made an attempt to intercept the eastbound convoy JW-51B and ran into its British cruiser escort Hipper was badly damaged and the destroyer Z16 (Friedrich Eckhold) sunk; dunng the battle, the recon- naissance submarine U354 radioed ‘I see only red’. Hitler believed that the whole convoy was burning and that he could awaken the German nation on the first day of the new year with a special announcement claiming an important victory Owing to a chain of unfortunate events, communications being disrupted by bad weather, and the task force commander observing strict radio silence, the impatient Hitler did not receive the first garbled reports until the afternoon. When he realised that nothing had been achieved and, on the contrary, that Hipper had been damaged and one of the destroyers lost, he exploded with one of his most startling outburts of the entire war. All capital ships had to be scrapped immediately, as thev only consumed manpower and repair facilities and led to a loss of prestige after every action. Erich Raeder now fought his last battle as C in C of the German Navy. He prepared an exhaustive memo, pointing out the fleet’s role as deterrent; he sought to demonstrate how small the profit really was when men, guns and materiel belonging to the Navj were used in the Westwall fortifications. As a final salvo, he observed that ‘the paying-off of large surface units will be a victory gained by our enemies without any effort on their pan’. Hitler insisted that his order was irrevocable, and Raeder resigned on 30 January 1943. Karl Donitz, the only admiral Hitler considered to have made a significant contribution to the war at sea, through his work as head of the U-boat arm, was installed as his successor. One of the first things Donitz realised on taking up supreme command was that the surface fleet must not be sacrificed as Hitler wanted By all means, he argued, it could be cut down, but it must not be scrapped. Within three weeks he had succeeded where Raeder had failed, and the fleet got its reprieve. But the time for great doings by German capital ships was over; the remaining vessels acted only as training units and as the ‘fleet in being’, and were later destroyed one after the other by Allied attacks. At (he end of the war only two major surface ships were operational - the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen and the light cruiser Kiirnberg. Submarine warfare reached its peak in 1943; from then on the U-boats w ere hunted remorselessly by the Allies, and all attempts to regain the intitiative by developing new types came loo late. The allocation of the surviving units of the Kriegsmarine and of merchant ships after the war proved to be a very delicate problem. Russian opinion was very simple - Stalin wanted one-third of all German ships, as the Soviet Union’s naval forces were ill-equipped. The Americans were not interested in acquiring German fighting units (the US Navy had bv 1945 rapidly developed into the world’s leading seaborne force) but they did wish to inspect and study German innova- tions and techniques. The main British interest lay with the U-boats; Britain w anted to study them, take over all the useful innovations, and then destroy the vessels to remove once and for all this instrument of naval power that had so nearly decided the war. But both Western allies needed a large amount of merchant tonnage for the planned invasion of Japan. Britain, moreover, suggested that France should also get a portion of the German ships. The discussions at the Potsdam Confer- ence in July turned out to be very difficult: Stalin was very determined, Roosevelt was sick, and Churchill was not to remain British Prime Minister for very much longer. The final document, signed on 1 August 1945, was a fair compromise which accommodated all opinions. The Soviet Union got one-third of all surviving German warships and would get one-third of the German merchant tonnage after hostilities with Japan had been concluded. She wfould fit out the new Polish Navy with ships from her own yards. The United States and Great Britain proposed that all German merchant shipping be placed under the control of the Combined Shipping and Adjustment Board and the United Maritime Authority until the end of the war with Japan. Britain would supply warships from her own inventory to the new navies of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. A further US proposal was that at least all riverine and coastal vessels should remain German property, because she feared that in the event of a complete breakdown of German postwar industry she would have to pay war reparations to the Soviet Union indirectly via her Marshall Aid Plan. Three general features of the equipment of large German naval fighting units were very similar in all ships, and so they are not covered in great detail in the individual class notes. Shipboard aircraft All German capital ships were equipped with floatplanes to be launched by catapults. From 1934 light cruisers and the ‘pocket-battleships’ carried the Heinkel He 60 biplane. From 1938 it was planned to replace the outdated He 60 by the new Heinkel He 114, but this aircraft did not meet the requirements satisfactorily, serving only on board Gneisenau in 1938 The last He 114s were carried on board the raiders Atlantis, Widder and Pinguin. From 1939 the Arado Ar 196 floatplane became the standard equipment for large German warships. Close-range anti-aircraft weapons The Kriegsmarine, in common with all other navies at the time, grossly underestimated the menace of attack from the air, and ships were armed only with the 20mm C30 single and the semi-automatic 37mm/83 C30 twin before the war. During the early war years, a ‘navalised* version of the Army’s famous 20mm quadruple mounting was introduced - the 20mm C38M (‘M’ = Marine). These weapons were located in former searchlight positions, on special sponsons or on turret roofs. The older type 37mm was subsequently replaced by the fully-automatic 37mm/83 M42 (Model! 1942). In 1944, 20mm singles were generally replaced by the 20mm C38 in M44 shielded twin mountings. In addition, the Swedish 40mm/70 Bofors 28 was introduced in 1944 in small numbers on board capital ships and destroyers. None of these weapons was radar- controlled. By the end of hostilities a few ships had been armed with launchers for unguided 73mm Fohn rockets, but more powerful close- range AA weapons (30mm and 55mm) were still at the development stage. Radar equipment In 1934 the Kriegsmarine was showing keen inter- est in the first radar sets developed by GEMA, a company specially 221
GERMANY established for the purposes of producing such equipment. From 1938/39, several large vessels were fitted with the Seetakt set working on an 80cm wavelength. During the opening stages of the war this radar, useful only for navigation and detection, was the standard set carried by German capital ships Its significant antenna (‘mattress’) was installed in front of the rangefinder cupolas Developments with enemy radar systems led to a tactical misinterpretation in respect of active radar by the German authorities: as well as ‘radio silence’, they also adopted ‘radar silence’ (Funkmesstille), claiming that it was too danger- ous to use detectable radar beams and relj mg on their superior optical rangefinding devices. So a great number of passive radar detection systems were developed -Metox, Naxos, etc. Late in the war, Hohent- wiel was introduced; this consisted of a smaller, independent ‘mattress’ installed above the Seetakt antenna. Towards the end of 1944, the Berlin, a system copied from the British H2S set and working on the incredible wavelength of 9cm, became available, but this was installed only on board Prin? Eugen and three destroyers. In general terms, it can be said that before the war and dining the first two years of hostilities Germany possessed superior radar equip- ment; later in the war German scientists were unable to come to terms with shorter wavelengths and so could not keep in step with enemy radar developments. THE GERMAN NAVY in 1922 Elsass about 1926 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Braunschweig class BRAUNSCHWEIG 20.12.1902 13,000t Stricken 13.3.31 ELSASS 26 5 1903 13,000t Stricken 313 31 HESSEN 18.9.1903 13,000t To USSR 1946 PREUSSEN* 30 10.1903 13,000t Stricken 5.4.29 LOTHRINGEN* 27 5.1904 13,000t Stricken 31.3.31 Deutschland class HANNOVER 29 9 1905 12,983t BU 1944—46 SCHLESIEN 28.5.1906 12,9831 Scuttled 5.5.45 SCHLESWIG- 7.12.1906 12,983l Sunk 18.12.44 HOLSTEIN •Reserve These eight units formed the backbone of the depleted German Navy in 1922, but since service strength was restricted to 15,000 men only four of the six active vessels could be operational at any given time. Braunschweig class The secondary armament was reduced in this class and most of the 88mm guns were removed Braunschweig served 1922-26 and Elsass 1924-30. Hessen was in service 1925-34 but in 1935-36 was converted into a radio-controlled target ship, having 4 new automatic Navy oil-burning boilers installed, thereby increasing output to 18,000ihp and speed to 20 kts She was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1946 and renamed TseT, her ultimate fate is unknown. Preussen and Lothnngen, tn reserve, weredisarmed and used as F-boat tenders from 1918-19. After Preussen was scrapped, a 200ft midships section was retained and used as a target for explosives tests; this section, nicknamed ‘SMS Vierkant' (lit: ‘even keel’), was scuttled at Wilhelmshaven m April 1945. Deutschland class Hannover served 1921-27 and was stricken in 1935. Her planned conversion to a radio-controlled target ship was not proceeded with. Schleswig-Holstein served 1921-32. In 1932 she was converted into a cadet training ship: she was given 8 new boilers, the redundant boiler rooms being used as dormitories; one funnel was removed; a heavy, tubular mast was installed; and the ГТ were removed Schlesien, which served 1927-34, was modified along similar lines in 1936. The secondary armament of both ships was reduced to 12-150inm in 1931 and 10-150mm in 1935, and was removed altogether in 1939. AA armament was 2 to 4-88mm/45 C13 in 1927,4-37mm and 4-20mmm 1936,6-105mm in 1937, and 10-40mm/70 Bofors 28 and 22-20mm C38 in 1944. Schleswig-Holstein was bombed by the RAF on 18.12.44 whilst undergoing a refit at Deutsche Wcrke, Gotenhafen; she was decommissioned 25 1 45 and broken up in situ Schlesien was mined oil Usedom Island on 3.5.45 and scuttled off Swinemiinde two days later. The wreck was broken up betw-een 1952 and 1957. CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Gazelle class NIOBE* 18.7.1899 2617t To Yugoslavia 1925 NYMPH E* 21 11.1899 2617t BU 1932 THETIS 3.7.1900 2617t BU 1930 AMAZONE 6.10.1900 2617t BU 1954 MEDUSA 5.12 1900 2617t BU 1948- SO ARCONA Bremen class 22.10 1902 2617t BU 1948-50 HAMBURG 25.7.1903 3220t BU 1956 BERLIN 22 9 1903 3241г ’ Scuttled 1947 •Reserve Gazelle class These prewar light cruisers were modernised in the early 1920s and used as training ships A11 w ere armed with 10—105mm/40 (5x2) and 2-450mm TT sub. Niobe was sold to Yugoslavia in 1925, was renamed Dalniacija, and served as a training cruiser In 1941 he was captured by the Italians and commissioned as Cattaro, but in 1943 she was taken over with other units of the Italian fleet by Germany, reverting to her original name. She was torpedoed by the British MTB267 at Silba Island, ‘cannibalised’ by Yugoslav partisans and broken up tn situ 1947—49. Nyniphe and Amazone were modernised in the early 1920s, w'hen they were given new bows, increasing length oa to 356ft 7in. Nyniphe served 1924-29 and Amazone 1920-29, but both were stricken 31.3.31. Amazone continued in use as an accommodation hulk at Kiel and as such survived World War II. Thetis was in service during the 1920s before being stricken 31.3.31. Arcona and Medusa were stricken 1929-30 but survived to be converted into floating AA batteries in 1942. They were re-armed with 4-105min/65 C33 (2x2), l-lO5mm/45 C32, 2-37mm/83 and 4-20mm. Their machinery was removed, but displacement rose slightly to 3090t max. Both ships were scuttled 3.5.45 and later scrapped. Bremen class The two surviving units of this class had been re-armed in 1920, with 10 (Berlin 8) 105mm/45 and 2-5OOnim TT aw, Berlin was modernised 1921-22 and fitted with a new bow which increased length to 362ft 10m wl, 373ft 4m oa Both vessels were used as accommodation ships at Kiel from 1935-36. Hamburg was bombed and sunk in late 1944, raised in 1949 and broken up two years later; Berlin was scuttled in the Skagerrak in 1947 loaded with poison gas shells. 222
The German Navy in 1922 DESTROYERS MINESWEEPERS (launched 1916-19, 515-690t) Name Launched Disp (std) Fate VI 11 9 1911 670t Stricken 27.3 29 V2 14 10 1911 670i Stricken 18.11 29 V3 15.11.1911 670t Stricken 18.11 29 V5 25.4 1913 670t Stricken 18.11.29 V6 28 2 1913 670t Stricken 27.3 29 G7 7.11.1911 660t To USSR 1945 G8 21 12.1911 660t lo Great Britain 1945 G10 15 3 1912 660t Scuttled 5.5.45 Gil 23 4 1912 660t Sunk 3 4 45. SIS 10.8.1912 650t Stricken 31.3.31 S19 17.10.1912 650t Stricken 31.3.31 S23 29.3.1913 650t To USSR 1945 TORPEDO BOATS Kame Launched Disp (std) Fate T139 12 11 1906 533t BU after WW1I T141 7 2 1907 533t BU 1933 T143 6 4 1907 533c Stricken 10.5 27 T144* 27.4.1907 533t Stricken 8.10 28 T146 27.6 1907 533t Stricken 8.10 28 T148* 11.9.1907 533i Stricken 8.10.28 T149 19.10.1907 533t Stricken 16.5.27 T151 14.9.1907 558t To USA 1945, BU 1946 T152* 11 10.1907 558t Stricken 313 31 T153 13 11.1907 558t To USA 1945, BU 1946 T154 19 12.1907 558t Stricken 8.10 28 T155* 28 1 1908 558t Scuttled 22.4 45 T156 29 2 1908 558t Scuttled 3.5 45 T157 29 5.1908 558t Mined 22.10.43 T158 23 10.1908 558t To USSR 1945 T168 16 3 1911 6651 Stricken 11 1 27 T175* 24 2 1910 700t Stricken 23 9 26 T185* 9 4 1910 650t To USSR 1945 T190* 12 4.1911 666t To USA 1946 T196 24.5.1911 660t To USSR 1945 •Reserve The Treaty of Versailles permitted the Reichsnianne to possess 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo-boats, plus a number of vessels as material reserve for ‘cannibalis- ing*. The destroy er force consisted of the first group of ocean-going torpedo- boats of the Imperial German Navy built in the years 1911-13. In terms of contemporary destroyer development, these boats were too obsolete to match any foreign destroyers and in the Reichsnianne they were always listed as Torpedoboote. In 1921-23 they were reboilered and fitted with 2-105mm/45, the ‘G’ series were lengthened and displacement in all boats rose by about 15 per cent. The boats retained their prew ar prefix letter indicating the builder: ‘V tor A G Vulcan, ‘S’ for Schichau and ‘G’ for Germaniawcrft Most of the worn out vessels were scrapped in the late 1930s, but in 1937 the remaining units were reclassified, receiving the abbreviation letter *T* (for Torpedobool') and a new number, GIO becoming T110, Gil becoming TUI and so on. G7/Т107 was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1945, becoming Porashayushtshiy, S23IT123 also went to the USSR, having served throughout the war (as the radio control ship for the target Hessen) under the name Komet. The torpedo-boat force consisted of older, smaller torpedo-boats built in the years 1906-07. In the Reichsmanne these boats had their old prefix letters replaced by *T’ 7151-1158, T1S5, TI90 and 7796 were modernised at Wilhelmshaven in the early 1920s, receiving remodelled bridge layouts and funnels. The older boats yvere scrapped in the late 1930s, the more serviceable units yvere used for various auxiliary duties and were either re-armed or dis- armed. T139 and T141 were converted to radio control ships in 1927 under the names Pfeil and Blits-, TI53 became the rangefinder training ship Eduard Jungmann in 1938. T158 became the Russian Prosorlini in 1945. Name Service Fate M28 Trial ships Pehkan 11.3.29; M528 1940 GMSA 1945 M50 R boat tender Bromrny 26 11 37, M5501940 Sunk 15 6.44 M60 Trials ship Hecht 29.8.38; R boat tender Hille \9У),М560 1940 GMSA 1945 M61 Mined 26 7.40 M66 1 rials ship Stortebecker 26 11 37; M566 1940 GMSA 1945 M72 AI572 1940 GMSA 1945 M75 M575 1940 Capsized 2.3.45 M81 Trials ship Nautilus 11.3.29; M58I 1940 GMSA 1945 M82 lender Jagd 11 3.29, M582 1940 GMSA 1945 M84 M584 1940 Sunk 30.11 44 M85 Mined 1.10 39 M89 Mined 26 7 40 M96 Hospital ship 1921 Capsized 15.3 22 M98 M598 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 02 My02 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 04 Mb04 1940 Sunk 9 4 45 M107 R-boat tender Von der Groeben 1939, M5O7 1940 Sunk 15 6 44 M108 Gunnery training ship Delphm 2 6 28; M508 1940 To USSR 1945 Ml 09 Trials shipJoAuHH Wittenberg 29.8.38; Sundewall 2.12.38; A1509 1940 GMSA 1945 MHO M510 1940 GMSA 1945 Mill MSI I 1940 Mined 3 11 41 Ml 13 U-boat tender Acheron 20 6 36, M513 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 15 Trials sh p Arkona 1.10.35; M515 1940 Mined 22 5 44 Ml 17 M517 1940 GMSA 1945 M122 M522 1940 Bombed 20.3.45 Ml 26 R boat tender Alders 1939, ЛИ26 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 29 Trials ship Otto Braun 29 8 38, Л/529 1940 Mined 2 12 41 Ml 30 AA TS Fuchs 12 5.28; M53U 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 32 Sunk 13 11.39 Ml 33 Tender Wacht 11.3.28; R-boat tender Raule 24.8.39; M533 1940 Collision 9 5.42 Ml 34 Tender Fraucnlob 11.3.28; R-boat tender GMSA 1945 Jungmgen 1938, M534 1940 Ml 35 Tender Hila 5.2 23; Gazelle 2 1.39, M535 1940 To USSR 1945 Ml 36 U boat tender Havel 29.8 38 M ned 26 7 40 Ml 38 1 ishcry protection vessel Zieten 1923, R-boat tender Nettelbeck 2.5.39, M538 1940 Ran aground 26.1 45 M145 M545 1940 GMSA 1945 Ml 46 Tender 7aku 26 8 33; R-boat tender Von der Lippe 1939, M546 1940 Bombed 17 6 44 Ml 57 AI557 1940 Foundered 23.12.41 After the First World War it was incumbent upon the Germans to dear the North Sea and Baltic of all mines, and so the German minesweeper flotillas remained intact, but of course disarmed, after the Armistice Most of the boats were sold either for scrapping or to foreign navies and pnvateowners in the early 1920s, but some of the remaining boats, inactive for a period, were adapted for various purposes tn the late 1920s and early 1930s. There were differences in hull length, superstructure appearance, armament, etc, but in 1940 all were reclassified as minesweepers, adding the prefix *5’ to their former pennant numbers The boats th it survived the second conflict served once more in the German Minesweeping Administration (GMSA) after 1945 In the late 1940s they were sold to private owners, most of them being converted for harbour and riverine use There were also the gunnery tenders Drache and Hay and the oceanographic survey ship.VftYeor in service in 1922. 223
GERMANY CAPITAL SHIPS Although the two ships of the Bis- marck class are regarded by many as representing the epitome of German battleship design and construction, they were a political compromise in so far as Hitler did not want to provoke the British, with whom he had con- cluded an agreement in 1935. At this time, France was regarded as the potential enemy on the continent, and one whose navy needed to be balanced by battleship construction. Bismarck and Tirpitz, the first genuine German battleships laid down since World War I, exhibited many features of the last battleship design of the Imperial Navy, the Baden class. The armour arrangement followed closely that of Baden, with thicker horizontal and somewhat thinner vertical protection Internal sub-division was extensive, although the major compartments were larger than those of Baden to obviate the problems of cramped conditions, especially in the boiler rooms. The main armament generally complied with accepted international practice m calibre and number, and in charac- teristics the weapons were very simi I ar to contemporary Italian and French 15in naval guns. Speed and radius of action were inferior to those of the preceding Schamhorsl class The extremely broad beam of 118ft was adopted for reasons of stability; as a result, the ships were steady gun platforms even in heavy seas. One of the outstanding features was the opti- cal rangefinder equipment. However, Tirpitz's original radar was never updated and she retained her two Seetakt sets until the end The class were built to Tirpitz’s request for the best possible internal protection and stability rather than too heavy an armament. The official displacement figure of 35,000 tons came from calculations arising out of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement; the real figures were a military secret and not until the war was over did it become known that the official figure had been exceeded by so wide a mar- gin. BISMARCK class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 41,700t (Tirpitz 42,900t) standard; 50,900t (Tirpitz 52,600t) deep load 792ft 4in wl, 813ft 8in oa x 118ft lin x 28ft 6in, 34ft 9in max 241 SO, 248.00 x 36.00 x 8 70, 10 60m 3-shaft Blohm & Voss (Tirpitz Brown-Boveri) geared turbines, 12 Wagner boilers, 138,000shp= 29kts Belt 121in-101in, deck 2in, armoured deck 4jin-3Jin, slopes 4in, torpedo bulkhead 1 fin, main turrets 14|in-7in, secondary turrets 4m-l!in, CT 14m-2in 8-380mm/47 C34 (4x2), 12-150mm/55 C28 (6x2), 16-105mm/65 C32 (8x2), 16-37mm/83 C30 (8x2), 12-20mm C30, 4—6 aircraft 2092 (Tirpitz 2608) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate BISMARCK Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 1.7.1936 14.2 39 24.8.40 Sunk 27.5.41 TIRPITZ Wilhelmshaven N Yd 20.10 1936 1 4 39 25 2.41 Sunk 12.11 44 Both vessels were sunk by the Brit- ish. Bismarck was hunted down and sunk bv British banleships on 27 5 41 during her first commerce raiding sor- tie, after her rudder had been jammed by an airborne torpedo. Tirpitz played an important role as part of the ‘fleet in being’ in Norway. From 1942 she carried 6-533mm torpedo tubes in triple mountings (removed from the cruiser Leipzig), and from that date her AA armament was steadily increased up to 40-20mm C38 in single and quadiuple mountings. She was sunk by RAF Lancasters at her berth off Haakoy Island near Tromso. Bismarck in early 1941 By courtesy of A many Preston 224
Capital Ships When Hitler adopted the ‘Z-Plan* on 1 January 1939, the six units of the ‘H’ class were to be the heart of this ambitious programme. Not only would these huge battleships provide tough opposition for British capital ships, they would also serve as a useful ‘fleet in being* and act as a valuable political instrument. Hitler wanted this battleship fleet to be completed within six years, and so a number of unprecedented steps had to be taken: the naval building programme was accorded top priority over Luftwaffe and Army requirements; full respon- sibility for the whole programme was given to a single person, Rear- Admiral Werner Fuchs, who was to have great powers of authority; and Blohm und Voss was chosen to have overall responsibility for the design, construction, orders for materials and personnel requirements concerning all six ships. The ‘H* class was designed to the same general principles as the preced- ing Bismarck class. The two weak points of the design might have been the torpedo tubes and the aircraft arrangements. Underwater torpedo tubes were stipulated - the first time ‘H’ class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 55,453t standard; 62,497t deep load 872ft wl, 911ft Sin oa x 122ft x 33ft 6in 265.80, 277.80 x 37.20 x 10.20m 3 shafts, 12 MAN double-acting 2-stroke 9cyl diesels, 165,000bhp = 30kts Belt lljin-7in, deck 31in-2in, armoured deck 4Jin-4in, torpedo bulkhead l?in, armoured bulkheads 8jin, main turrets 151in-5in, secondary turrets 4in-ljin, CT 15Jin 8—406mm/47 (4x2), 12-150mm/55 C28 (6x2), 16-105mm/65 C33 (8x2), 16-37mm/83 C33 (8x2), 24—20mm C38 (6x4), 6-533mm TT sub, 4 aircraft 2600 (estimated) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate ‘H’ Blohm & Voss, 15.7.1939 - BU 1939 Hamburg ‘J’ A G Weser, Bremen 15.8.1939 - - BU 1939 ‘K’ ? _ _ _ — ‘L’ ? _ _ _ ‘M’ ? _ _ _ — ‘N* ? - • - — since World War 1 that such an obsolete feature was incorporated. The catapult was sited directly under the gun barrels of ‘D’ turret and would probably have given rise to serious problems in any engagement. Owing to the outbreak of war the ‘Z-Plan* was cancelled, and work on both ‘H’ and ‘J’ ceased on 10 October 1939. They were later scrapped on slip to provide materials and man- power for the submarine building programme. Only a few of the 406mm guns were manufactured. Three formed the famous Batterie Lin- demann at Cap Blanc Nez, and four were installed in concrete bunkers at Trondesncs securing the Vestfjord leading to Narvik. Further designs derived from the ‘H’ class led finally to the ‘H44’ study, an enormous vessel with a displace- ment of 141,500 tons and a main armament of 508mm (20in) guns. Much more than any other capital ship of any other navy, the two units of the Schamhorsl class were a com- promise of political, military and technical requirements. Hitler’s orig- inal conception was a ship possessing the same armament and speed as the ‘pocket-battleships’ but having a dis- placement of 19,000 tons, the increase being taken up by superior protec- tion; the Kriegsmarine's viewpoint was that such a vessel, carrying only six 280mm guns, would be an ill- balanced design - at the very least a third triple turret was required, even though this would raise the displace- ment figure to 26,000 tons. Hiller rejected this idea because he did not want to draw criticism from Great Britain by breaking the Versailles Treaty; he did not appear to realise that the construction of an ‘unsink- able’ commerce raider such as he had advocated would provoke Britain much more than the construction of a relatively straightforward battle- cruiser which, with a main calibre of only 280mm, would be inferior to all the British battleships in commission in 1934. The Navy’s arguments were, however, reluctantly accepted, and the ships were designed with three triple turrets; the German naval pro- gramme, published after the Anglo- German Naval Agreement of 1935, therefore contained ‘twoPanzerschiffe of 26,000 tons with 280mm guns’. The Kriegsmarine regarded the vessels as a reply to the French Dunkerque class The Anglo-German Naval Agree- ment allowed a maximum calibre of SCHARNHORST class Displacement: 34,84It standard; 38,9001 deep load Dimensions: 741ft 5in wl, 753ft Ilin oa x 98ft 5in x 27ft, 32ft 6in max 226.00, 229.80 x 30.00 x 8.23, 9.9lm Machinery: 3-shaft Brown-Boveri (Gneisenau Germania) geared turbines, 12 V agner boilers, 165,000shp = 32kts Armour: Belt 13?in-6?in, torpedo bulkhead 1 Jin, deck 2m, armoured deck 3in, slope 4in, main turrets 14in-6m, secondary turrets 5Ain-2in, gunshields 2in, CT 13Jin-4in Armament: 9-280mm/54.5 C28 (3x3), 12-150mm/55 C28 (4x2, 4x1), 14-105mm/65 C33 (7x2), 16-37mm/83 C33 (8x2), 8-20mm C30, 3—4 aircraft Complement: 1669-1840 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate SCHARNHORST Wilhelmshaven D Yd 16.5.1935 30.6.36 7.1.39 Sunk 26.12.43 GNEISENAU Deutsche Werke, Kiel 3.5.1935 8.12.36 21.5.38 Scuttled 28.3.45 16in, and Hitler soon had second thoughts, ordering the ships to be equipped with 380mm (15in) guns; but as the 280mm triple turret was readily available and the development of a new 15in turret would take some years, he agreed that the two vessels should have Ilin weapons initially because he urgently needed capital ships for his political ideals. The ships would be upgunned at the earliest possible opportunity. The 380mm twin turret was later to be used for the Bismarck class - which was therefore tied to this mounting as other navies were settling on 16in as the ideal bat- tleship calibre. In the winter of 1938-39, each ship was refitted with a clipper bow, increasing overall length to 770ft 8in (234.90m). Two catapults were origi- nally fitted, but that on ‘C’ turret was removed in 1938-39, when Scham- horsl received a new tripod mainmast. Close-range armament was increased during the war, Schamhorst receiving an additional 24-20mm C38 and Gneisenau 12—20mm C38. Schamhorsl was also later fined with 6-533mm torpedo tubes (2x3) removed from the light cruiser Niimberg. Plans to upgun both ships were still alive at the beginning of World War II. When Gneisenau was badly damaged following an RAF raid in Kiel during the night of 26/27 November 1942 it was decided to reconstruct the ship to take 380mm guns. This plan was, however, aban- doned in 19-13 and she remained idle without her bow section forward of ‘A’ turret The main armament was used for coastal batteries: three 280mm guns were installed near the Hook of Holland and the other six in Norway; the 150mm secondary armament was used, in at least one instance, as a railway gun, complete with turret. Later in the war the ship wras tow'ed to Gotenhafen (Gdynia) where she was scuttled as a harbour blockship in 1945. The wreck was broken up in situ by a Polish company from 1947 to 1951. Schamhorst was sunk 26.12.43 (during an attempt to intercept convoy JW-55B) by the bat- tleship Duke of York and the cruisers Belfast, Jamaica and Norfolk. 225
Designs for these three battlecruisers started in 1937, in parallel to designs for an improved ‘pocket-battleship’ which was later rejected. The class were incorporated into the ‘Z-Plan* in 1939, the same year it was planned to lay them down. The ships were designed to act as long-range mer- chant raiders (action radius 14,000nm at I9kts) that would have forced Great Britain to give each of her convoys strong battleship escort. Because of the outbreak of war the keels were never laid; in fact only ‘Q’ was ordered, on 8 August 1939. Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 3O,5OOt standard; 35,720t max 807ft wl, 841ft 6in oa x 98ft 5in x 31ft 6in, 34ft 6in max 246.00, 256.50 x 30.00 x 9.60, ll.20m 3 shafts. 8 MAN double-acting 2-stroke 24cyl diesels (outer shafts) plus 1 Brown-Boveri geared turbine, 4 Wagner boilers (central shaft), 116,000bhp = 27kts (outer shafts only), 176,000hp = 33.4kts (all three) Belt 7in-4in, torpedo bulkhead IJin, deck 2in, armoured deck 3in, main turrets 81in-2in, secondary turrets 5$in, CT 7jin-3in 6-380mm/47 C34 (3x2), 6-150mm/48 (3x2), 8-105mm/65 C33 (4x2), 8-37mm/83 C33 (4x2), 20-20mm C38, 6—533mm TT aw, 4 aircraft 1965 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate ‘O’ Deutsche Werkc, - - - - Kiel ‘P’ Wilhelmshaven - - - - D Yd ‘Q’ Germania werft, - - - - Kiel AIRCRAFT CARRIERS Graf Zeppelin 1942 design NB. 1/1500 scale After 1933, the Reichsmarine took its first tentative steps towards the build- ing of an aircraft carrier. The ‘carrier gap’ was an obvious shortcoming in the naval inventory, but the restric- tions of the Versailles Treaty meant that any project had to start from scratch. Basic research was under- taken by Ing Wilhelm Hadeler, a member of the Knegsmarine's Con- struction Department, and his task was further complicated by the rapid technological strides taking place in military aviation during the 1930s and the healed discussions concerning carrier design generally. The lack of experienced pilots, too, posed serious problems. In 1933-34, Hadeler presented his first sketch designs for a ship of 22,000 tons with a speed of 35kts and accommodation for 50 aircraft. Fol- lowing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, Germany decided to build two carriers each with a dis- placement of 19,250 tons, amounting GRAF ZEPPELIN class Displacement: 26,93It (1937), 28,090t (1939) standard Dimensions: 820ft 2in wl x 103ft 4in over bulges x 23ft 7in 250.00 x 31.50 x 7.20m Machinery: 4-shaft Brown-Boveri geared turbines, 16 La Mont boilers, 200,000shp = 35kts Armour: Belt 3Jin, deck Ilin, flight deck £in, casemates Uin Armament: 16-150mm/55 C28 8x2), 12-105mm/65 C33 (6x2), 22-37mm/83 C33 (11x2), 28-20mm C38 (?x 1) and C38M (?x4), 41-43 aircraft Complement: 1760 excluding flying personnel (estimated) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate GRAF ZEPPELIN Deutsche Werke, Kiel 28.12.1936 8.12.38 — ?BU 1947 ‘B’ Germaniawerft, Kiel ? — — BU 1940 to 35 per cent of British carrier ton- nage. The design studies were given to Deutsche Wcrke (Kiel) AG, who set up a special design bureau. Specifica- tions for the ship’s fighting capabilities were drawn up in close co-operation with the Kriegsmarine’s Construction Department, but assis- tance from the Luftwaffe) who dis- played little enthusiasm for the pro- ject and were unable io specify exactly their requirements or the aircraft to be embarked, was singularly lacking. The general opinion of the day was that a carrier should be capable of defending herself against surface ships and should therefore be armoured along lines similar to those of a heavy cruiser. This approach was also adopted by theKnegsmarine; later studies suggested that a carrier should also be able to defend herself against night attacks by destroyers, so 226
16-150mm guns were incorporated. After a fruitless visit by a German officer to HMS Furious during the 1935 Navy Week, some useful details of Japanese carrier design were gleaned by a team sent to inspect Akagi, and these confirmed that the German vessel was proceeding along the right lines. The keel of carrier ‘A* was laid on the slip which had become free after the launching of the battlecruiser Gneisenau. In the meantime, models of the electrically-operated lifts, which could be tested under simulated ship movements, were built, while the Luftwaffe constructed a working model of the arrestor sys- tem at Travemiinde, carrying out 2500 test landings. As a ship of such huge vertical dimensions would be vulnerable to wind pressure, two retractable Voith Schneider propel- lers were fitted at the bow to assist manoeuvring. In order to minimise the danger of aviation fuel fires, all non-liquid-filled parts of the fuelling system were filled with dry gas, and all petroleum pipes were surrounded by tubes containing a highly pressur- ised inert gas. There was a sprinkler system in all the hangars, but no foam extinguishing system. The height of the funnel was limited by the requirement that the ship should be able to negotiate the Belt bridge near Fredericia, although later design studies showed that it was impossible to make all the necessary masts, antennae and aerials retractable, and this limit was abandoned. The origi- nal straight stem was altered to one of ‘clipper* configuration in 1939. It was planned to equip Graf Zeppelin with the Me 109T (= Trager), a shipboard version of the standard Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter, and the Ju 87G, a ‘navalised’ derivative of the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber. Original specifica- tions called for 8-10 Me 109s, 13 Ju 87Gs and 20 Fieseler Fi 167 aircraft; these were subsequently modified to 12 Bf 109Fs and 30 Ju 87Gs. By the outbreak of World War II the ship was 85-90 per cent complete, with commissioning anticipated by mid-1940. However, in order to divert resources to the U-boat build- ing programme, construction was suspended around May of that year. A resumption was ordered on 13 May 1942; despite the fact that many of its features were by now obsolescent, the ship was towed to Kiel, where new- asymmetrical bulges were fitted to compensate for additional equipment Aircraft carriers/Cruisers installed on the bridge, thereby reduc- ing speed to 33.8kts. Construction was again halted on 30 January 1943, and three months later Graf Zeppelin was towed to Stettin. She was scuttled by the Germans in January 1945 but was raised by the Russians in 1946. The carrier was taken in tow to Leningrad on 27 September 1947 but never reached her destination, prob- ably being sunk by a mine en route. The construction of carrier ‘IP pro- ceeded extemely slowly; it was envisaged that any modifications required in the light of operational experience with her sister-ship could be incorporated during the building period. However, work was halted in March 1940 and she was scrapped on slip. During World War II the Krtegs- marine had contemplated completing the French carriers Joffre and Pain- levf and converting the passenger lin- ers Europa, Potsdam and Gnetsenau to aircraft carriers, but in the event only one conversion was actually begun. In June 1942 the Hipper class cruiser Seydlitz was about 90 per cent com- plete at the Deschimag works in Bre- men but Hitler, impressed by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and reflecting on the loss of Bismarck, agreed on 26 August 1942 that the ship should be completed as a carrier. She was stripped of all her superstruc- ture and armament, ‘B’ and ‘C’ turrets being installed near Lorient as coastal batteries. After Hitler’s order that SEYDLITZ Displacement: 18,000t designed Dimensions: 654ft 6in wl, 711ft Ilin oa x 105ft flight deck x 25ft Ilin 199.SO, 217.00 x 32.00 x 7.90m Machinery: 3-shaft Deschimag turbines, 12 Wagner boilers, 130,OOOshp = 32kts Armour: Belt 1 Un Armament: 10-105mnt/50 C33 (5x2), 8-37mm/83 C39 (4x2), 24—20mm, 18 aircraft Complement: ? Name SEYDLITZ carrier construction should be halted, the hull was towed to Konigsberg in 1943 where it lay until the end of the war; it was scuttled on 10 April 1945 Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate Deschimag, Bremen 29.12.1936 19.1.39 Scuttled 1U.4.45 when the Russians took the city. It is probable that the hull was refloated, towed to Leningrad, and scrapped. Completed as a carrier,Seydlitz would have had an aircraft complement of 10 Bf 109Gs and 8 Ju 87Ds. CRUISERS Admiral Scheer 1945 The terms of the Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany to build warships with a maximum displacement of 10.000 tons with a maximum gun calibre of 280mm (I lin). It was gues- sed that within these limits only coast-defencc ships for Baltic opera- tions similar to the Swedish Sverige class could be built. In the years immediately following World War I, the economic situation prevented any ambitious projects being undertaken, and a new capital ship could only be considered when such new tech- nologies as diesel propulsion and elec- tric welding had been developed. When a capital ship did emerge, it was a remarkable vessel: a ‘pocket- battleship*. More accurately, the design represented a heavily armed, thinly protected long-range merchant raider which would be stronger than any other faster ship and faster than any other stronger vessel - with the exceptions of the British battlecruis- ers Hood,Renown and Repulse. They were a real threat to the commercial traffic of any potential enemy, and if all the permitted eight units of the class had been built the three British DEUTSCHLAND class Displacement: 11,700t standard; 15,900-16,2001 deep load Dimensions: 596ft Im wl, 610ft 3in oa x 70ft 10m x 19ft, 24ft 3in max 181.70, 186.00 x 21.60 x 5.80, 7.40m Machinery: 3 shafts. 8 double-acting 2-stroke 9cyl MAN diesels, 54,000bhp = 28kts Armour: Belt 3in-2’in, deck Ilin, torpedo bulkhead Ifin-lhn, main turrets 5'.in-3'iin, shields -Un, C'l 6m Armament: 6-280mm/54 C28 (2x3), 8-150mm/55 C28 (8x 1), 6-105mm/65 C33 (3x2), 8-37mm/83 C30 (4x2), 6-20mm C30 (6x1), 8-533mm TT (2x4), 2 aircraft Complement: 619-1150 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate DEUTSCHLAND Deutsche Werke, Kiel 5.2.1929 19.5.31 1.4.33 Scuttled 4.5.45 AD dlRAL SCHEER Wilhelmshaven N Yd 25.6.1931 1.4 33 12.11.34 Sunk 9.4.45 ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE Wilhelmshaven N Yd 1.10.1932 30.6.34 6.1 36 Scuttled 17.12.39 ships would have been insufficient to match them. The Washington Naval Treaty did not allow Britain to build further battlecruisers, however, so France was persuaded to lay down rhe two units of the Dunkerque class. To avoid any complications in the interpretation of the Versailles Treaty, the Deutschland class were described as Panzerschiffe (armoured ships) in Germany; however, in 1940 they were reclassified as heavy cruis- ers. During World War II all three units successfully carried out their tasks as commerce raiders: Deutsch- land s nk 6962 tons of shipping, Graf Spee 50,089 tons and Admiral Scheer 137,223 tons. Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled on 17 Dec 1939 in the Rio de la Plata estuary after some successful British intelligence work had con- vinced her commander that a superior British force was awaiting this depar- ture After this fiasco Hiller ordered the Deutschland to be renamed Liiizow to avoid any possibility of a ship bear- ing the symbolic name ‘Germany’ being sunk All carried 6-88inm/45 C32 (3x2) from 1934 to 1939, and from 1945 Butzow's A A armament 227
GERMANY was increased io 26-20mm C38 m single and quadruple mountings. She had a new, curved bow fitted in 1940 and a high funnel cap added in 1942. She was scuttled on 4 May 1945 at Swinenuinde after heavy damage inflicted by near-misses from RAF ‘Tallboy’ bombs. The wreck was broken up m the 1960s. Admiral Scheer was modified in appearance during the war with a curved bow, a funnel cap and a remodelled forward superstructure, and had her close- range armament increased to 4—40mm/70 Bofors 28 (4x1) and 10-20mm C38 in single and quadru- ple mountings. She was sunk on 9 Apnl 1945 at Kiel by RAF‘Tallboys’. The capsized wreck was partially scrapped and later ‘buried* by build- ing a new quay. The units ‘D’ and ‘E’ of this class were later redesigned to match the French Dunkerque and Strasbourg, becoming the battlecruisers Schar- nhorst and Gneisenau. When it became evident in 1934 that the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty would be relaxed, the Retchs- ntarine had already built six of its per- mitted eight light cruisers. In the sub- sequent Anglo-German Naval Agreement, Germany was allowed to V~~ - build five heavy cruisers each of 10,000 tons displacement and carry- ing 203mm (Sin) guns - so-called ‘Treaty cruisers* The London Naval Agreement precluded the building of heavy cruisers until 1 January 1943, but as an exception Germany was to be allowed to build three ‘Treaty cruisers*, plus two others (which were in the planning stage) provided they were reduced to 150mm (5.9in) guns. Russia gave notice of her intention to build seven cruisers with a 180mm (7in) main armament for the Baltic Fleet, Germany promptly upgunned her two 150mm cruisers to 203mm, to a design virtually identical to their three forerunners. So the go-ahead for the construction of ‘Treaty cruisers’ by Germany turned out to be a politi- cal decision too: according to the Washington Treaty it was impossible to build further ‘pocket-battleships’, because a main armament larger than 203mm calibre required a displace- ment of 17,500 tons On the other hand, the old light cruisers were no match for the new Russian, French and British light cruisers. HIPPER class (first group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 14,050t standard; 18,200t deep load 638ft 5in wl, 665ft 8m oa x 69ft lOjin x 19ft, 25ft Ilin max 194.60, 205.90 x 21 30 x 5.80, 7.90m 3-shaft Blohm & Voss (Bliicher Dcschimag) geared turbines, 12 La Mont (Blucher Wagner) boilers, 132,OOOshp = 32.5kts Belt 3Jin-lJin, deck Ilin-Jin, torpedo bulkhead i'in, main turrets 6lin-2Jin, CT 6in-2in 8-203mm/60C34(4x2), 12-105mm/65C33(6x2), 12-37mm/83C34 (6x2), 8-20mmC30, 12-533mm TT (4x3), 3 aircraft 1600 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate ADMIRAL HIPPER Blohm & Voss, 6.7.1935 6.2 37 29.4.39 Scuttled May 1945 BLUCHER Hamburg Deutsche Werke, 15.8.1936 8 6 37 20.9 39 Sunk 9 4 40 Kiel In Germany, many authorities argued against the usefulness of these heavy cruisers because their radius of action was only 6800nm against the Deutschland? 12,000, which effec- tively prevented them from carrying out long-range commerce raiding missions. The sophisticated high- pressure steam propulsion system of these vessels proved to be the source of a great deal of trouble, and it is significant that the US Navy crew that brought Brine Eugen from Balboa to Pearl Harbor after the war, although trained by Kriegsmarine personnel, were unable to maintain the machinery properly; a complete breakdown occurred, and the cruiser had to be taken in tow. HIPPER class (second group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 16,974t standard; 19,042t deep load 654ft 6in wl, 679ft IJin oa x 70ft 6in x 21ft 8m, 23ft 7lin max 199.50, 207.70 * 21 50 * 6.60, 7 20m 3-shaft Dcschimag (Pnnz Eugen Brown-Boveri) geared turbines, 9 Wagner (Pnnz Eugen La Mont) boilers, 132,000shp = 32.5kts As first group As first group 1600 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate PRINZ EUGEN Germaniawerft, 23.4.1936 22 8.38 1.8.40 Sunk 22.12.46 Kiel SEYDLITZ Deschimag, Bremen 29.12.1936 19 1 39 - See carrier section LUTZOW Deschimag, Bremen 2 8.1937 1.7.39 — Sold 1940 228
Cruisers Admiral Hipper could be disting- uished from her sisters by her straight stem and funnel cap. She made two sorties against convoys W-55A and SLS-64, sinking 61,000 tons. Her A A armament was augmented in 1945 by the addition of a number of 40mm/70 Bofors 28 and 20-20mm C38 in single and quadruple mountings. The ship was heavily damaged by RAF bomb- ing in April 1945 whilst in drydock at Deutsche Wcrke, Kiel; on 2 May 1945 the ship was scuttled by explosive charges; in 1946 she was refloated and towed to Heikendorf Bay, where she was broken up in 1948-49. Blucher acted as lead ship for Task Force 5 invading Oslo. On board were 900 men of the 163rd Infantry Division with w-eapons, ammunition, equipment and supplies, together with a large number of Gestapo offi- cials who were to take up positions in the Norwegim administration. Dur- ing the attempt to break through the Drobak Narrows on 9.4.40, the ship was shelled at short range (500yds) by the 280mm and I50mm Oscarsborg shore batteries and was later hit by two torpedoes fired from the Kaholm battery'. The wreck still lies at a depth of 35 fathoms and contains a good deal of oil, giving rise to fears of pollution. Prinz Eugen accompanied Bismarck on the latter’s break-out into the Atlantic, but escaped; she later returned in company with Schamhorst and Gneisenau from Brest to Ger- many. Her AA armament in 1945 comprised 17—40mm/70 Bofors 28 (17x1), 4-20mm C38 (2x2) and 24-20mm C38 (6x4). During the Potsdam Conference she was ceded to the United States and selected as a target for the Operation ‘Crossroads’ A-bomb tests. She survived both test ‘Able’ on 1.7 46 and test ‘Baker’ on 25.7.46, remaining afloat without structural damage, although con- taminated. She was towed to Kwa- jalem Atoll and decommissioned 29.8.46. On 21 December of that year she took on a 35° list to starboard due to minor damage at the stern. Salvage crews could not be brought in but to prevent Prinz Eugen sinking she was towed to Enubuj Reef where she cap- sized the following day. The wreck still lies at position 167e41'E 08°44’S. The US Navy refused permission for her to be scrapped in order to prevent radium-contaminated material enter- ing the world steel market. Seydliiz and Lutzow were the origi- nal light cruisers referred to above and were initially designed to carry 12-15Omm/5O C28 (4 x 3) guns. Seyd- litz was about 90 per cent complete when it was decided to convert her into a carrier; for further details see carrier section. Liitzow was sold to the Soviet Union in January or February 1940, the name thus becoming free for the ‘pocket-battleship* Deutschland. In April 1940 the ship was towed to Leningrand and renamed Petropav- lovsk ; small parts of the superstruc- ture, ‘A’ turret and ‘D’ turret (minus its barrels) were installed. She acted as a floating battery during the siege of Leningrad in the winter of 1941 and fired 676 shells. She was herself shell- ed by German batteries, and after 53 hits she foundered and was beached, although it proved possible to refloat her in September 1942. In 1943 she was renamed Tallinn and served again as a floating battery. From 1945 to 1956 she was an accommodation ship on the Neva River and was subsequently scrap- ped. Prinz Eugen about 1941 The Treaty of Versailles allowed postwar Germany to possess eight I ght cruisers of 6000 tons, of which only six could be in service at any one time. These old cruisers could be replaced after 20 years, counted from their launch dates. The obsolete World War I light cruisers Niobe (launched 1899), Thetis (1900), Med- usa (1900), Arcona (1902), Nytnphe (1899) and Amazone (1900) were therefore replaced by, respectively, Emden, Konigsberg, Karlsruhe, Kbln, Leipzig and Niimberg. For the first new light cruiser, Emden, the displacement limit was no problem, since this ship was built to a design that followed closely the most recent World War I light cruisers. The ship was not, however, of great fighting value and served principally as a training ship for junior officers and cadets, making several cruises before the war. In 1933-34 she was reboilered with 10 oil-burners, with output increased slightly to 46,500shp = 29.4kts. Emden did not take part in any major operations during World War II - except the assault on Norway. Her 150mm C16 guns were ex- changed for 15Omm/5O C36 (8x 1) in 1942, although an armament of Emden 1931 .X * EMDEN Displacement: 5600t standard; 6990t deep load Dimensions: 493ft 9in wl, 508ft lOin oa x 46ft 11m x 19ft, 21ft 8m max 150.50, 155 10 x 14.30 x 5.80, 6.60m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown-Boveri geared turbines, 4 coal-fired plus 6 oil-fired Navy boilers, 45,900shp = 29.4kts Armour: Belt IJin, deck Jin, gunshields 2m, CT 4m-2in Armament: 8-150mm/55 C16 (8x 1), 3-88mm/45 C32 (3x 1), 4-20mm C30, 4-533mm TT (2x2) Complement: 650 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate EMDEN Wilhelmshaven 8.12.1921 7.1.25 15.10.25 Scuttled 3.5.45 N Yd 16-150mm/55 C28 (8x2) was earlier proposed. AA weapons were increased to 4—37mm/83 C33 (2x2) and 7-20mm in 1945. She served for a period as a training ship in the Baltic, her last duty being to return the coffin of Feldmarschall Hindenburg from the Tannenberg Memorial at Hohen- stein in East Prussia. She was heavily damaged by RAF bombing at Deutsche Werke, Kiel, and scuttled on 3.5.45 at Heikendorf Bay. The wreck was broken up on the spot in 1949. Emden in the early 1930s 229
GERMANY and incc rporated the newly developed electric welding techniques and the new 150mm (5 9in) triple turret. The two after turrets were offset from the centreline and could fire at maximum (40°) elevation on all bearings. For the first time, both steam and diesel machinery were installed* the diesels were located in the unoccup ed space beside the shaft tunnels and each worked over a Vulcan gearbox; each propulsion system could only work individually, so giving the ships a diesel cruising speed of lOkts and a turbine 'dash* speed of 32kts. Before the war these cruisers were used extensively as training ships for cadets, and each made several world cruises Karlsruhe suffered some Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 6650t standard; 8130t deep load 554ft 5in wl, 570ft lOin oa x 50ft 2in x 18ft 3m, 20ft 7in max 169.00, 174.00 x 15.30 x 5.56, 6.28m 2-shaft Navygeared turbines, 6 Navy boilers plus 2 double-acting 4-stroke lOcyl MAN diesels, 1800bhp = lOkts (diesels only), 65,OOOshp = 32kts (turbines) Belt 2$in-2in, deck Uin-Jm, torpedo bulkhead Ain, turrets Hin, CT 4m-ljin 9-150mm/60 C28 (3x3), 2-88mm/45 C32 (2x1) (Kobt 4-88mm/45 C32), 8-37mm/83 C30 (4x2), 8-20mm C30 (8x 1), 12-500mm TT (4x3), 2 aircraft 850 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate KONIGSBERG Wilhelmshaven N Yd 12.4 1926 26.3.27 17 4.29 Sunk 10.4 40 KARLSRUHE Deutsche Werke, Kiel 27.7 1926 20.8.27 6 11 29 Sunk 9.4 40 KOLN Wilhelmshaven N Yd 7 8 1926 23.5 28 15 1.30 Sunk 30.4 45 damage due to structural weaknesses in her hull plating during her world cruise, and was refitted and strength- ened at San Diego m April 1936, this increased her beam (to 54ft 5Ain), her draught, and her displacement (to 8350 tons) From 1934, all three ves- sels carried 533mm torpedo tubes, and from 1935-36 a inpod mainmast. From 1940 the 88mm battery was altered to 4 twin 76cal C32; in 1942 Kbln had her catapult and two of her triple torpedo tubes landed, and her after control position was enlarged. Konigsberg undertook minelaying sorties in the North Sea after the out- break of World War II During the assault on Norway she was assigned to Task Force 3 for the invasion of Bergen. She was damaged by shore batteries during the landing opera- tions and remained at Bergen for local defence purposes while the rest of the force returned to Germany. On 10.4.40 she was bombed by RN Skuas, set on fire and put out of action. She was decommissioned and broken up in suu in 1943. Karlsruhe was used as a minelayer in the North Sea during the early war years, and for the Norwegian campaign was assigned to Task Force 4 for the invasion of Knstiansand and Arendal She was torpedoed by H M submarine Truant at position 58°04 N 08°04’E on 9.4.40. Owing to heavy internal damage she had to be sunk some hours later by the German torpedo- boat Greif Koln also undertook North Sea minelaying sorties and was after- wards engaged in the assault on Nor- way, forming part of Task Force 3 against Bergen From 1940 until 1942 she conducted operations m the Baltic and until 1943 was part of the ‘standby’ force in Norway She became a training ship for cadets in the Baltic in 1944 and undertook escort duties to Norway On 3 3.45, during a refit at Wilhelmshaven Navy Yard, she was bombed by the RAF, settling on the bottom with her super- structure above water. On 6 April she was decommissioned, although she wras later used as a local defence bat- tery. Kbln was scrapped in 1946. Karlsruhe in 1932 Nurnberg about 1937
Light cruisers Leipzig about 1934 The two light cruisers Leipzig and Xiirnberg do not form a homogeneous class although each had machinery which utilised both diesel and steam propulsion. The centre shaft was dri- ven by the diesels which operated via a common gearbox: at cruising speed, when only the centre shaft was in operation, the outer shafts were turned at idling speed by small elec- tric motors; for high speed runs both systems could be used simultane- ously, the centre screw having vari- able pitch blades to give optimum operating results. The two ships dif- fered in respect of superstructure lay- LEIPZIG out and armament. Leipzig had a Displacement: 6515t standard; 8250t deep load Dimensions: 533t 9Jm wl, 581ft oa x 53ft 2in x 16ft, 18ft 8in max 168.80, 177.10 x 16.20 x 4.88, 5.69m Machinery: 3 shafts. Navy geared turbines, 8 Navy boilers, 60,000shp = 31kts (outer shafts) plus 4 double-acting 2-stroke 7cyl MAN diesels, 12,400bhp — 18kts (central shaft), 32kts (all three) Armour: Belt 2in-ljin, deck Jin, turrets Hin-Jin, CT 4in-Hin Armament: 9-150mm/60 C28 (3x3), 2-88mm/45 (2x 1), 8-37mm/83 C30 (4x2), 12-5OOmm TT (4x3) superstructure similar to that of the ‘K’ class cruisers, while Num berg had a distinctive block-shaped forward superstructure and a searchlight plat- form around the funnel. From 1935 to 1944Leipzig carried a catapult (2 aircraft); from 1936 she was fitted with 6-88mm/76 (3x2). Her torpedo lubes were exchanged for 533mm models in 1934, halved in number in 1941, and removed altogether in 1944. From 1936 she carried a mainmast instead of antenna spreaders. Leipzig undertook minelaying sorties in the North Sea following the outbreak of World War II. During a minelaying sortie with Nurnberg on 13 December 1939 she was torpedoed amidships by HM submarine Salmon-, whilst returning she was attacked a second time by HM submarine Ursula, but two of the three torpedoes intended for the dam- aged cruiser hit the sloop F9 instead. Laid up for some weeks and decom- missioned for repairs at Kiel, she was converted into a training ship, losing No 2 engine room (which became a dormitory) and halving the number of boilers, thus reducing the maximum speed to 24kts. Leipzig operated in her new role in the Baltic from 1942 until 1943. Her armament was increased to Complement: 850 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate LEIPZIG Wilhelmshaven N Yd 28.4.1928 18.10.29 8.10.31 Scuttled 16.12.46 NURNBERG Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 6520t standard; 8380t deep load 557ft 9in wl, 594ft lOin oa x 53ft lOin X 16ft lin, 21ft max 170.00, 181.30 x 16.40 x 4.90, 6.40m As Leipzig, except Parsons geared turbines, max speed 32kts Belt 6in-?in, deck Jin, turrets 3}in-Jin, CT 4in-ljin 9-150min/60 C28 (3x3), 8-88mm/76 (4x2), 8-37mm/83 C30 (4x2), 8-20mi (4x3), 2 aircraft 896 n C30, 12-5 33mm TT Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate NURNBERG Deutsche Werke, 1934 6.12.34 Kiel 2.11.35 To USSR 1946 4-40mm/70 Bofors 28 (4xl) and 16-20mm C38 ^twins and quadruples) in 1944. On 15 October of that year she was rammed by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen off the Hela Peninsula, u hile drifting to recouple her engines, and almost split in two The wide- spread damage amidships was only temporarily patched up. After the war she served as accommodation ship for the German Minesweep ng Administ- ration. On 20.7.46 she was scuttled at position 57*53'N 06°13'E, laden with poison gas shells. Niimberg was also used for minelay- ing sorties in the North Sea after the outbreak of war. She was torpedoed on the same occasion as Leipzig but was only damaged around the bows; owing to her refit she did not take part in the Norwegian campaign. From 1941 until 1942 she was a cadet train- ing ship in the Baltic, her two after torpedo tube mountings being removed. After a period as part of the ‘fleet in being’ in Norway, she was again used as a cadet training ship in the Baltic from 1944 until the end of the war. After the war the ship was ceded to the Soviet Union by the Potsdam Conference and handed over in January 1946. Renamed Admiral Makarov, the cruiser was observed in the Baltic until 1953, probably being scrapped in the years immediately fol- lowing. 231
GERMANY Lillie information exists concerning the ‘M* class cruisers. They would have had a combined steam turbine/ diesel propulsion like their fore- runners Numberg and Leipzig, and, although having basically the same dimensions and displacement as the triple-turreted cruisers, they would have only carried twin turrets of the type fitted as Bismark’s secondary armament. In superstructure and armament layout they would have resembled more the Spahkreuzer (scout cruiser) Spl class (see below). ‘ЛГ class Displacement: 7800t designed; 10,400t deep load Dimensions: 584ft wl, 600ft 4in oa x 55ft 9in x 17ft 9in designed, 24ft max 178.00, 183.00 x 17.00 x S.40, 7.30m Machinery: 3 shafts. Wagner geared turbines, 4 Wagner boilers, 100,000shp (outer shafts) plus 4 double-acting 2-strokc 12cyl MAN diesels, 16,500bhp (central shaft) = 35.5kts (all three) Armour: Belt 2in-l«in, deck l*in-?in, turrets 31in-4’in, CT 4in-i‘in Armament: 8-150mm/55 C28 (4x 2), 4-88mm/76 (2x2), 8-37mm/83 C33 (4 x 2), ?-20mm, 8-533mm TT (2 x4), 2 aircraft Complement: 920 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate ‘M’ Deutsche Werke, Kiel 1938 — — BU 1941-43 ‘N’ Wilhelmshaven N Yd 1939 — — BU 1941-43 ‘O’ German iawerft, Kiel 1939 — — BU 1941—43 T’ Germaniawerft, Kiel — — — — ‘Q’ Schichau, Danzig — — — — ‘R’ Deutsche Werke, — — — — Kiel DESTROYERS When it became clear that the limits imposed by the Treaty of Versail- les would be relaxed, the Reichsmarine could begin to consider its first designs for a real destroyer* that would match contemporary vessels in other navies. The strategic concept behind this new type only embraced North Sea and Baltic operations: the vessels were not origi- nally designed for oceanic warfare, but nevertheless they operated in all sea conditions around the far-flung coastline of Nazi-occupied Europe. The development of a high-pressure steam propulsion unit was a difficult problem. A test ship for this innovative system was the Blohm & Voss-built HAPAG freighter Uckermark, which was the first ship to be fitted with Benson boilers; the Navy’s first high-pressure steam propulsion experimental ship was the aviso Grille. After further developments the escorts F1-F10 were equipped with competitive boiler systems from Benson and La Mont, whilst the gunnery training ship Brummer was fitted with Wagner boilers. Nevertheless, despite great efforts to perfect a system, German destroyers often suffered from problems with their sophisticated machinery. It must be pointed out that the machinery fitted in the war-built boats never achieved its full potential owing to the lack of high quality construction praterials for- boilers, steam pipes, tubes, etc. The boats therefore never reached their design speeds. The German Navy entered World War II with 21 operational des- troyers. The loss of ten units at Narvik in April 1940 resulted in severe reprisals for the destroyer forces. Later in the war, newly-built ships came into operational service only very slowly - many were commis- sioned before being fully worked up. The first 22 boats bore the names of honoured naval personnel from World War I; the wartime destroyers had no names with the exception of Hermes, operating in the Mediter- ranean. In peacetime German destroyers had their flotilla number and their tactical disposition within the flotilla painted as white numbers on the hull. These were removed after the outbreak of war, but many vessels had their real pennant number, or the abbreviated letters of their name, painted on the bridge, although this was only shown at sea. In harbour the digits were covered with canvas or with metal shields for security reasons, and very few pictures show this little-known feature. Because of the growing threat posed by aircraft, AA armament was steadily increased. The older, semi-automatic 37mm/83 C30 twin was gradually replaced by the new fully-automatic 37mm/83 M42. Many of the 20mm C30s were replaced by 20mm C38s on twin M44 mountings or on the famous C38M quadruple mounting. From 1944 onwards the first 40mm/70 Bofors 28 appeared on board destroyers and heavier units, where they replaced the 37mm twins. Later in the war the mounting in ‘Q* position was removed from some boats and replaced by sponsons for additional AA weapons, this being referred to as the ‘Barbara’ configuration. From 1940 all German destroyers received operational radar sets of the FuMO 21 type, later replaced by an improved version (FuMO 25) on Z4,5, 6,10,14,15,20, 25, 28, 29, 33-36, 39 and 43. A few boats had their aft searchlight removed and replaced by a FuMO 21 Hohentwiel". Z5,10,14,15,20,25,28,29,31 and 39. Z4 and Z28 had an additional Hohentwiel antenna above the standard Seetakt antenna. All boats had passive detection sets of the Metox type. All destroyers and torpedo-boats were equipped for minelaying. *Thc Treaty of Versailles permitted the Reichsmarine to operate 12 destroyers, but the Reichsmarine referred to these vessels as torpedo-boats. 1934 type Displacement: 1625t standard; 3156t deep load Dimensions: 381ft 6in wl, 391ft 5in oa x 37ft x 13ft lin 116.30, 119.30 x Ц.30 x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 6 Wagner boilers, 70,000shp = 38.2kts Armament: 5-127mm/45 C34 (5x1), 4-37mm/83 C30, 4-20mm C30, 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 315 (Zl 338) Name Builder Launched Fate Zl Deutsche Werke, Kiel 18.8.1935 Sunk 22.2.40 Z2 Deutsche Werke, Kiel 18.8.1935 Sunk 13 4.40 Z3 Deutsche Werke, Kiel 30.11.1935 Sunk 22.2.40 Z4 Deutsche Werke, Kiel 30.11.1935 To Britain 1945 The 1934 type was the first destroyer design of the Kriegsmarine and all further types evolved from ii in basic layout and armament and engine disposition. The ships were laid down between October 1934 and January 1935 and commis- sioned in early 1937. Soon after completion, additional plating was worked in to stiffen the hulls, and the bow was extended by 1ft. After 1938 a new enclosed bridge was fitted. Z4 (Richard Beilzen) carried a tripod mast from 1940, higher funnel caps from 1943 and a clipper bow from 1944. Zl (Leberecht Maass) and Z3 (Max Schultz) were sunk during an erroneous air attack by German He 111 bombers north-west of Borkum. Z2 (Georg Thiele) foundered at Rombaksfjord; she’ was finally broken up in 1963. Z4 was ceded to the Royal Navy in 1945, brought to England in the summer of the same year and broken up in 1947. 232
Destroyers J934A type Displacement: 1625t standard; 31 IO-3165t deep load Dimensions: 381ft 6in wl, 397ft oa x 37ft X 13ft lin 11630, 121 00 x ИЗО x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner (Z9-Z/6 Blohm & Voss) geared turbines, 6 Wagner (Z9-Z/6 Benson) boilers, 70,OOOshp = 38.2kts Armament: As 1934 type Complement: 315 Name Builder Launched Fate Z5 Deschimag, Bremen 24.3.1936 To France 1946 Z6 Deschimag, Bremen 22.4.1936 To France 1946 Z.7 Deschimag, Bremen 16 7.1936 Sunk 2 5.42 Z8 Deschimag, Bremen 15.9 1936 Sunk 25.1.42 Z9 Germaniawerft, Kiel 27.3.1936 Sunk 13.4.40 ZlO Germaniawerft, Kiel 14.5.1936 To Britain 1946 Zll Germaniawerft, Kiel 8.7.1936 Sunk 13.4.40 Z12 Germaniawerft, Kiel 12.3.1937 Sunk 13.4 40 Z13 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 18.3.1937 Sunk 13.4 40 Z14 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 5.11.1935 To USSR 1946 ZI5 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 24.9 1936 To USSR 1946 ZI6 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 21.3.1937 Sunk 31 12 42 'I he 1934A type destroyers were slightly improved versions of, and some 6ft longer than, the 1934 type. They were laid down between March 1935 and January 1936 and were completed between 1937 and 1939 There were slight variations in configuration The steam pipes on the funnel uptakes differed according to the machinery fitted; from 1943 Z5 (Paul Jacobi) had a clipper bow; from 1941 Z6 (Theodor Riedel) had a tripod mast and in 1942 her funnel caps were lowered Z5’s armament was increased in 1944 to 2-40mm/70 Bofors 28 (4x1), 8-20mm C38 (2x4), 4-37mm/83 M42 (2 x 2) and 4-20mm C38 (2x2); 7.6 was altered along similar lines Both ZlO (Hans body) and Z/5 (Ench Steinbrinck) were modified to ‘Barbara* standards in 1944-45, the former receiv- ing 12-37mm/83 M42 (6x2) and the latter 14-37mm/83 M42 and 4-20mm (1x4) Z5 was handed over to rhe Royal Navy in 1945; she was transferred to the French Navy at Cherbourg on 2 February 1946 and renamed Desatx; refitted at Brest in 1946/7 and equipped with US-manufactured radar, she saw active service and was used for weapons trials from 1947 to 1949. She was broken up in 1951. Z6 was transferred to Great Britain after World War II and was also handed over to the French Navy at Cherbourg on 2 February 1946, being renamed Kleber (D603), she was refitted and modernised at Cherbourg from 1948 to 1951 with US-manufactured radar and German-style ‘Barbara’ installa- tions. She served from 1951 in the Mediterranean, was placed in reserve from 1953 to 1957 and was sold for scrapping in autumn 1958. Z7 (Hermann Schoemann) was shelled and damaged by the cruiser Edinburgh during an attack on convoys PQ-15 and QP-11, and was scuttled with depth charges Z8 (Bruno Heinemann) was sunk on cn route to France after striking a mine off Calais. Z9 (Wolfgang Zenker) foundered at Rombaksfjord and was broken up in 1960. ZlO was ceded to Great Britain after the war; transferred to Portsmouth on 7 January 1946 and renamed R38, she served as a trials ship with a mixed Anglo-German crew and later as an accommodation ship at Southampton before being broken up at Sunderland in 1949. ZU (Bernd von Arnim) foundered at Rombaksfjord and was broken up in 1962; Z12 (Erich Giese) also foundered at Rombaksfjord and her wreck still lies there; ZI3 (Erich Koellner) was sunk after being shelled off Djupvik. Z14 (Enednch Ihn) was transferred to the Soviet Union after the war, being renamed Pospeshnyi, she saw service in the Baltic and was scrapped in the 1950s. Z/5 was also ceded to the USSR and was renamed Pylkij; she served in the Baltic from 1946 until 1956, was disarmed and used as an accommodation ship until 1958 and was scrapped 1960-62. Zl6 (Friedrich Eckoldi) was sunk by gunfire from HMS Sheffield during an attack on convoy JW-51B. 1936 type Displacement: 181 It standard; 3415t deep load Dimensions: 393ft 8in wl, 404ft 2in (Z20-Z22 410ft lin) oa x 38ft 8in x 13ft lin 120 00, 123.20 (125 00) x 11 80 x 4 00m Machinery: As 1934 type except 70,OOOshp = 40kts Armament: As 1934 type except 7-20mm C30 (7x 1) Complement: 313 (Z20 330) Name Builder Launched Fate Z17 Deschimag, Bremen 19 8.1937 Sunk 13 4 40 Z18 Deschimag, Bremen 1.12.1937 Sunk 13.4.40 Z19 Deschimag, Bremen 22 12 1937 Sunk 13 4 40 Z20 Deschimag, Bremen 15.6 1938 To USSR 1946 Z21 Deschimag, Bremen 2.8.1938 Sunk 10.4 40 Z22 Deschimag, Bremen 20 9 1938 Sunk 10.4 40 Laid down in 1936-37 and commissioned in 1938-39, the 1936 type destroyers were further examples of slightly improved ‘1934s*. 7.20-7.22 featured a clipper bow, as indeed did all subsequent German destroyers Most of the boats of this type were lost at Narvik. Z17 (Diethervon Roeder) w'as lost there, and the wreck still lies within the harbour. Z18 (Hans LUdemann) was sunk on the same day al Rombaksfjord; her wreck is still there. Z/9 (Hermann Киппе), which foundered at Herjangsfjord, was broken up between 1960 and 1963 Z20 (KarlGalsier) was ceded to the USSR after the war; renamed Proishnyj, she saw service in the Baltic and was probably scrapped in the 1950s BothZZ/ (Wilhelm Heidkamp)andZ22 (Anton Schmitt) were sunk at Narvik, where their wrecks still lie I.eberechi Maass (7.1), probably running trials Karl Galstcr (Z20) as commissioned 233
GERMANY 1936A type Displacement: 3605c (Z25-Z27 3543t,Z2S 3519t,Z29-Z30 3597t)deep load Dimensions: 399ft Ilin wl, 416ft 8in oa x 39ft 4in x 12ft 10in-15ft 2in 121.90, 127 00 x 12.00 x 3.9 2^1.62 m Machinery: As 1934 type except 70,000shp = 38 5kts Armament: 4-i50mm/50 C36 (4x1), 4-37mm/83 C30 (2x2), 5-20min (Z28 7-20mm) C30 (5x1), 8-533mm TT (2x4). See notes Complement: 321 Name Builder Launched Fate Z23 Deschimag, Bremen 14 12 1939 BU 1948 Z24 Deschimag, Bremen 7.3.1940 Sunk 24 8.44 Z25 Deschimag, Bremen 16.3.1940 To France 1946 Z26 Deschimag, Bremen 2.4 1910 Sunk 29 3.42 Z27 * Germaniawerft, Kiel 1.8.1940 Sunk 28.12.43 Z28 Germaniawerft, Kiel 20.8.1940 Sunk 6.3.45 Z29 Germaniawerft, Kiel 15 10 1940 Scuttled 16 12 46 Z30 Germaniawerft, Kiel 8.12.1940 To Britain 1945 The 1936A type was an enlarged version of the 1936 type, designed to carry a heavier armament of 5-150mm. These boats are often referred to as the‘Narvik’ class, which is incorrect; the assumption comes from the fact chat some of these boats formed the 8th Destroyer Flotilla (‘Narvik’) between 1 December 1940 and August 1944. Z38 as the Nonsuch in Dec 1945 1936A (Mob) type Displacement: 2603t standard; 3597t deep load Dimensions: 399ft Ilin wl, 416ft 8m oa x 39ft 4m x 13ft lin 121.90, 127.00 x 12 00 x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 6 Wagner boilers, 70,000shp = 38 5kts Armament: 5-15Omm/5O C36 (1x2, 3x1), 2-37mm/83 M42 (1x2), 10-20mm C38 (2x4, 2x 1), 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 321 Name Builder Launched Fate Z31 Germaniawerft, Kiel 15.5.1941 To France 1946 Z32 Germaniawerft, Kiel 15 8.1941 Beached 8 6 44 Z33 Germaniawerft, Kiel 15 9.1941 To USSR 1946 Z34 Germaniawerft, Kiel 5.5.1942 Scuttled 26.3.46 Z37 Germaniawerft, Kiel 24 2.1941 Scuttled 24.8.44 Z38 Germaniawerft, Kiel 5.8.1941 To Britain 1946 Z39 Germaniawerft, Kiel 2 12.1941 To USA 1946 Commissioned between April 1942 and August 1944, the boats of the 1936A (Mob) type were part of a wartime (mobilisation) building programme. The As the C38 twin turret was delayed by production difficulties, the class was completed with a single 150mm mounting on a ‘bandstand’ in ‘A’ position; when the turret became available it replaced the single gun in Z23 ,Z24 ,Z2S and Z29. Experience proved the 150mm gun to be less than satisfactory since the ammun- ition had to be handled as separate shells and powder-cartridges as against the single cartridge of the old 127mm weapon. Moreover, at 97 tons the twin turret was so heavy that the boats’ sea-going capabilities suffered. The class were laid down between November 1938 and April 1940 and commissioned between September 1940 and November 1941. Z28 was towed to Deschimag, Bremen, for final outfitting; as a staff destroyer she featured a revised superstructure aft, giving rise to the nickname ‘pullman car*. Z30 carried a flying deck over her torpedo tubes for a period, this being removed in 1942—43.Z25 and Z29 were modified to‘Barbara’ standards, with 12-37mm/83 M42 in single and twin mountings and 18-20mm C38 in M44 twin and C38M quadruple mountings. Z23 was damaged by RAF bombing at ha Pallice on 12 August 1944, decommissioned nine days later, she was eventually broken up in 1948 Z24 was bombed by the RAF off Lc Verdon and, altnough she managed to reach harbour, capsized at her berth. Z25 was transferred to Great Britain after the war. On 2 February 1946 she was handed over to the French Navy at Cherbourg and renamed Hoche (D602). In reserve 1949-51, she was then refitted and modernised with a single 150mm gun in ‘A* position, a German-type ‘Barbara’ AA configuration, French-type 550mm torpedo tubes, US-manufactured radar, Hedgehog, etc. On 16 October 1953 she recommissioned as a fast escort at Toulon and was used as an ASW trials ship. Decommissioned on 28 August 1956, she was finally stricken on 2 January 1958 and broken up between 1961 and 1962. Z26 was sunk during a German attack on convoy PQ-13 by gunfire from the cruiser Trinidad and the destroyers Гигу and Eclipse. Z27 was sunk in battle with the cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise during an attempt to assist home the blockade-runner Alstcrufer. Z28 was sunk following RAF bombing at the Sassnitz Roads; she was broken up in shallow water in 1950 Z29 was at Wesermiinde for refitting at the end of the war, and was ceded to the USA; she was scuttled in the Skagerrak loaded with poison gas ammunition. 7.30 was decommissioned on 14 May 1945 at Oslo following mine damage; ceded to Great Britain in 1945, she was towed to Rosyth, after which she was used for explosive trials and sunk. group differed from the earlier designs in having a curved cap on the forward funnel Originally the group should only have comprised Z3I-Z34, but after the cancellation of the 1938B type destroyers the group was enlarged to include Z37-Z42 although in the event only 7.37-Z39 were built Both Z32 and Z38 were lowed to Deschimag, Bremen, for final outfitting. Z31 was completed with a single 150mm gun in ‘A’ position, in 1943-44 a twin turret was installed, and in 1945, following battle damage, a 105mm/45 C32 was fitted. Z29 was converted to ‘Barbara’ configuration in the spring of 1945, carrying 14—37mm/83 M42 in single and twin mountings and 13-20mm C38 Z33 and Z34 received AA guns from the foundered Liitsow in April 1945: 4—40mm/70 Bofors, 2-37mm/83 M42 1x2,4—20mmC38M( 1x4)and 4-20mm M44 (2x2) Z31 was transferred to the Royal Navy after the end of the war. She was handed over to the French Navy at Cherbourg on 2 February 1946, and entered service under the nameAfarceau. She was refuted and modernised between 1948 and 1950: a single 150mm gun was installed in ‘A’ position, and US- manufactured radar and AA weapons were fitted. She served for a further three years and after a period in reserve was sold for scrapping in 1958. However, she continued to be used for some time as a floating jetty ar Brest, not being finally broken up until the 1960s. Z32 was shelled by the RCN destroyers Haida and Huron during the Allied invasion of Barflcur and was driven ashore at the lie de Bas. Z33 was ceded to Great Britain in 1945; in the summer of 1945 she was handed over to the Russians and renamed Provornyj, and after service in the Baltic was scrapped in 1960-62 Z34 was heavily damaged following a Russian torpedo hit on 16 April 1945; ceded to the USA after the war, she was, however, scuttled in the Skagerrak loaded with poison gas ammunition on 24 March 1946. Z37 was scuttled at Bordeaux and the wreck broken up in 1949. Z38 was transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed Nonsuch (R40) in the autumn of 1945; later known as D107, she was decommissioned in 1949 and sold for scrapping Z39 also went to the Royal Navy but on 11 July 1945 was handed over to the US Navy at Plymouth; transferred to Boston, she was used for trials and in autumn 1945 was redesignated DD939 In late 1947 she was sold to France and towed to Casablanca, being hulked therefrom 1949 to 1951. She was then towed to Toulon and cannibalised for the French ex-German destroyers Kleber, Hoche and Marceau -, the remnants were scrapped in 1964 234
Destroyers 7.43 on trials 1936B type Displacement: 2527t standard; 35O7t deep load Dimensions: 399ft Ilin wl, 416ft 8in oa x 39ft 4in x 12ft 6in 121.90, 127.00 x 12.00 x3.80m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 6 Wagner boilers, 70,000shp = 38kts Armament: 5-127mm/5O C34 (5x 1), 8-37mm/83 M42 (4x2), 16-20mm C38 (3x4, 2x2) 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 313 Name Builder Launched Fate Z35 Germaniawerft, Kiel 20.10.1942 Mined 12.12.44 Z36 Germaniawerft, Kiel 15.5.1943 Mined 12.12.44 Z43 Germaniawerft, Kiel 2.9.1943 Scuttled 3.5.45 Z44 Dcschimag, Bremen 20.1.1944 Sunk 29.7.44 Z45 Dcschimag, Bremen — Bombed on slip 1936C type Displacement: 303It standard; 3594t deep load Dimensions: 398ft 7in wl, 414ft oa x 40ft x 13ft lin 121.50, 126.20 x 12.20 x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shafr Wagner geared turbines, 6 Wagner boilers, 70,000shp = 38kts Armament: 6-128mm/45 or /50 C41M (3x2), 6-37mm/83 M42 (3x2), 6-20mm C38, 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 320 Name Builder Launched Fate Owing to the unfortunate experiences with the 150mm gun, these vessels were armed with the traditional 127mm/5O C34 single weapon. Z35 and 7.36 were towed to Deschimag, Bremen, for final outfitting. During a minelaying opera- tion north-east of Reval in the Gulf of Finland, they both ran on to the German Seeigel mine barrage and were lost. Z43 was scuttled in Geltinger Bay; she foundered in shallow water and was broken up in 1953. Z44 was bombed by the RAF at Deschimag’s outfitting basin at Bremen and foundered, being broken up in 1948. Z45 was damaged by bombing whilst still on her slip and was broken up in 1946. Z46 Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip 1946 Z47 Dcschimag, Bremen — BU on slip 1946 Z48 — — — Z49 — — — Z50 — — — The design of the 1936C type followed closely the standard German destroyer layout, the only new feature being the adoption of the successful 128mm dual-purpose gun. Owing to bomb damage and a shortage of materials, con- struction work on Z46 and Z47, begun in 1943, proceeded very slowly and was Z5/ design Displacement: 6300t standard Dimensions: 531ft 6in wl, 554ft 5in oa x 52ft 6in x 16ft 162.00, 169.00 x 16.00 x 4.90m Machinery: 3 shafts. 2 geared turbines, 4 Wagner boilers 80,OOOshp (outer shafts) plus 4 MAN double-acting 2-stroke diesels, 32,000bhp (central shaft) = 36kts (all three) Armament: 6-150mm/48 (3x2), 2-88mm (1x2), 12-20mm C38 (3x4), 10-533mm TT (2x5) Complement: 520 estimated 1942 type Displacement: 2330t standard; 2632t deep load Dimensions: 354t 4in wl, 375ft oa x 36ft x 13ft lin 108.00, 114.30 x 11.00 x 4.00m Machinery: 3 shafts. 6 V double-acting 2-stroke diesels (4 on central shaft, 1 each on outer shafts), 57,120bhp = 36kts Armament: 4-127mm/45 C34 (4x 1), 8-37mm/83 M42 (4x2), 12-20mm C38 (3x4), 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 235 Name Builder SP1 Germaniawerft, Kiel SP2 SP3 Launched Fate BU on slip 1943 Name Builder Launched Fate Z51 Deschimag, Bremen 1944 Sunk 21.3.45 Design studies for a large destroyer with light armour date back to 1938. After the cancellation for the 1938B type destroyers (Z40-Z42), three scout destroyers were planned with the designation ‘Spiihkreuzer 1—3’ (scout cruisers 1-3). The first unit,5p/, was laid down at Germaniawerft, Kiel, in 1941, but was scrapped <»n slip in 1943 inorder to transfer material and manpower to other construction. This unit was to be a trials ship to gain experience with diesel propulsion; the layout of the superstructure resembled that of the standard German destroyer design. Laid down in 1943, the vessel was launched in 1944 but was sunk whilst outfitting during a bomb attack and was scrapped in situ in 1946-48. 235
GERMANY Z52 design 1944 type Displacement: 3170t standard; 37O3t deep load Dimensions: 413ft 5in wl, 433ft Sin oa x 41ft 4in x 14ft lin 126.00, 132. 10 x 12.60 x 4.30m Machinery: 2 shafts. 8 MAN double-acting 2-stroke diesels, 76,000bhp = 37.5kts estimated Armament: 6-128mm/50 or /45 C41M (3x2), 3-55mm, 14-30mm, 8-533mmTT (2x4) Complement: 308 Name Builder Launched Fate Z52 Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip Z53 Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip Z54 Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip Z55 Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip Z56 ’ Deschimag, Bremen — BU on slip The 1944 type was the most modern of all German destroyer designs. It would have been diesel powered and armed with a new generation of weapons The most important of these was the newly developed 128mm/45 C41M dual- purpose gun, which was a navaliscd version of the very successful 128mm/5O Flakzu'illing 40, one of the best German AA guns. It is not clear today whether this gun would have been semi- or fully automatic. After 1941 AA crews requested a medium calibre A A gun to counter the low-level attacks of armoured tactical fighters, as the classic 20mm and 37mm weapons were proving in- adequate. The 55mm Flak (Gerat 58) was developed, but was rejected by both Hitler and Speer, so only a few prototypes were built. Little information is available on this gun. For close-range defence it was planned to introduce a new 30mm gun (not identical to the 30mm/103 C38 rejected by the Army). The main armament would have been radar-controlled from two USN-style optical/elec- tronic range-finder cupolas. Because ofbomb damage and shortages of materials the construction of these vessels - which were laid down in 1943 - was halted and the assemblies v.;ere scrapped on slip. Ex-Enemy Destroyers ZH1 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1922t standard; 2228т deep load 344ft 6in wl, 351ft oa x 34ft 9in x 9ft lOin 105 00, 107.00 x 10 60 x 3.00m 2-shaft Parsons turbines, 3 Yarrow cyl boilers, 45,OOOshp = 37.5kts 5-120mm (2x2, I x 1), 4-37mm/83 C33 (2x2), 4-20mm C38 (2x2), 8-533mm TT (4x2) 230 This French destroyer was laid down in 1939 but her construction was taken over by Germany after the fall of France. The superstructure and armament were redesigned to conform to German requirements, but the vessel’s comple- tion was disrupted by French sabotage, construction was abandoned and she was stricken in 1943 before she could be launched. Name Builder Launched Fate ZH1 {cx-Gerard Callenburgh) Rotterdam 9.5.1940 Droogdock Maatschappij/Blohm & Voss Sunk 8.6.44 The Dutch Isaac Sweers class destroyer Gerard Callcnburgh, laid down in 1931, was scuttled in May 1940 at Rotterdam following unsuccessful attempts to tow her to England. She was refloated by the Germans and completed at Hamburg 11 years later, although commissioning (asZZ/I) was delayed owing to a shortage of trained personnel. The original Dutch main armament was retained, but the A A and torpedo mountings were of German design. The catapult and floatplanes planned by the Dutch were never fitted. In October 1943 the vessel finally arrived at Bordeaux as an operational unit. ZH1 was torpedoed and sunk by the RN destroyers Tartar and Ashanti during the invasion of Barfleur. ZG3 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1414t standard; 2O88t deep load 323ft 2in wl, 332ft oa x 34ft lin x 9ft lOin 98.50, 101 20 x 10.40 x 3 00m 2-shaft Parsons turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 34,OOOshp = 32kts 4-127mm/45 C34 (4x1), 4-37mm/83 C30 (2x2), 4-20mm C38 (4x1), 8-533mm TT (2x4) 215 Name Builder Launched Fate ZG3 {cx-Vasilefs Georgios) Yarrow 3.3.1938 Scuttled 7.5.43 ZF2 Displacement: 2O7Ot standard; 2910t deep load Dimensions: 363ft lOin wl, 371ft oa x 36ft Sin x 9ft lOin 110.90, 113.10 x 11 10 x 3.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Rateau-Chanticrs de Bretagne turbines, 4 Indret boil- ers, 58,OOOshp = 37kts Armament: 5-127mm/45 C34 (1x2, 3x1), 4-37mm/83 C33 (2x2), 10-20mm C38, 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 245 Name Builder Launched Fate ZF2 {ex-L’Opiniatre) A C de la Gironde,- BU on slip Bordeaux The Greek destroyer Vasilefs Georgios, a British ‘G7*H’ class design laid down m 1937 and commissioned into the Greek Navy 15.2.39, was scuttled at the Scaramanga State Yard, Salamis, on 20.4.41, following the German conquest of Greece, but, having only superficial damage, was raised and refitted for Kriegs- marine service as ZG3 {Hermes). She became the only major German surface unit in the Mediterranean, and served in the escort role for about a year. Commis- sioned first on 21 March 1942 and again on 22 August of that year, she was immobilised by near-misses during an RAF bombing raid on 30.4.43 at La Goulette, Tunis, and scuttled a week later. She was broken up in situ in 1944-45. After the capitulation of Italy, a number of Italian units (some of which were themselves ex-Yugoslavian) were taken over by theKriegsmarine and designated Torpedobool Ausland (= foreign torpedo-boat) However, by rhe standards of the day, these were destroyers in all but name. The vessels concerned were TA 14 {ex-Turbine), TA 15 {ex-Francesco Crispi), ТАЗ I (ex-Dardo),TA32 {ex-Premuda, ex-Dubrovnik), TA33 {ex-Corsaro, ex^Squadrisia), TA43 {ex-Sebenico, ex- Beograd) and TA44 {ex Antonio Pigafetta). For full details see under Italy and Yugoslavia. 236
Torpedo-boats TORPEDO-BOATS Afonv class 1944 1923 type (launched 1926) Displacement: 924t standard, 1290t deep load Dimensions: 281ft 2in wl, 287fi 9in oa x 27ft 8in X 9ft 2in, 12ft max 85 70, 87 70 x 8.43 x 2.81, 3.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Vulcan geared turbines, 3 Navy boilers, 24,829shp = 33 6kts Armament: 3-105mm/45 C16 (3x 1), 2-2 Omm, 6-500mm TT (2x3) Complement: 127 Class: Mowe, Greif, Seeadler, Albairos, Kondor, Falke These small vessels were intially classified as destroyers but after the launch of the first 1934 type destroyers were redesignated torpedo-boats. They were built at V ilhelmshaven N Yd, laid down 1924-25 and commissioned 1926-28, and were based on the Imperial German Navy’s SIH and BI 14 designs Mowe originally featured a rounded stern; the rest of the class had transom sterns. In 1931 the new 533mm TT were fitted and in 1936 the funnels were shortened, the after control position and superstructure enlarged, and the main armament altered to 3-105mm/45 C28 or C32 (3x1). AA armament was augmented to 7-20mm C38 (1x4, 3x 1) in 1944 During the war these vessels served as ‘maids of all work’, and all six were casualties: Albairos was sunk on 10.4 40 following a gunnery duel at Bolaer- ne/Os!of]ord;5eeuJ/er foundered 13.5.42 off Boulogne after being torpedoed by British MTBs; Greif was bombed and sunk 24.5.44 whilst being transferred from Cherbourg to Le Havre; and Mowe, Falke and Kondor were all sunk at Le Havre during air raids, on 15.6 44, 24,6.44 and 28 6 44 respectively. Greif in the early 1930s 1924 type (launched 1927-28) Displacement: 933t standard, 1320t deep load Dimensions: 292ft wl, 303ft lOin oa x 28 ft 4in x 9ft 3in, lift 6in max 89.00, 92.60 x 8.65 x 2.83, 3.52m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 Navy boilers, 25,160shp = 34.6kts Armament: 3-105mm/45 C28 (3x 1), 2-20mm, 6-500mm TT (2x3) Complement: 127 Class: Wolf, Illis, Jaguar, Leopard, Luchs, Tiger Built at Wilhelmshaven N Yd, laid down 1926-27 and commissioned 1928-29 As with the 1923 type, the IT were renewed with 533mm mountings in 1931, and from 1943-44 8r-20mm C38 were carried Leopard and Luchs were used for weapons trials in 1934, be ng fitted with 3-127mm/45 C34, which were later adopted as destroyer armament. All six units were lost during the war: Tiger was sunk 27 8.39 following a collision with Z3 east of Bornholm; Leopard was sunk 30.4 40 in a collision with the minelayer Preussen-, Luchs was torpedoed 26.7.40 by HM submarine Sword- fish , Wolf was mined and sunk off Dover on 8 1 41; Hus went down off Boulogne after being torpedoed by British MTBs, 13.5.42, and Jaguar was bombed and sunk at Le Havre on 15.6.44. 77 as completed 1935 type (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 844t (JT5-T12 839t) standard; 1088t (75-772 1082t) deep load Dimensions: 269ft 8in wl, 276fl 7in oa x 28ft 3in x 7ft 8in, 9ft 8m max 82.20, 84 30 x 8 62 x 2 33, 2 94m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 2 Wagner boilers, 31,000shp = 35.5kts Armament: l-105mm/45 C34, l-37mm/83 C33, 5 to 8-20min C38, 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 119 Class: TI-T12 Laid down in 1937 and commissioned 1939—40, these boats and the 1937 type are often erroneously referred to as the ‘hlbing’ class, owing to the fact that TI-T4, T9 and T10 were built there by Schichau. The rest of the class were built by Deschimag at Bremen. A clipper bow was fitted during the war to improve sea-going performance, thereby increasing overall length to 285ft 9in (87.1m), and a tripod mast and a bowsponson (l-37mm) were also installed. The unique fixed V-shaped radar antenna was later replaced by the standard Seetakt system, and some vessels received 1 to 2-40mm/70 Bofors 28 in place of the aft TT bank. The straightforward design, with its flush-decked hull and boxy superstructure, proved very successful, and the boats were used as escorts, sub chasers and minelayers in offshore waters. Tl wassunkby bombing during repairs at Deutsche Werkc, Kiel, 10.4.1945. T2 was sunk by bombs during repairs at Deschimag, Bremen, 29 7.44, though refloated later that year, she was scrapped in 1945. T3 was sunk by bombing at Le Havre 19.9.40 but was raised in 1941 and recommissioned; she was subse- quently mined north of the Hela Peninsula 14.3 45 T4 was ceded to the USA in 1945 but was handed over to the Danish Navy 18.6.48; however, she never commissioned and was scrapped in 1951 7’5 was mined north of the Hela Peninsula 14 3 45 and T6 met a similar fate east of Aberdeen 7 11 40. 77, like 7'2, was sunk by bombs at Deschimag 29.7.44, and although refloated in 1944, was broken up soon afterwards T8 and T9 were scuttled 3 5.45 at the Strander Bucht. TlO sank after having been bombed at Deutsche Werke’s dock at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) 18.12.44 777 was transferred to Great Britain in 1945; on 2.2.46 she was handed over to the French Navy at Cherbourg and renamed Bir Hakeim. She served in the French Navy until stricken 8 10.51, being subse- quently broken up. T12 was ceded to the USSR in 1945; she was renamed Podvishnyj, stricken in 1957 and later broken up. Luc hi about 1938 237
120 as lhefrenvh Baccarat in 1946 Ry courtesy of Jean Navareti TI3 1944 1937 type (launched 1939-41) Displacement: 853t standard, 1098t deep load Dimensions: 269ft wl, 279ft 6in oa x 29fr lin x 8ft 3in, 10ft 4in max 82.00, 85.20 x 8.87 x 2.51, 3 14m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 4 Wagner boilers, 32,OOOshp = 35.5kts Armament: As 1935 type Complement: 119 Class: T13-T21 Built by Schichau at Elbing and commissioned in 1941. Very similar to the 1935 type but with an enlarged bridge. Tripod masts and 37mm bow sponsons were fitted to surviving boats late in the war, some receiving the 40mm Bofors as in the previous class. Г13 was sunk by bombs in the Skagerrak 10 4.45, whilst escorting Hansa T14 was handed over to the USA after the war, but transferred to the French Navy in 1947. Renamed Dompaire, she saw service until 8.10.51 when she was stricken and sold for scrapping. T15 was sunk by bombs whilst undergoing repairs at Deutsche Werke, Kiel, on 13.12 43. T16 suffered heavy bomb damage whilst escorting Hansa, but managed to reach Frederikshaven, there being decommissioned 13.4 45 and broken up. ТП was ceded to the USSR in 1946 and renamed Porivystyj. In 1952 she was handed over to the East German Seepohzet, being renamed Rosa Luxembourg, and was finally broken up in 1957. 718 was sunk in the Baltic 17.9 44 following Russian bombing. T19 was transferred to the USA in 1945; although handed over to the Danish Navy in January 1947, she was never commissioned, being broken up in 1951. T20 was ceded to Great Britain m 1945; on 2.2 46 she was handed over to the French Navy at Cherbourg, renamed Baccarat, and finally stricken 8.10.51 and sold for scrap. T21, transferred to the USA after the war, was scuttled in the Skagerrak 16.12.46 loaded with poison gas ammunition. T25 1944 1939 type (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 1294t standard, 1754i deep load Dimensions: 318ft 3in wl, 334ft 8in oa x 32ft 1 Oin X 8ft 6in, 10ft 7in max 97.00, 102.00 x 10.00 x 2.60, 3.22m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 4 Wagner boilers, 29,000shp = 32 5kts Armament: 4-105mm/45 C34 (4x1), 4-37mm/83 M42 (2x2), 7 to 12-20mm C38, 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 206 Class: T22-T36 Built by Schichau at Elbing, these vessels were enlarged and improved versions of earlier classes. They were in effect destroyer escorts, and they served successfully in this role during World War II From 725 onwards, additional 20mm sponsons were fitted forward of the bridge. T31-T36 featured a simp- lified hull construction forward. T22, T30 and T32 were lost on a German minefield due to navigational errors on 18 8 44 in the Gulf of Finland whilst on a minelaying sortie 123, ceded to Great Britain, was handed over to the French Navy on 2 2.46 and renamed L’Alsacien (107). Refuted 1948—49, she saw service until 1952 as D604; she was then placed in reserved, stricken 9 6.54 and sold for scrapping. T24 was sunk by RAF bombers whilst acting as guardship at Le Verdon, 24 8.44 T25 and T26 were sunk 28.12.43 by the RN cruisers Glasgow and Enterprise during an attempt to bring home the blockade-runner Alsterufer. T27 was scuttled after heavy battle damage and torpedo hits during an action with MTBs off the coast ofBrittany29 4 44 T28 was given up to Great Britain and, like T23, was handed over to the French at Cherbourg on 2.2.46, renamed Le Lorram (TO8), she was later refitted, the 105mm gun at ‘A’ position being replaced by superstructure. Reclassified D605, she apparently served as a cadet training or ASW trials ship, being stricken 21.7.59 and sold for scrap. T29 was sunk by British cruisers and destroyers off Brittany on 26 4 44 T31 was torpedoed 20 6.44 in the Gulf of Finland by Russian M I'Bs. T33 was transferred to the USSR in 1946, renamed Pnmernyj, she was broken up in 1960. T34 was mined east of Arkona on 20.11.44 during gunnery training. T35 was handed over to the USA in 1945 and redesignated DD935, in 1947 she was sold to France and “cannibalised* for the French ex-German torpedo-boatsLe Lorram ъпА L’Alsacien. T36 was mined and bombed at Swinemiinde (SwinoujScie) 4.5.45. 1940 type Displacement: 193It standard; 2566t deep load Dimensions: 360ft lOinwl, 375ft 8inoa x 37ft lin x 10ft 8in, 12ft 6in max 110.00, 114.50 x 11.30 x 3 24, 3.81 Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow watertube boilers, 45,000shp = 34 8kts Armament: 4-127mm/45 C34 (4x1), 4-37mm/83 M42 (2x2), 8-20mm C38 (2x4), 8-533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 231 Class: T61-T72 Laid down in 1941 at Wilton Fijcnoord, Schiedam (T61, T62, T67, T68} and at Rotterdam DroogdookMaatschappij(T63,T64,T69,T70),and in 1942at De Schelde, Vlissingen (7Y>5, T66, T71,772), these vessels were designed around the machinery already available for the Dutch destroyers Tjerk Hiddes and Philips van Almonde, whose hulls had been gutted. These designs were in fact genuine destroyers which were to be built in Dutch yards. T61, T63 and 7'65, the only three to be launched (1944), were towed to Germany for final outfitting, but T61 was sunk by an airborne torpedo on 12 9.44 off the Dutch coast All the other vessels remained in the Netherlands, T66 being destroyed on slip by bombing in 1944. The remaining boilers and turbines were used in the Dutch postwar destroyers Holland, Gelderland,Hoordbrabant and Zeeland, which were once more designed to suit existing machinery. 238
Torpedo boats/ Submarines 1941 type Displacement: 1493c standard; 2155t deep load Dimensions: 334ft 8in wl, 347ft 9in oa x 35ft lin x 9ft 8in, 12ft 2in max 102 00, 106 00 x 10.70 x 2 94, 3.72m Machinery. 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 4 Wagner boilers, 40,OOOshp = 34kts Armament: 4-105mm/45 L44B (4x 1), 4-37mm/83 M42 (2x2), 8-20mm C38 (1x4, 2x2), 6-533mm IT (2x3) Complement: 210 Class: T37-1SI The 194! type torpedo-boats were improved and enlarged 1939 types and would have featured an optical/electromc rangefinder similar to that developed for the 1944 type destroyers. T40-T80 were destroyed on slip at Elbing during the German evacuation of East Prussia in May 1945. T37-T39 were almost complete at the end of the hostilities but were scuttled, being finally broken up in 1946 Ex-ENEMY TORPEDO-BOATS Following the fall of France, a number of French torpedo-boats in various stages of construction were taken over by the Knegsmanne. However, owing to sabotage and bomb damage these vessels were never commissioned They were scuttled during the German withdrawal The boats concerned were TA / (ex-Le Fier), TA2 (ex-L*Agile), ТАЗ (ex-L’Alsacien), TA4 (ex-L’Entreprenant), TAS (ex-Le Farouche) and TA6 (ex-Le Corse). Two Norwegian torpedo-boats under construction at the Horten State Yard were also taken over-TA7 (ex-7) and TA8 (ex-/Z) - but, like the French vessels, these were never completed A large number of Italian torpedo-boats (TA9-TA13 being ex-French torptlleurs Mgers) were handed over to Germany on 5.4 43 These comprised TA9 (ex Bombarde), ТАЮ (ex-La Pomone), TA11 (ex-L’Iphigtnie), TA12 (ex Bahste), TA13 (ex-La Bayonnaise), TA 16 (ex-Castelfiardo), TAI7 (exSan Martino), 7'A18 (ex- Solferino), TA19 (ex-Calatafini), TA20 (ex-Audace, ex-Kawakaze), TA21 (ex- Instdioso), TA22 (ex-Guiseppe Misson), TA23 (cx-lmpavido), TA24 (ex-Arturo), TA2S (ex-Inirepido), TA26 (ex Arduo), Ta27 (ex Aunga), TA28 (ex Arturo), TA29 (ex-Ertdano), TA30 (ex Dragone), TA3S (ex-Gutseppe Dezza), 7 A 36 (ex- Stella Polans), TA37 (ex-Gladio), TA38 (exSpada), TA39 (ex-Daga), ГА40 (ex-Pugnale), TA41 (ex-Lancia), TA42 (ex-Alabarda), TA4S (exSpica), TA46 (ex-Fionda), TA47 (ex-Balestra), TA48 (ex-Yugoslavian T3, ex-Austro- Hungarian 78T) and TA49 (ex-Lira). See under France, Norway and Italy for further details. SUBMARINES Although the Treaty of Versailles specifically forbade Germany to possess any submarines, a design bureau was set up at The Hague in 1922: the N V Ingenteurskanloor voor Scheepsbouw (IvS), under the management of Dr Ing Hans Techel and Korv Kapt (ret) Hans Blum. The work of the IvS ensured that Germany did not fall behind in contemporary submarine development and helped her to enter the export market. Export efforts met with little success initially, however, so the Navy had to bring in additional money for guarantees via specially founded commercial organisations. The First World War UBIII and UCIII types were further developed, and in 1926-27 the IvS received a contract for two 505t/620t boats for 'I urkey. These were built at Fijenoord, Rotterdam, and became the Eirind^i Indnii, and Iktndgi Iпониt which were tested by German cx-submanne personnel in 1928. In 1926 a contract was signed with Finland The IvS designed the Vetehincn, the Vesthiist and the 1 kii-Tiirsit, trials being conducted, again in the presence of German ex-submarine officers, in 1930. In 1926-27 a deal was offered to Spain which included a submarine developed from the ‘Project 51a*, which had been designed late m the war. This became the 745t/965t sub- marine El, which was, however, not bought by Spain owing to the fall of the Spanish monarchy in 1931; the vessel was subsequently sold to Turkey. From 1924 Finland showed great interest in a tiny 99t/136t coastal submarine; after some delay, this was built in 1930as5a«/tA:o A larger, follow-up type (Project Lilliput) was a 250t coastal submarine - this was the Finnish Vestkko, which worked up in 1933-34 with a Finnish crew and German advisers. Later, the first nucleus crews of the secret German submarine crew training programme learnt their trade on board this boat, which w-as the forerunner of the German Type IIA submarine 1 hese events involved the preparation of a great number of designs which also could meet the requirements of a future German submarine force, and thus it was possible to begin the construction of submarines very quickly when the National Socialist party came to power and revoked the terms of the 1 reaty of Versailles. Orders for materials and preliminary construction started in 1934 in secret - Hiller needed ‘political freedom* for his negotiations with Great Britain and France. In January 1935 Germaniawerft, Kiel, was ordered to send all stored material to Deschimag, Bremen, so that the construction of the Type IA boats could begin the following month. I he'Гуре IX was an improved design derived from the Spanish El, but only two units-(/25 and (726-were built, the design being superseded by the Type VII. The second design grew out of the Finnish Vestkko and became the small Types IIA, IIB, IlCand IIDcoastal submarines. Because of stockpiled construction material they were commissioned only four months after having been laid down. Designs for the follow- up Types III to VI were stopped when the specifications for the standard ocean going Type VII U-boats were adopted in 1934 After Germany’s formal announcement of her intention to re-arm (25 3 35), ten Type VIIA submarines were laid down and commissioned within ten months Further improvements led to the Types VIIB and VIIC. The latter became the ‘workhorse* of the Kriegsmarine, operating in the famous ‘wolf-pack* tactics against Allied convoys from 1939 to 1943. In March 1943 came the first real setback for German U-boat war- fare Today we know that it was caused mainly by the successful breaking of the German ‘Code M* by British ‘Ultra’ cryptologists, plus the extensive use of HF/DF and surface radar by Allied ASW vessels. All efforts to revive aggressive U-boat warfare were centred around the modification of existing vessels, little attention being given to their inherent technical weaknesses* improved and increased A A armament, the removal of the 88mm gun, the installation of passive radar sets of theAferox and Naxos types and, finally, the installation of a schnorkel and Hohentwiel radar and the fitting of new torpedoes with new homing devices (acoustic Zaunkontg, direction-finding LUT and searching FAT). But even with these technological innovations the out-dated Type VIIC could not match the advanced Allied ASW techniques. Further variants of the standard Type VII design led to the 1 ype VIID minelayer and the Type VIIF torpedo transport. In 1935 the German Navy issued a requirement for a long-range submarine. This was developed from the Type IA and became the Types IXA, IXB, IXC and IXC/40, and the enlarged submarine cruisers of the Types IXD-1 and IXD-2. The last two types of conventional German U-boat were the big Type XB submarine minelayer and the Type XIV supply- submarine (nicknamed ‘milch-cow’). In 1943 it became more and more obvious that the U-boat in its present form would not be able to match Allied ASW techniques. In particular, surfacing to recharge batteries and to renew the air supply turned out to be an extremely hazardous business as Allied maritime aircraft equipped with ASW radar were patrolling a steadily increasing area of ocean. Since the early 1930s the German engineer Hellmuth Walter had been working on a circuit motor which would function independently of atmospherically derived oxygen. In the so-called ‘cold system’ Walter turbine highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide 239
GERMANY (90 per cent IhOz) was to be the oxy gen-producing substance, thus enabling conventional fuel to be used. The technological problem was the handling of the peroxide - which is extremely unstable. Early designs of high-speed submarines with a Walter propulsion system date back to 1933, but it was not until 1939-40 that the first experimental 80t submarine V80 was built. This steamhned ‘fish’ reached sub- merged speeds of 28 Ikts. The next step was the development of a 320t experimental boat (V300) which was to reach 25kts on 4000shp produced by a Walter turbine of the ‘hot system’. This system, via a catalyst, produced high pressure steam and oxygen by ‘burning’ the peroxide. After further design changes the Type V300 610c experimental submarine U791 was built in 1943. The next developments were the Wa201 designs (U792 and U793 — 277t/294t; bow torpedo tubes; 9kts/25kts) and Wk202 (JJ794 and U795 - 236t/259t; 2 bow tubes; 8.5kts/24kts). However, in contrast to the feverish rate at which vast numbers of the well-tried conventional boats were built, the develop- ment of an entirely new propulsion system, and the experiments with streamlined hulls which complemented it, proceeded very slowly, the whole Walter programme having been accorded a low priority. Thus in 1943 — by which time conventional submarines were being completely outclassed — the development of new U-boats was so far behind that it was reckoned to be two years before any long-range Walter-propelled submarines could be used operationally. In an attempt to alleviate the problem, it was decided to marry the conventional U-boat powerplant to the new streamlined hull forms; the result was the Type XXI electro-boat, whose *8’-shaped internal hull provided enough room to treble the battery capacity, so boosting underwater speed to 15kts. To help counter recent Allied successes, other innovations were incorpo- rated into the design: six bow tubes with a mechanical fast-reload system; ‘creeping engines’ to facilitate silent escape at 5kts; a retract- able schnorkel with modern ECM devices, two remotely controlled 30mm A A twin mountings; and new underwater sound detection devices with accurate plotting and tracking systems and displays. Everything possible was done to make the first boats operational by November 1944; Speer organised the mass production of 20 boats per month by assembling prefabricated sections. However, during initial trials in the Baltic it was discovered that the capabilities of the new submarine were so different from those of the old U-boat that entirely new handling and attacking techniques had to be developed and evalu- ated. In the last days of the war dozens of these boats lay ready in Norway awaiting their orders; but the submarines which might have made a comeback and inflicted casualties at the 1942 level stayed in harbour. Only U2511 and U3008 made a sortie - which was broken by the war’s end. Germany was also developing the small Type XXIII coastal electric submarine. Following top-priority construction in bomb-proof bunkers, these boats became operational in small numbers in 1944-45. It is typical of the strange mixture of efficiency and muddle which characterised the war effort of the Third Reich that the obsolescent Type VIIC U boat was stilt being constructed in great numbers at the same time as the new advanced types were being entrusted to the skills of‘diluted’ labour. In 1945 several new submarines types were in the design or experimental stage (including the revolutionary Walter Type XVIIB), but the disintegration of the Nazi regime put an end to all these programmes. During World War II three German submarines were captured by the Allies. The first was U110 (Type IXB), which on 9.5.41 was forced to surface after having been chased by Aubretia tBulldog and Broadway. Vital secret material - including Schliisselmaschine Л1, the German naval Enigma code machine — was captured. The U-boat sank on 10.5.41 whilst under tow by HMS Bulldog. The second was US70 (Type VIIC) which was captured on 27.8.41 by British aircraft. It was impressed into the Royal Navy as Graph but was wrecked in 1944. The third U-boat to be captured was U505 (Type IX) which was taken on 4 5.44 by a US ASW force led by USS Guadalcanal. She was commis- sioned in the USN as Nemo. Since 1954 she has been on display as a museum ship outside the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry'. The German U-boat arm commissioned 1149 German plus 21 cap- tured (British, Turkish, Dutch, French and Italian) units, so the total figure of fighting boats was 1170 (not including the eight experimental Walter vessels); 630 boats were lost in action, 42 were lost by accident, 81 were lost m German or German-occupied harbours through enemy action (bombs and mines) and 215 boats were scuttled by their crews at the end of the war (after Donitz’s famous ‘Rainbow’ order); 38 boats were decommissioned during the war because of irreparable damage and 11 boats were interned in neutral harbours or sold to foreign navies. After the German capitulation U181, U862, U219 and U195 were commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as I SOI, 1502,1505 and 1506. 153 boats were surrendered to the Allies after the ‘Rainbow’ order was revoked; 116 of them were scuttled in the North Atlantic during Operation ‘Deadlight’. Some boats survived for experimental purposes: Great Britain received Meteorite (ex-171407, Type XVIIB), N41 (ex-U3O17 > Type XXI) N35 (ex-U2326, Type XXIII) and others, France got Mille (ex-t/47/,Type VIIC),Blaison (cx-17723, Type IXB),Bough (ex-USlO, Type IXC), Laubie (ex-U766, Type VIIC), Roland Monllot (ex-172518, Type XXI) and U2326 (Type XXIII). the last two coming via the Royal Navy. Norway took into service Knerter (ex-U4706, Type XXIII), Kya (ex-U926, Type VIIC), Kaura(ex-U99S, Type VIIC - this boat is now displayed as a museum ship near Kiel) and Kynn (ex-U1202, Type VIIC/41); Poland raised U1308 (Type VIIC/41) and U2344 (Type XXIII); East Germany raised U923 (type VIIC); the Federal German Navy put into service the raised boats Wilhelm Bauer (ex-U2540, Ту pe XXI), Hecht (ex-U2367) and Hai (cx-U2365), both Type XXIII; Spain finally took over the already purchased U573 (Type VIIC) as G7\ Canada got U190 (Type IXC/40); the United States received U234 (Type XB), U997 (Type VIIC), U3008 and U2S13 (both Type XXI); and the Soviet Union received, via Great Britain, U1057, U1058, U1064, U130S (aU Type VIIC), U1231 (Type IXC), U2529, U3035, U3041, U3515 (aU Type XXI), U2353, U2529 (Тчре XXIII) and probably others including many prefabricated hull sections. Most of the innovations discovered in these boats and the information yielded by the documents captured during the Allied Operation ‘Paperclip’ have been incorporated in today’s submarines and in current underwa- ter technology. French experiments with the Roland Monllot had a strong influence on the design of the first six postwar French sub- marines of the Narva I class. Great Britain tried to develop the Walter propulsion system but this becamh quickly outdated with the advent of nuclear power. US experiments with U3008 led to the GUPPY (Greater Underwater Propulsion Power) programme, and the study of the Ger- man Ursel documents led to the Regulus programme. (In 1945 Ger- many undertook trials with a launching container for a V2, which was to have been towed by submarine to the US coast. The first tests were made under the codename Ursel by U1163). After experiments with Type XXI boats, the Soviet Union developed her ‘W’ class submarine, over 200 of which were built. Other developments were used for more peaceful purposes. For example, at the end of the war, German scien- tists were developing a synthetic rubber coating to be glued on to submarine hulls to absorb Asdic echoes. The material proved unsuit- able for this purpose, but it became today’s Neoprene. Type IA (launched 1936) Displacement: 848t/967t* Dimensions: 237ft 6in oa x 20ft 4in X 14ft lin 72.40 x 6.20 x 430m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 154Obhp/5OOshp = 17.8krs/8.3kts Armament: 6-533mm ТГ (4 bow sub, 2 stem sub, 14 G7e torpedoes), l-105mm/45 C32, l-120mm C30 Complement: 43 Type 14 as completed Class: U2S, U26 Built by Deschimag, Bremen. Both lost 1940. •Displacement figures for U-boats were normally quoted in cubic metres. A cubic metre of clear water weighs 1000kg or 1 tonne; 1 tonne = 0.9842 long tons. 240
Submarines Type ПА as completed Type ПА (launched 1935) Type ПС (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 250t/298t Dimensions: 134ft 2in oa x 13ft Sin x 12ft 6in 40.90 x 4.10 x 3.80m Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2 shafts. 2 MWM diesels plus 2 electric motors, 350bhp/180shp = 13kts/6 9kts 3-533mm TT (bow sub; 6 torpedoes), l-20mm СЗО 25 Displacement: 286t/336t Dimensions: 144ft ca x 13ft 5m x 12ft 6in 43.90 x 4 10 x3.80m Machinery: 2 shafts 2 MWM diesels plus 2 electric motors, 35Obhp/2O5shp = 12kts/7kts Armament: As Type IIA Complement: 25 Class: UI-U6 Built by Deutsche Werke, Kiel. U1 ,U2 and US were war losses, the rest were surrendered in 1945. Class: VS6-U63 Built by Deutsche Werke, Kiel. U56 and U63 were war casualties, U59 was surrendered in May 1945, and the remaining vessels were scuttled in May 1945. 1/9 on trials Type IID (launched 1940) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 309t/358t 144ft 4in oa x 16ft x 12ft 9m 44 00 x 4 90 x 3 90m As Type IIC except 12.7kts/7.4kts As Type IIA 25 Class: U137-UIS2 Built by Deutsche Werke, Kiel. Three boars -U138, UI44 and U147 - were lost at sea during the war, of those that survived, U143, UMS, U149 and U1S0 surrendered and the rest were scuttled by the Germans. Type VIIA 1940 Type 1IB (launched 1935—40) Displacement: 275l/324t Dimensions: 140fl oa x 13ft 5in x 12ft 6in 42 70 x 4.10 x 3 80m Machinery: As Type IIA Armament: As Type ПА Complement: 25 Class: U7-U24, U120, U121 1 he main group were launched 1935-36 by Germaniawerft and Deutsche Werke, the last pair early 1940 by Flenderwerft UlS and U24 were scuttled in 1944 but salvaged by the Russians and used postwar. U21 was scrapped in February 1945; U8, UI4, U17, U120, and U12I were scuttled and U10 and Uli surrendered at the end of the war; the remaining boats were lost from various causes during the war. Type VIIA (launched 1936-37) Displacement: 616t/733t Dimensions: 211ft 7in oa x 19ft x 14ft Sin 64.SO x S.80 x 4.40m Machinery: 2 shafts 2 diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1160bhp/375shp = 16kts/8kts Armament: 5-533mm TT (4 bow sub, 1 stern aw; II torpedoes), l-88mm/45 C35, l-20mm C30 Complement: 44 Class: U27-U36 Built by Deschimag and Germaniawerft. U29 and U30 were scuttled at the end of the war, the rest were war losses An unidentified Type VIIC boat returning to a French рол иг-
GERMANY Type VIIB as completed Type VIIB (launched 1938-41) Displacement: 741t/843t Dimensions: 218ft 2in oa x 20ft 4in x 15ft 5in 66.50 x 6.20 x 4.70m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1400bhp/375shp = 17.2kts/8.8kts Armament: 5-533mm TT (4 bow sub, 1 stern sub; 14 torpedoes), l-88mm/45 C35, l-20mm C30 Complement: 44 Class: U45-U55, U73-U76, U83-U87, U99-U102 Built by Germaniawerft, Vulcan and Flenderwerft. Around 1944, surviving boats had their 88mm guns removed, their conning towers enlarged to ‘winter garden* configuration to ship a 37mm/83 C30U, passive radar installed and a schnorkel fitted. All were war losses except U101, which was surrendered after the war and U46, U48 and U52 which were scuttled in May 1945. U441 Type VIIC as ‘U-Flak I’ Type VIIC (launched 1940-44) Displacement: 749t/851t Dimensions: 220ft 2in x 20ft 4in x 15ft 9in 67.10 x 6.20 x 4.80m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 diesels plus two electric motors, 1400bhp/375shp = 17kts/7.6kts Armament: 5-533mm TT (4 bow sub, 1 stern sub), l-88mm/45 C35, l-20mm C30 Complement: 44 Class: U69-U72, U77-U82, U88-U98, V132-U136, U201-U212, . U221-U232, U235-U291, U301-U329, U331-U458, U465^U486, U551-U790, U807-U840, U901-U1058, U1063-U1080 Laid down at various yards; 593 units were completed and commissioned. U474, U769, U77O, U996, U1011 and U1012 were bombed on slip and written off; U1026-U1031 were scuttled incomplete at the end of the war; and U395, U684-U700, U723-U73O, U780-U790, U807-U820, U823, U824, U829-U840, U909-U920, U931-U9S0, U1032-U1050 and U1066-U1080 were cancelled. Alterations late in the war followed those detailed for the Type VIIBs. Most were lost from various causes during the course of the war; some were scuttled at the end-of hostilities: U71, U230, U267, U290, U316, U323, U339, U349, U351, U370, U382, U397, U428, U466, U474, U475, US52, U554, US60, US96, U612, U7O4, U708, U717, U721, U733, U746, U748, U750, U822, U827, U828, U903, U904, U922, U924, U929, U958, U963, U967, U979, U999, U1007, U1016, U1025, U1026, U1028-U1030 and U1056-, and a large number were surrendered: U228, U244, U245, U249, U2S5, U256, U262, U276, U278, U281, U291, U293, U294, U29S, U298, U299, U310, U312, U313, U315, U318, U324, U328, U34S, U363, U368, U369, U427, U471, U481, U483, U485, U5S5, U637, U668, U680, U712, U716, U72O, U739, U758, U760, U764, U766, U773, U77S, U776, U778, U779, U82S, U826, U901, U907, U926, U928, U930, U953, U9S6, U968, U975, U977, U978, U98S, U991-U99S, U997, U1002, U1004, U1005, U1009, U1010, U1019, U1022, U1023, U1052, U1054, U10S7 and U1058. U428-U430 served as SI-S3 and U746-U750 asS4S9 in the Italian Navy during 1943. U471 and U766 were taken over by France in 1945 and served until the early 1960s asMille and Laubif, U570 was captured during the war by the Royal Navy and served as Graph until wrecked in 1944; U573 was interned by Spain in 1943 and was commissioned in that country’s service as G7; and U923 was raised after the war by the East Germans and recommissioned by them, serving until 1954. U926 and U995 became the Norwegian Kya and Kaura, and remained in service until the early 1960s; the latter is now preserved at Kiel. U1O57, U10S8 and U1064 were taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945 and saw service asSSJ ,S82 andSW until about 1963. Type VIIC/41 (launched 1943-44) Displacment: 747t/847t Dimensions: 220ft 6in x 20ft 4in x 15ft 9in 67.20 x 6.20 x 4.80m Machinery: As Type VIIC Armament: As Type VIIC Complement: 44 Class: U292-U300, U11O1-U122O, U1271-U1404 70 units completed and commissioned; U1111-UII30, U1133-Ul 160, U1173-U1190, UI211-U1220, U1280-U1300 and U1309-U1404 were cancel- led before being laid down. More than half the completed boats survived the war, U293-U295, U298, U299, U1102-U1105, U1108-UU10, U1163, U1165, U1171, U1194, U1197, U1198, U1202, U1203, U1271, U1272, U1275, U1301, U130S and U1307 being surrendered and U110I, UU32, UU61, U1162, U1168, UH70, U1192, U1193, U1I96, U1204, U1205, U1207, U1209, U1277, U1303, U1304, U1306 and U1308 being scuttled by their crews in May 1945. After the war U1202 served 1948-61 in the Norwegian Navy as Kynn and U130S became the Soviet S84. Type VIIC/42 Displacement: 983t/1082t Dimensions: 225ft 5in x 22ft Sin x 16ft 9in 68.70 x 6.90 x 5.10m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2200bhp/375shp = 18.6kts/7.6kts Armament: 5-533mm TT (4 bow sub, 1 stern sub; 16 torpedoes), 8-20mm C38 (1x4, 2x2) Complement: 45 Class: U699, U700, U783-U790, U9I3-U918, U937-U942, U1069-U1080, U1093-UH00, UIU5-UH20, U 1147-UU52, U1215-U1220, U1286- U1297, U1313-U1318, U1339-U1350, U1423-U1434, U1440-U1463, U1805-U1822, U1901-U1904, U2001-U2004, U2101-U2104, U2301- U2318 176 units ordered but none commissioned. Design features included an enlarged conning tower with sponsons at two levels to mount the additional AA guns; a retractable Hohentwiel radar antenna; and a schnorkel. Type VIID 1944 Type VIID (launched 1941) Displacement: 950t/1063t Dimensions: 252ft 3in x 21ft x 16ft 5in 76.90 x 6.40 x 5.00m Machinery: As Type VIIC Armament: As Type VIIC, plus 15 Type SMA mines Complement: 44 * Class: U213-U218 Minelayer variant of Type VIIC. Built by Germaniawerft, Kiel. All lost in action except U218 which was surrendered in May 1945. Type VIIF (launched 1943) Displacement: 1067t/1162t Dimensions: 254ft 7in x 23ft Ilin x 16ft 77.60 x 7.30 x 4.90m Machinery: As Type VIIC Armament: As Type VIIC, plus stowage for 27 torpedoes Complement: 46 Class: U10S9-4J1062 Torpedo supply version of Type VIIC. Built by Germaniawerft, Kiel. U1061 was surrendered in May 1945; the other three units were war casualties. 242
Submarines U37 as completed Type IXD-1 (launched 1941-42) Type IXA (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 1016t/l I35t Dimensions. 251ft x 21ft 4in x 15ft 5in 76 SO x 6 SO x 4.70m Machinery. 2 shafts 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 22OObhp/5OOshp = 18 2kts/7.7kts Armament. 6-533mm TT (4 bow sub, 2 stern sub, 22 torpedoes), l-I05mm/45 C32, l-37mm/83 C30, l-20mm C30 Complement: 48 Class U37-U44 Built by Dcschimag, Bremen. All lost during the war except U37 and U38 which were scuttled by their crews in May 1945 Displacement: 1585t/1771t Dimensions: 287fi 5in x 24ft 7in x 17ft 9in 87.60 x 7 50 x 5.40m Machinery: 2 shafts. 6 Daimler-Benz diesels plus 2 electric motors, 15OObhp/5OOshp = 20 8kts/6 9kts See notes Armament: As Type IXB. See notes Complement: 57 Class: U180, U195 Built by Deschimag, Bremen, Converted to submarine freighters, when the original S-boat type diesels were replaced by 2 Germania diesels (1400bhp = 15 8kts), the torpedo tubes removed, and gun armament altered to l-37mm/83 C30U and 4-20mm C38 (2x2). As transports these boats could carry 252 tons of freight U180 was mined in 1944, UI95 became the Japanese 1506 in 1945 but was surrendered in August that year Type IXB (launched 1939^10)_____________________________________ Displacement: 1034t/1159t Dimensions. 251ft x 22ft 4m x 15ft 5m 76 50 x 6.80 x 4 70m Machinery: 2 shafts 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2200bhp/500shp = 18 2kts/7.3kts Armament: As Type IXA Complement 48 Class- U64, U65, U103-U111, U122-U124 Built by Deschimag, Bremen 1 he 105mm gun was removed from surviving units in 1944 and A A armament was increased to l-37mm/83 C30,2-20mm C38 (1x2) All lost during the war except U123 which surrendered and saw service as the French Blaison 1947-51. Types IXD-2 and IXD/42 (launched 1941-44)_______________________ Displacement: 1590t/1775t Dimensions: 287ft 5m oa x 24ft 7m x 17ft 9m 87 60 x 7 SO x 5 40m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 MWM diesel generators plus 2 electric motors, 2200 + 580bhp/500shp = 19 2kts/6 9kis Armament: As Type IXC Complement: 57 Class: U177-U179, UI8I, U182, U196-U200, U847-U852, U859-U8&4, U871-U876 (Tvpe IXD 2), U883-U888, U895-U900, U1531-U1542 (Type IXD/42) Built by Deschimag, Bremen The Type IXD/42 was a slightly improved version of the Type IXD-2, but only one unit -U883 - was commissioned U181 and U862 were transferred to Japan in 1945 and redesignated I SOI and IS02 respectively, both were surrendered in August 1945 and subsequently scuttled At the end of the war in Europe, U861, U873-U875 and U883 were surrendered to the Allies, and U8S2 and U876 were scuttled by their crew. The other units were sunk or otherwise lost during the war. Type IXC (launched 1940-42) Displacement: 1102t/1213t Dimensions: 252ft x 22ft 4in x 15ft 5in 76 80 x 6 80 x 4.70m Machinery: As Type IXB Armament As Type IXB Complement: 48 Class U66-U68, U125-U131, U153-U166, U171-U176, US01-U524 53 units, built by Deschimag, Bremen, except U161-U166 (Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven) and U501-U524 (Deutsche Werft, Hamburg) Wartime mod- ifications were as for Type IXB AU but five were lost through various causes during the war. U1S5, U510 and US16 were surrendered to the Allies in May 1945, US 10 subsequently serving as the French Bouan 1945-58 US0S was depth-charged and captured by US forcesand entered USN service as thcMmo in 1944, she is now preserved at Chicago USI1 was transferred to Japan in 1943 as the RO500, surrendered m 1945 and sunk in 1946 Type IXC/40 (launched 1942-44) Displacement U26t/1237t Dimensions: 252ft x 22ft 8in x 15ft 5in 76 80 x 6 90 x 4 70m Machinery As Tvpe IXB Armament: As Type IXB Complement 48 Class: U167-U17O, U183-U194, US25-US50, US01-U806, U841-U846, U8>3-Ub>9, US6S-U870, U877-U881, U1221-U1262, U1S01-UIS30 Built bv Dcschimag except U167-U170, U801-U806 (Seebeckwerft, Bre- merhaven) and US25-U550, U1221-U123S (Deutsche Werft, Hamburg); U1236-U1262 were either cancelled or bombed on slip. Wartime additions were as for Type IXB U188 andU1234 were scuttled in May 1945and L17O,U19O, U530, U532, U539, US41, U802, U80b, U806, U868, U1228 and I 1230-U1233 were surrendered at the end of hostilities, U1231 serving with tht Soviet Niw as .V25 until I960 The other completed units were war casualties. Type XB 1943 44 Type XB (launched 1941-43) Displacement: 1735t/2143t Dimensions: 294ft 7in x 30ft 2in x 15ft 5in 89.80 X 9 20 x 4 70m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Germania diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2 IOObhp/55Oshp = 16.4kts/7kts Armament: 2-533mm TT (stern sub), l-105mm/45 C32, l-37mm/83 C30U, l-20mm C30, 66Type SMA mines Complement: 52 Class: U116-UU9, U219, U220, U233, U234 Built by Germaniawerft, Kiel. U219 was transferred to Japan as ISOS in 1945, being subsequently surrendered and scrapped, and U234 was also surrendered, in May 1945. The other six boats were war casualties. Type XIV (launched 1941-42) Displacement: 166 It/19011 Dimensions: 220ft 2m x 30ft 10m x 21ft 4in 67 10 x 9 40 x 6 50m Machinery. 2 shafts 2 Germania diesels plus 2 electric motors, I400bhp/375shp = 14 4kts/6 3kts Armament. 2-37mm/83 C30 (2x 1), l-20mm C30 Complement: 53 Class: U459-U464, U487-USOO, U2201-U2204 Submarine tankers with a capacity of 432 tons of oil. Only ten (U459-U464, U487-US00), laid down by Deutsche Werke, Kiel, were actually commis- sioned, all these were war losses. 243
GERMANY Тчре XXI as completed V80 (launched 19.1.40) Displacement: 72t/75t Dimensions: 72ft 2in oa x 6ft Ilin X 10ft 6in 22.00 x 2.10 x 3.20m Machinery: 1 shaft Walter turbine, 2OOOshp = 28kts Armament: None Complement: 4 Placed in reserve 1942; scuttled early 1945. U791 (launched 1942) Displacement: 600t/645l Dimensions: 170ft llinoa x 13ft lin x J8ft 52.10 x 4.00 x 5 50m ^Machinery: 1 shaft 2 MWM diesels plus 2 Walter turbines and 2 electric motors, 150bhp/2180 + 75shp = 9.3kts/19kts Armament: 2-533mm TT (bow sub; 6 torpedoes) Complement: 25 Ex-V300 Type Wa20 1 (launched 1943-44) ‘ Displacement: 273t/289t Dimensions: 127ft llinoa x 10ft lOin x 14ft Im 39 00 x 3.30 x 4 30m Machinery: 1-shaft. 2 Deutz diesels plus 2 (U973 1) Walter turbines and 1 electric motor, 210bhp/2500 + 77shp = 9kts/25kts Armament: 2-533mm (short) TT (4 torpedoes) Complement: 12 Class: U792, U793 Built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg. Both were scuttled at Kiel in May 1945 but were subsequently raised and transferred to the Royal Navy. Type Wk202 (launched 1943-44) Displacement: 232t/255t Dimensions: 113ft6inoa x 11ft 2in x 15ft 34 60 x 3.40 x 4 60m Machinery: 1-shaft 1 Deutz diesel plus 2 (17795 1) Walter turbinesand 1 electric motor, 21Obhp/2OOO + 77shp = 9kts/24kts Armament: 2-533mm (short) TT (4 torpedoes) Complement: 12 Class: U794-U800 Built by Germaniawerft. U794 and U795 were scuttled incomplete at the end of World War II. The construction of U796 was stopped in May 1944; U797-U800 were cancelled. Type XVIIB (launched 1944-45) Displacement: 307t/332t Dimensions: 136ft 2in oa x 10ft lOin x 14ft lin 41.50 x 3.30 x 4 30m Machinery: 1-shaft 1 Deutz diesel plus 1 Walter turbine and 1 electric motor, 210bhp/2500 + 77shp = 8 5kts/21.5kts Armament: 2-533mm (short) TT (4 torpedoes) Complement: 19 Class. U1405-U1409 Contracted to Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, but only the first three boats of this type were completed, the rest being scrapped on slip or cancelled All three completed, the rest being scrapped on slip or cancelled. All three completed units w’ere scuttled in May 1945, but U1406 and U1407 were salvaged, the former being transferred to the USA and the latter serving with the Royal Navy 1946-49 as Meteorite. Type XVIIG Displacement: 309t/340t Dimensions: 129ft 7in oa x lift 2in x 15ft 5m 39.50 x 3.40 x 4.70m Machinery: As Type XVIIB Armament: As Type XVIIB Complement: 19 Class: U1081-U1092 To be built by Germaniawerft, Kiel, but all cancelled. Type XXI (launched 1944-45) Dsiplacement: I595t/1790t Dimensions: 251ft 8in oa x 21ft 8in x 20ft 8in 76.70 x 6.60 x 6 30m Machinery. 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors and 2 ‘creeping’ electric motors, 2OOObhp/25OO + 113shp= 15.6kts/17.2kts, 5kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (bow sub; 23 torpedoes), 4—20mm XX. See notes Complement: 57 Clas.s: U2501-U3044, U3501-U3695 Allocated to Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, (U2501-U2761), Deschimag, Bre- men ((73001-U3061) and Schichau, Danzig (U3501-U3695). However, only 121 units were commissioned: U2501-U2546, U2548-U2551, U3001-U3035, U3037-U3041, U3044 and U3501-U3530, U2547, U2550, U2552, U3036, U3041 and U3043 were bombed on slip prior to launching, U2S53-U2761 and U3531-U3695 were in various stages of construction when the war ended and U2762-U3000 were not laid down. The original design called for 30mm AA guns but these weapons were not mounted because of the complexity of the system and the fact that they were not readily available Radar equipment was impressive with a Hohentwiel (FuMO61) or Hohentwiel Ul (FuMO6S) set and Samos (Fu \fB4), Сурет II (FuMB9), Borkum (FuMВ10), Fliege'(FuMB24) and Miicke (FuMB25) passive detection sets, all situated on retractable antenna masts. Of the completed boats, 172503, U2509, U2514-U2516, U2521, U2S23, U2524, U2530, U2532, U2534, U2S37, 172542, 173003, U3007, U3028, U3030, U3032, U350S, U3508, U3512, U3519, U3S20 and 173523 were lost through enemy action or accident and the remainder were either surrendered or scuttled by their crews at the end of the war U2540 was salvaged and renamed Wilhelm Bauer. U3008 was transferred to the USA in 1945 and was sunk as a target in 1954.172529, U3035, U3515 and U3041 were transferred to the Soviet Union and served as7V27-N3O 1945-63; in addition, a further 20 or 30 boats under construction at the war’s end were probably completed by the Russians. Type XXIII (launched 1944-45) Displacement. 230l/254t Dimensions: 113ft 10m oa X 9ft lOin x 12ft 2in 34.70 x 3.00 x 3.70m Machinery: I-shaft. 1 MWM diesel plus 1 electric motor and 1 ‘creeping’ electric motor, 580bhp/580 + 35shp = 15kts/22kts, 5kts Armament: 2-533mm TT (bow sub, 2 torpedoes) Complement: 14 Class: U2321-U2500, U4001-U4120, U4701-U4891 Construction of this class was scheduled for Deutsche Werft at Hamburg (U2321-U2331, U2334-U2371, U400I-U4120), at Toulon (V2372-U2400), at Genoa (U2401-U2430), at Monfalcone (U2431-U2445) and at Nikolayev/Linz (172446-172460), and by Germaniawerft at Kiel (U2332, U2333, U4701-U4712). Only U2321-U237I and U47OI-U4712 (63 units) were com- missioned. U2.372-U2377 and U2378-U2400 were in the final stages of assem- bly by May 1945, and the remaining boats were cancelled (72323, U2331, U2338, U2340, U2342, U2344, U2355, U2359, U2367„ U4708' and U4709 were lost through enemy action or by accident, and the remaining commissioned vessels were either scuttled or surrendered at the cessation of hostilities. U2344 was salvaged after the war by Poland and served for a short period before being broken up; U2365 and U2367 were also salved, serving asHai and Hecht unul 1956. U2353 was m sen ice as the Soviet N37 1945-63. CAPTURED SUBMARINES The following is a list of submarines taken over by the Knegsmanne during World War II. For further details see under the relevant navy. Ex-British UB (cx-Seal) Ex-Dutch UDI (ex-O8), UD2 (exO12), UD3 (exO25), UD4 (exO26), UD5 (exO27) Ex-French UFI (ex-L’Afncaine), UF2 (ex La Favounte), UF3 (ех-Ь’Ангёе) Ex-Italian UIT1 (ex-RlO), UIT2 (ex-RH), UIT3 (ex-R12), UIT4 (ex-R7), UIT5 (ex-R8), UIT6 (ex-R9), UIT7 (ex-Bario), UIT8 (ex-Litio), UIT9 (ex- Sodio), UIT10 (ex-Potassio), UIT11 (ex-Rame), UITI2 (ex-Ferro), UIT13 (ex-Piombo), UIT14 (ex-Zmco), UIT15 (exSparide), UIT16 (ex-Murena), UITI7 (ex-CM2), UIT18 (ex-CM3), UIT19 (ex-Nautilo), UIT20 (ex-Grongo), UIT21 (ex-Giuseppe Finzi), UIT22 (ex-Alphtno Bagnohnt), UIT23 (ex- Reginaldo Giuliani), UIT24 (exGommandanle Capellini), UIT25 (ex-Luigi Torelli) Ex-Norwegian UC1 (ex-B5), UC2 (ex-B6) Ex-Turkish UA (ex-Batiray) 244
Escorts / Minesweepers ESCORTS ‘F’ class (launched 1935) Displacement: 712t standard; 1028t deep load Dimensions: 241ft 2m wl, 249ft 4in x 28ft lOin x 8ft 6in, 10ft 7in max 73 50, 76.00 x 8.80 x 2.59, 3.24m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown Boveri geared turbines, 2 La Mont (Л7, F8 Benson) boilers, 14,OOOshp = 28kts Armament: 2-105mm/45 C32 (2x1), 4—37min/83 C30 (2x2), 4—20mm C30 (4x 1) Complement: 121 Class: FI-F10 Built by Germaniawerft (FI-F6) and Blohm & Voss (F7, F8), and at Wilhelmshaven N Yd (F9,FIO), these so-called ‘fleet escorts’ served as experi- mental ships to gain experience with the new high-pressure steam boilers and with hull structures designed for future destroyers Their sophisticated machinery gave so much trouble that the vessels never became operational in their intended role; they were also poor sea boats. Accordingly, F1-1-4 and F6 were lengthened to 255ft 3in (77 80m) wl, 263ft lin (80 30m) oa, increasing deep load displacement to 1147t Fl, F3 and F6 were also converted to a A prewar view of L6 flush-decked configuration to give extra accommodation, renamed as l.ibelle (later Jagd}, Hat and Konigin Luise respectiveh, these three vessels served mainly as tenders. Fl served in the GMSA (German Minesweeping Administration) after 1945 and was transferred to Lrance in 1947 where she was subsequently broken up; F2 went to Great Britain after the war and was sunk off Scapa Flow in 1946; F3 was sunk by bombing at Kiel 3.5.45;F4 was broken up in 1945, F5 was mined in the Baltic 29 1.45; F6 was sunk by bombs at Wilhelmshaven 30.3.45;/-7 was ceded to the USSR in 1945, becoming the target ship V225; F8 went to Great Britain in 1945 and in 1950 was scrapped in the Netherlands; F9 was torpedoed by HM submarine Ursula near Heligoland 14.12.39, and F10, having been transferred to the USA after the war, was broken up in the Netherlands in 1950 A new class of fast cscorts/gunboats was planned in 1941: GI-G24. Gl was the only vessel actually laid down, at Stiilckenwerft, Hamburg, but she was scrap- ped on shp in 1943. MINESWEEPERS 1935 type as completed 1935/1939 (Mob) type (launched 1937-41) Displacement: 682t (M25 onwards 685t) standard; 874t (Л/25 onwards 878t) deep load Dimensions: 218ft 6m wl, 224ft Sin oa x 27ft lOin x 8fl 8in 66 60, 68.40 x 8 50 x 2.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Lenz SE, 2 Wagner boilers, 32OOshp = 18 3kts Armament: 2-105min/45 C32 (2x 1), 2-37mm/83 (2x1), 2-20mm C30 Complement: 95-113 Class: Л1/-Л139, M81-A18S, М101-МЮ4, M13I-M133, MIS1-M156, M20I-M206, M251-M256 The 1935 type minesweepers - and indeed their successors - proved to be extremely well designed and suited to a variety of tasks, including escort, ASW, AA cover and minelaying. Russian naval intelligence referred to them as ‘small M-type destroyers’! There were 69 commissioned units of the 1935/1939 (Mob) type, built al a number of yards. At 1 and М2 were fitted with Voith-Schneider A prewar view of one of the first group of 1935 type minesweepers propellers; all other German M-boats had conventional 2-shaft propulsion. From 1943 a reinforced ice-cutting stem was fitted and AA armament was increased to 6-20mm C38 towards the end of the war. The 1935 type was built under licence for foreign navies - the Spanish Bidasoa class and the Romanian Demokratija - but the vessels were complex to construct. 1940 type about 1941 1940 type (launched 1941-44) Displacement: 543t standard; 775t deep load Dimensions: 189ft wl, 204ft 5in oa x 27ft lOin x 6ft lOin, 9ft 2in max 57.60, 62 30 x 8.50 x 2.10, 2.80m Machinery: 2-shaft Bauer-Wach VTE with exhaust turbine, 2 Navy water-tube boilers, 2400shp = 16 8kts Armament. l-105inm/45 C32, l-37rmn/83 C30, 7-20mm C38 (1x4, 3x1) Complement: 68-80 Class: M261-M267, M271-M279, M291-M294, M301-M308, M321-M330, A134I, M34S, M361-M378, M381-M389, M401 M408, M4II-A1416, A1421-M428, A143I-M438, M441-M446, M451-M456, M4S9-M463, M467-M471, M475-M476, AI483, M484, M486, M489, M495, M496 This class, comprising 127 units built at various yards, were simplified, coal-burning versions of the 1935 type. Some of the surviving vessels were re-armed during the war wnh 2-105mm C32 (2 x 1), 3 or 4—40mm/70 Bofors 28 in single mountings and 8-20mm C38. Degaussing equipment was fined from 1943. 245
GERMANY 1943 type (launched 1944-45) Displacement: 5821 standard; 82It deep load Dimensions: 207ft wl, 222ft 5in oa x 29ft 6m x 6ft 3in, 8ft lOin max 63 10, 67 80 x 9 00 x I 90, 2.70m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE + 2 Bauer-Wach exhaust drive turbines, 2 Navy watertube boilers, 2400shp = 16.7kts Armament: 2-105mm/45 Flak. L44 (2x1), 2-37mm/83 M42 (2x1), 8-20mm C38 (1x4, 2x2), l-73mm Fohn rocket projector Complement: 107 Class: M601-M666, M801-M813 From 1943, all orders for 1940 type M-boats were converted into orders for the 1943 type This design was essentially an enlarged 1940 в pc - and a coal burner - and incorporated the lessons learnt during wartime operations. The boats were to be assembled from seven prefabricated sections produced by subcontractors spread across Europe: Korneuburg/Vienna, Toulon, Rostock and Konigsberg. There were four standard versions- a minesweeper; a sub- chaser with an additional 7x21 depth charges; a torpedo-boat with 2-533mm TT in fixed deck tubes; and a torpedo training vessel Onlv M601-.M612 and M801-M806 (18 units) were commissioned, M613-M616 and M807-M8I3 were incomplete at the end of the war, and the rest were in various stages of prefabrication. After the war, most of the surviving minesweepers, of all tvpes, formed the German Minesweeping Administration to clear both the North Sea and the Baltic. They were sold soon afterwards. The "East German minesweepers of the Krake and Habicht classes show a strong resemblance to the old M-boat design, and other na\ ies such as those of Romania and Bulgaria used the design postwar. COMMERCE RAIDERS Orion 1940 о / During the Second World War, as in the First, the German Navy employed commerce raiders. These were merchant ships armed with obsolete 150mm guns removed from ships of the Imperial Navy; only during the latter stages of the war was it decided to equip new vessels with up-to-date weapons and radar. However, in contrast to their outdated main armament the crews of these ships were the best sailors to be found in the Kriegsmarine. On being impressed into the Navy, all ex-merchant ships were allotted a simple number: Schiff I, Schiff 2 and so on. Those converted to raiders held their old pennant numbers for security reasons, but were also given an additional Handels-Stdr-Kreuzer (‘commerce-disruption cruiser’) or HSK designation and a pennant number. The commander of the vessel was furthermore given the right to name the ship according to his wishes. All three systems were in use at the same time; in addition, British Intelligence allotted their own code letters to the ships: for example, Orion was ‘Raider A’ and Atlantis ‘Raider C*. In the early stages of the war these raiders operated very successfully, but attempts to send out better equipped ships after 1943 failed. The ships returned to Germany and were reconverted for other duties such as troop transport and fighter direction. ORION Displacement: 15,700t/7021grt Dimensions: 462ft 7m wl, 485ft 7in oa x 61ft x26ft Ilin 141 00, 148 00 x 18.60 x 8 20m Machinery: 1-shaft Blohm & Voss geared turbine, 4 boilers, 6200shp = 13 5kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 C06 (6x1), l-75mm/35, 4-37mm/83 C30 (2 x 2), 4-20mm C38 (2 x 2), 6-533mm TT (2 x 3), 228 mines, 1 aircraft Complement: 376 Orion (= HSKl — Schiff 36, Bnush designation ‘Raider A’) was the former freighter Kurmark. Laid down m 1930 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, she was commissioned 9.12.39, and disguised to resemble the Dutch TS Beemsterdijk, Soviet SS Sovet, Japanese SS Maebasi Maru and similar vessels. Her 150mm guns probably originated from Schlesvng-Holstein, whilst her 75mm Schneider-Creuzot weapon, as on other raiders, was ex Polish. One Arado Ar 196A-1 was carried unul February 1942, when it was replaced by a Japanese Nakajima floatplane. She was the slowest of all the German raiders. Onon sank 5 ships (totalling 33,340grt) and was partly responsible for the loss of 5 others (4I,138grt) From 1942 she was used as a repair ship, on 12 1 44 became the gunnery training ship Hector, and in March 1945 became a cadet training ship, reverting to her former name Orion. She was bombed by RAF aircraft on 4.5.45 north of SwinemGnde, foundered, and was broken up in 1952. Displacement: 17,600t/7862grt Dimensions: 488ft lOin wl, 508ft 6in oa X 61ft 4in x 28ft 6in 149 00, 155.00 x 18 70 x 8.70m Machinery: 1-shaft. 2 MAN double-acting 6cyl diesels, 7600bhp = 16kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 C06 (6x1), l-75mm/35, 2-37mm/83 C30 (1x2), 4-20mm C38 (2 x 2), 4-533mm TT (4 x 1), 92 mines, 2 aircraft Complement: 351 freighter MS Goldenfels, her layout resembled the Norwegian MS Knute Nelson, Soviet MS Kim, Japanese Kasii Maru and Dutch MS Abbekerk. Her 150mm guns were taken from the pre-dreadnought Schlesien. Two Heinkel He 114B floatplanes were carried. Having sunk or captured 22 vessels totalling 145,968grt, Atlantis was herself sunk by gunfire from the cruiser Devonshire in the South Atlantic on 23 11.41. 246
Commerce raiders Srier 1942 WIDDER Displacement: 16,800t/785Igrt Dimensions: 475ft 9in wl, 498ft 8in oa x 59ft 9in x 27ft 3in 145.00, 152.00 x 18.20 x 8.30m Machinery: 1-shaft Blohm & Voss geared turbine, 4 boilers, 6200shp = 14kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 (6x1), l-75mm/35, 4-37mm/83 C30 (2x2), 4—20mm C38 (2x2) 4-533mm TT (2x2), 2 aircraft Complement: 364 Laid down by Howaldswerke, Kiel, in 1929 and commissioned as the armed merchant cruiser HSK3 (Schiff 21), on 12.9.1939, Widder was the former TS Neumark and was known to British Intelligence as ‘Raider D’. She was fitted with 150mm guns from Deutschland class battleships and carried HE 114B floatplanes. In appearance she resembled the Swedish SS Narvik and the Spanish SS Neptune. Widder was responsible for the loss of 10 ships totalling 58,644gn during her 180 day sortie From 1941 to 1945 she was employed as a repair ship, and after the war was ceded to Great Britain under the name TS Ulysses. Transferred back to Germany in 1950 as the TS Fenchenhetm, she was beached near Bergen 9.10.55, foundered, and was broken up the following year. THOR Displacement: 9200t/3862grt Dimensions: 380ft 7in wl, 400ft 3in oa x 54ft 9in x23ft 4in (26ft 7in after arming) 116.00, 122.00 x 16 70 x 7 !0(8.l0)ni Machinery: 1-shaft AFG geared turb nc, 2 La Mont boilers, 6500shp — 18kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 (6x1), l-37mm/83 C30, 4-20mm C3O(2x2), 4—533mm TT (2x2), 1 aircraft Complement: 345 Originally the freighter TS Santa Crus, Thor (= HSK 4 = Schiff 10) was laid down at Deutsche Werke, Hamburg, in 1938 and commissioned as a commerce raider on 15.3.40 As with Widder, her 150mm weapons originated from Deutschland class battleships. Her layout resembled that of the Yugoslavian SS Vir. Known to the British as ‘Raider E’, she undertook two raiding sorties in World War II: on the first she sank 12 ships (96,54 Igrt) and on the second sank or captured 10(55,587grt). Following an explosion on board the German supply ship Uckermark at Yokohama 30.11.42, Thor, lying alongside, was burnt out and became a total loss. STIER Displacement: 11,000t/4778grt Dimensions: 406ft lOin wl, 439ft 8m oa x 56ft 9m x 23ft 8in 124.00, 134.00 x 17.30 x 7.20m Machinery: 1 shaft. 1 MAN 2-stroke 7cyl diesel, 3750bhp = 14kts Armament: 6-150mm/48 (6x I), 2-37mm/83 C30 (1x2), 4-20mm C38 (2x2), 2-533mm TT sub (2x 1), 2 aircraft Complement: 324 MS Cairo was laid down by Germaniawerft, Kiel, in 1936 and commissioned as Sner (= HSK6 = Schiff 23) in 1942, probably on 10 May. Designated ‘Raider J’ by the British, she carried two Ar 231 floatplanes. She was responsible for the loss of 4 ships (3O,728grt) but had a relatively short career, being sunk in action with the US Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins in the South Atlantic on 27.9.42. КОМЕТ Displacement: 7500t/3287grt Dimensions: 357ft 7in wl, 377ft 3in oa x 50ft 2m x 21ft 4in 109.00, 115.00 x 15.30 x 6.50m Machinery: 1 shaft. 2 MAN 2-strokc 6cyl diesels, 3900bhp = 14.8kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 (6x1), I-60mm/18, 2-37mm/83 C30 (1x2), 4-20mm C38 (2 x 2), 6-533mm TT (2 x 2 aw, 2 sub), 1 MTB, 2 aircraft Complement 269 This vessel, the former MS Ems, was the smallest but best-equipped German armed merchant cruiser. She was built by Dcutschewerft, Hamburg, being laid down in 1937 and commissioned as HSK7 (Schiff 45) 2 6.40. The layout resembled that of the Japanese MS Tokyo Maru, the Russian SSDenev and the Portuguese MS Sao Thomi. Kernel's 150mm guns originated from Deutschland class battleships, her 60mm weapon was an obsolete landing gun in service with the Imperial Navy. Her original speed was I6kts. Aircraft equipment comprised 2 Ar 196A-ls; the MTB was one of the LS (letchtes Schnellboot) series of midget torpedo boats carried by commerce raiders, Kernel's boat being LS2 (Meteont). After breaking through to Kamchatka via the Arctic passage, Koniel sank 10 vessels (2 l,378grt) returning to Norway 9 7 40 Attempting a breakout via the English Channel for a second sortie, she was sunk ЬуЛ/ TB236 on 14.10.42 with the loss of all hands. PINGUIN Displacement: 17,600t/7766grt Dimensions: 485ft 7in wl, 508ft 6in oa x 61ft 4in x 28ft 6m 148.00, 155.00 x 18.70 x 8 70m Machinery: 1 shaft. 2 MAN double-acting 6cyl diesels, 7600bhp = 16kts Armament’ 6-150inm/45 (6x 1), l-75mm/35, l-37mm/83 C30, 4-30mm C38 (2x2), 4-533nim TT (2x2), 300 mines, 2 aircraft Complement: 401 Disguised to resemble the Russian SS Pechora, the Greek MS Knossos and the Norwegian MS 1 amerlane, Pinguin (= HSK5 = Schiff 33) was laid dow n by A G Weser at Bremen in 1936 and commissioned by the Kriegsniarine 6 2 40. She was formerly MS Kandelfels, and was known to British Intelligence as ‘Raider F’. Her main armament was taken from Deutschland class pre-dreadnoughts; her two He 114B floatplanes were replaced by a single Ar 196A-1 in March 1941. During a 357-day, 59,188nm sortie in World War II she sank 26 vessels totalling 136,642grt She met her end in the Indian Ocean on 8 5.41, sunk by gunfire from the cruiser Devonshire, 341 men were lost MICHEL Displacement: 10,900t/4740grt Dimensions: 406ft lOin wl, 433ft oa x 55ft lin x 24ft 3in 124.00, 132.00 x 16.80 x 7 40m Machinery: 1 shaft. 2 MAN 2-strokc diesels, 6650bhp = 16kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 C13 (6x1), l-105mm/45 C32, 4-37mm C30 (2x2), 4-20mm C38 (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x2 aw, 2x1 sub), 1 MTB, 2 aircraft Complement: 406 J his vessel, the former MS Bonn (ex-Pohsh MS Bielsko) was laid down in 1939 by Danziger Werft and commissioned as HSK9 ( = Schiff 28) on 17.9 41 Her 150mm and 20mm weapons were taken from Widder, she carried two Ar 196A-3 aircraft, and her MTB LS4 was named Esau. Known to British Intelligence as ‘Raider H’ Michel sank 15 vessels (99,368grt) on her first, 373-day raid, return- ing to Yokohama 1.3.43, on her second, 149-day sortie she sank only 3 ships (27,632grt) before being torpedoed by the US submarine Tarpon in the North Pacific 17 10.43 247
Kormoran 1941 KORMORAN Displacement: 19,900t/8736grt Dimensions: 515ft wl, 538ft oa x 66ft 3in x 27ft lOin 157 00, 164 00 * 20 20 * 8 50m Machinery: 2 shafts 4 Krupp-Germaniawerft 4-stroke 9cyl diesels, plus 2 Siemens Schuckert 4600 kV electric motors, 16,000bhp — 18kts Armament: 6-150mm/45 C13 (6x 1), l-75mm/35,4-37nim (1 x2,2x 1), 5 20mm C30 (5x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x2 aw, 2x1 sub), 360 mines, 1 MTB, 2 aircraft Complement: 400 Kormoran (— HSK8 = Schiff 41), the former MS Sieiermark, was laid down at the Germaniawerft yard, Kiel, in 1938 and commissioned on 9 10 40 Her appearance resembled that of the Russian TP Viacheslev Molotov and the Japanese MS Sakuo Maru and MS Kinka Maru, and she was known to British Intelligence as ‘Raider G’ Diesel-electric machinery was installed. Her single 75mm Schneider-Creuzot was landed before she undertook her first sortie, her 37mm weapons consisted of two 83cal C30 guns m a tu in mounting and 2 single Army anti-tank guns Two Ar 196A-1 floatplanes were carried, whilst the MTB was designated LS3. Kormoran sank or captured 11 ships totalling 68,274grt in a 350-day sortie. She was caught off Shark Bay, Western Australia, but the cruiser Sydney on 11 11 41 and after an exchange of fire both vessels went down. CORONEL Displacement: 12,700t/5042grt Dimensions: 416ft 8m wl, 439ft 7in oa x 58ft 9in x 25ft 1 lin 127 000, 134.00 x 17 90 x 7 90m Machinery: 1-shaft. 1 double-acting 2-stroke 8cyldiesel, 51 OObhp = 16kts Armament: 6-150mm/48 (6x 1), 6-40mm/70 Bofors 28 (6x 1), 8-20mm C38, 3 aircraft Complement: 350 Coronel (= Schiff 14), the former MS Togo, was laid down by Vulcan, Bremen, m 1938 and commissioned by the Kriegsmarine m December 1942 Attempting to breakout via the English Channel, she was bombed and damaged off Dunkirk on 7.2.43. She returned to Germany and was converted into a fighter direction ship (sec below). - (Schiff 5}_________________________________________________________ Displacement: 19,200t/9138grt Dimensions: 475ft 9in wl, 502ft oa x 65ft 1 lin x 28ft 6in 145 00, 153 00 x 20 10 x 8 70 Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 double-acting 2 stroke 6c\l diesels, 9000bhp = 17kts Armament: 8-150mm/48 (8x1), 2-105mm/45 C32 (2x1), 8-40mm/70 Bofors 28 (8x1), 36-20mm C38, 4-533mm TT (4x1), 1 MTB, 1 aircraft Complement: ? Laid down for the Glen Line as Glengarry in 1939 by. Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen, Schiff 5 never became operational owing to bomb damage at Hamburg, where she was fining out at the Blohm & Voss yard. Her designed armament was believed to include an Fa 330 Bachsielze (rotary wing kne). Schiff 5 was later named Hansa and sened as a cadet training ship in the Baltic. She was handed back to the British in 1945, under the name Empire Humber, the following year she was returned to her original owners, and reverted to her original name. She was subsequently (197P) broken up. S-BOATS The Versailles Treaty did not make it clear whether the Reichsnianne was allowed such an essentially offens ve weapon as the MTB, and the first studies w’ere carried out m secret but supported by Kapt z S Lohmann and his Seetransportabteilung. During 1923-26 6 ex-Impenal LM type boats LM20-LM23, LM27, LM28 were purchased, and in 1926 Abeking & Rasmussen delivered the experimental boat К (17.40 x 3.40 x 1.16ms 1600bhp = 40kts), based on the British Thornycroft 55ft CMB type. Ltirssen built the competitive trials boat Liir (21 00 x 3 60 x 1.28m; 1350 = 33.5kts) and the Caspar Werft at Travemunde built theNarwal (21.30 x 4.06 x 0.90m; H25bhp = 34.8kts). In 1929 all these boats were redesignated U-Boois-Zersidrer (submarine- destroyers) and renamed UZ11-UZ18. Most advances came from the Lurssen Werft, all successful S-Boat designs coming from this firm in close collaboration with the Reichsmarine's К-Ami (design depart- ment). Based on the successful design of the fast yacht Oheka II, built for an American, and the Liir, Lurssen built the first German MTB in 1930, originally christened LJZ16, later renamed 117/ and finally designed asS/ in 1932. Further designs show a continuing improve- ment from group to group. All the German S-Boats had two fixed bow TT plus two spare torpedoes, but in the S700 group it was planned to install all four torpedoes ready to fire, two in fixed bow tubes and two in fixed stern tubes. The Kriegsmanne commissioned 249 S-Boats (exclud- ing ex-Italian, LS, coastal and experimental boats); 157 were lost or scuttled. The surviving 92 were distributed as follows: 30 to USA, 34 to Britain, 28 to USSR. The western Allies transferred most of their boats into the OMGUS stock of surplus war material. From OMGUS Nor- way bought 15 boats, Denmark 14. Most of the boats were used for coastal or riverine duties by their later private ow ners and subsequently scrapped. The Kriegsmarine also used the riverine S-Boats KMI-KM.36. In the second half of the war a great number of trial boats, experimental boats and hydrofoils were constructed and tested: Type Kobra, Type Schluten, Type Wai, Type Hydra, Type No /, Type No 2, Type No 3 and the hydrofoils TS1-TS6, VS5-VS8, VS 10 and VS11. Si (built 1930) Displacement: 39t standard, 50t deep load Dimensions: 87ft x 13ft 9m x 3ft 6m 26 80 x 4 20 x 1 06m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler-Benz petrol engines, 2700bhp = 34 2kts Armament: 2-500inm IT, l-20mm Complement: 18 Built by Liirssen, Vcgesack. Sold to Spain 1938. S2 group (built 1932) Displacement: 46jt standard, 58t deep load Dimensions: 91ft 8in x 13ft 9in x 3ft 6m 27.95 x 4.20 x 1.06m Machinery: 3 shaft Daimler-Benz petrol engines, 3300shp = 33 8kts Armament: 2-500mm TT, l-20mm Complement: 18 Class: S2-SS Built by Lurssen, Vegcsack ToSpain \938asLTl 1 ,LT12,LT14 andLTlS. S6 group (built 1933-34) Displacement: 80t standard, 95t deep load Dimensions: 106ft 3in x 16ft x4ft 32 40 x 4.90 x 1.21m Machinery: 3-shaft MAK diesels, 3960bhp = 35kts Armament: 2-533mm TT, l-20mm Complement: 21 Class: S6-S9 Built by Lurssen. The first operational diesel boats, with improved hull-form from S 7 onwards. 248
S-boats S10 group (built 1934—35) Displacement 78t standard, 92t deep load Dimensions: 106ft 3in x 16ft x 4ft 32 40 x 4 90 x 1.21m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler-Benz diesels, 3960bhp = 35kts Armament: 2-533mm TT, l-20mm Complement' 21 Class: S10-313 Built by Lursscn, Vegesack. One of the first ‘schncllbootc’, S4 shortly after commissioning S14 group (built 1936-38) S30 group (built 1939-41) Displacement: 92Jt standard, 114t deep load Dimensions: 113ft 7m x 16ft 9in x 4ft 9m 34 62 x 5.10 x 1.44m Machinery: 3-shaft MAN diesels, 6150bhp = 37.5kts Armament: 2-533min TT, l-20mm Complement. 21 Displacement: 8 It (S54S61 82t) standard, lOOt (S54-361 102t) deep load Dimensions: 107ft 6m x 16ft x 4ft 32.76 x 4.90 x I 21m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler Benz diesels, 3960bhp = 36kts Armament: 2-533 TT, 2-20mm (2x1) Complement- 16 Class: S14S17 Built by Lurssen, Vegesack The last class with MAN diesels which were rejected in favour of the more reliable Daimler-Benz engines Class: S30-S37, SS4^S61 Built by Lurssen, Vegesack. Similar to the S/0 group, and utilising engines ordered for export S18 group (built 1938-39) Displacement: 92h standard, 115c deep load Dimensions: 113ft 7in x 16ft 9in x 4ft 9in 34.62 x 5.10 x 1.44m Machinery. 3-shaft Daimler Benz diesels, 6000bhp = 39.5kts Armament- 2-533mm TT, l-20mm Complement. 21 Class: S18S25 Generally similar to S14 series. Built by LGrssen, Vegesack. S38 group (built 1939-43) Displacement: 92it standard; H5t deep load Dimensions: 114ft 8m x 16ft 9m x 5ft 34.94 x 5 10 x 1.52m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler-Benz diesels, 6000bhp = 39.5kts (S101-3I35,S137,S138 38 5kts) Armament: 2-533mm TT, 2—20mm Complement: 21 Class: S38S53, S62^S99, S101-3135, S137, S138 (S159-3166 were never completed) Built by Lurssen, Vegesack except forS101S133, S1S9-S166 (Schlichting, Travemunde). S73, S78 and S12S-S126 transferred to Spain as LT21-LT2S 1943 From S67 an armoured bridge (panzerkalotie) was adopted Armament was increased to a maximum of 3-20mm and 1 40m (or 37mm, or 4 20mm). S26 group (built 1940) Displacement: 92jt standard; 115t deep load Dimensions: 114ft 8m x 16ft 9in x 5ft 34 94 x 5 10 x 1.52m Machinery. 3 shaft Daimler-Benz diesels, 6000bhp = 39.5kts Armament- 2-533mm TT, 2-20mm (2x 1) Complement: 21 Class; S26S29 Built by Lursscn, Vegesack Wartime developments of the S18 group, and the first with 1 1 s enclosed in the forecastle. Boats of the 53# group surrendering in 1945 S100 group (built 1943-45) Displacement. loot (S171S218 105c, S219-3 SOO 107t); 117t (112c, 124t) deep load Dimensii ns: 114ft 8in x 16ft 9m x 5ft 34.94 x 5 10 x 1 52m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler-Benz diesels, 7500bhp = 42kts (S170,S208, S3OI-S5OO 9000bhp = 45kts) Armament: 2-533mm TT, l-40mm, l-20mm See notes Complement: 21
GERMANY Class: S100, SI36, Si 39-3150, S167-S500 Built by Liirssen, Vegesack, except S187~S194, S219-S300 (Schlichting, Travemiindc). Improved S38 type, with increased firepower and further super- charging. Armament varied as in the S38 type, but the proposed fitting of 6-30mm/103 was never carried out, as the weapon was not ready in time. S229-S243,S308-S328 were not completed, and S244-S300, S329-S500 were not laid down. S145 was transferred to Spain in 1943 as LT26. S701 group (built 1944-45) Displacement: 107t standard; 114t deep load Dimensions: 114ft 8in x 16ft 9in x 5ft 34 94 x 5 10 x 1.52m Machinery: 3-shaft Daimler-Benz diesels, 7500bhp = 42kts Armament: 4-533mm TT, 6-3Omm Complement: 23 Class: S701-S800 Pan of an ambitious programme of prefabricated construction, but only S7OI-S7O9 completed, probably with the usual 20mm and 40mm AA. Built by Danziger Waggonfabrik. CAPTURED MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS The following were taken over by the Knegsmarine during World War II. For further details see under the relevant navy. Ex-British RA9 (ex ML306), RA10 (tx-MTB314) Ex-Bulgarian SI (ex-F5) Ex-Dutch 5/5/ (ex7M54), 5/52 (ех-ГИ55), 5/53 (cx-TA/56), 5/54 (ex- 7Л157),5/55 (ex-7M5S),5/56 (ex-TAf59),5/57 (ex-TM60),S!58 (ех-ТАШ), S201 (ех-ТМ52), S202 (ех-7Л153) Ex-Italian 550/ (ex MAS566), S502 (ех-МА5567), S503 (ex-MASS68),S504 (ex-MASS69\ S5O5 (ex-MAS57O\ S5O6 (ex-MAS574'), S5O7 (ex-MAS575), S508 (cxMAS525), S509 (ex-AfA5549), S510 (ex-MAS551\ S511 (ex- ЛМ5557),55/2 (ех-Л1А5553), S601 (ex-MAS423),S602 (ex-MAS430),S603 (ex-MAS431), S621 (ex-AfA556/), S622 (ex-MAS550), S623 (ex-MAS554), S624 (ex-MAS424), S62S (ex-MAS437\ S626 (ex-MAS502), S627 (ex- MAS504), S628 (ex-MASSOS), S629 (ex-MAS558), SAI (ex-MS16), SA2 (ex-MS34),SA3 (ex-MS36),SA4 (ex-A155/),5A5 (ex-Af563), 5A6 (ex-AI57/), 5A7 (ехЛ1576) Ex-Yugoslavian 52 (ex-Ve/efcir), 53 (ex-Dinara), S4 (ex-Triglav), 55 (ex- Rudnik). These four vessels saw service with the Italian Nav> before being taken over by Germany. LSI group (built 1942-45) Displacement: Hit Dimensions: 41ft 3m x 10ft 9m x 2ft 9in /2.57 x 3 27 x 0.83m Machinery: See notes Armament: 2-450mm TT, l-20mm. See notes Complement: 6 Class: LS1-LS20 These vessels were designed as midget torpedo-boats. However, it proved impossible to produce the planned 450mm torpedoes in tune, so a passu e armament of 3 Type TMB magnetic mines, which could be slipped over the stern, wassubstituted. Propulsion was by means of 2 Junkers 850bhp diesels but these caused so many problems that LS2 (on board the commerce raider Komet) was out of service for considerable periods. Eventually the Daimler-Benz 12cyl lightweight diesel became available; this was installed in LS2, which was taken on board Kortnoran where she operated satisfactorily LS2 had a modified minelaying system, each of the 2 mines being discharged through vertical tubes. LS4 was the first boat to be equipped with 450mm torpedoes, although she only carried 2. This boat was embarked on the commerce raider Michel. KS group (built 1945) Displacement: 13t Dimensions: 43ft 9in x lift 6in x 2ft 9in 13.33 x 3 50 x 0.83m Machinery: 2-shaft petrol engines, 1500bhp = 33kts Armament: 2-533mm TT Complement: 6 Class: KS201-KS220 Only KS201, KS202, KS212, KS213, KS215, KS219 and KS220 were completed. Riverine S-boats. MOTOR MINESWEEPERS R1 group (launched 1929-34) Displacement: 60t (Rl 45t, R8 63t) Dimensions: 85ft 3in x 14ft 6m x 4ft 26 00 x 4.41 x 1.21m Machinery: 2-shaft MWM diesels, 700bhp = 17kts Armament: l-20mm Complement: 18 Class: R1-R16 Built by Abeking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder), Schlichting (Travemunde) and Lurssen (Vegesack). Later re-armed with 4—20mm (2x2). A prewar view of R8, one of the first class of motor minesweepers R17 group (launched 1934-38) Displacement; 115t Dimensions: 121ft 6in x 18ft x 4ft 3in 37.00 x 5.50 x 1.30m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 1800bhp = 21kts Armament: 2-20mm(2xl) Complement: 34 Class: R17-R24 Built by Abeking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder) and Schlichting (Travemunde). Later fitted with 4-20mm (2x2). All boats had Voith-Schneider instead of conventional propellers. RI7, R18 and R19 running trials 250
A wartime view of an unidentified R boat employed in a minelaying role R25 group (launched 1938-39) Displacement: HOt Dimensions: 116ft 3in x 18ft 3in x 4ft 6in 35 40 x 5.60 x 1.40m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 1800bhp — 2 Ikts Armament: 2-20mm(2xl) Complement: 34 Class: R2S-R40 Built by Abcking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder) and Schlichting fl ravenwnde). 4-20mtn (2x2) added during the war R218 group (launched 1943—45) Displacement: 1401 Dimensions: 128ft 6in x 18ft 9in x 5ft 39.20 x 5.70 x 1.50m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 2500bhp = 2Ikts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 38 Class: R218 R300 Built by Burmesier (Burg Lesum and Swinemunde) and Schlichting (Travemunde) R27I, R291-R300 unfinished, R277-R287 cancelled. Com pletcd vessels had up to 6-20mm added during the war. R41 group (launched 1939-43) Displacement: 125t Dimensions: 124ft x 19ft x 4ft 6in 37 80 x 5.80 x 1 40m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 1800 bhp = 20kts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 34 Class: R41-RI29 Built by Abcking &. Rasmussen (Lemwerder) and Schlichting (1 ravcmiinde). Up to 6-20mm added R141-.rl50 had Voith-Schneider propellers R130 group (launched 1943—45) Displacement: 150t Dimensions: 134ft 9in x 19ft x 5ft 3in 41 10 x 5 80 x 1 60m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 1800bhp = I9kts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 38 Class: R130-RIS0 Built by Abcking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder). Up to 6-20mm added. R141-R1S0 had Voith-Schneider propellers. R151 group (launched 1940-43) Displacement: 125t Dimensions: 116ft 3in x 18ft 3in x 4ft 6in 35 40 x 5 60 x 1 40m Machinery; 2-shaft MAN diesels, 1800bhp = 21kts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 34 Class: R15I-R2I7 Built b\ Burmesier (Burg Lesum). Up to 6-20mm added R301 group (launched 1942—45) Displacement: 160t standard; 177it deep load Dimensions* 134ft 6m x 19ft 9in x 6ft 41 00 x 6.00 x 1.80m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 3750bhp = 24kts Armament: l-37mm, 3-20mm Complement: 38 Class: R301-R312 These were built by Abeking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder). 2-533mm TT were added during the war, and the boats were redesignated escort minesweepers GR301-GR312. R401 group (launched 1943—45) Displacement- 1401 Dimensions: 128ft 6in x 18ft 9in x 5ft 39 20 x 5 70 x I 50m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 2550bhp = 22.5kts Armament: l-37mm, 6-20mm (3x2) Complement: 38 Class: R401-R448 R42S-R427 w ere uncompleted and boats from R428 onwards were never laid down Buih bv Abcking & Rasmussen (Lemwerder). Other motor minesweepers that saw service with the Kriegsmarine were the ex-Dutch vessels RA51-RA56 (125t), ex-Frcnch RA1-RA8, ex-British RA9 and RAIO, and ex-ltalian RA251-RA268 and RD101-RD149. RA10I-RAI05 ( Ot) and R 4106-R Al 12 (80t) were built in Dutch yards to German order and RA201-RA204 (35t) were constructed in Norwegian yards 251
GERMANY MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS A prewar view of Bremse BREMSE gunnery training shiplminelayer (launched 24.131) Displacement: H35t standard; 1870t deep load Dimensions: 318ft 3in wl, 341ft 2in oa x 31ft 2in x 6ft 7m 97.00, 104.00 x 9.50 x 2.80m Machinery: 2-shafts. 4double-acting 2-stroke MAN diesels, 26,000bhp = 27kts Armament: 4-127mm/45 C34 (4x 1), 8-20mm C30, 350 mines Complement: 192 Saar about 1937 Laid down in 1930. In basic layout this vessel resembled a World War I light cruiser. Trials ship for diesel machinery installed in Deutschland-, sunk 6.9.41. A prewar view of the first Brummer SAAR U-boat tender (launched 5.4.34) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2710t standard; 3250t deep load 311ft 8in wl, 331ft 4in oa x 44ft 3in x 14ft lin, 15ft max 95.00, 101.00 x 13 SO x 4 30, 4.60m 2 shafts. 2 MAN 4-stroke diesels, 4800bhp = 18.3kts 3-105mm (3x1), 8-20mm C30 (8x 1) 228 4- 253 Commissioned 1 10.34, Saar was the accommodation ship for the German ComSubEast. In 1944 her AA armament was increased to 4—Wmm/70 Bofors 28 and 16-20mm C38 (4x4). Transferred to France in 1945 and renamed Gustav Z4d£, she was stricken in 1970. BRUMMER gunnery training shiplminelayer (launched 29.5.35) Displacement: 2410t standard; 3010t deep load Dimensions: 354ft 4in wl, 370ft 9in oa x 44ft 3in x 10ft 6in, 13ft 9in max 108.00, 113.00 x 13.50 x 3.20, 4.20m Machinery: 2-shaft Wagner geared turbines, 2 Wagner boilers, 10,OOOshp = 20kts Armament: 4—105mm/65 C33 (2 x 2), 2-88mm/45 C35 (2x1), 4—37mm/83 C30 (2x2), 450 mines Complement: 182 (480 as TS) Laid down 1934 by Deschimag, Bremen. Resembled contemporary German tenders in general layout. Sunk 14.4.40. BRUMMER gunnery training shiplminelayer (launched 21.12.32) Displacement: 1596t standard; 1860t deep load Dimensions: 308ft 5inwl,318ft 3inoa x 37ft9in x lift lOin, 13ft linmax 94.00, 97.00 x 11.50 x 3.60, 4.03m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Laval geared tubines, 3 watertube boilers plus 2 4-stroke Sulzer diesels, 6000shp = 21kts Armament: 4—127mm/45 C34 (4x1), 2-37mm/83 C33 (1x2), 4-20mm C38, 280 mines Complement: 168 Ex-NorwegianO/ai> Tryggvason, laid down at Horten N Yd in 1931. Took name of previous Brummer after that ship had been lost. Scuttled at Kiel 1945. .WILHELM BAUER class U-boat tenders (launched 1938-40) Displacement: 4700t (Otto Wunsche 5000t) standard; 5600t (Otto Wunsche 5900t) deep load Dimensions: 413ft 5in (Ono Wunsche 433ft lin) wl, 436ft 4in (Otto Wunsche 456ft) oa x 52ft 6in x 14ft 5in, 15ft 9in max 126.00 (132.00), 133.00 (139.00) x 16.00 x 4.40, 4.80m Machinery: 2 shafts. 4 MAN 2-stroke diesels, 12,000bhp = 20kts (Otto Wunsche 13,8OObhp = 21 5kts) Armament: 4-105mm (Otto Wunsche 2-105mm) C33 (2/1x2), 2-37mm/83 C33 (1x2), l-40mm/70 Bofors 28, 12-20mm C38 Complement: 310 + 440 Class (commissioned, fate): Wilhelm Bauer (30.4.40, bombed at Travemunde 8.4.45 and later BU), Waldemar Kophamel (21.10.40, to USSR as Kuban 1945), Otto Wunsche (8.11.43, to USSR as Pecora 1945). All built by Howaldtswerke, Kiel. Other U-boat tenders in service with the Kriegsmarine were converted merchant ships: Donau (ex-Nicea, 4620t, launched 19.12.21, commissioned 27.10 36, 4-37mm 4- 4—20mm, later ammunition ship Flensburg, sunk by internal explosion 14.6.45); Weichsel (ex-Syra, 5200t, launched May 1923, commis- sioned 7.4.37, l-88mm + 4-37mm, transferred to Great Britain 1945, then Russian Donee 1947); Isar (ex-Puma, 4560t, launched 23.10.30, commissioned 25.7.43, l-88mm + 4-37mm AA 4- 10-20mm AA, to USSR as Neman 1946); LecA(ex-PanzAer,4560t,launched23.10.30,commissioned 10.6.39, l-88mm + 4—37mm 4- 10-20mm, to USA 1946, Italy 1948 and Israel 1949, BU 1963); and Erwin Wassner (ex-Gran Canaria, 6080t, launched 29.1.38, commissioned Jan 1939, 4-37mm 4- 6-20mm, bombed at Kiel 24.7.44). 252
Miscellaneous vessels TSINGTAU S-boai tender (launched 6.6.34) Displacement: 1980t standard; 2490t deep load Dimensions: 288ft 9in wl, 310ft oa x 44ft 3in x 13ft Im 88 00, 94.50 x /3.50 x 4.00m Machinery: 2 MAN 4-stroke diesels, 4100bhp = 17.5kts Armament: 2-88mm/45 C16 (2x 1), 8-20mm C30 (8x 1) Complement: 149 + 251 Built by Blohm &. Voss, Hamburg, laid down 1933 and commissioned 24 9.39. Her main armament was later replaced by 4-88mm/76 (2x2). Ceded to Great Britain in 1945, she was scrapped in 1950. TANGA S-boat tender (launched 4.12.37) Displacement. 2190l standard; 2620t deep load Dimensions. 314ft Ilin wl x 44ft 3m x 12ft 2in, 13ft Sin max 96.00 x 13.50 x 3.70, 4.10m Machinery: 2 MAN 4-stroke diesels, 4100bhp = 17.5kts Armament: 2-100mm, 2-30mm, 4-20mm Complement. 225 Built by Neptun, Rostock, laid down in 1936 and commissioned 21.1.39 Her guns were of unknown origin, probably not German 1 ransferred to the USA in 1947, she became the Danish Aegir in 1948 and was scrapped in 1967. GRILLE Admirahy yacht (launched 15.12.34) Displacement: 2560t standard; 3430t deep load Dimensions: 377ft 3in wl, 442ft 1 lin oa (not including bowsprit) x 44ft 4in x lift 2in, 13ft 9in max 115.00, 135.00 x 13 50 x 3.40, 4 20m Machinery: 2-shaft Blohm & Voss geared turbines, 2 Benson boilers, 22,000shp = 26kts Armament: 3-127min/45 C34 (3x 1), 4-37mm/83 C33 (2x2), 4-20mm C30 (4x1) Complement: 248 Grille was the first ship in the Kriegsmarine to test the high-pressure steam machinery that was scheduled for use in German destroyers. Laid down in March 1934 at the Blohm & Voss yard in Hamburg, she commissioned on 19 5.35 and served in peacetime as an Admiralty yacht during fleet reviews and visits by VIPs. During the war she was used as a minelayer up to February 1942. She was decommissioned in July 1942 and was used as a staff ship at Narvik for the C in C and ComSub Arctic. After the war Grille was transferred to Great Britain and then in 1947 to the USA, where she was sold to private owners. She was broken up in 1951. Hela 1940 HELA fleet tender (launched 22.12.39) Adolf Luderits 1940 Displacement: 2113t standard, 2520l deep load Dimensions: 303ft 6in wl, 327ft 5in oa x 41ft 8in x 11ft 6in, 13ft lin max 92.50, 99.80 x 12.70 x 3 50, 4.00m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN 4-stroke diesels, 4700bhp = 19 3kts Armament; 2-105mm/45 C32 (2x 1), l-37mm/83 C30, 2-20mm C30 Complement: 259 ADOLF LUDERITZ class S-boat tenders (launched Feb 1939) Displacement: Dimensions: M ichinery: Armament: Complement: 2900t standard; 3600t deep load 374ft wl, 47ft 7in x 14ft lin 114 00 x 14 50 x 4.30m 4 MAN double-acting 4-stroke diesels, 12,400bhp = 23kts 2-105mm (2x1), 6-37mm/83 C33 (3x2) 225 Class (commissioned, fate)’ Adolf LUdenlz (11.6 40, to USSR as Pajsherd 1946), Carl Peters (6.1.40, mined 14.5 45). Laid down in 1938 by Neptun, Rostock Armament altered m 1941^ to 4-105mm/50 C33 (2x2), l-40mm/70 Bofors 28, 6-37mm/83 C33 (3x2), 8-20mm C38 (4x2). Laid down 1937 by Stiilckenwerft, Hamburg, in 1937 and commissioned 16 10.40. Her machinery was originally installed in MS Athen. In 1946 she was transferred to the USSR and renamed Angara CASTOR icebreaker/АА training ship (launched 15.10.40) Displacement: 5150t standard, 627It deep load Dimensions: 272ft 4in wl, 295ft 3inoa x 68ft 1 lin x 19ft 8in, 22ft 4in max 83 00, 90.00 x 21.00 x 6.00, 6.80m Machinery: 3-shaft VTE, 4 Wagner watertube boilers, 9600ihp = 15kts Armament: l-IO5mm/45 C32, 4-37inm/83 M42 (2x2), 16-20mm C38 Complement: 390 Built by Schichau, Danzig, laid down in 1938 and commissioned 15.10.40. Armament originally planned was 4-105mm/45 C32 (4x 1). Castor was mined in the Baltic 15.3 45 but was raised in 1951 and was transferred to the Soviet Union under the name of Peresvet. A sister-ship, Pollux, was planned but not laid down. GUSTAV NACHTIGAL class S-boat tenders (launched 1940) Displacement: 3100t standard; 3700t deep load Dimensions: 374ft wl x 48ft 3in X 19ft 8in 114 00 x 14 70 x 6.00m Machinery: 1 Blohm & Voss diesel, 38OObhp = 17kts Armament: 3-105mm/45 C32 (3x 1), 6-37mm/S3 M42 (3x2), 10-20mtn C3S Complement’ ? Class (builder, commissioned, fate): Gustav Nachtigal (Deutsche Wcrke, Antwerp, 13.5.44, to Great Britain 1945, Belgium 1951), Hermann von Wiss- mann (Cockerill, Antwerp, 16 12.43, torpedoed 15.6.44) Laid down in 1937 and 1939 as Polish cargo vessels and captured after the fall of Poland. There were also the R-boat tenders Von der Groeben (Л/507, ex-Af 107), Alders (51526, ex-Af 126), Raule (Л/533, ex-Af I33),jungingen (51534, ex-Af 134), .\'et- telbeck (51538, ex-51/38), Von der Lippe (51546, ex-51146), Brommy (51550, ex-M50)and I Idle (51560,ex-5160). These vessels were all ex-mine sweepers and are noted on an earlier page. MISCELLANEOUS EX-ENEMY VESSELS Following the capitulation of Belgium and the Netherlands, a number of miscellaneous vessels were taken over, classified as Kanonenboote (gunvesscls) and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine in 1942-43: Name Disp (std) Armament Fate КI (ex-Dutch) 1200t 4—120mm, 4—37mm, Bombed 5 5.45 12-20mm K2 (ex-Dutch) 1200t 4—120mm, 4-37mm, Torpedoed 12-20mm 9 10 44, raised and BU КЗ (ex-Dutch) 12001 4-120mm, 4-37mm, Dutch Van Speyk 12-2О1ПП1 1945, ВU 1960 K4 (ex-Bclgian Lorelei) 1640t 3-105mm, 4-37mm, Belgian Artvelde 10-20mm 1945, BU 1954 253
GERMANY After the fall of France a number of small fighting vessels under construction in that country were also taken over. These were commis- sioned into the Knegsmarine in 1942-43 as Schnelle Geleitboote (fast escorts)-all were 1372t standard, 1760t deep load, and armed with 2 to 3-105mm, 4—37mm and 10 to 14—20mm. SG3 (ex-Uranus) was returned to France in 1945 as Beautemps Веаиргё, SG2 (ex-Saturnus) was sunk by bombs in January 1944, SGI (ex-Jupiter) was sunk by bombs in August 1944 and SG4 (ex-Merkur) re-entered French service as La Perouse in 1945. A further 25 French units were taken over as fast escorts, but only a few of them were genuine warships (corvettes and avisos'), the rest being armed auxiliaries (cablelayers, hydrographic ships, tenders, minelayers and coastal steamers). They were armed with 2-105mm, 2-37mm and 2 to 6-20mm. SG14 (ex-Matelot Leblanc) was sunk by bombing 24.8.43; SG1S (cx-Rageot de la Touche) was torpedoed off Genoa 25.5.44; SG21 (ex-Chamois) was sunk by gunfire off Toulon 15.8.44; SG22 (ex-Commandant Riviere) was sunk May 1945; and SG23 (ex-La Batailleuse) was scuttled at Genoa 25.4 45. Two further units, SG16 (ex-Admiral Senes) and SG 17 (ex-Enseigne Ballande) were not commissioned. See also under France. In addition to the above, a number of ex-Dutch and ex-Danish sloops and some ex-Itahan corvettes were taken over during World War II, together with minelayers and minesweepers from various enemy navies and a few Dutch and Danish coast defence vessels. Other types in service with the German Navy between 1922 and 1946 included torpedo recovery vessels, the 280t corvettedfZ/, minelayers, auxiliary minesweepers, ferries, trawlers and miscellaneous transports. FIGHTER DIRECTION SHIPS Togo 1943 The origin of German fighter direction ships lay in the need to provide distant early warning of enemy air activity for the Luftwaffe transport aircraft supplying Rommel’s Afnka Korps - British fighters were causing such heavy losses that the ability of the ground forces to mount an efficient campaign was being seriously threatened. The first ship designated for conversion to a fighter direction ship was the Vichy French MS St Odette (ex-Gran). Renamed Odysseus, she was, however, torpedoed on 28.12.42 by HM submarine Ursula before any work could be carried out. The next ship was lheKreta (ex-Ile de Beauit), which was captured by the Germans at Marseilles 18.1.43. By August 1943 the conversion work was finished, but as the ship was preparing for trials the capitulation of Italy brought about a fundamen- tal change in the strategic situation. Kreta served as troop transport for the German evacuation of Corsica. Whilst covering a minelaying opera- tion she was torpedoed in the Strait of Bonifacio on 21.9.43 by HM submarine Unseen. Two faster ships were next converted, the Italian destroyers Premuda (ex-Dubrovntk) and Corsaro. Both got a Freya Al set in place of the mainmast. When the ships were ready in summer 1944, however, Allied air supremacy over the Mediterranean was so complete that they were rendered impotent. Both ships were reconverted into destroyers (see under destroyers). The situation in Germany was different. The only gap in the line of coastal early warning Freya stations was in the Danish Belt. Here British night bombers penetrated the German skies undetected and mined the Belt waters too. So it was decided to put into service a night fighter direction/lead ship. The choice fell on the commerce raider Coronel. She was armed with 3-105mm/45 C32 (3x1), 2-40mm/70 Bofors 28,4-37mm/83 M42 (4x1), 20-20mm C38 (5x4) and 4-73mm Fohn rocket projectors and fitted out with a Freya 1800cm radar system (tracking radius 75 miles) forward and a Wurzburg giant FuMG65 53.6cm/600MC system (radius 56 miles) aft. Reverting to the name Togo, the ship recommissioned 18.10.43 with a complement of 357 and operated in the Danish Sund and in the Baltic, being used towards the end of the war as a troop and refugee transport She was ceded to the USA in 1946 and later transferred to Norway under the name Svalbard. She survives today as the freighter Lacastelle, registered in Panama. Surrendered U-boats being prepared for scuttling (Operation Deadlight) in Dec 1945
France During ihc First World War French industry was so badly disrupted by the occupation of her north eastern Departments that very little naval construction was possible. Thus France could not take full advantage of technical advances made during the war. Furthermore, the activities of the Navy were overshadowed by the Army, and even after 1918 the lingering fear of German militarism ensured that the Army would have first call on the national defence budget. FRANCE AND THE NAVAL TREATIES The lack of a coherent naval policy as well as a full-blown economic crisis in the early postwar years prevented any new construction for some time During the Washington Conference (Nov 1921-Feb 1922) France made it clear that she resented being treated as the equal of Italy, since the French colonial empire was so much larger, but the limit of 175,000t of battleships and 60,000t of aircraft carriers was far beyond her economic power and the stipulation was more a blow to national pride than actual plans. However, France refused to be bound bj the Treaty beyond the end of 1936, and rejected the Anglo- American initiative to restrict submarine warfare. Nothing of importance to the French Navy was agreed at Geneva in 1927 or London in 1930, but at the 1932-33 Geneva Disarmament Conference, Germany revoked the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and eventually withdrew from the Conference altogether. This revived the fear of the old enemy, and in January 1935 France followed the Japanese lead in denouncing the W ashing ton Treaty. A naval agreement was worked out between Britain and Germany in June 1935 allowing the latter 420,000t instead of the Versailles total of 108,000t. One further attempt at a treaty was made in London in 1936, but little was achieved, and Japan and Italy withdrew. THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FRENCH NAVY The building up of a modern naval force took place against this hostile background of treaty restraints, frequent political crises and rapid changes of government, not to mention the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Luckily for the French Navy competent Ministers of Marine like George Leygues and Francois Petrie often survived government changes and gave policy a certain consistency The first funds for the ‘modernisation’ of the Navy were voted in 1922 and provided for 3 Duguay Trouin class light cruisers, 6contre-torpillcurs (large destroyers, or flotilla leaders) of the Jaguar class, 12 Bourrasque class destroyers, 6 Requin class large submarines, 6 Ariane class coastal submarines and the conversion of the Beam to an aircraft carrier. Nine more submarines were authorised in 1923. Problems were experienced unh most of these designs since the Naval Construction Corps had been given few design opportunities during the previous decade, but on the whole the programme was a creditable achievement In 1924 the French Navy attempted to get approval for an ambitious plan that would provide the Washington limits in capital ships and carriers, 360,000t of flotilla craft and 96,000t of submarines by 1943. 1 his was refused in parliament, however, and only 2 Duquesne class heavy cruisers, 6 UAdroit class destroyers, and 2 Redoutable class 1500-tonne ocean-going submarines were authorised. Thereafter, in every year follow mg 1924 the Navy was compelled to seek approval for individual annual budgets, although the totals of the rejected 1924 Programme remained the ultimate goal. This produced fluctuations in the tonnages authorised from year to year, according to political and economic considerations; in some years, such as 1928 and 1936, very little was ordered, and m 1933 nothing at all, and most у ears were well short of the 40,000t that was required annually to carry out the 1924 Programme Nevertheless construction went ahead, albeit sporadically, the 1925-31 Programmes authorising 5 heavy cruisers, 24contre-torpillcurs, 8 destroyers and 55 submarines. 'I hese types in general were consider- able improvements over the first postwar generation of French war- ships, and as the Naval Construction Corps gained more experience, they began to manifest consistent, and in many ways traditional, French design characteristics - concern with speed, and with the requirements of commerce warfare, an extreme example of the latter being the submarine cruiser Surcouf. In an attempt to acquire sub- marine construction experience rapidly, the 600-tonne and 630-tonne boats were designed by individual yards in response to a general specification, but it is indicative of the trend towards standardisation in the late 1930s that the final class was built to an official design France’s early postwar efforts were concentrated on cruisers and flotilla craft, but a new fast capital ship was first proposed m 1927. The concern with commerce warfare was still paramount since this pro- posal, designated a croiseur de combat (battlecruiser), was designed to out-gun Treaty cruisers and to attack convoys that might be escorted by slow battleships. However, in 1929 Germany laid down the first of the ‘pocket-battleships’, and France responded with the Dunkerque in 1931. The tonnage and main armament calibre - both below Washing- ton limits - were also affected by current discussions with Britain and Italy on reducing the size of future capital ships. Despite the constric- tion in size, the Dunkerque design set a number of important trends: it was a step towards the later fast battleships, although only armoured on a battlecruiser scale; it foreshadowed the later concern with underwater protection in the armour scheme; and it introduced the concept of a DP secondary armament, although the mounting was too complex and never gave satisfactory service. 1 hese new fast battleships required screening forces, and the first of the La Gahssonniere class were authorised in the same year, but ade- quate destroyers proved problematical. It took nearly 5 years to finalise a design that would have a service speed of 33-34kts, but such was the pace of construction that only 6 of these Le Hardi class vessels were completed when France surrendered in 1940. Smaller destroyers, or torpedo-boats, were also built in the 1930s, but these 600-tonne craft were very overvv eight as completed and lacked even adequate stability, although they were fast. The potential value as escorts, however, was severely limited by the lack of asdic. In 1935 the first 35,OOOt capital ships were ordered in France; the Richelieu class were a response to the Italian Littorio class, 2 of which had been under construction for a year. However, re-armament really got underway in 1938 with a supplementary budget approved on 2 May and a second on 4.3.39. With the 1937 and 1938 estimates this provided for 2 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers, 3 light cruisers, 4 contre-torpillcurs, 6 destroyers, 14 light destroyers, 21 submarines, 16 minesweeping sloops, 3 colonial sloops and 4 seaplane lenders, as well as submarine chasers and MTBs Apart from the aircraft carriers, of which French designers had little experience, they were all modern designs, compar- able with any foreign contemporaries. By 1939 the French fleet had been successfully reconstructed, although the numbers - and in a few cases the designs - fell short of what the Navy felt was necessary. In some instances, such as the contre-torpillcurs or lhe Surcouf, the ships were highly original, but there vveie a number of areas in which the French Navy was poorly prepared for modern warfare. One was the lack of an adequate light AA weapon; the Mod 33 37mm gun designed to replace the semi-automatic Mod 25 did not enter service before the outbieak of war. This inadequacy was common enough in other navies, but the lack of anti-submarine equipment, and in particular the few flotilla craft fitted with asdic, is less easy to explain THE FRENCH NAVY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR Few ships of the big 1938-39 re-armament programmes were destined to see much combat. Indeed, the involvement of the French Navy in the Second World War gave little opportunity to test her warships against their intended enemies. Up to the Armistice on 22.6.40, French ships operated alongside the Royal Navy, and played a prominent part, 255
KCourbei class battleship and anzhg/e and a L'Adroit class destroy er at Vilkfranche before the war By courtesy of Bernard Millot for example in the Dunkirk evacuation, but after the surrender France was to find herself in a ‘no man’s land’ between her previous enemy and her erstwhile ally. However, before the German occupation many ships escaped to, or were already in, British or French colonial ports. These included the incomplete Richelieu (to Dakar), Jean Bart (to Casablanca), Courbet and Paris (at Portsmouth), Lorraine (at Alexandria), Bretagne, Prove- nce, Dunkerque and Strasbourg (at Mers-el-Kebir), and Вёат (at Martinique). Also in British ports (including Alexandria) were 4 cruis- ers, 2 contre-torpilleurs, 11 destroyers, 9 submarines, 16 escorts, and 23 smaller craft; in French colonial ports were 10 light cruisers, 14 contre- torpilleurs, 27 destroyers, 46 submarines, 31 escorts, and 25 other vessels. During the German advance, incomplete vessels which could not escape either under tow or their own power were destroyed or sabotaged where they lay - in Cherbourg, Le Havre, Brest and a number of smaller ports. However, after the French surrender Britain continued the fight. In Britain the ultimate fate of the French ships was a source of acute anxiety, and despite French good faith, it seemed that Germany was not to be trusted and might well commandeer some if not all of the French fleet. Therefore the difficult, and still controversial, decision was taken to remove as many French ships as possible from potential German control. On 3.7.40 French ships in British ports were Seized, and at Mers-el-Kebir the main French squadron, which had refused what amounted to an ultimatum to surrender, was attacked and put out of action. A pre-emptive strike was also carried out against Dakar at the same time. These attacks soured Anglo-French relations for the rest of the war, but nevertheless a small Free French Naval Force (FNFL) was set up on the same day as the attacks. France, now under the Vichy Govern- ment, responded by recalling many warships from the colonial ports to Toulon, which was in the Free Zone (not occupied by the Germans). Many of these ships saw little service, but there were still active French naval forces in French African and Indo-Chinese ports. Indeed, a French squadron defeated a Thai naval force in the Gulf of Siam in January 1941, in a battle to resist Japanese-backed claims on Cambo- dian territory. The FNFL grew from 2700 men in November 1940 to only 5314 in August 1943, but they participated in the second attack on Dakar in September 1940, and a number of ships were particularly successful in individual operations, the submarine Rubis being the best-known. British and FNFL forces attacked Vichy-controlled Syria in June 1941, resulting in a number of French ships sunk or damaged, and in May 1942 in the wake of the Japanese victories further East, Britain seized Diego Suarez in Madagascar. However, the heaviest French losses were incurred in opposing the Anglo-American landings in Algeria and Morocco, fierce fighting developing around Algiers, Oran and Casa- blanca. An armistice was signed in November 1942, but the Germans responded rapidly by invading Tunisia and occupying the Free Zone of mainland France. They seized a number of ships at Bizerta, most of which were turned over to the Italians and later scuttled or sunk, but before they could reach Toulon the majority of the French fleet was scuttled on 27.11.42. Eventually an Algerian Government was set up and ships which had been interned or laid up in colonial pons joined FNFL units in fighting alongside the Allies. Many ships were refined in the USA, and the small trickle of new ships transferred to the FNFL from 1940 onwards was increased to include 6 American DEs and 8 British frigates, as well as 3 British submarines, and a large number of minesweepers and submarine-chasers. Thereafter the French Navy took an active part in the war in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic coast. Richelieu served with the British East Indies Fleet, and after the end of the war in Europe a number of French ships were actively employed in Indo- China. NOTES Armament. In the following tables, gun calibres are given as approxi- mations in Imperial measures, with the calibre and Model (Mod + the last 2 figures of the year, eg Mod 25 = Model 1925). They were actually known under the following designations: 380mm (15in), 340mm (13.4in), 330mm (13in), 203mm (8in), 155mm (6. lin), 152mm (6in) Mod 30 and 36, 138 6mm (5.5in) Mod 24, 27, 29 and 34, 130mm (5.lin) Mod 19, 22 and 35, 100mm (3.9in) Mod 30 and 36, 100mm AA (3.9in) Mod 25,27 and 31,90mm AA (3.5in) Mod 26,75mm (3in) Mod 28, 75mm AA (3in) Mod 22-27. Torpedoes were 550mm (21.7in) and 400mm (15.7in), the former calibre having three variants, 1923 Model DT for destroyers, 1924 Model V for submarines, and 1929 Model D for cruisers and larger surface craft. The 400mm existed in two models, the DAR type for aircraft and MTBs, and the 1926 Model V for submarines. The French Navy used the following light AA weapons: 37mm in twin or single mountings (the much improved Mod 33 was still undergoing trials when France surrendered), single and twin Hotchkiss 25mm, twin and quadruple Hotchkiss 13.2mm heavy MGs, and 8mm Hotchkiss, 7.5mm MAC and Dame MGs in a variety of mountings. Builders. In the following tables shortened versions of French building yards are given. Their full titles and locations are as follows: Ateliers et Chantiers de St-Nazairc-Penhoet, at St-Nazaire or Grand Quevilly Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, at St-Nazaire or Nantes Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, at Nantes Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon, at Nantes Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranee, at La Seyne or Le Havre Ateliers et Chantiers de La Seine-Maritime (also known as Chantiers Worms), at Le Trait Ateliers et Chantiers Augustin-Normand, at Le Havre Chantiers Navals Fran$ais (C N F), at Caen Ateliers et Chantiers de France, at Dunkerque Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, at Bordeaux . Dyle et Baccalan, at Bordeaux Chantiers Maritime du Sud Quest, at Bordeaux Ateliers et Chantiers de Provence, at Port-de-Bouc Chantiers de Normandie, at Fecamp Schneider, at Chalons-sur-Sadne Societe Proven^ale de Construction Navales (S P C N), at La Ciotat Chantiers Navals de La Pallice, at La Pallice All French naval dockyards are prefaced ‘Arsenal de . . .’ 256
The French Navy in 1922 THE FRENCH NAVYinl922 CAPITAL SHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Republique class PATRIE 17.12.1903 13,965t TS. Condemned Danton class VOLTAIRE 16 1.1909 18,850t 1927 Condemned 1935 DIDEROT 19 4.1909 18,850t Condemned 1936 CONDORCET 20 8 1909 18,850t Sold for BU Courbet class COURBET 23 9 1911 22,189t 14.12.45 Scuttled 9 6 44 ocFan 22 9 1911 22,189t Sold for BU PARIS 28 9.1912 22,189t 14 12.45 Sold for BU FRANCE 7.11.1912 22,189t 21.12.55 Foundered 26.8.22 Bretagne class BRETAGNE 21.4.1913 21,838t Sunk 3.7.40 PROVENCE 20.4.1913 21,838t Scuttled 27.11 42, LORRAINE 30 9 1913 21,838t BU 1949 BU 1954 Danton class All three vessels served as training ships from 1927. Condorcet was scuttled by the Germans at Toulon in August 1944 but was subsequently refloated. Courbet class With the exception of France (wrecked on an uncharted rock in Quiberon Bay), this class were refitted 1926-29. The major modifications were the trunking of the two forward funnels into a single uptake, replacing the pole foremast with a tripod, enlarging the bridgework, fitting improved fire control gear, increasing the elevation of the main armament guns to give a range of 23,000yds compared with previous 14,500yds and increasing AA armament to 7-3in and 2-45mm. Courbet was also reboilered at La Seyne in 1929 with small-tube boilers origi- nally ordered for the cancelled Normandie class battleships Ocean was renamed Jean Bart in 1936 and disarmed in 1938 for service as a training ship. On 7.3 44 she was damaged by bombs during an Allied air raid and on 15.3.44 was used for explosives trials by the Germans and sank. Subse- quently salvaged, she was finally broken up during 1946-47 at Toulon Courbet and Pans became training ships in 1939 and were taken over by the RN on 3.7.40; Courbet was subsequently transferred to the FN FL and served as an A A guardship while Paris was used as an accommodation ship. Courbet was expended as part of the Normandy breakwater while Paris was returned to France and towed to Brest in August 1945 where she served as a pontoon from 1950 until sold. Bretagne class The range of the main armament was increased in 1921-23 by increasing the elevation from 18° to 23°, and all were converted to partial oil-firing in 1927-30, and extensively reconstructed between 1932 and 1935 This involved improved internal protection, new oil-burning, small-tube boilers, and new 13.4in guns (originally intended for the cancelled Normandie class) and augmented AA armament, the submerged TT and 8-5.5in guns being removed. Lorraine's rebuilding went one stage further, the centre 13.4in turret being replaced by a hangar for 4 aircraft, and a catapult. Bretagne blew up at Mers-el-Kebir under the fire of British battleships, which also so damaged the Provence that she sank in shallow water. She was raised and repaired at Toulon where she was scuttled, although she was salved by the Germans tn July 1943 Lorraine was interned by the British at Alexandria from June 1940 to May 1943 when she joined the FNFL and served in the Mediterra- nean. Between 1945 and 1953 she was a training ship and finally a hulk, being stricken on 17.2.53. ARMOURED CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate • LATOUCHE TREVILLE Oct 1892 4700t Stricken 1926 POTHUAU Sept 1895 5374t Stricken 1929 JEANNE D’ARC June 1899 1 l,029t Stricken 1934 GUEYDON Sept 1899 9548t Stricken 1942 MONTCALM Mar 1900 9177t Hulked 1933 DESAIX Mar 1901 7547t Stricken 1927 CONDE Mar 1901 10,233t Stricken 1933 MARSEILLAISE Jan 1900 9458t Stricken 1929 JULES FERRY Aug 1902 12,379t Stricken 1927 VICTOR HUGO Mar 1904 13,108c Stricken 1930 JULES MICHELET Aug 1905 13,105t Stricken 1937 ERNEST RENAN Apr 1906 13,5O4t Stricken 1931 EDGAR QUINET Sept 1908 13,847t Wrecked 9.1.30 WALDECK ROUSSEAU4.3 1908 13,995t Hulked 1936 LIGHT CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate CASSARD May 1896 3890t Stricken 1924 COLMAR 14.11.1908 4350t Stricken 1927, BU 1929 MULHOUSE 4.11.1911 4550t BU 1935 STRASBOURG 25.4.1914 4900t BU 1944 METZ 18.12.1915 5300t BU 1936 The last four were ex-German taken over in 1920. Their former names were Kolberg, Stralsund, Regensburg and Konigsberg respectively The small 3500t Austrian Novara of 1913 was taken over at the same time and renamed Thton- ville. Lorraine at the end of the war Чу courtesy of Bernard Millot 257
FRANCE DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate 450-tonnes SPAHI 30 5 1908 440t Stricken Dec 1927 MAMELUCK 10.3.1909 440t Stricken Feb 1927 LANSQUENET 20 11.1909 440t Stricken Dec 1928 CAVALIER 9.5.1910 440t Stricken Oct 1927 ENSEIGNE HENRY 12.5.1911 440t Stricken June 1927 ASPIRANT HERBER 30 4 1912 440t Stricken July 1930 850 tonnes BOUCLIER 29 6 1911 835t Stricken 15 2 33 CASQUE 25.8.1910 835t Stricken 26.3.26 CIMETTERRE 13.4.1911 835t Stricken 10.7 26 CAPITAINE MEHL 20 4 1912 835t Stricken 10 7.26 COMMANDANT BORY 14.9.1912 835t Stricken 29.7.26 COMMANDANT RIVIERE 2.10 1912 835t Stricken June 1933 DEHORTER 18.4.1912 835t Stricken 1933 FRANCIS GARNIER 1 10 1912 835t Stricken 10 2.26 BISSON 12.9.1912 835t Stricken June 1933 COMMANDANT LUCAS 11 7 1914 835t Stricken June 1933 PROTET 15.10.1913 835t Stricken 1933 MANGINI 31 3 1913 835t Stricken 1934 MAGON 19.4.1913 835t Stricken 16.2.26 ENSEIGNE ROUX 13.7.1915 835t Stricken 1938 MfiCANICIEN PRINCIPAL 15.5.1915 835t Stricken 1936 LESTIN ENSEIGNE GABOLDE 23.4 1921 835t Stricken 1938 Ex-Argentinian AVENTURIER 18 2 1911 930t Stricken 1938 INTRfiPIDE 25.9.1911 930t Stricken 1937 tEmeraire 8.12.1911 930t Stricken 1936 opiniAtre 1911 930t Stricken 1933 Japanese Kaba type algErien 1917 675t Stricken 1936 ANNAMITE 1917 675t Stricken 1933 ARABE 1917 675t Stricken 1936 BAMBARA 1917 675t Stricken 1933 HOVA 1917 675t Stricken 1936 KABYLE 1917 675t Stricken 1936 MAROCAIN 1917 675t Stricken 1935 SAKALAVE 1917 675t Stricken 1936 SENfiGALAIS 1917 675t Stricken 1936 SOMALI 1917 675t Stricken 1935 TONKINOIS 1917 675t Stricken 1936 TOUAREG 1917 675t Stricken 1935 Ex-Austnan (taken over in MATELOT LEBLANC 1920) 1916 1050t Stricken 1936 (cx-Dukla) Ex-German (taken over in PIERRE DURAND (ex-V79) 1920) 18.4.1916 925t Stricken 1933 BUINO (ex-V/30) 20 11.1917 925t BU 1934 CHASTANG (ex-S133) 1.9.1917 Q20t Stricken 1934 VESCO (ex-5/34) 25.8.1917 920t Stricken 1935 MAZARfi (cx5/35) 27 10.1917 920t Stricken 1935 DELIGNY (ex-S139) 24.11.1917 920t Stricken 1934, RAGEOT DE LA TOUCHE (ex/7/46) 23 1 1918 990t BU 1935 BU 1935 DELAGE (ех-Я/47) 13.3.1918 990t BU 1935 AMIRAL SfiNfiS (ex-SU3) 31 1 1918 2060t Stricken 1936 The French-built Argentinian vessels were requisitioned in August 1914. The Kaba type were built in Japan because of disruptions to the French shipbuilding industry caused by rhe war. They were repeats of a design already in service with the Japanese Navy. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate GRONDEUR 13.2.1892 HOt Stricken 10.11.25 MISTRAL 4 5.1901 115t Stricken 18.4.28 SIROCCO 20 2 1901 115t Stricken 5.5.25 SIMOUN 23.3.1901 115t Stricken 20.4.25 AUDACIEUX 29.8 1900 115t Stricken Feb 1923 MORTIER 23.3.1906 310t Stricken 30.3.27 CLAYMORE 14 3.1906 310t Stricken 19.3 26 CARQUOIS 26.6.1907 310t Stricken 29.11.30 TRIDENT 5 12.1907 310t Stricken 13.11 31 MASSUE 19.9 1908 310c Stricken 30 3.27 GLAIVE 10.9.1908 320t Stricken 13.3.32 POIGNARD 3.7 1909 320t Stricken 3 5 26 SAPE 23 9.1907 320t Stricken 3.5.26 FANFARE 19.12.1907 320t Stricken 28 4.25 In 1922 there were also the small lOOt coastal TBs3/0>315,321,324,327,328, 330, 332, 336, 337, 339, 349, 368 Few survived bejond 1930 and all were stricken by 1937. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp (surface/sub) Fate 1 BRUMAIRE 29.4 1911 395t/550t Stricken 1930 EULFR 12 10.1912 395t/550t Stricken H923 NEWTON 20.5.1912 395t/550t Stricken 1926 CURIE 18 7 1912 395t/550t Stricken 1928 LE VERRIER 31.10.1912 395t/550t Stricken 1925 CLORINDE 2.10.1913 415t/570t Stricken Jan 1926 CORNELIE 29 10.1913 415t/570t Stricken Dec 1926 GUSTAVE ZED’E 20.5.1913 840t/1050r Stricken 1937 NERIEDE 9 5.1914 840/1050t Stricken 1935 AMPHITRITE 9 6 1914 415t/610t Stricken Sept 1935 ARTfiMIS 14.10.1914 41St/610t Stricken 1927 ATALANTE 14 4 1915 415t/610t Stricken 1931 ARETHUSE 20.4.1916 415t/610t Stricken 1927 ARARANTE 11.11.1915 415t/610t Stricken 1925 ASTREE 6 12 1915 415t/610t Stricken 1928 ANDROMAQUE 13.2.1915 415t/610t Stricken 1931 BELLON E 8.7 1914 530t/790t Stricken 1935 GORGONE 23.12.1915 530t/790t Stricken 1935 HERMIONE 15.3.1917 530t/790t Stricken 1935 DAPHNE 25 10.1915 635t/890t Stricken Feb 1935 DUPUY DE LOME 9.9.1915 830t/1290t Stricken July 1935 SANE 27 1 1916 830t/1290t Stticken July 1935 FULTON 1 4 1919 870t/1250t Stricken July 1935 JOESSEL 21.7.1919 870t/1250t Stricken April 1935 LAGRANGE 31 5 1917 920t/1320t Stricken July 1935 ROMAZOTTI 31.3.1918 920t/1320t Stricken 1937 LAPLACE 12.8.1919 920t/1320t Stricken July 1935 REGNAULT 25 6 1924 920t/1320t Stricken 1937 MAURICE CALLOT 26.3.1921 930t/1300t Discarded 1936 PIERRE CHAILLEY 19 12.1922 885l/1190t Stricken c!937 Requisitioned boats ARMIDE July 1915 460t/670t Stricken July 1932 AMAZONE Aug 1916 460t/670t Stricken July 1932 ANTIGONE Oct 1916 460t/670t Stricken Aug 1935 O’BYRNE 22 5.1919 340t/520t Stricken July 1935 HENRI FOURNIER 30 9 1919 340t/520t Stricken July 1935 LOUIS-DUPETIT- THOUARS May 1920 340t/520t Stricken July 1935 Ex-German boats ROLAND MOR1LLOT 14 12.1915 265t/290t Discarded 1925 (ex-t/B26) VICTOR REVEILLE 9.4.1916 750t/830t BU 1933 (ex-t/79) JEAN AUTRIC 16.5.1917 798t/I000t BU 1937 (ex-U105) lEon mignot 11 10.1917 798t/1000t BU 1935 (ex-U108) RENE AU DRY 4 4 1918 1165t/1510t BU 1937 (ex-U119) HALBRONN 3.12.1917 1150t/2500t BU 1935 (ex-U/39) PIERRE MARRAST 20.4.1918 820t/1000t BU 1937 (ex-U/62) JEAN ROULIER 6 9 1918 820t/1000t Stricken 1935 (ex-U/66) TRINITE- SCHILLEMANS 29 4.1918 520t/640t BU 1935 (ex-UB94) CARISSAN 29 7.1918 520t/640t BU 1935 (cx-UB99) JEAN CORRE 26.10.1918 525t/650t BU 1936 (cx-UB155) All the requisistioned boats were taken over while building. Amide was ex- Japanese, the next pair ex-Greek, and the remaining three ex-Romanian Of the German boats, UB26 was captured on 5.4 16, but the remainder were taken over in 1918-19. 258
The French Navy in 1922/Capital Ships SLOOPS Name Launched Disp (normal) Fate QUENTIN ROOSEVELT Dec 1916 585t BU 1955 (cx-Flamant) DUBOURDIEU Apr 1918 453t Sunk 8.11.42 DU CHAFFAULT Sept 1918 453t Stricken 1938 DUMONT 6 11.1918 453t Renamed Enseigne D’URVILLE Henn’ 19 10 29. Hulked 1940 DU COUfiDIC July 1919 453t Stricken 1939 DUPERRB Dec 1918 453t Stricken 1933 VILLE D’YS June 1917 1121t BU 1945 (ex-Andromeda) SCARPE 31 10.1917 604t Stricken cl936 SUIPPE April 1918 604t BU 1953 ANCRE April 1918 604t Stricken cl936 Al LE ITE March 1918 492t Sold for BU 14.10 41 ESCAUT 1918 492t Stricken cl936 MARNE 25 11 1916 601t Scuttled 10 3 45 AISNE 1917 566t BU 1938 MEUSE 1917 566t BU 1938 YSER Jan 1917 566t Scuttled 27.11 42 SOMME March 1917 566t Sold for BU 14 10 41 OISE 12 10 1917 566t BU 1938 aldEbaran 19 5 1916 1250t Stricken mid 1930s BELLATRIX 29.5.1916 1250t Stricken mid-1930s ALGOL 17 6 1916 1250t Stricken mid-1930s ALIAIR 6 7.1916 1250t Stncken mid 1930s ANTARfcS 4 9 1916 1250t Stricken mid-1930s CASSIOPEE 10 2 1917 1250c Stncken mid 1930s REGULUS 19 3.1917 1250t Stricken mid-1950s ARRAS July 1918 850t BU Feb 1946 YPRES (cx-Dunkerque) July 1918 850t BU Apr 1942 REIMS July 1918 850t BU 1938 LAFFALTX (ex Verdun) 1918 850l BU 1938 TAHURE March 1918 850t Sunk 24.9 44 BELFORT March 1919 850t Sold for BU 22 11.46 AMIENS May 1919 850t Sold for BU 13 10 49 COUCY June 1919 850t Sold for BU 25.2 46 LASSIGNY July 1919 850t Stricken 21 10 41 ePinal VAUQUOIS LES fiPARGES Aug 1919 Aug 1919 Sept 1919 850l 850t 850t BU Dec 1946 Mined 18.6 40 Scuttled 27 11 42 CALAIS Nov 1919 850t Sold for BU 25 11 46 BAPAUME 1919 850t BU 1937 Epernay 1919 850t BU 1934 NANCY 1919 850t BU 1938 1OUL 1919 850t BU 1935 VIMY 1919 850t BU 1935 CRAONNE 1919 850t BU 1935 LI EVIN 1920 850t BU 1935 lunEville 1920 850t BU 1935 MONTDEMENT 1920 850t BU 1935 MONTMIRAIL 1920 850t BU 1933 PERONNE 1920 850t BU 1935 REM I REMONT 1920 850t BU 1936 REVIGNY 1920 850t BU 1937 VITRY LE FRANQOIS 1920 850t BU 1935 BACCARAT 1921 850t BU 1933 BETHUNE 1921 850t BU 1934 MINESWEEPERS There were large numbers of minesweepers (ex-ASW gunboats). Of the Ardent class, the remaining vessels were Agile, Alert, Ardent, Audacieux, Batailleuse, Belhqueuse, Capnaeuse, Curieuse, Dedaigneuse, Emporia, Etourdt, Eveille, Graaeuse, Impitueuse, Inconstant, Maltcieuse, Moqueuse, Sans Souci and Tapageuse Of 266t, all were built in 1916-17 and all, except Dedaigneuse (scuttled 27.11.42), Etourdi (BU 1941) and Tapageuse (BU 1944), had been stricken by 1938. Other ex-ASW gunboats converted to minesweepers were- theLwonne(1917, 266t) and the 315t Fnponne class ships of 1916-17, Dihgente, Engageante, Surveillante (the first was stncken in 1938 and the others BU in 1946), and the 457t Conqufranie and Vaillante of 1917 (the former was sunk on 14 4 41, and the latter was condemned in 1932). Purpose built minesweepers included the 360t Grantt class of 1918-19, Grantt, Mica, Porphyre, only the first surviving until the war. Of the similar Pynie, Quartz and Meulieure of 1919, only the last served during World War II, being wrecked on 25 4 41. SUBMARINE-CHASERS At this date there were still 41 of the US-buih type in service, along with 15 French-built craft By 1939 only 8 (Ch25,51,56,58,74,81,95 and 98) of the former were in commission, and 4 (Ch 106,107, 111 and 112) of the latter were serving in the Far East CAPITAL SHIPS Sometimes classed as battlecruisers, these vessels initiated the general trend towards fast battleship designs among the major European navies. Intended as an answer to the German Deutschland class, they were given a high speed and comparauxely light protection - the latter being only- intended to defeat the German Ilin AP shell with which the Deutschland (and later Schanihorst) class were armed. Dunktrque was provided under the 1931 Programme and Stras- bourg under the 1934 Programme as replacements for the battleships France (lost in 1922) and Octan (dis- armed 1938) respectively, according to current treaty requirements. In DUNKERQUE class Displacement 26,500t standard; 3O,75Ot (Strasbourg 31,400t) normal; 35,500t deep load Dimensions: 685ft Sin pp, 703ft 9in oa x 102ft x 28ft 6in 209 00, 214 50 x 31.08 x 8 70m Machinery 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Indrct boilers, U2,500shp = 29.5kts. Oil 6500t Armour. Main belt 9iin-5$in, decks 5in-llin, turrets 131in-6in, torpedo bulkhead Hin, secondan turrets 31m, CT 1 Olin Armament. 8-13in/50 Mod 33(2x4), 16-5.1in/45 Mod 35 DP (3x4, 2x2), 8-37mm AA(4x2), 32-13 2mm AA (8x4), 2 aircraft Complement: 1431 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DUNKERQUE Arsenal de Brest 24.12.1932 2.10.35 Apr 1937 Scuttled 27.11 42 STRASBOURG A C de St-Nazaire- 25.11.1934 12.12.36 Dec 1938 Scuttled 27 11.42 Penhoct 259
FRANCE outline the design was based on the British Nelson class with the entire mam armament forward, a tower bridge structure and internal side pro- tection. The original designed dis- placement was 26,500t standard, 33,OOOt deep load. During 2-hour full-power trials, Dunkerque made 31 06kts with 135,585shp and, during 8-hour full power trials, 30 75kts with 114,050shp Strasbourg achieved similar results. The main armour belt was inclined at 21° and was intended to resist 11m AP shells at normal inclination down to 18,000yds range. The underwater protection consisted of air and fuel compartments bounded on the inboard side by the torpedo bulkhead and outboard by a com- partment filled with a rubber-based, water-excluding compound. The quadruple turret design was originally evolved for the cancelled battleships of the Normandie class and provided the 13in guns with 35° elevation giv- ing a maximum range of 32,800yds. The turrets were spaced well apart to avoid the possibility of a si ngle shell or torpedo neutralising them both and to minimise mutual intereference due to blast effect Ammunition stowage allowed for 800 rounds of 13in, 7865 rounds of 5 Im and 20,200 rounds of 37inm One catapult was fitted. Prior to the French surrender the two ships were employed mainly in covering Atlantic convoys against interference by raiders Both were at Mers-el-Kebir (Oran) in April 1940 where Dunkerque was heavily dam- aged by gunfire from the British fleet and, 3 months later, by torpedo air- craft from Ark Royal. Strasbourg escaped and moved to Toulon where she was joined by Dunkerque, after temporary repairs, m February 1942 Both were scuttled at Toulon (Dun- kerque m dry dock) in November 1942 but Strasbourg was salvaged by the Italian Navy in ihe following year She was returned in 1944 and sunk during an Allied bomb ng raid on Toulon on 18 8 44. She was salvaged again in 1945 and, after service as an experimental hulk for underwater tests, was sold for scrapping in May 1955. The wreck of the Dunkerque was removed from the drvdock in 1945 and was eventually sold for scrap in 1958. The first 2 were authorised m 1935 and the remaining pair in 1938, and were designed to carry 8-15in, 15-6in, 8-37mm and 24-13 2m The armament of the first two was subse- quently altered owing to the exigen- cies of war, while more substantial changes were made to the design of the uncompleted pair. They followed the general design of the Dunkerque class with a high proportion (37 per cent) of displacement given over to protection (against 15in shellfire). The 380mm (1935 pattern) main armament fired a 19381b shell at bet- ween 1 and 2 rounds per minute to a range of 50,000yds at 35е elevation Magazine capacity was originally 832-15m and 2800-6m, but in 1943 this became 650-15in, 3000-6in and 6500-3.9in The Richelieu's machin- cry was built by A C de la Loire, St- Nazaire, and Jean Bart's by F C de 1’Atlantique. Richelieu was 95 per cent complete when France surrendered and she proceeded to Dakar, where she was damaged during the British attack In 1942 she joined the Allies and was sent to the USA for a maj’or refit, emerging in October 1943 w'ith radar added, aircraft and catapults removed, and the 37mm and 13 2mm A A replaced by 56-40mm (14x4) and 48-20mm (48x1). This increased displacement by 3000t, 500t of which was increased bunkerage. Range was 5500/2500/1800nm at 18/26/32kts and during postwar trials she reached 179,OOOshp = 32.5kts. Richelieu was employed with the British Eastern Meet in 1944—45 and later off French Indo-China She paid off in 1959 and was hulked at Brest as an accommoda- tion ship. Jean Ban was an estimated 77 per cent complete when France was over- run, but she escaped to Casablanca in RICHELIEU class Displacement: 35,000t standard; 43,293t (Jean Ban 46,500t) normal; 47,548t (Jean Bart 49,850t) deep load Dimensions: 794ft pp, 813ft 2m oa x 108ft 3m (Jean Bart 116ft 3in over bulges) x 31ft 7in (Jean Bart 30ft 3m) 242.00, 247 85 x 33 00 (35 43) * 9 63(9 22)m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Indret boilers, 150,OOOshp = 30kts (Jean Bart 165,OOOshp = 32kts) Oil 6796t (Jean Bart 6476t) Armour: Mam belt 131in-9?in (fore bulkhead 15in-9iin), longitudinal torpedo bulkhead 2in-Hin, mam deck 6?in-6m, lower deck 2in-l$in, mam turrets 17Jm-6j|in, secondary turrets 5in-23in Jean Bart had 426ft external bulges Armament: (Richelieu in 1940) 8-15m/45 Mod 35 (2x4), 9-6in/55 Mod 36 DP (3x3), 12-3.9in/45 Mod 31 AA (6x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 16-13.2mm AA (4x4), 3 aircraft Complement: 1670 (Richelieu m 1943), 2134 (Jean Ban as flagship) Name RICHELIEU JEAN BART CLEMENCEAU GASCOIGNE June 1940 under her own power Only the forward 15in turret was mounted and it was late 1942 before this was in any condition to fire. At the time of the US invasion of North Africa Jean Bart also carried 8-90mm (4x2), 5-37mm(2x2, lx I)and 22-13.2mm (4x2, 14x1) AA; during this attack the ship was badly damaged and the work of completion did not begm until 1946 at Brest, although various proposals for make-shift completion (with one main turret or as an aircraft carrier) were put forward during the latter stages of the war. Sea trials began on 16 1.49 when she obtained 162,855shp = 31.84kts over 6 hours, and 176,030shp = 32.13kts for 2 hours. In May 1955 she was finally completed with 8-15in/45 (2x4), 9-6in (3x3), 24—3.9in AA (12x2), 28-57mm (14x2), 2G-20mm (20x 1). She was stricken in January 1961, and hulked at Toulon. Clemenceau, like her sisters, was Builder Laid dowi Launched Comp Fate Arsenal de Bre't 22.10.1935 17.1 39 July 1940 BU 1964 A C de St-Nazaire- Jan 1939 6 3 40 Jan 1949 BU 1970 Penhoet Arsenal de Brest 17.1.1939 1943 — Hull sunk 27 8 44 A C de St-Nazaire- — — — Cancelled Penhoet built in drydock and was only 10 per cent complete in June 1940. The incomplete hull was floated out in 1943 and later bombed by Allied air- craft, on 27 8 44 The design incorpo- rated some modifications to the sec- ondary armament (12-6in) and A A guns, with aircraft facilities deleted. Gascoigne was to have had the main armament turrets mounted one for- ward and one aft. She was never laid down Two sisters were approved m April 1940 - although they may have been built to a new design - but were not begun. Richelieu at Cherbourg in Aug 1946 260
Aircraft carriers AIRCRAFT CARRIERS A carrier was authorised in 1922 and it was decided to convert this vessel from the incomplete hull of a Nor- mandie class battleship, work starting in August 1923. The flight deck was 590ft 9in long with 3 electric lifts (two 50ft square and one 27ft x 40ft) to the 406ft 9in hangar, beneath which were further workshops and storage for partly dismantled aircraft. There was originally a retractable charthouse forward. Petrol stowage, under inert gas, was 3530 cu ft, with 530 cu ft of oil. Because of the limited flight deck area only a quarter of the aircraft complement could be ranged at once. Radius was 6000nm at lOkts. Bfam was completely refitted at La Seyne during 1935, but by the out- break of war was too slow for fleet carrier duties. She was demilitarised at Martinique in May 1942, but joined the FNFL on 30.6.43. She was con- verted to an aircraft transport in the USA 1944-45 and emerged in March 1945 with an all-American armament of 4—5in/38 DP (4x1), 24-40mm (6x4) and 26-20mm (26x 1). She served as an accommodation ship for submarine crews at Toulon for many years before being sold to Italian shipbreakers. BfiARN Displacement: 22,146l standard; 28,400t full load Dimensions: 559ft 9in pp, 599ft oa x 89ft (115ft 6in over flight deck) x 30ft 6in 170.60, 182.60 x 27.13 (35.20) x 9.30m Machinery: 4 shafts. 2 turbines, 6 Normand du Temple boilers, 22,500shp (inner shafts), plus 2 sets reciprocating engines, 15,000ihp (outer shafts) = 21.5kts. Oil 2160t Armour: Main belt 3'in, flight deck lin, main deck lin, lower deck 2?in, casemates 2jin Armament: 8-6.1in/55 Mod 21 (8x l),6-3in AA(6x l),8-37mm AA(8xl), 16MGs,4—21.7inTT sub, 40 aircraft Complement: 875 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BfiARN F C de la Mediterranee, La Seyne Jan 1914 Apr 1920 May 1927 Sold for BU 31.3.67 By courtesy of Bernard Millot Beam prewar These ships belonged to the 1938 Programme and were the final result JOFFRE class of extensive studies undertaken from 1931 onwards. The designers had access to British design experience and opted for a double-storied han- gar. However, to increase the size of the upper hangar, which was rather small on some of the early British ships, it was taken the full width of the hull to the port side. Painlevf w’as never laid down; the construction of a third carrier was approved in April 1940 but this project was also cancel- led. The flight deck measured 656ft 3in x 91ft 9in (200 x 28m) and was offset to port to compensate for the island superstructure on the starboard Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 18,0001 standard; 20,000t normal 748ft pp, 774ft 3in oa x 80fl 9in (113ft 2in over flight deck) X 21ft 8m 228.00, 236.00 x 24.60 (34.50) x 6.60m 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Indret boilers, 125,000shp = 33kts Main belt 4in, longitudinal bulkheads lin-Hin, main deck llin-2|in (over magazines) 8-5.1in/45 Mod 35 DP (4x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 24-13.2mm AA (6x4), 40 aircraft 1251 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate JOFFRE A C de St-Nazaire- 26.11.1938 - — Construction Penhoet abandoned June 1940 PAINLEVE A C de St-Nazaire- - - — Cancelled • Penhoct side. The flight deck was provided with 9 arrestor wires and 2 lifts. The air group would have comprised 25 torpedo-bomber and 15 fighter air- craft. Radius was 7800nm at 20kts or ofjoffre and Painlevd was authorised, the Naval Staff had contemplated the possible conversion of the heavy cruisers Duquesne and Tourville into Authorised under the 1926 Pro- gramme, Commandant Teste was designed to act as a tender and trans- port for seaplanes as well as a reserve from which aircraft supplies could be drawn by cruisers which carried planes. This vessel was fitted out with repair and maintenance shops and had a hangar measuring 275ft x 88ft 6in x 23ft (84.00 x 27.00 x 7.00m). Air- craft were launched by 4 catapults and recovered by 5 cranes of between 5t and 12t capacity. A stern ramp was also fitted to receive the aircraft. The COMMANDANT TESTE seaplane tender Displacement: 10,000t standard; 1 l,500t full load Dimensions: 512ft 9in pp, 547ft Ilin oa, x 88ft 7in x 22ft 9in 156.30, 167.00 x 27.00 x 6.93m Machinery: 2-shaft Schneider-Zoelly geared turbines, 4 Loire boilers, 21,000shp = 2O.5kts. Coal 720t, oil 290t Armour: Main bell 2in, main deck (over machinery) I Ain Armament: 12-3.9in/45 Mod 27 AA (12x 1), S-37mm AA (8x 1), 12-13.2mm AA (6x2), 26 aircraft Complement: 686 Name Builder Laid down Launched Co nip Fate COMMANDANT TESTE F C de la Gironde May 1927 12.4.29 1932 BU 1950 261
FRANCE catapults were of the Penhoct 3-ton type Of the Loire small-tube boilers, 2 of them were coal-fired, and the other 2 burned oil. Radius was 6000nm at lOkts and on trials an aver- age speed of 21,77kts was maintained for 3 hours. At the beginning of the war the ship carried one squadron of torpedo-carrying Lateco^re 298 float- planes and one squadron of Loire- Nieuport 130 flying boats. She was not damaged during the British attack on Mers-el-Kebir but was scuttled at Toulon to avoid capture by the Ger- mans After she was raised in 1946, proposals to convert her either to a fast transport for troops and equip- ment or to a training carrier with a 502ft flight deck and 12 aircraft were put forward. However, both projects were cancelled and she was used as a store ship for US equipment, being finally sold on 15.5.50. Commandant Teste prewar By courtesy of Bernard Millot ARROMANCHES The British light fleet carrier Colossus was transferred to the French Navy as the Arromanches in August 1946 (see British section for full details). She was paid off щ 1974. DIXMUDE escort aircraft earner The US-built British escort carrier Biter was transferred to the French Navy as the Dixmude in April 1945. She was mainly employed ferrying aircraft from the USA, but was m action in Indo-China in 1946-48 She was paid off in 1956, and after har- bour service was returned to the US Navy in 1966 for disposal. CRUISERS The first major French design after the First World War was generally Pnmaguet 1937 considered successful and seaworthy Authorised in 1922, this class adopted a calibre that was already in service with the French Army, namely the 6 lin gun, which fired 4-56.5kg shells per minute to a maximum range of 21,600m at 35° elevation, a perform- ance superior to the old marks of 7 6m gun. The enclosed gunhouses were reportedly gas-tight, with forced ven- tilation. Originally 24 torpedoes were carried, the 12 spares being stowed in a magazine. Protection, however, was slight, although there were 16 water- tight bulkheads and double skin plat- ing abreast the machinery. Trials results (6 hours at full com- plement of fuel and stores) for the three ships were 116,235,115,100 and 116,849shp = 33.6, 33.04 and 33.06kts respectively, but they proved economical steamers being able to maintain 30kts at half power for 24 hours. Radius was 4500/ 3000/900nm at 15/20/33kts. Pnmaguet was given a large refit at Lorient in 1937 and in 1942 had 2-25mm AA (2x 1) and 16-13.2mm AA (4x4) added. In 1943 theTT and catapult were removed from Duguay Troutn and 15 single 20mm and 3 twin 13.2mm A A guns added; by the end of the war her AA armament was comprised of 6-40mm and 20-20mm, all in single mountings. Duguay Troutn was disarmed at Alexandria in 1940 but rejoined the Allies 30 5.43 Lamoue-Ptcquei was based m French Indo-China m 1940 and took part in the battle at Koh- Chang on 17.1.41, in which a number of Thai vessels were sunk and dam- aged. She was bombed by US Navy aircraft near Saigon. Pnmaguel was disabled during the Allied landings in North Africa and although beached became a total loss. DUGUAY TROUIN class Displacement: 7249t standard; 7880t normal; 9350l full load Dimensions: 575ft Im pp, 595ft 9in oa x 56ft 5in x 17ft 175.30, 181 60 x 17.20 x 5 20m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Guyot boilers, 100,000shp = 33kts Oil 1500t Armour: Main deck Jin, turrets lin, CT Im, box citadel (magazines and steering gear) Jin Armament: 8-6.1in/55 Mod 21 (4x2),4—3in/60 Mod 22 AA(4x 1),4-13.2mm AA, 12-21.7inTT(4x3), 2aircraft Complement: 578 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DUGUAY TROUIN Arsenal de Brest 4.8.1922 14.8 23 10 9.26 BU 29 3 52 LAMOTTE-PICQUET Arsenal de Lor ent 17.1.1923 21 3.24 1 10 26 Sunk 12 1 45 PRIMAGUET Arsenal de Brest 10 8.1923 21.5 24 1.9 26 . Beached 8 11.42 Duguay Troutn about 1946 By courtesy of Bernard Millot 262
Cruisers Duquesne as completed Authorised under the 1924 Prog- ramme, these were the first French * I reaty* cruisers In many respects enlarged versions of the Duguay Trouin class with an improved hull form, they were, like their predeces- sors, good steamers and could main- tain 3Okts at half power. Duquesne maintained 131,770shp = 34.12kts (35.3kts max) during a 4-hour trial and louruille I26,919shp = 33 22kts (34 13kts max) over 6 hours at normal displacement Range was 4500/1900nm at 15/3Okts. Boiler and engine rooms were arranged alter- nately. The 1924 model 8m/5O fired a 127kg shell to a maximum range of 31,000m at 4 rounds per minute. There was one catapult. Protection was still scanty, the total weight being barely 430t Both rejoined the Allies in 1943, when their AA armament was altered during refits in the USA to 8-40mm and !6-20mm, all in single mountings Both were paid off in 1950 and hulked before going to the breakers. DUQUESNE class Displacement: 10,000t standard, ll,640t normal, 12,200t full load Dimensions: 607ft pp, 626ft 8in oa x 62ft 4in x 20ft 9in 185 00, 191 00 x 19.00 x 6 32m Machinery: 4-shaft Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 9 Guyot du Temple boilers, 120,OOOshp = 33 75kts Oil !820t Armour: Mam belt lin, turrets lin, CT Im, box citadel (magazines and steering gear) lin Armament: 8-8in/5O Mod 24 (4x2), 8-3in/60 Mod 22 AA (8x1), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 12-13.2mm AA, 6-21.7in TT (2x3), 2 aircraft Complement: 605 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DUQUESNE Arsenal de Brest 30.10.1924 17.12 25 1928 BU July 1955 TOURVILI E Arsenal de Lonent 14 4 1925 24 8 26 1928 BU Mar 1962 Tourville at the end of the war By courtesy of Bert ard Millot One of these cruisers was ordered each year from 1925 to 1928 They were modified Tourvilles with 2kts sacrificed for better protection, but each showed slight improvements over the preceding ship, and no two were identical in design or appear- ance. Machinery weight saving in the last three allowed more armour, the total weight rising from 95It in Suf- Jren, through 1374t in the next pair, to I533t in Dupleix. After Suffren the vertical armour was sited inside the hull, allowing a reduction m the deck plating from 50mm to 20mm and pro- viding 60mm-54mm armour over the whole length of the machinery com- partments. Additional protection to the after boiler and engine rooms was provided b\ a 6lft coal filled space between the hull and the internal tor- pedo bulkhead. The coal was orig- inal!} carried to fire two small boilers intended to increase the range by . 2000nm at 1 Ikts, but the boilers were not fitted to the last pair of ships, although they reportedly kept the coal protection. Radius was 5300 (Suffren 4600)/3700nm at 15/20kts On a 4 hour trial Suffren averaged IOO,O89shp = 32.5Ikts and of the remainder Colbert achieved 99,575shp = 31 27kts for 6 hours at I l,426t and 105,722shp = 33 06kts for 1 hour. All except Suffren had their AA armament increased during 1941-42; Colbert received 6-37mm (6x1), 20-13 2mm (4x4, 2x2) and 4-8nim (4X1); Foch and Dupleix added 8-37mm (4x2), 20-13.2mm (4x4,2x2)and 7 (Dupleix 3)8mm. In 1943 Suffren was armed with 8-40mm, and 20-20mm, all singles, in exchange for 6-21 7in TT, the air- craft and catapult. Suffren was interned at Alexandria from June 1940 until joining the Allies on 30 5 43 After the war she served m the Far East and w as finalls paid off on 27 12 62, became an accommoda- tion ship and was renamed Ocean m 1964 The other 3 w'ere scuttled at Toulon, although Foch and Dupleix were raised in 1943, the former to be scrapped and the latter destroyed by Suffren postwar By courtesy of Bernard Mtllot Allied bombing. SUFFREN class Displacement: 9938t standard, ll,290t normal; 12,780t full load Dimensions: 607ft pp, 637ft 2in (Suffren 643ft, Dupleix 636ft 6in) oa x 63ft 4in (Suffren 65ft 7in, Colbert 63ft 7in) x 24ft (Foch 24ft 7m, Dupleix 23ft 7in) 185 00, 194 20 (196 00, 194 00) x 19 3 (20.00, 19.4) x 7 34 (7 5,7 2)m Machinery; 3-shaft Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 9 Guyot du Temple boilers, 90,OOOshp = 31kts. Oil 1800t (plus 640t coal in Suffren and Colbert) Armour Main belt 2,m-2in (Suffren 2in), longitudinal bulkheads lin (Suffren only), upper and main decks lin-?in (Suffren, Dupleix lin), turrets lin, CT Ilin Armament 8-8in/50 Mod 24 (4x2), 8-3 5in/5O Mod 26 A A (Suffren 3m) (8 x 1, Dupleix 4x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 12-13 2mm (3x4), 12-21 7in TT (4x3) (Suffren only), 3 (Suffren 2) aircraft Complement: 605 (Suffren 602) peace; 752 (Suffren 773) war Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate SUFFREN Arsenal de Brest May 1926 3.5 27 1930 BU 1974 COLBERT Arsenal de Brest June 1927 20.4.28 1931 Scuttled 27.11.42 FOCH Arsenal de Brest June 1928 24 4.29 1931 Scuttled 27.11.42 DUPLEIX Arsenal de Brest Oct 1929 9 10 30 1932 Scuttled 27 11 42
FRANCE This unarmoured minelaying cruiser was authorised under ihe 1925 Prog ramme She served most of the latter stages of her career as a gunnery train- ing ship at Toulon, but early m 1939 she was converted into an officer cadet training cruiser and renamed La Tour d’Auvergne, by which name she is bet ter known. She attained 56,000shp = 30 6kts on trials, with a maximum of 31 6kts She was lost following an accidental mine explosion at Casa- blanca, and the wreck was con- demned on 24 2 40. In April 1940 there was a short-lived proposal to build a light cruiser to replace her. La Tour d’Auvergne (ex-Pluton) 1949 PLUTON Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 4773t standard; 6500t full load 472ft 5in pp, 500ft 4in oa x 51ft 2m x 17ft 144 00, 152 50 x 15 60 x 5 18m 2-shaft Breguet geared turbines, 4 small-tube boilers 57,000shp = 30kts Oil 1200t 4-5 5in/40 Mod 27(4x1), 4-3in/60 A A (4x 1), 2-37mm AA (2x 1), 12-13 2mm A A (3x4), 290 mines 424 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate PLUTON Arsenal de Lorient Apr 1928 10 4 29 Apr 1931 Sunk 13 9 39 Authorised under the 1929 Prog- ramme as a purpose-built training ship for midshipmen, without the speed of a genuine cruiser. She was the only other ship armed with the 6 lin/55 guns of the Duguay Trouin class, and although the onginal design provided for 2 catapults she was com- pleted without any, the seaplanes being handled by crane. Radius was 5200/3200nm at 11/2Ikts, and on 3-hour full-power trials she attained a maximum of 27 84kts and a mean of 27.03kts at 39,000shp; maximum cruising speed at full load was 23kts. At the fall of France she was in Martinique, which joined the Allies on 3 6 43 Following a refit in which the TT and aircraft were removed and the light AA replaced by 6-40mm and 2O-2Omm (aU singles), she took part in Mediterranean operations She was scrapped at La Seyne. JEANNE D’ARC ________________________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 6496t standard; 72911 normal; 8950t full load Dimensions: 525ft pp, 557ft 9m oa x 58ft x 21ft 160 00, 170.00 x 17 70 x 6 40m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Penhoet boilers, 32,500shp = 25kts. Oil 1400t Armour: Box citadel (for magazines) Jin, CT lin, protective deck and light plaung to gunhouses Armament: 8-6 lin/55 Mod 21 (4x2), 4-3in/60 AA (4x 1), 4-37mm AA (2x2), 12-13.2mm AA, 2-21.7in TT (2x1), 2 aircraft Complement: 505 + 156 midshipmen and 20 instructional officers (peace); 648 (war) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate JEANNE D’ARC A C de SfNakaire- 1928 14.2.30 Sept 1931 BU 1966 Penhoet Authorised in 1930, this vessel was the last and best French ‘treaty’ cruiser, and one of the most outstand- ing examples of the type in any navy. A radical departure from the widely criticised ‘tin-clad’ heavy cruisers, she was built in response to the Italian Zara class Armour weight totalled 2657t (compared with 1553t in the preceding Dupletx) and it was better distributed, emphasis was placed on protection against aerial bombs and underwater attack, an extensive tor- pedo bulkhead being separated from the main belt by oil and coal bunkers. The bulkhead extended from the bot- ALGERIE Displacement: 10,000t standard; 1 l,100t normal; 13,900t full load Dimensions: 590ft 6in pp, 610ft Ilin oa x 65ft 7in x 20ft 2in 180.00, 186.20 x 20.00 x 6 15m Machinery: 4-shaft Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 6 Indret boilers, 84,000shp = 31kts. Oil 3186t Armour: Mam belt 4jin, transverse bulkheads 2Jin, longitudinal bulkheads Ilin, mam deck 3in (midships) lin (ends), turrets 3Jin (faces) 2 in (sides and roofs), CT 3Jin-2Jin Armament: 8-in/50 Mod 24 (4x2), 12-3 9in/50 Mod 31 AA (6x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 16-13 2mm AA, 6-21 7in TT (2x3), 3 aircraft Complement: 748 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ALGfiRIE Arsenal de Brest 13.3.1931 21 5 32 1934 Scuttled 27 11 42 264
Cruisers кип of the hull to the armoured deck and included the barbettes. The main armament and ammunition trunking was also adequately protected for the first time Power was reduced compared to the Suffren class, but the improved hull form meant no loss of speed Dur- ing 3-hour trials Algerie made 52,000/59,400/66,OOOshp = 29/30/ 30.67kts and 27.4kts over 24 hours. At 12,000t the results were 85,190shp = 31.71 kts over 6 hours, a maximum of 93,230shp = 33 2kts, and an aver- age of 32.93kts for 1 hour. Radius was 8700nm at 15kts. The range of the main armament was increased by improved shell design. The two catapults were of a new explosive-propelled rather than compressed air type In 1940-41 light AA armament was increased by 8-37mm (2x4) and 20-13.2mm, the tripod mainmast and aircraft equip- ment being removed, and in early 1942 she was fitted with radar, with an improved set following later in the year. Algfrie was scuttled at Toulon, but raised on 18.3.43 and scrapped Authorised under the 1930 pro- gramme, £nnle Berlin was originally envisaged as an improved Pluton, but in the final design cruiser characteris- tics took prccdence over those of minelaying In fact, the ship did pre- war service as a flagship for a squad- ron of 12 super-destroyers of the Malin and Maille' Brtzd classes. The new 1930 model 6in triple mounting was introduced with this ship, this gun fired a 54 3kg shell to a range of 21,500m She was lightly built and in 1935 the hull below the turrets was strengthened to permit salvo firing. However, she was very fast, trials results being 108,026/117,099/ 137,9O8shp = 36 73/37.29/39.66kts over 8 hours^ 1 hour/an average of 3 runs. Furthermore the trials were car- ried out in bad weather. Radius was 3600/1 lOOnm at 15/33kts. Based at Martinique after June 1940, she was extensively refitted m the USA during 1944-45 when the 37mm and 13.2mm were replaced by 4-3 5m (2x2), 16-40mm (4x4) and 20-20mm (20x 1), and the TI, catapult and air- craft removed EMILE BERTIN_____________________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 5886t standard; 6530t normal; 8480t full load Dimensions: 547ft Ilin pp, 580ft 8in oa x 52ft 6m x 21ft 8in 167 00, 177 00 x 16 00 x 6 60m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Penhoet boilers, I02,000shp = 34kts. Oil 1360t Armour: Box citadel lin (magazines), main deck lin, CT lin (sides) lin (hood) Armament: 9-6in/50 Mod 30 (3x3), 4-3 5in/5O AA (1x2, 2x1), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 8-13 2mm AA (4x2), 6-21 7in TT (2x3), 2 aircraft, 200 mines Complement: 567 peace; 711 war Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate fiMILE BERTIN A C de St-Nazaire- Aug 1931 Pcnhoet 9.5.33 1934 BU Oct 1959 Emile Berttn postwar By courtesy of Bernard Mt Hot Essentially much improved Emile Berlins, with additional protection against 6in shellfire, these ships were widely regarded as the most success- ful French cruiser design, and com- pared favourably with contemporary foreign types for speed and seaworth- iness The basic design was modified during construction which resulted in extended building times, and the last 4 (1932 Programme) differed in details from the first pair (1931 Prog- ramme) Designed for 97,600shp = 321kts, on trials they all exceeded expectations with over 100,000shp = 35-36kts. For example, La Gahsson- niere achieved 96,000shp = 35 42kts over 8 hours and Marseillaise 35.39kts lor 1 hour. Fuel consumption was low, giving a radius of 7000/ 6800/5500/1650nm at 12/14/18/ 34kts. A feature of these ships was the long, clear quarterdeck to facilitate the operation of aircraft which were housed in a hangar abaft the second funnel, a single catapult was fixed to the top of the after 6in turret. Except for Marseillaise and Mont- calm, all ships had l-37mm AA, 2-25mm (1 x2) and 4-13.2mm (2x2) added in 1941 After being scuttled, LA GALISSONNIERE class Displacement: 7600t standard; 8214t normal; 9100t full load Dimensions: 564ft 3in pp, 588ft Ilin oa x 57ft 4in x 17ft 7in 172.00, 179 SO x П 48 x 5 3Sm Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Gloire,Jean de Vienne,Marseillaise Rateau-Bretagne) geared turbines, 4 Indret boilers, 84,OOOshp = 31 kts. Oil 1569t Armour* Main belt 4in (bulkheads 21m), longitudinal bulkheads Jin, main deck IJin, turrets 4in (faces) 2m (sides, backs and roofs), CT 3Jin (sides) 2in (hood) Armament: 9-6in/50 Mod 30 (3x3), 8-3.5in/50 AA (4x2), 8-37mm AA (4x2), 12-13.2mm AA, 4-21.7in TT (2x2), 4 aircraft Complement: 540 peace, 764 war Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate LA GALISSONNlfeRE Arsenal de Brest 27.10 1931 18 11 33 31 12 35 Scuttled 27.11 42 JEAN DE VIENNE Arsenal de Lorient Dec 1931 31 7.35 15.4.37 Scuttled 27.11.42 MARSEILLAISE A C de la Loire, Nantes 1933 17.7.35 25.10.37 Scuttled 27 11 42 GLOIRE F C de la Gironde 1933 28 9 35 4 12 37 Sold for BU Jan 1958 MONTCALM F C de la Mediterranee, La Sevne 1933 26 10 35 4 12 37 BU 1970 GEORGES LEYGUES A C de St-Nazaire- Penhoet 1933 24.3 36 4 12.37 Sold for BU Nov 1959 265
FRANCE La Galissonnwre was refloated by the Italian Navy in 1943 but was bombed by Allied aircraft on 18 8 44 before she could be refitted Jean de Vienne suffered the same fate on 24 11.43. The remaining three were refitted in the USA in 1943, the hangar and air- craft equipment being removed and the light AA armament replaced by 24—40mm (6x4) and 16-2 0mm (16x1). Radar was also fitted. A further refit was carried out in 1945 when the ships acquired a lattice fore topmast to carry new radar. At this time, they could still make 32kts even though full load displacement had reached 10,850t. They had active postwar careers; Montcalm survived as an accommodation ship at Toulon from 1958 to 1970. Montcalm in Oct 1953 The first of these ‘improved La Galis- sonntere' class was ordered in 1937 and the other pair in 1938 but only the first was laid down. They were faster and had modified aircraft arrangements, with two catapults and the hangar amidships Little work was done on De Grasse during the war, construc- tion only resuming in 1946, but this was soon stopped to consider a modernised design. She was finally completed as an A A cruiser in 1956. DE GRASSE class Displacement: 8000t standard Dimensions: 570ft lOin pp, 578ft Sin oa X 59ft x 18ft 2in 174.00, 176.30 x 18 00 x 5.54m Machinery: 2-shaft Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 4 Indret boilers, 110,OOOshp = 33kts. Armour: ? Armament: 9-6in/50 (3x3), 6-3.5in/50 AA (3x2), 5-25mm AA (5x 1), 8-13.2mm AA (1 x4 2x2); 6-21.7in TT (2x3), 4 aircraft Complement: 580 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate DE GRASSE Arsenal de Lorient Nov 1938 11 9.46 3 9 56 BU 1976 CHATEAURENAULT F C de la Meditcrran6e, La Seyne — — — Cancelled GUICHEN F C de la Gironde — — — Cancelled Projected heavy cruisers The construction of three vessels reportedly to be known as the St Louis class, was approved on 1 4 1940. Nominally replacements for the Duguay Trouin class, their design was an improved Algtne, with an overall length of 663ft, 14,470t standard (17,620t full load) and 9-8in guns. 266
Destroyers DESTROYERS CHACAL class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 2126t standard; 2400-2500t normal; 2950-3050t full load 392fl 9m pp, 415ft Ilin oa x 37ft 2in x 13ft 5in 119 70, 126 78 x 11 32 x 4.10m 2-shaft Rateau-Bretagne (Leopard, Lynx Breguet) geared tur- bines 5 du Temple boilers, 50,000shp = 35kts. < il 530t 5-5.1Ш/40 Mod 19 (5x1), 2-3in/50 Mod 22 AA (2x1), 6-21 7in TT (2x3) 195 Name Builder Launched Fate JAGUAR LYNX TIGRE CHACAL LEOPARD panthere Arsenal de 17.11.1923 Lorient A C de la Loire, 24 2 1924 St-Nazaire A C de Bretagne 2.8 1924 A C de St- 27 9 1924 Nazaire-Penhoet A C de la Loire, 29.9.1924 St-Nazaire Arsenal de 27.10.1924 Sunk 23 5.40 Scuttled 27.11.42 BU 1954 Sunk 24 5 40 Wrecked 27.5 43 Scuttled 9.9.43 Lorient GUEPARD class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament' Complement: 2436t standard; 2700t normal; 3200t full load 403ft lOin pp, 427ft 2in oa x 38ft 7in x 15ft 4in 123 10, 130.20 x 11.76 x 4 68m 2-shaft Parsons (Lion, Vauban Zoelly) geared turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoet vertical boilers, 64,000shp = 35Ikts. Oil 572t 5-5.5in/4O Mod 23 (5x1), 4-37mm AA (2x2), 4-13.2mm A A (2x2), 6-21.7in TT (2x3) 230 Name Builder Launched Fate GUEPARD VAI MY VERDUN BISON LION VAUBAN Arsenal de 19.4.1928 Lorient AC de St- 19.5.1928 N’azaire Penhoet A C de la Loire, 4 7.1928 St-Nazaire Arsenal de 29.10 1928 Lorient A C de France 5.8.1929 A C de France 1.2 1930 Scuttled 27.11 42 Scuttled 27.11.42 Scuttled 27.11 42 Sunk 3.5.40 Scuttled 27.11.42 Scuttled 27.11.42 I his class was built under the 1922 Programme and represented a new type of super-destroyer, although they were always known as contre-torpilleurs in France. They were inspired by British and German wartime experience with big flotilla leaders, one of which (the 2500t ex-German SI 13) served in the postwar Trench Navy as the Admiral Senes. However in 1917 France had also studied an indigeneous design for a 35kt vessel with 35OOnm range and an armament of 4-5.Sin guns and 6 TT, so the Jaguar class was not entirely foreign in inspira- tion. They were superior to almost all flotilla craft when completed and were designed to operate in fast divisions of 3 ships, 36 such vessels being planned by 1940 Despite lack of recent experience with high-powered machinery, the design- ers produced a reliable installation, 34kts being possible for long per ods at full load On trials Tigre was the fastest at 55,200/57,200shp = 35 93/36.7kts for 8 hours/1 hour at 2418/2304t Radius was 3300/2900/1000/600nm at 134/16/ 28/35kts The 5. lin gun was a completely new design, firing a 70Alb shell to a maximum range of 20,300yds. It was a powerful weapon with a good range, but the hand-worked rotating breech mechanism kept the rate of fire to about 4 or 5 rounds per minute The AS armament was originally 30-2201b DCs for the four mortars, and 16-4401b DCs for the two racks In 1939 it was decided to re-arm them with twin 3 9in guns as AA vessels, but the project was cancelled. Bv the outbreak of war, sonar had been added and No 3 gun replaced with 8-13.2mm (2x4) Ltopard served with the FNFL and had 2 boilers and the forefunnel removed to be replaced with 780t more bunkerage increasing the range to 4200nm at 13kts. Light A A was also increased and the ship recommissioned in March 1942 She was lost by stranding off Tobruk. Tigre was captured by the Italians before she could be scuttled and was briefly designated FR23; she underwent a refit similar to Leopard's on her return to the French Navy on 28.10.43 Jaguar was torpedoed bv the German motor torpedo-boats S21 and S23 off Dunkerque; Lynx was raised on 21.1.44 and scrapped, Chaial was bombed off Boulogne, Panthere was taken over bv the Italian Navy as the FR22 and finally scuttled at La Spezia in 1943 ( Auia/ prewar The first of three classes of general!} similar 2400 tonne designs, Bison, Guepard and Lion were ordered under the 1925 Programme and the other three in the following year’s appropriation. They were more heavily armed, more powerful and faster than their predecessors. 1 he new 5.5m gun fired a heavy 40 4kg shell but the rate of fire was only 5-6 rounds per minute Furthermore all the 2400 tonnes suffered from poor fire control arrangements, and although the gun had a theoretical range of 19,000m, observation of the fall of shot over 13,000m was almost impossible with the single 3-metre coicidence rangefinder fitted The principal AA weapon was the semi-automatic 1925 model 37mm with a rate of fire of 30 rounds per minute AS warfare was of minor importance in the contre-torpilleur rationale, but this class was fitted with 4 Thomycroft DCTs and 2 racks for 24-4401b DCs. All except Guepard achieved around 40kts at standard displacement and 351-36-lkts during 8-hour trials. Light AA armament was increased in 1940, usually by an extra 25mm and a few 8mm MGs. Bison was bombed off Norway, and the remainder were scuttled at Toulon. However, all except Vauban were raised during 1943; Guepard was later sunk by Allied bombing on 11.3.44; Valmy and Lion served as the Italian FR24 and FR21, being finally scuttled at Genoa in 1945 and La Spezia on 9.9.43 respectively. Bison prewar MusA? de la Manne 267
FRANCE Albatros 1940 AIGLE class Displacement: 244It standard; 2660t normal, 34lOt full load Dimensions: 401ft 7in pp, 421ft 7in (last pair 424ft 2in) oa x 38ft lOin x 16ft 4in 122.40, 128.50 (129.30) x 11.84 x 4.97m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Aigle Zoelly, Gerfaui, Ppervier Rateau- Bretagne) geared turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoet vertical boil- ers, 64,OOOshp (last pair 68,OOOshp) = 36kts Oil 580t Armament: 5-5.5in/40 Mod 27 (5x1), 4-37mm AA (2x2), 4-13.2mm AA (2x2), 6-(last pair 7-)21.7in TT (2x3; 1x3, 2x2) Complement: 230 Name Builder Launched Fate AIGLE AC de France 19 2.1931 Scuttled 27.11.42 GERFAUT A C de Bretagne 14.6.1930 Scuttled 27.11 42 ALBATROS - A C de la Loire, 27.6.1930 BU 9 9 59 St-Nazaire VAUTOUR F C de la 26.8.1930 Scuttled 27.11 42 Mediterranee, Le Havre Epervier Arsenal de 14 8 1931 Beached 9.11 42 Lonent MILAN Arsenal de 13.10.1931 Beached 8.11.42 Lorient Ordered under the 1927 Programme, this class introduced the new faster-firing (12-15 rounds per minute) semi-automatic 1927 model of the 5.5in gun, although the rate of fire was achieved at the expense of maximum range, since elevation was reduced to 28°. Magazine stowage on all the 2400 mines was 140rpg of 5 5in and a total of 2400 of 3in. This class was among the first of the contre-iorpilleurs to receive the more effective stereoscopic rangefinders (one 5-metre and one 4-metre) after 1936. Only Aigle failed to make 40kts at standard displacement on tnals, Ppervier being fastest at 41.9kts; 8-hour trials gave an average of’between 37.2kts (Aigle) and 40.01 kts (Gerfaut). All could maintain about 37kts at full load. Radius was 3650/750nm at 18/37kts. The last pair were fitted with a mix of experimental high pressure boilers of different designs. During the 1940 AA armament additions, Gerfaui received two extra 37mm singles and three twin 13.2mm instead of the l-25mm and MGs added to the others. Albatros was beached during the Allied landings in North Africa but raised on 17.7.43 and converted to a gunnery training ship with her 2 forward boilers and funnels removed, speed reduced to 24,'kts and an armament of 3-5 5in, 2-3in AA and l-40mm The three scuttled at Toulon were raised in 1943 but were bombed and sunk by Allied aircraft. The last pair were disabled during the North Africa landings; F.peruier was salved in October 1946 and scrapped. Milan during the Spanish Gvil War By courtesy of Jacques \'аг arret VAUQUELIN class Displacement: 244 h standard; 2660t normal; 3140t full load Dimensions: 410ft 7in pp, 424ft 2in oa x 38ft 10m x 16ft 4in 122.40, 129.30 x Ц 84 x 4.97m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Cassard Rateau Bretagne, Vauquelin Zoelly) geared turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoet vertical boilers, 64,OOOshp = 36kts Oil 585t Armament 5-5 5in/40 Mod 27 (5x1), 4-37mm AA (2x2), 4-13 2mm (2x2), 7-21.7in TT (1x2, 2x2), 50 mines Complement: 230 Name Builder Launched Fate VAUQUELIN A C de France 29.3 1931 Scuttled 27.11 42 CASSARD A C de Bretagne 8.11 1931 Scuttled 27.11 42 MAILLF. BRfiZfi AC de St- 9.111931 Nazai re-Penhoet Blew up 30.4 40 KERSAINT A C de la Loire, 14 11.1931 St-Nazaire Scuttled 27.11.42 TARTU A C de la Loire, 7.12.1931 St-Nazaire Scuttled 27.11 42 CHEVALIER PAUL FC de la 21.3 1932 M£ditcrran6e, La Seyne Sunk 16.6.41 Ordered under the 1928-29 Programme, these were an improved version of the previous class. The Thornycroft DCTs were not fitted, the facility to carry 50-11001b mines being preferred to AS capability. On trials they made between 39.83kts (Chevalier Paul) and 42.85kts (Cassard) at standard displacement, an average of between 37.03kts (Kersaint) and 39.19kts (МаШё Вгёгё) for 8 hours. Most of the 2400 tonnes could maintain 36-37kts at full load in wartime condi- tions. Radius was the same as for the Aigle class. During the 1940 AA additions, Cassard received 4—37mm (4x 1) rather than the standard 1-25mm and several MGs МаП1ё Вгёгё sank at Greenock following the accidental explosion of one of her torpedoes; Chevalier Paul was torpedoed by a British aircraft off Syria; the remainder were scuttled at Toulon. La Faniasque as completed LE FANTASQUE class Displacement: 2569t standard; 2724-2800t normal; 3200-3400t full load Dimensions: 411ft 5in pp, 434ft 4in oa x 40ft 6in x 16ft 5in 125 40, 132 40 x 12.45 x 5 01m Machinery: 2-shaft Rateau-Bretagne (L’Indomptable, Le Malin, Le Triumphant Parsons) geared turbines, 4 Penhoet {Le Terrible Yarrow Loire) vertical boilers, 74,OOOshp = 37kts. Oil 580t Armament: 5-5 5in/45 Mod 29 (5x1), 4-37mm AA (2x2), 4-13 2mm A A, 9-21 7in TT (3x3), 50 mines Complement: 210 Name Builder Launched Fate LE MALIN F C de la M6diterranee, La Seyne 17.8 1933 BU Feb 1964 LE TERRIBLE CNF 30.11 1933 BU June 1962 L’INDOMPTABLE F C de la Mediterranee, La Seyne 7.12.1933 Scuttled 27.11 42 L’AUDACIEUX Arsenal de Lorient 15.3.1934 Sunk 7.5.43 LE FANTASQUE Arsenal de Lorient 15.3.1934 Stricken 2.5.57 LE TRIOMPHANT A C de France 16.4.1934 Stricken Dec 1954 Vauquehn 1939 Ordered under the 1930 Programme, these ships were a considerable improve- ment over the 2400 tonnes. The new 1929 model 45 calibre 5 5 in gun was more powerful than the Mod 27 and had a range of 20,000m at rhe maximum elevation of 30е A theoretical rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute was possible, and full director control was provided for the first time in contre-iorpilleurs. However, the greatest advance was in the machinery. For the whole of their careers they were the fastest flotilla craft afloat, being able to maintain 37kts at full load. Trials results at standard displacement varied from 42.71kts (Le Faniasque) to 45.03kts (Le Terrible)at 96,419/94,240shp, although L’Audacieux developed the most power at 101,876shp. Results from 8-hour tnals were between 92,364shp = 40 49kts (Le Faniasque) and 86,443shp = 42.93kts (Le Temble) at 2822/2853t. Radius was 4000/3000/2500/840nm at 15/2 l/24/40kts. They all suffered recurnng machinery defects, but the Rateau turbines proved more robust than the Parsons machinery. The facility for laying 50 11001b mines was 268
Destroyers fitted later in their careers; the two DC racks carried 16 4401b charges Le Triomphani served in the FNFL from June 1940 and had No 4 5.Sin gun replaced by a British 4in AA, and two single 2pdrs and 8 MGs were also added along with asdic and Type 290 radar. L’Audacteux was badly damaged on 23.9 40 at Dakar by the cruiser Australia, but was repaired only to be sunk by Allied bombers at Bizerta, the hull was broken up in August 1947. The remain- ing units had 2—37mm (1x2) and 2 MGs added in 1941—42, and all four surviving ships, including Le Triomphani, were refitted in the USA between February 1943 and April 1944; the A A armament became 8—40mm (1 x4, 2x2) and 10-20mm, although Le Tnomphant had only 6-40mm and no 20mm. Bunkerage was increased to 730t and the ships were re-rated as light cruisers although they still did not possess the range of real cruisers. Marceau (cx-Z3l) shortly after the war By courtesy of Jacques Navarret Ex-German destroyers The Desatx (ex-Z5) Kleber (ex Z6), Hoche (ex Z25) and Marceau (ex-Z31) were taken over in February 1946, after a brief period in Royal Navy hands from May 1945 (see German section for details). Desaix was paid off in 1949 and scrapped in 1951; Kleber was paid off in 1956 and broken up in 1958; and the other pair were scrapped in 1956. MOGADOR class Displacement: 2884t standard; 3500-3600t normal; 4018t full load Dimensions: 429ft 9in pp, 451ft lin oa x 41ft 7in x 15ft 131.00, 137.50 x 12.67 x 4 57m Machinery: 2-shaft Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 4 Indret vertical boilers, 92,000shp = 39kts. Oil 710t Armament* 8-5 5in/45 Mod 34 (4x2), 4-37nun AA (2x2), 4-13 2min A A (2x2), 1О-21.71П TT (2x3, 2x2), 40 mines Complement: 264, 284 as flagship Name Builder Launched Fate VOLTA A C de Bretagne 26.11.1936 Scuttled 27 11 42 MOGADOR Arsenal de 9.6.1937 Scuttled 27.11.42 Lonent Ordered under the 1936 Programme, these very powerful ships were let down by the unreliable mountings for the main armament. The 1934 model was fitted in an enclosed gunhouse but proved too complex and delicate, and the usual rate of fire was 6 rounds per minute. On trials Mogador averaged 104,925shp = 41 27ktsand 118,320shp = 43.45ktsfor8hours/l hourat3513/3098t,andVoila 42.09kts (8 hours) and 42.88kts (1 hour) at 3168/3112t. Radius was 4000/3000nm at 18/20kts. After battle damage at Mers-el-Kebir Mogador had No 3 turret removed and 4—37mm (2x2) and 8-13.2mm AA fitted, Volta had her AA armament changed to 2-37mm (1 x2)z2-25mm (1 x 2), 8-13 2mm and 8-8mm MGs. After being scuttled at Toulon both were raised in mid 1943 and scrapped Three improved vessels were authorised on 2.5.38 (Desaix, Hoche, Kleber) and a fourth (Marceau) on 12.4.39. A further 6(2 reportedly to be named Bayard and Brutx) were authorised on 1 4 40, but all were cancelled before work had begun They would have had a stronger hull, a larger radius of action, the ability to raise steam more quickly and an improved A A and AS armament, with only 6 Volta about 1938 Muste de la Marine BOURRASQUE class Displacement: 1319t standard, 1500t normal; 1900t full load Dimensions* 326ft 6in pp, 347ft x 31 ft 9in x 14ft lin 99.53, 105.77 x 9 64 x 4.30rn Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Orage, Ouragan Rateau-Bretagne, Tomade, Tramontane, Trornbe, Typhon Zoelly) geared turbines, 3 du Temple boilers, 33,OOOshp = 33kts Oil 345t Armament. 4—5.1in/40 Mod 19 (4x1), 2-37mm AA (2x1), 2-13.2mm AA, 6-21.7m TT (2x3) Complement: 142 Name Builder Launched Fate TYPHON FC de la Gironde22 5 1924 Scuttled 9.11.42 SIMOUN A C de St- 3 6 1924 Nazaire-Penhoet Sold for BU 17 2 50 ORAGE CNF 30.8.1924 Sunk 23.5.40 TRAMONTANE F C de la Gironde29.11.1924 Beached 8.11.42 OURAGAN CNF 6 12 1924 Sold for BU 7.4 49 CYCLONE FC de la 24.1.1925 Med i terranee, Le Havre Scuttled 18.6.40 ТЕМРЁТЕ A C Dubigeon 21.5.1925 BU Feb 1950 MISTRAL FC de la 6 6.1925 Mediterranee, Le Havre BU Feb 1950 TORNADE Dyle et Baccalan 12 3 1925 Sunk 8 11.42 BOURRASQUE A C de France 5.8.1925 Sunk 30.5.40 SIROCCO AC de St- 3.10.1925 Nazaire-Penhoet Sunk 31.5.40 TROMBE FC de la Gironde29.12.1925 BU Feb 1950 Rated as torptlleurs cTescadre to differentiate them from thecontre-iorpdleurs, the Bourrasque class of the 1922 Programme was the first French postwar standard destroyer design. In machinery terms they were somewhat disappointing: on trials at less than normal displacement none exceeded 34.5kts, Orage for exam- ple averaging 32.57kts on her 8 hour trials 30kts was the best sea speed fully loaded, and the radius was only 23OOnm at 14kts, far less than the designed 3000nm at 15kts. The armament was powerful by contemporary standards but the low rate of fire (4-5 rounds per minute) destroyed the advantage of a heavier shell. The AA aimament was originally l-3in and 2—8mm, but was altered in the 1930s to that quoted above Later No 3 gun was removed in some ships to improve stabili у and after 1940 most French controlled ships had l-25mm and 2-13.2mm A A added and a TT mounting removed In 1943 the A A armament was further altered to l-40mm and 3-20mm. Mistral served in the Royal Navy as a gunnery training ship and was re-armed with 4—4in AA (2x2), l-12pdr, and 3-20mm, with one bank of IT removed. The original AS armament was weak, with no asdic, only 2 throwers for 2201b DCs and racks for 20 4401b DCs, but DC stowage was impioved in surviving units after 1943. 269
FRANCE Typhon was expended as a blockship at Oran, Orage was bombed off Boulogne; Tramontane was damaged off Oran by HMS Aurora and beached; Cyclone was torpedoed by the German S24 and later scuttled at Brest; Tornade was sunk by HM Ships Aurora and Calpe off Oran, Bourrasque was mined and finished off by German shore batteries near Nieuport; and Sirocco was tor- pedoed by the German S23 and S26. L’ADROIT class Displacement: 1378t standard; 1500t normal; 2000t full load Dimensions* 331ft pp, 351ft 8in oa x 32ft 3in x 14ft lin 100 90, 107 20 x 9.84 x 4.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (L? Adroit, L’Alcyon, Frondeur Zoelly, Fougueux Rateau Bretagne) geared turbines, 3 du Temple boilers, 34,000shp = 33kts. Oil 340t Armament: 4-5.1Ш-40 Mod 24 (4x1), 2-37mm AA (2x1), 2-13 2mm AA, 6-21.7in TT (2x3) Complement: 142 Name Builder Launched Fate L’ALCYON F C de la Gironde 26.6.1926 Sold for BU 10.6.52 LA PALME A C Dubigeon 30.6.1926 Scuttled 27.11.42 LE MARS CNF 28 8 1926 Scuttled 27.11 42 LA RAILLEUSE A C Dubigeon 9 9 1926 Lost by accidental explosion 24.3 40 LE FORTUNE CNF 15.11.1926 Sold for BU 31 8.50 L’ADROIT A C de France 1 4 1927 Sunk 21 5.40 BRESTOIS Dyle et Baccalan 18 5 1927 Sunk 8 11.42 BORDELAIS F C de la Gironde23 5 1927 Scuttled 27.11 42 BOULONNAIS CNF 1.6.1927 Sunk 8 11.42 FORBIN F C de la 17.7 1928 Sold for BU Mdditcrranee, 10 11.52 Le Havre FOUGUEUX A C de Bretagne 4 8.1928 Sunk 8.11.42 FOUDROYANT Dyle et Baccalan 24.4.1929 Sunk 1.6 40 BASQUE A C de la Seme- 25.5.1929 Sold for BU Maritime 10 12 52 FRONDEUR CNF 20 6 1929 Sunk 8.11.42 Improved Bourrasques with a modified 5 lin gun (although rate of fire was still only 5-6 rounds per minute), the first 6 were ordered under the 1924 Pro- gramme, the ‘B’ names in 1925 and the *F* names in 1927. They were refitted and modified as the Bourrasque class. La Palme and Le Mars were raised and scrapped after being scuttled at Toulon; La Railleuse was sunk at Casablanca following the explosion of one of her torpedoes, L’Adroil and Foudroyant were bombed off Dunkerque; Brestois,Boulonnais, Fougueux andFrondeur were sunk in action with US ships off Casablanca during the North African landings. LE HARDI class Displacement: 1772t standard (last four 2215t); 1982t (last four 2**62t) nor- mal; 2577t (last four 2929t) full load Dimensions: 366ft 2in (last four 389ft lin) pp, 384ft 6in oa (last four ?) x 36ft 5in (last four 39ft) x 13ft 9in 111.60(118 60), 111 20 x H (0(11 88) x 4 20m Machinery: 2 shaft Rateau-Bretagne (Casque, Sirocco, Mameluck, Le T&rufraire Parsons) geared turbines, 4 Sural-Norguet boilers, 58,OOOshp = 37kts, (last four 62,000shp = 35kts). Oil 470t Armament: 6-5. lin/45 (3x 2), 2-37mm AA (2x 1), 4-13 2mm AA (2x2), • 7-21.7in TT (1x3, 2x2), 1 Ginocchio towed AS torpedo Complement: 187 Name Builder Launched Fate LE HARDI A C de la Loire, 4 5 1938 Nantes Scuttled 24 4 45 FOUDROYANT (ex-Fleuret) FC de la 28.7.1938 Mediterranee, La Seyne Scuttled Aug 1944 L’ADROIT (ex Epee) FC de la 26.10 1938 M6diterran6e, La Seyne BU 1944 CASQUE FC de la 2.11.1938 Mediterranee, La Seyne Sunk 27.4 44 LANSQUENET FC de la Gironde20.5 1939 BU Sept 1958 MAMELUCK A C de la Loire, 12.8.1939 Nantes BU 1958 SIROCCO (ex- Le Corsatre) F C de la 14 11 1939 Mediterranee, La Seyne Expended 28 10 44 BISON (ex-Le Fhbustier) FC de la 14.12.1939 Mediterranee, La Seyne Scuttled 27.11 42 L’lNTREPIDE FC de la 26 4 1941 Mediterranee, La Seyne Construction abandoned April 1941 LE TfiM^RAIRE FC de la 7.111941 Mediterranee, La Seyne Construction abandoned Nov 1941 L’AVENTURIER F C de la Gironde20.4.1947 BU May 1960 L’OPINlATRE F C de la Gironde- Construction abandoned July 1943 La Railleuse prewar Bv lounesy of Jean Havet 270
Destroy ers/T orpedo-boats Although authorised in 1932, the design was not finalised until 1934 and Le Hardt was not laid down until 1936. The new fast capital ships of the Dunkerque class required destroyers that could maintain 34—35kts at full load, which this class easily achieved Le Hardi, the only unit to be given full trials because of the war, averaged 61,119shp = 38 69kts for 8 hours at 2429t and made 39.09kts for | hour. Radius was 3100/1900/1000nm at 10/25/35kts. The 5 lin gun was the same as mounted in the Dunkerque, but in a twin semi automatic enclosed mounting. This had a rate of fire of 14-15 rounds per minute but with a maximum elevation of 30° it had no AA capability It w'as also complex and unreliable, and provision for AA - and AS with only 8 2201b DCs (1 rack) - warfare generally was inadequate Four were renamed in April 1941 to com- memorate ships lost m 1940, Lansquenet was to have been renamed Cyclone at this time During 1941 units in commission had 2-25mm (2x1), 4-13.2mm (2x2) and 5-8min AA added. All were scuttled at Toulon on 27.11.42, but salved in 1943 by the Italians. Le Hardt served briefly as the FR37, was then taken over by the Germans, and finally scuttled at Genoa Foudroyant became the FR36, but was captured bv the Germans and scuttled as a blockship at Toulon L’Adroit served as the FR33, then in the German Navy before being returned in May 1944 Casque was bombed by Allied aircraft after being raised. Lansquenet became the Italian FR34, then the German TA34, was scuttled at Genoa on 24.4 45 but was raised and returned to France on 19.3.46, but was never erpaired. Mameluck was bombed by Allied aircraft on 6.8.44 and not repaired. Strocco served a\FR32, but was taken over by the German Navy and used as a blockship at Genoa Flibustier was only 75 per cent complete when scuttled, but served briefly in the Italian (FR35) and German navies before being used as a blockship at Toulon. The last four were to have been completed to an improved AA design with a DP version of the 5.lin gun and 8-13.2mm AA and only 6 TT and no AS equipment. However, L’Opintdtre actually received the LA version of the 5.1m, an additional 4-3.9in (2x2) A A and AS equipment The construction of all four was abandoned during the war, the hulls being scrapped around 1945, except for L'Aventurier which was used as a mooring pontoon for some time Three improved vessels, with a new 5.1m DP gun, were authorised on 28.4.40, but they were never ordered. Late in May 1940 France considered the purchase of 24 of the US Benson class destroyers, but the USA was never approached. There was also an August 1942 project for a 33kt, 2000t destroyer armed with 4 or 6-4.7m AA, plus an ATW of the Hedgehog type, this project was also stillborn. TORPEDO -BOATS I.a Bayotmaise about 1937 By courtesy of Jacques Xazarrct LA MELPOMENE class Displacement: 680t standard, 760t normal; 895t full load Dimensions: 249ft 4in pp, 264ft 9in oa x 26ft lin x 10ft lin 76 00, 80.70 x 7 96 x 3 07m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 2 Indret boilers, 22,OOOshp = 34.5kts. Oil 170t Armament: 2-3.9in/40 Mod 30 (2x1), 4-13.2mm AA (2x2), 2—21.7in TT(lx2), 1 towed Ginocchio AS torpedo Complement: 105 Name Builder Launched Fate LA MELPOMENE A C de Bretagne 24 1.1935 Sold for BU 15 5.50 LA POMONE A C de la Loire, 25 1 1935 Nantes Scuttled 27.9 43 LA FLORE A C de Bretagne 5.3.1935 Sold for BU 31 8.50 L’lPHIGtNIE A C de la Loire, 18.4.1935 Nantes Sunk 10.9.43 I A BAYONNAISE C Maritimes du 28 1 1936 Sud Ouest Scuttled 25 8 44 BOMBARDE A C de la Loire, 23.3.1936 Nantes Sunk 23.8 44 L’INCOMPRISE AC de la 14.4.1936 Seine-Manume Sold for BU 31.8 50 LA POURSUIVANTE A C de France 4 8 1936 Scuttled 27.11 42 LA CORDELIERE A C Augustin- 9 9 1936 Normand Sold for BU 17.2.50 BALISTE AC de France 17.3.1937 Sunk 22.8.43 BRANLEBAS A C Augustin- 12.4.1937 Normand Foundered 14 12.40 BOUCLIER AC de la 9 8 1937 Seme-Martime Sold for BU, 31 8.50 The 1930 London Naval Conference allowed unlimited numbers of warships up to 600t standard for ‘coast defence* and this class was designed to exploit this provision. They were intended principally for Mediterranean operations, and were originally to have been designated ‘escorts’, with an armament of 2—3in (2x 1) and 4-15.7m (400mm) TT. As built they were overweight, and conse- quently lacked stability and were very poor seaboats, but they made 36.Skis at standard tonnage on trials, and between 34.14kts and 35.5kts over 8 hours at normal displacement, 32kts being possible at full load. The radius was some- what less than designed at 1000/650nm at 20/25kts There was 1 DC rack Branlebas, La Melpomine, La Flore, L’Incompns, La Cordeltere and Boucher were in British ports m 1940. Only Branlebas, which capsized while serving in the Royal Navy, Boucher which was Polish-, then Dutch- and finally FNFL- manned, and La Melpomene saw much service; of the other six, La Pomune, L’lphtgente and Bombarde were captured at Bizerta on 8.12.42 and served first in the Italian Navy (asFR42,FR43 and FR41 respectively) and after May 1943 in the German Navy (as TA10, TAll and TA9). TA 10 was disabled by HMS Eclipse and scuttled off Rhodes; TAI 1 was sunk in Piombino harbour by Italian tanks; and TA9 was bombed by US aircraft off Toulon. The remaining three were scuttled at Toulon, La Bayonnaisc and Baliste serving as the Italian FR44 and FR45 and then the German TA 13 and TA 12, the latter being sunk by Allied aircraft. LE FIER class_____________________________________________________ Displacement: lOlOt standard, 1337t full load Dimensions: 295ft 3in pp, 311ft Sin oa x 30ft 10m x 10ft 8in 90 00, 95.00 x 9 40 x 3.25m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines, 3 Indict boilers, 30,800shp = 33kts. Oil 290t Armament: 4-3 9in AA/40 Mod 30 (2x2), 8-13 2mm A A (4x2), 4-21.7inTl (2x2) Complement: 136 271
FRANCE Name Builder Launched Fate LE FIER A C de Bretagne 12.3.1940 Scuttled incomplete 11.8.44 L’AGILE A C de Bretagne 23.5.1940 Scuttled incomplete 11 844 L’ENTREPRENANT A C de la Loire, Nantes 25.5.1940 BU incomplete 1944 LE FAROUCHE A C de la Loire, Nantes 19.10.1940 Scuttled incomplete 11.8.44 L’ALSACIEN A C de la Loire, Nantes 1942 BU incomplete 1944 LE CORSE A C de la Loire, Nantes 4 4 1942 Scuttled incomplete 11 8 44 LE BRETON A C de la Loire, Nantes — Construction abandoned June 1940 .A/iarwn, ex-German T23, postwar By courtesy of Bernard Milloi This class was designed to overcome the deficiencies of the Melpomene class, which were largely due to tonnage restrictions. Designed radius w’as 2000/1300nm at 10/20kts plus 5 hours at 90 per cent of full power. The first Seven were captured in the early stages of construction, and attempts were made by the Germans to complete them as the TAI, TA2, TA4, TAS, ТАЗ and TA6 respectively (Le Bieton being abandoned) but none was ever completed They would have had 3-4. lin AA, 2-37mm AA, 9-20inm and 6-2lin TT in German service. Le Tunisien, Le Normand, Le Pansten,Le Provencal,Le Saintongeais,Le Niqois and Le Savoyard were cancelled, as were further design studies based on this type for a planned 18 and later 24 vessels. Ex-British HUNT class escort destroyer La Combattante (ex-HMS Haldon) was transferred to the FNFL on 15.12 42 on completion (see British section for details). She had an active career and was mally sunk by a Seehund midget submarine (KU330) on 23 2.45 off the South Falls Bank. The transfer of two oilier units proposed in July 1943 did not take place Ex-German torpedo-boats Jn February 1946 France took over from the Royal Navy the ex-German TBs Til, T20, T23 and T28 renaming them Birhaketm, Baccarat, Alsacien and Lorrain (see German sections for details). The first pair were discarded in 1949 and scrapped, and the others were paid off and broken up 1955-56. Ex-American destroyer escorts Six Cannon class (cx-DE 106-111) wrere transferred to France during Janu- ary-April 1944 to become the Sfntyalais, Algdnen, Tunisien, Marocatn, Hova and Somali respectively (see US section for details). All were returned to the US Navy in May 1964, exccpiSomah which became an experimental vessel in 1956 and was renamed Arago in 1968. SUBMARINES REQUIN class Displacement: 947t standard, 1150c normal; 1441t submerged Dimensions: 256ft 8in pp x 22ft 5in x 16ft 8in 78.25 x 6.84 x 5.10m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer or Schneider diesels plus electric motors, 2900bhp/1800shp = 15kts/9kts. Oil 116t ( + 51t in ballast tanks) Armament: 10-21.7inTT(4bow,2stern,2x2external), 1-3 9in/40Mod 25,2-8mm MG (2x1) Complement: 51 Name Builder Launched Fate REQUIN Arsenal de Cherbourg 19 7 1924 Scuttled 9.9 43 SOUFFLEUR Arsenal de Cherbourg 1 10 1924 Torpedoed 25 6.41 MARSOUIN Arsenal de Brest 27.12 1924 BU Feb 1946 DAUPHIN Arsenal de Toulon 2.4.1925 Scuttled 15.9.43 NARVAL Arsenal de Cherbourg 9.5.1925 Mined 15.12.40 MORSE Arsenal de Cherbourg 11.11.1925 Mined 16.6.40 PHOQUE Arsenal de Brest 16.3.1926 Sunk 28.2.43 ESPADON Arsenal de Toulon 28 5.1926 Scuttled 13 9 43 CAIMAN Arsenal de 3.3.1927 Sunk 11.3.44 Cherbourg Ordered under the 1922 and (last 3) 1923 Programmes, these were the first ocean-going submannes designed in France after World War I, and benefited from a study of the big U-boats taken as reparations. These large boats were rated first class and were intended for colonial service, long-range operations against commerce, and scouting operations for the fleet. They were double- hulled and designed to operate at 250ft (80m); but they suffered from poor handling characteristics and inadequate surface speed Designed endurance was 30 days, actual radius being 7700/6400/3000nm at 9/12/15kts surfaced, or 70nm at 5kts submerged. They had the usual French external TT in twin mounts in the casing; they could be remotely trained submerged or on the surface, but could not be reloaded at sea. With the reloads for the internal TT a total of 16 torpedoes could be carried. All had major refits to hull and machinery between 1935 and 1937. » Requm, Dauphin, Phoque and Espadon were seized by the Germans at Bizerta on 8.12.42, and later commissioned by the Italians as FRl 13, FRl 15, FRl 11 and FRl 14 respectively; Souffleur was sunk by HM submarine Parthian', and Caiman was raised after scuttling at Toulon but was later bombed. Requin prewar By courtesy of Jean Havel 11 I Hl SIRfiNE class Displacement: 609t normal; 757t submerged Dimensions: 209ft Ilin pp x 17ft lin x 14ft Im 64.00 x 5 20 x 4.30m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels plus electric motors, 1300bhp/l OOOshp = 14kts/7Jkts. Oil 60t Armament: 7-21.7in TT, l-3in/35, 2-8mm MG (2x 1) Complement: 41 Name Builder Launched Fate SIRfiNE A C de la Loire, 6.8 1925 Nantes Sunk 1944 NAIADE A C de la Loire, 20 10.1925 Nantes Sunk 24 11 43 GALATEE A C de la Loire, 18 12.1925 Nantes Sunk June 1944 NYMPHE A C de la Loire, 1 4 1926 Nantes BU 1938 272
Submarines S irene 1927 Under the 1922 Programme a requirement was promulgated for a 600 tonne second class or sea-going type submarine and this and the following two classes were the result, although the designs varied between builders. They were all manoevrable and well-armed, but they were cramped internally, with poor conditions for the crew. These double-hulled Loire-Simonot types had an unnecessarily complex arrangement of "IT with 2 in the bow plus 2 fixed external forward, a twin external training mount abaft the CT and 1 fixed external aft, with a total of 13 torpedoes. Galate'e made 14.3ktson trialsand was the fastest of \he600 tonnes. They had a maximum operational depth of250ftand a range of 3500/2300nm at 9/13kts on the surface or 75nm at 5kts submerged. The first three were scuttled at Toulon on 27.11.42 but were raised only to be sunk by Allied air attack. Лпаи« 1927 ARIANE class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 626t normal; 787t submerged 216ft 6in pp x 20ft 4in x 13ft 6in 65.98 x 6.20 x 4.10m 2 shafts. Normand-Vickers diesels 1250bhp/1000shp = 14kts/7Jkts. Oil plus electric motors, 60t Name Builder Launched Fate ARIANE A C Augustin- Normand 6.8.1925 Scuttled 9.11.42 ONDINE A C Augustin- Normand 8.5.1925 Lost in collision 3.10.28 EURYDICE A C Augustin- Normand 31.5.1927 Sunk 22.6.44 DANAE A C Augustin- Normand 11.9.1942 Scuttled 9.11.42 A Normand-Fenaux type, also ordered under the 1922 Programme, this class was considered the most successful of the 600 tonne designs. They were com- pleted with 3.9in guns; in other details and performance they resembled the Sirene class. Eurydice was scuttled at Toulon (but raised and later bombed by Allied aircraft) and the other two surviving boats at Oran. Thetts 1930 CIRCE class Displacement: 615t normal; 776t submerged Dimensions: 204ft Ilin pp x 20ft 4in x 13ft lin 62.48 x 6.20 x 3.99m Machinery: 2 shafts. Schneider diesels plus electric motors, 1250bhp/1000shp = 14kts/74kts. Oil 60t Name Builder Launched Fate REDOUTABLE Arsenal de 24.2.1928 Cherbourg Sunk 11.3.44 VENGEUR Arsenal de 1.9.1928 Cherbourg Scuttled 27.11.42 ARCHIMEDE CNF 6.9.1930 Sold for BU 19.2.52 FRESNEL AC de St 8.6.1929 Naza ire-Penhoet Sunk 11.3.44 * HENRI POINCARE Arsenal de 10.4.1929 Lorient Scuttled 9.9.43 MONGE FC de la 25.6.1929 Mediterran£e, La Seyne Sunk 8.5.42 PASCAL Arsenal de Brest 19.7.1928 Sunk 11.3.44 PASTEUR Arsenal de Brest 19.7.1928 Scuttled 18.6.40 PONCELET Arsenal de 10.4.1929 Lorient Scuttled 8.11.40 ACHILLE Arsenal de Brest 28.5.1930 Scuttled 18.6.40 AJAX Arsenal de Brest 28.5.1930 Sunk 24.9.40 actEon A C de la Loire, 10.4.1929 Nantes Sunk 8.11.42 ACHERON A C de la Loire, 6.8.1929 Nantes Sunk 24.11.43 ARGO A C Dubigeon 11.4.1929 Sold for BU 26.4.46 PROTEE FC de la 31.7.1930 Mediterranee, La Seyne Sunk 29.12.43 PEGASE A C de la Loire, 28.7.1930 Nantes Sold for BU 10.6.50 persEe CNF 23.5.1931 Sunk 23.9.40 PHfiNIX A C Dubigeon 12.4.1930 Lost in accident 15.6.39 promEthEe Arsenal de 1930 Cherbourg Lost in accident 8.7.32 Second Series L’ESPOIRE Arsenal de 18.7.1931 Cherbourg Scuttled 27.11.42 LE GLORIEUX AC de St 29.11.1931 Nazaire-Penhoet Sold for BU 27.10.52 LE CENTAURE Arsenal de Brest 14.10.1932 Sold for BU 19.6.52 LE HEROS Arsenal de Brest 14.10.1932 Sunk 7.5.42 LE CONQUERANT A C de la Loire, 26.6.1934 Nantes Sunk 13.11.42 LE TONNANT FC de la 15.12.1934 Mediterrande, La Seyne Scuttled 15.11.42 Third Series AGOSTA Arsenal de 30.4.1934 Cherbourg Scuttled 18.6.40 SFAX A C de la Loire, 6.12.1934 Nantes Sunk 19.12.40 CASABIANCA A C de la Loire, 2.2.1935 Nantes Sold for BU 12.2.52 BEV ZIERS Arsenal de 14.10.1935 Cherbourg Sunk 5.5.42 OUESSANT Arsenal de 30.11.1936 Cherbourg Scuttled 18.6.40 SIDI FERRUCH Arsenal de 9.7.1937 Cherbourg Sunk 11.11.42 Name Builder Launched Fate CIRCE Schneider 29.10.1925 Scuttled 6.5.43 CALYPSO Schneider 15.1.1926 Sunk 30.1.43 THETIS Schneider 30.6.1927 Scuttled 27.11.42 DORIS Schneider . 25.11.1927 Torpedoed 9.5.40 Le Glorieux postwar By couttesy of Bernard Mtllot Schneider-Laubeuf type, also authorised in 1922; other details and performance as Sirene class. The first two were captured at Bizcrta on 8.12.42 by the Germans and CircJ was allocated to the Italian Navy as the FR117 and later scuttled; Calypso was finally sunk in an air raid, and Doris by U9 in the North Sea. REDOUTABLE class Displacement: 1384t standard; 1570t normal; 2084t submerged Dimensions: 301ft lOin pp x 302ft lOin oa x 26ft Ilin x 15ft 5in 92.00, 92.30 x 8.20 x 4.70m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer or Schneider diesels plus electric motors, 6000bhp (second series 7200, third series 8000bhp) 2000: hp = 17kts (second series 19, third series 20kts)/10kts. Oil 95t Armament: 9-21.7in TT, 2-15.7in TT, l-3.9in/40 Mod 25, 2-13.2mm AA (1x2) Complement: 61 273
FRANCE Ocean-going or first class submarines of 1500 tonnes, this class was a consider- able improvement over (he preceding Requin class. The first two were author- ised in 1924, with 7 following in 1925, 5 each in 1926 and 1927, and improved second senes of 6 boats in 1928-29, with a final, ihird series of 6 in 1930 Double-hulled boats with a maximum operational depth of 250ft, they had fine seakeeping and handling characteristics as well as high speed on the surface, although diving time at 45-50 seconds was rather slow, They were considered highly successful and the diesel engines (and consequently surface speeds) were successively increased in ihe second and third series boats. After 1941 the range could be increased in some boats by using some ballast tanks for oil fuel, 10,000 4000nm at 10/ 17kts being possible, or 100 un at 5kts submerged. The external TT comprised 2-21 7in and 2-15.7in in a s ngle quadruple mounting aft (replaced in some boats in 1942 with 3-21 7in), and a triple 21.7in mount abaft the CT. Internally, there were 4-21.7in in the bow, with a total of 11-21 7in and 2-15.7in torpedoes. AA armament in surviving boats was increased after 1942. Redoutable, Vengeur, Fresnel, Henri Poincari, Pascal, Achfron and L'Espoire were scuttled at Toulon, although some were raised but sunk later by Allied bombing Pasteur, Achille, Agosta and Ouessant were scuttled at Brest. Monge, Poncelet, Ajax, Action, Persee, Le Hiros, Le Conqitirant, Le Tonnant, B&tiziers andSidi Ferruch were lost during Allied attacks on French colonial possessions. Protie was probably depth charged by German patrol vessels; Pigase was paid off at Saigon in Sept 1941 and later broken up there; Sfax was torpedoed by mistake by U37 after the surrender of France. SAPHIR class Displacement: 76It normal; 9251 submerged Dimensions: 212ft 9in pp x 216ft 2in oa x 23ft 7in x 14ft lin 64.85, 65.90 x 7.20 x 4.30m Machinery: 2 shafts Normand-Vickers diesels plus electnc motors, 1300bhp/l OOOshp = 12kts/9kts. Oil 95t Armament: 3-21.7in TT, 2-15.7in TT, 1-3/35 Mod, 28, 2-13.2mm AA (1x2), 32 mines Complement: 42 Name Builder Launched Fate SAPHIR Arsenal de Toulon 20 12.1928 Scuttled 15 9 43 TURQUOISE Arsenal de Toulon 16.5.1929 Scuttled 6.5 43 NAUTILUS Arsenal de Toulon 21 3.1930 Sunk 31.1.43 RUBIS Arsenal de Toulon 30 9.1931 Stricken 10 4 49 DIAMANT Arsenal de Toulon 18 5 1933 Scuttled 27 11 42 PERLE Arsenal de Toulon 30.7.1935 Sunk in error 8.7.44 Double-hulled medium displacement minelaying submarines, two being authorised in 1925, and one in each year 1926-29 The simple and safe Normand Fenaux system of vertical external mine-tubes made them highly successful minelayers - in fact/?ufeis in FNFL service was the most successful minelaying submarine of the war - but in other respects they were not outstand- ing boats. Maximum operational depth was 250ft and they had a range of 7000/4000nm at 7J/12kts, or 80nm at 4kts submerged. The TT comprised 2-21.7in in the bow with 4 torpedoes, and an external triple mount aft with 2-15.7in and 1-21.7in TT. The first three were captured at Bizerta on 8.12 42, the first pair being taken oxer by the Italians as theFR112 and FR116, but all three were scuttled or sunk in that port during 1943. Rubts operated very successfully with the FNFL, sinking 14 merchant ships and 10 small warships, and although decommis- sioned was still used as a sonar target at Toulon in 1957. Diamant was raised after being scuttled, but the hulk was bombed in 1944. Perle was mistakenly bombed by British aircraft. Surcouf in the mid 1930s SURCOUF Displacement: 2880t standard; 3250t normal; 4304t submerged Dimensions: 360ft lOin oa x 29ft 6in x 23ft lOin 110 00 x 9.00 x 7.25m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels plus electric motors, 7600bhp 3400shp = 181kts/lOkts. Oil 280t Armament: 8-21,7m TT, 4-15.7in TT, 2-8in/5O Mod 24 (1 x2),2-37mm A A (2x1), 4-13 2mm AA (2x2), 1 aircraft Complement: 118 Name Builder Launched Fate SURCOUF Arsenal de Cherbourg 18.10.1929 Sunk in collision 18 2 42 Authorised under the 1926 Programme, Surcouf was designed for long range commerce warfare, with an endurance of 90 days, the designed radius being 10,000/6800nm at 10/13-lkts or 70/60nm at 5/4-*kts submerged; maximum oper- ational depth was 250ft and she could dive in 2 minutes; she made 19kts on trials For her role as raider she was fitted with a compartment for prisoners, a boarding launch (later removed) and a small Besson MB411 floatplane complete with hangar abaft the CT. The ГГ were disposed as follows: 4-21 7in bow, and externally 4-21.7in (1 x4) in thecasing aft, with 14 torpedoes; and 4-15.7in TT (1x4) externally in a second traversing mount (with 8 torpedoes), the smaller torpedoes being fast but short-range (1550yds) weapons intended to be used against merchant shipping. Surcouf was the only French submarine to carry reloads for external TT. The 8in guns were the same model as fitted in heavy cruisers and were carried in a watertight turret. They had a maximum range of 30,000yds at 30° elevation, a rate of fire of 2-3 rounds per minute and could open fire 2} minutes after surfacing. Maximum effective range, however, was 13,000yds, dictated by the 13ft rangefinder. Technically Surcouf was a successful boat, but she had no opportunity for employment against enemy merchant shipping. She was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in a collision with the US merchant ship Thomson Lykes La Vestale 1940 ARGONAUTE class Displacement: 630t normal, 798t submerged Dimensions: 208ft pp x 21ft x 13ft lOin 63.40 x 6 40 x 4 24m Machinery: 2 shafts Schneider-Carel diesels plus electric motors, 1300bhp/lOOOshp = 14kts/9kts. Oil 65t Armament: 6-21.7in TT, 2-15.7in TT, l-3in/35 Mod 28, 1 MG Complement: 41 Name Builder Launched Fate ARGONAUTE Schneider 23.5 1Q29 Sunk 8 11 42 arEthuse Schneider 8 8 1929 Sold for BU Mar 1946 ATALANTE Schneider 5.8.1930 Sold for BU Mar 1946 LA VESTALE Schneider 25 5 1932 Sold for BU 14 8.46 LA SULTANE Schneider 5 8.1932 Sold for BU 26.12.46 Authorised under the 1926 (2 boats), 1927(1 boat) and 1929 (2 boats) Program- mes, this class was the first of the 630 tonne (second class) type, which was developed from the 600 tonnes. As with the previous type, a number of builders produced their own designs to a single specification, this class being a 274
Submarines Schneider-Laubeuf design The 630 tonnes had improved transverse stability submerged (but the same operational depth) and superior habitability. Radius was slightly extended at 4000/2500nm at 10/13kts, or 85nm at 5kts submerged. On all the privately designed boats of this type the TT were disposed: 3-21.7in in the bow, a twin external traversing mount aft plus one fixed external aft (7 torpedoes) and a twin 15.7m externa] mount aft Argonaute was depth-charged off Oran DIANE class (Made 1932 Name Builder Launched Fate IRIS A C Dubigeon 23 9.1934 Sold for BU 1.2.50 MINERVE Arsenal de Cherbourg 23.10.1934 Wrecked 19.9.45 VENUS AC de la 6.4.1935 Seine-Maritime Scuttled 27.11.42 JUNON A C Augustin- Normand 15.9.1935 Sold for BU 6 12.54 PALLAS A C Augustin -Normand 25.8.1938 Scuttled 9.11.42 CERES A C de la 9.12 1938 Scuttled 9 11.42 Seine-Mari u me Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 57It normal; 809t submerged 211ft 4in pp x 20ft 4in x 14ft lin 64.40 x 6 20 x 4.30m 2 shafts. Normand-Vickers diesels 1400bhp/lOOOshp = 14kts/9kts. Oil 6 plus electric motors, 5t Name Builder Launched Fate DIANE A C Augustin- 13.5.1930 Normand Scuttled 9.11.42 MEDUSE A C Augustin- 26 8.1930 Normand Beached 10 11 42 ANTIOPE A C de la 19 8 1930 Seine-Maritime Sold for BU 26.4.46 AMPHITRITE A C Augustin- 20.12 1930 Normand Sunk 8.11 42 AMAZONE A C de la Seine- 28.12.1931 Maritime Sold for BU 26.4.46 ORPHfiE AC Augustin- 10.11.1931 Normand Sold for BU 15.4.46 OREADE AC de la 23.5.1932 Seine-Mari lime Sunk 8.11.42 LA SYBILLE AC de la 28.1 1932 Seine-Mari time Sunk 11.11.42 LA PSYCHE A C Augustin- 4 8 1932 Normand Sunk 8.11.42 A Normand-Fenaux variant on the 630 tonne specification, built by Normand themselves and by A C de la Seine Maritime (also known as Chantiers Worms) under the 1926 (2 boats), 1927 (3 boats), 1928 (2 boats) and 1929 (2 boats) Programmes. Apart from the data above, they were similar to the Argonaute class. Diane was scuttled at Oran; Mdduse, Amphitrite, Ordade and La Psyche were sunk during the Allied invasion of North Africa; and La Sybille was probably torpedoed in error by U173 off Morocco. ORION class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 558t normal, 787t submerged 219ft pp x 20ft 4in x 14ft 5in 66.75 x 6 20 x 4 40m 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels plus electric 1 OOOshp = 14kts/9kts. Oil 65t motors, 1400bhp/ Name Builder Launched Fate ORION A C de la Loire, 21 4 1931 Nantes BU Apr 1943 ON DINE A C Dubigeon 4.5.1931 BU Apr 1943 Loire-Dubigeon 630 tonne design ordered under the 1928 Programme. Other details are as Argonaute class. Both were cannibalised for spares for Minerve and Junon and finally broken up in Britain. MINERVE class Displacement: 662t normal; 856t submerged Dimensions: 223ft Sin pp x 18ft 5tn x 13ft 3m 68.10 x 5 62 x 4 03m Machinery: 2 shafts. Normand-Vickers diesels plus electric motors, 1800bhp/1230shp = 14|kts/9kts Oil 60t Armament: 6-21.7inTT, 3-15 7mTT, l-3m/35 Mod 28,2-13.2mm A A (2x1) Complement: 42 An official French Admiralty design based on the 630 tonne type, representing a change of policy away from competing private designs and towards greater standardisation. They were authorised in 1930, except the last two which were built under the 1936 Programme An increased but simplified TT armament was arranged as follows: 4-21.7in forward and 2 aft, with a triple traversing 15.7in mount abaft the CT; there were no reloads. Range and operational depth were the same as the Argonaute class. Ins was interned in Spain from 1942-45; Junon and Minerue served with the FNFL from 1940; Vdnus was scuttled at Toulon and the remaining pair at Oran. AURORE class Displacement: 893t normal; 1170t submerged Dimensions: 235ft 7in pp, 241ft 2in oa x 21ft 4in x 13ft 9in 71.80, 73.SO x 6.50 x 4 20m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer or Schneider diesels plus electric motors, 3000bhp/1400shp = 14jkts/9kts Oil 85t Armament- 9-21.7in TT, 1-3 9in/40 Mod 36, 2-13 2mm AA (2x 1) Complement: 44 Name Builder Launched Fate AURORE Arsenal de 26.7.1939 Toulon Scuttled 27.11.42 LA CREOLE A C Augustin- 8.6.1940 Sold for BU July Normand 1961 LA FAVORITE AC de la 5.11.1942 Seine-Maritime Sunk 6.7.44 LA BAYADERE A C Augustin- - Normand BU on slip 18 6.40 L’AFRICAINE AC de la 7.12 1946 Seine- Maritime BU 1963 L’ASTREE A C Dubigeon 3.5.1946 Sold for BU Dec 1965 L’ANDROMEDE A C Dubigeon 17 11 1949 Sold for BU Dec 1965 L’ARTfiMIS A C Augustin 28 7 1942 -Normand BU 1967 A much improved development of the 630 tonne type, with an operational depth of 330ft. Armament was increased both in the calibre of deck gun and TT which were disposed 4 forward, 2 aft, and a triple external mount amidships. Radius Junon postwar with deck gun removed Ry courtesy of Bernard Millal 275
was 5600/2250nm at 10/15kts or 85nm at 5kts submerged 1 hey were ordered under the 1934 (1 boat), 1937 (4), and 1938 (10) Programmes, but only Aurore was complete by June 1940; she was scuttled at Toulon. La Ctfole was towed to the UK and completed postwar; La Favonte, L’Afncaine, L’At trie and L’Andromede were taken over by the Germans as UF2 ,UFl, unnamed and UF3 respectively, but only UF2 was commissioned Except La Fazonte they were completed to a modified design postwar, as was L’Artimis The construction of L'Andromaque,L*Antigone, L‘Amide, L’ffennione, La Gorgone,La Clortnde and La Comehe was abandoned or cancelled. ROLAND MORILLOT class Displacement: 1817t normal; 2416t submerged Dimensions: 336ft 3in oa x 27ft 3in x 14ft Ilin 102.50 x 8.32 x 4.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus electric motors, 12,000bhp/2300shp = 22kts/9kts. Oil 95t Armament: 10-21.7in TT, 2-15.7in TT, l-3.9in/40 Mod 36, 2-13.2mm AA(lx2) Complement: 70 These first class boats were ordered in 1934 (1), 1937 (1) and 1938 (3) with a further 8 authorised in 1940. They were greatly improved versions of the 1500 tonne type which with a further 85t of fuel in the ballast tanks had a range of 10,000nm at lOkts. Only Roland Mordlot ,La Praya and La Martinique had been laid down by the outbreak of war - all three at the Arsenal de Cherbourg - and they were destroyed on the slip on 18.6.40, and La Guadaloupe, La Reunion and the eight other unnamed units were cancelled. EMERAUDE class Displacement: 862t normal; 1119t submerged Dimensions: 236ft 3in pp, 238ft 6in oa x 24ft lin x 13ft 6in 72 00, 72.70 x 7 36 x 4.1От Machinery: 2 shafts. Schneider diesels plus electric motors, 2000bhp/ 1270shp = 15kts/9kts Armament: 4-21.7in TT, l-3.9in/40 Mod 36, 2-13.2mm AA (1x2), 40 mines Complement: 43 Enlarged and improved versions of theSopAir class minelayers, Emeraude was authorised in 1937, and Agate, Corail and Escarbouche in 1938. Only the first was laid down and she was destroyed on the slip 23.6.40, the remainder being cancelled. They would have had a range of 5600nm at 12kts or 90nm at 4kts submerged. PHfiNIX class Displacement: 1056t normal, 1252t submerged Dimensions: 245ft Sin pp x 21 ft x 12ft lOin 74 90 x 6.40 x 3 90m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels plus electric motors, 4200bhp/1400shp = 18kts/9kts. Oil 12It Armament: 10-21.7in TT, l-40mm AA, l-20mm A A Complement: 45 A development of the Aurore class with a lengthened hull and improved equip- ment for tropical service, one (Phfnix) was authorised in 1939 and a further 12 in 1940. They would have been named Bnimaire, Florial, Fnniaire, Fructidor, Geminal, Messidor, \’ivose, Pluziose, Prairal, 1 hermidor, Vcndrinairc and Vcn- tose, but were all cancelled. Ex-Italian ACCIAIO class The second class submarine Bronzo (see Italian section for details) was captured by the Royal Navy on 12.7 43, transferred to the French Navy on 29.1 44, renamed \Tarval, and used as an asdic TS. She was sold for scrapping in Jan 1949. Ex-British U and V classes The maintenance of French-built submarines in the UK was problematical, so 1 ‘U’ class and 2 ‘V’ class submarines were transferred from the Royal Navy to the FNFL. Vox became Curie on 1.5 43 and was returned on 17 9.46; Vineyard became Dons on 30 6 44 and was returned on 18 11 47, and Vortex became Morse on 15.12.44 and was returned on 17.9.46. Ex-German Type XXI U2S18, taken over by the Royal Navy it. 1945, was transferred to France in 1946, and renamed Roland Monllot in 1947. She was broken up in 1968. Ex-German type XXIII In 1946 U2326 was transferred from the Royal Navy, which had taken over the boat in 1945, but she was lost in an accident off Toulon on 6 12 46. She had not been renamed. ESCORTS D'Entrecasteaux before the war BOUGAINVILLE class colonial sloops Displacement: 1969t standard; 2156t normal; 2600l full load Dimensions: 321ft 6in pp, 340ft 3in oa x 41ft 8in x 14ft 9in 98 00, 103.70 x 12.70 x 4 50m Machinery: 2 shafts Burmeister & Wain or Sulzer diesels, 3200bhp = 151kts. Oil 297t Armament: 3-5.5in/40Mod (3x 1),4—37mm AA(4x 1),6 MGs, 50 mines, 1 aircraft Complement: 139 peace; 183 war By courtesy of Jacques Navarret Name Builder Launched Fate DUMONT D’URVILLE A C Maritime 21.3.1931 du Sud Quest Sold for BU 26.3 58 BOURGAINVILLE FC de la Gironde 21 4 1931 Sunk 9.11 40 SAVORGNAN DE A C Maritime 18 6 1931 Sold for BU BRAZZA du Sud Ouest 20.3.57 D’ENTRECASTEAUX A C de Provence 22.6.1931 Sold for BU 19.10.48 RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY F C de la Gironde 18.9.1932 Sunk 4.7.40 AMIRAL CHARNER A C Maritime 1 10.1932 du Sud Ouest Scuttled 10 3 45 D’IBERVILLE A C Maritime 23.9.1934 du Sud Ouest Scuttled 27.11.42 276
Escorts LA GRANDIERE A C de Provence 22.6.1939 Sold for BU (tx-Ville D’Ys) 23 11.59 BEAUTEMPS F C de la Gironde 20.6.1939 Scuttled BEAUPRE incomplete 24.6 40 LA PEROUSE F C de la Gironde - Cancelled Designed for colonial service, principally in the tropics, with an emphasis on habitability, all had flagship facilities and light bullet-proof plating to control positions. On trials they averaged between 17.2kts (Dumont D’Urville) and 18.3kts (Savorgnan de Brazza) and Amiral Chamer reached a maximum of 18.9kts. In their designed role they proved efficient and reliable, having a radius of 13,000/7600nm at 8J/14kts. Modifications to the light AA armament were made to surviving units by 1944 The Vichy-manned Bougainville was sunk by her FNFL sister Savorgnan de Brazza off Libreville; Rigault de Genouilly was torpedoed by HM Submarine Pandora off Algiers; Amiral Chamer was scuttled in Indo-China; Ville D'Ys was renamed on 1.4.40; D’Entrecasteaux was damaged beyond repair by British forces at Diego Suarez in May 1942. The last three were intended as surveying vessels, but m 1939 a revised sloop design was prepared with 6-3.9in AA, 4—37mm and 4-20mm, it was never implemented ELAN class minesweeping sloops (launched 1938-Л0) Displacement: 630t standard; 750t normal; 895t full load Dimensions: 242ft 2in pp, 256ft Ilin x 28ft 6in x 10ft 9in 73 81, 78.30 x 8.70 x 3.28m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels, 4000bhp = 20kts. Oil 100г Armament- (As designed) 2-3 9in/60 (1x2) AA, 8-13 2mm (1x4, 2x2) Complement: 88, war 106 Class (builder, fate): Elan (Arsenal de Lorient, sold for BU 26.3.58), Commandant Воту (A C de France, sold for BU \7.2.53),Commandant Delage (A C de France, sold for BU 18.10.60), Commandant Duboc (A C Dubigeon, BU July 1963), Commandant Riviere (A C de Provence, sunk as Italian FR52 28 5 43; hulk sold for BU 9.8.46), La Capricteuse (A C Dubigeon, BU Sept 1964), La Moquese (Arsenal de Lorient, BU Oct 1965), Commandant Domine, (ex-La Rteuse, A C Dubigeon, BU Oct 1960), L’ Impetueuse (A C de France, scuttled 7 8 44), La Curieuse (Arsenal de Lorient, scuttled Aug 1944), La Batailleuse (A C de Provence, scuttled 25 4 45), La Boudeuse (A C de France, sold for BU 15 4 58), La Gracieuse (A C de Provence, sold for BU 11.9.58). Although designed for minesweeping they were never so employed, and all received make-shift armaments, including 2 DCT and 1 DC rack. Some were taken over by the RN, and eventually the FNFL, and were given British 4in AA (1x2) and single 2pdrs; others served briefly in the Italian and German navies. CHAMOIS class minesweeping sloops (launched 1938—39, 1942-44) Class (fate): The following were built by the Arsenal de Lorient - Chamois (sunk as German SG21 15.8.44), Chevreutl (to Tunisia as Destur Oct 1959), Gazelle (sold for BU 8 3 61), Annamite (BU 1967), La Surprise, (ex Bambaro, sunk 8.11 42) The following were built by A C Provence and launched in 1942-44: Matelot Leblanc (sunk as German SG14 24.8 44), Rageot de la Touche (sunk as German UJ2229 22.5 44), Amiral Sinis (scuttled as German SG16 21 8 44), Ensetgne Ballande (scuttled as German SGI 7 20 8 44) Three of this class authorised in 1938 were cancelled, and the construction of 12 of the 1939 Programme was abandoned, although 4 were eventually com- pleted to a modified design postwar. Details were as for theL/лл class, but with a raised forecastle. FLOWER class corvettes (launched 1940) Apart from different calibre guns (l-3.9in, 4-13.2mm AA), these were identical to the British ‘Flower’ class (see British section for details). The four vessels were ordered from Smiths Dock, Middlesborough, in 1939 and were La Bas- tiase, La Dieppoise, La Malouine and La Paunpolaise, the first was mined during her trials on 22.6.40, and the remainder were taken over by the RN after die fall of France. An order for a further 18 was divided between British and French yards. The British order was never fulfilled, but four of the French vessels were completed by the Germans as PAI-4 (ex-Arquebuse, Hallebarde, Sabre and Poignard, respectively); they were all sunk by RAF aircraft in 1944, exceptPA*/ which was expended as a blockship in April 1945. Between 1941 and 1943 8 ‘Flowers* were transferred to the FNFL. Thes were Aconit, Alysse, Commandant Ddtroyer, Commandant Drogou, Renoncule, Roselys, Lobelia, Mimosa (respectively ex-Aconite, Alyssum,Coriander, Chrysan- themum, Ranunculus, Sundew, Lobelia and Mimosa). Alysse and Mimosa were torpedoed on 10.2 42 and 9 6 42 respectively, and the rest were returned to the RN in 1945 and rapidly sold. ex-British RIVER class frigates Six ‘Rivers’ were transferred to the FNFL in 1943-44 (see British section for details). They were L’Aventure (ex-Braid), Croix de Lorraine (cx-Strule), La Decouvertc (ex-Windrush), L’Escamiouche (ex-Frome), La Surprise (ex-Torridge) and Tonkinois (ex-Mqyola). They were retained by the postwar French Navy and all were scrapped in 1961-62, except La Surprise which became the Moroccan Maouna in 1964. Ex-German M35 type fleet minesweepers Fifteen ex-German M35 type vessels were taken over from the RN and US Navy in 1946-47 (see German section for details). In German service they had been numbered M4, M9, M12, M21, M24, M28, M3S, M38, M8I, M85, M202, M20S and M251-M253;M9 was renamed Somme, M24 Ailette and the remain- der Meuse, Bapaunu, Oise, Lafraux, Yser, Craonne, Belfort, Рётоппе, Avere and Vimy respectively. Five were returned to Germanj in 1957 and the rest broken up. Ex-German M40 type fleet minesweepers 1 hineen ex-German M40 type minesweepers were taken over at the same time as the M35 type. These were ex-M27S, M277, M404, M424, M432 (Suippe), M434, M442 (Marne), M452 (Aisne), M454,M475, M476 and M495 (3 were renamed and the French names are given in brackets). Most were discarded by the mid-1950s Ex-Allied wooden minesweepers Between 1944 and 1946 the RN transferred 14 wooden minesweepers to the French Navy; 8 were MMS(l) type (see British section for details) and were renumbered D361-D368 and 6 were MMS(2) type. All were returned in October 1947. The US Navy also transferred 31 of the YMS type (see American section of details) during the same period, the vessels being renumbered D202, D301, D31I-D318, D321-D327, D331-D338 and D3S1-D356. They were retained for postwar service, except D202 which was mined on 25.10.44. 277
FRANCE COASTAL CRAFT CH3 1936 All were scrapped in ihe 1950s and early 1960s, except L*Ardent (lost in collision 7 7 44), L’Enjouf (torpedoed by U870 9 1 45) and Goumter (Moroccan Agadir 1965). CH1-4 submarine-chasers (launched 1933-34) Displacement: 148t standard, 180t full load Dimensions: 157ft 8in x 18ft x 6ft 3in 48 05 x 5.50 x 1.90m Machinery: 2 shafts. Sulzer or MAN diesels, 2400bhp — 20kts Armament: l-3in, 2-8mni MG Complement: 41 Built by A C de Bretagne. The main armament was the Army 1897 Model field gun; the AS armament (4 DCT, 1 DC rack) was as fitted in 1940, the rack carrying 6-2201b DCs. CHI and CH4 were bombed at Toulon in 1944 by Allied aircraft while in German hands; the others were broken up in 1945 and 1948. CH5-21 submarine-chasers (launched 1939-41) Displacement: 107t standard; 114t normal; 137t full load Dimensions: 116ft 6in pp, 121ft 9in oa x 18ft 7in x 6ft 5in 35.50, 37 10 у S 66 у 1 95m Machinery: 2 shafts. MAN diesels, 1130bhp = 151kts. Oil 51t Armament: l-3in, 2-8mm MG Complement: 23 These were built by A C de France (CH5-CH8}, F C de la Mednerranee, Le Havre (CH9-CHI2 and CH17-CH21), and A C de la Seine-Maritime CH 13-CH15, and were basically similar to the preceding class Apart from CH9 which was bombed at Dunkerque on 21 5.40, the first 15 vessels served in the RN,C/75-C/7S being lost and the remainder being transferred to the FNFL in 1943. CH 16 was scuttled on 18.6 40, and CH 17-CH21 served in the German Navy as RA6, RA7, RAI, RA2 zndRA8 respectively Most surviving vessels were scrapped in the early 1950s. CH41-48 wooden-hulled submarine-chasers (launched 1939-42) Displacement: 126t standard; 160t full load Dimensions: 122ft 8in oa x 18ft 2in x 7ft lOin 37.40 x 5.53 x 2 40m Other details as preceding class CH47 and CH48 were never completed The first three served in the RN and then the FNFL and were scrapped cl950; CH44-CH46 served in the German Navy as RA4, RA3 and RA5 respectively. Cimeterre (cx-PCl250) postwar By courtesy of Bernard .MiHot Ex-American PC type coastal escorts (launched 1944) In 1943 32 PCs were allocated to the French Navy and transferred between March and November 1944'(see American section for details). They were PC471-PC475, PC480-PC482, PC542, PC543, PC545, PC546, PC550, PCS51, PCS56, PC557, PC559, PCS62, PC591, PC62I, PC626-PC627, PC1226, PC1227, PC1235, PC1248-PC1250 and PC1560-PC1562, becom- ing respectively L’EveilU, Le Ruse, L’Ardent, L’Indiscret, Le R4solu, L’Emportf, L’ Effronti ,L’ EnjoiU,Tirailleur ,Le Vontatre,Goumier, Franc Tireur,Le Vigilant, Mameluck, Carabiniere, Dragon, Voltigeur, L’Attentif, Spahi, Fantassin, Gre- nadier, Lansquenet, Cavalier, Legionnaire, Lancier, Hussard, Sabre, Pique, Cime- terre, Coutelas, Dague and Javelot. Ex-American SC type submarine-chasers The US Navy transferred 52 of these vessels to France in 1943-44. (Sec American section for details ) They became CHS, CH6, CH5I, CHS2, CH61, CH62, CH71, CH72, CH81-CH85, CH91-CH96, СНЮ1-СНЮ7, CHU1-CH116, CH121-CH126, CH131-CH136 and CH 141-CH 146 Only 38 were in service in 1951 and only 7 in 1966. Ex-British FAIRMILE type motor launches Fairmile *B’ types (see British section for details) ML267 and ML268 were FNFL-manned for the St-Nazaire raid, as were ML123, MI 245 ML247 bet- ween July 1941 and July 1942. ML205, ML182, ML269 and ML303 also served from May-August \942,ML244,ML266,ML271 and ML302 were transferred in January 1943 and with the Canadian-built Fairmile’A’ types ML052,ML062 and ML063 were renamed St Rowan, St GuAioU, St Yves, St Alam, Galantry, Langlade and Colom bier respectively. Also transferred in 1943 were 23 British HMDLs, renumbered VPI-VP16, VP21-VP27, VP31, VP32, VP41 and VP42 and 5 ex-American launches. VTB8, VTB9 MTBs (launched 1935) Displacement: 211 Dimensions: 61ft lOin oa x 16ft lin x 4ft 18 85 x 4 90 x I 23m Machinery: 2 shafts. Lorraine petrol engines, 2200bhp = 46kts Armament: 2-15.7in TT (2x1) Built by A C de la Loire. VTB8 was lost in an accident 7.8.39; VTB9 served in the FNFL until laid up in 1944 The older VTB1-VTB3 were still in service in 1939 but only used for training. VTB10 of 1936 was similar to VTB8 but her Hispano-Suiza engines were unreliable and.she never served actively. VTB11-VTB14 MTBs (launched 1939, 1941) Displacement: 28t Dimensions: 65ft 7in oa x 13ft 20 00 x 3 96m Machinery: 2 shafts. Lorraine petrol engines, 2200bhp = 45kts Armament: 2-15.7in TT (2x 1), 2-7.5mm MG Built by A C de la Loire, VTBl I and VTB12 were taken over incomplete by the RN in June 1940 and put in to service as AfGB98 and MGB99 There were 6 DCs. VTB13 was completed in 1941 with 1-12.7mm AA, and VTB14 was not finished until 1945 and then as an ASRL. The planned construction of the round-bilge but otherwise similar VTB1S-VTB22 (2-12.7mm AA) was cancel- led. VTB23-VTB40 were ordered from British Power Boat as motor anti- submarine boats, but were taken over by the RN and completed as MGB50-MGB67. Vosper MTBs 90-92,94,96,98,227 and 239 were loaned to the FNFL; they were returned to the RN in February 1946. Two German boats S307 and S305 were taken over incomplete in 1944; both were broken up in 1950. 278
Miscellaneous vessels MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS 1л P&vuse, exSans Peur, in 1954 By courtesy of John Roberts SANS SOUCI class seaplane tenders (launched 1940-41) Armed merchant cruisers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: 1372t standard (1760t full load as completed) 295ft 3in pp, 31 lf( 8in oa x 38ft 7in x 10ft 6m 90.00, 95.00 x Ц.76 x 3.20m 2 shafts, Sulzer diesels, 4200bhp = 18kts. Oil 256t l-3in AA Class (fate): Sans Souci (became German Uranus, SG3, in 1943; returned in 1945 and completed as survey vessel Beautemps Beauprf), Sans Peur (became German Merkur ,SG4, in 1942; returned in 1945 and completed as survey vessel La Perouse),Sans Parril (became Germ.tnJupiter,SGl, in 1942; sunk 6.8.44 by Allied aircraft), Sans Reproche (became German Satumas, SG2, in 1940; bombed still incomplete January 1944). These vessels were captured incomplete by the Germans who converted them to gunboats with 2 or 3-4. lin AA, 4-37mm and 10 to 14-20mtn, although only Jupiter was completed. - . The river gunboat Argus as completed River gunboats For service in her Indo-China colonies, France employed the following river gunboats: Argus and Vigilante (218t, 2-3in, 2-37mm, 4-8mm) launched at Toulon in 1922; Francis Garnier (639t, 2-3.9in, l-3in, 2-37mm, 4—8mm) launched by CN Fin December 1927; and Mytho and Tourane (95t, 1—3in, !-47mm, 2-8mm and 1 mortar) launched at Saigon in 1933 and 1936 respec- tively. They were all sunk or scuttled in 1945. Name Gross Tonnage Requisitioned Fate ARAMIS 17,537 6.9.1939 Paid off 1.8.40 COLOMBIE 13,390 11.11.1939 Paid off 7.9.40 KOUTOL’BIA 8790 Sept 1939 Paid off 5.9.40 VILLE D’ORAN 10,172 Sept 1939 Paid off 1.10.40 EL DJEZAIR 5818 Oct 1939 Paid off 17.10.40 EL MANSOUR 5818 10.10.1939 Paid off 17.10.40 EL KANTARA 5079 Sept 1939 Paid off 15.10.44 CHARLES PLVMIER 4504 3.9.1939 Paid off 22.10.40 VICTOR 4504 Sept 1939 Sunk 6.5.42 SCHOELCHER BARFLEUR 3259 Nov 1939 Armed transport ESTEREL 3100 Oct 1939 1944 Paid off 2.11.40 QUERCY 3100 4.9.1939 Paid off 15.11.40 CAP DES PALMES 3081 1941 Returned 1947 Built in the 1930s and armed with between 5 and 8-5.5in or 5.9in guns, and usually 2-3in AA and whatever light AA could be found. One further vessel, the Mexique was intended for conversion but the necessary alterations were too extensive. Victor Schoelcher was paid off on 15.10.40 but taken up again on 27.11.41 and renamed Bougainville-, she was sunk by RN aircraft at Diego Suarez. France also operated 15 smaller ex-merchantmen as ‘auxiliary sloops’ and some 60 trawler-type vessels as auxiliary patrol vessels, as well as 5 armed yachts. Over 480 units, mostly of the trawler type, also served as auxiliary minesweepers. The armed merchant cruiser Quercy in May 1946 By courtesy of John Roberts 970
Italy The end of the First World War and the defeat of the Central Powers removed Italy’s principal adversary, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leaving the country with no immediate external threat. This, combined with a financial crisis and the retrenchment that always follows a war, resulted in the cancellation of the 4 Caracaolo class battleships, laid down in 1915, and the proposed repair of the battleship Leonardo da Vina. However, four scouts {Leone class) and 14 destroyers (Palestro, Curtaione and Generali classes), ordered during the war but not begun due to material shortages, were laid down during 1919-22. The fleet at this time was in a poor state. The naval war in the Adriatic had been largely one of small craft, with the main force acting as a ‘fleet in being’, and the inactivity of a major section of the Navy had reduced morale and efficiency. A large part of the Fleet was obsolete and although there were five dreadnoughts of fairly recent design and a good number of newly constructed scouts and destroyers there were no modern cruisers. This situation was however remedied somewhat by the acquisition of ex-Austrian and German light cruisers in 1920. COLONIAL AMBITION The political unrest in Italy during the immediate postwar years re- solved itself late in 1922 when the Fascists under Benito Mussolini came to power. Following the elections of 1924 Mussolini systemat- ically reduced all opposition to his rule and before the end of the decade had converted Italy from a democratic state into a dictator- ship. The effect on the Navy was substantial since Mussolini’s strong belief in the need to expand Italy’s colonial empire and an economic policy which involved high government spending on public works and armaments etc necessarily involved the mainte- nance of a strong fleet. On the debit side, however, the political allegiance of the officers of the Fleet was often as important, if not more so, than their professional ability, which led to bad choices of command and affected the competence and loyalty normally expected of an officer corps. RIVALRY WITH FRANCE Italy’s principal naval rival was France, with whom she came into early conflict over the expansion of Italy’s North African colony of Libya. Italy’s entry into the First World War had been largely gained by promises from Britain and France to increase the size of this colony; Britain handed over a section of Egypt in 1925 but France not only refused to hand over any land but also gained con- trol of Tunisia, over which Italy had hoped to extend her influence. These conflicts of interest reinforced the naval rivalry between the two countries: France saw the Italian Navy as a threat to her lines of communication with North Africa whilst Italy saw the French Navy as a direct challenge to her power and ambitions. At Washington in 1922 the two countries had agreed to parity in strength for battleships and cruisers but not smaller vessels. Italy was willing to accept parity in these latter but France was not, arguing that she must provide for the defence of her Atlantic sea- board as well as in the Mediterranean. As the Italian Navy was not at this time of equal strength to that of France, and needed a sub- stantial construction programme to correct the situation, the threat of having to compete with expansions in the French destroyer and submarine fleet further aggravated relations between the two coun- tries. Between 1923 and 1933 Italy laid down 18 cruisers, 36 destroyers and 49 submarines while France laid down 14 cruisers, 46 des- troyers and 55 submarines. Neither country found satisfaction in these figures, Italy failing to gain parity and France failing to pro- vide sufficient reserve for the Atlantic. At the London Naval Con- ference in 1930 France again refused to accept demands for parity in destroyers and submarines and, in the case of the latter (on which Italy was actually willing to accept a complete ban), wished to greatly expand her construction programme. This again seriously threatened Italy’s ability to compete, and both countries ultimately refused to ratify the Treaty. To a certain extent all this political wrangling was academic as the Depression had seriously curtailed the ability to spend money on armaments and between 1932 and 1936 warship construction was comparatively light. This was in part due to the revival of battleship construction, the expense of which necessarily limited the programmes for smaller ships. In 1933 Italy began to reconstruct the two Cavour class battleships - converting them from vessels bordering on obsolescence to fast, first class battleships - and in the following year began work on the two new battleships of the Liuorio class To France this was a major threat and prompted a reply in the shape of the Richelieu class. At about this time, however, Italy’s rivalry with France cooled a little as Mussolini had found a new area for expansion in Africa - Abyssinia. ABYSSINIA AND SPAIN In January 1935 the disagreement over the Libyan/French North African border was settled when a token strip of land between these colonies, plus a small section of French Somaliland, was handed over to Italy. A few months later, in July 1935, the Italian Fleet was mobilised and moved to the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea to cover the transport of troops and supplies to the Italian colony of Eritrea, whence Abyssinia was invaded in October 1935. During the Spanish Civil War, which began in July 1936, the Fascist forces of General Franco received substantial help from both Germany and Italy. Part of this included a brief and distaste- ful submarine campaign by Italy on behalf of the Franco forces. In 1937 the submarines Archimede, Torricelli, Iride and Onice were transferred to Franco. In the case of the first two the transfer seems genuine as they remained in Spanish hands, but in the latter two cases the Italian crews remained aboard and the two vessels returned to Italy after only a short time. An untidy submarine campaign began in August 1937 and one French and one Spanish ship were torpedoed on the 13th and 15th respectively. On the 17th the British Admiralty authorised counter-attacks if British vessels were similarly molested by ‘pirate’ submarines and, on the 31st, the destroyer Havock, narrowly missed by a torpedo, depth-charged her attacker - the Inde - which escaped with minor damage. Shortly after this, following a general international uproar, Musso- lini called off the campaign. This was the only occasion prior to the war that Mussolini was forced to withdraw by international press- ure - albeit applied indirectly. The Italian Navy did not care for this use of their resources. 280
Introduction NAVAL EXPANSION 1 he late 1930s brought a return to an extensive programme of new construction. Between 1935 and 1940 two more Lutorio class battle- ships were laid down, the remaining pair of old battleships were taken in hand for reconstruction, and 12 cruisers, 16 destroyers, 60 submarines and several smaller vessels were ordered. This came close to providing parity with France, but the Mediterranean situa- tion was now beginning to change as a result of Germany’s rise to power. Mussolini initially regarded Hitler as a serious threat to his own position and this was, in part, the cause of the improved relations with France in 1935 Subsequently, however, the two Fascist states came together to form the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 From this point on Mussolini was following rather than leading events and, in attempting to keep pace with his German counterpart, led his coun- try into a war for which the majority of Italians had no enthusiasm. The British were disturbed by the expansion of the Italian Navy, which upset the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, together with other irritations such as the laying down of two bat- tleships before the Second London Naval Conference, the events of the Spanish Civil War, Abyssinia and the new accord with Ger- many. As a result the possibility of a war in which Britain and France combined against Itah had to be taken into account; in such a situation the Italian Navy and Mussolini’s valued African colonies would have stood little chance. Thus, although Italy invaded Albania in April 1939 in order that Mussolini might extend his influence into the Balkans before Hitler extended his power too far south, she did not enter the war in September 1939. In 1940, however, with France on the brink of collapse and the apparent prospect of Britain’s early defeat, the possibilities for a successful Mediterranean war must have seemed to Mussolini to have great advantages With no naval rival in the Mediterranean he could expand his North African empire, and by joining Hitler he could ensure that Italy gained a share of the spoils - an opportunity which, if not taken, might result in Italy becoming a satellite of the new German Empire. Italy declared war on 11 June 1940 and France was finally defeat- ed in the following month. Soon afterwards the French Fleet ceased to have any serious effect on the situation and, with only the British Mediterranean Fleet to face, the prospects for a naval war were much more equitable. WAR OPERATIONS Despite her paper advantage the Italian strategic approach seems to have been based on the necessity to keep her fleet intact as far as possible. The Navy was charged with the passive role of protecting the supply lines to North Africa, and the main battle fleet was ordered to avoid action with the British for its own sake. Thus the battle fleet took up a defensive role in the central Mediterranean where it could be protected from interference by shore-based air- craft while offensive action was to be taken by aircraft and sub- Oriam cn rouie to surrender, Sept 1943 marines. The effect of Italian aircraft had, however, been ovei estimated. Their principle method of attack were high level bomb ing and torpedo attack. The former proved too inaccurate to be effective while the latter, although more successful, involved flying low and straight, making the ideal target for AA fire which, at high angles against manoeuvring targets, was close to useless The sub- marines were no more successful: losses m the early months of the war were heavy and continued to be so. The first naval action of the war involving major units was the Battle of Calabria in which the battleships Cesare and Cavour with 16 cruisers encountered 3 British battleships and 5 cruisers while the latter were covering a convoy. Initially the Italians ignored their order to avoid action and, so as to draw the British away from the convoy and towards Italian aircraft, approached the British Fleet. Unfortunately, Cesare was hit almost immediately at a range of 26,400yds by a lucky shot from Warspile. The Italians turned awa\ and retired, although whether this was a direct result of the hit is not clear. Whatever the cause the object had now been achieved and retirement was justified by the doctrine then in operation. As planned, Italian aircraft arrived on the scene as the ships drew away with the British Fleet in pursuit, but not only did they fail to hit any of the enemy ships but they proceeded to bomb their own vessels as well. This action provided the British with a considerable advantage in morale and more than any other event set the seal on the oft-repeated opinion that the Italian Fleet preferred to run rather than fight. It is an unfair judgement as the Italians proved quite capable of fighting with as much courage as anybody else when given the opportunity. The real faults lay in poor strategic thought, misdirection from high levels and, on the part of many officers afloat, an unwillingness to take favourable opportunities for attack if they conflicted with their operational orders. There were also lesser problems in that the Italians were entering a war without recent combat experience and no major fleet battle to their credit since Lissa in 1866; the British, on the other hand, had been at war for almost a year, making an adjustment which is not easy to carry out overnight, and were highly developed in the art of fleet actions as a result of the experience gained, and since developed, at Jutland in 1916. It seems likely that Mussolini wished to keep his fleet intact to maintain his strength when the war was over Whatever the reason, Italy’s best opportunity to gain command of the sea occurred in the first months of the war. The Italian battle fleet during August-November 1940 outnumbered the British fleet, possessed more modern ships, and had the tactical advantage of faster battle- ships. A well-planned fleet action at this time might have given them success at sea followed by victory in North Africa. Instead, their ships were tied to Taranto where, on 11 November 1940, tor- pedo aircraft from the carrier Illustrious (the one advantage the Brit- ish Fleet possessed) sank the battleship Cavour and heavily dam- aged Litiono and Duilio. There followed, on 28 March 1941, the Battle of Matapan in wrhich the only remaining operational battle- By courtesy of John Roberts
ITALY The cruiser ЛГизю Attertiiolo about 1940 halt an K'uvy ship, Vittorio Veneto, was torpedoed and damaged and three of the powerful Zara class cruisers, the most important units in the fleet after the battleships, were lost. If the truth of the old maxim that attack is the best form of defence was ever realised by the Italian high command, they had lost the chance of applying it and never again had the opportunity to gain full control of the Mediterranean. Shortly after Matapan the battles for Greece and Crete brought heavy losses to the Britih Fleet and at Alexandria in December 1941 Queen Elizabeth and Valiant were sunk by Italian human tor- pedoes. This general neutralisation of both battle fleets during 1940-41 initiated a period in which the Italians attempted to stop supplies to Malta and the British attempted to stop supplies to North Africa. In these operations, together with a multitude of minor actions around the Mediterranean, the Italian Navy showed its true fighting spirit, although the balance of success was very much in favour of the Allies. Italian destroyers and escorts fought many fierce defensive actions whilst protecting supply ships and the losses on the run to North Africa were extremely high. In this war of attrition both sides lost heavily in warships, merchant ships, men and material, but Italy’s ability to replace these losses was limited and her chances of continuing the war gradually wore dowrn. From 1941 the Germans took more and more of the burden of the war m the Mediterranean and, with the Allied invasion of North Africa late in 1942, any opportunity the fleet had of affecting the outcome faded. Reaction against what had always been an unpopular war grew m 1943 and brought the downfall of Mussolini and the Italian surrender in September. The main body of the Fleet surrendered to the Allies shortly afterwards, and although some units served with Allied forces the majority remained inactive for the rest of the war. German reaction was the immediate occupation of Italy and, as the majority of naval building and repair work had been shifted to northern yards to avoid Allied air raids, a large number of Italian warships fell into their hands. WARSHIP DESIGN One of the main reasons for the low success record of the Italian Fleet during the war was the quality of their ships and equipment together with the lack of ship/aircraft co-operation and radar. Design policy from the 1920s onwards was based on the production 282 of high-speed ships to provide a qualitative advantage over foreign I vessels. France adopted a similar approach, and the competition between the tw'o nations resulted in the search for ever greater speeds at the expense of other ship qualities. Much effort was put into the production of lightweight high power machinery and means of weight-saving in hull structures and other shipboard equipment. The result was thoroughbreds of somewhat tempera- mental nature which when finely tuned and in good condition pro- duced exceptional results, but when subjected to heavy work lost performance dramatically. It should be said, however, that, with a J few exceptions, the very high speeds obtained on trial were not the result of running ships at very light displacement. The majority of trials were at standard displacement, at w'hich both Italian and most foreign design speeds were quoted, which is slightly above a | ship’s normal light displacement and includes no fuel or reserve | feed water. Thus to carry fuel for a trial some other weights needed to be sacrificed such as ammunition stores etc, to keep to the cor- rect displacement. Running trials very light had no value as the resultant figures would not provide accurate information for subse- quent designs or prove that the ship could meet its design require- । ments - the primary purpose of trials The real reason for the very high trial speeds obtained was excessive forcing of the machinery. This was particularly so during builders’ trials in the late 1920s as at that time the Italian Government was paying 1,000,000-lire bon- uses for every Ikt m excess of the design speed. This resulted in i the builders going to extremes, and in many cases over-stressing the machinery installation, and in the early 1930s the practice was stopped. The high speeds did of course have propaganda value as well and in this respect some published speeds were those achieved during only a short period of the trial run. Distortion also resulted » when a very high speed maintained for a minimal part of a lengthy trial served to push up the mean speed for the overall trial. In ser- vice with ships operating at average displacements, subject to foul- ing, bad weather and machinery wear, speeds were much less. In fact the war demonstrated that British ships, with much lower design speeds, were usually faster in practice and had machinery of much greater reliability. Weight-saving which involved light hull structures, the use of welding and general reductions in fittings, resulted in compare-
Introduction lively poor habitability levels and a lowering of structural strength. However, this last was more acceptable under Mediterranean condi- tions where rough weather, although by no means rare, was much less frequent and severe than in, say, the Arctic or North Atlantic. The Mediterranean also provided the advantage of being a limited sphere of operation which did not require vessels of high endurance and consequently provided savings in the space and weight devoted to fuel compartments when compared with the ships of the deep- ocean navies. All the designs of the 1920s for cruisers, destroyers and sub- marines suffered from stability problems, mainly as a result of restricting beam to assist in the maintenance of high speeds, but experience with these vessels produced substantial improvements in the designs of the following decade In general the cruisers initially sacrificed protection to obtain high speeds except_for the excellent Zara class in which a lower speed was accepted to provide good protection and showed that Italy’s designers were quite capable of producing well balanced designs when given the opportunity. The development of the light cruiser showed a general trend towards better protection and lower speeds as war approached, and the later vessels of the ‘Condottieri’ series were again well-balanced ships. Destroyer development, with the exception of the ‘Navigatori’ class, was one of gradual improvement of the same basic design (culminating in rhe ‘Soldati’ class), and apart from the high speed the result was ships of no particular merit In lesser craft Italy showed little prewar interest in escort vessels, which cost her dearly during the war, but a strong interest in submarines and light forces. Italy’s submarine fleet at the outbreak of war was much larger than Germany’s and potentially a serious threat to the Brit- ish, but the results obtained were not spectacular and the force never operated as efficiently or successfully as Hitler’s U-boats. In light forces, with which Italy had gained her most important naval successes in the First World War, the Italians showed their great flair for operations of individual bravery. Their MAS-boats, special attack motor-boats, and particularly their human torpedoes achieved much but, with the exception of the attack on Alexandria in December 1941, did little to affect the trend of the war. Above all the Italian Navy’s greatest problems related to aircraft. Before the war reliance had been placed on co-operation between the Navy and land-based aircraft for both fleet air defence and air strikes, and consequently no need was seen for aircraft carriers. Aircraft were carried on board cruisers and battleships, but these were intended for reconnaissance and spotting, although during the war several ships were equipped with fighters. The war soon demonstrated that the reliance on shore based aircraft was a mis- take, but the attempt to correct this by the conversion of two mer- chant vessels to aircraft carriers came too late to affect the situa- tion. Italian ships also suffered, like those of all other nations in 1939, from a lack of effective A A weapons, and although some improvements were made during the war the problem remained and worsened as Allied air power over the Mediterranean streng- thened. NOTES Machinery: Horsepower is Italian horsepower, which was meas- ured slightly differently from standard shp and produced a figure slightly higher The hp and speed given in the tables are as designed. Sea speeds are maximum achieved under normal wrar conditions. Armament: Armaments given in the table are as designed The lengths of Italian guns, in calibres, were again measured slightly differently from those of other countries; the German 150min/45 for example became the Italian 150mm/43. Builders: In the tables that follow, shortened versions of Italian shipyards are given. Their full titles and locations are: R Arsenale, La Spezia Ansaldo, Genoa Ansaldo, Sampierdarena Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente Baglietto, Varazze Breda, Porto Marghera Bacini e Scali Napolctani, Naples R Cantieri di Castellammare di Stabia Cantieri del Tirrero, Genoa Cantieri del Tirrero, Riva Trigoso Cantieri Navali del Quarnaro, Fiume Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Ancona Cantieri Navali Riuniti, Palermo Cantieri Navali Triestini, Monfalcone Cantieri Odero Terni Orlando, Leghorn Canueri Odero Terni Orlando, Muggiano Cantieri Odero Terni Orlando, Sestri Ponente Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Trieste Caproni, Milan Celli, Venice Cerusa, Vol tri Costruzioni Meccaniche e Aeronautiche, Marina di Pisa Costruzioni Navali e Aeronautiche, Rome Migliari, Savona Navalmeccamca, Castellammare di Stabia Officine e Cantieri Partenopei, Naples Orlando, Leghorn Odero, Sestri Ponente Polli, Chioggia Picchiotti, Limite sull’Arno Pattison, Naples SACIN, Venice Stabilnnento Tecnico 1 nestino, Trieste SV AN, Venice Tosi, Taranto Andrea Doria and Caio Dulio lying olf Malta, Sept 1943 B\ courtesy of John Roberts
ITALY THE ITALIAN NAVY in 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Regina Elena class NAPOLI 10 9 1905 13,774t Stricken 1926 REGINA ELENA 11.6.1904 13,807t Stricken 1923 ROMA 21 4 1907 13,772i Stricken 1927 VITTORIO 12 10.1904 13,914c Stricken 1923 EMANUELE Danie Alighieri class • DANTE ALIGHIERI 20 8 1910 2I,260t Stricken 1928 Cavour class CONTE DI CAVOUR 10.8.1911 23,868t Sunk 15.2.45 GIULIO CESARE 15 10.1911 24 410t ?Sunk 29 10 55 LEONARDO 14 10 1911 24,288t Sold 22 3 23 DA VINCI Dona class ANDREA DORIA 30 3 1913 24 340t BU 1961 CAIO DUILIO 24 4 1913 24,301t BU 1957 Cavour class Leonardo Da Vizui was sunk by internal explosion in 1916 and salvaged in 1919 A planned reconstruction of the vessel did not materialise. During the 1920s a fixed aircraft catapult was fitted on the forecastles of Cavour and Cesare, their foremasts were replaced by derrick stumps and a new quadruped foremast fitted forward of the forefunnel. Both underwent major reconstruction 1933-37, Cavour at Trieste and Cesare at Genoa. The original machinery was taken out and replaced by a two-shaft geared tur- bine installation driven by eight boilers providing a nominal 75,OOOshp at 27kts, forcing provided 93,OOOshp for 28kts. Oil fuel stowage was 2472t, giving an endurance of 6400nm at 13kts. Internally, the ships were rebuilt to include the Pugliese underwater protection system, more extensive sub- division and a unit machinery arrangement in which the port engine room was aft and the starboard engine room forward of the boiler rooms Exter- nally, a new superstructure was fitted, and new sections were added to bow and stern, increasing the overall length to 611ft 6in (186 38m), the latter assisting in the speed improvement by increasing the length to-beam ratio. The deck over machinery was increased to 80mm and over the magazines to 100mm thickness and the barbette armour to 280mm, while various other minor mprovemenis were made to ihe protection, including a new, 260mm CT and 25mm torpedo bulkheads The secondary gun battery and its case- mate armour were removed and ihe embrasures plated in to give the ships flush sides to forecastle level. A new secondary battery of 12-120mm/50 (6x2) was mounted amidships, on the forecastle deck, and the original light and AA weapons replaced by 8-100mm/47 (4x3), 12-37mm/54 (6x2) and 12-13 2mm MG (6x2). The midships triple 305mm/46 gun mounting was removed and the remaining 10 guns of the main armament were bored out and relined to 320mm/43 8 calibre while the mountings were modified to give 27° elevation for a range of 31,000yds. The modernisation increased the deep displacement to 29,032 tons and the draught, at normal load, to 34ft lin (10.39m). On trials Cavour made 28 08kis with 93,433shp and Cesare 28 .25kts with 93,490shp. On completion of this refit the Cesare earned 2 aircraft catapults but these were removed after tnals Both vessels had their 13 2mm MG replaced by 12-20mm/65 AA (6x2) during the early years of the war and Cesare had a further 4 (2x2) added in 1942 Cavour was sunk by aerial tor- pedoes at Taranto in November 1940 and when salvaged had her armament removed except for the 37mm/54 AA guns - a further 4-37mm/54 (2x2) were added on the quarterdeck for her transfer to Trieste for repair and reconstruction When refitted she was to have mounted 12-135mm/45 (6x2), in place of the 120mm, I2-65mm/64 AA (12x1) in place of the 100mm and l^-20mm/65 AA (5x2, 3x1) guns, a second director on the bridge and radar but was scuttled on the Italian surrender in 1943. The wreck was captured and raised by the Germans but was sunk again during an air raid on Trieste The ship was refloated in 1947 and scrapped 1950-52. Cesare was renamed Zll after the war and on 15.12.48 was trans- ferred to Russia as part of war reparations. The Russians renamed her Navorossusk and, although probably sunk by a mine in the Black Sea, it has also been reported that she was broken up in 1955 (it is perhaps a case of confusion in that she may have been damaged by a mine and subsequently scrapped) Dona class An aircraft catapult was added on the forecastles of both ships in the mid- 1970s and they were taken in hand for complete reconstruction 1937-40, Dona at Trieste and Duilio at Genoa. Modifications closely followed those in the Cavour class, the midship structure and machinery compartments being gutted and the midships turret and secondary battery removed to allow the Gtung of the same type and arrangement of machinery, underwater protec non, sub-division and superstructure The forecastle deck was extended aft to the mainmast and made flush with the side and the overall length increased to 613ft 2in by additions to bow and stern, but the speed was slightly less at 75,OOOshp = 26kts (normal) and 87,OOOshp = 27kts (forced) The protection was modified as in Cavour except that the barbettes were not altered, they already being slightly thicker than in the earlier class The main guns were also modified as in Cavour but the remaining armament was altered to 12-135mm/45 (4x3) mounted forward abreast the bridge, 10-90mm/50 AA (10x1) amidships, 15-37mm/54 AA (6x2 + 3x1) and 16-20mm/65AA (8x2), all recently-introduced weapons. On completion of reconstruction the deep displacements were 28,882t (Dona) and 29,39It (Duilio) with normal draught at 28ft 3in (8 58m) War modifications were few and consisted mainly of the addition of 4—37mm/54 AA (2x2) guns and radar, 4 of the 20mm (2x2) were removed in 1944. Duilio was damaged by a single 18in torpedo at Taranto in November 1940 but was repaired, at Genoa, by May 1941. She was under refit from March 1942 until the Italian surrender, when both ships transferred to Allied control. They were returned in 1944 and employed as training ships in the postwar fleet, Duilio was flagship of the CinC Italian Navy 1947-49. Conte dt Cavour prewar
The Italian Navy in 1922 Caio Duilio 1946 Cato Duilio at Maha, 12.9.1943 By courtesy of John Roberts ARMOURED CRUISERS PROTECTED CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Garibaldi class FRANCESCO 23.4.1902 7972t TS 1924, stricken FERRUCCIO 1.4.30 VARESE 6.8.1899 7972t TS, stricken 4.1.23 Pisa class PISA 15.9 1907 10,433t TS, stricken 28.4.37 San Giorgio class SAN GIORGIO 27.7.1908 ll,122t Scuttled 22.1.41 SAN MARCO 20.12.1908 1l,713t Target 1935, sunk cl944 Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Lombardia class PUGLIA 22.9.1898 3050t Discarded 22.3.23 Calabna class CALABRIA 20.9.1894 2660t Discarded 13.11.24 Libia class LIBIA 11.11.1912 4395t Discarded 11.3.37 Campania class CAMPANIA 23.7.1914 3137t Discarded 11.3.37 SCOUTS (see also Torpedo Vessels) Saw Giorgio was reconstructed at R Arsenalc, La Spezia (La Spezia Naval Yard) 1937-38 for service as a coast defence ship. Her boilers were reduced to 8 and converted to oil fuel only, with stowage for the latter of !300t. Two of her funnels were removed and the remaining pair fitted with caps, the topmasts were reduced, and some additional superstructure was fitted. The main and secondary armament remained unaltered but the other guns were replaced by 8-100mm/47 (4x2) and 14-13.2mm (7x2) AA. On com- pletion of this refit standard displacement was 9470t and full load ll,500t. In 1940 she transferred to Tobruk to serve as AA guardship for which an additional 2-100mm/47 (1x2), mounted on the forecastle, and 12-20mm/65 (6x2) AA were fitted She was scuttled at Tobruk. San Marco was converted to a radio-controlled target 1931-35, with all her armament and most of her superstructure removed. The number of boilers was reduced and the remainder converted to о I fuel only, providing 13,OOOshp for a maximum 18kts. Displacement was 8600t standard, 8966t full load. She was captured by the Germans on the Italian surrender and was found sunk, with upper part above water, at R Arsenale, La Spezia, at the end of the war. Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Agordat class AGORDAT Quarto class 11.10.1899 15O5t Discarded 4.1.23 QUARTO Nino Bixio class 19.8.1911 3388t Discarded 5.1.39 NINO BIXIO 30.12.1911 4075t Discarded 15.3.29 MARSALA 27.11.27 24.3.1912 4075t Discarded TORPEDO CRUISER Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate TRIPOLI 25.8.1886 955t Discarded 4.3.23 285
ITALY EX-ENEMY LIGHT CRUISERS (transferred 1920) Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Ex-Austrian VENEZIA (cx-Saida) 26.10 1912 4350t Discarded 11.3 37 BRINDISI 23.11 1912 4350t Discarded 11.3 37 (ex Helgoland) Ex-German TARANTO 24 8 1911 5840t Sunk 23.9 44 (cx-S trassburg) ANCONA 15 10 1913 62S0t Discarded 11.3.37 (ex-Graudenz) BARI (ex-Pillau) 11.4 1914 5170t Sunk 28 6.43 . Taranto was reconstructed 1936-37 for colonial service, the forward funnel being trunked into the second. War modifications included the addition of 8-20mm/65 AA (4x2) to the existing 7-150mm and 2-75mm AA guns. She was scuttled at La Spezia when Italy surrendered but was subsequently raised by the Germans. Sunk dunng an air raid in October 1943, she was again salvaged but was finally sunk in another air attack. The wreck was broken up after the war In 1928-29 Ancona was fitted with a fixed centreline aircraft catapult on the forecastle deck, which entailed the extension of the stem into an exagg- erated clipper bow. She was laid up at Taranto in 1932 Ban was rebuilt 1934-35 for colonial service at R Arscnale, La Spezia, when the number of boilers were reduced, the remainder converted to oil fuel only and the forward funnel and TT removed After refit the machin- ery’ produced 21,000shp for 24 5kts and displacement was 3248t standard, 5220t full load. War modifications included the addiuon of 6-20mm/65 A A Early in 1943 she began conversion into an AA cruiser, but before comple- tion she was sunk during an air raid on Leghorn. Salvage work was begun but,-on the Italian surrender, the vessel was sabotaged to prevent her use by the Germans, who subsequently scrapped the wreck. In all the above-mentioned light cruisers the original AA weapons were replaced by Italian 76mm/40 AA guns. Taranto 1937 TORPEDO VESSELS/SCOUTS (reclassified as des- troyers 1938) Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Poerio class GUGLIELMO PEPE 17 9.1914 1012t To Spain as ALESSANDRO 4 8.1914 1012t Teruel 1938 To Spain as POERIO Mirabello class CARLO MIRABELLO 21.12.1915 2000t Huesca 1938 Mined 21.5.41 AUGUSTO RIBOTY 24 9 1916 2000t BU 1951 Aquila class AQUILA 26 7 1916 17O5t To Spam as FALCO 16 8.1919 1730t Melilla 1939 To Spam as Leone class LEONE 1.10.1923 2300t Ceuta 1939 Wrecked 1.4.41 PANTERA 18 10.1923 2300t Scuttled 4 4 41 TIGRE 7.8.1923 2300t Scuttled 4 4 41 Mirabello class Riboty had 6-20mm A A added and four of her 8-102mm guns removed in 1943. She was officially granted to Russia as a war reparation but was never transferred, being broken up in Italy. Leone class Ordered in 1917 but construction was delayed due to shortage of steel and other materials. DESTROYERS (reclassified as torpedo-boats 1929 except where noted) Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Lampo class (reclassified as torpedo boats 1921) EURO 27.8.1900 350t Discarded 1924 STRALE 19.5.1900 350l Discarded 1924 Nembo class (reclassified as torpedo boats 1921) AQUILONE 16.10.1902 380t Discarded 1923 ESPERO 9 7 1904 380t Discarded 1923 ZEFFIRO 14.5.1904 380t Discarded 1924 Soldato class (reclassified as torpcdo-boais 1921) ARTIGLIERE 18.1 1907 405t Discarded 1923 BERSAGLIERE 2.10 1906 405t Discarded 1923 CORAZZIERE 11.12.1909 405t Discarded 1928 GRANATIERE 27.10.1906 405t Discarded 1927 LANCIERE 28.2.1907 405t Discarded 1923 ALPINO 27.11.1909 417t Discarded 1928 CARIBINIERE 12.10.1909 417t Discarded 1925 FUCILIERE 21.8.1909 4I7t Discarded 1932 PONTIERE 3 1.1910 4I7t Discarded 1929 Ascaro class (reclassified as torpedo-boat 1921) ASCARO Indomito class 6.12.1912 407t Discarded 1930 IMPAVIDO 22.3.1913 758t Discarded 1937 INDOMITO 10 5.1912 758t Discarded 1937 INSIDIOSO 30.9.1913 758t Sunk 5.11.44 IRREQUIETO Ardito class 12.12.1931 758t Discarded 1937 ARDENTE 15.12.1912 778t Discarded 1937 ARDITO 20.10.1912 778t Discarded 1931 Animoso class (never reclassified) ANIMOSO Pilo class 13.7 1913 827t Discarded 1923 GIUSEPPE CESARE 25 5.1915 885t Discarded 1953 ABBA GIUSEPPE DF.ZZA 26 10 1915 885t Scuttled 3.5.45 GIUSEPPE MISSORI 20 12.1915 885t Scuttled 3 5.45 ANTONIO MOSTO 20.5.1915 885t Discarded 1958 IPPOLITO NIEVO 24.7.1915 885t Discarded 1938 FRATELLI CAIROLI 12.11.1914 885t Mined 23 12.40 ROSOLINO PILO 24 3.1915 885t Discarded 1954 SIMONE 11.9.1915 885t Mined 24.4.41 SCHIAFFINO 286
The Italian Navy in 1922 Name Launched Disp Fate Audace class AUDACE Sirton class 27 9.1916 1152t Sunk 1.11.44 GIOVANNI ACERBI 14.2.1917 837t Sunk Apr 1941 VINCENZO 23 4.1917 837c Scuttled 8.4.41 GIORDANO ORSINI GIUSEPPE 24 11.1916 837t Scuttled 25.9.43 SIRTORI FRANCESCO 5.6 1917 837t Sunk 24.9.43 STOCCO La Masa class ANGELO BASSINI 28 3.1918 837c Sunk 28.5.43 GIACINTO CARINI 7 11.1917 837t Discarded 31 12 58 ENRICO COSENZ 6.6.1919 837t Scuttled 27 9.43 NICOLA FABRIZI 8.7.1918 837t Discarded 1 2 57 GIUSEPPE 12 3 1919 837t Sunk 4 5.41 LA FARINA GIUSEPPE 6.9.1917 837t Scuttled 11.9.43 LA MASA GIACOMO MEDICI 6 9.1918 837t Sunk 16 4 43 Palestro class CONFIENZA 18.12 1920 890t Sunk 20.11.40 PALESTRO 23 3 1919 890t Sunk 22.9 40 SAN MARTINO 8.9.1920 890t Sunk 12 10.44 SOLFERINO Generali class 28 4.1920 890t Sunk 19.10.44 GENERALE 23 4 1921 800t Mined 22 8 42 ANTONIO CANTORE GENERALE 18 2.1922 800t Scuttled 9.9 43 ANTONINO CASCINO GENERALE 7.8.1921 800t Mined 28.3.41 ANTONIO CHINOTTO GENERALE 4 10 1922 800t Scuttled 9.9.43 CARLO MONTANARI GENERALE 24.12.1919 800t Scuttled 9.9.43 ACHILLE PAPA GENERALE 23 5 1921 800t Mined 31.1 43 MARCELLO PRESTINARI Curtatone class (reclassified as torpedo-boats 1938) CALATAFIMI 17.3 1923 925t Sunk 9 8 44 CASTELFIDARDO 4 6 1922 925t Sunk 2 6.44 CURTATONE 17.3.1922 925t Mined 20 5.41 MONZAMBANO Ex-German destroxers 6 8.1923 925t Discarded 15 4 41 PREMUDA (ex-VZ/6) 2.3.1918 2060t Discarded 1937 CESARE ROSSAROL 15 12.1914 1374t BU 1939 (ex-B97) ARDIMENTOSO 25 5.1916 920t Discarded 1937 (exsS63) Ex-Austrian destroyers (transferred 1920) ZENSON (ex-Balatori) 1912 837t Discarded 1923 MUGGIA (ex-Csepel) 1912 837t Foundered 15.3.29 POLA (ex-Or/en) 1913 837c Renamed Zenson 1931. Discarded 1937 FASANO (ex-7 air a) 1912 837t Discarded 1923 GRADO (ex-Tnglav) 1917 837t Discarded 1937 MONFALCONE 1917 866t Discarded 1939 (ex-Uszok) CORTELLAZZO 1917 866t Discarded 1939 (ex-Lika) Indomi to class Insidioso was discarded in 1938 but brought back into naval service after the outbreak of war. In 1941 she was refitted and re-armed with l-102mm/45, 4-20mmAA and 2-13.2mm MG and variously employed as an AS target for training and as an escort vessel. She was captured by the Germans in 1943 and renamed ТЛ21, she was sunk by an aenal torpedo Pilo class Apart from Niezo and early war losses, alterations included the removal of half the TT, 3 of the 5-102mm guns and the fitting of 6-20mm AA Cairoh was sunk off Libya and Schiafjino off Cape Bon Dezza was scuttled at Fiume on 16 9 43 but was refloated and repaired by the Germans as ГА35. She was mined off Pola on 17 8.44 but was again refloated Missori was also captured in 1943 being renamed TA22 Mosto and Cesare Abba were reclassified as minesweepers in 1953. Audace Employed as control vessel for target ship San Marco 1937-40 and had her IT removed In 1942 all but 2 of her 102mm guns and both 40mm AA were removed and 6-20mm AA added She was captured by the Germans at Ven- ice on 12.9.43 and renamed TA20. She was sunk by the escort destroyers Avon Vale and Wheatland off Zara Sirtori class Acerbi was sunk in an air attack on Massawi and Giordano Orsini was scuttled at the same place. Sinon was damaged by German aircraft on 14 9 43 and sunk at Corfu to avoid capture. Stocco was sunk by German aircraft off Corfu. La Masa class During the Second World War Canni and La Masa had their 76mm AA guns, 3 of their 4-102mm guns and 2 TT removed and 8-20mmAA and a triple 533mm TT mounting added. The rest of the class had both 76mm guns and 1 or 2 of the 102mm guns removed and 6-20mm AA added A few also had 2 of their 450mm TT removed. Farina is believed to have been mined in the central Mediterranean. Media was sunk in an air attack on Catania har- bour - the wreck was raised in 1952 and subsequently scrapped Bassini was sunk in an air attack on Naples, and Cosens was scuttled at Lagosta following damage received in an air attack earlier the same day. Masa was scuttled at Naples while under repair Carini and Fabnzi were reclassified as minesweep- ers 1952-53 Palesiro class Reclassified as torpedo-boats 1938. During the war Martino and Solfenno had two of their 102mm and both 76mm guns removed and 6-20inm AA added Confienza was lost in collision with an AMC and Palestro was torpedoed by the submarine Osiris. The remaining pair were captured by the Germans on Italy’s surrender and renamed TA17 and TA 18 respectively. ТАГ7 was lost in an air raid and TA 18 was sunk by the destroyers Termagant and Tuscan. Generali class Three of the class were scuttled at La Spezia on Italy’s surrender, Montanan and Papa were salvaged by the Germans but not repaired. The former was scuttled again on 4 10 44 and the latter was used as a blockship at Onegha Curtatone class During 1942-43 the 76mm AA guns and original TT were removed and 6-20mm AA guns and 2-533mm TT added. Castelfidardo and Calatafimi were captured by the Germans on 9 9 43, and later renamed TA16 and IA19. The former was sunk by aircraft off Heraklion and the latter by the Greek submarine Pipinos. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Saffo class SAGITTARIO 31 5.1905 210c Discarded 1923 SIRIO 13.5.1905 210t Discarded 1923 SPICA* 15 7.1905 210t Discarded 1923 Pegaso class PALLADE 1 6.1906 207t Discarded 1923 PEGASO 12 8.1905 207t Discarded 1923 PROCIONE* 16.12.1905 207t Discarded 1924 CALIPSO 26 4 1909 207t Discarded 1927 CALLIOPE 27 8 1906 213t Discarded 1924 CANOPO 28.2.1907 213t Discarded 1923 CASSIOPEA* 5.7.1906 213t Discarded 1927 CIGNO 9 5.1906 213t Discarded 1923 CLIMENE* 15.5.1909 213t Discarded 1926 CLIO 26.11.1906 213c Discarded 1927 AIRONE* 13 5.1907 213t Discarded 1923 ALBATROS 22 1 1907 213c Discarded 1923 ALCIONE* 23.9.1906 213t Discarded 1923 ARDEA 10 1.1907 213t Discarded 1923 ARPIA* 22 8 1907 213t Discarded 1923 ASTORE 22 6.1907 213t Discarded 1923 Orione class ORFEO 23 4.1907 217t Discarded 1923 ORIONE 29.3.1906 217t Discarded 1923 •Fitted for minesweeping 1917-18 There were also the coastal torpedo boats 1PX-4PN, 6PX-12PX, 33PN-35PX, 37PS’ and 38PN (launched 1911-13, 136t full load, dis- carded 1925-32), I3OS-16OS and I8OS-24OS (1911-12, 132c, discarded 1925-30), 25AS-31AS (1912-13, 136t, discarded 1923-32), 32AS' (1913, 140t, discarded 1923); 39RM (1915, 156t, discarded 1923); 40Р1Ы5РХ (1916, 165t, discarded 1927-32), 46OS-51OS (1916, 154t, discarded 287
ITALY 1931-32); 52AS-57AS (1916, 154t, discarded 1932-34); S8OL-63OL (1916, 1541, discarded 1931-32); and 64PN, 65PN, 67 PN and 69PN-71PN (1917-18, 154t, discarded 1929-32). The cx-Austrian Francesco Rnmondo (launched 1910, 108t, captured 1917) was disarmed in 1920 and employed in subsidiary duties before being finally discarded in 1925. SUBMARINES (SEA-GOING) Name Launched Disp (surface) Fate Provana class AGOSTINO 18.11.1917 750t Discarded 1.5 28 BARBARIGO GIACOMO NANI 8.9 1918 750t Discarded 1 8,35 ANDRbA PROVANA 27 1 1918 750t Discarded 21.1 28 SEBASTIANO 7.7.1918 750t Lost 6.8.25 VEN I ERO GUNBOATS Name Launched Disp Fate BRONDOLO 4.12.1909 1151 Discarded 1934 SEBASTIANO CABOTO 20 7 1912 863t Scuttled 12 9.43 ERMANNO CARLOГТО Ex-Austnan gunboat 9.6.1918 215t Scuttled 9.9.43 MARECHIARO (ex-Taurur) 1904 1200t Renamed Aurora 1927. Sunk 11 9.1943 Sebastiano Caboto was salvaged by the Germans but later bombed and sunk off Rhodes by British aircraft. The river gunboat Carlotto, scuttled at Shan- ghai, was raised by the Japanese and commissioned as Marumi In 1945 she was transferred to China and renamed Kiang Kun. Marechiaro was sunk by German S-boats off Ancona. She served as an Admiralty yacht. ESCORT GUNBOATS SUBMARINES (OCEAN-GOING) Name Launched Disp (surface) Fate Micca class ANGELO EMO 23.2.1919 825t Discarded 1 10.30 LUIGI GALVANI 26.1 1918 . 825t Discarded 1 1.38 LORENZO 29.9 1918 825t Discarded 21 1.28 MARCELLO PIETRO MICCA 3 6.1917 825t Discarded 2 6 30 LAZZARO 26.7.1919 825t Discarded 10 4.37 MOCENIGO TORRICELLI 16.1.1918 825t Discarded 1 10.30 Name Launched Disp Fate ALESSANDRO VIITURI 1922 206t Discarded 1939 ERNESTO GIOVANNINI 11 3.1922 206t Discarded 1950 ANDREA BAFILE 1922 206t Discarded 1939 TOLOSETTO FARINATI 1922 206t Discarded 1939 CARLO DEL GRECO 1922 2O6t Discarded 1939 EMANUELE RUSSO 1922 206t Lost 29.3 23 Russo sank at Naples after a fire. SUBMARINES (COASTAL) Name Launched Disp (surface) Fate ARGONAUTA 5.7.1914 250t Discarded 29.3 28 ‘F* class Fl 2 4.1916 260t Discarded 2 6.30 F2 4.6.1916 260t Discarded 1.2.29 F5 12.8.1916 260t Discarded 20.7 29 F6 4.3.1917 260t Discarded 1 8 35 F7 23.12.1916 260t Discarded 1.2 29 F9 24.9.1916 260t Discarded 1.8.28 F10 19.10 1916 260t Discarded 2 6 30 F12 30.11 1916 260t Discarded 20 7.29 F13 20.5.1917 260t Discarded 1.8.35 F14 23.1.1917 260t Lost 6.8.28 F15 27.5.1917 260t Discarded 28.5.29 F16 19.3.1917 260t Discarded 1.5 28 F17 3.6.1917 260t Discarded 1.11.29 F18 15.5.1917 260t Discarded 1 10 30 F19 10.3.1918 260t Discarded 2 6 30 F20 17.3.1918 260t Discarded 1.7.35 F2I 19.5.1918 260t Discarded 1.10.30 ‘ЛГ class N1 6.9.1917 270t Discarded 1.10.30 N2 26.1.1918 270t Discarded 1 5.28 N3 27.4 1918 270t Discarded 1 8.35 N4 6.10.1918 270t Discarded 1.8.35 N5 18.11.1917 270t Discarded 10 7.29 N6 20.9.1918 270t Discarded 1.8.35 '//’ class Hl 16.10 1916 355t Discarded 23 3.47 H2 19.10 1916 355t Discarded 23 3 47 H3 26.4.1917 355t Discarded 10.4.37 H4 17.4.1917 355t Discarded 23.3.47 H6. 23.4.1917 355t Scuttled c!944 H7 24.5.1917 355t Discarded 1.10 30 H8 24.5.1917 355t Sunk 5.6.43 ‘X’ class X2 25.4.1917 397t Laid up 16.9 40 X3 29.12.1917 397t Laid up 16.9.40 'H* clast H6 was captured by the Germans on 14.9.43. H8 was sunk in an air raid at La Spezia but was salvaged and employed for battery charging. MINESWEEPERS Name Launched Disp Fate RD4 27.2.1916 193t Sunk 29 1 43 RD6 26.10.1916 193t To Yugoslavia RD7 28 9 1916 212t 19.8.47 Sunk 15.6 42 RD9 2.2.1917 212t. Captured 9 9.43 RD11 31.5.1917 2l2l Wrecked 1931 RD12 2.7.1917 212t Sunk 2.5.1943 RD13 2 7.1917 I93t Scuttled 9 9 43 RD16 29.3.1917 198t To Yugoslavia RD17 22.4 1917 198t 1948 Captured 9 9 43 RD18 17.5.1917 198t Sunk 5.5 43 RD20 14.7.1917 198t Sunk 11.4.43 RD21 26.11 1917 198t To Yugoslavia RD22 31.12.1917 I98t 1948 Sunk 25 10.43 RD23 21.1.1918 198t Sunk 5.5 43 RD24 4 3.1918 198l Capsized RD25 4.4.1918 198t 18 2.43 To Yugoslavia RD26 15.5.1918 198t 1948 Captured RD27 16.9.1918 197t Sept 1943 To Yugoslavia RD28 18.7.1918 I97t 1948 To Yugoslavia RD29 28.8.1918 197t 1948 To Yugoslavia RD30 22.10.1918 197t 1948 Sunk 26.12.42 RD31 30.12 1917 I79t Sunk 20 1.43 RD32 8 2 1919 179t Discarded 1956 RD33 20.3.1919 179t Capsized 22.1.43 RD34 12.5.1919 179t Discarded 1965 RD35 17.7.1919 179t Captured 13.9.43 RD36 11.8 1919 179t Sunk 20 1 43 RD37 2.10.1919 179t Sunk 20.1.43 RD38 28.8.1919 198t Sunk 18 5 43 RD39 27.7.1919 200t Sunk 20.1 43 RD40 16.10.1919 200t Discarded 1955 RD41 12.12.1919 200t Discarded 1953 RD42 5.2 1920 200t Sunk 5 5.43 RD43 12.4.1920 200t Capsized 22 1.43 RD44 6.6.1920 200t Sunk 5.5.43 RD46 29.5.1920 209t Discarded 1923 288
The Italian Navy in 1922/Capital ships Name Launched Disp Fate RD47 30.8.1920 209t Discarded 1923 RD48 21.1.1921 209t Discarded 1923 RD49 24.11.1921 209t Captured 9.9.43 RD51 9.10.1919 315t Discarded 1922 RD55 16.2.1923 209t Sunk 25.5.43 RD56 14.3.1923 209t Sunk 9.1.43 RD57 Ex-German minesweepers 6 3.1923 209t Sunk 5.5.43 МЕТЕО (ex-MU9) 22.6.1918 517t Renamed Vieste 1927, BU 1945 ABASTRO (ex-Af 120) 24 7.1918 517t Renamed Cotrone 1927 (later Crotone), sunk Sept 1941 RD4, RD 12, RD18, RD25, RD36, RD37, RD42 and RD43 were under the control of the Coast Guard. RD6, RD16, RD21, RD25 and RD27-29 were transferred to Yugoslavia as war reparations. RD7 was torpedoed by a sub- marine and RD9 and RD17 were seized by the Germans at Piraeus; RD26, RD35 and RD49 were also taken by the Germans, the last being scuttled by them in 1945. RD12 was sunk by aircraft off Cape Bon; RD18, RD20, RD30, RD42, RD44 and RD55-57 were also sunk by aircraft. RD3I, RD36, RD37 and RD39 were sunk off Zara by the British destroyers Kel- vin 2nd Javelin MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp Fate BRONDOLO 4.12.1909 115t Discarded 1934 MARGHERA 29.3.1909 lilt Discarded 1934 Ex-Austrian minelayers ALBONA (ex-MT130) 20 7.1918 128t Discarded postwar LAURANA (ex-MTI31) 24.8.1918 I28t Sunk 20.2.45 ROVIGNO (ex-MT!32) 28.9.1918 128t Discarded postwar Initially classed as minesweepers and numbered RD58, RD59 and RD60 until 1921, all three cx-Austrian vessels served operationally in World War II MONITOR_________________________________________ Name Launched Disp Fate FAA DI BRUNO 30.1.1916 2809t Discarded 1924 Re-designated GM194 after being stricken, Di Bruno survived until the Sec- ond World War and was used as a harbour defence vessel at Genoa 1940-43. MAS-BOATS These comprised MASI (launched 1915, 12.3t, discarded 1928); MAS2 (1915, 12.3t, discarded 1922); MAS4,5,8, 9, 11-13,15,16 (ex-22), 17 and 19-21 (1916-17, 15.75t, discarded 1922-27 except MASIS which was pre- served as museum exhibit); MAS23, 24, 26, 29-31,34-41,44-48 and 50-52 (1916-17, 11.6t, discarded 1922-29 except MAS34 which foundered 27.4.25); MAS 53-57 (1917, 11.2t, discarded 1926-29); MAS58 , 59 , 61 and 62 (1917, 12.3t, discarded 1922-26); MAS63-66, 70-75, 78, 81-87, 89 (ex- 88) and 90 (1917-18, 41t, discarded 1922-29 except MAS66 which was wrecked 19.9.23); MAS92 (1917, 11.3t, discarded 1934); MAS94 (1917, U.3t, discarded 1937); MAS95 (1917, 11.3t, discarded 1929); MAS96 (1917, 11.3t, preserved); MAS 103, I04(ex-I09), 108 and 110-114 (1918, 41t, discarded 1922-29 except MAS108 sunk 18.1125); MAS115-I24, 126-133 and 136-139 (1918, 18.7t, discarded 1922-28 except MAS 133 sunk 1 6 27); MAS141-143 and 145-157 (1917-18, 11.8t, discarded 1922-34 except MAS151 wrecked 27.5.27 and MAS152 foundered 27.6.22); MASI58-I65 (1918-19, 12t discarded 1925-29); MAS168-175 (1917-18, 12t, discarded 1922-25); MAS 176-200 (1918, 12t, discarded 1922-38), MAS20I and 202 (1917-18, 11.8t, discarded 1922); MAS203 (1917, 12t, discarded 1922); MAS204-217 (1918, 13t, discarded 1922 except MAS212 discarded 1939, MAS208 sunk 1934 raised and discarded, MAS204 , 206, 210, 213 and 276 scuttled at Massawa 8.4.41); MAS218, 219, 222-225 and 228—230 (1918-19, 12t, discarded 1926-37 except MAS223 sold to Spain 1937); MAS233-239 and 241-252 (1918-19, 19t, discarded 1922-29); MAS253, 255-258, 260, 262-263, 265-267, 269-272, 274-285, 287-295 and 297-320 (1918, 41c, discarded 1922-29 except MAS262 sunk 28.9.27 raised and discarded and MAS265 destroyed by petrol explosion 14.9.27); MAS303, 305-307, 309, 311, 312, 314-316 and 296 (ex-310) (1918, 43t, discarded 1922-29); MAS318 (1914-17, 19.6t, discarded 1926); MAS319 and 320 (1919, 12t, discarded 1928 and 1931); MAS325 and 326 (1918, 12t, discarded 1926 and 1929); MAS327-334, 344, 346-347, 352-357, 368-372 and 374 (1918-20, 43t, discarded 1922-29 except MAS332 sunk 23.3.29 later raised and discarded and MAS354 lost by fire 19.5.25); MAS377, 381, 383-393, 395 and 396 (1918-19, 42t, discarded 1922-29); MAS397-400 (1918-24, 29.6t, discarded 1935); MAS40M10 (1918-24, 28t, discarded 1928); and MAS415-422 (1918-24, 19t, discarded 1927-38). CAPITA! Q14TPQ Design work on these ships began in 1930 under the direction of Umberto Pugliese. They were the first capital ships to be built by Italy since the First World War and the first battle- ships to be laid down by a major naval power since 1922.They coma ned many novel features, initiated the prewar development of the fast battle- ship, and were primarily intended as an answer to the French Strasbourg class. Although the initial intention ma\ have been to keep to the existing international limit of 35,OOOt it can safely be assumed that by 1934, when Littorio and Vittono Veneto were authorised, the designed displace- ment was at least 40,000t as even at this figure the completed ships can be seen to be substantially overweight. In contrast, the main armament w'as restricted to 381mm calibre, instead of the 406mm allowed bv treats, due to the limitations of existing Italian LITTORIC ) class Displacement: 40,724t (Veneto 40,517t, Roma 40,992t) standard; 45,236t (Veneto 45,029t, Roma 45,485t) full load Dimensions: 735ft pp, 780ft (Roma, Impero 789ft 6in) oa x 107ft 5in x 31ft 5in mean at standa d load 224.05, 237.76 (240.68) x 32.82 x 9.60m Machinery: 4-shaft Belluzo ge< red turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 128,200hp = 30kts. Oil 4140t Armour: Belt 280mm + 70mm, bulkheads 210mm-70mm, decks 162mm—45mm, funnel uptakes 105mm, barbettes 350mm—280mm, turrets 35Omm-2OOmm, secondary turrets 280mm-70mm, CT 260mm-60mm Armament: 381mm/5O Mod 34 (3x3), 12-152mm/55 Mod 34/35 (4x3), 4-120mm 40 Mod 91/92 (4x1), 12-90mm/50 Mod 38/39 AA (12x1), 2O-37mm/54 AA (8x2, 4x1), 16-20mm 65 AA (8x2) Complement: 1830-1950 Name Builder Laid down Launchec 1 Comp Fate IMPERO Ansaldo, Genoa 14.5.1938 15.11 39 - BU incomplete 1948-50 LITTORIO Ansaldo, Genoa 28.10.1934 22.8.37 6.5 40 BU 1948-55 ROMA CRDA, Trieste 18.9.1938 9.6 40 14.6.42 Sunk 9.9.43 VITTORIO VENETO CRDA, Trieste 28.10 1934 22.7.37 28.4.40 BU 194&-51 ordnance manufacturing plant. To 885kg AP shell at 2800fs, giving a weighed 1560t and magazine stowage compensate for this a long, 50cal, high maximum range of 46,800yds at 35° was provided for 74rpg (55 AP, 19 velocity design was adopted, firing a elevation. The 381mm triple turrets HE) The 152mm/55 secondary guns 289
ITALY were carried in triple mountings weighing 133t and providing 45° max- imum elevation. The 120mm guns were old Armstrong weapons carried for firing starshell but the A A guns, like the main and secondary, were all of new design. The side armour, designed to defeat 15in AP at 17,500yds and beyond, was sloped at 1 Г and layered from outboard as follows: 70mm hard faced steel to decap AP shclls/250min gap/280mm КС armoured belt/50mm wood backing/25mm skin plating/140cm gap/36mm splinter screen, a second, lin, splinter screen was positioned further inboard but sloped in the opposite direction where it also served to deflect projectiles from above. The belt was 12ft 4in high, of which 5ft was below the load waterline, and closed by 70mm bulk- heads fore and aft, beyond which was a waterline bell of 60mm forward and 125mm aft. The magazines were pro- tected bx a 162mm armoured main deck and 210mm-100mm bulkheads while, between these, the mam deck over the machinery reduced to 110mm and, at the sides over the wing com- partments, to 90mm. A 45mm fore- castle, and 70mm side above the belt, served to provide fuze initiation and decapping of bombs and shells. Aft, the steering and one of the auxiliary machinery rooms were protected b\ a 105mm lower deck, 210mm after bulkhead and 100mm forward bulk- head, the latter forming the lower sec- tion of the 70mm after bulkhead of the citadel The 381mm barbettes were 350mm thick above the forecastle and 280mm below while the turrets had 350mm faces and 200mm sides and roofs The secondary turrets were exceptionally well protected with 350mm faces, 130mm-75mm sides, 150mm roofs and 150mm-100mm barbettes The central bridge tower was protected from main deck to director with 50mm to 130mm plates and had a central communication tube of 200mm-160mm thickness. The underwater protection system, developed bx Pugliese, was particu- larly original; from the base of the belt I ittario Venelo on trials, 1940 a 40mm torpedo bulkhead extended inboard before curving downward to meet the outer bottom Within the space formed by this bulkhead and the void double bottom was a liquid- filled compartment containing a void longitudinal drum of 380cm diameter with 6mm walls. In the event of a torpedo hit the drum was designed to collapse, absorbing the majority of the force of detonation, while the curved torpedo bulkhead arrested the remaining blast and splinters. This system, designed to resist 7721b TNT, is said not to have performed as well as expected due to insufficient care in the construction of the com- partments. As defence against explo- sions under the hull the area between the wing compartments was protected by a Ferrati triple bottom with outer liquid and inner void spaces. The turbines were divided between two engine rooms separated by four boiler rooms, the after turbines driv- ing the centre and the forward tur- bines the wing shafts. Endurance was 4700nm at 14kts. Six turbo and 3 diesel generators provided a total power output of 4050k\V. On trials Luiorio made 137,649hp = 31.3ktsat 41,1221 and Veneto 132,77 Ihp = 31 4kts at 41,472t; their maximum continuous sea speed was 28kts. To improve the speed they were designed with bulbous bows, but these were found to cause vibration and wetness and the bow was modified and length- ened 6ft to reduce these problems. In the second pair, Impcro and Roma (provided under the 1938 Prog- ramme), the sheer forward was increased adding 6ft to the freeboard at the stem and further increasing the length. A 68ft catapult was mounted on the quarterdeck and 3 reconnais- sance aircraft could be carried, in 1942 some of these were replaced by fighters. War modifications included the addition of 12-20mm/65 (6x2) in Littono and Roma (in the latter case before completion) and 16-20mm/65 (8x2) in Veneto. Litiono was the first Italian battleship fined with radar, receiving a Gufo EC3 in September 1941; it was later replaced by an improved version and eventually became fully operational at the end of 1942. Venelo and Roma were fitted with Gufo, and Littono received a sec- ond set, in 1943. Littono was hit by 3 torpedoes at Taranto on 11 November 1940, two on the starboard side forward and one on the port side aft; she was under repair until Apnl 1941. She subse- quently received minor damage in the Battle of Sirte in March 1942 and in air attacks in June 1942 and Apnl 1943. On 30 July 1943, 5 days after the overthrow of Mussolini, she was renamed Italia Veneto was hit by an aerial torpedo, on the port side abaft ‘Y’ turret, during the Battle of Mata- Italian Vary pan in March 1941, and was under repair until August 1941. Two months later she was torpedoed bx the submarine Urge, on the port side abreast ‘Y’ turret, and was again out of action until March 1942 Veneto and Roma received minor bomb dam- age during air raids on La Spezia in June 1943. While on route to Malta to surrender on 9 September 1943,/ta/ia and Roma were hit by German glider bombs. Roma was hit twice, the first bomb striking amidships, passing through the ship and exploding under the bottom, and the second hitting abreast the bridge and detonating the forward magazines with the result that the ship broke in two and sank. In haha a single bomb passed through the deck and side and exploded in the sea, causing heavy damage to the hull forward of *A’ turret. The incomplete Impero was captured by the Germans and used as a target but was sunk in an air attack on 20 February 1945 She was raised in 1947 and towed to Ven- ice for scrapping. The surviving pair returned to Italy in 1946 but in 1947 were assigned, as war reparations, to th’e USA (Italia) and UK (Veneto) who ordered their scrapping. A consider- able amount of disarming and equ p- ment stripping took place before the ships began breaking up proper in the early 1950s. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS The passenger liner Roma (32,583t gross, launched 1926) was taken over on Italy’s entry into the w'ar for con- version into an auxiliary aircraft car- rier but in January 1941 it was decided to carry out a much more extensive rebuilding which resulted in the pro- duction of a first class carrier showing little resemblance to her mercantile origin She was taken in hand in July 1941 and work began in November. The superstructure was removed and the internal structure rebuilt, to accommodate new machinery and improve sub-division. The bow was lengthened to provide a better hull form and bulges added for torpedo protection and improved stability. Protection w’as limited to a 600mm thick reinforced concrete cladding to the hull side, within the bulges, and 80mm plating on the ammunition and AQUILA Displacement: 23,130t standard, 28,350t full load Dimensions: 680ft pp, 759ft 2in oa x 96ft 7m x 24ft mean, flight deck 709ft 7in x 83ft ” 207.30, 211.60 x 29.40 x 7.31; 216.20 x 2S.30m Machinery: 4-shaft Belluzzo geared turbines, 8 Thomycroft boilers 151,000hp = 30kts. Oil 3600t Armament: 8-135mm/45 (8x 1), 12-65mm/64 AA (I2x 1), 132-20mm/65 (22x6), 51 aircraft Complement: 1165 + 243 air personnel Name Conversion Yard Fate AQUILA (ex-Roma) 1941-43 Ansaldo, Genoa Scuttled Apr 1945 aviation fuel compartments. The machinery, originally ordered for the cruisers Paolo Fmilio and Comelio Silla of ihe ‘Capitani Romani’ class, was arranged in four compartments each containing two boilers and one set of turbines and separated into two equal groups by a midship compart- ment. Armament was originally to have been 8-152mm/55, 12-90mm/ 50 AA and 104—37mm/54 AA guns but this was later revised to that given above. The 135mm guns were origi- nally ordered for ships of the‘Capitani Romani’ class. The hangar was 160m x 18m and could accommodate 26 Re 2001 aircraft although this number could be increased by suspending a further 15 from the hangar roof and parking 10 on the flight deck. A folding-wing version of the Re 2001 was under development which would have further increased the aircraft stowage to 66. The flight deck had 290
two catipults (of German type) for- ward and two lifts (abreast the fore and aft ends of the island superstruc- ture). At the time of Italy’s surrender Aquila, which had been renamed in February 1942, was virtually com plete but was sabotaged to prevent her use by the Germans who seized the vessel shortly afterwards. She was damaged in an air raid on 16.6.44 and by ‘Ch iriots* on 19 4 45 and was then scuttled by the Germans at Genoa She was salvaged in 1946, towed to La Spezia and, after some discussion on rebuilding her, scrapped 1951-52 Aquila laid up at Genoa. 1945 The passenger liner Augustus (1927, 30,418t gross, diesel engines, 28,000bhp = 18kts) was taken over in 1942 for conversion into an auxiliary aircraft carrier The proposed altera tions were not extensive being limited to removing the superstructure and adding a hangar, flight deck and bulges (abreast the machinery) No superstructure was to be fitted above SPARVIERO (ex-Falco, ex-Augustus) the flight deck which would extend from the stem to about 18m forward of the stern. Intended armament was 6-152mm (6x1), 4—102mm (4x1) and light AA weapons She was ini- tially renamed Falco but this was later altered to Sparviero. Apart from the removal of the superstructure little work was done on the ship before she was seized by the Germans in Sep- tember 1943. She was scuttled 5 10.44 CRUISERS DJU.Cl3.tl These, the first of Italy’s 8in gun ‘treaty ’ cruisers, were provided under the 1924-25 Programme. They were designed to the 10,000t treaty limit but exceeded this figure on comple- tion due no doubt to the difficulties of keeping weights strictly to the design figure during construction. Designed for very high speed at the expense of protection, they were among the fas- test of the first generation 10,000t cruisers and were initially classified as light cruisers although they were later redesignated heavy cruisers to distin- guish them from the ‘Condottieri’ 6m gun vessels. Protection to the hull consisted of a box citadel extending from 26ft 3in (8in) forward of‘A’ tur- ret to 16ft 6in (5m) abaft ‘Y’ turret, with 70mm sides closed at the top by a 50mm deck and at the ends by 60mm upper and 50mm (forward) and 40mm (aft) lower bulkheads There was no protection forward but aft the lower deck was 20mm on flat and 30mm on slope. The barbettes and communication tube were 70mm above and 60mm below the upper deck. The CT had 100mm walls, 40mm floor and 50mm roof and was surmounted by a director with 80mm walls and a 60mm roof. The machinery was given a unit arrangement with 8 boilers forward in two boi er rooms, then the forward engine room driving the wing shafts, then the after boi er room with 4 boi - ers and finally the after engine room driving the centre shafts. Designed Trema as compkled TRENTO c :lass Displacement: 10,344t (Trieste 10,339t) standard; 13,334c (Trieste 13,326t) full load Dimensions: 623ft 4in pp, 646ft 2m oa x 67ft 7in x 22ft 4in mean deep 190 00, 196 96 x 20.60 x 6 80m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 12 Yarrow boilers, 150,000hp = 36kts Oil 2214t * Armour: Belt 70mm, bulkheads 60mm—40mm, decks 50mm-20mm, barbettes 70mm-60mm, turrets 100mm, CT 100mm-40mm, communciation cube 70mm-60mm Armament: 8-203mm/50 Mod 24 (4x2), 16-100mm/47 AA (8x2), 4-40mm/39 AA (4x1), 4-12.7mm MG, 8-533mm TT aw (4x2) Complement: 723 (as built), ?8I (war) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate TRENTO OTO, Leghorn 8 2 1925 4 10.27 3.4 29 Sunk 15.6 42 TRIESTE SIT 22 6.1925 24.10.26 21.12 28 Sunk 104.43 power at normal loading was 120,000hp, which would be sufficient for about 34kts. On 8-hour full-power tnals Trento achieved 35 6kts at 313rpm with 146,975hp on 1 l,027t and Trieste 35.65kts at 295rpm with 142,761hpon ll,145t Trials revealed excessive vibration in the tripod mast and control tops and some additional stiffening was subsequently fined. Maximum sea speed was 31kts and endurance, at 16kts, 4160nm A fixed aircraft catapult was fitted on the centreline forward and a han- gar (for 2 aircraft) provided under the forecastle forward of‘A’ turret, 3 air- craft could be carried. The 2O3mm/5O guns were provided with 45° eleva non, giving a maximum range of 30,000yds, and fired a 113kg shell at 3 rounds per minute The turrets were reported to be poorly arranged and some alterations were later made to improve the rate of fire. The l00mm/47 were old, 1910 model, Austrian guns fitted in new DP mountings providing 85 max eleva-
ITALY lion. They were used on a large number of Italian ships and were sub- sequently augmented and replaced by new 100mm/47 Mod 31 guns of the same general design. The two after- most 100mm/47 mounts (2x2) and the 12 7mm MG were removed 1937-38 and replaced by 8-37mm/54 A A (4x2) and 8-13.2mm MG (4x2). Trento had 4-20mm/65 A A (4x1) added in 1942 and Trieste 8-20mm/65 (8x 1) by 1943 Funnel caps were also added to both ships. Both vessels took part in the Battle of Matapan in March 1941 and Trento saw action at Calabria in July 1940 and in the Second Battle of Sirte in March 1942 Trento was torpedoed and sunk by HM submarine Umbra during the Malta convoy operations of June 1942 Trieste was torpedoed and badly damaged by HM submarine Utmost while covering a convoy in November 1942 but was able to reach Messina. She was sunk in an air raid on La Maddalena, Sardinia. Pola 1932 T Designed to meet a desire for better balanced vessels than the Trento class, the Zara class sacrificed high speed for greatly improved protection. Orig- inal requirements were for a 200mm belt, good deck protection, a speed of 32kts and, of course, 8-8in guns It was soon realised that these could not be provided within the existing 10,000t limit and it was decided that a higher displacement would have to be accepted Some attempt was, how- ever, made to limit the excess by reducing the requirement for side protection to 150mm, omitting TT, reducing the superstructure and abandoning the flush deck of Trento for a short forecastle and stepped hull design It was also decided to utilise the two-shaft, lightweight machinery plant of the ‘Condottieri’ tvpe light cruisers, which weighed only 1400t compared with the Trento's 2330t. Despite these efforts the designed displacement was still 1500t above the limit Zara and Fiume were provided under the 1928-29 Programme, Gorizia under the 1929-30 Pro- gramme and Pola under the 1930-31 Programme. The ships were origi- nally classed as light cruisers, then armoured cruisers (to distinguish them from the Trento class), and finally heat у cruisers. Citadel protect- ion consisted of a 150mm belt, taper- ing to 100mm at the lower edge, extending from the fore side of ‘A’ barbette to the aft side of ‘ Y’ barbette, covered by a 70mm main deck and closed at the ends by 120mm (upper) and 90mm (lower) bulkheads. Bar- bettes were 150mm above the upper deck and 140mm below and the com- munication tube 120mm above and 100mm below (‘B’ barbette 120mm below upper deck, 140mm below forecastle deck). The conning tower had 150mm walls, 70mm floor and 80mm roof and was surmounted by a director with 120mm walls and a 95mm roof. Fuze initiation was pro- vided by a 20mm upper deck and 30mm sides above the belt and the steering gear was protected by a 20mm lower deck and 30mm sides. There was no protection forward. At 2700t the weight of protection was three times that provided in the Trento class. The unit machinery was arranged, from forward, as follows: No 1 boiler room (2 boilers), forward engine room with turbine to starboard and aux- iliaries and No 2 boiler room (1 boiler) Fiume on 5 8 1933 By courtesy of John Roberts ZARA class Displacement: 11,680t (Fiume 11,326t, Gonzia 1l,712t, Pola 11,545t) standard; 14,300t (Fiume 13,944t, Gorizia 14,330t, Pola 14,133t) full load Dimensions: 547ft 5in wl, 557ft 2in oa x 62ft 10m x 21ft Ilin mean at full load 179.60, 182.80 x 20.62 x 7 20 n Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Thomycroft (Fiume Yarrow) boilers, 95,000hp = 32kts. Oil 2362t (Gorizia 2313t, Pola 2283t) Armour: Belt 150mm-100mm, bulkheads 120mm-90mm, decks 70mm-20mm, barbettes I50mm-120mni, turrets 150mm-120mm, CT 150mm-70mm, communication tube 120mm-100mm Armament: 8-203mm/53 Mod 29(4x2), 16-100mm/47AA(8x2),4 to6-40mm AA(4-^6x 1),8-13 2mmAA(4x2) Complement: 841 (as built) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate FIUME STT 29.4.1929 27 4.30 23.11 31 Sunk 29.3 41 GORIZIA OTO, Leghorn 17.3.1930 28 12.30 23.12.32 Sunk 26.6.44 POLA OTO, Leghorn 17 3 1931 5 12 31 21.12.32 Sunk 29.3.41 ZARA OTO, Muggiano 4.7.1929 27 4.30 20 10 31 Sunk 29.3.41 to port, Nos 3 and 4 boiler rooms (2 boilers each), after engine room with turbine to port and auxiliaries and No 5 boiler room (1 boiler) to starboard. Normal machinery power was 76,000hp with designed overload to 95,000hp for 32kts at 270rpm. On contractors trials, run at an average of 120,000hp (except Pola) on ll,000t displacement, speeds of 33kts (Fiume) to 35.2kts (Zara) were recorded. Pola however was tried after the practice of excessive forcing was stopped and achieved 34 2kts with only 106,560hp. On official full power trials Zara achieved 33 87kts with 97,900hp at 270rpm on ll,280t; Fiume 32.17kts with 100,320hp at 283rpm on ll,375t; Gorizia 33.9kts with 106,060hp at 266rpm on 10,865t; and Pola 33 7kts with 96,274hp at 263rpm on 11,005t Max- imum sea speed was 29kts. Pola dif- fered from the other units of the class in having an enlarged bridge struc- ture, which extended aft and faired into the forefunnel, and no ‘flutes’ in the forecastle side plating. The 203mm Mod 29 guns fired a 125kg shell at about ЗА rounds per minute and, with 45° elevation and a muzzle velocity of 3080fs, had a maximum range of 34,400yds. Shell stowage was provided for 157rpg for the main armament. Aircraft arrangements were similar to those in Trento, with a fixed catapult forward and a hangar for two aircraft beneath the forecastle. In the late 1930s the two after 100mm gun mountings, the 40mm and the 12.7mm guns were removed and 8-37 mm/54 AA (4x2) and 8-13 2mm MG (4x2) fitted. During 1940 2-120mm/15 guns (2x1) were mounted abreast the conning tower for use as starshell weapons, but these were replaced in Gorizia by 4—37mm/54 A A (2x2) in 1942. In 1943 Gonzia had her 13.2mm MGs removed and 14-20mm/65 added (6x2, 2x1). During the Battle of Matapan Pola was torpedoed by Brit- ish aircraft', Zara and Fiume were detached to assist but, overtaken at night by the British Fleet, were sunk by battleship gunfire and destroyer torpedoes while Pola was both scut- tled and torpedoed by destroyers. Gorizia was captured by the Germans following the Italian surrender but was later sunk by Italian-manned ‘Chariots’ at La Spezia, the wreck being broken up in 1946. 292
Cruisers Bolzano 1942 Ordered under the 1929-30 Pro- gramme, the Bolzano brought a return to the high speed and light armour of the Trento class, with which she is often included as a half-sister. Basically she was a combination of the Trento design (with improved com- partmentation and stability), the armament and the stepped hull of the Zara class, and the superstructure of Pola Protection was the same as that in Trento except that the citadel ter- minated at the forward edge of ‘A’ barbette. She had boilers of higher power than Trenin, which allowed for a reduction in their number, and the machinery was arranged from for- ward as follows: 6 boilers in 3 boiler rooms/forward engine room/4 boilers in 2 boiler rooms/after engine room In order to accommodate a revolving aircraft catapult on the centreline amidships, the uptakes from the after boilers were angled aft in order to increase the distance between the funnels. Electrical machinery, pro- viding a total output of 1080kW, was the same as that provided in the Zara class. On trials she made 36.8Ikts at ЗЗЗгрт with 173,772hp on a dis- BOLZANO___________________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 10,890t standard, 13,665t full load Dimensions: 615ft 6m pp, 646ft oa x 67ft 7m x 17ft 4m mean at full load 187.60, 196.90 x 20.60 x 6.80m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 10 boilers, 150,000hp = 36kts. Oil 2224t Armour: Belt 70mm, bulkheads 60mm-50mm, decks 50mm-20mm, barbettes 70mm-60mm, turrets 100mm, CT 100mm-40mm, communication tube 70mm-60mm Armament: 8-203mm/53 Mod 29 (4x2), 16-100mm/47 AA (8x2), 4-40mm/39 AA (4x I), 8-13.2mm MG (4x2), 8-533mm TT aw (4x2) Complement: 725 (as built) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate BOLZANO Ansaldo, Genoa 11 6 1930 31.8 32 19 8 33 Sunk 21 6 44 placement of 10,847t. In the late 1930s the two aftermost twin 100mm/47 gun mountings were replaced by 4—37mm/54 (2x2), and m 1942 the 13.2mm guns were replaced by 4-20mm/65 AA (4 x 1). She was hit by three shells during the action off Calabria and was torpedoed by the submarines Triumph in 1941 and Unbroken in 1942. Following the lat- ter she was taken in hand for repair at La Spezia and during 1942-43 pro- posals were made for her conversion into a cruiser-carrier with a flight deck running from the after funnel to the bow This entailed removing the bridge structure and forward turrets and splitting the forefunnel to trunk- out at each side of the flight deck Nothing came of this proposal and on Italy’s surrender the ship was cap- tured by the Germans; she was sunk at La Spezia by ‘Chariots’, launched from the Italian MTB MS74. Bolzano as completed Alberuoda Barbiano 1932 Provided under the 1927-28 Pro- gramme, these ships were Italy’s first postwar light cruiser design. They were built mainly to counter the large French destroyers of \he Jaguar, Lion and Aigle classes, and were of the classic scout cruiser tvpe intended to overtake and destroy even the fastest destroyers. They did however, sac- rifice too much for their high speed, being given very light armour which even their intended victims could eas- ily penetrate, although in theory they could have used the longer range of their own guns to keep out of trouble. They were also lightly built generally, of short endurance, and very cramped and uncomfortable ships which proved to be wit and lacking in stabil- ity. The stability problem was par- GIUSSANC ) class (‘Condottieri’ type - first group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement 51 lOt (Barbiano 5I55t, Colleoni 5170t, Bande Nere 5130t) standard; 6844t mean full load 525ft pp, 555ft 5tn oa x 50ft lOin x 17ft 9in mean at full load 160.00, 169.30 x 15.50 x 5.30m 2-shaft Belluzzo geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 95,000hp = 36 5kts. Oil 1230t Belt 24mm + 18mm, bulkheads 20mm, decks 20mm, turrets 23mm, CT 40mm-25mm, communica- tion tube 30mm 8-152mm/53 Mod 26 (4x2), 6-100mm/47 AA (3x2), 8-37mm/54 AA (4x2), 8-13.2mm AA (4x2), 4-533mmTT(2x2) 520 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ALBFRCIO DA BARBIANO Ansaldo, Genoa 16.4.1928 23.8 30 AMBERTO DI GIUSSANO Ansaldo, Genoa 29 3.1928 27.4 30 BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI Ansaldo, Genoa 21.6.1928 21.12.30 GIOVANNI DELLE CCS 31 10.1928 27.4.30 BANDE NERE 9 6 31 5.2 31 10.2.32 Apr 1931 Sunk 13 12 41 Sunk 13.12 41 Sunk 19.7.40 Sunk 1 4 42 293
ITALY lullv due to ihe hull tumblehomc, which was not repeated in later ships A considerable amount of weight sav- ing was made with the design by the use, among other things, of welding, minimal habitability requirements and lightweight machinery. I'he latter vcas remarkable for providing such a high power, on only 2 shafts and with only 6 boilers - a system used again in the much larger 7ara class All boilers were placed on or near the centreline, due to the narrow hull, and from for- ward the machinery was arranged as follows 2 boiler rooms each with 2 boilers/midship compartment/for- ward engine room (driving starboard shaft )/after boiler room with 2 boilers/aftcr engine room (driving port shaft). On trials Barbiano maintained 39 6kts for 8 hours with 112,760hp; her usually reported 42 OSkts on trial was maintained for only 32 minutes with I23,479hp on a displacement of 55OOt - a remark able result nevertheless, particularly •as she was above standard dis- placement. Figures for the other ships of the class were 102,088hp = 38 5kts on 5700t (Giussano), 119,177hp = 39 9kts on 5480t (Col- leoni) and 101,231hp = 38 2kts on AIJo Fraccaroli Collcciion AlbericoJu Haibiitno ;11 Venice in Sept 1934 5670t (Bande \reie) Sea speed was 30kts. Hull protection was provided over the length of the machinery and magazine compartments only, con- sisting of a 24mm side with !8mm longitudinal splinter bulkhead inboard, closed by 20mm decks and end bulkheads Deck and side protection stepped down from main to lower deck level abreast ‘A’, *X’ and *Y’ magazines The 152mm/53 guns had a maximum range of 24,700yds at 45° elevation and fired a 1051b shell at a muzzle velocity of 2790fs; maximum rate of fire was 5 rounds per minute All except Guis- sano were equipped for minelaying. A single fixed catapult was fitted on the forecastle and two aircraft could be earned, one stowed on the deck and one on the catapult Bande \rcre was sunk off Stromboli bv the submarine Urge,Colleoni off Crete bv the cruiser Sydney and the destroyers Hyperion and Ilex, and Guissano and Barbiano oft Cape Bon by the destroyers I eg- юп, Maori, Sikh and Isaac Sneers. Lutgi Cadorna as completed Provided under the 1929-30 Pro- gramme, these ships were essentially repeats of the Giussano class with improved stability. Compared with the earlier class they had no tumble- home (which increased the area of accommodation space as well as improving stability), a reduced bridge structure, a lowered forward director and no after control position 1 hey also had new model 152mm guns with more spacious gunhouses, a slight rearrangement of the positions of the 100mm and TT mountings amid- ships, and ihe mainmast mounted forw ird of the funnel to allow for the filling of a fixed aircraft catapult on the after shelter deck (angled forward from the centreline to the starboard deck edge abreast the after funnel), 2 aircraft were earned They were fitted for employment as minelayers and could carry between 84 and 138 mines depending on the type On trials in 1933 Cadorna made 38 Ikts with 112,930hp on a displacement of 5815t and Diaz 39.7kts w’ith 121,407hp on 5443t In 1938 the 40mm AA guns were removed and 8-20mm/65 AA (4x2) added In 1943 Cadorna had her catapult and 13 2mm MGs removed and 4—20mm/70 AA (4x1) added, and in 1944 her TT were also removed. Diaz was torpedoed by HM submarine Upright while covering a convoy to Tripoli. CADORNA class (‘Condottieri’ type - second group) Displacement: 5232t (Diaz 532It) standard, 7001t (Diaz 7080t) full load Dimensions: 525ft pp, 555ft 5in oa x 50ft 10m x 18ft mean at full load 160 00, 169.30 X /5 50 X 5.40m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 95,000hp = 36.5kts. Oil 121 It Armour: Belt 24mm + 18mm, bulkheads 20mm, decks 20mm, turrets 23mm, CT 40mm-25mm, communica- tion tube 30mm Armament- 8-152mm/53 Mod 29 (4x2), 6-100mm/47 AA (3x2), 2-40mm/39 AA (2x I), 8-13 2mm AA 4x2), 4-533mm TT (2x2) Complement: 544 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate LUIGI CADORNA CRDA, Trieste 19 9.1930 30.9.31 11 8.33 Stricken 15 51 ARMANDO DIAZ OTO, Muggiano 28 7.1930 10 7.32 29.4.33 Sunk 25 2 41 Luifti ( ad'llna 31 La Spezia about 1937 Aldo I ranaroli Colkcium 294
Cruisers Provided under the 1930-31 Pro- gramme, these ships represented an improvement on the earlier ‘Condot- tieri’ types being 200t larger to allow for a major increase in the level of protection. The armour las out was basically the same as that of the Cadoma class but unh thicknesses generally increased and no step down of the citadel abreast the magazines. I'he belt was 60mm and the longitud- inal splinter bulkhead 25mm (30mm abreast magazines), while the main deck was 30mm thick between the bulkheads and 20mm at the edges. Two additions were made to the side protection compared with the Cadorna-, the side above the belt and the platform betw cen the bottom edge of the belt and the longitudinal splinter bulkhead w-ere increased to 20mm thickness, the latter complet- ing a longitudinal armoured box along each side at the waterline Taking both belt and bulkhead into account, this system gave protection from 8m shellfire beyond 22,000yds and 6m shellfire beyond 14,000yds, at zero inclination; however, the decks were only proof against Sin inside 19,500yds and 6in inside 16,500yds, giving no immunity zone against 8in and only a narrow one against 6in. The Moniecuccoh class also differed in having a protective deck fore and aft of the citadel, this being 50mm thick above the weather decks and 45mm-30mm thick below' The com- plex bridge structure of earlier types was abandoned in favour of a simple circular conning tower, surmounted by the mam director, with only one external platform (at its base). The main conning position was protected by lOOinm walls, 30mm roof and 25mm floor and the rest of the tow er by 50mm-40mm plates. Weight devoted to protection was about 1350t MONTECUCCOLI class (‘Condottieri’ type - third group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour. Armament: Complement: 7405t standard; 8853t (Aitendolo 8848t) full load 546ft 1 lin (Auendolo 545ft 3in) pp, 597ft 9in oa x 54ft 6in x 19ft Sin mean at full load 166.70 (166.20), 182.20 x 16.60 x 6.00m 2-shaft Belluzo geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 106,000hp = 37kts. Oil 1297t (Aitendolo 1275t) Belt 60mm + 25mm, bulkheads 40mm-20mm, decks 30mm-20mm, barbettes 50mm-30mm, turrets 70mm, CT 100mm-40mm, communication tube 30mm 8-152mm/53 Mod 29(4x2), 6-100mm/47 AA (3x2), 8-37mm/54 AA (4x2), 8-13.2mm AA (4x2), 4-533mm TT (2x2) 588 (as designed), 650 (war) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate RAIMONDO Ansaldo, Genoa 1.10.1931 2 8.34 30.6.35 Stricken 1.6 64 MONTECUCCOLI MUZIO AITENDOLO CRDA, Trieste 10.4.1931 9.9.34 7.8.35 Sunk 4.12 42 compared with 5751 in Cadoma. Armament and machinery were the same as in Cadoma except that the latter was still further advanced in power to weight ratio, its layout omitted the compartment between the forward engine room and forward boilers, and all boilers (except the two forward) were separated into indi- vidual compartments instead of being paired. Like Bolzano they earned an aircraft catapult on the shelter deck amidships which necessitated trunk- ing the after boiler uptakes aft, to pro- vide sufficient room between the fun- nels, and grouping the 100mm AA guns abaft the after funnel to keep the midships area clear The catapult could train over a limited arc to launch from either side of the ship; 2 aircraft were carried. On trials Moniecuccoh reached 38.7kts with 126,099hp on a displacement of 7020t and Auendolo 36.8kts with 123,330hp on 7082t. In 1943 Moniecuccoh had her aircraft gear, TT and 13 2mm guns removed and 12-20mm added Auendolo was lost during an air attack on Naples Moniecuccoh was com erted to a cadet training ship after the war. r.ugemudi Salma 1940 Provided under the 1931-33 Pro- gramme, these vessels were enlarged versions of the Moniecuccoh class with the same armament and slightly more powerful machinery (partially to compensate for the increased size) and improved protection to give reason- able, but sull inadequate, zones of immunity against cruiser guns. The arrangement of the armour was basic- ally the same but with the belt increased to 70mm, splinter bulkhead to 35mm and mam deck to 35mm amidships and 30mm at the edges. Proportional increases were made with the other areas of protection except for the lower bridge which was the same as that in the previous class. DUCA D’AOSTA class (‘Condottieri’ type - fourth group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament. Complement: 8317t (Savoia 8610t) standard; 10,374t (Savoia 10,672t) full load 563ft 7in pp, 613ft 2in oa x 57ft 5in x 21ft 4in mean full load 171.80, 186.90 x 17.50 x 6 50m 2-shaft Parsons (Savoia Belluzo) geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 110,000hp = 36 5kts. Oil 1653t Belt 70mm + 35mm, bulkheads 50mm-30mm, decks 35mm-30mm, barbettes 70mm-50mm, turrets 90mm, CT 100mm-25mm, communication tube 30mm-20mm 8-152mm/53 Mod 29 (4x2), 6-100mm/47 AA (3x2), 8-37mm/54 AA (4x2), 12-13 2mm AA (6x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) 578 (as designed), 694 (war) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate EMANUELE FILIBERTO DUCA D’AOSTA OTO, Leghorn 29.10.1932 22.4.34 13.7.35 To USSR 2.3.49 EUGENIO DI SAVOIA Ansaldo, Genoa 6.7.1933 16.3.35 16.1.36 To Greece 1.7.51 295
ITALY The machinery was of ihe same design but slightly rearranged with the boil- ers in two equal groups of three distri- buted alternately with the engine rooms. This arrangement produced the main external difference from the Montecuccoli class as the funnels were of equal size. Other variations included larger bridge platforms, heavier mainmast and more space between the second funnel and after turrets On trials Aosta madc37.35kts with 127,924hp on a displacement of 7671t and Savoia 37.33kts with 121,380hp on 8300t. Maximum sea speed was 34kts. In 1943 the aircraft gear, TT and Emanuele Filiberio Duca d‘Aosta in 1937 13.2mm guns were removed and 12-20mm added. Both ships saw sub- stantial war service and were often employed to run essential supplies to North Africa. They were transferred to other countries after the war, as war reparations, Aosta being taken over by Russia and renamed Stalingrad, and later Kerch, before being discarded in the late 1950s and the Savoia going to Greece as Helle until 1964 when she also was discarded. Provided under the 1932-33 Pro- gramme, the/lAn/zzi class introduced the second, and final, major change in the development of the ‘Condottieri’ type and were the best balanced design of the entire group By accept- ing a lower speed and increased size it was possible to provide a heavier armament and a substantial increase in protection, placing them on equal terms with the majority of foreign 6in cruisers Compared with the Aosta. class they were about 1000г heavier and had 4ft 7in more beam, improved stability and, of course, more guns and armour, but they were about 2Jkts slower. The arrangement of armour, although basically following that of the previous class, included some novel features. The side armour consisted of a ‘de-capping’ belt of 30mm thickness with an inner con- cave belt of 100mm КС which joined the 30mm side at the bottom and almost joined it at the top. The tops of the 100mm belts were closed by a 40mm main deck and the ends by bulkheads of similar construction to the belt except that both plates were vertical. The sides above the belt were 20mm and the upper deck 15mm at the edges and 10mm down the centre. Barbettes were 100mm but reduced to 90, 50 or 30mm in areas shielded by other armour. The CT was con- structed in a similar manner to that in Aosta except that the roof of the main conning position was increased to 70mm. The funnel uptakes were pro- tected, for the first time in this type, between the main and upper decks. The main armament consisted of ten of the new 152mm/52 guns, also fitted in the Littorio class, which fired a 1101b shell up to a maximum range of 27,000yds, at 4 5° elevation, at a rate of 4-5 rounds per minute. An additional twin 100mm AA mounting was also provided, the guns being in a four- cornered arrangement abreast the Giuseppe Ganbaldi in 1946 ABRUZZI class (‘Condottieri’ type - fifth group) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 9440t (Ganbaldi 9050t) standard; 1 l,575t (Garibaldi U,117t) full load 563ft 7in pp, 613ft 6in x 62ft x 22ft 4in mean at full load 171 80, 187.00 x 18.90 x 6.80m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 100,000hp = 34kts. Oil 1700t Belt 100mm + 30mm, bulkheads 100mm + 30mm-30inm, decks 40mm-30mm, barbettes 100mm-30mm, turrets 135mm, CT 100mm-30mm, communication tube 30mm, funnel uptakes 50mm-20mm 10-152/55 Mod 36 (2 x 3, 2 x 2), 8-100mm/47 AA (4 x 2), 8-37mm/54 A A (4 x 2), 8-13-2mm AA (4 x 2), 6-5 33mm TT (2x3) 640 (as designed); 692 (w’ar) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate LUIGI DI SAVOIA DUCA ОГО, Muggiano 28 12 1933 21 4 36 1.12 37 Stricken 1 4 61 DEGLI ABRUZZI GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI CRDA, Trieste Dec 1933 21.4.36 20.12.37 Stricken Jan 1972 superstructure. The ships were equipped for minelaying and could carry between 80 and 108 mines depending on type. Two catapults were provided, with one aircraft for each, mounted abreast the funnel amidships and capable of limited training to launch off the bow. bight rather than the usual six boilers were provided but these were of smaller dimensions which (together with the increased beam) allowed them to be fitted two abreast in four rooms, one boiler room being positioned forward of the forward engine room and the remainder betwen the two engine rooms. On trials Abruzzi made 34.8kts with 103,990hp on a light dis- placement of 85OOt and Ganbaldi made 33 6kts with 104,030hp on a nominal displacement of 10,120t. Maximum sea speed was 31 kts In 1943—44 the 13 2mm guns were removed and IO-2Omm/65 AA (5x2) added. Abntzzi also had a radar set added, the aerial being fitted on a new lattice mast abaft the conning tower In 1945—46 the aircraft gear and ГГ were removed. On Italy’s surrender both came under Allied control but they were returned after the war. Garibaldi was reconstructed as a guided missile cruiser 1957-61. 296
Cruisers Slightly improved versions of the Abruzzi class, ordered under the 1939—40 Programme but suspended in June 1940 and never begun owing to the need to concentrate available resources on smaller warships. They would have been of similar appear- ance to the previous class but with a bridge structure modelled on that of the Litiono class and the modernised battleships Other variations included the provision of thicker deck protect- ion, higher power machinery to com- pensate for increased size, a modified AA battery to include new 90mm and 20mm mountings, and a proposal to carry 4 instead of 2 aircraft. The proposed name for the second vessel was altered in 1940. Scipione Africano 1944 In this class a return was made to the original ‘Condottieri’ idea of produc- ing a ‘destroyer of destroyers’. The ships were intended primarily to counter the large French destroyers of the Fantasque and Mogador classes and, as those ships had design speeds of 39-40kts, the exceptionally high speed of 41kts was specified for the new design. To allow for the construc- tion of a reasonable number, and keep costs down, design displacement was limited to 3400t with only light splinter protection to the machinery, guns and control positions. In effect the resulting vessels were little more than very large, fast destroyers although they had a distinctive cruiser profile with a flush deck and two fun- nels. Detailed design resulted in a slight increase in displacement and abandonment of the machinery pro- tection, splinter plating being pro- vided for the bridge (15mm) and gun turrets (20mm) only. The machinery was arranged in two separate groups each consisting of 2 boilers and 1 tur- bine, one group forward and one aft separated by a small auxiliary machinery room amidships. All boil- ers were in individual compartments No trials appear to have been run, as those units completed did so after the outbreak of war, but they are reported to have reached 41 kts in service with- out difficulty. Sea speed was 36kts, an excellent figure which would have allowed sufficient margin for both running down destroyers and escap- ing from cruisers The 135mm guns were fitted in turn turrets providing 45° elevation, giving a range of 21,400yds, and a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute. They also carried a new type quadruple TT (with the tubes in two vertical pairs instead of the more usual side-by-side arrange- ment) and 24 DCs, and were equip- ped for minelaying (114-130 mines depending on type). Of the three units completed, Afncano carried a short pole mast on her after director, Regolo a pole mast abaft her second funnel and Afagno no inast All three were fitted with a tripod foremast to support the aerial of an F.C/3 radar set but only Regolo and Africano were actually fitted with the equipment VC'ork on Druso, 'J iberio, Agrippa and Emilio ceased in June 1940. Traiano was sunk by ‘Chariots’ while fitting-out at COSTANZO CI ANO class (‘Condottieri’ type - sixth group) Displacement: 9615t standard; 11,8101 full load Dimensions: 620ft oa x 62ft 4in x 22ft 7in mean at full load 189.00 x 19.00 x 6.90m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 8 boilers, 115,000hp = 33kts Armour: Belt 100mm, deck 45mm, turrets 140mm, CT 140mm Armament: 10-152mm/55 Mod 36 (2x3, 2x2), 8-90mm/50 AA (8x 1), 8-37mm/54 AA (4x2), 12-20mm/65 A A (6x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers Complement: ? Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate COSTANZO CIANO - - - - - VENEZIA (ex-Luigi Rizzo") • - - - — - ‘CAPITANI ROMANI’ class_____________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 3686t standard; 5334t full load Dimensions: 455ft pp, 468ft lOin oa x 47ft 3in x 16ft mean full load 138 70, 142.90 x 14.40 x 4.90m Machinery: 2-shaft Belluzo (Augusto, Magno Parsons) geared turbines, 4 Thomycroft boilers, 110,000hp = 40kts Oil 1387t Armament: 8-135mm/45 Mod 38 (4x2), 8-37mm/54 AA (8x 1), 8-20mm/70 AA (4x2), 8~533mm TT (2x4) Complement: 418 (as designed) Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ATTILIO REGOLO OTO, Leghorn 28.9.1939 28.8 40 143.42 Transferred to France 1948 CAIO MARIO OTO, Leghorn Sept 1939 17.8.41 — Scuttled cl944 CLAUDIO DRUSO CT, Riva Trigoso Sept 1939 — — BU on stocks 1941-42 CLAUDIO TIBER1O OTO, Leghorn 28.9.1939 — — BU on stocks 1941-42 CORNELIO SILLA Ansaldo, Genoa 12.10.1939 28.6.41 — Sunk July 1944 GIULIO GERMANICO CCS 3.4 1939 26.7.41 19.1.56 BU 1971 OTTAVIANO AUGUSTO CNR, Ancona 23 9.1939 28.4.41 — Sunk 1.11.43 PAOLO EMILIO Ansaldo, Genoa 12.10.1939 — — BU on stocks 1941-42 POMPEO MAGNO CNR, Ancona 23.9.1939 24.8.41 4.6 43 TS 1964 SCIPIONE AFRICANO OTO, Leghorn 28 9.1939 12.1.41 23.4 43 Transferred to France 1948 ULP1O TRAIANO CNR, Palermo 28.9.1939 30.11.42 — Sunk 3.1.43 VIPSANIO AGRIPPA CT, Riva Trigoso Oct 1939 — — BU on stocks 1941-42 Palermo. Mario was completed as a hulk for use as a fuel depot in January 1943 and, with the incomplete Silla, Augusto and Germamco, was seized by the Germans after the surrender. Silla and Augusto were sunk in Allied air raids, at Genoa and Ancona respec- tively. Mario and Germamco were Pompeo Magno al Malta in Sept 1943 scuttled by the Germans, the former at La Spezia and the latter, on 28.9.43, at Castellammare. In 1947 Germanico was salvaged and, together with Magno, was completely refitted and modernised 1951-55. They were renamed San Marco and San Giorgio respectively being classified ‘scouts’ initally and then destroyer leaders. Regolo and Afncano were transferred to France in 1948 under the terms of the peace treaty and renamed Chateaurenault and Guichen respec- tively; they were discarded in 1962 and 1961 respectively, when they became training hulks. By courtesy of John Roberts
ITALY Etna class as redesigned for Italian service These two vessels were ordered by Siam in 1938 and were originally to have mounted 6-152mm (3x2), 6-76mm AA (6x1), and 8-13.2mm (4x2) guns, 6-533mm TT (2x3) and an aircraft catapult amidships. Work on the vessels was stopped in December 1941 and they were taken over by the Italian Government on 6.8 42 and renamed. The design was modified to that of an AA cruiser with new guns and the TT and catapult omitted. The bridge was moved further aft, necessitating a raked fun- nel, the superstructure was remodel- led and the mainmast omitted. Machinery was arranged on the unit system with 3 boilers in separate com- partments, 2 forward of the forward engine room and the third between the two engine rooms Protection con- sisted of a 60mm belt with 20mm splinter bulkheads inboard covered by a 20mm deck Between the splinter bulkheads the deck increased to 35mm. ETNA class Displacement: 5900t standard Dimensions: 462ft 7in pp, 504ft 7in oa x 47ft 6in x 19ft 6in 141.00, 1S3 80 x 14.47 x 5 95m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 boilers, 40,000hp = 28kts. Armour: Belt 60mm, deck 35mm-20mm Armament: 6-l35mm/45 Mod 38 (3x2), 10-65mm/64 (lOx 1), 2(X-20mm/65 (10x2) Complement: 580 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate ETNA (ех-ТоЛян) CRDA, Trieste 23 9.1939 28.5 42 — — VESUVIO (ех-Мшя/аи) CRDA, Trieste 26 8.1939 6 8 41 — — Work on the two vessels recom- menced but proceeded very slowly owing to wartime shortages of mater- ial and labour and on the surrender they were only 60 per cent complete; they were seized by the Germans on 10.9.43 who carried on the construc- tion for a short period and then scut- tled the ships at Trieste They were salvaged after the war and scrapped in 1949. EX-FRENCH CRUISERS Jean de Vienne and La Cahssontere, scuttled at Toulon in November 1942, were taken over by the Italian Navy, refloated in the following year and redesignated FR11 and FR12 respectively. Plans were drawn up to repair and refit them for Italian service, and work was begun, but very little progress was made on the ships before the surrender. Both vessels were seized by the Germans and later sunk in Allied air raids For details of these ships see under France. DESTROY ERS \azano Sauro as tompleicd SELLA class Displacement: 955t standard; 1457t full load Dimensions: 270ft 9in pp, 278ft 6in x 28ft 2in x 8ft lOin 82.50, 84 90 *8 60 x 2 70m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons (Crispi Belluzzo) geared turbines, 3 Thorny- croft boilers, 36,000hp = 35kts. Oil 250l (normal) Armament: 3-120mm/45(lx 1,1 x2),2-40mm/39 AA(2x 1), 2-13 2mm MG, 4—533mm TT (2x2), 2 DC throwers Complement: 120 (peace); 152 (war) SAURO class Displacement: 1040t standard; 1575t full load Dimensions: 294ft wl, 295ft 10m oa x 30ft 2in x 9ft 6in 89 60, 90 16 x 9 20 * 2.90m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thomycroft boilers, 36,000hp = 35kts. Oil 230t (normal) Armament 4-120mm/45 (2x2), 2-40min/39 A A (2 x |), 2-13 2mm MG, 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 155 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate FRANCESCO CRISPI Pattison 12.9.1925 Scuttled 12 10.44 QLINTINO SELLA Pattison 25.4.1925 Sunk 11.9.43 BETTINO RICASOLI Pattison 29.1.1926 Sold Mar 1940 GIOVANNI Pattison 24.6.1926 Sold Mar 1940 NICOTERA Name Builder Launched Fate CESARE BATTISTI Odero 11.12 1926 Scuttled 3.4.41 DANIELE MANIN CNQ 15.6.1925 Sunk 3.4 41 FRANCESCO NULLO CNQ 14 11 1925 Sunk 21 10 40 NA7ARIO SAURO Odero 12.5.1926 Sunk 3.4 41 Improved versions of the wartimePalestro and Curtatone designs in which larger size and improved machinery design was utilised to provide a heavier armament (120mm guns and 533mm TT in place of 102mm guns and 450mm tubes) and higher speed (35 instead of 32kts). They were of similar appearance to the earlier ships except that the funnels were taller (later cut down), the after gun mounting was raised on a small deck-house and the forecastle extended slightly further aft The arrangement of the main armament was somewhat unusual with a twin mounting aft and a single forward but in 1929 the latter was replaced by another twin mounting. Machinery power was increased from the 22,OOOhp of the Palestro/Curtatone class to 36,000hp, but this was generally exceeded on trials when speeds of 38kts or more were recorded at light displacements. This performance was not maintained in service, however, and the machinery proved troublesome and unreliable. The best sea speed obtainable by 1940 was 33kts. Cnspi is reported to have been re-engined m 1937 Rtcasoli and Nicotera were sold to Sweden and renamed Puke and Pstlander respectively; their new owners found them equally troublesome and they were stricken in 1947. During the Second World War the two remaining vessels had their 40mm AA guns replaced by 4-20mm/70 AA and had 2 DC throwers added. Sella was torpedoed by the German S-boatsS54 and S61 off Venice. Crispi was taken over by the Germans in September 1943 and renamed TA/5; she was bombed and sunk at Candia 8 3 44, refloated but later scuttled. Bettino Ricasoh as completed By courtesy of John Roberts 298 Modified versions of the Sella class with beam increased to compensate for the additional topweight of triple TT and two twin 120mm mountings. Apart from this and a slightly larger hull these ships were generally similar to the previous class and they differed little from them in appearance They did, however, have shorter funnels (the second being cut down more than the first), an additional rangefinder platform between the TT and a slightly larger bridge structure The armament type and layout of these ships became standard for all Italian des- troyers, up to and including the Sold an class, with the exception of the ‘Navigatori’ class. They were laid down m 1924 and completed in 1927 (Sauro 1926) Like the Sella class all exceeded design power and speed on trial, one achieving over 37kts, but later proved unreliable; sea speed was 31kts. All four w'ere lost in the Red Sea, Manin and Sauro being bombed by British aircraft, Nullo sunk by rhe destroyer Kimberley and Bauisti scuttled off the coast of Arabia.
Destroyers TURBINE class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: !070t standard; 1670t full load 299ft 6in pp, 305ft 9in oa x 30ft 2in x 9ft lOin 91.30, 93.20 x 9.20 x 3.00m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thornycroft boilers, 40,000hp = 36kts. Oil 270t (normal) 4-120mm/45 (2x2), 2-40mm/39 AA (2x 1, 2-13.2mm MG (1x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) 142 (peace); 179 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate AQUILONE Odero 3.8.1927 Mined 17.9.40 BOREA Ansaldo, Genoa 28.1.1927 Sunk 17.9.40 ESPERO Ansaldo, Genoa 31.8.1927 Sunk 28.6.40 EURO CT, Riva Trigoso7.7.1927 Sunk 1.10.43 NEMBO CT, Riva Trigoso27.1.1927 Sunk 20.7.40 OSTRO Ansaldo, Genoa 2.1.1928 Sunk 20.7.40 TURBINE Odero 21.4.1927 Sunk 15.9.44 ZEFFIRO Ansaldo, Genoa 27.5.1927 * Sunk 5.7.40 Repeats of the Sauro class (except for a slight increase in length and higher powered machinery for an additional 1 kt in design speed), laid down in 1925 and completed 1927-28 On trials the design power was greatly exceeded and Euro achieved 38.9kts on 4-hour full-power and Turbine, in a mile run with 51,214hp, reached 39.5kts. Best sea speed was 33kts. Early war modifications included the removal of the 40mm guns and the addition of about 8-20mm AA and 2 DC throwers. Turbine later had one TT mounting removed and 2-37mm/54 AA (2x 1) added. Nembo,Ostro andZeffiro were sunk by British airborne torpedoes. Horea and Euro were bombed, the former by British and the latter by German aircraft. Turbine was seized by the Germans in September 1943, renamed TA 14, and was later sunk by US aircraft at Salamis. Giovanni Jo V eras saint 1942 ‘NAVIGATORI’ class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: l900t standard; 2580t full load 346ft 3in pp, 352ft oa x 33ft 5in x lift 2in 105.50, 107.30 x 10.21 x 3.40m 2-shaft Parsons (CNQ-built ships Belluzzo, CNR-buih ships Tosi) geared turbines, 4 Odero (CNQ-buih ships Yarrow) boilers, 50,000hp = 38kts. Oil 630t 6-120mm/50 (3x2), 2—40mm/39 AA (2x 1), 4—13.2mm MG (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) 173 (peace); 224 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate ALVISE DA MOSTO CNQ 1.7.1929 Sunk 1.12.41 (ex-A/t’ise Cadamosto) ANTONIO DA NOLI CT, Riva Trigoso21.5.1929 Mined 9.9.43 N1COLOSO CNR, Ancona 5.1.1930 Stricken 15.7.54 DA RECCO GIOVANNI CNQ 15.12.1928 Sunk 19.10.42 DI VARAZZANO LANZEROTTO Ansaldo, Genoa 14.3.1929 Mined 24.3.43 MALOCELLO LEONE PANCALDO CT, Riva Trigoso5.2.1929 Sunk 30.4.1943 EMANUELE CNR, Ancona 12.8.1929 Sunk 29.5.42 PESSAGNO ANTONIO CNQ 10.11.1929 Sunk 17.2.45 PIGAFETTA LUCA TARIGO Ansaldo. Genoa 9.12.1928 Sunk 16.4.41 ANTON IOTTO Odero 12.5.1929 Sunk 8.6.42 USODIMARE UGOLINI VIVALDI Odero 9.1.1929 Sunk 10.9.43 NICOLO ZENO CNQ 12.8.1928 Scuttled 9.9.43 Ordered in 1926 and laid down 1927-28, the‘Navigatori’class were constructed to counter the large French destroyers of thejuguar and Guepard classes. They were smaller than their French rivals but had an almost comparable armament and a 2-3kt advantage in design speed. The design was evolved from the scout type and, although ordered as destroyers, they were reclassed as scouts prior to completion during 1929-31. They reverted to the designation ‘destroyer’ in 1938 The machinery layout was advanced for a destroyer type of this period, being on the unit system with alternate engine and boiler rooms arranged in two groups, each consisting of 2 boilers and one turbine. As usual the design performance was greatly exceeded on trial: Pigafetta reached 41.57kts with 65,530hp on a light displacement of 1862t but still made 39.58kts with 60,600hp during a 6 hour trial at standard displacement. Mosto is reported to have touched 45kts with 71,000hp for short periods. The machinery proved reliable but was still subject to deterioration by time and use and best wartime sea speed was around 32kts (less in modified units - see below). The armament was the same as that provided in the standard Italian destroyers except for the fitting of a third twin 120mm mounting, forward of the second funnel. The guns them- selves were new' 12Omm/5O Mod 26 guns which fired a 501b shell to a maximum range of 24,000yds at 45° elevation compared with 48.51b to 21,000yds for the earlier 45cal guns. The new gun was capable of firing at 6 rounds per minute and, with minor variations through various models up to 1940, was used in all Italian destroyers up to and including theSoldati class. All except Recco were equipped for minelaying and could carry between 86 and 104 mines depending on type. Generally the class was successful, being among the most valuable and, during the war, hard working of Italy’s torpedo-vessels, but they were ‘wet’, rolled rather badly in heavy weather and their reserve of stability was small. During the early 1930s, in order to reduce these problems, the bridge and funnels w’ere shortened, a pole mast replaced the tripod, the oil fuel stowage was modified and the centre TT was removed from each mounting. Shortening the funnels seems to have caused problems with smoke interference, as funnel caps were also added. During 1939-40 all except Recco and Usodimare had their hulls widened by 3ft 3in (Im) to improve stability and seakeeping, the latter also being assisted by the provision of a raised clipper bow adding 6ft 6in (2m) to the oa length. The additional space was utilised to increase the oil stowage to 680t and the centre TT were reinstated. The overall effect was to raise displacement to 2125t standard (2888t full load) and reduce speed to 27-28kts. During 1933-34 an additional 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) were fitted and during 1940-42 the 40mm guns were removed and 7 (Recco, Pancaldo and Pigafetta 9) 20min AA and 2 DC throwers added. During 1942-42 Pigafetta and Pancaldo had their after TT mounting replaced by 2-37mm/54 AA (2x1). Pancaldo and Malocello were fitted with an EC3 and a GermanSeewAr radar set respectively, the aerials being fitted above the bridge. Da Mosta was sunk off Tripoli by the cruisers Aurora and Penelope and the destroyer Lively. Verassio, Pessagno and Usodimare were torpedoed by the submarines Unbending, Turbulent and Alagi, the latter being in error. Pancaldo was sunk by an aerial torpedo in Augusta harbour on 10.7.40 but was salvaged, repaired at Genoa and recommissioned in December 1941. She was later sunk by aircraft at Tunisia. Tarigo was sunk by gunfire in action with the destroyers Jervis, Nubian, Janus and .Mohawk but torpedoed and sank the last before going down. Da Noli and Vivaldi were damaged by German shore batteries off Sardinia, the former then hitting a mine and sinking and the latter being sunk by German aircraft the following day. Zeno and Pigafetta were scuttled at Trieste after the Italian surrender; the latter was salvaged by the Germans and became TA44 on 14.10.44 but was lost during an air raid on Trieste. Saeita 1933 FRECCIA class Displacement: 12O5t standard; 2116t full load Dimensions: 302ft 6in pp, 315ft 5in oa x 32ft x 10ft 4in 92.20, 96.15 x 9.75 x 3.15m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thornycroft boilers, 44,000hp = 38kts. Oil 630t. Armament: 4-120inm/50 (2x2), 2-40mm/39 AA (2x 1), 4-13.2mm MG (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 156 (peace); 185 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate DARDO Odero 6.9.1930 Scuttled 24.4.45 FRECCIA CT, Riva Trigoso3.8.1930 Sunk 8.8.43 SAETTA Ct, Riva Trigoso 17.1.1932 Mined 3.2.43 STRALE Odero 26.3.1931 Wrecked 21.6.42 Ordered in 1928, laid down in 1929 and completed in 1932 (Freccia 1931), this class were designed to provide a fleet destroyer with the speed and range necessary to keep station with Italy’s new cruisers. The design was basically an enlarged Turbine with wider beam utilised for additional oil stowage, giving a lange of 4600nm at 12kts, and higher powered machinery for a speed equal to that of the ‘Navigatori’ class. Although the general layout followed that of earlier classes they were of more streamlined appearance due to the adoption of a single fn mel,alargci streamlined bridge structure, and a clipper bow (except in Dardo a d Stralc, the fust to complete, which retained the vertical stem). On trials S] eds of 38 391 is were obtained but the class proved a failure in its original pin pose as the machinery could not maintain this performance under service conditions; during the war the ships were mainly employed as convoy escons. They were also poor seaboats and were low on stability, particularly with oil fuel partially consumed, and to correct these problems bilge keels and 90t of perma- nent ballast v.< । c added. Provision was also made for filling empty oil tanks with seaw'ater (causing contamination problems) which, with the ballast, reduced them to a sea speed of 30kts. Armament was the same as in the Turbine class 299
ITALY except for the provision of the new 50cal 120mm gun and the fitting of twin 13 2mm MG. During 1939-40 the 13.2mm and 40mm guns were replaced by 5 or6-20mm/65 A A and 2 DC throwers were added During 1942-43 the after TT mounting was replaced by 2-37mm/54 AA (2x |) and 6-20mm/70 AA (3x2) were added except in Strale which ran aground on the coast of Tunisia in 1942. Frecaa was lost during an air raid at Genoa and Dardo, captured by the Germans and renamed TA31, was scuttled at the same location. FOLGORE class Displacement: 1220t standard; 2lOOt full load Dimensions: 309ft 5m wl, 315ft lin oa x 30ft 2in x 10ft 10m 94 30, 96 05 x 9 20 * 3 30m Machinery: 2 shaft Belluzzo geared turbines, 3 Thomycroft boilers, 44,000hp = 38kts. Oil 5 lOt Armament: 4—12Omm/5O (2x2), 2-40mm/39 AA (2x 1), 4—13.2mm MG (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers Complement: Name 156 (peace), 185 (war) Builder Launched Fate BALENO CNQ 22 3 1931 Foundered 17.4.41 FOLGORE OCP 26.4.1931 Sunk 2.12.42 FULMINE CNQ 2 8 1931 Sunk 9 11.41 LAMPO OCP 26 7 1931 Sunk 30 4 43 Laid down in 1929-30 and completed in 1932, the Folgore class were modified Frecaas with beam reduced to that of the Turbine class to improve their chances of holding the required high speed; this entailed sacrificing the greater oil stowage ofFrecaa, and endurance was consequently reduced to 3600m at 12kts. The modification was not a success and little discernible improvement in speed resulted while the faults of Frecaa were retained. Modifications to improve stability and sea-keeping were similar to those in the earlier class War modifica- tions also followed those of the/* recaa class but onlyLumpo and Fol gore received the late additions to AA All four were sunk m action with British surface ships but Lampo, lost 16.4 41, was salvaged m August 1941, repaired and recommis- sioned in May 1942, being bombed and sunk by aircraft a year later. Fulnttnc prewar Italian Navy MAESTRALE class_____________________________________________ Displacement: 1615t standard; 2207t full load Dimensions: 333ft 4m pp, 350ft oa x 33ft 7in x 10ft 10m 101 60, lOo 10 x Ю.15 x 3.31m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 3-drum boilers, 44,000hp = 38kts. Oil 520t Armament: 4—12Omm/5O (2x2), 2-40min/39 AA (2x 1), 4-13 2mm MG (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3), 4 DC throwers Complement: 153 (peace); 190 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate GRFCALE CNR, Ancona 17.6 1934 Stricken 31.5.64 LIBI CC1O CT, Riva Trigoso 4 7 1934 Sunk 9 11 41 MAI-SI RALE CNR, Ancona 5 4 1934 Scuttled Apr 1945 SCIROCCO CT, Riva fngoso 22.4.1934 Foundered 23.3 42 Following earlier problems, great care was exercised in the design calculations for this class, which were laid down in 1931 and completed in 1934, and the result was an efficient if unspectacular design which provided a sound basis for future development and ultimately resulted in the successful ‘Soldati’ design. Basically they were enlarged Frecaus but with the stability faults corrected, by increasing the beam and careful attention to weight distribution Length was also increased to provide a finer hull form, with the same length-to-beam ratio as the Folgore class, in order to retain the high speed without higher powered machinery The machinery plant was also more efficient and, although trial speeds were not much greater than in the earlier ships, at around 38-39kts (Libeccio touched 41 3kts but only for a short period) sea speed showed a 2kt improvement at 32kts. The armament was identical to that of the FolgorelF rec- da classes War modifications included the addition of 6 to 12-20mm A A, 4 DC throwers and a 120mm/15 starshell gun (not fitted in all sh ps), and the removal of the 40mm AA and 13 2mm MG. Grecale, and possibly Macstrale, had her after TT and the midships rangefinder replaced by 2-37mm/54 AA (2x1). Libeccio was torpedoed by the submarine Upholder, and Saroico sank in the storm which fo lowed the Second Battle of Sirte Maestrale was scuttled at Genoa on 9 9 43 and then salvaged by the Germans who partially repaired her before scuttling her again Grecale survived the war to be modernised as an AS escort 1952-53 and converted to a command vessel 1959-60. ORIANI class Displacement: 1675t standard; 2254t full load Dimensions. 333ft 4m pp, 350ft oa x 33ft 7in x lift 2in 101 60, 106 70 x 10 15 x 3 42m Machinery: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 3 drum boilers, 48,000hp = 38kts Oil 520t Armament: 4— 120mm/50 (2x2), 8-13.2mm MG (4x2), 6—533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers Complement: 157 (peace); 206 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate VITTORIO Al FIERI OTO, Leghorn 20 12 1936 Sunk 28.3 41 GIOSUE CARDLCCI OTO, Leghorn 28 10 1936 Sunk 28 3 41 VINCENZO OTO, Leghorn 19 9.1936 Sunk 9.8 43 GIOBERII ALFRI DO ORIANI О 1 O, Leghorn 30 7 1936 To France 8 8 48 Repeats of the Maestrah but with installed power increased to improve practical speed. Trials showed not great advance on the earlier class, a little over 39kts being reached, but sea speed showed a Ikt improvement at 33kts. The four vessels of the class were laid dow n in 1936 (Опиш 1935) and completed in 1937, demonstrating the high speed with which OTO usually built their ships Early war modifications included the addition of about 8-20mmj65 AA and the removal of the 13 2mm guns. During 1942-43 the surviving pair had their after TT mounting replaced by 2-37mm/54 (2x1), and 4—20mm/70 AA (2x2), l-120mm/15 starshell gun and 2 DC throwers were added Onam was also fined with a German radar set Alfien and Carducci were sunk during the Battle of Matapan and Gioberii was torpedoed by the submarine Simoon Onam w’as transferred to France as a war reparation and renamed D'Estaing, she was deleted from the French Navy list in 1954. Corsaro as the German TA33 ‘SOLDATI’ class Displacement: 1690-1820t standard, 225O-25OOt full load Dimensions: 333ft 4in pp, 350ft oa x 33ft 7m x 11ft 6in 101 60, 106 70 x 10 15 x 3 50m Machinery: 2-shaft Belluzzo (OTO-built ships Parsons) geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 48,000hp = 38kts. Oil 517t Armament: 4 or 5-120mm/50 (2x2 + 1 x 1 m some) 12-13.2mm MG (4x2, 4x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers Complement: 165 (designed); 206 (war) 300
Destroyers Name Builder Launched Fate First group alpino CNR, Ancona 18.9.1938 Sunk 19.4.43 ARTIGLIERE OTO, Leghorn 12.12.1937 Sunk 12.10.40 ASCARI OTO, Leghorn 31.7.1938 Mined 24.3.43 AVIERE OTO, Leghorn 19.9.1937 Sunk 17.12.42 BERSAGLIERE CNR, Palermo 3.7.1938 Sunk 7.1.43 CAMICIA NERA OTO, Leghorn 8.8.1937 To USSR 21.2.49 CARABINIERE CT, Riva Trigoso23.7.1938 Stricken 1965 CORAZZIERE OTO, Leghorn 22.5.1938 Sunk 4.9.44 FUCILIERE CNR, Ancona 31.7.1938 To USSR 17.1.50 GENIERE OTO, Leghorn 27.2.1938 Sunk 1.3.43 GRAN ATI ERE CNR, Palermo 24.4.1938 Stricken 1958 LANCIERE CT, Riva Trigoso 18.12.1938 Foundered Second group BOMBARDIF.RE CNR, Ancona 23.3.1942 23.3.42 Sunk 17.1.43 CARRISTA OTO, Leghorn — BU on stocks CORSARO OTO, Leghorn 16.11.1941 M ned 9.1.43 LEGIONARIO OTO, Leghorn 16.4.1941 To France MITRAGLIERE CNR, Ancona 28.9.1941 15.8.48 To France SQUADRISTA OTO, Leghorn 12.9.1942 15.7.48 Sunk 4.9.44 VELITE OTO, Leghorn 31.8.1941 To France 24.7.48 Carabimen about 1950 Having developed a good basic fleet destroyer design with the Maestrale/Oriani classes, 12 of the same type were ordered tn 1936 and another 7 in 1940, providing the largest destroyer class ever ordered for the Italian Navy. The first group were laid down in 1937 and completed during 1938-39 and the second were laid down in 1940-41 and completed, with the exception ofSquadrisia and Carrista, in 1942. As originally designed they were no more than repeats of the Oriani class, with machinery of the same type but slightly improved efficiency (sea speed 34—35kts), but subsequent alterations to the armament resulted in a number of variations from the model. In the first group a 120mm/15 starshell gun was mounted on the platform between the TT except in Carabiniere which carried a fifth 12Omm/5O. This latter arrangement was adopted in all the second group except Velite which carried the 120mm/15 gun. During 1941-42 Aseari, Nera, Geniere and Lancicre also had a 120mm/50 fitted in place of their 120mm/l 5. The designed close range AA armament of 13.2mm MG was gradu- ally supplanted by twin and single 20mm AA guns, initially 8 (4x2) and, by 1943, 10 to 12 in number. During 1942-43 Carabiniere, Granatiere, Legonario, Fuciliere and Velite had their after TT replaced by 1 or 2 single 37mm/54 AA; the latter pair also had their 120mm/15 gun replaced by a 37mm/54 AA. A second director was mounted abaft the funnel in Alpino and on the after superstructure in Carabiniere, Aseari, Aviere and Lanciere', this was removed from all during 1940-41. Initially 2 DC throwers w’ere fitted but this was later increased to 4. Velite and Fuciliere were fitted with Gufo radar and Legionario received a German set. The class saw extensive war service, proving capable of efficient operation with the fleet and in company with torpedo-boats, and of absorbing substantial damage without loss; their main weakness, as with the majority of prewar destroyers, was inadequate AA defence. Three were lost in air raids, Alpino at La Spezia, Bersagliere at Palermo, and Geniere which sank in Palermo harbour after a bomb had damaged the drydock she was in. Nera, renamed Artigliere in 1943, was sunk by gunfire and torpedo by the cruisers Ajax and York, whilst Corsaro was sunk by 2 mines and Aseari by 3, both off Bizerta. Aviere and Bmnbardiere were torpedoed by the submarines Splendid and Uniled off Bizerta and Marettimo respectively. Laniere capsized in a storm 120nm east of Malta after the Second Battle of Sine. Corazsiere was scuttled at Genoa 9.9 43 and later refloated by the Germans, but was subsequently lost in an air raid. Squadrisia (renamed Corsaro in July 1943) and Carrista were captured incom- plete by the Germans in September 1943 and renamed TA33 and TA34 respec- tively; the former was towed to Genoa, where she was lost in an air raid, and the latter, whose bow and stern had previously been cannibalised to repair other ships of the class, was broken up. The majority of the surviving vessels were transferred as war reparations, Artigliere (cx-Nera) and Fuciliere going to Russia as Z12 and Z.20 (discarded 1958), and Legionario, Mitragliere and Velite to France asDuchaffault (discarded 1954),Jurien La Graviere (discarded 1956) and Duperrt (discarded 1961), Caribiniere and Granatiere were retained in Italian service and converted to AS vessels 1953-54. COMANDANTI MEDAGLIE D’ORO class Displacement: 2067t standard; 2900t full load Dimensions: 396ft oa x 40ft 4in x lift lOin 120.70 x 12.30 x 3.60m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 60,000hp = 35kts Armament: 4—135mm/45 (4x 1), 12-37mm/54 AA (12x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 272 Designed to incorporate war experience, these ships were basically enlarged ‘Soldati* class vessels with substantially increased AA capability and improved stability. The initial design followed closely the ‘Soldati’ layout with 5-135mm guns (2x2, I x 1) but this was subsequently modified to four single DP mount- ings, in a superfiring arrangement fore and aft - the first use of a true AA main armament in an Italian destroyer. The 135mm/45 guns, the heaviest weapons of an Italian destroyer design, were the same as those fitted in the Doria and ‘Romani* classes but new mountings were to be provided. These were backed up by 12-37mm A A, two in the bridge wings, two abreast the foremast on the forecastle deck, two abaft the funnel, one on the platform between the TT and two abreast it on the upper deck, and three at the forward end of the after superstructure. No provision was made for 20mm guns, but Gufo radar, with aerials on the forward director, and a secondary director, on the after super- structure, were to be fitted. To compensate for the additional topweight of this armament and the additional structure, and to increase the internal volume for machinery and magazines, beam was increased by 7ft (2.15m) and length by 46ft (14m), keeping the length-to-beam ratio to about 9.8:1 compared with 10.5:1 in the ‘Soldatis*. Installed power was raised to 60,000hp but specified speed was only 35kts, representing a new policy of giving maximum nominal speed rather than the excessive figure expected on forced power trials. The machinery was arranged as in the'Soldatis*, w’ith 2 boiler rooms and one engine room except in Esposito which was to be of modified design with alternate engine and boiler rooms on the unit system which necessitated the provision of two funnels. 20 vessels of this class were ordered and a further 4 projected, but only 9 were laid down and none was completed. Those laid down were Comandante Baroni, Comandante Borsini and Comandante Margotiini (by OTO, Leghorn); Coman- danle Botli and Comandante Ruia by CRDA, Trieste; Comandante Casana and Comandante Dell’anno by CNR, Ancona; and Comandante de Cristofaro and Comandante Roscana by CT, Riva Trigoso. The last-named was laid down in 1942 and the remainder in 1943. The vessels not laid down were Comandante Corsi, Comandante Esposito, Comandante Fiorello, Comandante Giannattasio, Comandante Milano and Comandante Novar о ordered from CRDA, Trieste; Comandante Fontana, Comandante Moccagalta and Comandante Rodocanacchi from OTO, Leghorn; and Comandante Giobbe and Comandante Giorgis from CT, Riva Trigoso. All units under construction were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and later broken up on the stocks except for Cristofaro and Toscano which were badly damaged during Allied air raids and Margotiini which was launched by the Germans and later found at I^i Spezia in two halves EX-ENEMY DESTROYERS The Yugoslav Dubrovnik, Beograd and Ljubljana were captured on 17.4.41, refitted, repaired, and commissioned in the Italian Navy in January, August and October 1942 respectively as the Premuda ,Sebcni о and Lubiana. The first two were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and the last-named was lost on 1.4.43. Гог other details see under Yugoslavia and Germany. Eleven French destroyers, scuttled at Toulon in 1942, were taken over by the Italian Navy, redesignated with FR numbers and salvaged. These vessels were: FR21 (cx-Lion), FR24 (cx-Vabny), FR22 (cx-Panthere), FR23 (ex-Tigre), FR31 (ex-Trombe), FR32 (cx Le Siroco), FR33 (ex-L*Adroit), FR34 (ex- Lansquencl), FR3S (ex-Le Bison'), FR36 (cx-Le Foudroyant) and LeHardi which was unofficially renamed FR37. Only two completed repairs, FR21 and FR32, which commissioned in January 1943. In September 1943 FR21 and FR22 were scuttled and the remainder captured by the Germans w’hile under repair or en route to be repaired, except for FR22 and FR31 which were returned to the French in October 1943. For full details see under France. 301
ITALY TORPEDO-BOATS, DESTROYER ESCORTS ALBATROS Displacement: 334t standard, 490t full load Dimensions: 231ft 3in oa, 22ft 7in x 5ft 7in 70 SO x 6 90 x 1.71m Machinery: 2-shaft Belluzzo geared turbines, 2 3-drum boilers, 4300bp = 24.5kts Armament: 2-450mm TT, 2-102mm/35 (2x I j, 2-13.2mm MG (2x 1), 4 DC throwers Complement: 52 Name Builder Launched Fate ALBATROS CNR, Palermo 27.5.1934 Sunk 27.9 41 Albatros was laid down in 1931 and completed in 1934 as a submarine-chaser but was recalssificd as a torpedo-boat in 1938. Two 37mm/54 AA (2 x 1) were added to her armament in the late 1930s She sank the British submarine Phoenix in July 1940 but was herself sunk by a British submarine (Upright) off Sicily. Vega 1936 SPICA class Displacement: Spua group. 620t standard; 885t full load Climene group: 640t standard; 995t full load Perseo group 630t standard; 985t full load Alctone group: 670t standard; 1030t full load Dimensions: 246ft pp, 263ft 4m-269ft oa x 26ft 1 lin (Alctone group 26ft) x 9ft 3in-10ft 2m full load 75 00, 80 40-82.00 x 8.20(7.92) x 2 82-3.09m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 19,000hp = 34kts. Oil 2O7t Armament: 4—450mm TT (2x1, 1x2, or 4x1, or 2x2), 3-IOOmm/47 (3x 1), 4-40mm/39 (2x2, Spica group only), 8 (Spica group 4), 13 2mm MG (4 or 2x2), 2 DC throwers Complement: 99 (peace); 120 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate Spica group ASTORE BSN 22.4 1934 Sold 1940 SPICA BSN 11 3 1934 Sold 1940 Chmene group CANOPO CT, Riva Trigosol 10.1936 Sunk 3.5.41 CASSIOPEA CT, Riva Tngoso22 11 1936 Discarded 31 10 59 CASTORE CNA, Ancona 27.9 1936 Sunk 2.6 43 CENTAURO CNR, Ancona 19 2 1936 Sunk 4 11 42 CIGNO CNR, Ancona 24 11 1936 Sunk 16 4 43 CLIMENE CNR, Ancona 7.1.1936 Sunk 28.4 43 Perseo group ALDEBARAN Ansaldo, Genoa 14 6 1936 Mined 20.10 41 ALTAIR Ansaldo, Genoa 26.7.1936 Mined 20.10.41 ANDROMEDA Ansaldo, Genoa 28 6 1936 Sunk 17.3 41 ANTARES Ansolda, Genoa 23.12.1936 Sunk 28 5 43 PERSEO CNQ 9 10.1935 Sunk 4 5.43 SAGI П ARIO CNQ 216 1936 Discarded 1 7 64 SIRIO CNQ 14.11.1935 Discarded 31.10.59 VEGA CNQ 21 6 1936 Sunk 10.1 41 Alctone group Al RONE Ansaldo, Genoa 23 1 1938 Sunk 12.10 40 ALCTONE Ansaldo, Genoa 23 12 1937 Sunk 11.12 41 ARETUSA Ansaldo, Genoa 6.2.1938 Discarded 1.8.58 ARIEL Ansaldo, Genoa 14.3 1938 Sunk 12.10 40 CALIPSO Ansaldo, Genoa 29.9.1937 Mined 5.12.40 CALLIOPE Ansaldo, Genoa 16.4.1938 Discarded 1.8.58 CIRCE Ansaldo, Genoa 29 6 1938 Sunk 27.11.42 CLIO Ansaldo, Genoa 3.4.1938 Discarded 31.10.59 LIBRA CNQ 3 10.1938 Discarded 1.4.64 LINCE CNQ 15.1.1938 Sunk 4 11.44 LIRA CNQ 12.11 1937 Sunk 4.11.44 LUPO CNQ 7.11.1937 Sunk 2 12.42 PALLADE BSN 19.12.1937 Sunk 5.8.43 PAR I'ENOPE BSN 31 1.1937 Scuttled 11.9.43 PLEIADI BSN 5.9 1937 Foundered POLLUCE BSN 24.10 1937 14.10 41 Sunk 4 9 42 In the early 1930s the Italian Navy decided to replace its old torpedo-boats with new vessels of 600t displacement on the basis that there were no international treaty limitations on the numbers of vessels that could be built at or below this figure. The result was the Spica series, handsome vessels resembling miniature Freccia class destroyers. They were of excellent design but little tactical value as, like the French, the Italians had failed to appreciate that the destroyer had rendered such vessels obsolete. They were of greater value as escort vessels but AA (and AS) armament was limited by considerations of topweight and the Italian Navy does not seem to have considered removing the TT or other equipment to provide additional such weapons; however, they did make moder- ately good AS vessels Their vulnerability is w’ell demonstrated by the fact that seven were lost in action with surface vessels (Atroite, And, Vega, Lupo, Cigna, Perseo and Castore) while aircraft claimed another eight and the mine and submarine torpedo only three each They did however have superficial advan- tages in the 1930s as these small vessels were relatively cheap and could be built in larger numbers than destrovers, and their short range and limited seakeeping qualities were less important to a central Mediterranean navy than to one committed to deep ocean service. The machinery was arranged in 3 compart- ments- 2 boiler rooms and 1 engine room - and at 15kts provided an endurance of 1800nm. On trials over 37kts was achieved by many of the class but post- completion additions had increased displacements by around 250t by 1940 which, with general wear and tear, reduced maximum speeds to 30kts, sea speed was 26 to 29kts. Three torpedo dispositions were orginally provided in the class. The Spica group and Clinicne and Centauro were fitted with a single tube on each beam and a twin on the centreline; the remainder of the Chmene group, the Perseo group and the CNQ-built vessels of the Alctone group had two single tubes on each beam; the remainder of iheAZoone group mounted two twin tubes on the centreline. The latter arrangement had the obvious advantage of provid- ing a full broadside of four torpedoes and between 1939 and 1941 all the vessels of the class were converted to this standard. War modifications included the replacement of some or all of the 13 2mm MG by twin 20min/65 mountings, the normal arrangement being 6-20mm (3x2) and 2-13.2mm (1x2). During 1941-42 a further 2 DC throwers were added, with stowage for 40 DC, and later several units received German sonars All were equipped for minelaying, carrying 18-28 mines depending on tvpe. Spica and Astore were sold to Sweden in 1940 and renamed Romulus and Remus respectively Pleidi was beached after an Italian aircraft had crashed on her and subsequently foundered after being hit by a bomb. Andromeda, Canape,Polluce, Centauro, Antares and Pallade were sunk by aircraft and Alctone, Chmene and Lince were torpedoed by submarines, the last being aground at the time. Circe was lost in an accidental collision with a merchantman and Partenope and Lira were scuttled The latter was salvaged by the Germans and renamed TA49 but was later destroyed in an air raid on La Spezia while under repair. The surviving units were modernised during 1950-53. PEGASO class Displacement: 840t standard; 1575t full load Dimensions: 270ft 6m pp, 293ft oa x 31ft 9m x 12ft 3in full load 82.SO, 89.30 x 9.69 x 3.74m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi geared turbines, 2 3-drum boilers, 16,000hp = 28kts Oil 520t Armament: 6-450mm TT (2x3), 2-100mm/47 (2x1), 8-13.2mm MG (4x2), 6 DC throwers Complement: 154 (peace); 168 (war) Name Builder Launched Fate PEGASO BSN 8.12.1936 Scuttled 11.9.43 PROCION E BSN 31.1 1937 Scuttled 9 9 43 ORION E CNR, Palermo 21.4.1937 Discarded 1.1.65 ORSA CNR, Palermo 21.3.1937 Discarded 1.7.64 Similar to the British ‘Hunt’ class in design and appearance, the Pegaso class were basically an enlarged Spica design modified to give greater endurance, but less speed, for escort work. When originally designed in 1935 they were rated as escort vessels, but at the time of completion in 1938 they were re rated as escort torpedo-boats. They were about 200t larger than Spica but had a lighter gun armament and, as they were not required as attack vessels, less powerful machinery. The space and weight made available by these changes was utilised to increase the oil fuel stowage (giving an endurance of 5000m at 14kts) and the 302
Torpedo-boats, destroyer escorts AS armament. They still, however, carried two pairs of TT, one on each beam, and lacked an effective AA armament. Design speed was reached on trial without difficulty but not greatly exceeded, and sea speed was good at 27kts. To reduce wetness forward they employed a nuxlified bow design with a knuckle at upper deck level. War modifications were not extensive apart from the substitu- tion of 8 to 1 l-20mm A A for the original 13.2mm MG. Pegaso and Procione were scuttled on the Italian surrender, the former at Majorca and the latter at La Spezia. The surviving pair were reconstructed as AS frigates 1953-54. CICLONE class Displacement: 910t si tandard; 1625t full load 3in pp, 287ft lOin oa x 32ft 6in x 12ft 4in 87.75 x 9.90 x 3.77 m t Tosi or Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, Ihp = 26kts. Oil 442t (normal) mm TT (2x2), 2-100m/47 (2x1), 8-20mm/70 (4x2), throwers Dimensions: 270ft 1 82.50, Machinery: 2-shaf 16,00C Armament: 4—4501 4 DC Complement: 177 Name Builder Launched Fate ALISEO Navalmcccanic.i 20.9.1942 To Yugoslavia 1949 ANIMOSO Ansaldo, Genoa 15.4.1942 To USSR 1949 ARDENTE Ansaldo, Genoa 27.5.1942 Sunk 12.1.43 ARDIMENTOSO Ansaldo, Genoa 27.6 1942 To USSR 1949 ARDITO Ansaldo, Genoa 16.3.1942 Sunk 15.6.44 CICLONE CRDA, Trieste 13.1942 Mined 8.3.43 FORTUNALE CRDA, Trieste 18.4.1942 To USSR 1949 GHIBLI Navalmcccanic.i 28.2.1943 Scuttled 25.4.45 GROPPO Navalmeccanica 19.4.1942 Sunk 25.5.43 IMPAVIDO CT, Riva Trigoso24.2.1943 Mined 25.4.44 IMPETUOSO CT, Riva Trigoso20.4.1943 Scuttled 11.9.43 INDOMITO CT, Riva Trigoso6.7.1943 To Yugoslavia 1949 INTREPIDO CT, Riva Trigoso8.9.1943 Sunk 21.6.44 MONSONE Navalmeccanica 7.6.1942 Sunk 21.6.44 TIFONE CRDA, Trieste 31.3.1942 Scuttled 7.5.43 URAGANO CRDA, Trieste 3.5.1942 Mined 3.2.43 These vessels, slightly modified repeats of the Pegaso class, were laid down 1941-42 and completed 1942-43. They were about 70t heavier than the Pegaso and about Rin (0.2 Im) beamier which, as they had the same machinery, resulted in a 2kt loss of speed; fuel stowage was also reduced, giving a range of about 4000nm at 14kts. These modifications improved stability and allowed for some increases in the AA and AS armament and the fitting of a director on the bridge in place of an open rangefinder. They were built as part of the attempt to correct the deficiency of escorts and were intended primarily to protect traffic to North Africa. Six of the class (Animoso, Ghibli, bnpai'ido, bidomito, Inirepido and Monsone') were fitted with a third 100mm 47 gun on the after centreline AA platform, the displaced twin 20mm mounting being replaced by 2-20mm AA (2x l)on the quarterdeck. General A A additions included 1 or 2 single 20mm on the quarterdeck and 2 single 20mm on the forecastle, giving a maximum of 12 in some ships. Ardente was lost in collision with the destroyer Grecale and Groppo and Monsone were bombed at Messina and Naples respectively. On the Italian surrenderImpetuoso,Tifone,Impavido,Ghibli and Intrepido, the last-named still completing, were scuttled at Majorca, at Tunisia, off Elba, at La Spezia and at Trigoso respectively. Impavido, Inirepido and Ghibli were salvaged by the Germans, the first two being renamed TA23 and TA25. Ardilo was also seized, becoming TA26, and she and TA25 were later sunk by US PT boats. TA23 was lost off Capriera and Ghibli never completed repairs being scuttled at La Spezia at the end of the war. The surviving vessels were transferred as war reparations, bidomito and Aliseo going to Yugoslavia as Triglitz* and Biokovo respectively and the remainder to Russia (new names unknown). Ciclow as completed ARIETE class Displacement: 745t standard; lllOt full load Dimensions: 266ft lin pp, 274ft oa x 28ft 3in x 10ft 4in 81.10, 83.50 x 8.62 x 3.15m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 3-drum boilers, 22,000hp = 31.5kts. Oil 210t Armament: 6-450mm TT (2x3), 2-100mm/47 (2x1), 10-20mm/65 (3x2, 4x 1), 2 DC throwers Complement: 150 Name Builder Launched Fate ALABARDA CRDA, Trieste 7.5.1944 Sunk 21.3.45 ARIETE Ansaldo, Genoa 6.3.1943 To Yugoslavia 1949 ARTURO Ansaldo, Genoa 27.3.1943 Sunk 18.3.45 AURIGA Ansaldo, Genoa 15.4.1943 Sunk 9.6.44 BALESTRA CNQ 4.10.1947 To Yugoslavia 1948 DAGA CRDA, Trieste 15.7.1943 Scuttled 16.10.44 DRAGONE Ansaldo, Genoa 14.8.1943 Sunk 15.6.44 ERIDANO Ansaldo, Genoa 12.7.1943 Sunk 18.3.45 FIONDA CNQ 31.1.1943 To Yugoslavia 1948 GLADIO CRDA, Trieste 15.6.1943 Sunk 7.10.44 LANCIA CRDA, Trieste 7.5.1944 Scuttled May 1945 PUGNALF. CRDA, Trieste 1.8.1943 Scuttled 4.5.45 RIGEL Ansaldo, Genoa 22.5.1943 Sunk 4.9.44 SPA DA CRDA, Trieste 1.7.1943 Scuttled 13.10.44 SPICA CNQ 30.1.1944 Sunk 13.4.45 STELLA POLARE CNQ 1.4.1944 Mined 18.3.44 A modified Spica design intended to provide convoys with protection against surface attack. They were larger than the Spica class and carried a heavier TT and AA armament but one less 100mm gun. Machinery power was increased to compensate for the increased size and dimensions but speed, which was not as important in these ships, was slightly less. Endurance was 1500nm al 16kts. Forty-two units were projected in 1942 but shortages of material and labour meant that only 16 could be laid down. The intended A A armament was 2-37mm/54 (2x1) and l2-20mm/65 (2x2, 8x1) but shortage of suitable weapons resulted in Ancle, the only vessel to enter service with the Italian Navs. carrying the guns given in the above table. The remaining 15 vessels were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and renamed as follows: TA24 (ex-Arturo). TA27 (ex-Auriga), TA28 (ex-Rigel), TA29 (cx-Eridano), TA30 (cx-Dragone), TA36 (exStella Polare), TA37 (ex-Gladio), TA38 (exSpada), TA39 (ex-I)aga), TA40 (ex-Pugnale), TA41 (ex-Lancia), TA42 (ex-Alabarda), TA45 (cx-Spica), TA46 (ex-Eionda) and TA47 (ex-Balesira). All except the last two were com- pleted by the Germans with a variety of AA weapons and in most cases a radar set. Average AA armament was 12-20inm AA, which included quadruple, twin and single mounts. TA27, TA28 and TA42 were sunk by aircraft at Portoferraio, Genoa and Venice respectively. TA40 and TA41 were badly damaged in an air raid on Trieste on 20 2.45 and were later scuttled. TA39 was mined in the Aegean and TA38 was mined and bombed at Volos; both were then scuttled. TA24 and TA29 were lost in action with the destroyers Meteor and Lookout in the Gulf of Genoa and TA37 in action with the destroyers Termagant and Tuscan in the Gulf of Salonika. TA30 and TA45 were torpedoed by British MTBs. The incomplete TA46 and TA47 were damaged by bombs while on slip on 20.2.45. In 1948 they were taken over for completion by Yogoslavia who renamed them Velebit and Ucka respectively but only the latter vessel was finished. Ancle was also transfer- red to Yugoslavia, being renamed Dumitar. Italian Navy
ITALY EX-ENEMY TORPEDO BOATS Six Yugoslavian torpedo boats, IT,7 3 and T5-T8, were captured in April 1941, all being commissioned under the Italian flag with names unchanged. T3 and T5 were fitted with 2-76mm/30 AA (2x 1) in place of their original 66mm weapons in 1942, but these vessels were otherwise little altered. After the Italian surren- der T6 was scuttled and Г8 was sunk by German aircraft; T3 was seized by the Germans and redesignated ТЛ48, but she was later sunk. Tl and T7 weie returned to the Yugoslavs on 7 12.43, for further details see under Yugoslavia The French torpedo-boats Bombarde, La Pomone and L' 1 phigenie t captured by the Germans at Bizerta, were transferred to the Italian Navy on 28 12 42 and renamedF/?4/ ,FR42 andFR43 respectively. Early in 1943 they were returned to the Germans who again renamed them TA9, TA10 and TAI 1 respectively. For further details see under France. SUBMARINES Balilla 1940 However, she took a long time to dive, was unhandy when submerged and could not reach her designed speed (I9kts/lOkts). Range was 5000nm at 9kts/80nm at 4kts. She was employed on a few operational patrols early in the war but, in mid-1940, suffered a battery explosion and was laid up the following year. BALILLA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1427t/1874i 283ft 9in oa x 25ft 7m x 15ft 5in 86.50 x 7 80 x 4 70m 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 Savigliano electric motors, 4900bhp/2200hp = 16kts/17kts. Oil 140t 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 16 torpedoes), l-120mm/27, 2-13.2mm MG (2x1) 77 Name Builder Launched Fate BALILLA OTO, Muggiano 20.2.192/ Laid up 28 4 41 DOMENICO OTO, Muggiano 19.9.1927 Laid up 15 4 41 MILLELIRE ANTONIO SC1ESA OTO, Muggiano 12.8.1928 Scuttled 12.11.42 ENRICO TOTI OTO, Muggiano 14 4.1928 Laid up 1 4.43 Laid down in 1925 and completed in 1928 (Sciesa 1929), these boats were designed by their builders to meet a Navy request for a cruiser submarine capable of operating in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean from Italy’s African colonies, necessitating a high endurance and reasonable surface speed; U120, a German UE11 type transferred to Italy at the end of World War I, provided the basis for the design. The result was a double-hulled boat which, for the time, was very strongly constructed, allowing a maximum diving depth of 350ft (Mi Heli re actually reached 400ft on trials in May 1930). The class had a number of other innovatory features including an auxiliary Fiat diesel of 425hp for economic cruising at 7kts, giving a range of 13,000nm, and for battery recharg- ing This feature was nor repeated in later vessels and one assumes it was either a failure or took up too much space. Stability was rather poor and the designed speed of 17.5kts/8 9kts was not realised in the completed boats. The torpedoes comprised 2 reloads for each bow tube and 1 for each stern lube, and all boats except Saesa carried 4 mines The original 120mm gun was carried in a shielded mounting in the forward section of the conning tower but in 1934 this was replaced by a 120mm/45 deck gun. The boats earned out a few offensive patrols during 1940-41 (Ton sank the British submarine Rainbow 15.10.40) but they were too big to operate effectively in the Mediterranean and Balilla andMillelire were laid up while the remaining pair operated as supply submarines to North Africa Saesa was damaged by US aircraft on 6.9.42, beached at Tobruk and scuttled two months later. ETTORE FIERAMOSCA Displacement: 1530t/2094t Dimensions: 275ft 6in oa x 27ft 3in x 16ft 9in 83.97 x 8.30 x 5.1 Im Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Marelli electric motors, 5200bhp/2300hp = 15kts/8kts. Oil 150t Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern; 14 torpedoes), l-120mm/27, 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) Complement: 78 Name Builder Launched Fate ETTORE FIERAMOSCA Tosi 15.4.1929 BU 1946 Italy’s second cruiser submarine design, by Bernardis, laid down in 1926 and completed in 1930, was intended to have its operational effectiveness improved by carrying a seaplane for scouting. A hangar was incorporated into its large conning tower but the necessary aircraft was never built and the hangar was removed in 1931; at the same time her 120mm/27 gun was replaced by a 120mm/45. She was of single-hull construction with external bulges, which arrangement was intended to give better stability than in the Balilla class. 304 ARCHIMEDE class Displacement: 970t/1239t Dimensions: 231ft 4in oa x 22ft 6in x 13ft 6in 70.50 x 6 87 x 4.12m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Marelli electric motors, 3000bhp/l lOOhp = 17kts/8kts. Oil lOOt Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern; 16 torpedoes), 2-l00mm/43 (2x1), 2-13 2mm MG (2x1) Complement: 55 Name Builder Launched Fate ARCHIMEDE Tosi 10 12.1933 To Spain 1937 GALILEO FERRARIS Tosi 11.8 1934 Sunk 25 10 41 GALILEO GALILEI Tosi 19.3.1934 Captured 19 6 40 EVANGELISTA Tosi 27.5 1934 To Spain 1937 TORRICELLI A Cavallim partial double-hull design, laid down in 1931 and completed 1934-35. Basically an enlarged version of the sea-going Settcmhriiii class with greater range (10,500nm at 8kts/105nm at 3kts) and stowage for 16, instead of 12, torpedoes to make the boats suitable for ocean service. Archimede and Torricello were secretly transferred to Spain and renamed General Sanjurjo and General Mula. Galilei was captured by the British armed trawler Moonstone m the Red Sea and employed by the RN as the training boat .¥2; she was scrapped in 1946. Ferraris was damaged by an aircraft w'hile attacking convoy HG74out of Gibraltar and, unable to dive, was sunk by the British escort destroyer Lamerton. Domenico Millehre as completed Ettore Fieramosca prewar Italian X’avy
Submarines Of ana 1940 GLAUCO class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 10541/ 1305t 239ft 6in oa x 23ft 3in x 16ft lOin 73.00 x 7.20 x 5.12m 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 3OOObhp/12OOhp = 17kts/8kts 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern; 14 torpedoes), 2-100mm/47 (2x1), 2-13 2mm MG (2x1) 58 Name Builder Launched Fate GLAUCO OTARIA CRDA, Monfalcone CRDA, Monfalcone 5.1.1935 20.3.1935 Scuttled 27.6 41 Discarded 1.2.*48 Ordered as Delfin and Espadarte b\ Portugal and laid down in 1931 but cancelled shortly afterwards In 1932 the Italian Government took over the contracts and work was restarted, the two vessels entering service with the Italian Navy in October 1935 and January 1936 respectively. Both saw service in the North Atlantic during 1940-41 Glauco was scuttled west of Gibraltar after being heavily damaged by the destroyer Wishart Otaria was employ ed to run supplies to North Africa and on Mediterranean patrols during 1941-43. PIETRO MICCA____________________________________________________ Displacement: 1545t/1940t Dimensions* 296ft 3in oa x 25ft 3in x 17ft 5in 90.30 x 7.70 x 5 30m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesel plus 2 Marelli electric motors, 3OOObhp/15Ohp = 15.5kts/8 5kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2-120mm/45 (2x1), 4-13.2mm MG (2x2), 20 mines Complement: 72__________________________________________________ Name Builder Launched Fate PIETRO MICCA Tosi 31.3.1935 Sunk 29.7.1943 Laid down in 1931 and completed in 1935, lheAficcc was Italy’s largest prewar submarine. She was designed by Cavallini as a cruiser/minelayer of similar size to the British Porpoise class but with only 40 per cent of their mine load, and less speed, although the gun armament was heavier. Endurance was 12,OOOnm al 8kts/80nm at 4kts. She carried out a few minelaying operations in 1940 and several supply runs during 1941-42 She was torpedoed bv the British sub- marine Trooper in the Straits of Otranto. a lower designed speed but actual speed was slightly higher than in the earlier ships at 16.8kts/4.7kts, although this was still below the required figure The space and weight gained provided for the addition of 2 TT, a second 120mm gun and a substantial increase in fuel stowage, giving an endurance of 13,400nm at 8kts without the need of an auxiliary diesel as in Bahlla Endurance submerged was 80nm at 4kts and the diving limit 330ft. The torpedoes carried gave one reload for each tube. Calvi was scuttled in the Atlantic after being heavily damaged by Lulworth and other British escorts. In 1943 the remaining pair were converted to carry supplies to and from Japan but Tazzoh was lost in the Bay of Biscay on her first trip out from causes unknown Finzi was seized by the Germans in September 1943 and taken into their service as U1T21, she was employed as an operational unit in the North Atlantic and scuttled at Bordeaux - . L. хЛ - * _2_.л L — > —a— - - —— — г oca i y-tu FOCA class Displacement: D mensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 13O5t/1625t 271ft lOin oa x 23ft 6in x 17ft lin 82 85 x 7.17 x 5.20m 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 Ansaldo electric motors, 2880bhp/1250hp = 16kts/8kts 6-2lin IT (6 bow; 8 torpedoes), l-100mm/43, 4-13.2mm MG (2x2), 36 mines 60 Name Builder Launched Fate ATROPO FOCA ZOEA Tosi 20 11 1938 Tosi 26.6 1937 Tosi 5 12 1937 Discarded 23.3.47 Lost Oct 1940 Discarded 23.3 47 Italy’s last minelaying submarines, laid down 1936-37 and completed 1937-39, were a Cavallini design derived from the Archimede and Glauco classes and about half-way between them in size. Maximum diving depth was 330ft and endurance 85OOnmat 8kts/106nmat 4kts Torpedo armament was sacrificed to provide two mine chutes at the stern The original 100mm/43 gun was mounted in a shielded position in the after section of the conning tower but was later replaced b\ a 100mm/45 gun mounted on the casing forward of the tower. Foca was lost from an unknown cause during a minlaying operation off Haifa. Vemero 1942 Commandante Cappehnt 1939 CALVI class_____________________________________________________ Displacement: 1525t/2O28t Dimensions* 276ft 7in oa x 25ft 3in x 17ft lin 84.30 x 7.70 x 5 20m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 San Giorgio electric motors, 4400bhp/1800hp = 17.1kts/7 9kts. Oil 249t Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern; 16 torpedoes), 2-120mm/47 (2x1), 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) Com piemen t 77________________________________________________ Name Builder Launched Fate PIETRO CALVI GIUSEPPL FINZI ENRICO 1AZZOL1 ОГО, Muggiano 31.3.1935 OTO, Muggiano 29.6.1935 OTO, Muggiano 14.10 1935 Scuttled 15.7.42 Scuttled 20.8.44 Lost May 1943 Designed by the builders, laid down in 1932 and completed 1936{Calvi 1935) Improved and updated versions ofBahlla with slightly wider beam and better hull form for improved stability. Less powerful machinery was provided giving MARCELLO class Displacement: 1043t/1290t Dimensions: 239ft 6in oa x 23ft 7in x 16ft 8in 73.00 x 7.19 x S.lOm Machinery: 2-shaft CRDA (Cappelhni, Di Bruno, Mocenigo, Veniero Fiat) diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 3600bhp/l lOOhp = 17 4kts/8kts Oil 108t Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 16 torpedoes), 2-100mm/47 (2x1), 4-13 2mm MG (2x2) Complement: 57 ________________ Name Builder Launched Fate BARBARIGO CRDA, Monfalcone 13.6.1938 Lost June 1943 DANDOLO CRDA, Monfalcone 20 11 1937 Discarded 23.3.47 EMO CRDA, Monfalcone 26 6 1938 Scuttled 10 11 42 MARCELLO CRDA, Monfalcone 20.11 1937 Sunk 22 2 41 MOCENIGO CRDA, Monfalcone 20 11.1937 Sunk 13.5.43 MOROSINI CRDA, Monfalcone 28.7.1938 Lost 1943 NANI CRDA, Monfalcone 16.1 1938 Sunk 7.1 41 PROVANA CRDA, Monfalcone 16.3 1938 Sunk 17 6.40 VENIERO CRDA, Monfalcone 12.2 1938 Lost 7.6 42 COMANDANTE CAPPELLIN1 OTO, Muggiano 14.5.1939 Scuttled 15.4.46 COMANDANTE OTO, Muggiano 18.6.1939 Lost Nov 1940 FAA DI BRUNO A Bernardis design with a partial double-hull and internal ballast tanks. I he first eight were laid down in 1937 and completed in 1938; the last pair, laid dow n in 1938 and completed in 1939, are often listed as a separate class but differed only in internal detail. These boats proved very manoeuvrable under water but, 305
ITALY like most of their predecessors, were lacking in transverse stability which was not helped by the large conning tower Diving limit was 330ft and endurance 75OOnm at 9 4kts/120nm at 3kts or 80nm at 4kts. Design speeds were exceeded in trials, Provana achieving 18.24kts/8.5kts. The torpedoes carried provided one reload for each tube. Nani was sunk by the Bntish corvette Anemone, Marcello bv convoy escorts and Bruno from an unknown cause in the North Atlantic. Provana was rammed by the French sloop La Curieuse off Oran and Emo was brought to the surface by the British armed trawler Lord Nuffield and scuttled to avoid capture. Morostni was lost in the Bay of Biscay and Ventero in the western Mediterranean, probably by aircraft attack. Mocenigo was sunk by bombs during an air raid on Cagliari In 1943 Barbarigo and Cappelhni were converted to transports to carry supplies to and from Japan; the former was sunk by aircraft in the Bay of Biscay on her first trip out and the latter was seized by the Japanese at Sabang in September 1943 following the Italian surrender. She was handed over to the Germans to become U1T24 and re-armed with a German 105mm gun Shewasre-takenby the Japanese in 10.5 45 and renumbered 1503, surrendered to the USX at Kobe on 2.9,45 and finally scuttled at Kii Suido. BRIN class Displacement: 1000i/1245t Dimensions: 237ft 8in x 21ft Ilin x 14ft Ilin 12 41 X 6 68 x 4 54m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Ansaldo electric motors, 3400bhp/1300hp = 17.3kts/8kts Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 14 torpedoes), l-120mm/43, 4-13.2mm MG (4x|) Complement: 58 Name Builder Launched Fate ARCHIMEDE Tosi 5.3 1939 Sunk 16.4.43 BRIN Tosi 3.4 1938 Discarded 1 2 48 GALVANI Tosi 22 5 1938 Sunk 24 6.40 GUGLIELMOTTI Tosi 5.3.1939 Sunk 17 3.42 TORRICELLI Tosi 26 3.1939 Scuttled 23.6.40 A Tosi partial double-hull design derived from the Archimede class. The first 3 units were laid down in 1936 and completed in 1938; the final pair were laid down in 1937 to replace the two Archimede class ships transferred to Spain and, to maintain the secrecy of the transfer, were built surreptitiously and given the names of the earlier vessels. They completed in 1939. Diving limit was 360ft. The 120mm/43 gun, fitted in a shielded position in the after section of the superstructure, was replaced by a 120mm/47 on the deck forward in the early vears of the war. Galvani was sunk by the British sloop Falmouth off the Persian Gulf and Torricelli was scuttled after a short engagement with the British destroyers Kandahar, Khartoum and Kingston and the sleep Shoreham in the Red Sea Gughibnotti was torpedoed by the British submarine Unbeaten off Calabria and the.Arc/iimede was sunk by a US Catalina off Brazil. Brin surrendered to the Allies m 1943 and was employed as an AS training target 1944—45. Aldo Fraccaroli Collection Brin about 1940 LIUZZI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1148t/1460t 249ft 8in x 22ft 1 lin x 14ft Ilin 16.10 x 6.98 x 4.55m 2 shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Ansaldo electric motors, 2500bhp/1500hp = 18kts/8kts. Oil 35t 8-533mm (4 bow, 4 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) 58 stern; 12 torpedoes) l-100mm/47, Name Builder Launched Fate ALPINO BAGNOLINI Tosi 28.10 1939 Sunk 11 3 44 REGINALDO Tosi 3 12 1939 Sunk 14 2.44 GIULIANI CONSOLE GENERALE Tosi 17.9.1939 Scuttled 27.6.40 LIUZZI CAPITANO Tosi 7.1.1940 Sunk 15.12.40 TARANTINI Laid down 1938-39 and completed 1939-40 as an enlarged Bnn design with improved stability, more powerful machinery and a lighter gun mounted on the deck forward of the conning tower. Range was 1 l,300nmat 8kts/108nm at 3kts. Liuzzi was scuttled to avoid capture following an action with the British des- troyers Dainty, Defender and Ilex off Crete. Tarantini was torpedoed by the British submarine Thunderbolt in the Bay of Biscay The remaining pair were converted to transport submarines m 1943 to carry valuable materials to and from Japan. Giuliani was siezed by the Japanese at Singapore and Bagnolini by the Germans at Bordeaux on 10.9.43 and incorporated in the German Navy as U1T23 and UIT22 respectively. The former vessel was torpedoed by the British submarine Tally Ho in the Straits of Malacca and the latter was sunk by a SAAF — off the Cape of Good Hope en route for Japan. Maggiore Baracca 1940 MARCONI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: I175t/I465t 251ft oa x 22ft 4in x 15ft 6in 16.50 x 6.81 x 4 12m 2-shaft CRDA diesels plus 2 Marelli electric motors, 3600bhp/1500hp = 17.8kts/8 2kts Oil 118t 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern; 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/47, 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) 57 Name Builder Launched Fate MAGGIORE BARACCA MICHELE BIANCHI LEONARDO DA VINCI ALESSANDRO MALASPINA GUGLIELMO MARCONI LUIGI TORELLI OTO, Muggiano 21 4.1940 OTO, Muggiano 3.12.1939 CRDA, 16 9.1939 Monfalcone OTO, Muggiano 18.2.1940 CRDA, 30 7.1939 Monfalcone OTO, Muggiano 6.1.1940 Sunk 8.9 41 Sunk 5.7.41 Sunk 24 5 43 Lost Sept 1941 Lost Oct 1941 Scuttled Apr 1946 A Bernadis design derived from the Marcello class, laid down 1938-39 and completed in 1940. Compared with the earlier class beam was reduced and length increased, and more powerful elecinc motors provided for a slight improvement in speed. Diving limit was the same but the conning tower was smaller and one less gun was carried to compensate for the lower stability of the new hull dimensions. Endurance was 10,500nm at 8kts/l lOnm al 3kts or 80nm al 4kts. Bianchi was torpedoed by the British submarine Tigris in the Bay of Biscay and Baracca was rammed by the British escort destrov er Croome west of Gibraltar. Malaspina and Marconi were lost from unknown causes in the North Atlantic Da Vinci was to be converted to carry a CA midget submarine on her casing, forward of the conning tower, in 1942 but this proposal was cancelled. She was sunk by the British destroyer Active and frigaie .Vess off Cape Finis- terre. Torelli was converted to a transport submarine in 1943 and proceeded to Singapore where she was seized by the Japanese on 10 9 43 following the Italian surrender; she was transferred to Germany as UIT2S but later returned to the Japanese as 1504 and surrendered to the USN at Kobe 2 9.45 who sank her off Kobe. CAGNI class Displacement: 1653t/2l36t Dimensions: 288ft Sin oa x 25ft 5in x 18ft 9in 87 90 x 7.76 x 5 72m Machinery: 2-shaft CRDA diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 4370bhp/1800hp = 17kts/8 5kts Armament: 14—450mm TT (8 bow, 6 stern; 36 torpedoes), 2-100mm/47 (2x 1), 4-13.2mm MG (2x2) Complement: 85 Name Builder Launched Fate A MM I RAG LIO CAGNI CRDA, Monfalcone 20 7 1940 Discarded 1 2 48 AMMIRAGLIO CARACCIOLO CRDA, Monfalcone 16.10.1940 Scuttled 11.12 41 AMMIRAGLIO MILLO CRDA, Monfalcone 31.8 1940 Sunk 14.3.42 AMMIRAGLIO SAINT BON CRDA, Monfalcone 6 6 1940 Sunk 5.1.42 306
Submarines Annniragho Mtllo, 1941 Italian .\ агу I he Cagnt class, laid down in 1939 and completed in 1941, were designed for extended operations against ocean trade routes and carried an exceptional!} large torpedo complement to match their high endurance; to maximise the number of tubes and reloads the 450mm type were employed, instead of the standard 533mm, which wasconsidered sufficient for use against merchantmen I'heir large conning towers were replaced by smaller, German-style structures while they were fitting out. Endurance was 13,500m at 9kts and their capability for long operations can be judged from Cagni's first South Atlantic patrol which lasted 41 months during 1942-43 Her second patrol began in June 1943 and ended when she surrendered at Durban on 20.9 43 Initially however their large size was utilised to carry supplies to North Africa but they were far from suitable f >r Mediterranean waters and three were lost. Saint-Ron and Millo were tor- pedoed by the British submarines Upholder oft Sicily and Ultimatum in the Ionian Sea respectively, and Caracaolo was scuttled to avoid capture following damage by the British escort destroyer F arndale off Bardia Cagni was employed by the Allies as a training boat 1943-44 ROMOLO class Displacement. 2155t/2560t Dimensions: 283ft lOin oa x 25ft 9in x 17ft 6in 86.50 x 7.86 x 5 34m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Marelli electric motors, 2600bhp 900hp = 14kts/6.5kts Armament 2-450mm TT (bow - not in all units), 3-20mm/65 AA (3x 1) Complement 63 Name Builder Launched Fate REMO Tosi 28.3.1943 Sunk 15.7.43 ROMOLO Tosi 21.3.1943 Sunk 18.7.43 R3 Tosi 7.9.1946 BUH947 R4 Tosi 30 9 1946 BUH947 R5 Tosi — BU on slip R6 Tosi — BU on slip R7 CRDA, Monfalcone 21 10 1943 Sunk 25.5 44 R8 CRDA, Monfalcone 28.12.1943 Sunk 20.4.44 R9 CRDA, Monfalcone 27.2.1944 Sunk 16 3.45 R10 OTO, Muggiano 12 7.1944 Scuttled 24.4.45 Rll OTO, Muggiano 6.8.1944 Scuttled 24.4.45 R12 OTO, Muggiano 29.9.1944 Scuttled 24.4.45 Laid down in 1942-43, these were the last and largest of Italy’s ocean-going submarines. Designed by Cavallini and Tosi, they were specifically intended to transport special cargoes, such as rubber, to and from Japan. They had a carrying capacity of 600r and mounted only a token armament. As they were not required as attack vessels the machinery was of comparatively low power, providing sufficient but not spectacular speeds. Endurance was 12,000nm at 9kts/90nm at 4kts. Only Remo and Romolo were completed, both were lost within davs of each other and only a few weeks after entering service The former was torpedoed by the British submarine United m the Gulf of Taranto and the latter bombed by aircraft off Augusta. R3 and R4 were delivered incomplete to the Navy on 14.11.46 and the construction of RS and R6 was suspended on 8 1.44. R7-R12 were seized by the Germans and renumbered UIT4,5,6, 1,2 and3 respectively UIT4-6 were sunk in air raids on Monfal- cone while fitting out and the remainder were scuttled at the end of the war. All six were salvaged in 1946 and broken up 1947-48 except R11 and R12 which were converted to floating oil depots I hi launch of Romolo at Taranto, 21 3 1943 Name Builder Launched Fate FRATELLI BANDIERA LUCIANO MANARA CIRO MENOTTI SANTORRE SANTAROSA CNT 7 8 1929 CNT 5 10.1929 OTO, Muggiano 29 12 1929 OTO, Muggiano 22 10 1929 Discarded 1 2 48 Discarded 1.2 48 Discarded 1 2 48 Scuttled 20 1 43 Pier Capponi 1940 MAMELI class__________________________________________________ Displacement: 810t/993t Dimensions: 211ft llinoa x 21ft 4in x 14ft lin 64 60 x 6.5/ x 4 30m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 CGE electric motors, 3000bhp/l lOOhp = 15kts/7 5kts. Oil 48t Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 10 torpedoes), l-102mm/35, 2-13.2mm MG (2x1) Complement: 49 Name Builder Launched Fate PIER CAPPONI Tosi 19.6.1927 Sunk 31.3 41 GIOVANNI DA PROCI DA Tosi 1.4 1928 Discarded 1.2 48 GOFFREDO MAMFLI (ex-Masaniello) Tosi 9 12 1926 Discarded 1 2 48 TITO SPERI Tosi 25.5.1928 Discarded 1.2 48 Designed by Cavallini and Tosi, these vessels were the prototypes for several of Italy’s sea-going submarines and the first postwar vessels of the type. Laid down in 1925 and completed in 1929, they benefited from war experience and the examination of ex-German boats and, like the first ocean-going types, set new records for strength and diving ability They were designed for a diving depth of 330ft, butAfami/i reached 380ft during diving trials in March 1929 They also handled well when submerged but were low on stability, and to correct this external bulges were added after completion, reducing their speed from 17 2kts/7.7kts as designed to 15kts/7.25kts Endurance was 35OOnm at 8kts/65nm at 4kts. Reload torpedoes were provided only for the bow tubes Capponi was torpedoed off Stromboli by the British submarine Rorqual In 1942 the three remaining vessels were re-engined with Tosi diesels of 4000bhp, raising the surface speed to a respectable 17kts Venor Puant 1942 PISANI class Displacement: 866i/1040t Dimensions: 223ft 9in x 20ft x 16ft 2in 68 20 x 6.09 x 4 93m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 CGE electric motors, 3000bhp/H00hp = 15kts/8 2kts. Oil 70t Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-102mm/35,2-13 2mm MG (2x1) Complement: 48 Name Builder Launched Fate GIOVANNI BAUSAN CNT 24 3.1928 Laid up 16.4.42 MARCANTONIO CNT 26.12.1927 Laid up 16 4 42 COLONNA DES GENEYS CN1 14 11 1928 Laid up 16 4 42 VF FTOR PISANI CNF 24 11 1927 Laid up 23 3 47 A Bernadis design, laid down 1925-26 and completed in 1929, developed in parallel with the Marneli class. They had a higher designed speed of 17.25kts/8.75kts, with the same machinery, and oil fuel stowage greatly increased to give a 30 per cent improvement in surface endurance - 5000nm at 8kts. Submerged endurance was 108nm at 4kts. Like the Marneli class, thev suffered from low transverse stability, and external bulges were added, reducing the speeds to 15kts/8 2kts Their low speed and age made them of little value during World War II and all but one were laid up in \942.Bausan was converted for use as a floating oil tank.Geneys was used to charge batteries and Colonna was scrapped in 1943. BANDIERA class Aldo Praccarolt Collection Displacement: Dimensions: 925t/1080t 212ft 9in x 22ft 3in x 16ft Machinery: 69 80 x 7 30 x 5 26m 2-shaft Fiat (CN1 boats Tosi > diesels plus 2 Savigliano clee- Armament: trie motors, ЗОООЬЬр/1300hp = 15kts/8kts 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 12 torpedoes), l-102mm/35, Complement: 2-13.2mm MG (2x1) 53 307
ITALY Designed by Bernadis in 1927, laid down in 1928 and completed in 1929, these were an enlarged Ptsant design with higher submerged speed, two more TT and slightly higher endurance As with the previous vessels, stability was low and bulges were added to the hull, reducing the designed speeds of 17.5kts/9kts. Endurance was 4750nm at 8 5kts/60nm at 4kts. They proved to be poor seaboats and tended to plunge into oncoming waves so the bow was modified shortly after completion to give higher freeboard at the stem and improve buoyancy forward In 1942 the large conning tower was replaced by a smaller one, of similar design to that in German boats, in Monara (and possibly others) and the 102mm gun in Menotti was replaced by a 100mm/47 model. The class were used as supply vessels to carry maldriel to North Africa from 1941. In 1942 they became training vessels except Santarosa which continued as a supply boat until she grounded near Tripoli on 19.1 43. She was torpedoed by the British МГВ260 on the following day and was later scuttled. Squalo 1940 SQUALO class Displacement: 920t/1125t Dimensions: 212ft 9in oa x 22ft x 15ft lOin 69.80 x 7.21 x 5.19m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 3OOObhp/13OOhp = 15kts/8kts Armament: 8-533mmTT(4 bow, 4 stern), l-102mm/35, 2-13 2mm MG (2x1) Complement: 53 Name Builder Launched Fate DELFINO CRDA, Monfakone 27.4.1930 Lost 23.3.43 NARVALO CRDA, Monfakone 15.3.1930 Sunk 14.1.43 SQALO CRDA, Monfalcone 15.1.1930 Laid up 1.2 48 TRICHECO CRDA, Monfalcone 11.9.1930 Sunk 18.3.42 Half sisters to lheBandiera class from which they differed little, having the same initial faults and modifications. Syualo and possibly others had a smaller con- ning tower fitted during 1942-43. Tricheco was torpedoed off Brindisi by the British submarine Upholder', Narva lo was scuttled off Tripoli to avoid capture after being brought to the surface by the British destroyer Pakenham, escort destroyer Hursley and an aircraft; and Dcffino was accidentally lost off Taranto BRAGADIN class Displacement: 965t/1068t Dimensions: 235ft 7in oa x 20ft 2in x 16ft 4in 71 50 x 6.15 x 4 98m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Marelh electric motors, 1500bhp/1000hp = 11 5kts/7kts. Oil 41t Armament: 4-533mm TT (bow; 6 torpedoes), l-102nim/35, 2-13.2mm MG (2x1), 16-24 mines Complement: 55 Name Builder Launched Fate MARCANTONIO BRAGADIN Tosi 21.7 1929 Stricken 1 2 48 FILIPPO CORR1DONI Tosi 30.3.1930 Stricken 1.2.48 SIqw, single-hull, sea going minelayers designed by Bernadis, laid down in 1927 and completed in 1931 As first completed they were found to have a tendency to dip into a head sea and a modified, raised bow was fitted Two mine tubes were fitted aft but their position was found unsatisfactory and in 1935 the stern was rebuilt, the tubes being moved to the extreme stern. Endurance was 9000nm at 8kts/72nm at 4kts. They were not employed as minelayers during the war, being used on supply runs until surrendered to the Allies in 1943. Marcanionio Brogadtn about 1941 Aldo Fraccaroli Collection SETTEMBRINI class Displacement: 938t/1135t Dimensions: 226ft 8in oa x 21ft 8in x 14ft 7in 69.11 x 6.61 x 4.4Sm Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels plus 2 Ansaldo electric motors, 3000bhp/1400hp = 17 5kts/7.7kts Armament: 8-533mm IT (4 bow, 4 stern; 12 torpedoes) l-102mm/35, 2-13 2mm MG (2x1) Complement: 56 Name Builder Launched Fate LUIGI SETTEMBRINI Tosi 28.9.1930 Sunk 15.11.44 RUGGIERO SETTIMO Tosi 29.3.1931 Stricken 23 3 47 A Cavalhni/Tosi type based on their earlier Mameli design but modified to improve stability, provide two more torpedo tubes aft and give a higher endur- ance. As no post-completion modifications were necessary to correct stability they achieved their design speed in service. Endurance was 9000nm at 8kts/80nm at 4kts. Seitembrini was sunk accidentally in the Western Atlantic by the US escort destroyer Frament. /• t J ARGO class Displacement: 780t/1000t Dimensions: 207ft 4in x 22ft 9in x 14ft 7in 63.15 x 6.93 x 4.46m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 1500bhp/800hp = 14kts/8kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 10 torpedoes), l-100mm/47, 4-13 2mm MG (4x 1) Complement: 46 Name Builder Launched Fate ARGO CRDA, Monfakone 27.11.1936 Scuttled 11 9 43 VELELLA CRDA, Monfalcone 12.12.1936 Sunk 7.9 43 Originally ordered by Portugal in 1931 but later cancelled, the contracts for these two vessels being taken over by the Italian Government and work recom- mended in 1936, these boats were completed in 1937. They were based on a Cavallini design and were of partial double-hull construction and, apart from the larger size, resembled the standard Italian 600t type. Vellella was torpedoed by the British submarine Shakespeare and Argo was scuttled at Monfalcone. 308
Medusa 1941 ARGONAUTA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 650t/800t 201fi 9in x 18ft 8in x 15ft 5in 61.50 x 5.70 x 4.70m 2-shaft CRDA (Jalea, Jantina Fiat, Salpa, Serpenie Tosi) diesels plus 2 CRD A (Salpa,Serpenie Marelli) electric motors, 1200bhp/800hp = 14kts/8kts 6-533mtn TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 12 torpedoes), l-102mm/35, 2-13.2mm MG 44 Name Builder Launched Fate ARGONAUIA CRDA, 19.1.1931 Sunk 28.6.40 FISA LI A Monfalcone CRDA, 2.5.1931 Sunk 28.9.41 JALAE Monfalcone OTO, Muggiano 15.6 1932 Discarded 1.2.48 J ANTI NA OTO, Muggiano 16.5.1932 Sunk 5.7.41 MEDUSA CRDA, Monfalcone 10.12.1931 Sunk 30.1.42 SALPA Tosi 8.5.1932 Sunk 27.6.41 SERPENTE (съ-Xautilus) Tosi 28.2.1932 Scuttled 12.9.43 I .aid down in 1929-30 and completed in 1932-33, these were the first of the Bernadis 600t type. Being smaller than earlier classes they were cheaper, could be built in greater numbers and were much better suited to the shallow, clear waters of the Mediterranean. They were not, moreover, excessively inferior in offensive power having only slightly less speed (following the alterations to the larger vessels) and, although mounting two fewer TT, still carrying 12 tor- pedoes, giving a reload for each tube. Endurance was 5000nm at 8kts/74nm at 4kts, and diving limit was 260ft. Three were sunk by British ‘T class sub- marines: Salpa off Solium by Triumph, Jantina in the Aegean by Torbay and Medusa b\ Thorn in the Adriatic. Fisala was sunk by the British corvette Hyacinth off Haifa and Argonauia by British aircraft. Serpenie was scuttled at Ancona following the surrender. During the war Medusa and Serpenie were fitted with smaller conning towers to reduce their silhouettes. [l Sirena with original conning tower 1940 ________ --------------------e-- SIRENA class Displacement: Dimensions: 680t/837t 197ft 6in oa x 21ft 2in x 15ft 5in 60.18 x 6.45 x 4.70m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors (Diamante, Rubino, Smeraldo and Topazio Tosi diesels/Marelli motors), 12OObhp/8OOhp = 14kts/7.7kts. Oil 80t Armament: Complement: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/47, 4—13.2mm MG 45 Name Builder Launched Fate AMETISTA OTO, Muggiano 26.4.1933 Scuttled 12.9.43 ANFITRITE CRDA, Monfalcone 5.8.1933 Sunk 6.3.41 DIAMANTE Tosi 21.5.1933 Sunk 20.6.40 GALATEA CRDA, Monfalcone 5.10.1933 Stricken 1.2.48 NAIADE CRDA, Monfalcone 27.3.1933 Sunk 14.12.40 NEREIDE CRDA, Monfalcone 25.5.1933 Sunk 13.7.43 ONDINA CRDA, Monfalcone 2.12.1933 Sunk 11.7.42 RUBINO CNQ 29.3.1933 Sunk 29.6.40 SIRENA CRDA, Monfalcone 26.1.1933 Scuttled 9.9.43 SMERALDO Tosi 23.7.1933 Lost Sept 1941 TOPAZIO CNQ 15.5.1933 Sunk 12.9.43 ZAFFIRO OTO, Muggiano 28.6.1933 Sunk June 1942 Second of the Bernadis 600t type, laid down in 1931 and completed during 1933-34. Slightly larger than the earlier Argonauia class with more beam and less length and a 100mm instead of a 102mm gun, but otherwise similar with the same torpedo stowage and endurance. During 1942—43 the large conning tower was replaced by a smaller type (similar to those in German submarines) in Ametista, Xercide, Ondina, Sirena, Topazio and Zaffiro. Three were sunk by British destroyers: Anfitrite by Greyhound in the Aegean, Xereide by Echo and Hex off Augusta and Xaiade (scuttled) after being brought to the surface by Hereward and Hyperion. Ondina was sunk off Beirut by the SAN escorts Protea and Southern Maid, and Diamante by the British submarine Parthian off Tob- ruk. Three were sunk by aircraft: Rubino in the Ionian Sea, Topazio in error by the RAF off Sardinia and Zaffiro off Algeria. Smeraldo was lost in the central Mediterranean from an unknown cause and Ametista and Sirena were scuttled at Ancona and I«a Spezia respectively after Italy surrendered. PERLA class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 680t/844t 197ft 6in oa x 21ft 2in x 15ft 5in 60.18 x 6.45 x 4.70m 2-shaft Fiat (Corallo, Diaspro and Turchee CRDA, Ambra, Malachite Tosi) diesels plus 2 CRDA (Ambra, Malachite Marelli) electric motors, 1200bhp/800hp = 14kts/7.5kts. Oil 80t 6-533mm IT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm/47,2 or 4—13.2mm MG (2x1 or 2x2) 45 Name Builder Launched Fate AMBRA OTO, Muggiano 28.5.1936 Scuttled 9.9.43 BERILLO CRDA, Monfalcone 14.6.1936 Sunk 2.10.40 CORALLO CRDA, Monfalcone 2.8.1936 Sunk 13.12.42 DIASPRO CRDA, Monfalcone 5.7.1936 Stricken 1.2.48 GEMMA CRDA, Monfalcone 21.5.1936 Sunk 6.10.40 IRIDE OTO, Muggiano 30.7.1936 Sunk 22.8.40 MALACHITE OTO, Muggiano 15.7.1936 Sunk 9.2.43 ONICE OTO Muggiano 15.6.1936 Stricken 23.3.47 PERLA CRDA, Monfalcone 3.5.1936 BU 1954 TURCHESE CRDA, Monfalcone 19.7.1936 Stricken 1.2.48 Laid down in 1935 and ccmpletcd in 1936, these boats were the third 600t type and virtually repeats of the previous Sirena class. During 1940-42 Ambra and Iride were modified to carry 3 and 4 human torpedoes respectively. Stowage was provided in tubes fitted fore and aft of the conning tower and the deck gun was removed. During W42-43Ambra,Corallo,Diaspro,Malachite,Onice,Pirla and Turchese had smaller conning towers fitted. In 1937 Iride and Onice were transferred to Spain as Gonzalez Lopez and Aquilar Tablada respectively but kept their Italian crewsand were returned to Italy shortly afterwards. Rerillo was scuttled to avoid capture after being brought to the surface by the British destroyers Havock and Hasty off Egypt. Corallo was sunk in the western Mediterranean by the British sloop Enchantress. Gemma was torpedoed in error by the Italian submarine Tricheco and Malachite was torpedoed by the Dutch submarine Dolfin off Sardinia. Iride was torpedoed by Swordfish aircraft from the carrier Eagle near Tobruk while preparing her first human torpedo attack. Ambra was scuttled at La Spezia, and Perla was captured by the British corvette Hyacinth off Beirut on 9.7.42 and transferred to Greece as the Malrozos. P 1 :c L_ Durbo 1940 ADUA class Displacement: 680t 844t Dimensions: 197ft 6in oa x 21ft 2in x 15ft 5in 60.18 x 6.45 x 4.70m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat (CRDA built boatsCRDA. Tosi-built boatsTosi) diesels plus 2 Marelli (CRDA built boats CRDA) electric motors, 1200bhp/800hp = 14kts/7.5kts. Oil 80t Armament: 6—533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm/47,2 or 4—13.2mm MG (2x1 or 2x2) Complement: 45 Name Builder Launched Fate ADUA CRDA, Monfalcone 13.9.1936 Sunk 30.9.41 ALAGI CRDA, 15.11.1936 Stricken 23.5.47 Monfalcone ARADAM CRDA, 18.10.1936 Sunk 4.9.44 Monfalcone ASCIANGHI OTO, Muggiano 5.12.1937 Sunk 23.7.43 AXUM CRDA, 27.9.1936 Scuttled 28.12.43 Monfalcone BEILUL OTO, Muggiano 22.5.1938 Sunk May 1944 DAGABUR Tosi 22.11.1936 Sunk 12.8.42 DESSIE Tosi 22.11.1936 Sunk 28.11.42 DURBO OTO, Muggiano 6.3.1938 Sunk 18.10.40 GONDAR OTO, Muggiano 3.10.1937 Sunk 30.9.40 LAFOLfc OTO, Muggiano 10.4.1938 Sunk 20 10.40 MACALLfi OTO, Muggiano 29.10.1936 Wrecked 15.6.40 NEGHELLI OTO, Muggiano 7.11.1937 Sunk 19.1.41 309
ITALY Name Builder Launched Fate SCIRE OTO, Muggiano 6.1.1938 Sunk 10.8.1942 TEMBIEN OTO, Muggiano 6.2.1938 Sunk 2.8.41 L’ARSCIEK Tosi 19.9.1937 Sunk 15.12.42 L’EBI SCEBELI Tosi 3.10.1937 Sunk 29.6.40 Repeats of the Perla class, forming the fourth of the 600t classes, laid down 1936-37 and completed 1936-38. Three other units of this class, the original Ascianghi. Gandar and Xeghelli, were sold to Brazil prior to launching. Adua, Alagi, Gondar, Scire and Tembien were refitted with smaller conning towers during the war. During 1940-41 Gondar and Scire were modified to carry 3 human torpedoes in canisters fore and aft of the superstructure, the 100mm gun being removed; both were lost in their first attacks with these weapons, Gandar being scuttled off Alexandria after being damaged by aircraft and the British destroyers Diamond and Stuart and Scire sunk by the armed trawler Islay off Haifa (Scire’s wreck was broken up in 1963). Nine others of the class were sunk by British destroyers: Durbo, scuttled to avoid capture after damage from the Firedrake, Wrestler and aircraft cast of Gibraltar; Scebeli, similarly scuttled after attacks by Dainty and Ilex SW of Crete; Lafold, by Gallant, Griffin and Hotspur north of Melilla; Xeghelli, by Greyhound in the eastern Mediterranean;.4 Jria, by Gurkha and Legion off Algeria; Dessie, by Quiberon and Quentin off Bone; Dagabur, rammed by Wolverine off Algiers; Uarscick, scuttled to avoid capture after attacks by Petard and the Greek Olga-, and Ascianghi, by Eclipse and Laforey off Sicily. In addition, Tembien was rammed off Tunis by the British cruiser Hermione. M аса lid was wrecked on a shoal in the Red Sea and Axion was scuttled after running aground on the Greek coast. Beilul was seized by the Germans at Monfalcone on 9.9.43 and sunk there during an air raid. Асгшш 1941 ACCIAIO class Displacement: 697t/850t Dimensions: 197ft 6in oa x 21ft 2in x 15ft 8in 60.18 x 6.44 x 4.78m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, l400bhp/800hp = 14kts/7.7kts. Oil 78t Armament: 6 (Tosi-built ships 4) 533inm TT (4 bow’, 2 stern), l-100mm/45, 1 or 2-20mm/70 AA (1, 2x1) or 2 or 4-13.2mm MG (2 x 1 or 2x2) Complement: 45 Name Builder Launched Fate ACCIAIO OTO, Muggiano 20.7.1941 Sunk 13.7.43 ALABASTRO CRDA, Monfalcone 18.12.1941 Sunk 14.9.42 ARGENTO Tosi 22.2.1942 Sunk 3.8.43 ASTERIA CRDA, Monfalcone 25.6.1941 Sunk 17.2.43 AVORIO CRDA, Monfalcone 6.9.1941 Sunk 8.2.43 BRONZO Tosi 28.9.1941 Captured 12.7.43 COBALTO OTO, Muggiano 20.7.1941 Sunk 12.8.42 GIADA CRDA, • iMonfalcone 10.7.1941 Discarded 1.1.66 GRANTO CRDA, Monfalcone 7.8.1941 Sunk 9.11.42 NICHELIO OTO, Muggiano 12.4.1942 To USSR 1949 PLATINO OTO, Muggiano 1.6.1941 Discarded 1.2.48 PORFIDO CRDA, Monfalcone 23.8.1941 Sunk 6.12.42 VOLFRAMIO Tosi • 9.11.1941 Sunk 1944 The last of the Bernadis 600t type, laid down 1940-41 and completed 1941-42, these vessels were basically repeats of the Adua/Perla class with a smaller conning tower to improve stability and reduce silhouette, and more powerful diesel engines. The Tosi-built ships had even more powerful diesels, at the expense of the two stern tubes, which raised their designed surface speed to 14.7kts. They also had Marelli or Ansaldo electric motors. As completed the class achieved 15kts or more on the surface, but submerged speed was generally below expectations. Three were torpedoed by British submarines: Acciaio by Unruly, Granite by Saracen off Sicily and Porfido by Tigris off Bone. Three were scuttled to avoid capture when damaged by surface ships: Argento south of Sicily by the L’S destroyer Buck, Asteria off Bougie by the British escort destroyers Easton and Wheatland, and Avono off Bougie by the RCN corvette Regina. Alabastro was sunk off Algeria by aircraft and Cabilto was rammed by the British destroyer Ithuriel ofTBizerta. Bronze was captured by the British mine- sweepers Boston, Cromarty, Poole and Seeham and was redesignated P714\ in 1944 she was transferred to the French Navy, renamed Narval and employed for training until scrapped in 1948. Volframio, scuttled at La Spezia on 8.9.43, was salvaged by the Germans but later sunk in an air raid on the port. Xichelio was transferred to Russia as a war reparation in 1949 (new name unknown); she was discarded in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Giada remained in the Italian Navy, being employed as the battery-charger PV2 1948-50 and then reinstated on the list as a training vessel after being rebuilt 1951-53. ——............................................-?—-.t _____ Flutio 1943 FLUTTO class (Type 1) Displacement: 930t/1093t Dimensions: 207ft 4in x 22ft Ilin x 16ft 63. IS x 6.98 x 4.87m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 2400bhp/800hp = 16kts/8kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/47, 2-20mm/70 AA (2x I) Complement: 50 Name Builder Launched Fate CERNIA Tosi — Laid up 6.1.44 DENTICE Tosi — Laid up 6.1.44 FLUTTO CRDA, Monfalcone 19.11.42 Sunk 11.7.43 GORGO CRDA, Monfalcone 31.1.1942 Sunk 21.5.43 GRONGO OTO, Muggi no 6.5.1943 Sunk 4.9.44 MAREA CRDA, Monfalcone 10.12.1942 To USSR 1949 MURENA OTO, Muggiano 11.4.1943 Sunk 4.9.44 NAUTILO CRDA, Monfalcone 20.3.1943 Sunk 9.1.44 SPARIDE OTO, Muggiano 21.2.1943 Sunk 6.9.44 SPIGOLA Tosi — BU on slip 1948 TRITONE CRDA, Monfalcone 3.1.1942 Sunk 19.1.43 VORTICE CRDA, Monfalcone 23.2.1943 Discarded 1.8.67 TheFlutto class design was a combination of war experience and an expansion of the 600t type. Compared with the latter vessels they carried the same armament but more powerful diesels giving a 2kt increase in surface speed. They also carried 12 torpedoes, giving a reload for each tube, and had better diving and underwater handling qualities. Endurance was 5400nm at 8kts/80nm at 4kts. Grongo and Murena were fined with cylinders for carrying human torpedoes and surrendered their deck guns. Flutto was sunk by the British MTB640, 6S1 670 in the Straits of Messina. Gorgo was sunk by the US destroyer Xields off Algeria and Tritone was sunk by the British destroyer Antelope and the RCN corvette Port Arthur off Bougie. Work on Cernia, Dcntice and S pigola stopped in 1943. Grongo, Murena and Spande were scuttled at La Spezia and Nautilo at Venice in September 1943, but all were refloated by the Germans who redesig- nated them UIГ20, UIT16, UIT1S and UIT19 respectively; all four were sunk in harbour in Allied air raids. Murena andSparide were salvaged and broken up but Xautilo was refloated and refitted by the Yugoslavs to become Saw. Marea was transferred to Russia as a war reparation and Vortice, used as the battery- charger PV1 1948-51, was later rebuilt as a training boat, being reinstated in the Italian Navy list in 1952. FLUTTO class (Type 2) Displacement: 913t/1113t Dimensions: 210ft 7in oa x 22ft Ilin x 16ft 2in 64.19 x 6.98 x 4.93m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 2400bhp/800hp = 16kts/8kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm/47, 2-20mm AA (2x1) Complement: 50 Name Builder Launched Fate ALLUMINIO OTO, Muggiano — BU on slip ANTIMONIO OTO, Muggiano — BU on slip BARIO CRDA, Monfalcone 23.1.1944 Scuttled 1.5.45 CROMO CRDA, Monfalcone — BU on slip FERRO CRDA, Monfalcone — Destroyed on slip 1.5.45 310
Submarines Name Builder Launched Fate I OSFORO OTO, Muggiano - BU on slip LITIO CRDA, 19.2 1944 Monfalcone Scuttled 1 5.45 MANGANESE OTO, Muggiano - BU on slip PIOMBO CRDA, Monfalcone Destroyed on slip 1 5 45 POTASSIO CRDA, Monfalcone Destroyed on Slip 1.5 45 KAME CRDA, Monfalcone Destroyed on slip 1 5 45 SILICIC OTO, Muggiano - BL on slip SODIO CRDA, 16 3 1944 Monfalcone Scuttled 1 5 45 ZINCO CRDA, Monfalcone Destroyed on slip 1 5 45 /OLFO OTO, Muggiano - BU on slip Laid down 1942-43, these vessels were, apart from a slight increase in length, repeats of the blutto Type 1. 24 were ordered but 9 were never laid down, Лmanto and Vaguest о (ordered from Tosi) and Cadmto, Гndio,Mercuno, Oro, Ollone, Rutenio and Vanadto (ordered from CRDA Monfalcone). A further 12 units of the same design, but designated asFlutto Type 3, were ordered in 1943 but none was laid down. The units laid down were building in northern yards, to avoid enemv air raids, and consequently all were seized bv the Germans in September 1943 Bano, Litto,Sodio, Potassio, Rome, Ferro, Piombo and Zinco were earmarked for completion as VIT7 loUlTl4 respectivelv and the remain- ing 7 were scrapped on the slips None was completed bv the Germans, the three launched units were scuttled while fitting out and the remainder blown up on the slip Lito was later raised and broken up but Bono was salvaged in 1945 and subsequently rebuilt, entering service with the Italian Navy as Pietro Calzi in 1961 Name Builder Launched Fate CC1 Caproni — BU incomplete CC2 Caproni — — CC3 Caproni — — A Caproni design to meet the same specification as the CM class CC1 was laid down in 1943 but never completed, 2 and 3 may never have been started but if so did not progress to any extent A further 34 were ordered but none was laid down CA class (Type I) (launched 1937-38) Displacement* 13 3t/16 It Dimensions: 32ft lOin oa x 6ft 5in x 5ft 3in 10 00 x I 96 x I 60m Machinery: 1-shaft MAN diesel plus 1 Marelli electric motor, 60bhp/25hp = 6 25kts/5kts Armament: 2-450mm TT Complement: 2 Class: CAI, CA2 Built secretly by Caproni, these midgets were designed by the builders and aroused sufficient interest in the Italian Navy togain two orders In 1941 a plan was put forward for their use in attacks on the US East Coast in which they were to be transported across the Atlantic on the deck of an ocean-going submarine For this purpose they were modified during 1941-42 to carry 8-2201b (100kg) charges, the 7T and the diesel engines being removed. In this condition speed was 7kts/6kts, displacement 11.8t/13.8t and the crew increased to 3. 1 he submanneLeonarJoDu Vinci was modified tocarryCA? which was transported to Bordeaux for the purpose but the operation was never earned out CA 1 was scuttled at La Spezia in September 1943 and CA2, still at Bordeaux, was scuttled by the Germans in 1944 The later vessel was salvaged in 1949 and later scrapped. CA class (Type II) (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 12 61/13 8t Dimensions: 34ft 3in x 6ft 3in x 6ft 10 47 x 1 90 x 1 83m Machinery: 1-shaft Marclli electne motor, 25hp = 7kts/6kts Armament: 8-100kg charges, 20-2kg charges Complement: 3 Class: САЗ, CA4 Slightly enlarged versions of the CA Type I incorporating the modificat ons for attacks on harbour shipping already carried out in the earlier pair during 1941-42 Built by Caproni, both were scuttled at La Spezia 9 9 43. CM class Displacement 90t/112t Dimensions* 108ft lin oa x 9ft 6in x 9ft 32 9S x 2 89 x 2 77m Machinery: 2 shaft Fiat Spa diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 600bhp/120hp = 14kts/6kts Armament* 3-450mm TT Complement; 8 Name Builder l.aunched Fate CM1 CRDA, Monfalcone 5 9 1943 Discarded 1 2 48 СМ2 CRDA, Monfalcone Scuttled Apr 1945 (.М3 CRDA, Monfalcone — — A builder’s design to meet a wartime requirement for a small submarine to prov ide local defence for important harbours and other coastal areas likely to be attacked bv surface forces СМ3 was never laid down and orders fora further 16 were cancelled before construction started CM1 and 2 were seized bv the Germans in September 1943 and renumbered U1T17 and 18 UIT17 was completed in January 1945 and retrieved by the Italians shortly afterwards. ШТ18 was damaged on the slip during an air raid in May 1944 but was later launched - perhaps onh for scuttling. She was salvaged in 1950. CC class Displacement: 98t/115t Dimensions* 108ft 3m x 8ft lOin x 7ft 2in 33 00 x 2 70 x 2 I8m Machinery 2 shaft Fiat diesels plus 2 CRDA electric motors, 700bhp/120hp = 16kts/9kts Armament 3-450mm TT, 2-13 2mm MG (2x 1) (omplement: 8 CB class (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 35 4t/44 3t Dimensions: 49ft 2in x 9ft 10m x 6ft 8in 14 99 x 3.00 x 2 QSm Machinery: 1-shaft Isotta-Fraschini diesel plus 1 Brown-Boven electric motor, 80bhp/50bhp - 7 5kts/7kts Armament* 2—450mm torpedoes or 2 mines Complement: 4 Class: CB1-22 lhese vessels, which were much larger than the earlier CA type, were designed for coast defence and the protection of harbours, the torpedoes (or mines) being carried externally 72 were ordered in total but onlv 22 were laid down, bv Caproni CB1-6 were completed in 1941 and CB7-12 in 1943. The remainder, laid down m 1943, were captured incomplete by the Germans in 1943 CBl-4 and CB7 were transferred to Romania at the end of 1943 and scuttled in the Black Sea in August 1944. CBS was sunk by Russian aircraft at Yalta in June 1942 and CB 13-22 were transferred by the Germans to their 311
ITALY puppet Fascist Government in northern Italy; the completed CB7, which they also captured and transferred, was cannibalised to complete CB13 which was sunk in an air raid on Pola on 23.3.45. CB14, IS and 17 (renumbered СЙ6) were also sunk in air raids. CB16 was captured by British forces after running aground in October 1944. CB18 was sunk off Pesaro in March 1945, but was later raised and broken up. CB2I was accidentally sunk in a collision in April 1945. CBI9 was scrapped in 1947; the fate of CB20 is uncertain but she may have been taken by the Yugoslavs. CB22, damaged at Trieste, was salvaged after the war and put on exhibition at Trieste War Museum. EX-ENEMY SUBMARINES The Yugoslav Osvetmk and Smell were captured at Cattaro in April 1941 and incorporated in the Italian Navy as Francesco Rismondo and Antonio Baiamonti respectively Both were scuttled in September 1943, Hrabn was also captured but not incorporated and was scrapped in 1941. For full details see Yugoslavia. Nine French submarines captured at Bizerta b\ the Germans in December 1942 were transferred to the Italian Navy. They wee renamed as follows,FR111 (exPhoque), FR112 (cx-Saphir), FRl 13 (ex-Requin), FRl 14 (ex-Fspadon), FR1 IS (ex-Da uphill), F R116 (ex-Turqucnse) and В R117 (ex-Circe), plus Cahpso and Nautilus which were not renamed. FRl ll, 113,114 and 115 were taken in hand for conversion to transport submarines but only the first-named was completed, FRl 13 being scuttled and 114 and //5 sunk by the Germans in September 1943. FRI11 was sunk by aircraft off Cape Passaro on 28.2.43. FRl 12 was converted for battery charging at Naples in 1943. The remainder never left Bizerta,;Nautilus and Calypso being sunk in an air raid on 31.3 43 and F R116 and 117 scuttled on6 5.43. Another French submarine, Henn Poincare, scuttled at Toulon in 1942, was raised by the Italians and towed to Genoa for repairs where she w'as scuttled again in September 1943. For further details see under France. COASTAL FORCES MAS423 class (SVAN fast type) (launched 1929) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 13t 52ft 6in x 10ft 8in x 4ft 4in 16.00 x 3.25 x 1.32m 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 1500hp = 40kts 2-450mm torpedoes, 2-6.5mm MG, 6 DCs 9 Class: MAS423-426 Built by SVAN and based on First World War SVAN designs, their appear- ance being generally reminiscent of the CMB type with a turtle-back deck as far aft as the cockpit. As with all Italian MAS-boats, the DCs were small 50kg weapons; primative hydrophones were also fitted MAS424 blew up at La Spezia 26 2 35 following a petrol fire and MAS423, scuttled at Pola in Sep- tember 1943, was salvaged by the Germans; renumberedS604 she was lost in the Adriatic in 1944. MAS42S was lost by accident in 1937 and MAS4 26 was stricken in 1943. MAS427 class (SVAN type) (launched 1925) Displacement: 31t (MAS429 30t) Dimensions: 78ft 9m (MAS429 72ft 3in) x 13ft lin x 4ft 3in 24 00(22 00) x 4.00 x 1.30m Machinery: 3-shaft Isotta Fraschini petrol engines, 1200hp = 26kts (MAS429 28kts) Armament: 2-450mm TT, l-76mm, 2-6.5mm MG, 10 DCs Complement: 11 Class: MAS427-429 Large slow type compared with other Italian MASs of the period, built by SVAN and commissioned between 1925 and 1927 Range was 300nm at full speed MAS427 was lost in an accident in 1929, and the other two were stricken in 1937 and 1938 respectively. MAS430 class (SVAN fast type) (launched 1929-34) Displacement: 14t (MAS430 \3.5i, MAS437 18 5t) Dimensions: 52ft 6in (MAS437 57ft 5in) x 10ft 8in (MAS437 lift 8in) x 4ft lin 16.00(17.50) x 3.25 (3.56) x 1 25m Machinery: 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 1500hp = 40kts. See notes Armament: 2-450mm torpedoes, 2-6.5mm MG, 6 DCs Complement: 13 (.WAS430 9) Class: MAS430-437 SVAN-built, slightly broader versions of the MAS423 type. Machinery installations varied: MAS430 had 2-shaft Fiat petrol engines, and MAS433 and MAS434 were similarly refitted in 1938-39; MAS 4 37 had 2-shaft Fiat diesels. Power output was the same for all, and range was I25nm at 36kts (lOOnm at 40kts for MAS437). MAS43S and 436 were transferred to Spain 1937, and 430 and 437 were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and renumbered S602 and S625 (SA18 in 1945); 430 was scuttled in 1944 and 437 sunk May 1945. MAS432 was stricken 1943 and 433 and 434 in 1949 MAS431 (Baglietto fast type) (launched 1931) Displacement: 15.5t Dimensions: 52ft 6in x 12ft 1 lin x 4ft lin 16.00 x 3 95 x 1 25m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat petrol engines, ISOOhp = 4Ikts Armament: 2-450mm torpedoes, 2-6.5mm MG, 5 DCs Complement: 7 Generally similar to SVAN 430 type; built by Baglietto and commissioned 1932. Range was lOOnm at 40kts. MAS431 was captured by the Germans in Sep- tember 1943 and renumbered S603. She was sunk in November 1943. MAS438 class (Baglietto type) (launched 1934) Displacement: 40t Dimensions: ? Machinery: Isotta Fraschini petrol engines, 2000hp = 32kts Armament: l-76mm/40, 2 MG (2x 1) Complement: ? Class: MAS438-441 These sub-chasers resembled motor launches, or cabin cruisers, having a low forecastle, no turtle back and a substantial wheelhouse amidships. They were employed as AS vessels during the war and were renumbered AS2S-28. AS26 (cx-439) was lost off Cape Miseno 5.8 46 and AS27 (ex-440) was handed over to Russia as a war reparation 6 7 49. MAS438 and 441 were stricken in 1950 STEFANO TURR experimental MTB (launched 9.5.1936) Displacement: 58t standard, 63t full load Dimensions: 105ft oa x 19ft 6in x 2ft lOin 32.00 x 5 9S x 0 86m Machinery: 4-shaft Fiat diesels, 3000hp = 34kts Armament: 4-450mm torpedoes, 3-13.2mm MG (3x1), 1-6 5mm MG, 12 DCs Complement: 16 Laid down in 1935 by CMA and completed in 1937 to a Baglietto design. Constructed of aluminium alloy. Not successful, maximum speed be ng under 30kts. Range was 750nm at 25kts. Laid up 1941 and scrapped 1946-47. MAS424 (Baglietto fast type) (launched 24.10.1937) Displacement: 2 It Dimensions: 54ft 2in x 13ft Ilin x 3ft Ilin 16.50 x 4.25 x 1.20m Machinery: 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschim petrol engines, 1500hp = 40kts Armament: 2—450mm torpedoes, l-6.5mm MG (13.2mm from 1940), 6 DCs Complement: 8(10 from 1940) Built by Baglietto. Named424 to replace the earlier 424 lost in 1937. Range was 350nm at 40kts. She was scuttled in Secptember 1943 but later salvaged by the Germans and renumbered S624 (SA17 1945). She was scuttled again in May 1945. MAS451 class (Baglietto fast type) (launched 1940) Displacement: 24t Dimensions: 59ft x 15ft 8in x 5ft lin 18.00 x 4.78 x 1.56m Machinery: 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2200hp = 42kts Armament: 2-450mm torpedoes, 1-13.2mm MG, 6 DCs Complement: 11 Class: MAS4S 1,452 Entered service in Jan and Feb 1941 They also had two 80hp Alfa Romeo petrol engines for cruising, and range was either 330nm at 42kts or 836nm at 8kts on cruising engines only. Both were sunk by aircraft off Malta on 26.7.41. 312
MAS45I in Feb 1941 MAS501 class (Baglietto fast type) (launched 1936-37) Displacement: 21.5t Dimensions: 55ft 9in X 14ft Sin X 4ft 3in 17.00 x 4.40 x 1.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2000hp = 44 kts Fuel 1.25c Armament' 2-450mm torpedoes, 1-13.2mm MG, 6 DCs Complement: 9 Class (builder): MAS501, MAS515-518 (Picchiotti), MAS502-509, MAS511-512 (Baglietto), MAS5I0, MAS513, MAS514, MAS525 (CRDA, Monfalcone),MAS519-522 (Celli), MAS523, MAS524 SAC1N) First group of the Baglietto-designed 500 senes which became the standard type for all future MAS boats. With a hard-chine double-stepped hull they proved capable of reaching speeds of up to 47kts MAS525 had a metal hull. MAS506, 508 and 511 were sold to Sweden in 1940. MAS5I2 was wrecked 24 I 42 and MAS501 and 503 were bombed and sunk in an air raid on La Maddalena on 10.4 43. MAS 507 and 509 were lost following a fire on 12.8 44, MAS502 and 504 were captured by the Germans at Voltri on 8.9.43 and renumbered 5626 and S627. The former was lost in March 1944 and the latter was sunk by the destroy er Gremnlle off Anzioon 25.3 44. MAS505 was surren- dered to the Germans on 10 4.44; renumbered S628 she was scuttled at Genoa in May 1945 MAS523 became MTSS23 in 1944 and had her original armament replaced by 3-20mm/65 AA (3x1) 524 was sold to Sweden in 1940. 573 ran aground near Cephalonia in 1942 and became a total loss. 518 and 525 were scuttled in September 1943 but the latter was salvaged in 1946 and repaired for use as a harbour craft. 522 was surrendered to the Germans but in 1944 was sunk by aircraft in the Aegean In 1949 518 was transferred to Russia as a war reparation and the remainder were discarded between 1945 and 1950 (some continued to serve as harbour craft) MAS526 class (Baglietto fast type) (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 25 2t Dimensions: 61ft 4in x 15ft 5in x 4ft Hin 18 70 x 4.70 x 1.50m Machinery 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2000/2300hp = 42-44kts Fuel 1.25t Armament: 2-350mm torpedoes, 1-13.2mm MG or l-20min/65 AA, 6 DCs Complement: 10 Class (builder): MAS526-535 (Baglietto), MASS36-539 ,MAS545 (Picchiotti), MAS540-544 (Celli), MAS546-550 (CRDA, Monfalcone) This second group of the 500 series were lengthened versions of ihcAZ.455(?Z type. They had two 70hp Alfa Romeo (or 50hp Cararo) cruising petrol engines, giving a range of I lOOnm at 6kts, as opposed to 360nm at full speed with main engines In 1944 MAS540 and 545 had their entire armament replaced with 3-20mm AA (3* 1). Af.45550 was constructed with a metal hull, displaced 2It and was slightly narrower and faster MAS526-529 were transferred to Finland on 5.6.43 and became^/—/. MAS534 was sunk by German aircraft during a raid on Leros on 26 9 39, 530,532,533,535,548 and 539 were also lost in air raids during 1943.537 was sunk by surface ships in the .Aegean on 4.9.40,536 was lost after collision with a tug on 7 7 43,546 was mined on 21 2 44 and 541 lost from unknown cause in March 1944 MAS53I,542,549,550 and 551 were seized bv the Germans in September 1943; the first named, transferred to the Fascist Government in northern Italy, was sunk off Provence on 11 12.44. The remain- der becameS60I ,S509 (later 5A/2),5622 (laterSA21) andS501 (later 5.4/3); S601 was sunk by aircraft in the Aegean in 1944 andS509 and 510 were scuttled in April 1945. AZ 3S543 was transferred to France in 1949 and renumbered V782 (BU 1955) and the remainder were discarded 1949-50 when 547 joined the Coast Guard and 538 and 545 became harbour craft MAS551 type (launched 1941) Displacement Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 27.8t 61ft 4in x 15ft lin x 4ft 7in 18 70 x 4 60 x I 40m 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 23OOhp - 43kts. Fuel 1 25t 2-450mm torpedoes, l-20mm AA, 10 DCs 13 Class (builder): MAS551 (CXA), Af.45552-554 (CRDA, Monfalcone) This third group of the 500 series was generally similar toAI.45526 type but of Л1 45505 m 1941 Aldo brace ar oh Collet mm steel construction MAS552 was sunk by aircraft on 30 4.43, MAS553 was scuttled in September 1943, salvaged by the Germans and renumbered 55/2 in April 1945 MAS554 was captured by the Germans at Venice in September 1943 and renumbered S623, scuttled in April 1945, she was refloated and broken up shortly afterwards. Note: There was also an expenmental 19t craft numbered MAS55I originally built by OTO at the end of the First World War and taken into service in 1939 to test the new 450mm torpedoes. These were launched tail-first over the stern and became the system used in Ml S-tj pe assault craft This boat was striken in 1941 before the new MAS551 came into service MAS539 al Piraeus, 14.12 1941 Aldo Fractaroh Collation MAS555 tvpe (launched 1941) Class (builder): AZ.4.5555-557, 577-573 (Picchiotti), MAS558-560, 574-576 (Celli); MAS56I-57O (Baglietto) 313
ITALY Repeals of the А1А5526 type, but with a wooden hull and consequently 4in more beam, the last 11 boats forming a heavier fourth group of the 500 series. 560, 563, 564, 571, 573 and 576 were bombed and sunk in air raids during 1942-43. MAS572 was lost in collision with A/A5566 in the Black Sea on 12.5 43 and 555 was scuttled in September 1943. Seven, operating m the Black sea, were transferred to Germany in Mav 1943 and renumbered as follows: S50I (ex-566), S502 (ex-567), S503 (ex-565), S504 (ex-569), S505 (ex-570), SS06 (cx-574) and 5507 (ex-575). All were transferred to Romania in August 1943and scuttled in August 1944. A further 6 were captured by the Germans at the end of* 1943: Af AS557, 558 and 56/ were renumbered 55/ /, S629 and 562/ respec- tively, Л/А5556 and 562 were transferred to the Fascist Government of northern Italy and A/A5559 was scuttled at Leros in November 1943 The rest were scuttled in April 1945 except 562 which was recaptured by US PT boats in April 1944 and returned to the Italian Navy; she was discarded in 1950 but continued in service as a harbour craft. A fifth group of 30 improved 500 series MAS-boats was cancelled in Sept 1943. MASS70 and sister boats of lhe Black Sea flotilla in April 1943 Italian Vurv MS Type 1 MTBs (launched 1942) Displacement: 62.4t full load Dimensions: 91ft lOin x 14ft lin x 5ft lin 28.00 x 4.30 x 1.55m Machinery: 3-shaft Isotia-Fraschini petrol engines, 3450hp - 32kls. Fuel 9t Armament: 2-533mm TT, 1 or 2-20mm/65 Breda A A (1 or 2x1), 2-6.5mm MG, 6 to 8 DCs Complement: 19 Class: MSI 1-16, 21-26, 31-36 Ordered June 1941 and all built by CRDA, Monfalcone. Slower, but larger and more seaworthy than the MAS boats, which they superseded, these composite-built vessels were copies of the German built Yugoslav S boats cap- tured in 1941. Built specifically for operations in the Sicilian Narrows, they could carry two spare torpedoes, although they did not receive their designed gun armament. Range was 850nm/250nm at 12kts/32kts. MS 12,13,14,15,22, 23 and 25 were sunk by aircraft 1942-43. MS2I was scuttled after receiving mine damage on 25.9.43,Af526 was wrecked on 9.10.43 and AI533 was sunk by German land artillery on 3 11.43. MS 16, 34, 36 and 32 were scuttled in September 1943 but the first three were salvaged by the Germans and renum- bered SAI,SA2 and5A3 respectively; they were scuttled again in May 1945. MS35 was transferred to France in 1948 and broken up in 1953. MS 11, MS24 andMS3I served postwar as MV6II, 612 and6/3 and later as MS471,472 and 473; the first-named was discarded in 1965 but the remaining pair survived into lhe late 1970s. MS Type 2 MTBs (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 67t Dimensions: 91fi lOin x 14ft lin x 5ft lin 28 00 *4 30 x 1 60m Machinery: 2-shaft Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 3450hp = 31 kts. Fuel 9t Armament: 2-533mm TT, 2-450mm torpedoes, 2 to 4—20mm/65 Breda AA, 2-8mm MG, 8 DCs Complement: 19 Class: MS51-56, 61-66, 71-76 Ordered June 1942 from CRDA, Monfalcone. Repeats of AI5 Type 1 except for ihc addition of 2-450mm torpedoes and their launching gear (as well as two spare 533mm torpedoes), adding slightly to draught and displacement, and consequently reducing speed. Unlike the MAS-boats, the MS type carried 100kg DCs MS74 and 75 were modified to carry various types of small assault craft (2 SLC or 2 MTR or I MTM or 1 MTSM) which were launched over the stern and involved clearing all obstructions from the after section of the deek MS62 was sunk in an air attack on 12.7 43 and 66 was lost in action with surface forces on 3.8 43. On the Italian surrender А/555/, 64 and 76 were seized by the Germans and renumbered SA4-7 respectively; 5A6 was broken up and the remainder scuttled in May 1945. The Germans also took MS74 and 75 but transferred them to the Fascist Government in northern Italy; both were returned to lhe Navy in 1945. MS52, 53, 61,65 and 75 were transferred io Russia in 1949 and the remainder discarded between 1954 and the late 1970s A total of 44 improved MS (third and fourth series) boats, and nine vessels based on the German S38 type, were cancelled in September 1943. EX-ENEMY COASTAL CRAFT The Yugoslavian Orjen, Velcbit, Dinara, Triglav, Suvobor and Riulmk (German-built S-boats) were captured in April 1941 and incorporated in the Italian Navy as MS41D-46D respectively. MS41 and 45 were scuttled in September 1943 but lhe remainder were taken by the Germans becoming S2 (ex-MS42D), S3 (ex-MS43D), S4 (cx-MS44D) and 55 (ex-AI546D). All four were sunk at Salonika in October 1944. The British-built Uskok and Ceimk were also captured from Yugoslavia in April 1941 being renamed Al AS ID and MAS2D. ID foundered in lhe Adriatic- on 19.4.42 and 2D, renumbered MS47 in 1942, was discarded on 1 9 43 I or further details see under Yugoslavia. VAS Type 1 AS MLs (launched 1942) Displacement: 68t Dimensions: 91ft lOin x 14ft lin x 4ft 5in 28.00 x 4.30 x 1.35m Machinery: 3 shafts 2 Fiat petrol engines plus I Carraro petrol engine, 1500hp/300hp = 20kts Fuel 11 5t Armament: 2-450inm torpedoes, 1 or 2-20mm/65 AA (1 or 2xj), 2-6 5mm MG, 26 DCs Complement: 26 Class (builder): VAS201-208 ^Baglietto), VAS209-214 (Picchiolli), VAS215-220 (Navalnieccanica), VAS221-230 (Celli) Construction ofa large number of AS launches began in 1941 and extended it> three types of basically similar specification The Italians classed them as VcJctrc Annsommergibili, equivalent to the British classification МА/SB (or HDML) or the US sub-chaser but, unlike their foreign contempories, they carried tor- pedoes to allow coastal attacks against surfaced submarines. They were also based on lhe Yugoslavian S-boais, the first 14 being wooden and the remainder composite. They had a range of 300nm at 19kts on main engines, or I lOOnm at 12kts on the auxiliary, centre-shaft engine As with the MS type the intended armament could not be fitted until 1943 because of shortages of 20mm guns, and 2-6 5mm MGs were usually carried in lieu of the forward 20mm. VAS202, 212, 213, 216, 229 and 230 were sunk in air raids during 1943. VAS223 was wrecked on 5.5 43 and VAS208,214, 219 and 220 were sunk by German land artillery on 11 9.43 VAS206 was beached after catching fire in February 1944 and became a total loss. VAS203, 205, 207,225 and 226 were scuttled in September 1943. VAS209, 210, 215,217, 218, 221 and 227 were seized by the Germans in September 1943 and were later lost or scuttled except 218 which was returned to the Navy in 1945 The surviving boats were discarded in 1953 and 1957. Al Ju Fraccaroli Cvllcciioii 314
Coastal forces VAS Type 2 AS MLs (launched 1942-43) Class (builder): VAS231-236 (Baglietto), VAS237-VAS238 (Gistaguta), VAS239-VA S242 (Navalmeccanica), VAS243-VAS245 (Soliente), VAS246-248 (Celli) Repeats of the Type 1 VAS except for a different machinery installation. This class had one 1150hp Isotta Fraschini petrol engine on the central shaft (for I6kts), and two 300hp Carraro engines on the wing shafts (for 14kts), giving a top speed of 21.5kts on all engines. Range was increased at 440nm at 20kts or 1260nm at 14kts (wing shafts only). All were composite-built and VAS231-VAS236 were completed as minesweepers. VAS23I was sunk by aircraft, 234 by S-boats and 244 by MTBs during 1943. VAS247 was scuttled in September 1943 after receiving action damage. VAS236, 239, 240, 241, 242 and 243 were captured by the Germans and renumbered RA26I,262 and265-S respectively. VAS238 was also captured but not renumbered. All were later scuttled except 240 and 241 which were returned. VAS Type 3 AS MLs (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 90l Dimensions: 111ft lOin x I6ft 5in x 6ft Ilin 34.10 x 5.00 x 2.10m Machinery: See notes Armament: 2-450mm torpedoes (or l-37mm/54), 1 or 2-20mm/65, 2-6.5mm MG Class (builder): VAS301-312 (Ansaldo, Genoa) Ansaldo-designed steel round-bilge craft. VAS301-VAS304 were completed with three 350hp Fiat deisels for 18kts and a range of 900nm at 14kts. The remainder were to have had Ansaldo diesels but these proved unsatisfactory before development was complete, and so were fitted with the same installation as the Type 2 VAS, for a top speed of 19kts and a range of lOOOnrn at 13k.es. The entire class was captured bv the Germans in September 1943 and renum- bered RA254, 257, 256 , 255 , 252, 251, 253 , 263, 258 , 2&t, 259 and 260 respectively. 307 io312 were still fitting out. RA256 and 257 were sunk in air raids in March and August 1944 respectively. RA255,251 and 259 were sunk in action off Genoa in August 1944. The remainder were scuttled in April 1945. A further 24 of an improved type were cancelled in Sept 1943. MAT explosive motor-boat Displacement: 0.94t Length: 15ft 6in 4.74m Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1-shaft Alfa Romeo petrol engine, 90hp = 32kts 1-330kg charge 1 A Baglietto stepped-hull design for an explosive motor-boat small enough to be flown to its operational area by a Savoia S55 seaplane. On being set towards its target the crewman abandoned over the stern leaving the MA I to hit, split open and drop its charge, which detonated at set depth or, when reaching the seabed, alongside the enemy hull. Two prototypes were built; they were tested in 1936 and proved satisfactory. Carrying them in a seaplane, however, did not prove practical. In 1940 a modified version was tested against the Qumo and caused extensive damage to its target which sank immediately. MTM explosive motor-boat Displacement: It Dimensions: 18ft 4in x 6ft 6in 5.60 x ].90m Machinery: 1-shaft Alfa Romeo petrol engine, 95hp = 33kts Armament: l-300kg charge Complement: 1 An enlarged MAT of which 16 were ordered in 1938 and 12 in 1939. Trials with the first units demonstrated the need for improvements in the hull and machin- ery and the second group were suspended while the first 6 were modified. The step in the hull was omitted, the weak fabric deck covered with marine ply and the engine position modified. Results being satisfactory, work went ahead and .ill were completed by early 1941. Six of these craft, launched from the des- troyers Crispi and Sella, sank the British cruiser York and damaged a tanker at Suda Bay on 25.3.41. MTR reduced explosive motor-boat Displacement: It Dimensions: 20ft x 5ft 3in 6.10 x 1.60m Machinery: 1-shaft Alfa Romeo petrol engine, 95hp = 29kts Armament: l-300kg charge Complement: A modified MTM with narrower beam so as to be suitable for carriage in submarines. MTS type motor-boats Displacement: 1.7l Length: 23ft 6in x 6ft Ilin x 1ft 8in 7.15 x 2.10 x 0.50m Machinery: 1-shaft Alfa Romeo petrol engine, 90hp = 28kts Armament: 2—450mm torpedoes Complement: 2 Developed in 1939, these were in effect miniature MTBs, MTS standing for Motoscafi di Turismo, Siluranti (torpedo-carrying touring boat). Based on the MTM, they were enlarged to carry two men and 2 torpedoes which, as the engine was not changed, resulted in a 5kt loss in design speed. They were designed by Baglietto with a V-section wooden hull, from which the torpedoes were dropped over the stern, tail first, as in World War I CMBs. Four were built and ran successful trials in 1940 but, although they had a range of 90nm, in practice they proved of little value as they were too slow and too small to operate effectively. MTSM type motor-boats Displacement: 3t Dimensions: 27ft 6in x 7ft 3in x 2ft 8.40 x 2.20 x 0.60m Machinery: 2 Alfa Romeo petrol engines, 190hp = 32kts Armament: l-450mm torpedo, 2 DCs Complement: 2 These were designed by Baglietto in 1941 to overcome the defects of the MTS (*M* standing for Modificaii) by improving hull form and increasing size (for seaworthiness) and engine power (for speed). The latter however could only be achieved by adding a second engine which absorbed space leaving only sufficient room for one torpedo. The depth charges were to drop alongside surface ship hulls. Over 100 were built during 1941-43. Some were modified to carry 3 skin divers in place of the torpedo. Range was 200nm. MTSM228 torpedoed the British escort destroyer Eridge on 29.8.42. MTS MA type motor boats Displacement: 3.65t Dimensions: 28ft lOin x 7ft 7in x 2fl 4in 8.80 x 2.32 x 0.70m Machinery: 2 Alfa Romeo petrol engines, 190hp = 29kts Armament: l-450mm torpedo, 1 Breda MG, 2 DCs Complement: 2 A modified MTSM design with size increased to provide 250nm range, larger DCs (70kg instead of 50kg) and a smoke canister. 100 were ordered in 1943 and many were under construction when Italy surrendered, several falling into German hands. MTL type motor boats Displacement: 7t Length: 31ft 2in 9.5m Machinery: 1 petrol engine plus 1 electric motor, 22hp/8hp = 5kts/4kts Armament: 2 SLC Designed in 1941. Intended to carry 2 SLCsand their crews to Malta for attacks on shipping. Range was 60nm with the petrol engine and 40nm with the electric motor which was intended to provide a silent approach. SMALL ATTACK CRAFT R boat: small oar-propelled boat 4 x 0.8m carrying 200kg charge intended for attacks on Gibraltar from the Oltena. Four were built but were not used operationally. SLC: Human torpedo, code-named Maiale (Pig), designed in 1935. Developed from a standard 533mm torpedo with a detatachable 220kg warhead, later increased to 250kg, it weighed 600kg, was 6.7m long and carried a crew of 2 divers. Driven by an electric motor, it had a range of 15nm at 2-3kts and 4nm at 4-5kts. 11 had been built b\ the outbreak of war and a large number were constructed during 1940-43. The tanker Olterra, interned at Algerciras in June 1940, w’as employed as a secret base for these weapons from which to carry out attacks on Gibraltar. They were the most successful of Italy’s special assault craft and sank or damaged over 180,000t of shipping. Their most spectacular success was the sinking of the battleships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth in Alexandria harbour on 18.12.1941. SSB: Modified version of the SLC designed and constructed at La Spezia naval yard to earn’ a 300kg warhead. 315
ITALY MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS Entrea 1945 ERITREA colonial sloop GIUSEPPE MIRAGLIA seaplane carrier Displacement: 4880t Dimensions: 377ft pp x 49ft x 17ft 115 00 X 15 00 x 5.20m Machinery: Parsons geared turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 12,000hp = 21 kts. Oil 430t Armament: 4—102mm AA (4x 1), 20 aircraft Complement: 180 Name Converted Yard Fate GIUSEPPE MIRAGLIA 1924-27 La Spezia ? (ex- Cilia de Messina) Displacement: 2165t standard; 3O68t full load Dimensions: 285ft 5in pp, 317ft Ilin oa x 43ft 7in X 15ft 5in 87 00, 96 90 x 13.30 x 4 70m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels plus diesel electric dn\e, 7800bhp + 1300hp = 20kts. Oil 320t Armament: 4-120mm/45 (2x2), 2-40mm/39 (2x1), 4-13.2mm MG (4x1) Complement: 234 Name Builder Launched Fate ERITREA CCS 28.9 1936 To France 1948 A former merchant ship (launched 20.12.23) converted to a seaplane carrier at La Spezia to accommodate 4 large and 16 small aircraft. The superstructure was built up flush with the sides and extended fore and aft to form hangars Aircraft catapults were mounted on the centreline above the forecastle and poop to which aircraft could be transferred from the flat hangar roofs Aircraft were recovered through doors in the hangar sides by means of gantries mounted above the doors. After completion this vessel was used extensively for catapult launching experiments. During the Second World War she was classed as an aircraft transport but was mainly employed on training duties in home waters. She was surrendered at Malta in 1943 where she served as a depot ship for Italian auxiliaries and submarines. Designed in 1934 as a result of Italy’s colonial expansion and intended to show the flag in peacetime and serve as an escort in war. She was ordered on 8.5.35 and completed 10.2.37. The machinery arrangement was somewhat unusual with a diesel and electric motor connected to each shaft which could be used independently or together. Power for the electric motors was provided by a pair of diesel-driven generators carried in a separate compartment forward of the main engine room, the Marelli electric motors being fined on a third compart- ment abaft the main engine room; intermediate compartments separated all three main machinery rooms. Range was 6950m at 11 8kts with electric motors only, 5000m at I5.3kts on diesels only and 6120m at 13 3kts with both in operation. Maximum speed, with diesels only, w'as 18kts at a continuous max- imum rating of 7000hp. Enirea was equipped for minelaying and in 1940-41 her 40mm guns were replaced by 4-37mm/54 A A (2x2). She surrendered to the Allies at Colombo in September 1943 and was transferred to France as the Francis Gamier on 12.2.48 (stricken 1966). A second vessel of this type, to be named Eiiopia, was projected but not built. DIANA sloop Displacement: 1735t standard; 2550t full load Dimensions: 356ft 10m pp, 373ft 6in oa x 38ft 4in x 11ft 6m 108 75, 113 90 x 11.70 x 3.50m Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, 4 3-drum boilers, 30,000hp = 32kts Armament: 2-102mm/35 (1x2), 6-20mm/65 Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate DIANA CNQ 20.5.1940 Sunk 29.6.42 Designed as a Government Yachl/despatch vessel Employed as a fast transport during the war until torpedoed by HM submarine Thrasher. In July 1941 she transported 11 motor boats (9MT, 1MTSM and 1MTL) to the Central Mediter- ranean for an attack on Malta. GABBIANO class corvettes Displacement: 660t standard; 728t full load Dimensions: 192ft 1 Цп pp, 211ft oa x 28ft 7in x 8ft 4in 58.80, 64.35 x 8.71 x 2.53m Machinery: 2-shaft fiat diesels, 3500bhp = 18kts. Oil 64t Armament: l-100mm/47, 7-20mm/65 or 70 AA (2x2, 3x 1) 2-450mm TT (not in all unns), 10 DC throwers Complement: 110 Diana in March 1942 Italian Хагу Name Builder Launched Fate ALCE OTO, Leghorn 27 5 1942 Scuttled 24.4.45 ANTILOPE OTO, Leghorn 9 5.1942 Sunk 16.8.44 APE Navalmeccanica 22 11 1942 Stricken 1965 ARDEA Ansaldo, Genoa — Scuttled 24 4 45 ARTEMI DE CRDA, 10 8.1942 Scuttled 24 4 45 Monfalcone BAIONETTA Breda 5 10.1942 Stricken Jan 72 BERENICE CRDA, 20.5.1943 Sunk 9 9.43 Monfalcone BOMBARDA Breda 31.8.1942 Stricken cl975 CALABRONE Navalmeccanica 27.6 1943 Scuttled 29 8.44 CAMOSCIO OTO, Leghorn 9.5 1942 Sunk 17.8 44 CAPRIOLO OTO, Leghorn 5 12.1942 Scuttled 24 4 45 CARABINA Breda 31 8 1943 Sunk Feb.1944 CAVALLETTA Navalmeccanica 3 12 1942 BU on slip c 1944 CERVO OTO, Leghorn — Scuttled 24.4.45 CHIMERA CRDA, Trieste 30 1 1943 Stncken <T975 CICALA Navalmeccanica 27.6 1943 Scuttled 3 5.44 CICOGNA Ansaldo, Genoa 12.10 1942 Wrecked 24.7 43 CLAVA Breda — Destroyed on slip c 1944 COCCINIGLIA Navalmeccanica — Suspended • incomplete 316
Miscellaneous vessels Name Builder Launched Fate COLUMBRINA Breda 7.12.1942 Sunk 27.3.44 CORMORANO Cerusa 20.9.1942 Stricken Jan 1972 CRISALIDE Navalmeccanica 8.12.1947 Stricken Jan 1972 DANAIDE CRDA, Trieste 21.10.1942 Stricken cl970 DAI NO OTO, Leghorn — Scuttled 24.4.45 •DRIADE CRDA, Trieste 7.10.1942 Stricken 1966 EGERIA CRDA, — Scuttled Sept 1943 Monfalcone EURIDICE CRDA, 12.3.1944 Sunk incomplete Monfalcone 25.5.44 EUTERPE CRDA, 22.10.1942 Scuttled 24.4.45 Monfalcone FARFALLA Navalmeccanica 4.1.1948 Stricken Jan 1972 FENICE CRDA, Trieste 1.3.1943 Stricken 1965 FLORA CRDA, Trieste 1.12.1942 Stricken cl970 FOLAGA Ansaldo, Genoa 14.11.1942 Stricken 1965 GABBIANO Cerusa 23.6.1942 Stricken Jan 1972 GAZZELLA OTO, Leghorn 9.5.1942 Mined 5.8.43 GRILLO Navalmeccanica 21.3.1943 Scuttled 3.5.44 GRU Ansaldo, Genoa 23.12.1942 Stricken cl970 IBIS Ansaldo, Genoa 12.12.1942 Stricken Jan 1972 LIBELLULA Navalmeccanica — BU on slip LUCCIOLA Navalmeccanica 21.3.1943 Scuttled 13.9.43 MARANGONE Ansaldo, Genoa 16.9.1943 Sunk 3.3.44 MAGGIOLINO Navalmeccanica — Suspended incomplete MELPOMENE CRDA, 29.8.1943 Sunk 1.11.44 Monfalcone MINERVA CRDA, 5.11.1942 Stricken cl970 Monfalcone PERSEFONE CRDA, 21.9.1942 Scuttled 24.4.45 Monfalcone POMONA CRDA Trieste 18.11.1942 Stricken 1965 PROCELLARIA Cerusa 4.9.1942 Mined 31.1.43 RENNA OTO, Leghorn 5.12.1942 Sunk 4.9.44 SCURE Breda — Scuttled 24.4.45 SC1MITARRA Breda 16.9.1942 Stricken Jan 1972 SFINGE CRDA, Trieste 9.1.1943 Stricken c!975 SIBILLA CRDA, Trieste 10.3.1943 Stricken Jan 1972 SPINGARDA Breda 22.3.1943 Sunk 1.11.44 STAMBECCO OTO, Leghorn — Scuttled 24.4.45 STROLAGA Ansaldo, Genoa — Scuttled 24.4.45 TUFFETTO Ansaldo, Genoa 25.8.1943 Scuttled 24.4.45 TERSICORE CRDA, 16.10.1943 Sunk 20.4.44 Monfalcone URANIA CRDA, 21.4.1943 Stricken Jan 1972 Monfalcone VESPA Navalmeccanica 22.11.1942 Scuttled 24.4.45 ZAGAGLIA Breda — ?BU on slip 1945 A warlime design for small, cheap AS escon that could be constructed quickly and in large numbers. Successful ships with adequate qualities for Mediterra- nean operations. Range was 3000nm at 15kts. Two auxiliary electric motors of 150hp each were fitted to allow silent AS search at 6kts (max 16nm endurance). Carabina and Bombardc (modified by the Germans) were not fitted with these motors. Berenice was sunk by German shore artillery off Trieste. The majority of the class were seized by the Germans shortly after the Italian surrender, the following completed vessels being renamed Vj6082 cx-Antilupe, Uj6081 ex- Camosao (both sunk by the US destroyer Endicott}, Uj2221 ex-Vespa, Uj2226 ex-Artemide. Vessels completed by lhe Germans were Uj6085 ex-Renna, Uj205 cx-Colubrina, U)207 ex-Carabina, Uj2223 ex-Marangone (all lost in air attacks), Uj208 ex-Springarda, Uj202 ex-Melpumene (both lost in action with British escort destroyers Avon Vale and Wheatland), Uj6083 ex-Capriolo, Uj6084 ex- Alce, I rj2222 cx-Tuffetto and I Tj206 ex-Bombarda (last named was scuttled April 1945 but later salvaged and repaired). The construction of the following vessels was continued by the Germans but not completed: Uj?04 ex Euridice, Uj203 ex-Tersicore (both lost in air raids), Uj2224 ex-Stroglago, Uj2225 ex-Ardea, Uj6087 cx-Daino, Uj60S6 ex-Ccrvo, Uj6088 cx-Stambecco and Uj209 ex-Scure. In addition, Pcrsefone, Euterpe and Egeria, scuttled by the Italians in September 1943, were salvaged and renumbered Uj2227,2228 and 201 butall were scuttled again before repairs were complete. Grillo, Cicala and Calabrone were also taken by the Germans but not renumbered. Libellula, Cavalletta and Clava were broken up or destroyed on lhe slip by lhe Germans. Crisalide and Eorfalla were scuttled by lhe Germans in April 1945 but were salvaged after lhe war and re-entered service with the Italian Navy in 1952-53. EX-ENEMY VESSELS CLASSED AS CORVETTES The French La Batailleuse, Commandant Riviere, Chamois, L’Impetueuse, La Curieuse and Degaigneuse were taken over by the Italian Navy as FR5I-FR56. The first two were captured at Bizena in December 1942 and the rema nder, scuttled at Toulon in 1942, were salvaged in 1943. FRS2 was bombed and sunk in an air raid on Leghorn on 28.5.43 and FR51 was scuttled at La Spezia in September 1943. The latter vessel was salvaged by the Germans and renamed SG23 but was scuttled again at Genoa on 25.4.1945. The remainder were seized by lhe Germans while under repair in September 1943. FR53 becameSG27 and was sunk in an air raid on Toulon on 15.8.44. For further details see under France. OSTIA class minelayers (launched 1925—27) Displacement: 615t standard; 850t full load Dimensions: 204ft x 28ft 6in x 8ft 6in 62.18 x 8.69 x 2.59m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 watertube boilers, 1500hp = 15kts. Oil 75t Armament: 2-102mm/35, l-76mm AA, 80 mines Complement: 66 Class (builder): Azio (CNR, Ancona), Dardanelli (CNT), Legnano (CNR, Ancona), Lepanto (CNR, Ancona), Milazzo (CNT), Ostia (CNT) Ordered 1924. Also fitted for minesweeping. The CNT vessels were coal- fired, the remainder oil-fired. Dardanelli and Milazzo were sold to Venezuela in 1938 and renamed General Urdaneta and General Soublette. Lepanto, scuttled at Shanghai in September i943, was salvaged by the Japanese in February 1944 and renamed Okitsu. After the war she became the Chinese/Znen Ning.Azio and Legnano were discarded postwar, Ostia was a war loss. FASANA class minelayers (launched 1924-26) Displacement: 6 lOt standard Dimensions: 192ft pp x 32fi x 5ft 8m 58.52 x 9.75 x 1.73m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 700bhp = lOkts Armament: l-76mm AA, 54 mines Complement: ? Class: Buccari, Durazzo, Fasana, Pelagosa Built by CCS. Could also be used for minesweeping. Durazzo was sunk by the British submarine Safari 17.8.43, Buccari and Pelagosa were sunk at Naples in 1943, and Fasana was discarded postwar. VEDETTA class minesweepers (launched 1937) Displacement: 70t Dimensions: 85ft 6in x 14ft x 4ft 3in 26.06 x 4.27 x 1.30m Machinery: 2-shaft diesel, 400bhp = 12kts Armament: l-76mm Complement: ? Class: Vedetta, Vigilante Probably discarded postwar. RD1 minesweeper (launched 1938) Displacement: 188t Dimensions: 109l't 6in x 21 ft Sin x 7ft 4in 33.38 x 6.60 x 2.24m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 450bhp = lOkis Armament: l-76mm Complement: ? Built by CNR, Ancona. Probably discarded postwar. GUNBOATS Italy had no true gunboats apart from theSebastiano Caboto launched in 1912, but classified a multitude of auxiliary craft under this title All were purchased merchant vessels, mainly trawlers, either dating from World War I or requisitioned during World War II. The Yugoslavian gunboat Belt Orao was captured in April 1941 and incor- porated in lhe Italian Navy as Alba. For full details see under Yugoslavia. OTHER EX-ENEMY VESSELS The 6 Yugoslavian minelayers of thcGaleb class were captured in April 1941 and incorporated in the Italian Navy under new names. The 5 Yugoslavian mine tenders of the Malinska class were also captured by Italy in April 1941 and incorporated in the Navy under new names. For full details of all these units see under Yugoslavia. 317
Soviet Union After seven years of continuous struggle Russia emerged m 1921 heav- ily wounded, disorganised and with a considerable loss of territory, but united again under strong new rulers. Because of the weakness of their position the Bolsheviks had to abandon the ‘export’ of revolution; the time gained would be used for reconstructing the administration, building up the economy - along Marxist lines - and reorganising the armed forces. The New Economic Policy had to be introduced in the spring of 1921 to put the country on a strong footing (even at the cost of the Marxist doctrine) and stimulate trade with other countries The political and economical advantages of co operation between a defeated Germany and an excommunicated Soviet Russia had inaugurated a formal friendship and gave the Soviets much-wanted links with the highly developed German industry. Those enterprises, together with consid- erable aid from other sources, helped the Soviets to bring a halt to starvation and initiate competitive industrial production. On 30 December 1922 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was officially founded. THE RESTORATION OF THE NAVY After two revolutions and a civil war the Russian Navy had practically ceased to exist. I he Soviets had been left without a single vessel in the Black Sea, the Arctic or the Far East; only in the Baltic did an embryonic fleet survive, albeit in a wretched condition and without serious military potential The dockyards and other facilities were wrecked byond repair, and the crews were hampered by political agitation and by shortages of all kinds. The naval rebellion at Kron- shtadt in March 1921 led to crews being selected entirely on political rather than professional grounds. The Tenth Party Congress in 1921 decided to rebuild the Navy. Any new construction was beyond the capabilities of existing industry, so it was decided to utilise all the most valuable and modern units already available. Old, damaged, immobilised or unfinished warships amount- ing to 75 per cent of the Red Navy’s total tonnage had been retired and sold to German shipbreakers during 1922-23. The necessary renova- tions at harbours and dockyards were made during 1921 and it was possible to recommission some ships the following year. By the end of 1922 18 ships on the Baltic were operational again including the dread- noughtMaraf and the training shipOfeean (renamed Kotnsomolec in the same year). In 1924 the Soviet Navy had 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 8 destroyers and 9 submarines in service again with the Baltic Fleet and 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers and 2 submarines on the Black Sea, totalling 90,000 tons. The year was marked by the death of Lenin followed by the seizure of power by Stalin A hard line was adopted with regard to internal affairs, and the reorganisation of the armed forces was begun. Soviet industrial production improved very slowly. By 1926 it had achieved no more than 75 per cent of its prewar level. These results were achieved thanks mainly to the strenuous efforts of the whole Soviet people, and encouraged thoughtsofa return to naval shipbuild- ing in the Soviet Union. By 1926 3 battleships had been recommis- sioned, together with 1 cruiser, 13 destroyers and 14 submarines, amounting to 139,000 tons. 318 THE 1926 NAVAL PROGRAMME In 1925 a five-}ear plan for mercantile shipbuilding was approved and production of the first Soviet-designed cargo vessels was begun in the Baltic Yard at Leningrad. The first timber carrier, Tovarishch Krasin (3535dwt), was ready by 1927. Work on the first naval programme had been initiated in 1925. The six-year naval programme, calling for the building of 12 submarines, 18 guard vessels and 36 MTBs, as well as the modernisation of 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers and several other units, had been approved by the Council for Work and Defence on 26 November 1926. Although the necessary funds were provided, the practical realisation even of such a small programme involved difficulties of a technical nature. The Soviets had to overcome the shortage of experienced naval engineers and skilled workmen, a deficiency in technology, and problems caused by the low quality of Soviet industrial products. The capacity of Soviet industry proved to be inadequate for building modern warships in a reasonable time. The laying down of the first six 400t guardships, planned for 13 August 1927, had to be suspended until May-July 1928 because the builder - the Zhdanov Yard in Leningrad - had no slipways available (the construction of these slipways had begun only at the end of 1927). The production of the hull sections had, however, begun in 1927, but this had to be stopped for a time because of the need continually to strengthen them. These and other miscalculations had also been made during the design and construction of submarines. More promising were the MTBs, which were designed after the careful examination of British CMBs, a few of which had been captured in 1920. Of the 1926 Programme, 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers and 1 river monitor had been commissioned and 6 MTBs of the Sh4 class had been com- pleted by the end of 1928. The 8 Uragan class guardships and 6 submarines of the ‘D’ class had been laid down; one - Dekabrist — had been launched by this date. By now the Soviet Navy had 3 battleships, 2 cruisers, 11 destroyers, 9 submarines and 6 brand new MTBs in the Baltic and 2 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 5 submarines and 2 MTBs in the Black Sea. The battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna and the cruiser Pro- fintem were transferred from the Baltic to the Black Sea Fleet in 1930 to maintain a balance with the Turks who had undertaken repairs to the battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim. THE FIRST FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME Because of the problems with the 1926 Programme and in order to co-ordinate the naval programmes with the newly introduced five-year plan embracing the whole of the Soviet economy, it was decided to lengthen the building times authorised in 1926. On 4 February 1929 the new programme was approved by the Council for Work and Defence, sanctioning all the ships of the 1926 Programme plus 3 flotilla leaders, 3 large, 3 medium and 4 coastal submarines, about 16 MTBs and 2 river monitors. The modernisation of 3 battleships and comple- tion of 1 old cruiser to a modified design was also planned. To avoid a collapse of the programme adequate funds were provided for the necessary reorganisation and expansion of the shipbuilding industry. To cope with such an enlarged programme new designs were needed, but Soviet naval architects had little experience. Various over- tures were made to gain technical assistance from abroad, but these met
with little success, although it is probable that some French assistance was utilised during the design stages of the Leningrad class flotilla leaders. The submarine design bureau was more fortunate since it could carry out an examination of the British submarine Z.55, which was refloated by the Soviets in 1928. Japanese military activity in China brought up the question of the defence of the Soviet provinces in the Far East during the early 1930s- thc Soviet Union had no front-line warships there except the river craft of the Amur Flotilla In view of this it was decided to expand the first five-year programme to include some warships for this theatre. In 1931 an additional 12 submarines of the ‘Shch' class h id been ordered and, in the absence of anything better, 24 of the ‘AV class, despite the latter’s unsuitability for the Pacific A total of 3 flotilla leaders, 53 sub- marines*, 4 guard vessels and 2 river monitors had thus been laid down during the first five-year plan By mid-1933, 6 ‘D’ class submarines, 7 Uragan class vessels and about 555Л4 class MTBs had appeared as a result of both the 1926 and the first five-year programmes. The cruiser Krasnyi Kavakz had also been completed to a modified design, and 1 destroyer, the submarine L55 and 2 river monitors had been recommissioned. THE SECOND FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME I he first five-year programme was not an outstanding success Despite the fact that 30 ships over and above those planned had been begun, only a few of them were completed in time The first Soviet-designed warships formed the basis for a discussion about future Soviet naval strategy. Because Soviet forces were scant and consisted largely of MTBs, the ‘mosquito fleet’ war policy had been regarded as the best one for the Soviet Navy. This had a lot in common with Admiral Aube’s nineteenth century Jeune Kcole but was adapted for the needs of modern warfare. Soviet naval doctrine was to be concentrated around submarines, light surface forces and naval aviation, together with mine barrages defended by coastal artillery. 'I he Soviet war plan called for the Navy to defend the wings of the great land forces, causing as much discomfort to enemy shipping as possible. The new stage in the reform of the armed forces w as initialed bv the abolition of the Revolutionarv War Council in 1934 The cadre system had been introduced, and the ranks were restored on 22 September 1935. To achieve greater control over the commanding officers, the operational and political command were div ided, and political commis- sars were reintroduced in 1937. The second five-year programme of naval shipbuilding was approved bv iht Council for Work and Defence on 11 July 1933 It was planned to complete 12 flotilla leaders, 20 destroyers, about 355 sub- marines, about 194 M TBs and 4 river monitors, to be in service on 1 January 1938 The huge number of submarines was soon reduced to 171, so about 157 boats had to be completed during the second five-year plan. The actu d number of ships authorised in 1933 is estimated to be at least 4 cruisers, 9 flotilla leaders, 49 destroyers, around 155 sub- marines, around 248 MTBs and 4 river monitors. ’One additional boat was built from public subscriptions. Action stations aboard the cruiser Voroshilov Author’s Collection A considerable amount of design work had to be done, of course, in order to realise such an ambitious programme and to build reasonable ships. It was possible to utilise some of the experience gained during the earlier programme, but foreign aid was far more valuable. The Soviets had at last been successful in obtaining the latter, having forged some useful links with the Italian shipbuilding industry. However, the choice of Italian designs indicated how- little interest was show n by the Soviet Navy towards operations on the high seas at that ume: on the other hand, Italian shipbuilding had a good reputation in the early 1930s and shipbuilding costs in Italy were lower than elsewhere in Europe. The Italians were involved in drawing up the designs for the Kirov class cruisers and the Type 7 destroyers, as well as submarines and smaller craft. To promote the flotilla leader programme (the Lenin- grad class proved to be failures), one ship of this tv pe was ordered from ihe OTO Yard in Livorno, further units being built in Soviet yards. Submarine development also received a fillip The Ingenieurskantoor г'оогScheepsbouw in The Hague (founded by the Germans there, since submarine building w’as forbidden in Germany) worked out the design of a medium submarine for the Soviet Navy - presumably allowing Soviet engineers to participate - which was used to develop ‘S’ class submarines and influenced the design of later types A total of 4 cruisers, 4 flotilla leaders (one of which was ordered in Italy), 46 destroyers, 151 submarines, 6 guardships, 27 minesweepers and 9 river monitors, plus a considerable number of smaller boats, had been laid down under the second five-year programme. It is significant that with the exception of the flotilla leaders almost all the vessels were laid down on schedule. The list of ships completed in this period was not so impressive however: 2 Leningrad class flotilla leaders, 1 destroyer (Bodiyi'), 11 Uragan class guard vessels, 6 Tral class minesweepers, 2 319
SOVIET UNION Aktivnyi class and 2 Zheleznyakov class river monitors, and the big minelayer Marti converted from the old Imperial yacht - a total of 25 surface units. The submarine programme was quite a different matter, since a total of 137 boats had been completed: 10 ‘L’ class minelayers, 3 of the ill-fated ‘P* class fleet boats, 3 ‘S’ class, 69 ‘Shch’ class and 52 coastal boats of the ‘M’ class. To the above figures 176 MTBs mainly of theG5 class must be added, as well as some sub-chasers of the Af 02 and MO4 Types and Types 1124 and 1125 armoured motor gunboats. THE THIRD FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME Although only a small number of ships of the 1933-38 Programme had been completed, the results of the two previous five-year plans were satisfactory enough for the Soviet leaders. There were 162 warships under construction on 1 January 1938 and a large number of these vessels was scheduled for completion during the following two or three years. The shipbuilding industry had not been able fully to meet its targets, but it had proved that such programmes were possible. The long disputes that had taken place during the late 1920s between lhe ‘small navy’ advocates and the ‘big navy’ adherents were resolved a decade later by Stalin himself, who decided to expand the Soviety Navy to match the strength of the traditional naval powers. His decision was undoubtedly influenced by the end of the battleship ‘holidays’, the not wholly successful London Naval Conference of 1936* and the intensive naval re-armament being undertaken by the great powers. The opposi- tion of high-ranking naval officers and some party members w'as over- come by the purges of 1937-39. By the end of 1937 the People’s Commissariat of the Navy had been organised to deal w’ith the work relating to the naval re-armament programme, although preliminary studies concerning battleship build- ing in lhe Soviet Union had begun in the mid-1930s. However, the Naval Staff had been compelled to recommend that, as Soviet industry was not able to build such large ships, various foreign yards should be consulted; this brought about some interesting designs and resulted in the permission of the US government being given to order a 45,000-ton battleship in a US yard. The Eighteenth Party Congress accepted the large re-armament programme both of the Navy and the Army. The large ten-year naval shipbuilding estimate had been worked out and, using these figures, the programme had been drawn up for the third five-year plan. It was intended to have in service by 1943 a total of 19 battleships, 20 cruisers, 18 flotilla leaders, 145 destroyers (all new), 341 submarines, 514 MTBs and 44 river monitors. However, this huge programme, calling for the authorisation of 16 battleships, 17 cruisers, 11 flotilla leaders, 100 destroyers and approximately 131 submarines over five years, had not been approved officially, but it was used as a basis for a series of one-year programmes authorised by the Party Central Committee and the Council of the People’s Commissaries of the Soviet Union. All the ships had to be built in the Soviet Union and therefore the battleship to be built in the USA was not ordered. A programme such as this inevitably had its effect on the Soviet economy; huge capital investment in heavy industry resulted in the total neglect of consumer goods. To simplify production as much as possible the ships had to be ordered in large senes - and only a few basic designs were approved for production: 2 for the capital ships, 2 for the cruisers, 2 for the des- troyers, 5 for the submarines, 2 for the MTBs, etc. The new designs were drawn up and this time the Soviet naval architects were able to solve their problems satisfactorily, even though much foreign aid was still needed, particularly during lhe design stages of the battleships and cruisers. In the 1939 German-Soviet pact gave the Soviets some technical assistance but the Germans were reluctant to part with the draw ings for *Thc Soviet Union was a signatory to the 1936 Treaty, but was affected neither quamitively nor qualitively since (a) she was allowed to build two 16in-gunned battleships and seven heavy cruisers; (b) there were no restrictions on the size of Pacific Fleet; and (c) despite the Treaty limitations lhe Council for Work and Defence authorised in 1938 four 59,150-ton battleships and four large cruisers - at least half of these units for deployment in European waters. 320 the Bismarck class battleships and modern submarines. The Germans did sell the incomplete cruiser Liazow - and German technical staff were despatched to Leningrad in order to help complete this ship and render assistance during lhe construction of two others in Soviet yards -but this acquisition was purely political and pushed through by Stalin personally against the advice of his naval officers. On 1 January 1939 the composition of the Soviet Navy was as follows: Arctic Baltic Black Sea Pacific Total Battleships w 2 1 — 3 Cruisers — 1 4 — 5 Flotilla leaders — 1 2 — 3 Destroyers 3 12 9 2 26 Submarines 7 56 31 70 164 There were also 263 MTBs and 14 river monitors. The growth was noticeable but not considerable, as by the beginning of 1939 the Rus- sians had planned to have in service 3 battleships, 7 cruisers, 12 flotilla leaders, around 66 destroyers, 221 submarines and 308 MTBs. Many of these ships had been laid down during the second five-year plan and w’ere still fitting out. During 1939-40 3 battleships, 2 large cruisers and 9 cruisers were laid down, and the keel-laying ceremony of the fourth battleship was scheduled for 28 November 1940. WORLD WAR II The prospect of Soviet involvement in a European war brought about a general re-armament of the forces. The large tank and aircraft pro- grammes were begun but these caused a shortage of steel, and sacrifices had to be made in the shipbuilding programme. On 19 October 1940 it was decided to suspend the construction of the new capital ships (the fourth battleship Sovyctskaya Rossiya had not yet been laid down) and continue the building of submarines and light surface forces. At the time of the German invasion 5 capital ships, 9 cruisers, 4 flo t ilia leaders, 26 destroyers, 88 submarines, 21 guardships, 45 minesweepers and 10 river monitors had been laid down. During the 34 years of the third five-year plan the Soviet Navy had been considerably enlarged by the commissioning of 74 surface war- ships - 4 Kirov class cruisers, 4 Leningrad class flotilla leaders, the flotilla leader Tashkent (built in Italy), 24 Type 7 and 5 Type 7U destroyers, 32 Tral class minesweepers and 4 Zheleznyakov class river monitors. In addition, 63 submarines were commissioned - 6 ‘K’ class, 9 ‘L’ class minelayers, 14 ‘S’ class, 8 ‘Shch* class and 26 coastal boats of the *M’ class. It is dilficult now to discover whether or not the Soviets were able to bring to fruition their colossal programme. The two last columns of the accompanying table, for example, indicate an evident reduction in the destroyer programme. Laid down Commis- Under construc- tion on 22 6.41 In service 22.6.41 Total 3+4 Planned on 1.1.43 between 1927 and 22 6.41 sioned by 22 6.41 1 2 3 4 5 6 Capital 5 — 5 3 8 19 ships Cruisers 14’ 4 10 7 17 20 Floulla 11» 7 4 7 11 18 leaders Destroyers 72 303 41 47 88 145* Submarines 298 206s 91 210‘ 300 341* Guardships 39 18 21 22 43 Minelayers I5 1 — 18 18 > River monitors 21 8 13 20 33 44 Total 533 312 219 334е 518 587+ * 1 purchased in Germany » 1 ordered in Italy ’ 1 lost incomplete 4 Includes replacement boats • Conversion • In addition, 477 small motor boats, 85 AMGBs, about 300 MTBs, 2 BOZ ty pc large Sub-chasers and about 90 small sub-chasers and minesweeping launches had been built prior to the German invasion.
Introduction The Winter War with Finland gave the Northern and Baltic Fleets the opportunity to prove their combat efficiency, but although about ten times stronger than the Finnish Navy these forces were unable to influence the course of the conflict. The Soviet Navy was in general not prepared for combat during the winter months - even the ships of the Black Sea Fleet usually remained in harbour during winter. The poor training programme and the purges of the late 1930s meant that the Soviet Navy was hampered by low standards of seamanship and unpro- fessional officers, and during the opening stages of the war w ith Ger- many the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets were decimated. The composition of the Soviet Navy on 22 6 41 was as follows: Arctic Baltic Black Sea Pacific Total Battleships — 2 1 — 3 Cruisers — 2 5 — 7 Flotilla leaders — 2 3 2 7 Destroyers 8 17 11 11 47 Submarines 15 65 44 86 210 Guardships 7 7 2 6 22 Minelayers 1 6 3 8 18 Minesweepers 2 33 15 30 80 MTBs 2 48 84 135 269 Sub-chasers 15 15 28 19 77 Almost one-third of these forces (50 per cent of the MTBs) remained inactive during the hostilities as they belonged to the Pacific Fleet w Inch - in contrast to the other fleets - was composed mainly of modern units. A few attempts had been made to reinforce the Northern and Black Sea Fleets with some of these ships, but the distances which had to be covered made this impossible on a large scale The Soviet Navy had a negligible influence on the course of the war with Germany, the struggle was decided by events on land The Soviet Navy had no great water obstacles on the way to Germany and so there was no need for large-scale amphibious operations. However, numer- ous small landings were undertaken, first to slow the German advance and later against German-held shores. During the largest of these (25 December 1941-2 January 1942), small ships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla successfully transported 42,000 men through the Kerch Narrows. \ itually every Soviet naval operation was conducted by small units only. The larger Soviet surface units - superior to the Axis forces, especially on the Black Sea - were unable to show their strength. After the heavy losses incurred during withdrawals and evacuations in the Balticin 1941 and in the Black Sea in 1942 the Russians were not willing to risk the surviving units, whose maintenance, in blockaded Lenin- grad or in small Caucasian harbours, was neglected. Naval crews were enlisted for fighting ashore - a task which they undertook gallantly - and as a result the fighting efficiency of the ships w’as greatly reduced. From June 1941 until May 1943 over 16,000 officers and 373,000 men were transferred from the Navy to the Army. Moreover, too centralised a command restricted the freedom of the task group commanders at sea. On the other hand, Soviet surface forces played an important part in the defence of Odessa and Sevastopol, and the guns of the ‘steel fortress’ - which is how the Baltic Fleet may best be described - enabled Leningrad to be successfully defended and played an import- ant role during the 1944 operations around this city. The whole burden of the surface war at sea was carried by the ‘mosquito fleet’. Minesweepers, MTBs, sub-chasers, adapted fishing trawlers, tugs and other auxiliary vessels were used in all environments - the open sea, lakes and rivers - and for all sorts of duties throughout the war, suffering heavy losses but enjoying considerable success. The river flotillas should be mentioned because of their great influ- ence on the outcome of the land campaigns. Although often impro- vised, these units fought well, enabling the carrying of vital cargoes to be continued and the transfer of numerous warships via the inland waterways to be carried out. Submarines also played a vital role during the war although, again, losses were heavy. Suffering from technical shortcomings, particularly with the earlier classes of boats, and from inadequately trained crews, and decimated by the German-Finnish mine barrages and the light forces in the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, the submarines of the Baltic Fleet were not able to impede the U-boat crew training programme carried out by the Germans in the central Baltic - in fact it was only the strength of the Soviet land offensive that enabled the submarines and light forces to operate in this area at all. Russian submarines were, however, used with greater effectiveness in flanking operations in the Arctic. The Soviets claimed 614 warships and 676 merchantmen of 1586grt sunk by the Navy during the war. 66.2 per cent of the number of warships was said to be sunk by naval aircraft, 8.6 per cent by surface forces (principally MTBs) and 5.5 per cent by the submarines; for merchant shipping the figures are 50.4, 2 8 and 29.2 per cent respec- tively. This gives 33 warships and 157 merchant vessels (462,313grt) allocated to the submarines, but Western sources give 28 warships and 108 merchantmen (254,525grt). At least 89 Soviet submarines were lost in action, many of them with all hands; a total of 107 submarines were lost from all causes. CONCLUSION At the beginning of the war 219 warships of various sorts were under construction in Soviet yards; of this figure, 5 destroyers and 6 sub- marines ran acceptance trials and were subsequently commissioned. In addition, 9 destroyers and 23 submarines had been completed and commissioned by the end of 1941, and the cruiser Petropavlovsk (ex- Liitzow') was completed as a floating battery. During 1941-42 the Prosorlivyi ex-German T158 in Soviet service Jerzy Miiirliki Collection i
SOVIET UNION Soviets lost all their yards on the Black Sea, while the yards in Lening- rad were forced to abandon or suspend work on large ships because of the blockade. The yards in the Far East were unable to produce warships without supplies from European Russia. Soviet yards did not lay down any large units between 1942 and 1945, although 2 destroyers, 29 submarines, 4 guardships and 8 minesweepers, as well as 15 large sub-chasers (BO2 type), which were begun before the war, were com- pleted. The production of small boats, however, was expanded thanks mainly to the engines supplied by the USA under Lend-Lease. At least 880 small boats were built - about 180 of which were MTBs. The Russians produced 32 designs for small warships and motor boats, 42 for auxiliary units and 7 for submarines during the war. None of the submarines was introduced during the war, although a small submarine type developed from the XV Series and incorporating vari- ous improvements resulting from combat experience had been author- ised for production immediately after the war (‘M’ class). The design of a large submarine type began in 1944 and this new boat (‘Whiskey’ class) went into production in 1950 after improvements inspired by the German Tvpe XXI U-boat had been introduced. The improved Ognevoi class design also appeared postwar as the ‘Project 30bis’ of the Skotyi class. Work on the Chapayev class cruisers (evidently to an improved design), and on destroyers and submarines laid down before the war, was resumed during the closing stages of hostilities. At the end of the war 5 cruisers, 11 destroyers, 24 submarines, about 5 guardships and 11 minesweepers were under construction. All of these entered service between 1946 and 1950. The Lend Lease supplies of ships, engines, torpedoes, mines and ammunition, plus radar and asdic equipment, played a significant role in the postwar development of the Soviet Navy. Records indicate that the Soviet Navy received 28 frigates, 67 minesweepers, 202 MTBs, 140 sub-chasers, 3 naval icebreakers and 53 landing craft,* and 1 battle- ship, 1 cruiser, 9 destroyers and 4 submarines were temporarily trans- ferred by the United Kingdom and USA to the Soviet Union in 1944 in place of the war booty claimed by the Soviets from Italy in 1943. The composition of the Soviet Navy at the end of the war was as follows: Arctic Baltic Black I Sea ’acific Total Battleships 1 1 1 — 3 Cruisers 1 2 4 2 9 Flotilla leaders 1 2 — 1 4 Destroyers 16 11 10 12 49 Submarines 23 25 46 79 173 MTBs c30 c 106 c48 c204 c388 In September 1945 the Soviet Union began work on a new naval armament programme: at least 20 cruisers, 75 destroyers, 90 frigates and 300 submarines were laid down during the first decade of peace. ‘Information about Lend-Lease was not widely publicised in the Soviet Union. NOTES Ships awarded to the Soviet Union as a result of the post-WWII treaties and conferences Battleship: Giulio Cesare (Italian) Coast defence battleships: Vainamdinen (Finnish), Hessen (German) Cruisers: Duca d’Aosta (Italian), Nurnberg (German) Destroyers and torpedo-boats: Animoso, Ardimentoso, Artigliere, For- tunate , Fuciliere (Italian); Blitz, Erich Steinbrinck, Frteduch Ihn,Karl Galster, Komet, T12, ТГ7, ТЗЗ, Г107, TI58, T185, TI96, Z33 (Ger- man); Haruzuki, Hatsuzakura, Hibiki, Kaya, Kiji, Kin, Shn (Japan- ese). Submarines: Marea, Nichelio (Italian); U10S7, U10S8, U1064, U1231, U1305, U23S3, U2529, U303S, U3041, U351S (German) Escort vessels: F7 (German); Iktno, Kozu, Shimushu,34,48,52,71, 76, 77-79, 102, 105, 142, 196, 221,227 (Japanese) Minelayers: Kamtshinia, Katashima (Japanese) Minesweepers: М3 ,M7 ,M 17, M29, M30, M34 ,M 151, Ml 55, M203, M204 ,M254-M256, M26S, M267, M279 ,M291, M323, М324, М327, M330,M341 ,M342,M348,M369,M377 ,M386,M40I ,M405-M407, M411,M4IS,M423,M425,M431 ,M437,M443,M446,M 156,M461, M467, M470, M484, M496, M508, M530, M535, M560 (Germany); W23 (Japanese) MTBs: MAS440, MAS5I6, MASSI9, MS52-MS53, \tS61,MS6S, MS75 (Italian); Si I, SI 6, S24, S50 ,S65, S81, S82, S86, S99,SI0I, S 109,Sl 10,Sl 13 ,S118,S123 ,S132 ,S135 ,S175 ,S204 ,S209,S211, S214, S219, S222,S227, S704, S7O7-S7O9, S628 (German) MLs: ME40, VAS245, VAS248 (Italian); R23, R28, R53,R63, R65, R87, R90, R103, R105, R107, R113, R121-R123, R149, R234, R238, R245, R254, R2S7, R258, R262, R263, R265, R269, R270, R288, R289, R409-R423, R302, R303, R305, R307, R308, R310-R3I2, RAI 11, R112 (German), Ch38 (Japanese) Soviet shipbuilding yards The major Russian shipbuilders were as follows: Baltic Ordzhonikidze Yd, Leningrad Marti Yd, Leningrad Zhdanov Yd, Leningrad Baltic SB, Reval Sudomekh Wks, Leningrad Izhora Wks, Leningrad Pctrozavod Wks, Leningrad Shipbuilding Wks, Leningrad White Sea 402 Yd, Molotovsk Black Sea Sevastopol DYd Marti Yd, Nikolayev Nikolayev DYd 61 Kommunar Yd, Nikolayev Russud SB, Nikolayev Far East Dalzavod Yd, Vladivostok Komsomolsk Yd Diomedes Inlet Yd, Vladivostok Others Krasnaya Sormovo Yd, Gorki Leninskaya Kuznica Yd, Kiev Zelyenodolsk Yd Ural Machine Wks THE SOVIET NAVY in 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Gangut class GANGUT 7.10.1911 23,OOOt BU 1959 MARAT 9.9.1911 23,OOOt Constructive (ex-Petropavlovsk) total loss 23 9.41 PARIZHSKAYA КОМ- 29.6.1911 23,000t BU 1957 MUNA (ex-Sevastopol) POLTAVA 10.7.1911 23,OOOt Discarded 1925 Imperator Alexander If class ZARIA SVOBODY July 1887 9244t Discarded 1925 (ex-hnperator Alex- • under II) Imperator Pavel I class ANDREI PERVO- 20.10.1906 17,!25t BU 1925 SWANN I RESPUBLIKA 7.9.1907 17,125t BU 1923 (ex-Imperator Pavel I) Chesma class CHESMA (ex-Tango, May 1886 10,960t BU 1923 ex-Chesnta) 322
The Soviet Navy in 1922 Gangut class These vessels - the first Russian dreadnoughts - had been authorised in 1908 by Tsar Nikolai II for deployment with the Baltic Fleet. They saw little action during the First World War, and in 1917-18 came under Bolshevik control, but owing to a lack of maintenance and trained crews only Petropavlovsk could be commissioned with the Red Navy (November 1918). After the Civil War all were in desperate need of repairs; Marat (ex- Petropavlovsk from 13.3.21), being in the best condition, was, however, recommissioned in 1922, followed by Parizhskaya Kommuna (ex-Sevastopol from 31.3.21) in 1923. The latter was quickly taken in hand for a refit; she was recommissioned again on 17.9.25 with d clipper bow, her forefunnel raised and curved aft, an additional rangefinder and augmented AA armament. Oktyabrskaya Revoluciya (cx-Gangut from 7.7.25) was recommissioned 23.3.26 and only Frunze (ex-Poltava) remained inactive on account of her damaged condition. Used as a stationary barracks in Leningrad, Frunze was cannibalised in piecemeal fashion for spare parts; the hulk was towed to Kronshtadt in 1941 and expended as a blockship, and she was scrapped in 1956. Parizhskaya Kommuna was transferred to the Black Sea 1929-30. After their 1930s modernisation, all three battleships appeared with the clipper bow, an additional forecastle deck added, their forefunnels heightened and curved aft, an enlarged bridge, improved fire control, heavy masts, and cranes for handling seaplanes or light MTBs. The mixed-firing boilers originally fitted were replaced by oil-fired units, Oktyahraskaya Revoluciya being re- engined with the turbines probably intended for the battlecruiser Izmail. Parizh- skaya Kommuna was fitted with bulges. Both battleships of the Baltic Fleet undertook shore bombardment during the Winter War with Finland in 1939-40. Shortly before the German invasion some 120mm guns were removed (2 from Oktyabrskaya Revoluciya, 4 from Parizhskaya Kommuna, ? from Marat) together with the large cranes and seaplanes so that the AA armament could be augmented to 6-3in/55 and 36-13.2mm (Parizhskaya Kommuna 16-13.2mm) MG. After the outbreak of war all three ships were Used as floating batteries, their crews being reduced by one-third and some 120mm guns removed for ground defence. Marat was damaged 23.9.41 by bombers from Stukageschzvader 2 in Kron- shtadt; the forward part of the hull as far back as the forefunnel was submerged, but as the rest of the hull remained above water the ship was used as a gun battery. After the war she was towed to Leningrad and reclassified as the artillery ship Volkhov. Oktyabrskaya Revoluciya was heavily damaged by Ger- man bombers in Kronshtadt 21.9.41; towed to Leningrad for repairs, she was again bombed 4.4.42. However, she was serviceable once more by November 1942 and took pan in the Soviet offensive off Leningrad in 1944. Her armament by now consisted of 12-12in, 10-120mm, 6-3in AA. 10-0.5in MG, 89-0.3in MG and 4—450mm TT, and she carried a crew of 1411. By the end of the war she had received 8-6in A A m twin mounts, I6-37mm A A with protective shields and Type 279 air warning radar supplied by the British. She was used as a training ship after the war. Parizskaya Kommuna was employed 1941—42 in coastal bombardment duty but following bomb damage was withdrawn to Poti and remained there until the end of hostilities in the Black Sea. In 1944 she had I2-I2in, I2-I20mm, 6-3in AA, I2-37mm AAand 14-0.5in MG, with a crew of 1546. British Type 290/291 air warning radar was installed. She became a training ship after the war. CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Diana class AURORA May 1900 6731t Preserved Kajul class PAMIAT MERKURIYA June 1903 6645t Constructive (ex-Kajul) Rurik class RURIK 17.11.1906 I5,190t total loss 16.7.42 BU 1930 Kajul class Pamial Mercuriya was the sole survivor of a class of four first class cruisers built under the 1895 Programme for the Black Sea Fleet. She was very active in 1914—17, flew the Ukrainian flag for a short period, and was captured by the Germans in 1918 and then returned to the ‘Whites’. Seized by the Bolsheviks again in November 1920 at Sevastopol, she was repaired, renamed Kommtem 6.3.23 and commissioned with the Red Navy 1.5.23. She was in a poor condition by the end of the 1920s but by 1932 had been completely overhauled. In 1936-37 some experiments with flying boats were carried out, the third funnel having been removed for this purpose. She was used as a training cruiser after 1939. Involved in the Soviet defence of Sevastopol in 1942, she was damaged by bombers at Novorossisk 2.7.42 and then sailed to Poti where she wras again bombed on 16.7.42. She was decommissioned, stripped of all her armament, and expended as a breakwater in the Khopi estuary. The wreck was raised around 1958 and scrapped. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Donskoi Kazak class TURKMENEC 1905 500t TS 1979 STAVROPOLSKIY UKRAINA 1904 500t BU 1950s VOISKOVOI 1904 500t BU 1950s Gaydamak class GAYDAMAK 1905 570t BU 1926 RUSH AL (ex-Ussuriyec) 1905 570t Discarded 1930s SLADKOV (ex-Vsadnik) 1905 570t Discarded 1930s ZHELEZNYAKOV 1905 570t Discarded 1930s (ex-Amurec) KARL LIBKNECHT 1905 570t Discarded 1930s (ex-Finn) YAKOV SVERDLOV 1905 570t Discarded 1930s (ex-Emir Bukharskiy) General Kondratyenko class KONSTRUKTOR 1905 6I5t ?Stricken 1957 (ex^Sibirskiy Strielok) POGRAN1CHNIK 1905 6l5t BU 1925 Narvik class - Type I NOVI К 1911 1280t Mined 28.8.41 Narvik class - Type ll BYSTRY1* 1914 HlOt Sunk 21.9.41 Novik class - Type ill IZIASLAV 1914 1350t Sunk 8.8.41 PRIAMYSLAV* 1915 1350t Mined 28.8.41 Novik class - Type IV KAPITAN BELLI* 1915 1260t BU 1950s LENIN 1914 1260t Scuttled 24.6.41 (ex-Kapitan Izlmetiev) KAPITAN KERN* 1915 1260t BU 1950s GARIBALDI 1914 1260t BU 1950s (yx-Leylenant Ilyin) Novik class - Type V DESNA 1915 1260t Mined 24.8.41 STALIN (ex-Samson) 1915 1260t BUH953 ZABIYAKA 1915 1260t BUH953 VOLODARSKIY 1915 I260t Mined 28.8.41 (ex-Pobyeditiel) ZINOVYEV (ex-Azard) 1916 1260t Mined 28.8.41 Novik class - Type VI ZANTE* 1916 1326t BU 1950s KORFU* 1916 1326t To Bulgaria 1949 LEVKAS* 1916 1326t Stranded 10.4.42 * Incomplete Diana class Aurora was built under the 1895 programme as a first class cruiser for the Baltic Fleet and rc-arined with 14-130mm guns during her 1916-17 refit. Her crew played a significant role in the Bolsheviks’ seizure of power in Russia. Recom- missioned with the Red Navy 23.3.23 as a cadet training cruiser, she was laid up from about 1931 at Kronshtadt and Leningrad. She was stripped of her main armament in 1941, and was subsequently damaged by German bombers and scuttled to avoid capsizing. Raised in 1944, she was repaired and preserved at a permanent anchorage on the Neva 2 11.48. Petrovskiy (ex-Korfu) in the 1930s Author's Collection
SOVIET UNION Donskoi Kazak class Seven vessels of this class were actually on strength in 1922 but Donskoi Kazak (damaged in Wlf>),Sienegushchiy,Sirashnyi andZabaikalec were scrapped that year. Turmenec Stavropolskiy, transferred to the Caspian, was renamed Altfatyer and reclassified as a gunboat with a new armement of 3-4in, 2-45mm AA, 2-37mm AA and 2-0.3in MG. She still exists as a training unit. Ukraina and Voiskovoi, renamed Bakinskiy Rabochiy and AfarJiin respectively, were similarly re-armed; they were scrapped in the 1950s. General Kondratyenko class Of the original four vessels in this class one, Okhotnik, was sunk n 1917, whilst General Kondratyenko was broken up m 1922. Konstruktor was used in experi- ments from 1925 and recommissioned in 1941 with 3-IOOmm (3x 1), 2-37mm (2x 1), 2-20mmand MGs Her bows were destroyed in a German air raid but she was repaired with a shortened bow and reclassified as a gunboat. She was employed as a guardship from 8.5.45. Kovik class Fifty-four destroyers had been laid down between 1910 and 1915 around the design of Novik - in 1914 the most powerful and fastest destroyer in the world. Having a powerplant imported from the A G Vulcan Yard in Stettin, she reached 37 3kts on trials, although her sister-ships could not quite match her perfor- mance. All carried a considerable TT armament, but the guns grouped on the main deck aft were difficult to operate in a rough sea. Thirty of these units were commissioned prior to the Bolshevik Revolution, but only 9 remained in service after the Civil War; 8 had been cancelled in 1914, 8 were scrapped in 1923, 6 were completed during 1923-28 and 2 more were raised and repaired in 1928. Though of generally similar appearance, they were divided into 6 sub-groups known as the Types I-VI. Unfortunately they proved to be of limited fighting value during the Second World War. Novik herself was renamed Yakov Sverdlov in 1931 and by 1941 was armed with 4-4in/45 (4x 1), l-3in/55 AA, l-37mm/67 AA, 2MGs and %-450mm TT (3x3), and could carry 60 mines Bystryi, damaged m 1919, was repaired and recommissioned as Frunze in 1928. She was re-armed along similar lines. Iziaslav was renamed Karl Marx in 1923, whilst Priamyslav was completed as Kalinin in 1927; both were re-armed as above, although Karl Marx had only two triple banks of TT Of the Type IV vessels, Kapttan Belli and Kapuan Kern were completed in 1927-28 as Karl Libknecht and Rykov respectively. All four ships were armed with 4-4in/45 (4x 1), 2-45mm/46 A A (2x 1), 2-37mm/67 AA (2x 1), 3-0. Sin MG(3x 1), 9-450mmTT and 50 mines by 1941, and 2-20mmandup to9-0.3m MG were added during World War II. Garibaldi was renamed Trockiy soon after 1922 and received a fourth name - Voikov - in 1928. The Type Vs were re-armed similarly by 1941, although they were fitted with only 6-450mmTT (2x3) and could carry 60 mines. Desna, Zabiyaka and Zinovyev were renamed Engels (1923), Urickiy (1923) and Artiom (1937) respectively. The threcType Vis were all completed in 1925, their original names being changed: Zante was commis- sioned as Nyezamozhnyi, Levkas as Shaumyan and Korfu as Petrozskiy. They were joined by a fourth unit,Dzerzhinskiy {ex-Kaliakriya), which was raised and repaired in 1928. This vessel was mined off Sevastopol 13.5 42 By 1941 the ships were armed with 4-4in/45 (4x 1), 2-3in/55 АЛ (2x 1), 2-37mm/67 A A (2x 1), 3—0.5in MG (3x 1), 6-450mm TT (2x 1) and 60 mines, augmented by 3-37mm/67 and 2-20mm on Nyesamozhnyi and Petrovskiy later in the war. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Prytkiy type BA DI NA {ex^Strogiy) 1901 240t Discarded 1930s LEYTENANT SHMIDT1901 240t Discarded 1930s {ex-Svirepyi) TOCHNYI 1906 297t Discarded 1930s TVIORDYI 1906 297t Discarded 1930s Besstrashnyi type ARTIEMYEV 1906 355t Discarded late (ех-Ууло^ЧУ1) MARTYNOV 1906 355t 1930s Discarded late (ex- Vnushityelnyi) ROSHAL {ex-Jnzhener- 1906 355t 1930s Discarded late mekhanik Dimitriyev) ZHEMCHUZHNYI 1906 355t 1930s Discarded late {ex-Inzhener- mekhanik Zrnenev) Zavidnyi class MARTI {ex-Zavidnyt) 1903 350t 1930s Discarded late 1930s These nine units were the only Soviet World War I torpedo-boats to survive into the 1930s; 41 others, though still in existence in 1922, were sent for scrapping shortly after that year. 1 'ochnyt and Tiiordyi were renamed Potaptenko and Lazo respectively in 1923, whilst Anieniyev and Martynov were used as training vessels. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate ‘Bubnov* type POLITRUK {ex-Nierpa) 1913 645t/790t Discarded 1930s LEOPARD c 1915 650t/780t Discarded cl936 PANTIERA C1915 650t/780t Discarded 1941 RYS c 1915 650t/780t Sunk 13 9 34 TIGR <1915 650t/780t BUcl937 TUR <1915 650t/780t Discarded 1938 VOLK <1915 650t/780t Discarded cl937 YAGUAR <1915 650t/780t Discarded cl936 ZMIEYA <1915 650t/780t Lost 5.9.34 YORSH C1916 650t/780t Sunk 22.5 31 AG class AG25 • 355t/433t Sunk 4.11 43 KAMANEV (ex AG26) • 355t/433t Discarded 1943 LUNAKHARSKIY • 355t/433t Discarded (ex-AG24) June 1946 TROCKIY (ex-AG 23) • 355t/433t Discarded 1941 * Assembled 1916-23 from sections delivered from the USA "Bubnov* type Most of these submarines were renamed in the early 1920s Leopard became Krasnoarmeyec (B4), Pantiera became Komissar (B2), Rys became Bolshevik (B7), Tigr became Kommunar (B6), Tur became Tovanshch (B3),Vo/fc became Batrak (Bl), Yaguar becameKrasnoflotyec (B8),Znneya becameProtletariy (B6) and Yorsh became Rabochiy. Five other units of the class extant or partly completed in 1922 were scrapped in the years immediately following. AG class These four units were joined in 1930 by a fifth, Metallist (A5, ex-AG21) which had been scuttled at Sevastopol m 1919 but was raised in 1928 The inevitable name changes took place: AG25 became Marxist (A3), Karnanev was renamed Pohrabotnik (Л4), Lunakharsky became Konnnunist (A2) and Trockiy took the namesNyezamozhnyi and lYienShakhtior (Al). Armament by World War II was 4-450mm TT (bow), 1—45mm/46 and 2-0.3in MG All served on the Black Sea RIVER MONITORS Name Launched Disp Fate Shkval class LENIN (ex- Shtorm) 1909-10 950t Discarded 1950s SVERDLOV (ex-Vvuga) 1909-10 950t Discarded 1950s TROCKIY (ex-Uragan) 1909-10 950t Discarded 1950s Shkval class In addiuon to the above, Dalnevostochnoi Komsomolec {ex-Amur, ex-Vikhr) Dzherzinskiy {ex-Vostretsov,ex-Taifun), Kirov {ex-Tnanda Filov,ex-Smerch') and Sun Yat-Sen (ex^Shkval') were recommissioned 1927-34 and were discarded in the 1950s. One of the three ships in commission in 1922 was soon renamed - Trockiy became Krasnyi Vostok. This vessel, together with Lenin and Sverdlov, was modernised in the 1930s, and all were used on the Amur. At the outbreak of war the armament consisted of 6 to 8-120mm {Sverdlov 4-6in), 2-37mm/67 AA, 4 to 5-0 5in MG and 2 to 4—0 3in MG. In 1922 the Soviet Navy also had in commission the guardships Kobchik (discarded c 1940) and Korshun (renamed Pionyer, lost 1941); the Mandzhur class gunboats Rubanec (BU 1925), and Znamya Socyalizma (ex-Tyetyec, auxiliary 1930s), the Grozyashchiy class gunboat Krasnpye Znamya {ex-Khrabryt, modern- ised 1944—45 with 5-130mm/55 and 8-37mm /67, BU 1960s), and theChivinec class gunboat Krasnaya Zvezda {ex-Chivtnec, converted to gunnery training ship w'ith 4-130mm, 2—47mm AA, 4 MGs, discarded 1930s); the minelayers 25 Oktyabrya {ex-Narova, ex-General Admiral, hulked cl937), 9 Yanvarga {ex- Volga, hulked cI937) and Amur (lost 27 8 41), the minesweepers Mtnrep (dis- carded 1940s), Zapal (lost Aug 1940), Patron (discarded 1930s), Plamya (dis- carded 1930s, Gruz, Kapstui and Krambol (all discarded ?1930s), Kluz (lost 24.11.41) and Udamik (lost 2 10 42); about 9 river/lake gunboats and 16 Elpidiofor class landing ships. The two battleships, two cruisers, seven des- troyers, three torpedo-boats, four submarines, three landing ships and two gunboats interned at Bizerta in 1920 were sold for scrapping m 1924. 324
Capital Ships CAPITAL SHIPS Four ships of this class were author- ised on 21.1.1938 by the Council for Work and Defence, despite the fact that their displacement exceeded the limit allowed by the 1936 London Naval Conference Commissioning was scheduled for 1941. The general characteristics were sketched by Admiral I S Isakov, the design, which was influenced by the Ansaldo project supplied in 1936 and was known as ‘Project 23’, was modified several times after the keels had been laid down The Pugliese system was cho- sen for underwater protection as well as a triple bottom The heavy A A armament was a remarkable feature for its time but it seems to reflect the lack of air cover that could be expected for these ships Only 3 units were laid down - Soyyetskiy Soyuz for the Baltic Fleet, Sovyetskaya Ukraina for the Black Sea Fleet, and Sovyetskaya Byelorussia for the Northern Fleet. The fourth ship, Sovyetskaya Rossiya, was plan- ned for the Molotovsk 402 Yd but construction advanced no further than the partial gathering of material at the Marti Yd in Nikolayev; con- struction was cancelled in 1940, the material being used to build the SOVYETSKIY SOYUZ class Displacement: 59,150t standard, 65,150t deep load Dimensions: 889ft Im oa x I27ft 7m x 33ft 6in 211.00 x 38.90 x 10.20m Machinery: 3-shaft turbo-electric drive, 231,OOOshp = 28kts Armour: Belt 16]in, deck 8,'in, turret faces 19fin Armament; 9-l6in/50 (3x3), 12-15Omm/5O (6x2), 8-100mm/56 (4x2), 32-37mm/67 (8x4), 8-0.5in MG, 4 aircraft Complement: 5 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate SOVYETSKAYA 402 Yd 28.11.1939 — — BU 1940s BYELORUSSIYA SOVYETSKIY Ordzhonikidze Yd 28.8.1938 — — BU 1949 SOYUZ SOVYETSKAYA UKRAINA Marti Yd, Nikolayev 28.11.1938 — — BU 1946 experimental hull section which was commissioned during the war as the floating AA battery Ne Tron Meniya. Material for Sovyetskaya Byelonts- stya had been supplied by the Baltic Works in Leningrad Construction work on the three hulls was practically halted late in 1940, despite the fact that the hulls for the first pair were approximately 75 per cent complete. The hull of Sovyetskaya Ukraina was captured by the Germans at Nikolayev, only having been slightly- damaged by the withdrawing Soviet forces. The Germans considered the launching of the hull but this plan was abandoned, and some of the material and that from two destroyer hulls was used to build the troopships Tolita and Teja. The slip, with the remains of the hull, was damaged by the Ger- mans when they evacuated Nikolayev, and all three hulls were dismantled on the slipways during the late 1940s ARKHANGELSK The British battleship Royal Sovereign was temporarily transferred to the Soviet Union in order to fulfil the Soviet’s claim for a share of the Italian Navy Handed over on 30 June 1944 in UK and officially commis- sioned with the Northern Fleet on 29 August 1944, she found herself the primary target for German U-boats and midget submarines and did not venture out of the Kola Inlet until the end of hostilities in Europe. She was returned to the Roy al Navy on 4 Feb- ruary 1949 as the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare had been delivered instead. Incomplete hull of Sovyetskaya Ukraina Jerzy Miariski Collection 325
SOVIET UNION CRUISERS These ships were authorised by the Council for Work and Defence on 21 January 1938. The preliminary design, disregarding the Washington Treaty, called for a displacement of 22,000t, a speed of 33kts, a main armament of 9-IOin guns, and a belt 5|in thick. However, the Defence Committee put forward a new requirement on 29 July 1938, pre- sumably affected by the German Schamhorsl class battlecruisers. The new design was approved 12.4.40, eight months after the keel of the first unit had been laid down. Only two ships were in fact laid down; the incomplete hull of Sevastopol was cap- tured by the Germans at Nikolayev and scrapped. KRONSHTADT class large cruisers Displacement: 35,240t standard; 38,360t deep load Dimensions: 816ft Sin x 103ft x 29ft lOin 248.00 x 31.40 x 9.10m Machinery: 4-shaft geared tuibines, 231,OOOshp = 33kts Armour: Belt 9in, deck 3Jin, turrets 12in Armament: 9-12tn (3x3), 8-150mm/50 (4x2), 8-100mm/56 (4x2), 24-37mm/67 (6x4), 8-O.5in MG, 4 aircraft Complement: ? Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KRONSHTADT Marti Yd, Leningrad 15.7.1939 — BU 1950s SEVASTOPOL Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1939 — BU 1940s Of the six Svetlana class cruisers authorised under the 1912 Pro- gramme all were launched during the First World War but none was com- pleted prior to the Bolshevik Revolu- tion. After the Civil War only the two most advanced units - Svetlana (renamed Profintem ?c!924) and Admiral Nakhimov (renamed Cher- vona Ukraina cl922) — were consi- dered possible to complete. Profintem was ready in 1925 but after her sea trials spent the next two years under- going necessary alterations. Chervona Ukraina (almost ready in 1918) took four years to complete. Both cruisers were utterly outdated when finally commissioned: the guns were carried low at main deck level and were dif- ficult to operate in a rough sea; and the machinery was old-fashioned, the designed speed of 29.5kts being quite unattainable. Between 22.11.29 and 14.1.30 Profintem and the battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna were transfer- red to the Black Sea. During the mid-1930s the AA armament was augmented on both ships to 6-3in/55 and 12 MGs. Profin- tem was renamed Krasnyi Krym on 5.11.39 and by this time she had com- pleted a major overhaul. She was equipped with modern fire control arrangements and new AA armament consisting of 6-100mm/56, 10-37mm/67 and 7-0.5in MG. The seaplane and cranes were removed. The complement was increased to 852. Chervona Ukraina underwent similar reconstruction during 1939-41. Both cruisers were busy during the defence of Odessa and Sevastopol where Chervona Ukraina was heavily damaged by the bombers of I Stukageschwader 77 on 12.11.41 and in spite of measures to save her, Krasnyi Kavkaz after the war Haris Lentachko Collection 326 PROFINTERN class Displacement: 6833t (Chervona Ukraina 6934t) standard; 8000t deep load Dimensions: 506ft Ilin (Chervona Ukraina 518ft 8in) x 50ft 5in x 18ft 6in 154.50 (158.40) x 15.36 x 5.65m Machinery: 2-shaft Brown-Curtis (Chervona Ukraina Parsons) turbines, 12 Yarrow' boilers, 46,300shp = 22kts. Coal 540t, oil 690t Armour: Belt 3in-liin, main deck lin, casemates and gunshields Ij’in, CT 3m Armament: 15-130mm/55 (15x 1), 4-2.5in (4x 1), 4-13.2mm MG, 6-21in TT (Chervona Ukraina 12—2 lin TT), 1 aircraft, cl00 mines Complement: 684 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate CHERVONA UKRAINA Russud SB 31.10.1913 6.11.15 27.2.27 Foundered 13.11.41 (ex-Admiral Nakhimov) PROFINTERN (ex.-Svetlana) Baltic SB 24.11.1913 21.11.15 1.7.28 BU 1960 slowly filled with water and sank the next day. The wreck was raised 1946-48 and scrapped. Krasnyi Krym was evacuated to Poti after the fall of Sevastopol and operated from this base. During the war her .AA arma- ment was augmented with 2 single 3in guns, and by 1945 she was equipped with Type 291 air warning radar. She served as a training cruiser from 7.3.45 and was decommissioned in 1958. Chervona Ukraina about 1930 Boris Lemachko Collection
Begun as ihe light cruiser Admiral Lazarev (Svetlana class), this ship was resumed in September 1927 under the 1926 Programme. Renamed Krasnyi Kavkas in 1926, she was completed to a modified design nearly 20 у ears after being laid down. She was lengthened by some 30ft, and the upper deck side . plating was earned further aft. The main armament comprised experi- mental 180mm/57 guns in enclosed centreline turrets, and the disposition of the main armament, her large bridge, 2 funnels and the lattiue mainmast made her considerably dif- ferent in appearance from her sisters. By the outbreak of war her АЛ armament comprised 6-100mm/47, 4—45mm/46, 8-37mm/67 and 6-0.5in MG The cruiser took part in defen- sive operations during 1941, being badly damaged by German shore artillery at Feodosiya on 29.12 41 She was again heavily damaged by air- craft from Stukageschwader 77 on 4 1 42 off Tuapse, and was repaired in I’oti by October of that year Her AA armament was augmented with guns taken from the sunken Chervona Ukraina, and her damaged propellers were replaced by ones removed from KRASNYI KAVKAZ Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 7650t standard; 9030t deep load 169 50 x 15 70 x 6.20m 2-shaft turbines, 12 Yarrow' boilers, 55,000shp = 29kts Oil 1600t Belt 3in-ljin, deck llin-lin, turrets 3m, CT 3in 4-180mm/57 (4x1), 4-100mm/47 (4x1), 4-45mm/46 (4x1), 4-0 5in MG, 12-21in TT (4x3), 1 aircraft, 100 mines 850 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KRASNYI KAVKAZ Nikolavev DYd 31.10.1913 21 6.16 25 1.32 Sunk as target (cx-Admiral Lazarev) late 1950s this wreck. Bv 1944 Krasnvi Kavkas had 4-180mm/57 (4/1), 12-100mm/57 (6x2), 2-3in/45 (2x1), 4-45mm/46 (4/1), 10-37mm/67 (10x l)and 6-0.5in MG but no catapult or seaplane Quadru- ple Vickers 0.5in MG mounts were also placed atop ‘B’ and ‘X’ turrets In the autumn of 1944 she began a major overhaul and the rudder provisionally repaired in 1943 was replaced This work was completed in 1945, but the ship was later refuted for further ser- vice as a training cruiser. The middle pair of twin 100mm АЛ guns were removed, together with the two after sets of TT, and the light AA guns were reduced or eliminated entirely. She served as a training ship from 12,5 47, was decommissioned in the early 1950s, and was expended as a target during the trials of the SSN-1 missile around 1956. I he last four ships of these classes were authorised under the second five-year programme for deployment with the Baltic Fleet (Kirov, Maxim (/oik y) and the Black Sea Fleet (Vor- oshilov, Molotov)', the last pair were begun during the third five-year plan for the Pacific Fleet. The design was prepared with the assistance of the Italian Ansaldo Yd, Genoa, and there- fore the Kirovs bore a striking resemb- lance to Ita lan cruisers Two prclimi nary designs of these ships are known, the first one of 7000t standard, the second one of 7250t and showing 9-lS0mm/57 guns in triple turrets However, the hull design of the latter, prepared bv the Italian engineers, was regarded bv the Russians as too light and the hull was considerably streng- thened, increasing designed standard displacement to 7700t. The final design, known as ‘Project 26’, was approved bv the Council for Work and Defence on 29 12 34 After the iniilial pair had been laid down in 1935 the design was improved in order to increase protection, AA armament and range Kiro’v was readv for trials on 7.8.37, although modifi- cat ons delayed her commissioning for a year, for the same reasons, pre- .sumably, the construction of V<»r- oshilov was suspended for some time, and her main characteristics differed shghtlv from those of К rov. On the last two ships, 10-37mm (IOx 1) replaced the 45mm weapons. Kirov was employed during the \\' inter War with Finland for shore bombardment. After the outbreak of war with Germany she took part in the Sov iet defence of Tallin, and was then evacuated to Kronshtadt and em- ployed in defence of Leningrad, where she was damaged bv German KIROV class__________________________________________________________________________________________ Displacement: 7880t (Voroshilov 7970l) standard, 9436t (Voroshilov 9950t) deep load Dimensions. 584ft pp, 626ft 8in oa x 57ft Ilin x 23ft 9in max 178 00, 191 00 x 17.66 x 7 23m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines (diesels for cruising), 6 Yarrow-Nonnand boilers, 113,000shp = 36kts (Voroshilov 122,5OOshp = 34kts) Oil 12801 Armour: Belt 2in, main deck 2in. turrets 3in, barbettes 2in, CT 6in Armament: 9-180mrn/57 (3x3), 6-100mm/56 (6x1), 6-45inm /46 (6x1), 4-0 5in MG, 6-21in TT (2x3), 2 aircraft, 100 mines Complement: 734 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate KIROV Ordzhonikidze Yd 22.10.1935 30 11.36 26 9 38 Deleted late 1970s VOROSHILOV ' Mani Yd, Nikolayev 15.10.1935 28 6.35 15.6 40 BU 1960s bombers late in 1941 and again in April 1942. She was repaired and back in service early in 1943, and sup- ported the Soviet offensive near Leningrad in 1944 Voroshilov bom- Voroshilov about 1946 Boni Lemaihko Collection barded German positions during the early stages of the war but was heavily damaged by bombs at Novorossisk 31.10 41 Repaired at Pou, she was operational again by February 1942 and supported Soviet ground opera- tions. She was mined 20.11.42 whilst transporting supplies to Sevastopol, but reached Batum where she was repaired by the end of 1944
SOVIET UNION The prototype vessel of the second group, Maxim Gorkiy, lost her bow through striking a mine 23.6 41 but was temporarily repaired and emp- loyed in the defence of Leningrad. She was heavily damaged by the Ger- man bombers and artillery in April 1942, but was repaired and sendee- able the same summer. In 1944 she was used as a support ship for the Leningrad offensive Molotov was involved in Soviet defensive opera- tions off Sevastopol, and though tor- pedoed by the Italian ,AS56£ on 3.8 42, losing 65ft of stern, she was able to return to port. The damaged stern was replaced by a section from the incomplete c-uiser Frunze, and the ship was back in service by late 1944. Kaganovich and Kalinin were launched at Komsomolsk but had to be towed to Vladivostok for fitting out because their draught was too great for the Amur. Although both com- missioned a long time before the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, they remained inactive during hos- tilities. During the war all four ships in European waters underwent some alt- MAXIM GORKIY class Displacement: 8177t standard; 9792t deep load Dimensions: 626ft Sin x 58ft lin x 20ft 9in 191 00 x 17.70 x 633m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines (diesels for cruising), 6 Yarrow-Normand boilers, 129,500shp = 35kts Armour: As Kirov class Armament: 9-180mm/57 (3x3), 6-100mm/56 (6x 1), I0-45mm/46 (10x 1), 4-0.5in MG, 6-2Im TT (2x3), 2 aircraft, 100 mines Complement: 963 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate MAXIM GORKIY Ordzhonikidze Yd 20 12.1936 30.438 12 11 40 BU 1958 MOLOTOV Mani Yd, Nov 1936 23.2 39 14 6 41 D scarded 1970s Nikolayev KAGANOVICH Komsomolsk Yd 1939 Oct 1943 June 1944 BU 1960s KALININ Komsomolsk Yd 1939 Apr 1943 1943 Discarded 1960s erations - intitially the AA armament was increased, then the catapult and seaplanes were removed in order to mount additional light guns. Shortly before the warKirou received an addi- tional 5-37mm/67 AA guns instead of her 3-45mm, and in 1943 her AA armament consisted of 8-100mm/56 (8x1), 10-37mm/67 (10x1) and 4-0.5in MG, and 4 DCTs were fitted Voroshilov had 6-100mm/56 (6x1), 3-45mm/46 (3x1), !4-37mm/67 (14x 1) and 8-0.5in MG, plus 2 DCTs, with a complement of 882. Maxim Gorkiy received an extra 3-37mm/67 AA and 2-0.5in MG by 1943. Shortly after the war all the Kirovs were probably armed with 18-37mm/67 guns Fire control had also been improved - some of the units had received the German Wackel- topf directors (either Molotov or Vor- oshilov had one by April 1944) and Type 285 gunnery and Type 279 air warning sets as well Kirov became a headquarters and training ship; Molotov was renamed Slava in 1958, and was used as a training cruiser from the 1960s, Kaganovi h was renamed Petropavlovsk in 1958 Molotov shortly after compleuon Boris Ltmachko Collection Approved and laid down under the third five-year plan for deployment with the Baltic and the Black Sea Fleets, these units were larger than Kirovs and were lengthened in order to accommodate a fourth triple turret aft. Compared with the Kirovs they had greater freeboard and, with their extra length, were probably better seaboats The widely spaced, tall fun- nels with the catapult between gave them a striking resemblance to Italian treaty cruisers. During the early stages of design, 180mm 57gunswere probably decided upon as the main armament. The construction of these ships was slowed in 1940, but all except the two captured by the Ger- mans at Nikolayev were completed during the late 1940s to the improved design. The hulls of Fninze and Kuibyshev were taken to Caucasian ports in 1941 and rhe stern of the former was used to repair the dam- aged cruiser Molotov. Chkalov was renamed Komsomolec in 1960. Chapayev and Zheleznyakov were transferred to the Northern Fleet in 1950. Komsomolec and Zhelezniakov are still in existence as training cruis- ers. CHAPAYEV class Displacement: U,300t standard; 15,000t deep load Dimensions: 659ft 5in pp x 64ft 8in x 21ft 201 00 x 19 70 x 6 40m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines (diesels for cruising), 6 watertube boilers, 130,OOOshp = 34kts Oil 35OOt Armour: Improved as compared with Kirov class Armament: 12-150mm/50 (4x3), 8-100mm/56 (8x ]), 24-37mm/67, 6-2lin TT (2x3), 2? aircraft, 200 mines Complement: 840 Name Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate CHAPAYEV Ordzhonikidze Yd 1938 1940 1949 BU 1961 CHKALOV Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 1948 1950 Training ship ZHELEZNIAKOV Marti Yd, Leningrad 1938 1940 1949 Training ship FRUNZE Maru Yd, Nikolayev 1939 31.12.40 1950 BU 1960s KUIBYSHEV 61 Kommunar Yd 1939 31.1 41 1950 Discarded 1960s ORDZHONIKIDZE Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1940 — — BU 1940s ‘VII’ 61 Kommunar Yd 1940 — — BU 1940s TALLIN As a result of the German Soviet pact of 1939 the Germans sold to the Soviet Union the incomplete Hipper class cruiser Liltzow. She was renamed Pet- ropavlovsk but had still not been com- pleted by the middle of the war. How- ever, she was commissioned as a float- ing battery by August 1941, armed 328 provisionally with 3-8in and some light AA guns. Sunk by German artil- lery fire on 17 9.41 at Leningrad, she was raised and towred to Kronshtadt for repairs. She was renamed Tallin in 1943 and took part m the Soviet offen- sive off Leningrad in 1944 She was employed as a stationary training unit after the war and scrapped, still incomplete, in 1958-59. For further details see under Germany. MURMANSK The US light cruiser Milwaukee of the Omaha class was temporarily trans- ferred to the Soviet Navy to fulfill the Russian claim for their share of the Italian Fleet She arrived at the Kola Inlet on 5.4.44, and was handed over and commissioned with the Northern Fleet 20 4 44 She spent the remain- der of war in the Arctic, but was returned to the US Navy on 8 3 49 as the Italian cruiser Duca d’Aosta had been delivered instead. See under USA.
Komsomolec (ex-Ch.iklav) in May 1964 FLOTILLA LEADERS LENINGRAD class Displacement: 2150t standard, 2582r (last three 2680t) deep load Dimensions: 418ft 4in oa x 38ft 5in x 13ft 4 n, 13ft 9in max 127 50 x П 10 x 4 06, 4.18m Machinery: 3 shaft geared turbines, 3 watenube boi ers, 66,OOOshp = 36kt Armament 5-130mm/55 (5x1), 2-3in/55 (2x1), 2-45mm/46 (2x1), 8-2 Im TT (2x4), 70 to 80 mines Complement; 250 Name Builder Launched Fate KHARKOV Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Bombed 6 10 43 LENINGRAD Zhdanov Yd 1933 Discarded 51960s MOSKVA Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1935 Mined 26 6 41 MINSK Zhdanov Yd 6 11 1935 Auxiliary 1959 BAKU (ex-Kirt) Komsomolsk Yd 25 7 1938 D scarded ? 1960s TBILISI Dalzavod Yd 1938 Discarded 51960s The first three units of this class (laid down 1932) were authorised under the first five-year programme and built to the design known as Project 1’; they were followed by a further three to an improved design (‘Project 38’), authorised under the second five year plan and laid down 1934-36 They were inspired bv the 1 rench contrt'-turpilleurs, but did not earn the high op mon of their counter parts Top heavy and poor scaboats these leaders faced numerous technical shortcomings since thev were the first large modern surface warsh ps designed and built in the Soviet Union. Construction took, on average, 5 years. During the war the Л A armament was augmented - Rakit had 2-3in/55 (2x1), 6-37mm/67 (6x1) and 6-0 5in MGs with a complement of 311 '1 he midships 130min gun was removed from some ships in order to accommodate additional light guns. DCTs were also added. Late in the war Baku received a British made Type 285 gunnery radar set, asdic, and probably a US-made SG type surface warning set Possiblv some of the other ships received these svstems too Kharkov was sunk bv bombers from Stukageschuader 77 off the Crimean coast, together with destrovers Besposhchudnyi and Sposobnyi Moskva was lost on mines oft Constanza Minsk was sunk by bombers from Siukagesc Invader 2 off Kronshtadt on 23 9 41, but was refloated and recommissioned m November 1942 She was used as a target-towing vessel from 1959. and transferred to the Northern Fleet Baku was laid down as Kiev, but was renamed Sergyei Ord- zhonikidze on 25.7 39, Ordzhonikidze on 27.12.39, and finally Baku on 25 9.40 She was transferred to the Northern Fleet via the Siberian sea route between 15 July and 14 October 1942. Material for Baku and Tbilisi had been assembled at Nikolay ev TASHKENT Displacement: 2893t standard, 32OOt deep load Dimensions: 458ft 6in x 44ft 1 lin x 12ft 2in • 1.19 75 x 13 70 x 3.70m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 110,OOOshp = 39kts Armament: 6-130mm/50 (3x2), 6-45mm/46 (6x 1), 6-0.5in MG, 9-2 lin TT (3x3), 80 mines Complement 250 Name Builder Launched Fate TASHKENT OTO Yd, Livorno 21.11 1937 Foundered 2 7.42 Ordered in Italy under the second five-year programme, this vessel was of exceptionally sound design and construction and made 44 2kts on trials, although she was unarmed at the time She was laid down in January 1937 and delivered in February 1939, provisionallv armed with 3-130mm/55 in single mounts as her tw'in turrets hid not been made readv She received her designed armament in 1940-41 During the war2-3in AA guns were added m place of one bank of torpedo tubes. Her handsome lines and unusua1 sky blue paint scheme earned her the nicknames ‘Blue Beauty ’ and ‘Blue Cruiser’. She entered service with the Black Sea Fleet, but was heavily damaged bv German bombers of Sevastopol and towed, with 1900t of water in the hull, bv the destroyer Bduelnyi to Novorossisk where she foundered ’1 he twin turrets were salved and two of them were later used on the de troyer Ognevoi. The wreck was partially scrap- ped by the Germans during 1942 and finally by the Soviets when the port was recaptured in 1943 9ЭО
Tashkent about 1939 with the provisional armament Boris Lemachko Collection KIEV class flotilla leaders Displacement: 2600t Dimensions: ? Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boi ers, 38kts Armament: 6-130mm/50 (3x2), 2-3in/55 (2x1), 3-45mm/46 (3x1), 8-5in MG, 8 or 10-21Ш TT (2x4 or 5), 80 mines Complement: ? Minsk shortly after lhe war Boris Lemachko Collection Name Builder Launched Fate KIEV Marti Yd, Nikolayev 12 12 1940 BU 1940s OCHAКОV 61 Kommunar Yd - Damaged Aug 1941 PEREKOP 61 Kommunar Yd - Damaged Aug 1941 YEREVAN Marti Yd, Nikolayev 26 6 1941 BU 1940s Possibly about 12 units of this class had been authorised under the third five vear plan The design, known as ‘Project B-Г was prepared by the Soviets as an improved Tashkentt and the reduction in displacement seems to be a result of the requirement for a smaller radius of action. Only four vessels (for the В ack Sea 1 leet) had been laid down (in 1939-40) prior to the German invasion, the others be ng subsequently cancelled The hulls of Kiev and Yerevan were evacuated to Poti m August 1941 and scrapped after the war. Two others «ere demolished on the slipways. I DESTROYERS GNEVNYI class Displacement: I855t standard, 2380t deep load Dimensions: 370ft 7in oa x 22ft 6m x 13ft 5in max 112 SO x 10 20 x 4.10m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 watertube boilers, 48,OOOshp = 37kts Oil 540t Armament: 4-130mm/50 (4x1), 2-3m/55 (2x1), 2-45mm/46 (2x1), 4-0.‘чп MG, 6-2Im TT (2x3), 56 mines Complement: 246 Name Builder Launched Fate BDITELNYI 61 Kommunar Yd 1936 Bombed 2 7 42 BESPOSHCHADNYI Sevastopol DYd 1937 Bombed 6 10 43 BFZUPRECHNYI 61 Kommunar Yd 1936 Bombed 26 6 42 BODRYI Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Discarded ?1950s BOIKIY Marti Yd, Nikolayev 29.10.1936 Discarded ?1950s BYSTRYI Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Mined June 1941 GNEVNYI Zhdanov Yd 17.7.1936 Mined 23 6 41 GORDYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1936 Mined 14.11.41 GREMYASHCHIY Zhdanov Yd 12.3.1937 Discarded 1958 GROMKIY Ordzhonikidze Yd 6 12 1937 Discarded 51950s GROZYASHCHIY Zhdanov Yd 18.8 1936 Discarded 51950s GROZNYI Zhdanov Yd 31.7.1936 Discarded ?1950s RASTROPNYI Komsomolsk Yd 1939 Discarded ? 1950s RAZIASHCHIY Dalzavod Yd 1938 ?To China 1955 RESH1TELNYI Komsomolsk Yd Oct 1938 Beached 7 11 38 (ex Pr\tkty) REZKIY Komsomolsk Yd 1939 To China 1955 (?ex Pospyeshnyt) REZVYI Dalzavod Yd June 1937 Discarded ? 1950s RYANIY Dalzavod Yd Oct 1937 Discarded ? 1950s RAZYARYONNYI Komsomolsk Yd 1940 Discarded 1950s RAZUMNYI Dalzavod Yd 1940 Foundered cl960 REDKIY Komsomolsk Yd 1940 Lost ? 1940s RESHITELNYI Dalzavod Yd 1939 To China 1955 (?ex Rekordnyi) RETIVYI Komsomolsk Yd 1940 To China 1955 REVNOSTNYI Komsomolsk Yd 1940 Discarded 1950s SILNYI Zhdanov Yd — Converted into SMETLIVYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1937 Type 7U Mined 4 1141 SOKRUSHITELNYI Zhdanov Yd 15.8 1936 Foundered STEREGUSHCHIY Zhdanov Yd 1937 20 11 42 Bombed 23.9 41 STREMITELNYI Zhdanov Yd 1936 Bombed 20 7 41 STOROZHEVOI Zhdanov Yd — Converted into REKORDNYI Dalzavod Yd 1941 Tvpe 7U Discarded ? 1950s Cnevnyt during the war Note the Type 286 radar aerial Jerzy Micirfski Collection Forty-eight units of this class, known as the Tvpe 7, were authorised under the t second five-year plan. Work on the design began in 1932 after the ‘Project 1’ of the Leningrad class flotilla leaders had been completed Assistance from Italian engineers had been provided during the process of design and construction, so the destroyers bore a striking resemblance to the Italian single-funnelled boats. (The Italian influence is more apparent if one compares the Ty pe 7 destroyers with the Kondounotis class built in Italy for Greece ) Consequently the boats J incorporated some faults inherent m the Italian design-structural weakness and limited seaworthiness, the latter being additionally affected by a heavier arma- ment than that installed on the Italian vessels. The machinery layout was conventional, with all the engine rooms placed abaft the boiler rooms. The early ships were faced with serious turbine problems. After the first 30 units had been laid dow n, a modified design was introduced by the end of 1936 Thus the Tv pe 7 boats would have comprised five flotillas distributed among the Black Sea (‘B’ flotilla), the Baltic (‘G’ and ‘S’ flotillas) and the Pacific (‘P’ and ‘R’ flotilla) Fleets Although two hulls of the ‘S’ flotilla boats were in the early stages of construction it proved possible to convert them into Type 7U units of the modified design. Material for the Pacific Fleet destroyers had been assembled m Nikolayev during 1935-36. Destroyers built in the Komsomolsk Yd had to be towed to Vladivostok after launched because of the draught limitations of the 1 Amur. AA armament was augmented during the war to 2-3in/55, 3 to 4-37mm/67 and 2 to 8—0 5in MGs, and 2 DCTs were installed. Late in the war I some of this class were fitted with asdic, radar and other electronic systems made available from Allied sources. 330
Destroyers Bditelnyi was sunk by bombers from Kampfgeschwader 100 in Novorossisk and was refloated in 1948 and scrapped; Besposhchadnyt was also sunk by German bombers off Crimea Bystryi was lost on mines dropped by German aircraft from Kampfgeschwader 4 off Sevastopol, but was salvaged and cannibal- ised for spares Gnevnyi was a constructive total loss on the ‘Apolda* mine blurage off the Oleg Bank, being torpedoed subsequently by Gordyi. Goidvi herself was lost on the ‘Corbetha’ mine barrage off Naisaari. Grcmyashchiy, Grttmkiy and Grosnyi were transferred to the Arctic in 1939 Smetlivyi was also sunk on the Corbetha* mine barrage. Sokrushitclnyi andStremitelnyi were trans- ferred to the Arctic in 1939 and 1940 respectively: the former foundered during a siorm in the Barents Sea, the latter was sunk by bombers of KampJgesckvwdiT 30 in Ekaterinski Gavan. Steregushchiy was sunk at Kronshtadt by bombers of S t n k ageschwa de > 2, but was refloated in 1944 and recommissioned autumn 1945. The first six boats of the Pacific Fleet were initially given names beginning with letter P but wrere renamed cl940-41 Reshitelnyi was lost incomplete through stranding on Cape Zolotoi during a towing operation from Kom- somolsk to Vladivostok and her name passed to another unit of the class. Razvaryonnyi and RazUmnyi were transferred in July 1942 to the Arctic via the Siberian sea route, the latter served as an electronic survey vessel from 1959, but was beached during a storm off Murmansk Redkiv was probably lost acciden tally during the war. Revnostnyi sailed to the Arctic with the two previously mentioned boats but was damaged m a collision 18 7.42 and had to return to Vladivostok Rckordnyi was converted from the Type 7U destroyer under construction for the Black Sea Fleet in order to utilise the equipment that had been assembled in Vladivostok for the lost Reshitelnyi. The boats transferred to China in 1955 were renamed An Shan, Chang Chun, Chi Lin and Lu Chun STOROZHEVOI class Displacement 2192l normal; 2404t deep load Dimensions: 370ft lin oa x33ft 6in x 13ft lin mean 112.80 x 10 20 x 4 00m Machinery: 2Ahaft geared turbines, 4 watertube boilers, 54,OOOshp (?first pair 48,OOOshp) = 36kts. Oil 500t Armament: 4-130mm/50 (4x1), 2-3m/55 (2x1), 3-37mm/67 (3x1), 4-0 5in MG, 6-2 lin TT (2x3), 60 mines Complement: 207 Name Builder Launched Fate SILNYI Zhdanov Yd Oct 1938 Discarded ? 1960s STOROZHEVOI Zhdanov Yd 2 10.1938 BU 1959 SERD1TYI Zhdanov Yd 1939 Lost 19 7 41 SLAVNYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 Training ship C1958 SMELYI (ex-Lctuchiy) Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 Lost 27.7 41 STO1KIY (ex-/ ikhoi) Ordzhonikidze Yd 26.12 1938 BUH959 STRASHNYI Zhdanov Yd 1939 Discarded ?1950s SUROVY1 Zhdanov Yd 1939 Mined 13.11 41 SKORYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 Mined 28.8 41 S 1ATNYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 Mined 18.8 41 STROGIY Zhdanov Yd 1939 Deleted ? 1950s STROINYI Zhdanov Yd 1940 BU 1959 SV1REPYI Ordzhonikidze Yd 1940 Deleted ? 1950s SPOKOINYI Zhdanov Yd 1940 BU 1940s ?Marti Yd, Nikolayev Type 7 Rekordnvi SMYSHLONNYI 61 Kommunar Yd 1939 Mined 23 6 42 SOOBRAZITELNYI (ек-Prozorltvx i) 61 Kommunar Yd 1939 Museum ship 1966 SOVERSHENNYI Sevastopol DYd 1939 Lost 12.11 41 SPOSOBNYI Sevastopol DYd 1939 Bombed 6 10 43 SVOBODNYI Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1939 • Bombed 10.6 42 Modifications and alterations introduced to the Type 7 design resulted at the end of 1936 in the Type 7U. The hull was strengthened, more powerful machinery was installed, and two funnels were fitted AH possible efforts were made to compensate for the additional weight of the hull and machinery; in particular the oil fuel capacity was reduced to 500t which, together with increased output of the turbines, resulted in a decrease in radius to 1380nm at 20kts. Full load displacement was increased only by 24t The armament remained the same, but the 3in AA guns were resiled on the stern to overcome the restricted arcs of fire imposed by the additional funnel It seems that the GM w as lowered despite the heavy second funnel structure, because of the increased weight of the machinery. With the freeboard only slightly reduced all the improvements brought better seaworthiness as compared with the original design. Before the first Type 7U unit was completed, the new pattern light AA guns had been introduced and the new destroyers were equipped with 37inm/67 instead of 45mm/46 guns Eighteen units were laid dow n (Spokoinyi ,Strogiy and Siminyi were begun under the third five-year plan), which would make up three flotillas distributed between the Baltic (‘S’ and ‘1.’ flotillas) and the Black Sea ( P’ flotilla) Fleets. However, two boats of the Type 7 (‘S’ flotilla) were con- verted into the 7U, while one Type 7U (‘1*’ flotilla) was converted back into a 'I ype 7, shifted to Vladivostok in sections and assembled at the Dal/avod Yard in order to utilise equipment that had been assembled for the lost Reshitelnyi. During the war the AA armament was augmented and finally comprised 2 to 3-3m/55, 6 to 7-37mm/67 and 4 to 8-0 5in MG. 1 he complement rose to 271. Late in the war some boats were fitted with asdic and other electronic equipment delivered under Lend-Lease. Silnyi and Storozhcvoi were converted from Type 7 destroyers whilst under construction. The latter was struckb\ a torpedo from S3/ in the Irben Straitson 27.6 41 and lost her bow, but she was rebuilt with anOgnevoi class bow section and fitted with one twin turret instead of the two single mounts she was recommissioned in 1943. 1 he first batch of original I pc 7U boats for the Baltic Fleet - probably the first six - were intially given names beginning with the letter L but were soon renamed. Sntelyi was cither torpedoed (bv S54?) or mined in the Gulf of Riga Sorovyi was lost on mines off Hango, Skoiyi was lost on the ‘Juminda’ mine barrage, and Statnyi struck a mine off Saaremaa Island. Spokoinyi was taken incomplete from Leningrad to Molotovsk in June 1941, but owing to damage was never finished and was scrapped after the war. Slavnvi was discarded in the 1960s Most if not all the Black Sea Fleet boats were originally given names begin- ning with the letter 1* but these were also quickly renamed. Smyshlonnyi was mined off Crimea. Soobrasitelnyi survived the war and it seems likely that she was used for training duties up to the early 1960s. Soversheenn\i was hit by a mine during trials on 30 9 41, was drydocked in Sevastopol but was again damaged bv bombers from IV L'licgerkorps on 12.11 41 and capsized, although righted, she was dost roved by arullerv fire in April 1942 Sposobnyi was sunk by bombers from Stukageschwader 77 off Crimea during attempts to tow the destroyers Kharkov and Besposhchadnyi which had been damaged by the bom- bers. Svobodnyi was sunk bv German bombets off Sevastopol. OPYTNYI _______ Displacement: 1670t standard; 1870t deep load Dimensions: 387fi 2m oa x 38ft x 13ft 9in max 118.00 x 11.60 x 4.20m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 Ramsin boilers, 70,OOOshp = 42kts. Oil 400t Armament: 3-l30mm/50 (Зх I), 4-45mm/46 (4x 1), 3-37mm/67 (3x 1), 8—2lin 'IT (2x4), 60 mines Complement: 197 Name Builder Launched Fate OPY 1 NYI (ex- Sergei ( hdzhonikidze') Zhdanov Yd, Leningrad Dec 1935 BU С1950 Thi. experimental destroyer, the first to be produced without direct assistance from abroad, was built to test new machinery arrangements for the Soviet destroyer programme, and represented an attempt to produce an espcciallv light and fast boat The fact that only one gun was mounted vn the forecastle and the fitting of one boiler room forward and two aft indicated the desire to minimise weight forward in order not to restrict the lift of the bow at top speed. Opytnyi reached 41.6kts on trials, but was not commissioned until late 1941 because of continued experiments. Stresses and vibration at high speed prevented the guns from being worked properly. Slatnt after ihe war
SOVIET UNION Ognevoi 1945 OGNEVOI class Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery; Armament: Complement: 2240t standard; 2950t deep load 383ft 10m x 36ft lin x 13ft 9in 117 00 x Ц 00 x4 20m 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 watertube boilers, 54,000shp = 37k ts 4— 130mm/50 (2x2), 2-3in/55 (2x1), 3-37mm/67 (3x1), 4-0.5in MG, 6-2 lin TT (2x3), 96 mines 250 GM Fuel capacity was also probably increased After the war all the completed boats had 2-85mm/55 and 6-37mm/67 fitted instead of the A A armament previously planned. At least 24 units were ordered during 1938^40 and all but one were laid down prior to the German invasion. Material for the boats allocated to the Northern and Pacific Fleets had been assembled at Leningrad and Nikolayev. Only Ognevoi and Vnushitelnyi were completed and commissioned by the end ofhostilities, 12 others were completed between 1945and 1949. The hulls of two units were captured by the Germans at Nikolayev and scrapped, while a further seven were demolished after the war. The unnamed vessel laid down at the 402 Yd, Molotovsk, was eventually commissioned as Stalin Ozonioi vv is transferred to Bulgaria 1956 and renamed Georgi Dynntrov, she was returned bj the end 1960s for scrapping. The first postwar Soviet standard destroyer design - ‘Project 30bis’, the Skoryi class - was developed directly from the Ognevoi class. Name Builder Launched Fate OBRAZCOVYI Zhdanov Yd 1940 D’scarded ?1960s ODARYONNYI Zhdanov Yd Jan 1941 Discarded ? 1960s ODVAZHNYI Zhdanov Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s OTLICHNYI Zhdanov Yd 1940 Discarded 31960s OGNEVOI 61 Kommunar Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s OPASNYI 61 Kommunar Yd — BU 1940s OTVERZHDYONNYI Sevastopol DYd 1940 Discarded ?1960s OZORNOI 61 Kommunar Yd 1941 To Bulgaria 1956 61 Kommunar Yd — BU 1940s OSMOTRITELNYI 402 Yd, Molotovsk Aug 1944 Discarded ? 1960s OTCHO TLIVYI 402 Yd, Molotovsk 1947 D scarded ? 1960s > 402 Yd, Molotovsk 1947 Discarded 1960s VLASTNYI Komsomolsk Yd 1947 D scarded ?1960s VNIMATELNYI Komsomolsk Yd C1944 Discarded ? 1960s VNUSHITELNYI Komsomolsk Yd 1944 Discarded ?1960s VYNOSL1VYI Komsomolsk Yd 1947 Discarded ? 1960s This de: ign, known as ‘Project 30’, was begun in 1937 as the standard destroyer type for the third five-year programme and was developed from the Type 7U Efforts had been made to improve seaworthiness, the mam armament being grouped in the two twin turrets on the main and forecastle decks to lower the DOSTOINYI class Class (former names, commissioned, retroceded/fate): Derzkiy (ex-Chelsea, ex-Crownmshteld, 16 7.44, 23 6 49), Deyatelnyi (ex-Churchill, ex Herndon, 16.7.44, sunk by U997 off Kola 16.1.45), Doblesinyi (ex Roxburgh, ex Foote, 10 8 44,4.2 49),Dostotnyi (ex-Sl Albans,ex-Thomas, 16 7.44,28 2 49),/AarA>jv (ex Brighton, ex-Cowell, 16 7 44, 28 2 49), Zhguchty (ex-Ieatmngton, ex- Twiggs, 16 7 44, 30.1.50), Zhivuchiy (ex-Richniond, ex-Fairfax, 16.7 44, 23 6 49), Zhostkiy (ex-Georgetown, ex-Maddox, 10.8 44, 8 9 52), Druzhnyt (cx- Lxncoln, ex-Yamall, 26 8 44, 23 8 52). 1-ight British (formerly US) flush decked destroyers were temporarily trans- ferred to the Soviet Union on 30 5 44 in order to meet the Soviet claim for their share of the Italian Fleet which had surrendered to the Allies in 1943 All were commissioned with the Northern Fleet Lincoln was handed over on 26.8 44 as a source of spares but was also commissioned by the Soviets. All but the sunken Churchill were returned to the RN when the Italian boats were delivered. The following destroyers of the Royal Romanian Navy were seized by the Soviet troops in August 1944 at Constanza and commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet Letuchyi (ex Regina Mana, returned 1953), Likhoi (ex Regele Ferdinand, returned 1953), Logkiy (ex-Marasesti, returned 1946), Lovkiv (ex-Marasti, returned 1946). For further details see under Romania. SUBMARINES D class, Scries 1,1940 Series I Displacement: 933t/1354t Dimensions: 249ft 4m oa x 21ft 4in x 12ft 6m max 76.00 x 6 50x3 80m Machinery: 2 shafts Diesels plus electric motors, 2600bhp/1600shp = 14kts. 9kts. Armament: 8-21m 1*1 (6 bow, 2 stern; 14 torpedoes), l-100mm/52, 1—45mm/46, 1-0 3in MG Complement: 53 No. Name Builder Launched Fate DI DEKABRIST Ordzhonikidze Yd 3 11 1928 Lost Nov 1940 D2 NARODOVOLEC Ordzhonikidze Yd 1929 Stationary training unit 1958 D3 KRASNOGVARDEYEC Ordzhonikidze Yd 12.7.1929 Lost July 1942 D4 REVOLUCYONER Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1929 Sunk 4.12.43 D5 SPARTAKOVEC Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1929 Discarded ?1950s D6 YAKOBINEC Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1929 Lost 12.11 41 The six Senes I boats were authorised under the 1926 Naval Programme and were the first submarines entirely designed and built in the Soviet Union They were generally of inferior quality, incorporating a number of technical short- comings caused by the low quality of Soviet industnal products, but there were also design faults, for example the adopuon of high battery cells in closed compartments which consumed much space and complicated maintenance. Kingston valves were inter-connected and the boats listed considerably during 332 the early diving trials There was also a good deal of trouble with the venting of the ballast tanks which had to be resolved in order to reduce diving time from 3 minutes to 30 seconds. These vessels were said, how'ever, to be good seaboats, and they reached 15.3kts/8.7kts on trials. The double hull had 8 compartments, and the diving limit was 300ft. Radius was 7500nm at 9kts/132nm at 2kts The 45mm/46 AA gun was introduced on these boats when available All underwent numerous repairs and alterations, the last ma or refit taking place m 1940. DI-D3 were transferred to the Arctic tn 1933, returning in 1940 to Leningrad for refit; all but D2 were redeployed with the Northern Fleet in 1940. DI was lost m a diving accident in Molotovska Bay, D3 was lost during patrol off Norway, probably mined, D4 was sunk off Yevpatoria by UJ102 and UJ103', and D6, damaged by German aircraft off Sevastopol on 18 8 41, was drydocked at Sevastopol but destroyed there bv bombing. Yacobmec (D6) as completed Rons Lemachko Collection BEZBOZHNIK The British submarine LS5, sunk 4 6.19 off Kronshtadt by Soviet destroyers, was raised by the Russians in 1928, repaired, and commissioned m October 1931 as L55, later renamed Bezbozhmk. She served as a model for early Soviet submarine designs - the ‘L* class in particular Damaged accidentally in autumn 1941, she served as a charging plant during the war and was scrapped cl960
Submarines L class, Senes П mid 1930s Series II Displacement: 1051t/1327t Dimensions: 265ft 9in oa x 21 ft 8m x 13ft 9m 81.00 x 6 60 x 4 18m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2200bhp/1050shp = 14kts/9kts. Oil 98 6t Armament: 6-21m TT (bow; 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/52, l-45mm/46, 20 mines Complement: 54 No. Name Builder Launched Fate LI LENINEC Ordzhonikidze Yd 28 2.1931 Sunk On 1941 L2 STALIN EC (ex- Marxist) Ordzhonikidze Yd 1931 Mined 14 II 4) L3 FRUNZOVEC (ex-Bolshevtk) Ordzhonikidze Yd 8.7.1931 BU 1959 L4 GARIBALDYEC Marti Yd, Nikolayev 31.8.1931 Discarded 1958 L5 CHARIST Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1931 Discarded 51950s L6 KARBONARIY Mani Yd, Nikolayev 1931 Sunk 18 4 44 L class, Scries XI as completed Series XI Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1100t/1400t 265ft 9in oa x 21ft 8m x 14ft Sin 81.00 x 6.60 x 4 40m 2 shafts Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2200bhp/1450shp = 14kts/9kts 6-2lin TT (bow, 12 torpedoes),•l-I00mm/52, l-45mm/46, 20 mines c55 No. Name Builder Launched Fate L7 VOROSH1LOVEC Dalzavod Yd, 1935 ?Lost 1941-42 LS DZHFRZHINEC Dalzavod Yd, 1935 Discarded 51950s L9 KIROVEC Dalzavod Yd, 1935 Discarded 51950s L10 - Dalzavod Yd, 1936 Discarded ? 1950s Lil - Dalzavod Yd, 1936 Discarded 51950s L12 - Dalzavod Yd, 1936 Discarded ? 1950s L class, Series XIII as completed Series XIII Displacement: 1123t/1416< Dimensions. 273ft 3in oa x 23ft x 13ft 5in 83.30 x 7 00 * 4 08m Machinery 2 shafts. Diesels plus electric motors, 4200bhp/2400shp = 18kts/lOkts Armament: 8-2 lin TT (6 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm/56, l-45inm/46, 2-0.3in MG, 20 mines Complement: 55 Displacement: 578t/7O4t Dimensions: 187ft x 20ft 4m x 12tr 5in S7.00 x 6.20 x 3.78m No. Builder Launched Fate L13 Dalzavod Yd 1937 ?Lost 1941-42 L14 Dalzavod Yd 1937 Discarded ? 1950s L15 Dalzavod Yd 1938 Discarded > 1950s L16 Dalzavod Yd 1938 Sunk 11.10.42 I 17 Dalzavod Yd 1938 Discarded ?1950s 1.18 Dalzavod Yd 1938 Discarded ? 1950s 1.19 Dalzavod Yd 1938 Discarded ? 1950s I. IK about 1943 Boni Lemachko Collection Series XHIbis Displacement: 1123t/1416t Dimensions: 273ft 3in oa x 23ft x 13ft 5m 83.30 x 7 00 x 4.08m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus electric motors, 4200bhp/2400shp = 18kts/1 Okts Armament' 8-21in TT (6 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm/56, 1—45mm/46, 2-0.3in MG, 20 mines Complement: 55 Number Builder Launched Fate L20 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1940 Deleted ?1950s L21 Ordzhonikidze Yd Apr 1941 Deleted ? 1950s L22 Ordzhonikidze Yd 25 9 1939 Deleted И 950s L23 Marti Yd, Nikolavev 1940 Sunk 17.1.1944 L24 Mani Yd, Nikolayev 1940 Lost 24 12 1942 L25 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1941 Mined 1944 These minelaying submarines, consisting of the Scries II authorised under the 1926 Naval Programme, the Series XI and XIII built during the second five-year plan and the Series XHIbis built under the third five-year programme, were designed after the thorough examination of the British submarine L5S which was refloated by the Soviets in 1928 Experience gamed during the design work on the ‘D’ class boats was also utilised, which led to an improved ballasting system and lhe abandoning of closed battery compartments. However, the boats of Series II were poorly ventilated and the three 112-cell batteries overheated The hull featured saddle ballast tanks, with lhe outer hull covering the full length of the boat Maximum operating depth was 300ft Mines were carried in two horizontal stern tubes, the laying arrangement was presumably developed from that installed in the world’s first minelaying submarine Krab, built tor the Imperial Russian Navy. The boats were not particularly well constructed, but improvements were gradually introduced in the later scries. With the Series XII boats, installed power was doubled, 2 stern 'IT were added, and a new model of main gun w-as mounted The radius of action for the Series II and XI boats was 6000nm at 9kts/135nm at 2kts submerged, for Series XI1 Ibis submarines the figures were 14,OOOnm/130nm. Material for the Vladivostock built boats was assembled at the Ordzhonikidze Yard at Leningrad (L7-L16), the Marti Yard at N kolajev (1.17 and LI8) and at Sevastapol Dockyard (L19). LI w'assunk by German artillery fire on the Neva at Leningrad; L2 was lost on mines off Keri Isle; and I <6 was sunk by UJ104 off Constanza. L3's conning tower is now a memorial. L7 was probably lost in the Pacific, cause unknown, as was Ll3 LIS transferred to the Northern Fleet via the Panama Canal during 25.9 42 - May 1943, and transferred again to the Baltic Fleet in 1948 1.16 was torpedoed in error by the Japanese submarine 125 oft the US coast vv hile cn route tothe Arctic with LIS 1.21 commissioned on 31 8 43 L20 and L22 were moved incomplete to Molotovsk in August 1941; they completed there and were commissioned with the Northern Fleet on 24.9.42 and 31.8.43 respectively L23 was transferred incomplete to Poti in August 1941, and completed and commis- sioned there in October 1941, she was sunk by lhe German corvette UJ106 off Cape'l ai hancut. L24 was iransferrcd in an unfinished state to a Caucasian port in August 1941, and completed and commissioned there in April 1942; she was lost off Cape Kaliakra, presumably mined. 1 he hull of L2S was moved to the Khopi estuary in August 1941, but was sunk by a mine whilst under tow Shch class, Scries III as completed Series III Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1370bhp/800shp = 12.5kts/8 5kts Armament: 6-21in TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 10 torpedoes), l-45mm/46. 2-0.3in MG Complement: 35 Number Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH301 SHCHUKA Ordzhonikidze Yd 1 12.1930 Lost 27.8.41 (ех-5/кЛЗ/, exShih I) SHCH302 OKUN Ordzhonikidze Yd 1931 Mined 13.10.42 (cxShih32, exShchZ) SHCH303 YORSH Ordzhonikidze Yd 6 11.1931 BU 1958 (exShi h33, exShch3) SHCH304 KOMSO Ordzhonikidze Yd 2 5 1931 Mined Dec 1942 (сх-5ЛсЛ34, MOLEC ех-5ЛсМ) 333
SOVIET UNION Shch class, Scries V late 1930s Series Vbis-2 Series V Displacement: 589t/708t Dimensions: 191ft Ilin x 20ft 4in x 14ft lin 58.50 x 6 20 x 4.30m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1600bhp/800shp = 14kts/8kts Oil 58t Armament: 6-21 in TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2-45mm/46 (2 x 1), 1-0 3in MG Complement: 40 Number Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH 101 LOSOS Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 (ex-Shchll) SHCH 102 LESHCH Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 (ехл5Лс/1/2) SHCH 103 ?KARP Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 (ex-Shch!3) SHCH 104 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (ех-5йсЛ/4) SHCH 105 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (ех^ЛсЛ/5) SHCH 106 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (cx-Shchie) SHCH 107 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (exShch!7) SHCH 108 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (ex-S/icA/S) SHCH 109 Dalzavod Yd 1933 BU 1958 - (ex-Shch!9') SHCH 110 Dalzabod Yd 1934 BU 1958 - (ex-5hch20") SHCH111 KARAS Dalzavod Yd 1934 BU 1958 - (cx-Shch2I) SHCH112 Dalzavod Yd 1934 BU 1958 - (ехл$ЛсА22) SHCH3O5 LIN Marti Yd, Leningrad 31 12.1933 Sunk 5.11.42 SHCH306 PIKSHA Maru Yd, Leningrad 1934 Lost Nov 1942 SHCH307 TRESKA Marti Yd, Leningrad 1 8 1934 BU 1958 SHCH308 SYOMGA Ordzhonikidze Yd 1934 Mined Oct 1942 SHCH309 DELFIN Ordzhonikidze Yd 10.4 1935 Discarded 1950s SHCH310 BIELUKHA Ordzhonikidze Yd 10.4.1935 BU 1958 SHCH311 KUMZHA Ordzhonikidze Yd 1935 Sunk 15 10.42 Series Vbis Displacement: 607t/749t Dimensions: 192ft 9in x 20ft 4in x 14ft Im 58 75 x 6 20 x 4 30m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1370bhp/800shp = 12kts'7 5kts Armament: 6-2lin ГГ (4 bow, 1 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2—45mm/46 (2x 1) Complement: 40 Number Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH113 STRELAD Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 114 — Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 115 — Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ?1950s SHCH116 — Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 117 MAKREL Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH118 KEFAL Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 119 BIELUGA Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 120 — Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 121 ZUBATKA Dalzavod Yd 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH201 SAZAN Marti Yd, Nikolayev 3.4 1934 ?Lost 1956 SHCH202 SELD Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1934 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH203 KAMBALA Mam Yd, Nikolayev 1934 Lost Nov 1943 Displacement: 617t surfaced/721l submerged Dimensions: 192ft 9in x 20ft 4m x 14ft lin 58 75 x 6 20 x 4 30m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1370bhp SOOshp = 12kts/6.7kts Armament: 6-21 in TT(4 bow, 2stern, 10 torpedoes), 2—45mm/46(2x 1), l-0.3in MG Complement: 40 Number Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH 122 SAYDA Dalzavod Yd 1935 Discarded M950s SHCH 123 UGOR Dalzavod Yd 1935 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 124 — Dalzavod Yd 1935 Discarded 51950s SHCH125 — Dalzavod Yd 1935 Discarded 51950s SHCH 204 — Alam Yd, Nikolayev 1935 Lost Dec. 1941 SHCH205 NF.RPA Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1.2 1935 BU 1958 SHCH206 — .Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1935 Mined Sept 1941 SHCH2O7 — 61 Kommunar Yd 1935 Discarded 51950s SHCH 208 — 61 Kommunar Yd 1935 Lost Aug 1942 The ‘Shch’ class medium submarines comprised 3 Series III boats authorised under the first five-year programme (one add tional boat of this senes was built by public subscription, 12 Series V (supplementary), authorised during the first five-year plan for the Pacific Fleet and modified versions of Series III; and 12 Series Vbis (originally designated Scries VIII). There were also 7 Series V begun during the early years of the second five-year plan for the Baltic Fleet. These submarines were followed in 1934-38 by 33 Series X and 20 Series Xbis, authorised under the third five-year programme. The first original Soviet submarine design had been developed during the late 1920s and was m production from 1930 until the end of the war. The design faults apparent with the Series HI boats were gradually ironed out with subse- quent scries, which continued to be built m large numbers The hull was fitted with saddle tanks, the outer hull covering two-thirds the length of the boat; maximum operating depth was 300ft The pressure hull had 7 compartments (6 in Series III), and the Scries V boats had two 56-cell batteries. The radius for each tvpe was Series III 6000nm at 8kts/123nm at 1 75kts; Series V 5750nm at 8 5kts/125nm at 2kts; Series Vbis 9300nm at 8 5kts/125nm at 2kts; and Senes Vbis-2 7I50nm at 8.5kts/ll0nm at 2kts. Shch30, begun as Shchl and redesignated Shch31 cl931, was sunk on the ‘Juminda’ mine barrage; Shch302 was mined off Someri Island Shch303's conning tower is now a memorial. Shch304 was built by public subscription, and her conning tower was similar to those of the Series II after modification; she was mined tn the Gulf of Finland. Material for ShchlOl-Shcbl 12 was assembled at the Marti Yd, Leningrad. Shch 103 w'as wrecked accidentally in 1939, but was rebuilt and recommissioned after the outbreak of war with Germany. Shch305 was rammed and sunk bv the Finnish submarine Vethinen off the Aland Islands. Shch3O7's conning tower is now a memorial. Shch308 was mined in the Gulf of Finland some time after 20.10 42.Shch3l 1 wassunkby the Finnish sub-chasers VMV13 and VMVI5 off Porkkala. Material for Shchl 13-Sluhl21 was assembled at the 61 Kommunar \d in Nikolayev. Shch201 is believed to have been wrecked accidentally at Pon in 1950s. Shch203 was lost on mines off Cape Tarkhancut or sunk by the German Schiff 19 on 16.10 43 Material for Shchl22-Shchl25 was assembled at the 61 Kommunar Yd m Nikolayev Shch204 was lost off the Bulgarian coast, presumably mined Shch2O6 was lost on the mine barrage off Suhna Shch208 was lost, presumablv mined, after 23.8.42. Shch 324 about 1940 Bans Lemachko Collection
Submarines Shch class. Series X as completed Series X Displacement: : 590t/708t Dimensions: 192ft 9in x 20ft 4in x 14ft lin 58.75 x 6.20 у 4.30m Machinery: 2 shafts . Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1600bhp'800shp = 13.6kts/8.7kts. Oil 58t Armament: 6-21 in TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2^l5mm '46(2x 1), 2-0.3in MG Complement: 40 Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH 126 Dalzavod Yd 1936 Discarded ?1950s SHCH 127 Dalzavod Yd 1936 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH128 Dalzavod Yd 1936 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 129 Dalzavod Yd 1936 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 130 Dalzavod Yd 1936 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 131 (ex- Shch216) Mani Yd, Nikolayev 1937 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 132 (ex- Shch217) Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1937 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 133 (cx^S7f<A2/S) Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1937 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 134 (ex Shch2I9) Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1937 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 139 (icx-Shch423) Marti Yd, Leningrad cl 936 Discarded ?1950s SHCH140(?e: i-Shch3l2) Ordzhonikidze Yd 1935 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH 141 (cx-Shch32I) Marti Yd, Leningrad 1936 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH209 61 Kommunar Yd 2.3.1936 BU 1958 SHCH210 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Sunk 13.3.43 SHCH211 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Mined 16.11.41 SHCH212 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1936 Lost 17.12.42 SHCH2I3 61 Kommunar Yd 1936 Lost 12.7.42 SHCH214 61 Kommunar Yd 1936 Sunk 19.6.42 SHCH215 61 Kommunar Yd 11.1.1937 BU 1958 SHCH317 Marti Yd, Leningrad 25.9.1935 Lost 8.7.42 SHCH318 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1935 Discarded ? 1950s SHCH319 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1935 Lost c20.9.41 SHCH320 Mani Yd, Leningrad 12.2.1935 Sunk 27.10.42 SHCH 322 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1935 Lost Nov 1941 SHCH323 Ordzhonikidze Yd 10.4.1935 Mined 1.5.43 S11CH324 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1935 Lost Nov 1941 SHCH401 (cx-5Wi3/3) Ordzhonikidze Yd 12.4 1935 Lost 24.4.42 SHCH402 (ex -Shch3l4) Ordzhonikidze Yd 28.6.1935 Sunk 21.9.44 SHCH403 (сх-5ЛсЛЗ/5) Zhdanov Yd, 31.12.1935 Lost Oct 1943 Leningrad SHCH404 (ex-.S7icA3/6) Zhdanov Yd, 27.12.1935 Discarded ? 1950s Leningrad SHCH421 (ex Shch3i3) Marti Yd, Leningrad 12.5.1937 Lost 9.4.42 SHCH422 (ex -Shch3I6) ?Marti Yd, Leningrad 1937 Lost Julv 1943 SHCH424 (ex-Xlu h325) /Marti Yd, Leningrad 1937 Lost Oct 1939 The Scries X and Xbis submarines were generally similar to the preceding ‘Shch’ class vessels, but particular care was taken to reduce submerged noise levels. The Series Xbis boats benefited from improved technology which per- mitted faster building times compared with earlier series. Radius for the Scries X was 6500nm at 8kts/108nm at 2.Skis and for Series Xbis 3650nm at 8kts/122nm at ?kts. Shch2I0 was sunk by German aircraft off Crimea; Shch2II was lost on mines off Cape Schabla, and Shch2!2 was lost on or after 11.12.42, presumed sunk by German surface craft off Sulina. Shch2!3 was presumed destroyed by German aircraft while stranded off Sochi; Shch214 was sunk by the Italian MTB Л/А557/ off Sevastopol. Shch216-Shch2I9 were dismantled and transferred to the Pacific Fleet cl938 and commissioned as Shch!31-Shchl34. Shch312 was transferred to the Pacific Fleet c 1940 and possibly renumbered Shchl40. Shch313-Shch316 were transferred to the Northern Fleet between 28.5 and 27.6.37 and renumbered Shch401Shch404. Shch3l7 is believed to have been lost on mines in the Gulf of Finland, as is Shch319 some time after 20.9.1941 .Shch320 was sunk by the Finnish submarine Iku Turso off the Aland Islands. Shch32I transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1940 and wa possibly renumbered ShchI4I. Shch322 was lost in the Gulf of Finland, presumed mined. Shch323 was mined off Kronshtadt, refloated in 1944 and scrapped Shch324 w'as lost (presumably mined) in the Gulf of Finland. Shch32S-Shch328 were renumberedSlich3I3-~Shch3I6 (though not respectively) in 1937, commis- sioned with the Baltic Fleet, then transferred to the Northern Fleet in June 1939 and again renumbered Shch4I2-Shch424 (not in the same order). Shch401Shch404 ex-Shch313Shch316) arrived in the Arctic from the Baltic Fleet in 1937. Shch40l was lost off Norway, possibly sunk by German surface craft off Tanafiord 24.4.42. Shch402 was sunk in error by Soviet aircraft in the Barents Sea. Shch403 was lost off Norway, and Shch404 returned to Leningrad in 1948. Shch 412-Shch424 (ex.Shch313-Shch316, not respectively) arrived from the Baltic Fleet in the Arctic in June 1939. Shch42l was damaged on a mine off Porsanger Fjord on 8.4.42, and was abandoned; she was sunk by the Soviet submarine K22. Shch422 was lost off Norway. Shch423 was transferred to the Pacific Fleet via the Siberian sea route in 1940 and renumbered ShchI39 Shch424 was accidentally rammed and sunk by a Soviet fishing trawler off the Kola Inlet. Material for Shch 13SShch 139 (Series Xbis) was assembled at the Marti Yd in • Leningrad. Shch2!6 w'as sunk by the German UJ104 and UJ106 off Cape Tarkhancut. Shch405 w'as lost on mines off Someri Island; Shch406 was sunk by German aircraft off Vaindlo Island; and Shch408 was sunk by German vessels of the 31st Flotilla after being damaged 22-24.5.1943 by Finnish VAfV' boats and the minelayers Riilahii and Ruolsinsalmi. Shch409-Shch4l I were accepted incomplete by the Navy and commissioned after the war, althoughShch4IO was possibly lost during trials. Shch412-Shch415,Shch417 andShch4!9 were com- pleted postwar. Shch4l6 andShch4!8 were damaged on slip and scrapped after the war. 1* class, Senes IV as completed Series Xbis Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 587t/7O5t 192ft 9m x 20ft 4in x 14ft lin 58.75 x 6.20 x 4.20m 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1600bhp/800shp e 13.6kts/8kts 6-21 in ТГ (4 bow, 2 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2-45mm/46(2x 1) 39 Name Builder Launched Fate SHCH 135 Dalzavod Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH 136 Dalzavod Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH 137 Dalzavod Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH 138 Dalzavod Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH216 61 Kommunar Yd 1940 Lost 17.2.44 SHCH405 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1939 Lost 21.8.42 SHCH406 Marti Yd, Leningrad 17.12.1939 Lost 1.6.43 SHCH407 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1941 BU 1958 SHCH408 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1941 Lost 26.5.43 SHCH409 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1941 Discarded ? 1950s S1ICH410 Marti Yd, Leningrad 1941 ?Lost 1945 SHCH411 Marti Yd, Leningrad Julv 1941 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH412 Marti Yd, Leningrad July 1941 D scarded ? 1960s SHCH413 Marti Yd, Leningrad ?1946 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH414 Marti Yd, Leningrad ?1946 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH415 Marti Yd, Leningrad ?1946 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH416 Marti Yd, Leningrad — BU 1940s SHCH417 Marti Yd, Leningrad ?1947 Discarded ? 1960s SHCH418 Marti Yd, Leningrad — BU 1940s SHCH419 Marti Yd, Leningrad ?1947 Discarded ? 1960s Series IV Displacement: 1200t/1870t Dimensions: 295ft 3in oa x26ft 3in x 10ft 2in 90.00 x 8.00 x 3.10m Machinery: 2 shafts. MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 5400bhp/l OOOshp = 18.5kts/7.7kts Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 1 stern; 10 torpedoes), 2-100inm/52 (2x1), l-45mm/46 Complement: 54 No Name Builder Launched Fate Pl PRAVDA Ordzhonikidze Yd 3.1.1934 Lost 17.9.41 P2 ZVEZDA Ordzhonikidze Yd 1934 BU 1956 P3 ISKRA Ordzhonikidze Yd 1934 BU ? 1950s The three Scries IV boats were authorised under the first five-year programme and were intended to operate with the surface fleet but in the event proved a complete failure. The double hull featured a pressure hull with 8 compartments, externally stiffened. The maximum operating depth, designed to be 165ft, was increased during construction to 250ft, which necessitated additional stiffening. A buoyancy coefficient of 80 per cent resulted in a long diving time. The ‘P* class were poor seaboats: they drew only 10ft and the least swell exposed the screws. The designed speed of 20kts/lOkts was never achieved, and the boats took five yeais to bu Id. Despite their large dimensions they carried 4 torpedoes fewer than the Series I submarines and also had a smaller radius of action - 5700nm at lOkts surfaced and 105nin at 4kts submerged It took 20 hours to charge the batteries. None was fully operational apart from being used as transports in 1941. Pl was struck by a mine off Hango; P3 and P2 were damaged in Leningrad, the former by German bombers on 23.9.1941 and the latter by German artillery fire in December 1941. The boats were repaired and refitted postwar with conning towers similar to those of the ‘K’ class submarines (as which they were errone- ously identified after the war). 335
SOVIET UNION VI class, Scries VI as complcicd Series VI (launched 1933-34) Displacement: cl60t'c200t Dimensions: 124ft x 10ft 3m x 8ft 6in 37.81 *313*2 58m Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1-shaft diesel plus 1 PG60 electric motor, 6S5bhp = 13kts 6kts Oil 5 St 2-2i n TT (bow), l-45mm/46 16 Class: Af/-Af2S, Af5/. Af52 l he ‘M’ class small submarines comprised 4 Series VI boats authorised under the first five-year programme supplemented by 26 additional units of this series authorised during the first five-year plan for the Pacific Fleet (2 of them remained with the Black Sea Fleet, however). The initial scries was followed by 20 Series Vlbis boats, 4 Series XII and 24 Senes Xllbis under the second five-year plan In addition, 19 Series Xllbis and 7 Scries \V submarines were laid down under the third five-year programme. The design of these boats, which had been drawn up during the early 1930s, called for a submarine w hieh could be easily transported by rail in an assembled condition. To fulfil these requirements 18 rail wagons with a lifting capacity of 120t had been constructed, so the dry weight of planned submarines could not exceed this figure. VX’ith such a limited displacement, these boats had poor fighting qualities and were not suited for open sea warfare. Despite the obvious shortcomings, however, a large order was placed with the Ural Machine Wks, where all the Series VI boats were built. After completion, the submarines ran trials on the Black Sea and were transported by rail to Vladivostok This system enabled the Pacific Fleet to be strengthened without any additional burden on the naval yards, albeit with boats of dubious fighting value. All the Series VI boats ran trials on the Black Sea 1933-34; M1-M28 were transported by rail to the Pacific, M26 and four others being transferred back to the Black Sea m 1944 XIS! and Af52 were originally commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet but were transferred by rail to the Caspian in August 1942, returning to the Black Sea in 1943. MSI was accidentally sunk off Ochemire 23 9.43 but was refloated 1.10 43 and recommissioned. One unit from the Pacific Fleet was sold to China in the 1950s; the rest were discarded and presumably scrapped m the 1940s and 1950s. M class, Series Vlbis as completed Series Vlbis (launched 1934-35) Displacement: 161t/201t Dimensions: 124ft x 10ft 3in x 8ft 6in 37.81 x 3.13 x 2.S8m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus 1 electric motor, 685bhp = 13kts/6kts. Oil 5.5t Armament: 2-2Im TT (bow), l-45mm/46 Complement: 16 Class: MS3-MS6, M71-M86 By the beginning of the second five-year plan the initial *M* class design had been modified in order to improve ns hydrodynamic qualities - the conning tower was streamlined and a casing was added aft - and to achieve better standards of construction orders had been placed with the experienced naval yards in Leningrad and Nikolayev Experiments were conducted with all- welded sections on one of the early Series Vlbis boats built at Leningrad. .1153-5156 were built at the Maru Yard (Nikolayev), M7I-M80 at the Zhdanov Yard (Leningrad) and M81-M86 at the Sudomekh Works (Lening- rad). Af53, M82 and M84-M86 were transferred to the Pacific, being renum- bered Л129, M43 amd M44—M46 respctively M54 M56 served on the Caspian Sea 1942-43. M71, M80 and M83 were blown up 24 6 41 to prevent their capture. M 72 was mined in the Gulf of Finland in June 1941 and subsequently hulked; M73 and M75 were hulked m early 1941 M74 was sunk by German bombers at Kronshtadt 23.9.41, but was later refloated and eventually scrap- ped. Af 76, Af 77 and M79 served on Lake Ladoga 1943—44. M78 was sunk by U144 off the Latvian coast 24 6.41, and M81 was mined off the Laine Bank 1.7.41. All surviving boats were discarded in the 1940s and 1950s, two of the Pacific Fleet units being transferred to North Korea. Series XII (launched 1936-37) Displacement: 206t/218t Dimensions: 146ft x 10ft lOin x 9ft lOin 44.SO x 3.30 x 3.00m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus 1 electric motor, 800bhp/400shp = 14kts/8kts. Oil 17.2t Armament: 2-2lin TT (bow), l-45rnm/46, 2-0.3in MG Complement: 20 Class: M87-M90 Built at the Sudomekh Wks, Leningrad, to an improved design, power, endurance and operating depth being considerably increased, radius, for exam- ple, was more than doubled to 1880nm at 8kts/107nm at 2kls. Streamlined conning towers were fitted after commissioning. M90 was rammed and sunk during her acceptance trials in 1938 but was refloated the following year, repaired and recommissioned m late 1941 or early 1942 The other three units were transferred to the Arctic in 1939 and renumbered AI/7/, Af/72 and X1401 M171 (e.x-AfS7) was converted into a minelayer in 1944, XI172 (ex-.W8S) was lost, probably mined, in the Barents Sea in October 1943, and M407(ex-AfS9) was completed to the standard Series Xllbis design in 1942. The two survix ing boats were discarded in the 1950s Af class, Senes Xllbis as completed Series Xllbis (launched 1937-41) Displacement- 210t/261t Dimensions: 146ft x 10ft lOin x 10ft lin 44.SO *330 *3 07m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel plus 1 electric motor, 800bhp/400shp = 13.5kts/7 7kts Armament: 2—21 in TT (bow), l-45mm/46, 1-0 3in MG Complement: 20 Class: M30-M36, MS7-M62, M91-MI22 Improved Series XII boats with streamlined conning towers and enlarged fuel capacity. Radius 3O2Onm at 8kts/94nm at 2kts Built by the Marti Yard, Nikolayev (M30-M36, MS7-M62), the Sudomekh Works, Leningrad (M9I-M103), the 402 Yard, Moloto\sk (Af104-Ml 10, last pair cancelled), and the Krasnaya Sormovo Yard, Gorki (Af lll-M 122) MS7,M6l,M91 ,M92 and MlOO were later renumberedM41 ,M42, ^MIOO (later Af/76),Af/74 andAf 176 respectively; Af 97 was sunk accidentally on trials (November 1938) but was raised and repaired. Renumbered M/73, she was sunk by the German UJ1101, VJH08 and UJ1I12 off Baasfjord, 24.8 42 МЮ4-М108, as they were funded by public subscription, were allocated the names Yaroslavskiy Komsomolec, Chelabinskiy Komsomolec, Leninskiy Komsomol and Kovostbirskiy Komsomolec M31, МЗЗ, M34, M58-M60, М91-МЮЗ, МЮ6, МЮ8, MII8 and Af I20-MI22 were war casualties. In 1937 it was decided to fit some *M* class submarines experimentally with the Regeneraitvnyi Yedinyi Dvigatiel Osobovo Naznacheniya (Special Purpose Regenerating Power Unit) for operating diesels when submerged. Two boats were chosen M89 and Redo (yd no 592, under construction). The latter was placed ashore and sealed for the duration of hostilities, but the experiments, though continuing for a short period after the war, were abandoned, and the boat was commissioned under the number Af 92. An additional unit of the senes -M401 - was designated for similar experiments but the project was cancelled after the outbreak of war and the boat was completed to the standard design, being commissioned probably under another number. Of the 19 survivors, three were transferred to Bulgaria (becoming MI-M3) and one to China; the rest were discarded in the 1950s M30 after lhe war Borts Lemachko Collection M class, Senes XV about 1945 Scries XV (launched 1940 and 1946-47) Displacement: 281t/351t Dimensions: 162ft 5m x 14ft 5in x 9ft mean 49.SO x 4.40 x 2.7Sm Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1600bhp/875shp = 15.7kts/7 8kts Armament: 4-21in TT (bow), l-45mm/46, 2-0.3m MG Complement: 24 Class: M200-M213 An entirely new design, with 2-shaft machinery, 4 TT and welded hulls. As with other ‘M’ class boats, the hull was of the single type, but in Series XV of seven instead of six sections. Maximum operating depth was 260ft and radius 3000nm at 8kts/90nm at 2kts. 336
I’hc Series X\ boats were built at the Sudomekh Works, Leningrad M200, M202 and Л1 203 received the names Afest, Rybnik Donbasa and Irkuckiy Rybnik. M204-M 206 were* launched after the war and scrapped in the 1960s; M2O7-M2I3 were ordered but their keels had not been laid by June 1941 and lhev were cancelled, only to be re-ordered and supplemented by about 40others after the war. S class, Senes IX as completed Series IX Displacement 840t/1070t Dimensions: 255ft lin x 21ft x 13ft 3in 77.75 x 6.40 x 4.04m Machinery: 2 shafts Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 4000bhp/l lOOshp = 19 5kts/9kts. Oil lOOt Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/56, 1-4 5 mm/46 Complement 46 Number Name Builder Launched Fate SI (cx-.V/) NALIM Ordzhonikidze Yd 8 8 1935 Blown up 24.6.41 S2 (cx-N2) - Ordzhonikidze Yd 7.11 1935 Mined 2 1.40 S3 (cx-X'3) - Ordzhonikidze Yd Feb 1936 Sunk 24 6 41 \56 as complcied Scries IXbis Displacement: 856t/1090t Dimensions: 255ft Im x 21ft x 13ft 4in 77.75 x 6 40 x 4 06m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 4000bhp/l lOOshp = 18 85kts/8.8kts Armament. 6-21 in TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/56, l-45mm/46, 1-0 3in MG Complement: 45 Number Builder Launched Fate S4 Ordzhonikidze Yd Nov 1936 Lost 6 1 45 S5 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1937 Lost 28.8.41 <‘Z. Ordzhonikidze Yd 1937 Lost 30.8.41 S7 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1949 Lost 21 10.42 SS Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1939 Lost 21 10.41 S9 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1939 Lost 5.9 43 SI0 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1939 Lost 27.6.41 Sil Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1939 Lost 2.8 41 SI2 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1939 Lost Aug 1943 S13 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 25.4 1939 BU 1958 S14 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S15 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ?1960s S16 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 BUC1962 S17 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S18 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ? 1960s SI9 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S20 (exS44) Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S2I Sudomekh Wks 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S22 Sudomekh Wks 1941 Discarded ? 1960s S23 Sudomekh Wks 1947 Discarded ? 1960s S24 Sudomekh Wks 1947 Discarded ? 1960s S31 Marti Yd, Nikolavev 22.2 1939 Discarded ? 1950s S32 Maru Yd, Nikolayev 1939 Lost June 1942 S33 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 30.5.1939 Training unit S34 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1939 Lost 12.11.41 S35 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 1940 Discarded ? 1960s S36 Marti Yd, Nikolayev Destroyed 16 8 41 S37 Marti Yd, Nikolayev — Destroyed 16 8 41 S45 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd ? ?Construction abandoned S51 Dalzavod Yd 30.8.1940 To China 1955 S52 Dalzavod Yd 1939 To China 1955 S53 Dalzavod Yd 1939 To China 1955 S54 Dalzavod Yd 1939 Lost May 1943 S55 Dalzavod Yd 1939 Ixjst Dee 1943 S56 Dalzavod Yd 25.12 1939 Preserved S57 Dalzavod Yd cl 940 To China 1955 S101 Sudomekh Wks 20.4.1938 Discarded ? 1950s SI 02 Sudomekh Wks 1939 Discarded ? 1950s SI 03 Sudomekh Wks 1939 Discarded ? 1950s S104 Sudomekh Wks 25 4 1939 Discarded ? 1950s S105 ?Sudoniekh Wks ?1939 ?BU incomplete SI 06 ?Sudomekh Wks ?1939 ?BU incomplete S107 ?Sudomekli Wks ?I939 ?BU incomplete SI 08 ?Sudomekh Wks ?1939 ?BU incomplete S9 before the war Boris Lemachko Collection M400 experimental submarine Built by the Sudomekh Works, Leningrad, during 1940-41 to a special NKVD design with aluminium casing and conning tower. Length about 65ft (20m); 2 diesel engines, 2-21 in 'IT (bow), l-45mm/46 Launched 1941, damaged before completion by German artillery fire 1942. Series XVI Displacement: 856t/1090t Dimensions: 255ft I in x 21 ft x 13ft 4in 77 75 x 6.40 x 4 06m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus 2 electric motors, 4000bhp/l lOOshp = 18 85kts/8.8kts Armament: 6-21in IT (4 bow, 2 stern; 12 torpedoes), l-100mm/56, l—45mm/46, l-0.3m MG Complement: 45 Name Builder Launched Fate S46 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1947 Discarded ? 1960s S47 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd ?1947 Discarded ? 1960s S48 Krasnaya Sormovo Yd 1947 Discarded ? 1960s ?S25 (ex-S49)402 Yd 1945 Discarded ? 1960s ?S52 (ex-S59)402 Yd 1946 Discarded ? 1960s ?S27 (ex-S6fl)402 Yd 1946 Discarded ? 1960s The ‘S’ class medium submarines comprised 3 Series IX boats and 17 Series IXbis authorised under the second five-year plan, followed by 27 Series IXbis and 6 Senes XVI begun during the third five-year plan. Approximately 10 more Scries XVI had been ordered but the keels had not been laid down prior to the outbieak of hostilities and these boats were cancelled. 1 he design of the Series IX was drawn up at the Ingenieurskanioor voor Scheepsbouu in The Hague during 1933-34 and consequently the boats bore a striking resemblance to the Turkish submarine Gwr designed by the same office and the German Type IA submarines belonging to the same development line. The design of the Series IX was subsequently modified, first by abandoning the large gunshield and later by improving the lines of the conning tower. The Series XVI boats incorporated many more improvements, including the use of high tensile steel and welded hulls, and showed better flow characteristics when submerged since the deck gun was moved to a position abaft the conning tower 1 hey were good, seaworthy boats - in fact the best prewar Soviet submarine type - but took a long time to build They were the first Soviet vessels to receive degaussing equipment, about 1942. The hull was of the saddle-tank type, the pressure hull having 7 compart- ments. Maximum operating depth was 260ft, and radius was 95OOnm at lOkts/135nm at 3kts. The hulls of some boats were subcontracted to the Kras- naya Sormovo Yd in Gorki, near Moscow, and were towed to Len ngrad, Molotovsk or Nikolayev to be fitted out. Four series IXbis boats were paid for by public subscription and consequently carried names as well as numbers- S14 (Geroicheskty Sevastopol), SIS (Kolkhoznica), SI6 (peroi Sovyetskovo Soyuza Nurseitov), and S17 (Sovyetskaya Svanetiya). SI was blown up at Liepaja to prevent her capture; S2 was lost on mines off Marked Island during the Winter War; and S3 was sunk by the German MTB S35 off Steinort. S4 was rammed and sunk by the German torpedo-boat T33 off Danzig 55 and 56 were lost on the ‘Juininda’ mine barrage S7^S16 were transferred via inland waterways to Leningrad for fitting out.57 was sunk by the Finnish submarine Vesihiisi off Soderarm;55 was lost on mines off Suursaan Isle; 59 was sunk by German surface craft off Porkkala; andSlO was sunk by the German S-boats off Danzig. Sil was mined off Sodavain Bay, but the wreck was refloated and scrapped after the war. 5/2 was lost tn the Gulf of Finland. S13 gained the most spectacular success of any Soviet submarine. During a single patrol she sank the liners Wilhelm Gusdoff (25,484gn) and General Steuben (14,660grt)with heavy lossoflife, however, whether the 7900 or so refugees were civilian or military is a matter over which Soviet and German historians still quarrel to this day S14-S16 were evacuated incomplete from Leningrad in July 1941 to Baku (SI4) and Astrakhan (the others). The boats were completed and transferred to the Arctic via inland waterways in April 1943 and (5/6) in 1945. 337
SOVIET UNION 5/7 was transferred via inland waterways to Molotovsk for completion in 1943 and commissioned with the Northern Fleet in April 1945. S18 and S19 completed at Astrakhan, and were transferred to the Baltic in 1946 and to the Arctic in 1944 respectively S20 was originally destined for the Black Sea Fleet as5-M, but was towed to Ixningrad for completion and evacuated from this city m July 1941 She was completed at Astrakhan and transferred to the Arctic in 1945. S2I and 522 were taken incomplete from Leningrad in June 1941, completed at Astrakhan and transferred to the Arctic during 1945. The construction of S23 and S24 was suspended for the duration of the wrar. S32 was sunk by the Italian midget submarine CB3 off Feodosiya; S34 was lost on mines in Burgas Bay, and S35 was towed incomplete to Tuapse in August 1941 and laid up in the Khopi estuary, being completed only after the war S36 and S36 were destroyed on their slipways by retreating Soviet troops. S44 was intended for the Black Sea Fleet but was moved to the Baltic Fleet and renumbered 520. The construction of 545 was halted during the war, and possibly cancelled afterwards. Material for the Pacific Fleet boats had been assembled at the Leningrad yards: Ordzhonikidze (55/-553), Zhdanov (S54SS6) and Sudomekh (557). 55/ was transferred to rhe Northern Fleet via the Panama Canal 28.10 42-24 1.43, returning presumably via the Siberian sea route m 1950.554 was transferred to the Northern Fleet via the Panama Canal 18 10.42-7 6 43, but was lost in the Barents Sea. 5'55 were transferred to the Arctic together with 556; the former was lost in Barents Sea but the latter returned via Siberia in 1950, becoming a stationary training unit at Vladivostok from the end of the 1950s, and subsequently a memorial. SI01 and SI02 transferred to the Arctic m August 1941. SI03-S108 were taken incomplete from Leningrad to Astrakhan in July 1941, but of these only SI03 and 5104 were completed by the end of hostilities; they were allocated to the Northern Fleet in June 1943. Nine of these large ocean-going submarines were authorised under the second five-year programme and three were begun under the third five-year plan. Laid down 1936-38 and completed 1939-1945, they were the biggest and undoub- tedly the best Soviet wartime submarine ty pe, and were designed especially for Arctic conditions. Design work started in 1934 and, to avoid the deficiencies experienced with the Scries IV boats, large scale experiments were made with the hull section of the old submarine Forel The class had originally been intended to carry a small dismantled reconnaissance floatplane, known as the SPL, in a special hangar, but this project was abandoned There was a double hull with seven compartments, the maximum operating depth was 230ft and the diving time 50 seconds. 24 torpedoes were carried, together with 20 Type EM mines in the middle ballast tank. A surface speed of 22.5kts was called for but this was seldom attained in practice. The radius was 14,000nm at 9ktson the surface or 160 miles at 2.9kts submerged. Four 60-cell batteries were fitted. Kl and K2 were transferred to the Northern Fleet in 1940, followed by КЗ, K21-K23 in August 1941 It was planned to transfer all the ‘K’ class boats to the Arctic but after the German and Finnish troops cut the Stalin Canal link in September 1941 the other boats had to remain with the Baltic Fleet for the duration of hostilities. КI was lost m the Kara Sea, presumably on mines, K2 failed to return from patrol off northern Norway, and КЗ was sunk by UJII02, UJl106 and UJtill off Batsfjord K21 made as unsuccessful attack on Tirpitz during the PQ-17 operation 5.7 42 . K22 was mined off Cape Harbaken, and K23 was sunk by UJ 1101 ,UJ 1109 and UJ 1110 off Olesa Fjord KS3-K56 were accepted incomplete by the Navy in 1942, and were completed and commis- sioned by the end of 1945 KS1-KS6 were transferred to the Northern Fleet v ia the Great Belt m August 1948. RONIS class Class: Ronis, Spidola Built in 1927 for the Latvian Navy and seized in 1940 by the Soviets during the annexation of Latvia. Commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. Both scuttled off Liepaja to prevent capture on 24.6 41 For further details see under Latvia. Series XIV Displacement: 1490t/2104t (2600t full load) Dimensions: 320ft 4in x 24ft 3in x 14ft lOin 97 65 x 7.40 x 4 Sbn Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels plus electric motors, 8400bhp/2400shp = 21kts/lOkts. Oil 250t Armament: 10-2lin TT (6 bow, 2 stern, 2 trainable on pressure hull), 2-100mmx56 (2x1), 2-45mm/46 (2x 1), 20 mines Complement: 60 No Builder Launched Fate Kl Maru Yd, Leningrad 4.5.1938 Lost Oct 1943 K2 Marti Yd, Leningrad 4.5.1938 Lost Aug/Sept 1942 КЗ Marti Yd, Leningrad 1938 Sunk 21.3 43 K21 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1.8.1938 Stationary training unit 1959 K22 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1939 Mined 7.2.43 К23 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1938 Sunk 12.5.42 K5I Ordzhonikidze Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1950s K52 Ordzhonikidze Yd 5.7.1939 Discarded ? 1950s K53 Ordzhonikidze Yd 1940 Discarded ? 1950s К54 Maru Yd, Leningrad Mar 1941 Discarded ? 1950s K55 Marti Yd, Leningrad Mar 1941 Discarded ? 1950s K56 Maru Yd, Leningrad 1940 Discarded ? 1950s К class, Senes XIV boat in the Arctic Borts Lemachko Collection KALEV class Class* Kalev, Lembit Minelaying submarines built m 1937 m Britain for the Estonian Navy and seized by the Soviets during the annexation of Estonia in 1940. Commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. Kalev was lost November 1941; Lembit survived the war and was renamed UI and then5S5 n 1949 Discarded 1956 For further details see under Estonia. V1-V4 Class: VI (cx-Sunfish), V2 (cx-Unbroken), V3 (ex-Unison), V4 (ex-Ursula) These four British submarines were temporarily transferred to the Soviet Union in lieu of Italian vessels claimed by the Russians after the surrender of the Italian fleet. Sunfish was sunk in error by British aircraft off Norway en route to the USSR; the remaining three were handed back 10 2.49 See under Great Britain. S3, S4, TS4 These three submarines were seized by the Soviet Union from Romania in August 1944 and put into service with the Black Sea Fleet. S3 (ex-Requinul) and S4 (ex-Marsuimd) were discarded in the late 1950s and scrapped; TS4 (ex- Delfinul) was returned in 1945. Sec under Romania ESCORTS EK.1 class Class: EK1 (ex-Charlottesvtlle), EK2 (ex-Long Beach'), EK3 (ex-Belfast), EK4 (ex-Glendale), EKS (ex-San Pedro), EK6 (ex-Corona da), EK7 (ex-Ogdcn), EK8 (ex-A IIentown), EK9 (ex-Machias), EK 10 (ex-Sandusky), EK 11 (ex Bath), EK12 (ex-Tacoma), EK13 (ex-Sausahto), EKI4 (ex-Hoqutam), EKIS (cx- Pasco), EK 16 (ex-Albuquerque), EK 17 (ex-Everett), EK 18 (ex-Btsbee), EK 19 (ex-Gallup),EK20 (ex-Rockford),EK2l (ex-Muskogee),EK22 (ex-C arson City), EK23 (px-Burlington), EK24 (ex-Bayonne), EK2S (ex-Poughkeepste), EK26 (ex-Gloucester), EK27 (ex-Newport), EK28 (ex-Evansville). These US Tacoma class frigates were transferred to the Soviet Union to assist with the war against Japan. They were commissioned with the Pacific Fleet, ЕК1-ЕК11 in mid-July 1945, EK12-EK23 by the end of August 1945 and EK24-EK28 during Scptcmber/October 1945. All but EK3 (foundered off Petropavlovsk 17.11.48) were returned in 1949 See under USA 338
Guardships GUARDSHIPS YASTREB class (launched 1940-41) DZERZHINSKIY class (launched 1934) Displacement: 8lOl standard, 1161t deep load Dimensions: 262ft 6in x 27ft 3in x 12ft 4m 80.00 x 8 30 x 3.75m Machinery: 3 shafts. Tosi diesels, 45OObhp = 18.5kts. Oil 80t Armament: 3-4in/60 (3x1), 4-45mm/46 (4x1), 3-0.5in MG, 3-0.3in MG, 24 mines Complement: 121 Displacement: 906t standard, 1059t deep load Dimensions* 275ft 7m oa x 27ft 3in x 9ft 10m 84.00 x 8.30 x 3.00m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 4 watertube boilers, 23.OOOshp = 31 kts Armament: 3-100mm/56 (3x 1), 4-37mm/67 (4x1), 6-0.5in MG (3x2), 3-450mm TT (Iх2), 20 mines Complement: 148 Class: Berkut, Gryf, Kondor, Korshun, Oryol, Sokol, Voron, Yastrcb Begun under the third five-year programme for deployment wnh the Baltic Fleet, these vessels were developed from the Uragan class but bu It to a better all-round design However, they experienced the same stability problems as their predecessors, and to lower the centre of gravity as mueh as possible, ‘X’ mount was placed on the main deck instead of in a superfinng position over‘Y’ mount Their designed armament was 3-85mm, 4-37mm, 3-0.5in MG and 3-4S0mm T 1 All eight were launched before the outbreak of hostilities ar the Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad, and the hulls of Berkut, Gryf, Kondor, Sokol and Toron were evacuated to Gorki in 1941, one later reportedly serving as a depot ship at /Xstrakhan. Sokol is believed to have been scrapped incomplete. Work on the three remaining boats was suspended because of a shortage of manpower, Yastreb was resumed in June 1943 and the boat was commissioned about 1944, followed by Korshun and Oryol in 1945. Another seven vessels were reportedly completed aficr the war, although the exact number of boats fin ills commis- sioned is not known One ‘modified Yastreb' —Zorkiy - was under construction in the Zhdanov Yd for the NKVD; the hull was launched prior to the German invasion and remained at Neva. The fate of this ship is unknown - possibly she was never commissioned owing to war damage or perhaps she was commissioned after the war under another name Yaureb class boai after the war Boris Lenuuhlto Collection ALBATROS class (launched 1943-44) Displacement. 920t Dimensions: 278ft lOin x 27ft 6in x 9ft lOin 85.00 x 8 40 x 3 00m Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, 2 watertube boilers, 12.300shp = 25kts Armament: 3-100mm/56 (3x 1), 6-37mm/67 (6x 1), 8-0.511 MG (4x2), 3-450mm IT (1 x3), 20 mines Complement; 92 Class: Albatros,Chaika,Fregat,Krechet,Orlan, ‘VP, Kaguar,Leopard,Pantera, Bys, Tigr, Yaguar Authorised under the third five-year programme, at least 12 of this class had been laid down before the war, to be distributed between the Pacific and the Black Sea Fleets. The incomplete hulls of lhe last six were captured by the Germans at Nikolayev and subsequently scrapped. Only Albatros and Chaika, built by the Komsomolsk Yard, were commissioned by the end of 1945, provisionally armed with 3-85mm (3x 1),4—0.5in MG and 3—450minTT (1x3) Fregat, Krechet and Orlan were laid down at the Dal/arod Yard, VLidivostock, but onlj Krecht i (launched after the war) was completed The vessel numbered ‘VP is believed to have been laid down at the Komsomolsk Yard Class: Dzerzhinskiy, Kirov Ordered from Ansaldo, Genoa, for service with the Far East Coast Guard of the NKVD. Delivered without armament and transferred to Vladivostok via the Suez Cana). In service wrilh the NKVD until the outbreak of war with Japan, when both were commissioned with the Pacific Fleet. ’ Kirov as completed Boris Lemachko Collection URAGAN class (launched 1929-35) Displacement: 450t standard; 619t deep load Dimensions: 234ft 7in oa x 24ft 3in x 8ft 6in 71.50 x 7.40 x 2.58m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 waterlube boilers, 6300shp = 23kts. Oil 125t Armament: 2—lin/60 (2x1) (Burya, Furga ,S meg, 7ucha and Pacific Fleet boats 2-100mm/56), i-13-2mm MG (3x1), 3-450mm II (1x3), 48 mines Complement: 72 Class: Stnerch, Tatfuh, Uragan, Ctklon, Groza, Vikhr, Burya, Purga, Snieg, Tucha, Shkval, Shtonn, Burun, Grom, Mietel, Vyuga, Mohtya, Zarnrca Eighteen of this class were authorised under the 1926 Naval Programme to replace the few still serviceable Tsarist-built torpedo-boats that had been used for coastal patrol duties. They were the first surface warships built by the Soviets and not surprisingly incorporated many design and construction faults. Only 12 ships were laid down on schedule and the last six were carried over to the second five-year plan. Shkval and Shtonn were built at the Marti Yard, Nikolayev, Вurim, Grom, Mietel, Vyuga, Molnya and Zamica at the Dalzavod Yard, Vla- divostok, and the rest al the Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad. Material for lhe Pacific Fleet boats was assembled at the Zhandanov Yard. The results of the first tnals of Uragan and others were deplorable - none of lhem exceeded 23-24ktsm a calm sea although 29ktshad been contracted Thus lhe guardships proved to be a complete failure - too slow for use as torpedo- boats and of no value as ASW vessels because of their lack of depth charge handling equipment and underwater detection devices. They were generally of poor construction and юр heavy. Prior lo the war AA armament was augmented bv adding 3-45mm/46 guns During the war some of the class were re-armed with 2-100mm/56 guns instead of the 4in weapons and 37mm/67 guns instead of or in addition to the 45mm pieces. Two DCTs were added and the complement rose to 108. The class was nicknamed ‘the bad weather flotilla’ because of their individual names - ‘hur- ricane’, ‘storm’ etc. Ciklon and Snieg w ere mined 28.8.41; Purga was bombed and sunk on Lake Ladoga 1 9.42, Vikhr was bombed and sunk at Kronshtadt 23 9 41 but was subsequently refloated and repaired with the turbines salved from the wreck of Purga-, and Burya was mined 24 8.42. The surviving vessels were discarded in the 1950s 339
SOVIET UNION RUBIN class (launched 1936-39) Displacement: 550t Dimensions: 203ft 5m pp x 23fr 7in x 8ft 6in 62.00 x 7.20 x 2.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 2300bhp = 17kts. Oil 85t Armament: l-4in/60, 2-37min/67 (2x1), 2-0 5in MG Complement: ? Class: Brilliant, Rubin, Saphir, Zhemchug Built in the Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad, for the Northern Coast Guard of the NKVD, and commissioned with the Northern Fleet after the outbreak of war with Germany. Of similar construction and appearance to the Tral class mines- weepers. Brilliant and Zhemchug were war losses. GANGUTYEC The former Russian despatch vessel Sputnik was captured by the German auxiliary cruiser Mows in 1918, handed over to the Estonian Navy and commis- sioned as Laine. Seized by the Soviet Navy during annexation of Estonia in 1940, she was commissioned as the minesweeper T49. She was reclassified as the guardship Gangutyec m 1941, but was lost on mines off Hango 2 12 41. For further details see under Estonia. Two Romanian escort vessels, Sborul (ex-Austro-Hunganan torpedo-boat 81T) and Smeul (ex-&3F), were seized by the Soviets in Constanza in August 1944 and commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet as Musson and Toros respcc lively. They were returned in 1945. For further details see under Romania. AMETIST The Estonian torpedo-boat Sulev (ex-German A32) was seized by the Soviets during the annexation of Estonia in 1940 and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. Relegated to auxiliary duties in 1942 and scrapped cl955. For further details see under Estonia. MINESWEEPERS Vladimir Polukhin as completed VLADIMIR POLUKHIN class fleet minesweepers (launched 1940-41, ?1946) Displacement: 700t (7T250-T254 600t) standard, 900t (7T2S0-T254 800t) deep load Dimensions: 249ft 4in pp x 26ft 3in x 7ft 5in 76.00 x 8.00 x 2.26m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 8000shp = 24kts (7T250-T254 = 18kts). Oil 190t Armament. 2-100mm/56(2x l)or 2-3in/55,3-37mm/67 (3x 1), 2-20mm (2x 1), 15 mines Complement: 120 Class: T250 (Vladimir Polukhin'), T25I (Pavel Khokhryanov), T2S2 (Alexandr Petrov), T253 (Karl Zedin), T254 (Vasiliy Gromov), T255 (Adnan Zosimov), T256 (Vladimir Trefolyev), T257 fHmofyei Ulyancev), T258 (Mikhail Martynov), T2S9 (Fiodor Mitrofanov), T260 (Luka Pankov), T261 (Pavlik Vinogradov), T262 (Styepan Gredyushko), T263 (Semion Paleikov), T264, 71265, T450 (Pavel Golovin), T45I (Ivan Bonsov), T452 (Sergei Shuvalov), T4S3 (Semion Roshal), T4S4 (Ivan Sladkov), T455 (Nikolai Markin), 7T456, 7T457 Fast fleer minesweepers developed from the Tral class, built at the Petrozavod Works, Shipbuilding Works and Izhora Shipbuilding Works in Leningrad and at Sevastopol Dockyard; at least 24 were probably laid down during the third five-year plan - 16 in the Baltic and 8 in the Black Sea During 1940-41 about 15 hulls were launched and all from Sevastopol and about 5 from Leningrad were evacuated either to Poti and the Khopi estuary (the former) or to various inland harbours (the latter). Of those remaining in Leningrad, the prototype boat Vladimir Polukhin was completed and commissioned 6.11.42, while Vasiliy Gromov enetered service in 1943. A further four - Pavel Khokhryanov, Fiodor Mitrofanov, Luka Pankov and Pavlik Vinogradov - were ready between 1944 and 1945. Most of the others entered service during the late 1940s. T264 and T26S were probably scrapped incomplete 1946—47, Pavel Golovin and Nikolai Markin were destroyed incomplete in June 1942 and Semion Roshal, 7Г456 and 5T457 were also probably lost before completion. The remaining vessels were dis- carded in the 1960s. STARSHYI LEYTENANT LEKARYEV class fleet minesweepers Class: TilliSlarshyiLeytenant Lekaryev (ex-Advocate), Tll2lStarshyi Leytenant Vladimirov (ex-A gent), T113 (ex-Alarm), T114 (ex-Alchemy), Т115 (ex-Apex), T116 (ex-Arcade), TH7 (ex-Arch), Tl 18 (ex-Armada), Tl 19 (ex-Aspire), T120 (ex-Assail), T271 (ex-Fancy), T272 (ex-Marvel), T273 (ex-Measure), T274 (ex- Method), T27S (ex-Minh), T276 (ex-Nucleus), T277 (ex-Disdain), T278 (ex- Palisade), T279 (ex-indicative), T280 (ex-Penetrate), T281 (cx-Penl), T282 (ex-Rampart), T52I (ex-Admirable), T522 (cx-Adopt), T523 (ex Astute), T524 (ex-Augury), T52S (ex-Bamer), T526 (ex-Bombard), T593 (ex Bond), T594 (ex-Candid), T595 (ex-Capable), TS96 (ex-Captivate), T597 (ex-Caravan), T598 (ex-Caution) Thirty-four US Admirable class minesweepers were loaned to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, the first 10 units being handed over in 1943 and commissioned with the Northern Fleet (ГП1-Т120) followed by a further 24 for the Pacific Fleet in 1945. Tl 14, Tl 18 and T120 were sunk by U-boats in the Kara Sea in 1944, T278 was lost in the Pacific, T279 was mined off Korea 10.8 45, and TII6, T117 and T522 were scrapped after the war. T281, TS21, TS23-T526 and T593-T598 were stricken in 1954, Т1П-Т113, TII5 and T119 were scuttled in 1956; and the remaining boats were purchased by the USSR in the 1950s. DO ROTE YA coastal minesweeper (built 1924) Displacement: 443t standard; 500t deep load Dimensions: 151ft 7in x 21ft 4in x 13ft Im 46.20 x 6.50 x 4 00m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 cyl boilers, 400ihp = 8kts Armament: 2—45mm/46 Complement: ? DZHALITA coastal minesweeper built 1926) Displacement: 470t Dimensions: 132ft lOin x 20ft Sin x 9ft 6in 40.50 x 6.30 x 2.90m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 cyl boilers, 300ihp - 8kts Armament* 2-45mm/46 Complement: ? 340
Minesweepers/Motor torpedo-boats Tral as completed TRAL class coastal minesweepers (launched 1935-40) Displacement: 434t standard, 490t deep load Dimensions: 203fl 5in oa x 25ft X 7ft 9m 62 00 x 7.62 x 2 31m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 2800bhp = 18kts Armament. l-100mm/56, 1—45mm/46, 30 mines Complement. 52 Class: T201 (Zaryad), T202 (Bui), T203 (Patron), T204 (Pugas), Tl (Stryela), 12 (Tros), T3 (Provodnik), T4 (Podsekatyel), T20S (Gafel), T206 (Verp), T207 (Shpil), T208 (Shkiv), T209 (Knekht), T210 (Gak), T2U (Ryrn), T2I2 (Shtag), T213 (Krambol), T214 (Bugel), T215, T216, T217, T218, T219 (Kontradmiral Khoroshkin), T22O, T221-T224, T401 (Tral), T402 (Minrep), T403 (Gruz, ex- piling), T404 (Shchit), T40S (Vzryvatvel), T406 (Iskatyel), T407 (Mina), TS (Paravan), 76 (Kapsul), Tl (Viekha), T8 (Cheka), T408 (Yakor), 1309 (Gar- pun), T410 (Vzryv), T411 (Zashchitnik), T4I2 (Arseniy Raskin), T4I3, 1414-1416 This, the first Soviet built class of minesweepers, was intended as the stan- dard medium minesweeper type for the second and third five year plans Design work started in 1933, the prototype boat was laid down in 1934 and this was followed by a further 26 under the second five-year plan A total of 48 had been laid down prior io the German invasion, and possibly a further 8 were planned, to give seven 8-boat flotillas distributed two each among the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, and one for the Northern Fleet During the war AA arma- ment was augmented on some boats bv adding 1 to 3-37mm,'67 and 3 to 6-0.5in MG, as well as 20inm and 0 3m MGs The complement reached 60 Built at the Zhdanov Yard (T201-T208, T1-T4) and at the Izhora Works (T209-T224) in Leningrad, and at Sevastopol Dockyard (p40l-T4l6, TS-T8) T201-T203, 1206, T208, T209, T212-T214, T2I6 and T402 were lost by mining, T219 was sunk during fitting out but refloated and commissioned 8.S 45, T403 was sunk by an S-boat 28.2.43, T40S was damaged by German coastal batteries off Yevpatoria 7.1.42 and was stranded, T410 and T411 were sunk by U boais, and T413 was sunk by German aircraft off Sevastopol 1414-1416 were unfinished, their hulls presumably being captured by the Germans; T221-T224 had their construction suspended but were possibly completed after the war. TI-T8 were sold to North Korea around 1955. Jerzy Mtetriski Collection T442, T446 and others of the T371 class T371 class Displacement: 150t standard, 180t deep load Dimensions: 127ft 11m x 18ft x 4ft Ilin 39 00 x 5 SO x I 50m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 1440bhp = 14kts Armament* 2-45mm/46 (2x 1), 4-0 5in MG (2x2), 18 mines Complement: 32 Small steel minesweepers were designed during the war for mass production in the small yards. To simplify construction as much as possible, straight hull lines were adopted, which allowed use of flat sections only The protoype boat was laid down in 1942 and from 1943 onwards five were delivered monthly In 1944 the new enlarged version - T311 class - was introduced Built in Leningrad, about 145 units were completed during the war, followed by a large number after the war, the type continuing in production until 1955 or 1956 Approxi- mately 250 were built by this date Nine were delivered to Poland in 1946, and many others were sold or loaned to satellite navies during the 1950s. T297-T299 Class: T291 (ex-I'irseifts), T298 (ex-Viesturs), T299 (ex Inianla). The former Latvian gunboat and two minesweepers were seized by the Soviets in 1940 and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet as minesweepers. T291 w is mined 2 12 41 and T299 on 1 7 41 T298 was renumbered 75/ (June 1940) and 757 (September 1941). For further details see under Latvia. T108 class Fifteen RN and RCN motor minesweepers were handed over to the Soviet Union in 1944—45 and commissioned with the Northern Fleet as ТЮ8-Т110, T12I-TI22 and with the Black Sea Fleet as T193-T202 They were returned after the war 151 class T301 class___________________________________________ Displacement: 130t standard, 155t deep load Dimensions: 101ft 8in x 16ft lin x 4ft 7m 31 00 x 4 90 x 1.40m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 960bhp = 12.5kts Armament 2-20mm (2x1), 4-0 5m MG (2x2), ? mines Complement: 32 Forty-three US ‘YMS’ class minesweepers were handed over to the Soviet Navy in May-September 1945 under Lend-Lease. Of these, 31 were commissioned with the Pacific Fleet as T1SI-TIS6, TS81-TS92 and TS99-T6U and 6 each with the Baltic and the Black Sea Fleets as T181—T186 and T187-1192 respec- tively Two became war losses, 7 were scrapped by the Soviets by 1954 and a further 11 by about 1956, 12 were declared unseaworthy bv the Soviets in 1954 and scrapped afterwards, and 11 were scuttled in the Barents Sea under USN supervision. MOTOR TORPEDO -BOATS ANT1-ANT4 experimental MTBs This group of M l'Bs comprised four vessels of differing characteristics. A \'T1, built in 1921, was powered by a 160hp Isotta-Fraschini petrol engine, giving a speed of 40kts; she was unarmed The second boat, believed numbered A \ 72 and probably also unarmed, was built around 1925, her petrol engine gave her a speed of 35kts. АХ'ТЗ (Pervenec) displaced 8.9t and was armed with I—18in torpedo and 2 MGs, built in 1927, she was fitted with 2 Wright Cyclones delivering 1050bhp = 54kts. ANT4 (Tupolev), slightly bigger at lOt, had the same machinery, giving 50kts, and was armed vvith 2-18in torpedoes and 1 MG, she was built in 1928 Penenec and Tupolev were designed at the Central Aero-Hydrodyn imic Institute under Ing A N Tupolev and served as prototypes for the Sh4 type M 1 Bs. Sh4 type (built 1928-32) Displacement: 10 9t standard, 12 8t full load Dimensions: 59ft 4in x 10ft Ilin x c3ft 3in 18 08 x 3.33 x cl 00m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Wright Typhoon (later boats Isotta-Fraschini) petrol engines, 1050bhp = 44kts (later boats 1600bhp = 50kts) Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, 1-0 3m MG Complement: 6 The first scries M 1 Bs of the Soviet Navy. 36 were authorized under the 1926 N ival Programme, followed by about 16 more under the first five-year prog- ramme The design was developed from British CMBs, a few of which remained 341
SOVIET UNION SH4 type boat Author's Collection m Soviet hands after the Civil War. The hull was of aluminium alloy Approxi- mately 55 were commissioned, serving m the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific. Careless treatment and lack of maintenance caused the rapid wearing out of all the boats of this class, and by the end of 1930s they were used as sub-chasers, guardships of the NKVD, training units or naval harbour launches. SiVll, SM2 experimental MTBs (built 1931) 25< MTBs powered by 3 GAM-34 petrol engines (1540bhp = 30kts), built under the designation Slalnoi. G8 experimental MTB A 26t design armed with 2-21 in torpedoes and 3 .MGs, built m 1938 Her four petrol engines developed 3200bhp = 47kts. D2 experimental MTB This 17t MTB was built in 1939 and was flowered b\ 2 GAM-34FN petrol engines with an output of 2200bhp. She «'as armed, however, as a submarine- chaser with 2 MGs and 52 depth charges. TKAU6 ofiheDJ type n 1944 Boris l.emachko Collection Jerzy Micirlski Collection TKA12S of the G5 type, Series 10 G5 type Displacement: 14.03t (Series 9 14.8t, Series 10, 11 16.25t) Dimensions: 56ft 9in wl x 10ft 11m (Series 10, 11 lift 2in) x 1ft 11m (Series 9 2ft 2in, Series 10, 11 2ft 8in) 17.30 x 3.33 (3.40) x 0.60 (0 65, 0.82)m Machinery: 2 shafts GAM-34 (Series 9 GAM-34B, Series 10 GAM-34BS, Series 11 GAM-34BS-F) petrol engines, 1250bhp = 45kts (Series 9 1600bhp = 49kts, Series 10 1700bhp = 53kts, Series 11 2000bhp = 56kts) Armament: 2-2lin torpedoes, 1 to 2 MG. See notes Complement: 6 or 7 Improved version of the standard Sh4 tvpe and intended as the standard MTB for the second five-year programme Production of these boats was continued during the third five-year plan however, simply because there was no good design for the replacement type available before 1940 Approximately 253 boats «erecompleted before lhe war, followed by 39 built during hostilities. Possibly some others were commissioned after the war, and 4 boats were sold to the Republican Forces during the Spanish Civil War. The G5 class comprised about 152 Series 7, 8 and 9 boats completed m 1934-36, about 20 Series 10 boats produced in 1937 and about 120 Series 11 which completed the class in 1945. Machine gun armament varied: Series 7 boats carried 1-0 3in MG, Series 8-10 1-0.5in, and Series 11 1-0 3in and l-0.5in,or just 1 or 2-0.5m ROFS-82or ROFS-132 rocket launchers were also fitted to late production versions. Of 42 boats of this class in commission with the Baltic Fleet, 77 with the Black Sea and 135 with the Pacific Fleet on 22.6.41, 73 were lost and 31 discarded or decommissioned, which, together with war production and the two boats refloated and recommissioned with the Finnish Navy and returned m 1944, gave about 191 boats in commission after rhe war. This figure was almost instantly reduced by discarding boats of earlier scries; others were discarded during 1950s, some being transferred to North Korea. G6 experimental MTB Built 1935 and displacing 70t, this experimental boat was powered by 8 GAM- 34BS petrol engines developing 6800bhp = 42kts. Armament consisted of 3-2lin TT, l-45mm/46 and 3 MGs. D3 type Displacement: 32t standard; 35t full load Dimensions: 71ft x 13ft x 4ft 4in 21 63 x 3 96 x 1 33m Machinery: 3 shafts. See notes Armament: See notes Complement: 9-14 A large MTB type developed during the third five-year plan and a radical departure from the ‘small MTB* policy. Of wooden construction, these boats had more satisfactory living accommodation compared with earlier types, and their ability to stay at sea in Force 6 conditions and an improved torpedo launching system increased their fighting efficiency. Because of engine shortages many of the early boats received powerplants not called for in the original design - installations included GAM-34 FN (3600bhp = 39kts), GAM-34 (2O25bhp = 32kts) and 2 GAM-34BS + GAM-34 (2375bhp = 35kts). Some «'ere completed as sub-chasers by installing one engine less. AA armament varied, some boats carrying between 1 and 4-0 5in and others 1 or 2-20mm. Only 3 boats were in commission at the beginning of the war (2 of them wnh the Northern Fleet) but 12 more were running trials in the Baltic A total of about 130 boats were constructed during 1939-45 for deployment with the Baltic Fleet (about 110), the Northern Fleet (about 16) and the Black Sea Fleet (the rest). Only about 10 were lost during the war, and a considerable number were reclass fied as sub-chasers Two transferred to Poland in 1946, the others were stricken during the 1950s. SM3 experimental MTB A 26t design built in 1940 and armed with 2-21 in torpedoes and 2 MGs. 3 GAM-34FN petrol engines, 33OObhp = 45kts. D4 experimental MTB Built in 1940, this boat was powered by 3 GAM-34FN petrol engines (33OObhp = 39kts) and armed with 2-2lin torpedoes and 12 MGs She displaced 22l An unnamed boat, powered by 2 diesel engines (2400bhp = 56kts) and displacing 15t, was also built tn 1940. KOMSOMOLEC class Displacement: ? 15t Dimensions: ? Machinery: 3 shafts. GAM-34FN petrol engines, 33OObhp = 57kts Armament: 2-2Im TT, 4-O.5in MG (2x2) Complement: ? This new design of small MTB was presumably intended to replace the G5 type boats under the third five-year plan. The hull was of aluminium construction, and TT were installed mstead of launching or dropping gear as in earlier types. The protoly pe boat ran trials in the Baltic in 1940 but senes production of these boats had not been introduced before the German invasion and the programme was suspended until the end of 1944. The first scries Komsomolec class MTBs entered service with the Baltic Fleet in 1945 and were followed by at least 12 more transferred to the Pacific Fleet before the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. 342
Minesweepers/Motor torpedo-boats Tral as completed TRAL class coastal minesweepers (launched 1935-40) Displacement: 434t standard, 490t deep load Dimensions: 203ft 5in oa x 25ft x 7ft 9in 62 00 x 7.62 x 2.37m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 2800bhp = 18kts Armament: l-100mm/56, 1—45mm/46, 30 mines Complement: 52 Class: T201 (Zatyad), T202 (Bui), T203 (Patron), T204 (Fugas), Tl (Stryela), T2 (Tros), T3 (Provodnik), T4 (Podsekatyel), T205 (Gafel), T206 (Verp), T207 (Shpil), T208 (Shkw), T209 (Knekht), T210 (Gak), T211 (Rym), T212 (Shtag), T2I3 (Krambul), 7214 (Bugel), T21S, T216, T217, T218, T219 (Kontradmiral Khoroshkin), T220, T221-T224, T401 (Tral), T402 (M inrep), T403 (Gruz, ex- Elling), T404 (Shchit), T40S (Vzryvatyel), T406 (Iskaiyel), T407 (Мша), T5 (Paravan), 7'6 (Kapsul), T7 (Vtekha), T8 (Cheka), Г4д8 (1 akor), 1309 (Gar- pun), T410 (yzryv), 7'411 (Zashchitnik), T412 (Arseniy Raskin), T413, 7'414-7'416. This, the first Soviet-built class of minesweepers, was intended as the stan- dard medium minesweeper type for the second and third five-year plans. Design work started in 1933; the prototype boat was laid down in 1934 and this was followed by a further 26 under the second five-year plan A total of 48 had been laid down prior to the German invasion, and possibly a further 8 were planned, to give seven 8 boat flotillas distributed two each among the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, and one for the Northern Fleet. During the war A A arma- ment was augmented on some boats by adding 1 to 3-37mm/67 and 3 to 6-0 5in MG, as well as 20mm and 0 3in MGs The complement reached 60. Built at the Zhdanov Yard (T201-T208, TI-T4) and at the Izhora Works (7'209-7'224) in Leningrad, and at Sevastopol Dockyard G'401-7'416, TS-T8) T201-T203, 1'206, T208, T209, T2I2-T214, T216 and T402 w ere lost by mining, T219 was sunk during fitting out but refloated and commissioned 8.5.45, T403 was sunk by an S-boat 28 2.43, T405 was damaged by German coastal batteries off Yevpatoria 7.1 42 and was stranded, T410 and T411 were sunk by U-boats, and T413 was sunk by German aircraft off Sevastopol. T414-T416 were unfinished, their hulls presumably being captured by the Germans, T221-T224 had their construction suspended but were possibly completed after the war. T1-T8 were sold to North Korea around 1955. 7'442, 7'446 and others of the T371 class Jerzy MiaAski Collection T371 class Displacement: 150t standard; 180t deep load Dimensions: 127ft Um x 18ft X 4ft Ilin 39 00 x 5 50 x 1.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 1440bhp = 14kts Armament 2—45mm/46 (2x 1), 4—0.5in MG (2x2), 18 mines Complement: 32 Small steel minesweepers were designed during the war for mass production in the small yards. To simplify construction as much as possible, straight hull lines were adopted, which allowed use of flat sections only. The protoype boat was laid down in 1942 and from 1943 onwards five were delivered monthly. In 1944 the new enlarged version - T371 class - was introduced Built in Leningrad, about 145 units were completed during the war, followed by a large number after the war, the type continuing in production until 1955 or 1956. Approxi- mately 250 were built by this date Nine were delivered to Poland m 1946, and many others were sold or loaned to satellite navies during the 1950s. T297-T299 Class: T297 (cx-Virsaitis), 7'298 (cx-Viesturs), T299 (ex-lmanta). The former Latvian gunboat and two minesweepers were seized by the Soviets in 1940 and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet as minesweepers T297 was mined 2 12 41 and T299 on 1.7.41 T298 was renumbered 7'5/ (June 1940) and T57 (September 1941). For further details see under Latvia. T108 class Fifteen RN and RCN motor minesweepers were handed over to the Soviet Union in 1944—45 and commissioned with the Northern Fleet as T108-TI10, 7'121-7'122 and with the Black Sea Fleet as T193-T202 They were returned after the war T151 class T301 class Displacement: 130t standard; 155t deep load Dimensions: 101ft 8in x 16ft Im x 4ft 7in 31 00 x 4.90 x 1 40m Machinery: 2 shafts Diesels, 960bhp = 12.5kts Armament: 2-20mm (2x 1), 4-0.5in MG (2x2), ? mines Complement: 32 Forty-three US ‘YMS’ class minesweepers were handed over to the Soviet Navy in May-September 1945 under Lend-Lease. Of these, 31 were commissioned with the Pacific Fleet as T1SI-TIS6, TS81-TS92 and TS99-T611 and 6 each with the Baltic and the Black Sea Fleets as T181-T186 and T187-T192 respec- tively. 1 wo became war losses, 7 were scrapped by the Soviets by 1954 and a further 11 by about 1956, 12 were declared unseaworthy by the Soviets in 1954 and scrapped afterwards, and 11 were scuttled in the Barents Sea under USN supervision. MOTOR TORPEDO -BOATS ANT1-ANT4 experimental MTBs *1 his group of M 1 Bs comprised four vessels of differing characteristics A \T1, built in 1921, was powered by a 160hp Isotta-Fraschini petrol engine, giving a speed of 40kts; she was unarmed. The second boat, believed numbered A\rT2 and probably also unarmed, was built around 1925; her petrol engine gave her a speed of 35kts A\T3 (Pcrvenec) displaced 8.9t and was armed with 1—18in torpedo and 2 MGs; built in 1927, she was fitted with 2 W right Cvclones delivering lOSObhp = 54kts. AN7V (Tupolev), slightly bigger at lOt, had the same machinery, giving 50kts, and was armed w ith 2-18m torpedoes and I MG; she was buili in 1928 Pervenec and Tupolev were designed at ihe Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute under Ing A N Tupolev and served as prototypes for the Sh4 type MTBs Sh4 type (built 1928-32) Displacement: 10 9t standard; 12 8t full load Dimensions: 59ft 4m x 10ft Ilin x c3ft 3in 18 08 x 3 33 x cl 00m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Wright Typhoon (later boats Isotta-Fraschini) petrol engines, 1050bhp = 44kts (later boats 1600bhp = 50kts) Armament: 2-18in torpedoes, 1-0.3m MG Complement: 6 The first series M I Bs of the Soviet Navy 36 were authorized under the 1926 Naval Programme, followed by about 16 more under the first five-year prog- ramme The design was developed from British CMBs, a few of which remained 341
SOVIET UNION in Soviet hands after the Civil War. The hull was of aluminium alloy. Approxi- mately 55 were commissioned, serving in the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific. Careless treatment and lack of maintenance caused the rapid wearing out of all the boats of this class, and by the end of 1930s they were used as sub-chascrs, guardships of the NKVD, training units or naval harbour launches. SMI, SM2 experimental MTBs (built 1931) 25c MTBs flowered by 3 GAM-34 petrol engines (1540bhp = 30kts), built under the designation Stalnoi. G8 experimental M ТВ A 26t design armed with 2-2lin torpedoes and 3 MGs, built in 1938. Her four petrol engines developed 3200bhp = 47kts. D2 experimental MTB This 17t MTB was built in 1939 and was powered bv 2 GAM-34FN petrol engines with an output of 22OObhp. She was armed, however, as a submarine- chaser with 2 MGs and 52 depth charges. ГКА116 of the D3 type in 1944 Boris I.emuchko Collection TKA125 of theG5 type, Series 10 Jerzy .Micirfski Collection G5 type Displacement: 14 03t (Series 9 14.8t, Series 10, 11 16 25t) Dimensions: 56ft 9in wl x 10ft Ilin (Series 10, 11 lift 2in) x 1ft 1 lin (Series 9 2ft 2in, Series 10, 11 2ft 8in) 17.30 x 3.33 (3.40) x 0.60 (0 6S, 0.82)m Machinery: 2 shafts. GAM-34 (Series 9 GAM-34B, Series 10 GAM-34BS, Series 11 GAM-34BS-F) petrol engines, !250bhp = 45kts (Series 9 1600bhp = 49kts, Series 10 1700bhp = 53kts, Series 11 2000bhp = 56kts) Armament: 2-21 in torpedoes, 1 to 2 MG. See notes Complement: 6 or 7 Improved version of the standard Sh4 tvpe and intended as the standard MTB for the second five-year programme. Production of these boats was continued during the third five-year plan however, simply because there was no good design for the replacement type available before 1940 Approximately 253 boats were completed before the war, followed by 39 built during hostilities. Possibly some others were commissioned after the war, and 4 boats were sold to the Republican Forces during the Spanish Civil War. The GS class comprised about 152 Series 7, 8 and 9 boats completed in 1934-36, about 20 Series 10 boats produced in 1937 and about 120 Series 11 which completed the class in 1945. Machine gun armament varied: Series 7 boats carried 1-0 3in MG, Senes 8-10 1-0.5in, and Senes 11 1-0 3in and l-0.5in, or just 1 or 2-0.5in. ROFS-82 or ROFS-132 rocket launchers were also fitted to late production versions. Of 42 boats of this class in commission with the Baltic Fleet, 77 with the Black Sea and 135 with the Pacific Fleet on 22.6.41, 73 were lost and 31 discarded or decommissioned, which, together with war production and the two boats refloated and recommissioned with the Finnish Navy and returned in 1944, gave about 191 boats in commission after the war. This figure was almost instantly reduced by discarding boats of earlier senes; others were discarded during 1950s, some being transferred to North Korea. G6 experimental MTB * Built 1935 and displacing 70t, this experimental boat was powered by 8 GA M- 34BS petrol engines developing 6800bhp = 42kts Armament consisted of 3-2lin TT, 1—45mm/46 and 3 MGs. D3 type Displacement: 32t standard; 35t full load Dimensions: 71ft x 13ft x 4ft 4in 21.63 x 3 96 x / 33m Machinery: 3 shafts. See notes Armament: See notes Complement: 9-14 A large Ml В type developed during the third fivc-jear plan ind a radical departure from the ‘small Ml B’ policy. Of wooden construction, these boats had more satisfactory living accommodation compared with earlier types, and their ability to stay at sea in Force 6 conditions and an improved torpedo launching system increased their fighting efficiency Because of engine shortages many of the early boats received powerplants not called for in the original design - installations included GAM-34FN (3600bhp = 39kts), GAM-34 (2025bhp = 32kts)and 2 GAM-34BS + GAM-34 (2375bhp - 35kts). Some w’ere completed as sub-chasers by installing one engine less AA armament varied, some boats carrying between 1 and 4—0 5in and others 1 or 2-20mm. Only 3 boats were in commission at the beginning of the war (2 of them with the Northern Fleet) but 12 more were running trials in the Baltic A total of about 130 boats were constructed during 1939-45 for deployment with the Baltic Fleet (about 110), the Northern Fleet (about 16) and the Black Sea Fleet (the rest). Only about 10 were lost during the war, and a considerable number were reclassified as sub-chasers. Two transferred to Poland m 1946, the others were stricken during the 1950s. SM3 experimental MTB A 26t design built in 1940 and armed with 2-2lin torpedoes and 2 MGs. 3 GAM-34FN petrol engines, 3300bhp = 45kts. D4 experimental MTB Built in 1940, this boat was powered by 3 GAM 34FN petrol engines (3300bhp = 39kts) and armed with 2—2 lin torpedoes and 12 MGs. She displaced 22t. An unnamed boat, powered by 2 diesel engines (2400bhp = 56kts) and displacing 15t, was also built in 1940. KOMSOMOLEC class Displacement: ?15t Dimensions: ? Machinery: 3 shafts. GAM-34FN petrol engines, 33OObhp = 57kts Armament: 2-21in TT, 4-O.5in MG (2x2) Complement: ? This new design of small MTB was presumably intended to replace the GS type boats under the third five-year plan. The hull was of aluminium consiruction, and TT were installed instead of launching or dropping gear as in earlier types The protoljpe boat ran trials in the Baltic in 1940 but senes production of these boats had not been introduced before the German invasion and the programme was suspended until the end of 1944. The first series Komsomolec class MTBs entered service with rhe Baltic Fleet in 1945 and were followed by at least 12 more transferred to the Pacific Fleet before the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. 342
Submarine-chasers A Komsomolec class boat in 1948 Bons Lemachko Collection Al class US Vosper 70ft tvpe transferred to the Soviet Union 1944—45 A total of 140 boats of this type were intended for transfer but only 90 were actually shipped, whilst delivery of a further 50 was cancelled after the end of the w'ar with Japan. All but one reached Soviet ports, of these 2 were lost during the war. A2 class US Higgins 78ft type transferred to the Soviet Union 1943-45 59 units were scheduled for transfer, and all but 4 cancelled in 1945 and 2 lost during transfer леге commissioned with the Soviet Navy Seven were war casualties. A3 class US fclco 80ft type delivered to the Soviet Navy 1944—15 60 boats were scheduled and actually delivered All survived the war Altogether, 259 US-built MTBs were scheduled for transfer to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease; of these, 205 were shipped and 202 actually reached Soviet ports and were commissioned with the Soviet Navy 53 were shipped m ‘knocked down’ condition and assembled in Russia 9 were war losses, 76 were returned to the USN 1954-55, 26 were scrapped by the Soviets after the war, 66 were declared unseaworthy in 1954 and presumably scrapped afterwards, and 25 were scuttled in the Barents Sea under USN supervision in 1956 The Soviets seized 12 MTBs from lhe Romanian and Bulgarian Navies in August and September 1944 respectively All were commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet, being designated TKA951-TKA955 and TKA958-TKA964. They were returned m 1945. For further details see under Romania and Bul- garia SUBMARINE-CHASERS MO2 type Displacement: 511 Dimensions: 85ft 4in x 13ft lin x 4ft 3in 26 00 * 4.00 к I 30m Machinery: 2 shafts GAM-34 petrol engines, 1350bhp = 14kts. Petrol 5t Armament: 2-45mm 46 (2x 1), 2-0.5in MG (2x 1) Complement: 14 'I he first Soviet built sub-chasers, the design for which was authorised under the second five-year programme both as a coast guard launch for the N KVD and submarine-chaser for the Navy in the event of war Of wooden construction, these were not a successful design since they did not achieve their designed speed oi 25kts, they lacked manoeuvrability and stability, and the fuel system was unreliable. Only one senes(?6—312) of this tvpe was built, in 1935, and the construction <>f lhe others wi. cancelled in favour of a new design following petrol explosions on one boat 1MO4 type Displacement: 50 5t standard; 56.5t full load Dimensions: 88ft 3in x 13ft lin x 4ft lOin 26 90 x 4.00 x 1 48m Machinery: 3 shafts. 3 GAM-34 (later boats GAM-34BS) petrol engines 2O25bhp = 24kts (later boats 2550bhp = 26kts) Armament- 2-45mm/46 (2x 1), 2-0 5in MG (2x1), 3-0 3in MG (3x 1) Complement 24 1 his design was prepared in 1936 as an improvement of the ill-fated ИО2 type A third engine was added and a new gear ng system gave reverse thrust Sc ikcepingqualities, manoeuvrability and stability were improved is compared with the earlier design; however, owing to their rudimcntarv equipment they were not efficient ASW units and served more frequently as patrol craft Four 1 nge mines could be carried 1‘vvo prototypes were buth in 1936 and mass production was begun under lhe third five year programme At least 80 vessels oi this type were commis- sioned with the Soviet Navy before the war, followed by alarge number of others during hostilities 1 hey were used before the war as patrol launches with the N KVD (/’K design ition), or sea-going sub-chasers (АЮ or guardbuars (5A'.4) during the vv i BO2 type Displacement: 240t Dimensions: 160ft 9in x 19ft x 6ft 7m 49.00 x 5.80 x 2 00m Machinery: 3 shafts. Diesels, 3300-3600shp = 22kts Oil 18t Armament: l-3in/55, 2-37mm/67 (2x 1), 3-0 5in MG (3x 1) Complement: 30 ”1 hese, the largest of the Soviet sub-chasers, entered production during the third five-year plan after a considerable delay - at least 11 were planned for service by 1 January 1939 Seventeen had been laid down before the German invasion; of theseonlv 2 were commissioned before the war, and a further 15 were completed 343
SOVIET UNION during hostilities. The first fixe units had diesels of Soviet design, whilst the others were powered by General Motors diesels. A large number of this type were, howcx er, laid down during the war, entering service in the post-war xears; sonic of these had Soviet-designed machinery The BO2s xvere built at the Krasnaya Sormovo Yard, Gorki, the Zelycnodolsk Yard on the Volga, the 402 Yard, Molotovsk, and the Diomedes Inlet Yard near Vladivostok. BM0622 about 1947 Boris Lemachko Collection M0328 of the TK ixpc Jerzy Mtcirffki Collection TK type Displacement: About 32t Dimensions: 71ft x 13ft x 4ft 4m 21 63 x 3 96 x 1.33in Machinery: 2 shafts GAM-34BS petrol engines, 1700bhp = 24kts Armament: l-37mm/67, 2-0.5in MG (2x 1) Complement: 12 Sub-chasers or guardboats based on the D3 MTB design, some of these MTBs were built entirely for this purpose, whilst others were adapted to this role because they proved too sloxx’ for MTB duties. BMO type Displacement: 74t Dimensions: 82ft x 14ft lin x 3ft Ilin 25.00 x 4.30 x 1.20m Machinery: 3 shafts. 2 M-50 plus 1 auxiliary diesel, 2000 bhp + 400bhp = 20kts Armament: 1—45min/46, l-37mm/67, 1-0 5in MG AA; or l-37mm/67, 4-0. Sin MG (2x2) Complement: 24 Could carry mines. BO201 class US sub-chasers of the ‘SC’ type. 12 were delivered to the Northern Fleet in 1943 followed by 34 more in 1944; 32 were allocated to the Pacific Fleet. 4 were lost during the war, 10 were returned to the USN in 1955, and 29 were scuttled m the Barents Sea in 1955 followed by 10 more in the Pacific 1955-56. The remainder were purchased by the Russians. A total of 138 US-built sub-chasers were transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease between 1943 and 1945; 78 ‘SC* type, 26 ‘OTC’ type and 36 ‘RPC’ type. Ail but 9, xvhich were war losses, were returned to the USN, scuttled under US supervision, purchased by the Soviets, or scrapped by them by the mid-1950s. MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS Mam m the 1940s MARTI minelayer Displacement: 5665t standard; 6198t deep load Dimensions: 401ft 3in x 50ft 6in x 22ft 4in 122.30 x 15.40 x 6.80m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 4 boilers, ll,500shp = 14kts Armament: 4-130mm/50 (4x1), 7-3in/55 (7x1), 3-45mm/46 (3x1), 3-0.5in MG AA, c32O mines Complement: 400 Name Converted by Date of Fate conversion MARTI (ex-Shtandarf) Maru Yd, Leningrad 1932-25.12.36 BUcl960 The former Imperial yacht Shtandart, built during 1893-96 by the Burmeister & Wain Yard, Copenhagen, xvas converted into minelayer and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. This conversion was not an outstanding success: only 320 mines were carried on 6000t displacement and Marti proved to be too slow for efficient minelaying After sustaining minor damage n 1941-42 she was repaired in 1943, and then used as a floating battery during the defence of Leningrad. Overhauled and re-engined at Rostock during the late 1940s, she was used as a training ship, and xvas renamed Oka in 1957. 344 SUUROP class minelayers The former Estonian minelayers Ristna and Suurop were seized by the Soviets in 1940 and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. Suurop was sunk by German aircraft in autumn 1941; Ristna became training ship postwar and was scrapped in 1960. For further details see under Estonia. DON minelayer The Romanian minelayer Admiral Murgescu was seized by the Soviets in August 1944 at Constanza and commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet as Dun. She was returned after the war. See under Romania. ONYEGA class netlayers Displacement: 530t Dimensions: 186ft 8m x 30ft 6in x 1ft 56.90 x 9 30 x 0.30m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 boiler, 330ihp = 8kts Armament: 3-45mm/46 (3x 1) Complement: 50 Class: Onyega, Vyatka Two steam barges under construction in Krasnaya Sormovo Yd, Gorki were converted m 1941 into netlayers and commissioned with the Baltic Fleet. They had a minelaying capability.
Miscellaneous vessels KORALL gunboat Ihe Lithuanian gunboat Pnniunas was seized by the Soviets in 1940 and commissioned as an NKVD guardship, she was incorporated into the Soviet Navy in June 1941 Re-armed and reclassified as a gunboat, she was lost in 1944. See under Lithuania. Two Romanian gunboats, Locotenant-Comandor Slihi i-ugen and Sublocoten- ant Ghilescu, were taken over by the Soviets in August 1944 at Constanza and commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet as Achtuba and Angara respectively. 1 hey were returned in 1948. For further details see under Romania Type 1125BKA armoured motor gunboats Displacement: 29t Dimensions: 74ft 2in x lift 6in x 1ft 8in 22.60 x 3 SO x 0.5m Machinery: I shaft Petrol engine, 720bhp = 20kts Petrol It Armour: Turret faces 2m Light plating on CT and sides Armament. l-3in/4i 2, 1-0 5in MG, 2-0.3in MG (2x1) Complement: 10 UDARNYI class river monitors (built 1932) Displacement: 385t Dimensions: 167ft 4in x 26ft Ilin x 2ft Sin 5 / 00 x 8 20 x 0 82m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, 1600bhp = 13kts Oil 20t Armament* 2-13Omm/5O, 4—45mm/46, 6 MG Complement. 70 Class: Aktivnyi, Udamyi Built at the Leninskaya Kuznica Yard, Kiev Aktivnyi served with the Amur Flotilla and was discarded in the 1950s; Udamyi served with the Dniepr and Danube flotillas and was sunk 18 9.41 by German aircraft. Zheleznyakov 194S ZHELEZNYAKOV class river monitors (built 1934-39) Displacement 263t Dimensions: 157ft 6in x 24ft 1 lin x 2ft 6in 48 00 x 7 60 x 0 75m Machinery. 2 shafts. Diesels, 300bhp = 7.6kts Armament: 2-4m (1x2), 4—45mm/46 (2x2), 4 MG Complement: 70 Class: Flyagin, Lctachev, Martynov, Rostovtsev, Zheleznyakov, Zhcmchuzhin Built at the Leninskaya Kuznica Yard at Kiev for service with the Dniepr Flotilla All were lost except Zheleznyakov, which has been preserved at Kiev Five Polish river monitors scuttled by the Poles on Pry pec in September 1939 were refloated bv the Soviets and commissioned with the Soviet Pinsk Flotil a Bobruisk (ex Krakow), Smolensk (ex Horodyszcze), Vinnica (ex Warszawa), V«- ebsk (ex-Torun) and Zhitomir (ex Pinsk) All were lost in 1941, Bobruisk possibly being bombed but the rest blown up to prevent their falling into enemy hands. For further details sec under Po and. Five Romanian river monitors-Ardeal, lonCBratianu, Alexandru I ahovan, Besarabia and Bukovina - were seized by the Soviets in August 1944 and commissioned with the Soviet Danube Flotilla as Azov, Mariupol, Berdyansk, Kerch and Izmail respectively All survived the war Type 1124BKA armoured motor gunboats Displacement: 42t Dimensions: 82ft x 12ft 6in x 2ft 7in 25.00 x 3 80 x 0 80 Machinery: 2 shafts Petrol engines, 1600hp = 28kts Petrol 4t Armour: Bell |in, turret faces 2in, CT Ain Armament: 2-3in/41.2 (2x1), 2-0.Sin MG (1x2) Complement: 17 MB К type armoured motor gunboats Displacement: 150t Dimensions: 118ft hn x 17ft 9in x 4ft Uin 36.00 x 5.40 x I 50m Machinery: 2 shafts. Diesels, lOOObhp = 18kts Armour. 1 urrets l‘in-2in, CT ljin-2m Armament 2-8>mm (2x 1), l-37mm/67, 4-0 5m MG (2x2) See notes Complement: 38 to 42 These ships were widely used during the Civil War m the large land areas where the rivers and lakes were the best and most reliable means of communication and defence Utilising their experience in this type of warfare the Soviets developed, under the second five-year programme, two basic tvpes of small armoured motor gunboats. 'These types were preceded by the expenmental ‘N and ‘K’ types armed with l-16mm MG and 2-3in guns respectively. Mass production of the Type 1124 and the Type 1125 boats was begun around 1935 mainly in the small inland yards. The early boats were armed with the Tу pe L-20 3m gun in the turret used on the T-28 and T-35 tanks (turret armour Jin). After the 3inf3O 5 turret of the famous T-34 tank was made available around 1939, the new A MGs received this installation War production boats had Model 1940 3m/41 2 guns as they were introduced on T-34 tanks ROFS-82 rocket launchers wx*re fitted on some boats during the war By the time of the German invasion 85 boats of these two types had been commissioned and 68 were under construction On 18 8 41 a further 110 units were ordered and all were completed during hostilities A third type of (sea going) A MG was developed during the war The design for this was drawn up shortly before the outbreak of war as an enlarged version of thcTvpe 1124. The construction of the prototy pe was begun m Leningrad m 1941 and this was completed in 1943. Further units were delivered in 1944. Intended for use in the shallow waters of the Baltic, they were in the event employed for a wide range of duties. Later units were fitted with 2-100mm instead of 2-85mm. All three types were very successful vessels. At least 270 of them were built between 1935 and 1945, and of these around 90 were lost R type minesweeping launches Displacement- 30t Dimensions: 68ft 1 lin x 10ft lOin x 3ft 7m 21.00 x 3 30 x 1.10m Machinery- 2 shafts Petrol engines, 140bhp = 9kts Armament: 1 to 2-0. Sin MG Complement: 11 К type minesweeping launches Displacement. 16t Dimensions- 51ft 2m x 9ft lOin x 2ft 10m 15.60 x 3 00 x 0.70m Machinery: 1 shaft Petrol engine, lOkts Armament: 2-0 5m MG Complement: 7 MSV type minesweeping launches Type 1125BKA boats in March 1945 Boris l.emachko Collection Displacement: I3t Dimensions: 45ft Ilin x 9ft 10m x 2ft lOin 14.00 x 3 00 x 0.70m Machinery: 1 shaft Petrol engine, lOkts Armament* 1-0 Sin MG Complement: 6 Small boats of wooden construction built during the war in large numbers by various у ards, most of them for the Baltic Fleet Their size restricted their use to shallow, inland and harbour waters onlv. 345
SOVIET UNION KM4 type minesweeping launches Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 9t 45ft 1 lin X 10ft 6in X 2ft 7m 14 00 x 3 20 x 0 80m 2 shafts Petrol engines, 146bhp = lOkts KM5 type minesweeping launches Displacement lOt Dimensions: 45ft Ilin x lOin 10m x 2ft Ilin 14 00 x 3 30 x 0.90m Machinery: 1 shaft. Petrol engine, 170bhp = 10.5kts Minesweeping launches of almost identical appearance, armed with 1-0 5in MG and carrying a crew of 10, which were employed with river and like flotillas and on other shallow waters PK type motor launches Displacement: 23t Dimensions: 73ft 10m x 13ft Im x 4ft 3in 22 SO x 4 00 x 1.30m Machinery: 2 shafts. Petrol engines, 1650bhp = 27kts Armament: 1-0 5m MG, 2-0.3m MG Complement: 23 MKM type Displ icement: 18t Dimensions: 53ft 2in x 10ft 6in x 3ft 11m 16 20 x 3 20 x 1 20m Machinery: 2 shafts Petrol engines, 1650bhp = 27kts Armament: l-0.5in MG, l-0.3in MG Complement: 9 'I he PK and MKM type small motor launches were built before and during the war and were used in civilian service and as the NKVD guard launches Because of their high speed it was intended that they be employed on ASW dunes but m the event they were used for a wide range of different tasks YOSIF STALIN class naval icebreakers Displacement. 11,000t Dimensions. 349ft 9in x 92ft 2m x 30ft 2m 106 60 x 28 10 x 9 20m Machinery 2 shaft VI E, 9 watertube boilers, 10,500shp = 15 5kts Coal /oil 3000t Armament: 2-100mm/56 (2x1), 4-3in/55, 2 MG, 3 aircraft Complement: 142 Name Builder Launched Fate ANASTAS MIKOYAN Mani Yd, 1938 Discarded 1970s LAZAR KAGANOVICH Nikolayev Marti Yd, 30 4 1937 Discarded 1970s (ex-Ofto S/mndr) VIACHESLAV Nikolayev Ordzhonikidze Yd 8 8 1939 Sold for BU 1967 MOLOTOV \OSIF STALIN Ordzhonikidze Yd 14.8.1937 Discarded 1970s These large vessels were authorised under the second five-year programme and were the first ships of their type built by the Soviets Yosef Stalin, completed in 1939, was transferred to the Arctic bfore the war, renamed Admiral Lazareyev in 1953 then Sibir m 1960 Lazar Kaganovich, completed in 1938, was also trans- ferred to lhe Arctic before the war, she was renamed Admiral Lazarcyev in 1960. Anastas Mikoyan was almost complete when she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet via the Mediterranean (aided by British pilots), the USA and Montevideo during 1941-42 She was refitted by the Todd Dry Dock Corp at Seattle Viacheslav Molotov remained incomplete at Leningrad, but was commissioned in 1945 or 1946, she was renamed Admiral Makarov in 1957 Admiral Lazareyev (ex Lazar Kaganovich) in the 1960s Jerzy Mtciriski Collection
Poland Poland The early 1920s spelt (he end of the ambitious Polish naval programmes worked out in 1920, and settled the composition of the Polish Navy for the next decade: a force of 6 torpedo-boats, 2 gunboats, 4 minesweepers and 6 river monitors. Such divergence between early projects and hard reality was not entirely due to economic and industrial problems: the country had almost 2000 miles of land border but only 90 miles of coastline. THE ‘SMALL PROGRAMME’ '1 he considerable investments made by the Polish Government in Gdvnia and the gradual stabilisation of Poland’s economy brought about the possibility of additional military expenditure, and in 1924 the KMW (Kierownictwo Marynarki Wojennej = Directorate of rhe Navy) drew up a so-called ‘small programme’ which envisaged the building of 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 12 torpedo-boats and 12 submarines over a period of twelve years. A naval base would have to be built at Gdynia to house and supply (he Polish ships as well as those of the French Navy which, according to the 1921 alliance, could be expected in case of war with Russia. In 1925 the KMW asked for the authorisation of 9 submarines (3 minelay ing) and the necessary shore facilities as well, but by mid-1925 the Polish currency was in serious trouble and all but the minelaying submarines fell victim to budget cuts. Quite unexpectedly, however, the KMW received from the War Ministry permission to order two additional destroyers from France. In fact, as there were no naval yards on Polish soil all five ships were ordered in 1926 from I rench yards Delivery was only concluded in 1932: Wither, the fastest built, was delivered 20 months late andBurza took 6years to build. The ships had many design and construction faults, which discouraged the KMW from placing orders with French yards for some time. The Great Depression buried any hopes of completing the ‘small programme’ and by the mid-1950s no new ships had been laid down. In 1933 the economic situation improved and new orders were possible. Four replacement minesweepers were ordered from Polish yards, which produced quite satisfactory boats in a reasonable time - a notable achievement for the Polish shipbuilding industry which proved its ability to produce warships. The bigger ships had to be ordered abroad, however. In 1934 an order for a minelayer was placed in France, but this vessel was widely criticised for its poor fighting qualities and its high cost, which was equivalent to that of a large destrov er. A much better bargain was obtained from Britain. Two ‘super-destroyers’ were ordered from Samuel White, resulting in a pair of splendid boats which were far in advance of other designs at the time SHIPS BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION By the end ot the 1920s the Polish community had become widely- interested in maritime affairs, thanks to the development of Gdynia: spontaneous local action had produced funds for the expansion of the Navy. In 1930 the Reichsmniister Treviranus questioned the legality of the Polish possession of Pomerania, and thereupon the Polish public organisations arranged a nationwide subscription for the building of a submarine Bv the middle of 1935 the equivalent of £200,000 had been raised from voluntary contributions, and with this money the KMW ordered a submarine from the Koninkhjke Maatschappij de Schelde, adding another boat from its own funds The Dutch yard had been chosen because of a distrust of French yards and because of the out- standing reputation of the Dutch shipbuilding industry. Both ships w ere delivered in 1939 and proved to be exceptionally successful It was also planned to build 17 MTBs from public subscription - one from each of the Polish provinces. THE SIX-YEAR RE-ARMAMENT PROGRAMME The introduction of national service in Germany in 1935 and the militarisation of the Rhineland posed problems for the defence of Poland. Steady economic growth and political changes had made Polish military planning receptive to new ideas. The six-year re-armament programme authorised in 1936 promised a thorough modernisation of the Polish armed forces, based mainly on the country’s own industrial capability. A large industrial complex, located between the Vistula and San rivers (far from both the German and Russian borders) had been planned in the late 1930s, but unfortunately little had been completed before the outbreak of war. The preliminary programme worked out by the KMW in 1936 called for the expansion of the Navy to a force of 8 destroyers, 12 submarines, 1 minelayer, 12 minesweepers and 10 MTBs during the six-year pro- gramme. However, this was not approved in its entirety, and reduc- tions were made in all categories of ships. A total of 2 destroyers, 2 submarines, 2 minesweepers and 2 MTBs had been ordered before the war, and a pair of 300t minesweepers and 5 MTBs (2 built from public subscriptions) were envisaged, together with (he modernisation of the Wicher class destroyers. The destroyers, minesweepers and three of the MTBs had to be built in Poland. Only 2 minesweepers of this pro- gramme had been delivered before the war. WORLD WAR II On 1 September 1939, when the Germans invaded Poland, the Polish Navy consisted of 4 destroyers, 5 submarines, 1 minelayer and 6 minesweepers, as well as 2 gunboats and several other old or auxiliary vessels. Of these scant forces, the destroyers Blyskawica, Burza and Grom were on their way to the British Isles under Operation ‘Pekin’. Л his hard decision of depriving (he home waters of the major part of their defence had been made because of the hopeless position of these precious ships in the face of an overwhelming German superiority both on the sea and in the air. Of the remaining vessels, Wicher and Gryf were destroyed by German bombers during the third day of (he wrar, and the minesweepers, having operated successfully from Jastarnia for a while, w'ere totally destroyed by German bombers on 14.9.39 The Polish submarines employed for the defence of Hela had no targets for their torpedoes, as the Germans planned no landings on the Peninsula All weic shifted to patrol duty m the central Baltic on 8 9.39 but again had no targets. Because of German air supremacy the Polish submarines w'ere not able to enter Gdynia or Hela, but had to use neutral harbours, where all but Wilk were interned by the end of September; of these, Orzel escaped from Tallin and after a lone patrol in the Baltic she sailed for Britain. Some minoi boats of the Pinsk Flotilla had been transferred to the Vistula in spring 1939 and they fought the Germans briefly until paralysed by shallows and damaged bridges; they were subsequently scuttled. The bulk of the Pinsk Flotilla (6 monitors and 3 armoured motor gunboats) remained on the Prypec, however, and the ships were scuttled there when the Soviets invaded the eastern provinces of Poland on 17.9.39 By mid-Octobcr 1939 the Polish Flotilla in Britain consisted of 3 destroyers and ? submarines which had been operating with the Royal Navy. On 18 11 39 Count E Raczynski, the Polish Ambassador in London, and Mr Cadogan signed an agreement to form the Polish Naval Detachment in Great Britain. According to this agreement the Polish warships came under the operational control of the Admiralty, while administration, command and regulation would remain in Polish hands. The agreement also embraced the conditions by which British 347
BKskawwa and Grom al a British port after Operation ’Pekin’ ships would be loaned to the Polish Navy. A total of 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 3 submarines and 9 MTBs were transferred to the Poles during hostilities. The Polish Navy in exile performed gallantly, participating in all major Allied operations in the Atlantic as well as in the Mediterranean and Arctic. The Polish ships took part in 1949 convoys, patrols and operations, in which they sank 7 surface warships, damaged 11 others, sank 2 submarines (3 others unconfirmed) and destroyed 39 enemy transports. In these actions 1 cruiser, 3 destroyers and 2 submarines were lost. To quote the British professor Brian Tunstall, ‘Of all the navies of the United Nations, none has fought better under circum- stances of extreme operational difficulty than the navy of Poland’. By May 1945 the Polish Navy consisted of 1 cruiser, 6 destroyers (1 in reserve), 3 submarines (1 in reserve) and 5 MTBs. All these ships were handed over to the Royal Navy between July and September 1946, and those belonging to Poland were retroceded to the new Polish Government. THE NEW NAVY In 1944 part of the Polish territories west of the Curzon Line w'ere freed from German control and power was seized by the Communist administration there. To secure the areas around Gdansk and Gdynia, whose liberation was soon expected, it was decided to organise the Naval Reserve Batallion. This unit was the first in the People’s Navy, which was officially founded on 7.7.45, after the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity had been recognised de jure by the western powers. The new naval authority at once began efforts to recover vessels belonging to Poland, and by the end of 1945 three submarines had returned from Sweden, followed in 1946 by the four minesweepers seized by the Germans in 1939. On 5.4.46 the Polish Navy received 9 minesweepers, 2 MTBs and 12 sub-chasers as its quota of German ships seized by the Allies. The Soviet Union, obliged at Potsdam to do so, began to build up the Polish Navy with production from Russian yards. The following Soviet warships were transferred to Poland in place of the German units allocated as war reparations: the minesweepers 7225, T228, T232, T243, T244 and T4S6t plus 3 others all of the T371 class (these were commissioned as Albatros, Czapla, Jaskolka, Jastrzab, Kania,Kondor, Kormoran, Krogulec and Or/iA); the MTBs TKA76 and TKA116 of the D3 class (commissioned as Tpl and Tp2 respectively); and lhe sub-chasers BMO552, MO32S-MO329, MO368-MO372 and MO546 of the TK class (commissioned as Blyskawiczny, Bezwzgledny, Bysiry, Dziarski, Dzielny, Karny, Niedoscigly, Nieucfniyiny, Odzuazny, Smialy, Spratvny and Szybki respectively). THE POLISH NAVY IN 1922 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp (full load) Fate Ex-German ’A* class GORAL (ex-AM) 1917-18 3811 See notes KRAKOWIAK (ex-A64) 1917-18 381c See notes KUJAWIAK (ex-A6S) 1917-18 381t See notes SLAZAK (ex-A59) 1917-18 381t See notes Ex-German VIOS class KASZUB (ex-WOS, 1914 412t Lost 20 7.25 ex-Z4) MAZUR (ex-V705, ex-Z/)1914 412t Sunk 1.9.39 Ex-German 'A’ class With the exception of Krakowiak, which was scrapped in 1937, these vessels were all captured by the Germans in 1939; their ultimate fates are unknown. Goral was renamed Podhalanin in 1922. Ex-German VI OS class Originally ordered for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Mazur was rebuilt as a gunnery training ship from 1931: her forecastle was extended, her TT were removed and 2-75mm were added. In 1935 one boiler room and one funnel were removed and the bridge was remodelled She became the first warship to be lost in World War II, sunk by German bombers on 1.9.39 The wreck was raised by the Germans and scrapped. 348
Poland GUNBOATS Disp Name Launched (full load) Fate Их-Russian Golub class GENERAL HALLER 1918-19 441t Sunk 6.939 (ex-7"urunmaa, ex-Vodorez) KOMENDANT 1918-19 441t See notes PILSUDSKI (stx-Karjakla, ex-Lun) К о mend ant Pilsudski was scuttled 1.1039 following the invasion of Poland but was raised by the Germans and recommissioned as Heistemest. Redesignated M3109, she was finally lost 16.9.44. .1 • Warszawa class river gunboat d Other units in the Polish fleet in 1922 consisted of the ex-German ‘FM’ class minesweepers ('zaika (ex-FM27'),Jaskolka (ex-FM2), Afezi'd (ех-/'’ЛГЗ/), and Rybiiwa (cx-FM28), and the Warszawa clss river monitors Horodyszcze, Mozyrz, Pinsk and Warszawa. The latter were modernised during the 1930s, when their draught was reduced; Mozyrz was renamed Torun. Ex-British ‘D’ class cruisers The British cruiser Dragon was loaned to the Polish Navy on 15 1.43 The first cruiser operated by the Polish Navy, she served (under her old name) until 8.7.44 when she was torpedoed off Normandy by a German one-man torpedo of the X'eger type A constructive total loss, she was expended as a breakwater for the ‘Mulberry’ harbours. The replacement unit - HMS Danae - was handed over to the Poles 4.10.44 and renamed Conrad. She survived the war and was returned to (he RN 28.9.46. WICHER class destroyers Displacement: 1540t normal; 1920t full load Dimensions: 351ft 8in oa x 33ft 2in x 10ft lOin mean 107.20 x 10.10 x 3.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 3-drum boilers, 35,OOOshp = 33kts. Oil 330t max Armament: 4—130mm/40 (4x1), 2—40mm/40 (2x1), 4—13.2mm MG (2x2), 6-550mm TT (2x3), 60 mines Complement: 155 Name Builder Launched Fate BURZA CNF 16.4.1929 BU 1977 WICHER CNF 8.7.1928 Sunk 3.9.39 The first large, modern ships of the Polish Navy. The design was based on that of the French torpilleurs d’escadre of the Bourrasque class, extensive!) improved, however, according to the requirements of the Poles. The ships were ordered 2.4.26 from an inexperienced yard (for political reasons), IVtc/nr being laid down 19.2.27 and Burza 11.11.27, but they were delivered 20 (Wn/ier) and 32 months late because of numerous defects and the bankruptcy of the yard; despite many improvements to the original design, they still had a number of shortcomings 'Ihe most significant alteration made before the war was the removal of the mainmast. It was planned to modernise the ships during the early 1940s in order to standardise gunnery, improve the AA defence and standardise the silhouettes with that of (he Grom class. Hurza with postwar modifications as a museum ship at Gdynia Antoni Ratajczak Collection Wicher was sunk at Hela by bombers, but the wreck was raised by the Germans and sunk m the shallows of the Gulf of Gdansk. It was expended in the 1950s as a target. Burza sailed to Britain with the ‘Pekin* flotilla, and by mid - 1940 she earned l-3in A A in place of the after TT bank as well as 8-0.5in MG additionally. Modernised for escort duties in 1942 at Portsmouth, she carried 2-130mm (2x 1), l-3in AA,4—40mm AA (1 x 4), 4—20mm A A (4x1), 3-5 50mm TT (1x3) and I Icdgchog, together with Type 271 and Type 292 radar. Used as a stationary training unit and submarine depot ship from 1944, she was towed to Poland in 1951, modernised 1952-55 as an AA frigate, and became a museum ship at Gdynia in 1960. She was scrapped at Szczecin in 1977. GROM class destroyers Displacement: 201 It standard; 3383t full load Dimensions: 374ft oa x 36ft lin x 10ft lOin mean 114.00 x 11.00 x 3.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 3-drum boilers, 54,500shp = 39kts. Oil 13O-35Ot Armament: 7-120mm/50 (1 x 1,3 x 2), 4—40mm/60 (2 x 2), 8-13.2mm MG (4x2), 6-550mm TT (2x3), 44 mines Complement: 180 Name Builder Launched Fate BLYSKAWICA White, Cowes 1.10.1936 Preserved 1976 GROM White, Cowes 20.7.1936 Lost 5 5.40 These ships, ordered 29.3.35 and laid down m the autumn of that year, were the best and fastest destroyers in the world when built. They sailed to Britain with the ‘Pekin’ flotilla and underwent minor refits to suit them to Atlantic sea conditions and were re-armed with l-4m AA gun in place of the after bank of TT. Grom was sunk by bombers from Kampfgeschwader 100 in Rombaksfjord off Narvik. Blyskawica received four twin 4in AA guns and 4-20mm A A m lieu of her 120mm weapons and MGs in December 1941. The single 4m AA gun was removed and both sets of TT were installed again by 1941-42, and she carried Type 271 radar. Having an AA armament equivalent to that of the ‘C* class cruisers, she was often regarded as an AA cruiser. By the end of the war both the fore set of П’ and the Type 271 radar had been removed. Her electronic equipment consisted then of Type 291, Type 284 gunnery, and Type 293 radar. She returned to Gdynia in 1947 and was flagship of the Polish Navy until the late 1960s. Two additional units of this class - Huragan and Orkan — were ordered 1.5.39 at the Naval Workshops in Gdynia for delivery in 1942, but the materials were only partly assembled before the German invasion. GARLAND destroyer This Briush ‘G’ class destroyer was transferred to the Polish Navy 3.5.40, the first ship loaned to the Poles by the Royal Navy during the war. Her name was not changed, and she was returned 24.9.46. See under Great Britain. OURAGAN destroyer The former French destroyer Ouragan was seized by the Royal Navy after the fall of France in 1940 and transferred to the Polish Navy 18.7.40. She was commissioned under the same name, and returned to the RN 30.4.41. See under France. PIORUN destroyer The British ‘N* class destroyer Nerissa was transferred to the Polish Navy 5.11.40 to compensate for Grom which had been lost off Narvik. Renamed Piorun, she was returned 28.9.46. See under Great Britain. ORKAN destroyer The British destroyer Myrmidon (‘M* class) was transferred to Poland 18.11.42 and renamed Orkan. She was sunk whilst covering the SC-143 convoy by a ‘Gnat’ acoustic torpedo from the German submarine U378, 8.10.43. 178 lives were lost - the heaviest blow for the Polish Navy dunng the war. See under Great Britain 'I hree Bri ish ‘Hunt’ (Type 2) escort destroyers were also handed over to the Polish Navy: Silverton on 20.4.41, Oakley on 30.5.41 and Bedale on 17 4.42. They were renamed Krakowiak, Kujawiak and Slazak respectively. Kujawiak was mined ofl Maha 16.6.42; the others were returned 28.9.46. See under Great Britain. 349
EASTERN EUROPE —--------- *-------------------=- -*• 2 U/trt 1939 WILK class submarines Displacement: 980t/1250t Dimensions: 257ft 6in oa x 19ft 4in x 13ft 9in 78.SO x 5.90 x 4.20m Machinery: 2-shaft Normand-Vickers diesels plus 2 electric motors, l8OObhp/12OOshp = 14kts/9kts Armament: 6-550mm TT (4 bow, 1x2 trainable on pressure hull; 10 torpedoes), l-100mm/40, 1—10mm/40, 40 mines Complement: 54 Name Builder Launched Fate RYS AC de la Loire, 22.4.1929 Nantes BU 1954 WILK A C Augustin- 12.4.1929 Normand BU 1951 ZBIK C? F 14.6.1931 BU 1954 Minelaying submarines of the ‘Normand-Fenaux’ type ordered 1.12.26. Enlarged versions of the French Saphir class, their diving limit was 260ft and their radius 25OOnm at lOkts/lOOnm at 5kts. The were of‘double hull’ config- uration. These vessels were good sea boats but they were noisy, their external fuel tanks gave off oil leakages even with slight damage, and their minelaying system was unreliable. They were delivered 27, 38 and 32 months late respec- tively. The 40mm AA gun was replaced by 2-13.2mm MG (1 x 2) during 1930s. Rys and Zbik were interned in Stavnas (Sweden) on 17.9.39 and 27.9.39. Together with Sep, they were transferred to Loch Malar to prevent them escaping. Wilk sailed to Britain through the Sund Narrows and arrived at Rosyth 20.9.39. She was used as a training ship from September 1940, but because of her poor condition was decommissioned 2.4.42. She was towed to Poland in 1951 and subsequently scrapped. Rys and Zbik returned to Gdynia 25 10.45 and served with the Polish Navy until the early 1950s. Orzel as completed ORZEL class submarines Displacement: 1100t/1473t (1650t full load) Dimensions: 275ft 7in oa x 22ft x 13ft 8in 84.00 x 6.70 x 4.17m Machinery: 2-shaft Sulzer diesels plus 2 Brown-Boveri electric motors, 4740bhp/l lOOshp = 20kts/9kts. Oil 76.5m3 Armament: 12-550mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 2x2 trainable on pressure hull; 20 torpedoes), l-105mm/41, 2—40mm/60 (1x2), 2-13.2mm MG (1x2) Complement: 60 Name Builder Launched Fate ORZEL De Schelde 15.1.1938 NYd, Vlissingen Lost 8.6.1940 SEP Rotterdam DYd 17.10.1938 Discarded 1970 Orzel at a British port in 1940 Ordered 29.1.35, Orzel being built by public subscription, these large ocean- going submarines proved to have excellent fighting qualities. They were of ‘double hull’ type, with a pressure hull of 5 compartments. Diving limit was 260ft, and radius 7000nm at lOkts/lOOnm at 5kts. Orzel commissioned 2.2.39; Sep arrived at Gdynia in April 1939 before builder’s trials had been concluded, to avoid the danger of German sabotage. Sep was interned at Stavnas (Sweden) 17.9.39. Orzel arrived at Tallin 15.9.39 on account of mechanical problemsand her commander’s illness. Against international law, she was interned there the same day, presumably under pressure from the Germans. Charts, navigation equipment and part of the armament were confiscated. Despite all this, and under the nose of an Estonian gunboat, Orzel broke out from Tallin 18.9.39, and after a lonely Baltic patrol she entered the Sund Narrows 8.11.39, the last Polish warship operating in home waters during the war. She arrived at Rosyth 14.10.39, evading minefields and the air and naval patrols of the Kriegsmarine. She was lost, from an unknown cause but probably mined, in the North Sea. Sep was returned to Poland 25.10.45. Modified Orzel class design ___________ ORZEL (modified) class submarines Displacement: 1175t/l550t Dimensions: 285ft oa x 26ft 3in x 17ft 86.87 x 8.00 x 5.18m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels plus 2 Brown-Boveri electric motors, 20kts/9kts Armament: 12-550mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 2x2 trainable on pressure hull; 20 torpedoes), 4—IOmm/6O (2x2), ?MG Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate I A C Augustin- - Normand BU 1940 II A C de la Loire, — Nantes BU 1940 Two ocean-going submarines ordered in 1938 and laid down the following year as a modified version of the Orzel class, with delivery scheduled for 1940-41. ‘Double hull’ type. The absence of a medium calibre gun and the heavy A A armament were remarkable for the time. Work on both vessels was suspended 22.4.39, and the hulls were destroyed on the slipways by the Germans. JASTRZAB submarine The former US S25 was scheduled for delivery to the RN together with R3 to investigate the usefulness of these old types to the RN. However, the Polish crew of the non-operational Wilk was chosen to man S25, and for propaganda reasons she was commissioned directly as the Polish Jastrzab, flying the White Ensign as well as the flag of Poland. Despite the fact that ‘S’ class submarines had been allocated for training duties in the RN, Jastrzab was sent to screen the PQ15 Russian convoy, because her crew was clamouring to go into action. She was sunk in error by the Norwegian destroyer St Albans and the British minesweeper Seagull in the Norwegian Sea 2.5.42. Ex-British *U’ class submarines Two submarines of this class were transferred to the Polish Navy during construction: Urchin on 19.1.41 (commissioned as Sokol) and P52 on 11.10.42 (Dzik). Their brief service in the Mediterranean earned them the nickname ‘Terrible Twins’. Dzik was a training vessel from 15.12.44. Both were returned to the RN, Dzik on 25.8.46 and Sokol 2 days later. GRYF minelayer Displacement: 2250t normal Dimensions: 338ft 7in oa x 43ft x lift lOin 103.20 x 13.10 x 3.60m Machinery: 2-shaft Sulzer diesels, 6000bhp = 20kts. Oil I00-310t Armament: 6-120mm/50(2x 1,2x2),4—40mm/60(2x2),4-13.2mm MG (2x2), 600 mines Complement: 205 Name Builder Launched Fate GRYF AC Augustin- 29.11.1936 Sunk 3.9.1939 Normand 350
Poland/Estonia Gryf in 1938 Antoni Ratajczak Collection MG (1x2) and 4—0.3m MG (2x2). The former was ceded to the Polish Navy 17.8.40 as SI {Chari), re-armed with 8-0.3in MG (4x2) instead of the original MGs Decommissioned 21.2 44. S2, S3 MGBs (built 1939-40) British Power Boat vessels intended as submarine-chasers for the Royal Nor- wegian Navy, but commissioned into lhe RN as MGB44 and MGB45, later renumbered MG13204 and MGB205. They were transferred to the Polish Navy 19.7.40 and 28.7.40 and commissioned as S2 (Wilczur) and S3 (Wyzel) respec- tively. S3 was discarded 20 5.43 because of hull damage; S2 was discarded 5 7 44 Ordered in 1934, this ship was designed by the KMW for a variety of tasks - none of which she was able to fulfil very effectively Her primary role was minelaying, but she had to be used as a training ship for cadets and as a state yacht as well She was overgunned, and had too small an area allocated for her machinery as her displacement was restricted owing to a shortage of available funds She was laid down 14.11.34 and completed 27.2.38 After receiving slight damage on 1 9 39, she was docked and sunk (together with the floating dock) to serve as a battery at Hela She was destroyed by German bombers on 3.9.39, but both *X’ and ‘Y’ 120mm guns, together w ith her twin 40inms, were removed from the wreck to augment the defence of the Hela Peninsula. The wreck was raised by the Germans and sunk in the shallows of the Gulf of Gdansk Used as a target after the war, she was partially raised and scrapped by lhe 1960s. Jaskolka as completed JASKOLKA class minesweepers (launched 1934—38) Displacement: 183t (last two 185t) Dimensions: 147ft 8in oa x 18ft X 5ft lin moulded 45 00 x 5.50 x 1.55m Machinery: 2-shaft Nohab diesels, 1040bhp = 17.5kts Armament- !-75mm/35 (last two 1-13 2mm MG), 2-0 3inMG(2xl), 20 mines Complement: 30 Class: Czajka, Jaskolka, Mewa, Rybitwa, Czapla, Zuraw Built at the PZInz Yard, Modlin (Czajka,Rybuwa'). the Gdynia Yard (Mewa) and Warsztaiy Portowe Mar Wa), Gdynia (the rest). All were sunk or damaged in September 1939, butCzajka ,Mewa,Rybitwa andZuraw were repaired by the Germans and recommissioned as U esterplatie (ТВЛ1 /), Puiztg (Tl:A7),Rtxhofi (T1 Л8) and O.xhoft, being returned to Poland 12.3 46 and not discarded until I960. Sl class MTBs (built 1939-40) Displacement: 39t full load Dimensions: 75ft oa x 16ft 8m x 4ft 6m max 22 86 x 5.08 x / 37m Machinery: 3 shafts. Isotta Fraschini petrol engines, 3450bhp = 45kts. Petrol 5t Armament: 2-21in TT (2x 1), l-40mm/60, 2-0 3in MG (1x2) • Complement: ? These two boats were ordered 24.1.39 from funds made available by public subscription, and were scheduled for delivery from Whites, Cowes, in March 1940. 'They were completed asMGB47 and MGB48 with l-20mm AA, 2-0.5in S4MTB (built 1942-43) The British Power Boat MGB1I3 was transferred to the Polish Navy 5.7.43. In 1944 she was re-armed as an MTB, and on 18.4.44 was returned S5-S10 Af/'Bs (built 1944) The British MГВ424-М1B429 were transferred to the Polish Navy between May and October 1944 and commissioned as 55-570 respectively 55 was returned 15.10 44, the others on 8.5 45. CH11, CH 15 submarine-chasers These former I rench sub-chasers were seized by the British on 3.7.40 and transferred to the Polish Navy 19.7.40. They were commissioned under the same names, and were returned to Britain 5.2 41 4ЭЭ> ---—' - Krakow as completed KRAKOW class river monitors Displacement: 70 3t normal Dimensions: 114ft lOin oa x 19ft 8in x 1ft 3in 35.00 x 6.00 x 0.39m Machinery: 2 shafts. Perkun-Kromhout diesels, 120bhp = 7.5kts. Oil 1 6-3.5t Armour: Belt 6mm, deck (above machinery spaces) 5mm, CT and turrets 5mm-8nun Armament: 2-75mm (1x2), l-100mm howitzer, 4-0.3in MG (4x1), mines Complement: 29 Class: Krakow, Wilno Ordered 31 12 23 from the Zelmcwskiego Yard in Krakow, these were lhe first warships designed and built entirely m Poland. The propellers were placed in tunnels, and the 75mm turret was built around the small CT, which gave a 360 arc of fire. Both vessels commissioned with the Pinsk Flotilla in 1926. About 1932 they were re-armed with 3-100mm howitzers of the new pattern in place of the guns quoted above. By the end of the 1930s the A A armament had been augmented by 2 or 4 twin 13.2mm MGs. Krakow was scuttled on the Prypec off Kuzliczyn 21.9 41, but raised by the Russians and commissioned w ith the Soviet Pinsk Flotilla as Bobruisk (see under Soviet Union); Wilno was blown up near Osobowicze 19.9 39 Estonia Although in 1922 Estonia had been independent for only three years, her navy presented a strong and balanced force. At sea two destroyers, two gunboats and two minelayers were supported by a number of auxiliaries, while on the Pejpus (or Chudskoye) Lake, Estonia operated a force of about three gunboats All Estonian ships were of Russian origin, belonging previously to the Tsarist Imperial Navy; most of them were found in Estonian harbours in 1918, the noteworthy exceptions being the two destroyers, which were captured in 1918 by British destroyers operating off lhe 1 stonian coast and promptly presented to Estonia. 'I he only Estonian acquisition during the 1920s was a former Ger- man torpedo-boat raised from the Moonsound shores and repaired. This was done owing to circumstances rather than to any need and Estonia concentrated upon maintaining her navy and not expanding it A stiong naval force was undoubtedly a serious financial strain for a small country, even if the Estonian economy was growing in the pre-depression period. The early 1930s brought a notable change m fleet composition: the destioyers Lennuk and Wambola were sold to Peru since they were unsuiled to local conditions. With the money received and the funds 351
EASTERN EUROPE Estonian warships about 1930: torpedo-boat Sulev and destroyer Lennuk; the funnel with one band belongs to the minelayer Suurop Bans Lemachko Collection spared on ship’s maintenance, a fleet expansion programme was drawn up, wherein the construction of submarines, torpedo-boats and MTBs was contemplated. Of these, only the submarines were built, arriving in Estonia from British yards in 1937. In the same year Estonia under- took warship construction in her own yards and the fleet was streng lhened two years later with the commissioning of the gunboat Pikken, which also served as a Presidential yacht. One more gunboat for the Coast Guard was probably built to replace the obsolete Kou, and two minelayers were reported building to replace the old paddle vessels of the Risina class. Whatever the designs were, they were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War and subsequent events. The Soviet Union, aiming at strengthening her western borders, concluded a treaty of mutual assistance between herself and Estonia on 28 September 1939. According to this treaty small detachments of the Soviet Army had to be stationed on Estonian territory for defence purposes. The Estonian regime remained the same. On 16 June 1940 a note was sent to Estonia (and also Latvia) by the Soviets, complaining about provocations taking place on Estonian territory against the Soviet Army and asking for the setting up of a government able to guarantee the carrying out of the terms of the 1939 treaty. The USSR asked also for a strengthening of Soviet military detachments stationed in Estonia. Five days later the new Estonian government was established and the Communist Party of Estonia was able to emerge and increase its influ- ence. Exactly a month later Estonia was proclaimed a Soviet Socialist Republic. The Estonian Parliament accepted this proposition; a deleg- ation went to Moscow at the end of July 1940 and the amalgamation was finalised on 6 August 1940. All ships in the Estonian Navy were henceforth incorporated into the Soviet Baltic Fleet. THE ESTONIAN NAVY IN 1922 DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate LENNUK (ex-Avtroil) 1917 1350t To Peru 1933 WAMBOLA (ex-Spartak, 1917 ex-Kapitan I Ranga Miklucha Maklaj') 1200t To Peru 1933 There were also the gunboats Lembit (ex Bieber, ex-Bobr, BU 1925), Lame (ex-Spuimk, sunk 24 7 41) and Wanemune (ex-Imperator, scuttled 1941) and the minelayers Risina (ex-18, ex-Apostol Pwtr, BU 1960) and Suurop (ex-19, ex- Apostol Pavel, ?sunk August 1941). SULEV torpedo-boat (launched 1916) Displacement: 227t normal; 286t full 1 ad Dimensions: 164ft oa x 17ft 5in x 7ft 8in, 9ft 6m max 50.00 x 5 32 x 2.34, 2 90m Machinery: 1-shaft Schichau geared turbines, 1 Navy boiler, 35OOshp = 24kts. Oil 53t Armament: 2-450mm TT (1x2), 2-75mm (2x1), 10 mines Complement: 35 The former German torpedo-boat A32, with minesweeping capabilities On 25 October, 1917 she was stranded on the Moonsound. Salved in 1923 by Estonia, she was subsequently overhauled and in 1924 entered service in the Estonian Navy. She was taken over by the Soviets on 13 August 1940, renamed Ametist and employed as an NKVD guard vessel In 1942 she was relegated to auxiliary duties (transport and tender); after the war she was used as a training ship for the NKVD Coast Guard School Her final years (1952-54) were spent as a blockship at Leningrad. She was scrapped in 1955. Kalev as completed KA LEV class submarines Displacement: 620t/850t Dimensions: 190ft 3in x 23ft Ilin x 10ft lOin 58.00 x 7.30 x 3.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers diesels plus electric motors, I200bhp/790shp = 13.5kts/8.5kts Armament: 4-533mm TT (bow), 1—45mm AA, l-20min AA, 20 mines Complement: 38 Name Builder Launched Fate KALEV Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 1937 Sunk Nov. 1941 LEMBIT Vickers- 7 7.1936 Preserved 1979 Armstrong, Barrow Built in Great Britain, these ships were undoubtedly the most valuable fighting units in the Estonian Navy. On 13 August 1940 they were taken over by the Soviets, although their names remained unchanged. Kalev was sunk in November 1941 by mines off Hango while serving as transport submarine Lembil survived the war and was renamed U1 in 1945. Renamed S85 in 1949, she was transferred in 1956 to a naval shipyard and used for experimental purposes In 1979 she became a memorial at Tallin. Ptkken approximate appearance when in Soviet service PIKKERI gunboat (launched 1939) Displacement: 500t standard; 540t full load Dimensions: 187ft oa x 24ft lin x 8ft 6in 57.00 x 7.35m x 2.60m Machinery: 2-shaft diesels, 1900bhp = 18kts Armament: 2-75mm (2x 1), 2 MG Complement: ?43 352
Kolev in Mav 1939 PA Vicary This, the most modern Estonian surface vessel, was built at Tallin and was also the Presidential Yacht. On 13 August 1940 she became a Soviet staff vessel with her name unchanged. From 2.12.1941 she served as the aviso and staff vessel Ki T, and was renamed Luga on 15 March 1942. After the war she was relegated to auxiliary duties and from 1946 to 1955 served as a tender under the name Rion. In 1955 she was sold to the Moscow State University and rebuilt as a research vessel with the name Moskovskoi Universitet. Transferred to the Black Sea, she remained tn commission until the late 1960s, when she was scrapped. In addition to the above, the Estonian Navy had the following minor vessels: 6 gunboats of under 200t (Mardus, Taara, Uku, Tartu, Ahii and Ilmaiar, the last threeon LakePejpus); 3 minesweepers of under 50i(Kalev, Olev and Tahkona)-, 8 motorboats of under 50t (MPS,MP8,MP10,MP14,MP23,Sakala, Delia and Erilane)', 3 icebreakers (Suur Toll, Tasuja and Juri Vilmsy, 2 auxiliaries of over 200t (Kalcwipoeg and Kajaky, and 4 tugs (Tallin, Merikaru, Heino and Lei ger). There was also the frontier guard gunboat Kou, built 1909, displacing lOOt, with a speed of 12kts and an armament of l-?57mm and 2 MGs. She was probably deleted before the war and replaced by a vessel of the same name, built 1938-39 in Tallin. This vessel was presumably seized by the Soviets in 1940, but her ultimate fate is unknown. Latvia The Latvian Navy was formed in 1918, when a small number of former Tsarist vessels were found in harbours taken over by the Latvian administration; these were augmented in 1921 by an ex German minesweeper, salvaged and repaired by the Latvians. The economic situation of Latvia was much more healthy than that of other Baltic Slates, since she was much more industrialised. This, and need to secure her coastal defences, enabled funds to be found in the mid-1920s for the expansion of the Navy, but two submarines and two minesweepers were the only fighting ships Latvia built either abroad oral home. With the Depression in the 1930s the possibilities to expand the Navy disappeared. Like other Balkan states, Latvia became a Soviet Socialist Republic in 1940. The conduct of the Latvian government between the wars, Latvian foreign policy, and the existence of strong Communist Party, made the process of joining the USSR identical to that followed by Estonia and Lithuania. Latvian warships became units of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in August 1940. During the war they fought in the Baltic, where almost all were lost during 1941. In 1922 the Latvian Navy possessed only one fighting vessel, the guardship Virsaitis (the former German minesweeper M6S). This unit was sunk 2.12.41. Ronis as completed RONIS class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: 390t/514t 180ft Sin oa x 15ft 9in x lift 10m SS.00 x 4.80 x 3.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Sulzer diesels plus 2 1300bhp/700shp = 14kts/9kts. Oil 19t electric motors, Armament: Complement: 6-450mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-75mn 27 i AA. 2 MG Name Builder Launched Fate RONIS A C de la Loire, 1.7.1926 Nantes Scuttled 24.6.41 Sl’IDOLA A C Augustin- 6.10.1926 Normand Scuttled 24.6.41 Both these units were ordered in France in 1925. Their diving depth was about 160ft. In August 1940 they were incorporated into the Soviet Navy, retaining their original names. Both were overhauled in July 1941 at Liepaja, where they w ere blown up and scuttled on 24.6.41 to avoid their falling into German hands. IM ANTA class minesweepers (launched 1926) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 256t standard; 310t full load 160ft 9in pp x 21ft x 4ft Ilin, 5ft Ilin max 49.00 x 6.40 x I.SO, 1.80m 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 750ihp = 14 kts. Oil 30t l-75mm AA, 4 MG, 30 mines 39 Class: Imania, Viesiurs. Built by A C Augustin-Normand (Imania) and A C de la Loire, Nantes. Both were seized by the Soviets in 1940, Viesturs being redesignated T298 and Imania T299. The former was again redesignated in June 1941 (TSl) and yet again in September that year (T57); she survived the war and was scrapped in the 1950s. Her sister was mined 1.7.41. Other Latvian naval vessels comprised the coast guardship Erglisj 3 motor- boats (Ariilerists,Bulta andLidaka)-, 3 icebreakers(Krisjans Valdemars ,I.acplesis and Varonisy, the survey ship Hidrografs-, and the training ship Svejenccks.
EASTERN EUROPE Lithuania Unlike the other two Balkan States, Lithuania did not emerge in 1919 with even a small navy, and this factor undoubtedly influenced the future development of Lithuanian naval forces. Another important factor, limiting Lithuania’s interest in the sea, was her very short coastline of only about 22 miles, although in 1924 the Klaipeda region was added to Lithuanian territory as an autonomous province. At this time only a few small motorboats existed for coastal patrol duties. In 1927 the only Lithuanian warship was bought - an ex-German mines- weeper; further acquisitions were limited to motorboats for the coast guard service. 1939 was a significant year for Lithuania. In March the Klaipeda region was seized by the Germans and became part of East Prussia. Six months later a treaty of mutual assistance with the USSR was con- cluded according to which small detachments of the Soviet Army were stationed in Lithuania In June 1940 the USSR demanded the creation of new government in Lithuania; after this government was estab- lished, it proclaimed the country a Soviet Socialist Republic in July 1940, and on 3.8.40 Lithuania joined the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics The Lithuanian Navy, small as it was, was taken over by Soviets and incorporated into the Baltic Fleet. PRESIDENTAS SMETONA patrol vessel (launched 31.10.17) Displacement: 500t normal Dimensions: 183ft 9m wl, 194ft 6m oa x 24ft 3in x 7ft 56.00, 59 30 x 7.40 x 2.15m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 1 Navy boiler, 1850ihp = 16kts. Coal 120t Armament: 2-105mm(2xl) Complement: ?40 The former German minesweeper Л159, bought in 1927. Under the name Presidentas Smeiona she served as a patrol vessel. The name was changed to Anianas Smeiona about 1934 and then once again, on 22 6 40, to Primunas. In August 1940 she fell into Soviet hands, was probably renamed Oihchnik, and then became the NKVD guardship Korall. During the war she served as an escort ship She was sunk in 1944 The Lithuanian naval forces also operated 6 motorboats (Aiivaras, Saulvs, Zaibas,Praschunia ,Partizanas andSovations')and 1 icebreaking lug (Perkunas). Presidentas Smeiona in ihe late 1930s J erzy MiciAski Collection Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia, being a small, landlocked country, maintained only token riverine detachments on the Danube and Elbe rivers. The first vessels were former Austro-Hungarian boats and these formed the nucleus of the Czechoslovakian ‘navy’ for about ten years. The weakness of the Danube flotilla was recognised early on, but only at the end of the 1920s were the first steps taken to supplement the flotilla with modern vessels. Two big monitor-type patrol ships were planned, but only one was built and this entered service in early 1930s. Two river minesweepers were begun in 1937, and two gunboats of modern design were also planned, but these were not begun. The Anschluss in Austria created new problems for the Czecho- slovakian defences. Recognising the danger of German aggression and seeking a swift way to build up their forces, the Czechs tried to obtain new vessels from foreign yards. The designs received were disappoint- ing - they were either obsolete colonial gunboats or ships unsuited for riverine warfare. Finally, it was decided to buy ten MTBs of Higgins design in the USA, for service as police motorboats in peacetime and reconnaissance duties in the war. The Munich decisions prevented these boats being delivered. The political changes of 1938-39 spelt the end of the small Czecho- slovakian river flotilla. After the German occupation in December 1938 the older ships were scrapped. The more modern ones were to be sold to Yugoslavia, but nothing came of these plans since the Germans impressed them into their Donau Flotilla in April 1939. THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN NAVY IN 1922 In 1922 Czechoslovakian river detachments possessed 7 boats of under 35 ions and 8 motorboats of 8 tons. PRESIDENT MASARYK river patrol vessel (launched 1931)________________________________________________________ Displacement: 230t full load Dimensions: 160ft 9in x 19ft 8in x 3ft 7in 49.00 x 6.00 x 1.10m Machinery: 2 sets Skoda geared turbines, 23OOhp = 16!kts Armament: 4—66mm, 4 MG, 10 mines Complement: 50 The largest ship of the Czechoslovakian Danube Flotilla. In 1939 she was pressed into German service on the Danube under the name Bcchalunn and in 1944 was redesignated GB1. Captured by the US Army in April 1944, she was returned to Czechoslovakia in 1950 and hulked in 1955. The building of a sister-ship was contemplated. 354
OMm35 class river patrol boats (launched 1939) * I -—— — « — — Displacement: 60t Dimensions: 105ft x 13ft lin x 3ft 3m 32.00 x 4.00 x I 00m Machinery- 2 diesel engines, 900hp = 19^kts Armament. 2 MG, 22 mines Complement: ? Class: OMm35, ОМтЗб 1 hese boats were incorporated into the German Danube Flotilla in 1939 and reclassified as river minesweepers under the names FMI and FM2. Both were transferred to Romania tn 1941. Other vessels in Czecholsovakian service (including those in service in 1922) comprised 2 motorboats of 35t, OMd I and 2, 2 motorboats of 30t, ОМтЗЗ and 34, 4 motorboats of 26t, OMvt29-32; 3 motorboats of 25t, OMh3>4 and 5; 5 motorboats of 12t, OMvl24-28; 10 motorboats of lOt, ОЛШ2,13 and 15-22 (on the Elbe); 8 motorboats of 8t,OMsI 1-18-, and 2 mine vessels of 1 lit,MiP I and II Hungary SOPRON river patrol boat Displacement: 140t normal Dimensions: 149ft 3in x 19ft 8in x 3ft 3in 45 50 x 6 00 x I 00m Machinery: 2 sets AEG geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, I400shp = 18.6kts. Oil 18t Armour. Side 10mm, deck 6mm, CT 10mm Armament: 2-75mm (2x1), 6 MG Complement: 42 1 he Danube, which flows through several European countries, plavs a great part in the life of Hungary Its role was recognised to greater extent after the First World War, when Hungary lost access to the Adri itic,and the Danube became the most important route connecting landlocked Hungary with the sea As one of the defeated powers, Hungarx was allowed to keep only a small force of eight patrol boats, augmented bx two launches and ten motorboats, for police duties on the Danube The terms allowed the Hungarian ‘navy’ to expand, as the first Hungarian ships were four relatively modern patrol boats (belonging previously to the Austro- Hungarian monarchy) and four small river minesweepers Economic recovery enabled the purchase in Austria of three vessels, sister-ships to the boils already possessed, to go ahead in 1927, two years later the next boat was bought from the same country, while one of the Hun- garian ships was transferred to Austria. During the Second World War Hungarian vessels operated with the German Danube Flotilla VC hen the war ended, a new Hungarian Danube Flotilla was created in 1945, equipped with wooden mine- sweeping boats THE HUNGARIAN NAVY IN 1922 On strength m 1922 w'ere the 140t river patrol boat Komarom (ex Lachs, sunk 25.11 44), the 1331 patrol boats Kecskemet (cx-lriza) and Szeged (ex Bregalniia, ex U els') and the 60t river craft Siofok (ex-Csuka, deleted 1944). 1 Iiese were all launched between 1915 and 1918. Sister vessel to Komarom, purchased from Austria in October 1927 and previ- ously named Star KECSKEMET class river patrol boats Displacement 133t normal Dimensions* 144ft 4in x 19ft 8in z 3ft 3in 44 00 x 6 00 x 1 00m Machinery: 2 sets AEG geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 1200shp = 17 3kts. Oil 18t Armour: Side 8mm, deck 6mm, CT 10mm Armament: 4-66mm AA, 4 MG Complement 40 Class- Baja, Gyor The former Austrian Barsch and Compo, these craft were sister-vessels to the Kecskemet and Szeged and were obtained in 1929 and 1927 respectively, Согиро being purchased and Barsch being received in exchange for Siofok. GODOLO river patrol boat Displacement: 60t normal Dimensions 118ft lin x 15ft lin x 2ft Ilin 36 00 x 4.60 x 0 90m Machinery: 2 sets ТЕ, 800ihp = 13 8kts Armour: Side 5mm, deck 4inm, CT 5mm Armament: l-66mm, 2 MG Complement: 27 Sister-ship of Siofok, purchased from Austria in August 1927. 1 he Hungarian river forces also operated a number of small auxiliary vessels, among them the armoured motor patrol boats/mmesweepers Honved, Htiszar and Inzer (former Austro-Hungarian); the supply vessel Csobanc, the staff vessel Buk, and the training vessel Badacsony During the war a number of other ships were pressed into naval service as minesweepers Yugoslavia THE ROYAL YUGOSLAVIAN NAVY 1 he Yugoslavian Navy experienced a sudden boom immediately after the First World War, when the former Austro-Hungarian fleet was transferred to the Yugoslavian flag However, the Italians were extremely uneasy about the rise of new naval power in the Adriatic area and pressed the Allies to distribute the Austro-Hungarian fleet among the victors. '1 his was done, and only scraps of the formet navy were allocated to Yugoslavia The ships received were twelve modern torpedo boats, four obsolete minesweepers, four river monitors and a number of auxiliaries The fleet was further strengthened during the 1920s, when six minesweepers of the German ‘M’ class and the old cruiser Ntobc were bought. During the early 1920s the young kingdom was in a bad way both politically and economically. The state was a multi national one and the Serbian part of the population dominated the Croatian and Slovenic 355
EASTERN EUROPE The largest ship in the Yugoslavian Navy, the cruiser Dabnacija (ex German X’iobe) Jerzy MiciAfkt Collection people. This led to constant unrest and was one of the factors in the country’s very slow economic development. The year 1922 brought a change for better. The economy was revived when foreign capital began to flow into Yugoslavia, attracted by a stabilisation in both domestic and foreign affairs. This situation, however, proved to be temporary and worsened again when the world recession came. It is small wonder that the Yugoslavian shipbuilding industry did not build any new warships for the Navy for a long time. The first vessels were five small mine tenders, left over on the stocks by the Austro- Hungarians and completed by Yugoslavia in the early 1930s. Mean- while, other ships were ordered in foreign yards and the Royal Yugo- slavian Navy was strengthened by one destroyer, four submarines, two CMBs and a number of auxiliaries. Any further expansion of the Navy was prevented by lack of funds. The end of the recession was marked by political unrest in Yugos- lavia that led to King Alexander’s assassination in Marseille in 1934. The new government enabled German capital to penetrate the Yugos- lavian economy. This led also to a change m political orientation, the links with Czechoslovakia, France and Great Britain were breached and support was sought in Germany and Italy. In the naval field this attitude was reflected in the ordering of a series of MTBs from Lurssen (eight of this class were completed), in addition, the building of two German Type II submarines for Yugoslavia was reported. German shipyards were also considered when the building of two destroyers of the improved Beograd class were discussed. The situation lasted until the end of March 1941, when Yugoslavia decided to turn her back on the Axis powers. Less than two weeks later she was attacked by the Germans and Italians, with little chance of survival. Her navy was bombed and later overrun by the Italians, almost all the ships being incorporated into the Italian Navy with new names. Only four ships escaped this fate’ the destroyer Zagreb was blown up in harbour, whilst the submarine Nebojsa and the MTBs Dumuior and Kapnakcalan escaped to the Allies. These units formed the nucleus of the Royal Yugoslavian Navy in exile. The riverine forces, after putting up some resistance, were either scuttled or sunk by bombs during the first days of the Yugoslavian campaign. The Royal Yugoslavian Navy in exile was strengthened in 1943 by one corvette, and then by the ships returned by Italy after that coun- try’s surrender. Further, in mid-1944, eight MGBs were transferred to Yugoslavia under Lend Lease. They remained under the Royal flag for about a year, as on 29 November 1945 the Federal Republic of Yugos- lavia was proclaimed. NAVAL FORCES OF THE YUGOSLAVIAN PEOPLE’S LIBER- ATION ARMY The so-called ‘Tito’s Navy’ was born on 18 December 1942 as a part of Yugoslavian People’s Liberation Army and its first ships were the former fishing boats Bartizan and Pionir. However, naval activities off lhe Yugoslavian coast were underway even earlier, when fishermen were busy fishing both the fish for food and mines for explosives. Their boats were used also for transport duties. The vessels used by the partisans were small boats armed with captured Italian guns; weapons of US and British origin were later made available. Some of the vessels were equipped with grenade throwers. Almost all the ships had their command posts and gun platforms protected with sandbags, wooden planks and steel sheets. In mid-1944 the whole partisan fleet was reorganised under the categories NB (Naoruzani Brod = armed ships), PC (Patrolm Caniac = patrol boats), MC (Motomi Catnac — motor boats), В (Barkas = launches) and BB (Bolnicki Brod = hospital ships). When in August 1944 twelve LCTs arrived, they received the designation MS (Motomi Splavi — motor craft). With the fall of Italy the Germans tried to take over the control of the Adriatic, and to fight the partisans they equipped and armed six ships ofc200t each. However, their attempts were thwarted, when one of them -Anton - was captured by partisans on 30 April 1944 and became the biggest ship of‘Tito’s Navy’, with the патеСгепш Zvczda (= Red Star), her previous, Italian, name being Stella Blanca (= White Star). Apart from the captured ships, other units joined the partisans: some w'ere transferred from the Allies, and some even escaped the puppet Croatian Navy - as did one MTB of the former German KS class. During the war nearly ninety small boats served lhe partisans as warships, while over 200 ships were used as transports. After the war these ships were returned to their previous owners, while the Navy took over the ships belonging to the former Royal Yugoslavian Navy. Some ex-Italian units were also taken over. However, only seven small, old minesw eepers and a midget submarine entered service before 1946; further ships (torpedo-boats, submarines, etc) entered Yugoslavian service after this date, but they fall outside the scope of this book. THE NAVY OF THE INDEPENDENT CROATIAN STATE The Croatian population did not relish the Serbian domination of prewar Yugoslavia. This could clearly be seen when in 1941 lhe Croa- tian detachments were leaving the battlefields and refused to fight. When Yugoslavia was occupied, the so-called Independent Croatian State was created Despite its name, the state was heavily dependent on Germany and Italy both in domestic and external affairs. The Axis powers allows the Croatians to havean army, but as the Italians decreed the Mediterranean ‘Mare Nostrum’, they opposed to formation of a Croatian Navy. Although the Germans went along with the Italians, they did help lhe Croatians create a ‘Black Sea Detachment’, composed of minesweeping boats with Croatian crews and based at Varna. This was the first step towards selling up of ihe Croatian Navy. The next was taken after Italy’s surrender. The Germans, no longer restricted by any treaties with the Italians and short of manpower, were eager to have Croatian crew’s man the ships fighting the partisans. Thus some old ships belonging previously to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy, as well as some small German craft, were given to the Croatians. German influence and Tito’s victories were the main reasons for the gradual change of allegiance among the Croatian crews. A few small boats escaped to the partisans and the crew of the torpedo-boat 11 proclaimed itself ready to mutiny and flee together with the boat. The Germans anticipated events and changed the crew. The Croatian Navy was short-lived The remaining ships were sunk and the organisers captured by the liberating forces in 1945-and a few months later iried. 356
Yugoslavia THE YUGOSLAVIAN NAVY IN 1922 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Tl class Tl (cx-76T) 15.12.1913 262t Deleted early 1960s '12 (ex-77T) 30.1.1914 262t BU 1939 1'3 (cx-757') 4 3 1914 262t Sunk 20 2 45 T4 (ех-79Г) 30 4.1914 262t Deleted 1932 7'5 class T5 (cx-87F) 20.3.1915 266t Deleted early 1960s Г6 (cx-93F) 25.11.1915 266t Scuttled 11 9 43 T7 (ex 96F) 7.7.1916 266t Sunk 25.6.44 1 8 (ex-97F) 20 8.1916 266t Sunk 10 9 44 Г9 class '1 9 (ex-60T) 8.4.1907 210t Deleted late 1920s 1 10 (ex-617") 18 4.1907 210t Deleted late 1920s 1 11 (ex-69T) 17.4 1909 21 Ot Deleted late 1920s 1 12 (ех-54Г) 10.9 1906 2 lOt Deleted late 1920s /1 class I ormer Austro-Hungarian 74 class, T group torpedo-boats, allocated to Yugos- lavia in 1920 14 ran aground in 1932 and was deleted; Tl and T3 became Italian prizes m April 1941 and served with their names unchanged. After the Italian cap tulation ll was returned to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy and served as Golesnica during the postwar years until deleted tn the early 1960s. T3 fell into German hands at Rijeka on 16 9 1943 and was renamed TA48 She was sunk at Trieste by British aircraft 15 class These former Austro-Hungarian 74 class, F group torpedo-boats were also allocated to Yugoslavia in 1920. All were taken overby the Italians in April 1941 and served with their names unchanged. T6 was scuttled north-west of Rimini and T8 was sunk by German aircraft, both were in Italian hands at that time. 7'5 was returned to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy on 7.12.1943. After the war she was renamed Cer and was deleted in the early 1960s. T7 was taken over by the Germans in September 1943 and then presented to the Croatian Navy (her name probably still unchanged) She served there unul destroyed by the British MTB659, M'l B662 amd MTB670 off Murter Island. 7'9 class I our boats of the former Austro-Hungarian Kavnan class were transferred to Yugoslavia in 1920. Their former names were 60T (cx-Schwalbe), 6IT (ex Ptnguin), 69T (ex Polyp) and 54T (ex Wai) All were discarded and broken up between 1928 and 1930. MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Galeb class GALEB (ex-MI00) 23 5.1918 330t Sunk 6 11 42 J A ST REB (ех-ЛШ2) 12.11.1918 330t Beached KOBAC (ex M121) 10.9.1918 330t 24/25.11 41 Sunk 30 1 43 GAVRAN (ex-M106) 8 7.1918 330t Sunk 10 7 43 ORAO (ex-M97) 23 3.1918 330t Deleted 1955 SOKOL (cx-MlM) 19.3.1919 330t Sunk 19.1.43 Sokol in the early 1930s Galeb class Six German ‘AV class minesweepers were bought by the Yugolavianson 20 July 1921 as‘tugs’, for 1,400,000 marks each In 1923 Gavran was renamedlabud. In \938-39Jastreb was refilled for oil firing only In April 1941 all were captured by the Italians and renamed; Selve (ex-Galeb), Jirona (ex-Jastrib), Ume (ex- Kobac), Oriole (ex-Iabud), Vergada (ex-Orao) and Eso (ex-Sokol). Vergada was returned to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy 7.12 43, after the war she was renamed Pionir, then /elengora, and was deleted in 1955. The remaining vessels were destroyed while in Italian hands: Selve was bombed by British aircraft at Benghazi; Z.irona was beached near Benghazi after a British air raid and on 28 11 41 the wreck was destroyed by the Italians, Unie was sunk by Biiush aircraft at В zerta; Oriole was scuttled in Port Augusta before British forces entered the town, and Eso was sunk at Djerba Island by British aircraft. There were also the river monitors Morava (ex-Koros, scuttled 11/12.4.41, raised and repaired by Croatia, mined June 1944); Sara (ex-Bo</n>g, Scuttled 11/12 4 41, raised and repaired by Croatia, scuttled 8/9 9 44, raised again and repaired by Royal Yugoslavian Navy and served postwar); Drava (ex-Enns, sunk by German bombers 12 4 41, raised by Hungary and scrapped); and Vardar (ex-Bosna, scuttled 11/12.4.41) The cruiser Dalmacija (ex-German Niobe) was also purchased in 1925 She was refitted as a gunnery training ship in 1926-27 and in April 1941 was taken over by the Italians asCattaro. Captured by the Germans and renamed Niobe once more on 11 9 43, she was soon transferred to Croatia as Zniam. She was stranded 19.12.43 and torpedoed by British MTBs two days later. Dubrovntk in the laic 1930s DUBROVNIK destroyer leader Displacement: 1880t standard Dimensions: 348ft6in pp,371ft 5inoa x 35ft x lift9inmean, 13ft 5mmax 105 23, 113.20 x Ю 67 x 3 58, 4.10m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 48,OOOshp = 37kts. Oil 470t Armament 4-140mm (4x1), 2-84mm AA (1x2), 6-40mm AA (2x2, 2x 1), 2 MG, 6-533mm TT (2x3), mines Complement: 220 Name Builder Launched Fate DUBROVNIK Yarrow 11 10 1931 Sunk 24 4.45 Built in Great Britain, Dubrovnik was one of the largest destroyers of her time. In 1934 she took King Alexander on his visit to Franceand had the melancholy task of conveying his body home after the King was assassinated In April 1941 she fell into Italian hands and was renamed Premud i and re-armed with 4-140mm, l-120mm starshell, 4—20mm AA, 2-37mm AA (later 2-37mm AA extra instead of 1-120mm) and 6-533mm TT She was captured by the Germans at Genoa 8 9 43and renamed TA32, being refitted by them with 4-105mm,4-37mm AA, 36-20mm AA, 3-533mm TT and electronic equipment, and serving as a night action leader. She took part in an action in the Ligurian Sea and was scuttled a month later, at Genoa, on 24 4.45. BEOGRAD class destroyers Displacement 12lOt standard, 1655t full load Dimensions: 321ft 6in oa x 31ft x 10ft 5m mean 98 00 x 9.45 x 3.18m Machinery; 2-shaft Parsons (Beograd Curtis) geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 40,OOOshp = 38kts. Oil 120t Armament: 4—120mm (4x 1), 4—40mm A A (2x2), 2 MG, 6-550mm TT (2x3), 30 mines Complement: 145 Name Builder Launched Fate BEOGRAD A C de la Loire, 23.12 1937 Nantes Sunk 30 4.45 LJUBLJANA Jadranske 28 6 1938 Brodogaliste, Split Sunk 1 4 43 ZAGREB Jadranske 30.3.1938 Brodogaliste, Split Blown up 17.4.41 357
EASTERN EUROPE Bt h Orao These ships were a development of the French Stmoun class destroyers One of the class was built in France, while the remaining two were constructed in Yugoslavia, under French supervision. Two further units of this class were planned. Their careers in the Yugoslavian Navy were short. In April 1941 Beograd and Ljubljana were captured by Italians, while Zagreb was blown up in Kotor by tw’o of her officers to prevent her falling into enemy hands. Ljubljana was renamed Lubiana by Italians and was sunk 1 4.43 off ihe Tunisian coast by British aircraft. Beograd bore the nameSetenico until taken over bj the Germans at Venice on 11.9 43 and was renamed TA43 by them. She was sunk at Trieste by artillery fire from advancing Yugoslavian Army units. After the war, in June 1946, she was raised, probably to clear harbour waters of obstacles, and scuttled a month later. Oiveinik in the early 1930s OSVETNIK class submarines Displacement: 630t/809t Dimensions: 218ft 2in oa x 17ft 9in x 12ft 6in 66 SO x 5 40 x 3 80m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 Nancy electric motors, 1480bhp/1000shp = 14.5kts/-9 2kts. Oil 25t Armament: 6-550mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), 1-100mm, l-40mm AA Complement: 43 Name Builder Launched Fate OSVETNIK A C de la Loire, 14.1.1929 Nantes Scuttled 18.9 43 SMELI A C de la Loire, 1 12.1928 Nantes Scuttled 9.9 43 Two boats of this class were built to the Simonot design in France Their diving depth was 260ft In April 1941 they were taken over by the Italians;Osveimk was renamed Francesco Rismondo, while Smelt became Antonio Baiamonii. On 14 9.43 the former was captured by the Germans at Bonifacio and scuttled by them four days later Baiamonii was scuttled by the Italians themselves on 9,9.43 at La Spezia. Hrabn in lhe late 1930s HRABRI class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 975t/1164t 236ft 5m oa x 24ft x 13ft 72.05 x 7.32 x 3 96m 2 shafts. 2 diesel engines plus 2 2400bhp/1600shp = 15.7kts/lOkts 6-533mm TT (bow), 2-102mm, 1 MG 45 electric motors, Name Builder Launched Fate HRABRI Vickers- 1927 Armstrong, Tyne BU 1941 NEBOJSA Vickers- 1927 Armstrong, Tyne Deleted 1958 These boats were modified British ‘L* class submarines, the design of which dated back to World War I Hrabri was captured by the Italians in April 1941 and renumbered N3, but was not commissioned due to her poor condition and was later scrapped Nebojsa fled to Alexandria in April 1941 and operated together with Second (1942) and Third (1943) Submarine Flotillas. After the war she served in the Yugoslavian Navy as Tara, until stricken in 1954. BELI ORAO gunboat (launched 3.6.39) Displacement. 567t standard, 660t full load Dimensions: 197ft lin pp, 213ft 3in oa x 26ft 6in x 9ft 4in 60.08, 65 00 x 8 08 x 2.84m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Sulzer diesels, 1900bhp = 18kts Armament: 2—40mm AA, 2 MG Complement: ? Ordered from Adnatico, Trieste, for service as a Royal yacht during peacetime and as an escort during war, Belt Orao was captured by the Italians at Boka Kotorska in April 1941 and renamed Alba. §he was renamed once again Zagab- ria, then returned to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy 7 12.43 After the war her name was changed to Biokovo and later tojadranka. In 1978 she was still in service as a yacht. NADA corvette At the beginning of 1944 the British ‘Flower’ class corveiicMalhnv was transfer- red to Yugoslavia, receiving the name.VaJa. After the end of the war she w as renamed Partizanka. In 1949 she was returned to Great Briain and then transfer- red to Egypt with the new name Solium For further details see under Great Britain Malinska 1939 MALINSKA class mining tenders (launched 1931) Displacement: 130t Dimensions: 96ft 5in pp, 102fl oa x 22ft x 4ft 7in 29.40, 31.10 x 6 70 x 1 40m Machinery: 2 sets ТЕ, 1 Yarrow boiler, 280ihp = 9kts Armament: l-66mni Complement: ? Class: Malinska, Marjan, Meljine, Mljet, Motor These five ships were laid down for the Austro-Hungarian Navy at the Yarrow yard at Kraljevica asMT130 class mining tenders. Three others of the class were completed in 1920 for Italy as the Albona class. The five Yugoslavian units were previously designated MT133-MTI37. In April 1941 all were cap- tured by the Italians and entered their service as Arbe (ex-Mahnska, sunk by the crew and raised by the Italians), Ughano (ex-Marjan),Soha (ex-Mcljine^Mcleda (ex-Mljef) and Pasman (cx-Mosor). Arbe was returned to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy on 16 2.44 and reverted to her previous name. After the war she was renamed М2, then Af 32; in 1978 she was still in service Ughano was taken over by Germans in September 1943 and probably sunk while in their hands. Soha was returned to the Yugoslavian Navy on 7 December 1943, reverted to her previous name and after the war became Ml thenAI3/ and was subsequently deleted. Mcleda was returned together with Soha-, after the war her name was changed to М3, then toAI33, and she also was deleted afterwards. Pasman was captured in September 1943 by the Germans, who gave her to the Croatians. While manned by them, she was stranded 31.12.44 on Istu Island; the remains were scrapped in 1954. CETNIK class MTBs (launched May 1927) Displacement: 15t standard Dimensions: 55ft X lift X 4ft 3in 16.77 x 3.35 x 1.30m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Thomycroft petrol engines, 750hp = 37kts Petrol 1.6t Armament: 2-456mm TT (2x1), 2 MG Complement: 5 358
Class: Cetmk, Uskok A version of Thornycroft’s 55ft CMBs, this class at first bore the names TC1 and TC2. Both wete captured by the Italians in April 1941 Uskok became MAS ID CD’ standing for Dalmatia) and was sunk on 19 April 1942 bv accident. Cetmk becameMAS2D until July 1942, when renamed Л1547; she was stricken from the MTB list 1 9 43 and renumbered ME43. After the war she was found at Taranto in very bad shape ORJEN class MTBs (launched 1936-39) Displacement: 61 7t full load Dimensions- 90ft lOin wl, 91ft 10m oa x 14ft lin x 4ft Ilin max 27.7(7, 28.00 x 4.30 x 1.51m Machinery: 3 shafts 3 Daimler-Benz petrol engines, 3300hp — 3 Ikts Oil 9ms. Armament: 2-550mm TT, l-40mm AA Complement: 16 Class: Orjen, Dunniior, Suvobor, Kajmakcalan, Velebit, Dinaira , Rudnik, Tng- lav Much more seaworthy than the Cetnik class, these boats were ordered from the well-known Lurssen yard. Two of the class, Kajmakcalan and Dunnitor, escaped to Alexandria in April 1941 and served with the Allies. After the war both were renamed: Kajmakcalan became TC6, then TC392-, Dunnitor became ГС5, then TC391. Both were deleted in 1962 The others fell into Italian hands and were renamed, and in July 1942 their numbers were changed once again to: Ms41 (ex-MAS3D, cx-Orjen)-, Ms42 (e\-MAS4D, e\-Velebity, Ms43 (ex- MAS5D, ex-Dinara)-, Ms44 (ex-MAS6D, cx-Tnglav)-, Ms4S (ex-MAS7D, ex- Suvobor)-, and AL46 (ex-MAS8D, ex-Rudnik). Ms4l was scuttled on 9.9.43 at Monfalcone Afterwards she was probably raised by Germans and mined while in their hands. Ms45 was also scuttled, on 18.9.43 at Cattohca The remaining boats were captured by the Germans and renamed S2 to 55 m the abov e order. All were scuttled by the Germans tn October 1944 at Salonika MT class MTBs In mid-1944 eight boats were transferred to the Royal Yugoslavian Navy at Malta. These former US PT boats bore the numbers PT201, PT204, PT207-PT2U, РГ213 and РТ2Г7-, their Yugoslavian numbers were MT1 to MT8. All were deleted postwar, Ml 8 in 1955, the rest in 1966 Details of these boats can be found in the US section Other vessels to serve with the Yugoslavian Navy during \X orld \X ar II were the submarine lender Hvar (3600t, BU 1953), the seaplane tender Zma (I870t, sunk 22.12 43), the oiler Perun (4500t, sunk 17.3.43), the water carrier Lovcen (56It, deleted 1945) and the sail training shipJaJraw (720t) Other auxiliaries included tugs, tenders and yachts; all were captured in April 1941 by the Italians In 1943 some fell into German hands, and several of these were returned to the Yugoslavians after the war. Y ugoslavia/Romania NAVAL FORCES OF THE YUGOSLAVIAN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY Although almost all the ships belonging to the Yugoslavian partisans were former civilian vessels and thus fall outside the scope of this volume, a brief outline of their technical data is given here. Armed ships. The biggest vessels used by the partisans. At least seventeen flew their ensign NB11 (Crvena Zvijezda), the former German anti-insurgent vessel Anton and former Italian lugger Stella Blanca, was captured by the Yugoslavians 30.4 44, she was mined near Suska Island 1.4.45. She displaced 180t and was armed with l-40mm, l-37mm, 7-20mm and 1 light and 1 heavy mortar, and in 1945 with 2-37mm, 6-20mm, and 4-12 7mm MGs. NB8 (Komat) was a former tuna boat She displaced 90t and was armed with 1—40mm, 3-20mm and 3-8mm MGs. There were five more armed ships of c80t (NB1-NB3,NB6 and NB13), all former fishing boats and armed with at least 1—40mm, 2-20mm and two or more MGs; five ships ofc70t, armed along similar lines to the 80t ships, though some lacked 40mm guns; two boats of 20t, one of them being NB9 (Biokovac), the former Yugoslavian customs vessel, which was sunk in error by British destroyers; and NB5 (Zvan), of unknown tonnage, armed with 2-20mm and 6-8mm MGs only. Patrol boats. At least 56 patrol boats were used bv the Yugoslav lans. Twelve of them were of over 151, armed with 40mm and 20mm guns and MGs. Nine were under 151, all armed with l-8mm MG The remaining boats were of unknown tonnage, though judging from their armament thirteen must have been under lOt, while eight were rather larger. Fourteen boats were lost during the war One of the patrol boats was PC79, which escaped from the Croatian Navy: she was a former German KM-boot of 19t and armed with l-20mm AA gun. Auxiliary vessels. The names of three motor boats, six launches and one hospital ship are know n Tw elve LCTs were also transferred to the partisan fleet in August 1944. Transports. The names of 214 transports arc known. Of these, one was of 2819grt (the steamship Dubac), 17 ships were over lOOgn, 84 ships were between lOgrt and lOOgrt, and 13 ships were under lOgrt. The rest of the ships were of unknown tonnage It should be noted that although all the above ships were on the ‘fleet lists’, about 50 per cent were inoperative. Riverine forces. The first riverine detachment of the partisan forces was created on 15 September 1944 On 1 February 1954 the riverine forces consisted of 17 patrol boats, five of which had escaped from the Croatians THE NAVY OF THE INDEPENDENT CROATIAN STATE The Croatian Navy was equipped with ships supplied by the Germans. Some of the ships were of German origin, while most of them wrere former Yugoslavian ships, captured by Italians in April 1941, and then captured again by the Germans after Italy’s surrender Croatian crews served on German ships as well - for example, twentv Croatians served on the mmelav er Ktebitz (ex-Italian Ramb III). The following ships were exclusively Croatian-manned: the torpedo-boat TA48 (former Yugoslavian T3), the armed steamers G102 and G104, and 8 KM class torpedo-boats (one of which escaped to the partisans). Three further ships were transferred to the Croatians and did not carry German names; the torpedo boat T7 (former Yugoslavian 77), the training cruiser Zmam (former Yugoslavian Dalntacija), and the mine tender Mosor (former Yugoslavian Mosor). A river polite force was also operated by the Croatians It consisted of the two river monitors Bosna and Sava (former Yugoslavian Aforazia and Sana), six motorboats, at least three of which escaped to the partisans, and more than ten auxiliary vessels. Romania l he development of the Romanian Navy in the 1922—45 period can be easily divided into three distinct stages, each separated by etght-year periods of inactivity, associated with the economic difficulties of an underdeveloped country When the First World War ended in 1918, Romania emerged as the biggest multi-national Balkan state Although encircled bv enemy countries during the war, she managed to retain her navy and in 1920, with her coastline doubled, she took the opportunity to strengthen her naval forces Thus, in the first period of development, the division of former Austro-Hungarian tonnage brought in seven modern torpedo- boats (of which only six reached Romania, one being sunk on passage) and three heaviK armed gunboats, or monitors, for service on lhe Danube. Two of four destroyers ordered before the war in Italy were returned to Romania after wartime service under the Italian flag 1 inally, ‘shopping around’ resulted in the acquisition of four big and modern anti-submarine escorts from France and six former VAS boats from Italy. 1 hese units were added to the tiny fleet of mostly obsolete ships already in service. During the early 1920s Romania took steps to improve her economy - an ambitious goal and one difficult to achieve for an agricultural country. However, a steady increase in prosperity could be observed during the 1923-28 period of stabilisation, which enabled funds to be set aside for the realisation of the 1927 Programme, when two des- troyers, a submarine and a submarine depot ship were ordered in Italy. These vessels entered service in the 1930s. The Danube and Dnestr flotillas were strengthened with tw'elve small motorboats. The prog- ramme called also for a further two destroyers and one submarine, but none was begun In 1929 the world recession struck. The small, agrarian countries w ere lhe most heavily affected and the impact of the crisis could be felt until 1935. Romania was not able to afford to build new warships until 1937, and was then willing to do so, as they were to be built in Romanian yards. The financial situation was strengthened in 1936 with the estab- lishment of the Romanian Navy Ministry. Up till then the fleet con- sisted of four destroyers, six torpedo-boats and a submarine depot ship 359
Marasesti ai Comtan/a, 1944 Bans Leniachko Collection (not counting the obsolete nineteenth century warships). The new Ministry took the opportunity to build up the Navy on more reasonable lines. The programme of 1937 called for a cruiser, four small des- troyers, three submarines, two minelayers and ten MTBs, plus aux- iliaries. This programme was only partially realised, since only one minelayer and two submarines were completed by Romanian yards, while three MTBs and two auxiliaries were purchased abroad. During the war Romania became an ally of Germany. Her navy’s operational areas were the Danube and Black Sea, where the respon- sibilities were shared with the tiny Bulgarian fleet and a number of German warships, either transferred via inland waterways, pressed into service, or built in the Black Sea yards. While the war lasted, some additions were made to the fleet, and thus the third period of fleet expansion was the longest and most significant. This period ended in 1944, when two submarines were accepted from the yards. Meanwhile rhe Romanians assisted with convoy escort and minelaying operations. The latter created an urgent need for more minelayers and to save time two passenger ships were converted. The offensive capabilities of Romanian Navy were greatly enhanced with the arrival of four MTBs, received from the Germans, who themselves had captured the boats in occupied Holland. The last acquisitions were three KF К patrol boats, received from Germany. The rapid worsening of the German military situation in 1944 and strains put on the country by ‘total war’ were the direct causes of the dictator Antonescu’s overthrow on 23 August 1944, in a coup d'etat in which all Romanians, from King Mihail I to the Communist Party, collaborated. On the same day Romania accepted the terms of an agreement with the Soviet Union and the next day the Romanians took the offensive against German units. This change of sides did not, however, prevent the Romanian warships falling into Soviet hands: all were incorporated into the Soviet Black Sea Fleet or into the newly created Danube Flotilla. They served in these capacities for more than a year, until in September 1945 the majority of ships were returned to Romania. The last part of the war saw the Romanians fighting the Germans on both land and water. Romanian crews manned several river mine- sweepers on the Danube and participated in minesweeping and assault operations, under the operational command of the Soviet Navy. In 1945 some ships were returned by the USSR, mostly the older ones. Thus in 1946 the Romanian Navy had to start once again, with ships that had for the most part first entered service over twenty years earlier. THE ROMANIAN NAVY IN 1922 DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Mara sit class MARASTI (ex-Sparvicro, 26.3.1917 ex-Vartef) 13911 Stricken c!963 MARASESTI (ex Nibbio, 30.1.1918 ex-Vtscal) 1391t Stricken c!963 Black Sea Fleet Re armed in 1925-26 with 5-120mm replacing the original 3-152mm Employed during World War II in escort duties with 4-120mm, 4-37mm AA and 4-20mm AA fitted. Taken over by the Soviets in August 1944, Marasti being renamed Lovky and Marasesti becoming Logktj. Returned to Romania 1946 and redesignated Dll and D12. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Sborul class SBORUL (ex^/T) 6.8.1914 257t BUC1960 VARTEJUL (ex-75T) 20.11.1913 237t Stricken 1932 V1FORUL (ex-74 Г) 28.8.1913 257t Stricken 1932 VIJELIA (ex^SOT) 3.8.1914 257t Stricken 1932 Naluca class NALUCA 11.8.1914 262t Sunk 20.8.44 SMEUL 7.11.1914 262t BU 1960 Sborul in the early 1920s Naluca in the mid 1920s Ion Brananu as Soviet Manupol Boris Lemachko Collection Sborul class Black Sea Fleet Sborul served during WWII as an escort vessel, armed with 2-88mm AA and 2-20mm AA, plus depth charges. In August 1944 she became the Soviet SKR (Sturoshevoi Korabl = escort ship) Musson. Returned to Romania 22 9 45 Naluca class Black Sea Fleet. Three boats of this class were allocated to Romania in 1920, but Fulgerul was sunk en route from Austria-Hungary in the Bosphorus. The two vessels that entered service were employed as escorts during WWII and fitted with 2-88mm and 2-20mm, depth charges being added later Naluca was sunk in an air raid on Constanza, but Snteul survived, to be incorportated into the Soviet Fleet as SKR Paros Returned to Romania 22 9.45.
Romania Capitan \ icolae Lascar Bogdan class in the early 1920s Other units of the Black Sea Fleet in 1922 comprised the gunboats Capuan Dumtsiresctt (cx-Mtgnonne, BU 1946), Lototenant-Commandor Stiht Eugen (ex- /• riponne, BU r 1960), Locotenant Lepri Remus (ex-Chiffonne, sunk 11.1.40) and Sublacotenant Ghtgulescu (ex-Impaiiente, BU cl960) There were also the sail training shipAfniTd and the training ship Eltsabeta T he Danube Division in 1922 consisted of the river monitors Ion Brauanu, Alexandru Lahozan, Last ar Catargiu, Mihail Kogalnueanu, Ardeal (cx-Tentes), Basarabia (ex-inn) and liuuH'ina (ex-Sutu), and eight Capitan Nicolae Lascar Bogdan class and 6 ‘ЛГ class (cx-Itah.in) river patrol boats. Regele Ferdinand as Soviet Likhot Boris Lemachko Collection REGELE FERDINAND class destroyers Displacement. 1400t standard, 1850t full load Dimensions. 334ft 4in oa x 31ft 6in x lift 6in 101 90 x 9.60 x 3.51m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Thornvcroft boilers, 48,000shp - 35kts. Oi 480t Armament: 5-120mm (5x 1), l-76mm, 2-40mm AA (2x 1), 2 MG(2x 1), 6-533mm ТГ (2x3), 50 mines Complement: 212 N i:nc Builder Launched Fate REGELE FERDINAND Pattison, Naples 2.12.1928 Deleted late 1960s REGINA MARIA Pattison, Naples 2 3.1929 Deleted late 1960s Designed in Britain, built in Italy and equipped by Germans and Swedes, these ships were similar to British Shakespeare class destroyers although their internal arrangement was different due to an en echelon layout of turbines. During the war both were employed mainly on escort duties and their armament was altered, one 120mm gun was landed, 2-20mm AA guns replaced the 76mm weapon (two more 20mm were added later) and finally two 40mm A A guns w ere mounted Probably one Soviet submarine (Л154) was sunk by Regele Ferdinand at the end of Nov ember 1941. After Soviet troops occupied Romania both ships were incorporated into the Soviet Black Sea Fleet and renamed Likhot (ex-Regele I erdinand) and 1 ctu hy ex-Regina Mana) They were returned later than other Romanian warships - in 1953 - and again renamed Likhoi became D22 (later 1)10) and Letuchy became D21 (later D9). In the late 1960s both ships were deleted from the lists and scrapped This class was to number four ships, but the second pair were not begun Delfinul 1936 Although completed in 1931, this unit was not accepted by Romanian Navy until five years later, in April 1936, after a large number of modifications had been carried out. Diving depth was 260ft Her only war success was sinking a ship on 6 11.41 (probably the Soviet Urales, 1975grt). In July 1942 she began a refit, and for the rest of the war she remained inoperational, due in some measure to sabotage by the Romanian underground movement. In spile of her condition she was taken over by the Soviets and until 22 9 45 she bore the name TS4 She was returned later and deleted in 1957. A second boat of this class was planned in 1927-28, but not begun. MARSUINUL submarine Displacement: 620t surfaced Dimensions: 190ft 3m x 18ft 4in x lift lOin 58.00 x 5.60 x 3.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1840bhp/?shp = 16kts/9kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-105mm, l-37mm Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate MARSUINUL Santieri Galati, 4 5 1941 ? Galatz This submarine was designed by the Ingemeurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw in The Hague, her construction was supervised by German technicians from Deschimag, and at that time she bore the number 52 She entered service in 1944 and made only one war patrol. In August 1944 she became the Soviet54. «=-— ------ -___ Requinu! (probable appearance) REQUINUL submarine Displacement: 585t surfaced Dimensions; 216ft 8in oa x 19ft 4in x lift lOin 66.00 x 5.90 x 3.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1840bhp/?shp = 17kts/9kts Armament: 4-533mm TT (bow), l-20mm AA, 40 mines Complement: ? Name Builder Launched Fate REQUINUL Santieri Galati, 22.5.1941 ? Galatz This boat, also designed by the Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw, was built as 52 in Romania under German supervision She entered service in 1944 and made only two patrols. After August 1944 she was incorporated into the Soviet Navy, receiving the designation 53. A third boar, probably of a design similar to the Rcquinul and Marsuinul, was planned, but not laid down. Ex-Italian CB class midget submarines Displacement: 36l/45t Dimensions: 49ft 3in x 9ft lOin x 6ft Ilin 15 00 x 3 00 x 2.10m Machinery: 1-shaft. 1 diesel engine plus 1 electric motor, 90bhp/lOOshp = 7.5kts/7kts Arm iment 2—456mm torpedoes Complement: 4 Five Italian Costiero В class midget submarines were transferred in somewhat poor condition to Romania after 8 9.43. Their Italian designations were CB1-CB4 and CB6 In August 1944 all were transferred again, this time to the Soviet Union, they were scrapped by the Russians in 1955 AntralMurgescu as Soviet Don in 1945 Borts Lemachko Collection DELFINUL submarine Displacement. 650t/900t Dimensions: 223ft lin x 19ft 4in x lift 10m 68.00 x 5 90 x 3 60m M ichinery 2 shafts 2 Sulzer diesels plus 2 electric motors, 800bhp 800shp = I4kts/9kts Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 4 stern), l-!02mm Complement: * N ime Builder Launched Fate DELFINUL Quarnaro, Fiume 22 6 1930 Deleted 1957 361
EASTERN EUROPE Class: Vantul, Vartejul, Vedema, Vulcanul. These boars belonged to the Dutch TMS2 class, which were based on the British Power Boat design They fell into German hands and were subsequently completed with engines coming from RAF aircraft shot down over Europe They did not reach their designed speed because of weight pioblems Three were transferred to Bulgaria and the other four to Romania. Captured by the Soviets, they became TKA9S1 ~ TKA954-, all were returned 22 9 45 AMIRAL MURGESCU class minelayers Displacement: 812t standard Dimensions: 252ft 8in x 29ft 10m x 8ft 2in 77 00 x 9 10 x 2 50m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Krupp diesel engines, 21OObhp = I6kts Armament: 2-105mm AA (2x1), 2-37mm AA (2x1), 4-20rnm, 135 mines Complement: 79 (135 in wartime) Class: Amiral Murgescu, Ceteiea Alba. Two vessels of this class were begun before the war, but only one was completed; a second pair was planned, but neither was begun Amiral Murgescu, launched 14.6.34, served during the wrar as a minelayer and an escort ship. In August 1944 she became the Soviet Don She w'as later returned, and in about 1967 w'as deleted. VIFORUL class MTBs (launched 1939) Displacement: 32t Dimensions: 72ft x 16ft 5in x 3ft 7in 21.95 x 5.00 x 1.10m Machinery: 2 shafts. 3 Isotta-Fraschim petrol engines, 3450hp = 40kts Armament: 2-533mm TT, 2 MG, depth charges Complement: 12 I Viforul class M ГВ Jerzy Miciriski Collection Class: Viforul, Vijeha, Viscolul. These three boats of Vosper design were bought in 1940 from Great Britain, their respective numbers m the Royal Navy being MTB20, MTB21 and MTB23 A further seven of this type were to be built in Romania, but none was begun. Viforul and Vijeha were sunk by debris from the mined Hungarian ship Ungvar while escorting her. Viscolul w'as incorporated into the Soviet Black Sea Fleet in August 1944 and was renamed TKA955. She was returned 22.9 45. VANTUL class MTBs (built 1940) Displacement’ 32t Dimensions: 70ft x 13ft 5in x 4ft 7in 21 34 x4.10 x 1.40m Machinery: 3 shafts. 3 Rolls-Royce Merlin petrol engines, 2850hp = 30kts (full load) Armament: 2-533mm TT, l-37mm, 2-20mm Complement: ? Ex-German FM class river minelayers In 1941 two river minelayers of modern design were transferred to Romania by the Germans. These ships were the former Czechoslovakian river minelayers OMm35 and ОМтЗб. For further details see under Czechoslovakia. I The submarine depot ship/training ship Constanta, the patrol vessel Luceafarul (cx-Royal yacht Maidin') and the sail training ship Af irccu (built 1938) also served in the Black Sea Division during World War II The Romanian Navy also had at least eight tugs, two hydrographic boats and one small sail training ship. The two passenger ships Dacia (3418grt) and Riegele Carol I (2369grt) were impressed as minelayers, and three KFК class patrol boats were transfer- red from Germany. Of the small boats used on the Danube for patrol work and minesw'eeping, eleven were pressed into Soviet service in 1944, together with the staff vessel Macin and three tugs. Two of the latter were returned on 27.9.45 to Greece, from w'here they were seized during lhe war. 1 he third tug was returned on the same day to Romania. I Bulgaria During the First World War Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Therefore, when the Treaty of Neuilly was signed on 27 July 1919, her armed forces had to be drastically reduced. The naval clauses obliged lhe Bulgarians to hand over their ships to the Allied Powers or to scrap them. Only a small force - four torpedo-boats and a number of patrol boats - was allowed for police and patrol duties. This substitute of a Navy had to be organised on a civilian basis and had to be directed by the Ministry of Commerce. The only Bulgarian acquisitions in the early 1920s were two former submarine-chasers, purchased in France in 1922. Until lhe mid-1950s neither the political nor the economical situation allowed the Navy to expand. Bulgaria, probably the poorest of the Balkan countries, was busy building up her economy; however, although this preoccupied the minds of the Bulgarian leaders, they did not forget the humiliating terms of the Neuilly treaty and in 1938 they signed a further treaty wherein all armament clauses were repudiated. This treaty (signed between Bulgaria and the Balkan Treaty states, ie Greece, Yugoslavia, Romania and Turkey) came about when the re- armament programme had already started. In 1937 the mutual agree- ment was signed by Bulgaria and Germany, and this enabled the former to receive from Germany military hardware worth 30 million marks. German help enabled the Bulgarians to strengthen their fleet with five modern MTBs of Lurssen design. However, only four reached Bul- garia; the fifth w'as finished after the outbreak of the w'ar and remained in Germany. In March 1941 Bulgaria joined the Axis countries and German military assistance brought m three more MTBs Meanwhile a number of Bulgarian merchant ships were pressed into German service as auxiliaries.
Bulgaria/Finland On 8 September 1944 Soviet troops crossed the Bulgarian border and with no resistance they occupied the whole country; the Bulgarian army changed sides and began to fight the Germans. Bulgarians served in the Soviet Danube Flotilla too, where some small river vessels acted as minesweepers and assault craft. I he Soviets did not miss the chance of strengthening, if only in numbers, their Black Sea Fleet, and a few Bulgarian warships went under the Soviet flag. Their service there was short - mainly from September 1944 to April 1945 - and t he ships were soon retroceded. THE BULGARIAN NAVY IN 1922 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Drski class DRSKI 1907 98t Museum 195? KHRABRY 1907 98t BU 1952-55 SMEI.Y 1907 98t Sunk 19.5.43 S I ROGI 1907 98t BU 1952-55 PATROL BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate lielmorec class BELOMOREC (ex-627) 1917 77t > CHERNOMOREC (cx-CW) 1917 77t > S2 type MlBs (launched 1939) Displacement; 47 8t designed; 57.6l full load Dimensions: 90fl lOin wl,91ft lOinoa x 14ft 8ia x 4ft I lin forward,4ft lin aft 21 7, 28.00 x 4.46 x / 5/, 1.25m Machinery: 3 shafts 3 Daimler-Benz petrol engines, 2850hp = 37 Ikts Armament: l-20mm AA, 2-533mm TT (2x 1) Complement: 18 Class: F1-F4 Four MTBs ordered before the war from Ltirssen, Vegesack A fifth boat of this class remained in Germany and was renamed Si Further boats were to be built in Bulgaria, but none was begun. In September 1944 all were taken over by' Soviet Navy and redesignated TKA958-1KA961, all were returned to Bulgaria on 2 April 1945. Ex-Dutch MTBs (launched cl941) Displacement: 30t designed, 37 4t full load Dimensions. 64ft 7in wl, 70ft 2in oa x 19ft lOin x 3ft 9in forward 19 6S, 21.40 x 6.05 x 1.14m Machinery: 3 shafts. 3 Rolls-Royce Merlin petrol engines, 2850hp = 34kts Armament: l-37mm, 2-20mm, 2-533mm TT (2x 1) Complement: 16 Class: I-III Former Dutch MTBs of the T52 class, built by Gusto Werf, Schiedam and seized by Germans in the occupied Netherlands Based on a Bnush Power Boat design, two of them were completed by the Germans and served as experimental boats under the namesS201 and S202. Both were deleted from German Navy in 1942 and transferred to Bulgaria, a third boat soon follow'ed, and four more of this class went to Romania. Their engines w-ere reported to be taken from RAF aircraft shot down over Europe. In September 1944 all three were taken over by Soviet Navy and renamed TKA962-TKA964. On 2 April 1945 all were returned In addiuon, the Bulgarian Navy had a few small patrol boats, yachts, tugsand oilier auxiliaries. Some of them (the small training ships Assan and Kamicia, the tug Voieioda, and the personnel boat Ganekura) were taken over bv the Russians in October 1944, to be returned in 1945 to Bulgaria, except for the tug Voievoda, which went to Yugoslavia in 1945 since it originally belonged to that navy Finland Finland had been a grand duchy of Russia since the Napoleonic Wars, but during the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 she had seized the oppor- tunity to assert her independence. By 1918 Finalnd was an independent kingdom (later a republic) and the basis of a navy was to be found in the numerous ex-Russian warships abandoned in Finnish ports, although fully operational vessels were few At first the Soviet Union was concerned with its internal problems but gradually the old Czarist expansionist ambitions seemed to re- emerge. Finland had a population of onlv 3 million and any defence effort had to be concentrated on the Army Even the modest naval proposals of the 1920s - a scheme for small destroyers, for example - had no chance of success, given the poor state of the economy How- ever, at the end of the decade the parliament v oted for a modernisation programme which included the construction of 2 novel coast defence ships,4 submarinesand some M 1 Bsand small craft. The naval interest was short lived and the Army once more gained precedence from 1933, the only warship building of the late 1930s being 2 minelayers and some small craft. In 1939 the Soviet Union forced Estonia and Latvia to allow her forces to use their territory and eventually the Baltic republics were The flagship of ihe 1 innish Navy, the Vdinamvinen, in 1944 Ry couriers of К I Wesierlund 363
SCANDINAVIA incorporated into the Soviet Union. Finland was ‘invited’ to join simi- lar negotiations, but many of the Soviet demands could not be met. Without warning the Soviet Union attacked Finland on 30.11.39. The land campaigns of Finland’s heroic 31 month defence arc most widely known but the Navy also made its contribution to the ‘Winter War’. The minelayers and submarines were particularly active, but the two coast defence ships acted as a miniature ‘fleet in being’ to ward off the threat of amphibious attacks. The Moscow peace treaty of March 1940 was harsh, and included the ‘leasing’ to the USSR of the strategic naval facilities of the Hangoarea. In this context it is understandable that when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Finland should decide to continue the war. Finnish naxal activity was mainly concerned with mining the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, in which the Finns were initially very successful. A further armistice and peace treaty followed in 1944 whereby the Soviets once again took a strategic naval base between Helsinki and the Baltic, this time at Porkkala. As part of the reparations Finland gave up lhe rer ining coast defence ship which became the Soviet Vyborg t and Finland was allowed only 10,000 tons of naval vessels and 4500 person- nel, and submarines and torpedo-craft were prohibited. Since 1945 relations between the two countries have improved and Porkkala has been returned, but Finland is still dependent on the USSR. The Finnish Navy operates a few Soviet frigates and missile boats, but the ban on submarines and MTBs continues. THE FINNISH NAVY IN 1922 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate SI (cx-Rjanyi) 1900 260t Stricken 1930 S2 (cx-Prozorlivyt) 1899 260t Foundered 2.10.25 S5 (cx-Podvt hnyi) 1900 260t Stricken 1930 In the war of liberation war a further 7 torpedo-boats were taken over from the Russian Navy: S3 (ex-Poslusnyi'), S4 (cx-Rezvyf) and S6 (ex-Mo212’) of theSJ class and C1-C4 (ex-No215, No216, Ko217, No2l9), built 1902, 150t. These were later returned to Russia. Hameenmaa class These vessels were building at Helsinki as the Russian Pingvin and Golub respectively when the Germans entered the city in April 1918. They were commandeered as the German Wulf and Bear, but later were taken ox er by the Finnish Navy. Karjala class Taken over while building as the Russian Filin and Orland at Aabo. Kias Hom class Both built at Elbing as the Russian torpedo-boats Voievoda and Posadnik. MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp Fate LOUHI 1916 776t Mined 21.1.45 Louhi was the ex-Russian Voin. There were also the small minelayers Pomnti, Miina (ex-Russian Л17, Г17, launched 1916-17, 80t, stricken 1953), Paukko, Licska, Loimu (ex-Russian TIS, TI6, T2I, launched 1915-16, 60t, stricken 1953). MINESWEEPERS Name Launched Disp Fate RAUTU 1917 165t Stricken 1950 VILPPULA 1916 165t Lost during World War II Ranlu and Vilppula were the cx-Russian Murman and T2. There were also the ex-Russian inshore minesweepers MTI-MT4, MT12 (1916, 20t, all stricken c I925)and A37,A38,A40,A42-A45,AF2,BVA,BVD and Haukka (1915-17), 12t, two or three lost during the war and the remainder stricken c 1947). Uusimaa MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate SISU (cx-A17V/) 1916 13t Stricken in W\\ II HURJA (e.x-.W7V2) 1916 13l Stricken in WWI1 Ex-Italian MAS220 and MAS221 purchased in 1920. SLOOPS Apu postwar By courtesy of K-E Westerlund By courtesy of K-h Westerlund Name Launched Disp Fate Hameenmaa class HAMEENMAA 1917 400t Stricken 1953 UUSIMAA 1917 400t Stricken 1953 Karjala class KARJALA 1918 342t Stricken 1953 TURUNMAA 1918 342t Stricken 1953 Kias Hom class KLAS HORN 1891 420t Stricken 1937 MATTI KURKI 1891 420t Stricken 1937 ICEBREAKERS Name Launched Disp Fate ML’RTAJA 1890 815t Stricken 1958 SAMPO 1898 1850i Stricken 1958 APU 1899 800t Stricken 1958 TARMO 1907 2300t Stricken 1970 VOIMA 1917 2070t Lost in WW1I 364
Finland Laid down betw'een Sept 1926 and early 1927, and completed 1930-31, these submarines were German-designed although built in Finland. While Germany was adhering to the ‘no submarines* provision of the Versailles Treaty, the German Navy built up its design expertise with commissions such as this one from foreign navies. Consequently this class, w'hich was itself developed from the German UBIII Type from the First World War, became the ancestor of the Type VII which bore the brunt of German submarine effort in the Second War. Radius was 1500nm at 10kts/75nm at 5kts, and the driving limit was about 240ft (75m). All were sold 2.12.52 and scrapped in Belgium. ILMARINEN class coast defence ships Displacement: 3900t standard Dimensions: 305ft lin pp x 55fl 5in x 14ft 9in 93.00 x 16.90 x 4.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. Germania diesels with Leonard electric drive, 6000bhp = 16kts. Oil 93t Armour: Belt 50mm-55mm, deck 20mm, turrets 100mm, CT 120mm Armament: 4—254mm/45. 8-105mm/50 AA, 4—10mm AA, 2-20mm AA Complement: 411 Name Builder Launched Fate VAINAmOINEN Crichton-Vulcan, 28.12.1930 To USSR 1947 Aabo ILMARINEN Crichton-Vulkan, 9.7.1931 Sunk 13.9.41 Aabo I .aid down in August and September of 1929 respectively, they were completed in 1932 and 1933. A novel Finnish variant of the‘coastal battleship* type, these vessels were armed with guns of Bofors manufacture. The main armament had an elevation of 50° and fired a 4951b shell. Vaindmoimn was ceded to the Soviet Union as reparations and renamed Vyborg; she was stricken about 1958. Ilmari- ncn was lost off Hango, probably as the result of a mine. Vcsikko as completed VESIKKO submarine Displacement: 250t standard; 300t submerged Dimensions: 134ft 2in pp x 13ft 6in x 13ft 9in 40.90 *4.10 x 4.20m Machinery: 2 shafts. MAN diesels plus electric motors, 700bhp/360shp = 13kts/7kts. Oil 9t Armament: 5-533mm TT (3 bow, 2 stern), l-20mm, 1 MG Complement: 16 Name Builder Launched Fate VESIKKO Crichton-Vulcan, Aabo 1932 Stricken 1947, preserved Another German-designed boat, built ai the secret request of the German Navy and although completed in 1933 not purchased until January 1936. She was used for trials and training German officers in the interim. Again based on a First World War German design - Type UBII - and a prototype for the coastal Type II. Radius was 1500nm at 13kts/50nm at 5kts,and operational maximum depth was 300ft (90m). SAUKKO' submarine Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 114t standard; 142t submerged 106ft 4in pp x 13ft 6in x 9ft 6in 32.40 *4.10 x 2.90m 1 shaft. Krupp-Germania diesel plus electric motors, 170bhp/120shp = 7kts/5.7kts 2-450mm TT bow, 1-12.7mm MG, 9 mines 15 Name Builder Launched Fate SAUKKO Hictalahden 2.7.1930 Stricken 1947, Laivatelakka BU 1952 The smallest genuine submarine in the world at the 1ппе,&шМо was designed and intended for service on Lake Ladoga. For this purpose she could be dismantled into two rail-portable sections. The 1920 Treaty of Dorpat between Finland and the USSR stipulated that no warship on the lake should exceed 1001, andSaukko was designed to be 99t. However, this was exceeded as built and she was never used on Lake Ladoga. Range was 375nm at 9kts/45nm at 4kts. Rtuihtnsalmi postwar By courtesy of К—/: Westerland RUOTSINSALMI class minelayers Iku-Tursu 1932 VETEHINEN class submarines Displacement: 493t standard; 716t submerged Dimensions: 208ft 4in oa x 20ft 4in x lift lOin 63.50 x 6.20 x 3.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. Atlas diesels plus electric motors, 1160bhp/600shp = 12.6kts/8.5kts. Oil 20t Armament: 6-533mni TT, l-76mm/48, l-20mm AA, 20 mines Complement: 30 Displacement: 3 lOt standard Dimensions: 50.00 * 7.90 X 1.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Rateau diesels, U20bhp = 15kls Armament: l-75mm/50, 2-20mm AA, 2 DC racks and 2 throwers, 100 mines Complement: 60 Name Builder Launched Fate RUOTSINSALMI Crichton-Vulcan, Aabo May 1940 Stricken 1977 RI1 LAHTI Crichton-Vulcan, Aabo 1940 Sunk 23.8.43 Name Builder Launched Fate VETEHINEN Crichton-Vulcan, Aabo 1.6.1930 Stricken 1947 VESIHIISI Crichton-Vulcan, Aabo 1930 Stricken 1947 1KU-TURSU Crichton-Vulcan, 1931 Stricken 1947 Aabo Laid down in 1938 and completed in 1941. Riilahii wras sunk by a Soviet submarine in the Gulf of Finland. OTHER MINELAYERS During the war four merchant vessels were also fitted out as minelayers: Baltic (launched 1898, 1096brt, lOkts, l-75mm, 60 mines), Frej (launched 1900, 561brt, lOkts, l-75mm, 50 mines), Poseidon (launched 1899, 804brt, lOkts, l-75mm, 60 mines),Suomi launched 1910,659brt, 12kts, l-75mm,60 mines). 365
SCANDINAVIA KUH A class minesweepers (launched 1941-45) .4 Леей 2 about 1948 By courtesy oj K-E VC'esierlund Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: 17t 56ft 5in x 12f< 6in x 4ft Ilin 17.20 x 3 80 x l.SOm 1 Lister diesel, 70bhp = 9kts l-20mm Class: Kuha l-Kuha 8 Kuha I was mined 3.11.1941 at Bjorko in the Gulf of Finland, Kuha 3 30 9 44 at Hogland, and Kuha 4 23 7 42 at Hango; Kuha 6 was mined and sunk off Kotka, 15.9.44 All the rest were stricken, the last in 1961. AHVEN class minesweepers (launched 1936-37) Displacement: 17t standard Dimensions: 56ft 5in x 12ft lin x 4ft 3in 17 20 x 3.80 x 1.30m Machinery: 1 diesel, 65bhp = 10.5kis Armament: l-20mm Complement: 8 Class: Ahven, Kttski, Kuore, Lahna, Muikko, Sarki Built at Turun Vencveistamo, later renamed Ahven 1-6, stricken 1961. NARVI class minesweepers (launched 1944) Displacement: 400t standard Dimensions: 129ft pp x 27ft Ilin x 10ft 6in 39.30 x 8 SO x 2.30m Machinery: 2 reciprocating engines, 2 boilers, 400ihp = lOkts Armament: 1—45mm/47, 3-20mm AA, 40 mines Class: Jurmo, Karvi Ordered in 1940 by the USSR as river tugs; both handed over to the Soviet Union 1944. SMI class minesweepers Displacement: 20t standard Dimensions: 59ft x 12ft 6in x 5ft 7in 18 00 x 3 80 x 1.70m Machinery: 1 Wickstrom engine, 80hp = 9kts Armament: l-20mm Class: SM1-SM4 The first pair were launched in 1939 and the others in 1940. S.M3 was mined 5.10.44 at Hogland in the Gulf of Finland; the remainder were stricken 1951-54. OTHER MINESWEEPERS In the Second World War some tugs were equipped as minesweepers, with l-20mm After the w5r four remained in the Navy as AS,DR2 ,DR 7 zndDRll-, they were stricken in 1954. NUOLI class MTBs (launched 1928-29) Displacement: 13l standard Dimensions: 55ft lin x lift 2in x 4ft 4in 16 80 x 3 40 x 1.30m Machinery: 2 gas engines, 750bhp = 40kts Armament: 2-450mm TT, 1 MG Complement: 7 Class: N’uoli (ex-.W7V5), Syoksy (ex-MTV4), Raju (ex-.HTV7), Vinha (ex- Af7V6) The first pair were built by Thomycroft 1928 and the others at Borgaa and Aabo respectively. A 20mm A A replaced the MG in 1942. К noli was stricken Aug 1942 and Syoksy in 1944; Raju was sunk 16.5.43; and Vinka, reclas- sified as a patrol boat with TT removed from 1943, was stricken in 1945. ISKU MTB (launched 1926) Displacement: lit standard Dimensions: 54ft 2in x lift 2in x 3ft 7in 16 SO x 3 40 x 1.10m Machinery: 2 Rolls-Royce petrol engines, 650bhp = 31kts Armament: 2-450mm TT, 2 MG Ex-.W7V3 built in Borgaa, Finland; stricken during World War II. PUKKIO class minesweepers (launched 1939-40) Displacement: 162t standard Dimensions: 88ft 6in pp x 22ft x 8ft 3in 27.00 x 6.70 x 2.S0m Machinery: 1 diesel, 300bhp = lOkts Armament: 1—45mm/47, l-20mm AA, 20 mines Class: Pukkio, Porkkala Tug-type, general purpose vessels Porkkala was mined and sunk 28 11 41 at Bjorkd in the Gulf of Finland A further vessel, Pansio, was launched m 1947. JYMY class MTBs (launched 1939) Displacement: 25l Dimensions: 61ft 5in x 15ft Sin x 4ft Ilin 18 70 x 4 70 x l.SOm Machinery: Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2000bhp — 42kts Armament: 2—450mm TT, l-20mm, 1-12.7mm Class’ J(Jymy)l-J4 Ex-Itahan MASS26-MASS29, purchased 5.6 43. According to 1944 peace treaty, TT removed and reclassified as MGBs; stricken 1961. AJONPAA class minesweepers (launched 1941-42) Displacement: 52t Dimensions. 65ft 7in x 17ft 5in x 5ft 7in 20 00 x S.30 x 1.70m Machinery: 1-shaft diesel, 200bhp = lOktss Armament: l-20mm Class: Ajonpaa, Kallanpaa Danish-built wooden minesweepers for use against magnetic mines, acquired in 1942. Stricken 1960 and 1962 respectively. HURJA class MTBs (launched 1941) Displacement: 20t Dimensions: 54ft 2in x 14ft lin x 4ft 1 lin 16 SO *4 30 x 1 S0m Machinery: 2 petrol engines, 1600bhp = 36kts Armament: 2-450mm TT, l-20mm, 2-13mm, 2 DC racks Class: H(Hurja)l-HS Ex-Itahan, Baglietto-built. TT removed 1949, reclassified as MGBs, arma- ment changed to 2-20mm and 2-13mm, stricken 1963. 366
Finland T class MTB$ (launched 1942-43) Displacement: 22l Dimensions: 58ft 5in x 14ft lin x 3ft 1 lin 17.80 * 4.30 x 1.20m Machinery: 2 Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 2300bhp = 48kts Armament’ 2-450mm TT, l-20mm Class: Tl-18 An Italian design built under licence by Turun Veneveistamo. TI-T6 were named Tarmo,Taisio, Tyrsky, Tuima, Tuisku and Tuuh respectively; the last two were not named. In accordance with the peace treaty the TT were removed after 1945 and the boats renamed Taisto 1-8 and reclassified as MGBs, armament being changed to l-40mm and 2-l3mm, all were stricken by 1964. EX-SOVIET MTBs During the war 4 Soviet MTBs were captured and used in the Finnish Navy : (17) Vasama (captured 1941, 35t, 2-450mm IT, l-20mm and 2-12.7mm); Vihuri (V2), Viima (УЗ) and a second V3 (16t, 2-533mm TT. 1-12.7mm), the first two being captured in 1941 and the last salved in 1944 They were ex-Soviet TKA52 ,TKA 141 and TKA64 respectively, although the origin of the second V3 is unknown Viima became VI in the summer of 1943, Vuiuwiu dropping the number designation. All were returned to the Soviet Union in the autumn of 1944. VMV1 class motor launches (launched 1931) Displacement 30t Dimensions. 82ft 2in x I31t 6in x 31t 4in 25 00 x 4 10 x I 00m Machinery: Petrol engines, 1220bhp = 25kts Armament: l-20mm Complement: 8 Class: VMV1,VMV2 Built in Germany , stricken in 1951 VA1176 postwar By courtesy of K-E Westerlund Sisu about 1939 VMV8 class motor launches (launched 1935) Displacement: 33l Dimensions: 86ft x 13ft 6in x 3ft 2in 25 00 x 4 10 x 1,00m Machinery: Semi-diesels, 1220bhp = 22kts Armament l-20mm Complement: 8 Class: VMV8-VMVI7 Built in Aabo VMV12 and VMV17 were sunk by bombs 26.2.1944, 6.2.44 and 18.6 44 respectively. VMVIO was sunk by German attack 15.9.44 ai Hogland in the Gulf of Finland. The remainder were stricken successively, lhe last in 1970, although V.UVII has been preserved at Sandhamn. OTHER MOTOR LAUNCHES launched 1930 at Helsingfors, was burned out in 1931; VMV4 built in Norway in 1916 was stricken in 1939; VMVS and VAIV6 launched 1933 at Nvstad were stricken in 1959 and 1960, VA1V7 launched 1932 at Aabo was wrecked after an internal explosion 1933, VMVI8 (ex-SPl, a 72ft, llkt Home Guard vessel) launched 1935 was stricken 1958; VA1V19 and VMV20 (ex-SP41 and SP42) launched 1943 are still extant 1980. JAAKARHU icebreaker (launched 1926) Displacement: 4825l standard Dimensions: 257ft 2in x 63ft 4in x 18ft 78.45 x 19.30 x 6.40m Machinery: 2-shaft (plus 1 bow-thruster) VTE, 8 boilers, 9800ihp = 18kts Armament; 4-102mm/60, 2-20mm AA Built by Smit, Rotterdam Handed over to lhe Soviet Union after 1945 and renamed Sibiryakav. OTSО icebreaker (launched 1936) Displacement: 900t standard Dimensions: 147ft x 38ft 9in x 10fl 9in 44 81 x Ц.80 x 3 25m Machinery: 1-shaft (plus 1 bow-thruster) ТЕ, 1945ihp = 13kts Oil 60t Armament: l-7>mm/50 Stricken 1967. B\ courtesy of K-E K'esterlunJ SISU icebreaker (launched 24.9.38) Displacement. 2000t standard Dimensions: 210ft 7in oa x 46ft 11m x 16ft Sin 64.20 x 14 30 x 5 10m Machinery: 2 shafts (plus 1 bow -thruster). 3 Atlas diesels (electric drive), 4000bhp = 15 8kts Armament: 2-102mm/60, 2-40mm A A Complement: 100 Built by Sandvikcns. Also served as a submarine depot ship. The armament was altered in 1944 to 2-102mm/45, 3-20mm AA Stricken 1974 OTHER VESSELS During the war the following served as gunboats: Aunus (ex-Kingsfon Emerald, launched 1927. 310brt, 1-13 mm/50, l-40mm and 2-20mm AA) and Vietta (ех-Сопан Doyle, launched 1915, 3O3brt, l-!30mm/50, 3-20mm AA) There was also the Coast Guard patrol vessel Tursas (launched 1933, 360t l-76mm, l-40mm, 2-20mm AA, 12kts). Among escorts used in the Second World War was the presidential yacht Лига (launched 1884. 563t, l-75mmand 2-20mm, sunk 13.1.40 by Soviet submarine ShM24). Saukko as completed By courtesy of K-E VCesterlund
SCANDINAVIA Sweden Sweden had been neutral in the First World War and was never directly threatened. The Army had been expanded but the Navy had experi- enced difficulties in building even those ships which parliament had voted, due to a lack of strategic materials. Three coast defence battleships had been ordered, but only Sverige had entered service, in 1918. The other two, Drotming Victoria and Gustaf V, ran trials in 1921 and 1922 respectively. In 1922 the Navy also possessed nine smaller coastal battleships, launched between 1897 and 1905. Officially there were six cruisers but only Fylgia, launched in 1905, could be considered as such by international standards. Only two destroyers were built during the First World War, and these were not much bigger than the eight older boats. No torpedo-boats had been built since 1910 but 62 were operational during the war, about half of them as patrol boats with a reduced torpedo armament. The sub- marines increased from the five active in 1914 to twelve in 1918 In 1914 Russia was the most likely enemy, followed by Germany, but by 1919 both these countries had lost the bulk of their navies. In 1922 the Swedish Navy was the strongest in the Baltic, but the majority of the people, and the government, dismissed the idea of another war as impossible and placed their confidence in the League of Nations. Defence expenditure was cut and in 1925 the Swedish parliament decided on a reduction of the armed forces to 50 per cent or less. Only a few ships were to be built - the projected SSverige class were reduced to 1 - although the coastal battleships were to be modernised. After 1930 more and more people understood that ‘the era of ever- lasting peace’ had not arrived. The rise of the Nazi regime south of the Baltic increased the willingness to spend more on defence: the Navy got new ships, including the aircraft-carrying cruiser Gotland - very much studied in naval circles - and new and better destroyers, submarines and patrol boats. A new defence law of 1936 meant more money for material, warships and aircraft, expanded numbers of regulars and conscripts, and longer and better training. Even plans for new coastal battleships were accepted, although the latter were never built. In 1937, 1938 and 1939 new ships (including 2 coastal battleships) were voted, but to recon- struct a navy takes a long time and when the Second World War broke out the Swedish Navy had received only a few of the ships. From the moment the Soviet Union attacked Finland in November 1939, the Swedish people were united as never before in their defence efforts. Hitler’s attack on Denmark and Norway in April 1940 increased the enthusiasm - every conscript was in arms, industry produced war material and the shipyards built warships. Warships were also obtained from abroad, including destroyers and MTBs from Italy. The coalition government - and espe< ally the Social Democratic defence minister- pressed for increased defence efforts. By about 1943 Sweden felt able to resist Nazi pressure, although Germany had encir- cled the country by occupying Denmark, Norway, Poland and the Manlighelen in April 1943 Author's Collet non Baltic states, and was in alliance with Finland. The German Navy was still an important factor, but by 1943 Sweden had reached her highest degree of readiness for hundreds of years. As the Second World War ended, Sweden again had the good fortune to stand neutral, one of only four such nations in Europe. The Navy was again the strongest in the Baltic, although soon overtaken by the Soviet Union. In 1946 the Swedish Navy consisted of 7 coastal battle- ships, 2 cruisers (undergoing trials), 1 A A cruiser (ex-‘aircraft cruiser’), 1 old armoured cruiser, 29 destroyers (2 under construction), 26 sub- marines, 21 MTBs, 21 escort and patrol boats, 2 large minelayers and 42 minesweepers. Hundreds of civilian ships and boats, from auxiliary cruisers to minesweepers and patrol boats had sailed under the Swedish ensign during the war, but by 1946 they had been paid off. Many of the older vessels were scrapped. Sweden was one of the few countries west of the Iron Curtain (perhaps the only one) that did not reduce its forces in the 1940s and 1950s. New destroyers, large torpedo-boats, small MTBs and sub- marines were constructed and joined the Navy; war-built ships were modernised and rebuilt. A well-trained conscript army of 500,000 and an air force of more than 700 combat aircraft, together with the Navy, were of great value in the years of the Cold War. Note: From 1902 the Swedish Navy (Marinen) has consisted of two branches: the Fleet and the Coastal Artillery. The latter has its own vessels, coastal minelayers, patrol boats, landing craft, etc. THE SWEDISH NAVY IN 1922 COASTAL BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Sverige class GUSTAF V 31.1.1918 7900t Sold 16.6.70, BU DROTTNING 15.9.1917 7900t Sold 20.3.59, BU VICTORIA SVERIGE Oscar II class 3.5.1915 7600t Sold 15.9.58, BU OSCAR II Aran class 6.6.1905 38OOt Sold 11.9.74, BU MANLIGHETEN 1.12.1903 3800t Pontoon 1956 TAPPERHETEN 7.11.1901 3800t Sold 1952, BU WASA 29.5.1901 3800t Sold 9.11.60 Aran 14.8.1901 3800t Sold 1951, sunk 1.11.68 Drisiigheten class • DRISTIGHETEN Oden class 28.4.1900 3700t Sold 19.1.61, BU NIORD 31.3.1898 3700t Sold 1945, BU THOR 7.3.1898 3700t BU 1942 ODEN Svea class 9.3.1896 3700t BU 1943 THULE 4.3.1893 3300t Target 1928 GOTA 30.9.1889 3400t BU 1942 MONITORS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Thordon class TIRFING 1.8.1866 1524r Sold 1923 THORDON Gerda class 1.12.1865 15O5t Sold 1923 BJORN 1874 459t Sold 1933 GERDA 1872 459t To Denmark • 1938 368
Sweden Author's Colletno» Gustaf V about 1943 The coastal battleships were originally classified as first class armoured ships, the bigger monitors second class armoured ships and the smaller monitors third class armoured sh ps (respectively lkl,2kl and 3kl pansarbaatar) From 1926 the remaining coastal battleships were classified as armoured ships (pansarskepp) Oden class Originally had two funnels and two masts, the fore a heavy military mast; modernised during the First W orld War with one broad funnel and one mast with light top, Niord in I917,77ior in 1916 and Oden in 1915. They were stncken m 1937 (last pair) and 1928 (Aiord - but used as barrack ship until 1944) Svea class Si'ea was rebuilt as submarine depot ship in 1920 and stricken 1941. All three originally had 2-254mni/34mm and 4-l52mm/28mm guns. Completely recon- structed, Thule m 1903, Gota in 1901 and Svea in 1904, with l-210mm and 7-152mm guns. Thule, stncken 1923, became a target ship for artillery and bombers and was sold in the 1930s. Gota was stricken in 1923, but used as a barrack ship until 1938. 7 hordbn class Originally 2-240mm/19. Tirfing rebuilt 1903, Thordon in 1905 with 2-120mm, 45 and 8-57mm and —47mm respecth ely. Gerda class Remaining two of seven small monitors Originally l-240mm/19 Bjorn rebuilt 1909, Gerda in 1910 with l-120mm/45 and 3-57mm Both were stricken in 1922 Svenge class z\H three ships were modernised, refitted and rebuilt several times, modifica- tions included a new control top, a tripod mast with director and enlarged bridgework, oil-firing and the famous 40mm Bofors AA guns To allow space for the 40mm A A guns two 152mm guns w'ere remm ed. Gustaf V was moder- nised in 1930 and 1938 with her funnels trunked into one, Drowning Victoria was modernised in 1927, 1935 and 1941 wnh her funnels remaining upright; and Sverige was modernised in 1926, 1933 and 1939 with her forefunnd curved back in an ‘S’ form All three differed in appearance from the mid-1930s. They were stricken on 1 4.57 (first two) and 30 1.53 (Sverige'). Tylgia as rebuilt. 1941 ARMOURED CRUISER Author's Collection Oscar II in 1940 Name Launched Disp (std) Fate FYLGIA 20.12.1905 43i0t Sold 1957, BU Tylgia was the world’s smallest genuine armoured cruiser, built as flagship of the scouting flotilla and to be stronger than all light cruisers in the Baltic. As the ‘white swan of Sweden’ she sailed for 25 years as a cadet training ship. Moder- nised in 1939-40 with two instead of three funnels, modern fire control and A A guns Stricken on 30 1 53, she was used in experiments 1954-55. TORPEDO-CRUISERS (W II Modernised in 1939 with a light tripod mast and stronger AA Served from this time as cadet training ship and was stricken 24.2.50 but survived as a training hulk. Name Launched Disp (std) Fate ORNEN 6 8 1896 844t Sunk as target 1950 JACOB BAGGE 30.4.1898 835t Sold 1949, BU 1951 CLAS HORN 9.2 1898 846t Sold for BU 1924 PSI LANDER 25.11 1899 814t Sunk as target 3.8.39 Division or flotilla leaders for torpedo-boats. Jacob Bagge served from 1925 to 1935 as a seaplane tender, and from 1936 as a cadet training ship. Psilander from 1928 and Omen from 1920 served as cadet training ships. Tappcrheicn in 1941 Author's Collection Aran class Manlighetcn was modernised in 1941 with a light tripod mast, stronger AA and a cruiser bow 7apperheten and Aran were modernised 1939-40 with light tripod and stronger A A Wasa was rebuilt as a dummy ship for the Drottning Victoria during the Second World War. They were stricken on 24 2.50, 13.6.47,15 3.40 and 13 6 47 (in the order given in the table) Dristigheten Altered to a seaplane tender in 1927-29 with two aircraft and associated work- shops and only 4—75mm and 2-25mm A A guns. Stricken 13 6.47. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate MODE 22.7.1902 453t Sunk as target 1936 M AGNE 2 8.1905 460t BU 1944 WALE Sigurd class 21 9 1907 461t Sunk as target 1946 SIGURD 19.9.1908 462t Sold 1961, BU RAGNAR 30 5.1908 460t Sold 1951, BU VIDAR Hu«in class 9.6.1909 460t Sunk as target 1961 HUGIN 10.12.1910 460t BU 1949 MUN IN U range! class 5 12.1911 460t Sold 1944, BU WRANGEL 25 9.1917 498t Sunk in experi- ments 1960 WACHTMEISTER 19 12.1917 498t Sold 1950 Destroyers which survived the war were all stricken on 13 6.47. 369
SCANDINAVIA V47 ^ex-PoIaris) during the war Author's Collection Clas l-'leming in 1940, as rebuilt. She laier received a third funnel amidships MINELAYERS ’ Author's Collection Name Launched Disp (std) Fate CLAS FLEMING 14.12.1912 1748t Sold 9.11.60, BU TORPEDO-BOATS (FIRST CLASS) Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Plejad class PLEJAD (V38) 19.6.1905 106l Target 1942 SPICA (V41) 22.10.1908 115t BU 1951 ASTREA (V42) 1.10.1908 122t Sunk as target 1953 THETIS (V40) 19.9.1908 U7t BU 1951 IRIS ZV39) 31.10.1908 124 c BU 1951 POLLUX (V52) 3.5.1909 115c BU 1947 CASTOR (V5/) 24.4.1909 115c BU 1947 ARGO (V46) 19.9.1909 120c BU 1951 ALTAIR (V45) 5.6.1909 115c BUrl951 ARCTURUS (V44) 26.7.1909 112c BUH95I ANTARES (V43) 11.6.1909 119t BU 1951 RIGEL (V50) 10.6.1910 115t BU 1949 REGULL'S (V49) 20.5.1910 115t BU 1957 PERSEUS (V48) 6.4.1910 115t BU 1957 POLARIS (V47) 1.12.1909 115t BUH951 VESTA (V54) 24.11.1910 120 c BU 1947 VEGA (V53) 17.11.1910 120t BU 1948 Komei class КОМЕТ (У20) 4.6.1896 104c Stricken 1925 BLIXT (V27) 26.7.1898 107 c Stricken 13.6.47 METEOR (V28) 28.9.1898 116c Stricken 13.6.47 STJERNA (V29) 21.3.1899 102c Stricken 1937 ORKAN (V30) 24.4.1900 102t Stricken 13.6.47 BRIS (V3/) 5.5.1900 94t Sunk as target 1938 VIND (V32) 16.5.1900 lOOt Stricken 1937 VIRGO (V33) 9.9.1902 98t Stricken 30.12.41 MIRA (V34) 26.4.1902 ion Stricken 17.12.43 ORION (V35) 5.9.1903 116c Stricken 13.6.47 SIRIUS (V36) 12.9.1903 117t Stricken 24.7 42 KAPELLA (V37) 14.4.1904 96l Stricken 1937 Plejad class Plejad was built by Normand as a prototype boat. The other 16 were reclassified in 1928 as patrol boats with minesweeping capability, with TT removed. V44, V46, V51 and VS2 were stricken on 18.10.40, V53 and VS4 on 30.12.41, V49 and V50 in 1944 and the remainder on 13.6.47. Kotnei class Kernel was buik by Schichau as a prototype boat. All were reclassified in 1921 as patrol boats with minesweeping capability and no TT. They were numbered as above. There were also 10 second class TBs numbered 5-/5, but No 13 never existed owing to superstition; launched in 1906-1908, they displaced 60t. All were reclassified in 1928 as patrol boats with minesweeping capability and no TT. They were transferred to Coastal Artillery during World War 2, and apart from No 6 (sunk 14.12.44) they were stricken between 1946 and 1954. MAS type Two li.3l boatsbuiltin 1918(5171?/ ex-MAS231 and MTB2 ex-MAS232)were acquired from the Italian Navy in 1921. Both were stricken in 1927 and sold in 1929. SLOOP Name Launched Disp (std) Fate SVENSKSUND 30.9.1891 415t Sold 1962 Served as a survey vessel from 1942 until stricken in 1957. Officially classified as a ‘mine cruiser’. Totally rebuilt 1939-40, lengthened and fitted with diesels producing compressed and heated air for the propeller machinery, known as the Gotaverken ‘Warm Air Machinery System’. There was also the Edda of 1881, the youngest of a series of gunboats of 662t rebuilt as a minelayer in 1907 and sold in 1924; and the coastal minelayers (minuilaggare): Mul3, launched 19.4.1879, 99t, 6.55kts, stricken 1956; MulS, launched 1885, and Mul6, launched 1893, 108t, 6.5kts, both stricken 1952; Mul7y launched 1902, and Mul8, launched 12.7.1904, 109t, 7.5kts, stricken 1953, BU 1955 and 1959 respectively; and Mul9, launched 1912, 120t,9.1kts, stricken 1956. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate UB Nol (ex-Hajen) 16.7.1904 11 lc/127t Stricken 1922, preserved HVALEN 16.2.1909 186t/230t Sunk as target 1924 UB No2 class L’B No2 25.2.1909 !38t/230t Stricken 1929 UB No3 14.4.1909 138c/230t Stricken 1930 UB No4 Sviirdfisken class 16.10.1909 138c/230t Stricken 1929 SVARDFISKEN 30.8.1914 252/370t Stricken 1936 TUMLAREN 14.10.1914 252c/370t Stricken 1936 Delfinen class DELFINEN Laxen class 1914 260t/370t Stricken 1930 LAXEN 1914 140t/? Stricken 1935 GA3DAN Abborren class 1915 140t/? Stricken 1935 ABBORREN 25.5.1916 174t/? Stricken 1937 BRAXEN Hajen class 5.5.1916 174t/? Stricken 1937 HAJ1-N 8.11.1917 422l/? Stricken 19.3.43 SALEN 31.1.1918 422l/? Stricken 24.7.42 VALROSSEN Bai'trn class 16.4.1918 422c/? Stricken 19.3.43 BAVERN 5.3.1921 472t/? Stricken 6.10.44, BU 1956 ILLERN 30.6.1921 472t/? BU 1944 UTTERN 25.7.1921 472t/? Stricken 6.10.44 UB Nol-4, Laxen class and Abborren class were designated second class sub- marines, all others first class. I Hem was lost in a collision 12.8.42 but was salved. MINESWEEPERS, PATROL BOATS Sprangaren class minesweepers: Sokaren (16.8.17),Sveparen (19.2.18),SpruMir- ren 12.6.18), 185t, lOkts, l-57mm, 1 MG, minesweepers and tenders. Sokaren sunk 3.10.53, Sveparen stricken 1964, Sprangaren stricken 1961. V11-V14, V23-V26, launched 1884-1902, 53-60t, patrol boats, ex-torpedo- boats, stricken 1923-26. V/9, launched 1914, 55c, ex-searchlight boat. V7-VI0, launched 1883-86, 45-49t, patrol boats, ex-torpedo-boats, 1907-09 transferred to Coastal Artillery, all stricken 1923. V/-V5, launched 1879-80, 23t, patrol boats, ex-torpedo-boats, 1899 transfer- red to Coastal Artillery, stricken 1921-30.
Sweden TRE KRONOR class cruisers Gotland was originally projected (in 1926) as a small aircraft carrier of4500l with hangar capacity for 12 floatplanes launched by two catapults but with no recovery facilities. In 1927 the concept was altered to an ‘aircraft cruiser’ of 4800t with 3 twin 152mm mountings, and two catapults aft, the 12 floatplanes being carried on deck. However, this design could not be built within the budget limits and the plans were recast once again: the hull was shortened, 2-152mm guns were placed in casemates and stability dictated the fitting of only one catapult. For recovering her aircraft Gotland had a drag sail which was towed at speed against the wind, and a heavy-duty crane aft. Gotland usually carried 6 Hawker Ospreys although there was capacity for 8 on deck and 3 below. The floatplanes were manoeuvred on the aircraft deck by means of wheeled trolleys running on a system of rails. Endurance was 4000nm at 12kts. This unique hybrid provoked considerable foreign interest and was widely used as a training ship. However, the design was overtaken by developments in aviation and since no suitable new floatplane was available, the ship was con* verted in 1943-44 to an AA cruiser, with 4—75mm/60, 8-40inm (4x2), and eventually 16-25mm AA. In 1954—55 a further modernisation standardised the A A armament to 13-40mm (4x2, 5x l)and 2-25mm(l x2), with the casemate 152mm guns removed. She was sold for scrapping 4.1.62. Displacement: 8200t standard; 9200t full load Dimensions: 570ft lOin pp, 597ft lin oa x54ft 9in x 21ft 4in max 174.00, 182.00 x 6.70 x 6.50m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 4 4-drum boilers, 90,OOOshp = 33kts Armour; Belt 20mm-25mm plus vitals 70mm-80mm, decks 30 + 30 + 20rnm-50mm + 20 — 100mm-130mm, turret front 125mm, sides 30mm, back 80mm, roof 50mm, turret magazines 30mm, CT 20mm-25mm Armament: 7-152mm/53 (1x3, 2x2), 27-40mm Bofors A.A, 6-533mm T1 (2x3), 160 mines Complement: 610 Name Builder Launched Fate TRE KRONOR Gotaverken 16.12.1944 Stricken 1.1.64 GOTA LEJON Eriksbcrg 17.11.1945 Sold to Chile 1971 Laid down on 27 and 22 September 1943 respectively, they were completed on 18 October and 15 December 1947. The 152mm guns were fully automatic and with an elevation of 70° had full A A capability. Armour weight totalled 2100t. Tre Kronor was modernised 1952-53 and Gota Lejon 1950-52. Goto Lejon was modernised and partially rebuilt 1957-58 with new bridge tower, AA changed to 4-57mm and 1 l-40mm Bofors, new radar and other electronics. A similar rebuilding of Tre Kronor was stopped for economic reasons, and she was eventu- ally sold to become a pontoon bridge. EHRENSKOLD class destroyers Displacement: 974t standard Dimensions: Machinery: 292ft pp x 29ft 2in x 12ft 6in max 89.00 x 8.88 x 3.80m 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 Penhoet boilers, Armament: 34,OOOshp = 36kts 3-120mm/46 (3x7), 2-40mm (Vickers, later Bofors) AA, Complement: 6-533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers, 20 mines 120 Name Builder Launched Fate EHRENSKOLD Kockums 25.9.1926 Stricken 1.4.63 NORDENSKJOLD Gotaverken 19.6.1926 Stricken 1.4.63 GOTLAND cruiser Displacement: Dim.-nsions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 4700t standard; 5550t full load 426ft 6in wl, 442ft 3in oa x 50ft 7in x 18ft max 130.00, 134.80 x 15.40 x 5.50m 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 4 Penhoet boilers, 33,OOOshp = 28kts. Oil 800t Bulkheads 29mm-51mm,deck 5 limn, turrets29mm-51mm, CT 51mm 6-152inm/55 (2x2, 2x 1), 4-75mm,'6O AA, 4-25mm AA, 4—8mm MG. 6-533mm TT (2x3), 80-100 mines, 6 aircraft 467 Name Builder Launched Fate GOTLAND Lindholmen & 14.9.1933 Stricken 17.7.60 Gotaverken (itnlanJ as an A A cruiser, 1944 Laid down in 1924 and completed in December and September of 1927, they were first named Nils Fhrenskold and О И Nordenskjold. During the war the AA armament was changed to 4—25mm. In 1950-51 they were rebuilt as fast frigates: 1080t, 30kts, l-120mm, 4—10mm, l-20mm and AS weapons. Both were used as targets until sold and scrapped in 1974 and 1964 respectively. Psilander leaving Naples en rouie to Sweden. 18.4.194U Author's Collection Authors Collection 371
SCANDINAVIA PSILANDER class destroyers ROMULUS class destroyers Displacement: 1250t standard Dimensions: 275ft 7m pp x 28ft 3in x 8ft 6in mean 84 00 x 8 60 x 2 60m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thornvcroft boilers, 36,OOOshp = 35kts Armament: 4-120mm/45 (2x2), 2-40mm (Term, later Bofors) AA, 2-13mm AA, 4-533mm TT (2x2), 10 mines Complement: 106 Name Builder Launched Fate PSILANDER (ex- Giovanni Ntcotera) Pattison, Naples 24.6 1926 stncken 13.6.47 PUKE (ex- Betnno Rtcasoh) Pattison, Naples 29 1 1926 Stricken 13 6 47 Italian Sella class destroyers purchased together with Romulus and Remus and four MTBs in March 1940 They were seized by order of the British government on 20 6 40 in Skaalefjord, Faeroe Isles, and taken to Kirkwall. They were returned 1 7 40, to Goteborg (Gothenburg). Extensive repairs and alterations for northern conditions were carried out but they experienced difficulties throughout the war. They were sold for scrapping in 1949. Displacement: 870t standard Dimensions: 255ft Ilin pp, 267ft oa x 26ft x 10ft 6in 78 00, 81 40 x 7.90 x 3 20m Machinery: 2 shaft Tosi geared turbines, 2 boilers, 19,OOOshp = 34kts Armament: 3-100m m/47 (3 x I) A A, 6-20mm A A, 4-450mm TT (2 x 2), 2 DC throwers, mines Complement: 100 Name Builder Launched Fate ROMULUS (cx- Sptca) Bacini e Scali, Naples 11.3.1934 Stricken 15.8.58 REMUS (ex-Astore) Bacini e Scali, Naples 22 4 1934 Stricken 15.8 58 Italian Spica class torpedo-boats purchased together with Psilunder and Puke and four MTBs in March 1940. They were seized bv order of the British government 20.6 40 in Skaalefjord, Faroe Isles, and taken to Kirkwall, being returned 1 7 40 and altered for northern conditions. In 1953 they were reclass- ified as frigates, 1- 100mm being removed and AS weapons installed Both were sold on 5.8 59 and scrapped in 1961. Kias Uggla as completed К LAS HORN class destroyers Displacement: 1020t standard Dimensions: 298ft 7in pp x 29ft 2m x 12ft 2m max 91.00 x 8.90 x 3.70m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 Penhoet boilers, 26,OOOshp = 36kts Oil 150t Armament: 3-120mm/46(3x 1), 2-40mm Vickers (later 4-25mm Bofors) A A, 6-533mm TT (2x3), 2 DC throwers, 20 mines Complement: 130 Name Builder Launched Fate KLAS HORN Kockums 13.6 1931 Stricken 15 8 58 KLAS UGGLA Karlskrona N Yd 18.6 1931 Sunk 17 9 41 Stockholm 1937 GOTEBORG class destroyers Displacement: 1040t standard, 1200t full load Dimensions: 305ft lin pp, 310ft 4in oa x 29ft 6in x 12ft 6in max 93 00, 94 60 x 9 00 x 3 80m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 Penhoet boilers, 32,OOOshp = 39kcs. Oil 150t Armament: 3-120mm/46 (3x 1), 6-25mm AA, 2 MG, 6-533mm TT 4 lahar's Collection (2x3), 2 DC throwers, 20 mines Complement: 135 Name Builder Launched Fate GOTEBORG Gotaverken 14 10.1935 Stricken 15.8.58 STOCKHOLM Karlskrona N Yd 24 3 1936 Stncken 1.1 64 MALMO Enksberg 22 9 1938 Stricken 1 1 64 KARLS KRONA Karlskrona N Yd 16.6 1939 Stncken 1 7.74 NORRKOPING Enksberg 5 9.1940 Stricken 1.2.65 GAVLE Gotaverken 25.9.1940 Stricken 6.12 68 Laid down in pairs in 1934, 1937 and 1939 they were completed in 1936, 1937, 1949, 1940 and 1941 (last pair). Very fast, all exceeding 40kts, and some41kts. Goteborg was sunk 17.9 41 (see Kias Horn), but salvaged, repaired and moder* nised. Stockholm, Karlskrona, Xorrkoping and Gavle were rebuilt 1948-54, their beam being increased for better stability to 31ft 10m (9 70m). In all six A A changed to4-40mm, and displacement to 1140t. Last five reclassified as frigates in 1961 without rebuilding Goteborg and Norrkoptng were used as targets, the former being sunk 14 8 62. Laid down in 1929 and completed in 1932 Improved Ehrenskiild class Both sunk by unsolved explosion at Haarsfjarden naval base, south of Stockholm, 17.9.41 (along with the destroyer Giiteborg). After salvage, parts of Kias Uggla were used for repairing Kias Hom, at the same time increasing A A to 6-25mm. Radius was 600nm/1600nm at 36kts/20kts. Kias Hom was a training hulk from 1958 until sold for scrapping on 14 11 67 Munin 1955 Romulus in 1941 Author's Collection MODE class destroyers Displacement: 750t standard; 960t full load Dimensions: 255ft 11m oa x 26ft 7in x 8ft lOin max 78 00 x 8 10 x 2.70m Machinery: 2 shaft de Laval geared turbines, 2 3-drum boilers, 16,OOOshp = 30kts Oil 190t Armament: 3-105mm/50 (3x 1) AA, 2-40mm Bofors AA, 2-20mm AA, Complement: 3-533mm TT (1x3), 2 DC throwers, mines 100 Name Builder Launched Fate MODE Gotaverken 11 4.1942 Stricken 1 7 70 MAGNE Gotaverken 25.4.1942 Stricken 1 1 66 MJOLNER Eriksberg 9.4.1942 Stricken 1.4.66 MUNIN Oresundsvarvet 27 5 1942 Stncken 6.12 68 Laid down in 1940 and completed in 1942 (except Muntn, m 1943). Originally classified as coastal destroyers, with a radius of 1260nm at 20kts. In 1953 they were reclassified as frigates, 1—105mm removed, AS weapons installed The first pair were scrapped in 1973, Munin m 1970 and Mjolner was sold on 3.11 69 372
Sweden alert about 1935 Author’s Collection VALEN submarine Displacement: 548t standard, 730t submerged Dimensions- 187ft 4in oa x 23ft 4m x 10ft 2in 57 10 x 7.10 x 3 10m Machinery: 2-shafts. 2 Atlas diesels plus 2 electric motors. 1340bhp/ 700shp = 14 8kts/7.4kts Armament. 4—450mm TT, l-75mm/42.5 AA, l-25mm AA, 20 mines Complement: 31 VISBY class destroyers Name Builder Launched Fate VALEN Karlskrona N Yd 5 5 1925 Stricken 6 10 44 Displacement: 1135t standard, 1320t full load Dimensions: 311ft 2in pp, 321ft 6in oa x 29ft 6in x 12ft 6m 95.00, 98.00 *9 00 x 3 80m Machinery: 2 shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 3-drum boilers, 36,OOOshp = 39kts. Oil 150t Armament: 3-120mm/46 (3x1;, 4-40mm Bofors AA, 3-20mm AA, 6-533mm T Г (2x3), 4 DC throwers, 20 mines Complement: 140 Name Builder Launched Fate VISBY Gotaverken 16 10 1942 Extant 1980 SUNDSVALL Eriksberg 20 10 1942 Extant 198 HALS1NGBORG Gotaverken 23.3.1943 Stricken 1.7.78 KALMAR Eriksberg 20 7 1943 Stricken 1 7 78 Laid down in 1942 and completed respectively on 10 S.42, 17 9 43, 17.9 43 and 3.2 44 Improved Giiieborg class Two voted as replacements for Kias Hom and Kias Uggla, sunk 17 9.41. All reclassified as frigates from 1.1 1965. Visby and Sutidsvall were rebuilt 1964—66 1200l, 31 Ift 2in x 301t 2in x 12ft 6in (95.00 X 9 20 x 3 80m), 2-57mm Bofors AA, l-375mm Bofors, quad AS rocket launcher, 1 helicopter, mines. Kalmar was used as a target ship Hiilsingborg was scrapped m 1979, and the remaining two were in material reserve in 1980 4 uthur's Collection I 'ppland before her 19S4 refii OLAND class destroyers Displacement: 1880t standard Dimensions. 351ft pp, 367ft 6in oa x 36ft 9in x lift 2in t07 00, 112 00 x 11 20 x 3 40m Machinery 2-shaft de I aval geared turbines, 2 Penhoet boilers, 44,000shp = 35kts. Oil 300t Armament 4-120mm/45 (2x2) DP, 6—40mm ((. ppland 7—40mm) Bofors A A, 8-25min A A, 6-533mm TT (2x3), l-375mm Bofors quad AS rocker launcher, 60 mines Complement- 210 Name Builder Launched Fate OLAND Koekums 15.12.1945 Stricken 1 7 78 UPPLAND К iriskrona N A d 15 11 1946 Stricken 1 7.78 Laid down in 1943 and commissioned on 5 12 47 and 31.1 48 respectively. Radius of action was 2500nm ar 20kts. Oland modernised 1949, 1953, 1960 and 1969, Uppland 1954 and 1963 Both reclassified in 1974 as frigates, without alterations The 120mm guns were semi automatic with 80° elevation, and superstructure and machinery spaces h id light protective plating A minelaying submarine utilising the Normand-Fenaux system, laid down in 1923 and comnusioned 4.9.25. Drakcn 1929 DRAKEN class submarines Displacement: Dimensions' Machinery: Armament- Complement: 6671 standard; 850t submerged 216ft 10m oa x 21ft x 10ft 10m 66 10 x 6 40 x 3 30m 2 shafts. 2 Gotaverken diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1920bhp/lOOOshp = 13.8kts/8 3kts 4-533mm TT, l-105mm/41, l-25mm AA 35 Name Builder Launched Fate DRAKFN Karlskrona N Yd 21 10.1926 Stricken 28 10 48 GRIPFN Karlskrona N Yd 21 8 1928 Stricken 18 6 47 UL\ EN Karlskrona N Yd 6 3 1930 Mined 16 4 1943 Laid down in 1925, 1926 and 1928 and comn issioned respectively on 25 2 29, 11.3 29 and 16 2 31 Surface radius was 5600nm at lOkts Drakcn was scrapped in 1951, Gripen was sold for scrap in 19>7, and Ulzen - sunk bv a German mine- vvas raised and broken up Delfinen 1937, as completed Author's Collection DELFINEN class submarines Displacement- 540t standard, 720t submerged Dimensions 207ft oa x 21ft x lift 2in 63 10 x 6.40 x 3 40m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN’ diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1200bhp/800shp = ISkts 9kts Armament: 4-533mm TT (3 bow, 1 stern), l-57mm. l-2>mm AA, 20 mines Complement: 34 Name Builder Launched Fate DELFINEN Koekums 20 12 1934 Sold 1957, BU NORDKAPARLN Koekums 9.2.1935 Sold 1958, BU SPRING AREN Koekums 27.4.1935 Sold 1956, BU Minelaying submarines laid down in 1933 and completed respectively on 22 4 36, 16.10 36 and 3 8 37. Thcv were all stricken 24 2 53 373
SCANDINAVIA U4 as completed, 1944 Author'* Collection SJOLEJONET class submarines Displacement: 580t standard; 760t submerged Dimensions: 210ft Sin oa x 21ft x lift 2in 64.20 x 6.40 x 3.40m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric : motors, 2100bhp/1000shp = 16 2kts/10kts Armament: 6-533mm 1T, 2-40mm Bofors AA Complement: 38 Name Builder Launched Fate SJOLEJONET Kockums 25.7.1936 Stricken 15.5.59 SJOBJORNEN Kockums 15.1.1937 Stricken 1.11.64 SJOHUNDEN Kockums 26.11.1938 Stricken 1.7.60 SVARDFISKEN Kockums 18.5.1940 Stricken 15.5.59 TUMLAREN Kockums 8.9.1940 Stricken 1.1.64 DYKAREN Kockums 17.12.1940 Stricken 1.12.59 SJOHASTEN Kockums 19.10 1940 Stricken 1.4.63 SJOORMEN Kockums 5.4.1941 Stricken 1.1.64 SJOBORREN Kockums 14.6.1941 Stricken 15.6.59 U1 class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 367t standard; 450t submerged 162ft 9in pp x 15ft 5in x J2ft 6in 49.60 x 4.70 x 3.80m 2 shafts. 1 MAN diesel-electric motor plus 2 drive motors, !350shp/?shp = 13.8kts/7.5kts 4—533mm TT, l-20mm 23 Name Builder Launched Fate Ul Kockums 14.6.1941 Stricken 1.7.60 U2 Karlskrona N Yd 16.5.1942 Stricken 1960 U3 Karlskrona N Yd 11.6.1942 Stricken 1.11 64 U4 Kockums 5.6.1943 Stricken 1.7.70 U5 Kockums 8.7.1943 Stricken 1976 U6 Kockums 18.8.1943 Stricken 1.7.74 U7 Kockums 25.11.1943 Stricken 1.7.73 U8 Karlskrona N Yd 25.4.1944 Stricken 1976 U9 Karlskrona N Yd 23.5.1944 Stricken 1976 The first 4 were laid down 1935-39 (one in each year except 1938), the next 4 in 1940 and the last boat in 1941. In the above order, the\ were commissioned on 21.9.38, 20.3.38, 18.12.39, 26.4.41, 19.7.41, 18.10.41, 16.7.41, 3.12.41, 20.5.42. Two of the TT were in a traversing deck mounting, three in the bow and one in ihe stern, and rhe 40mm guns were on disappearing mountings. All were reconstructed in the 1950s, the guns and deck TT being removed and the conning tower streamlined. Sjoborren was sunk in a collision 4.9.42, but raised and repaired. All were sold for scrapping between 1961 and 1967. The first 3 were laid down in 1940 and the remainder in 1943, the first 3 being completed between June 1942 and Nov 1943, U4-U8 in 1944 and U9 in 1945. One of the TT was on a swivelling mounting on deck. During 1961-64 the last six were completely rebuilt as AS submarines, being renamed l-'orellen (ex-C'-Z), Abborren (ex-US),Si ken (ex-U6),Gaddan (ex-U7),Laxen (ex-C7S)andMaknllen (cx-U9). Ul was used in experiments before being sold for scrapping on 25.11.63, U2 was sold for scrapping on 9.6.65, and U3 is preserved as a museum at Malmo. Ak'snabben 1944 NEPTUN class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 550t standard; 730t submerged 205fl 5in oa x 21fl x lift 2in 62.60 x 6.40 x 3.40m 2 shafts. 2 MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1800bhp/1000shp = 15kts/lOkts 5-533mm TT, l-40mm Bofors A A, l-20mm AA, 20 mines 35 Name Builder Launched Fate NEPTUN Kockums 17.11.1942 Stricken 1.4.66 NAJAD Kockums 26.9.1942 Stricken 1.4.66 NACKEN Kockums 26.9.1942 Stricken 1.4.66 Minelaying submarines laid down in 1942 and commissioned respectively on 26.8.43, 15.7.43 and 12.6.43. All were sold for scrapping on 11.11.70. ALVSNABBEN minelayer Displacement: 4250t standard Dimensions: 317ft 7in wl, 334ft 8in oa x 44ft 7in x 16ft 96.80, 102.00 x 13.60 x 4.90m Machinery: 1 shaft. 1 Burmeister & Wain diesel, 3000bhp = 14kts Armament: 4—152mm/44, 8-40mm Bofors AA, 6-20mm AA, mines Complement: 255 Name Builder Launched Fate ALVSNABBEN Eriksbcrg 19.1.1943 To be stricken 1981 Mercantile hull purchased on slipway. Modernised 1951, 1961, 1966 and 1972. Last armament 2-152mm, 2-57mm Bofors A A, mines. Relieved Gotland as sea-going cadet training ship in 1959 although she had been employed in a training role from 1953. COASTAL MINELAYERS There were also the coastal minelayers, or mining tenders, Mid 10 and Mulll. The former, launched in 1939, 166t, 90ft x 18ft 6in x 7ft 6in (27.43 x 5.64 x 2.30m), 9.5kts, 4 MG, was stricken 1.10.70. Mulll, launched in 1946, 200t, 98ft 9in x 23ft 8in x lift lOin (30.00 x 7.21 x 3.60m), lOkts, 2-20mm, was still in service in 1980. 374
Sweden T16 probably running trials Author s Collection MTB3 class MTBs (built 1925) Displacement: Dimensions. Machinery: Armament: Complement: 12.5t 53ft 2in pp x lift 2in x 3ft 7in 16 20 x 3 40 x 7 10m 2 shafts. 2 petrol engines, 750bhp = 40kts 2-450mm TT, 1 MG 7 Class: MTB3,MTR4 Thomycroft 55ft CMBs launched on 5 6.25 and 14 9.25 respectively Both were stricken 1.8.40. T15 class MTBs (built 1941) Displacement: 22.5t standard Dimensions: 61ft 4m x 15ft lin x 4ft Ilin 18 70 x 4 60 x 1.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Isotta-Fraschini 183 petrol engines, 23OObhp = 45kts Armament: 2-450nun TT, l-20min Complement: 11 Class: TI5-T18 Built by Kockums. All stricken 1.10.56. 14m 1940 Author’s Collection T3 class MTBs (built 1940)___________________________________________ Displacement: 20t standard Dimensions. 60ft x 15ft Sin x 4ft 1 lin 18 30 x 4 70 x l.SOm Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Isolta-Fraschini 183 petrol engines, 23OObhp = 40kts Armament: 2-450min TT, 2 \1G Complement* 8 Class: ТЗ, T4 Vosper-built wooden-hulled craft Tl and 77, ordered from the British Power Boat Co, were commandeered and never delivered to Sweden Both were stricken on 1 4 49 but 13 was used for gas turbine experiments between 19>2 and 1959 and both were eventually sunk as targets in 1963. Til class MTBs (purchased 29.2.40) Displacement: I7t Dimensions: 55ft 9in x 14.9in x 4ft Ilin 17 00 x 4 SO x 1 50m Machinery: 2 shafts 2 Isotta-Fraschini 181 petrol engines, 2000bhp = 47kts Armament: 2-450mni TT, 1-13.2mm MG, 6 DC Complement. 10 Class (fate): Til, ex-Af.AS506 (stricken 28.6.46); 7'12, ex-Af AS 508 (stricken 1 4 49); T13, e\-MAS511 (stricken 28 6.46); T14, ex-.MAS524 (stricken 28.6.46). All built by Baglietto in 1936 and sold to Sweden by the Italian Navy in February 1940 T21 class MTBs (built 1942-43) Displacement: 271 standard Dimensions: 65ft 7in x 16ft 5in x 4ft Ilin 20.00 x 5 00 x 1.50m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines, 3000bhp = 49kts Armament: 2-533mm TT, l-20mm Complement: 11 Class. T21-T3I AU built bv Kockums. AH reached 5Ikts and one 52.7kts. T21-T24 were stricken 1 1.59, 775-777, T29 and T30 were stricken 10.10.57; T28 and T31 were stricken on 15 5 59. 775, T26, T29, T30 and T3I later transferred to Missile Experimental Central as target towing boatsand T27 as a missile target. STYRBJORN type patrol vessels Displacement: 300—l40t standard Dimensions: 98ft 5in-12lft 4in x 13ft 2in-23ft x 13ft 9in-14ft lin 30.00-37.00 x 4.00-7.00 x 4 20-4.30m Machinery* 1-shaft VTE, 700-800ihp = lOkts Armament: l-57mm or l-37mm, 1 MG Not a class, but three pairs of similar vessels, all Norwegian-built whale- catchers. They were’Styrbjdm, launched 1923asA7o, bought 31.8 35,stricken 1 12.59, sold 17.1 61 to tug firm; Kanon and Knit, launched 1924, bought 1940, stricken 20.12.58, sold 14 5 59, Granat and Harpun, launched 1925, bought 1935, stricken 5.11 63 and 21.1 65 respectively, sold 1964 and 1965, Harpun BU;Siarkodder, launched 1925 as Graham, bought 1935. stricken 1.12.59, sold 17.1.61, BU',Siyrbjdm and Starkodder were fitted for minelaying and Granat, Harpun, Kanon and Knit belonged to the Coastal Artillery 375
SCANDINAVIA ASKOFjARD class patrol boats Displacement: 25t standard Dimensions: 63ft 4in x 12ft 6m x 4ft Ilin 19 30 x 3 80 x 1 50m Machinery: 1 shaft. 1 diesel, 92bhp = 11 5kts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 7 Class: Askofard, Baggensfjard, Kamddfjard Launched 1931, 1932 and 1932 respectively as V77, V72 and V73 Belonged to Coastal Artillery. Stneken 1954. EDOFJARD class patrol boats Displacement: 28t standard Dimensions: 69ft 7in x 12ft 6in x 4ft Ilin 21.20 x 3.80 x 1 50m Machinery: 1 shaft. 1 diesel, 92bhp = 11 5kts Armament: l-37mm Complement: 7 Class: Edojjdrd, Kanhobnsfjard, Lidofjard Launched 1933 as V76, V74 and V75. Belonged to Coastal Artillery. Stricken 1954. So udon about 1943 Я uthors Collation ARHOLMA class minesweepers Displacement: 365t standard; 442t full load Dimensions: 180ft 5in pp, 186ft oa x 24ft 1 hn x 6ft 1 lin 55 00, 56 70 *7 60 x 2 10m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 2 boilers, 32OOshp = 17kts. Oil 60t Armament: 2-10<'mm/41 A A, 2 MG, 2 DC throwers, mines Complement: 37 Viiktaren about 1944 \uihor,s Collation Class (launched, builder, fate): Arholma (27 4 37, Karlskrona N Yd, stricken 1 4 60, sunk as target), Landsori (26 11 37, Karlskrona M Yd, stricken 1.1.64), Bredskar (12.12.40, Eriksberg, stricken 1.4.66, sunk as target), Bresnan (18 6 40, Eriksberg, stricken 1.4.66, training hulk); Gronskar (30.10.40,1'inn- boda Varv, Stockholm, stricken 1.4.63), Hnlmon (5.9 40, Eriksberg, stricken 1 164, target), Koster (10.10 40, Oresundsvarvet, Landskrona, stricken 1 164), Kullen (29 10 40, Oresundsvarvet, Landskrona, stricken 1.4.66), Ramskar(28 10.40, Lindholmen, Gotcborg, stricken I 4 66), Sandlin (15.8.40, Oskarshamns Varv, stricken 1.1.64), Ulvon (29.4 41, Oskarshamns Varv, camouflage experiment vessel, stricken 1.1.68), Ven (7.10.40, Gotaverken, stricken 1 12 59, sunk as target), Vinga (7.10 40, Gotax erken, stricken 1.1.64), sunk as target), Ors/tar 31 3 40, Lindholincn, Goteborg, stricken 1.4 66,target, sold) JAGAREN class patrol boats Displacement: 3 lOt standard Dimensions: 170ft 3in pp x 19ft 7m x 9ft 2m 51 90 x 6 00 x 2 80m Machinery: 2 shafts, 1 de Laval geared turbine, 2 Vanson boilers, 3600shp = 23kts Oil 50t Armament: 2-75mm, 2-25mm AA, 2 DC throwers Complement: 41 Class (service): Jagarcn (launched 1 Iz. 1932, stricken 1 1 59, target ship, sold 17 10 61), Kaparen (launched 3.3 1933, stricken 1 1 59, training hulk, sold 10.3 69),Snapphanen (launched 2 11 1934, stricken 1 1 59, sold 1959, modern- ised and rebuilt, to Guatemala as Jose Francisco Barrundia), Vakiaren (launched 25.4.1934, stricken 1.1.59, target ship, later BU). AH built at Karlskrona N Yd. SVK1 class patrol boats Displacement: 19t standard Dimensions: 54ft 2in x 12ft 2in x 3ft Ilin 16.50 x 3 70 x 1.20m Machinery: 1 shaft 1 diesel, lOObhp = 10.5kts Armament: l-20mm Class:SVK/^VK5 Coastal patrol boats for the volunteer naval corps (Sjavdntskaaren), all built by Br Larsson, Kristinehamn and launched 1944 V51 class patrol boats Displacement: 145t standard Dimensions: 105ft x 17ft 4m x 7ft 3in 32.00 x 5.30 x 2.20m Machinery: 1 shaft ТЕ, 400ihp = llkts Armament: l-20mm, 1 MG Complement: 12 Class: V51-V56 Launched 1944—45, VSl and V56 at Oskarshamns Varv, V52 and V54 at Finnboda Varv, Stockholm, V53 and V55 at Stockholm N Yd. All belonged to Coastal Artillery. V51-V53 and V56 stricken 16 II 66, V54 and V55 stricken 17.6.65. M1 class minesweepers Displacement: 61t standard, 64t full load Dimensions: 98ft 5in pp x 14ft lin x 3ft 3in 30 00 x 4 30 x 1 00m Machinery: 3 shafts. 3 engines, 630bhp = 17kls. Oil 3t Armament: l-20mm Complement: 11 Class (launched): Ml (12 8 1937), М2 (3 10 1937) Built at Ekensbergs Varv, Stockholm Steel hulls Ml Bolinder hot bulb engine, М2 Nohab diesels. Stricken 4 4 52 and 4 3.53 respectively, surveying vessels, later BU. Л/5 about 1950 Author's Collection М3 class minesweepers (launched 1940-41) Displacement: 50t standard Dimensions: 82ft Oin x 16ft 9in x 4ft 7m 25.00 x 5 10 x 1.40m Machinery: 2 shafts 2 diesels, 400bhp = I3kts Armament: l-20mm 376
Sweden/Norway Class: M3-M14 Built at various small vards. Mahogany hulls. Scania, Ellwe or Bolinder diesels. Six redesignated surveying vessels and named: М3 (Maasen, 2.12 55),AN (Taman, 2 12.55),MS (Svarian, 2.12.55), M6 (Gnsslan, 4 3.55X Af9 (Anden, 1 1 60),MIO (Viggen, 1 11 60). Successively stricken, the last one in 1971 Ml and AT# stricken 1 2.59, training vessels for volunteer naval corps (Sjozarnskaaren), sold 1968 MH and Vf/2 stricken 22 11.57 and Al 14 stricken 15.5.59, all three transferred to Central Customs Authority. M13 stricken 1 12.59, transferred to Royal Science Academy as research vessel Sagitta. ATLE icebreaker (launched 1925) Displacement: 1725t standard; 2630t full load Dimensions: 204ft lin x 55ft 9in x 20ft 8m 62 20 x /7 00 x 6.30m Machinery: 6000shp = 14kts Armament: 4—57min AA, 4 MG Complement: 44 Built at Lindholmen, Gothenburg as Statsibryturen Stricken 23.9 66 and sold 11.10.67 Л125 postwar Author’s Collection Author’s Collection M15 class minesweepers (launched 1941) Ymer in 1949 Displacement. 70t standard Dimensions’ 90ft Ilin x 16ft 5m x 4ft Ilin 27.70 x 5 00 x I 50m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 Scania Vabis diesels, 410bhp = 13kts Armament: l-20mm Class: M15-M26 Built at various small yards Wooden hulls MIS and M16 became clearance diving tenders in 1976; MI7 and \H8 on 1.11.61 became tenders and were named Lommen and Spoven, M!9 transferred on 1 2.65 to Central Torpedo Manufacturing Industry as tender; M20 was rebuilt in 1969 as a mine research vessel, named Skuld. M21-M26 became clearance diving tenders in 1976 Norway During the First World War the Norwegian Navy - consisting of 4 old coast defence ships, some 40 torpedo-boats and a few submarines and sloops - had carried out neutrality patrols without any serious chal- lenge. Two coast defence ships building in Britain in 1914 were com- mandeered by the Royal Navy and completed as the monitors Glaiion YMER icebreaker (launched 1932) Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 34651 standard; 4545t full load 257ft 10m x 63ft 4in x 22ft 4in 78 60 x 19 30 x 6.80m 6 diesels, electric drive, 9000bhp = 15 9kts 4—75mm AA, 2-40mm Bofors AA, 4—25mm AA 44 The first diesel electric engined icebreaker in the world Built by Kockums. Stricken 15.2 76 (ex-Bjorgvin) and Gorgon (ex-NidarosY, neither e\ er entered Norwegian service. As with other Scandinavian countries, defence effort and expendi- ture was drastically cut back after the Versailles Treaty. The first postwar surface warship, the minelayer Olav Tryggvason, was not launched until 1932, previous naval construction being limited to 6 , small submarines. Even the rise of Nazi Germany did not alter defence policy nobody, it seems, read Vice Admiral Wegener’s 1929 book in which he advocated German occupation of Denmark and Norway in any future war During rhe 1930s many of the oldest vessels were scrapped, but replacements were few. By 1939 the only new vessels were 4 coastal destroyers or torpedo-boats of the Sleipner and Odin classes (with 2 Eidreold in the 1920s By courtesy of K-E U esterlund 377
SCANDINAVIA more building), 2 minesweepers and 2 patrol craft; 2 larger destroyers had been laid dow n. When war broke out every available ship was fitted out for neutrality patrols, the age record being held by 7 small minelayers originally built between 1874 and 1887. Many were in very poor condition: for example, the coast defence ships of 1897 had their guns removed for use as coastal artillery and the 4 )-year-old torpedo- boats could only serve as patrol craft. Excepting about 10 ships, the German invasion of 9 April 1940 was met with a navy of museum pieces. The naval side of the fighting was a disaster. Destroyers torpedoed the coastal battleships Norge and Eidsvold at Nan ik within minutes of the outbreak of hostilities; torpedo-boats, submarinesand other vessels were not properly scuttled, or fell into German hands undamaged. Only the torpedo-boatsSleipner and Drang, the submarine/?/, 2 patrol craft and 6 whale-catchers fitted for minesweeping escaped to Britain. Howexer, once established, the Nonvegian King and government in exile organised a very active war effort from the UK. The Norwegian merchant marine was one of the world’s largest and its revenue and personnel formed the basis of a new navy. British warships were leased or purchased, and an initial force of MTBs and MLs grew to include fleet destroyers and submarines Transfers included 5 of the ex-US ‘flush-deckers’, 3 ‘Hunt’ class escort destroyers, 2 ‘S’ class destroyers, 6 ‘U’ class submarines and 7 corvettes. The USA supplied 4 submarine-chasers and 4 ‘YMS’ type minesweepers, while the coastal forces of the new Norwegian Navy totalled 29 MTBs and 9 MLs, with 39 whale-catcher ty pe vessels and 2 ex-British motor minesweepers for patrol and mine-warfare duties. The Norwegian Navy fought with distinction in northern waters and the Mediterranean. Siord was involved in the Schamhorst action and Svenner was lost during the Normandy invasion. Other losses included a ‘flush-decker’ torpedoed on convoy duty, one of the ‘Hunts’, a submarine, 7 MTBs, 4 minesweepers and an ML. At the end of the war some ships were returned but the Norwegian Navy of 1945 was still stronger and more modern than it had been in 1940. Since the war Norway has built new surface ships, submarines and fast attack craft, and with its new duties including the protection of North Sea oil interests the Navy is the most powerful in Scandinavia. THE NORWEGIAN NAVY IN 1922 COASTAL BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Norge class NORGE 31.3.1900 3645t Sunk 9 4.40 EIDSVOLD 14.6.1900 3645t Sunk 9.4 40 Haarfagre class HARALD HAAR- 4 1.1897 3380t BU 1947 FAGRE TORDENSKJOLD 18.3.1897 3380t BU 1948 Norge class Both xessels were torpedoed during the occupation of Narvik, Norge by Amon Schmiu {722) and her sister by Wilhelm Heidkamp (Z21). Haarfagre class Both these units were captured at Horten 9.4.40 and were rebuilt as the German AA guard ships Theiis and Nymphe respectively. They were re-armed with 7-102mm (7x1), 2-40mm (2x1) and 9-20mm (2x4, 1x1) AA. Theiis was retroceded in May 1945, but Nymphe was bombed and beached at Svolvaer also in May 1945, the wreck being broken up postwar. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Draug class DRAUG 18.3.1908 540t ?BU in England 1940s TROLL 7.7.1909 540t Sold 1947, BU GARM 27.5.1913 540t Sunk 26 4.40 Valkynen class VALKYRIEN 1896 410t BU c!923 Draug class The name-ship escaped from Haugesund to Britain 10.4.40 Troll was aban- doned at Floro 4 5 40 and taken over by the Germans 14 days later, she was retroceded in 1945; Garm was bombed and set on fire at Bjordal. 378 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Snogg class SNOGG 2.9.1920 198t Retroceded Mav SIEGG 16 6.1921 198t 1945, BU Sunk 20 4 40 TRYGG 31 5.1919 198t Sunk 1944 Teist class TEIST 18 2.1907 92t Scuttled 14.4.40 SKARV 14 12 1906 92t Captured 9.4.40 KJELL 1912 94t Retroceded 1945, Ravn class RAVN 18.12.1903 70t stricken, BU Scuttled 17.4.40 Orn 18 12.1903 70t Sold 1946 LOM 14.9.1905 70t Sold 1946 JO 10.7.1905 70t Scuttled 17 4 40 GRIB 26.1.1905 70t Scuttled 17 4.40 Hval class HVAL 1896 84t Stricken 1931 DELFIN 1896 84t Stricken 1927 TRODS 1899 84t Stricken c 1933 BRAND 1899 84t >BU 1940s STORM 1899 84t Sunk 13.4.40 SKREI 31.10.1901 84t Scuttled 8 5 40 SA EL 25.9.1901 84t Damaged 18 4 40, S1LD 30.7.1900 84t lost Scuttled 5 5.40 LAKS 12.7.1900 84t Stricken and Hvas class HVAS 1898 64t sold 1945 Stricken, KJAEK 1899 64t sold 1946 Stricken, FALK 26.6.1902 64t sold 1946 Stricken, HAUK 1903 64t sold 1946 Stricken 1945 Varg class VARG 1894 45t Stricken c 1923 RAKET 1894 45t Stricken c 1923 GLIMT 1896 45t Stricken cl923 BUNK 1896 45t Retroceded LYN 1896 451 May 1945, BU Retroceded DJF.RV 1897 45t May 1945, BU Scuttled 3 5.40 KVIK 1898 45t Stricken, DRISTIG 1898 45t sold 1947 Scuttled 3 5 40 Snogg class Snogg, abandoned with Troll, was taken over 18 5 40 and became the patrol vessel ZacA, later V5S04, beached 6 9 43 «it Bergen, she was later salvaged, Siegg was sunk when, under fire from Bremse at Heroysund in Hardangcrfjord, one of her torpedoes exploded Trygg was bombed at Aandalsncs 25 4 40, but sale aged by the Germans to become the patrol vessel VS503\ she was finally sunk by Allied bombing in Hjeltefjord. Teisi class Teist was blown up by her crew at Drange. Skarv was captured at Egersund by the German minesweepers Ml and .И2, but was later seriously damaged and broken up. Kjell was captured while under repair at Knstiansand, and used as the German patrol boat KTI, Grenadier (1941) and finally V5512. Ravn class Ravn,J о and Gnb were blown up by their crews south of Lyngor. Gm and Lorn were captured while under repair at Horten 17 4 40. They were renamed Schlange and Eidechse respecitvely, and returned in May 1945 Hval class Although already stricken, Hval and Delfin were put into service by the Ger- mans after their capture 9.4.40: both were returned in May 1945andsold Brand was captured at Laksevaag 11.4.40, renamed Taraniel, later NB19, and finally VSS19, returned May 1945 and BU. Sad was attacked by tw'o S-boats at Lukksund and beached at Aanuglo where she later sank, Laks was captured while under repair at Trondheim 9.4.40 but was not used by the Germans. Hvas class All were fitted as minesweepers when captured (12-17 April), and served as the German patrol boats NO2S {Sees tern), NO24 (SchildkrSie), NO26 (Qualle) and NO23 (Krokodil) respectively. All were retroceded in 1945. Varg class Blink, Lyn and Kvik were operaung as patrol craft when captured (between 9 and 11 April), becoming ihe German KT4, KT3 and KT2 respectively in 1941, being renamed Kurassier,Muskener and Dragoner, and were finally renumbered
Norway as \'K04, NK03 and NK02. Djerv and Dristig were fined as minesweepers when scuttled German sources say they were salvaged and returned in May 1945. Odd class The 7 boats of this 36t class — Odd, Springer, Rask, PiltSnar, Oicr and Orm, launched 1882-91 - were all stricken about 1923. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate A class A2 1913 260t/340t BU after 1940 A3 1913 260t/340t Scunled 16.4.40 A4 1913 260t/340t Scuttled 16.4.40 A class A2 was captured inOslofjord 9.4.40, retaken by the Norwegians and abandoned damaged at Teie submarine base 12,4.40 The wreck was later broken up. SLOOPS Name Launched Disp Fate ORKLA 1917 270t Stricken <4923 RAUMA 1917 270t Stricken c 1923 MICHAEL SARS 1900 300t Sunk 13 4.40 FRITHIOF 1895 1380t Stricken cl927 AEGIR 1893 380t Stricken 1934 HEIMDAL 1892 640t Bombed 12.4 40, sank later MtchaelSars and Heimdal were fishery protection vessels. Both had surrendered to the Germans 9.4.40 before being sunk. Frtthiof, nominally a cruiser, was used as a cadet training ship. MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp Fate FROYA 1916 595t Beached 13.4 40 Glommen class GLOMMEN 1916 330t Sunk 1944 LAUGEN 1916 330t Sold 1950 Glommen class Both surrendered at Melsomvik 14.4.40, and were used in their original role by the Germans as theNKiOl and the NK'tO5 (later U22) Laugen was retroceded in 1945. Froya was run ashore by her own crew, and later wrecked by a torpedo from a U-boat Seven old gunboats also served as minelayers: Vale (1874, 250t), Uller (1876 250t),Brage,Nor and Vidur 1878, 236t),G »r (1885,290t),and 7\r(1887,290t). Vale was abandoned 5.5 40 at Kjelkenes in Sogn, captured by the Germans, returned May 1945 and scrapped Uller was captured 9.4.40 bv the Germans at Kxarven in Bergen: under the German Hag she was attacked by Norwegian aircraft 30.5 40 and sunk in Sognefjord.Bnigc, out of commission at Melsomvik nasal depot, Oslofjord, was captured bv the Germans 9.4 40, returned May 1945 and scrapped Nor was as Brage, stricken 1945 and sold 1950; Vidar was alsoas Brage, stricken, and sold 1947. Gor was abandoned 5.5.40 at Kjelkenes in Sogn and captured by the Germans; she became a submarine supply boat, was returned May 1945, stricken, and sold 1946 as an oil barge Tyt was abandoned 20 4 1940 at Skorpo in Hardangerfjord, captured by the Germans, returned Mas 1945, and stricken Ex-British ‘S’ class destroyers 1 he British destroyers Success and Shark were transferred to the Norwegian Navy in 1943 and 1944 as the Siord and Svenucr respectively Szenner was sunk off Normandy 6.6.1944 by a German S-bo.it, and Stord was stricken about 1957. Aalesund class as designed Name Builder Launched Fate AALESUND (cx-ZW) Horten N Yd 1941 — ZN5 Horten N Yd ?1941 — Laid down in April 1939, both were captured on the stocks bv the Germans who intended to complete them as TA7 and TA8, but were prevented from doing so by sabotage ZN4 was renamed Aalesund in 1945 but her construction was abandoned in.1950 The hulls of both units were broken up. In German sen ice they would have displaced 1694t full load and been armed with 3-120mm (3x 1), 2-37mm AA (2 x 1), 6-20mm AA (1 x4, 2x 1) and 4-533mm TT (1 x4), with a complement of 162. Radius would have been 3100nm at 19kts. Sletprter as completed SLEIPNER class torpedo-boats Displacement: 597t standard; 708t full load Dimensions: 236ft 3in pp, 243ft 9in oa x 25ft 7in x 6ft 1 lin 72 00, 74.30 x 7 80 у 2 10m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, l2,5OOshp = 30kts Oil lOOt Armament: 3-102mm/40 (3x 1), l-40mm Bofors AA, 2 MG, 2-533mm TT (1x2) Complement: 75 Name Builder Launched Fate SLEIPNER Horten N Yd 7.5 1936 Stricken 1956 AEGFR Horten N Yd 25 8.1936 В imbed 9.4.40 GYLLER Horten N Yd 7.7.1938 Stricken 1959 Laid down in 1934, 1935 and 1937 and completed 1937-39. Fitted for minelay- ing, they also carried 4 DC throwers; Gyller had 4 TT (2x2). Radius was 3500nm at 15kts. Sleipner was the only modern Norw egian warship to escape to Britain in 1940. Gyller surrendered at Kristiansand 11.4.1940 and served as the German Lowe until May 1945 Rebuilt as frigates C1953, their armament was changed to 3-76mm, 2-40mm and 2-20mm AA, noTT, but fitted for minelay- ing Sleipner in 1948 fh courtesy of K-E W esterlund Balder as a frigate in lhe 1950s В courtesy of K-E Vi esterlund AALESUND class destroyers Displacement: 1220t standard Dimensions: 311ft 8in pp, 328ft oa x 32ft 6in x 9ft 2in 95.00, 100.00 x 9.90 x 2.80m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 30,OOOshp = 34kts. Oil 300t Armament: 4— 120mm (1x2, 2x 1), 2-40mm Bofors A A (1x2), 2-13mni AA (2x 1), 4-533mm TT (2x2) Complement: 130 379
SCANDINAVIA ODIN class torpedo-boats Displacement: 632t standard Dimensions: 242ft 9in pp x 25ft 7in x 9ft lOin 74.00 x 7.80 x 3.00m Machinery: 2-shaft de Laval geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 12,500shp = 30kts. Oil lOOt Armament: 2-102mm/40 (2x 1), 40mm Bofors AA, 2 MG, 2-533mm TT(lx2) Complement: 75 Name Builder Launched Fate ODIN Horten N Yd 17.1.1939 Stricken 1959 BALDER Horten N Yd 11.10.1939 Stricken 1959 TOR Fredrikstad 9.9.1939 Stricken 1959 • Mek Verkstad Improved versions of the previous class, all were laid down in 1938. Only Odin, which surrendered at Kristiansand 11.4.40, was completed at the time of the German invasion. She served as the Panther, and Balder and Tor were completed by the Germans as the Leopard and Tiger respectively. In German service they - and Gyllcr of the previous class - were armed with l-102mm, 2 to 4-20mm, 2-8mm MG and 2-533mm TT; the TT were later removed. Retroceded in May 1945, they all underwent the same frigate conversion as the Sleipner class about 1953. Ex-British HUNT class escort destroyers The Type 3 ‘Hunts’ Eskdale and Glaisdale were Norwegian manned from 1942. The former was torpedoed and sunk by S-boats 14.4.43, but the latter was sold to Norway and renamed Narvik in 1946; she was stricken in 1962 and scrapped in Denmark. The Tvpe 2 Badsworih was transferred 16.11.44 and renamed Arcndal in 1946; she was stricken in 1961. For further details see under Great Britain. Ex-US destroyers Class (transferred, fate): Mansfield (16.12.40, returned 11.2.42), Newport (1.10.41, returned 15.6.42), Bath (9.4.41, sunk 19.8.41), St Albans (14.4.41, returned 4.2.44), Lincoln (1.6.42, returned 8.2.44). Five of these ex-US ‘flush-deckers’ were transferred to Norwegian control in 1940-42. See under Great Britain and USA for further details. ____ B4 1929 В class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 420t standard; 545t submerged 167ft 4in pp x 17ft 6in x lift 6in SI.00 x 5.33 x 3.S0m 2 shafts. Sulzer diesels plus electric motors, 900bhp/700shp = 14kts/l ikts 4—456mm TT (bow), l-76mm AA 23 Name Builder Launched Fate Bl Horten N Yd 1.8.1922 Sold 1946, BU B2 Horten N Yd 15.8.1923 Surrendered 11.4.40 B3 Horten N Yd 25.1.1924 Scuttled 9.6.40 B4 Horten N Yd 19.12.1923 Abandoned 10.4.40 B5 Horten N Yd 17.6.1929 Stricken 1942, BU B6 Horten N Yd 4.9.1929 Stricken Oct 1944 Laid down between 1915 and 1925 (last pair) to an Electric Boat Codesign, they were completed between 1923 and 1930. Bl escaped to Britain in June 1940 and joined the 7th Submarine Flotilla as an asdic training and target boat until paid off 24.4.1944. B2 and B4 were captured but never used by the Germans; their ultimate fate is unknown. BS and B6 were captured 11.4.40 and 18.5.40 and were put into service as the German L'Cl and UC2 respectively until being stricken. Ex-British *U’ class submarines Of the ‘short hull’ type, Uredd {cx-P4l) was transferred in 1941 and Vame in 1943, the latter being renamed Ula. Uredd was sunk off Norway 24.2.43. Four of the ‘long hull’ type were also transferred, Variance in 1944 to become Utsira and Venturer, Viking and V’o/an' in 1946, becoming Ulstein, Utvaer and Uthaug respectively. The surviving 5 were sold for scrapping in 1965-66. Ex-British corvettes Class (transferred, fate): Eglatine (14 8.41, stricken 1956), Montbretia (16.9.41, sunk 18.11.42), Acanthus (26.9.41, stricken 1957), Rose 23.10.41, sunkin collision 26.10.44),Poiennlla (16.1 42, returned to RN 13.4.44),Butter- cup (20.12.44, stricken 1957), Tunsberg, cx-Shrewsburv Castle (17.4.44, mined 12.12.44). Six British ‘Flower’ class and one ‘Castle’ class corvettes were transferred to Norwegian control during the war. Eglantine, Acanthus and Buttercup were renamed Sordy, Andenes and Nordkyn respectively. Sec under Great Britain for further details. Ex-US submarine-chasers One ex-US PC t pe and three SC type sub-chasers were transferred to the Norwegian Navy. PC467 was completed on 16.9.42 and renamed King Haakon VII (stricken 1955); the SC boats were taken over 26.10.43 and renamed Hcssa (CX.SC683'), Hitra (ex-SC7l8) and Vigra (ex-SClOO) (all stricken 1958). MTBS running trials, 1940 Ex-British MTBs Class (transferred, fate): MTBS (May 1940, lost in accidental explosion 1.7.41), MTB6 (May 1940, abandoned 26.9.40), MTBS0 (6.12.41, returned 18.6.42). MTBSl (24.1.42, returned 28.6.42), MTBS2 (1.12.41, returned 18.6.42), MTB54 (6.2.42, returned 28.5.42), MTB56 (28.7.41, returned 29.6.42), MTB71 (10.11.41, returned 4.2.42), MTB345 (16.3.43, captured 28.7.43). MTB6I8 (18.6.42, stricken after weather damage 10.11.44), At TB619 (23.8.42, returned 6.7.44), MTB620 (11.11.42, returned 20.8.43), MTB623 (27.8.42, returned 19.1.45), MTB62S (4.9.42, wrecked 8.2.44), MTB626 (13.11.42, scuttled after a fire 22.11.43),.\ITB627 (20.9.42), returned 31.1.45), MTB631 (22.8.42, beached and captured 14.3.43),Л17’13653 (22.3.43, returned 18.1.45), MTB688 (23.8.43, returned 22.1.45), MTB712 (30.12.43, lost 26.1.45). The above were Norwegian-manned or controlled during the war. A further 10 boats were retained after 1945 and were renamed (with their original numbers and transfer dates): Falk (ex-MTB711, 8.4.44), Hauk (cx-MTB713, 21.2.45), Jo (ex-MTB722, 26.1.44), Kjeld (ex-MTB723, 22.1.45), Lorn (ex-MTB7O9, 24.12.43), Ravn (ex-MTB716, 2.12.44), Skarv (ex-MTB7l9, 16.1.45), Stegg (cx-MTB7l7, 1.9.44), Тля (cx-MTB71S, 4.12.43), От (cx-MTB7O4,6.3A5). Hauk was stricken 1949, Orn in 1951, and the remainder in 1959. See under Great Britain for further details. Ex-British FAIRMILE ‘B’ type motor launches Class (transferred, fate): ML122 (13.12.1940, returned 12.6.42), MLI24 (22.12.40, returned 12.6.42), ML12S (23.12.40, returned 13.3.45, transferred again, stricken 1949), ML128 (13.12.40, returned 11.3.45), ML208 (28.4.41, returned 30.S A2),ML2l0 (5.5.41, mined 15.2.44),ML213 (30.4.41), stricken 1949), ML233 (30.4.41, returned 31.5.42), MLS73 (6.2A3, stricken 1949). OLAV TRYGGVASON minelayer Displacement: 1596t standard; 1924t full load Dimensions: 305ft lin pp, 318ft 3in oa x 37ft 9in x lift lOin 93.00, 97.00 x 11.SO x 3.60m Machinery: 2 shafts. 2 de Laval geared turbines plus 2 8cyl diesels (2 x 700bhp), 6000hp = 23kts. Oil 200t Armament: 4-120mm/45, l-76mm AA, 2-47mm AA, 2 MG, 4-456min TT (2x2), 250 mines Complement: 132 380
Norway/Denmark Olai' Tryggvason as cortipkt cd Ex-British MM II type minesweepers Class (transferred, fate): Orkla, ex-Af MS 1085 (27.7 44, from 1957 research vessel., stricken 1962), Vefsna, ex-MMSlO86 (30 10 44, from 1957 research vessel, stricken 1962). Name Builder Launched Fate OLAV TRYGGVASON Horten N Yd 27.12.1932 Scuttled 1945 Laid down in 1931 and completed in 1934 with diesel electric drive for cruising, radius was 3000nm at 14kts. Surrendered at Horten 9 4 40, she was taken into German service as the Albatros, to commemorate the torpedo boat she had sunk. Renamed Brummer in 1941 she became a gunnery training ship and was badly damaged by US bombing at Kiel 3 5.45 and later scuttled in dock See also under Germany. OTRA class minesweepers (launched 1939) Displacement’ 370t standard Dimensions: 167ft 4in pp x 23ft x 6ft 3in 51 00 x 7 00 x 1.90m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 900ihp = 13.5kts Armament l-40mm Bofors AA, 2-20mm AA, 2-13mm AA, mines. Complement: 25 Class (fate): Otra (captured by the Germans 9 4 40 at Horten, German mine- sweeper Togo, returned 1945, stricken 1963), Канта (captured by the Germans 9.4.40 at Horten, German minesweeper Kamerun, returned May 1945, stricken 1963) Laid down 1939, completed 1940 Bu It by Nyland, Oslo. MINESWEEPERS (CONVERTED WHALE-CATCHERS) In June 1940 six minesweepers (converted whale-catchers) escaped from Nor- way Syrian, Bortind, Nordhav II (sunk 10 3 45), 7horodd, Hval V andB/егЛ. During the rest of the war 22 whale-catchers and similar vessels were equip ped as minesweepers: Alcmaria, Polar VI, Mandat, Vardo ,Drobak ,Ko$ 16 (sunk in accident 25 8 41), Harstad (e\-Kos 17, sunk 27 2 43), Brezik, Grimstad, Transvalia, John Williamson, Noble Nora, Egeland (wrecked 29 11 41) Karmoy (cx-Globc 5), Ok ov (ex-Pol 6), Snowdrift, Silhouette, Tromoy (e\-Br ush Fda\, returned 19.10.44), Oftsoy,Karmoy, J etoy (last three ex-British, returned 1945), Tromoy (ex-Afincarlo, from 24.10.44). Of all the above-mentioned 28 minesweepers, 11 were retained bv the postwar Norwegian Navy: Bortind (launched 1912, 328t), Bjerk (1912, I82t), Thorodd (1919,422t),Syria» (1919,298brt),Polar VI (1925,263brt),Drobak andHval 5 (1929, 248brt), Braik, Grimstad, Mandal and Vardo (1939, 258brt). All were stricken 1946-47 Ex-US YMS.type minesweepers Four US minesweepers (ex-YMS379-YMS382') were transferred on 22 3 45. YMS382 was sunk 8 5.45, and the remainder were stricken 1958. Further v essels of this tv pc were transferred postw ar. FRIDTJOF NANSEN patrol vessel (launched 1930) Displacement. 1275t standard Dimensions: 239ft 6in pp x 34ft 9in x 16ft 5in 73 00 x Ю 60 x 5 00m Machinery: 2-shaft V I E, 2000ihp = 15kts Armament. 2-102mm/40, 2-47mm AA, 1 aircraft Complement: 70 Laid down 1928 at HortenN Yd,launched 5 II.30,completed 1931. Grounded 8.11 40 in Redvedbukta, Jan Mayen, sunk. NORDKAPP class patrol vessels (launched 1937) Displacement: 266t standard Dimensions: 124ft 8in pp x 21ft 8in x 9ft 2in 38.00 x 6 60 x 2 80m Machinery: 1 shaft 2 Sulzer diesels, electric drive, 580bhp = 13 7ktS Armament: l-47mm Complement: 22 Class (builder, fate): Kordkapp (Horten N Yd, escaped April 1940 to Great Britain, stricken 1956),Serija (Horten N Yd, captured 9.4.40, became German patrol craft Lowe, later H2, D\V, V6735 and V6315, returned 1945, stricken 1956). Both these vessels were also equipped as minesweepers. OTHER VESSELS During 1940-45 10 whale-catchers and similar vessels were equipped as patrol craft IIonningsvaag, Namsos, Svolvaer, Horten, Tarsund, Riser, .Moss, Molde, Narvik and Bodo Bodo (cx-Gos 8) was mined 4 1 43 and sunk in the North Sea '1 he remaining 9 were retained in the postwar Norwegian Navy for one or two years Denmark * Like other Scandinavian countries, Denmark had been neutral during the First World War, although her neutrality was sometimes precari- ous. As the guardian of the entrance to the Baltic, Denmark was subject to conflicting pressure from Britain and Germany respectively to close or keep open the Belts. Britain went so far as to construct the‘large light cruisers’ Courageous, Glorious and Furious for possible operations in the Baltic. After the war parts of Slesvig which had been annexed by Prussia in 1864 were returned to Denmark following a referendum. The peace provisions also included the setting up of the League of Nations, in w hich Denmark vvas to place considerable faith T he interest in defence was so low that from 1924 proposals were put forward to reduce the armed forces to the level of a simple defence/coastguard organisation. Even after the rise of the Nazi regime in Germans little was done, the premier Stauning proclaiming, apropos re-armament, ‘Vad kan det nytte?* (what is the point?) As a result very few new ve seis were built before war broke out. The coast defence ship Niels Juel, laid down in 1914, was completed in 1923 without the designed 2— 12in and 8-4 7in guns, mounting 10-5 9in and 12 smaller weapons instead, but with a speed of 16kts she was not even the equal of a cruiser Only six 290t torpedo boats and five submarines joined the Beet by 1939, when one additional submarine and a minelayer were under construction Germany invaded Denmark on 9 April 1940 and since no resistance was offered at first the occupation was not particularly onerous The Navy remained nominally independent but German pressure on the Danish government was gradually stepped up, and in January 1941 the Danes were forced to give up the six new-est torpedo-boats, although officially these were ‘leased’ by the German Navy Friction between the occupation forces and the Danish government increased until it reached a flashpoint in /Xugust 1943 w'hen the Danes refused to turn over captured resistance fighters to the German authorities. On 29 August the Germans moved to disarm all Danish forces, but the Danes had already decided to scuttle all possible warships in such an event. Therefore as the Germans entered the naval dockyard at Copenhagen a total of 27 warships were blown up or sunk Elsewhere the Danes were less well prepared and no orders ever reached the remaining ships, but many were scuttled on the initiative of their crews. The Niels Juel was attacked by German aircraft and later beached at full speed, although she did not become a total loss as intended. A few vessels escaped to Sweden (the torpedo-boat Hcrckaiten, the minesweepers MSI ,MS7 and zVJSS, and the patrol boats КЗ, K6,K8, K10-K13,K15 and K17) but some of the remainder were salvaged by 381
SCANDINAVIA the Germans. In May 1945 those that survived were returned to Denmark, but few were fit for service. Therefore after 1945 the Danish Navy was rebuilt around ex-British frigates and submarines, although some German torpedo-boats and minesweepers were also transferred to Denmark by the victorious Allies. THE DANISH NAVY IN 1922 X'arhvalen operating as a minesweeper, after 1930 Danish .Wit’v TORPEDO-BOATS COASTAL BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate NIELS JUEL Herluf Trolle class 3.7.1918 4100t Beached 29.8.43 PEDER SKRAM 2.5.1908 3785t Scuttled 29.8.43 OLFERT FISCHER 9.5.1903 3700t Sold Oct 1936 HERLUF TROLLE 2.9.1899 3650t Sold for BU 30.4 32 Skjold class SKJOLD 8.5.1896 2195t Stricken 21.5.29 .Vids Juel was refitted in 1936. After being beached she was refloated by the Germans, and served as the cadet training ship Xord I a nd from rhe summer of 1944. She was bombed at Eckcnforde 3.5.45, and the wreck was broken up in 1952. Herluf Trolle clast Peder Skram was raised and served as the German training ship and AA battery Adler. Bombed in April 1945 she was again salvaged and towed to Denmark where she was sold for breaking up at Odense 1.5.49. Olferi Fischer served as a target ship with specially armoured superstructure until sold. Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Springeren class SAELEN 1919 108t Scuttled 29.8.43 HAVKATTEN 1919 108t Stricken Nov 1948 NORDKAPEREN 1918 108t Scuttled 29.8.43 MAKRELEN 1918 108t Scuttled 29.8.43 N ARHVALEN 1917 108t Stricken 1949 HAVHESTEN 1917 108t Wrecked 29.8.43 sOhunden 1917 1081 BU after 1946 SOLOVEN 1916 108t Captured 29.8.43 STOR1 N 1916 108t Stricken 1940 SPRINGEREN 1916 108t Captured 29.8.43 Hi’alrossen class SVAERDFISKEN 1913 108t Stricken 1932 DELFINEN 1913 108t Stricken 1932 HVALROSSEN 1913 108t Scuttled 29 8 43 Siiridderen class SOULVFN 1911 270t Stricken 1937 FLYVEFISKEN 1911 270t Stricken 1937 SORIDDEREN 1911 270t Stricken 1937 Tumleren class SPAEKHUGGEREN 1911 295t Stricken 1935 VINDHUNDEN 1911 295t Stricken 1935 TUMLEREN 1911 295t Stricken 1935 Ormen class ORMEN 1907 97t Stricken 1932 Hajen class SOBJORNEN 1898 142t Stricken 1928 HAVORNEN 1897 I42t Stricken 1928 HAJEN 1896 I42t Stricken 1928 By courtesy of K-E Westerlund Springeren class The last 6 were refitted as minesweepers with deck IT removed about 1923. Xarhvalen was under repair on 29.8.43 and so could not be scuttled, but was damaged beyond use. Havhesten was renamed Havornen in 1938. Sohunden was stricken in 1940, but was scuttled 29.8.43. Soloven was renamed Soridderen in 1937 and Hajen in 1943 serving withSpringeren as German minesweepers until June 1945 when both were returned and stricken. SUBMARINES CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Hekla class HEIMDAL 30.8.1894 1342t Stricken 22.10.30 GEISER 5.7.1892 1282t Stricken 29.3.28 Valkyrien class VALKYRIEN 8.9.1888 3O2Ot Stricken 5.10.23 Rota class All 3 were sold in 1952 and scrapped. Name Launched Disp (std) Fate Rota class FLORA 23.4.1920 30lt/369t Scuttled 29.8.43 BELLONA 14.3.1919 30It 369t Scuttled 29.8.43 ROTA 16.8.1918 30lt/369t Scuttled 29.8.43 Aegir class GALATHEA 15 4 1916 I85t/235t Stricken 1940 NEPTON 22.12.1915 I85t/235t Stricken 26.4.33 TRITON 29.7.1915 I85t/235t Stricken 1940 RAN 30.3.1915 185t/235t Stricken 1940 AEGIR 8.12.1914 I85t/235t Stricken 26.4.33 Havmanden class NYMFEN 10.2.1914 l64t/204t Stricken 11.3.32 NAJADEN 9.7.1913 !64t/204t Stricken 9.9.31 2den APRIL 31.3.1913 164t/204t Stricken 15.1.29, (ех-Тшоя) target, sold 1932 HAVFRUEN 31.8.1912 !64t/204t Stricken 3.5.32 THETIS 19.6.1912 164t 204t Stricken 26.4.28 HAVMANDEN 23 12.1911 l64t/204t Stricken 26.4.28
MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp (std) Fate SIXTUS 21.12.1918 186t Scuttled 29 8.43 KVINTUS 1917 186t Scuttled 29 8 43 LOSSES’ 5 10.1910 628t Scuttkd 29 8.43 HJAELPEREN 1890 280t The first 3 were salvaged by the Germans Sixtus and Lessen were sunk off Rostock in 1945, although the latter was later raised;Kvinius finished the war as the guardship Fiirstenburg at Warnemunde Also operated in 1922 were the Fishery Inspection Ships Diana (1916, 260t), Fenny(1915, 1900), Islands Falk (1906,760t), Beskytteren (1900,447t),Sa/rAo/»i (1892, 300t) and Absalon (1877, 300t); the gunboats Guldborgsund (1884,270t), Griinsund (1883,260t), Lille Belt (1875,250t) and Falster (1873,380t); the patrol boats Nol-15 (1879-95, 16-50t); and the training ship Ingolf (ex-cruiser, 1.9.76, 1012t). There was also the Royal Yacht Dannebrog (1879, 1190t). Najaden class N AJA DEN class torpedo-boats Displacement: 782t standard; 890t full load Dimensions: 279ft pp, 283ft oa x 27ft 4in x Hit 6 n 86 00 x 8.40 x 3 40m Machinery: 2-shaft Atlas geared turbines, 24,OOOshp = 35kts Armament: 2-105mm, 3-40mm, 6-20mm AA, 6-533mm T1, 2 DC throwers, 60 mines Complement: 100 Name Builder Launched Fate N AJA DEN Copenhagen N Yd 17.3.1943 Stricken 1966 NYMFEN Copenhagen N Yd 22.6.1943 Stricken 1966 Ordered in 1939 but because of lhe German invasion not laid down until July 1942, with completion delated until 1947. In 1945 they were renamed U illcmoes and Iluitfeld respectively As completed they were equipped with 450min TT from Dragen and Glenten class torpedo-boats In 1951 thev were reclassified as coastal destroyers and in 1958 as patrol vessels, 'l he Madsen 20mm guns were removed in 1961 Laxen 1932 DRAGEN class torpedo-boats Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 290t standard; 335t full load 200ft 2in oa x 19ft 8in x 7ft 6in 61.00 x 6 00 x 2 30m 2-shaft Brown-Boven (Laxen Atlas) geared turbines, 2 Thornycroft boilers, 6000shp = 27 5kts. Oil 40t 2-75mm/40, 2-20mm AA, 2-Smm MG, 8-456mm TT (2 bow, 2x3 deck), 2 DC throwers, mines 51 Name Builder Launched Fate DRAGEN Copenhagen Dec 1929 Mined 14.5 45 N \d HVALEN Copenhagen 1930 Disabled 14 6.45 N Yd LAXEN Copenhagen 1930 Disabled 14 6 45 N Yd Turned over to Germany 5 2.41 and served like the Glenten class as torpedo recovery vessels, renamed TFA3, TFA5 and TFA6 respectively. IFA3 was sunk in the Geltinger Bight, but the other 2 were disabled at Flensburg from the same cause as the Glenten class. The wrecks of 7’FA 5 was broken up in 1950 and TFA6 in 1952 ! I Hogen prewar GLENTEN class torpedo-boats Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 290t standard; 335t full load 200ft 2in oa x 19ft 8in x 7ft 6in 61 00 x 6.00 x 2.30m 2-shaft Atlas geared turbines, 2 Thornvcroft boilers, 6000shp = 27 5kts. Oil 40t 2-87mm/50, 2-20mm AA, 2-8mm MG, 6-456mm TT (2 bow, 2x2 deck), 2 DC throwers, mines 51 Name Builder Launched Fate GLENTEN Copenhagen N Yd 5 1.1933 Disabled 14.6.45 HOGEN Copenhagen N Yd 20 10.1933 Disabled 14.6.45 ORNEN Copenhagen N Yd 19.10.1934 Disabled 14.6 45 The first 2 were completed in 1934 and the last in 1935. According to a government dcciMonof 22 1.41 they were handed over disarmed to the Germans 5.2.41. Rebuilt in Germany, they were officially rated as torpedo recovery vessels, but were also used as targets for training sumbannes of the 26th U-Boat Flotilla. In spring 1942 they were designated 1 FA (Torpedofangboote Ausland), and numbered TFA4, 7 FA I and TFA2 respectively They were all disabled at Flensburg when the depot ship Donau blew up, the hulk of the TFA4 being sunk the following month; the wrecks of the other pair were broken up in 1949. Diyaden 1928 DAPHNE class submarines Displacement 308t standard; 38It submerged Dimensions: 160ft 9m oa x 17ft lin x 8ft 2in 49 00 x 5.20 x 2.50m Machinery. 2 shafts 2 Burmeister & Wain diesels plus 2 Titan electric motors, 1200bhp/400shp = 13.4kts/6.8kts Armament: 6—456min TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-75mm/35, l-20mm AA Complement: 25 Name Builder Launched Fate DAPHNE Copenhagen Dec 1925 Scuttled 29 8 43 N Yd DRYADEN Copenhagen 3.6 1926 Scuttled 29.8.43 N Yd Both laid down n 1924 and completed in 1926 and Sept 1927 respectively. Both were sold in 1946 and broken up. HAVMANDEN class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement 320t standard; 402t submerged 157ft 6in oa x 15fi 5in x 9ft 2in 48.00 x 4.70 x 2.80m 2 shafts. 2 Burmeister & Wain diesels plus 2 Brown-Boveri electric motors, 1200bhp/450shp = 1 Skis/Skts 5-456mm TT (3 bow, 2 stern), 2-40mm AA, 2-8mm MG 20 Name Builder Launched Fate HAVMANDEN Copenhagen N Yd 19.6.1937 Scuttled 29.8.43 HAVFRUF.N Copenhagen N Yd 6 11.1937 Scuttled 29.8 43 HAVKALEN Copenhagen N Yd 3 3.1938 Scuttled 29 8.43 HAVHESTEN Copenhagen N Yd 11.7 1940 Scuttled 29 8.43 383
SCANDINAVIA Danish \raiy Havmanden as completed HVIDBJORNEN fishery protection vessel (launched 1928) Displacement: 1050c standard Dimensions: 196ft lOin x 32ft 2in x 13ft lin 60.00 x 9 80 x 4 00m Machinery: VTE, 2 boilers, ISOOihp = 14 5kts Armament: 2-87mm/40, 2 MG, 1 aircraft Complement: 61 Completion dates in the above order were. 8 10 38,6 5 39, 18.7.39,13 10 42 A fifth unit, referred to as *H5’, was cancelled after the German invasion The hulks of the scuttled boats were sold for breaking up in 1950. Built at Copenhagen N Yd Scuttled in the Great Belt 29.8 43, salvaged bv the Germans and used as a patrol vessel (Vs number unknovv n) According to \X est German sources, taken over bv East German Navy as corvette Ernst Thabnami (cx-Dorsch'), later training ship after rebuilding 1950-53, renamed Albtn Kdbis, stricken c 1965. Lindormen 1940 LINDORMEN minelayer (launched 30.3.40) Displacement: 614t standard Dimensions: 173ft Ilin x 28ft lOin x 7ft lOin 53.00 x 8 80 x 2.40m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Thomycroft boilers, 1200ihp = 14kts. Oil 35t Armament: 2-7 5 mm, 3-2 0mm A A, 150 mines Complement: 58 Built at Copenhagen N Yd. Scuttled 29.8.43, salvaged by the Germans and served as V$I401, and later V1601. Retroceded in 1945 and stncken 1969. There were also the smaller minelayers Laaland and Lougen, both launched 1941 at Copenhagen N Yd. Details were: 350t standard, lllft6in x 21ft7in x 6ft 7in(34 00 x 6 60 x 2 00m), 2-20mm A A, lOkts. Scuttled 29.8 43, salvaged by the Germans, retroceded 1945, stricken 1974. The coastal minelayer Lougen in 1941 By courtesy of K-E Wesierlund SOBJORNEN class minesweepers (launched 1938—42) Displacement: 270t standard; 304t full load Dimensions: 177ft 2in oa x 20ft Sin x 6ft 7in 54.00 x 6.30 x 2.00m Machinery: 1-shaft Atlas geared turbines, 1 Thomycroft boiler, 2200shp = 18kts. Oil 30t Armament: 2-75mm, 2-20mm AA, 4-8mm MG Complement: 48 Class: Soloven, Sobjornen, Soulven, Sondderen, Sohesten, Sdhunden All built by Copenhagen N Yd and renamed MA1-MA6 respectively. Fitted for minelaying. All were scuttled 29.8.43 in various ports, but all except MA2 and M43 were salved and served as German minesweepers Vs61-V$64 respec- tively. They were retroceded in 1945 and stricken 1959-62. There were also the motor minesweepers MSl-MSlO, launched in 1941. Details were: 70t,78ft9in x 15ft lin x 4ft 1 lin(24.00 x 4.60 x l.SOm), 1 diesel 250bhp = 10.5kts, l-20mm, 2 MG. Three escaped to Sweden (sec Introduc- tion), MS4, MS8 and MS 10 were scuttled 28 9.43 and MS2, MS3, MS5 and MS6 were captured by the Germans. MS4 was totally destroyed, but the rest returned to service in 1945 and were renamed Sorie Sara, Asko, Baago, End, Fand, Hjorto, Lyd, Mund and Stryno. Sone Sara and Stryno were stricken in 1956, Fand in 1960 and the remainder 1968-71. INGOLF fishery protection vessel (launched 1933) Displacement: 1180t standard Dimensions: 213ft 3in x 35ft 5in x 16ft Im 65.00 x 10.80 x 4.90m Machinery: VTE, 2 Thomycroft boilers, 2950ihp = 16 5kts Armament: 2-l20mm/55, 2-57mm/44, 2-20mm AA, 2 MG, 1 aircraft Complement: 66 Built at Copenhagen N Yd. Scuttled in the Great Belt 29 9.43, salvaged by the Germans, patrol vessel from 1942, fleet tender (renamed Sleipntr?') from 1.11.43, fate unknown. HEJMDAL fishery protection vessel (launched 1.2.35) Displacement: 7O5t standard Dimensions: 175ft oa x 30ft x 12ft 53.34 x 9 14 x 3.66m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 2 boilers, 800ihp = 13kts. Oil lOOt Armament: 2-75mm, 2-Л0тт, 2-8mm MG Complement: 40 Built at Copenhagen N Yd. Range 4000nm at 12kts. Scuttled 29 8 43 but salved to become the German patrol vessel Nergcr. Retroceded 1945. FREJA fishery protection vessel (launched 22.12.38) Displacement: 322t standard Dimensions: 124ft 8in pp, 175ft 6in oa x 25ft 3in x 7ft 3m 38.00, 53.50 x 7.70 x 2.20m Machinery: 1-shaft VTE, 1 boiler, 300ihp = lO.Skts. Oil 15t Armament: 2-75mm, 2-20mm AA Complement: 40 Built by Copenhagen N Yd Scuttled 29.8.43 but salved to become the German Siidpol. Became the navigation training tender Freya in 1944, and was retroceded 1945. PATROL BOATS Maagen, HOt standard, 8kts, l-37mm/38, 11 men, launched 1930, stationed in Greenland. P1-P38, small patrol boats varying in size. All 38 captured by the Germans 29 8 43. K1-KI8, small patrol boats, also fitted for minesweeping. Nine escaped to Sweden (see Introduction); the remaining vessels were captured by the Germans 29 8.43. 384
Belgium/The Netherlands Belgium A few days after the end of the First World War the Belgian authorities took over control of 14 torpedo-boats abandoned by the Germans when the latter evacuated Flanders. The boats concerned - A14, Al 2, A4, A5,A8,A9,A11,A16 and A20 (launched 1915, displacement 109t), and АЗО,A40, A42, A43 and A47 (launched 1916, displacement 230t), were renumbered A3PC-A9PC and A21PC-A25PC respectively. Belgium up to this time had no true navy and it was decided to use these vessels to provide the basis of a coast defence force, to administer which a naval commission was formed in 1919. On 19 April 1920 they purchased the British ‘Flower’ class sloop Zinnia (name not changed, lauched 12 8.15, displacement 1200t), but after this interest in the new force gradually diminished and in March 1927 it was disbanded as a military organisation In 1926 the ‘PC’ was dropped from the names of the torpedo-boats and Al, A2, A3, A9 and A24 were renamed Prince Leopold у Prince Charles ,Prinzesse Marie Jose, West Diep and Wiehngen respectively, but when the naval force was disbanded all the torpedo- boats except the last two named were sold for scrapping. Zinnia was also retained for service as a fishery protection vessel and she and the two torpedo-boats were henceforward manned by civilians. The only vessel added to this group was the sail tnaining ship Mercator built by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith and launched in 1931. She was a barquen- line of 1200t with a sail area of 13,500 sq ft, an auxiliary diesel engine (500bhp = 1 Ikts) and a complement of 80. In 1940 Zinnia, Wiehngen and U'esr Diep were captured by the Germans. Zinnia was rebuilt by Cockcrill at Antwerp for service with the Kriegsmarine under the name Barbara. 'Ihe foward well deck was plated-in, giving a flush forecastle as far as the mainmast, the two funnels replaced by a single capped uptake, the superstructure rebuilt and an armament of 3-105mm (3x 1), 8-37mm (4x2) and 12-20mm AA (6x2) fitted She was returned to Belgian control in 1945, renamed Breydel and scrapped in 1952. West Diep was employed as an auxiliary training vessel, first under the name Reiher and then as Warendorp-, she w'as captured by US forces in 1945 and broken up in 1948. Wielingen was not taken into German service and was scrapped by them in 1943. During the war 9 British MMSs(43,75,79,112,182,187,188,189and 193) and a number of small auxiliary vessels were manned by Belgian personnel Artevelde as the German Lorelei ARI EVELDE fishery protection vessel/Royal Yacht Displacement: 1640t standard; 2270t full load Dimensions: 292ft pp, 323ft 2in oa x 34ft 5in x 10ft lOin 89.00, 98.50 x 10.50 x 3.30m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons-Rateau geared turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 21,700shp = 28.5kts. Oil 680t Armament: 4—105mm, 2-40mm AA, 120 mines, 30 DC Complement" 180 Name Builder Launched Fate ARTEVELDE Cockerill 28.8.1940 BU 1954-55 Laid down ar Antwerp in 1939 as a replacement for Zinnia and, although intended primarily as a fishery protection vessel, she was to have doubled as the Royal Yacht. She was also well-armed and could carry out minelaying and minesweeping duties in the event of war. She was captured on the stocks in May 1940 and launched by the Germans who completed her in the Dutch yard of .Wilton-Fijenoord m 1943 as the Lorelei (she was named K4 when launched). The Germans modified the original design and as completed the vessel resem- bled the rebuilt Zinnia and was armed with 3- 105mm (3 x I), 4—37mm AA (2 x 2) and 10-20inm <2x4, 1x2), together with the intended minelaying and mine- sweeping gear. She was recaptured at Cuxhaven at the end of the war and returned to Belgium. The Netherlands The major part of Holland’s naval strength w’as intended to provide defence for the principle part of her colonial empire - the Dutch East Indies. This collection of large and small islands was rich in raw materials and, in particular, a major supplier of the world’s oil resources. In the 1920s the East Indies was about seventh in the world ' league of oil producing countries, at an average 20 million barrels a year, which was ten limes that produced in the homelands of their most likely aggressor - the Japanese. 'I he Dutch naval authorities were well aware of the threat from Japanese expansionism but Holland had neither the finance nor the political will to build a major fleet capable of matching that of the Japanese. In the face of these considerations the policy adopted was to build a small but quality fleet capable of carrying out delaying and harassing actions until reinforced by an ally, it being realised that a war in the Fat East was extemely unlikely to involve only the Dutch Given their obvious inferior position the provision of a good submarine and minelaying force played an important part in this strategy, these being weapons w ith w hich an inferior force could inflict considerable damage on a more powerful enemy. Holland itself had only minor need of naval defence, as the most likely form of attack would come from land and not the sea, and the European naval force was limned to the provision of minelayers and coast defence torpedo craft and gunboats. Small short-range sub- marines were also constructed until the 1930s when it was decided to provide larger submarines, partly to increase their striking abilities in home waters (possibly including long range Atlantic patrols) and partly to make them interchangeable with the larger East Indies boats. CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMES The Dutch, although neutral, were substantially affected by the wholesale destruction that took place in the First World War, a large part of which occurred close to their own borders. As a result they felt strongly the anti-war euphoria that followed the Armistice and any attempt to obtain funds for re-armament met with strong opposition. At the beginning of the 1920s the Navy consisted mainly of old and obsolescent vessels apart from two new cruisers (Sumatra and Java) laid down in 1916 and a moderate programme of submarine construc- tion. In 1920 a committee recommended the provision of 4 cruisers, 24 destroyers and 32 submarines for the East Indies Fleet, which was far beyond the available financial rescources, but even a reduced prog- ramme for 12 destroyers and 16 submarines proposed in 1923 met strong opposition in the Dutch Parliament and was rejected. Later, however, the construction of 8 destroyers, the Van Ghent and Van Galen classes, was approved and the ships were laid down at the rate of two per year from 1925 onwards. In 1930 another committee recom- mended that the strength of the East Indies Fleet should be 3 cruisers, 12 destroyers and 18 submarines, which necessitated the construction of one more cruiser, 4 destroyers and 6 submarines. The cruiser, De Ruyter, and 5 submarines, rhe KX1V class, were authorised, but not 385
The Netherlands East Indies Fleet off Java before the war Tramp in 1939 as completed the four additional destroyers. In the late 1930s there was a general increase in the awareness of the threat from the Japanese and a prog- ramme of naval re-armament, unfortunately too late to come to full fruition, was begun. In 1936 Tromp and a submarine, 016, were laid down and these were followed during 1938-41 by 3 cruisers, 4 des- troyers, 9 submarines and 3 proposed battlecruisers but of those only 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer and 6 submarines were to serve with the Dutch Navy during the war, a large pan of the remainder being destroyed or captured while under construction, while the battlecruisers were never laid down. WARSHIP DESIGN The Dutch had and have a substantial shipbuilding industry of high quality and all their major warships were built in home yards. They were able in most instances to provide their own design expertise for these vessels but in the case of their first modern destroyers (Van Ghent class) and the proposed battlecruisers of 1939 they were wise enough to seek design assistance from abroad, thereby ensuring a degree of previous experience which they did not possess themselves. They were unusual among the smaller navies in providing well-balanced and modern warships of which any of the major navies would have been proud. The only aspect in which they did not entirely match foreign contemporaries was in the rather poor protection of their cruisers but this was largely the result of the limitation of the size of such ships by financial considerations and not one of design weaknesses. Dutch warships were also exceptionally well equipped and the degree of sophistication involved not only equalled but in some cases exceeded that of lhe major navies. The prime example is that of gunnery and fire control gear, in which they had developed advanced equipment incorporating 3-axis stabilisation, remote control and a certain amount of automation. Perhaps the most famous example of this equipment is the twin 40mm Hazemeyer AA mounting - which so impressed the British that they copied it, added radar, and mounted it on a considerable number of RN ships. Less well known is the Dutch development of the submarine snorkel which, although it made little impact on the British, was quickly adopted by the Germans to become standard equipment in their U-boats. In addition to that carried out at home a certain amount of construc- tion was undertaken in East Indies - mainly small vessels for the East Indies Marine and Gouvemementsmarine. It should be mentioned that there were three forces operating in the East Indies: firstly the East Indies Squadron which consisted of the major Dutch warships in the area; secondly the East Indies Marine which included all the coast defence vessels (gunboats, minelayers, minesw’eepers, torpedo-boats, etc) and the submarines; and thirdly the East Indies Guuvemement- smarine which was owned and run by lhe East Ind us government for local customs and police work and consisted of a variety of small patrol vessels, survey ships, etc. WORLD WAR II The outbreak of war in Europe brought no immediate problem for Holland but when the German invasion did come, on 10 May 1940, the complete occupation of the country was accomplished in five days. Of the naval forces present 2 cruisers, 1 destroyer, 9 submarines, 2 gun- boats, 1 sloop and 6 torpedo-boats escaped to Britain, the remaining vessels being destroyed or captured. On the 20 May the Dutch Gov- ernment was re-established in London, while their surviving European naval force was placed under the operational control of the Royal Navy and continued to operate in conjuction with Allied units until the end of the war. Curiously, the Netherlands did not declare war on Italy until 11 December 1941, three days after declaring war on Japan. \X hen war in the Far East broke out the East Indies Squadron consisted of 4 cruisers and 7 destroyers backed up by the 15 submarines of the East Indies Marine. The submarines began operations immedi- ately but in the first month of the war 4 were lost. The Japanese began their invasion of the East Indies by landing on the Celebes on 11 January 1942 and rapidly followed up by landing in Borneo, Amboina, Sumatra, Bali, Timor and finally Java, the whole undertaking being complete by the end of March. The hoped-for allies were present but were hard pressed themselves and could only provide a token rein- forcement of British, US and Australian ships to the East Indies Squadron. Ill-prepared and ill-organised, this force could do little to prevent the Japanese onslaught and the Battle of the Java Sea, together with the minor actions which followed it, saw the virtual annihilation of Allied naval power in the Far East. The Dutch lost all their cruisers and destroyers except Sumatra and the majority of the remaining vessels w'ere scuttled, lost or captured except for the gunboat Soemba and 7 submarines which, with iheSwwatra, escaped to Australia. Like their European counterparts these vessels continued to operate under the control of the Royal Navy until the end of the war. Many of these Dutch ships caused supply problems due to the fact that their ammunition and equipment was, obviously, not standard with British or US vessels, and they were therefore laid up or, in the case of some of the older ships, scrapped. Replacements and additional ships were provided by the RN and USN; some of these were returned at the end of the war but others were retained for the postwar Dutch Navy. Besides these latter units the Dutch acquired the following vessels from the British during 1945-46: the escort carrier Karel Door- man (ex-Nairana)’, the destroyers Evertsen (ex-Scourge), Kortenaer (ex- Scorpion), and Banckeri (ex-Qutlliam)\ and the minesweepers Ambon (ex-cairns'), Banda (ex-Wollongong), Batjan (ex-Lismore), Boeroe (ex- Tootvomba), Ceram (ex-Burnie), Moratai (ex-Ipswich), Ternate (ex- Tamworth) and Tidore (ex-Kalgoorlie). THE DUTCH NAVY IN 1922 COAST DEFENCE SHIPS Name Launched Disp Fate HERTOG HENDRIK 1902 5000t Hulk 1945 MARTIN HARPERT- ZOON TROMP 1904 5216t Stricken 1930s JACOB VAN HEEMSKERK 1906 4920l Hulk 1948 DE ZEVEN 1909 6426t Scuttled 1942 PROVINCIEN Hertog Hendrik was converted to a TS in 1924, having he‘r after turret removed, and, in 1928, was fitted to carry 2 seaplanes. In 1939 she became a coast guard battery at Vlieereede and w’as renamed Vlieereede. Armament was l-240mm, 4-150mm, 2-75mm, 4—37mm AA, 2—40mm AA and 2-12.7mm AA. In November 1939 she was laid up for disposal but was captured by the Germans in May 1940. Sunk in an air raid in June 1940, she was salvaged in October and taken to Antwerp for conversion into a floating AA battery under the name Ariadne. She served in this role at Wilhelmshaven, was recaptured in 1945 and served as the accommodation ship Hertog Hendrik from 1947 until sold for scrap in 1972. 386
The Netherlands Jacob van Heemskerk was fitted to carry 2 seaplanes in 1929. In 1939 she became the guardship Ijmatden with an armament of 2-240mm and 2-40mm A A guns. Scuttled in May 1940, she was later raised by the Germans and laid up at Antwerp until towed to Keil in 1941 for conversion to a floating AA battery She entered service in 1944 as Undine and was recaptured at Wilhelmshaven in 1945. She was converted to an accommodation ship and re-entered Dutch service as Neptunis in 1948, surviving at least until the mid-1970s. De Zeven Provincien was refitted as a gunnery TS 1935-36, for service in the East Indies, her armament being reduced, 5 boilers removed and the remaining 3 converted to oil fuel. She was renamed Soerabaia in 1936. Scuttled at Sourabaya following bomb damage, her wreck was raised by the Japanese and used as a blockship. CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate Holland class GELDERLAND 1898 3970t Sunk 16.7.44 NOORDBRABANT 1899 3970t Lost 17.5.40 Sumatra class JAVA 9.8.1921 6670t Sunk 27.2.42 SUMATRA 20.12.1920 6670t Scuttled 9.6.44 CELEBES — 5570t Cancelled 1919 Name Launched Disp Fate SPHINX Gardeyn class 1902-03 103t Stricken 1920s MICHEL GARDEYN 1904-06 48t Stricken 1920s CHRISTIAAN CORNELIS 1904-06 48t BU 1940 WILLEM WARMONT Draak class 1904-06 48t Stricken 1920s DRAAK 1906-07 103t Stricken 1930s KROKODIL 1906-07 103t Stricken 1930s ZEESLANG Gl class 1906-07 103t Stricken 1930s Gl-10, G12 GI3 class 1903-08 140t Stricken prewar except G2 G13, 15, 16 Zl class 1912-14 180t BU 1943-46 Zl—4 Z5 class 1915-19 277t BU cl938-40 Z5-8 1914-16 263t BU 1943—48 Holland class Gelderland served as a gunnery TS 1920-39 and then became an accommodation ship. She was converted to a floating AA battery by the Germans 1943-44 and renamed Niobe. Sunk by Russian aircraft in the Gulf of Finalnd, she was raised and scrapped by the Finns 1952-53. Noordbrabant was employed as an accom- modation ship from 1920, she was lost in a fire and the wreck is believed to have been refloated and broken up by the Germans. G2 became the German TFA10 in 1940 but was returned to the Dutch in 1945 and broken up. G13 and 15 were broken up in the UK in 1943-44, G16 became the German TFA 9 in 1940 but was returned in 1945and thenscrappped.Z5 was refitted as a patrol vessel in 1932 having her TT and one boiler removed, her forecastle lengthened and the remaining boiler converted to oil firing. She transferred to the UK in 1940and became HMSB/ude in March 1942, serving as a submarine tender until scrapped in 1945—46. The remainder also sailed to the UK in 1940, Z6 and Z8 being broken up 1943-45 and Zl 1947-48. Java as completed KVIII as completed SUBMARINES Sumatra class Laid down in 1916 (Celebes 1917), these vessels were much delayed and they did not enter service until 1924-25. Shortly after completion they were fitted to carry two seaplanes (Fairey HID) and during 1934-35 the foremast was replaced by a thin tower summounted by a director, the mainmast was shortened, and 6 (Java 8) single 40mm AA replaced their original 4-l3pdr AA guns. Java was sunk by the Japanese cruisers Haguro and Kachi. Sumatra was laid up in 1944 and sunk as part of the Normandy breakwater. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Fret class BULHOUND 1911 5 lOt Stricken 1927 FRET 1910 510t Stricken 1922 JAKHALS 1911 510t Stricken 1928 WOLF 1910 510t Stricken 1922 Lvnx class HERMEL1JN 1913 510t Stricken 1925 L\ NX 1913 510t Stricken 1928 Panter class PANTER 1913 5 lOt Stricken 1934 VOS 1913 510t Stricken 1928 Panter was converted to a despatch vessel in 1928. Name Launched Disp (surface) Fate 02 class 02-05 1911-13 131t Stricken 1930s Hay-Whitehead type Kl' 1913 330t Stricken 1920s Holland type 06 1916 190t Stricken 1930s Hav-Denny type 07 1916 180t Stricken 1930s Holland type 08 1915 343t Scuttled May 1945 Hay-Denny type К II 1917 560t Stricken 1930s Kill class Kill, KIV 1919-20 560t Stricken 1930s KV class KV-KVII 1920-21 507t Stricken 1930s KVIII class KVUI-KX 1922-23 520t except KVII sunk 18.2.42 Lost or laid Ex-German M1 (ex-UC8) 1915 160t up 1942 Stricken 1930s OS was the ex-British H6, interned by the Dutch in 1916 and later purchased. Captured by the Germans in 1940 she was renamed UDI and used for training U-boat personnel. KVIII and IX were laid up in Australia in August 1942 and later scrapped. KX was damaged by Japanese patrol vessels and later scuttled at Sourabaya on 2.3.42. Ml was interned by Dutch 1915 and purchased 1917. ARMOURED GUNBOATS TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Hydra class HYDRA 1900 IO3t Stricken 1920s SCYLLA 1900 103c Stricken 1920s Sphinx class MINOTAURUS 1902-03 IO3t Stricken 1920s PYTHON 1902-03 103t Stricken 1920s Name Launched Disp Fate BRIN1O 12.8.1912 540t Sunk 14.5.40 FRISO 29.8.1912 530t Sunk 12.5.40 GRUNO 26.5.1913 540t 5 Re-engined 1934-35 with diesel engines (!500bhp = 14kts). Rrinio and Friso were sunk by German aircraft but both were later raised and broken up by the Germans. Gruno served with the RN from 1940 and had 2-2pdr AA (2 x 1) added to her armament. 387
WESTERN EUROPE MINELAYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Hydra class (ex-gunboats) DAS 1875 210т Sold 1925 HAVIK 1875 210t BU 1936 Woden class (ex-gunboats) HADDA, THOR, 1877-79 280t Lost or BU BULGIA, BALDER, BRAG^, FREIJR, HEFRING, TYR, NJORD, VIDAR Koeiei class (ex-gunboats) ASSAHAN, SERDANG, 1897-1900 780t during WWII Stricken 1930s SIBOGA Hydra class HYDRA 1911 593t Sunk 15.5.40 MEDUSA 1913 593t Depot ship 1946 Aukes class DOUWE AUKES 23 2.1922 Sold for BU VAN MEERLIANT 24 11 1920 ? 1961 Mined 4 6 41 Woden class The first three were serving as minelayers in 1922 and Balder, Bidgia and Vidar were converted to minelayers in 1923, 1925 and 1928 respectively Braga was converted to a minesweeper, and Freijr, Hefring, Tyr and S’joid continued to serve as gunboats to the end of their careers. Xjard was scrapped in 1925. Bulgta and Thor were sunk 12.5.40. Balder ,Hadda, Tyr and Vidar were captured by the Germans in May 1940 and broken up by them Braga,Hefting and Freijr were scuttled in May 1940 but the latter pair were raised, Hefring being scrapped while Freijr was again scuttled in September 1944 (raised and scrapped 1947-48). Aukes class Aukes was converted to a convoy leader in 1941 and armed with l-75mm AA, 2-2pdr AA (2x 1) and 2-20mm AA (2x 1). MINESWEEPERS Name Launched Disp Fate M1-M4 1916 (М2 1918) 230t See notes Ml was captured by the Germans in May 1940 and successively renamed LAZ46,/.RDS andBS.Y. She was returned in !945and became the tugRSH in 1946 U2 was mined 13.5.40 \13 was used as blockship U4 was scuttled on 14.5.1940 but later salvaged by the Germans and employed as a tug. She was returned in 1945 and became the tug RS23 in 1946 Projected battlecruisers Displacement: 27,950t standard Dimensions: 777ft 8in wrl x 98ft 5in x 25ft 7in 237 10 x 30 00 x 7.80m Machinery 4-shaft geared turbines, 8 Werkspoor boilers, 180,000shp = 34kts Oil 2900t Armour. Belt 225mm, bulkheads 225mm, barbettes 250mm, turrets 250mm-100mm, torpedo bulkheads 40mm, decks 100mm, 30mm Armament: 9-280mm/45 (3x3), 12-120mm/45 (6x2), 14—40mm AA (7x2), 8-20mm AA (8x 1) Complement: 1050 Three battlecruisers were proposed for the reinforcement of the East Indies Squadron in 1939 and authorised in February 1940. They were intended to strengthen the cruiser and destroyer force and support them against the more powerful and numerous Japanese cruisers which, in particular, outclassed the existing Dutch cruisers. They were to have been completed in 1944 but the German invasion halted all further development of the class. German assistance was initially sought for design work and the first proposal was for ships very similar to rhe Schamhorsl class and armed with rhe same 280mm guns in three triple turrets. Displacement was 27,500t standard,speed 33ktswith 155,000shp and secondary armament 8-120mm (4x2). Subsequently the design was enlarged (with the particulars given above) to include more powerful machinery arranged on the unit system, necessitating two funnels instead of one, and two more twin 120mm mountings, the German main armament was retained The side armour was sloped to increase its angle of impact with projectiles. A 100mm main deck joined the tops of the side armour while a 30min splinter deck, sloped at the sides to join the bottom of the belt, was provided below it Underwater protection was provided by wing compartments divided longitudinally and bounded on the inboard side by a 40mm bulkhead The outboard side extended beyond the base of the belt to form a slight bulge giving a hull section reminis- cent of the British Repu/re and Renoun . In general the ships, if built, would have been contemporaries of the US Alaska class w hich they resembled in size, speed armament and concept. J De Ruyler as commissioned DE RUYTER cruiser Displacement: c6000t standard; 6442t load; 7548t full load Dimensions: 552ft 2in wl, 560ft 4in oa x 51ft. 6in x 16ft 9in 168.30, 170.80 x IS.70 x 5.10m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 66,000shp = 32kts. Oil 1300t Armour: Bek 50-30mm, barbettes 30mm, turrets 30mm, bulkheads 30mm, decks 30mm, CT 30mm Armament: 7-l5Omm/5O(3x2, 1x1), 10-40mm AA (5x2), 8-12 7mm A A (4x2) Complement: 435 Name Builder Launched Fate DE RUY1 ER Wilton 11 3 35 Sunk 28 2 42 Fijc noord Authon ed in 1930 to replace the cancelled Celebes and provide the third cruiser considered necessary on the East Indies station. The design was severely restricted by monetary considerations and was initially limited to 5250t dis- placement and 6-150mm guns(2x2 aft, 1x2 forward) which allowed for a speed of 32kts and light protection equal to that of thcSuwicfro class. This design was heavily criticised, principally due to its small size and limited armament, 8-150mm or 6-203mm guns being regarded as more suitable. Subsequently the hull was lengthened to improve the lines, and hence speed, and the additional space and volume obtained were utilised to fit a single 150mm gun in a superfir- ing position forward and an aircraft catapult abaft the funnel. Some weight saving was made possible by careful design and the adoption of welding, aluminium, etc. The ship was ordered to this enlarged design in August 1932. Protection consisted of a waterline belt extending from the forward edge of‘A’ magazine to the after end of the steering compartment, covered by a 30mm protective deck and closed with 30mm end bulkheads. The main control tower, mounted at the top of a tower-type bridge, after control tower, turrets, barbettes and communication trunks were fitted with 30mm armour. Revolving weight of the twin Mk 9 turrets was 70t while the single Mk 10 mounting, which was 388
К vtenaer as completed Bv courtesy of fohn Roberts Name GERARD CALLENBURGH ISAAC SWEERS PHILIPS VAN ALMON DE TJERK HIDDES Builder Launched Fate Rottcrdamse 12.10.1939 Sunk 9.6.44 De Schelde De Schelde 16.3.1940 Sunk 13.11.42 BU on slip Rottcrdamse 12.10.1939 BU 1942-43 Designed by Yarrow, these ships were modified versions of HMS Ambuscade from which they differed very little in specification. They did however differ m having funnels of equal section, the mainmast stepped between the 1'1 instead of against the after superstructure and in variations of equipment to meet Dutch requirements. These latter included the carrying of mines, a seaplane stowed above the after TT and the omission of shields on the guns in ‘B’ and ‘Y’ positions. Speed at deep load was 34kts. All were built in Dutch yards with assistance from Yarrow. Va» Ghent was wrecked and abandoned after running aground in Banka Strait. Piet Hein was sunk by gunfire from the Japanese destroyers Asashio and Oshio in the Bandoeng Strait. Kortenaer was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of the Java Sea. Evertsen was heavily damaged and set on fire in action with Japanese cruisers and destroyers on 28 February 1942, and beached and abandoned the following das. In these vessels, designed with the assistance of Yarrow, size was substantially increased over that of earlier classes to provide a higher speed, greater endurance and heavier armament, bringing them more into line with contemporary Japan- ese vessels. The twin 120mm mountings were placed in ‘A’ and ‘ Y’ positions and the single in ‘X’ position, while the twin Ha/emeycr Bofors were fitted in ‘B’ position and on a platform between the TT. They were also to carry a seaplane, stowed between the funnels. The boilers were disposed in two rooms w«th a single unit in the forward compartment and two in the second, while the turbines were fitted in a single engine room. Range was 5400nm at 19kts. None had been completed when the Germans invaded but Isaac Sweers was towed to the UK minus most of her armament and fire control gear. She was completed with British equipment and entered service in May 1941 with 6-4in HA/LA 3x2), 4—40mm and 8-0.5in AA (2x4), 2-20mm AA (2x 1) replacing the0.5in c 1942. In addition a British HA director radar Type 285 added later was fitted on the bridge and the rig altered to a tripod foremast, carrying a D/F aerial (later replaced by an air-warning radar aerial) and pole mainmast abaft the second funnel. She was torpedoed off Algiers by the German submarine U431. The remaining three were scuttled or, m the case of Almonde, wrecked on the slip. Callenburgh was salvaged by the Germans and completed &s>ZHl in 1942; she was sunk by the British destroyers Ashanti and Tartar (sec under Germany). Hiddes was also salvaged but. being irreparable, was scrapped, while the wreck of Almonde was broken up on the slip. Ex-British ‘N’ class destroyers VAN GALEN class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 1316t standard; 1650t full load 307ft pp, 322ft oa x 31ft 2in x 9ft lOin 95.57, 98.15 x 9.55 x 2.97m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines. 3 Yarrow boilers, 31,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 330t Two British destroyers of the ‘N’ class, Noble and Nonpareil, were purchased by the Royal Netherlands Navy while under construction and renamed Van Galen and Tjerk Hiddes respecitvely. For further details see under Great Britain. Armament: Complement: 4-120mm/50 (4x1), l-75mm AA, 4-40mm AA (2x2), 4-12.7mm AA (4x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x3) KXI 1921 Name 120 Builder Launched Fate KXI class submarines BANCKERT VAN GALEN VAN NES WITTE DE WITI1 Burgerhouts Fijenoord Burgerhouts Fijenoord 14.11.1929 28.6.1928 20.3.1930 11.9.1928 Sunk Sept 1949 BU 1942 Sunk 17.2.42 Scuttled 2.3.42 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 670t/815t 218ft lOin oa x 20ft 2in x 12ft 2in 66.90 x 6.15 x 3.70m 2-shaft MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2400bhp/725shp = 15kts/8kts. Oil 45t Slightly modified versions of the Van Ghent class, fitted for minesweeping instead of minelaving, and with an improved AA armament of twin 40mm mountings. They also mounted one less 75mm gun and carried 30t more fuel, giving a range of ЗЗООпт at 15kts compared with 3200nm in Van Ghent. I an Galen was bombed and sunk 10.5.40 at Rotterdam by German aircraft but was raised by the Germans in October and later broken up. Van Nes was bombed and sunk in the Banka Strait bv Japanese aircraft and Witte de With was scuttled at Sourabaya following bomb damage. Banckert was also damaged in Japanese air attacks and was under repair in drydock on 2.3.42 when both dock and ship were scuttled with a torpedo. She was salvaged by the Japanese and renamed patrol boat No 106 but repairs were not completed. She was surrendered to Allied forces in 1945 and returned to the Dutch who sank her as a target in the Madura Strait in September 1949. Armament: Complement: Name KXI KXII KXIII TJERK HIDDES class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 1604t standard; 2228t full load 344ft 6in wl, 351ft oa x 34ft 9in x 9ft 2in 105.00, 107.00 x 10.60 x 2.80m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 45,OOOshp = 37.5kts. Oil 560t 2-530mm TT bow). 4—450mm TT (2 bow, 1 stern; 12 tor- pedoes , l-88mm AA, 1-12.7mm AA 31 Builder Fijenoord Fijenoord Fijenoord Launched Fate 24.4.1924 15.7.1924 23.12.1924 BU 1945 Sunk 18.2.42 BU 1945 Originally authorised in 1918, these boats were of Dutch design and were larger than earlier types with a heavier torpedo armament and stronger hull. Diving limit was about 200ft (60m) and range 3500nm at llkts/13nm at 8kts. The torpedoes provided one reload for each tube. The ‘K’ and roman numeral designation indicated that they were sea-going types intended for service in the East Indies, the ‘O’ and arabic numeral designation being used for coastal boats intended for service in home waters. KXII was sunk by Japanese aircraft at Sourabaya on 18.2.42 and the wreck was blown up in the following month to prevent her salvage by the Japanese, l he remaining pair were paid off in Australia 1944—45. 09 class submarines 010 1926 Armament: Complement: 5-120mm/50(2x 2, I x 1), 4—40mm AA (2x2) 4-12.7mm AA (4x 1), 8-533mm TT (2x4). 24 mines 158 Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 515t/647t 179ft 6in oa x 18ft 8in x 11ft 6in 54.70 x 5.70 x 2.50m 2-shaft Sulzer diesels plus 2 electric motors, 900bhp/610shp = 12kts/8kts. Oil 2h 2-530mm TT (bow), 3-450mm TT (2 bow, 1 stern; 10 tor- pedoes) l-88mm AA, 1-12.7mm AA 29
equipped for firing starshell, weighed 25t. The 120mm guns were high-velocity weapons of 2950fs firing a 101.51b shell. The close-range AA armament of five 40mm twin Hazemeyer mountings was grouped close together on the after superstructure - an odd arrangement which limited arcs of fire and made them vulnerable to destruction bv a single hit. The fire control systems were very advanced for the period and included remote controls, stabilisation and a fair degree of automation. The 18m Heinkel catapult carried a Fokker CX1W aircraft for spotting and reconnaissance and a second aircraft could be stowed between it and the after superstructure. 'I he boilers were equally disposed in three rooms, the pair in the foremost being slightly smaller than the others. The turbines were designed to accept a 15 per cent overload for short periods, giving 76,000shp for a speed of 33.5kts. Cruising turbines were fitted to both shafts for economic cruising at 17kts and endurance at 12kts with 750t oil was 6800nm (lljOOOnm approx with full 1300t oil). De Ruyter was the flagship of the ABDA squadron at the Battle of the Java Sea in 1942. During the battle she was hit by gunfire and a ‘Long Lance’ torpedo fired by the Japanese cruiserHaguro, and sank two hours later with heavy loss of life. De Ruyter during trials, with experimental funnel cap tacob van Heemskerck about 1942 as refitted bv the Bntish V < [herlands Хагу TROMP class cruisers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 3787t standard; c4800t full load 410ft lin pp, 433ft oa x 40ft 8in x 13ft 9in 125.00, 132.00 x 12.40 x 4.20m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 56,000shp = 33.5kts. Oil 860t PRO VINCI EN class cruisers Belt 15mm, bulkheads 30-20mm, decks 25mm-15mm, gun- shiclds 15mm, CT 12mm, communication tube 25mm 6-150mm/50 (3x2), 8-40mm AA (4x2), 4—12.7mm AA (2x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) 309 Name Builder Launched Fate JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK Ncderlandse 16.9.39 Stricken 1958 TROMP Nederlandse 24.5.37 Stricken 1958 Name Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 8350t standard; 10,800t full load 598ft 5in pp, 613ft 6in oa x 56ft 7in x 18ft 6in 182.40, 187.00 x /7.25 x 5.60m 3-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 78,000shp = 32kts. Oil 1750t Bell 100mm-75mm, 100mm-50mm decks 25mm-20mm, turrets 10-150mm/50 (2x3, 2x2), 14-40mm AA (7x2), 8-12.7mm AA (4x2), 6-533mm TT (2x3) 700 Builder Launched Fate Authorised in 1935 but originally conceived in 1931 as large 2500t flotilla leaders and later expanded into light cruisers of the classic scout type. Their primary purpose was to strengthen the Dutch destroyer force in the East Indies and counterbalance, to some extent, the greater strength of the Japanese destroyer fleet. On a comparatively small displacement they provided a heavy armament with a speed sufficient to keep station with their destroyers under normal sea-going conditions, but sacrificed armour to do so. In this respect they were vulnerable to destroyer fire but the splinter protection provided was sufficient to limit the area of damage. An external belt of 15mm plating was backed up internally by longitudinal 30mm bulkheads covered by 25mm deck and closed by 30mm bulkheads, forming a complete internal box. Splinter protection was also provided for the guns, lire control gear and communication and ammuni- tion trunks. The armament included provision for carrying a seaplane on the superstructure amidships but no catapult. The 120mm guns were fitted in Mk 11 twin mountings capable of 60°elevation. The twin 40mm Hazemeyer AA guns were again grouped together, as in De Ruyter, on the after shelter deck in a four-cornered arrangement, but the main armament was concentrated forward instead of aft, emphasising their intended role as a spearhead to a destroyer force. The four boilers were fitted fore and aft and equally disposed between two boiler rooms abaft which were two engine rooms, that forward containing the starboard and that aft the port turbine. Both ships transferred to the UK after the German invasion of the Low Countries but Heemskerck had not completed fitting out. Principally she lacked her armament and fire control gear so she was completed at Portsmouth D\ d with a British armament of 10-4in HA/LA (5x2), 4—2pdr pompoms (1 x4) and 6-20mm (6x 1). Three of the twin 4in mounts replaced the 150mm mountings and the remaining pair were placed on each side of the after shelter deck while the quadruple pompom was fitted at the after end of the shelter deck. Two HA directors were fitted, on the bridge and after superstructure, each carrying the aerials of radar t ype 285. In addition the forecastle and side plating were extended further aft and the rig modified to include a tripod mainmast to carry the second aerial of air-warning radar Type 279, the first being on a modified foremast. TT were not fitted. Later in the war her 2pdr mounting was removed and the intended armament of 8-40mm AA 4x2) on Hazemeyer mountings fitted, while the single 20mm AA were replaced by 8-20mm AA (4x2). In addition the mainmast was removed when a single aerial air-warning radar set was fitted; a surface warning set was also added. Tromp was modified to a lesser extent, initially having 4—20mm (4x 1) added and later 4—3in AA (4x 1) and another 2-20mm (2x 1) together with air-warning, surface-warning and gun- nery radar sets. Both units saw extensive war service with the Allies and survived to form part of the postwar fleet. After being stricken both were employed as accommodation ships. DE ZEVEN PRO VI NCI EN EENDRACHT Wilton- Fijcnoord Rottcrdamse 24.12.44 22.8.50 Completed as De Ruyter, to Peru 1973 Completed as De Zeven Provincien, to Peru 1976 Authorised in 1938 as replacements for theyava arxdSutnaira. Initially designed as enlarged versions of De Ruyter with 8-150mm guns (4x2) instead of six and much improved protection but later modified to incorporate triple mountings in ‘A’ and ‘Y’ positions. Eendracht was to have been named Kijkdutn. Construction was not far advanced when the German invasion brought a hah to proceedings and although their new owners carried out some work on the ships very little further was accomplished until after the war. Provincien was launched by the Germans to clear the building slip and then laid up. After the war the design was modified to incorporate new equipment and the results oi war experience, including the provision of more powerful machinery, improved sub-division and remodelled superstructure. Work recommenced in 1947 when Eendracht was renamed De Zeven Provincien and Provincien was renamed De Ruyter. Provincien was converted to a guided missile cruiser 1952-54. Both were sold to Peru, Dr Ruyter in 1973 and Provincien in 1976, being renamed Abnirante Grau and Aguirre respectively. Both are still (1980) in service. VAN GHENT class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1316t standard; 1640t full load 307ft pp, 322ft oa x 31ft 2in x 9ft 9in 93.57, 98.15 x 9.53 x 2.97m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 31,000shp = 36kts. Oil 300t 4-120mm/50 (4x 1), 2-75mm AA (2x1), 4-12.7mm AA (4x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x3), 24 mines 129 Name EVERTSEN KORTENAER PIET HEIN VAN GHENT (ex- De Ruyter) Builder Burgerhouts Burgerhouts Burgerhouts De Schelde Launched Fate 29.12.1926 30.6.1927 2.4.1927 23.10.1926 Lost 29.2.42 Sunk 27.2.42 Sunk 19.2.42 Wrecked 15.2.42
The Netherlands Name Builder Launched Fate 09 De Schelde 7.4.1925 BU 1945 OlO Nederlandse 30.7.1925 BU 1945 Oil Fijenoord 19.3 1925 Scuttled Sept 1944 Originally authorised in 1917, these boats were smaller versions of theXX/ class designed for service in home waters. Diving limit was 200ft (60m) and range 3500nmat llkts/8nmat 71kts The torpedoes gave one reload for each tube 09 and OlO escaped to Britain in 1940 and operated with the RN until laid up at the end of 1944.011 was captured by the Germans and scuttled as a blockship. The wreck was raised in 1947 and scrapped O/5 ac completed 012 class submarines Displacement: 568t/715t Dimensions: 198ft 6in oa x ISft 4in x lift lOin 60 50 x 5.60 x 3 60m Machinery. 2-shaft Sulzer (012 MAN) diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1800bhp/620shp = 15kts/8kts. Oil 93t Armament: 5-533mm TT (4 bow, 1 stern), 2-40mm AA (2x1) Complement: 31 Name Builder Launched Fate 012 De Schelde 1 11 1930 Scuttled May 1945 013 De Schelde 8 11 1930 Sunk 20.6 40 014 De Schelde 3 10.1931 BU 1943-44 015 Fijenoord 17 5.1931 BU 1946-47 Ordered during 1927-29, these vessels were a substantial improvement on the previous ‘O’ class For a relatively small increase in displacement they possessed a uniform armament of 533mm TT, a stronger, mainly welded hull of improved form giving a deeper diving limit of 280ft (85m) and an increase in submerged endurance to 26nm ar 8kts They also had more powerful diesels for a higher surface speed and greater oil fuel stowage to compensate for the higher con- sumption, surface range was 35OOnm at lOkts. The armament included 2-40mm A A guns on disappearing mountings which shows an early appreciation by the Dutch of the vulnerability of submarines to air attack They were carried in fore and aft, watertight extensions to the conning tower. This arrangment was repeated in all subsequent boats up to theO2/ class. O!3,14 and 15 escaped to Britain m 1940 but shortly afterwards 013 was sunk in error by the Polish submarine Wilk in the North Sea 014 was paid off in September 1943.012 was captured by the Germans at Den Helder; renamed UD2, she served with the German Navy until scuttled at Kiel at the end of the war. KXIV as completed KXIV class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement 77lt/1008t 242ft 9in oa x 25ft x 12ft lOin 74 00 x 7.60 x 3.90m 2-shaft MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 3200bhp/lOOOshp = 17kts/9kts 8-533inm TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 amidships, 14 torpedoes), l-88nim AA, 2-40mm AA (2x 1) 38 - Name Builder Launched Fate KXIV Rotterdamse 11.7.1932 Laid up June 1946 KXV Rotterdamse Dec 1932 Laid up June 1946 KXVI Rotterdamse Apr 1933 Sunk 25 12 41 KXVII Fijenoord Julv 1932 Sunk 24 12 41 KXVIII Fijenoord Julv 1932 Sunk 24 12 41 Enlarged versions of the OI2 class, for service in the East Indies, with heavier torpedo armament and higher speed One of the additional tubes was mounted in the stern and the others in an external revolving mounting forming part of the casing forward of the CT, the torpedo complement prov ided one reload for each of the internal tubes only Diving limit was 260ft (80m) and endurance 35OOnm at 1 lkts/26nm at 8.5kts. KXIV -XVI were ordered in 1929 and KXVI!-XV HI in 1930. KXVI sank the Japanese destroyerScgin on24 12.1941 but washerself sunk the following day bv the Japanese submarine/66 off Kuching KXVI I was sunk by Japanese destroyers off Malaya and KXV1II, heavily damaged in a DC attack and non-opcrauonal at Sourabaya, was scuttled to prevent her use by the Japanese She was however salvaged bv the Japanese in 1944 and repaired to serve as a radar picket hulk in the Madura Strait where she was sunk by the British submarine Taciturn in July 1945 The remaining pair continued to operate in the Far East and Indian Ocean against Japanese shipping until the end of the war 016 submarine Displacement: 896t/1170t Dimensions. 254ft 3in x 21ft 9in x 13ft 3in 77 50 x 6.63 x 4 04m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 32OObhp/lOOOshp = 18kts/9kts Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 amidships) 1 -88mm AA, 2-40mm A A (2x 1) Complement 38 Name Builder Launched Fate 016 De Schelde 27 1 1936 Mined 16 12 41 With this boat the policy of providing smaller vessels for home service was abandoned and she was actually larger than any of the preceding ‘K’ boats Subsequently the distinction between the overseas and home types was aban- doned and all later submarines were designated with numbers prefixed ‘O’. In effect the Dutch Navy recognised that the larger sea-going type would provide greater operational flexibility for home operations and, if required, could be transferred to the Far East. 016 was virtually a slightly enlarged version of the KXIV class with (he hull form modified to provide a 1 kt improvement in surface speed Her machinery and armament were identical to that of the earlier class. She was lost in a British minefield off Singapore while returning from patrol 016 as completed courtesy of John Robert 019 class submarines Displacement: 998t/1536t Dimensions: 265ft 9in oa x 24ft 7in x 13ft I in 81 00 x 7 50 x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Sulzer diesds plus 2 electric motors, 52OObhp/ lOOOshp = 19 25kts/9kts Armament: 8-530mm Tl (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 amidships), l-88mm AA, 2-40mm AA (2x 1), j-12 7mm AA, 40 mines Complement: 55 Name Builder Launched Fate 019 Wilton-Fijenoord 22.9.1938 Wrecked 8 7.45 020 Wilton- Fijenoord 31.1 1939 Sunk 20 12.41 Originally designated KXIX and XX, these boats were given *0’ designations when it was decided to abandon the distinction between home and overseas types They were the Dutch Navy’s first minelaying submarines but the design was based on that of the Polish Orzel and Sep which were designed and built in Holland in the late 1930s. The mines were carried in vertical tubes, 10 on each side within the saddle tanks, each tube containing 2 mines In other respects the boats carried the same armament as the earlier units but the diesel engines were of much higher power - mainly due to the hull’s larger size but also to give a substantial surface speed. They were also fitted with experimental air-breathing 391
WESTERN EUROPE masts to allow the diesels to be run at periscope depth - a novel idea that in 1940 inspired the German development of the‘snorkel’. Diving limit was deeper than in earlier vessels at 320ft (100m). 020 was sunk bv the Japanese destroyer Uranami buiO/9 continued tooperate in the East Indies and Indian Ocean until wrecked in the China Sea at the end of the war. Name Builder Launched Fate FLORES Fijenoord 15 8 1925 Sold for BU 1968 SOEMBA Wilton 24.8.1925 Stricken 1956 079 in 1941 Netherlands X'avv Local defence vessels intended to guard the approaches to important bases and the defensive minefields thereof For reconnaissance, principally the early warning of an approaching enemy, they were equipped to carry a seaplane. Fiores escaped to Britain in 1940, while Stnwftu was operating in the Far East. Both later served in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. During the war the 75mm gun was removed and 4—20mm AA (4x 1) {Flores 2-2pdr and 2-20mm) were fitted and the aircraft facilities removed. In 1945 Soemba was disarmed and converted into a radar TS; she survived into the late 1970s as a repair barge. 021 class submarines Displacement: 934t/1350t Dimensions: 255ft Ilin oa x 21ft 4in x 12ft 6in 78 00 x 6 50 x 3.80m Machinery: 2-shaft Sulzer diesels plus 2 electric motors, 5200bhp/ lOOOshp = 19.5kts/9kts. Oil 135t Armament: 8-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 amidships), l-88mm AA, 2-40inm A A (2* 1), 1-12.7mm AA Complement: 55 JOHAN MAURITS VAN NASSAU gum Displacement: 1520t standard, 1795c full load Dimensions: 259ft 3in pp x 37ft 9in x 12ft 3in 79 00 x 11.50 x 3.73m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 4 Yarrow boilers, 2100ihp Armour: Deck 25mm, CT 25mm Armament. 3-150mm (3x 1), 2-40mm A A (2x I), 4- Complement: 124 Name Builder Launched JOHAN MAURITS De Schelde 20 8.1932 VAN NASSAU = 15kts. Oil 273t -12.7mm AA (2x2) Fate Sunk 14 5 1940 A repeat of the Flores class but slightly longer and heavier and carrying a different light AA armament. She was sunk by German bombs olf Callantsoog. Name Builder Launched Fate 021 De Schelde 21.10 1939 Sold for BU 24 1.58 022 De Schelde 20.1.1940 Sunk 8 11.40 023 Rotterdamse 5.12.1939 BU 1949 024 Rotterdamse 18.3 1940 Stricken 1956 025 Wilton-Fi ienoord 1.5.1940 Scuttled May 1945 026 Rotterdamse 23.11.1940 Scuttled 3.5.45 027 Rotterdamse 26.9.1941 Stncken Dec 1959 Virtually repeats of theO/9 with the minelaying capability omitted allowing for a smaller and more streamlined hull giving a slightly higher surface speed. Diving limit was again 320ft (100m) and surface range 7100nm at lOkts. 021-024 escaped to Britain on the German invasion; 022 and 023 were incomplete and were given their final fitting-out at Portsmouth DYd; shortly afterwards022 was sunk by the German minesweeper Af 144 and the patrol boat Ujl77 off Lindenses The remaining three were captured incomplete by the Germans in May 1940. 025, which had been scuttled, was raised and renamed UD3, while 026 and 027, still on the building slips, were completed as UD4 and UD5 in 1941. UD3 and UD4 were scuttled at the end of the war at Kiel but UD5 was returned to the Dutch. The three German boats were fitted with 2-20mm AA in place of the 40mm guns and UD4 and UD5 (and possibly UD3) were completed with German type conning towers. Johan Маш its min Nassau about 1937 Ex-British submarines The following submarines were transferred to the Dutch by the British Admir- alty: Zeehond (ex-Sturgeon), Zwaardvisch (ex-Talent), Tijjerhai (ex-Tam) and Dolfijn (ex P47). Sturgeon was returned in 1945 but the two *T’ class boats were purchased for the postwar fleet and P47 was scrapped in Holland 1947-48. See also under Great Britain. Flores 1953 FLORES class gunboats Displacement: 1457c standard Dimensions: 249ft 3in pp x 37ft 9in x 11ft 9in 45.50 x 11.50 x 3.58m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 4 Yarrow boilers, 2000ihp = 15kts. Oil 285c Armour: Deck 25mm, CT 25mm Armament: 3-150mm (3x 1), l-75mm AA, 4-12.7mm AA (2x2) Complement: 132 VAN KINSBERGAN sloop Displacement: 1760t standard, c2350t full load Dimensions: 328ft pp, 338ft 6in oa x 38ft x 10ft 3in 99 98, 103.18 x 11 58 x 3 12m Machinery: 2-shaft Werkspoor geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 16,OOOshp = 25 5kts. Oil 128t Armour: Deck 20mm-12mm Armament: 4— 120mm (4x 1), 4—40mm AA (2x2) Complement: 190 Name Builder Launched Fate VAN KINSBERGAN Rotterdamse 5 1.1939 Discarded cl959 Designed to serve as a TS in peacetime and as an escort in wartime. Ordered in November 1936, this was a sophisticated ship largely due to the need to prov ide extensive armament and fire control gear for training purposes. In 1940 she escaped to Britain and spent the rest of the war engaged in escort and patrol work until laid up in January 1945. During the war the twin 40mm mounting on the bridge was removed and 6-20mm A A (2x2, 2 x 1) guns, asdic and radar were added. By 1946 her displacement had risen to 2095t standard, 2703t full load. In 1951 she was reclassified as a frigate and in 1955 she was convened to a depot ship. 392
—тУ А'З 1945 1938 Programme gunboats Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery. Armour: Armament: Complement: 1180t standard; 1400t full load 246ft lin pp, 255ft 1 lin <>a x 33ft 6in x 9ft 6in 75.00, 78 00 x 10.20 x 2 90m 2-shaft Babcock & Wilcox diesels, 35OObhp = ISkts Oil 157t Belt 60mm, deck 35mm-20mm, turrets 60mm, CT 20mm 4-120mm (2x2), 4—40mtn AA (2x2), 4-12.7mm AA (2x2), 2 DC throwers 106 Name ‘A’ *B’ ‘C Builder Launched Fate P Smit 23 11.1940 Sunk 5.5.45 Gusto 28 6 1941 Sunk 28.9.44 P Smit 22.3.1941 BU 1960 Rigel m 1931 A etherlands Navy RIGEL minelayer Low-freeboard coastal escort vessels of which 7 were projected but only 3 laid down. They were captured by the Germans in May 1940 and completed by them as KI, K2 and КЗ respectively, being fitted with a German close range A*A armament of 4-37mm (2x2) and 12-20inm (2x4, 2x2) and less powerful diesels giving a speed of 15.5kts. KI was sunk by Allied aircraft in the Kattegat. K2, sunk by an aerial torpedo, was salvaged in 1945 but foundered under tow and in 1946 was salvaged again to be scrapped during 1946-48 КЗ was returned to the Dutch, renamed Van Spcyk in 1946 and re-engined m 1953. EX-ALLIFD ESCORT VESSELS The ‘Flower’ class corvette Carnation and the ‘River’ class frigate Rtbhle were transferred to the Dutch in 1943 and renamed Fnso and Johan A f aunts van Nassau respecitvely. Fnso was returned in February 1945 but Nassau was retained in the Dutch Navy until scrapped in 1959. For full details see under Great Britain The US PC468 was transferred to the Dutch Navy in 1942 and renamed Queen Wilhelmina. She remained in service postwar and was finally sold to the Nigerian Navy in 1962. SUBMARINE-CHASERS Twoclasses of sub-chasers were to have been built by the Dutch. The first was to consist of four vessels of 328t and 24kts speed, armed with l-76mm and 4-40mm guns They were laid down in 1939 by Sourabaya Droogdok but three were later cancelled and the fourth was destroyed on the stocks in 1942 The second class was to have consisted of 18 vessels built in home yards for the East Indies station Six were ordered in 1940, 3 from Nederlandse Dok and 3 from J & К Smit, but all further development was halted by the German invasion. They were to have displaced 395t, been fitted with steam turbines for a speed of 24kts and have had an armament of 4-40mm guns. Displacement: 163 It Dimensions: 228ft 4in pp, 242ft 9in x 36ft lin x 9ft lOin 69.60, 74 00 x ll.00 x 3 00m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 1400ihp = 12.5kts Armament: 2-76mm (2x 1), 2-12.7mm AA (2x 1), 150 mines Complement: 63 Built at Nederlandse Dok for East Indies station and launched on 7.3.31, being intended to serve as the Governor’s yacht in peacetime. Sunk as a blockship at Tandjong Priok on 2.3.42 but salvaged by the Japanese in March 1944, she was returned to the Dutch in 1945 and sold to Indonesia in 1951 and renamed Dewakambar. VAN ORANJE class minelayers Displacement: 1291t standard Dimensions: 215ft lOin pp, 229ft 8in oa x 36ft x 10ft 9in 65.80, 70.00 x 11.00 x 3 28m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 1750ihp = 15kts Armament: 2-75mm AA (2x1), 2-40mni AA (2x1), 2-12.7mm A A (2x1) Complement’ 121 Class: Gouden I.eeuw, Prins van Oranje Two pure minelayers built for the East Indies station by De Maas and launched in 1931. The former was scuttled at Souabaya on 7 3 42 and the latter was sunk by Japanese ships off Tarakan on 12.1.42 PRO PATRIA minelayer Displacement. 537t standaid; 612t full load Dimensions. 154ft 3in pp x 2Sft 3in x 7ft 7in 47.00 x 8 60 x 2. 30m Machinery: ТЕ engines, 650ihp = lOkts Armament* l-75mm AA, 2-12.7mni AA (2x 1), 80 mines Complement 61 Small coastal minelayer launched by Sourabaya Droogdok on 21 7.1922 and scuttled on 15 2.42 in the River Musi. KRAKATAU minelayer Displacement: 982t Dimensions: 213it 3in pp x 32ft 10m x 10ft 6in 65 00 x 10 00 x 3 20m Machinery: ТЕ engines, coal-fired boilers, 2500 hp = 15.5kts Armament: 2-75mm .AA (2x I), 4-12 7mm AA (4x 1), 150 mines Complement: 91 Built at Sourabava Droogdok, launched in 1924 and scuttled off Madura on 8.3.42. Goudin Leeuw in 1932 JAN VAN BRAKEL minelayer NAUTILUS minelayer Displacement: 800t standard Dimensions: 18011 5in pp, 192ft 7in oa x 31ft 2in x lift 6in 55 00, 58.70 x 9.50 x 3 50m Machinery. ТЕ engines, 3 boilers, 1350ihp = 15kts. Oil I38t Armament. 2-75mm AA (2 - 1), 2-40nun A A (2x1), 1-12.7mm A A, 40 mines Complement: 50 Constructed by Rottcrdamse Droogdok for service in home watersand launched on 30 10.29 She was designed to carry out fishery protection work in peacetime. Lost in an accidental collision in the Humber Estuary on 22.5 41 Displacement: 740t standard; 955t full load Dimensions* 181 ft Sin pp, 193ft 7in x 32ft lOin x 9ft lOin 55.30, 59 00 x 10 00 x 3 00m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow- boilers, 1600ihp - ISkts Oil 72t Armament: 2-75mm (2x1), l-37mm AA. 4-12.7mm AA (2x2), 80 mines Complement: 65 Similar to Nautilus and also designed to operate as a fishery protection vessel in peacetime. Launched by К M de Schelde on 8 2.36, she served in home waters and was employed as an escort while operating with the Allies during World War II. Initial war modifications included replacing the 12.7mm AA with 2-20mm AA (2x 1); by 1945 a further 4-20mm were added. She was scrapped in 1956 393
WESTERN EUROPE W illem van de Zaun 1945 WILLEM VAN DE ZAAN minelayer Displacement: 1267t standard Dimensions: 229ft 8in pp, 246ft 9in oa x 36ft 9in X I Oft 9in 70.00, 75.20 x 11.20 x 3.28m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow boilers, 23O(hhp = 15 5kts. Oil 225t Armament: 2-120mm/50 (2x1), 4—40mm AA (2x2), 4—12 7mm AA (2x2), 92 mines Complement: 120 Built by Nederlandse Dok and launched on 15.12.38 this vessel had a fully enclosed minedeck and a heavier armament than earlier minelayers. She was intended to serve as a cadet TS in peacetime which would in part account for the comparatively sophisticated armament. She was also fitted to carry a seaplane amidships, to handle which a crane was fitted abaft the funnel. She escaped to Britain in 1940 and served alongside the Allies until the end of the war During this time her 40mm guns were replaced by a quadruple 2pdr pompom and the 12.7mm guns by 4-20mm A A (4x 1). RAM class minelayers Displacement: 2400t standard Dimensions: 253ft 3in pp, 281 ft 6m oa x 36ft lin x 12ft 6in 77.20, 85 80 x 11.00 x 3.80m Machinery: 2 shaft diesel engines, 4800bhp = 18kts Armament: 3-75mm AA Complement: 120 Class: Ram, Regulus Two large minelayers laid down for the East Indies Marine, the Ram at Tandjorg Priok Droogdok and the Regulus at Sourabaya Droogdok, were still under construction when Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies Ram, which had been launched in 10.12 41 was towed to Tjilatjap and scuttled there on 2 3 42. She was later raised by the Japanese and renamed Nanshin for conversion to a gunboat, but never entered service. She was surrendered in 1945 and later broken up Regulus was damaged on the slip but was repaired by the Japanese, launched on 21.4.43 as the gunboat Nankai and completed in June 1944 She was torpedoed and sunk by a submarine on 16.7.45. JAN VAN AMSTEL class minesweepers Displacement: 450t standard; 585t full load Dimensions: 183ft pp, 186ft oa x 25ft 7in x 6ft 7in 55.80, 56.70 x 7.80 x 2 00m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow boilers, 1690ihp = 15kts Oil HOt Armament: l-75mm, 4-12 7mm AA (2x2) Complement: 46 Name Builder Launched Fate JAN VAN AMSTEL P Smit 27.8.1936 Sunk 8 3 42 PIETER DE BITTER P Smit 29.10.1936 Scuttled 6.3.42 ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN Gusto 22.9.1936 BU 1961 ELAND DUBOIS Gusto 24.10.1936 Scuttled 8 3 42 WILLEM VAN EWIJCK P Smit 22.2.1937 Mined 8 9.39 WILLEM VAN EWIJCK P Smit 18.4.1940 BU 1961 PIETER FLORISZ P Smit 11.5.1937 BU 1961 JAN VAN GELDER Gusto 17.4.1937 BU 1961 ABRAHAM VAN DER Gusto 27.5.1937 BU 1946 HULST Three further vessels of this class, ordered from P Smit, were cancelled, together with the two projected for 1940. The first Ewijck was lost off Terschel- ling and the second, captured incomplete in Apnl 1940, was completed by the Germans as M553 She was mined on 21 4 44 but salvaged on 20 7 44; returned to the Dutch in 1945, she was renamed Abraham van derHulst it being thought that this washer original name. The actualHulst was scuttled along withFlorisz at Enkuizen on 14.5.40 but both were salvaged by the Germans and renamed M552 and M551 respectively, both were returned in 1945, the Tlonsz being given her original name while Hulst became a third Ewijck. Amsiel was sunk by Japanese destroyers in the Madura Strait. Biner was scuttled at Sourabaya and Dubois at Gili Genteng. The survivors sened as BDVs in the postwar fleet. COASTAL MINESWEEPERS Name Builder Launched Disp (std) Length (pp) hp/speed (kts) Armament А, В, C, D Willemsoord 1929-30 179t 140ft 5in (42.80m) 700ihp/14 5 2 MG MERBABOE class Priok 1937 80t 74ft 6in (22.70m) 135hp/10 1-12.7mm AA ALOR class Priok 1938 131t 96ft 2in (29.30m) 300bhp/12 2 MG MERAPI class Priok 1942 80t 68ft Ilin (21.00m) 135bhp/10 2-12 7mm AA DJEMBER class Pnok 1940-43 175t 106ft 9in (32.50m) 360bhp/12 5 2 MG ARDJOENO class Priok 1937 75t 86ft Ilin (wl) (26.50m) 1000bhp/15 2 MG MvI-MvVI Gusto 1940 123t 72ft 3in (37 80m) 1800bhp/20 1—40mm AA, 1-12 7mm AA A, B,C and D were all sunk in 1942 in the Far East but the first three were later salvaged by the Japanese and served as their sub-chasers Nos 113,112,116,until lost in 1944 45. The Merbaboe class consisted of Merbaboe, Rindjani and Smeroe; all three were captured by Japanese in March 1942, returned in 1945 and transferred to Indonesia in 1951. The Alor class consisted of Alor, Aroe, Bantam, Boeroe, Bogor, Ceram and Cheribon. All were scuttled at Tandjong Pnok on 2.3.42 but Bantam was salvaged by the Japanese and became their patrol boat No 117', she was tor- pedoed by the US submarine Hardhead off Bali on 23 7.45. The M erapi class consisted of Merapi ,Slamal and Tjerimei-, all were destroyed incomplete at Tandjong Priok in March 1942 but the last named was salvaged by Japanese and renamed ChalOl and finally sunk by US aircraft on 8.4.45. The Djember class consisted of Djember, Djombangh, Djampea, Enggano, Endeh, Flores, Fak-Fak, Garoet and Grissee. Endeh was sunk by a Japanese destroyer in the Java Sea on 2.3.42. The first four were scuttled at Tandjong Priok on 2.3.42 but all except Djember were salvaged by the Japanese, returned 1945 and transferred to Indonesia in 1951. The remainder were destroyed incomplete at Tandjong Priok but Flores was repaired by the Japanese, returned 1945 and transferred to Indonesia in 1951. The Ardjoeno class comprised Ardjoeno, Gedeh, Kawi, Lawoe and Salak; all were scuttled at Sourabaya on 2.3.42 but later salvaged by the Japanese becom- ing their patrol boats Nos 102, 104, 109, 110 and 118 respectively AU were 394 returned in 1945 except 104 (ex-Gedeh) which was lost in August 1943. MvI-VI were captured incomplete by the Germans on 19.6.40 and completed by them as RA51-54,56 and 55 respectively TA53 and 55 were lost in August 1941 and the remainder scuttled in August 1944. In addition to the above the following British MMSs were transferred to the Dutch during the war: Admiralty Txpe I - Ameland (ex-MMS231), Beveland (ex-MMS237), Marken (ex-MMS227, lost May 1944), Marken (ex-MMS34), Putien (ex-MMS 138), Rozenburg (ex-MMS292), Terschelling (cx-MMS174, lost July 1942), Terschelling (ex-MMS234), Texel (ex-MMS73) and Vheland (ex- MMS226); Admiralty Type II - Duiveland (ex-MMSI044), Overflakkee (cx- MMS1046), Schokland (ex-MMS1082), Tholen (cx-MMS1014), Voome (cx- MMS1043), Walcheren (ex-MMS 1042), Wicringen (ex-MMSI025) and Ijsscl- monde (ex-MMS1026). All the above vessels, apart from the two lost, were retained in the postwar Dutch Navy.
The Netherlands EAST INDIES GOUVERNEMENTSMARINE PATROL VESSELS Name Builder Launched Disp Speed (kts) Armament Fate SIRIUS, WEGA Yselwcrf 1922 936t 12 25 l-76mm Scuttled 28.2 42/Sunk 26 1.42 FOMALHOUT Sourabaya 1923 SOOt 13 5 — Scuttled 2 3.42 MEREL Sourabaya 1928 592t 12 — Scuttled 2 3 42 AREND, VALK Fijenoord 1929 775t 15 2-76min, 2-12 7 AA Scuttled Mar 1942 FAZANT, RE1GER Sourabasa 1930 623t 12 l-76mm Scuttled 1 3.42/Wrecked 28.2 42 Besides ihe above, Albairos, Aldebaren, Bcllatnx, Canopus, Beneb, Gemma and Eridanus, constructed 1911-18, were still in service All were scuttled in March 1942 except Canopus and Deneb which were sunk by Japanese aircraft early in 1942. All were salvaged by the Japanese except Alderbaren and Deneb and were recaptured at the end of the war. The Japanese also salvaged Arend, Valk and Frazam and employed them as patrol boats Nos 108,104 and 109 respectivelv. 108 and 104 were sunk by aircraft in 1945 but 109 was returned in 1945 and later became the Indonesian Kartika (BU 1954) The Gouvemementsmarine also included a large number of survey vessels, harbour tenders and auxiliaries Roger in 1932 Valk in 1938 Neiherland. Nazi MTBb Name Builder Built Disp Length bhp/speed (kts) Armament TM1-TM4 Thomycroft 1927-28 55ft (16.76m) 375/37 2—450mm TT, 2 MG, 4 DC TM3 Sourabaya 1938 13t 61ft (18 60m) 1260/32 2-450mm TT, 2 MG (2x 1) TM4-TM2I Sourabaya 1940-42 17At 63ft (19 20m) 1350/33.25 2-450mm TT, 2-7.7mm MG (2x 1), 4 DCs TM5I-TM53 BPB (5/)/Gusto (52-53) 1939-40 32t 70fl (21 30m) 3300/40 (2x1) 2-533mm TT, 2-20mm AA TM54-TM61 Gusto 1940-41 57t 91ft 9in (28.00m) 2850/34 2-533mm TT, 2-20mm AA (2x1) TM1-4 were 1 hornycroft 55ft wooden hull CMBs stricken in the early 1930s 1 he second TM3 was an experimental vessel fitted with an aircraft engine, she was not a success, never became fully operational and was scuttled on 2.3 42 7 M4-21 were steel hulled vessels propelled by aircraft engines, 7 M4-I5 were scuttled at Sourabaya in March 1942, and the incomplete TM16-21 were blown up at the same time Some of these \essels or pans of them are believed to have been used by the Japanese to construct new MTBs but there is much confusion over th s point TMSl was purchased from British Power Boats and 7Af52-53 were Dutch copies 7’5/5/ served with the RN from 1940, successively becom- ing MA/SB46, MGB46 and MTB433. She was returned in 1945 and renamed RJ2 1 M52 and 53 were captured bs the Germans while building and completed asS20l and 5202, similarly, all the TM54-61 group were captured incomplete, the design was modified by the Germans and they were completed as5 151-158. For further details see under Germany (Material for TM62-70, also of this class, had been collected but the group was not laid down and they were cancelled in May 1940.) EX ALLIED MTBs Sixteen US Vosper-type Pl boats were constructed for the Dutch at Fyffs shipyard in New York and Canadian Power Boats in Montreal and numbered TM22-37. However, TM32, 35, 36 and 37 were retained by the USN as PT368-371 TM 23,24,25,27 and3/ were lost during 1943-44 TM28-30 were taken over by the RN as target boats in 1943. Apart from those lost all were returned to the USA in 1945. Ihe following Bnush MTBs were loaned to the Dutch during 1942-44- White type MTB202, 203 (renamed Arend) and 204; Vosper type - MTB222 (renamed Spencer), 229 (renamed Gier), 231 (renamed Stromvogel), 235 (rena ned Spencer following loss of MTB222), 236 (renamed Havik) and 240 (renamed Buizerd), BPB type - MTB418, 436 and 453. Arend was mined oft Boulogne 18 5 44 and Spencer (e\-MTB222) was sunk 10.11.43 after heavy damage in collision with MTB230 The remainder were returned to the RN in 1946 MA/SBs Name Built Launched Disp hp/specd (kts) Armament SI, S2 Far East 1941 ? 28kts 1 MG S3-S6 Far East 1942 26t 32kts 4 MG S7, S8 USA 1942 45t 30kts l-20mm A A OJR 1-6 USA 1942 48t 32kts 2 MG H7, H8 USA 1940 5 > 52 was lost and 5/ and the OJR class were scuttled in February-March 1942 The fate of the 57 and H7 groups is unknown. 395
WESTERN EUROPE MOTOR LAUNCHES Name Builder Built Disp Length (pp) hp/speed (kts) Armament P1-P8 * 1939-40 23t 62ft (18.90m) 165bhp/9 2 MG P9-16 Priok 1941 26t 62ft (18.90m) 300bhp/14.5 2 MG Pl 7-22 ♦ 1941-42 32t 78ft 9in (24.00m) ?/18 2 MG P37-40 ♦ 1942 72ft (22.00m) 165bhp/10 2-40mm A A, 2 MG В1-16 Sourabaya or Palembang 1942 130t 139ft lin (42.40m) 1500bhp/18 l-76mm, l-40mm AA •Constructed in the East Indies The majority of the above vessels were scuttled or destroyed in Far Fast in 1942. PI ,P4,P11 ,P12,P13 orP14,P!5 andP/6 were salvaged by the Japanese but returned to the Dutch in 1945, except P13 (or 14), taken into service as Challl, which was lost in 1943. Seven of the В class were also salvaged (original names unknown)and renamedChal03,105-108,114 and 115. All were recovered after the war, except Cha 105 (sunk by US submarine Hardhead on 16.6.45), but only Chal07 and Chai 15 were returned to the Dutch. The British Fairmile ‘B’ MLs 138,143,162 and 164 were transferred to the Dutch in 1942; except forML138, which was retained for service as a minesweeper in the post warfleet, they were returned in 1946. Portugal The Portuguese Navy was maintained principally for coast defence and for police duties both in home waters and around the country’s exten- sive colonial possessions. The latter included Angola, Portuguese East Africa and a large number of islands and small coastal territories in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Far East. The fleet was only suffi- cient to deal with small local conflicts and in the event of a major war could not have defended the extensive lines of communication with this widely dispersed empire. In 1922 it consisted largely of old and obsolete vessels but in 1930 a ten-year Programme for the provision of new’ ships to revitalise lhe fleet was authorised. Two destroyers w’ere ordered from Yarrow and 3 more, of the same design, w’ere laid down in the Naval Yard at Lisbon together w’ith 2 sloops (Nunes and Lisboa)', a 51 lOt seaplane render (to be named Sacadura Cabral), 4 submarines and 2 sloops were ordered from Italy, and 2 more sloops (Velho and Zarco) from the British firm Hawthorn Leslie. In 1931, however, the Italian orders were cancelled, the contract for lhe two sloops (the Albuquerque class) being transferred to Hawthorn Leslie and that for the submarines replaced by an order for 3 boats (lhe Delfim class) with Vickers-Armstrong (the seaplane lender was not re-ordered while the original submarine contracts were later taken over by the Italian Gov- ernment and the 4 vessels completed for the Italian Navy). These ships entered service during 1933-36 and formed the main strength of the Portuguese Navy until the end of the 1940s when the Government began purchasing foreign vessels to strengthen the fleet. Portugal was not directly involved in the Second World War except for the invasion of her Timor colony by the Japanese in 1942 and an agreement to allow Britain to use base facilities in the Azores in 1943. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate TEJO 1901 522t Discarded cl929 Guadiana class DOURO 1913 660t Discarded cl929 GUADIANA 1911 660t Discarded 1930s TAMEGA 1922 660t Discarded cl943 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate No 2 1886 65t Discarded 1930s No 3 1886 65t Discarded 1920s AVE (cx-86F) 1913-15 266t Stricken 1940 SA DO (ex-59F) 1913-15 266t Stricken 1940 LIS (ex 90F) 1913-15 266t Stricken 1934 MONDEGO (ех-9/F) 1913-15 266t Stricken 1938 Nos 2 and 3 were ex-Austrian vessels transferred to Portugal in 1920 SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate ESPADARTE 1912 245t Discarded c!930 FOCA class 1916-17 260t Discarded 1930s The Foca class consisted of Foca, Golginho and Hidra. GUNBOATS THE PORTUGUESE NAVY IN 1922 COAST DEFENCE SHIP Name Launched Disp Fate CHAIMITE 1898 335t Discarded by 1930 PATR1A 1903 626t Discarded by 1930 LURIO class 1907-08 3O5t Discarded by 1930 BEIRA class 1910-18 463t Discarded 1935-50 REPUBLICA 1915 !250t Discarded M943 (ex-Gladiolus) CARVALHO ARAUJO 1915 1200t Discarded 1959 (cx-Jonquil) Name Launched Disp Fate VASCO DA GAMA 1876 2982t BU 1935 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate ADAMASTOR 1896 1729t Sold mid-1930s SAO GABRIEL 1898 1809t Discarded by 1928 ALMIRANTE CLASS 5.5.1898 4186i Discarded 1923 The Lurio class also included Save and the Beira class Bengo, lbo,Mandovi and Quanza. Republica and Araujo were cx-British ‘Flower’ class sloops purchased in 1920. Araujo was converted to a survey vessel in 1937. Besides the above there were the old gunboats Limpopo (launched 1890), Zambezi (1886),Sado I (1886) and Acor (1874); the river gunboats Tete (1918), Macau (1909), Flecha (1909) and Pio Minhv, and the minelayers Vulcano ( 1910), SadoII (1905) and Mineiro (1892). The majority of these vessels were deleted in the 1920s and 1930s but Limpopo andMineiro survived until about 1943,Afacau until about 1945, Rio Minho and Vulvano into the late 1940s and Tete until the early 1970s. There were also two patrol vessels, Dili (495t)and Lince (1911,75t), the despatch vessel Cinco de Outubro (1900, 1343t) and the fishery protection vessel Carregado (1912, I05t). 396
Portugal 1л«ид’<1 on 23 7 1933 DOURO class destroyers Displacement: 1219t standard, 1563c full load Dimensions: 307ft pp, 323ft oa x 31 fl x lift 93.57, 98 45 x 9.45 x 3 35m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 33,OOOshp = 36kts Oil 345t Armament: 4 120mm r4x 1), 3-40mm AA (3x 1), 8-533mm Tl (2x4), 2 DC throwers, 20 mines Complement: 184 Name Builder Launched Fate DAO Lisbon DYd 27 7 1934 Discarded 29 11 60 DOURO Lisbon DYd 9.6 1932 Sold 1934 DOURO Lisbon DYd 16.8.1935 Discarded Dec 1959 LIMA Yarrow 29 5 1933 Discarded early 1960s TEJO Lisbon D\ d 9 6 1932 Sold 1934 TEJO Lisbon DYd 4 5.1935 Discarded 9.2.65 VOLGA Yarrow 25 1 1933 Discarded early 1960s Modified versions of the British Ambuscade, designed by Yarrow who con- structed the machinery for all the vessels of the class. 1 he original Dotiro and Tcia were sold to Colombia, being renamed Antioquia and Caldas respectively, and were replaced by two new vessels of the same names. All comfortably reached their design speed on trial; maximum speed at full load was 32kts and endurance about 3500nm at 15kts. In about 1942-43 the 40mm pompoms were replaced by 6-20mm (6x 1) A A and the forward TT mounting was removed Modified versions of the British Bridgewater class minesweeping sloop*, designed by Hawthorn Leslie and laid down 9.10.31 They were not, however, fitted for minelaying, and carried a heavier armament and more oil fuel than their British counterparts. They also had a forward shelter deck, to earn the superfiring gun in ‘B’ position, which raised the bridge by one deck, and to compensate for this additional topweight the beam was increased by 18in Endurance was 6000nm at lOkts and on full power trials both exceeded 17kts In 1943 the 40inm pompoms were replaced by 5-20mm AA (5x 1). Bvaiurtess of John Roberts Alfonso de Albuquerque as completed ALBUQUERQUE class sloops Displacement: 1780t standard, 2440t full load Dimensions: 326ft 9in x 44ft 3in x 12ft 6in 99 60 x 13 49 x 3.8hn Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 8000shp 21 kts. Oil 580t Armament: 4-120inm (4x1), 2-76mm (2x1), 4—*0mm AA (4x1), 2 DC throwers, 40 mines Complement: 189 Delfirn as completed DELFIM class submarines Name Builder Launched I arc ALFONSO DI- Hawthorn Leslie 28.5.1934 Sunk 13 12 61 ALBUQUERQUE BARTOLOMEU DIAS Hawthorn Leslie 10 10 1934 Hulked H965 Displacement 800t/1092t Dimensions: 227ft 2in x 21ft 4in x 12ft Sin 69.23 x 6 50 x 3.86m Machinery: 2-shaft Vickers diesels plus 2 electric motors, 23()0bhp/ lOOOshp = 16.5kts/9 25kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-4in, 2 MG Complement 36 Name Builder Launched Fate DELFIM Vickers 1 5.1934 Discarded ? 1950s ESPARDARTE Vickers 30 5 1934 Discarded 51950s GOLGINHO Vickers 30.5 1934 Discarded ? 1950s Medium-sized patrol submarines designed by Vickers, laid down at Bai row on 9.3.33 and completed in 1935 Smaller than contemporary British boats but otherwise of similar design and appearance except that the deck gun was in a fully enclosed shield Twelve torpedoes were carried, providing one reload for each tube Endurance was 5000nm ar lOkts/1 lOnin at 4kts, equivalent distances at full speed were 2000nm'8nm Ganado Velho 1933 VELHO class sloops Displacement. Dimensions. 950t standard, 1414c full load 250t*t pp 268ft oa x 35fl 6in x lift 3in 76 20,81.69 x 10.82 x 3 43m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 arrow boilers, 2000shp = 16 5kts Oil 470t Armament: 3-120mm (3x 1), 4-T0mm A A (4x 1), 4 DC throwers Complement: 142 Name Builder Launched Fate GONCALVI S 7.ARCO Haw thorn Leslie 28 11.1932 Discarded 1960s GONCALO VELHO Hawthorn Leslie 3 8.1932 Discarded 1960s The contract for these two ships was originally placed with the Italian OlO company in 1931 but was cancelled in the following vearand replaced with the British shipbuilders Hawthorn Leslie who provided a new design the Italian design was for 2 lOOt, two-lunnclled ships). They were intended for colonial service and were equipped to operate as general-purpose vessels, being well armed and equipped for minelaving and anti-submarine work They were also designed to carry a seaplane on the forecastle deck just forward of the mainmast but this feature appears to have been discontinued not long after they com- pleted Endurance was 10,000nm at lOkts, a high figure well suited to their intended employment In the mid-1940s the 40mm guns were replaced by 8-20mm AA(8x 1) Albuquerque was sunk 13 I2.61bylndiannavalfon.es Dias was hulked in about 1965 and renamed San Cnstovao NUNES class sloops Displacement: 1090t standard; 1220c full load Dimensions* 223ft pp, 234ft 4in oa x 32ft 9in x 9ft 4m 67 96, 71.42 x 9 98 x 2.84m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 2400bhp = 16 5kts. Oil llOt Armament: 2-120mm (2-* 1), 4-40mm AA (4x 1), 2 DC throwers Complement: 138 Name Builder Launched Fate PEDRO NUNES Lisbon DYd 17.3.1934 Discarded <1978 JOAO DE LISBOA Lisbon DYd 21 5 1936 Discarded bv 1970 Diesel-driven sloops designed and constructed in Portugal and laid down in 1930. Lisboa was originallv to have been named Infante D Henrique. Endurance was 6000nm at 13kts. In the mid- 1940s their 40mm pompoms were replaced bv 4-20mm AA (4 x 1) Both were converted to survey ships, Nunes in 1956 and Lisboa in 1961. 397
WESTERN EUROPE/THE MEDITERRANEAN GUNBOATS AND PATROL VESSELS Name Type Builder Launched Disp (std) Length hp.'specd (kts) Armament ZAIRE class Gunboats Lisbon DYd 1925-29 397t 147ft 8in (45.00m) 700 13 2-76mm, 2-47nun TORRES GARCIA Coastguard patrol vessel Vigo 1928 250t 91ft lOin (28.00m) FARO class Fishery protection vessels Lisbon DYd 1927-30 295t 120ft (36.58m) 650/13 2-47mm AZ EVIA class Fishery protection vessels 1941-42 230t 134ft 6in (41.00m) 2600.17 2-20mm, 2 MG The Zaire class also included Damao and Dio and were slightly modified versions of the Betra class fitted with coal-fired boilers and ТЕ engines. In the mid- 1940s Zaire was re-armed with 2-20mm AA (2x1) and 2 DC throwers. The Faro class also included Lagos. The Асег ш class consisted of Azevia, Bicuda,Corvina,Dourada,Fataca and Espadilha-, they were diesel-propelled. Ac.tio as completed Spain The Spanish Navy’s primary functions were the defence of the Span- ish coast and the Balearic and Canary Islands, trade protection, and commerce raiding. Cruisers and destroyers were provided to fulfil all these requirements and were backed up by gunboats, for coast defence and escort duty, and submarines, for commerce raiding. Pro- viding a balanced and modern force was however hampered by Spain’s weak financial position, and the considerable disruption of a civil war, which both limited the number of ships that could be built and resulted in extended construction times. The latter, of course, meant that even though ships might be fully up-to-date when author- ised they were often out-of-date when actually commissioned. In 1908 the Spanish Government set up the shipbuilding and armaments company Sociedad Espahola de Construcion Naval (SECN) with the primary purpose of reconstructing the Navy after its heavy losses in the Spanish-American War of 1898. To provide finance and expertise a 24.5 per cent share of this company was sold to the three British firms of Vickers, Armstrong and John Brown, who provided not only modern designs but also skilled overseers for the Spanish yards. Shipbuilding facilities were provided at Ferrol and Cartagena, and all subsequent major Spanish warships were built in these two yards except for the destroyer Churruca, launched in 1925 at a new yard in Cadiz. The rebuilding programme began slowly, but between 1922 and 1930 8 cruisers, 16 destroyers and 12 submarines were either completed or put in hand. The world depression brought a halt to further plans and greatly delayed the completion of those ships still under construction; before the Spanish economy had recov- ered from this setback the Civil War brought a complete halt to further naval expansion. On the outbreak of the Civil War on 17 July 1936 the major part of the Navy was under the control of the Republican Government but, as the majority of naval officers supported the Nationalist cause, the command and organisation of the ships fell mainly to lower deck personnel, considerably weakening its effectiveness. Early in the war the Nationalists captured the naval bases at Ferrol and Vigo together with the battleship Espana and the cruisers Cervera, Canarias and Baleares, the last two being incomplete. The Republican fleet took the logical step of blockading the Straits of Gibraltar to prevent the transport of General Franco’s army by sea from Morocco to the Spanish mainland. However, for some inexplic- able reason they departed for the Bay of Biscay in September 1936 398 leaving only two destroyers on patrol. In the following month Canarias and Cervera cleared the Straits by sinking Ferrandiz and damaging Gravina, allowing Franco to transport 8000 troops by sea for the assault on Madrid; this was the only major effort involving warships during the Civil War, and neither this nor subsequent naval events were particularly spectacular. Both sides concentrated their naval energies on protecting their seaborne lines of supply, with sec- ondary duties directed towards attacks on commerce (usually with submarines) and bombardments and other harassing tactics along the coast. The only naval battle of any note, which took place on the night of 5/6 March 1938, was short and indecisive and occurred only because the two forces involved had run into each other accidentally. The only concrete result of the Battle of Cape Palos was the sinking of the cruiserBaleares. The Civil War ended on 28 March 1939 with Spain in a disrupted and greatly depleted condition. Financially she was very weak and subsequent plans to reinforce the Navy were hampered by consider- able delays in the provision and construction of new ships, due not only to limited funds but also to fluctuations in the availability of those funds. This situation was to continue with but little improve- ment until Spain received US assistance in the 1960s. THE BASQUE NAVY During the Civil War the Basque Government, which was allied to the Republican cause, ran its own small naval force. Il was completely independent of the main Spanish Fleet and consisted entirely of small mercantile conversions, mostly armed trawlers and coastal fishing vessels, employed as gunboats and minesweepers. One of these ves- sels, Donosiia (ex-mercantile Virgen del Carmen), was originally a purpose-built British naval trawler, George Darby of the Castle class built in 1918. The largest ships in the force were the auxiliary vessels Guernica and Galdemes (3717t), and the deep-sea trawlers Araba and Bizkaya (both 1190t), Xabarra (1204t) and Guipozcoa (1252t). Araba was sunk by aircraft in 1937 but was salvaged by the Nationalists and served as Alava until the end of the war; Xabarra was sunk and Galdemes captured by the cruiser Canarias in Mary 1937; Guemia was sunk by a Nationalist auxiliary warship in 1938. There were about 35 other vessels of less than 400t, of which about 7 were lost from various causes.
Spain THE SPANISH NAVY IN 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp (load) Fate PEI AYO 5 2 1887 9745t BU 1925 / sparla class ESPANA 5.2.1912 15,450t Wrecked 26.8.23 ALFONSO XIII 7 5 1913 15,450t Mined 30 4 37 JAIME PRIMERO 21.9 1914 15,450г Lost 17 6 37 /*< layo served as a gunnery TS until discarded in October 1922 Espana was lost oft Cape Tres, Morocco Alfonso X HI, renamed Espaiht in April 1931, was sunk oft Cape Penas after drifting on to a mine Jaime Primera (or Jaime I) suffered an accidental magazine explosion and caught fire while under repair (following bomb damage) at Cartagena and was scuttled; she was refloated in 1938 and broken up 1939-40. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp (load) Fate Audaz class AUDAZ 6 2 1897 430t BU 1925 OSA DO 16 3 1897 430t BU 1925 PROSERPINA 25.10 1897 457t BU 1931 TERROR 28 8.1896 450t BU 1924 Bustamante class BUSTA MANTE 1913 530t BU 1931 CARDARSO 1914 530t BU 1930 VILLAA.MIL 1913 530t BU 1932 Alsedo class ALSEDO 26 10.1922 1145t Stricken 1957 JUAN LAZAGA Mar 1924 1145t Stricken 1961 VELASCO June 1923 1145t Stricken 1957 The Audaz class were fitted for minelaying CRUISERS Name Launched Disp (load) Fate 1 MPERADOR CARLOS V Cataluna class 13.3 1895 9090t BU 1933 PRINCESA DE ASTURIAS 17.10.1896 7524t Discarded 1929 CATALUNA Plata class 24.9.1900 7524t Discarded 1929 RIO DE LA PLATA Estramadura class 17.9.1898 1875t Discarded 1929 ESTRAMADURA Reina Rcgenlc class 1900 2O3Ot Discarded 1930 R1 INA REGENTE Eugenia class 1906 5287t Discarded by 1929 REINA VICTORIA 1 UGLNIA A' inez class 21 4 1920 5500t Stricken 1956 BLAS DE LEZO 3 3.1923 4650t Wrecked 11 7 32 MENDEZ NUNEZ 27.7.1922 4650t Discarded 1960s Rio de la Plata was fitted for minelaying Reina Victoria Eugenia was renamed Republica in 1931 and then Navarra after her 1937-38 reconstruction During this reconstruction, which was carried out at Cadiz, she was fitted with 8 new oil-fired Yarrow boilers trunked into two new vertical funnels and the super- sti ucture was rebuilt to include a new streamlined bridge and small vertical fore and mainmasts. 1 he main armament was reduced to 6 of the original 9-150mm guns repositioned on the centreline (‘Y’ mounting was retained in its original position while the remaining five were arranged two forward, one abaft the bridge, one abaft the second funnel and one superfiring in ‘X’ position) A new A A armament of 4-88mm and 4-20mm w-as also fitted On completion dis- pl iccment was 4857t standard, 6500t full load, oil stowage was 1200t giving an endurance of 4S00in at 15kts. I TORPEDO-BOAT S Name Launched Disp Fate 1 1912 1771 BU 1931 2 1911 177t Discarded cl939 3 1912 177t Lost Sept 1936 4 1912 177t Scuttled Apr 1939 5 1912 177t BU 1931 6 1912 I77t BU 1932 7 1914 I77t BUc 1944 8 1914 177t BU 1932 9 1915 177t Discarded c1943 10 1916 177t BU 1932 11 1915 177t BU 1931 12 1915 177t BU 1932 13 1914 177t BU late 1940s 14 1915 177t Discarded 1943 15 1916 177t BU 1935 16 1916 177t Discarded c 1943 17 1918 177t BU late 1940s 18 1918 177t Discarded c 1939 19 1918 177t Discarded cl943 20 1918 I77t Scuttled Apr 1939 21 1919 177t Scuttled Apr 1939 22 1919 177t Scuttled Apr 1939 3 was wrecked in the Bidosoa riser,4 was scuttled at Cartagena but salvaged for BU in 1940, and 14 was gutted by fire at Cartagena in March 1939 but later repaired. 2021 and 33 were scuttled at Porman and later broken up Mendez Nunez as converted to an AA cruiser Mendez Nunez was reconstructed as a AA cruiser 1944 47 with a new arma- ment of 8-120mm AA (10x1), 10-37mm (5x2) AA, 8-20mm AA and 6-533mm TT (2x3) The superstructure was completely rebuilt, the boilers retrunked into two new funnels and a new ng fitted The 120mm guns were arranged in simitar fash on to the guns of the US Atlanta class with three mountings on the centreline both fore and aft and one on each beam abreast the alter superstructure. She also had her bow modified into a more exaggerated clipper form, increasing the overall length by about 7ft After reconstruction displacement was 4680t standard, 6045l full load ____ Alredo on 3.8 1926 By courtesy of J ihn Roberts SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp (surface) Fate Holland type ISAAC PERAL July 1916 488t Hulked 1930, renamed A0 I.aurenti b iat tvpe NARCISO 1917 260t Discarded 1930s MONTURIOL COSMO GARCIA 1917 260t Discarded 1930s A3 Holland type 1917 260t Discarded 1930s Bl 1921 491t Scuttled Apr 1939 B2 1922 4911 BU 1948 B3 1922 491t Scuttled Apr 1939 B4 1922 49h Scuttled Apr 1939 B5 1923 4911 Sunk 12.10.36 B6 1923 491t Sunk 19 9.36 BI and B2} scuttled at Cartagena, were raised in 1940: Bl was scrapped but B2 was used as a generator plant until broken up in 1948. B3 and B4, scuttled at Porman, were raised and scrapped in 1939 B5 was sunk by aircraft off Malaga and B6 by the destroyer Velasco and auxiliaries off Cabo Penas. 399
THE MEDITERRANEAN GUNBOATS Name Launched Disp Fate Recalde class BONIFAZ 1911 81 It Discarded 1930s LAURIA 1912 81 It Discarded 1930s LAYA 1910 Slit Sunk 15.6.38 RECALDE 1910 8111 Discarded 1930s Castillo class ANTONIO CANOVAS 21.1.1922 13l4t Stricken 1959 DEL CASTILLO JOSE CANALEJAS 1.12.1922 1314t Stricken ? 1950s EDUARDO DATO 1923 1314t Sunk 11.8.36 Laya, sunk by Nationalist aircraft at Valencia, was salvaged in 1940 and scrap- ped. The names of the Castillo class ships were shortened after completion by the omission of the first word. Dato was sunk by the battleship^unHe Primero at Algeciras. in the mid 1930s Besides the above Spain still had a few old gunboats built during 1885-97, all except one of which (the 114t Macmahon) were discarded in the 1920s, and two old river gunboats, Perla (1887,42t) and Cartagcner (1908.270 I’here were also eleven purpose-built armed trawlers purchased in 1922 - the ‘Castle* class Uad Lucas (ex-HMS Xess), Uad Muluya (ex-HMS lV'<rve«rv). Uad Ras (ex-HMS U't-ar), Uad Marlin (ex-HMS Erne) and Uad Targa (ex-HMS /cw); the Afrwv class UadQuert (ex-HMS Rother),Xauen (ex-HMS Z/enn-Cnmmvll)and Arcilla (ex-HMS William Doak)’, the Briscaid class Tetuan (ex-Frcndi Grognard), Larache (ex-French Poilu) and Alcazar (cx-French Rengage). Uad Targa w is wrecked 1.9.31 and Uad Ras was lost in 1933, whilst Uad Lucas and Uad Muluya were sunk by the cruiser Cervera on 10.11.36. The remainder were discarded between 1944 and 1965. There were also three coasiguard/fishcry protection vessels, Delfin, Dorado and Gaviota built 1910-11. of 158t, armed with I-57mm gun and with a speed of 1 Ikts, and an ocean-going tug, Antclo, equipped for minelaying and minesweeping. Delfin and Dorado were discarded in the 1920s and Gaviota and Aniclo in the 1930s. Ubertad 1929 £ ALFONSO class cruisers Displacement: 7475t standard; 9237t full load Dimensions: 545ft pp, 579ft 6in oa x 54ft x 16ft 6in 166.12, 176.63 x 16.46 x 5.03m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 80,000shp = 33kts. Oil 1680t Armour: Belt 75mm-40mm, decks 50mm-25mm, CT 150mm Armament: 8-150mm/50 (4x2), 4-102mm/45 AA (4x1), 2-3pdr AA, 12-533mm Г Г (4x3) Complement: 564 All three ships were refined 1940-46; Cervera having her 102mm and 3 pdr AA replaced by 4- 105mm (4x 1), 8-37mm (4x2) and 4-20mm (4x 1) AA, her after control and bridge structure enlarged and a short pole mast fitted in place of her tripod mainmast. These modifications increased displacement to 7976t stan- dard, 9660t full load. Galicia and Cervantes had their midships 6in gun mount- ing replaced by an aircraft catapult and crane; the single 6in mountings replaced by twins to give the same eight-gun main armament, eight 90mm (4x2) and 20-20mm (5x4) AA in place of the original AA armament; the 'IT removed; and the superstructure and rig modified as in the Cervera. With these alterations displacement was 8250t standard, 9900t full load. Cervantes was torpedoed and damaged by an unidentified Italian submarine off Cartagena, 23.11.36. Name Builder Launched Fate PRINCIPE ALFONSO Ferrol 23.1.25 Stricken 2.2.70 ALM1RANTE CERVERA Ferrol 16.10.25 Stricken 1960s MIGUEL DE Ferrol 19.5.28 Stricken 1960s CERVANTES Provided under the 1915 Navy Law, these vessels were designed by Sir Phillip Watts and were based on the British ‘E’ class light cruisers. The main differ- ences from the British vessels were the grouping of all the boilers forward of the engine rooms, allowing for two funnels rather than the three oddly spaced uptakes of the *Es’, and the provision of eight rather than seven 6in guns which were carried on three twin and two single mountings, all fitted on the centreline. The twin mountings were fitted amidships and in *B’ and ‘X’ positions and the single mountings in *A* and *Y* positions. The dimensions were also slightly modified, the ships being narrower and longer, an additional 4in AA gun was fitted and the superstructure was modified. Protection and machinery were virtually the same as those of the British ships. On trials Alfonso achieved 34.7kts with 83,000shp; she was renamed Libertad on 1931 and Galicia in 1939. Miguel de Cervantes about 1946 By courtesy ofJohn Roberts Balearcs as completed without ‘Y’ turret
Spain 7 — Baleares 1938 CANARIAS class cruisers Displacement: 10,113t standard; 13,O7Ot full load (designed) Dimensions: 600ft pp, 635ft 9in oa x 64ft x 17ft 4in 182.90, 193.55 x 19.50 x 5.27m Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers, 90,OOOshp = 33kts. Oil 2588t Armour: Belt 2in, magazine box protection 41in sides, 2in-lin bulk- heads, 3in crowns, decks llin-lin, turrets lin, CT 1 n Armament: 8-2O3mm (4x2), 8-120mm AA (8x 1), 8-40mm AA (4x2), 4-12.5mm MG (2x2), 12-533mm TT (4x3) Complement; 780 Name Builder Launched Fate BALEARES Ferrol 20.4.32 Sunk 6.3.38 CANARIAS Ferrol 28.5.31 Stricken 17.12.75 Ordered on 31.3.1928 under the 1926 Programme, these vessels were modified versions of the British Kent class designed by Sir Phillip Watts. Their basic form was the same as that of the Kents and included the external bulges, which the British abandoned in the later ‘County’ classes to secure a higher speed; Watts also aimed for a higher speed but achieved this by reducing the beam by 4ft, increasing the length slightly and raising the machinery power by 10,OOOshp, which added 1.5kts to the designed speed at standard displacement. He also increased the subdivision of the boilers by separating them into three, instead of two, compartments, two boilers being placed in the fore and aft rooms and four in the centre room. With this arrangement two vertical funnels were originally intended but while under construction the design was altered to trunk both into a single large funnel. At the same lime a streamlined tower bridge structure was designed to replace the standard platform type originally specified The main armament was the same as in the Kent class but the AA and torpedo armament as finally designed (which is that given in the above table) showed a substantial increase on the original. They were also to have mounted an aircraft and catapult but these were never fitted. Canarias ran preliminary trials in 1934 and achieved 33.7kts with 91,299shp on four-hour full-power. She was still fitting-out on the outbreak of the Civil War and lacked her secondary armament and fire control gear. She was hur- riedly completed by the Nationalists with 4-102min and 2-57mm A A guns from the battleship Espaila and an improvised fire control system, but by February 1937 che 102mm guns had been replaced by the intended 8-120mm A A, and 4-40mm AA and 4-37mm AA (2x2) of German origin had also been added. In 1939-40 shields were added to her 120mm guns, the 37mm AA were increased to 12(6x2) and the 40mm removed. The 57mm guns were retained for saluting. Her fire control gear was gradually modified to its designed form during the early 1940s. Baleares was completed minus‘Y’ turret (fitted by June 1937) and with a mixed secondary armament of 120mm LA, Italian 100mm AA and 40mm AA guns. She was sunk by the Republican destroyersBarcaiztegui, Lepanto and Artequera off Cabo Palos when a torpedo detonated the forward magazines. Canarias had her TT removed in the late 1940s and was refitted 1952-53 when her AA battery was modernised and her funnel split into two vertical uptakes as originally designed. Various other minor improvements were made during the 1950s and 1960s and she eventually received modern electronic gear before being scrapped in 1978. Abnirante Miranda as refined CHURRUCA class destroyers Displacement: 1st group 1536t standard; 2O87t full load 2nd group c!590t standard; 2175t full load Dimensions: 320fl pp, 333ft oa x 31ft 9in x 10ft 6in 97.52, 101.50 x 9.68 x 3.20m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 42,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 500t (2nd group 540t) Armament: 5-120mm (5x 1), l-76inm AA, 6-533mm AA (2x3), 2 DC throwers Complement: 175 Name Builder Launched Fate 1st group SANCHEZ Cartegena 24.7.1926 Stricken 1960s BARCAIZTEGUI ALMIRANTE JUAN Cartegena 21.5.1928 Sunk 29.9.36 FERRANDIZ JOSE LUIS DIEZ Cartegena 25.8.1928 Stricken 1960s LEPANTO Cartegena 7.11.1928 Stricken Aug 1957 ALCALA GALIANO Cartegena 3.11.1925 Sold 1927 ALCALA GALIANO Cartegena 12.4.1930 Stricken 1957 ALIMIRANTE Cartegena 8.9.1930 Stricken 1957 VALDES CHURRUCA Cadiz 26.6.1925 Sold 1927 CHURRUCA Cartegena 1929 Stricken 1960s 2nd group ALMIRANTE Cartegena 29.12.1930 Stricken 1960s ANTEQUERA ALMIRANTE Cartegena 20.6.1931 Stricken 2.3.70 MIRANDA GRAVINA Cartegena 24.12.1931 Stricken 1960s ESCANO Cartegena 28.6.1932 Stricken 1960s ULLOA Cartegena 24.7.1933 Stricken 1960s JORGE JUAN Cartegena 28.3.1933 Stricken 1959 CI SCAR Cartegena 26.10.1933 Wrecked 17.10.57 и Abnirante Antequcra in 1937 By courtesy of John Roberts Provided under the 1915 Navy Law, these vessels were virtually repeats of the British Scott class flotilla leaders. The second group varied only in detail, having a greater oil fuel stowage and modified gun mountings with larger shields. The original Alcala Galiano and Churruca, sold to Argentina and renamed Juan de Garay and Cervantes respectively, were replaced by two new vessels of the same name laid down in 1929 Ferrandtz was sunk by the cruiser Canarias in the Straits of Gibraltar. Ciscar was sunk by Nationalist aircraft at Gijon 21.10.37 but was later salvaged bv the Nationalists and repaired 1938-39. Diez, disabled by the Canarias and beached al Catalon Bay 30.12.38, was refloated the same day and towed to Gibraltar where she was interned until the end of the Civil War. 401
THE MEDITERRANEAN ('<//;•<» Soldo 1940 ALAVA class destroyers Displacement: 1650t standard; 2170t full load Dimensions: 320ft pp, 333ft oa x 31ft 9in x 10ft 6in 97.52, 101.50 x 9.68 x 3.20m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 42,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 540t Armament: 4-120mm (4x 1), 6-37mm A A (3x2), 3-20mm A A (3x 1), 6-533mm TT (2x3) Complement: 224 Name Builder Launched Fate ALAVA Cartegena 19.6.1947 Stricken 1978 LINIERS Cartegena 1.5.1946 Extant 1980 CALVO SOTELO (cx-Zacatccas) These ships formed the 3rd group of theChurruca class and were originally laid down in 1936 but construction was suspended on the outbreak of the Civil War. They were restarted in 1939 but suspended again in the following year while the design underwent some minor modifications, and they were eventually laid down again in December 1944 and January 1945 respectively, Alava finally completing in December 1950 and Linters in January 1951. As originally designed they were to have been the same as the 2nd group of the Churruca class but they omitted the midships 120mm gun in favour of a heavier torpedo armament of 8-533mm TT (2 x 4), and were to have carried 4-25mm (2 x 2) A A. The 120mm guns were new models with 45° DP mountings. The 1944 design reverted to triple tubes, and the light AA armament was altered to 2-37mm and 3-20mm. By the lime of their completion a further 4-37mm AA had been added. They differed little in appearance from the earlier groups until recon- structed as AS frigates 1961-62. Limcrs was still in service in 1980. OQUENDO class destroyers Nine vessels of this class were authorized in the mid-1940s but they were not ordered until 1947-48. Six were cancelled in 1953 and the remaining three completed in the early 1960s. As originally envisaged they were to have been of 1940t, armed with 8-105mm (4x2) DP guns and 7-533mmTT,and capable of a speed of 39kts. They were completed to a modified design, with a different armament, as AS destroyers. CALVO SOTELO gunboat Displacement: 1600t standard; 2000t full load Dimensions: 282ft pp, 303ft oa x 40ft x 1 Oft 86.00, 92.35 x 12.20 x 3.05m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 6500shp = 20kts. Oil 400t Armament: 4-I02mm (4x 1), 2-75mm AA (2x 1), 3-20 im AA Complement: 141 Name Builder Launched Fate Echavarricta у 27.8.1934 Stricken 1957 Larrinaga Zacatecas was built for lhe Mexican Navy at Cadiz but was taken over by the Spanish Government on the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. when she was almost complete. A sister-ship, Durango, was delivered to the Mexican Navy. JUPITER class gunboat-minelayers Displacement: 2lOOt standard; 2600t full load Dimensions: 302f lOin pp, 320ft oa x 41 fl 6in x lift 6in 92.30, 100.00 x /2.65 x 3.50m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 5000shp = 18.5kts. Oil 280t Armament: 4-120mm (4x 1), 2-75inm A A (2x 1), 4-20mm AA (2x2), 2 DC throwers, 264 mines Complement: 123 Name Builder Launched Fate JUPITER Ferrol 14.9 1935 Stricken 1974 MARTE Ferrol 19.6.1936 Stricken 1972 NEPTUNO Ferrol 19.12.1937 Stricken 1970 VULCANO Ferrol 12.10.1935 Stricken 1977 These dual-purpose vessels, completed in 1937 (Neptuno 1938), provided a means of reducing costs by combining the features of an escort vessel and a sea-going minelayer, thus avoiding the need to provide specialised ships for lhe latter function. They had a fully enclosed mine deck with loading doors in the ships’ sides and carried their mines on four rails with discharge doors in the transom. Endurance was 3700m at 12kts. Vulcano and Jupiter were modernised 1959-61 and m the latter year all were reclassified as frigates. Ex-Italian destroyers During 1938-39 four old Italian destroyers, Aquila, Falco, Guglielmo Pepe and Alessandro Poerio were transferred to the Nationalists and renamed Melilla, Ceuia, Huesca and Temel (or Rerucl?) respectively. All four were dicarded 1947-50. Eolo as completed AUDAZ class torpedo-boats (launched 1951-61) Class: Ariete, Atrevido, Audaz, Furor, Intrepido, Osado, Rayo, Relampago, Temerario. The design of this class was based on the French LeFier class from which they originally differed only in detail except that the armament consisted of standard Spanish weapons. Three 105mm guns, all of which were fitted aft, were carried on DP mountings capable of 90° elevation, and the machinery was arranged on the unit system with alternate boiler and engine rooms. They were laid down in 1945 but were extensively delayed by financial problems. Audaz, Atrevido, Osado and Rayo, launched in 1951, were completed 1953-56 to the original design and the class were reclassified as frigates in 1955. The remaining vessels were completed 1960-65 to a modified design, and the earlier units were modernised to the same standard at the same time, all being reclassified as AS destroyers. Atrevido was renamed Meteoro while under construction. Ariete ran aground in the River Muros and became a total loss. Intrepido was still in service in 1980. EOLO class minelayers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: 1500t standard; 1900t full load 278ft pp, 292ft oa x 38ft 6in x 10ft 84.73, 89.00 x 11.73 x 3.05m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 5000shp = Armament: 19.5kts. Oil 340t 4—102mm (4x 1), 4-37mm AA (4x 1), 4-13mm AA (4x |), Complement: 170 mines, 2 DC throwers 219 Name Builder Launched Fate EOLO Ferrol 30.8.1939 Stricken 1972 TRITON Ferrol 24.2.1940 Stricken 1972 Reduced editions of the Jupiter class w'ith a lighter armament but the same machinery and greater oil fuel stowage. Speed was Ikt higher, due to the smaller hull, and endurance increased to 5500m at 12kts. The mine deck was retained at main deck level but not fully enclosed, the structure being stepped down abreast the after superstructure to provide a low quarterdeck. Eolo completed in 1942 and Trittin in 1943. 402
PIZARRO class gunboats Displacement: 1710t standard; 2246t full load Dimensions: 279ft pp, 312ft 4in oa x 39ft 6in x lift 87.54, 95 20 x 12 15 x 3 40m Machinery 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 T arrow boilers, 5000shp = 18.5kts Oil 402t Armament: 6-120mm(3x2),8-37mm AA,6-20mm AA,4 DCthrowers, 40 mines Complement 250 Name Builder Launched Fate HIRN AN CORTES Ferrol 3.8.1944 Stricken 1971 MARTIN ALONSO Ferrol 3.8 1944 Stricken late 1960s PINZON PIZARRO Ferrol 3.8.1944 Stricken late 1960s VESCO NUN1 Z DE Ferrol 3.8.1944 Stricken 1972 BAI BOA I.EGAZPI Ferrol 8 8 1944 Stricken 1978 MAGALLANES Ferrol 8.8.1944 Stricken 1972 SARMIENT O DE Ferrol 8.8.1944 Stricken 1973 GAMBOA VICENTE YANEZ Ferrol 3 8 1944 Extant 1980 PINZON Slow but well armed and seaworthy escort vessels developed from the Lolo class Construction was delayed bv financial probkms and thes did not complete until 1947-51 1 hey were reclassified as frigates in 1958 and four, Vuente Yanes Pinson, Legaspi, Hernan Cortes and Sarmiento de Gamboa were modernised 1959-60. Vicente Yanes Pinson was still service in 1980. ‘C* class submarines Displacement- 916t/1290t Dimensions. 247ft oa x 20ft 10m x 13ft 6in 75.30 x 63 40 x 4 10m Machinery: 2-shafl Vickers diesels plus 2 electric motors, ZOOObhp/ 750shp = 16kts/8 5kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-75mm AA Complement: 46 Name Builder Launched Fate Cl Cartagena 28.3.1927 Sunk 9.10.38 (2 Cartagena 4.5.1928 Discarded 1952 C3 Cartagena 20 2 1929 Sunk 21 12.36 C4 Cartagena 6 7.1929 Lost June 1946 C5 Cartagena 28.12 1929 Lost Dec 1936 C6 Cartagena 1928 Scuttled 20.10 37 A Holland-type design, built in Spain under licence from the Electric Boat Co. Enlarged and unproved versions of the ‘B class with 533mm instead of 450min TT and two more bow tubes but lower submerged speed Diving limit was 260ft (80m) and endurance 4000nm surface and 125nm at 4'.kts submerged Cl was rennmaed Isaac Peral in 1930 but the number was retained She was sunk by N itionalist aircraft at Barcelona but was raised in 1938, she was not repaired, however, and after King employed as a target was broken up in 1948. C3 was torpedoed and sunk by an Italian submarine off Malaga, and C5 was lost from an unknown cause in the Bay of Biscay C6 was scuttled at Gijon after receiving bomb damage, the wreck was salvaged in 1947 but foundered in tow to the breakers. C2 and C4, under refit tn France 1937-39, were surrendered to the Nationalists 7 3.39. ( 2 as completed Spain D3 as completed *D’ class submarines Displacement: 1065/1480t Dimensions: 275ft 6in oa x 21ft 9in x 13ft 2in 84.00 x 6 63 x 4 00m Machinery: 2-shafr Sulzer diesels plus 2 electric motors, 5000bhp/ 1350shp = 20 5kts/9 5kts Armament 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), 1-120mm, 4-37mm AA Complement: 60 Name Builder Launched Fate DI Cartagena 11.5.1944 Stricken 1960s D2 Cartagena 21.12 1944 Stricken 1971 D3 Cartagena 20.2.1952 Stricken 1971 Long range patrol submarines with a high surface speed and a heavy deck gun but a comparatively light torpedo armament for their size. Diving limit was 300ft (90m) and surface endurance 9000nm at lOkts. Provided under the 1926 Programme, Di and D2 were laid down in 1933 and 1934 respectively but construction stopped on the outbreak of the Civil \\ ar and they did not complete until 1947 and 1951 D3 was laid down in 1945 and completed in 1954 EX-FOREIGN SUBMARINES In April 1937 the Italian submarines Evangelista Torricelli and Archimede were secretly transferred to the Nationalists and renamed General Mola and General Sanjurjo respectively; thev were stricken in 19>9. Ferrans, Galilei, Iride and Onice were also transferred, the latter pair being renamed Gonsalez Lopez and Aguilar Tablada, but they remained under control of their Italian crews and returned to Italy shonlv afterwards. For full details of these vessels sec under Italy In 1942 the German Ty pe VIIC submarine (7573 was interned at Cartagena where she had sought refuge after being damaged by British aircraft. In 1943 she was purchased by the Spanish Government and incorporated in the Spanish NavyasG7,shewasstncken2 5 1970 For full particulars see under Germans Bidusoa as completed BIDASOA class minesweepers Displacement: 550t standard, 775t full load Dimensions: 189ft pp, 210ft oa x 28ft x 7ft 3in 57.6/, 64 00 x 8 53 x 2 2bn Machinery: 2-shafi ТЕ plus auxiliary turbine, 2 boilers, 2400ihp = 16.5kts. Coal 192t Armament l-105mm, 2-37mm AA (2x 1), 2-20mm AA (2x 1) Complement: 65 Name Builder Launched Fate BIDASOA Cartagena 15.9.1943 Stricken 1972 GUADALETE Ferrol 18.10.1944 Foundered 25 3.54 LEREZ Cartagena 21.12 1944 Stricken 1971 NERVION Cartagena 15.4.1944 Stricken 1972 SEGURA Cartagena 15.5.1945 Stricken 1972 T AMBRE Ferrol 18.10 1944 Stricken 1972 TER Cartagena 15 4.1945 Stricken 1972 Based on German 1940 tspe M-boat minesweepers and competed during 1946-49. T he auxiliary turbine utilised the exhaust steam from the mam engines Guadalcte was lost in a gale 20nm cast of Gibraltar. DEDALO seaplane tender Displacement: 10,800l Dimensions: 420ft x 55fl x 20ft 6in 12S.02 x 16.76 x 6.25m Machinery: ТЕ, 3 SE boilers, 3000ihp = 12 5kts. Coal 940t Armament: 2-105mm (2x 1), 2-lpdr (2* 1) Complement: 324 Name Builder Launched Fate DEDALO (ex-.VcMt-n/f/s) Swan Hunter 1901 Sunk c 1936 A former merchant vessel converted in 1922 to accommodate an airsh p, 2 balloons and a number of seaplanes A mooring mast was provided at the forward end of the forecastle for the airship She was laid up for disposal at Sagunlo in 1935 where she was sunk by N itionalist aircraft. The wreck was salvaged in 1940 and scrapped at Valencia. 403
THE MEDITERRANEAN OTHER VESSELS .И/-Л16 were Thomycroft 40ft CMBs built in 1922, 250bhp = 30kts. DAR1-DAR4 were cx-RussianG5 class MTBs sold to the Republicans in 1937. DAR3 was heavily damaged by aircraft in November 1937 and became a total loss, DAR4 as sunk by aircraft near Barcelona on 30.7.39. For full details see under USSR. The cx-Italian MTBsAL45-/35 and MAS437 were transferred to the National- ists on 10.3.37. The name given to the former vessel is not known but that of the latter wasjewr Quirogo; she was lost off Gibraltar on 7.5.37. For full details see under Italy. LT 11-14 were the ex-GermanS2-5 sold to Spain in 1936 and also given the names Falange, Oviedo, Requite and Toledo, Falange was lost 18.6.37, the rest discarded in the 1940s. Sicilia (cx-MAS223) and Napolis (ex-AfA5100) were Italian vessels transferred to the Nationalists 26.4.37; they were redesig- nated LT18 and LT17 respectively c 1929 and discarded 1931. 1.21-26 were the ex-Gcrman.S'73, 78,124,125,126 and 134 transferred to Spa n in 1943. All were discarded during 1955-58. For full particulars sec under Germany. The German-designed S-boat LT27-32 were built at La Carraca, Cadiz. Displace- ment was 120t standard and dimensions 114ft x 16ft 8in x 5ft (34.75 x 5.08 x 1.52m); 3-shaft diesels gave 75OObhp = 4Iktsand armament was2-533mm TT and 2-20mm ЛА. Construction was greatly delayed and extended over 1945-1959, and later vessels were of modified design. LT27, 28 and 29 were stricken during 1963-64 and the remaining three in the late 1970s. Spain also possessed a large number of small motor launches am! patrol craft which were used mainly for customs and coast guard work. Greece The traditional enemy of Greece was Turkey and the size and composi- tion of both fleets was to a large extent governed by attempts to match new construction on a ship-for-ship basis. Fortunately neither country could afford to generate a major naval race and the only important vessels ordered by Greece between the wars were 6 submarines from France in 1925-26, 4 destroyers from Italy in 1930 and 2 destroyers from Britain in 1937. Although ahead of Turkey initially, the Greek position deteriorated in the late 1930s when Turkey ordered 4 sub- marines and 4 destroyers, but by this time Italy was a much greater threat. From the time he came to power Mussolini attempted to extend Italy’s influence over the Balkan states and clashed with Greece as early as 1923 when Corfu was bombarded by the Italian fleet as a reprisal for an incident on the Albanian border. Matters remained fairly quiet, however, until Italy consolidated her hold over Albania by annexing the country in April 1939 and from there invaded Greece in October 1940. Unexpectedly the Greeks pushed the Italian army back into Albania and the situation stagnated until Germany intervened in April 1941. Supported by overwhelming air power the Germans had overrun the country' by the end of the month and the Greek islands by the end of May. A large section of the fleet was sunk during German air attacks in April and it had little opportunity to interfere with what was mainly a land campaign, while the battle for command of the sea around the islands in the Aegean, the primary purpose of the Greek Navy, largely fell to the British Mediterranean Fleet. It was not a form of warfare for which the Greek Navy was prepared as, like many others, it was designed for traditional surface action and not defence against massed air attacks. The surviving ships retired to join the British under whose operational control they remained until the end of the war. During 1943-44 2 destroyers, 6 escort destroyers, 4 corvettes, 4 submarines and several minor vessels were loaned to the exiled Greek Navy and operated by them in the Mediterranean. After the war Greece was allowed to rota n these vessels, and was loaned several more, to re- establish her fleet. THE GREEK NAVY IN 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp Fate KILKIS (ex-USS Mississippi) 30.9.1905 12,5OOt Sunk 23.4.41 LEMNOS (ex-USS Idaho) 9.12.1905 12,500t Sunk 23.4.41 Lemnos was discarded in 1932 and, in 1937, hulked and disarmed for use as an accommodation ship. Kilkis was placed in reserve in 1932 and was used as a TS from 1935. Both were sunk by German dive-bombers off Salamis. The wreck of Kilkis was raised in 1951 and broken up. COAST DEFENCE VESSEL Name Launched Disp Fate SPETSAI 1889 4808t Discarded 1929 Employed as TS. 404 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate GIORGIOS AVEROFF Mar 1910 9956t Discarded cl945 HELLE (ex-Fri Hung) Mar 1912 2600t Sunk 15.8.40 Averoff was refitted at La Seyne 1925-27 and received new fire control gear, including a main director mounted on a new, heavier, tripod foremast. Helle was reconstructed as a cruiser/minelayer at La Seyne 1925-28, having her machin- ery renewed, superstructure rebuilt and armament modified. 1 ler poop and the original secondary armament were removed and a third 6in gun was added amidships. The thickness of the flat of the protective deck w’as increased to 2in, new fire control and minelaying gear were fitted and, toclear the latter, the 1 Г were resiled further forward. Particulars as modified were: Displacement: 2O83t standard Machinery: 3-shaft Parsons geared turbines, Yarrow boilers, 7500shp 2O.5kts. Oil 600t Armament: 3-6in (3x1), 2-3in AA (2x1), 4-6pdr (4> I), 2-18in FT (2x 1), 1 lOmines Complement: 232 Helle was torpedoed by the Italian submarine Delfino off Tinos before Greece entered the war. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp NIKI class 1905-06 350t THYELLA class 1906-07 350t AETOS class 1911 980t KERAVNOS class 1912 562t SMYRUE (ex-UIau) 1907 400t The.ViAi class also included Aspis and Velos. Velos was sold in 1931 but the other two were refitted during 1928-29 and survived until scrapped г 1946. The Thyella class also included Sphendoni and Lonkhi. Lonkhi was sold in 1931; the remaining pair were refitted during 1926-28, Thyella subsequently being sunk by German aircraft in April 1941 and Sphendoni discarded c 1945. Kerazmos, her sister-ship Nea Genea, and the ex-Austrian Sтугие had been discarded by 1928 The Aetos class also included Lerax, Leon and Panther. Completely recon- structed by While at Cowes 1924—25, they were reboilered with 4 Yarrow oil-fired boilers and had the original 5 funnels replaced by 2; a forward shelter deck was added to accommodate a gun (moved from forward of the original mainmast) in ‘B’ position, a new bridge was filled, the TT increased from 4-2 lin (4x 1) io 6-2 lin (2x3) and 2-2pdr A A added. Displacement as modified was 1050t standard, 1300t full load, and maximum speed 34kts. Aetos and Panther were also fitted for minelaying and could each carry 40 mines. Leon was damaged by German aircraft in Suda Bay 22.4.41 and was sunk 15.5.41. The remaining three served under RN control for the remainder of ihe war and in 1941 had their after TT mounting replaced by a 3in AA gun, the after 4in gun removed and 4 DC throwers added. They were discarded c!945. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp AIGLI class 1913 120t ‘P’ class 1914-15 241t ‘K* class 1914 241t TheAig/i class also included Alkyone, Arethousa, Dafni,Doris and Thetis. Dafni and Thetis were sold in 1931 and the remainder were sunk by German aircraft in the Gulf of Athens during 22-25 April 1941. The ‘P* and ‘K’ classes were ex-Austrian vessels transferred to Greece in 1920. The P’ class consisted of Pergamos, (ex-95F), Panormos (ex-94 F) and Proussa (ex-92F) and the ‘K’ class
Greece of Kyzikos (cx-98M), Kios (ex-99.W and Kydonia (cx-100M). Panormos was wrecked off Cape Tourlos in March 1938 and the remainder were sunk by aircraft, Kios in the Gulf of Athens on 22.4.1941, Kyzikos and Pergamos at Salamis on 24 and 25.4.41 and Kydonia off Morea on 26.4.41 by the Germans, and Proussa off Corfu by lhe Italians on 4.4.41. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate DELFIN 1911-12 295t BU 1920s XIPHIAS 1911-12 2951 BU 1920s repaired was sunk by a bomb. She was raised and repaired at Piraeus by the Germans who added 4-20mm AA (4x 1) to the armament and incorporated her into the Kriegsmarine on 21.3.42 as ZG3 (she was also given the name Hermes). She was damaged by Allied aircraft on 30.4.43 and towed to La Goulettc where she was scuttled on 7.5.43. Olga served under the operational control of the RN from mid-1941 in the Mediterranean and Red Sea. She had her after TT mounting replaced by a 3in AA gun, *Y’ gun removed to provide space for an increased DC armament and lhe mainmast removed. She was sunk by German aircraft in Leros harbour. Pupamicolis as completed There were also the minelayers Monemassta ,Aigialia and.Vaup/iu (1881,29t) all discarded 1920s; lhe gunboats Aknon and Ambrakia (1881,433l),Achelaos, Alphios, Peneios and Eurotas (1884, 404t), all discarded 1920s, and Kissa and Kichle (1884,86t) discarded 1930s; and one 45ft Thornycroft-typeCMB built in 1920 and discarded in the 1930s. KATSONIS class submarines Displacement: 595t/778t Dimensions: 204ft 9in pp x 17ft 6in x lift 62.40 x 5.30 x 3.40m Machinery: 2-shaft Schneider-Carels diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1300bhp/l OOOshp = 14kts/9.5kts Armament: 6-533min TT (4 bow, 2 stern) l-100mm, l-3pdr AA Complement: 39 YDRA class destroyers Name Builder Launched Faie KATSONIS F C de la Gironde 20.3.1926 Sunk 14.9.43 PAPAMICOLIS F C de la Loire 19.11.1926 Discarded 1945 Displacement: 1389t standard; 2050t full load Dimensions: 303ft pp x 32ft x 10ft lOin 92.35 x 9.75 x 3 30m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thornycroft boilers, 44,OOOshp = 38kts. Oil 650t Armament: 4-120mm/50 (4x1), l-75mm AA, 3-40mm AA (3x1), 6-533mm TT(2x3) Complement: 156 French-designed and -built submarines of the Schneider-Laubeuf type, gener- ally similar to the French Navy’s 600t Circe class. Only two of the bow lubes were filled internally, (he remaining bow and stern tubes being filled in the casing. The conning lower was larger than lhai in contemporary French boats as the 100mm gun was incorporated, in a raised position, at its forward end on a rotating platform/shield similar to that later employed in British types. Diving limit was 260ft (80m) and endurance 3500nm at lOkts/lOOnm at 5kts. Both served under RN control 1941-45. Katsonis was rammed and sunk by the German sub-chaser Uj2l0l in the Aegean. Name Builder Launched Fate CONDOURlOTIS Odero 28.8.1931 Discarded cl946 PSARA Odero 1932 Sunk 13.4.41 SPETSAI Odero 1932 Discarded cl946 YDRA Odero 21.10.1931 Sunk 22.4.41 Italian-designed and -built destroyers based on the Italian Ereccia class but with guns mounted singly instead of in pairs, necessitating a redesigned superstruc- ture with a smaller bridge. All were equipped for minelaying and each could carry 40 mines. On trials they exceeded 40kts with 50.000shp but, as with most Italian ships, this was achieved by heavy forcing and could not be maintained under service conditions. Endurance was 5800m at 20kts. Psara and Ydra were sunk by German aircraft. The remaining pair served with lhe RN for the rest of the war with the pendant numbers H07 and H38 and were modified for escort work having their after TT mounting replaced by a 3in AA gun and ‘Y’ gun removed to provide space for a heavy DC armament includ ng 8 throwers. Katsonis in June 1928, as completed By courtesy of John Roberts Claz-kos as completed VASILEFS GEORGIOS class destroyers Displacement: 1350t standard; 1850t full load Dimensions: 312ft pp, 323ft oa x 33ft 6in x 8ft 6in 95.10, 98.45 x 10.21 x 2.59m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, 34,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 450i Armament: 4—5in (4x 1), 4—37mm AA (4x 1), 8-21in TT (2x4), 4 DC throwers Complement: 150 Name Builder Launched Fate VASILEFS GEORGIOS Yarrow 3.3.1938 Scuttled 7.5.43 VASILISSA OLGA Yarrow 2.6.1938 Sunk 26.9.43 PROTEUS class submarines Displacement: 750t/960t Dimensions: 225ft pp x 18ft lOin x 13ft 8m 68.60 x 5.73 x 4.18m Machinery: 2-shaft Sulzer diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1420bhp/1200shp = 14kts/9.5kts. Oil 105t Armament: 8-533mm TT (6 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm, l-3pdr AA Complement: 41 Name Builder Launched Fate GLAVKOS CNF 1928 Lost 4.4.42 NEREUS A C de la Loire Dec 1927 Discarded 1945 PROTEUS A C de la Loire 24.10.1927 Sunk 19.12.40 TRITON A C de la Loire 4.4.1928 Sunk 16.11.42 Laid down at Scotstoun in 1937 and completed in 1939 as modified versions of the British ‘G’ class with torpedo armament reduced to eight tubes, main armament increased from 4.7in to 5in calibre and minor variations incorporated by the builders such as the substitution of Yarrow for Admiralty boilers. The 37mm AA guns were mounted on platforms between the funnels and abreast the after funnel but in other respects they were of almost identical appearance to their British counterparts. Georgios was damaged by aircraft on 13.4.41 and was lost seven days laier at Salamis when the floating dock in which she was being A Loire-Simonot type similar to the Katsonis class but enlarged to allow all the tubes to be positioned internally. The 100mm gun was filled on the same platform/shield arrangement at the forward end of the conning tower as Kat- sonis, but at casing level instead of flush with the top of the superstructure. This and lhe lack of external tubes served to distinguish the class from the earlier pair Proteus was rammed and sunk by the Italian torpedo-boat Antares off Valona. Triton was sunk by the German patrol craft Uj2102 between Andos and Euboea. All except Proteus served under RN control during lhe war 405
THE MEDITERRANEAN MINELAYERS Name Launched Builder Disp Length ihp/spccd (kts) Mines TENEDOS 1906 Glasgow 460t 142ft (43.28m) 560ИЗ 40~ KORGIALENIOS 1916 Rotterdam 380t 150ft (45.72m) 550/13.5 50 PARALOS 1925 Rotterdam 3951 150ft (45.72m) 550/13 52 PLEIAS 28.4 1926 Breda, Venice 520t 162ft (49 4m) 1000/14 50 In peacelime Plans served as a lighthouse tender and (he remainder as despatch vessels. All four were sunk by German aircraft in April 1941 but Paralos, Korgialenios and Tenedos were salvaged bj the Germans and incorporated in the Kriegsmarine as Uj2l03, UjlllO and Uj2l06. 2103 was lost m 1943,2/06 was torpedoed by a submarine on 21 6 44 and 2110 was scuttled at Salonika on 25.10.44. MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS Tl, T2 55ft Thomycroft CMBs built in 1929. Displacement lit, petrol engines, 750bhp = 37kts, armament 2-18in ’1 Г, 2 MG, 4 DCs. Both sunk by German aircraft April 1941. ТЗ, T4 and T3-6 The first two, ordered from Vosper and built in 1940, were requisitioned bv the RN and became \1TB69 and 70 T3-6, of che same design, were ordered partly to replace che early vessels buc these coo were taken over by the RN after Greece was overrun and became MTB 218-221. For details see under Great Britain. EX-BRITISH VESSELS The following R N warships were loaned to Greece 1942-45 and formed che basis for the rebuilding of the postwar Greek Navy although all were eventually returned. Destroyers: S’avarinon ex-Echo, transferred \944),Salamis (ex-Boreas, 1944) Escort destroyers: Adnas (ex-Border, 1942, constructive total loss 22 10 43 , Krite (ex-Hurdcy, 1943), Miaouhs (ex-Modbury, 1942), Pindos (ex-Bolebroke, 1942) Kanans (cx-Haiherleigh, 1942), Themistocles ex-Bramham, 1943) Corvettes: Aposlohs (ex-Hyacmlh, 1943), Kriezis (ex-Coreopsis, 1943), Sakh- louris (ex-Pcony, 1943), Tompazis (ex-Tamarisk, 1943) Submarines: Amfitriti (ex-Untiring, 1945), Xifias (cx-L’pstart, 1945), Piptnos (ex-VeWr, 1943), Delfin (ex-Vengeful, 1944) BYMS: ex-RN, ex-US): Afroessa (ex-2185, 1944), Kassas (ex-2074, 1944, mined off Piraeus 15 10.44), Kos (ex-2191, 1944, mined off Piraeus 15.10.44), Kalymnos (ex-2033, 1945), Ilhaki (ex-2240, 194**), Paralos (ex-2066, 1943), Lefkas (ex-2068, 1944), Leros (ex-2186, 1944), Palmas (ex-2229, 1944), Salamima (ex-2065, 1944), Symi (ex-2190, 1945), ? (ex-2054, 1944) MMS: Tinos ex-144, 1944) Besides the above, Greek seamen manned a large number of small British auxiliaries (duffers, trawlers, whalers, etc.) EX-US VESSELS Sub-chaser: Varilefs Georgios II (ex-PC622) LST: Khios (ex-LST37), Lemnos (ex-LST35), Lesvos (ex-LST33), Sanios (cx- LST36). All che above were transferred co Greece 1943. Lesvos was lost at Bizerta in 1944 Turkey Under the terms of the Treaty of Sevres, concluded by the Allies, Greece and Turkey, the Turkish Navy was to be reduced to a coast defence force; this, among other things, required the surrender of the battlecruiser Yavuz to Britain for breaking up. Turkey was, however, in considerable state of turmoil as a result of the rise of the Natioanlists under Mustapha Kernel who was intent on replacing the Ottoman dynasty and ejecting all foreigners from Turkish soil, particularly the Greeks. During this period of civil war, which involved a conflict with Greece and much external intervention by the British, French and Americans, the Fleet remained interned under Allied control awaiting the outcome of the struggle. The Sultan eventually gave up his position of authority, leaving Turkey in November 1922, and in the following July the Allies and the new Turkish Government signed a peace treaty at Lausanne. Kernel had rejected the original Treaty of Sevres and gained many concessions from the Allies including the right to keep the fleet intact. Turkey had, however, been considerably weakened in her recent struggles and initially there were no funds available for either new ships or the maintenance of the old. In 1926 a programme of refit and repair work was begun and two submarines were ordered from the Netherlands. Thereafter a slow but steady improvement was made in the quality and condition of the Fleet and the training of its personnel. In 1929 a construction programme of 6 destroyers and 12 submarines was proposed, indicating an intention to concentrate on undersea warfare. Initially 4 destroyers and 2 sub- marines were ordered from Italy but, apart from the purchase of another submarine from Spain in 1934, funds were not made available for further new ships until 1937 when 4 submarines were ordered from Gemany. This signalled the beginning of a new phase of expansion, a further 4 submarines and 4 destroyers being ordered in Britain in 1939, but the outbreak of the Second World War, and the consequent loss of access to most of the major European building yards, brought it to a premature end. In addition one of the German-built submarines and all of the British-built vessels were taken over by the countries concerned after the outbreak of war, although the British did deliver half their order in 1942 and return the remainder in 1946. Turkey severed relations with Germany on 2.8.44 and with Japan on 6.1.45, declaring war on Germany on 23.2.45, but her naval forces had neither the time nor the opportunity to become involved in hostilities. 406 THE TURKISH NAVY IN 1922 BATTLECRUISER Name Builder Launched Fate YAVUZ SULTAN 23 3 1911 22,980t BU 1971 SELIM (ex-Goeben) Overhauled, repaired and refitted al Ismid 1927-30 and equipped with French fire control system by A C de St-Nazaire-Penhoet On 4-hour full-power trial in 1930 she averaged 27kts She was renamed Yavuz in 1936 and received a shore refit in 1938. In 1941 she was again refitted, having her mainmast removed and 12-40mm AA (12x 1) and 4-20mm AA (4x 1) added. COAST DEFENCE SHIP Name Builder Launched Face TOORGOOD REIS (ex-Weissenburg) 1891 10,500t Hulked 1924, BU 1938 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate MEDJIDIEH HAMIDIEH 1903 1903 3330t 3830t Discarded cl947 Discarded c!947 Both were mainly employed as training ships buc Hamidieh was equipped for minelaying (70 mines). Medjidieh was refitted and reboilered in 1930 with Babcock & Wilcox boilers. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate BERK-EFSHAN 1894 270t Discarded 1920s SAMSOUN class 1907 290t Discarded 1930s MUVANET-I-MILET 1909 607t Discarded 1920s class The Samsoun class included Samsoun, Bassra and Tashoz; che Milei class also i ncl ud ed Noumoune-i-Hamiyet.
Turkey TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate YOUNOUS 1902-1904 145t Discarded c!928 DRACH class 1905 160t Discarded cl928 SIVRIHISAR class 1906 98t Discarded 1930, ви The Younous class also included Ack-Hissar, the Drach class, the Moussoul and the Sivrihisar class Sultanhisar. The Turkish Navy also operated the torpedo-gunboats Berkistavet and Peykisevket (1906, 1014t, reconstructed 1937-38, with modified superstructure and raked stem, and fitted to carry 25 mines, both discarded late 1940s); and the gunboats Barik-i-Zaffer (1908, 198t); Malaria (1907, 2 lOt); Kemal Reis, Hizar Reis and Isa Reis (1911-12, 413t); Aidan Reis, Burak Reis, Sakiz andPrevesah (1912, 502t). Kemal Reis, Hizar Reis and Isa Reis were converted to minesweep- ers and Aulen Reis to a survey ship in the late 1930s, and all four were discarded in the late 1940s. The others were discarded in the 1920s. There were also the minelayersKiresund (1877,3O56t gross, discarded in 1920a),Nusrat (1912,364t, discarded 1957), and Intibah (1886, 616t, salvage tug fitted for minelaying, renamed Uyanik by 1942 and discarded 1957). K(h aiepe as completed By courtesy of John Roberts KOCATEPE class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1250t standard; 1650t full load 321ft 6in pp, 328ft Sin oa x 30ft 9in x 9ft 6in 98.00, 100.20 x 9.37 x 2.90m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thomycroft boilers, 40,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 360t 4—120mm/50(4x 1), 2-40mm A A (2x 1), 2-20mm A A (2x 1), 6-533mm TT(2x3) 149 Name Builder Launched Fate ADATEPE Ansaldo, Genoa 19.3.1931 Discarded c!950 KOCATEPE Ansaldo, Genoa 7.2.1931 Discarded cl950 Italian-designed vessels laid down in 1930 and completed in 1932. They were of similar general design to contemporary Italian Navy destroyers except dial the 120mm guns were mounted singly and that the boiler uptakes were trunked into two rather than one funnel. TIN AZTEPE class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1206c standard; 1610t full load 307ft pp, 315ft oa x 30ft 6in x 10ft 9in 93.57, 96.00 x 9.30 x 3.28m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thornvcroft boilers, 35,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 350t 4- 12Oinm/5O (2x2), 2-40mm A A (2x1), 2-20mm AA (2x 1), 6-633mm TT (2x3) 149 Name Builder Launched Fate TINAZTEPE ZAFER CT, Riva Trigoso CT, Riva T rigoso 27.7.1931 20.9.1931 Discarded 1957 Discarded 1957 Ordered in 1930 and completed in 1932. An Italian design similar to/ recriu type but with machinery power reduced and two funnels instead of a single uptake. Like contemporary Italian Navy destroyers they were equipped for minelaying. GAYRET class destroyers Displacement: 1360t standard; 1880c full load Dimensions: 312fi pp, 323ft oa x 33ft x 8ft 6in 9S.10, 98.45 x 10.06 x 2.59m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 34,OOOshp = 35.5kts. Oil 455t Armament: 4-120mm (4x 1), 4—20mm AA (4x 1), 8—2lin TT (2x4; Complement: 145 Name Builder Launched Fate DEMIRH1SAR Denny 1941 Discarded 1960 GAYRET Vickers- Armstrong 15.12.1940 BU 1946-47 MUAVENET Vickers- Armstrong 24.2.1941 Discarded I960 SULTANHISAR Denny 1941 Discarded 1960 Ordered in 1939 from British firmsand of identical design to the Royal Navy ‘II’ class destroyers. Gayret and Muavenet were taken over by the RN on completion and served as 1 IMS Ithuriel and Inconstant, but the other two were delivered to Turkey in 1942. The two RN vessels had the after TT mounting replaced by a 12pdr AA gun and later Inconstant also had *Y* gun and the 12pdr removed (to provide space for additional DC stowage), 2 more 20mm AA fitted and the director tower and rangefinder on the bridge replaced by surface warning radar. The Ithuriel was heavily damaged by aircraft off Bone in 1942 and became a constructive total loss. Inconstant was returned to Turkey in 1945 and reverted to her original name, while her sister was replaced by the destroy er Oribi which was renamed Gayret. See also under Great Britain. Btwufct Inonu 1936 BIRINDCI 1NONU class submarines Displacement: 505t/620t Dimensions: 192ft 6in oa x 19ft x lift 6m 58.68 x 5.80 x 3.50m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 1100bhp/700shp = 13.5kts/8.5kts Armament: 6-450mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-75mm, l-20mm AA Complement: 29 Name Builder Launched Fate B1RINDC1 1N6nO Fijenoord 1.2.1927 Discarded cl950 JKINDCI JNONU Fijenoord 12.3.1927 Discarded cl950 Small coastal submarines of German design laid down in the Netherlands in 1926 and completed in 1928. These were the first vessels to be built for the Turkish Navy since before the First World War. The literal translation of the names is ‘Number 1’ and ‘Number 2’. Dumlupynar 1936 DUMLUPYNAR submarine Displacement: 920t/1150t Dimensions: 223ft x 19ft x)4ft 68.00 x 5 80 x 4.27m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels plus 2 electric motors, 3000bhp/ 1400shp = 17.5kts/9kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm, 1 MG Complement: 47 Name Builder Launched Fate DUMLUPYNAR CNT 4.3.1931 Discarded cl950 A Bernardis-designed submarine laid down at Monfalcone in 1929 and com- pleted in 1931. Similar to the ItalianPisani class but with an improved hull form and higher speed. SAKARYA submarine Displacement: 710t/940t Dimensions: 196ft pp x 22ft 4in x 13ft 59.74 x 6.80 x 3.96m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels plus electric motors, 1600bhp/l lOOshp = 16.9kts/9.5kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), 1-100mm, l-20mm AA Complement: 41 Name Builder Launched Fate SAKARYA CNT 2.2.1931 Discarded cl950 407
THE MEDITERRANEAN A small sea-going submarine designed by Bernardis, laid down ai Monfalcone in 1929 and completed in 1931. Similar co the Italian Argonauio class but slightly larger to accommodate more powerful machinery for higher surface and sub- merged speeds Gur 1935 GUR submarine Displacement: 750t 960t Dimensions: 237ft 6in x 20ft 4m x 13ft 6in 72 42 x 6 /9 x 4 11m Machinery: 2-shaft MAX diesels plus 2 electric motors, 2800bhp/1 OOOshp = 2Okcs 9kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern; 14 torpedoes), 1-lOOmm, l-20mm AA Complement: 42 Sakarva in 1933 By courtesy ajJohn Roberts Name Builder Launched Fate GUR Echovarnela у Larnnga 1932 Discarded cl950 Banray as completed A German-designed submarine laid down at Cadiz in 1930, purchased by Turkey in 1934 and delivered in January 1935. She was a medium-sized sea- going vessel of high speed, filled with standard Turkish armament. The torpedo complement provided a reload for each bow tube, and endurance was 6400nm at 9kcs/101nm at 4kts. Diving limit was 260ft (80m). Experience gained with this ves el was utilised by the Germans in che design of the Type IA U-boats. Saldiray 1940 ‘AY’ class submarines Displacement: 934t I210t Dimnsions: 262ft 6in x 21ft x 14ft 80.00 x 6 40 x 4 26m Machinery: 2-shaft Burmeister & Wain diesels plus 2 electric motors, 3500bhp/1000shp = 20kts/9kts Armament: 6-533mm TT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-100mm, l-20mm AA Complement: 44 Name Builder Launched Fate ATILAY Germaniawerft, Kiel 1938 Lost 14.7.42 YILDIRAY Istanbul 26.8.1939 Discarded 1957 SALDIRAY German: awerf, Kiel 23.7.1938 Discarded 1957 High-speed seagoing submarines designed by Germaniawerft, two being built in Germany and one locally under German supervision. Similar to the Type IXA U-boats but differing substantially in detail to meet Turkish requirements, the more obvious external difference from standard German practice being lhe conning tower which, like that in Gur, incorporated the 100mm gun on a raised platform with a low shield at ns forward end. D ring limit was 330ft (100m). Altlay was lost during exercises off Canakkale. Hum' in the mid 1930s COASTAL CRAFT By courtesy of Aldo Fraccaridi Name Type Built Builder Disp Length bhp/speed (kts) Armament DOGAN class MAS 1926 SVAN 32t 69ft (21.03m) 1500/34 2-450mm TT, l-75inm, 8 DC АТАК Minelayer 1938 Golciik 500t 144ft 4in (43.99m) 1025/13 40 mines SIVRIHISAR class Minelayer 1940 Thornycroft 350t 172ft (52.46m) 1200/15 40 mines, l-75mni KAVAK class MMS 1937 Thornycroft 32t 75ft 22.86m) 1500/15 None MTB 1-10 MTB 1942 Turkey 70t 71ft 6in (21.79m) 2000/10 2-533mm TT The Dogan class also included Maru and Dentzkusu. They were purchased from Italy in 1931 and discarded in the late 1940s. The Stvnhisar class also included Torgud Rets (ex-Yuzbasi Hakkt), discarded in 1960. The Kavak class also BATIRAY submarine Displacement: 1044/1375t Dimensions: 284ft 5in x 22ft 3m x 13ft 5in 86 70 x 6 80 x 4.10m Machinery: 2-shaft Burmeister & Wain diesels plus Brown-Boveri electric motors, 4600bhp/1300shp = 18kcs/8.4kts. Oil 250t Armament: 6-533mm IT (4 bow, 2 stern), l-10Smm, l-20mm AA, 40 mines Complement: 47 Name BATIRAY Builder Launched Eate Germaniawerft, 28.8.1938 Scuttled 3.5.45 Kiel A German-designed and -built ocean-going minelaying submarine ordered with the *Ay’ class in 1937 and completed in 1939. Taken over by the German Njv v on the outbreak of war and renamed (7Л, she was scuttled at Kiel and later broken up. ORUC REIS class submarines Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 40 624t/861t 193ft pp, 201ft 6in oa x 22ft 3in x 10ft 6m 58 83, 61 42 *6.78 x 3 20m 2-shaft Vickers diesels plus 2 electric motors. 155Obhp/13OOshp = 13.75kts/lOkts. Oil 3Sc 5-2lin TT (4 bow, 1 stern; 9 torpedoes), l-3in, l-20mm AA Name Builder Launched Fate BURAC REIS Vickers- Armstrong MURAT REIS Vickers- Armstrong ORUC REIS Vickers- Armstrong ULAC ALI REIS Vickers- Armstrong 19 10.1940 20.7.1940 19 7.1940 1 11.1940 Discarded 1957 Discarded 1957 Discarded 1957 Sunk 18 4 43 Ordered in 1939 and laid down, at Barrow Of similar design to the- Royal Navy’s ‘S’ class, hav mg the same machinery but being slightly smaller and with one less TT. The bow tubes were internal and the stern tube external, oik reload for each bow tube was provided. Endurance was 2500m at lOkts. All four were taken over by Great Britain after the outbreak of war and became P614, 612, 611 and 6/5 respectively but it was subsequently decided to deliver half the order and Oruc and Mural were taken to Turkey bv British crews in 1942. 1*615 was torpedoed by lhe German submarine UI23 in the Atlantic and P614 was returned to Turkey in 1945, reverting to her original name of liurak Reis. included Canak; both vessels were purchased in 1939 and discarded m the 1950s. In addition to the above, 7 HDMLs, renamed MLl—7, and 8 Fairmile MLs, renamed AB1—8, were acquired from Britain during 1944—45 408
Egypt/Persia Egypt THE EGYPTIAN NAVY IN 1922 In 1922 the Egyptian naval force consisted of two vessels purchased in 1920, the P-boat Raqib (ex-British P57, 1917, 613t) and the sloop Solium (ex-HMS Syringa, 1917, 1290t), ten old river gunboats (Melik, Sheik, Sultan, Fateh, Nasir, Zafir, Abuklea, Hifer, Metemmeh and Tamai) all of which had been discarded by 1930; the royal yacht Mahroussa (1865, 3417t); 2 transports; and a large number of small auxiliaries and river craft. Raqib was discarded in the 1930s undSollum was lost when she ran aground at Sidi Barrani in January 1941 while under attack by German aircraft Few ships were added to this force until after 1946, the largest vessel taken into service being the transport El Anura Fatvzia (1929,2640t, 2-3pdr guns) which remained inservice until the 1960s and the most important the small sloop El Amir Faroug ElAmir Faroug as completed EL AMIR FAROUG sloop Displacement: 1441t Dimensions: 247ft x 34ft x 13ft 3in 75.29 x 10.36 x 4.04m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 boilers, 2800ihp = I7kts Armament: l-6pdr, 4 MG Complement: 70 Name Builder Launched Fate EL AMIR FAROUG Hawthorn Leslie 1926 Discarded postwar MOTOR BOATS Name Builder Built Disp Length hp/speed (kts) Armament DARFEEL, NOOR EL BAHR Thornvcroft 1925 20t 56ft (17.07m) 330/17 l-37min AL SAREA White 1936 20t 55ft (16.76m 900, 35 l-37mm RAQIB Alexandria 1938 > 66ft (20.12m) 540/15 l-37mm All the above served with the RN during the Second World War as harbour defence vessels Besides the above there were two slow coastal motor boats (Qamar and Fl Hoot of 24t) and the trawler Mabahiss (1930, 618t) which served as a patrol vessel. Persia In 1922 Persia possessed two warships, the gun vessels Pmepo/ts (1885, 1200t) and Mazaffir (1899, 379t), both of which were discarded by 1939. The latter vessel had served with the Royal Navy during 1914-18 and was refitted by the British at Bombay prior to her return to Persia. In addition to these ships Persia purchased the German minesweeper FM24 (1918, 170t) in 1922 and renamed her Fatiya, then Pahlavi in 1926 and finally Shahan in 1935; the last was discarded in the early 1940s. During the 1930s, 2 sloops, 4 motor patrol boats and 6 small motor gunboats were ordered from Italian yards together with a royal yacht, Chahsever (1936,350t),and a tug,Neyrou (1934,226t). During 1940-41 Germany attempted to bring Persia into its sphere of influence, large numbers of German ‘tourists’ entered the country and Persian ports were regularly visited by German and Italian merchant vessels. On 25 August 1941 the country was invaded b\ British and Russian troops and during the following few weeks a large part of the Navy was either captured or sunk An armistice w'as signed on 1 September and the German nationals surrendered at Tehran two weeks later. Thereafter Persia remained under Allied influence, declaring war on Germany on 9 September 1943 and on Japan on 1 March 1945. AZERBAIJAN class motor launches Displacement: 30l Dimensions: 68fi 6in x 12ft 6in x 3ft 6in 20 88 x 3.81 x 1.07m Machinery: 2-shaft Krupp diesels, 300bhp - 14kts Complement: 5 Class (fate): Azerbaijan, Gehlani, Mazendem (all scuttled or sunk in August 1941), Rabobar, Gorgan, Sef Indreude (discarded 1970s) Built by CNR, Palermo, in 1935 Palang as completed BABR class sloops Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement. 950t 204ft 8m pp x 29ft 6in x 9ft lOin 62 38 x 9 00 x 3 00m 2-shaft Fiat diesels, 1900bhp = 15kts. 3-102mm (3x 1), 2 MG (2x 1) 85 Oil 120t Name Builder Launched Fate BABR PALANG CNR, Palermo CNR, Palermo 2 8.1931 Nov 1931 Sunk 25.8.41 Sunk 25 8.41 Palang was sunk by the British sloop Shoreham at Abadan and Baht by the Australian sloop Yarra in Khorrainshahr Babr was later refloated and towed up the Koran river but foundered during the process. CHAROGE 1 class motor patrol I ^oats Displacement: D mensions: Machinery: Armament. 33h 170ft pp x 22ft x 6ft 51.80 x 6.70 x 1.83m 2-shaft Fiat diesels, 900bhp =15 5kts 2-75mm (2x 1), 2-37mni AA (2x 1) Name Builder Launched Fate CHAROGH CNR, Palermo 26.7 1931 Discarded 1950s CHANВAAZ OCP, Naples 12 9 1931 Discarded 1950s KARKASS CNR, Palermo 24 8 1931 Discarded 1946 SIMORGH CNR, Palermo 3 8 1931 Discarded 1950s All four vessels were captured b> Briush forces on 25.8.41, and subsequenth incorporated in the RIN as X'ilam, Hira, Mau and Lal respectively. They were rearmed with l-12pdr and I-20mm AA and employed as harbour defence and training vessels at Bombay until returned to Persia in 1946 when they reverted to their original names. 409
THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST Siam Ratanakosindra as coniplctcd In 1922 the Siamese Navy consisted of old and obsolete vessels apart from a destroyer purchased from the Royal Navy in 1920 and 5 new CMBs constructed by Thomycroft. In 1923 a sloop was purchased from the Royal Navy and shortly afterwards 2 new coast defence vessels were ordered in Britain but little else was done to expand the fleet until the 1930s. In 1934 9 torpedo-boats and 2 minelayers were ordered from Italy and in the following year 2 coast defence ships, 3 torpedo-boats, 2 sloops and 4 submarines from the Japanese. Two cruisers, which were never delivered, were ordered from Italy in 1938 but the outbreak of the Second World War brought a halt to further plans for new ships. Siam attempted to take advantage of French weakness in Europe by invading French Indo-China in November 1940 but achieved little, lost four of her ships and signed an armistice on 29 January 1941. On 7 December 1941 she was invaded by Japan but signed a peace treaty with that country on 21 December and a month later declared war on Britain and the USA. Her naval forces however, took little part in the conflict and she lost no more of her ships during the remainder of the war. THE SIAMESE NAVY IN 1922 DESTROYERS RATANAKOSINDRA class armoured gunboats Displacement: 886t standard, lOOOt full load Dimensions: 160ft pp, 174ft oa x 37ft Im x 10ft 9in 48 78, 53 04 x II 30 x 3 28m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 2 Yarrow boilers, 850ihp = I’kts. Oil 96t Armour: Belt 24-l}in, barbettes 21m, turrets 2Jin, CT 44in, decks l$-3in Armament: 2-6in (2x 1), 4—3in AA (4x1) Complement: 103 The small armoured coast defence ship Ratanakosindra was ordered from ihe British Armstrong company and laid down at Elswick on 29.9 24 She was launched on 21.4.25 and completed in August 1925. A second vessel of identical design, theSukhothat, was ordered in 1928 from Vickers Aimsirongs (the iwo companies havmg amalgamated) and laid down in December 1928 She was launched on 19 11.29 and completed in December 1930 1 hey were unusual vessels with a somewhat cramped appearance, being short and broad beamed, with a high superstructure. In many ways they resembled coastal monitors havmg armoured turrets fore and aft, a conning tower and a fire control lop, with 9ft rangefinder, on the foremast but, although having a low freeboard armoured hull, they also had a raised forecastle for seaworthiness, a feature not normally found in the monitor type. They were successful and long lived ships, the Ratanakosindra surviving unul discarded in the 1960s and the Sukhothai until discarded in the early 1970s. Name Launched Disp Fate SUA TAYANCHUOU 1908 375t Discarded 1930s SUA KHAMRONS 1912 385t Discarded 1930s INDHU PHRA RUANG 1916 1035l Discarded 1959 (ex Radiant) Phra Ruang was a British ‘R’ class destroyer purchased in 1920. Dhi'itl'tin 1938 TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate 1-3 1908 120t Discarded 1930s 4 1913 120t Discarded 1930s GUNBOATS Name Launched Disp Fate MONGKUT 1887 700t Discarded 1930s RUJAKUMARN MURATHA 1898 530t Discarded c!930 BHALI, SUGRIB 1901 580t Discarded 1930 CHOW PHRAYA 1918 840t Stricken 24.8 71 (cx-Havant) Chow Phraya was a British ‘Hunt’ class sloop purchased in 1923. In addition to the above there was the Royal yacht Mufte Chakri (1918,2400t) the coastguard vessel Sriya Monthon (1908, 2251) the 55ft Thomycroft CMBs 1 to5 (1922, lit) and a few auxiliaries and small craft. SRI AYUTHIA class coast defence ships Displacement: 2265t Dimensions: 252ft 8in X 47ft 4m x 13ft 8in 76 SO x 14.43 x 4 17m Machinery: 2 shafts, MAN diesels, 5200bhp = 15 5kts. Oil 150t Armour: Belt 2Ain, turrets 4in, barbettes 4in, decks IJin-lin Armament: 4-8in (2x 1), 4-3in AA (4x 1), 4-40mm AA (4x 1) Complement: 155 Name Builder Launched Fate SRI AYUTHIA Kawasaki 21 7 37 Sunk 3.7 51 DHONBURI Kawasaki 31 1.38 Sunk 17.1 41 Designed and built m Japan these ships were similar in principle to the Ratanakosindra class but were much larger, more powerful, vessels. Laid down in 1936 they were completed 16 6 38 and 5 8 38 respecuvelv Side armour was fitted abreast the machinery compartments only and the barbettes extended down to the lower deck. A complete main armament control system was provided with a DCT mounted on a tower above the bridge 1 he 3m AA guns were mounted on the forward shelter deck Both were heavily damaged and beached in action with the French cruiser Lamotte Picquct and other French vessels in the Gulf of Siam on the night of 16/17 January 1941. Ayuthia was later refloated and repaired in Japan by the end of 1941, but Dhonburi capsized and sank while under tow after being refloated. The Ayuthia was laicr sunk by Siamese Army artillery on 3.7.51 during a revolution and the wrecks of both vessels were later raised and scrapped. Taksin class (original design) TAKSIN class cruisers Displacement: 5500t standard Dimensions: 504ft 7in x 47ft 6in x 17ft 3in 153.8 x 14 47 x 5 25m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 3 boilers, 4500shp = 30kts Armour: Belt 60mm, deck 30mm Armament: 6-152mm (3x2), 6-76mm A A (6x I), 8-13 2mm MG (8x1), 6-533mm TT Two cruisers, Taksin and Naresuan, were ordered from Cantieri Riuniu Dell* Adriatico in 1938 and laid down at Trieste in 1939. Construction worked stopped in 1941 and they were later taken over by the Italian Navy, redesigned and completed as the Etna and Vesuvio. For further details sec under Italy. 410
Siam/China 'Гrad PUKET class torpedo-boats Displacement: 318t standard; 470t full load Dimensions: 219ft pp, 223ft oa x 21ft x 7ft 66 75, 68 00 x 6.40 x 2 13m Machinery. 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers, 900shp = 31kts Oil 102t Armament: 3-3in AA (3x 1), 2-20mm A A (2x 1), 6-18in TT (2 x 1,2x2) Complement: 70 Name (launched): Chandraburi (18.1.37), Chonbun (1937), Chunphom (IS 1 37), Patam (16.10 36), Puket (28 9 35), Rayong (11 1.37), Songhkli (1937), Surasdra (28 11.36) and Trad (26 10.35) Ordered from Cantien Navali Riuniti dell'Adriatico in 1934 and laid down at Monfalcone during 1935-36. The armament was ordered from Vickers- Armstrongs, presumably to keep to the gun and ammunition type already tn service with the Siamese Navy and avoid complex supply and storage arrange- ments. On trials the Puket achieved 32.34kts with 10,OOOshp Chonbun, Son- ghkh and Trad were sunk in action with French warships in the Gulf of Siam on 17.1.41 but Trad was later salvaged and repaired. The Trad, Puket and Chun- phorn were discarded cl976 but the remainder were still in service in 1980. KANTAN class torpedo-boats Displacement: 1 lOt standard; 135t full load Dimensions: 131ft 6in pp, 138ft oa x 15ft lin x 5ft 40 00, 42 00 x 4 59 x 1.52m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, lOOOshp = 19kts. Oil 18t Armament: l-3in AA, 2-20mm AA (2* 1), 2-18in TT Complement: 31 Three small, low freeboard torpedo-boats, Kantan, Kylongyai and Takbat all launched by the Ishikawajima Coon 26.3.37. They were discarded in the 1970s but a fourth vessel of this class, the Sattahip, was built at Bangkok during 1956-58 and was still in service in 1980. BANGRACHAN class minelayers Displacement: 368t standard; 408t full load Dimensions: 160ft 9in pp x 25ft 3in x 7ft 3in 50 00 x 7 69 x 2 20m Machinery: 2 shafts, Burmeister and Wain diesels, 540bhp = 13kts Oil 33.5t Armament: 2-3in AA (2x 1), 2-20mm AA (2x 1), 142 mines Complement: 55 Meklong Bangrachan and Nhongarhai were small minelayers ordered from Cantieri Nav- ali Riuniti dcU’Adnaiicoand launched at Monfalcone in 1936 They had a short forecastle and the mines were earned on two sets of rails fitted abreast the superstructure on the upper deck Both vessels were still in service in 1980 Machanu TACHIN class sloops Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 14001 standard; 2000t full load 269ft x 34ft x 10ft 4in 82 00 x 10 36 x 3.14m 2-shaft VTE engines, 2 boilers, 25OOOihp = 17kts 4-4 7in (4x 1), 2-20mm AA (2x 1), 4-18in TT (2x2) 155 (as TS) Name Builder Launched Fate TACH IN Uraga Dock 24 7.1936 BU 1945—46 MEKLONG Uraga Dock 27.11.1936 Discarded cl976 Designed and built in Japan these vessels were intended to combine the roles of sloop and training ship, and were also equipped for minesweeping. Both were laid down in 1936 and completed in June 1937 Two more vessels of the class were projected but neither was built. SINSAMUDAR class submarines Displacement: 370t/430t Dimensions: 167ft 4in x 13ft 6in x 12ft 51 00 x 4 11 x 3.65m Machinery: 2 shafts, diesel engines plus 2 electric motors, 1000bhp/ 540shp = 14.5kts/8kts Oil 27t Armement: 5-2in TT (4 bow, 1 stern), 1 MG Complement: 24 Name Builder Launched Fate BLAJUNBOL Mitsubishi 14.5.1936 Discarded cl950 MACHANU Mitsubishi 24.12.1936 Discarded cl950 SINSAMUDAR Mitsubishi 14.5.1936 Discarded cl950 VI LUN Mitsubishi 24.12.1936 Discarded cl950 Four small coastal submarines designed and built in Japan and completed in 1938 A further 4 were projected but never ordered. COASTAL CRAFT Name Type Built Builder Disp Length bhp/speed Armament CMB6-9 MTB 1935 Thornycroft I6t 55ft (16.76m) 950/40kts 2 torpedoes, 2 MG, 2 DC SARASINDHU class Fishery protection vessels 1936 Bangkok DYd 50t 72ft (21.94in) 150/9kts l-37:nm Sarasindhu class also included Thieu' Uthock and Travane Van, they were of Italian design Besides the above there was the unarmed despatch vessel Samel (ex-Pi Sua Nan, 165l) China Although nominally under rhe Peking Government, China was a divided country in the 1920s being controlled by various provincial warlords and political factions. Her Na\y was however concentrated mainly in the southern provinces and was for the most part under the control of the centra! Government. In 1922 it consisted of a few’obsolete cruisers and torpedo craft, of lhe old seagoing coast defence fleet, and a large number of gunboats and river patrol craft. Its principal area of operations was the Yangtze Kiang which was navigable by seagoing ships as far as Hankow, 600 miles from the sea, and by smaller vessels for a further 1000 miles In peacetime the Navy served as a police force, as crime in general and piracy in particular was rife on the river and along the coast. In w'ar it was intended to defend the coast and prevent the penetration of the country via the Yangtze which extended into the heart of Southern China This and other rivers in China also acted as natural obstacles on which a naval force could do much to hold up and harass an advancing army. By 1929 the internal struggles of China appeared to be over when rhe country was united by the Nationalist Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek but his failure to bring the communists under control was to result first in rebellion and later in full civil war which lasted off and on 411
THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST until 1949 and even continued while both sides were fighting the Japanese. The new central Government had started to rebuild the river Navy in 1926 when a programme of new construction was begun. Six heavily armed, shallow draught gunboats and two smaller gunboats were laid down at Shanghai between 1926and 1931 andduring 1930-31 two Japanese designed ‘light cruisers’ were begun, one at home and one in Japan Shortly after this however Japan occupied Manchuria and the communists broke away from the central Government bringing naval expansion to a virtual halt. A few patrol vessels were built tn the early 1930s and attempts were made to obtain warships from Europe, princi- pally Germany, but, although several vessels were ordered, only a few Ml Bs were ever delivered. In 1937 Japan invaded southern China and by the end of 1938 had occupied the eastern area of the country which included all the main seaports and therefore the means for China to obtain naval assistance from abroad. Apart from a few vessels the Chinese fleet was either sunk (mainly by aircraft) scuttled or captured during 1937-38 but some of the latter vessels were transferred to the puppet Nanking Government set up by the Japanese in March 1940. Apart from the transfer of some British and American gunboats to China in 1942 there does not appear to have been any further develop- ment of naval forces until after the communists gained control of the country in 1949. Japan surrendered her Chinese territories on 14 August 1945 and some of the vessels she had captured were returned to China but the fates of many vessels are still uncertain or unknown due to the confused state of the country during 1937-49 and the secretive nature of the Peoples Republic of China. THE CHINESE NAVY IN 1922 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate Fu Am class FU AN 1894 1900t Discarded ? 1930s TUNG CHI 1895 1900t Scuttled 11 8.37 Hai Yung class HAI YUNG 1897 2954t Scuttled 11 8.37 HAI CHOU 1897 2954t Scuttled 11.8 37 HAI CHEN 1898 2954t Scuttled 11 8 37 Hai Chi class HAI CHI 1898 4300t Scuttled 11.8.37 Ying Swei class YING SWEI 1911 2750t Sunk 25 10 37 CHAO HO 1911 2600t Lost 28 9 37 Ying Swet was sunk by the Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze and Chao Ho, disabled by Japanese warships at Canion, was run aground and abandoned. Wnh the exception of Fu Am whose fate is uncertain, the rest were laid up in ihe mid-1930s and later sunk as blockshrps in the Yangtze. GUNBOATS Name Builder Launched FEI YING 1895 837t CHIEN Wlil 1902 861t CHIEN AN 1900 861t HOI FU 1904 680t FU YU 1904 750t CHU class 1906-07 740t KIANG class 1906-07 550t YUNG FENG class 1912-13 830t YUNG CHIEN class 1915 860t WEI SHENG class 1922 932t Fei Ying had been reclassified as a destroyer by 1930 but her subsequent fate is unknown. The next pair were reconstructed 1930-31 and renamed Tse Chiang and Ta Tung. They were reboilcred and fitted with two new (larger) funnels, ihe poop and waist bulwarks were removed and a new ng was filled As rebuilt the displacement was 900t and the armament 2-120mm (2x 1), l-76inm, 2-57mm (2x1) and l-20inm AA. Speed was 20kts with 6000hp. Both were scuttled 11.8.37 as blockships in the Yangtze. Hoi Fu and Fu Yu were sunk by Japanese aircraft at Canton in September and October 1937 respectively The Chu class consisted ofChu Chi, n (scuttled in the Yangtze 11.8 37),Chu Kuan (in Taiwan fleet after 1949, discarded 1960s), ( hu Tai (sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze 1 6 38), Chu Tuug (in Chinese Republic fleet after 1949. discarded ?1960s),CAu Yu (sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze 2.10 37, later raised and scrapped) and Chu Yew (scuttled al Tsingtau August 1937) The Kiang class consisted of Kiang ( hen (sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze 20 7.38, later salvaged, subsequent fate unknown), Kiang Heng and Kiang Li (both captured by the Japanese September 1937, subsequent fate unknown) and Kiang Yuan (in Chinese Republican Fleet after 1949, discarded ?1960s). The Yung Feng class consisted of Yung Feng (lost 1937 or 1938) and Yung Hsiang (scuttled al Tsingtau August 19V, later raised, and stricken cl959) The Yung Chien class comprise Yw/ig Chien (sunk by Japanese aircraft at Shanghai 25.8 37, wreck captured November 1937, sal vaged and repaired as Japanese depot ship Asuka 1938, AA ship 1945, sunk 7 5 45 in I luangpo Estuary by US aircraft, possibly refloated but fate uncertain) and Yung ( hi (sunk bv Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze 21 10 38, captured 8 11.38, relfuated and repaired, transferred to Nanking Government as Hai Hsing May 1940, recaptured by Chinese September 1945 and reverted to Yung Chi, served with Nationalist forces until sunk by Communists in Yangtze .April 1949). The Wei Sheng class consisted of Wei Sheng and Teh Siu ng w hich during the late 1920s were converted to seaplane tenders, the after section of the vessels being cleared to accommodate 2 aircraft (as modified, armament was l-120inin, l-75nim, 4 MG), both were scuttled as blockships in the Yangtze on 11 8 37. There were also the small gunboats Yi Shen (1911, 350t) and S7iw Shen (1911, 380t, both scuttled in 1937 or 1938) and We Feng (1912, 200t, fate unknown) River gunboats comprised Chen Shen (1899, 275t, captured by ihe Japanese cl937); Li Chieh (ex-Vaierland, 1903, 266t, became Manchukuo Navy Lisui 1932); Li Sui (cx-Otrer, 1909, 170t, scrapped 1932); Kiang Hsi and Kiang Kun (1911 and 1912, 150t, captured by the Japanese cl937); Hai Ou and Hai Fu (1916-17, 150t, in service 1930, subsequent fate unknown), Hat Hung and Hui Ku (1916 and 1919, 190t, in service in 1930, subsequent file unknown), and Kung Sheng (later Chien Tien, 1922, 279t, in service 1930, subsequent fate unknown) In addition there were the coastal craft Kuai I and Kuai 2 (ex-Italian MAS 226 and 227, purchased in 1921 and discarded early 1930s) DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate CHIEN KANG 1912 390t Sunk 27.9.37 TUNG AN 1912 390t Scuttled Aug 1937 YU CHANG 1912 390t ung An was scuttled at Tsingtau. Chien Kang was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Yangtze; she was later refloated but her subsequent fate and that of Yu Chang is unkwn. TORPEDO-BOATS Name Launched Disp Fate CHANG 1895 90t > LIEU 1895 90t > SU 1895 120t CHEN 1895 120t HU PENG cl907-08 97t Sunk 1.10.37 HU OAH cl907-08 97t Sunk 8.10.37 HU YING c1907-08 97t Sunk 8.8 37 HU TSUIN cl 907-08 97t Lost C1937 The fate of the first four is unknown but they were sull in service in 1930 and it seems likely they were discarded shortly afterwards The three vessels sunk were lost in the Yangtze to Japanese aircraft. NING HAI class light cruisers Displacement: 2500t normal Dimensions: 350ft pp, 360ft oa x 39ft x 13ft 106.68, 109.73 x 11.89 x 3 96m Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, coal-fired boilers, 9500shp = 22.25kts Armour: Deck lin, turrets lin Armament: 6-140mm (3x2), 6-76mm AA (6x 1) (Ping Hui 3-88mm АЛ (3x1)), 4—533mm TT (2x2) Complement: 320 Name Builder Launched F.itc NING HAI Harima 1.10.31 Sunk 19.9.44 PING HAI Kiangnan Dock 29 9.35 Sunk 25 11 44 412
China Although nominally classed as light cruisers these unusual vessels could better be described as large coast defence gunboats They were of Japanese design, well armed but lightly protected and comparatively slow. Apart from the deck and turret plating the only protection was bullet proof plating on the sides abreast the machinery They carried two aircraft, one of which was accommodated in a hangar at the base of the mainmast, and on trials .Viwg Wai as eraged 24kts with 10,500shp. Ning Hai was laid down in 1930 and completed in 1932. However, Ping Hat was laid down on 9 7 31 in China under Japanese supervision but the Japanese withdrew their personnel in 1933 and construction came to a standstill. The project was taken over by a German naval mission in 1935 and the vessel was completed on 18 6.36 with a German AA armament (the original weapons not having been delivered by the Japanese) and some minor variations in superstruc- ture design. Both were sunk in shallow' water in the Yangtze by Japanese aircraft on 23.9 37, were later captured by the Japanese, raised, repaired and transferred to the Nanking Government Fleet in 1939. In 1943 they were taken over by the Japanese Navy, and in June 1944 A’ing Hai was renamed loshima and Ping Hai became Yasoshima loshima was torpedoed by the US submarine Shad south of Honshu and Yasoshima was sunk by US aircraft in Santa Cruz Bay, Luzon The wreck of the latter vessel was raised in 1946 and returned to China for scrapping SUBMARINES Two coastal submarines were ordered from Germany in 1938 but were taken over b} the German Navy in 1939 and completed in 1940 as the U120 and U121. For full details see under Germany. HSIEN NING gunboat Displacement: 418t standard Dimensions: 170ft pp, 180ft oa x 24ft x 6ft 6in 51 82, 54 86 x 7.32 x 1.98m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow boilers, 25OOihp = 17kls Armament: 1-120mm, 1-100mm, 3-57mm (3x 1) Complement* 115 Launched 16 8 28, Hsicn Ning w’as the first of a sei les of generally similar gunboats built by lhe Kiangnan Dock Co, Shanghai and designed to operate in the lower, deep-water reaches of the main Chinese rivers and along the coast. Draught was therefore comparatively shallow although not equal to that of the type normally classified as river gunboats. She was sunk by Japanese aircraft in ihc Yangtze river I 7.38 being moved aft to the quarterdeck where it replaced the 100mm gun of the earlier ships In other respects the layout was basically the same although there was some slight variations in the superstructure and the boilers and funnels were positioned relatively further aft. The machinery power was increased and the hull form made finer than in the earlier ships to maintain, and fractionally increase, the required speed. She was sunk in 1949 but was later salvaged by the Republicansand is reported to have served in the Chinese Fleet until the 1970s. Yat Sen as completed YAT SEN gunboat Displacement: 1520t standard Dimensions: 256ft 7in pp, 270ft oa x 34ft 5in x lift 2in 78 20, 82 30 x 10.50 x 3 40m Machinery: 2-shaft VTE, 3 Yarrow boilers,c6000ihp = 20kts. Coal 280t Armament* l-152mm, l-140mm, 4—76mm AA (4x 1), 2-47mm (2x 1) Complement: 173 Yat Sen was generally similar in layout to the earlier gunboats but was much larger and has often been classified b} \\ estern references as a sloop She was launched at Kiangnan Dock on 12.11 30.1 he 152mm gun was mounted on the forecastle, the 140mm gun on the quarterdeck and the 76mm A A guns on the centre line (in ‘B’ and ‘X’ positions, between the funnels and between the after funnel and mainmast). She was damaged in Japanese air attacks and beached at Nangking on 25.9.37 but was salvaged by the Japanese and reconstructed as a TS Renamed Atada, she was fitted with 3-80mm AA (3x 1) guns, poop deck, a new rig and a modified bridge structure She was captured by the Al es in August 1945, returned to China on 25.8 46 and renamed ) i Hsien. She remained in service with the Nationalist Navy until the 1960s NING class patiol boats Ming Chuen in rhe 193(K Displacement: 400t standard Dimensions: 142ft 9in pp x 22ft Ilin x 6ft 7in 43 SO x 7.00 x 2 00m Machinery: 1-shaft ТЕ, 1 coal-fired boiler, 600ihp - lOkts Armament. 2-57mm(2xl) Complement: 44 MING CHEUN class gunboats Displacement. 460t standard Dimensions: 176ft 9in pp x 26ft x 6ft 6in 53.87 x 7.92 x 1.98m Machinery: 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow boilers, 3600ihp = ISkts Armament: l-120mm, l-100mm, l-76mm, 2-57mm (2x 1), l-20mm Complement: 115 hhng ( hi tni and Ming Sen were built by Kiangnan Dock and launched in 1929 and 1931 respectively. In design they w’ere slightly enlarged versions of the Hsicn Ning with more powerful machinery, giving a Ikt increase in speed, and with a 76mm gun in place of one of the 57mm weapons. In appearance thev were almost identical to the earlier ship Ming Cheun became the Republican Chang Chiang after I949and is reported to have survived into the late 1970s Ming Sen was sunk at Hankow by Japanese aircraft on 3.10.37 but was salvaged by them and repaired in 1939. She was commissioned in the Japanese Navy as the repair ship Hitonose and was lost 21.12 44 in collision with the merchant vessel Kosho. She was salvaged but subsequently struck a mine and sank YUNG SUI gunboat Displacement: 650t standard Dimensions: 223ft pp x 29fi 1 lin x 6ft 67.97 x 9 /2 x 1.83m Machinery; 2-shaft ТЕ, 2 Yarrow boilers, 4000ihp = 18.5kls Armament: l-150mm, l-l20mm, 3-76mm (3x1), 4-57mm (4x1), l-20mm AA Complement; 100 Built bv К angnan Dock and launched in 1929, this vessel wras an enlarged version ol the Ming Cheun class designed to accommodate a heavier armament A 150mm gun replaced the 120mm gun on the forecastle, the Lit ter weapon Class: Chang Ning, Cheng Xing, Chung Xing, Kiang Ning, IV’ei Ning, Yun Xing, Fu Xing, Hai Xing, Sui Ning, Suh Ning and Tai Ning All built at Shanghai DYd 1932-36 The first six were captured by the Japanese 1937-38 but subsequent fates are unknown except for Uvci Ning and Yun Ning which became the Japanese Nav у Bunsei and Unsei respectively Both were recaptured by the Allies but only Wet Ning was returned to China - she was sunk in 1949 but later salvaged, forming part of the Republican Fleet until the 1960s The remaining five vessels were scuttled 1937-38. MINELAYERS TungHsin and Tung Teh (built at Foochow Arsenal 1935; 500t, 12kts; l-76mm, 4-47mm) were both captured by lhe Japanese September 1937. Their subse- quent fate is unknown SMALL GUNBOATS Yung Shen (1928; 300t; 500hp = lOkts; l-76mm, l-57mm), and Jen Shen (1931; 300t; 500hp = lOkts; l-80mm, I-57mm) were both scuttled <1937 EX-FOREIGN VESSELS The corvettes Fu Po (ex-HMS Petunia, ‘Flower’ class), was purchased in 1945 and lost ina collision 19.3.47. For particulars see under Great Britain. The river gunboats Ying Shan (ex-HMS Gannet), Ying Hao (ex-HMS Sandpiper), Lung Huan (ex-HMS Fall on) and Mei Yuan (ex-USS Tutuila) were presented to China by the British and US Governments in February 1942. ) ng Hao was scuttled in the Yangtze in April 1949 and the remainder, captured b\ ihc Communists, were still in service with the Republican Fleet in the early 1960s. 413
THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST/LATIN AMERICA MTBs Name Built Builder Disp Length bhp/speed (kts) Armament KUAI 3-4 1931 Baglietto 18t 52ft 6in (16 00m) 1500/40 2-450mm Tl*, 2 MG KUAI 1-2 1934 Thomycroft 14t 55ft (16 76m) 1500/38 2-450mm IT, 2 MG KUAI 5-8 1936 Thomycroft 14t 55ft (16 76m) 2400/40 2-450mm TT, 2 MG KUAI 101-103 1937 Lurssen, Vegesack 49t 92ft (28.00m) 3300/36 2-533m TT, l-20mm A A 1 and 2 were purchased to replace rhe original I and 2 discarded in (he early 1930s; interned at Hong Kong in 1938, they were purchased by Bn tain in 1939 and became MTB26 and 21 (both lost 19-11). The remainder were probably destroyed during 1937-38 except 102 which survived to be captured by the Communists after the warand served in the Republican Navy until the 1960s In 1936 China ordered a MTB depot ship and several MTBs from Germany but only 101-103 were delivered The remaining order (which included purchasing the existing German S-boats S2-5) was cancelled on the outbreak of the Smo- Japanesc war. The depot ship was completed in 1938 as the German Tanga Manchukuo On 18 September 1931 Japan began to occupy Manchuria and soon gained control of China’s eastern provinces which she declared an independent state in 1932. The country, of course, remained under Japanese influence although provided with its own government organisation and armed forces. A number of gunboats and patrol craft were specially built in Japan to form a Manchukuo river flotilla, most of which was based on the Amur and its tributaries and these, together with an ex-Japanese destroyer and a large number of small craft, formed the independent naval force of the new country. It was to see little fighting until August 1945 when the Soviet Amur flotilla, in support of the invading Soviet Army, entered Manchuria from the cast. The Manchukuo fleet is reported to have been captured without a fight and to have been incorporated in the Soviet force but its fate is by no means certain. The Russians handed over considerable quantities of arms, captured from the Japanese, to communist Chinese forces but whether these inc hided any of the river vessels is not known. DESTROYERS Hai Wei (ех-Аая) was transferred from the Japanese Navy in 1937 but returned in 1943, for full details see under Japan. RIVER GUNBOATS Shun Tien and Yang Min (270t, 1934), Ting Pien and Chin Yen (20t, 193*») These four vessels, specially built by Harima in Japan, were ol shallow draught and heavily armed for their size. Dimensions were 183ft (second pair 195ft) x 29ft x 3ft (55.78 (59.44) x 8.84 x 0.91m). Armament consisted of a twin 120mm DP mounting forward, a single 120mm DP mounting alt and 3 MG fitted on a lattice tower amidships. They were propelled by diesel engines, ihe first pair being designed for 12.5kts with 680bhp and the second pair 13kts «uh 750bhp; complement 70. Lisui (266t, 1903) ex-Chinese Li Chich captured by Japan m 1932 and transferred to Manchukuo. Tatung and Limin (65t, 1933) built by Mitsubishi, dimensions 100ft x 16ft x 2ft 6in (30.48 x 4 88 x 0.76m) diesel engines, 240bhp = 10 5kts; armament l-57mm howitzer, 3 MG; complement 20. In addition to the above there were a large number of small patrol vessels, motor launches, patrol craft and a few ex-Russian vessels operated as gunboats. Mexico Although one of the wealthiest nations in Latin America, Mexico has never developed a substantial navy. She supported the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War and purchased three destroyer- sized vessels and ten gunboats from that source. During World War II, she was an active member of the Allied Powers and sustained signifi- cant losses to her merchant marine fleet. In 1922, the Mexican Navy consisted of the cruiser transport Pro- greso (launched 1907, 1590t, discarded 1947) and General Guerrero (1908, 1880t, discarded 1924); the Bravo class gunboat Blanquel (ex- Morales , 1903, 1200t, discarded 1924) and Bravo (name also cited as Nicolas Bravo, 1903, 1200t, discarded 1945); the Tampico class gun- boats Tampico and Vera Cruz (1902, 980t, discarded 1924); and the gunboatsP/аи de Guadalupe (1892, 824t, discarded 1924), Agua Prieta (1891, purchased 1921, 1200t, discarded 1935) and Zaragoza (1891, 1200t, discarded 1924). Queretaro poslwcr Ry courtesy of Robert L Scheina Durango By courtesy и/ Robert L Schema ANAHUAC coast defence ship Anahuac (стс-Deodoro) was purchased from Brazil in 1924. She was not modern ised while in Mexican service and was discarded in 1938. See under Brazil. GUANAJUATO class patrol sloops (launched 1934) Displacement: 1300t Dimensions: 260ft pp x 37ft 9in x 10ft 7.92 x H.5I * 3.05m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 5000shp 29kts Armament: 3-4in (3x 1), 4—25mm AA (2x2), 4-13mm AA (2x2) Complement: 140 Class: Guanajuato, Queretaro, Potosi Built by Socicta Espaftol, Ferrol, entered service in 1935 and discarded 1975
Mexico/Colombia/Venezuela DURANGO .class gunboat-transports (launched 1934-35) Displacement: 1600t Dimensions: 282ft pp x 40ft x 10ft 85 95 12 19x3.05m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, Yarrow boilers, 6500shp = 20kts Armament: 2-4in (2x 1), 4-25mm AA (2x2), 4—13mm AA (2x2) Complement: 141 Class (builder, fate): Durango (Levante, Valencia, active 1980), Zacatecas (Echevarrieta & Larringaga, Cadiz, retained by Spain, never entered Mexican sere ice). Accommodation for 490 troops plus 80 horses. *G’ class gunboats (launched 1934-35) Displacement: 130t, 180t full load Dimensions: 147ft 6in pp, 153ft wl x 16ft 6in x 5ft 3in 44.96, 46 63 x 5.03 x 1 59m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 3000bhp = 26kts Armament: 2-25mm AA (2x 1), 4—13mm AA (2x 1) Complement: 21 Class: G20-G29 Constructed by Euskalduna, Bilbao, these ships were of British design, with German engines and French guns G24 was discarded in 1945, G20,21,23,26 and 21 in 1954, G22 and 25 in 1956 and G28 in 1963. G25 postwar USX Colombia Colombia possessed no significant fleet units in 1922 In 1933 a tern- tonal dispute erupted with Peru in the Amazon Basin, and Colombia purchased two destroyers from Portugal in an attempt to reinforce her river flotilla; however, the dispute cooled before the units arrived. Only minor combatants and riverine craft were added to the fleet throughout this period. VOUGA class destroyers CARTEGEN A class river gunboats (launched 1930) Displacement: 142t Dimensions: 130ft pp, 137ft 3in oa x 23ft 6in x 2ft 9in 39.62, 41.83 x 7./6 x 0.84m Machinery: 2 Gardner semi diesels, 600bhp = 15 5kts Armament: l-3in, 4 MG Complement: ? Class (fate): Barranquilla (discarded 1970), Cartagena (active 1980), Santa Mana (discarded Dec 1962) A very successful design, built by Yarrow. Hull was galvanised steel and machinery and magazine areas were fitted with bullet-proof plating Armament after 1962 comprised 2-3in, l-20mm, 4 MG. In 1933 Colombia purchased Anliquois {ex-Douro') and Caldas {ex-Tejo') from Portugal. These ships were a Yarrow’ design. Both units were completely refitted 1954-55, and both were discarded in 1961 Venezuela From 1922 to 1946 Venezuela was a ‘gunboat navy’; the nation had not yet developed her vast natural resources On strength in 1922 were the gunboats Mariscal Sucre (launched 1886, purchased 1912, 1125t, dis- carded 1941), General Salotn (1884, 1900, 750t, discarded 1946) and Miranda (1895, 1898, 200t, discarded 1945). General Soublette 1939 Ex-Italian gunboats (purchased 1938) Ex-FLOWER class corvettes (transferred 1946) Class (former name, fate)' Carabobo {Kanisack, lost 1946), Constitution {Algoma, discarded 1962), Fcberaaon (Ainherit, discarded 1956), hidependencia {Dunvegan, discarded 1953), Libertad {Battlcford, grounded and discarded 12.4.1949), Patna {Oakville, discarded 1962), Victoria {Westaskattin, discarded 1962) Displacement: 615t; 850t full load Dimensions: 204ft pp x 28ft 6in x 8ft 6in 62.18 x 1.39 x 2.59m Machinery: Reciprocating, 1500ihp = 15kts. Fuel 850t Armament: 2-4in (2x1), l-3in, 2 MG Class: General Soublette, General Urdaneta Launched in 1925, both these Dardanelli class units were purchased from the Italian Navy. Discarded in 1950. 415
LATIN AMERICA Brazil Naval acquisitions lingered from 1922 until the eve of World War II. Brazil’s resources were taxed by social and political challenges, and these even manifested themselves in the fleet. Four submarines were acquired - the ‘poor man’s* answer to redressing the imbalance of naval power vis a vis Argentina. In the Pacific, Peru was opting for the same solution vis a vis Chile. The Navy had become a focal point for social unrest. Leftists were achieving colossal successes in Mexico, Russia and elsewhere. Sailors were among the best travelled, and thus most exposed to new ideologies, and many had been abroad due to ship construction in foreign yards and for World War I. There had already been a fleet mutiny in 1910, and fourteen years later Sdo Paulo hoisted the red flag of rebellion. She prowled Rio de Janeiro’s harbour and fired a six- pound shot into Minas Gerais - but could win no converts. Finally the mutineers received asylum in Uruguay and Scio Paulo was returned. During the early 1930s, the Navy was employed against the Paulist revolutionaries. In 1918 a US naval mission arrived in Brazil and continued to exert considerable influence throughout this era. The Naval War College was dominated by Americans and the organisation of the dreadnoughts was patterned on the US system. In 1937 the United States attempted to lease six destroyers to Brazil, but the outcry in Argentina was deafen- ing, the southern neighbour claiming that this would destroy the arms balance between the two nations. Moreover, many in Great Britain saw this as a threat to a traditional British sales market. The United States succumbed to the pressure. As in World War I, Brazil was an active Allied power in the Second World War. The Navy’s primary duty was patrolling and escorting convoys in the South Atlantic, but its vessels also took part in the African and Italian campaigns. The cruiser Bahia was the most signif- icant war loss; she exploded in 1945 while serving as a guard ship, stationed to provide a rescue site for distressed American pilots. Brazil began indigenous warship construction during this period. She built three Marcilio Dias class destroyers, six Acre class destroyers, six Henrique Dias class trawlers and six Carioca class minelayers, plus small units, although admittedly the destroyers were based on the US Mahan design and the Royal Navy Hero design respectively. These ships took an exceedingly long time to build, yet they represented an impressive beginning for a new industry. THE BRAZILIAN NAVY IN 1922 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate BARROSO Rio Grande do Sul class 1895 3450t Discarded 1931 BAHIA 20.1.1909 3000t Sank 4.7.45 RIO GRANDE 20.4.1909 3000t Discarded 1948 DO SUL Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul were completely refitted in Riode Janeiro 1925-26, new engines and boilers being installed by Thomycroft. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Para class ALAGOAS 1909 560t Discarded 1939 AMAZON AS 1908 560t Discarded 1931 MATO-GROSSO 23.1.1909 560t Discarded 1945 PARA 11.7.1908 560t Discarded 1933 PARAIBA 1908 560t Discarded 1944 PARANA 1910 560t Discarded 20.10.33 PIAUI 1908 560t Discarded 1944 RIO GRANDE DO 1909 560t Discarded 1944 NORTE SANTA- 27.10.1909 560t Discarded 1944 CATHARINA SERGIPE 20.5.1910 560t Discai ded 1944 Porpoise class MARANHAO 1913 934t Discarded 1945 Maranahao was acquired by Brazil in 1920. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate F class Fl 11.6.1913 25Ot/3O5t Discarded 18.11.33 F3 9.11.1913 25Ot/3O5t Discarded 18.11.33 F5 1913 25Ot/3O5t Discarded 18.11.33 In 1922 the Brazilian Navy also had in commission the submarine lender Crum (launched 1915, 4100t, discarded 1946); the training ship Benjamin Constant (launched 1892, 2750t, disarmed 2.3.26); the torpedo-boat tender Belmonte (cx-Palmarcs, ex-Valesia, launched 1912, 5227t, c ;carded 1961); and the river gunboat Pernambuco (launched 1910, 470t, discarded 1948). There were also numerous minor river gunboats. BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp Fate Deodoro class DEODORO 18.6.1898 3162t Sold 1924 FLORIANO Minas Gerais class 6.7.1899 3162t Discarded 1936 MINAS GERAIS 10.9.1908 19,200t Discarded 1953 SAO PAULO 19.4.1909 19,200t Discarded 1951 Minas Gerais class Minas Gerais was reconstructed between 1931 and 1935. She was converted to burn oil, new turbo-generators replaced the dynamos, and 2-4.7in AA guns were added. The two funnels were trunked into one. Sdo Paulo was to have received a similar refit; however, this was not executed due to the poor condition of her hull and machinery. JURUENA class destroyers The Brazilian Navy ordered six ‘H’ class destroyers from Great Britain in 1938. \ХЪИс under construction, five (the sixth was not yet begun) were appropriated by the Royal Navy at the outbreak of the war. The units were to be named Jaguaribe ,Japura,Javary, Junta ,Juruena andJuiahy. For full details see under Great Britain. 416
Brazil MARCILIO DIAS class destroyers Displacement: 1500t, 2200t full load Dimensions: 341ft pp, 357ft oa x 34ft lOin x 9h lOin 103.94, 108 81 x 10.61 x 2 99m Machinery: 2-shaft General Electric geared turbines, 4 boilers, 42,800shp = 36 5kts. Oil 550c Armament: 4-5m (4x 1), 4-4Omm, 4-20mm, 4-21in (1x4) Complement: 190 Name Builder Launched Fate GREENHALGH Ilha das Cobras 8.7 1941 Discarded 1966 MARCILIO DIAS Ilha das Cobras 20.7.1940 Discarded 1966 MARIZ E BARROS Ilha das Cobras 28 12.1940 Discarded 1972 Timbira 1952 TUPI class submarines Displacement' 620t/853t Dimensions: 196ft 9in oa x 21ft x 15ft 60.00 x 6 40 x 4 60m Machinery: 2-shaft Fiat diesels, plus electric motor, 1350bhp/800hp = 14kts/7 5kts Armament: 6-2lin TT (4 bow, 2 stern), 1-3.9in, 2-13mm Complement; 42 Name Builder Launched Fate TAMOIO OTO, Muggiano 14 2.1937 Discarded 1960 TIMBIRA OTO, Muggiano 30.12 1936 Discarded 1960 TUPI OTO, Muggiano 28.11.1936 Discarded 1960 Formerly the Italian submannes Яscianghi, Gondar and Heghelh respectneh. Designed for a diving limit of 165ft. Entered service 14.3.38. "1 hese ships, which commissioned late 1943-44, were based on the US Mahan design and were also known as the *M* class ACRE class destroyers Displacement' 1340t; 1800t full load Dimensions: 323ft oa x 35ft x 8ft 6in 98 45 x 10 67 x 2 59m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 boilers, 34,OOOshp = 35.5kts. Oil 450t Armament 4-5in (4x 1), 2—40mm (1x2), 4-20mm (4x 1), 8 DC throw- ers, 2 DC racks Complement: 150 Ex-US destroyer escorts Class (former name, transferred, fate): Babitonga (DE101 Alger, 10 3.45. discarded 1964), Baependi (DE99 Cannon, 19.12 44, discarded 1974), Baum (DE177 Reybold, 15.8 44, discarded 1975), Rebenbe (DE178 Herzog, 1 8 44. discarded 1968), Benevente (DE100 Christopher, 19.12.44, discarded 1975), Bcrtioga (DL175 Pennewill, 1 8 44, discarded 1964), Bocaina (DE174 Marts, 20 3 45, discarded 1975), Bracui (DE179 Л/сАмм, 15 8 44, discarded 1974). F.x-‘DET’ class destroy er escorts Name Builder Launched Fate ACRE Ilha das Cobras 30.5.1945 Discarded 1974 AJURICABA Ilha das Cobras 30 5 1945 Discarded 1964 AMAZONAS Ilha das Cobras 20 11.1943 Discarded 1973 APA Ilha das Cobras 30 5 1945 Discarded 1964 ARAGUARY Ilha das Cobras 14 7.1946 Discarded 1974 ARAGUAYA Ilha das Cobras 20 11 1943 Discarded 1974 Hcnnque Dias 1946 IIENRIQUE DIAS class trawlers (corvettes) (launched 1942-43) This class was built to replace six ‘H’ class units requisitioned by Great Britain at the outbreak of World War II They were basically ‘H’ class destroyers modified with American equipment. The first to complete, Araguaya, was not commis- sioned until 3 9 49; the last, Ajuricaba, entered service in December 1951. Displacement: 813t; 920t full load Dimensions: 160ft pp, 176ft 6in oa x 28h x 16ft 48 77, 53.80 x 8 53 x 4 88m Machinery: 1 E, lOOOihp = 12 5kts Coil Armament: 2-76mm (2x 1), 4 DC throwers Class (former name, launched, fate): Barreto de Menezes (Pam, Feb 1945, discarded 1960), Felipe Camarao (Papaterra, July 1942, discarded 1960), Fer- nandes Vtctra (Parati, 11 6.42, discarded 1953),Hennque Dias (Paigo, 26 8 42, discarded I960), Mathias de Albuquerque (Pampano, 11 6 42, discarded 1952), Vidal de Negreiros (Pelegrime, 1942, discarded 1951) All units were built b\ Henrique Lage, Ilha do Viana Laid down in 1941 for lhe Royal Navy and transferred to lhe Brazilian Nav\ 24 8 42 while under construction HUMAITA submarine Displacement Dimensions- Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1390t/1884t 285ft 5in oa x 25ft 7in x 13ft 2in 87.00 x 7 80 x 4.00>n 2-shaft Ansaldo diesels, plus electric motor, 4900bhp/900hp = 18.5kts/9 5kts 6-2lin TT (4bow, 2 stern), l-4in, 16 mines 61 Name Builder Launched Fate HUMAITA OTO, Muggiano 11 6 1927 Discarded 1951 RIO PARDO submarine-chaser (launched 1943) Displacement: 132t Dimensions: 120ft pp, 128ft oa x 21ft x 5ft 9in 36 58, 39.01 x 6 40 X I 75m Machinery: 3 diesels, 1890bhp = 20kts Armament: 20mm 1 his boat, a modified Bali Ila, was designed for deep diving and commissioned 25 3.29. Innovations included placing lhe diesel and electric motors well for- ward, elimination of bow planes, and novel distribution of ballast tanks. Rio Pardo, launched 29.11.43, was converted to a transport in 1952 Built by Ilha das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro, designed indigenously. 417
The launching ceremony of ihe Сатациа, 16 9 1939 By courieiy of Robert L Sehcina CARIOCA class minelayers (launched 1938-39) Displacement: 552t Dimensions: 188ft 9in pp x 25ft x 8ft 57 50 x 7.62 x 2.44m Machinery: 2 shafts, 2 sets 1 E, 22OOihp = 14kts. Enel 70t Armament: 2-4in (2x 1), 4-20mm, 50 mines Complement: 97 Class (launched, fate): Cabedelo (16.9.39, discarded 1960),Camaqua (16.9.39, lost 21 7.44), Camocim (28.10 39, discarded 1960), Cananela (22.10.38, dis- carded 1960), Caravelas (14 9 39, discarded 1960),Сапога (22.10.38, discarded 1960). Ex-US submarine chasers Class (former number, transferred, fate): Goiana {PCS54 2.5.42, discarded 1952), Grajau (PC1236, 17.11.43, discarded 1960),Grauna (РС56/, 6.12.43, discarded 1960), Guatba (PC604, 14 6 43, discarded 1952), Guajara (PC607, 22 10.43, discarded 1960), Guapore {PC544, 26 9 42, discarded 1958), Gumpa {PC60S, 14.6.43, discarded 1952), Gurupt {PC547, 26 9 42, discarded I960); Jacut {SCI288, 19.5 43, discarded 1951), Jaguarao {SC765, 16.2 43, discarded 1951), Jaguanbe {SC767, 16.2.43, discarded 1951), Javan {SC763, 7.12 42, discarded 1951), Judtai {SCI289, 26.4.43, discarded 1951),.7млш {SC764, 31 12 44, discarded 1951), Juniena {SC766, 31 12.42, discarded 1951), fuud {SC762, 31.12 42, discarded 1951). PARNA1BA river gunboat (launched 2.9.37) Displacement: 595t Dimensions: 178ft 3in wl, 180ft 6in oa x 33ft 6m x 5h 54.33, 55 02 x 10 21 x I 52m Machinery: 2 sets Thomycroft ТЕ, 1300ihp = 12kts Armour: See notes Armament: 1-4 7in, 2-47mm, 6-20mm Complement: 5 Built by the Ilha das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro; currently in sen ice. Sides and deck partially armoured, but excessive draught causes her to be inactive for part of the year. Re-armed 1960 with l-3in, 2-47mm, 2-40mm, 6-20inm. PARAGUACU river gunboat (launched 22.12.38) Displacement: 430t Dimensions: 146ft 4in oa x 34ft 9in wl x 5ft 44 60 x Ю 58 x I 52m Machinery: 2 sets reciprocating engines, HOOihp = 13kts Armour: See notes Armament: l-47in, 2-47mm, 6-20mm Complement: ? Built by Ilha das Cobras, Rio de Janeiro; discarded 1972. Re-armed 1960 with 1—3in, 2—47mm, 2-40mm, 6-20mm. Sides and deck partially armoured. Active only at certain times of year owing to deep draught Paraguay Humaita C U Reilsian Collection Paraguay is one of two South American nations without a coastline. However, navigable rivers form much of her international boundaries and penetrate deep into her interior. Between 1933 and 1935 Paraguay and Bolivia fought the Chaco War, during which Humana and Para- guay were employed as transports. Paraguay succeeded in capturing about three-quarters of the disputed territory. PARAGUAY class armoured river gunboats Displacement: 745t; 865t full load Dimensions: 231ft 6in oa X 35ft x 7ft 6in 70 56 x Ю 67 x 22.86m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Thomycroft boilers, 6000shp = 17kts. Oil 150t Armour: Deck 0.33m, sides 0.5in, CT O.75in Armament: 2-4.7in (2x I), 3-3in AA (3x 1), 2-40mm AA Complement: 86 Class: Humana, Paraguay Built by Odero, Sestn Ponente, launched 1930, commissioned May 1931 and sull (1980) active. 418
Uruguay/Argentina Uruguay Uruguay has traditionally possessed no more than a modest harbour protection force. In 1922 the Navy consisted of the cruiser Montevideo (launched 1885, purchased 1908, 2050t, discarded 1932) and the tor- pedo gunboat Uruguay (12.4.1910, 1150t, discarded 1953). Rio Negro 1939 PAYSANDU class patrol craft (launched 1935) Displacement: 180t Dimensions: 137ft 6in x 19ft x 5ft 4in 41.90 x 5.80 x 1.65m Machinery: 2 Germania diesels, lOOObhp = 17kls Armament: See notes Complement: ? Class (fate): Paysandu (discarded 1963), Rio Negro (discarded 1969), Salto (active 1980) Built by CNR, Ancona. Typical armament was 2-20mm (2x1), l-37mm, 1 MG, but this varied. Used for training as well as patrol. Argentina Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, Argentina possessed the strongest navy in Latin America. During the first decade, she had been unsuccessfully challenged for fleet superiority by her principal rivals, Brazil and Chile. This superiority continued until the final years of World War II. At that time, the Argentine position vis ii vis Brazil began to deteriorate; Brazil was reaping the rewards of being an active Allied power. During its period of superiority, the Argentine fleet was maintained only through considerable national sacrifice. By the mid- 1920s the fleet had become almost totally obsolete; most first-line units had been built in the 1880s and 1890s, the only significant exceptions being the two dreadnoughts, Moreno and Rivadavia. Argentina undertook a massive programme to revitalise her navy. From 1924 until 1926, battleships were reconstructed along the lines of their American near-sisters, and in 1926 Argentina authorised an expenditure of 75 million gold pesos to be apportioned over 10 years for a naval programme. Remarkably, this programme survived almost intact. Argentina purchased two heavy cruisers, a light cruiser, twelve destroyers, and three submarines, so, as World War II began, Argentina possessed a moderately sized modern fleet. Argentina was the last of the ‘ABC’ powers to join the submarine race. The method of acquisition was no less controversial than when Argentina had obtained herdreadnoughts. A naval commission headed by Rear-Admiral Galindez travelled throughout Europe requesting bids. Desired qualities were selected from competing firms, and revised bids sought, but firms believed that trade secrets had been compromised. After considerable controversy, Galindez selected Can- tiere Navale Franco Tosi of Taranto, Italy, to construct Argentina’s first submarine. Argentina, like the remainder of Latin America, did not have the capacity to build warships of destroyer size or larger, yet a significant beginning was made to develop an indigenous shipbuilding capability. Nine Bouchard class minesweepers were built during the late 1930s and these were followed up by two King class patrol vessels. Admittedly, these programmes were small and suffered from long delays; however, they did contribute to an industrial base needed to build larger war- ships. THE ARGENTINE NAVY IN 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp Fate El Plata class EL PLATA 29.8.1874 1500t Discarded 16.11.27 LOS ANDES 29.10.1875 1500t Discarded 16.11.27 Almirante Brown class ALMIRANTE BROWN 6.10.1880 4300t Discarded 17.11.32 Libertad class IN DEPEN DENCI A 26.2.1891 2300t Discarded 1951 LIBERTAD 11.12.1890 2300t Discarded 16.12.46 (ex-Nueve de Julio) Rivadavia class MORENO 23.9.1911 27,700t Sold 8.2.56 RIVADAVIA 26.8.1911 27,700i Sold 8.2.56 Rivadavia class Both ships were modernised 1924-26, being converted to oil-firing and having a new fire control system installed. CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate PATAGONIA 1885 1400t Discarded 16.11.27 NUEVE DE JULIO 26.7.1892 3500t Discarded 23.10.30 BUENOS AIRES 10.5.1895 4500t Discarded 17.5.32 Garibaldi class GARIBALDI 27.5.1895 6700t Discarded 20.3.34 GENERAL 1896 7100t Discarded 8.5.47 BELGRANO PUEYRREDON 25.7.1898 6800t Discarded 2.8.54 SAN MARTIN 25.5.1896 6700t Discarded 18.12.35 Patagonia was transformed into a hydrographic ship in 1905 and a transport in 1917. DESTROYERS Name Launched Disp Fate Cornerites class (modified RN ‘A’ class) CORRIENTES 1896 280t Discarded 23.10.30 ENTRE RIOS 11.7.1896 280t Discarded 23.10.30 MISIONES 1897 280t Discarded 23.10.30 La Plata class CORDOBA 1911 890t Discarded 10.1.56 LA PLATA 1911 890t Discarded 10.1.57 Jujuy class CATAMARCA 1911 lOlOt Discarded 10.1.56 JUJUY 15.4.1912 lOlOt Discarded 10.1.56 In addition to the above, the Argentine Navy in 1922 also operated 4 Bathurst class (modified RN Type 79) coastal torpedo-boats, Bathurst, Buchardo,Jorge and Thorne (launched 1890, 90t, discarded 1926-27); 2 Comodaro Py class (modified Ariete class) coastal torpedo-boats, Comodaro Py and Comodaro Mura- ture (launched 1891, 110t, discarded 1926-27); the sea-going torpedo gunboat Patria (launched 1893, HOOt, discarded 1927); the coa tai gunboat Uruguay (launched 6.3.1874, 550t, converted to hydrographic ship 1903, decommis- sioned 16.11.27 and now preserved); the Rosario class river gunboats Rosario and Parana (launched 1908, 1050t, sold 23.7.59 and 14.9.56 respectively); and the training ship Presidenle Sarmiento (launched 31.8.1897, 2733t, decommis- sioned 1961, preserved). 419
LATIN AMERICA VEINTICINCO DE MAYO class cruisers Displacement: 6800t; 9000i full load Dimensions: 560fl 4in oa x 58ft 6in X 15ft 4in 170.80 x П.82 x 17.40m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers, 85,OOOshp = 32kts. Oil 180t Armour: Deck Im, sides 2.75in, CT 2.33in, turrets 2in Armament: 6-7.5in (3x2), 12-3.9in (6x2), 6-40mm (6x 1), 6-21in TT (2x3) Complement: 600 Name Builder Launched Fate ALMIRAN'I E BROWN OTO, Sestri 28~9 1929 Discarded 27 6 61 VEINTICINCO OTO, Leghorn 11 8.1929 Discarded 24.3.60 DE MAYO Modified Trento class vessels which entered service 5 7 31 and were widely employed. Although often criticised in naval publications as attempting too much for their displacement, these cruisers were very popular in the Argentine Navy. Almirame Brown 1931 Veinticinco de Mayo prewar La Argentina 1946 LA ARGENTINA cruiser BUENOS AIRES class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armour: Armament: Complement: 6500t, 7500t (full load) 510ft pp, 541ft 2in oa x 56ft 6in x 16ft 6in /55 45, 164.93 x /7 22 x 5.03m 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers, 54,OOOshp = 30kts. Oil 1500t Deck 2in, sides 3in, CT 3in, turrets 2in 9-6in (3x3), 4-4ш (4x 1), &-2pdr (8x 1), 6-2lin TT (2x3) 556 + 60 cadets Name Builder Launched Fate LA ARGENTINA ' ickers- 16 4.1937 Discarded 1974 Armstrong, Barrow A mollified \rethusa class ship specifically designed as a training cruiser to replace the old training ship Presidente Sarmiento. Scheduled to be delivered in early 1938, she was delayed due to British re-armament and did not enter service until 31.1.39. San Luis postwar 1 By courtesy of Robert L Scheina Displacement: 1375t Dimensions: 320ft wl, 323ft oa x 34ft 8in x 10ft 6in 97 54, 98.45 x Ю 58 x 3 20m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared- turbines, 3 boilers, 34,OOOshp = 35 5kts. Oil 450t Armament: 4-4.7in (4x 1), 8-2pdr, 8-21in TT (2x4) Complement: 130 Name Builder Launched Fate BUENOS AIRES Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 21 9 1937 Discarded 1971 CORRIENTFS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 21 9.1937 Collision 3 10 41 ENTRE RIOS Vickers- Armstrong, Barrow 21.9.1937 Discarded 1973 MISIONES Cammell Laird 23.9.1937 Discarded 3 5 71 SAN JUAN John Brown 24.6.1937 Discarded 1973 SAN LUIS John Brown 23 8.1937 Discarded 3 5 71 SANTA CRUZ Cammell Laird 3.11.1937 Discarded 1973 Modified British *G* class destroyers, commissioned 1937-38. Cornerites was lost in a collision with Almiranle Brown. One set of quad FT was removed in 1956. La Argentina as completed 420
Cervantes as completed , I. - SANTA FE class submarines Saha 1936 CHURUCCA class destroyers Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1522t; 2087t full load 318ft 3in oa x 31ft 6in x 10ft 6in 97.00 x 9.60 x 3.20m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 boilers, 42,OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 540t 5-4.7in (5x 1), l-3in, 4 MG, 6-2lin TT (2x3) 160 Name Builder Launched Fate CERVANTES La Carraca, June 1925 Discarded 24.6.61 Cartagena JUAN DE GARRAY La Carraca, 2.11.1925 Discarded 25.3.60 Cartagena Originally intended for the Spanish Navy but purchased by Argentina while under construction, entering service in 1926-27. Displacement: 775t/920t Dimensions: 227ft lin oa x 21ft Sin x 16ft 6in 69.24 x 6.68 x 5.05m Machinery: 2-shaft Tosi diesels, plus electric motors, 3000bhp/ 1400hp = 17.5kts/9kts Armament: 8-2lin ТГ (4 bow, 4 stern), l-4in, l-37mm Complement: 40 Name Builder Launched Fate SALTA Tosi 17.1.1932 Discarded 5.4.61 SANTA FE Tosi 28.7.1931 Discarded 23.4.59 SANTIAGO Tosi 28.3.1932 Discarded 23.4.59 DEL ESTERO The agreement to build these submarines included an Italian understanding to purchase agricultural products from Argentina; in addition, Argentina had to purchase aircraft from France in order to compensate that country for the withdrawal from an earlier order for submarines. The boats entered service 1932-33. BOUCHARD class minesweepers (launched 1936-39) MENDOZA class destroyers Displacement: 1570t; 2120t full load Dimensions: 332ft 3in wl, 335ft oa x 31ft 9in x 12ft 6in 101.27, 102.11 x 9.68 x 3.81m Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 boilers. 42.OOOshp = 36kts. Oil 540t Armament: 5—4.7in (5x 1), l-3in, 2-2pdr, 6-2!in TT (2x3) Complement: 160 Name Builder Launched Fate LA RIOJA White 26.1.1929 Discarded 30.4.62 MENDOZA White 13.7.1928 Discarded 30.4.62 TUCUMAN White 10.10.1928 Discarded 30.4.62 Modified ‘Scott’ class vessels, commissioned September 1929. 38kts were main- tained for 6 hours on trials of Mendoza and Tucuman; La Rioja touched 39.4kts without running machinery in excess of designed power. Displacement: 450t; 520t full load Dimensions: 193fi 6in oa x 23ft Ilin x 7ft 5in 59.00 x 7.30 x 2.27m Machinery: 2-shaft MAN diesels, 2000bhp = 16kts. Oil 50t Armament: 2-3.9in (2x 1), 2-40mm (2x 1), 2 MG Complement: 62 Class (builder, fate): Bouchard (Rio Santiago, to Paraguay Feb 1964), Drum- mond (Rio Santiago, discarded 28.3.64),Fournier (Sanchez, San Fernando, lost 22.9.49), Gratnille (Rio Santiago, discarded 19.12.67), Parker (Sanchez, San Fernando, discarded 23.7.63),Py (Rio Santiago, discarded 20.11.67),Robinson (Hansen у Puccini, San Fernando, discarded 19.12.67), Seaver (Hansen y Puccini, San Fernando, discarded 20.11.67), Spiro (Rio Santiago, discarded 14.3.62). These were the first modern warships built in Argentina. Fournier struck an uncharted rock at the entrance of the San Gabriel Channel and sank. KING class patrol vessels (launched 1943-45) Displacement: 900t; 1030c full load Dimensions: 252ft 7in oa x 29ft 6in x J 3ft 2in 77.00 x 9.00 x 4.00m Machinery: 2-shaft Werkspoor diesels, 2500bhp = I8kts. Oil 90t Armament: 3-3.9in (3x 1), 4—40m Complement: 130 Class (builder, fate): King (Rio Santiago, extant 1980), Muraiure (Rio Santiago, extant 1980). These units were begun as minelayers, of which there were to have been four. The other two units were completed as anti-submarine frigates Piedra Buena and Azopardo some years later. RMnson (forcgriHind) and .Muraiure (of the King class) in 1955 Author's (Collection
LATIN AMERICA Chile Nationally and internationally, the Chilean Navy has been reputed to be a first class fighting force; only in this Latin American republic has the Navy had more prestige than the Army. The fleet’s victory in the War of the Pacific (1879-83), followed by its spectacular success in the Revolution of 1891, created a reputation of invincibility, which lasted until 1931. From August until November 1931, the fleet was in a state of mutiny. The causes were the complex political, social and economic problems which confronted the nation. On 6 September 1931 a ‘hotch-potch’ of 22 aircraft attacked rhe fleet. Although little damage was done, the impact of the air raid was devastating. The mutiny, which was more a protest, was broken and, more importantly, the prestige of the fleet nationally was degraded. The dreadnought Almirante Latorre, which had just been modernised with a new anti- aircraft armament, was ineffective. It took years to rebuild public confidence in the fleet. The Chilean Navy has had a long kinship with the Royal Navy. A British naval mission was established in 1923 and survived until 1932. During this period, Chile purchased British-built destroyers and sub- marines, unlike Argentina and Brazil, Chile made no attempt to estab- lish significant indigenous warship construction during 1922-46. Throughout its history, the Chilean Navy has been credited with maintaining its ships in first-class order, often in spite of age. Testify- ing to this, the United States attempted unsuccessfully to obtain Almirante Latorre, some destroyers, and a submarine tender shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. THE CHILEAN NAVY IN 1922 BATTLESHIPS Name Launched Disp Fate Capitan 0 Bnen class CAPITAN O’BRIEN Capitan Thompson class 1898 350t Discarded 1924 CAPITAN THOMPSON 1898 480t Discarded 1924 Almiranie Lynch class ALMIRANTE 1913 1430t Discarded 1945 CONDELL ALMIRANTE LYNCH Almirante Williams class 1912 1430t Discarded 1945 ALMIRANTE RIVEROS 1914 1700t Discarded 1933 ALMIRANTE 1914 1700t Discarded 1933 WILLIAMS ALMIRANTE URIBE 1914 1700t Discarded 1933 Guardiamtrine Riquelme was renamed Lientur in 1928. SUBMARINES Name Launched Disp Fate FRESIA 1915 364t/435t Discarded 1953 GL’ACOLDA 1915 364t/435t Discarded 1949 GL’ALA 1915 364t/435t Discarded 1953 QUIDORA 1915 364t/435t Discarded 1945 RL’CUMILLA 1915 3641/4 35t Discarded 1945 TEGUALDA 1915 364t/435t Discarded 1945 In addiuon to the above, the Chilean Navy in 1922 also operated ihe Injenicro class torpedo-boats Capitan Manuel Thompson, Cirujano Vide la, Guardiamannu Contreras, Injenicro Hyatt, Injemcro Mutilla and Teniente Rodnguez (launched 1896-98, !40t, discarded 1922-27); the training ship Baquedano (1898, 2500t, sold 1955; often referred to incorrectly as General Baquedano)-, the transports Maipo (ex-Manitoba, 1901,6600t, retired 1929) and Rancagua (ex Idaho, 1S98, 8600t, discarded 1931); and the collier Angamos (ex-Cinu di Venezia, 1S90, 5975t, lost 6.7.28). Name Launched Disp Fate HUASCAR 1865 1130t Extant 1980 as museum ALMIRANTE COCHRANE 1874 35OOt Discarded 1933 CAPITAN PRAT Sept 1890 6901t Discarded 1936 ALMIRANTE LATORRE 17.11.1913 28,000t Discarded 1959 Almirante Latorre was modernised 1929-31 in Britain: her machinery was con- verted to burrt oil, new fire control equipment was installed, anti-torpedo bulges were added, and the main armament elevauon was increased. CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate PRESIDENTS ERRAZURIZ 1890 2 lOOt Discarded 1930 BLANCO ENCALADA 1893 4420t Discarded 1945 MINISTRO ZENTENO 1896 3600t Discarded 1930 CHACABUCO 1898 4300t Discarded 1959 ESMERALDA 1896 7000t Discarded 1930 O’HIGGINS 1898 8500t Discarded 1958 Serrano on builder’s trials SERRANO class destroyers DESTROYERS Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: 1090t; 1430t full load 288ft 3in pp, 300ft oa x 29ft x 12ft 8in 87.86, 91.44 x 8.84 x 3 86m 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 3 Thomycroft boilers, 28,000shp = 35kts. Oil 320t 3-4 7in (3x 1), l-3in AA, 3 MG, 2 DC throwers, 6-2lin TT (2x3), mines 130 Name Launched Disp Fate Capitan Orella class CAPITAN MUNOZ 1896 300t Discarded 1924 GAMERO CAPITAN ORELLA 1896 300t Discarded 1924 GUARDIAMARINE 1896 300r Discarded 1924 RIQUELME TENIENTE SERRANO 1896 300t Discarded 1924 Name Builder Launched Fate ALDEA Thomycroft 29 11.1928 Discarded 1957 HYATT Thomycroft 21.7 1928 Discarded 1963 ORELLA Thomycroft 8.3.1928 Discarded 1967 RIQUELME Thomycroft 28.5.1928 Discarded 1963 SERRANO Thomycrofi 25 1.1928 Discarded 1967 VIDELA Thomycroft 16.10.1928 Discarded 1960 Capitan Merino Jarpa class CAPITAN MERINO 1898 321t Discarded 1924 JARPA Units were fitted for service in a wide range of climates. All exceeded their contracted speed on trials. Entered service Sept 1928 (Serrano) and 1929 (the rest). 422
CAPITAN O’BRIEN class submannes Displacement: Dimensions: Machinery: Armament: Complement: I540t/2020t 260ft pp x 28ft x 13ft 6in 79.25 x 8.53 x 4 15m 2-shaft diesels plus electric motors, 2750bhp/1300hp = 15kts/9kts 8-21 in TT (6 bow, 2 stern), 1-4 7in 54 Name Builder Launched Fate ALMIRAN'I E Vickers- 15 1.1929 Discarded 1957 SIMPSON Armstrong, Barrow CAPITAN O BRIEN Vickers- 2.10.1928 Discarded 1957 Armstrong, Barrow CAPITAN THOMPSON Vickers- 15 1 1929 Discarded 1958 Armstrong, Barrow Modified British ‘O’ class. Recognition feature was large conning tower, encompassing one-third of the deck and mounting a Vickers 4 7in gun in a turret Entered service May-September 1929. Ex-RIVER class frigates Class (former name, fate): Covadonga (Sea Cliff, discarded 1967), Esmeralda (Glace Bay, discarded 1968), Iquique (Joheiie, discarded 1968) Purchased from the RCN. Ex-FLOWER class corvettes (transferred 1946) Class (former name, fate): Casma (Stellanton, discarded 1969), Chipana (Strathroy, discarded 1969), Papudo (Thorlock, discarded 1967) Purchased from the RCN. Araucano as complcicd ARAUCANO depot ship (launched 22.10.29) Displacement: 9000i Dimensions: 390ft x 55fl x 16ft 6in 118.87 x 16.76 x 5.03m Machinery: Parsons geared turbines, 2400shp = 13kts Armament: 2—4.7in, 5-20mm Complement: ? Built by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow Designed as submarine depot ship but used as flagship and training vessel Carried a seaplane for a while Discarded 1958. Peru For lhe Peruvian Navy, the period 1922-46 was one of continuing border disputes, centred mostly in the Amazon Basin In 1933 a struggle with Colombia was renewed, last having flared up in 1910 The old cruiser Lima, along with destroyer Rodnguez, was rushed from Callao, through lhe Panama Canal, and up the Amazon. The destroyers Guise and Villar were purchased from Estonia and hurried directly to the Amazon. ’Io support this makeshift river flotilla, the Peruvian flagship Almirante Grau and two ‘R’ class submarines were sent to Belem do Para, Brazil, to control the mouth of the Amazon Learning that Colombia had purchased two Portuguese destroyers, Guise and Villar were despatched to the Caribbean to patrol the Colombian coast, but they failed to intercept their prey. The situation stabilised, and the fleet was withdrawn to Callao and Iquitos. In 1941 the Peruvian Navy had a similar confrontation with Ecuador. Administratively, lhe Peruvian Navy was much influenced by US naval missions at this time. North Americans dominated fleet com- mands from 1920 until 1933 and, to a much lesser extent, from 1937 to 1946. During the early period, Americans held key positions such as Chief of Naval General Staff; Director, Naval Academy; Commander, Na\al Station; Chief of Staff, Naval Squadron, and Director of Administration. In 1924 an American was even commander of Peru- vian forces afloat, flying his flag on board Almiranle Grau. Ship acquisitions were very modest. The War of the Pacific (1879-83) had devastated Peru, and the economic repercussions extended through the 1922-46 period. Submarines were the only first- class warships purchased, and Peru had not developed any basis for indigenous construction. THE PERUVIAN NAVY IN 1922 CRUISERS Name Launched Disp Fate LIMA 1881 1790t Discarded 1940, hulked Almiranle Grau class ALMIRANTE GRAU 1906 3200l Discarded 1958 CORONEL 1906 3200t Discarded 1958 BOLOGNESI Almiranle Grau class Both ships were extensively overhauled tn 1924. this included conversion from coal to oil and the installation of Italian fire-control systems. DESTROYER Name Launched Disp Fate RODRIGUEZ 1909 490t Discarded 1939, hulked Often incorrectly cited as Temenie Rodnguez. 423
LATIN AMERICA/MINOR NAVAL FORCES There was also ihe river gunboat America (launched 1904, 240l) which currently (19S0) lies at Iquitos; there arc plans to retain her as a museum ship. Peru also operated numerous small river craft in 1922 Ex-Estonian destroyers In 1933 Peru purchased two much-travelled destroyers from Estonia, Guise (ex-Lcnnuk) and Villar (ex-Vambola) They were rushed from the Baltic to the Peruvian Amazon where they served out their careers. Guise was discarded cl947 and Villar cl954. The ships are often incorrectly referred to as Almirante Guise and Almirante Villar. See under USSR and Estonia R2 postwar ‘R’ class submarines Displacement: 576t/755t Dimensions: 178ft 6in pp, 186ft 3in oa x 17ft 6in x 15ft 54.41, 56.77 x 5.33 x 4 57m Machinery: 2-shaft Nelscco diesels plus electric motors, SOObhp/lOOOhp = 14 5kts/9.5kts Armament: 4-2lin TT (bow), l-3in Complement: 30 Name Builder Launched Fate R1 Electric Boat 12 7 1926 Discarded I960 R2 Electric Boat 29.3 1926 Discarded 1960 R3 Electric Boat 21.4 1928 Discarded 1960 R4 Electric Boat 10.5.1928 Discarded 1960 Commissioned 12.12.26 (Я/, R2) and in 1928 (R3, R4). R5 and R6 were projected in 1926 but never funded. All received major refits 1935-36 and 1955-56. The boats were renamed Islay, Casma, Pacocha and Arica, respec- tively, in 1957. LORETA class nver gunboats (launched 1934) Displacement: 250t Dimensions: 153ft x 22ft x 4ft 6m 46.33 x 6.71 x 1.37m Machinery: 2 diesels, 700bhp = 15kts Armament: 4—3in, 2-20mm, 2 MG Complement: ? Class: Amazonas, Loreta Built b> Electric Boat. Armament from 1960 comprised 2-3in and 2—40mm. The boats arc currently (1980) active and are based al Iquitos. Minor Naval Forces ALBANIA AUSTRIA MINESW EEPERS Skencrbeg (ex-FM23), Sijuipnia (ex-FAf/6) ex-German minesweepers built 1917-18, 14lft x 19ft 9in x 4ft 9m (42.98 x 6.02 x 1.45m); 2-shaft V I E, 600ihp — I4kts; l-88mm gun; discarded 1935. MOTOR BOATS Tirane, Saranda, Durres, Vlore built by SVAN Venice 1926; 46i; XOft ^24 3Sm) 450bhp = 17kts; l-76mm, 2 MG, fate unknown. After the First World War the Austro-Hungarian empire was divided up and the new state of Austria lost its access to the sea. 1 herefore the only naval vessels retained were a number of river patrol boats for use on the Danube. Three were sold to Hungary in 1927, and one was exchanged for the Hungarian Stofok in 1929. See under Hungary for further details. The only new construction undertaken before German annexation in 1938 was a programme of small patrol and minesweeping launches. CUBA Cuba in lhe laic 1930s Throughout the 1922-46 period, Cuba possessed only a ‘gunboat navy’. Units operated comprised the sloops Cuba (launched 10 8.1911, 2O55t, discarded 1971) and Patna (10.8.1911, 1200t, discarded 1955); the Diez de Octubre class gunboats Diez de Octubre (Nil, 208t, dis- carded 1946) and Veinte у Cuarto de Febrero (1911, 2O8t, discarded 1946); and the gunboat Baire (1906, 500t, discarded 1948). 424
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Dominican Navy began to emerge only towards the end of the 1922-46 period. Ex-RIVER class frigate (transferred 1946) Presidents Trujillo (ex-Carlplacej was acquired from Canada in 1946, and she was convened io a presidential yacht. Renamed Mello m 1962, she is soil (1980) active Ex-FLOWER class corvette (transferred 1946) Colon (ex-Lachute), also cited as Cnstobal Colon, was acquired from Canada m 1946. Active 1980. ECUADOR Throughout this period, Ecuador’s tiny navy was allied with that of Chile. Naval officers were trained in Chile and their most significant ship, a torpedo gunboat, had been acquired in 1907 from that country. Ecuador did possess riverine forces, which were stationed in the Ama- zon Basin. From 1932 to the close of the period, Ecuador did not possess a significant warship. The Ecuador Navy in 1922 operated the torpedo gunboat Ltbertudor Bolivar (ex-Almirante Simpson, launched 1896, 750t, discarded 1932) and the gunboat Cotopaxi (1884, 300t, discarded 1932) EIRE The Republic of Ireland started a small naval force between the wars for fishery protection and coastguard duties. FISHERY PROTECTION VESSELS Muircha (ex-Hclga, 1908, 323t gross) and Fort Rannoch (1936, 258l gross). Muircha was discarded by 1946 Ml Bs M1-M5. Built by Thomycrofi 1939-321; 72ft (21 95m); 4 shaft petrol engines, 2600bhp = 40kis, 2-21 in TT, 2 MG. ICELAND The Icelandic naval force consisted entirely of fishery protection ves- sels, converted from merchant types and was set up about 1930 The vessels taken into service up to 1946 wercEsja (1939, 1347t gross); the armed trawlers Aegir (1929, 497t gross) and Thor (ex-German Senator Shafer purchased 1930, built 1922, 226t gross) both with one 57mm gun, the MFV Odinn (1938, 72t gross) armed with one 47mm gun, and the Sudtn (cx-Cambna, ex-Gotha, 1895, 81 It gross). Thor and Sudin w’ere discarded in the 1940s, the Esja in the 1950s and the Aegir and Odinn (renamed Gauter c!959) in the 1960s. IRAQ The only true naval vessels possessed by Iraq w’ere four patrol boats (1-4) built by Thomycroft in 1937. They were of 67t displacement, 100ft x 17ft x 3ft (30 48 x 5.18 x 0.91m), propelled by 2-shaft Thomycroft diesels of 280bhp = 12kts and armed with 1-3 7in how- itzer, 2-3in mortars and 2 MG There was also the tug Alarm (ex- Bntish Admiralty ‘Saint’ class St Ewe, 1919, 820t, purchased in 1926) and the royal yacht Faisal I (exSan Pew, ex-Restless, 1923, 1025t). Faisal I became a lighthouse tender in the 1940s. All the above vessels were discarded cl977-79. 425
Index Л, Argentina; Al, Albania, Be. Bdgium;Br. Braul.Bu. Bulgaria; C>, China; Ce. Chile; Col0 Colombia; Cu, Cuba; Ci, Czechoslovakia; Dk Dcnnutk; DR. Dominican Republic Ec, Ecuador; Eg, Egypt; EL Eire; E*. Estonia; F, France; Fi Finland; C, Germany; CB, Great Britain (including lunpire force* Gr, Greece; Hu, Hungary; I, Italy; le, Iceland; Ir, Iraq; Jp Japan: 1л, Latvia; Li, Lithuania; Ma, Manchukuo; Меж, Mexico, Nc, The Net her Limb. No. Norway; Pa, Paraguay; Pe. Persia; Pl. Poland; Po, Portugal; Pu, Peru; Re. R«Mtiania; Si, Siam; Sp, Spain; Sw, Sweden; Tu Turkey; Ur, Uruguay USA, United Slates «f America, USSR, Soviet Union; V», Venezuela; Yu, Yugoslavia. Aalesund (No/1941) 379 Admiral Graf Spec (G 1934) 227 AjonpM(Ft/l941) 366 A Idcbaran ( F/1916) 259 Aaron Ward (USA/1919) 94 Admiral Hipper (G/1937) 228 Ajuricaba (Br/1945) 417 Aldebaran (1/19361 302 Aaron Ward (USA/1941) 128 Admiral Scheer (G/1931) 227 Akagi (J/1927) 179 Aldcbaren (Ne/cxMini 1922) 395 Aaron Ward (USA/1944) 150 Admiralty Islands (USA/1944) 110 Akagi Mani (J/c 1936) 215 Alden (USA/1919) 91 Abastro(l/1918) 289 Adolf LOdentz (G/1939) 253 Akalsuki (J/1932) >93 Aldenham (GB/1941) 46 Abborrcn (Sw/1916) 370 Adopt (USA/1942) 151 Akebono(J/1930) 193 Alder Lake (GB( 1944) 72 Abbot (L'SA/1918) 94 Adrian Zosimov(USSR/194I) 340 Aki(J/1907) 17) Alderney (GB/1945) 54 Abbot (USA/1943) 131 Adrias(Gr/!942) 406 Akigumo (J/1941) 195 Ahlers (G/1918) 253 Abdiel (GB/1915) 11 Adua (1/1936) 309 Akikazc (J/1920) 176 Alert (F/c 1916) 259 Abdiel (GB/1940) 37 Adula(GB/1937) 26 Akishimo (J/1943) 195 Alert (GB/1945) 61 Abel P Upshur (USA/1920) 94 Adventure GB/ 924) 36 Akitau Maru (J/1941) 213 Alert (USA/1926) 166 Abelard (GB/-) 55 Adversary GB/-) 55 Akitsuki (J/1941) 195 Alessandro Malaspina (1/1940) 3IM Abdia GB/1940) 62 Advocate (USA/1942) 151 Akitsushima (J/1941) 213 Alessandro Pocrio <1/1914) 286 Abercrombie (GB/19) 5) 9 Adzuma(J/1899) 173 Akiion (Gr/1881) 405 Alessandro Vitturi 11/1922) 288 Abercrombie (GB/1942) 17 Acgir(Dk/l9l4) 382 Aktivnyi (USSR/1932) 345 Alexander Hamilton i USA/1936) 165 Abercrombie (USA/1944) 137 Aegir (1с/1929) 425 Al Sarea(Eg/1936) 409 Alexander J Luke (USA/1943) 13/. Aberdeen (GB/1936) 56 Aegir (No/1893) 379 Alabama (USA/1942) 98 Atexandr Petrov (L'SSR/cl946) 310 Abilene (USA/1943) 149 Aegir (No/1936) 379 Ahbarda (1/1944) 303 Alexandria (GB/-) 60 Abner Read (USA/1942) 130 Aeneas (GB/1945) 54 Alabaslro(l/194l) 310 Akxandna (USA/I*»44) 148 Abner Read (USA/-) 133 Aetos(Gr/1911) 404 Alacrity (GB/1944) 57 Alexandru I.ahovari (Ru/cxtant Abraham Crijnssen (Nc/1936) 394 Affleck (GB/1943) 61 Alacrity (USA/1942) 1'6 1922) 361 Abraham van de Hulst (Ne/1937) 394 Affray (GB/1945) 54 Aladdin (GB/-) 55 Alexia (GB/1934) 26 Absalon (Dk/|877) 383 Africa (GB/-) 21 Alagi (1/1936) 309 Alfonso XIII (Sp/1913) 399 Absecon (USA/1942) 157 Afridi (GB/1937) 40 Alagoas Br/1909) 416 Alfonso de Albuquerque Abuklca (Eg/cxtanl 1922) 409 Afroessa (Gr/?) 406 Alamance (USA/c 1943) 160 (Po/1934) 397 Abukuma(J/1923) 174 Agamemnon (GB/1906) 7 Alamein (GB/1945) 44 Alfred A Cunningham Acacia (GR/1*40) 66 Agamemnon (GB/1929) 85 Ataric(GB/1946) 54 (USA/1944) 132 Acanthus (GB/1941) 62 Agano (J/1941) 191 Alarm (GB/1942) 65 Alfred Wolf (USA/1944) 138 Acasta (GB/1929) 38 Agassiz (GB/1940) 62 Alarm (Ir/1919) 425 AlfredoOriani (1/1936) 300 Acasta (GB/-) 55 Agassiz (USA/1926) 166 Alarm (USA/1942) 151 Al8cr(USA/1943) 139 Achvus (GB/1934) 26 Agate (GB/-) 55 Alaska (USA/1943) 122 Atgcrie (F/1932) 264 Acciaio (1/1941) 310 Agent (USA/1942) 151 Aliunia GB 1925) 81 Algcrien (F/1917) 258 Ace (GB/1945) 55 Agerholm (USA/1946) 133 Alava (Sp/1947) 402 Algerien (F/1943) 272 Achates (GB/1929) 38 Aggressor (GB/-) 55 Alba (I/?) 317 Algerine (GB/1941) 65 Achates (GB/1945) 55 Agile (F/c 1916) 259 Albacore (GB/1942) 65 Algol (F/1916) 259 Achelaos (Gr; 884 405 Agile (GB/-) 55 Albacorc(USA/1942) 145 Algol (USA/c 1943) 160 Achcrnar (USA/c 1943) 160 Agincourt (GB/1945) 44 Albany (USA/1899) 93 Algoma (GB/1940) 62 Acheron (F/1929) 273 Agordat (1/1899) 285 Albany (USA/1945) 121 Algonquin (USA/1898) 96 Acheron (GB/I93O) 38 Agosta (F/1934) 273 Albatros (F/1930) 268 Algonquin (USA/19 4) 166 Acheron (GB/1947) 54 Agostino Barbango (1/1917) 288 Albatros (G/l1926) 237 Ahsco (1/1942) 303 Achille (F/1930) 273 Agra (GB/1942) 65 Albatros (I/1907) 287 Alisma (GB/1940) 62 Achilles (GB/1932) 30 Agua Pncla (Mex/1891) 414 Albatros (1/1934) 302 Alkyone(Gr/l9l3) 404 Ack-Hissar (Tu/c 1902) 407 Aguni (J/1944) 206 Albatros (Ne/cxtant 1922) 395 Alien (USA/1916) 93 Aconil (F/1941) 277 Ahmedabad (GB/1943) 65 Albatros (USSR/1944) 339 Allen M Sumner (USA/1943) 132 Aconite (GB/1941) 62 Ahrens (USA/1943) 136 Albatross (GB/1928) 78 Allendale (USA/c 1943) 160 Acor(Po/l874) 396 Ahti (Es/exlant 1922) 353 Albemarle (USA/1940) 157 Allemown (USA/1943) 149 Acrc(Br/1945) 417 Ahven(Ft/el936) 366 Albercio da Barbiano (1/1930) 293 Alliance (GB/1945) 54 Acree (USA/1943) 139 Aidan Reis(Tu/19l2) 407 Alberni (GB/1940) 62 Allingion Castle (GB 1944) 63 Actaeon (GB/1945) 57 Aigialia(Gr/l88l) 405 Albert T Harris (USA/1944) 138 Alluminio(I/~) 310 Actcon (F/1929) 273 Aigle (F/1931) 268 Albert W Grant (USA/1943) 131 Almirante Antcquera <Sp/l93O) 401 Action (USA/1942) 156 Aigli (Gr/1931) 404 Albion (GB/1947) 23 Almiranle Brown (А/1880) 419 Active (GB/1929) 38 Aikoku Maru J/c 1939) 215 Albona (1/1918) 289 Almirante Brown (А/1929) 4’0 Active (USA/1926) 166 Ailcttc(F/1918) 259 Albrighlon (GB/1941) - 46 Almirante Ccrvera (Sp/1925) 400 Activity (GB/1942) 23 Ailctte(F/1940) 277 Albuera (GB/1945) 44 A Imirante Class (Ро/1898) 396 Acushnet (L'SA/1908) 96 Ailsa Craig (GB/1943) 66 Albuquerque (USA/1943) 148 Almirante Cochrane <Сс/1874) 422 Acute (GB/1942) 65 Aire (GB/1943) 58 Alcala Gahano (Sp/1925) 401 Almirante Condell (<«/1913) 422 Adair (USA/c 1943) 159 Airedale (GB/1941) 46 Alcala Gahano (Sp/1930) 401 Almirante Juan Fernuidiz Adamant (GB/1940) 81 Airone (1/1907) 287 Alcantara GB/1926) 81 (Sp/I928) 401 Adamastor (Po/1896) 396 Airone(U1938) 302 Alcazar (Sp/cxtant 1922) 400 Almirante Lalorrc (0/1913) 422 Adams (USA/1944) 149 Aisne(F/1917) 259 Ake (1/1942) 316 Almirante Lynch (Ce/1912) 422 Adatepc(Tu/1931) 407 Aisnc (F/1942) 277 Alcestis (GB/-) 55 Almirante Riveros (Cc/1914) 422 Adelaide (GB/1918) 10 Aisne (GB/1945) 44 Alchemy (USA/1942) 151 Almirante Simpson (0/1929) 423 Adept (GB/-) 55 Anvaras(Li/cxtant 1922) 354 Abide (GB/1945) 54 Almirante Uribe (Cc/1914) 422 Adirondack (USA/1945) 159 Ajax (F/1930) 273 Akione (1/1906) 287 Almirante Valdes (Sp/1930) 401 Adjutant (USA/1944) 151 Ajax (GB/1912) 7 Alcionc 1/ 937) 302 Almiranle Williams (Cc/1914) 422 Admirable (GB/-) 55 Ajax (GB/1934) 30 Alcmaria (No/?) 381 Almond (GB/1940) 66 Admirable (USA/1942) 151 Ajiro (J/1943) 209 Aides (Се/1928) 422 Alnwick Castle (GB/1944) 63 426
Alor (Ne/1938) 394 Andania(GB/1921) 81 Apollo (GB/1943) 37 Argus (GB/I917) 10 Alpl tos (Gr/1884) 405 Andcllc(GB 922) 85 A post oils (Gr/1940) 406 Arholma(Sw/1937) 376 Alpine (USA/r 1943) 159 Andcn (Sw/<-1940) 377 Appalachian (USA/1943) 159 Ariadne (GB 1943) 37 Alpino (1/1909) - 286 Andcnes (No/1941) 380 Appleby Castle (GB/-) 63 Ariadne (US 4/1934) 166 Alpino (1/1938) 301 Anderson (USA/1939) 127 Appling (USA/cl943) 160 Anake(j/I934) 193 Alpino Bagnolmi (1/1939) 306 Andrea Rafik (I/1922) 288 Approach (GB/-) 55 Ariane (F/1925) 273 AKicien(F/l941) 272 Andrea Doria(1/19)3) 284 Apu(Fi/1899) 364 Arica (Pu/1928) 424 Alscdo(Sp/1922) 399 Andrea Pros ana (1/1918) 288 Aquarius (USA/c 1943) 160 And (1. 1938) 302 AMutn (USA/c 1943) 160 Andrei Pervoswannt Aquila (I/1916) 286 Aries (GB/1942) 65 Altair (F/I9I6) • 259 (USSR 1906) 322 Aquila (1/1926) 290 Anete (1/1943) 303 Altair (1/1936) 302 Andres (USA/1942) 135 Aquilar Tablada (Sp 1935 403 Arietc (Sp/c1960) 402 Altair (Sw/1909) 370 Andrew (GB. 1946) 55 Aquilone(l/I902) 286 Anguani(GB 1926) 83 Altamaha (USA/1942) 108 Andromache (GB/-) 55 Aquilonc(l/I927) 299 Anstocral (GB 1935) 84 Alton Castle fGB/-) 63 Andromaqtte (F/1915) 258 Arabe(F/l9|7) 258 Arizona (USA/1915) 90 Alvin C Cockrell (USA/1944) 138 Andromeda (1/1936) 302 Arabis (GB/1940) 62 Ark Royal (GB/1914) 10 Alvise da Момо (1/1929) 299 Andromeda (USA/el943) 160 Arabis (GB/1943) 63 Ark Royal(GB/1937) 18 Alvsnabben (Sw/1943) 374 Androscoggin (USA/1945) 165 Aradam(l/I936) 309 Ark Royal (GB/1950) 21 Alynbank (GH/1925) 84 Anemone (GB/1940) 62 Araguary (Br/1946) 417 Arkansas (USA/1911) 90 Alys.se(F/l94l) 277 Anfilritc (1/1933) 309 Araguaya (Br/1943) 417 Arkhangelsk USSR/1915) 325 Alyssum (GB/I94I) 62 Angamos (Се/1890) 422 Aramis (F/1932) 279 Armada (GB'1943) 44 Amagi(j/I943) 184 Angelo Bassini (1/1918) 287 Arun (Sw/1901) 368 Armada (USA/1942) 151 Aniagi (J/-) 173 Angelo Fmo 1/1919) 288 Ararantc(F/l9l5) 258 Armando Diaz (1/1932 294 Anugiri (J/1930) 193 Angler (USA/1943) 145 Ararat (GB/1943) 64 Armena(GB 1941) 62 Amakusa (j/1943) 205 Anguilla (GB; 1943) 62 Arare(j/I937) 194 Armtdale (GB 1942) 65 Amami(j/I944) 206 Animoso (1/1913) 286 Arasht (J/1940) 191 Armidc(F/191S) 258 AmaranlhiH (GR/1940) 62 Animoso(l/1942) 303 Arashio (J/1937) 194 Arncb USA4 I943) 160 Amastra(GB/l934) 26 Annamilc (F/1917) 258 Araucano(Cc/l929 423 Arnold J Isbell (USA/1945) 134 AmatsukazcfJ 1916) 176 Annamitc(F 1939) 277 Arawa (GB/1922) 81 Arnprior (GB/1944) 63 AmitsukazefJ 1939) 194 Annan (GB; 1942) 59 Arbiter (GB/1943) 26 A roe (Nd 1938) 394 Amazon (G B/19’6) 37 Annan (GB'1943) 58 Arbutus (GB/1940) 62 Aroha (GB/1942) 67 A nuzonas (Hr 1908) 416 Annapolis (GB/1918) 47 Arbutus (GB/1944) 63 Arpta (1/1907) 287 Amazonas (Br/1943) 417 Annapolis (USA/1943) 148 Arcade (USA/1942) 151 Arran (GB/1940) 66 Amazonas (Pu/1934) 424 Annet (GB/1943) 66 Arcadian (GR/-) 55 Arras (F/1918) 259 Amazone (F/191 6) 258 Anson (GB 1940) 15 Arch (USA/1942) 151 Arrogant (GB/-) 23 Am izonc (F/1931) 275 Answer (GB/-) 55 Archer (GR/1939) 24 Arromanches (F/’1943) 262 Amazone (G/1900) 222 Antaeus (GB -) 55 Archerfish (USA/1943) 146 Arrow (GB/1929) 38 Ambassador (GR/1911) 84 Antagonist (GB/-) 55 Archimedc (F/1930) 273 Arrowhead GB 1940) 62 Aniberyack (USA/1942) 145 Antares (F/I9I6) 259 Archimedc(l/I933) 304 Arseniy Raskin (USSR/1940) 341 Aiubcriack (USA/1944) 147 Antares (GB/1942) 65 Archimede (I/1939) 306 Artemide{I/1942) 316 Amberley Castle (GB/1943) 63 Antares (I 1936) 302 Arcilia (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Art<mis(F/1914) 258 Ambenodi Giussano (1/1930) 293 Antares (Sw/1909) 370 Arcona (G/1902) 222 Artemis (GB/1946) 55 Ambra (1/1936) 309 Antclo Sp/extant 1922 400 Arcturus GB/1942) 65 Artemis (USA/d943) 160 Ambrakia (Gr/ISSl) 405 Amc4opc (GB/1929) 38 Arcturus (Sw/1909) 370 Artevclde(R</1940) 385 Ambuscade (Gil/1926) 37 Antenor(GB 1925) 81 Ard Patrick (GB/1939) 72 Artful (GB/1947) 55 Ambush (GB/1945) 54 Anthony (GB/1929) 38 Ardca (1/1907) 287 Arthur L Bn tol (USA/1944) 161 Ameer (GB/1942) 26 Anthony (USA/I9I8) 94 Ardea(lZ-) 3)6 Artic*myev(USSR/1906) 324 Лин-I inj (Nc/r 1942) 394 Anthony (USA/1942) 130 Ardeal (Ro/cxtmt 1922) 361 Artigltere (1/1907) 286 America (Pu/1901) 424 Anticosti (GB/1942) 66 Ardent (F/cl9l6) 259 Art>gltcrc(L 1937) 301 American Legion (USA/1941) 159 Antietam (I SAJI 926) 166 Ardent (GH/1929) 38 Artilerists(La/cxtant 1922) 353 Amesbury (USA/1943) 136 Antietam (USA/1944) 104 Ardent (GB/-) 55 Arturo (1/1943) 303 Amethyst (GB/1943) 57 Antigone (F/1916) 258 Ardent (USA/1943) 150 Arunta (GB/1940) 40 Amelist (USSR/1916) 340 Antigonish (GB/1914) 59 Ardente (1/1912) 286 Arvida (GB/1940) 62 Amettsu (1/1933) 309 Antigua (GB 1913) 62 Ardente (I/1942) 303 Asagao(j/I922) 175 Amfitriti (Gr/1943) 406 Antilope (1/1942) •316 Ardimentoso (1/1916) 287 Asagiri (J/1929 193 Amherst (GB/1940) 62 Antimontio (I/-) 310 Ardimcntuso (1/1942) 303 AsagumofJ/1937) 194 Amick (USA/1943) 139 Amiope(F/|930) 275 Ardito (1/1912) 286 Asahi (J/1899) 171 Amiens (F/I9I9) 259 Antiquois (Col/1913) 415 Ardtlo (1/1942) 303 Asaka Maru (J/c 1937) 215 Amiral Chamer (F/1932) 276 Antoine (GB < 1930) 84 Ardjoeno(Nc/l937) 394 Asakaze (J/1905) 175 Amiral Murgcwu (Ro/1934) 344 362 Anton Schmitt (G/1937) 233 A rdrossan (GB 1941) 64 Asakaze (J/1922) 176 Amiral Senes (1-719|$) 258 Antunio Rajamonti 1/1928) 312 Arenac (USA/c 1943) 160 Asama (J/1898) 173 Amiral Senes I- 1942) 277 Antonio Canovas del Castillo Arend (Ne/1929) 395 Asanagi J 1924) 176 Amincn (USA/1910) 93 (Sp/19’2) 400 Arend(Ne/cl94l) 395 Asashtmo (J 1943) 195 Ammen (USA/1942) 130 Antonio da Noli (1/1929) 299 Arendal (No/1942) 380 Asashio(J/1936) 194 Ammiraglio ( Jgni (1/1940) 306 Antonio Mosto (I/1915) 286 Arethousa (Gr/1913) 404 Asbestos (GB 1943) 63 Ammiraglto C-irjcciolo (1/1940) 306 Antonio Pigafctla(l/I929) 299 Arcthusa(GB/1934) 31 Ascania (GB/1925) 81 Ammiraglto Milin (1/1940) 306 Antonio Sciesa (1/1928) 304 Arfthuse(F/1916) 258 Ascari (1/1938) 301 Ammiraglio -Saint* Bon (1/1940) 306 Antoniotto Usodimare (I/1929) 299 Arethuse(F/1929) 274 A scare (1/1912) 286 Atnphion (GB/1944) 54 Antwerp (GB/1919) 75 A retusa (1/1938) 302 Ascension (GB/1943) 62 Amphitrite (F/1914) 258 Antwerp (GB/1920) 83 Argento (1/1942) 310 Ascianchi(l/1937) 309 Amphitrite (171930) 275 Anzac(GB/l9l7) 11 Argo(F/I929) 273 Asgard (GR-) 55 Aiuriisar(GB'l9ll) 65 Anzac (GB. 1948) 44 Argo (1/1936) 308 Ash (GB/1939) 66 Amsterdam (USA/1942) 119 Anzac(GB.'-) 55 Argo Sw/1909) 370 Ash Lake (GB/1945) 72 Amsterdam (l'SA/1944) 120 Anrio(USA 1943) 109 Argo (USA/1932) 166 Ashanti GB 1937) 40 Amur(USSR/estant 1922) 324 Aoba(J/1926) 188 Argonaut (GB/1941) 33 Asheville(USA/l918) 96 Anahuac Мех/189$) 414 Aoi(J/1920) 175 Argonaut (USA/1927) 142 Asheville (USA/J 942) 148 Anastas Mikoyan (USSR/1938) 346 Aotaka (J/1940) 209 Argonaut (USA/1944) 147 Ashi(J/l92I) 175 Anchorite (G В/1946' 54 Apa(Br/l945) 417 Argonaule (F 1929) 274 Ashigara(J/1928) 188 Anchusu(GB/l94l) 62 Ape (1/1942) 316 Argonautia (1/1914) 288 Ashikazi(J/19l5) 177 An otu (1/1913) 286 Apex (USA/1942) 151 Argonauts (1/1931) 309 Ashland (USA/1942) 161 Altered? 1918) 259 Aphrodite (GB/-) 55 Argosy (GB/-) 55 Asko (Dk/1941) 384 Ancylus(GB/1934) 26 Apogon (USA/1943) 146 Argus (F/1922) 279 Askofjard (Sw/1931) 376 427
Aso (J/1900) 177 Aurochs (GB/1945) 55 Balfour (GB/1943) 61 Basset GB 1935 65 Aso(J/1944) 184 Aurora (GB/1913) 10 Balilla (1/1927) 304 Basse t (USA/1944) 161 Asperity (GB/-) 55 Aurora GB 1936 * 31 Batiste (F/1937) 271 Bassra (Tu/1907) 406 Asphodel (GB/1940) 62 Aurora (USA/I93I) 166 Ballarat (GB/1940) 65 Bastogne (USA/-) 111 Aspirant Herber F 1912) 258 Aurora (US R/1900 323 Ballard (USA/1918) 95 Bataan (GB/1944) 40 Aspire (USA/1942) 151 Aurore(F/l939) 275 Ballinderry (GB/1942) 58 Bataan (USA/1943) 105 A spis (Gr/c 1905) 404 Ausonia (GB/I92I) 82 Balm (GB/-) 63 Bata euse (F/c 1916) 259 Aspro (USA/1943) 146 Austere (GB/-) 55 Balmain (GB/-) 60 Bates (USA/1943) 136 Assahan (Ne 1897) 388 Austin (USA/1942) 135 Balmoral (GB/1900) 84 Batfish (USA/1943) 146 Assail (USA/1942) 151 Australia GB 1911) 9 Balsam (GB/1942) 62 Bath (GB/1918) 47 Assam (GB/-) 65 Australia GB 1927) 26 Balta (GB/1940) 66 Bath (USA/1943) 149 Assan (Bu/?) 363 Avc(Po/rl9l3) 396 Bailie (Fi/1898) 365 Bathurst (Л/1890) 419 Assiniboine (GB/1931) 38 Avenger GB 1940) 25 Baltimore (USA/1942) 121 Bathurst (GB/1940) 64 Assurance (GB/-) 55 Aventuricr (F/1911) 258 Bambara(F/l9l7) 258 Bali ray (Tu/1938) 408 Astarte GB/-) 55 Avere(F/1940) 277 Bamborough Castle (GB/1944) 63 Batrak (USSR/cl915) 324 Aster (GB/1941) 62 Aviere (1/1937) 301 Ban Hong Liong GB 1908 83 Battleaxe (GB/1945) 44 Asteria (1/1941) 310 Avon (GB/1943) 58 Banckert (Ne/1929) 390 Battleford (GB/1941) 62 As ore 1/1907) 287 Avon Vale (GB/1940) 46 Bancroft (USA/1919) 95 Battler (GB/1942) 25 Ast с I 1934 302 Avorio(I/1941) 310 Bancroft (U SA/1941) 128 Bauru (Br/1943) 417 Astoria {USA/1933) 115 Aujji (J/1943) 206 Bandera (USA/c 1943) 160 Baussell (USA/1945) 134 Astoria (USA/1943) 120 Awake (GB/-) 55 Banff (GB/1930) 58 Bavcm (Sw/1921) 370 Astrea(Sw/l909) 370 Awashinta (J 1945 2 9 Bang (USA/1943) 146 Bayfield (USA/c 1943) 159 Astree(F/l9lS) 258 Awata Maru (J/cl937) 215 Bangkok Maju (J/c 1937) 215 Baxter (USA/c 1943) 159 Asturias GB 1925) 81 Awatere (GB/1942) 67 Bangor (GB/1940) 64 Bay (GB/1939) 66 Astute (GB/1945) 55 Awe (GB/1943) 58 Bangor (USA/1943) 148 Baya (USA/1944) 146 Astute (USA/1943) ISl Asum (1/1936) 309 Ba gra ha (Si/1936) 44 Bayfield (GB/1941) 64 Atago(j/I930) 189 Ayanami J 1909) 175 Bangust (USA/1943) 139 Bayntun (GB/1942) 61 Atago(J/-) 173 Ayanami J 1929 193 Bann (GB 942) 58 Bayonne (USA/1943) 148 Atak(Tu/cl938) 408 Aydon Castle (GB/-) 63 Banner (USA/c 1943) 160 Bazely (GB/1942) 61 A taka (J/1922) 177 Aylmer (GB/1943) 61 Bantam (Ne/1938) 394 Bdilelnyi (USSR/1936) 330 A taianta (USA/1934) 166 Ajlwin(USA/l9l2) 93 Bapaume (F/1919) 259 Beacon (USA/1942) 156 Atalantc(F/19l5) 258 Aytwin(USA/l934) 125 Bapaume(F/1940) 277 Beacon Hill (GB/1943) 59 Atalantc(F/l930) 274 Azalea (GB/1940) 62 Baquedano (Ce 1898) 422 Beagle (GB/1930) 38 Atami(j/I929) 211 Azerbaijan Pe 935) 409 Barataria (USA/1942) 157 Beale (USA/1912) 93 Athabaskan GB/ 941) 40 Azevia (Po/cl941) 398 Barb (USA-1942) 145 Beale (USA/1942) 130 Athabaskan (GB/1946) 40 Azio(I/I927) 317 Barbarigo (1/1938) 305 Warn (F/1920) 261 A theling (GB/1942) 26 Azov(USSR/cxtant 1922) 345 Barbel (USA/1943) 146 Bearss (USA/1943) 131 Athene (GB/1940) 81 Aztec (GB/-) 55 Barber (USA/1943) 136 Beatty (USA/1941) 129 Athene (USA/r 1943) Atherstonc (GB 1916) 160 84 Azusa (J/-) 196 В arbero (USA/1943) Barcoo GB 1943) 146 60 Beatty (USA/1944) Bea if n (GB/1941) 132 46 Athcrstone GB 1939) 45 Baag6(Dk/1941) 384 Bard sey (GB/1943) 66 Beaufort (USA/1943) 149 A the ton USA/1943) 139 Babbit (USA/1918) 94 Bari (1/1914) 286 Beauharrtois GB 1944) 63 A tholl (GB/1943) 63 Babttonga Br 1943) 417 Barle (GB/1942) 58 Beauly (GB/1924) 84 Alilay (Tu/I938) 408 Babolsar (Pc/1935) 409 Barnard Castle (GB/1944) 63 Beaumaris (GB/1940) 64 Atlanta (USA/1941) 118 Babr(Pc/l93l) 409 Barnstable (U! A/c 1943) 159 Bcautemps Beauprf F 1939 277 Atlanta (USA/1944) 120 Baccara F 1921) 259 Barnwell Castle (GB/-) 63 Beau temps Beaupre F 941) 279 Atlantis (file 1939) 246 Baccarar F 1941) 272 Baroda (GB/1941) 65 Bcbas (USA/1943) 135 Atlantis (GB/-) 55 Bachaquero (GB/1937) 74 Baron (USA/1943) 139 Beberibe (Br/1943) 417 Atle(Sw/l935) 377 Bache (USA/1942) 130 Bartolomeo Colleoni (1/1930) 293 Beckham (USA/r 1943) 160 A ires ido Sp 1951) 403 Badacsony Hu/ex t 1922) 355 Barton (USA/1942) 128 Becuna (USA/1944) 146 Atropo (1/1938) 305 Baddeck (GB/1940) 62 Barwon GB 1944 60 Bedalc (GB/1941) 46 Attacker (GB/1941) 25 Badger (USA/1918) 94 Barbados (GB/1943) 62 Bedouin (GB/1937) 40 Attala (USA/r 1943) 160 Ba na(USSR/!90l) 324 Вaril cur(F/1938) 279 Bee(GB/~) 79 Atlilio Regolo (1/1940) 297 Badoeng Strait (USA/1945) III Barfleur (GB/1943) 44 Beech Lake (GB/1945) 72 Attu (USA/1944) 110 Badsworlh (GB/1941) 46 Barham (GB/1914) 7 Bceston Castle (GB/-) 63 A rule (USA/1944) 146 Baependi (Br/1943) 417 Barik-i-Zaffcr (Tu/1908) 407 Begonia (GB/1940) 62 Aubrielia (GB/1940) 62 Baffin (GB/1912) 66 Barto (I/1944) 310 Beg or (USA/1944) 161 Auburn (USA/1943) 159 Baggensfard Sw 932) 376 Barker (USA/1919) 94 Begum (GB/1942) 26 Auckland (GB,11938) 57 Bagley (USA/1918) 94 Bar negai (USA/1941) 157 Bcilul (1/1938) 309 Audace (1/1916) 287 Bagley (USA/1936) 126 Barnes (US А/1942) 108 Beira (Po/r 1910) 396 Audacieux F 1900) 258 Bahamas (GB/1943) 62 Barnett (GB/1937) 67 Bclcl (USA/1944) 161 Audacieux (F/cl9l6) 259 Bahia (Br/1909) 416 Barney (USA/1918) 94 Belfast (GB/1938) 32 Audacity (GB/1939) 23 Bailey (USA/1919) 95 Barnwell (USA/c 1943) 160 Belfast (USA/1943) 148 Audaz(Sp/1897) 399 Bailey (USA/1941) 128 Barr (USA/1943) 136 Belfort (F/1919) 259 Audaz(Sp/195l) 402 Bainbridge (USA/1920) 94 Barracuda (USA/1924) 141 Belfort (F/1941) 277 Audrain (USA/c 1943) 160 Batonetta I 1942) 316 BarranquiIla Co 1930) 415 Belt Orao (Yu/1939) 358 Audubon (USA/c 1943) 160 Bairc(Cu/l906) 424 Barreto de Menezes (Br/1945) 417 Belknap (USA/1919) 95 Augury (USA/1943) 151 Bairoko (USA/1945) III Barrie GB 1940) 62 Bell (USA/1918) 94 Augusta (USA/1930) 114 Baja (Hu/-) 355 Barrier (USA/1943) 151 Bell (USA/1942) 131 Augusto Riboty I 1916) 286 Baker (USA/1943) 139 Barrosa (GB/1945) 44 Bellatrix (F/1916) 259 Auk (USA/1941) 150 Baku (USSR/1938) 329 Barroso (Br/1895) 416 Bellatrix (Ne/extant 1922) 395 Aulick (USA/1919) 95 Balao (USA/1942) 145 Barrow (USA/c 1943) 160 Belle Grove (USA/1943) 161 Aulick (USA/1942) 130 Balch {USA/1912) 93 Barry (USA/1920) 95 Belleau Wood (USA/1942) 105 Ault (USA/1944) 132 Balch (USAH936) 125 Bartolomeu Dias P 1934) 397 Bellechasse (GB/1941) 64 Aunus (Fi/1927) 367 Balder (Ne/c 1878) 388 Barton (USA/1943) 132 Belleiste (GB/1946) 44 Aura (Fi/1884) 367 Balder (No/1939) 380 Basarabia R ex ant 1922) 361 Bellerophon (GB/-) 35 Aurania (GB/1924) 82 Balduck (USA/1944) 161 Bashaw (USA/1943) 145 Belleville (GB/1944) 63 Aurelia (USA/c 1943) 160 Baldwin (USA/1942) 129 Basilisk (GB/1930) 38 Be 1 queuse F cl9!6 259 Auricula (GB/1940) 62 Baleares (Sp/1932) 401 Baritone (USA/I945) 133 Bellona (Dk/1919) 382 Auriga (GB/1945) 55 Baleno (1/1931) 300 Basque F 1929) 270 BeUona (GB/1942) 35 Auriga (1/1943) 303 Balestra(l/1947) 303 Bass (USA/1924) 141 Bellone (F/1914) 258 428
Belmonte В 1912) 416 Birch Lake (GB/1945) 72 Boise (USA/1936) 116 Braunschweig (G/1902) 222 Bellwort (GB/1940) 62 Bird last (USA/1918-19) 96 Bolcbroke (GB/1941) 46 Brave (GB/1943) 65 Belmont (GB/1918) 47 Birdlip (GB/1941) 67 Bulivar (USA/r 1943) 159 Bravo (Мех/1903) 414 Bel imorcc (Bu/19(7) 363 Birgit (USA/c 1943) 160 Bollinger (USA/r 1943) 160 Braxen (Sw/1916) 370 Belvoir (GB/1941) 46 Birhakeim (F/I939) 272 Bolshevik (USSR/r 1915) 324 Braxton (USA/c 943) 160 Bet alia (GB/1942) 65 Birindci InonO (Tu 1927) 407 Bolton Castle (GB/ ) 63 Bray (USA/1944) 137 Benbccula (GB/1943) 66 Birmingham (GB/1913) 10 Bolzano (1/1932) 293 Brazen (GB/1930) 38 Benbow(GB/|9l3) 7 Birmingham GB 1936 31 Bombard (USA/1943) 151 Breakhorn (USA/1944) 151 Bendigo (GB/1941) 64 Birmingham (USA/1907) 93 Bombards (1/1942) 316 Bream (GB/1942) 67 Bencb (Ne/cxtant 1922) . 395 В mingham (USA/1942) 119 Bombarde F 1936) 271 Bream (USA/1943) 145 Bcneventc (Br 1943) 417 Bisbee (USA/1943) 148 Bombardier (GB/1943) 67 Brcck (USA/1919) 95 Bengal (GB/1942) 64 Biscayne (USA/1941) 157 Bombardiere (1/1942) 301 Breckenridge (USA/1918) 94 Bcngo (Po/rl910) 396 Bismarck G 1939) 224 Bombay (GB/1941) 65 Brecon (GB/1942) 47 Benham (USA/1913) 93 Bismarck Sea (USA/1944) 110 Bon Homme Richard Brcdon (GB/1941) 67 Benham (USA/1938) 127 Bison (F/1912) 258 (USA/1944) 104 Bredskar (Sw/1940) 376 Benham (USA/1943) 131 Bison (F/1928) 267 Bonaventure (GB/1939) 33 Brceman (USA/1943) 139 Beniamin Constant (Br/1892) 416 Bison (F/1939) 270 Bond (USA/1942) 151 Breese (USA/1918) 94 Benner (USA/1944) 133 Biter (GB/1940) 25 Bonefish (USA/1943) 145 Bremerton (USA/1944) 121 Benner USA ) 138 Bittern GB 193 ') 57 Bonham (USA/1926) 166 Brcmdn (Sw/1940) 376 Bennett (USA/1942) 130 Bittern (USA/1944) 151 Boiufaz(Sp/19l 1) 400 Bremse (G/1931) 252 Bennington (USA/1944) 104 Bittersweet GB 940) 62 Bonita (USA/1925) 141 Brennan (USA/1942) 135 Bennion (USA/1943) 131 Bivin (USA/1943) 138 Bonito (GB/1941) 67 Brentford GB 1941) 62 Benson (USA 1939 128 Bjcrk(No/1912) 381 Booth (USA/1943) 139 Bressay (GB/1942) 66 Bentinck (GB/1943) 61 Bjorn (Sw/1874) 368 Bootle (GB/1941) 64 Brestois(F/1927) 270 Bentley (GB/1943) 61 Black (USA/1943) 131 Borage (GB/1941) 62 Bretagne F 19 3) 257 Beograd (Yu/1937) 357 Black Prince (GB/1942) 35 Borde (GB/1921) 85 Breton (USA/1942) 108 Berar (GB/1942) 65 Black Swan (GB/1939) 57 Bordelais (F/1927) 270 Brevik (No/?) 381 Berdyansk (USSR/exlant 1922) 345 Blackbird (GB/1943) 66 Bordelon (USA/1945) 134 Brcydcl(Bc/l9l5) 385 Bcre Castle (GB/-) 63 Blackfm (USA/1944) 146 Border (GB/1942) 46 Bridgeport (USA/-) 121 Berenice (1/1943) 316 Blackfish (USA/1942) 145 Border Cities (GB/1943) 65 Bridgewater (GB/1928) 55 Bcrgall USA/1944) 146 Blackmore (GB/1941) 46 Borea (1/1927) 299 Bridgnorth Castle (GB/-) 63 Bergamot (GB/1941) 62 Blackpool (GB/1940) 64 Boreas (GB/1930) 38 Bridlington (GB/1940) 64 Bergen (USA/r 1943) 160 Blackthorn (GB/1939) 66 Boric (USA/1919) 94 Bri port (GB/1940) 64 Bcrillo(1/1936) 309 Blackwood (GB 1942) 61 Boric (USA/1944) 132 Brigadier (GB/1928) 73 Bering Strait (USA/1944) 157 Bladen (USA/r 1943) 160 B»rund(No/l9l2) 381 Bright (USA/1943) 139 Berk-Efshan (Tu/1894) 406 Blair (USA/1943) 140 Borum (USA/1943) 137 В ighton GB 1918 47 Berkeley (GB/1940) 45 Bhirmore (GB/1942) 64 Bosque (USA/r 1943) 160 Brighton Belle GB 1900) 84 Berkeley Castle (G В/1943) 63 Blajunbol (Si/1936) 411 Boston (GB/1940) 64 Brighton Queen GB 1905 84 Berkistuvet (Tu 1906) 407 Blake (GB/1945) 35 Boston (USA/1942) 121 Brill (USA/1944) 146 Berkut (USSR/1940) 339 Blakely (USA/1918) 94 Bostwick (USA/1943) 139 Brilliant (GB/1930) 38 Berlin (G/1903) 222 Blanche (GB/1930) 38 Botetourt (USA/r 1943) 160 Brilliant (USSR/c 1936) 340 Bermuda (GB/1941) 34 Blanco Encalad Ce/1893) 422 Botica (GB/I9I7) 84 Brin(f/1938) 306 Bern (GB/1942) 66 Bland (USA/r 1943) 160 Bottineau (USA/r 1943) 160 Brindisi (1/1912) 286 Bcrnadou (USA/1918) 94 Blankney(GB/l940) 46 Bouchard (A/r 1936) 421 Brinio(Ne/19|2) 387 Bernd von Arnim (G/1936) 233 Blanqucl (Мех/1903) 414 Boucher(F/1911) 258 Brinkley Bass (USA/1945) 134 Berrien (USA/r 1943) 160 Blas de Lezo(Sp/|923) 399 В outlier (F/1937) 271 Bns (Sw/1900) 370 Berry (GB/1942) 61 Blcan (GB/1942) 46 Bougainville (F/1931) 276 Rristune(GB/1915) 10 Bcrsagtierc (1/1906) 286 Bleasdalc (GB/1941) 46 Bougainville (USA/1944) 110 Briscoe (USA/r 1943) 160 Bersag icrc (1/1938) 301 Rlcncathra (GB/1940) 45 Boulonnais (F 1927) 270 Brisk (USA/1942) 156 Bcnioga Br 1943) 417 В lenny (USA/1944) 146 Bournemouth Queen (GB/1908) 84 Bnsse den (GB/1942) 47 Ben i.k (GB/1926) 26 Blessman (USA/1943) 136 Bourrasque (F/1925) 269 Brister (USA/1943) 140 Beskytlcren (Dk/1900) 383 Bligh (GB/1943) 61 Boutwell (USA/1927) 166 Bristol (USA/1941) 128 Bcsposhchadnyi USSR/1937) 330 Blink (No/1896) 378 Bowen (GB/1942) 65 Bristol (USA/1944) 132 Besugi (USA/1944) 146 Blixt (Sw/1898) 370 Bowers (USA/1943) 136 Britomart (GB/1938) 63 Bethune (171921) 259 Block Island (USA/1942) 108 Bowes Castle (GB/-) 63 Rrixham (GB/1941) 64 Bctony (GB/1943) 63 Block Island (USA/1944) 111 Bowfin (USA/1942) 145 Broadbill (USA/1942) 150 Bcttinu Ricasoli (1/1926) 298 Blower (USA/1944) 146 Bowie (USA/C1943) 160 Broadsword (GB/1946) 44 Bevdand Ne/rl942) 394 Blucher(G/1937) 228 Bowmanvdlc GB/1944 63 Bron water (GB/1919) 47 Beverley (GB/1919) 47 Blue (USA/1937) 126 Boyd (USA/1942) 130 Broadwater (USA/r 1943) 160 Beverly VC Reid (USA/1944) 161 Blue (USA/1943) 132 Boyle (USA/1942) 128 Broadway (GB/1920) 47 Berea l FIBS) 273 Blue Ridge (USA/1943) 159 Boxer (GB/1942) 74,75 Bruck (USA/1944) 161 Be ar (USA/r 1943) 160 Blucbac». (USA/1944) 146 Boxer (USA/1944) 104 Brocklesby (GB/1940) 45 Be/bozhnik (USSR/1918) 332 Bluebell (GB/1915) 13 Bracken (USA/r 1943) 160 BrockviUe (GB/1941) 64 Bczuprcchnyi (USSR/1936) 330 Bluebell (GB/1940) 62 Brackett (USA/1943) 135 Broke (GB/1920) 11 Bhadravati (GB/I932) 83 Bluefish (USA/1943) 145 Bracui(Br/l943) 417 Brommy(G/1916) 253 Khali (Si/1901) 410 Bluegill (USA/1943) 145 Bradford (GB/1918) 47 Brondolo (1/1909) 288,289 Ribb (USA/1937) 165 Blyskawica(Pl/1936) 349 Bradford (USA/1942) 130 Bronstein (USA/1943) 139 Bicester (GB/1941) 46 Blyth (GB/1940) 64 Braga Ne/rl878) 388 Bronx (USA/r 1943) 160 Bickerton (GB/1943) 61 Boadicea (GB/1908) 10 Bragc(No/l878) 379 Bronzo(l/I94l) 310 Bicuda(Po/rl94l) 398 Boadicea (GB/1930) 38 Braid (GB/1943) 58 Brookings (USA/r 1943) 160 Bid.isoa(Sp/l943) 403 Boarfish (USA/1944) 146 Braine (USA/1943) 131 Brooklyn (U SA/1936) 116 Biddle (USA/19 IS) 94 Bobruisk (USSR/r 1925) 345 Braithwaite (GB/1943) 61 Brooks (USA/1919) 94 Bideford (GB/1931) 56 Bocaina (Br/1943) 417 Bramber Castle (GB/ -) 63 Broome (GB/1941) 64 Bigbury Bay (GB 1944 61 Bodiam Castle GB/ ) 63 Bramble (GB/1938) 63 Broome (USA/1919) 94 Biggal (GB/1944) 66 Bodo N /> | 381 Bramble (GB/1945) 65 Brora (GB/1940) 66 Bihar (GB/1942) 64 Bodryi (USSR/1936) 330 Bramhain (GB/1942) 46 Brough USA/1943) 140 Billnsh (USA/1942) 145 Bogam (GB/-) 60 Brampton (GB/-) 63 Brough Castle (GB/-) 63 Billingsley (USA/1919) 95 Boggs (USA/) 9)8) 94 Branch (USA/1919) 94 Brown (USA/1943) 130 Biloxi (USA/1943) 119 Bogor(Ne/l938) 394 Brand (No/1899) 378 Brownson USA/1942) 130 Bingham (USA/c 1943) 160 Bogue (USA/1942) 108 Brandon (GB/1941) 62 Brownson USA/1945) 134 Birch (GB/1939) 66 Boikiy (USSR/1936) 330 Branlebas (F/1937) 271 Brownsville (USA/1943) 148 429
Bruce (GB/1918) 11 Bruce (USA/1920) 95 Bruiser (GB/1942) 74 Brule (USA/r 1943) 160 Bruleson (USA/c 1943) 160 Brumairc(F/19II) 258 Brummcr(G/l932) 252 В ummer (G/1935) 252 Bruno Heinemann (G/1936) 233 Brunswick (USA/1943) 149 Bruray (GB/1942) 66 Brush (USA/1943) 132 Brutus (GB/r 1921) 84 Bryant {USA/1943) 131 Bryher (GB/1943) 66 Bryony (CB 1917) 13 Bryony (GB/1941) 62 Buccari (1/1926) 317 Buchanan (USA/1919) 94 Buchanan (USA/1941) 128 Buchardo(A/1890) 419 Buck (USA/1939) 127 Buck (USA/1945) 132 Buckingham'GB 1944) 59 Buckingham (USA/c 1943) 160 Buckley (USA/1943) 136 Bucovina (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Buctouchc (GB/1940) 62 Bude (GB/1940) 64 Buenos Aires (А/1895) 419 Buenos Aires (A/1937) 420 Buffalo (USA/1943) 120 Buffalo (CL84) (USA/-) 120 Buffalo (Cl. 110) (USA/-) 120 Bugara (USA/1944) 146 Bugel (USSR/1939) 341 Bugloss (GB 1943) 63 Bui (USSR/1936) 341 Buino(F/1917) 258 Buizerd(Nc/l942) 395 B0k(llu/cxtant 1922) 355 Bulhound (Xc/1911) 387 Bulgia(Ne/cl878) 388 Bull (USA/1943) 137 Bullard (USA/1943) 131 Bulldog (GB/1930) 38 Bullen (GB/1943) 61 Bullhead (USA/1944) 146 Bulmer (USA/1920) 94 Bulolo(GB/l938) 75,82 Bulta (I л/extant 1922) 353 Bulwark (GB/1948) 23 Bumper (USA/1944) 146 Bunbury (GB/1942) 64 Bunch (USA/1943) 137 Bundaberg (GB 1941) 64 Bungaree (GB/1937) 85 Bunker Hill (USA/1942) 104 Buoyant (USA/1942) 151 Burak Reis (Tu/1912) 407 Burak Reis (Tu/1940) 408 Burdekin (GB/1943) 60 Burden R Hastings (USA/1942) 135 Burdo(USA/l944) 161 Burdock (GB/1940) 62 Burfin(GB/?) 72 Burges (GB/1943) 61 Burghcad Bay (GB/1945) 61 Burke (USA/1943) 136 Burleigh (USA/r 1943) 159 Bullington (GB/1940) 64,85 Burlington (USA/1943) 149 Burnet (GB/1943) 63 Burnham (GB/1919) 47 Bumie (GB/1940) 65 Burns (USA/1918) 94 Burns (USA/1942) 131 Burra (GB/1941) 66 Bu ish USA/1943) 146 Burrows (USA/1910) 93 Burrows (USA/1943) 139 Burun (USSR/1934) Burwell (GB/1918) Burya (USSR/1933) Burza(Pl/1929) Bush (USA/1918) Bush (USA/1942) Bushwood (GB/1930) Bustamante (Sp/1913) Bute (GB/1941) Butler(USA/l942) Butser (GB/1941) Buite (USA/r 1943) Buttercup (GB/1941) Buxton (GB/1918) Byard (GB/1943) Byron (GB/1943) Bys USSR ) Bysiryi(USSR/l914) B-siryi USSR/1936) Cabana (USA/1943) Cabedelo(Br/l939) Cabezon (USA/1944) Cabildo (USA/1944) Cabot (USA/1943) Cabrilla (USA/1942) Cachalot (GB/1937) Cachalot (USA/1933) Cadiz (GB/1944) Cadmus (GB/1942) Caesar (GB/1944) Cahoone USA/1927) Caicos (GB/1943) Caitiff (GB/1942) Caiman (F/1927) Caiman (USA/1944) Caio Duilio (1/1919) CaioMario(l/194l) Cairns (GB/1941) Cairo (GB/1918) Caistor Cas le (GB/1944) Calabria (1/1894) Galabrone 1/1943) Calais (F/1919) Calatafimi (1/1923) Calcatcrra (USA/1943) Calcutta (GR/1918) Calcutta (GB/1943) Caldas (Col/1901) Caldecot Castle (GB/-) Caldwell GB/1919) Caldwell (USA/1917) Caldwell (USA/1942) Caldy (GB/1943) Caledon (GB/1916) Calendula (GB/1940) Calgary (GB/1941) Caliboguc (USA/-) California (GB/1923) Cali mia (USA/1919) Calipso (1/1909) Calipso (1/1937) Callaghan (USA/1943) Callaway (USA/c 1943) Calliope (GB/1914) Calliope (1/1906) Calliope (1/1938) Calpc (GB/1941) Calshot Castle (GB/-) Calvay (GB/1943) Calvo Sotelo (Sp/1934) Calypso(F/1926) Calypso (GB/I9I7) Calypso (USA/1932) Cam (GB/1943) Camaqua (Br 1939) Cambria (USA/r 1943) Cambrian (GB/1916) Cambrian (GB/1943) Cambridge (USA/-) Camellia GB/1940) 339 Cameron (G В/1919) 47 Card (USA/1942) 108 47 Caniicia Nera (1/1937) 301 Cardarso (Sp/1914) 399 339 Camito (GB/1915) 83 Cardiff (GB/1917) 10 349 Camocim Br 1939) 418 Cardigan Bay (GB/1944) 61 94 Camoscio 1 1942) 316 Carew Castle (GB/-) 63 130 Camp (USA/1943) 140 Carfavclas Br 1939) 418 85 Campania (GB/1943) 24 Cariama F 1944) 151 399 Campania(l/I914) 285 Carinthia GB 1925) 82 66 Campa ula (GB/1940) 62 Carioca (Br/1938) 418 129 Campaspe (GB ) 60 Carisbrooke Castle (GB/1943) 63 67 Campbell ;GR/I918) 11 Carissan F 918) 258 160 Campbell (USA/1936) 165 Carl Peters (G/1939) 253 62 Campbeltown (GB/1919) 47 Carlisle (GB/1918) 10 47 Camperdown (GB/1944) 44 Carlisle (USA/r 1943) 160 61 Campion (GB/1941) 62 Carlo del Greco (1/1922) 288 61 Campobello (G В/1942) 66 Carlo Mirabello(I/1915) 286 339 Camrose (GB/1940) 62 Carlplace (GB/1944) 59 323 Canak(Tu/rl937) 408 Carlson (USA/1943) 135 330 Canancla (Br/1938) 418 Carmick (USA/1942) 128 Canaries (Sp/1931) 401 Carnarvon Bay (GB 1945) 61 135 Canberra (GB/1927) 26 Carnarvon Castle (GB 926) 82 418 Canberra (USA/1943) 121 Carnation (GB 1940) 62 146 Candid (USA/1942) 151 Caroline (GB/I9I4) 10 161 Candytuft (GB/1940) 62 Carp (USA/1944) 146 105 Canfield (USA/1943) 135 Carpellotli (USA/1945) 161 145 Canna (GB/1940) 66 Carpellotti (USA/-) 138 49 Cannon (USA/1943) 139 Carpenter (USA/1945) 133 143 Canopo(l/I907) 287 Carquois (F/1907) 258 44 Canopo (1/1936) 302 Carregado P 1912) 396 65 Canopus (Ne/cxtent 1922) 395 Carrista (1/-) 301 43 Canso (GB/1941) 64 Carroll (USA/1943) 139 166 Canterbury (GB/1915) 10 Carron (GB/1944) 43 62 Canterbury Castle (GB/-) 63 Carronade (GB/1946) 44 66 Canion GB 1938 82 Carson City (USA/1943) 149 272 Cap de la Madeleine (GB/1944) 59 Cartagena (Col 1930) 415 146 Cap des Palmes (I7/1935) 279 Cartagcncr (Sp/1908) 400 284 Capable (USA/1942) 151 Carter (USA/1944) 139 297 Cape Breton GB 942) 59 Carter Hall (USA/1943) 161 65 Cape Esperance (USA/1944) 110 Carteret (USA/c 1943) 160 10 CapeGlouce ter (USA/1944) 111 Carthage (GB/1931) 82 63 Cape Howe GB 1930) 84 Cartigan (USA/1927) 166 285 Cape Sable (GB/1936) 84 Carvalho Araujo Po 1915) 396 316 Capel (GB/1943) 61 Carysfort GB 1914 10 259 Capelin (USA/1943) 145 Carysfon (GB/1944) 43 287 Caperton (USA/1943) 131 Casa Grande (USA/1944) 161 140 Capetow (GB/1919) 10 Casabianca (F/1935) 273 10 Capilano GB 1944) 59 Casablanca (USA/1943) 109 65 Capitainc (USA/1944) 146 Casco (USA/1941) 157 415 Capiiaine Mehl F 1912) 258 Case {USA/1919) 95 63 Capitan Dumistrcscu (Ro/extant Case (USA/1935) 125 47 1922) 361 Casma (0/1944) 423 93 Capitan Manuel Thompson Casma (Pu/1926) 424 128 (Cc/rl896) 422 Casper (USA/1943) 148 66 Capitan Merino Jarpa Cc/1898) 422 Casque (F/1910) 258 10 Capitan Munoz Gamcro Casque (F/1938) 270 62 (Се/1896) 422 Cassandra (GB/1943) 43 62 Capitan Nicolac Lascar Bogdan Cassard F 1896) 257 158 (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Cassard (F/I93I) 268 82 Capitan O'Brien (Ce/1898) 422 Cassin (USA/1913) 93 90 Capitan O'Brien (Ce/1928) 423 Cassin (USA/1935) 125 287 Capitan Orella (Се/1896) 422 Cassin (USA/1943) 131 302 Capitan Prat (Се/1890) 422 Cassiopea (1/1906) 287 131 CapitanoTarantini (1/1940) 306 Cassopca (1/1936) 302 159 Capitan Thompson Ce 1898) 422 Cassiopde F/1917) 259 10 Capitan Thompson (Се/1929) 423 Cas clfidaro 1/1922) 287 287 Capps (USA/1942) 130 Castle (USA/1946) 133 302 Caprice (GB/1943) 43 Castle Rock (USA/1944) 157 46 Caprice (USA/1942) 156 Castlemainc (GB/1941) 65 63 Capricicusc (F/r 1916) 259 Castleton (GB/1919) 47 66 Capricornus (USA/r 1943) 160 Castor (G/1940) 253 402 Capriolo (1/1942) 316 Castor (GB/1915) 10 273 Captivate (USA/1942) 151 Castor (Sw/1909) 370 10 Carabiniere F 1944) 278 Castorc (1/1936) 302 166 Carabiniere (1/1909) 286 Caswell (USA/c 1943) 160 58 Carabiniere (1/1938) 301 Cataluna (Sp/1900) 399 418 Carabina (1/1943) 316 Caumarca (A/I911) 419 159 Carabobo(Ve/1941) 415 Catamount (USA/1945) 161 10 C radoc GB/1916) 10 Cates (USA/1943) 139 43 Caraquet (GB/1941) 64 Catfish (USA/1944) 146 121 Caravan (USA/1942) 151 Cathay (GB/1925) 82 62 Carboncro (USA/1944) 146 Catocrin (USA/1943) 159 430
Catron (USA/c 1943) 160 Cabkill (USA/1942) 161 Ciitirick(Gli/l94l) 46 Cattixtock (GB/1940) 45 Cainion (USA/1942) 151 Cauvery (GB/1943) 58 Cava(GB/194l) 66 Cavalier (F/1910) 258 Cavalier (F/1944) 278 Cawlier (GB/1941) • 43 Cavalier (USA/r 1943) 159 Cat alia (USA/1943) 145 Cavallaro (USA/1944) 161 Gtvalletta (1/1942) 316 Cavendish (GB/1944) 43 Cavina (GB/1924) 83 Ca vsand Bay (GB/1945) 61 Caiman (GB/1943) 62 Ca uga (GB/1945) 40 Cayuga (USA/1931) 164 Ceara (Br/1915) 416 Cecil (USA/r 1943) 159 Cecil J Doyle (USA/1944) 138 Cedar Lake(GU/l945) 72 Cel jndine (GB/1940) 62 Celebes (Ne/-) 387 Celia (GB/1940) 66 Centaur (GB/1916) 10 Centaur GB 1947) 23 Ccnt*uro(l/I936) 302 Ccntaurus(USA/<l943) 160 Centurion (GB/I9I1) 7 Centurion (GB/-) 36 Cepheus(USA/cl943) 160 Ceram (Ne/1938) 394 Orb (F/1938) 275 Ceres (GB/1917) 10 Cernia (I/-) 310 Ccro(USA/l943) 145 Cervantes (A/1925) 421 Cervo(I/-) 316 Cesare Baitisli (1/1926) 298 Cesare Rossarol (1/1914) 287 Osenock (GB/1941) 64 Ceieiea Alba (Rn/-) 362 Cctnik (Yu/1927) 359 Ceuta (Sp/1919) 402 Ceylon (GB/1942) 34 Ch.tcabuco(Cc/1898) 422 Chacal(F/1924) 267 Chaffee (USA/1943) 137 Chahsever (Pc/1936) 409 Chaika (USSR/1943) 339 Chaimite (Po/1898) 396 Chakdina(GB/l9l4) 83 Chakla(GB/l9l4) 83 Chamaeleon (GB/1944) 65 Chambers (USA/1943) 140 Chambly (GB/1940) 62 Chamois (F/1938) 277 Champion (GB/1915) 10 Champion (USA/1942) 150 Champlain (USA/1928) 164 Champlin (USA/1918) 94 Champlin (USA/1942) 128 Chanbaaz (Pe/1931) 409 Chandeleur(USA/1941) 158 Chandler (USA/1919) 94 Chandraburi (Si/1937) 411 Chang(Ca/l895) 412 Chang Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Change (USA/1942) 151 Chantala (GB/1920) 83 Chaniicleer(GB/l942) 57 Chao Но(Са/19| I) 412 Ch ipayev (USSR/1940) 328 Chaplet (GB/1944) 43 Chara (USA/r 1943) 160 Charger(USA/I94I) 107 Charity (GB/1944) 43 Charles Ausburn (USA/1919) 95 Charles Ausbume (USA/1942) 130 Charles E Brannon USA/1944) 138 Charles F Hughes (USA/1940) 128 Charles H Roan (US А/1946) 134 Charles J Badger (USA/1943) 131 Charles J Kimmel (USA/1944) 137 Charles Lawrence (USA/1943) 136 Charles P Cecil (USA/1945) 133 Charles Plumier(F/1939) 279 Charles R Greer (USA/1943) 135 Charles R Ware (USA/1945) 134 Charles R Ware (USA/-) 138 Charles S Sperry (US А/1944) 132 Charleston (USA/1904) 93 Charleston (USA/1936) 155 Charlestown (GB/1918) 47 Charlock (GB/1943) 63 Charlotte(USA/1906) 93 Charlotte (USA/1943) 149 Charlottesville (USA/1943) 148 Charlottetown (GB/1941) 62 Charlottetown (GB/1943) 59 Charogh (Pe/1931) 409 Charr (USA/1944) 146 Charreue (USA/1942) 131 Charybdis (GB/1940) 33 Chase (USA/1919) 95 Chase (USA/1943) 136 Chaser (GB/19421 25 Cha tang (F/1917) 258 Chaieaurenanli (F -) 266 Chatelaine (USA/1943) 140 Chatham(GB'l9ll) 10 Chattanooga (USA/1903) 93 Chattanooga (USA/-) 120 Chaudicre(GB/1936) 39 Chauncey (USA/1918) 95 Chauncey (USA/1943) 131 Chautequa (USA/1944) 165 Chebogue (GB/1943) 59 Chedobucto(GB/l94l) 64 Cheerful (GB/1944) 65 Cheka (USSR/1937) 341 Chelan (USA/1928) 164 Chelmer (GB/1943) 58 Chelsea (GB/1919) 47 Chen (Ca/1895) 412 Chen Shen (Са/1899) 412 Chenango (USA/1939) 108 Cheng Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Chepstow Castle (GB/-) 63 Chequers (GB/1944) 43 Cheribon (Ne/1938) 394 Chernomorec(Bu/l9l7) 363 Cherry Lake(GB/I945) 72 Chervona Ukraina(USSR/I9I5) 326 Cheshire (GB/1927) 82 Chesma (USSR/1886) 322 Chester (USA/1907) 93 Chester (USA,'1929) 114 Chester Castle (GB/-) 63 Chester T O'Brien (USA/1944) 138 Chesterfield (GB/1920) 47 Chestnut (GB/1940) 66 Chevalier (USA/1942) 130 Chevalier (USA/1944) 133 Chevalier Paul (F/1932) 268 Cheviot (GB,'19-14 43 Chcvreuil(F/1939) 277 Chevron (GB/1944) 43 Chew (USA/1918) 94 Cheyenne (USA/-) 120 Chiburi (J/1943) 206 Chkago(USA/1930) 114 Chicago USA/1944) 121 Chickadee (USA/1942) 150 Chicoutimi (GB/1940) 62 Chiddmgfold (GB'1941) 46 Chidori (J/1933) 197 Chief (USA/1943) 150 Chi flam(GB 1945) 43 Chien An (Ca/1900) 412 Chien Kang (Ca/1912) 412 Chien Wei (Ca/1902) 412 Chtgnccto GB 1940 64 ChigusaMani(J/l944) 213 Chihaya (J/1900) 177 Chikubu(J/1944) 206 Chikuma(j/I9l I) 174 Chikuma (J/1938) 190 Childen(GB/l945) 43 Chids(USA/l920) 94 Chilliwack (GB/1940) 62 Ch ion (USA/c 1943) 159 Chimera(l/1943) 316 Chin Yen (Ma/1935) 414 Chincotcague(USA/l942) 157 Chipana (Се/1944) 423 Chipper (USA/1945) 146 Chitose (J/1898) 174 Chitose 0/1936) 184 212 Chitra! (GB/1925) 82 Chivalrous (GB/1945) 43 Chivo (USA/1945) 146 Chiyoda(j/I937) 183,212 Chkalov (USSR/1948) 328 Chokai J/I93I) 189 Chonburi (Si/1937) 411 ChowPhnya(Si/l918) 410 Christchurch Castle (GB/~) 63 Christiaan Cornell (Ne/c 1905) 387 Christ. >pher (USA/1943) 139 Chrysanthemum (GB/1917) 13 (.hrysanthemum (GB/1941) 62 Chu Chien (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chu Kuan (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chu Tai (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chu Tung (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chu Yew (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chu Yu (Ca/c 1906) 412 Chub (USA/1944) 146 Chukor (USA/1944) 151 Chung Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Chunphorn(Si/1937) 411 Churchill (GB/1919) 47 Churruca (Sp/1925) 401 Churruca (Sp/1929) 401 Chuyo(j/I939) 185 Cicala (1/1943) 316 Cicero (GB/1943) 72 Ci lone (1/1942) 303 Cicogna (I/1942) 316 Cigno(l/I906) 287 Cigno(l/I936) 302 Ciklon(USSR/1930) 339 Cilicia (GB/1938) 82 Cimeterre(F/l9l 1) 258 Cimeterre(F/1944) 278 Cincinatti (USA/1921) 93 CincodeOutubro(Po/1900) 396 Circassia (GB/1937) 82 Circf (F/1925) 273 Circe (GB/1942) 65 Circe(l/1938) 302 Circe (USA/c 1943) 160 CiroMenotU(I/l929) 307 Cirujano Videla (Cc/c 1896) 422 Ciscar (Sp/1933) 401 Cisco (USA/1942) 145 City of Durban (GB/1921) 84 City of Rochester GB 1904 84 Oa ton JGB/1941) 64 Clamagore(USA/1945) 146 Clamour (USA/1942) 151 Clare (GB/1920) 47 Clare Castle (GB/-) 63 Clarence К Bronson (USA/1943) 131 Clarence L Evans (USA/1944) 139 Clarendon (USA/c 1943) 160 Clark (USA/1935) 125 darkia(GB/l940) 62 Clas Fleming (Sw/1912) 370 das Hom Sw 1898) 369 dash (USA/1942) 156 daudio Druso (I/-) 297 daudioTtbcno(I/-) 297 dava(U-) 316 Clavering Castle (GB/-) 63 Claxton (USA/1919) 94 Claxton (USA/1942) 130 Chy (USA/c 1943) 159 day more F 1906) 258 Claymore (GB/-) 44 Qayoquot GB 1940) 64 dearfield (USA/c 1943) 160 deburne(USA/cl943) 160 dematis(GB/1915) 13 Clematis (GB/1940) 62 demenceau (F/1943) 260 demson (USA/1918) 94 deopatra(GB/l915) 10 deopatra (GB/1940) 33 dermont (USA/c 1943) 160 dcveland (GB/1940) 45 Cleveland (USA/1901) 93 Cleveland (USA/I94I) 119 dimax (USA/1943) 151 dtmene I 1909 287 dimene(I/l936) 302 dinton (USA/c 1943) 160 Clio (I/1906) 287 Clio (1/1938) 302 Clitheroe Castle (GB/-) 63 Clive (GB/extanl 1922) 13 dorinde(F/I9l3) 258 Clones USA/1943) 135 dover (GB/1941) 62 dun Castle (GB/-) 63 Clyde (GB/1934) 49 Clydebank (GB/1941) 64 Coates (USA/1943) 137 Coaticook (GB/1943) 59 Cobalt (GB/1940) 62 Cobaho(l/I94l) 310 Cobbler (USA/1945) 146 Cobia (USA/1943) 145 Coboirg (GB/1943) 63 Coc niglia I ) 316 Cochin (GB/1943) 65 Cochino(USA/l945) 146 Cockade (GB 1944) 43 Cock ce (GB/1942) 65 Cockrill (USA/1943) 140 Cod (USA/1943) 145 Codnngton GB 1929 58 Cofer (USA/1943) 136 Coffman (USA/1943) 139 Coghlan(USA 1920) 95 Coghlan (USA/1942) 128 Cogswell (USA/1943) 131 Colac (GB/1941) 65 Colahan (USA/1943) 131 Colbert (F/1928) 263 Colbert (USA/c 1943) 160 Colchester Castle (GB/-) 63 Cddslreamer (GB/1942) 67 Cole (USA/1919) 94 Colfax (USA/1927) 166 Colhoun (USA/1918) 93 Colhoun (USA/1944) 132 Coll (GB/1942) 66 Collett (USA/1944) 132 Collingsworth USA/c 1943) 160 Coll gwood (GB/1940) 62 Colmar (F/1908) 257 Colombie F/I93I) 279 Colombicr (F/c 1942) 278 Colombo(GB/19l*8) 10 Colon (DR/1944) 425 Colonial (USA/1945) 161 Colorado (USA/1921) 90 Colossus (GB/1910) 7 Colossus GB/1943) 22 431
Colsay (GB/1943) 66 Constance (GB/1944) 43 Cotopaxi (Ес/1884) 425 Cuba (Си/1911) 424 Coltsfoot (GB/1941) 62 Constanta (Ro/extant 1922) 362 Cotswo d (GB/1940) 45 Cubera (USA/1945) 146 Columbia (GB/1918) 47 Constitucion (Vc/1940) 415 Cot tel (GB/?) 72 Cubitt (GB/1943) 61 Columbia (USA/1941) 119 Conte di Cavour (1/1911) 284 Cotten (USA/1943) 131 Cuckmere (GB/1942) 58 Columbine (GB/1940) 62 Contest (G В/1944) 43 Cottesmore (GB/1940) 45 Culgoa (GB/1944) 60 Cclumbrina I 942) 317 Control (USA/1943) 151 Cottle (USA/c 1943) 160 Cullman (USA/c 1943) 160 Columbus (USA/1944) 121 Converse (USA/1919) 95 Cot ton (G В/1943) 61 Culver (GB/1928) 58 Colusa (USA/r 1943) 160 Converse (USA/1942) 130 Coucy (F/1919) 259 Culverin GB 1946) 44 Comanche (USA/1934) 166 Convolvulus (G В/1940) 62 Counsel (USA/1943) 151 Cumberland (GB/1926) 26 Comandanie Baroni (I/-) 301 Conway (USA/1942) 130 Courage (USA/1940) 156 Cumberland Sound iUSA/1944) 158 Comandanie Borsini (I/-) 301 Cony (USA/1942) 130 Courageous GB 1916) 9,18 Cumbrae (GB/1940) 66 Comandanie Botti (I/-) 301 Conyngham (US А/1915) 93 Courbet (F/I9II) 257 Cummings USA 1913) 93 Comandanie Cappcllini (1/1939) 305 Conyngbam (USA/1935) 125 Courier (GB/1943) 65 Cummings (USA 1935) 125 Comandanie Casana (I/-) 301 Cook (GB/1945) 61 Courtenay GB 1941) 64 Curacoa (GB/1917) 10 Comandanie Com (I/-) 301 Cook (USA/1944) 161 Coutelas(F/l944) 278 Curie (F/I9I2) 258 Comandanie Dell'Anno (I/-) 301 Cook Inlet (USA/1944) 157 Covadonga (Се/1944) 423 Curie (F/1943) 276 Comandanie di Crisiofaro (I/-) 301 Cooke (GB/1943) 61 Coventry (G В/1917) 10 Curieuse (F/c 1916) 259 Comandanie Fspotsi о (I/-) 301 Coolbaugh (USA/1943) 136 Coverley (GB/1941) 66 Curlew (GB/1917) 10 Comandanie Fai di Bruno I 1939 Conner (USA/1943) 139 Covington USA 1943) 149 Currier (USA/1943) 137 305 Cooper (USA/1944) 132 Cowdray (GB/1941) 46 Currituck (USA/1943) 157 Comandanie Fiorello (I/-) 301 Coos Bay (USA/1942) 157 Cowell (USA/1918) 94 Curiatone (1/1922) 287 Comandanie Fontana (I/-) 301 Cootamundra (GB/1942) 65 Cowell (USA/1943) 130 Curtis W Howard (USA/1943) 139 Comandanie Giannaitasio (I/-) 301 Copahcc (USA/1941) 108 Cowes Castle (GB/-) 63 Curtiss USA 1940) 157 Comandanie Giobbe (I/-) 301 Copinsay (GB/1940) 66 Cowichan (G В 1940) 64 Curzon (GB/1943) 61 Comandanie Giorgis (I/-) 301 Copperc ff(GB/!944) 63 Cowie (USA/1941) 129 Cushing USA/I9I5) 93 Comandanie Marg tt ni (1/-) 301 Coquette (GB/1943) 65 Cowling Castle (GB/-) 63 Cushing (USA/1935) 125 Comandanie Milano (I/-) 301 Coquitlam (GB/1944) 72 Cowpens (USA/1943) 105 Cushing (USA/1943) 131 Comandanie Novara I/-) 301 Coral Sea (USA/1946) 106 Cowra (GB/1943) 65 Cusk (USA/1945) 146 Comandanie Rodocanaccht I/-) 301 Corallo(l/I936) 309 Cowslip (GB/1941) 62 Custer (USA/c 1943) 159 Comandanie Roscana I ) 301 Corazziere (1/1909) 286 Crag (USA/1943) 151 Cutlass (GB/1946) 44 Comandanie Ruia (I/-) 301 Corazziere (1/1938) 301 Cranbrook (GB/1943) 72 Cutlass (USA/1944) 147 Comber (USA/-) 147 Corbesier (USA/1944) 138 Crane (GB/1942) 57 Cuttack (GB/1943) 65 Comet (GB/1931) 38 Corbrae(GB/l9l2) 85 Crane (USA/1918) 94 Cuttlefish (USA/1933) 143 Comet (GB/1944) 43 Corbum (GB/1936) 85 Cranstoun (GB/1943) 61 Cuyahoga (USA/1927) 166 Comfrey (GB/1942) 63 Cordelia (GB/I9I4) 10 Craonne (F/1919) 259 Cyane (USA/1934) 166 Comma alant Bory(F/l9l2) 258 Cordoba(А/1911) 419 Craonne F 1940) 277 Cvbele (GB/1944) 85 Commandant Во у F 1939) 277 Core (USA/1942) 108 Craven (USA/1918) 93 Cyclamen (С В 1916) 13 Commandant Delage F 1939 277 Coreopsis (GB/1940) 62 Craven (USA/1937) 126 Cycla men (G В/1940) 62 Commandant D£troyer(F/194l) 277 Corfe Castle (GB/-) 63 Crawford USA/1927) 166 Cyclone (F/1925) 269 Commandant Dotnine F 1939) 277 Corfield (GB/1937) 85 Cread (USA/1944) 161 Cygnet (GB/1931) 38 Commandant Drogou F 1941) 277 Corfu (GB/1931) 82 Creamer (USA/1944) 135 Cygnet (GB/1942) 57 Commandant Duboc F 1939) 277 Coriander (GB/1941) 62 Creddock (USA/1944) 151 Cyprus GB 1936) 84 Commandant I.ucas(F/l9l4) 258 Corinthian (GB/1938) 83 Crenshaw (USA/r 1943) 160 Cyrus (GB/1944) 85 Commandant Riviere (F/1912) 258 Coriolanus (GB/1940) 66 Creole (GB/1945) 43 Czajka (Pl/extant 1922) 349 Commandant Rtviire F 1939) 277 Cormorano (I 1942) 317 , Crescent (GB/1931) 38 Cza)ka(P1/cl936) 351 Commandant Teste (F/1929) 261 Commencement Bay (USA/1944) 111 Corn :rake I 1942) Cornel (GB/1942) 67 63 Crescent (GB/1944) Crested Eagle GB 1935) 43 84 Czap!a(PUcl936) 351 Comodoro Manure A/1891) 419 Comelic F 1913) 258 Crcvalle (USA/1943) 145 D'Entrecasteaux (F/1931) 276 Comodoro Py (A/1891) 419 Cornelio Silla (I/1941) 297 Criccieth Castle (GB ) 63 D’Ibervtllc(F/l934) 276 Comorin С В 1924) 82 Cornet Cas le (GB/-) 63 Crisalide (1/1947) 317 Dabchick GB/1943) 66 Comox (GB/1938) 65 Cornflower (GB/1916) 13 Crispin (GB/1935) 83 Dace (USA/1943) 145 Compel (USA/1943) 151 Cornwall (GB/1926) 26 Crispin (GB/1945) 43 Dacia (Ro/extant 1922) 362 Competent (USA/1943) 150 Cornwallis GB 1917) 13 Crittenden (USA/c 1943) 160 Dacres (GB/1943) 61 Compton (USA/1944) 132 Coronado (USA/1943) 148 Croaker (USA/1943) 145 Dade (USA/c 1943) 159 Comstock USA 1945) 161 Coronation (GB/1902) 84 Croaten (USA/1942) 108 Daerwood (GB/1943) 72 Comus GB 1914) 10 Coronel (G/cl938) 248 Crockett (USA/c 1943) 160 Daffodil (GB/1915) 13 Comus (GB/1945) 43 Coronel Bologncs Pu/1906 423 Crocus (GB/1915) 13 Daffodil (GB/1917) 73 Concise (USA/1943) 151 Corporal (USA/1945) 146 Crocus (GB/1940) 62 Dafm (Gr/1913) 404 Concord GB 1916 10 Corpus Christie USA 1943) 148 Croix de Lorraine F 1943) 277 Daga (1/1943) 303 Concord (USA/1921) 93 Corregidor (USA/1943) 109 Cromarty (GB/1941) 64 Dagab ir 1/1936) 309 Coo ord (GB/1945) 43 Corricntes (A?1896) 419 Cromer (GB/1940) 64 Dagger (GB/-) 44 Condamine G В/1944) 60 Corrientes (A/1937) 420 Cromer Castle (GB/-) 63 Dague(F/l944) 278 Condi(F/I90I) 257 Corry (USA/1921) 95 Cromo(I/-) 310 Dahlgren (USA/1918) 94 Condorcet (F 1909) 257 Corty(USA/194l) 128 Cromwe 1 (GB/1945) 43 Dahlia (GB/1915) 13 Condouriotis Gr 1931) 405 Corry (USA/1945) 133 Cronin (USA/1944) 137 Dahlia (GB/1940) 62 Cone (USA/1945) 134 Corsair (USA/1946) 147 Croomc (GB/1941) 46 Dainty (GB/1932) 38 Conficnza (1/1920) 287 Corsaro(G/l942) 254 Crosby (USA/1918) 94 Dainty (GB/1950) 45 Conger (USA/1944) 147 Corsaro (1/1941) 301 Crostey (USA/1944) 161 Daito (J/1944) 206 Conklin (USA/1944) 138 Corson (USA/1944) 157 Cross (USA/1944) 138 Dakins (GB/1943) 61 Conn (GB/1943) 61 Cortellazzo (I/1917) 287 Crossbow (GB/1945) 44 Dale (USA/1919) 95 Conner (US А/1917) 93 Cortland (USA* 1943) 160 Crouter (USA/1943) 135 Dale (USA/1935) 125 Conner (USA/1942) 131 Corunna (GB/1945) 44 Crowley (USA/1943) 135 Dale W Peterson (USA/1943) 140 Connolly USA/1944) 135 Corvina (Po/r 1941) 398 Crowhn (GB/1943) 66 Dallas (USA/1919) 94 Conquerante (F/I9I7) 259 Corvina (USA/1943) 145 Crown (GB/1945) 43 Dallas (USA/-) 123 Conqueror GB 1911) 84,85 Corvus (USA*I943) 160 Crowninshield (USA/1919) 94 Dalmacija (Yu/extant 1922) 357 Conqueror (GB/-) 16 Cosby (GB/1943) 61 Croziers (GB/1944) 43 Dalnevostochnoi Komsomolec Conquest (GB/1915) 10 Cosmo Garda (Sp/1917) 399 Cruise (USA/1943) 151 (USSR/exunt 1922) 324 Conrad (PV1918) 349 Cossack (GB/1937) 40 Crusader (GB/1931) 38 Dalrymple (GB/1945) 61 Con vie Generate I juzzi (J/I939) 306 Cossack (GB/1944) 43 Crusader (GB/1944) 43 Daly (USA/1942) 130 Contort (GB/1944) 43 Costanzo Ciano (I/-) 297 Crystal (GB/1945) 43 Damao (Po/c 1925) 397 Constance (GB/1915) 10 Cotillion (GB/1940) 66 Csobanc(Hu/extant 1922) 355 Damato (USA/1945) 134 432
Dantun M Cummings (USA/1944) Delfinen (Sw/1914) Delfinen (Sw/1934) 370 373 Diaspro (I/1936) Dickens USA/ 1943) 309 160 Drach(Tu/l905) Dragen (Dk/1929) 407 383 136 Datnpier (GB/1945) 61 Delfino(Ii 1930) 308 Dickerson USA/1919) 94 Dragon (F/1944) 278 Damsay (GB/1942^ 66 Delfinul (Ro/1930) 361 D derot(F/1909) 257 Dragon (GB/1917) 10 Daiiac<(F/l927) 273 Delhi (GB/1918) 10 Dido (GB/1939) 33 Dragon (Р1/1917) 349 Danae (GB/1918) 10 Delight (GB/1932) 38 Diether v >n Roeder G 1937) 233 Dragone(l 1943) 303 Danae (GB/-) 45 Delight (GB, 1950) 45 DetdeOctubre(Cu/19ll) 4?4 Dragonet (USA/1943) 145 Da naide (1/1942) 317 Delight (GB/-) 45 Digby GB/1942) 64 Dragonfly (GB/1938) 79 D.mdolo (1/1937) 305 Deligny (F/1917) 258 Dili Po/extani 1922) 396 Drake (USA/1944) 151 Dane (USA/r 1943) )60 Deloraine (GB/1941) 65 Diligence (USA/1927) 166 Draken (Sw/1926) 373 Daniel (USA/1943) 140 Delphinium (GB/1915) 13 Diligente (F/H9I6) 259 Draug(No/1908) 378 Daniel A Joy (USA/1944) 137 Delphinium (GB/1940) 62 Dinaira (Yu/c 1936) 359 Drava (Yu/cxlant 1922) 357 Daniel T Griffin (USA/1943) 136 Delphy (USA/1918) 95 Dio (Po/r 1925) 397 Drayton USA/1910) 93 Daniele Manin (I/192 5 298 Delta (Es/extant 1922) 353 Dtodon USA/1945) 146 Drayton USA/1936) 125 Dannebrog (Dk/1879) 383 Derrurhisa (Tu/1941) 407 Diomede (GB/1919) 10 Drew (USA/ 1943) 160 Dame Alighieri I 1910) 284 Demon GBI-) 45 Dione USA/1934) 166 Drexler USA 1944) 132 Dao(Po/1934) 397 Dempsey (USA/1943) 135 Dionne (USA/1943) 135 Dnadc(l/I942) 317 Daphne (Dk/1925) 383 Denbigh Castle (GB/1944) 63 Dtphda (USA/r 1943) 160 Dnstig (No/1898) 378 Djphn6(F/l9l5) 258 Denizkusu (Tu/cl926) 408 Dipl ma (USA/1944) 151 Dnsugheten Sw 1900) 368 Daphne (USA/1932) 166 Dennis (USA/1943) 138 Dipper (USA/1 >44) 151 Driver (USA/1944) 151 Darby (USA/1943) 136 Dennis J Buckley (USA/1944) 133 Dirk (GB/-) 44 D bak (No/?) 381 Dardanclli (1/1925) 317 Dennis J Buckley (USA/-) 138 Discovery (GB 1929) 83 Drott rung Vittoria (Sw/1917) 368 Dardo(l/I930) 299 Density (USA/1944) 151 Disdain (USA/1944) 151 Drski (Bu/1907) 363 Datfcd (Eg/1925) 409 Dent (USA/1918) 94 Dittany (GB/1942) 63 Dram (USA/1941) 145 Daring (GB/1932) 38 Dentice (1/-) 310 Dtx (USA/1927) 166 Dramhellcr (GB/1941) 62 Daring (GB/1949) 45 Den uda (USA/1944) 146 D xrmide F 1940 262 Drummond (A/c 1936) 421 Darke (USA/r 1943) 160 Denver (USA/1902) 93 D)ampca(Ne/r 1940) 394 Drammondvilie GB/1941) 64 Dart (GB/1942) 58 Denver (USA/1942) 119 Djember (Nc/rl940) 394 Drury (GB/1943) 61 Darter (USA/1943) 145 Deoda (GB/1940) 66 D>erv(No/|897) 378 Dryadcn (Dk/1926) 383 Dartmouth (GB/1910) 10 Dcodoro (Br/1898) 416 Diombangh (Ne/r 1940) 394 Du Chaffault(F/19l8) 259 Das (Ne/1875) 388 Deptford GB 1935) 56 Dobler (USA/19421 135 DuCou6dtc (F/1919) 259 Dasher (GB/1941) 25 Derby Haven (GB/1944) 60 Dochet (GB/1942) 66 Du Page (USA/c 1943) 159 Dashicll (USA/1943) 131 Derbyshire (G В 1935) 82 Dogan (Tu/c 1926) 408 Duane (USA/1936) 165 Dauntless (GB/1918) 10 Derg (GB/1943) 58 Dogfish (USA/1945) 146 Dubbo (GB/1942) 65 Dauphin (F/1925) 272 Dervish (GB/-) 45 Doherty USA/1942) 135 Dublin (GB/1912) 10 Dauphin (GB/1940) 62 Derwent (GB/1941) 46 Dolf in(Ne/i942) 392 Dubourdieu ( F/1918) 259 Dauphin (USA/< 1943) 159 Derwentdalc (GB/1941) 74 Dolphin (USA/1932) 142 Dubrovmk (Yu/1931) 357 Davenport (USA/1943) 149 Des Gencys (I/1928) 307 Domenico Millelire(!/I927) 304 Duchess (GB/1932) 38 David W Taylor (USA/1942) 130 Des Moines (USA/1902) 93 Domett (GB/1941) 61 Duchcs*(GB/195l) 45 Davis (USA/I9I6) 93 Des Moines (USA/1946) 123 Dominica (GB/1943) 62 Duchess of Fife GB 1903) 84 Davis (USA/ I93S) 127 Desai x (F/1901) 257 Don(USSR/l934) 341 Duchess of Rothesay GB 1894) 84 Davison (USA/1942) 129 Dcsaix(F/l936) 269 Don О Woods (USA/1944) 161 Duckworth (GB/1943) 61 Dau son (GB/1941) 62 Design (USA/1944) 151 Donald W Wolf (USA/1944) 161 Dudley Castle (GB/-) 63 Dawson (USA/r 1943) 160 Desire (GB/-) 45 Donaldson USA/1943) 135 Duff (GB/1943) 61 Day (USA/1943) 137 Desna (USSR'1915) 323 Donau(G/192l) 252 Duffy (USA/1943) 135 Dayton (USA/1943) 119 Despatch (GB/1919) 10 Doneff USA/1942) 135 Dufilho (USA/1944) 138 Dayton (USA/1944) 120 Desperate (GB/-) 45 Donnell (USA/1943) 136 Dugong (USA/-) 146 De Grasse (171946) 266 Dessie(l/I936) 309 Donner (USA/1945) 161 Duguay Trouin(T 1923) 262 IX- Haven (USA/1942) 130 Detroit (USA/1922) 93 Donosan GB/1943) 72 Duiveland (Ne/cl943) 394 De Haven (USA/1944) 132 Deuel (USA/r 1943) 160 IXxsnba GB/1919) 84 Duke of Wellington (GB/1935) 73 De Long (USA/1943) 137 Deutschland (G/1931) 227 Dorado (Sp/r 1910) 400 Duke of York (GB/1940) 15 De Ruyter (Ne/1935) 388 Devastator (USA/1943) 150 Dorado (USA/1943) 145 Duluth (USA/1944) 120 De Zeven Provincien (Ne/1909) 386 Deveron (GB/1942) 58 Dorado (USA/-) 147 Dulverton (GB 1941) 46 De Zeven Provincien (Ne) 944 388 Device (USA/1944) 151 Doran (USA/1941) 129 Dumbarton Castle GB/15M3) 63 Deane (GB/1943) 61 Devilfish (USA/1943) 145 Dons (F/1927) 273 Dumlupy nar (Tu/1931) 407 Dearborn (USA/1943) 148 Devi res Castle (GB/-) 63 Dons (F/1944) 276 Dumont D'Urville F 1918 259 Decatur (USA/1921) 95 Dcvonia (GB/1905) 84 Dornoch (GB/1942) 64 Dumont D Urville(F/l93l) 276 Deccan (GB/1944) 64 Devonshire (GR/1927) 27 Dororesa (USSR/1924) 340 Dunbar GB/1941) 64 Decker (USA/1942) 135 Devosa (USA/c 1943) 160 Dorsetshire (GB/1929) 28 Duncan (GB/1932) 38 Decoy (GB/1932) 38 Dcwdalc (GB/1941) 74 Dorses (USA 1918) 94 Duncan (US А/1913) 93 Decoy (GR/1949) 45 Dewev (USA/1934) 125 Dortch (USA/1943) 131 Duncan (USA/1942) 128 Decoy (GB/-) 45 Dextrous (USA/1943) 151 Dotterel (USA/1944) 151 Duncan USA 1944) 134 Dedaigncusc (F/r 1916) 259 Dhyfe Casilc (GB/-) 63 Douglas (GB/1918) II Duncton (GB/1941) 67 DcJak.(Sp/l90l) 403 Dhnnbu S 1938) 410 Douglas A Munro(USA/l944) 138 Dundas GB 1941 62 IX-ede (USA/1943) 135 Diablo(USA/l944) 147 Douglas H Fox (USA/1944) 132 Dundee GB/1932) 56 Defence (GB/1944) 35 Diachenko (USA/1944) 161 Douglas L Howard iUSA/1943) 140 Dunedin (GB/1918) 10 Defender (GB/1932) 38 Diadem (GB/1942) 35 Dour (USA/1944) 151 Dunkerque (F/1935) 259 Defender (GB/1950) 45 Diamant(F/l933) 274 Dourada (Po/c 1941) 398 Dunkery (GB/1941) 67 Defense (USA/1943) 150 Di imanle(I/I933) 309 Douro(Po/I9l3) 396 Dunkirk (GB/1945) 44 Deft (USA/1943) 151 Diamantina (GB/1944) 60 Douro(Po/l932) 397 Dunlap (USA/1936) 126 Dehorter (F/I9I2) 258 Diamond (GB/1932) 38 Douro(Pu/l93S) 397 Dunlin (USA/1943) 151 Dckabrist (USSR/1928) 332 Diamond (GB/1950) 45 Douwe Aukes (Nc/1922) 388 Dunottar Castle (GB/1936) 82 Delage (F/19I8) 258 Diana (Dk/1916) 383 Dover Castle (GB/-) 63 Dunster Castle GB/-) 63 Delbert W I lalsey (USA) 1944) 135 Diana (GB/1932) 38 Doves (GR/1943) 58 Dunvegan GB/1940) 62 Delegate (USA/1943) 151 Diana (GB/1952) 45 Downes (USA 1913 93 Dunver (GB/1942) 59 Deffim(Po/l934) 397 Diana (GB/-) 45 Downes (USA/1936) 125 Duperre(F/19IS) 259 Delfin (Gr/c 1911) 405 Diana 1/194 316 Doyen (USA/1919) 95 Dupleix (F/1930) 263 Delfin (Gr/1944) 406 Diane (F/1930) 275 Doy en (USA/1942) 159 Duplin (USA/c 1943) 160 Delfin (Nitfl 896) 378 Dianella (GB/1940) 62 Doyle (USA/1942) 128 Dupont (USA/1918) 94 Delfin (Sp/cl9IO) 400 Diano (I/-) 317 Doyle C Barnes (USA/1944) 137 Dupuy de Lome (F/1915) 258 Delfinen (DWI9I3) 382 Dianihus (GB/1940) 62 Draak (Nc/r 1906) 387 Duquesne (F/1925) 263 433
Durango (Мсх/с 1934) 415 El Amir Faroug (Eg/1926) 409 Enoki (J/1945) 196 Ettrick (GB/1943) 58 Duram (USA/1943) 140 El Amir» Fawzia Eg/1929) 409 EnncoCosenz (I/1919) 287 Eugene (USA/1943) 148 Durazzo (I/19’6) 317 El Djezair(F/1934) 279 Enrico Tazzoli(I/1935) 305 Eugene A Greene (USA/1945) 133 Durban (GB 1919) 10 El Hind (GB/1938) 72 Enrico Toti (1/1928) 304 Eugene A Greene (USA/-) 138 Durbo (1/1938) 309 El Hoot (Eg/?) 409 Enright (USA/1943) 136 Eugene E Elmore (USA/1943) 137 Durik (USA/1943) 136 El Kantara (F/1932) 279 Ensay (GB/1942) 66 Eugenio di Savoia (1/1935) 295 Durmitor (Yu/r 1936) 359 Fl Mansour (F/1933) 279 Enseigne Ballande (F/1942) 277 Euler (F/1912) 258 Durres(AI/19’6) 424 El Paso (USA/1943) 148 Enseigne Gabolde (F/1921) 258 Eundue (1/1944) 317 Dutchess (USA/r 1943) 159 El Plata (A/1874) 419 Enseigne Henry t. F/1911) 258 Euro (1/1900) 286 Duxbury Bay (USA/1944) 157 Elan(F/l938) 277 Enseignc Roux iF/1915) 258 Euro (1/1927) 299 Dwarf (GB/extant 1922) 13 Eland Dubois (Ne/1936) 394 En emedor USA/1944) 146 Eurotas Gr 1884) 405 Dyer USA/1918) 93 Elcano(USA/l884) 96 Enterpnse GB 19 9 10 Euryalus GB/1939) 33 Dyess (USA/1945) 134 Elden (USA/1943) 135 Enterprise (USA/1936) 102 Eurydice(F/1927) 273 Dykaren (Sw/1940) 374 Eldorado USA/1943) 159 Ento(J/19l7) 177 Euterpe(l/I942) 317 Dyson (USA/1942) 131 FJdndge (USA/1943) 139 Entre Rios (A/1896) 419 Evangelista Torricelli (1/1934) 3CM Dzhalita (USSR/1926) 340 Electra (GB/1934) 38 Entre Rios(A/1937) 420 Evans (USA/1918) 93 Dzherzinskiy Elisabeta (Ro/exiani 1922) 361 Eolo(Sp/l939) 402 Evans (USA/1942) 130 (USSR/exiant 1922) 324 Elkheart (USA/c 1943) 160 Epcrnay (F/1919) 259 Evansville (USA/1943) 149 Dzherzinskiy (USSR/1934) 339 FJIet (USA/1938) 127 Epervier (F/1931) 268 Evarts (USA/1942) 135 Dzik (Pl/1942) 350 Elliot (USA/1918) 94 Epinal (F/I9I9) 259 EveiM (F/c 1916) 259 Eager (USA/1944) 151 Ellis (USA/1918) Hlyson (USA/1941) 94 128 Epperson (USA/1945) Epping Forest (USA/1943) 133 161 Evcnlode (GB/1942) Event (USA/-) 58 151 Eagle (GB/1918) 10 Elm (GB/1939) 66 Equity (USA/-) 151 Everett (USA/1945) 148 Eagle (GB/1946) 21 Elm Lake (GB/1945) 72 E ben (USA/1943) 131 Everett F Larson (USA/1545) 133 Eagle (GB/-) 21 Klmore (USA/c 1943) 159 Erebus (GB/I9I6) 9 Everett F Larson (USA/-) 138 Earhan (USA/1945) 161 Elph nstonc (GB/1917) 13 Erglis (La/cxtant 1922) 353 Eve sole (USA/1944) 138 Earl К Olsen iUSA/1944) 139 Elpidiofor (USSR/exiant 1922) 324 Enca (GB/1940) 62 Fversole(USA/l946) 133 Earl V Johnson (USA? 1943) 137 Elsass (G/1903) 222 Ench Giese (G/1937) 233 Evcrtsen (Nc/1926) 389 Earle (USA/1941) 129 Elusive (USA/1944) 151 Erich Koellner(G/1937) 233 Ewing (USA/1927) 166 Earle В Hall (USA/1944) 161 Ely (USA/1944) 135 Erich Steinbrinck (G/1936) 233 Exe (GB/1942) 58 Earraid (GB/1941) 66 Etnanuelle Ftlihcrto Dura d'Aosta Ericsson (USA/1914) 93 Execute (USA. 1944) 151 Eastbourne (GB/1940) 64 CI/1934) 295 Ericsson (USA/1940) 128 Exeter (GB/1929) 29 Eastland (USA/r 1943) 160 Emanuele Pessagno (1/1929) 299 Eridano(l/I943) 303 Exmoor (GB/1940) 45 Easton (GB/1942) 46 Emanuele Russo(1922) 288 Eridanus (Ne/eatant 1922) 395 Exmoor (GB/1941) 46 Eastview (GB/1943) 59 Embattle (USA/1944) 151 Eridge (GB/1940) 46 Exmouth (GB/1934) 39 Easiway (GB/1943) 74 Emberlcy (GB/cl941) 72 Erie (USA/1936) 155 Express (GB/1934) 38 Eastwind (USA/1943) 166 Embroil (USA/-) 151 Erilanc (Es/extant 1922) 353 Eyebnghl (GB/1940) 62 Eaton (USA/1942) Eberle (USA/1940) 130 128 Emden (G/1925) Emerald (GB/1920) 229 10 Er skay (GB/1942) Eritrea (1/1936) 66 316 Faidi Bruno(I/1916) 289 Ebert (USA/1944) 139 Emeraude (F/-) 276 Ermanno Carlotto (I/1918) 288 Facility (USA/1944) 151 Echo(GB/l934) 38 Emery (USA/1943) 135 Erne (GB/1939) 57 Fair (USA/1943) 135 Ediuca (GB/1942) 65 Emile Benin (F/1933) 265 Ernest G Small (L SA/1945) 134 Fairfax (USA/1917) 94 Eclipse (GB/1934) 38 Emmons (USA/1941) 128 Ernest Renan F/1906) 257 Faisal I (1г/1923) 425 Eday (GB/1941) 66 Emo (1/1938) 305 Ernesto Giovannini (1/1922) 288 Fak Fak (Ne/c 1940) 394 Edda(Sw/188l) 370 Fmperador Carlos V (Sp 1895) 399 Erwin Wassner(GZI938) 252 Fal (GB/1942) 58 Edgar (GB/-) 36 Emperor (GB/1942) 26 Escanaba (USA/1932) 166 Falange (Sp/1932) 404 EdgarG Chasc(USA/l942) 135 Emperor of India (GB/1906) 84 Escanaba (USA/1945) 165 Falco (I/1919) 286 Edgar Quinet (F/1908) 257 Emperor of India (GB/1913) 7 Escaflo Sp/1932 401 Falcon (GB/I93I) 78 Edgecombe (USA/r 1943) 160 Empire Broadsword (GB/1943) ~ 72_ Escapade (GB/1934) 38 Falgout (USA/1943) 140 Edgehill (GB/1928) 84 Empire ChamuaniGB/1942) 74 Escaut (F/1918) 259 Falk (No/1902) 374 Edinburgh (GB/1938) 32 Empire Elaine (GB/1942) 74 Fscolar (USA/1943) 145 Falk (No/c 1943) 380 Edison (USA/1940) 128 Empire Javelin (GB/1943) 72 Escort (GB/1934) 38 Falke (G/1926) 237 Edmonds (USA/1943) 138 Empire MacAlpine (GB/1942) 26 Esja(lc/I939) 425 Fall River (USA/1944) 121 Edmundston GB/1941) 62 Empire MacAndrew (GB/1943) 26 Esk (GB/1934) 38 Fallon (USA/c 1943) 160 Edofiard(Sw/1933) 376 Empire MacCabe (GB/1943) 26 Eskdale (GB/1942) 46 Falmou h(GB/1932) 56 Edsall (USA/I920) 94 Empire MacCallutn GB/1943) 26 Eskimo(GB/1937) 40 Falster(Dk/1873) 383 Edsall (USA/1942) 140 Fmpire MacColl (GB/1943) 26 Esmera da Cc 1896) 422 Fame (GB/1934) 38 F.duarto Dato(Sp/l923) 400 Empire MacDermott (GB/1944) 26 Esmeralda (Се/1944) 423 Fancy (GB/1943) 65 Edward C Daly (USA/1942) 135 Empire Mackay (GB/1943) 26 Espada (USA/-) 146 Fancy (USA/1944) 151 Edward H Allen (USA/1943) 138 Empire MacKcndnck (GB/1943) 26 Espadilha (Pole 1941) 398 Fandango (GB/1940) 66 Edwards(USA/I9l8) 95 Empire MacMahon(GB/1943) 26 Espadon(F/1926) 272 Fanfare (F/1907) 258 Edwards (USA/1942) 129 Empire MacRae GB/1943) 26 Espana(Sp/1912) 399 Fanning (USA/1912) 93 Edwin A Howard (USA/1944) 137 Emporia (USA/1943) 148 Espadarte (Po/1912) 396 Fanning (USA/1936) 126 Eel (USA/-) 146 Emporte (F/c 1916) 259 Espardane Po/1934) 397 Fane (Dk/I94l) 384 Eendracht (Ne/1950) 389 Empress (GB/1942) 26 Esperance Bay (GB/1922) 82 Fanshaw Bay (USA/1943) 109 Effingham (GB/1921) 10 Enard Bay (GB/1944) 61 Espero (1/1904) 286 Fantassin (F/I944) 278 Effingham (USA/c 1943) 160 Enchantress (GB/1934) 57 Espero (1/1927) 299 Fantome (GB/1942) 65 Egeland (No/?) 381 Encounter GB/1934) 38 Espiegle GB/extant 1922) 13 Far* (GB/1941) 66 Egeria (I/-) 317 Endeh (Nc/c 1940) 394 Espicgle (GB/1942) 65 Farenhoh (USA/1921) 95 hggcsford (GB/1942) 46 Endicott (USA/1942) 128 Esqu malt (GB/1941) 64 Farenholt USA/1941) 128 Egi Isay (GB/1942) 66 Engadne (GB/1941) 81 Essex (USA/1942) 104 Farfalla (1/1948) 317 Eglantine (GB/1941) 62 Engageante (F/c 1916) 259 Essex Queen (G В/1897) 84 Fargo (USA/1943) 120 Eglinton (GB/1939) 45 Enggano (Ne/c 1940) 394 Essington (GB/1943) 61 Fargo (USA/1945) 120 Egrcmont Castle (GB/-) 63 England (USA/1943) 136 Esteem (USA/-) 151 Farndale (GB/1940) 46 Egret (GB/1938) 57 English (USA/1944) 132 Esterel (F/1938) 279 Fame (GB/1943) 66 F.hrcnsko d (Sw/1926) 371 Fngstrom (USA/1942) 135 Estes (USA/1943) 159 Farnham Castle (GB/1944) 63 Eichenberger (USA/1943) 136 Enhance (USA/-) 151 Estramadura (Sp/1900) 399 Faro (Pole 1927) 398 Eidsvold (No/1900) 378 Eniwctok (USA/-) III Etna (1/1942) 298 Farquhar (USA/1919) 95 Eisele (USA/1943) 135 Ennerdale (GB/1941) 74 Etorofu (J/1943) 205 Farquhar (USA/1943) 140 Eisner (USA/1943) 139 End(Dk/1941) 384 Etourdi (F/c 1916) 259 Farragut (USA/1918) 95 Ekins (GB/1943) 61 Enoki 0/1918) 175 Ettore Fieramosca 1/1929) 304 Farragut (USA/1934) 125 434
Farsund (No/?) 381 Flounder (USA/1943) 145 Frankford (USA/1942) 128 Gaobard (GB/1945) 44 Fauna (I/1924) 317 Floyd В Parks (USA/1945) 134 Franklin (G В 1937) 63 Gabbiano l1/1942) 317 Fasano (I/1912) 287 Floyds Bay (USA/1945) 157 Franklin (USA/1943) 104 Gabilan (USA/1943) 145 i itaca P 1940) . 398 Fluellen (GB/1940 66 Franklin D Roosevelt Gabriel (GB/-) 65 Fateh (Eg/cxtani 1922) 409 Flusser (USA/1919) 95 (USA/1945) 106 Gad Jen (Sw/1915) 370 Fatiya(Pc/l9l8) 409 Flusser (USA/1935) 125 Francovich (USA/-) 138 Gadila (GB, 1934) 26 Faulknor (GB/1934 39 Flutto (1/1942) 310 Franks (USA/1942) 130 Gad wall (USA/1943) 151 Fauncc USA/19’7) 166 Fly (GB/1942) 65 Fraser (GB/1931) 38 Gael(GB/~) 45 Fayette (USA/c 1943) 159 Flyagin (USSR/c 1935) 345 Fraserburgh (GB/1941) 64 Gafel (USSR/1938) 341 Fazant (Ne/1930) 395 Flying Fish GB 1944) 65 Fratelli Band era I 19 9 307 Gage (USA/c 1943) 160 Fearless (GB/1934) 38 Flying Fish (USA/1941) 145 Fratclli Cairoli I 1914 286 Gainard (USA/1944) 132 Fcberacton (Ve/1940 415 Flyvefisken Dk/19! 1) 382 Fratton (GB/1925) 83 Gairsay (GB/1942) 66 Fechteler (USA/1943) 136 Foca Ц/1937) 305 Frazier (USA/1942) 128 Gak(USSR/1938) 341 Feehtcler (USA/1945) 134 Foca (Polcl9I6) 396 Freccia (I/1930) 299 Gala ry (F/c 1942) 278 Fet Ying (Ca/1895) 412 Foch (F/1929) 263 Fred T Berry (USA/1945) 134 Galatea (GB/1934) 31 Fela nd (USA/1942) 159 1 Oj (USA/1943) 136 Frederick US A 1903) 93 Galatea (1/1933) 309 Felicity (GB/1944) 65 Folaga (1/1942) 317 Frederick C Davis (USA/1943) 140 Galatea (USA/1932) 166 Felipe Camarao Br 1942) 417 Foley (GB/1943) 61 Frederick Funston (USA cl943) 159 Galatee(F/l925) 272 Felixstowe, GB 1941) 64 Folgorc(l/I931) 300 Frederick Lee (USA/1927) 166 Galathea (Dk/1916) 382 Fencer (GB/1942) 25 Folkestone (GB/1930) 56 Fredericton (GB/1941) 62 Caleb (Yu/1918) 357 Fentcc 1 1943) 317 Fomalhout (Ne/1923) 395 Freestone USA/r 1943) 160 Galilei (Sp/1934) 403 I mnel (GB/1940) 62 Fond du Lac USA/r 1943 160 Fregat (USSR/r 1943) 339 Galileo Ferraris (1/1934) 304 Fenns Dk/1915) 383 Foote (USA/1918) 94 Freccia (GB/1940) 62 Galileo Galilei (1/1934) 304 Fergus (GB/1944 63 Foote (USA/1942) 130 Frcijr (Ne/c 1878) 388 Gallant (GB/1935) 39 Fergus (USA/c 1943) 160 I b n F/I928 270 Frei (Ft/1900) 365 Gallant (GB/-) 45 Fernandes Vieira В 942) 417 Ford (USA/1920) 94 Frna(Dk/l938) 384 Gallatin (USA/c 1943) 160 1 eniic (GB/1940) 45 Foreman (USA/1943) 136 Frcmantle(GB 1942) 64 Gallup (USA/1943) 148 Ferraris Sp 19 4 403 Foresight (GB/1934 39 Fremont (USA 1943) 159 Galt GB/1940) 62 F<nro(I -) 310 Forester (GB 1934) 39 French USA’1944) 138 Galteemore (GB/1943) 72 Fessenden (USA* 1943) 140 Forfar (GB/1920) 82 Fresia(Ce/l9I5) 422 Galvani (1/1938) 306 1 etlar (GB/1941) 66 Formidable (G В 1939) 19 Fresnel (F/19’9) 273 Galveston USA/1903) 93 Fiaray (GB/1942) 66 Fortnoe (USA/1944 138 Fresno(USA 1946) 118 Galveston USA 1945) 120 Ftchot (GB/< 1943) 72 Forrest (USA/1941) 128 Fret (Ne/19101 387 Gambia GB/1940) 34 Ficberling (USA/1944) 136 Forrest Hdl (GB/1943) 63 Fridtjof Nansen No/1930) 381 Gambier Bas USA 1943) 109 Fierce (GB/1945) 65 Forrest Royal (USA/1946) 134 Friedrich Eckoldt (G/1937) 233 Gamble (USA/1918) 94 Fiji (GB/1939) 34 Forster USA/1943) 140 Friedrich Ihn 4G/1935) 233 Gananoque (GB/1941) 64 FilippoCorridont I 1930) 308 Foccyth (USA/1944) 149 Friendship (GB,11942) 65 Gandy (USA/1943) 139 1 ilia (GB/1942) 66 Fon Erie(GB/1944) 59 Friso (Ne/1912) 387 Ganekura Bu 363 Fillmore USA/, 1943) 160 Fort Francis (GВ 1943) 65 Friso (Ne/1940) 393 Gangut (USSR/1911) 322 Finback (USA/1941) 145 Fort Mandan (USA/1945) 161 Fnthiof (No/1895) 379 Gangutyec (USSR/19’2) 340 Finch (USA/1943) 140 Fort .Manon (USA/1945) 161 Fritillary (GB/1941) 62 Gamlly (GB/1943) 66 Findhorn (GB/1942) 58 Fort Rannoch(F</1936) 4’5 Frobisher (GB'1920) 10 Gannet (GB/192'7) 78 Finisterre (GB/1944) 44 Fort Snelling (USA/1946 161 Frome (G В 1943) 58 Gansevoort USA/1942 128 Finnegan (USA 1944) 135 Fort William (GB/1941) 64 Frondeur(F/1929) 279 Gantner (USA/1943) 136 Fiodor Mitrofanov (USSR/1941) 340 Fon York (GB/1941 64 Frontenac (GB 1943) 63 Gar (USA/1940) 144 Fiona (GB, 1927) 83 Forth (GB/1938) 80 Frost (USA/1943) 140 Gardenia (GB/1940) 62 lionda 1/1943) 303 Fortify (USA ) 151 Froya (No/1916) 379 Gardiner (GB/1943) 61 Fir (GB/1940) 66 Fo: tunale (I/1942) 303 Frunze (USSR 1940) 328 Gardiners Bay (USA/1944) 157 Fir Lake (GB 1945) 72 Fortune (GB/1934 39 Fry bargcr (USA/1944) 137 Garfield Thomas USA 1943) 139 Fireball (GB,-) 65 Foss (USA/1943) 136 Fu An (Ca/1894) 412 Garibaldi (А/1895) 419 Firedrake GB 934) 39 Foster (GB/ ) 60 Fu Ning (Ca/< 1936) 413 Garibaldi (USSR/1914 323 Fisalia(l/I93l) 309 Fotheringay Castle (GB/-) 63 FuPo(Ca/1940 413 Garland (GB/1935) 39 1 tshguard (GB/19’7) 58 Foudroyant(F/1929) 270 Fu Yu (Ca/1904) 412 Garland (Р1/1935) 349 Fiske (USA/1943) 140 Foudroyant(F/I938) 270 Fubuki(j/I927) 193 Garland (USA/1944) 151 Fiske (USA 1945) 134 Foula (GB/1941) 66 Fucihcre (1/1909) 286 Garltes (GB/1943) 61 Fitch(USA/l94l 128 Foulness | GB 1942) 66 Fuciliere (I 938) 301 Garlopa (USA/-) 146 F’iizroy (GB/1943) 61 Fourgueux(F/1928) 270 Fuday (GB/1944) 66 Garm(No/l9l3) 378 F'iuine (1/1930) 292 Fournier (A/c 1936) 4’1 Fugas (USSR* 1935) 341 Garoet (Ne/c 1940) 394 Fixity (USA/1944) 151 Fowey (GB/1930) 56 Fuji 0/1896) 171 Garpun (USSR/1939) 341 Flaherty (USA/1943) 140 Fowler (USA 1943) 136 Fuji 0/1920) 175 Garrard (USA/c 1943) 160 Flame USA/-) 151 Fox (USA/1919) 94 Fujinami 0/1943) 195 Garnipa (USA/-) 146 Flamingo (GB/1940) 57 Foxglove (GB/1915) 13 Fukuc(J/19433 205 Garth (GB'I94O) 45 Flasher (USA/1943) 145 Foxhound (GB 1934 39 Fullam (USA. 1942) 130 Gary (USA/-) 123 Flatholm (GB/1943) 66 Foxtrot (GB 1940) 66 Fuller (USA/1918) 95 Gascogne (F/ ) 260 Flax (GB/1942) 63 Foylcbank(GB 1930) 84 Fulniinc(l/I93l) 300 Gasconade USA 1943) 160 Flecha (Ро/|9в9) 396 Frament (USA/1943 137 Fulton (F/1919) 258 Gascoyne (GB/1943) 60 Fleetwood (GB/1936) 56 Franc Tireur (F/I944) 278 Fumidsuki (J/1926) 192 Gaspe (GB/1938) 65 Fleming (USA/1943) 135 France (F/I9I2) 257 Fundy (GB/1938) 65 Gates cal (GB/1942) 66 Fletcher (USA 1942) 130 Francesco Crispi (I 1925) 298 Furious (GB* 1916) 17 Gatineau (GB/1934) 39 Fleur de Lys (GB/1940) 62 Francesco Fcrruccio(LI902) 285 Furse (USA/1945) 134 Gatling (USA/1943) 131 Flier (USA/1943) 145 Francesco Nulln (1/1925) 298 Furutaka(j/I925) 187 Gato (USA; 1941) 145 1 lint (GB/1942) 66 Francesco Rismondo (1/1910) 288 Fury (GB/1934) 39 Gauntlet (G В -) 45 Flint (USA/1944) 118 Francesco Rismondo (1/1929) 312 Fury (USA/1940) 156 Gavia (USA/1943) 151 Flint Castle (GB/1943) 63 Francesco Stocco (I/1917) 287 Fushtmi J 1906) 177 Gaviota (Sp/c 1910) 400 Flora (Dk/19’0) 382 F rancis Garnier (F/1912) 258 Fushinii 0/19)9) 212 Gavle(Sw/1940) 372 Flora (I/1942) 317 Francis Garnier (F/1927) 279 Fusilier (GB/1942) 67 Gavotte (GB/1940) 66 Flores (Ne/1925) 392 Francis M Robinson Fusu0/1914) 171 Gavran (Yu/1918) 357 Flores (Mele 1940) 394 (USA/1943) 136 Futanu 0/1929) 211 Gawler (GB/1941) 64 Florian (Br/1899) 416 Francovich (USA/1945) 161 Fuyo(j/I922) 175 Gaydamak (USSR/1905) 323 Fl nda USA 1910) 90 Frank E Evans (USA/1944) 132 Fuyuituki J1944) 195 Gayety (USA/1944) 151 Fiona (GB, 1941) 66 Frank Knox USA 1944) 133 Fylgia (Sw/1905) 369 Gaynier (USA/1943) 139 435
Gayret(Tu/l940) 407 Giovanni dcllc Bande Ncre Goodhue (USA/c 1943) 159 Grenade (GB/1935) 39 Gazelle (F/1939) 277 (1/1930) 293 Goodrich (USA/1945) 133 Grenade (GB/-) 44 Gazzella ll/1942) 317 Giovanni di Verazz-ano (1/1928) 299 Goodson (GB/1943) 61 Grenadier (F/1944) 278 Gearing (USA/1945) 133 Giovanni Nicotera (I/1926) 298 Goodwin (GB/I9I7) 83,84 Grenadier (GB/1942) 67 Gcdeh(Ne/l937) 394 Gipsy (GB/1935) 39 Gor(No/1885) 379 Grenadier (USA/1940) 144 Geelong (GB/1941) 65 Giulio Cesare (I/1911) 284 Goral(Pl/cl917) 348 Grenadier (USA/1944) 147 Geenling (USA/1941) 145 Giulio Germanies (I/1941) 297 Gordyi (USSR/1936) 330 Grenville (GB/1916) 11 Gehlani(Pe/I935) 409 Giuseppe Cesare Abba (I/1915) 286 Gore (GB/1943) 61 Grenville (GB/1935) 40 Geiser (Dk/1892) 382 Giuseppe Dezza (1/1915) 286 Gorgan (Ре/1935) 409 Grenville (GB/1942) 43 Geldcrland (Ne/1898) 387 Giuseppe Finzi (1/1935) 305 Gorgo(l/I942) 310 Gresham (USA/1897) 96 Gemma (1/1936) 309 Giuseppe Garibaldi (1/1936) 296 Gorgon GB/I9I4 9 Grey Fox (GB/1941) 71 Gemma (Nc/extant 1922) 395 Giuseppe la Farina (I 1919) 287 Gorgone(F/l9IS) 258 Grey Goose (GB/1942) 71 Gendreau (USA/1943) 136 Giuseppe la M sa I 1917) 287 Gorizia (I/1930) 292 Grey Owl (GB/1941) 71 General Belgrano A 1896) 419 Giuseppe Miraglia (I/1923) 316 Gorleston (GB/1929) 58 Grey Seal (GB/1941) 71 General Greene (USA/1927) 166 Giuseppe Missori (1/1915) 286 Gorregan (GB/1943) 66 Grey Shark (GB/1941) 71 General Guerrero (Мех/1908) 414 Giuseppe Si лол (I 1916) 287 Goshen (USA/c 1943) 159 Grey Wolf (GB/1941) 71 General Haller (P1/H918) 349 Glace Bay (GB/1944) 59 Gosper (USA/c 1943) 160 Greyhound (GB/1935) 39 General Mob (Sp/1934) 403 Gladiator (USA/1943) 150 Goss (USA/1944) 138 Greyhound (GB/-) 45 General Salom (Ve/1884) 415 Gladio (1/1943) 303 Gossamer (GB/1937) 64 Grib(No/l905) 378 General Sanjurjo (Sp/1933) 403 Gladiolus (GB/1940) 62 Gosselin (USA/1944) 161 Gridley (USA/1918) 94 General Soubleue Ve/1925) 415 Gladstone (GB/1942) 65 Gota (Sw/1889) 368 Gridley(USA/1936) 126 General Urdancta Ve/1925) 415 Glad wyne (US А/1944) 149 Gota Lejon Sw 194 5) 371 Griffin (GB/1935 39 Generate Achille Papa (1/1919) 287 Glaisdale (GB/1942) 46 G6teborg(Sw/l935) 372 Griggs (USA/c 1943) 159 Generate Antonio Canlore Glaive (F/1908) 258 Gotland Sw 1933) 371 Gnlle(G/l934) 253 I/I92I) 287 Glasgow (GB/1909) 10 Gouden Lecuw (Ne/1931) 393 Grillo(I/1943) 317 Generate Antonio Cascino Glasgow (GB/1936) 31 Goulburn (GB/1940) 64 Grilse (GB/1943) 67 1/1922) 287 Glauco (1/1935) 305 Gould (GB/1943) 61 Grimes (USA/c 1943) 1Л0 Generate Antonio Chinolto Gbvkos(Gr/l928) 405 Goo mier(F/1944) 278 Grimsby (GB/1933) 356 (1/1921) 287 Gleaner (GB/1937) 64 Gozo (GB/1943) 365 Grimstad (No/?) 381 Generate Carlo Montanari Gleaves (USA/1939) 128 Gracie Fields (GB/1936) 84 GrindaU (GB/1943) 61 (1/1922) 287 Glen Avon (GB/1912) 84 Gracieuse F 1916) 259 Gnpen Sw 1928 373 Generate Marell Presnnari Glen More (GB/1922) 84 Grado(l/I9l7) 287 Grissee (Nc/c 1940) 394 (1/1921) 287 Glen Usk(GB/l9l4) 84 Grady (USA/1944) 138 Grisslan Sw c 1940) 377 Geneva (USA/r 1943) 160 Glendale (USA/1943) 148 Graemsay (GB/1942) 66 Griswold (USA/1943) 135 Geniere (1/1938) 301 Glenearn (GB/1938) 72 Graf Zeppelin G 1938) 226 Grom (Pl/1936) 349 Genista (GB/1941) 62 Glenelg (GB/1942) 64 Grafton (GB/1935) 39 Grom (USSR/1934) 339 Gentian (GB/1940) 62 Glengyle (GB/1939) 72 Grafton (GB/-) 45 Gromkiy (USSR/1937) 330 Gentry (USA/1944) 137 Glennon (USA/1942) 129 Grafton (USA/c 1943) 159 G ondeur F 1892 258 Georg Thiele (G/1935) 232 Glennon (USA/1945) 134 Gram (GB/1943) 66 Crongo(l/I943) 310 George (USA/1943) 137 Glenroy (GB/1938) 72 Grajau (Br/?) 418 Gronskar Sw 1940) 376 George A Johnson (USA/1944) 137 Glenten(Dk/l933) 383 Grampus (GB/1936) 49 Gronsund (Dk/1883) 383 George E Badger (USA/1920) 94 Glimt (No/1896) 378 Grampus (USA/1940) 144 Groppo (1/1942) 303 George F Davis USA 1944) 137 Gloire(F/l935) 265 Grampus (USA/1944) 147 Groton (USA/1943) 148 George К Mackenzie (USA/1945) Glommen (No/1916) 379 Granat (Sw/1925) 375 Grou (GB/1943) 59 134 Gloriosa (GB/1940) 62 Granatiere (1/1906) 286 Grouper (USA/1941) 145 George M Campbell (USA/1944) 139 Glorious (GB/1916) 9,18 Granatiere (1/1938) 301 Grove (GB/1941) 46 George W Ingram (USA/1943) 136 Glory (GB/1943) 22 Granby (GB/1941) 64 Groves (USA/1944) 138 Georges I-eygues F 1936) 265 Gloucester (GB/1937) 32 Grand Forks (USA/1943) 148 Growler (USA/1941) 145 Georgetown (GB/1918) 47 Gloucester (USA/1943) 148 Grand bland (USA/1944) 148 Groza (USSR/1930) 339 Georgian (GB/1941) 64 Glowworm (GB/1935) 39 Grand Rapids (USA/1943) 148 Grozny! USSR/1936) 330 Gerald ton (GB/1941) 65 Glowworm GB/ ) 45 Grandmere (GB/1941) 64 Grozyashchiy (USSR/1936) 330 Geranium (GB/1915) 13 Gloxinia (GB/1940) 62 Granit(F/cl9l8) 259 Gru (I/1942) 317 Geranium (GB 1940) 62 Glynn (USA/r 1943) 160 Gran to (1/1941) 310 Gruinard (GB/1942) 66 Gerard Callcnburgh (Ne/1939) 390 Gneisenau (G/1936) 225 Granville (A/c 1936) 421 Grundy (USA/c 1943) 159 Gerda (Sw/1872) 368 Gnevnyi (USSR/1936) 330 Granville (USA/c 1943) 160 Grunion (USA/1941) 145 Gerfaut (F/1930) 268 Goatfell(GR/l934) 84 Graph (GB/1941) 55 Gruno(Ne/19l3) 487 Ghcrardi (USA/1942) 129 Goathland (GB/1942) 46 Grassholm GB 194 3) 66 Gruz(USSR/cxtant 1922) 324 Ghibli 1/1943) 303 Godavari (GB/1943) 57 Grasshopper (GB/1939) 79 Gruz (USSR/1936) 341 Giacinto Carini 1/1917) 287 Goderich (GB/1941) 64 Grauna (Br/?) 418 Gryf (Pl/1936) 350 Giocomo Medici I 1918) 287 Godetia (GB/1916) 13 Gravelines (GB/1944) 44 Gryf (USSR/1940) 339 Giacomo Nani I/ 918 288 Godetia (GB/1940) 62 Gravina(Sp/l931) 401 Guacolda Ce 1915) 422 Giada (1/1941) 310 Godetia (GB/1941) 62 Grayback (USA/1941) 144 Guadalcanal (USA/1943) 109 Giang Bee GB/1908) 83 Godolo (Hu/-) 355 Graylag (USA/1943) 151 Guadalete (Sp/1944) 403 Gibraltar GB/ ) 21 Goff (USA/1920) 95 Grayling (GB/1942) 67 Guadiana P 1911) 396 Gier(Ne/l942) 395 Goffredo Matneli (1/1926) 307 Grayling (USA/1940) 144 Guaiba (Br/?) 418 Giffard (GB/1943) 63 Goiana (Br/?) 418 Grayling (USA/-) 147 Guajara (Br/?) 418 Gift(GB/~) 45 Gokoku Maru (J/c 1941) 215 Grayson (USА/1940) 128 Guala(Ce/19IS) 422 Gilbert Islands (USA/1944) III Golden Eagle (GB/1909) 84 Grecale (1/1934) 300 Guam (USA/1943) 122 Gillespie (USA/1942) 128 Golden Fleece (GB/1944) 65 Greene (USA/1918) 95 Guanajuato Mex/1934 414 Gillette (USA/1943) 137 Gddring (USA/ ) 146 Greenfish (USA/1945) 146 Guaporc (Br/?) 418 GtUiam (USA/r 1943) 160 Gddsborough (USA/1918) 94 Greenhalgh (Br/1941) 417 Guardfish (USA/1942) 145 Gilligan (USA/1944) 138 Golet (USA/1943) 146 Greenock (GB/1942) 64 Guardiamarina Contreras Gillis (USA/1919) 95 Golginho (Pofc 1916) 396 Greensboro (USA/1944) 149 (Ce/cl896) 422 Gillstonc (GB/1943) 66 Golginho (Po/1934) 397 Greenwich Bay (USA/1945) 157 Guardiamarine Riquelme Gilmer (USA/1919) 94 Goncalo Velho(Po/1932) 397 Greenwood (USA/1943) 137 (Ce/1896) 422 Gilmore (USA/1942) 135 Goncalves Zarco (PoJ 1932) 397 Greer (USA/1918) 94 Guardian (GB/1932) 79 Giorgios Averoff (Gr/1910) 404 Gondar (1/1937) 309 Gregory (USA/1918) 93 Guardsman (GB/1944) 67 Giosue Carducd (I/1936) 300 Gondwhana (GB/ ) 65 Gregory (USA/1944) 132 Guavina USA/1943) 146 Giovanni Acerbi (1/1917) 287 Gonzalez Lopez (Sp/1935) 403 Greif (G/1926) 237 Gudgeon (USA/1941) 144 Giovanni Bausan 1/1928) 307 Good Hope (GB/1944) 60 Greiner (USA/1943) 135 Guelph (GB/1943) 63 Giovanni da Procida 1/1928) 307 Goodall (GB/1943) 61 Gremyashchiy USSR/1937) 330 Guepard (F/1928) 267 436
Guernsey (GR/-) 45 Halford (USA/1942) 130 Harusame 0/1935) 194 Hecla (GB/1940) 81 Guest (USA/1942) 130 Halibut (USA/1941) 145 Harutsuki J 1944) 195 Hector (GB/1924) 82 Gucydon F1899) 257 Halifax (GB/1941) 62 Harvester (GB/1939) 40 Hcdtngham Castle (GB/1944) 63 Guglielmo MarconiJI 939 306 Hall (USA/1942) 131 Harveston (USA/1943) 140 Heed (USA/1942) 150 Guglielmo Pepe I 914 286 Halladale (GB/1944) 58 Harwich (GB/1942) 64 Heermann (USA/1942) 130 Gugliemotu (1/1939) 306 Halligan (USA/1943) 131 Harwood (USA/1945) 134 Hefring(Ne/cl878) 388 Guichen (F/-) 266 I 1 alloran (USA/1944) 135 Hascosay (GB/1944) 66 Heimdal (Dk/1894) 382 Guilford (USA c 1943) 159 Hallowell (GB/1944) 59 Hashemi GB 1918) 83 Heimdal (No/1892) 379 Guillemot (GB/1939) 62 1 lalsey Powell (USA/1943) 131 Hashidatc J 1939 211 Heino (Es/extant 1922) 353 Guise (Pu/I9l7) 424 H alsmgborgJSw/1943) 373 Haskell (USA/cl943) 160 Heimdal (Dk/1935) 384 Guitarro (USA/1943) 146 Halslcd (GB/1943) 61 Haste (USA/1942) 156 Hcla(G/1939) 253 G borgsund (Dk/1884) 383 II makaze 0/1916) 176 Hastings (GB/1930) 56 Helena (USA 1896) 96 Gulfoss(GB/l929) 67 llamakaze(J/l940) 194 Hasty (GB/1936) 39 Helana (USA/1938) 116 Gulfport (USA/1943) 148 Hamanami (J/1943) 195 Hasu(J/192l) 175 Helena (USA/1945) 121 Gulland (GB/1943) 66 llambledon (GB/1939) 45 Hatakaze (J/1924) 176 Helena (USA/-) 120 Gunason (USA/1943) 137 Hamblen (USA/c 1943) 159 Hatfield (USA/1919) 94 Helford (GB/1943) 58 Gunnel (USA/1942) 145 1 lamblet (USA/1941) P8 Hatherleigh (G В/1941) 46 Heliotrope (GB/I9I5) 13 Gunston Hall (USA/1943) 161 Hamburg G 1903) 222 Halo 0/1937) 197 Heliotrope (GB/1940) 62 Gur(Tu/l932) 408 Hameenmaa(Fi/l9l7) 364 Hatsuharu (J/1906) 175 Helle (Gr/1912) 404 Gurke (USA/1945) 133 llamidich (Tu/1903) 406 Hatsuharu 0/1933) 193 Flellisay (GB.I944) 66 Gurkha (GB/1937) 40 Hamilton (GB/1918) 47 Hatsukari (J/1933) 197 Helm(USA/l937) 126 Gurkha (GB/1940) 41 Hamilton (USA/1919) 94 Hatsukaze (J/1939) 194 Helmsdale GB/1943) 58 Gurnard USA 1942) 145 Hamlet (GB/1940) 66 Hatsushima 0/1940) 209 Helmsley Castle (GB/-) 63 Gurupa (Br | 418 Hamlin (USA/1944) 158 Hatsushimo (J/1905) 175 Helvellyn (GB/1937) 84 Gurupi (Br/?) 418 Hammann (USA/1939) 127 Hatsushimo 0/1933) 193 Hemlock (GB/1940) 62 Gustafson (USA/1943) 139 H am rnann (USA/1942) 140 Hatsusuki(J 1942) 195 Hemminger (USA/1943) 139 Gustaf V (Sw/1918) 368 1 lammerhead (US А/1913) 146 Hatsu taka (J/1939) 209 Hempstead (USA/-) 157 Gustav Nachtigal G 940) 253 11 amner (USA/1945) 133 Hatsuyuki J 1906) 175 Henderson (USA/1945) 133 Gustave Zedc (F/1913) 258 Hampton (GB/1934) 85 Hatsuyuki (J/1927) 193 Hendry (USA/c 1943) 160 Guysborough (GB/1941) 64 Hampton (USA/c 1943) 159 Hatsuyume 0/1945) 196 Henley (USA/1912) 93 Gweal (GB/1942) 66 llanatsuki (J/1944) 195 Hatsuzakura ( J/1945) 196 Henley (USA/1937) 126 G«-in(USA/l9l7) 93 Hancock (USA/1943) 104 Hatteras (USA/-) 157 Henley (USA/1945) 132 Gwin (USA/1940) 128 Hank (USA/1944) 132 Hauk (No/1903) 378 Henri Fournier (F/1919) 258 Gwin (USA/1944) 149 Hanna (USA/1944, 138 Hauk (No/ 1943) 380 HenriP ncarcl(F/1929) 273 Gyatt (USA/1945) 133 Hanneray (GB/1944) 66 Haukka (Ft/c 1916) 364 Henrico (USA/c 1943) 159 Gyatt (USA/-) 138 Hannover G/1905) 222 Hautapu (GB/1942) 67 Henrique Dias Br 94 ) 417 Gyller (No/1938) 379 Hannover (USA/cl943) 159 Haval N 1896 378 Henry A Wiley USA/1944) 149 Gympic (GB/1942) 64 Ilans Lody (G/1936) 233 Havant (GB/1939) 40 Henry R Kenvon (USA/1943) 137 Gyor (Hu/-) 355 Hans Lilden anil (G/1937) Hansford (USA/c 1943) 233 159 Havelock (GB/1915) Havelock (GB/1939) 9 40 Henry 1 Allen (USA/1941) Henry W Tucker (USA/1944) 159 134 Haas (USA/1944) 138 Hanson (USA/1945) 133 Haverfield (USA/1943) 140 Henry W Tucker (USA/-) 138 Habushi(j/I944 206 Happy Return (GB/-) 65 Havfrucn (Пк/1912) 382 Henryville (GB/-) 60 Habuto 0/1935) 206 Hur den (USA/1918) 94 Havfruen(Dk/l937) 383 Henshaw (USA/1919) 95 Hachijo 0/1940) 205 llaraden (USA/1943) 131 H avhesten (Dk/1917) 382 Hepatica GB 1940) 62 llacklcback (USA/1943) 145 Harald Haarfagre (No/1897) 378 Havhesten (Dk/1940) 383 Herald (USA 1942) 150 Hadda(Nc/cl878) 388 Filler (USA/1942) 145 l!avik(Nc/l875) 388 Herbert (USA/1919) 94 Haddo (USA/1942) 145 Hardhead (USA/1943) 146 Havik(Ne/l942) 395 Herbert C Jones (USA/1943) 140 Haddock (USA/1941) 145 Harding (USA/1918) 94 Havkalen (Dk/1938) 383 I lerbert J Thomas USA/1945) 133 1 ladleigh Castle (GB/1943) 63 Harding (USA/1942) 129 Havka tcn(Dk/l9!9) 382 Hercules (GB/1945) 22 Hagi(j/I944) 196 Ilardrock (GB/-) 60 Havnianden Dk 1911) 382 Hereward (GB/1936) 39 Haggard (USA/1943) 130 1 lardy (GB/1936) 40 Havmanden Dk 1937) 383 HerlufTrolle(Dk/l899) 382 Hagi 0/1920) 175 Hardy (GB/1943) 43 Havock (GB/1936) 39 Hermann Kunne (G/1937) 233 Hagikazc 0/1940) 194 Hare (GB/1942) 65 Havomen ( Dk/1897) 382 Hermann Schoemann(G/l936) 233 Haguro CI/1928) 188 Harebell (GB/1918) 13 Hawaii (USA/1945) 122 Hermann vun W'issmann Hai Chen (Ca/1898) 412 Harebell (GB/1940) 62 Hawke (GB/-) 35 (G/1940) 253 Hai Chi (Ca/1898) 412 Hargood (GB/1943) 61 Hawkcsbury (RAN) (GB/1943) 60 H crmelijn (Ne/1913) 387 Hai Chou (Ca/1897) 412 Harlan R Dukson (USA/1944) 132 Hawkcsbury (RCN) (GB/1943) 63 Hennes (G/1938) 236 Hai Fu (Ca/c 1916) 412 I larlcquin (USA 1941) 151 Hawkins * В 1917) 10 Hermes (GB/1919) 10 1 lai Hung (Ca/1916) 412 Harmon (USA/1943) 137 Hawi ns (USA/1944) 134 Hermes (GB/1953) 23 Hoi Ku (Ca/1919) 412 Harold C Thomas (USA/1942) 135 Hawksbill (USA/1944) 146 Hermes (GB/-) 23 llai Ning(Ca/cl936) 413 Harold J Ellison (USA/1945) 134 Hayabusa 0/1935) 197 Hermes (USA/1932) 166 1 lai Ou (Ca/c 1916) 412 Harold J Ellison (USA/-) 138 Hayakaze (J/1906) 175 Hermetray (GB/1944) 66 Hai Wei (Ma/1916) 414 Harpun (Sw/1925) 375 Hayanami J 1942 195 Hermione F 1917) 258 II ' Yung (Ca/1897) 412 Harrier (GB/1934) 63 Hayashimo 0/1943) 195 Hermione GB/1939) 33 Haida (USA/1921) 96 Harrier (USA/1944) 151 Hayashio (J/1939) 194 Hernan Cories (Sp/1944) 403 Haida (GB/1942) 40 Harriet Lane (USA/1926) 166 Hayatc(J/1906) 175 Herndon (USA/1919) 94 llaideri (GB/1920) 83 Harris (GB/1944) 66 Hayate (J/1925) 176 Herndon USA/1942 129 Hailey (USA/1943) 130 Harris (USA 1940) 159 Haydon (GB/1942) 46 Hero (GB/1936) 39 Haines (USA/1943) 137 I iarrison (USA/1942) 131 Hayling (GB/1942) 66 Herring (GB/1942) 67 Il qcn(Dk/1896) 382 Harry E Hubbard (USA/1944) 132 Haynswvrlh (USA/1944) 132 Herring (USA/1942) 145 llajen(Sw/1917) 370 Harry F Bauer (USA/1944) 149 Hayter (USA/1943) 136 Herschett (GB/1942) 66 Hakaze(J/l920) 176 Harry L Corl (USA/1944) 161 Hazard (GB/1937) 64 Hertog Hendrik (Nc/1902) 386 Hake (USA/1942) 145 Harstad (No/?) 381 Hazard (USA/1944) 151 Herzog (USA/1943) 139 Halberd (GB/-) 44 Han (GB/1943) 57 Hazel (GB/1939) 66 Hespelcr (GB/1943) 63 Halbronn(F/l9l7) 258 Hart (USA/1918) 94 Hazelwood (USA/1918) 94 Hesperus (GB/1939) 40 Htkyon(GB/l933) 63 Hart (USA/1944) 131 Hazelwood (USA/1942) 130 Hessai(No/?) 380 Haldon (GB/1942) 46 Han land (GB/1928) 58 Healy (USA/1943) 131 Hessen (G/1903) 222 Hale (USA/1919) 94 I tiepool (GB/1942) 64 I Icansease (G В/1940) 62 Heyltger USA/1934) 138 Hale (USA/1943) 131 Harukazc(J/l905) 175 Heather (GB/I9I6) 13 H evthrop (G В 1940) 46 Half Moon (USA/1942) 157 Harukaze 0/1922) 176 Heather (GB/1940) 62 I ley wood L Edwards llalfbcak (USA/1946) 146 Haruna (J/1913) 173 Hebe (GB/1936) 63 (USA/1943) 131 437
Hibiki (J/1906) 175 Honesty (GB/1942) 63 Hurst (USA/1943) 140 Incharron (GB/1944) 59 Hibiki (J/1932) 193 Honeysuckle GB/1940) 62 Hurst Castle (GB/1944) 63 Inchcolm (GB/1941) 66 llibicui (GB/1940) 62 Honningss aag No/?) 381 Hurworth (GB/1941) 46 In hkctth (GB 1941 66 Hiburi (J/1944) 206 Honolulu (USA/1937) 116 Huse (USA/1943) 140 Inchmamock GB 1941) 66 Hickory (GB/1940) 66 Honvcd (Hu/extaitt 1922) 355 Hussar (GB/1934) 64 Inconstant F 19 6 259 Hickory I ake 4G В/1944) 72 Hood (GB/1918) 9 Hussard F 1944 278 Inconstant (GB/1941) 39 Hi kox (USA/1943) 131 H< pcwcll (USA/1918) 94 HOszar (Hu/extant 1922) 355 Incredible (USA/1943) 151 Hidra (Po/c 1916) 396 Hopewell (USA/1943) 131 Hutchins USA 1942) 130 Indefatigable (GB/1942) 20 Hidrografs(La/exiant 1922) 353 Hopkins (USA/1920) 95 Hutchinson (USA/1943) 148 Independence (USA/1942) 105 Hiei(j/I9l2) 173 Hopping (USA/1943) 136 H sal V (No/1929) 381 I ndependencia (A/1891) 419 Hifer (Fg/extant 1922) 409 Hoquiam (USA/1943) 148 Hsalen(Dk/l930) 383 Independentia Ve 1940) 415 Higbee (USA/1944) 133 Hooce A Bass (USA/1944) 161 Hvalen Sw 1909 370 Indiana (USA/1941) 98 Highlander (GB/1939) 40 Horatio (GB/1940) 66 Hvalrossen (Ok/1913) 382 Indianapolis USA 1931) 114 Highlands (USA/c 1943) 160 Hornet (USA/1940) 102 Hvar (Yu/extant 1922) 359 Indicative (USA/1943) 151 Highway (G В/1943) 74 Honet (USA/1943) 104 IIvas(No/1898) 378 Indira (GB/1918) 83 Hilarity (USA/1944) 151 Hornpipe (GB/1940) 66 Hyatt (Cc/1928) 422 Indomi table (G В 1940) 20 Hi ary (GB/1931) 83 Horodyszcze (Pl/cxiant 1922) 349 Hvidbjornen (Dk/1928) 384 Ind nui (I/1912) 286 Hilary (GB/1938) 75 Horsham (GB/1942) 65 Hyacinth (GB/1940) 62 Indomito (1/1943) 303 Hilary P Jones (USA/1939) 128 Horten (No/?) 381 Hyde (USA/c 1943) 160 Indus (GB/1934) 56 Hilbert (USA/1943) 139 HoshoO/1921) 179 Hyderabad (GB/1941) 62 Infante D Henrique P 1936) 397 Hildasay (GB/1941) 66 Hoste (GB/1943) 61 Hydra (GB/1942) 65 Inflict (USA/1944) 151 Hill (USA/1943) 140 Hostile (GB/1936) 39 Hydra (Ne/1900) 387 Ingersoll (GB/-) 63 Hille (G/1917) 253 Hotham (GB/1943) 61 Hydra (Ne/I91l) 388 Ingersoll (USA/1943) 131 Hinau (GB/1941) 67 Hotspu r (G В/1936) 39 Hydrangea (GB/1940) 62 Ingham (USA/1936) 165 Hind (GB/1943) 57 Hound (GB/1942) 65 Hydrus (USA/c 1943) 160 Inglefield (GB/1936) 40 Hindustan [GB/1930) 56 Houston (USA/1929) 114 Hyman (USA/1944) 132 Inglis (GB/1943) 61 Hingham (USA/1943) 148 Houston USA/1943) 119 Hypen on (GB/1936) 39 Ingolt(Dk/1876) 383 Hinoki(J/1916) 175 Hova(F/l917) 258 Hyihe (GB/1941) 64 Ingolf (Dk/1933) 384 llinoki (J/1944) 196 Hova(F/l944) 272 Hyttga(J/I9l7) 171 Ingonish (GB 1941) 64 Hinsdale (USA/c 1943) 160 Hovey (USA/1919) 94 Ilyuga Maru (J/1944) 215 Ingraham (USA/1918) 94 Hira (GB/1941) 79 Howard (USA/1919) • 94 Ingraham (USA/1941) 128 Hira(J/1923) 177 Howard D Crow (USA/1943) 140 Ibis (GB/1940) 57 Ingra am (USA/1944) 132 Hirado (J/1911) 174 Howard F Clark (USA/1943) 138 Ibis (I/1942) 317 Injeniero Hyatt (Ce/c 1896) 422 Hirado (J/1943) 205 Howe (GB/1940) IS Ibo (Po/c 1910) 396 InjcnieroMu ilia (Ce/c 1896) 422 Hiroshima (J 1940 209 Howitzer (GB/-) 44 Ibuki (J/1907) 173 Inkpen (GB/1941) 167 Hiryu(j/I937) 181 Howorth (USA/1943) 131 Ibukt J/1943) 185 Innun (GB/1943) 61 Hishi (J/1921) 175 Hoxa (GB/1941) 66 Icarus (GB/1936) 39 Insidioso(l/I9l3) 286 Hishi (J/-) 196 Hoy (GB/1941) 66 1 -arus (USA/1932) 166 Instill (USA/1944) 151 Hissem (USA/1943) 140 Hozu(j/I923) 177 Iccfish (USA/1944) 146 Intensity (USA/1942) 156 Hitachi (J/1943) 207 Hrabri (Yu/1927) 358 Idaho (USA/1917) 90 Intibah(Tu/l886) 407 Hiira(No/?) 380 Hsien Ning (Ca/1928) 413 Ijsselmonde (Ne/c 1943) 394 Intrepid (GB/1936) 39 Hiyo (J/1941) 183 Hu Oah (Ca/c 1907) 412 Ikara(J/1945) 206 Intrepid (USA/1943) 104 Hi -odori (J/1935) 197 Hu Peng Ca/c 1907) 412 Ikazuchi (J/1931) 193 Intrepide(F/I9ll) 258 Hizar Rcis(Tu/cl911) 407 Hu Tsuin (Ca/c 1907) 412 Iki (J/1943) 205 Inirepido (1/1943) 303 Htzen (J/1900) 171 Hu Ying (Ca/c 1907) 412 1 kindci InonO (Tu/1927) 407 Intrepido (Sp/c I960) 402 Hjae peren(Dk/1890) 383 Huascar (Cc/1865) 422 lkino(J/1945) 206 Intrigue(USA/l944) 151 Hjorto(Dk/I941) 384 Hudson (USA/1942) 130 Ikoma (J/1906) 173 Invade (USA/1944) 151 Hobart GB/1934) 30 Huesca Sp/1914 402 Ikoma J/1944) 184 Inver (GB/1942) 58 Hobby (USA/1942) 128 Hugh L Scott (USA/1942) 159 Iku-Tursu (Fi/1931) 365 InvereU (GB/1942) 65 Hobe Sound (USA/-) 158 Hugh Purvis (USA/1944) 132 Ikuna (J/1944) 206 Invicta (GB/1939) 73 Hobson [USA/1941) 128 Hugh W Hadley (USA/1944) 132 Ilex (GB/1937) 39 Ion Bratianu (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Hoche (F/1940) 269 Hughes (USA/1939) 127 Ilfracombe (GB/1941) 64 loshima (J/1931) 192 Hocking (USA/c 1943) 160 Hugin (Sw/1910) 369 Itlern (Sw/1921) 370 Iowa (USA/1942) 99 Hodaka(j/I945) 206 Hulbert (USA/1919) 95 Illinois (USA/-) 99 Ippolito Nievo (I/1915) 286 Hodges (USA/1943) 137 Hull(USA/192l) 95 Illusive (USA/-) 151 Ipswich (GB/1941) 64 Hoe (USA/1942) 145 Hull (USA/1934) 125 Illustrious (GB/1939) 19 Iquique (Ce/1943) 423 Hoel (USA/1942) 130 Humaita (Br/1927) 417 llnurinen (Fi/1931) 365 Ira Jeffery (USA/1943) 136 Hoel (USA/-) 133 Humaita (Pa/1930) 418 llmatar(Es/cxiant 1922) 353 Irex (USA/1945) 147 Hogan (USA/1919) 94 Humberstone (GB/1944) 63 litis (G/1927) 237 Iride (1/1936) 309 Hogen(Dk/1933) 383 Humboldt (USA/1941) 157 I manta (La/1926) 353 lris(F/1934) 275 Hoggau Bay (USA/1943) 109 Hummer (USA/-) 151 Imbue (USA/-) 151 Iris (Sw/1908) 370 Hogue (GB/1944) 44 Humphreys (USA/1919) 94 Imcrsay (GB/1944) 66 Iron Duke (GB/1912) 7 Hoi Fu (Ca/1904) 412 Hunda (GB/1942) 66 Imogen (GB/1936) 39 Ironbound (GB/1942) 66 Hokaze (J/1921) 176 Hunt (USA/1920) 94 Impavido(l/I9l3) 286 Iroquois (GB/1941) 40 Hoko (J/1941) 209 Hunt (USA/1943) 131 Impavido(l/I943) 303 Iroquois (US А/1944) 165 Hokoku Maru (J/c 1939) 215 Hunter (GB/1936) 39 Impeccable [USA/1943) 150 Irrawadt GB 1913) 83 Holcombe [GB/1942) 46 Hunter (GB/1942) 25 Imperial (GB/1936) 39 I rrequieto (I/1931) 286 Holder (US Aj 1943) 140 Hunter Liggett (USA/1941) 159 Impcro (1/1939) 289 Irwin LSA 1943 131 Holder USA/1945) 133 Hunter Marshall (USA/1945) 161 Impervious (USA/-) 151 Isa Reis(Tu/cl911) 407 11 demcss (US А/1940) 45 Hunting ton (USA/1903) 93 Impctueuse F/cl9l6) 259 Isaac Peral (Sp/1916) 399 HoUandia USA/1944) 110 Huntington (USA/1943) 119 Impctuoso (1/1943) 303 Isaac Sweers Ne/1940) 390 Hollesley Bay GB/-1 61 Huntington (USA/1945) 120 Implacable (GB/1942) 20 Isar(G/1930) 252 Hollis (USA/1943) 137 Huntsville (GB/1944) 63 Implicit (USA/1943) 151 lse(J/1916) 171 Hollister (USA/1945) 133 Huon(GB/l9l4) 11 Improve (USA/1943) 151 I sherwood (USA/1919) 95 Hollyhock (GB/1915) 13 H ragan(Pl/~) 349 Impulse (USA/1940) 156 Isherwood (USA/ 942) 130 Hollyhock [GB/1940) 62 IIurjaFi/1916) 364 Impulsive (GB/1937) 39 Ishigaki (J/1940) 205 Holmes (GB/1943) 61 Huron (GB/1942) 40 Inagi (J/1944) 206 Ishikazi (J/1941) 209 Holmon (Sw/1940) 376 Huron (USA/1904) 93 Inaugural (USA/1944) 151 Isis (GB/1936) 39 Holt (USA/1944) 137 Huron (USA/1943) 148 Inazuma (J/1932) 193 Iskatycl (USSR/1938) 341 Holton (USA/1943) 137 Hurricane (GB/1939) 40 Incessant (USA/1943) 151 Iskra (USSR/1934) 335 Home Guard (GB/1944) 67 Hursley (GB/1941) 46 Inch (USA/1943) 140 lsku(Fi/1926) 366 438
I lands Falk (Dk/ 1906) 383 I lay (GB/1941) 66 I lay (Pu/1926) 424 Isleof Guernsey (GB/1929) 73 I le ofThanet (GB 1923) 73 I okaite (J/1916) 1 6 Isokaze(J/1939) 194 Isonami(j/I908) 173 Isonami (J/1927) 193 Israel (USA/1918) 94 Isuzu(J/1921) 174 Itasca (L'SA/1929) 164 I chen (GB/1942) 38 I haki (Gr/?) 406 Ithuriel (GB/1940) 39 Itsukushima J 1929) 208 Ivan Borisov (USSR/I94I) 340 IvanSladkov(USSR/194l) 340 Ivanhoe (GB/1937) 39 Ivy (GB. 1940) 62 Iwami (J/1902) 171 Iwale (J/1900) 173 Iwo(J/1945) 206 Iwo Jima (USA/-) 104 Imrd (USA/1942) 131 lziaslav(USSRZI9!4) 323 Izmail USSR/ex ant 1922) 343 Izumo(j/I899) 173 J Doughs Blackwood (USA/1943) 136 J Franklin Bell (USA/1941} 159 J Fred Talbott (USA/1918) 94 J RY Blakely(USA/1943) 140 J Richard Ward (USA; 1943) 140 J William Ditter (USA/1944) 149 Ji-ikarhu (Fi/1926) 367 Jaccard (USA/1944) 137 Jack (USA/1942) 141 Jack C Robinson (USA/1944) 161 Jack Miller (USA/19-14) 138 Jack W Wilke (USA/1943) 137 Jackal (GB/1938) 41 J ackdaw (USA/-) 151 Jackson (USA/1927) 166 Jacob Bagge Sw 1898 369 Jacob Jones (USA/1918) 94 Jacob Jones (USA/1942) 140 Jacob van I lecmskerck Ve 19 9 389 Jacui(Br/?) 418 Jdgaren(Sw/l932) 376 Jadran (Yu/extant 1922) 359 Jaguar (F/1923) 267 Jaguar (G/1928) 237 Jaguar (GB/1938) 41 Jaguarao В ?) 418 Jaguaribc(Br/l939) 416 Jaguaribe (Br/?) 418 JaimePr mero(Sp 1914 399 Jakhals(Nc/l9Il) 387 Jahe (1/1932) 309 Jallao (USA/1944) 146 Jim :a (GB/1940) 34 James COwens (USA/1944) 132 James E Craig (USA/1943) 136 James E Kyes (USA/1945) 133 James К Paulding (USA/1920) 94 James O’Hara (USA/c 1943) 159 J sn van Amstel (Ne/1936) 394 Jan van Brake! Ne 1936) 393 Jan van Gelsler (Ne/1937) 394 Janssen (USA/1943) 140 Jantina (1/1932) 309 Janus (GB/1938) II Japura (Br/1939) 416 Jarvis (USA/1912) 93 Jarvis (USA/I937) 126 Jarvis (USA/1944) 131 Jascur (GB/1944) 65 Jaskolka (PVcxtant 1922) 349 Jaskolka (Pl/c 1934 351 Jouett(USA/1912) 93 Kamsack GB 1941) 62 Jasmine (GB/1941) 62 Jouett (USA/1938) 127 Kanaris(Gr/l941) 406 Jason (GB/1937) 63 Joyce (USA/1943) 140 Kantan Si 1937) 411 Jastreb(5u/I918) 357 Juan de Garray A 19251 421 Kanawa (J 1944 206 Jastrzab PI/ 922) 350 Juan Lazaga(Sp/l924) 399 Kandahar (GB/1939) 41 Java (Ne/I92l) 387 Jubilant (USA/1943) 151 Kane (USA 1919) 94 Javan (Br/?) 418 Jude(GB/?) 72 Kanholmsfiard Sw 1933 376 Javary(Br/1939) 416 Judiai(Br/>) 418 Kanimbla (GB/1936) 72,82 Javelin (GB/1938) 41 Jujuy (A/I9I2) 4 9 Kanju (J/1943 . 205 Javelot (F 1944) 278 Jules Fern Г 1902) 257 Kanon(Sw/l924) 375 Javier Quirogo (Sp/1934) 404 Jules Michelet (F/1905) 257 Kansas City l USA/-) 121 Ja fish (USA/-) 146 Juliet (GB/1940) 66 Kaparen Sw 1933) 376 JcanAutric F 1917) 258 Julius A Raven (USA/1944) 161 Kapclla Sw 1904 370 Jean Bart Г 94 260 Jumna (GB/1940) 57 Kapiun Belli (USSR/1915) 323 Jean Corre (F/1918) 258 Juneau (USA/1941) 118 Kapitan Kern (USSR/1915) 323 Jean de Vienne F 935) 265 Ju leau (USA/1945) 118 Kapsiui USSR/extani 1922) 324 Jean Roulier 1F/I9I8) 258 Junee (GB/1943) 65 KapsuliUSSR/1937) 341 Jeanne d'Arc (F/1899) 257 Jungingen G 1919) 253 Kapunda (GB/1942) 65 Jeanne d Arc (F/1930) 264 Juniper (GB/1939) 66 Kapukasing(GR 1943) 65 Jeannie Deans(GB/1931) 84 Juno (GB/1938) 41 Karachi (GB 1941 65 Jed (GB/1942) 58 Junon(F/1935) 275 Karanja (GB/1930) 72 Jeffers (USA/1942) 129 Ju tyo(J/!94l) 183 Karatsu (J/1927) 212 Jel6y(No/?) 381 Ju liter (GB/1938) 41 Kari (J/1937) 197 Jen Shen (Ca/1931) 413 Jupiter (Sp/1935) 402 Karja!a(Fi/19l8) 364 Jen kins (USA/1912) 93 Jura (GB/1941) 66 Karkass(Pe/l93l) 409 Jenkins (USA/1942) 130 Juri Vilms (Es/extant 1922) 353 Karl Galcter (G/1938) 233 Jenks (USA/1943) 136 Jurmo(Fi/l944) 366 Karl Zedin (USSR/c 1946) 340 Jerauld (USA/c 1943) 160 Jurua(Br/l939) 416 Karlskrona (Sw/1939) 372 Jersey (GB/1938) 41 Jurua (Br/?) 418 Karlsruhe G 1927) 230 Jervis (GB/1938) 41 Juruena(Br/1939) 416 Karmoy No/?) 381 Jervis Bay (GIVI922) 82 Juntena(Br/?) 418 Karmbi «-Globe 5) (No/?) 381 Jesse Rutherford (USA/1944) 137 Jutahy (Br/1939) 316 Karnes (USA/c 1943) 160 Jewel (GB/1944 65 J tai (Br/?) 418 Kasaan Bay (USA/1943) 109 Jintsu (J/1923) 186 Jutland (GB/1945) 44 Kasado(j/I943) 205 J WI905) Js(No/cl943) 378 380 Jutland (GB/1946) 44 Kasagi (J/1944) Kasasagi J 1935) 184 197 JoSo de Lisboa (P 1936) 397 Kaba (J/1915) 175 Kashi J 1916) 175 Jobb (USA/1943) 137 Kaba(J/1945) 196 Kash J 1944 196 Joessel (F/1919) 258 Kabylc(l-7I917> 258 Kashii (J/1941) 191 Joffre F ) 261 Ksdashan Bay L A/1943) 109 Kashima(J/1905) 171 Johan Maurits van Nassau (Ne 1932) Kaede (J/1915) 175 Kashima (J/1939) 191 392 Kaede (J/1944) 196 Kashiwa (J/1915) 175 Johan M urits van N issau (Ne/1943) Kaga (J/1921) 171,180 Kashiwara (J/-) 191 393 Kaganovich (USSR/1939) 328 Kashmir (GB/1939) 41 John A Bole (USA/1944) 132 Kagero (J/1938) 194 Kasso (Gr/?) 406 John C Butler (USA/1943) 137 Kagu Maru (J/r 1936) 213 Kasuga(J/1902) 173 John D Edwards(USA/1919) 94 Kaguar (USSR/-) 339 Kaszub Pl 1914) 348 John D Henley (USA/1942) 130 Kat GB/1921) 84 Katashinu (Ji'1917) 177 John Francis Burnes(USA/l9il£ 1 95 Kaiyo(J/1938) 185 Katata(J/1922) 177 John Hood (USA/1943) 131 Kajak (Es/extanl 1922) 353 Katoku (J/1915) 177 John J Povers (USA/1943) 135 Kajmak ala n (Yu/1936-39) 359 Katoomba (GB/1941) 65 John J van Buren (USA/1943) 139 Kaki(j/I919) 175 Kaion(J 1905) 171 John L Williamson (USA/1944) 138 Kaki(Jj 944 196 Katori(J 1939) 191 J oh 51 Bermingham (USA/1943) Kako(j/I923) 186 Katsonis (Gr/1926) 405 135 Kako(j/I925) 187 Ka sura (J 1915) 175 John P Gray (USA 1944) 161 Kalamalka (GB/1943) 72 Katsura J 1945) 196 John Q Roberts (USA/1944) 161 Kalavati (GB/1928) 84 Katsuragi J 1944) 184 John R Craig (USA/1945) 134 Kale (GB/1942) 59 Katsur к J 916 177 John R Pierce (USA/1944 132 Kalev (Es/extant 1922) 353 К vak(Tu/cl937) 408 J uhn Rodgens (USA 1942) 131 Kalev (Es/1937) 352 Kawakaze J 1917) 176 John W Thomason (USA/1944) 132 Kalev (USSR/1937) 338 Kawakaze J 1936) 194 John W Weeks (USA/1944) 132 Kalcwipocg (Es/extant 1922 I 353 Kawi(Ne/l937) 394 J oh Williamson (No/?) 381 Ka good e (GB/1941) 64 Kaya (J/1919) 175 Johnnie Hutchins (USA 1944) 137 Kalinin (USSR/1939) 328 Kaya (J/1944) 196 Johnston (USA 1943) 130 Kalinin Bai (USA/1943) 109 KazckumoU/1941 i 195 Johnston (USA, 1945) 133 Kalk (USA/1918) 94 Kearny (USA/1940) 128 Joliette (GB/1943) 59 Kalk (USA/1942) 128 Kearsarge (USA/1945) IM Jonquicre (GB; 1943) 59 Kallanpaa (Fi/1942) 366 Keats (GB/1943) 61 J quil (GB/1940) 62 Kalmar (Sw/1943) 373 Kecskemet (Ilu/exlant 1922) 355 Jordan (USA/1943) 136 Kalymos (Gr/?) 406 Kedah (GB/1927) 83 J >rge(A/!890) 419 Kamanev(USSRvl9l6) 324 Keith (GB/1930) 38 J wage Juan (Sp/1933) 401 Kamicia Bu 363 Keith (U A/1942) 140 Jove Canalejas Sp 922) 400 К unikawa Maru i c 1937) 213 Kelanan (GB/1921) 83 Jose Luis Diez (Sp/1928) 401 Kamikaze J1905) 175 Kelly (GB/1938) 41 Joseph ( H bbaid (USA/1943) 136 Kam kaze(J/1922) 176 Kelowna (GR 1941) 64 Joseph E Campbell (USA/1943) 136 Kamishak (USA/-) 157 Kelvin (GB/1939) 41 Joseph E Connolly (US Az 1944) 138 Kamishima JZI945) 209 Kemal Reis (Tu/c 1911) 407 Joseph M Auman (USA/1944) 161 Kamloops (GB/1940) 62 Kempenfelt GB 1931 38 Joseph P Kennedy Jr (USA/1945) К (J/1922) 212 Kempe felt (GB/1943) 43 134 Kamome J’1929) 208 Kempthorn c (GB/1943) 61 JosephT Dickman(USA/1941) 159 К am par (GB/1915) 84 Kendall C Campbell (USA/1944) 138 439
Kendrick (USA? 1942) 129 King George V (GB/1939) 15 Kondor (G/1926) 237 Kvik (No/I898) 378 Kenilworth Castle (GB/1943) 63 King Gruffyd GB/1919) 84 Kondor (USSR/1941) 339 Kvintus(Dk/l917) 383 Kennedy (USA/1919) 95 King Haakon VII (No/1942) 380 Kongo (J/I9I2) 173 Kwajalein USA 1944) 110 Kenneth D Bailey (USA/1945) 133 King Orry(GBZ 1913) 83 Kongo Maru (J/c 1935) 215 Kydonia(Gr/1914) 405 Kenneth D Bailey (USA/-) 138 K'ngcup GB 1940) 62 Korugsbcrg (G/1927) 230 Kylemore (GB/1897) 84 Kenneth M Willett (USA/1944) 137 Kingfish (USA/1942) 145 Konstruktor (USSR/1905) 323 Kylongyai (Si/1937) 411 Kenneth Whiling (USA/1943) 158 Kingfisher GB 1935) 62 Kontradmiral Khoroshkin Купе (USA/1943) 139 Kenruson USA'1918) 94 Kingsbury USA/c 1943) 160 (USSR/1940) 341 Kyosai (J/1939) 209 Kenogami (GB/1940) Kenora (GB/1941) 62 64 Kingsmill (GB/1943) Kingston (GB/1939) 61 41 Kootena у (G В/1932) К orall (USSR/c 1916) 38 345 Kynkoi (Gr/1914) 405 Kent (GB/1926) 26 Kinryu Maru (J/c 1938) 215 Korfu (USSR/I9I6) 323 L'Adroit (F/1927) 270 Kenton (USA/c 1943) 160 Kintyre (GB/1941) 66 Korgialenios (Gr/1916) 406 L'Adroit (F/1938) 270 Kentucky (USA/1950) 99 Kinu(J/)922) 174 Kormocan (G/c 1938) 248 L'Africaine (F/1946) 275 Kernville (GB/1942) 64 Kinugasa (J/1926) 188 Korshun (USSR/extant 1922) 324 L’Agile (F/1940) 272 Kenya (GB/1939) 34 Kinugasa Maru (J/c 1936) 213 Kortenaer Ne/1927) 389 L'Alcyon (F 1926 270 Kephart (USA/1943) 136 К nzer (USA/1943) 161 Kos (Gr/?) 406 L’Alsacien (F/1942) 272 Keppel (GB/1920) 11 Kioe (Gr/1914) 405 Kos 16 (No/?) 381 L'Andromede (F 1949) 275 Keppler (USA/1946) 133 Kipling (GB/1939) 41 Koster (Sw/1940) 376 L’Ardent (F/1944) 278 Keppler (USA/-) 135 138 Kiresund (Тц/1877) 407 Kotaka (J/1930) 212 L'Artemis (F/1942) 275 Kcravnos(Gr/1912) 404 Kiri (J/1915) 175 Кou (Es/extant 1922) 353 I.'Asirie (F/1946) 275 Kerch (USSR/extant 1922) 345 Kiri (J/1944) 196 Kou (Es/c 1939) 353 L’Anentif (F/1944) 278 Keren (GB/1930) 7i 2,75 Kirishima (J/1913) 173 Koutoubia (F/I93I) 279 L'AudacieuX (F 1934) 268 Kerrera (GB/1941) 66 Kirkland Lake (GB/1944) 59 Kozu (J/1944) 206 L’Aventure (F/1943) 277 Kcrainl (F/I93I) 268 Kirkpatrick (USA/1943) 140 Krakatau (Ne/1924) 393 L'Aveniurier (F/1947) 270 Kershaw (USA/c 1943) 160 Kirov (USSR/exiant 1922) 324 Kraken (USA/1944) 146 L’Effronti (F/1944) 278 Kete (USA/1944) 146 Kirov (USSR/1934) 339 Krakowiak Pl/c 1917) 348 L Emport/ (F/1944) 278 Key (USA/1944) 137 Kirov (USSR/1936) 327 Krakiwtak Pl 1940) 349 L'Enjou6(F/l944) 278 Key West (USA/1943) 148 Kirwin (USA/1944) 161 Krakow (Pl/c 1926) 351 L'Enireprcnant (F/1940) 272 Keyaki (J/1918) 175 Kisaragi (J/1905) 175 Krambol (USSR/extant 1922) 324 L'Escarmouch (F/1943) 277 Keyaki (J/1944) 196 Kisaragi (J/1925) 192 Krambol (USSR/1938) 341 L'Espotre (F/1931) 273 Kharkov (USSR) 1936) 329 Kishinami (J/1943) 195 Krasnaya Zvezda (USSR/extant L’EveilM (F/1944) 278 Khartou m (GB/1939) 41 Kiso(J/1920) 174 1922) 324 L'Imperieuse (F' 1939) 277 Khedive (GB/1942) 26 Kissa(Gr/1884) 405 Krasni Vostok (USSR/c 1909) 324 L'Incomprise (F/1936) 271 Khios (Gr/c 1942) 406 Kistna (GB/1943) 58 Krasnoarmeycc (USSR/c 1915) 324 L'lndiscret (F/1944) 278 Khrabry (Bu 1907) 363 Kisumi(J/1937) 194 Krasnoflotyec (USSR/c 1915) 324 L‘ I d mpiable (F/1933) 268 Kiama (GB/1943) 64 К taka mi (J/19’0) 174 Krasnogvardeyee (USSR/1929) 332 L Inir6pide(F/194l) 270 Kiang Chen (Ca/c 1906) 412 Kitchener (GB/1941) 62 Krasnoye Znamya (USSR/extant L'lph genie (F/1935) 271 Kiang Heng (Ca/c 1906) 412 Kite (GB/1942) 57 1922) 324 L Opiniaire (F/-) 270 KiangHsi (Ca/I9l 1) 412 Kitkun Bay (USA/1943) 109 Krasnyt Kavraz (USSR/I9I6) 327 La Argentina (А/1937) 420 Kiang Kun (Ca/I9!2) 412 Kittem (GB/1943) 66 Krasnyi Krym(USSR/1915) 326 La Bastiase (F/1940) 277 Kiang Li (Ca/c 1906) 412 Kittiwake (GB/1936) 62 Krechet (USSR/c 1946) 339 La Bastiase (GB/1940) 62 Kiang Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Kittson (USA/H943) 160 Kreta(G/?) 254 La Balailleuse (F/1939) 277 Kiang Yuan (Ca/c 1906) 412 Kiwi GB/1941) 66 Kretchmer (USA/1943) 140 La Bayadere (F/-> 275 Kibitsu Maru (J/1943) 215 Kiyokawa Maru (J/c 1942) 213 Knezis (Gr 1940) 406 La Bayonnaise (F/1936) 271 Kichle(Gr/l884) 405 К yonami 0/1942) 195 Krisjans Valdemars (La/extant 1922) La Boudeuse (F/1939) 277 Ktdd (USA/1943) 131 Kiyoshimo (J/1944) 195 353 La Capricieuse (F/1939) 277 Kidder (USA/1919) 95 Kiyozumi Maru (J/c 1934) 215 Krite(Gr/194l) 406 La Combattante (F/1942) 272 Ktcv(USSR/l940) 330 Kiaek (No/1899) 378 Krokodil (Ne/c 1906) 387 La Cordeliire (F/I936) 271 Kiiski (М/с 1936) 366 Kte!d(No/cl943) 380 Kronshtadt (USSR/c 1939) 326 La Cr6ole (F/1940) 275 Kiji(J/1937) 197 Kjell (No/1912) 378 Krut(Sw/1924) 375 1л Curieuse (F/1939) 277 Kiku(J/I920) 175 Klamath (USA/1945) 165 Kudat (GB/1914) 83 La D&ouvcrtc (F/1943) 277 Kikudsuki(j/I926) 192 Kias Horn (Ft/1891) 364 Kuga (J/1944) 206 La Dieppoise F/1940) 277 Kikuzuki(J/l902) 175 Kias Horn (Sw/1931) 372 Ku byshev (USSR/1941) 328 La Fantasque (F/1934) 268 Kilbimie (GB/1943) 62 Kias Uggla (Sw/1931) 372 Ku awtak (Pl/c 1917) 348 La Favorite (F/1942) 275 К bnde (GB/1943) 62 Kleber (F/1936) 269 Ku awiak Pl/1940 349 1л Flore (F/1935) 271 Kilcha tun (GB/1943) 62 Klcinsmith (USA/1945) 161 Kula Gulf (USA/1944) 111 La Galissonnitre (F/1933) 265 К i 1 chrenan (GB/1943) 62 Klansmiih (USA/-) 138 Kullen (Sw/1940) 376 La Gradeuse (F/1939) 277 Kildary (GB/1943) 62 Kline (USA/1944) 161 Kuma (J/1919) 174 La Grandicre (F/1939) 277 Kild wick (GB/1943) 62 Kluz (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Kumano (J/1936) 190 La Grange (USA/c 1943) 160 Kilham (GB/1943) 62 Knapp (USA/1943) 131 Kumano Maru (J/1944) 214 La Hulloisc (GB/1943) 59 Kilkenzie (GB/1943) 62 Knarcsborough Castle (GB/1943) 63 Kume(J/1944) 206 1л Malbaie(GB/l941) 62 Kilkhatnpton (G В/1943) 62 Knave (USA/1943) 151 Kunashiri (J/1940) 205 La Malouinc (F/1940) 277 Kilkis(Gr/1905) 404 Knekht(USSR/1938) 341 Kung Sheng Ca/1922) 412 La Malouine (GB/1940) 62 Killegray GB/1941) 66 Krugh (USA/1941) 129 Kung Wo (GB/1921) 85 1л Martinique (F/-) 276 Killen (USA/1943) 131 Knox (USA/c 1943) 159 Kunikawa Maru (J/c 1937) 213 La Melpomene (F/1935) 271 Kilmalcolm (GB/1943) 62 Knoxville (USA/1943) 149 Kuore(Fi/cl936) 366 UMoquese (F/1940) 277 Kilmarnock (GB/1943) 62 Knudson (USA/1944) 161 Kurahashi (J/1943) 206 La Paimpolaise (F/1940) 277 Kiimartin (GB/1943) 62 Kobac(Yu/1918) 357 Kurama (J 1907) 173 La Palme (F/1926) 270 Kilmelford (GB/1943) 62 Kobchik (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Kureiake(J/1922) 175 La Pirouse (F/1941) 279 Kilmington (GB/1943) 62 Kocalepe (Tu/1931) 407 Kuri (J/1920) 175 La Pdrouse (F/~) 277 Kilmore (GB/1943) 62 Koiner (USA/1943) 140 Kurokami (J/1917) 177 La Plata (A/1911) 419 Kilty (USA/1918) 94 Kokanee(GB 1943) 59 Kurosaki (J 1918) 177 La Pomone (F/1935) 271 Kimball (USA/1927) 166 Koln (G/19’8) 230 Kuroshima J/1914) 177 La Porte (USA/c 1943) 160 К mberley (GB/1939) 41 KomaromHu/cxtant 1922) 355 Kuroshto (J/1938) 194 La Poursuivante (F/1936) 271 Kimberly (USA/1917) 93 Komendani Pilsudski (PV 1918) 349 Kurukaya (J/1923) 175 La Trade (USA/1943) 138 Kimber у (USA/1942) 130 Komet (G/cl937) 247 Kusagaki (J 1944) 206 LaPraya(FZ-) 276 Kinukawa Maru (Jlc 1937) 213 Komet (Sw 1896 370 Kusunoki (J/1915) 175 La Psyche (F/1932) 275 Kincardine (GB/1944) 63 Konussar (USSR/c 1915) 3’4 Kusunokt (J/1945) 196 La Railleuse (F/1926) 270 King (A/c 1943) 421 Kommunar (USSR/c 1915) 3’4 Kuwa (J/1918) 175 l a Rioja (А/1929) 421 King(USA/1920) 94 Kommunist USSR/c 1920 324 Kuwa (J/1944) 196 La Salle (GB/1943) 59 King George V (GB/1911) 7 Komsomolecclats (USSR/c 1945) 342 Kuzu (J/-) 196 La Sulune (F/1932) 274 440
lj Surprise (F/1939) 277 Lapwing (GB 1943) 57 Lefkas (Gr/?) 406 Lightning (GB, 1940) 41 La Surprise (F/1943) 277 I-arache (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Legare(USA/l927) 166 Lille Belt (Dk/1875) 383 la Sybille (F/1932) 275 lurch Lake GB 1945) 72 Lcgazpi(Sp/1944) 403 Lily (GB/1915) 13 l.aVjlke(GB/l943> 72 Lard ner (USA,'1919) 95 Legion (GB/1939) 41 Lima (Po/1933) 397 La Valleiic(USA/!919) 95 1 ardner (USA/1942) 128 Lcgronano (I/1941) 301 Lima(Pu/188l) 423 1J Vallettc (USA/1942) 130 Largo Bay (GB/1944) 61 Legionnaire (F/1944) 278 Limbourne (GB/1942) 46 1-a Vest ale (F/1932) 274 Largs (GB/193S) 75,83 Legnano (1/1926) 317 Limin (Ma/1933) 414 Ixabnd (Dk/1941) 384 Lark (GB/1943) 57 Leiger (Es/extani 1922) 353 Limpopo (Po/1890) 396 Ixbuan (GB/1943) 62 1 jarkspur (GB/1940) 62 Leipzig (G/1929) 231 Linaria (GB/1942) 63 1 uburnum (GB/1915) 13 I arne (GB/1943) 65 Leith (GB/1933) 56 Lince (1/1938) 302 I .arena (USA/r 1943) 160 1 jrne (GB/-) 65 Leland EThomas(USA/1944) 138 Lince (Po/I9ll) 396 1 Jehine (GB/1941) 63 1 scar Caiorg u (Rn/exiani 1922) 361 Lembii (Es/extant 1922) 352 Lincoln (GB/1918) 47 Lachlan (GB/1944) 60 Lassigny (F/1919) 259 Lcmbit (Es/1936) 352 Lindenwald (USA/1943) 161 Uchuic (GB/1944) 63 Latimer (USA/r 1943) 160 Lembii (USSR/1937) 338 Lindisfarne (GB/1943) 66 lxconia(GB/l922) 82 1-nona (GB/1940) 37 Lemnos (Gr/1905) 404 Lindormen (Dk/1940) 384 1-acplesis (La/exunt 1922) 353 Laiouche Treville (F71892) 257 Lemnos (Gr/c 1942) 406 Lindsay (GB/1943) 63 Lady Somers (GB/1929) 83 Latrobe (GB/1942) 65 Lenawee (USA/r 1943) 160 Lindsey (USA/1944) 149 1 aertes (GB/1940) 66 Laub (USA/1918) 95 Lenin (USSR/r 1909) 324 Ling (GB/1940) 62 laser tes (GB/1944) 65 Laub (USA/1942) 129 Lenin (USSR/I9I4) 323 Ling (USA/1943) 145 I .afi.iux (171918) 259 Lauderdale (GB/1941) 46 Leningrad (USSR/1933) 329 Lingabar (GB/-) 60 Laffey (USA/1941) 128 1 auderdale (USA/c 1943) 160 Lennox (GB/1943) 65 Lingay (GB/1944) 66 laiffey USA/1943) 132 1 .augen (No/1916) 379 Ixnnox (GB/-) 65 I.ingayen (USA/-) III 1 Jfole (1/1938) 309 launceston (GB/1941) 64 Lennuk(Es/l917) 352 Linicrs(Sp/1946) 402 luforey (GB/1941) 41 Launceston Castle (GB/1943) 63 Lenoir (USA/r 1943) 160 Linnet (GB/1938) 79 lufraux(F/l940) 277 Laurana (1/1918) 289 Leo (USA/r 1943) 160 Lion (F/1929) 267 lugan (GB/1942) 59 Laurens (USA/r 1943) 160 Leon(Gr/l9ll) 404 Lion (GB/1910) 9 lugano(USA/l944) 146 1 aurentic(GB. 1927) 82 Leon (USA/r 1943) 159 Lion(GBZ-) 16 Lagos (GB/1944) 44 Lauria (Sp/1912) 400 Leon Mignoi (F/I917) 258 lioness (GB/1944) 65 Lagos (l’u/r 1927) 398 Lauzon (GB/1944) 59 Leonard F Mason (USA 1946) 134 Lionfish (USA/1943) 145 |jtgr.tnge(F/l917) 258 Lavaca (USA/r 1943) 160 Leonardo da Vinci (1/1911) 284 Lira (1/1937) 302 1 aiguna BeIlc(GB/1896) 84 Lavender (GB. 1941) 62 I conardo da Vinci (1/1939) 306 Lis (Po/c 1913) 396 l-ahna (Fi/rl936) 366 Lawford (GB 1943) 61 Leone (1/1923) 286 Liscomb (GB/1942) 66 1 jthore(GB/19ll) 65 Lawoc (Ne/1937) 394 Leone Pancaldo (I/1929) 299 Liscombe Bay (USA/1943) 109 l-iinc(l*s/exiani 1922) 352 Lawrence (GB. extant 1922) 13 Ixopard (F/1924) 267 Lismore (GB/1940) 65 Laird» Isle (GB/1911) 73,S3 1 awrence (USA/1920) 95 Leopard G 1928) 237 I jstowcl (GB/-) 63 1-ake (USA/1943) 135 Lawrence C Taylor (USA/1944) 138 Leopard (USSR/rl9IS) 324 lisui (Ma/I903) 414 Lake Champlain (USA/1944) 1CM laws (USA/1943) 130 Leopard (USSR/-) 339 Litchfield (USA/1919) 95 bib (N<V 1900) 378 Lawson (GB/1943) 61 Leopold (USA/1943) 140 I.irhgow (GB/1940) 65 Lal (GB/1941) 79 Laxen (Dk/1930) 383 Lepanio(I/1927) 317 Litio(l/I944) 311 1 .amir (USA/r 1943) 159 Laxen (Sw/I9l4) 370 Lepanto (Sp/1928) 401 Little (USA/1917) 93 1.amberinn (USA/1918) 91 1-aya (Sp/1910) 400 Lcrax (Gr/1911) 404 Little (USA/1944) 132 1 arnbrey (USA/1944) 146 luzar Kaganovich (USSR/1937) 346 l.erez(SpJ 1944) 403 little Rock (USA/1944) 120 1 jambridge (GB/1917) 84 I azzaro Mocemgo (1/1919) 288 Leros (Gr/?) 406 Liliorio (1/1937) 289 1 л merlon (GB/1940) 46 lx Breton (F/-) 272 Les Eparges (F/1919) 259 Lively (GB/1941) 41 Unions (USA/1943) 139 LcCentaure (F/1932) 273 Ixslic L В Knox (USA/1944) 137 Livermore (USA/1940) 128 tamouc Picquel (F/1924) 262 I x Conqueram (F71934) 273 Lesvos (Gr/r 1942) 406 Liverpool (GB/1937) 32 Lampu(l/I93l) 300 lxCorse(F/)942) 272 Lethbridge (G В 1940) 62 Lizardfish (USA/1944) 146 I-am*ou (USA/1920) 95 1 c Farouche (F/1940) 272 Letitia (GB/1925) 82 Ljubljana (Yu/1938) 357 1 unison (USA/1936) 125 1 eFier(F/l940) 272 I zutze (USA/1942) 130 IJandudno(GB/1941) 64 l-inark (GB/1943) 59 Le Fortune (F/1926) 270 Levachev (US SR'r 1935) 345 Llewellyn (GB/1942) 72 1 uncastcr (GB/1918) 47 lxGlorieux(F/193l) 273 Leviathan (GB/1945) 22 Lloyd (USA/1943) 136 1 uncaster Castle (GB/1944) 63 1-eHardi (F/1938) 270 Levis (GB/1940) 62 I Jnyd E Acree (USA/1944) 137 Unce (GB/1940) 41 Lcl lardy (USA/1942) 135 Levis (GB/1943) 59 Lloyd George (GB/1942) 72 Uncc (USA/1943) 151 Le Harve (GB/~) 60 lzvkas(USSR/l916) 323 Lloyd Thomas (USA/1945) 133 Lancer (GB/1942) 67 l.elle os(F/1932) 273 Levy (USA/1943) 139 Lloyd 1 homas (USA/-) 135 I juicelfiali (USA/1943) 145 Le Mars (F/1926) 270 Lewes (GB/1918) 47 Lloyd Thomas (USA/-) 138 I jincia (1/1944) 303 Le Malin (F/1933) 268 Lewis (USA/1943) 138 Lobelia (F/1941) 277 l-aneier(F/l944) 278 Le Ray Wilson (USA/1944) 138 Lewis I lancock (USA/1943) 131 lobelia (GB/I9I6) 13 Fancier (I 1907) 286 Le Rcsolu (F/1944) 278 Lexington (USA/1925) 101 Lobelia (GB/1941) 62 l.aricierc 1/1938) 301 1 e Ruse (F/1944) 278 Lexington (USA/1942) 104 Loch Affric (GB/-) 60 Lander (USA/< 1943) 160 Le Temerai re (F/1941) 270 Ley te (USA/1945) 104 Loch Arkaig (GB/1945) 60 l_mdgu.ird (GB/1930) 58 Le Terrible (F/1933) 268 I xy tenant Shmidt (USSR/190I) 324 Loch Achanalt (GB/1944) 60 1 .andsort (Sw/1937) 376 I e Tvnnant (F 1934) 273 LiChich(Ca/I903) 412 Loch Achray (GB/1944) 60 LangfUSA/1938) 127 Lcl riomphant (F/1934) 268 Li Sui (Ca/1909) 412 Loch Ahic (GB/1944) 60 1 anglade (F/c 1942) 278 Le Verrier(F/l9)2) 258 libeccio (1/1934) 300 Loch Awe (GB/-) 60 Ungley (USA/I9I2) 93 Le Vigilant (F/1944) 278 Libellula (I/-) 317 Loch Badcall (GB/-) 60 1 angley (USA/1943) 105 Le Vontaire (F/1944) 278 Libertad(A/l890) 419 Loch Caroy (GB/-) 60 Lanier (USA/. 1943) 160 ixa (USA/1918) 94 1 ibenad (Ve/I941) 415 1 axh Clunie (GB/-) 60 1 -tiling (USA/1943) 136 Leamington (GB/1918) 47 Liber tudor Bolivar Ec/1896 425 Loch Craggie (GB/1944) 60 1 ansdalc(USA/l9IS) 94 lxander(GB/l93l) 30 Liberty (GB/1944) 65 Loch Cretan (GB/-) 60 Lansdale (USA/1939) 128 Leary (USA/1918) 94 I Jbia(l/|9l2) 285 Loch Do.ne(GB/~) 60 Lansdale (USA/1946) 133 Leary (USA/1945) 134 Libra (1/1938) 302 Loch Dunvegan (GB/1944) 60 1 ansdowne (USA/1942) 128 Leaside (GB/1944) 63 Lidaka(La/cxiant 1922) 353 Loch Farn (GB/-) 60 Lansing (USA/1943) 140 Lebcrccht Maass (G/1935) 232 I iddcsdale(GB'194O) 45 Loch Eck (GB/1944) 60 Lansquenet(F/1909) 258 Lech(G/1930) 252 laddie (USA/1943) 136 Loch Enock (GB/-) 60 Lansquenet F/1939) 270 Leda (GB/1937) 63 Lidofi^rd (Sw/1933) 376 Loch Ericht (GB/-) 60 1 .ansqucncl (F/1944) 278 Ledbury (GB/1941) 46 Lieh(Ca/1895) 412 Loch Ensort (GB/-) 60 1 anun (GB/1941) 64 Lee Fox (USA/1943) 136 Lientur (Се/1896) 422 Loch Eye (GB/-) 60 1 inzerono Malocello (I/1929) 299 Leeds (GB/1917) 47 Licshu(Fi/el9I5) 364 Loch Eynort (GB/-) 60 1 aplacc (F/1919) 258 Leeds Canle(GB/)943) 63 Licvin(F/1920) 259 Loch Fada (GB/1943) 60 Upon (USA/1942) 145 Leedstown (USA/c 1943) 159 Lightfoot (GB/1942) 65 l och Fyne (GB/1944) 60 441
Loch Garve GB/-) 60 Longueuil (GB/1943) 59 Lyman К Swenson (USA/1944) 132 Magnet (USA/1943) 151 Loch Glashan (GB/-) 60 Longshaw USA/1943) 130 Lyme Regis (GB/1941) 64 Magnificent (GB/1944) 22 Loch Glendhu GB ) 944) 60 Lonkhi (Gr/c 1906) 404 Lyme Regis (GB/1942) 64 Magnolia (GB/1915) 13 Loch Goal (GB/-) 60 Looe(GB/l924) 84 Lyn (No/1896) 378 Magoffin (USA/c 1943) 160 Loch Gorm (GB/) 944) 60 Lookout (GB/1940) 41 Lynx(F/1924) 267 Magog (GB/1943) 59 Loch Griam (GB/-) 60 Loosestrife (GB/1941) 62 Ly-nx(Ne/19l3) 387 Magon(F/l913) 258 Loch Harray (GB/-) 60 Lorain (USA/1944) 149 Ly6(Dk/l94I) 384 Magoihy (USA/-) 157 Loch Hourn (GB/-) 60 Lorain (USA/-) 149 Lysander (GB/1943) 65 Magpie (GB/1943) 57 Loch Inchard (GB/-) 60 Lord Give (GB/1915) 9 MahaChakri (Si/1918) 410 Loch Insh (GB/1944) 60 Lorenzo Marcello (1/1918) 288 Maagen ( Dk/1930) 384 Mahan(USA/l9l8) 91 Loch Katrine (GB/1944) 60 Loreia (Pu/1934) 424 Maasen (S w/c 1940) 377 Mahan (USA/1935) 125 Loch Ken (GB/-) 60 Loring (GB/1943) 61 Mabahiss (Eg/1930) 409 Mahone (GB/1940) 64 Loch Killin (GB/1943) 60 Lorna Doone iB/1891) 84 Macabi (USA/1944) 146 Mahrana (GB/1942) 41 Loch Kilhsport (GB/1944) 60 Lorraine(F/I9l3) 257 MacaM (1/1936) 310 Mahroussa (Eg/1865) 409 Loch Kirbister (GR/-) 60 Lorraine(F/l941) 272 McAno (USA/1943) 139 Maiden Castle (GB 1944) 63 Loch Kirkaig (GB ) 60 Los Andes A 1875) 419 Macau (Po/1909) 396 Maidstone (GB/1937) 80 Loch Kishorn (GB/-) 60 Loe Angeles (USA/1944) 121 Macbeth (GB/1940) 66 Maidstone (GB ) 79 Loch Knockie(GBZ-) 60 Lessen (Dk/1910) 383 McCaffery (USA/1945) 134 Maikaze(J/l94l) 191 Loch Laro (GB/-) 60 Lassie GB/1943) 59 McCall (USA/1910) 93 Maiko(j/I909) 212 Loch Linfern(GB/~) 60 Lothian (GB/1938) 75 McCall (USA/1937) 126 Maille Breed (F/1931) 268 Loch Linnhe (GB/-) 60 Loihringen G 1904 222 McCalla (USA/1919) 95 Maimai (GB/1943) 67 Loch Lomond (GB/1944) 60 Utus(i) (GB/1942) 62 McCalla (USA/1942) 128 Maine (USA/-) 100 Loch Lurgain (GB/-) 60 Lotus (ii) (GB/1942) 63 McCawley (USA/1919) 95 Mainstay (USA 1943) 151 Loch Lyon (GB/ ) 60 Lougen(Dk/l94l) 384 McClelland (USA/1943) 139 Maipo(Cc/l901) 422 Loch Maberry (GB/-) 60 Lough (USA/1944) 137 McConnell (USA/1943) 139 Majestic (GB/1945) 22 Loch Minnick (GB/-) 60 Louhi(Ft/l9l6) 364 McCook USA/1919) 95 Major (USA/1943) 137 Loch More (GB/1944) 60 Louis (GB/1943) 61 McCook (USA/1942) 128 Makassar Strait (USA/1944) 110 Loch Morlich (GB/1944) 60 Louisburg GB 1941) 62 McCord (USA/1943) 130 Maki (J/1917) 175 Loch Nell (GB/-) 60 Louisburg (GB/1943) 63 McCormick (USA/1920) 94 Maki (J/1944) 196 Loch Odairn GB/ ) 60 Louis- Du pet tl hoiiars (F/1915) 258 McCoy Rey nolds (USA/1944) 138 Makikumo(j/I94l) 195 Loch C ’sian (GB/-) 60 Louisiana (USA/-) 100 McCracken (USA/c 1943) 160 Makin Island (USA/1944) 110 Loch Quoich (GB/) 944) 60 1 ouisville(USA/l930) 114 McDcrmul (USA/1918) 95 Makinami J 1941) 195 Loch Ronald (GB -) 60 Lovcen (Yu/ем ant 1922) 359 McDermut (USA/1943) 131 Makrelen(Dk/l9l8) 382 Loch Ruthven (GB/1944) 60 Lovelace (U SA/1943) 136 MacDonough (USA/1920) 95 Malachite (1/1936) 309 Lech Ryan (GB/-) 60 Lovering (USA/1943) 135 MacDonough (USA/1934) 125 Malatia(Tu/l907) 407 Loch Scavaig (GB/1944) 60 ) owe (USA/1943) 140 McDougal (USA/I9I4) 93 Malaya (GB/1915) 7 Izxh Scridain (GB/-) 60 I owestoft GB 913) 10 McDougal (USA/1936) 125 Malcolm (GB/1919) II Loch Sheallag (GB/-) 60 Lowestoft GB 1934 56 McFarland (USA/1920) 94 Malidcuse (F/r 1916) 259 Loch Shiel (GB/-) 60 Lowndes (USA/c 1943) 160 McGinty (USA/1944) 138 M lines GB/1921) 83 Loch Shin (GB/1944) 60 l.owty (USA/1944) 132 McGowan (USA/1943) 131 Malinska (Yu/1931) 358 Loch Skaig (GB/ ) 60 1лу (USA/1943) 136 Machanu (Si/1936) 411 Mallard (GB/1936) 62 Loch Skcrrow (GB/-) 60 Loyal (GB/1941) 41 Machias (USA/1943) 149 Mailing Castle (GB/-) 63 Loch Stcmster (GB/-) 60 Loyally GB 1944) 65 Macin (Ro/extant 1922) 362 Mallow (GB/1915) 13 Loch Stenness (GB/-) 60 Lubbock (USA/r 1943) 160 Mack (USA/1944) 137 Mallow (GB/1940) 62 1 och Striven (GB/-) 60 Lubiana (1/1938) 301 Mackay (GB/1918) 11 Malmesbury Casile (GB/-) 63 Loch Sunan (GB/-) 60 1-uca Tango (1/1928) 299 McKean (USA/1918) 94 Malmo (Sw/1938) 372 Loch Swin (GB/-) 60 Luccida(I/l943) 317 McKean (USA/1945) 133 Matoja(GB/l923) 82 Loch Tanna (GB/-) 60 Luce (USA/1918) 94 McKee(USA/I9l8) 94 Malny (USA/1943) 137 loch Tarbert (GB/1944) 60 I uce (USA/1943) 130 McKee (USA/1942) 131 Malpeque (GB/1940) 64 Loch Tilt (GB/-) 60 1 .uceafarul (Ro/extant 1922) 362 Mackenzie (USA/1918) 94 Malvernian (GB/1937) 83 Loch Tralaig GB 1945) 60 Luchs(G/1928) 237 Mackenzie (USA/1942) 129 Malwa (GB/1944) 64 Loch Tummel (GB/-) 60 Luciano Manara (I/1929) 307 Mackerel (USA/1940) 144 Mameluck (F/1909) 258 Loch Urigill (GB/-) 60 Lucid (USA/)943) 151 Mackinac (USA/1941) 157 Mameluck F 1939) 270 Loch Veya tie (GB/1945) 60 Lucknow (GB/1942) 65 McLanahan (USA/1918) 95 Mameluck (F 19441 278 Loch Vanax ie (GB/-) 60 Ludlow (GB/I9I7) 47 McLanahan (USA/1942) 129 Mameluke GB 1944) 65 Loch Vennachar (GB/-) 60 Ludlow (USA/1918) 94 McLane (USA/1927) 166 Manazuru J 1933 197 Loch Watien (GB/-) 60 Ludlow (USA/1940) 128 Mac Lenh (USA/1919) 94 Mandal (No/?) 381 Lochy (GB/1943) 59 Luigi Cadorna (1/1931) 294 Macmahon Sp 1890) 400 Mandoi(Po/cl9I0) 396 Lockeport (GB/1941) 64 Luigi di Savoia Du a Degli McNair (USA/1943) 131 Manley (USA/I9I7) 93 Locotenant-Commandor Suhi Abruzzi 1/1936) 296 McNulty (USA/1944) 137 Mansfield ((GB/1918) 47 . Eugen (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Luigi Galvani (I 1918) 288 Macoma (G В/1935) 26 Malta (GB/-) 21 Locotenant Lcpri Remus I uigi Settembrini (1/1930) 308 Macomb (USA/1941) 128 Manchester (GB/1937) 32 (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Luigi Torelli (I/1940) 306 Macon (USA/1944) 121 .Manchester (USA/1946) 120 Locust (GB/1939) 79 Luka Pankov (USSR/1941) 340 Macon (USA/-) 149 Mand e (GB/1944) 65 Locscr (USA/1943) 137 Lulworth (GB/1928) 58 Macquarie (GB/1945) 60 Mandrake (GB/1942) 63 Lofbert (USA/1944) 132 Lumen USA cl943) 160 Middox USA/1918) 94 Mangini (F/1913) 258 Logan (USA/c 1943) 160 I .unakharskiy USSR/c 1916) 324 Maddox (USA/1942) 129 Mangrove (G В/1940) 66 Loggerhead (USA/1944) 146 Lundy (GB/1942) 66 Maddox (USA/1944) 132 Manila Bay (USA/1943) 109 Logic (USA/1943) 151 Lunenberg (GB/1941) 62 Madison (USA/1939) 128 Manistee (GB/1920) 83 Loimu Fi 1915) 364 Luncxnllc (F/1920) 259 Madras (GB/1942) 64 Manitoulin (GB/1942) 66 Lom(No/l905) 378 Lung Huan(Ca/l93l) 413 Madura (GB/1942) 65 Manitowoc (USA/1943) 149 Lorn (No/c 1943) 380 Lunga Point (USA/1944) 110 Maenad (GB/1944) 65 Manju (J 1943) 205 Lommen (Sw/1941) 377 Lupin (GB/1916) 13 Macshima 0/1943) 209 Man gheten (Sw 1903) 368 London (GB/1927) 27 Lupo (1/1937) 302 Maestrale (1/1934) 300 Manlovc (USA/1943) 135 Londonderry (GB/1935) 56 Lurio(Po/cl907) 396 Magallanes (Sp/1944) 403 Manners (GB/1943) 61 Ung (USA/1919) 94 Luronnc F 1917) 259 Magdalen (GB/1942) 66 Mannert LAbele (USA/1944) 132 Long Beach (USA/1943) 148 L0tzow(G/1931) 228 Maggiolino (1/-) 317 Manning (USA/1897) 96 Long Island USA 1940) 107 Luzon (USA/1927) 156 Maggiore Baracca (1/1940) 306 Manning (USA/1943) 136 Longa (GB/1943) 66 Lycoming (USA/c 1943) 160 Magidenne (G В/1944) 65 Man6(Dk/l941) 384 Longbow (GB/-) 44 Lyernun (GB/1942) 64 Magne (Sw 1905) 369 Manoora GB 1935) 72,82 Longbranch (GB/1943) 63 Lyman (USA/1943) 135 Magne(Sw/1942) 372 Mansfield (USA/1944) 132 442
Manta (USA/1945) 145 Mary Rose (GB/1943) 65 Melville (GB/1941) 64 Mtkazuki (J/1906) 175 Manuka (GB/1941) 67 Maryborough (GB/1940) 65 Melvin (USA/I92I) 95 Mikhail Manynov (USSR/c 1946) 340 Manxman GB 1940) 37 Maryland (USA/1920) 90 Melvin (USA/1943) 131 Mikurna (J/1934) 190 Muisn (GB/1937) * 40 Mashona (GB/1937) 40 Melvin R Nawman (USA/1944) 138 Mtkun (J/1943) 206 Mapiro (USA/1944) 146 Mason (USA/1919) 94 Memphis (USA/1924) 93 Milan (F/1931) 268 Maple Lakc(GlV-) 72 Mason (USA/1943) 135 Menard (USA/c 1943) 160 Milazzo (I/. 1925) 317 Maplin (GB/1932) 83 Massachu set tes (USA/1941) 98 Mendez Nunez (Sp/1922) 399 Mildura (GB/1941) 65 Marakumo (J/1898) 177 Massey (USA/1944) 132 Mendip (GB/1940) 45 Milfoil (GB/1942) 63 M.trungone (1/1943) 317 Massue(F/1908) 258 Mendota (USA/1928) 164 Milford (GB/1932) 56 Maranhao (Br/1913) 416 Mastiff (GB 1938) 65 Mendota (USA/1944) 165 Mi Hedge VI le (USA/1944) 149 Marasesti (Ro/1918) 360 Mali Hari (GB/1915) 83 Mendoza (А/1928) 42) Miller (USA/1943) 130 Marasti (Ro/1917) 360 Matabele (GB/1937) 40 Mcncstheus (G В/1929) 85 Mills (USA/1943) 140 Marat (USSR/1911) 322 Matagorda (USA/1941) 157 Menges (USA/1943) 140 Milltown (GB/1942) 64 Marathon (USA/c 1943) 160 Matane (GB. 1943) 59 Menhaden (USA/1944) 146 Mtlne(GB 1941) 41 Marblehead (USA/1923) 93 Matanikau (USA/1944) 1)0 Menifee (USA/c 1943) 160 Milton Lewis (USA/1944) 139 M.trcantoniu Bragadin (1/1929) 308 Matarutas (USA/-) 157 Mcon (GB/1943) 59 Milwaukee (USA/I921) 93 M.trcantonio Colonna (1/1927) 307 Matapan (GB/1945) 44 Merapi (Ne/1942) 394 Mimico (GB/1943) 63 Marceau F/1941) 269 Maupedia (GB/1940) 62 Merashecn GB/cl942) 72 Mimosa (F/1941) 277 Marcello (1/1937) 305 Matchless (GB/1941) 41 Merbaboe (Ne/1937) 394 Mimosa (GB/1941) 62 Marchand (USA/1943) 140 Matelot Leblanc(F/I9I6) 258 Mcrcator(Be/l931) 385. Mina (USSR/1937) 341 M.ucilio Dias (Br/1940) 417 Maielot (F/1942) 277 Mercury (GB/1934) 84 Minadsuki (J/1926) 192 Mateus (USA/1919) 95 Mathews (U SA/r 1943) 160 Meredith (USA/19)8) 94 Mimh(USAA-) 151 Marcus Island (USA/1943) 109 Mathias de Albuquerque Meredith (USA/1940) 128 Minalto (GB/1943) 66 Mardus (Es/extant 1922) 353 (Br/1942) 417 Meredith (USA/1943) 132 M nas(GB ISM I) 64 Marea (1/1942) 310 Mato-Grosso Br 1909) 416 Meredith (USA/1945) 134 Minas Gera s(Br/)908) 416 Marechiaro {I/1904) 288 Matsu (J/1915) 175 Merci (Ne/1928) 395 Mtnazuki (J/1906) 175 Margarce (GB/1932) 38 Matsu (J/1944) 196 Mcrikaru (Es/extant 1922) 353 Mincarlo (GB/1944) 66 Marghera(I 1909) 289 Matsukaze (J/1906) 175 Men wet her (USA/r 194 3) 160 Mindanao (USA/1927) 156 Margucnte GB/1915) 13 Matsukaze(J 1923) 176 Mermaid (GB/1943) 58 Mindoro(USA/)945) 111 Marguerite (GB/1940) 62 Matsu wa (J/1942) 205 Mero (USA/1945) 146 Mtnegumo (J/1937) 194 Marigold (GB/1940) 62 Main Kurki (Fi/1891) 364 Mcrrick(USAAI943) 160 Mineiro(Po/l892) 396 Mariner (GB/1944) 65 Maunder (GB/1919) 84 .Merrill (USA/1943) 140 Minekaze (J/19 9) 176 Mirion(USA/l9»7) 166 Maurice Callot (17)921) 258 Merrittonia GB 1944) 63 M nerva (1/1942) 317 Mariscal Sucre (Ve/1886) 415 Maurice J Manuel (USA/1944) 137 Mernttonia (GB/ ) 60 Mmerve(F/l934) 275 Mariupol (USSR/extant 1922) 345 Mauritius (GB/1939) 34 Mertz (GB/1943) 131 Ming Chuen (Ca/1929) 413 Martz e Barros Br 1940) 417 Maury (USA 1918) 94 Mervine (USA/1919) 95 Ming Sen (Ca/1931) 413 Marfan (Yu/1931) 358 Maury (USA/1938) 126 Mervine (USA/1942) 128 Mingo (USA/1942) 145 Marjoram (GB/1940) 62 Max Schultz .G/1935) 232 Metallist (USSR/cl916) 324 Mirustro Zenteno (Br/1896) 422 Maikcn (i)(NcA 1942) 394 Maxim Gorkiy (USSR/1938) 328 Metcalfe (USA/1944) 131 Minivet (USA/1944) 150 Matken (ii) (Ke/.-1942) 394 Maya(J/1930) 189 Metemnteh (lig/extant 1922) 409 Minneapolis (USA/1933) 115 Marlborough (GB/1912) 7 Mayasoit Maru (J/1942) 215 Mcteo (1/1918) 289 Minnetonka (USA/1945) 165 Marltn(USA/194l) 144 Mayflower (GB/1940) 62 Meteor (GB/1941) 41 Minotaur (GB/-) 36 Marmion (GB/1906) 84 Mayo (USA/1940) 128 Meteor (Sw/1898) 370 Minolaurus (Ne/c 1902) 387 Mannion (GB/1944) 65 Mayrant (USA/I9I0) 93 Method (USA/1943 151 Minrep (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Marmion (GB/-) 65 Mayrant (USA/1938) 127 Metivier (USA/1544) 137 Minrep (USSR/1936) 341 Marne (F/1916) 259 Mazaflir (Ре/1899) 409 Meiomkin (USA/ ) 157 Minsk (USSR/1935) 329 Marne (171942) 277 Mazare F 1917) 258 Merz (F/1915) 257 Minstrel (GB/1944) 65 Marne (GB/1940) 41 Mazendern (Pc/193**) 409 Meultcurc (1/19)9) 259 Minuet (GB 1941) 66 Maroeain (171917) 258 Mazur (Pl/1914) 348 Meuse (F/1917) 259 Mira (Sw/1902) 370 Marocatn (F/1944) 272 Mazurka (GB/1940) 66 Meuse (F/1940) 277 Mtralda (GB/1936) 26 Maron (GB/1930) 83 Meade (USA/1919) 95 Mcwa (Pl/extant 1922) 349 Miramichi (GB/1944) 64 Marquette (USA/c 1943) 160 Meade (USA/1942) 128 Mcwa (Pl/c 1936) 351 Miranda (Ve/1895) 4)5 Mars(GBZ-) 36 Meadowsweet GB/1942) 62 Mew stone (GB/1943) 66 Mircea (Ro/extant 1922) 36) Marsala (1/1912) 285 Meaford (GB/-) ‘ 63 Meyer (USA/1919) 95 Mircea (Ro/c 1938) 362 Marsdak- (GB/1940) 83 Measure (USA/1943) 151 Meynell (GB/1940) 45 Minh(USA/)943) 151 Marseillaise (171900) 257 Mccanicien Principal Lestin Miami (USA'1942) 120 Mtscou (GB/1942) 66 Marseillaise (F/1935) 265 (F/1915) 258 Mtaoulis(Gr/1942) 406 Mishima (J/1894) 171 Marsh (USA/1943) 137 Medea (USA/c 1943) 160 Mica (17c 1918) 259 Misiones A/1897) 419 Marsha) Souli (GB/191S) 9 Medicine Hat (GB/1941) 64 Michael (GB 1944) 65 Misitones (А/1937) 420 Marshall (USA/1943) 131 Medjidteh(Tu/19O3) 406 Michael Sars (No/1900) 379 Misoa (GB/1937) 74 Marsonin (F/1924) 272 Medocino(L'SA/c 1943) 159 Michel (G/c 1939) 247 Mission Bay (USA/1943) 109 Marsutnul (Ro/1941) 361 Mcdrcgal (USA/1944) 147 Michel Gardeyn (Ne/. 1905) 387 Mississippi (USA/I9I7) 90 Marte (Sp/1936) 402 Medrick(USAZ-) 151 Michele Bianchi (I/I939) 306 Missoula (USA/1906) 93 .Marti (Tu/rl926) 408 Medusa (G/19O0) 222 Michtshio(j/I937) 194 Missoula (USA/c 1943) 160 Maru (USSR/c 1895) 344 Medusa (I/1931) 309 Micka (USA/1943) 139 Missouri (USA/1944) 99 Maru (USSR/1903) 324 Medusa (Ne/1913) 388 Mikadsuki(j/I926) 192 Mistral (F/1901) 258 Marucoi (GBAI941) 72 Medusc(F/1930) 275 Micmac (GB/1943) 40 Mistral (171925) 269 Marlin (GB/1940) 41 Medway (GB/1928) 79 Middlesborough (GB. 1942) 64 Mitchell (USA/1943) 135 Martin (USA/1943) 135 Medway Queen (GB/1924) 84 Middlesex (GB/1943 65 M tragliere(I/l941) 301 Marlin Alonso Pinzon Sp 1944 403 Mei Yuan (Ca/1927) 413 Middleton (GB'1941) 46 Mi-ake(J/!943) 206 Marlin H Ray (USA/1943) 140 Meklong(Si/1936) 411 Midland (GB/1941) 62 Miyuki (J 1928) 193 Martin Harpcrtzoon Tromp Melbourne (G В/1912) 10 Midway (USA/1945) 106 Mizuho (J/1938) 213 (Nc/19O4) 386 Mclbreak (GB/1942) 46 Mietcl (USSR/1934) 339 Mjolner (Su/1942) 372 Mart* (USA/1943) 139 Melik (Eg/extant 1922) 409 Mifflin (USA/. 1943) 160 Mljet(Yu/l93l) 358 Martynov (USSR/1906) 324 Melilla (Sp/1916) 402 Might (USA/1942) 156 Moa (GB/1941) 66 Manynov (USSR/. 1935) 345 Mehta (GB/1942) 65 Mignonet tc (GB/1941) 62 Moale (USA/1944) 132 Marvel (GB'1944) 65 Meljine(Yu/1931) 358 Mguel de Cervantes (Sp/1928) 400 Moberly (USA/1944) 149 Marvel (USA/1943) 151 MeUcna(USA/«*19l3) 160 Mihail Kogalnitcanu (Ro/exrant Mobile (USA/1942) 1)9 Marvin H McIntyre MeUette (USA/c 1943) 160 1922) 361 Mocemgo (I/I937) 305 (USA/c 1943) 160 Melpomene (1/1943) 317 Miina (Fi/c 1916) 364 Mochid suki (J/1927) 192 Marxist (USSR/c 1916) 324 Melton (GB/I9I6) 84 Mikasa(J/1900) 171 Mochtisuki (J/-) 195 443
Modbury (GB/1942) 46 Mode (Sw/1902) 369 Mode (Sw/1942) 372 Modeste (GB/1944) 58 Modoc (USA/I92I) 96 Moffett (USA/1935) 125 Mogador(F/1937) 269 Mogami (J/1908) 177 Mogami (J/1934) 190 Mohawk (GB/1937) 40 Mohawk (USA/1934) 166 .Mojave (USA/1921) 96 Mokuto(j/I945) 206 Molde (No/?) 381 Molnya (USSR/1935) 339 Molotov (USSR/1939) 328 Momi(J/19l9) 175 Momi (J/1944) 196 Memo (J/1916) 175 Momo(J/1944) 196 Monaghan (USA/19)1) 93 Mon ghan (USA/1935) 125 Mona’s Isle (GB/1905) 83,84 Monarch (GB/1911) 7 Moncton (GB/1941) 62 Moodego (Po/c 1913) 396 Monemassta(Gr/)881) 405 Monfalcone (1/19)7) 287 Monge (F/1929) 273 Mongkut Rujakumarn (Si/l887) 410 Monitor (USA/1943) 161 Monkshood .GB/1941) 62 Monmouth (GB/-) 23 Monmouth Casile (GB/-) 63 Monnow (GB/1943) 59 Monocacy (USA/I914) 96 Monowai (GB/1924) 82 Mons (GB/-) 44 Monsone (I/1942) 303 Monssen(L'SA/1940) 128 Monssen (USA/1943) 131 Montague (USA/c 1943) 160 Montana (U SA/-) 100 Montauk (USA/1943) 161 Montbrctia (GB/1941) 62 Montbrelia (No/1941) 380 Montcalm (F/I900) 257 Montcalm (F/1935) 265 Montclare .GB/1922) 82 Montdemcm (F/1920) 259 Monterey (USA/1943) 105 Montevideo (Ur/1890) 419 Montgomery (GB/1918) 47 Montgomery' (USA/1918) 94 Mon mirail F/1920 259 Montour (USA/c 1943) 159 Montpelier (USA/1942) 119 Montreal (GB/1943) 59 Montrose (GB/1918) II Montrose (USA/c 1943) 160 Montserrat .GB/1943) 62 Monzam ba no (1/1923) 287 Moody (USA/1919) 95 Mooltan (GB/1923) 82 Moon (GB/1943) 65 Moon (GB/-) 65 Moore (USA/1942) 140 Moorsom GB/1943) 61 Moose-Jaw (GB/1941) 62 Moqueuse (F/c 1916) 259 Morales (Mex/1903) 414 Morava (Yu/extant 1922) 357 Moray (USA/1944) 145 Morcambe Bay (GB/1944) 61 Morden (GB/1941) 62 Moreno (А/1911) 419 Moreton Bay (GB/1921) 82 Moroshima (J/-) 209 Morosini (1/1938) 305 Morpeth Castle(GB/1943) 63 Morris (USA/1919) 95 Morns (USA/1927) 166 Morris (USA/1939) 127 Morns Dance GB 1940) 66 Morrison (USA/1943) 130 Morse (F/1925) 272 Morse (F/1944) 276 Monter (F/1906) 258 Moskva (USSR/1935) 329 Mosley (USA/1943) 140 Mosor(Yu/1931) 358 Mosquito (GB/1939) 79 Moss (No/?) 38) Mosyrz(Pl/extant 1922) 349 Mou (GB/1941) 79 Motive(USA/1942) 150 Mounsey (GB/1943) 61 Mount McKinley (USA/1943) 159 Mount Olympus (USA/1943) 159 Mountrail (USA/r 1943) 160 Mounts Bay (GB/1945) 61 Moume (GB/1942) 59 Mousa (GB/1942) 66 Moussoul (Tu/)905) 407 Mowe (G/1926) 237 Moyola (GB/1942) 59 Muavenet (Tu/)941) 407 Mugford (USA/1918) 94 Mugford (USA/1936) 126 Muggia(!/)912) 287 Muikko(Fi/cl936) 366 Muir (USA/1944) 139 Muircha (Ei/)908) 425 Mu grave (GB/1942) 64 Mulhouse (F/1911) 257 Muhphen (USA/c 1943) )60 Mull (GB/1941) 66 Mullany (USA/1920) 95 Mulbny (USA/1942) 130 Mullet (GB/1942) 67 Multan (GB/1944) 65 Munds (USA/1944) 110 Munin (Sw/19) I) 369 Munin (Sw/1942) 372 Murakumo(j/I927) 193 Murasame 0/1935) 194 Murat Res(Tu/1940) 408 Muratha(Si/l898) 410 Muraturc (A/c 1943) 421 Murchison (GB 1944) 60 Murena (1/1943) 310 Murmansk (USSR/1921) 328 Murotsu (J/1945) 206 Murphy (USA/1942) 128 Murray (USA/1918) 94 Mutray(USA/1942) 131 Murrelet (USA/1944) ISO Mumimbidgec (GB/-) 60 Munaja(Fi/)890) 364 Musashi (J/1940) 178 Musk (GB/1942) 63 Muskallunge (USA/1942) 145 Muskegon (USA/1943) 148 Musket (GB/-) 44 Muskctcer(GB/I941) 4) Muskogee (USA/1943) 149 Mustin (USA/1938) 127 Mutine (GB/1942) 65 Mutsu (J/1920) 171 Mutsuki 0/1925) 192 Mutsure 0/1943) 205 Muvanet-t-Milet (Tu/1909) 406 Muzio Auendolo (1/1934) 295 Myers (USA/1944) 161 Myles C Fox (USA/1945) 133 Myles C Fox (USA/-) 138 Myngs (GB/1943) 43 MyokoO/1927) 188 Myosotis (GB/1941) 62 Myrmidon (GB/1944) 65 Mysuc(GB/1944) 65 Myrbo(F/1933) 279 Nabob (GB/1943) Nachi 0/1927) Nacken (Sw/1942) Nada (Yu/1940) Nadakaze (J/1920) Nadder (GB/1943) Nadur(GB/l942) Naganami (J/1942) Nagara (J/1921) Nagato(J/19l9) Nagatsuki (J/I906) Nagatsuki (J/1926) Naiad (GB/1939) Natade F/1925) Naiade (1/1933) Naifeh (USA/1944) Natrana (GB/1943) Najad (Sw/1942) Najaden (Dk/1913) Najaden (Dk/1943) Naka(J/1925) Naluca(Ro/)914) Namdofjard Sw/1932) Namikaze (J/1922) Namsos (No/?) Namur (GB/1945) Nanaimo (GB/1940) Nancy (F/1919) Nani (I/J938) Nanoose (GB/1938) Naomi (GB/-) Napa (USA/c 1943) Napanee (GB/1940) Napier (GB/1940) Napoli (1/1905) Nara(j/I918) Nara (J/1944) Narbada GB/1942) Narbrough GB 1943) Narciso Monturio) (Sp/1917) Narcissus (GB/194!) Naresuan (Si/-) Narhvalcn (Dk/1917) Narodovolcc (USSR/1929) Narumi (J/1921) Narval (F/1925) Narva! (F/I94I) Narvalo (1/1930) Narvi (Ft/1944) Narvik (No/1942) Narvik (No/?) Narwhal (GB/1935) Narwhal (USA/1927) Naryu (J/1939) Nasami (J/1934) Nasht (J/1919) Nashi 0/1945) Nashville (USA/1937) Nasik (GB/1944) Nasir (Eg/extant 1922) Nassau (USA?1942) Nasturtium (GB/1940) Natal (GB/1944) Natchez (USA/1942) Natoma Bay (USA/1943) Natori (J/1922) Natrona (USA/c 1943) Natsugumo(J/1937) Natsushi ma 0/1911) Natsushima (J/1933) Natsushio (J/1939) Natsutsuki (J/1944) Naupba Gr 1881) Nautilo (1/1943) Nautilus (F/1930) Nautilus (Ne/1929) Nautilus (USA/1930) Navan no (GB/1945) Navannon (Gr/)934) Navarro (USA/c 1943) Nazario Sauro (1/1926) 26 N ea Genea (Gr/1912) 4(M 188 Neal A Scuti (USA/1944) 139 374 Neavc (GB/1942) 66 358 Neboisa (Yu/1927) 358 176 Needlefish (i)(USA/-) 146 59 Needlefish (ii)(USA/-) 147 59 Neghello (1/1937) 310 195 Nehenta Bay (USA/1943) 109 174 Nelson (GB/1925) 14 171 Nelson (USA/1942) 129 175 Nemaha (USA/1927) 166 192 Nembo (1/1927) 299 33 Nemesis (USA/1934) 166 272 Nene (GB/1942) 59 309 Nenohi (J, 1905 175 137 NenohiU/1932) 193 24 Nepal (GB/1941) 41 374 Nepean (GB/-) 60 382 Nepeta (GB/1942) 63 383 Nepion (Dk/I9)5) 382 186 Neptun (Sw/1942) 374 360 Neptune GB 933) 30 376 Neptune (GB/-) 36 176 Neptuno(Sp/1937) 402 38) Nereide (GB/1944) 58 44 Nereide (1/1933) 309 62 Nereus(Gr/1927) 405 259 Neriede(F/I9)4) 258 305 Nerissa (GB/1944) 65 65 Ncrka (USA/-) 146 60 Nervion (Sp/1944) 403 160 Neshoba (USA/c 1943) 160 62 Ness (GB/1942) 59 4) Nestor (GB/1940) 41 284 Nettelbeck (G/1919) 253 175 Netravati (GB/1909) 83 196 Neuendorf (USA/1943) 136 57 Neunzcr (USA/1943) 140 61 Nevada (USA/1914) 90 399 New (USA/1945) 133 62 New Bedford (USA 1943) 149 4)0 New Glasgow (GB, 1943) 59 382 New Hampshire (USA/-) 100 332 New Hanover (USA/cl943) 160 212 New Haven (USA/1942) 119 272 New Haven (USA/-) 120 276 New Jersey (USA/1942) 99 308 New Kent (USA/c 1943) 160 366 New Liskeard (GB. 944) 65 380 New Mexico (USA/1917) 90 381 New Orleans (USA; 1896) 93 49 New Orleans (USA/1933) 115 142 New Waterford (GB/1943) 59 209 New Westminster tGB/1941) 62 208 New York (USA/1912) 90 175 New Zealand (GB/-) 21 196 Newark (GB/1918) 47 116 Newark(USA/l943) 120 65 Newark (USA/-) 120 409 Newberry (USA/c 1943) 160 108 Newcastle GB 1936 31 62 Newcomb (USA/1943) 131 60 Newell (USA/1943) 140 148 Newfoundland (GB; 1941) 34 109 Newhaven (GB/1942) 64 174 Newman (U SA/1943) 136 160 Newman К Perry (USA/1945) 134 194 Newmarket (GB/1918) 47 177 Newport (GB/1917) 47 208 Newport (USA/1943) 148 194 Newport News (L'SA/1947) 123 195 Newton (F/1912) 258 405 Ncyrou (Ре/1934) 409 310 Nhongarhai (Si/)936) 411 274 Niagara (GB/1918) 47 393 Niagara (USA/c 1943) 160 142 Niblack (USA/1940) 128 44 Nicator(GB/-) 65 406 Nichebo (1/1942) 310 160 Nicholas (USA/1919) 95 298 Nicholas (USA/1942) 130 444
Nicholson (USA/I9I4) 93 Notoro(j/I920) 212 Oite (J/1924) 176 Orkan (Sw 1900) 370 N holson (USA/1940) 128 Noumoune-i-Hamiyct (Tu/1909) 406 Okaloosa (USA/r 1943) 160 Orkla (Na1917) 379 Nicola Fabi I 1918) 287 Novik (USSR/I911) 323 Okanogan (USA/r 1943) 160 Orkla (No/1944) 381 Nicolas Bravo MtxJ 1903) 414 Nowaki (J/1906) 175 Oki (J/1942) 205 Orkney (GB 1943) 59 Nocolo Zeno 1/1928 299 Novaki (J/1940) 194 Okikazc(j/I9l9) 176 Orlan (USSR/-) 339 Nicolosoda Rccco(l/)930) 299 Nox (GB/-) 65 Okinanu(J 1943) 195 Orlando (USA/1943) 149 Niclds (USA/1942) 129 Nubian (GB/1937) 40 Okinawa (J/1944) 206 Orleck (USA/1945) 134 Niels Juel (Dk/1918) 382 N udeus (USA/194 3) 151 Okinawa (USA/-) 111 Orm (No/?) 379 Nigella (GB/1940) 62 Nueve de Julio A 1892) 419 Okinoshima J 1896) 171 Ormen(Dk'l907) 382 Niger (GB/1936) 64 Numakaze(j/I922) 176 * Okinoshima (J 1935) 208 Orm nde (GB/1943) 72 Niger (GB/1945) 65 Nuoli Ft cl928) 366 Oklahoma (USA/1914) 90 Ormsby USA/CI943) 159 Niger (GB/-) 65 NOrnberg (G/1934) 231 Oklahoma City (USA/1944) 120 Orn(No/1903) 378 Nigeria (GB/1939) 34 Nusrar(Tu/l9l2) 407 Oksoy (No/?) 381 Orn(No/cl943) 380 Nigiisu Maru (J/1942) 213 Nuthatch (USA/1942) 150 Oksoy (ex-Pol 6) (No/?) 381 Ornen(Dk. 1934) 383 Niitaka(J/l902) 174 Nuwashima (J/1942) 209 Oktyabrya (USSR/extani 1922) 324 Omen Sw 18961 369 Niitsuki (J/1942) 195 Nyasaland (G В/1943) 62 Oland (Sw/1945) 373 Oronsay (GB/1943) 66 Niizaki (J/1942) 209 Nyezamozhnyi (USSR/c 1920) 324 Olav Tryggvason (No/1932) 381 Orphde (F/1931) 275 Nike(USA/1934) 166 Nymfen (Dk/1914) 382 Olev(Es/extanl 1922) 353 Orpheus (GB/1929) 48 Niki (Gr/c 1905) 404 Nymfen (Dk/1943) 383 Olfen Fischer (Dk/ 903) 382 Orsa (1/1937) 302 Nikolni Markin (USSR/1941) 340 Nymphc F 1926 272 Olive (GB/1910) 66 Orsay (GB 1945) 66 Nihm (GB/1941) 79 Nymphc (G/1899) 222 Oliver Mitchell (USA/1944) 138 Orskar (Sw 1940) 376 Nimble (USA/1943) Nimrod (GB/1915) 151 11 Nymphe (GB/-) 58 Olmsted (USA/r 1943) Olyir p a(USA/l892) 160 93 Oruc Reis (Tu/1940) Orwell (GB 1942) 408 42 Ning Hai (Ca/I93l) 413 O'Bannon (USA/1919) 94 Olympus GB 1928) 48 Oryol (USSR/1941) 339 Nino Bixio (I/I9I1) 285 O'Bannon (USA/1942) 130 Omaha (USA/1920) 93 Orzel(Pl/l938) 350 Ninoshima (J 1918) 177 O'Brien (USA/I9I4) 93 Omdurman (GB/-) 44 Osado (Sp 1897) 399 Niobe(G/l899) 222 O'Brien (USA/1939) 127 Ommancy Bay (USA/1943) 109 Osado (Sp 1951) 402 Niord(Sw/l898) 368 O'Brien (USA/1943) 132 Onami (J/1942) 195 Osage (USA'1943) 161 N ipigon (G В/1940) 64 O'Byrne(F/l9l9) 258 Ondina (1/1933) 309 Osberg (USA/1943) 138 Nire 0/1919) 175 O'Flaheny (USA/1943) 137 Ondine(F/l925) 273 Osborne (USA/1919) 95 Nire (J/1944) 196 O'Ilarc(USA/l945) 134 Ondine F 1931) 275 Oscar 11 (Sw/1905) 368 Nisshin (J/1903) 173 O'H gginv (Ce/1898) 422 Oneida (USA'c 1943) 160 Oshawa(GB'1943) 65 Nisshin (J/1939) 213 O'Neill (USA/1943) 139 Onicc (1/1936) 309 Oshio(J/I937) 194 Nith (GB/1942) 59 O'Reilly (USA/1943) 140 Ono (USA/-) 146 Osiris (GB 1928) 48 Nizam (GB/1940) 41 O' oolc (USA/1943) 135 On-mdaga USA/1898) 96 Osmond Ingram (USA/1919) 95 Njord (Ne/c 1878) 388 Oahu (USA/1927) 156 Onondaga (USA/1934) 166 Osmotritelnyi (USSR/1944) 332 Noa (USA/1919) 95 Oak Hill (USA 1943) 161 Onslaught (GB/1941) 41 Osmus (USA/1943) 137 Noa (USA/1945) 134 Oak Lakc(GB/-) 72 Onslow (GB/1941) 41 Osprey (USA/1940) 150 Noble(GB/l940) 41 Oakham Castle (GB/1944) 63 Onslow (USA/1912) 157 Ossipee(USA/l915) 96 Noble (GB/1941) 41 Oakland (USA/1942) 118 Ontario (GR/1943) 35 Ossory(GB 1944) 65 Noble (USA/c 1943) 160 Oakley (GB/1940) 56 Onyega (USSR/c 1941) 344 Ostara (USA/r 1943) 160 Noble Nora (No/?) 381 Oakley (GB/1942) 46 Onyx (GB/1942) 65 Ostcrhaus USA/1943) 139 Nokaze(J 1921) 176 Oakville (GB/1941) 62 Opasnyi (USSR/-) 332 Ostro (1/1928) 299 Nomi (J/1943) 206 Obdurate (GB/1942) 42 Ophelia (GB/1940) 66 Osvctnik (Yu/1929) 358 Nonpareil (GB/1941) 41 Obedient (GB/1942) 42 Opiniatre(F/l9ll) 258 Oswald (GB 1928) 48 Nonpareil (GB/-) 65 Oberon (GB/1926) 47 Opossum (GB/1944) 58 Oswald (USA/1944) 139 Nonsuch (GB/-) 58 Obcrrender (USA/1944) 137 Opponent (USA/1943) 151 Oswald A Powers (USA/1943) 138 Noor el Bahr (Eg/1925) 4 19 Oboro(j/I930) 193 Opportune (G В/1942) 42 Oswestry Castle (GB/-) 63 Noordbrabant (Ne/1899) 387 Obrazcovyi (USSR/1940) 332 Opytnyi (USSR/1935) 331 Otakisan Maru (J/1945) 213 Nootka(GB/l944) 40 Ocean (1719II) 257 Oracle (USA/1942) 150 Otaria (1/1935) 305 Nor (No? 1878) 179 Ocean (GB/1944) 22 Orage(F/l924) 269 Otchotlivsi (USSR/1947) 332 Noranda (GB/1941) 64 Ocean way (GB/1943) 74 Orange (USA/1943) 148 Oter(No/19?) 379 Nordenskjold (Sw/1926) 371 Ochakov (USSR/-) 330 Orangeville (GB/1944) 63 Othello (GR 941) 66 Nordhav II (No/?) 381 Oconto (USA/r 1943) 160 Orao(Yu/l9I8) 357 Otlichnyi (USSR/1940) 332 Nord kaperen (Dk/1928) 382 Octavia (GB/1942) 65 Orara(GB/l907) 84 Otori (J/1935) 197 Nordkaparcn (Sw/1935) 373 Odakc(j/I945) 196 Orca (USA/1942) 157 Otra(No/l939) 381 Nordkapp (No/1937) 381 Odaryonnyi (USSR/1941) 332 Orcadia(GB/l944) 65 Otso(Fi/)936) 367 Nordkyn {No/1941) 380 Odate(J/I940) 209 Orchis (GB/1940) 62 Otsu (J/1945) 206 Norfolk (GB/I928) 28 Odax (USA/1945) 147 Orchy (GB/1930) 84 Ot taviano Augusto (I/1941) 297 Norfolk (USA/-) 121 Odd (No/19?) 379 Ordronaux (USA/1942) 129 Ottawa (GB 1931) 38 Norge N f 1900) 378 Oden (Sw/1896) 368 Ordzhonikidze (USSR/-) 328 Ottawa (GB 1935) 39 Norman (GB/1940) 41 Oderin(GBAI94l) 72 Ortade (F/1932) 275 Ottawa (USA/C1943) 160 Norman Scott (USA/1943) 131 Odin (GB/1928) 48 Oregon City (USA/1945) 121 Otter (USA 1943) 136 Norris USA1945) 134 OJin(GB/-) 65 Orelh (Ce/1928) 422 Ottersielier (USA/1943) 140 Norrkoping (Sw/1940) 372 Odin(No/1939) 380 Orestes (GB/1942) 65 Otto Wunsche (G/1940) 252 Norsyd (GB/1943) 63 Odinn (Ic/1938) 425 Orfasy (GB/1942) 66 Otus(GB/l928) 48 North Bay (GB/1943) 63 Odum (USA/1944) 161 Orfeo(I/l907) 287 Ol verzhdyonnyi (USSR/1940) 332 North Carolina (USA/1940) 97 Odvazhnyo (USSR/1940) 332 Oribi (GB/1941) 42 Orway(GB 1926) 47 Northampton (USA/1929) 114 Odysseus (G/?) 254 Orillia (GB/1940) 62 Oudenarde GB/1945) 44 Northampton (USA/1951) 121 Odzani (GB/1943) 59 Oriole (GB/1910) 84 Oudh(GB 1942) 64 Northland (USA/1927) 164 Olla (GB/1941) 42 Orion (F/1931) 275 Oucssant (F71936) 273 Northumberland (i) (GB/-) 29 Oga(J'1944) 206 Orion (G/c 1930) 246 Ouragan(F 1924) 269 Northumberland (ii) (GB/-) 60 Ogden (USA/1943) 148 Orion (GB/1932) 30 Ouragan(Pt 1924 349 Northway (GB/1943) 74 Ogelthorpe(L’S:V. 1943) 160 Orion Sw 1903) 370 Outardc(GB/l941) 64 Northwind (USA/1942) 166 Ogncvoi (USSR/1940) 332 Orionc(l/I906 287 Outrcmont .GB/1943) 59 Northwind (USA/1945) 166 Ohama (J/1944) 207 Orivne(l/I937) 302 Overflakkec (Ne/c 1943) 394 Norton Sound (USA/1943) 157 Ohio (USA/-) 100 Oriskany (US A. 194 5) 104 Overseer (USA/1943) 151 Norwich Castle (GB/-) 63 Oi (J/1920) 174 Orjen (Yu/r 1937) 359 Overton (USA/1919) 94 Noshiro(j/I942) 191 Oise(F/l9l7) 259 Orkan (GB/1942) 41 Owasco (USA/1944) 165 Noshiro Maru J/cl9 4 215 Oisc(F/l94l) 277 Orkan (PV1942) 349 Owen (GB 1945) 61 Notable (USA/1943) 151 Oite (J/1906) 175 Orkan (PV-) 349 Owen (USA/1943) 130 445
Owen Sound (GB/1943) 63 Partenope (I/1937) 302 Periwinkle (GB/1940) 62 Pillsbury (USA/1920) 94 Oxford (USA/c 1943) 160 Parthian (GB/1929) 48 Perkins (USA/1910) 93 Pillsbury (USA/1943) 140 Oxford Castle (GB/1943) 63 Partizanas(Li/cxtant 1922) 354 Perkins (USA/1935) 125 Pilot (USA/1942) 150 Oxley (GB/1926) 47 Partridge (GB/1941) 42 Perkins (USA/1944) 134 Pilotfish (USA/1943) 146 Oxlip (GB/1941) 62 Partridge GB/ ) 58 Perkunas(Li/extant 1922) 354 Pimpernel (GB/1940) 62 Oxna (GB/1943) 66 Parvati (GB/1927) 83 Perla (I/1936) 3 9 Pinchcr (GB/1943) 65 Oyahio(J/l93S) 194 Pasadena (USA/1943) 119 Perla (Sp/1887) 400 Ptndos Gr 1941) 4 6 Oytxlo (J/1942) 192 Pascal (F/1928) 273 Perle (F/1935) 274 Pine (GB/1940) 66 Ozark (USA/1942) 161 Pasco (USA/1943) 148 Permit (USA/1936) 143 Pine Island (USA/1944) 157 Ozbourn (USA/1945) 134 Pasley (GB/1943) 61 Piro ne F 1920 259 Pine Lake (GB/1945) 72 Ozomot (USSR/1941) 332 Pasteur (F/1928) Patagonia (A/1885) 273 419 Pironne F 1940 Perry (USA/1921) 277 95 Ping Hai (Ca/1935) Pinguin(G/cl936) 413 247 Pacocha Pu 1928 424 Palani Si/1936 411 Perry (USA/1945) 134 Pink (GB/1942) 62 Paddle (USA/1942) 145 Pathfinder (GB/1941) 42 Persie (Fl 1931) 273 Pinna le (USA/1943) IS) Padstow (GB/1942) 64 Paua (GB/1922) 83 Persefone (1/1942) 317 Pinsk (Pl/extani 1922) 349 Padstow Bay (GB/1915) 61 Patinos (Gr/?) 406 Pcrseo (I/1935) 302 Pintado (USA/1943) 146 Pahau (GB/1943) 67 Patna (GB/1942) 65 Perscpolis Pe 1885) 409 Pintail (GB/1939) 62 Pahlavi (Pc/1918) 409 Patria (А/1893) 419 Perseus (GB/1929) 48 Pioneer (GB/1944) 22 Painlevf (F/-) 261 Patria (Cu/1911) 424 Perseus (GB/1944) 22 Pioneer (USA/1942) 150 Раке ham (GB/194)) 42 Pat ria (Po/1903) 396 Perseus (Sw/|910) 390 Pionyer(USSR/exiam 1922) 324 Paladin (GB/1941) 42 Patria (Ve/1941) 415 Perseus (USА/1932) 166 Piorun(Pl/l940) 349 Palang Pc/ 931) 409 Patrician (GB/1916) 11 Persian (GB/1943) 65 Pipefish (USA/1943) 146 Palau (USA/1945) III Patrie (F/1903) 257 Persimmon (GB/1943) 72 Piper (USA/1944) 146 Palestra (1/1919) 287 Patriot (GB/1916) 11 Pen (USA/1942) 156 Pi pinos (Gr/1943) 406 Palisade (USA/1943) 151 Patroclus (GB/1923) 82 Penh (GB/1934) 30 Pique (F/1944) 278 Pallade (1/1906) 287 Patroller (GB/1943) 26 Perun (Yu/exlant 1922) 359 P'ranha (USA/1943) 146 Pallade (1/1937) 302 Patron USSR/extat I 1922) 324 Pcsaquid (GB/-) 60 Pirate (USA/1943) 15) Pallas (F/1938) 275 Patron (USSR/1936) 34] Petard (GB/1941) 42 Pirie (GB/1941) 64 Palmer (USA/1918) 94 Patterson USA 1911) 93 Peterborough (GB/1944) 63 Pirouette (GB/1940) 66 Palomares GB 1930) 84 Patterson (USA/1937) 126 Peterel(GB/l927) 78 Pisa (1/1907) 285 Palomares GB 1937) 75 Paukko(Fi/el9l5) 364 Peterhead (GB/1940) 64 Pitcairn (GB/1943) 62 Palos (USA/1914) 96 Paul G Baker (USA/1944) 136 Peterson (USA/1943) 140 Pitt (USA/c 1943) 160 Pam a Mcrkunya (USSR/1903) 323 Paul Hamilton (USA/1919) 95 Pcto (USA/1942) 145 Pittsburgh (USA/1903) 93 Pamina USA 1943) 160 Paul Hamilton (USA/1943) 131 Petr Bay (USA/1944) 109 Pittsburgh (USA/1944) 12) Panpanga USA 1888) 96 Paul Jacobi (G/1936) 233 Petrolia (GB/1944) 63 Pivot (USA/1943) 151 Pampa nito (USA/1943) 146 Paul Jones (USA/1920) 94 Pettit (USA/1943) 140 Pizarro (Sp/1944) 403 Panaminl (USA/1943) 159 Paulding (USA/1910) 93 Petunia (GB/1940) 62 Pladda (GB/1941) 66 Panay (USA/1927) Pandora GB 1929) 156 48 Pavel Golovin (USSR/-) Pavel Khokhryanov 340 Pevensey Castle (GB/1944) Peykiscvket (Tu/1906) 63 407 Plaice (USA/1943) Plamya (USSR/cxtant 1922) 146 324 Pandora (USA/1934) 166 (USSR/1941) 340 Phantom (USA/1943) 151 Plan de Guadalupe (Мех/1892) 414 Pangkor(GB/1929) 84 Pavlic (USA/1943) 161 Pheasant (GB/1942) 58 Platino (I/1941) 310 Panormos (Gr/c 1914) 404 Pavlik Vingradov USSR/1941) 340 Pheasant (USA/1942) 150 Pledge (USA/1943) 151 Pansio F’ 1947) 366 Paysandu (Ur/1935) 419 Phelps (USA/1935) 125 Pleias (Gr/)926) 406 Pansy (GB/1916) 83 Peacock (GB/1943) 58 Phinix (F/1930) 273 Pleiadi (1/1937) 302 Panter(Ne/19l3) . 387 Peary (USA/1920) 94 Phinix (F/-) 276 Pleiad (Sw/1905) 370 Pantera (1/1923) 286 Peder Skram (Dk/1908) 382 Philadelphia (USA/1936) 116 Piessi ville (GB/-) 60 Pantera (USSR/-) 339 Pedro Nunes (Po/1934) 397 Philip (USA/1918) 93 Plinlimmon GB 1895) 84 Panther (GB/1941) 42 P6gase( F/1930) 273 Philip (USA/1942) 130 Plover (GB/1937) 79 Panther (Gr/1911) 404 Pegaso (1/1905) 287 Philippine Sea (USA/1945) 104 Plucky (GB/1943) 65 Panthere F 1924) 267 Pegaso (1/1936) 302 Philippines (USA/-) 122 Plunger (USA/1936) 143 Pantiera (USSR/r 1915) 324 Pegasus GB 1917) 10 Philips van Almonde (Ne/-) 390 Plunkett (USA/1940) 128 Papamicvlis Gr 1926) 405 Peiffer (USA/1944) 137 Phoebe (GB/1939) 33 Pluto (GB/1944) 65 Papua (GB/1943) 62 Pclagosa (1/1924) 317 Phoenix (GB/1929) 48 Pluton (F/1929) 264 Papudo (Cc/1944) 423 Pelayo (Sp/1887) 399 Phoenix USA 1938) 116 Plym (GB-’I943) 59 Para (Br/1908) 416 Pelican (GB/1938) 57 Phoque F 1926) 272 Pocatello (USA/1943) 148 Paraguacu Br/1938) 418 Pelorus (GB/1943) 65 Phra Ruang (Si/1916) 410 Pochard (USA/1944) 150 Paraguay (Pa/1930) 418 Pendennis Casile (GB ) 63 Piaui (Br/1908) 416 Pocomokc USA/1940) 158 Paraiba (Br/1908) 416 Peneios Gr 884) 405 Pickaway (USA/c 1943) 160 Pocono (USA/1945) 159 Paralos (Gr/1925) 406 Penelope (GB/1914) 10 Pickens (L'SA/rI943) 160 Podsckatyel (USSR/1937) 341 Paralos (Gr/?) 406 Penelope GB 1935) 31 Pickerel (USA/1936) 143 Pogramchnik (USSR/1905) 323 Parana А/1908) 419 Penetang (GB/1944) 59 Pickerel (USA/1944) 147 Pogy (USA/1942) 145 Parana Br 1910) 416 Penetrate (USA/1943) 151 Picking (USA/) 943) 131 Poictiers GB 1946) 44 Paravan (USSR/1937) 341 Penn (GB/1941) 42 Pickle (GB/1943) 65 Poignard (F/1909) 258 Parche (USA/1943) 146 Pennewille (US AJ1943) 139 Picolee (GB/1940) 62 Point Cruz (USA/1945) Hl Pargo (USA/1943) 145 Pennsylvania (USА/1915) 90 Pictou (GB/1940) 62 Point Defiance (USA/-) 161 Paris (F/I912) Parizhskaya Kommuna 257 Pennywon (GB/1941) Pensacola (USA/1929) 62 113 Picuda (USA/1943) Pier Capponi (I/1927) 146 307 Pola (I/I9I3) Pola (1/1931) 287 292 (USSR/I91I) 322.326 Penrstemon (G В/1941) 62 Pierce (USA/c 1943) 159 Polana (USA/c 1943) 160 Parker (A/c 1936) 421 Penylan (GB/1942) 46 Pierre Chailley (Н/1922) 258 Polar VI (No/?) 381 Parker (USA/1913) 93 Penzance (GB/1930) 56 Pierre Durand (Fl 19)6) 258 Polaris (GB/1944) 65 Parker (USA/1942) 128 Peony (GB/1940) 62 Pierre Marrast (F/1918) 258 Polaris (Sw/1909) 370 Parkes (GB/1943) 64 Peoria (USA/1943) 149 Piet Hein (Ne/1927) 389 Pol irabolnik (USSR/c)920) 324 Parks (USA/1943) 139 Perch (USA/1936) 143 Pieter de Biller (Ne/1936) 394 Politruk(USSR/1913) 324 Parle (USA/1944) 137 Perch (USA/1943) 146 Pieter Florisz (Ne/1937) 394 Polka (GB/1941) 66 Pamaiba(Br/)937) 418 Percival (USA/1918) 95 Pietro Calvt (1/1935) 305 Pollack (GB/1943) 67 Parramatta (GB/1910) 11 Perdva] (USA/-) 130 Pietro Micca (I/1917) 288 Pollack (USA/1936) 143 Parramatta (GB/1939) 56 Peregrine (USA/1945) 150 Pietro Micca (1/1935) 305 Polluce (1/1937) 302 Parrot (GB/1943) 59 Perekop (USSR/-) 330 Pigeon (US А/1945) 150 Pollux (Sw/1909) 370 Parrott (USA/1919) 94 Pergamos (Gr/c 1914) 404 Pike (USA/1935) 143 Polruan GB 1940) 64 Farnborough (G В/1941) 64 Peril (USA/1943) 151 Pikkeri (Es/1939) 352 Poltava (USSR/1911) 322 Parry Sound (GB/1943) 63 Perim (GB/1943) 62 Pi) (No/?) 379 Polyanthus (GB/1940) 62 446
Polyphemus (GB ) 23 Prevail USA/1942) 150 Prunelle (GB/1930) 84 Rabaul USA 1945) III Pomfret (USA/1943) 146 Prevesah (Tu/1912) 407 Psara(Gr/l932) 405 Rabochiy USSR/ 1910) 324 P mmi F 1916) 364 Pnamyslav (USSR/1915) 323 Psilander (Sw/1899) 369 Raby (USA 1943) 137 P mod n USA 1945) 147 P ice(USA/1943) 140 Psilander (Sw/1926) 372 Raby Castle (GB/-) 63 Pomona (I 1942) 317 Pncheti (1 SA 1943) 130 Ptarmigan (USA 1944) 150 Racehorse GB/1942) 42 Pompano USA 1937) 143 Pride (USA/1943) 140 Puckeridge (G В/1941) 46 Racine (L SA/1944) 149 Pompano (USA/-) 147 Pr maguel F 1924) 262 Pueblo USA/1903) 93 Radford USA/1918) 94 Pompco Magno (1/1941) 297 P tme (USA/1944) 151 PuebIo(USA/l944) 148 Radford USA/1942) 130 Pompon (USA/1942) 145 Prim rose (GB/1940) 62 Puerto Rico (USA/-) 122 Rai stock (GB/I9I6) 12 Poncelel l F/1929) 273 Primula (GB/1940) 62 Pueyrrcdon A 1898 419 Rageot de la Touche (F/1918) 258 Pondera (USA/r 1943) 160 Prince Baudouin (GB/1943) 73 Puffer (USA/1942) 145 R geot de la Touche F/1942) 277 Poniard (GB/-) 44 Prince Charles (Bc'c 1915) 385 Puffin (GB/1936) 62 Ragnar Sw 1908 369 Pon chan ain USA 19 8 164 Pri nee Charles (G В.1930) 73 Pugei Sound USA 1944) HI Raider (GB 1916) 12 Pontchartrain USA 1944) 165 Prince David GB 1930) 73,82 Puglia (I/1898) 285 Raider (GB 1942) 42 Potuiere (1/1910) 286 Prince Henry (GB, 1930) 73,82 Pugnale (1/1943) 303 Raimondo Monlecuccoli (1/1934) 295 Poole (GB/1941) 64 Prince Leopard (Be/rl915) 385 Puke (Sw/1926) 372 Rainbow GB 1930) 48 Poole (USA/1943) 140 Prince Leopold GB 9 9 73 Puket(Si/l935) 411 Rajah (GB 1943) 26 Poona (GB/1942) 65 Prince of Wales (GB/1939) 15 Pukkio (Fi/c 1939) 366 Ra)U Fi 1929) 366 Pope (USA/1920) 94 Prince Phillipe (GB/1939) 73 Pulaski (USA/1927) 166 Rajputana GB/1925) 82 Pope (USA/1943) 140 Prince Robert (GB' 1930) 82,84 Puncher (GB/1943) 26 Rakct (No 1894) 378 Poplar Lake (GB/1945) 72 Pnnce Rupert (GB' 1943) 59 Punjab (GB/1941) 65 Raleigh (USA/1922) 93 Poppy (GB/1941) 62 Prince William (USA/1942) 108 Punjabi (GB'1937) 40 Rail (USA 1943) 135 Porcher (GB/1942) 66 P neesa de Asturias (Sp/1896) 399 Purdy (USA/ 944) 132 Ralph Talbot (US.A/1936) 126 Porcupine (GB/1941) 42 Princess Elizabeth (GB/1927) 84 Purga (USSR/1933) 339 Ram (Ne/1941) 394 Porfido (1/1941) 3)0 Princess Iris (GB/1917) 73 Puriri (GB/c 1941) 67 Rame I/-) 310 Porkkala (Fi/r 1939) 366 Princess Margaret Pursuer (GB/1942) 25 Ramillies(GB/19l6) 7 Porlock Bay (GB/1945) 61 (GB/extant 1922) 13 Pursuit(USA/l942) 150 Rampart (USA/1944) 151 Porphyre (F/c 1918) 259 Princess Marie Jose (GB/1922) 83 Putnam (USA/1919) 95 Rampur (GB/1941) 65 Porpoise (GB/1932) 49 Princess Victoria (G В 1939) 85 Putnam (USA/1944) 132 Ramsay (U SA/1918) 94 Porpoise (USA/1935) 143 Princeton (USA/1942) 105 Pullen (Ne/c 1942) 394 Ramsden USA/1943) 140 Рол Arthur (GB/1941) 62 Princeton (USA/1945) 104 Py(A/cl936) 421 Ramsey (GB/1919) 47 Pon Colborne (GB/1943) 59 Principe Alfonso(Sp/l925) 400 Pyrrhus (GB/1945) 65 Ramska Sw/1940) 376 Port Hope (GB/1941) 64 Pringle (USA/1942) 130 Pyrite (F/I9I9) 259 Ran(Dk/l9l5) 382 Port Napier (GB/1940) 85 Prins Albert (GB. 1937) 73 Pytchlcy (GB/1940) 45 Rancagua Се/1898) 422 Pon Quebec (GB/1939) 85 Prinses Beatrix (GB/1939) 73 Python (Nc/c 1902) 387 Ranchi (GB 1925) 82 Port age (GB/1942) 65 Prinses Astrid (GB/1929) 73 Randall USA/c 1943) 160 Porchester Castle (GB/1943) 63 Prinses Josephine Charlotte Qamar (Eg/?) 409 Randolph (USA/1944) 104 Portent (USA/1942) 150 (GB/1930) 73 Q Appclle (GB/1934) 39 Ranee (GB 1943) 26 Porter (USA/1915) 93 Prins van Oranje (Nc/I93l) 393 Quadrant (GB/1942) 42 Ranger (US.A/1933) 102 Porter (USA/1935) 125 Prinz. Eugen (G' 1938) 228 Quadrille (GB/1941) 66 Rankin (USA/c 1943) 160 Poner (USA/1944) 132 Pr nzess Marie Jose (Nc/c 1915) 385 Quail (GB/1942) 42 Ranney Falls (GB ) 60 Porterfield LSA/1943) 131 Privet (GB/1942) 63 Quail (USA/1914) 150 Ranpura(GB/1925) 82 Pon Lind (USA/1932) 114 Pro Palria (Nr/1922) 393 Qualicum GB 1941) 64 Ransom (USA/1943) 151 Portsdown (GB/1941) 67 Probe (GB 1942/ 66 Quality (GB/1941) 42 Ranunculus (GB/1941) 62 Poi tsmouth (USA/1944) 120 Procelliarla (1/1942) 317 Quantock (GB/1940) 45 Rapana GB 1935) 26 Poseidon (Fi/1899) 365 Prociotic (I/1905) 287 Quanza P 1910) 396 Rapid (GB 1916) 11 Poseidon (GB/1929) 48 Procione (1/1937/ 302 Quarto 1 1911) 285 Ra| d(GB 942) 42 Postillion (GB/1943) 65 Proctor (GB/1942) 66 Quartz (F/1919) 259 Raqib(Eg 1917) 409 Poiassio(I/~) 310 Prodigal (GB/1941) 66 Quatitino (GB 1941) 64 Raqib (Eg'1938) 409 Potentilla (GB/1941) 62 Product (GB/1941) 66 Queen (GB/1943) 26 Rasher (USA 1942) 145 Potentilla (No/1941) 380 Professor (G В/194 2) 66 Queen Eagle (GB/1940) 84 Rask (No/?) 379 Pothuau (F/1895) 257 Profintem (USSR/1915) 326 Queen Elizabeth (GB/1913) 7 Rastropnyi (USSR/1939) 330 Potosi (Мех/1934) 414 Progreso (Мех/1907) 4 4 Queen 1 mma (GB/1939) 73 Ratanakosindra (Si/1925) 410 Poughkeepsie (USA/1943) 48 Protect (USA/1943) 151 Queen Empress(GB/19l2) 84 Rathburne USA/1917) 94 Poundmaker (GB/) 944) 59 Ptoletariy (USSR/c 1915) 324 Queen of Kent (GB/1916) 84 Raton (USA/1943) 145 Power (USA/1945) 134 Promllhee F1930) 273 Queen of Thanct (G В 1916 84 Rat lesnake(GB 1943) 65 Powerful (GB/1945) 22 Promise (GB/1941) 66 Queen of Bermuda (GB 1933) 82 Raub GB. 1926) 83 Pozarica (G В/1937) 84 Prompt (GB/1944) 65 Queen Wilhdtnina (Nc/c 1942) 393 Raule(G/l9l9) 253 Praschama (Li'extant 1922) 354 Prong (GB/1942) 66 Queenborough (GB/1942) 42 Rautu(Fi/l917) 364 Pratt (USA/1944) 138 Proof (GB/1942) 66 Queenfish (USA.'1943) 146 Rauma(No/19l7) 379 Pravda (USSR/1934) 335 Property (GB-I 4 ) 66 Queens (USA/r 1943) 159 Rauma(No 1939) 381 Preble (USA/1920) 95 Prophet (GB/1942) 66 Qucenworlh GB 1924 85 Ravager(GB'l942) 25 Premier (GB'1943) 26 Proserpina (Sp/1897) 399 Quentin (GB/1941) 42 Raven (USA/1940) 150 Premuda G/19311 254 Prospect (GB/1942) 66 Quentin Roosevelt (F/1916) 259 Ravenswood GB/1891) 84 Premuda (I/1918) 287 Protector (GB/1936) 79 Qucrcy(F 1937) 279 Ravn (No/1903) 3 8 Premuda (1/1931) 301 Protce(F/193U) 273 Queretaro (Мех/1934) 414 Rav (No/cl943) 380 Prentiss (USA/c 1943) 1 >0 Protest (GB/1941) 66 Quesnell (GB/1940) 62 Rawalpindi (GB/1925) 82 Prescott (GB/1941) 62 Piotci (F/1913) 258 Quest (USA/1944) 151 Rayleigh Castle (GB/1944) 63 President Masaryk (Cz/1931) 354 Proteus (Gr/1927) 405 Q b (GB 942) 42 Rawlins (USAAr 1943) 160 Presidentas Smeiona (Li/1917) 354 Proteus (GB 1929) 48 Quick (USA/1942) 128 Ray (USA 1943) 145 Presidenie Emizuriz. (Br/1890) 422 Ptou»a(Gr/cl9l4) 404 Quickmatch (GB 942) 42 Ray К Edwards (USA/1944) 161 Presidcnle Surmiemo A 189 419 Provana (1/1938/ 305 Quidora (Се/1915) 422 Raymond (USA/1944) 137 Presidenie Trujillo (DR? 1944) 425 Provence F/1913) 257 Quillback (USA/1944) 147 Raymond W Herndon Presidio (USA/r 1943) 160 Providence (GB.' 1943) 65 Quilliatn (GB/1941) 42 (USA/1944) 161 Presley (USA/1944) 138 Providence (USA' 1944) 120 Quincy (USA'1935) 115 Rayo(Sp/l95I) 402 Preston (USA/1920) 95 Provodnik (USSR/1937) 341 Quincy (USA/1943) 121 Rayong (Si; 1937) 411 Preston ( SA 193 126 Provost (G В/1943) 66 Quinle(GB 1941) 64 Raziash hiy (USSR/1938) 330 Preston (USA/1943) 131 Prowess (GB/1943) 66 Quintino Sella (I/1925) 298 Razorback USA/1944 146 Prestonian (G В/1944) 59 Prowess (USA/1944) 151 Quires (USA/1895) 96 Razuinn i (USSR/1SM0) 330 Pretoria Castle GB 81 24,82 Prudent (USA/1942) 156 Quirpon (I It?) 72 Razyaryonnyi USSR/1940 330 Preussen (G/1903) 222 Pruitt (USA/1920) 95 Quorn (GB/1940) 4> Reading (GB/1919) 47 447
Reading (USA/1943) 149 Reshitelnyi USSR/1939) 330 Riviere du Ixiup jGB/1943) 63 Rosa по (А/1908) 419 Ready (GB/1916) 1) Resolution GB/1915) 7 Riznl (USA/1918) 94 Rosario (GB/1943) 65 Ready (GB/1943) 65 Resource GB 1928) 80 Rizzi (USA/1943) 138 Rose (GB/1941) 62 Ready (USA/1940) 156 Respubhka(USSR/l907) 322 Roanoke USA/1947) 123 Rose(No/l94I) 380 Reaper (GB/1943) 26 Resugouche (GB/1931) 38 Roanoke (USA/-) 120 Rosebay (GB/1943) 63 Rebel (USA/1943) 151 Restless (GB/1916) 12 Rob Roy (GB/1916) 12 Roselle (USA/1944) 151 Recaldc(Sp 1910) 400 Restless (USA/1940) 156 Robalo (USA/1943) 145 Roselys(F/l941) 277 Recruit (GB/1943) 65 Rctahck (GB/1943) 61 Robert A Owens USA 946) 133 Rosemary (GB/1915) 13 Recruit (USA/1943) 151 Rcuvyi (USSR/1940) 330 Robert В aaer jUSA/1944) 137 Roses ean (GB/1943) 66 Red Deer (GB/1941) 64 Retriever (GB/1917) 12 Ri ben E Peary <USA/1943) 140 Roshal (USSR/1906) 324 Redfin (USA/1943) 145 Reuben James (USA/1919) 94 Robe i F Keller (USA/1944) 138 Rosolino Pi 0(1/1915 286 Redfi h (USA? 1944) 146 Reuben James (USA/1943) 136 Robert H Me Hard (USA/194') 133 Ross (USA/1943) 130 Rcdga ntlct (GB/1916) 12 RcvclMoke GB/1943) 72 R Aert H Sm h (USA/1944) 149 Rossland (GB/1943) 72 Redkiy USSR/1940) 330 Revenge GB/1915) 7 Robert 1 Paine (USA/1943) 136 Rostovtsev USSR) 345 Redm 1) (GB/1943) 6) Revenge USA/1942) 150 Robert К Huntington Rota(Dk/l9l8) 382 Rednout (USA/1944) 16) R6vigny (F/I92O) 259 (USA 1944) 132 Rother (GB/1941) 59 Redoubt (GB/1916) 12 Revnostnyi USSR/1940) 330 Robert L Wilson (USA/1946) 134 Rotherham (GB/1942) 42 Redoubt (GB/1942) 42 Revolucyoner (US S R? 1929) 332 Robert Smith(USA/1919) 95 Rothesay (GB/1941) 64 Redoutablc(F/l928) 273 Rcybold USA/1943) 139 Roberts (GB/1915) 9 Rousay (GB/1941) 66 Redpole (GB/1943) 58 Reynolds (USA/1943) 135 Roberts (GB/1941) 17 Rover (GB/1930) 48 Redshank (GB/1942) 67 Rezfay USSR/1939) 330 Roberts (USA/1943) 139 Rovigno (1/1918) 289 Redstart (GB/1938) 79 Rezvyt USSR/1937) 330 Robin (GB/1934) 78 Rowan (GB/1939) 66 Reds art (USA/1944) 150 Rhind (USA/1918) 127 R< binson (A/c 1936) 421 Rowan (L'SA/1916) 93 Reeves USA/1943) 136 Rhodes (USA/1943) 140 Rob nson (USA 1918} 94 Rowan (USA/1938) 127 Reform (USA/1944) 151 Rhododendron (GB/1940) 62 Robinson (USA 1943) 130 Rowan (USA/1944) 133 Refresh (USA/1944) 151 Rhuddfan Castle (GB ) 63 Roche USA/1944) 139 Rowe (USA/1943) 130 Regele Ferdinand (Ro/1928) 361 Rhyl (GB/1940) 64 Rochester (GB/1931) 56 Rowena (GB/1916) 12 Regent GB/1930) 48 Ribbie (GB/1943) 59 Rochester (USA/1891) 93 Rowena GB 1944) 65 Regina (GB/1941) 62 Rabble (rx Dudden) (GB/1943) 59 Rochester (USA/1945) 121 Rowley GB 1943) 61 Regina Elena (1/1904) 284 Rich (USA/1943) 137 Rock (USA/1943) 145 Roxane (USA/c 1943) 160 Regina Mar a (Ro/1929) 361 Rich (USA/1945) 133 Rockaway USA/1942) 157 Roxburgh (GB/1918) 47 Regmaldo Giuliani (I/l 939) 306 Richard В Anderson (USA/154 5) 133 Rockbridge (USA/c 1943) 160 Roy О Hale (USA/1943) 140 Registan (GB/1930) 83 Richard Beitzen G 1935) 232 Rockcliff (GB/1943) 65 Royal Eagle (GB/1932) 84 Register (USA/1944) 161 Richard E Kraus (USA/1946) 134 Rocket (GB/1916) 12 Royal Marine (GB/1944) 67 Rcgnault F 924) 258 Richard M Rowell (USA/1943) 138 Rocket (GB/1942) 42 Royal Mount (GB/1944) 59 Regu us(F/19l7) 259 Richard P Leary (US А/1943) 131 Rockford (USA/1943) 148 Royal Oak (GB/1914) 7 Regulus (GB/1930) 48 Richard S Bull (USA/1943) 138 Rockha pton (GB/1941) 65 Royal Scotsman (GB/1936) 73 Rcgulus (GB/1943) 65 Richard W Sucsens (USA/1944) 137 Rockingham (GB/1919) 47 Roval Sovereign (GB/1915) 7 Regulus (Ne/1943) 394 Richelieu ;F/1939) 260 Rockingham USA/cI943) 160 Royal Ulsterman (GB/1936) 73 Regulus (Sw/1910) 370 Richey (USA/1943) 140 Rockrose (GB/1941) 62 Royalist (GB/1942) 35 Rehobeth USA/1942) 157 Richmond GB/1917) 47 Rocksand (GB/1943) 72 R zenburg (Ne/c 1942) 394 Reid (USA/1919) 95 Richmond USA/I92I) 93 Rockwell (USA/c 1943) 160 Rubanec(USSR/cxtani 1922) 324 Reid USA/1936) 125 Ricketts (USA/1943) 140 Rockwood (GB/1942) 46 Rubin (USSR/1936-39) 340 Reiger(Ne/1930) 395 Riddle (USA/1943) 139 Rocky Mount (USA/1943) 159 Rubino (1/1933) 309 Reign (USA/1944) 151 Ricgelc Carol 1 (Ro/extant 1922) 362 Rodgers (USA; 1919) 95 Rubis(F/1931) 274 Rams(F/19)8) 259 Rifle (GB/-) 44 Rod man (USA/1941) 128 Ruchamkin (USA/1944) 161 Reina Regentc(Sp/1906) 399 Rifleman GB/1943) 65 Rodney GB/1925) 14 Rucumilla (Cc/1915) 422 Reina Victoria Eugenia Riga It de Genouilly (F/1932) 276 Rodrigucz (Pu/1909) 423 Rudderow (USA/1943) 137 (Sp/1920) 399 Rigd (1/1943) 303 Roe (USA/1909) 93 Ruddy (USA/1944) 151 Rekordnyi (USSR/1941) 330 Rigd(Ne/l931) 393 Roe (USA/1939) 127 Rudnik (Yu/?) 359 Relampago (Sp/c 1960) 402 Rigel (Sw/1910) 370 Roebuck GB/1942) 42 Rudyerd Bay (USA/1944) 109 Relentless (GB/1916) 12 Rigorous GB/1916) 12 Rogers (USA/1944) 13 Ruggiero Se timo(I/!93l) 308 Relentless (GB/1942) 42 Rufahn(Fi/l940) 365 Rogers Blood (L SA/1945) 161 Ruler (GB/1943) 26 Reliance (USA/1927) 166 Riley (USA/1943) 137 Roi (USA/1944) 110 Rumba (GB/1940) 66 Reiney USA/1943) 131 Rimouski (GB/1940) 62 Roland Morillot (F/I9I5) 258 Runels (USA/1943) 137 Rcmiremont F 19 0 259 Rimu (GB/1941) 67 Roland Morillot (F/1945) 276 Runner (LSA/1942) 145 Remo (1/1943) 307 Rinaldo GB/1943) 65 Roland Morillot (F/-) 276 Runner (U SA/1944) 147 Remora (USA/194S) 147 Rindiani Nc/1937) 394 Rolette (USA/c 1943) 160 Runnymede (GB/1943) 59 Remus Sw/1934) 372 Rinehart (USA/1944) 139 Rolf (USA/1944) 138 Ruotsinsalmi (Fi/1940) 365 Renate (USA/c 1943) 160 Ringdove (GB/1938) 79 Roma (1/1907) 284 Rupert (GB/1943) 61 Rendova (LSA/I944) 111 Ringgold USA/1918) 94 Roma 1/1940) 289 Rupertus (USA/1945) 134 Rene A udry (F/1918) 258 Ringgold ;USA/1942) 130 Romazoui (F/1918) 258 Rurik (USSR/1906) 323 Renfrew (GB/-) 63 Ringness USA/1944) 161 Rombach (USA/1944) 138 Rush (USA/1927) 166 Renna (1/1942) 317 Rio de fa Plata (Sp/1898) 399 Romeo (GB/1941) 66 Rushai (USSR/1905) 323 Reno (USA/1919) 95 Rio Grande do None (Br 1909) 416 Romney (GB/1940) 64 Rushen Castle (GB/1943) 63 Reno (USA/19) 2) 118 Rio Grande do Sul (Br/1909) 416 Romola GB 1944) 65 R shmorc (USA/1944) 161 Rcnoncule (F/1941) 277 RioMinho(P<Vcxtani 1922) 396 Romola (СВ/1916) 12 Ruskholm (GB/1942) 66 Renown (GB/1916) 9 Rio Negro (Ur/1935) 419 Romolo I 1943) 307 Russell (USA/1938) 127 Renshaw (USA/1918) 94 Rio Pardo Br/1943) 417 Romulus (Sw/1934) 372 Russell M Cox (USA/1944) 140 Renshaw USA/1942) 130 Riou (GB/1943) 61 Ronaldsay GB/1941) 66 Rutherford (GB/1943) 61 RenviUe(USA/cl943) 160 Ripley (GB/1918) 47 Ronay (GB/1945) 66 Rutland (USA/c 1943) 160 Report (USA/1944) 151 Riquelme (Ce/1928) 422 Roncador (USA/1944) 145 Re am у (USSR/1937) 330 Reproof USA/1944) 151 Risk(USA/’944) 151 Roms La/19 6) 353 Rybitwa(Pl/extant 1922) 349 Reprisal (USA/-) KM Riser (No/?) 381 Roms (USSR/1927) 338 Rybitwa(PVcl934) 351 Republica(Po/19l5) 396 Ristna (Es/extant 1922) 352 R mqui) (USA 1944) 146 Ryde (GB/1937) 84 Repulse (GB/1916) 9 Ristna (USSR/1922) 344 Rooks USA/1944) 132 Rye (GB/1940) 64 Requin (F/1924) 272 Rivadavta (A/I9II) 419 Roper (USA/1918) 94 Rym (USSR/1938) 34) Requin (USA/1945) 147 Rival (GB/1916) 12 Rorqual GB/1936) 49 Rys (PV1929) 350 Requinul Ro/1941) 361 Rival (USA/-) 151 Rosalind (GB/1916) 12 Rvs(USSR/cl9I5) 324 Req isite (USA/1942) 150 River Plate (GB/-) 44 Rosalind (GB/1941) 66 Rvea (GB/1941) 66 Reshitelnyi(USSR/1938) 330 Riverside (USA/c 1943) 159 Rosamund GB/1944) 65 Rvujo(J/1931) 180 448
Ryuho(j/I933) SP Lee (USA/1919) Saar (G/1934) * Sabalo (USA/1944) Sable (GB/1916) Sable («-Salmon (GB/1916) Sablefish (USA/1944) Sabre(F/1944) Sabre (GB/1918) Sackville (GB/1941) Sacramento (USA/1914) Sado(j/I942) Sado(Po/cI9l3) Sado I(Po/l886) Sidoll (Po/1905) Sad (No/1901) Saelen(Dk/l9l9) Saetia (1/1932) Safari (GB/1941) Saga (GB/1945) Saga (J/1912) Sagacity (USA/-) Sagara Maru (J/r 1940) Sage (USA/1942) Sagi (J/1937) Saginaw Bay (USA/1944) Sagiri(j/I929) Sagitta no 1 1905) Sagiitario I 1936) Saguenay GB. 1930) Sahib (GB/1942) Saidor (USA/1945) Saigon Maru (J/c 1937) Sainfoin(GB/l943) St Agathe(GfV-) St Agnes (GB/1943) St Alain(F/cl9l2) Si Albans (GB/1918) St Austell Bay (GB/1944) St Barbe (GB/?) St Boniface (GB/1942) St Brides Bay (GB/1945) St Catherine's (GB/1942) St Clair (GB/1918) St Croix (GB/1919) Saint Croix (USA/c 1943) St Edouard (GB/-) Si Francis (GB/1919) Si George (USA/1944) St Gufnole (F/cl942) Si Helena (GB/1943) Si Helier(GB/|925) St James (GB/1945) St John (GB/1943) St Joseph (GB/1943) Si Kilda (GB/1942) St Kiits(GB/l944) Si Lambert (GB/1943) Si Laurent (GB/1931) Si Lo (USA/1913) St Louis (USA/1905) Si Louis (USA/1938) St Lucia (GB/—) Si Mary's(GB/1918) Si Mary's (USA/c 1943) Si Paul (USA/1944) St Pierre (GB/1943) St Romauld (GB/—) Si Rowan (F/r 1942) Si Stephen (GB/1944; St Thomas (GB/1943) St Tudho(GB/1926) St Yves (F/c 1942) SreTheresc (GB/1943) Saimes (GB/1944) Saipan (USА/1945) Saishu (J/I94I) Sakaki (J/1915) Sakaki(JZ-) Sakala(Es/extanr 1922) 183 Saka avc F 1917) Sakarya Tu 1937) 258 407 Sins Souci (F/r 1916) Sans Souci (F/1941) 259 279 ScawfeU (GB/1937) Sceptre(GB.'19I7) 84 12 95 Sakawa (J/1944) 191 Sansovino (GB/194 3) 72 Sceptre (GB/1943) 52 252 Sakhiouris Gr 1940 406 Sania-Caiharina (Br/1909) 416 Schamhorst (G/1936) 225 145 Sakiio(j/I944) 206 Sama Cruz (A/1937) 420 Schenck (USA/1919) 94 12 $akiz(Tu/19l2) 407 Santa Fe(A/l93l) 421 'Schiffe S’(G/cl939) 248 12 Sakura (J/1911) 175 Santa Fe (USA/1942) 119 Schlesien (G/1906) 222 145 Sakura (J/1944) 196 Santa Maria (Col/1930) 415 Schleswig-Holstein (G/1906) 222 278 Saladin (GB/1919) 12 Santee (USA/1939) 108 Schley (USA/1918) 94 12 Salak(Ne/1937) 394 Santiago del Estero (А/1932) 421 Schmitt (USA/1943) 136 62 Salamander (GB 1936) 64 Sanlorre Santarosa Д/1929) 307 Schokland(Ne/cl943) 394 96 Salamaua(USA/l 944) 110 Sanuki Maru J 1939 213 Schroeder (USA/1942) 130 205 Salaminia (Gr/?) 406 Sanyo Maru (J/c 1930) 213 Scimitar (GB/1918) 12 396 Salamis (Gr/1930) 406 Sao Gabriel (Ро/1898) 396 Scimitarra(l/I942) 317 396 Saldiray (Tu/1938) 408 S4oPaulo(Br/)909) 416 S pione Africano(l/I94l 297 396 Salem (USA/1907) 93 Sape(F/1907) 258 Scire (1/1938) 310 378 Salem (USA/1947) 123 Saphir (F/1928) 274 Scirocco(l/I934) 300 382 Salen (Sw/1918) 370 Saphir (USSR/c 1936) 340 Scorcher (GB/1944) 52 299 Salerno Bay (USA/1944) 111 Sapper (GB/1942) 67 Scorpion GB 1937) 79 52 Salisbury (G В/1910) 47 Sappho (USA/c 1943) 160 Scorpion GB/1942) 42 52 Salisbury Sound (USA/1944) 157 Sarabande (GB/1940) 66 Scorpion (G В/1946) 44 177 Salmon (GB/1934) 49 Saracen (GB/1942) 52 Scorp on (USA/1942) 145 151 Salmon (USA/1937) 144 Saranac (USA/1930) 164 Scoter (USA/1944) 151 213 Salopian GB/1926) 82 Sarandu (AV 1926) 424 Scotsman (GB/1918) 12 150 Salpa (I/1932) 309 Sarasi ndhu (Si/c 1936) 411 Scotsman GB 1944) 52 197 Sall Lake City (USA/1929) 113 Sarasota (USA/e 1943) 160 Scotstoun (GB/1925) 82 109 Salta (A/1932) 421 Saratoga SA 1925) 101 Scoti (GB/1938) 63 193 Saliarclo(GB/l940) 66 Sarawak (GB/1943) 62 Scott (USA/1943) 136 287 Sailholm (Dk/1892) 383 Sards (USA/1945) 147 Scourge GB 1942) 42 302 Salio(Ur/l935) 419 Sardonyx (GB/1919) 12 Scout (GB/1918) 12 38 Salute (USA/1943) 151 Sargent Bay (USA/1944) 109 Scout (USA/1943) 151 52 Salvia (GB/1940) 62 Sargo (USA/1938) 144 Scranion (USA/-) 121 111 Samel (Si/?) 411 Sarita (USA/c 1943) 160 Scribner (USA/1944) 161 215 Samidare (J/1935) 194 Sarki(Fi/cl936) 366 Scrimmage (USA/1943) 151 72 Samoa (USA/-) 122 Sarmiento de Gamboa (Sp/1944) 403 Scroggins (USA/1943) 137 60 Samos (Gr/r 1942) 406 Sarnia (GB/1942) 64 Scuffle (USA/1943) 151 66 Samphire (GB/1941) 62 Sarpedon (GB/1916) 12 Sculpin (USA/1938) 144 278 Sampo (Fi/1898) 364 Sarslield (USA/1945) 134 Sculpin (USA/-) 147 47 Sampson (USA/I9I6) 93 Sarushima (J/1933) 208 Score (I/-) 317 61 Sampson (USA/1937) 127 Saskatchewan GB 1934) 39 Scurry (USA/1943) 151 72 Samsoun (Tu/1907) 406 Saskatoon (GB/1940) 62 Scylla (GB/1940) 33 65 Samuel В Roberts (USA/1944) 138 Satsuki (J/1925) 192 Scylla (Ne/1900) 387 61 Samuel В Roberts (USA/1945) 133 Salsunu(J/l906) 171 Scvihe (GB/1918) 12 59 Samuel N Moore (USA/1944) 132 Sailerlee (USA/1918) 94 Scythian GB 1944) 52 47 Samuel S Miles (USA/1943) 139 Sailerlee (USA/1942) 129 Sea Cat (USA/1944) 146 47 San Carlos (USA/1942) 157 Saiyr (GB/1916) 12 Sea Cliff (G В 1944) 39 160 San Dicgo(USA/194l) 118 Satyr (GB/1942) 52 Sea Devil (GB/1945) 52 60 San Domingo(GB/-) 44 Saucy (USA/1940) 156 Sea Devil (USA/1944) 146 47 San Francisco (USA/1933) 115 Saufley (USA/1942) 130 Sea Dog (USA/1944) 146 158 San Giorgio 1 1908) 285 Saugus (USA/1943) 161 Sea Fox (USA/1944) 146 278 San Jacinto (USA/1943) 105 Sau kko ( Fi/1930) 365 Sea Leopard (USA/1945) 147 62 San Juan (A/1937) 420 Sauli Ste Marie (GB/1942) 65 Sea Nymph (GB/1942) 52 73 San Juan (USA/1941) 118 Saulys(Lt/extani 1922) 354 Sea Owl (USA/1944) 146 44 San Luis (A/1937) 420 Sau marez (GB/1916) 11 Sea Panther (USA/-) 147 59 San Marco (1/1908) 285 Sauinarez (GB/1942) 42 Sea Poacher (USA/1944) 146 72 San Marcos (USA/1945) 161 Saunter (USA/1943) 151 Sea Robin (USA/1944) 146 66 San Martin (A/I896) 419 Saury (USA/1938) 144 Sea Rover (GB/1943) 52 44 San Martino (1/1920) 287 Sausalito (USA/1943) 148 Sea Seoul (GB/1944) 52 63 San Pnblo (USA/1942) 157 Sava (Yu/extani 1922) 357 Scabcar (GB/1918) 12 38 San Pedro (USA/1943) 148 Savage (GB/1942) 42 Seabcar (GB/1943) 65 109 San Saba (L'SA/rl943) 160 Savage (USA/1943) 140 Seadog (GB/1942) 52 93 Sarue ( J/192 3) 175 Savannah (USA/1937) 116 Seadragon (USA/1939) 144 116 Sanborn (USA/C1943) 160 Savanoris (I.i/cvtant 1922) 354 Seafire (GB/1918) 12 44 Sanchez Barcaiztcgui (Sp/1926) 401 Save (Po/c 1907) 396 Seagull (GB/1937) 63 47 Sand Lance (USA/1943) 146 Save Island (USA'1943) 109 Seaham (GB/1941) 64 160 Sanda (GB/1941) 66 Savorgnan de Brazza F 1931) 276 Seahorse (GB/1932) 49 121 Sanders (USA/1943) 135 Sawakaze(J/1919) 176 Seahorse (USA/1943) 145 59 Sandon (Sw/1940) 376 Sawarabi (J/1923) 175 Seal (GB/1938) 49 60 Sandoval (USA/c 1943) 160 Sawfish (USA/1942) 145 Seal (USA/1937) 144 278 Sandown GB 1934 84 Saxifrage (G В/1941) 62 Seal ion (GB/1934) 49 59 Sandpiper(GB/1933) 78 Sazanami (J 1931) 193 Sealion (USA/1939) 144 63 Sandray (GB 1944 66 Sborul (Ro/1914) 360 Sealion (USA/1943) 146 83 Sands (USA/1919) 94 Scahbardfish (USA/1944) 146 Seaman (USA/1946) 133 278 Sandusky (U SA/1943) 149 Sea pay (GB/1942) 66 Seamcw (GB/1928) 78 59 Sandwich (GB/1928) 55 Scamp (USA/1942) 145 Scaraven (USA/1939) 144 44 Sairf (F/1916) 258 Scania (USA/c 194 3) 160 Searcher (GB/1918) 12 107 Sangamon (USA/1939) 108 Scaravay (GB/1944) 66 Searcher GB/1942) 25 209 Sanguine (GB/1945) 52 Scarba (GB/1941) 66 Seattle (USA/1905) 93 175 Sans Pareil (F/1940) 279 Scarborough (GB/1930) 56 Seaver (A/c 1936) 421 196 Sans Peur (F/1941) 279 Scarborough Casile (GB 1944) 63 Seawolf (GB/1918) 12 353 Sans Rcprochc Г 194 I 279 Scarpe(F/1917) 259 Sea wolf (GB/1935) 49 449
Seawolf (USA/1939) 144 Shark (GB/1918) 12 Shreveport (USA/1943) 148 Sixtus (Dk/19) 8) 383 Sebago (USA/1930) 164 Shark (GB/1934) 49 Shrewsbury Castle (GB/1943) 63 ! |ob|orncn (Sw/)937) 374 Sebago (USA/1944) Scbasuano Cabolo gunboat) 165 Shark (GB/1943) Shark (USA/1935) 42 143 Shropshire (GB/1928) Shtag (USSR/1938) 27 341 Sjoborren (Sw/1941) Sjohasten (Sw/1940) 374 374 (1/19)2) Sebtisliano Cabolo (submarine) 317 Shark (USA/1943) Sharkey (USA/1919) 146 95 Shtorm (GB/1930) Shu Shen (Ca/)91l) 339 412 Sjdhunden (Sw/1938) SjOIcjonet (Sw/)936) 374 374 (1/1912) 288 Sharpshooter GB/1917) 12 Shubrick (USA/1918) 95 Sjdo men (Sw/1941) 374 Sebauiano Veniero 1)918) 288 Sharpshoo er (GB/1936) 63 Shubrick (USA/1942) 129 Skagit (USA/c 1943) 160 Sebenico(l/I937) 301 Shaw (USA/1916) 93 Shun Tien (Ma/1934) 414 Skarv (No/1906) 378 Sedcrstrom (USA/1943) 135 Shaw (USA/1935) 125 Siang Wo (GB/1926) 83 Skarv (No/c 1943) 380 Seeadler(G/)926) 237 Shawinigan (GB/1941) 62 Sbi la (1/1943) 317 Skate (GB/1917) 12 Seer USA/1942) 150 Shchit (USSR/1938) 341 Sibley (USA/c 1943) 160 Skate (USA/1943) 145 Sell ndreude (Ре/1935) 409 Shea (USA/1944) 149 Siboga (Ne/c 1897) 388 Skeena (GB/1930) 38 Sefton (GB/1943) 72 Shearwater (GB/1939) 62 Siboncy (USA/1944) 111 Skenerbeg(Al/cl917) 424 Segundo (USA/1944) 146 Sheboygan (USA/1943) 149 Sibyl (GB/1942) 52 Skiddaw (GB/189$) 84 Segura Sp/ 945) 403 Shediac GB/ 944) 62 Sicard (USA/1920) 95 Skilful (GB/1917) 12 Seid (USA/1943) 135 Sheehan (USA/1943) 138 Sicily (USA/1945) in Skill (USA/1942) 150 Selene (GB/1944) 52 Sheffield (GB/1936) 31 Sickle(GB/1942) 52 Skipjack (GB/1934) 63 Selfridge (USA/19)9) 95 Sheik (Eg/extant 1922) 409 Std Ferruch(F/)937) 273 Skipjack (GB/1943) 65 Selfridge (USA/1936) 125 Shelby (USA/c 1943)' 159 Sidmouth (GB/1941) 64 Skipjack (USA/1937) 144 Selinur (USA/r 1943) 160 Sheldrake (GB/1937) 62 Sidon (GB/1944) 52 Skirmish (USA/1943) 151 Scllstrom (USA/1943) 140 Sheldrake (USA/1942) 150 Sidonia (USA/c 1943) 160 Skjold (Dk/1896) 382 Seminole (USA/1899) 96 Sheliak (USAfr 1943) 160 Signet (USA/1943) 151 Skokholm (GB/1943) 66 Seminole (USA/r 1943) 160 Shchkof (USA/1943) 157 Sigourney USA 917) 93 Skomer (GB/1943) 66 Semion Paleikov (USSR/1941) 340 Shelter (USA/1943) 15) Sigourney (USA/1943) 131 Skoryi (USSR/1939) 331 Scmion Roshal (USSR/1941) 340 Shelton (USA/1943) 138 S gsbee (USA/1942) 130 Skrei(No/l90l) 378 Scmmes(USA/l9l8) 94 She ton (USA/1946) 133 Sigurd Sw 1908 369 Skye (GB/1942) 66 Senator (GB/1918) 12 Shcpparton (GB/1942) 65 Sikh (GB/1918) 12 Skylard (USA/1942) 150 Sendai (J/1923) 186 Shepperton GB 1935) 85 Sikh (GB/1937) 40 Sladkov (USSR/1905) 323 Seneca (USA/190S) 96 Sheppey (GB/1942) 66 Si Id (No/1900) 378 Slamat (Ne/1942) 394 Senegallaiis (F/1917) 258 Sherbrooke (GB/1940) 62 Silhouette (No/?) 381 Slater (USA/1944) 139 Sinfgalais (F/1943) 272 Sherburne (US.\/c 1943) 160 Si lido (1/-) 311 Slavnyi (USSR/1939) 331 Seneschal GB 1945) 52 Sheridan (USA/c 1943) 159 Silnyi (USSR/1938) 331 Slazak (Pl/c 1917) 348 Senia (No/1937) 38) Sherwood (GB/1919) 47 Silnyi USSR/-) 330 Slazak (Р1/1941) 349 Sennen GB/1928) 58 Shiant (GB/1941) 66 Si) verudes (US А/1941) 145 Slcipnir (No/1936) 379 Sennet (USA/1944) 146 Shid (GB/1943) 59 Silverstein (USA/1943) 138 Sleuth (GB/1944) 52 Sentinel (GB/1945) 52 Shields (USA/1944) 13) Silverton (GB/1940) 46 Slinger (GB/1942) 26 Sentinel (USA/1942) 150 Shiga (J/1944) 206 Silvio (GB/1943) 72 Sloat (USA/1919) 95 Sentry (USA/1943) 15) Shigure(J/1906) 175 Simcoe (GB/-) 63 Sloat (USA/1943) 140 Sep (PI/1938) 350 Shigurc(J1935) 194 Simone Schiaffino (1/19)5) 286 Sluna (GB/1941) 66 Sepoy (GB/1918) 12 Shii (J/1945) 196 Simoom (GB/1918) 12 Sluys GB/1945) 44 Seraph (GB/1918) 12 Shikari (GB/1919) 12 Simoom (GB/1942) 52 Smalley (USA/1943) 130 Seraph (GB/1941) 52 Shikinami J 1929) 193 Simorgh (Ре/1931) 409 Smartl (USA/1943) 135 Serapis (GB/1918) 12 Shikishima 0/1898) 171 Simoun (F/1901) 258 Srncli (Yu/)928) 358 Serapis (GB/1943) 42 Shillay (GB/1944) 66 Simoun F 1924 269 Stncly (Bu7)907) 363 Serdang (Ne/c 1897) 388 Shunakaze (J/I920) 176 Simpson (USA/1920) 94 Smelyi (USSR/1939) 331 Serdityi (USSR/1939) 33) Shimakaze J/1942) 195 Sims (USA/1938) 127 Smcraldo (1/1933) 309 Serene (GB/1918) 12 Shimane Maru (J/1944) 213 Sims (USA/1943) 136 Smerch (USSR/1929) 339 Serene (GB/1943) 65 Shimot-uki J/1943) 195 Sinclair (USA/1919) 95 Smeroe Ne/ 937) 394 Serene (USA/1943) 15) Shimushu (J/1939) 205 Sind(GB/-) 65 Smetlivyi (USSR/1937) 330 Sergei Shuvalov (USSR/1941) 340 Shinano (J/1944) 178, 184 S nsamudar (Si/1936) 411 S’mcu) (Ro/1914) 360 Sergipe (Br/1910) 416 Shinnan (J/1944) 206 Siofok Hu extant 1922) 355 Smilax (GB/1942) 63 Scrpente 1/1932 309 Shinonome (J 1917) 193 Sir Agravaine (GB/1942) 67 Smiler (GB/1943) 26 Serrano (Се/1928) 422 Shinshu Maru (J/1935) 2)4 Sir Galahad (GB/1941) 67 Smith (USA/1936) 125 Sesame (GB/1918) 12 Shinyo(J/1934) 186 Sir Gareth (GB/1942) 67 Smith Thompson (USA/1919) 94 Seta (]/1922) 177 Shinyo suicide craft (J/1944—45) 2)7 Sir Geraint (GB/1942) 67 Smiths Falls (GB/1944) 63 Sctisu (J/I91I) 171 Shiokazc(J/)920) 176 Sir Hugo (GB/1943) 72 Smolensk (USSR/extant 1922) 345 Sctisu Maru (J/1944) 2)5 Shipley Bay (USA/1944) 110 Sir Kay (GB/1942) 67 Smyruc Gr 1907) 404 Sevastopol (USSR/rl939) 326 Shippigan (GB/1941) 64 Sir Lamorack (GB/1942) 67 Smyshlonnyi (USSR/1939) 331 Severn (GB/1934) 49 Shipton (GB/-) 60 Sir Lancelot GB 1941) 67 SnaefeU (GB/1907) 84 Sevier (USA/c 1943) 160 Shirakami (J/1938) 209 Sir Tristram (GB/1942) 67 Snapdragon (GB/1915) 13 Seychelles (UB/1943) 62 Shirakumo J 1927) 193 Sir Visto (GB/1943) 72 Snapdragon (GB/1940) 62 Scydlitz(G/l939) 227 ,228 Shiraoui (J/1938; 194 Sirago (USA/1945) 147 Snapper (GB/1934) 49 Seymour GB 1916) 11 Shirataka (J/1929) 207 Sirdar (GB/1918) 12 Snapper (USA/1937) 144 Seymour GB/1943) 61 Shiratsuyu (J/1906) 175 Sirdar (GB/1943) 52 Snapp anen Sw 1934) 376 Seymour D Owens (USA/1947) 133 Shiratsuyu (J/1935) 194 Sirena (1/1933) 309 Snar (No/?) 379 Sfax(F/)934) 273 Shirayuki (J/1906) 175 S rene F 1925) 272 Snieg(USSR/1935) 339 Sfinge(l/I943) 3)7 Shirayuki U/1928) 193 Sirio (1/1905) 287 Snipe (GB/1945) 58 Shad (USA/1942) 145 Shirk (USA/1919) 95 Sirio(I/1935) 302 Snogg (No/1920) 378 Shadwell (USA/1944) 161 Shisaka (J/1944) 206 Strius (GB/1940) 33 Snohomish (USA/1908) 96 Shah (GB/1943) 26 Shkiv (USSR/1938) 341 Sirius (Ne/1922) 395 Snook (USA/1942) 145 Shahan (Ре/19 S8) 409 Shkva)(USSR/l930) 339 Sirius (Sw/1903) 370 Snowberry GB 1940) 62 Shakespeare (GB/1917) 11 Shoalhaven (GB/1944) 60 S rocco (F/1901) 258 Snowden (USA/1943) 140 Shakespeare (GB/1941) 52 Shoho (J/1935) 182 Sirocco (F/1925) 269 Snowdrop (GB/1940) 62 Shakhlior (USSR/19)6-23) 324 Shokaku (J/1939) 18) Sirocco (F/1939) 270 Snowdrift (No/?) 381 Shalimar (GB/1943) 52 Shonan Q/1944) 206 Sirona (USA/c)943) 160 Snowflake (GB/1941) 62 Shamrock (GB/1918) 12 Shoreham (GB/1930) 56 Sisu(Fi/19)6) 364 Snyder (USA/1943) 139 Shamrock Bay (USA/1944) 109 Shoshone (USA/1930) 164 Sisu (Fi/1938) 367 Sobjornen (Dk/c 1938) 384 Shangri La (USA/1944) 104 Shoshone (USA/c 1943) 160 Sitkoh Bay (USA/1944) no Sodio(I/)944) 311 Shannon (USA/1944) 149 Shoveller (USA/1944) 15) Sivrihisar (Tц/1906) 407 Soemba(Ne/)925) 392 Shapinsay (GB/1941) 66 Shpil (USSR/1938) 34] Sivnhisar (Tu/c 1940) 408 Sohesten (Dk/c 1941) 384 450
Sohunden (Dk/1917) 382 Spearhead (GB/1944) 52 Stanton (USA/1943) 140 Stormont (GB/1943) 59 Sdhunden (Dk/< 1942) 384 Spectacle (USA/1943) 151 Star of Orkney (GB/1936) 67 Stornaway (GB 1941) 64 S ka cn S w/1917] 370 Specter (USA/1944) 151 Starfish(GB/l9l6) 12 Storozhevoi USSR/1938 331 Sokol (Р1/1940) 350 Speed (GB/1942) 150 Starfish (GB/1933) 49 Storozhcvoi (USSR/-) 330 Sokol (USSR/1941) 339 Speedwell GB 1935) 64 Sta rkodder (Sw/1925) 375 Strahan (GB/1943) 65 Sokol (Yu/1919) 357 Speedy (GB/1938) 64 Starling (GB/1942) 58 Strale (1/1900) 286 Sokrushitclnyi (USSR/1936) 330 Spence (USA/1942) 130 Starling (USA/1942) 150 Strale (1/1931) 299 Sokuien (]/1913) 177 Spencer (USA/1937) 165 Starr (USA/c 1943) 160 Strasbourg F 1914) 257 Sokuten(J/1938) 209 Spenser (GB/1917) 11 Starshyi Leytenani Lckaryev Strasbourg (F/1936) 259 Sohr (USA/1943) 136 Spcrwer i (Nc/1912) 395 (USSR/1943) 340 Strashnyi (USSR/1939) 331 Solebay (GB/1944) 44 Sperwer (ii) (Ne/1942) 395 Starshyi Ixytenant Vladimirov Strategem (GB/1943) 52 Soky (USA/1944) 132 Spctsai(Gr/l889) 404 (USSR/1943) 340 Strategy (USA/1944) 151 Solferino (1/1920) 287 Spitsat (Gr/1932) 405 Start Bay (GB/1945) 61 Stratford (GB/1942) 64 Solium (Eg/1917) 409 Spey (GB/1941) 59 Starwon GB 1941) 62 Strathadam GB 1944) 60 Solomons (USA' 1943) 109 Sphendoni (Gr/c 1906) 404 Statesman (GB/1943) 52 Slrathroy (GB/1944) 63 Soloven Dk/1916) 382 Sphinx (GB/1939) 4 Statice (GB/1943) 63 Straub (USA/1943) 139 S6ldven(Dk/1938) 383 Sphinx (Ne/c 1902) 387 Statnyi (USSR/1939) 331 Straus (USA/1943) 138 Somali (F/1917) 258 Spica (1/1905) 287 Statsibrytaren Sw) 1926) 377 Stremitelnyi (USSR/1936) 330 Somali (F/1944) 272 Spica (I 1934 302 Staunch (USA/1944) 151 Strength (USA/1944) 151 Somali GB/1937) 40 Spica (1/1944) 303 Stawell (GB/1943) 65 Strenuous (GB/1918) 12 Somaliland (GB 1943) 62 Spica (Sw/1908) 370 Stayner (GB/1943) 61 Stribling (USA/1918) 94 Somers (USA/1918) 95 Spidola (PI/1926) 353 Steadfast (GB/1918) 12 Stribling (USA/1945) 134 Somers (USA/1937) 127 Spidoia (USSR/1927) 338 Steady (USA/1942) 150 Strickland (USA/1943) 140 Somme (1/1917) 259 Spikefish (USA/1944) 146 Steamer Buy (USA/1944) 110 Slriker(GB 1942) 25 Somme (F/1937) 277 Spikenard (GB/1940) 62 Steele (USA/1943) 135 Stringham (USA/1918) 93 Somme (GB/1918) 12 Spinax (USA/1945) 147 Steelhead USA/1942) 145 Strive (USA/1942) 150 Somine (GB/-) 44 Spindrift (GB/1918) 12 Stcepholm (G В/1943) 66 Strogi(Bu/1907) 363 Sonavati GB 1936) 83 Spingarda (1/1943) 317 Stefano Turr (1/1936) 312 Strogiy (USSR/1939) 331 Songhkli Si/1937) 411 Spiraea (GB/1940) 62 Stegg (No/192l) 378 Stroinyi (USSR/1940) 331 Soobraziteiny i (USSR/1939) 331 Spirit (GB'1943) 52 Stegg (No/cl943) 380 Strolaga (I/-) 317 Sophie Marie (GB/1923) 83 Spiro (A/c 1936) 421 Stcinaker (USA/1945) 134 Stroma (GB/1941) 66 Sopron (Hu/-) 355 Spiteful (GB/1943) 52 Steinaker (USA/-) 138 Strom vogel (Ne/1942) 395 Sorceress (GB/1916) 12 Splendid (GB/1918) 12 Stella Poiarc (1/1944) 303 Strong (USA/1942) 130 Sore! (GB/1940) 62 Splendid (GB/1942) 52 Stellarton (GR/1944) 63 Strong (USA/1944) 132 Sliridderen(Dk'l911) 382 Splendor (USA/1943) 156 Stembel (USA/1943) 131 Strongbow (GB/1943) 52 Soriddercn (DkA 1940) 384 Spokane (USA/1945) 118 Stephen Potter (USA/1943) 130 Stronghold (GB/I9I9) 12 Soribrncn (Dk/1898) 382 Spokoinyi (USSR/1940) 331 Sicregushchiy (USSR/1937) 330 Stronsay (GB/1942) 66 Sdrtv ;No/1941) 380 Spovcn (Sw/1941) 377 Surclt (USA/I9I0) 93 Strulc (GB/1943) 59 Sortc Sara (Dk/1941) 384 Sportive (GB/1918) 12 Stcrett (USA/1938) 127 Stryela (USSR; 1937) 341 Soryu (J/1935) 181 Sportsman GB 1942) 52 Sterlet (GB/1937) 49 Strynd (DM1941) 384 Souffleur (F/1924) 272 Sposobnyi (USSR/1939) 331 Sterlet (USA/1943) 146 Stuart (GB/1918) 11 Sdulven(Dk/1911) 382 Spot (USA/1944) 146 Sterling (GB/1918) 12 Stuart Pnnce(GB/1940) 75 Soulven Dk/c 1940) 384 Spragge (GB/1943) 61 Stern (USA/1943) 139 Stubborn (GB/1942) 52 South Dakota (USA/1941) 98 SprSngarcn (Sw/1918) 370 Stettler (GB/1943) 60 Sturdy (GB.11919) 12 Southampton (GB/1912) 10 Sprig (USA/1944) 150 Stevens (USA'1918) 93 Sturdy (GB/1943) 52 Southampton (GB/1936) 31 Springarcn (Sw/1935) 373 Stevens (USA/1942) 130 Sturgeon (GB/1917) 12 Southampton (USA/c 1943) 160 Springbank (GB/1926) 84 Stevenson (USA/1941) 129 Sturgeon (GB/1932) 49 Southard (USA. 1919) 94 Sp igbok (GB/1917) 12 Stevenson (USA/-) 130 Sturgeon (USA/1938) 144 Southdown (GB/1940) 45 Springdale (GB/1937) 85 Stcvensionc (GB/1942) 46 Sturtevant (USA/1920) 94 Southerland (USA/1944) 133 Springer GB 1945) 52 Stewart (USA/1920) 94 Sturtevant (USA/1942) 140 Southern Prince (GB/1929) 85 Springer (No/?) 379 Stewart (USA,1942) 140 Styepan Gredyushko Southsea (GB/1930) 84 Springer (USA/1944) 146 Stickcll (USA/1945) 134 (USSR/1941) 340 Southwind (USA/1943) 166 Springeren ( Dk/1916) 382 Stickleback (USA/1945) 147 Stygian GB 1943) 52 Southwold (GB/1941) 46 Springfield (USA/1944) 119 Stier (G/c 1936) 247 St rb)orn (Sw/1923) 375 Sovershennyi (USSR/1939) 331 Springhill (GB'1943) 60 Stingray (USA/1937) 144 Styx(GB/-) 65 Sovyetskaya Byelorussia a Springtide (GB/1937) 85 Stjcrna(Sw/l899) 370 Su(Ca/l895) 412 (USSR/c 1938) 325 Sproston (USA/1918) 94 Stockdale (USA/1943) 140 Sua-Khamronsindhu (Si,' 1912} 410 Sovyetskaya Ukraina Sproston (U SA1942) 131 Stockham (GB, 1943) 61 Sua-Tayanchuou (S 1908) 410 (USSR/c 1938) 325 Spruce 1 ake (GB/1945) 72 Stockham (USA/1943) 131 Sublocotenant Ghigulescu Sovyetskiy Soyuz (USSR/ 1938) 325 Spry (USA/1940) 156 Stockholm (Sw/1936) 372 (Ro/extant 1922) 361 Spada (1/1943) 303 Spur (GB/1944) 52 Stockton (USA'1917) 93 Subtle (GB 1944) 52 Spadefish (USA'1944) 146 Squad rista 1/1942) 301 Stockton (USA/1941) 129 Success (GB/1918) 12 Spaekhuggercn Dk/1911) 382 Squalo (I/I930) 308 Stockton (USA/-) 130 Success (GB/1943) 42 Spahi (F/1908) 258 Sqiulus (USA/1938) 144 Stoddard (USA/1943) 130 Success (USA/1944) 151 Spahi(F/1944) 278 Squipnia (AI/C1917) 424 Stodder! (USA/1919) 95 Sudbury (GB/1941) 62 Spangenberg (U S А/1943) 13 Squirrel (GB/1944) 65 Stoic (GB/1943) 52 Sudin (1с/1895) 425 Spangler (USA/1943) 137 Sri Ayuthia (Si/1937) 410 Stoikiy (USSR/1938) 331 Suffolk (GB/1926) 26 Spanker (GB/1943) 65 Sriya Monthon(Si/l90S) 410 Stokes (USA/c 1943) 160 Suffolk (USA/c 1943) 160 Sparide (1/1943) 310 Stack (USA/1938) 127 Stonechat (GB/1944) 66 Suffren (F 1927) 263 Spark (GB/1943) 52 Stmitfield (USA/1943) 135 Stonecrop (G В/1941) 62 Sugi(J/1915) 175 Sparrow (GB/1946) 58 Staff (USA/1942) 150 Stonehenge (GB 1943) 52 Sugi (J/1944) 196 Sparrowhawk GB'1918 12 Stafla (GB'1942) 66 Stonetown (GB/1944) 60 Sugrib(Si/1901) 410 Spartakovec (USSR 1929 332 Stafford (USA/1944) 138 Stord (No/1943) 379 Suh Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Spartan (GB/1942) 35 Stalin (USSR/1915) 323 Stbrcii (DM 1916) 382 Sui Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Sparviero 1/1927) 291 Stalker (GB/1942) 25 Stork (.GB/1916) 12 Suippc F 9 8) 259 Speaker (GB/1943) 26 Stalwart (GB/1918) 12 Stork (GB/1936) 57 Suippc(F 1942) 277 Spear (GB/1918) 12 Stambecco (I/-) 317 Storm (GB/1943) 52 Suisun (USA/1943) 157 Spear (GB/-) 44 Stamford (USA/-) 149 Storm (No/1899) 378 Suka (USA/c 1943) 159 Spear (USA/1943) 151 Stanley (GR. 1919) 47 Stormcloud GB 1919 12 Sukhothai (Si/1929) 410 Spearfish GB 1936) 49 Stanly (USA/1912) 130 Stormcloud (GB/1943) 65 Sulev(Es/1916) 352 Spearfish (USA 1938) 144 Stansbury (USA/1919) 94 Stormcs (USA/1944) 132 Sultan (Eg/extant 1922) 409 451
Sultanhisar (Тц/1941 407 Sultanthisar Tu 1906) 407 Suma (J/1915) 212 Sumatra (Ne71920) 387 SumidaQ/1903) 177 Su midi (J/1939) 212 Sumire (J/1921) 175 Sumire (J/1944) 196 Summerside (GB/1941) 62 Summer (USA/1920) 95 Sumter (USA/c 1943) 159 Sun Yat-Sen (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Sundew (GB/1941) 62 Sundsvall (Sw/1942) 373 Sur ish (GB/1936) 49 Sunfish (USA/1942) 145 Sunflower (GB/1940) 62 Suomi (Fi/1910) 365 Superb (GB/1943) 35 Superior (USA/1944) 151 Supreme (GB/1944) 52 S rasdra(S 1936) 411 Surcouf (F/1929) 274 Surf (GB/1942) 52 Surfbird (USA/1944) 150 Surovyi (USSR/1939) 331 Surprise (GB/1896) 85 Surprise(GB/1945) 61 Surprise (USA/1940) 156 Surrey (GB/-) 29 Sursay GB/1944) 66 Survdllante (F/r 1916) 259 Sussex (GB/1928) 27 Sussexvale (GB/1944) 60 Sussexvale GB/ ) 60 Sustain(USA/l942) 150 Susuki (J/1921) 175 Sutlej (GB/1940) 57 Sutton (USA/1944) 139 Suur Toll (Es/extant 1922) 353 Suurop (Es/extant 1922) 352 Suurop (USSR/1922) 344 Suvohor(Yu/?) 359 Suwannee (USA/1939) 108 Suwo J 1900 171 Suzanami J 1943 i 195 SuzukazeQ/1937) 194 Suzutsuki(j/I942) 195 Suzuya(J/1934) 190 Svaerdfisken(Dk/19I3) 382 Svardfisken(Sw/1914) 370 Svardfisken (Sw/1940) 374 Syrian (Sw/c 1940) 377 Svejenecks(La/exlant 1922) 353 Svenncr (No/ 1943) 379 Svensksund(Sw/1891) 370 Sveparen (Sw/1918) 370 Svcrdlov(USSR/1909-10) 324 Sverige (Sw/1915) 368 Svirep USSR/1940) 331 Saobodnyi (USSR/1939) 331 S volvaer (No/?) 381 Swale (GB/1942) 59 Swallow(GB/1918) 12 Swallow (USA/1942) 150 Swan (GB/1915) 11 Swan (GB/1936) 56 Swansea (GB/1942) 59 Swanson (USA/1940) 128 Swascy(USA/l9I9) 95 Swascy (USA/1943) 140 Sway (USA/1942) 150 Swearer (USA/1943) 139 Sweetbriar(GB/l917) 13 Sweetbriar (GB/1941) 62 Swenning (USA/1943) 140 Swerve (USA/1943) ISO Swift (GB/1943) 42 Swift (USA/1942) 150 Swift Current (GB/1941) 64 Swiftsure (GB/1943) 35 Switha (GB/1942) 66 Sword (GB/ ) 44 Sword Dance (GB/1940) 66 Swordfish (GB/1931) 49 Swordfish (USA/1939) 144 Swordsman (GB/1918) 12 Sybille (GB/1917) 12 Sydney (GB/1912) 10 Sydney (GB/1934) 30 Sylph (GB/1916) 12 Sylvania (USA/r 1943) 160 Sylvia (GB/1944) 65 Symbol (USA/1942) 150 Symi (Gr/?) 406 Syrian (No/1919) 381 Syoksy (Fi/r 1928) 366 Syrtis (GB/1943) 52 Szeged (Hu/extant 1922) 355 Taara (Es/extant 1922) 353 Tabs rd (GB/1945) 5) Tabbcrer (USA/1944) 138 Tabors (USA/r 1943) 160 Tachibana(j/I912) 175 Tachibana(j/I944) 196 Tachikazc 0/1921) 176 Tachin (Si/1936) 411 Tadtum (GB/1944) 51 Tacoma (USA/1903) 93 Tacoma (USA/1943) 148 Taconic(USA/1945) 159 Tact (USA/1942) 156 Tactidan(GB/1918) 12 Tactician (GB/1942) 50 Tade 0/1922) 175 Tadous*ac(GB/l94l) 64 Taff(GB/l943) 59 Tahay (GB/1944) 66 Tahkona (Es/extant 1922) 353 Tahoe (USA/1928) 164 Tahoma (USA/1934) 166 Tahure(F/1918) 259 Tai Ning(Ca/r 1936) 413 Taifun (USSR/1929) 339 Taiho(J/1943) 183 Taisto(Fi/cl942) 367 Taitam (GB/1943) 64 Taiyo(J/l940) 185 Takanami(J/1942) 195 Takane(J/1945) 206 Takams Bay (USA/1944) 110 Takao 0/1930) 189 Takao (J/-) 173 Takashima J 1941) 209 Takatsu Maru (J/1943) 215 Takbai (Si/1937) 411 Take 0/1919) 175 Take(J/1944) 196 Taksin (Si/-) 410 Taku (GB/1939) 50 Talavera (GB/1945) 44 Talbot (USA/1918) 94 Talent (GB/1943) 51 Talent (GB/1945) 51 Talent (GB/-) 51 Talisman (GB/1940) 50 Talladega USA/rI943) 160 Tallahassee (USA/1942) 119 Tallahassee (USA/-) 120 Tallapoosa (USA/1915) 96 Tallin (Es/extant 1922) 353 Tallin (USSR/1939) 328 Tally Ho(GB/1942) 50 Talybont (GB/1943) 46 Tama 0/1920) 174 Tamai(Eg/cxtant 1922) 409 Tamanami 0/1942) 195 Tamar (GB/1943) 58 Tamarisk (GB/1941) 62 Tamatsu Maru 0/1943) 215 Tambor (USA/1939) 144 Tambre(Sp/l944) 403 Tamcga(Po/1922) 396 Tamoio(Br/1937) 417 Tampa (USA/1921) 96 Tampico (Мех/1902) 414 Tam worth (GB/1942) 65 Tanager (USA/1944) 150 Tanatside (GB/1942) 46 Tancred (GB/1917) 12 Taney (USA/1936) 165 Tang (USA/1943) 145 Tanga (G/1937) 253 Tanganyika (GB/1944) 65 Tangier (USA/1939) 158 Tango (GB/1940) 66 Tanikaze (J/1918) 176 Tanikaze (J/1940) 194 Tantalus(GB/I943) 50 Tantivy (GB/1943) 51 Tapageuse(F/rl9I6) 259 Tapir (GB/1944) 51 Tapperheten (Sw/1901) 368 Tara (GB/1918) 12 Taranto (1/1911) 286 Tarawa(USA/l945) 104 Tarbell (USA/1918) 94 Tarmo(Fi/1907) 364 Tarmo(Fi/cl942) 367 Tarn (GB/1944) 51 Tarnan Sw r 1940) 377 Tarpon (GB/1917) 12 Tarpon (GB/1939) 50 Tarpon(USA/193S) 143 Tartar (GB/1937) 40 Tartu (F/1931) 268 Tartu (Pl/cxtant 1922) 353 Tasajcra (GB/1938) 74 Tashkent (USSR/1937) 329 Tashaz(TuJI907) 406 Tasker H Bliss (USA/1942) 159 Tasmania (GB/1918) 12 Tasuja (Es/extant 1922) 353 Tatars (J/1927) 212 Tate (USA/r 1943) 160 Tatcishi 0/1941) 209 Tatnall (USA/1918) 94 Tatsuta 0/1918) 174 Tattoo(GB/19I8) 12 Tatum (USA/1943) 137 Tatung (Ma/1933) 414 Taurus(GB/l9l7) 12 Taurus (GB/1942) 51 Taussig (USA/1944) 132 Tautog (USA/1940) 144 Tavy (GB/1943) 59 Tawhai (GB/1943) 67 Tay (GB/1942) 59 Taylor (USA/1918) 94 Taylor (USA/1942) 130 Tazewell (USA/c 1943) 160 Tbilisi (USSR/1938) 329 Teazer (GB/1917) 12 Teazer (GB/1943) 43 Tees (GB/1943) 59 Teguaida (Ce/1915) 422 Teh Sheng (Ca/1922) 412 Teist (No/1907) 378 Teist (No/rl943) 380 Tcjo (Po/1901) 396 Tcjo (Po/1932) 397 Tejo(Po/1935) 397 Tclemachus (GB/1917) 12 Telcmachus (GB/1943) 51 Telfair (USA/r 1943) 160 Tembicn (1/1938) 310 Terne (GB/1943) 59 Temeraire (F/1911) 258 Temeraire(GB/~) 16 Temerario(Sp/rI960) 402 Tempest (GB/1917) 12 Tempest (GB/1941) 50 Tempcte (F/1925) 269 Templar (GB/1942) Я Temptress (USA/1940) 156 Tenacious (GB/1917) 12 Tenadous (GB/1943) 43 Tenacity (USA/1940) 156 Tench (USA/1944) 147 Tenedos (GB/1918) 12 Tenedos (Gr/1906) 406 Teniente Rodriguez (Cc/< 1896) 422 Teniente Serrano (Се/1896) 422 Tenncssee(USA/l9l9) 90 Tenryu (J/1918) 174 Ter (Sp/1945) 403 Tercel (USA/1944) 150 Teredo (GB/1945) 51 Termagant (GB/1943) 43 Tern (GB/1927) 78 Tcrncl(Sp/l9114) 402 Terpsichore(GB/1943) 43 Terrapin (GB/1943) 51 Terrible (GB/1944) 22 Terror (GB 916 I 9 Terror (Sp/1896) 399 Terror (USA/1941) 149 Terry (USA/1909) 93 Terry (USA/1942) 130 Terschelling(i)(Nc/rl942) 394 Tcrschelling (ii) (Ne*-1942) 394 Teracore (1/1943) 317 Tenitsuki(j/I94l) 195 Test (GB/1942) 59 Tetcott (GB/1941) 46 Tete(Po/19l8) 396 Teton (USA/1944) 159 Tetrach (GB/1917) 12 Tetrarch (GB/1939) 50 Tetuan(Sp/cxtant 1922) 400 Teviotbank (GB/1938) 85 Tevoit (GB/1942) 59 Texada (GB/1942) 66 Texas (USA/1912) 90 Texel(Ne/cl942) 394 Thaddcus Parker (USA/1944) 138 Thames (GB/1932) 49 Thames Queen (GB/1898) 84 Thatcher (USA/1942) 130 Thane (GB/1943) 26 Thanet (GB/1918) 12 Thatcher (USA/1918) 91 1 he Pas(GB/l94l) 62 The Sullivans (USA/1943) 130 Theban (GB/-) 51 Theenim (USA/c 1943) 160 Themistoc!es(Gr/l942) 406 Theodor Riedel (G/1936) 233 Theodore E Chandler (USA/1945) 133 Thermopylae (GB/1945) 51 Theseus (GB/1944) 22 Thetford Mines (GB/1943) 60 Thetis (Dk/1912) 382 Thetis (F/1927) 273 Thetis (G/1900) 222 Thetis (Gr/1913) 404 Thetis (USA/1931) 166 Thetis (Sw/1908) 370 Thetis Bay (USA/1944) 110 Thiew Uthock (Si/c 1936) 411 Thionville(F/1913) 257 Thisbe(GB/l9l7) 12 Thisbe (GB/1943) 65 Thistle (GB/extant 1922) 13 Thistle (GB/1938) 50 Tholen (Ne/cl943) 394 Thomas (USA/1918) 94 Thomas (USA/1943) 139 Thomas E Fraser (USA/1944) 149 Thomas F Nickel (USA/1944) 137 Thomas J Gary (USA/1943) 140 Thomason (USA/1943) 136 452
Thompson USA/1919) 95 Tireless (GB/1943 51 Townsend (USA/-) 158 Trout (USA/1940) 144 Thompson (USA/1942 129 Tiding (Sw/1866 368 Townssille (GB/1941) 64 Truant (GB/1918) 12 Thor (G/c 1938) 247 Tirpilz (G/1939) 224 Towy (GB/1943) 59 Truant (GB/1939) 50 Thor (GB/1944) - 51 Tiru (USA/1947) 147 Tracker (GB/1942) 25 Truculent (GB/1917) 12 Thor (1с/1922) 425 Tisdale (GB/-) 60 Tracy (USA/1919) 94 Truculent (GB/1942) 51 Thor (Ne/c 1878) 388 Tisdale (USA/1943) 135 Trad (Si/1935) 411 Truelove (GB/1943) 65 Thor (Sw/1898) 368 Tito Speri (1/1928) 307 Tradewind (GB/1942) 51 Trump (GB/1944) 51 Thordon (Sw/1865) 368 Tjcrimei (Ne/1942) 394 Trafalgar (GB/1944) 44 Trumpeter (GB/1942) 26 Thorlock (GB/1944) 63 Tjerk Hiddes Ne 1939 390 Trail (GB/1940) 62 T rumpcter (USA/1943) 139 Thorn (GB/1941) 50 T erk Hiddes (Ne/1941) 390 Tral (USSR/1936) 341 T rumpctfish (US А/1945) 147 Thorn (USA/1943) 129 Toha (J/1911) 177 Tramontane F 1924) 269 Truncheon (G В/1944) 51 Thorn (USA/-) 130 Tobago (GB/1943) 62 Transcona GB/1941) 64 Truro (GB/1942) 64 Thornback USA/1944) 147 Tobruk (GB/1947) 44 Transvaal (GB/1944) 60 Trusty (GB/1918) 12 Thornbrough (GB 1943) 61 Tochi (J/1945) 196 Transvalia (No/?) 381 Trusty (GB/1941) 50 Thornbury Castle (GB/-) 43 Tochnyi (USSR/1906) 324 Transylvania (GB/1925) 82 Trutta (USA/1944) 147 Thorne A/1890) 419 Tocogay (GB/1945) 66 Trathen (USA/1942) 130 T ruxton (USA 1920) 94 Thornhill (USA/1943) 139 Todd (USA/c 1943) 160 T ravancorc (GB/1941) 65 Truxtun (USA/1944) 161 Thornton (USA/1919) 95 Togo (G/c 1938) 254 Travane Vari (Sil 1936) 411 Trygg (No/1919) 378 Thorodd (No/1919) 381 Token (GB/1943) 51 Traveller (GB/1941) 50 Tsingtau G 934 253 Thorough (GB 1943) 51 Token (USA/1942) 151 Travis(USA/1927) 166 Tsubaki (J/1918) 175 Thracian (GB/1920) 12 Tokitsu Maru (J/1946) 215 Traw USA 1944 137 Tsubaki J/194-1 196 Thrasher GB/1940) 50 Tokinukaze(J/1916) 176 Trc Kronor (Sw/1944) 371 1 subame (J 1929) 208 *1 hreadfin (USA/1944) 146 T oki tsukaze (J/1935) 194 Trego (USA/c 1943) 160 Tsuga(J/l920) 175 Threat (GB/-) 51 Tokiwa (J/1898) 173,207 Tremadoc Bay (GB/1945) 61 Tsugaru (J/1899 177 Threat (USA/1942) 150 Toledo (USA/1945) 121 Trcmaton Castle (GB -) 63 Tsugaru J 1940) 208 Thresher (USA/1940) 144 T Hand USA/c 1943) 160 Trenchant (GB 1916) 12 T$ukushi(J/1941) 212 Thruster (GB/1917) 12 Tollbcrg(USA 1944) 161 Trenchant (GB/1943) 51 Tsurushima (J/1940) 209 Thruster (GB 1942) 74 Tolman (USA/1944) 149 Trent (GB/1942) 59 Tsushima J 1902 174 Thuban(USA'cl943) 160 Tolosetto Farinati (1/1922) 288 Trento (I 1927) 291 Tsushima (J/1943) 205 Thule (GB/1942) 51 Tomahawk (GB/1918) 12 Trenton (USA/1923) 93 Tsuta(J/1921) 175 Thule (Sw/1893) 368 Tomich (USA/1942) 140 Trentonian JGB/1943) 63 Tsuta(J/1944) 196 Thunder (GB/1941) 64 Tomoshin (J/1945) 206 Trepang (USA/1944 146 Tucha(USSR/1935) 339 Thunderbolt (GB'1938) 50 Tomozuru (J/1933) 197 Trespasser GB/1942) 51 Tucker (USA/1915) 93 Thunderer GB/1911) 7 Tompazis (Gr/1941) 406 Trever(USA/1920) 95 Tucker (USA/1936) 125 Thunderer GB. i 16 Tonbridge Castle (GB/-) 63 Triad (GB/1939) 50 Tucson (USA/1944) 118 Thyella(Gr/cl906) 404 Tone(J/l937) 190 Tribune (GB/1918) 12 T ucuman (А/1928) 421 Thyme (GB/1941) 62 Tone (J/1904) 174 Tribune (GB/1938) so Tudor (GB/1942) 51 Tiara (GB/1944) 51 Tonkinois (F/1917) 258 Trichcco (1'1930) 3 Tuffetto (1/1943) 317 Tiburon (USA/-) 147 Tonkinois F/1943) 277 Trident F/1907) 258 Tui (GB/1941) 66 Ticonderoga (USА/1944) 104 Toorgood Reis(Tu/l891) 406 Trident GB/1938) so Tuinia (Fi/c 1942) 367 Tide (USA/1942) 150 Toowoomba (GB/1941) 65 Trieste (1/1926) 291 Tuisku F 1942) 367 Tifone (1/1942) 303 Topazio (1/1933) 309 Trigger (USA/1941) 145 Tulagi (USA/1943) 109 Tiger (G/1928) 239 Topeka (USA/1944) 119 Triglav (Yu/c 1936) 359 Tulip (GB/1940) 62 Tiger(GB/19l3) 9 'lor (No/1939) 380 T rillium (GB 1940) 62 Tullibee (USA/1942) 145 Tiger (GB/194$) 35 *1 orbay (GB/1919) 12 Trincomalee (< В 1946 44 Tulsa (USA/1922) 96 Tiger (USA/1927) 166 Torbay (GB/1940) 50 Trinidad (GB/1918) 12 Tulsa (USA/ ) 121 Tigr(USSR/cl915) 324 Torch (GB/1918) 12 Trinidad (GB/1940 34 Tumlaren (Sw/1914 370 Tigr(USSR-) 339 Toreador (GB/1918) 12 T riniU-Schillcmans (F/1918) 258 T umlaren (Sw/1940 374 Tigrante (USA/1944) 147 Torgud Re (Tu/c 1940) 408 Tripoli (1 1886) 285 Tumlercn (Dk/1911) 382 Tigre (F71924) 267 Tormentor (GB/1917) 12 Tripoli (USA/1943) 109 Tumult (GB/1918) 12 Tigre (1/1923) 286 Toro (USA/1944) 147 Trippe (USA/1910) 93 Tumult (GB/1942) 43 Tigris GB/1939) 50 Toronto (GB/1943 60 Tnppe (USA/1938) 127 Tumult (USA/1942) 151 Tigrone (USA/1944) 147 Tornadc F1925) 269 Triton (Dk/1915) 382 Tuna (GB/1940) 50 Tijicrhai (Nc/1944 392 Torrance (USA/c 1943) 160 Triton (GB/1937) 50 Tuna (USA/1940 144 Tilbury (GB/1918) 12 Torrens (GB/1915) 11 Triton (Gr/1928) 405 Tung An(Ca/1912) 412 Tilbury (GB/1942) 64 T orres Garcia (Po/1928) 398 Triton (Sp/1940 402 Tung Chi (Ca/1895) 412 Tilefish (USA/1943) 145 *1 ornceiii (1/1918) 288 Triton (USA/1934) 166 Tung Hsin (Ca/c 1935) 413 Tillman I USA/1919) 94 Torricelli (1/1939) 306 Triton (USA/1940) 144 Tung Teh Ca/cl935) 413 Tillman (USA/1941) 129 Torndge (GB/1943) 59 Tritone (1/1942) 310 Tung Wo(GB/1914 83 Tills {USA/1943) 139 T<< rid (GB/1917) 12 Triumph (GB/1938) 50 T unisien {F 1943) 272 Ttllsonburg (GB/1944) 63 Torrington (GB/1943) 61 T riumph (GB/1944 22 Tunny (USA/1942) 145 Timbalier(USA 1943) 157 Torscnskjold (No/1897) 378 Triumph (USA/1943) 151 Tunsberg N 1943) 380 T ihrira i(Br/1936) 417 Torsk USAH944) 147 Trockiy (USSR/c 1909) 324 Tupt (Br/1936) 417 Timmerman USA/1951) 133 Tortola (GB/1943) 62 Trockiy (USSR/H916) 324 Tur(USSR/cl915) 324 Timmins (GB/1941) 62 Tortuga (USA/1945) 161 Trodday(GB/1945| 66 Turandot (USA/c 1943) 160 Timofyei Ulyancev Tortuguero (US А/1921) 83 Trods(No/1899) 378 Turbine (1/1927) 299 (USSR/c 1941) 340 Tosa(J/1921) 171 Troilus(USA/ 1943) 160 Turbot (USA/-) 147 Tinaztepe (Tu/1931) 407 Toshima J/1914) 177 Trots Rivieres (G В 1941) 64 Turbulent (GB/1919) 12 Ting Pien (Ma/1935) 414 Totem (GB/1943) 51 Trojan (GB/1918) 12 T urbulcnt (GB/1941) 50 Tingcy (USA/1919) 95 Totland (GB/1931) 58 Troll No/1909) 378 Turchese (1/1936) 309 Tingey (USA/1943) 130 Tonareg (F/1917) 258 Trollope (GB/1943) 61 Turkmcncc Stavropolskiy Tinian (USA/1945) III Toucan (USA/1944 150 Troinbe(F/1925) 269 (USSR/1905) 323 Tinos (Gr/c 1944) 406 Touccy (USA/1919) 95 T roindy (cn-Edav) (No/?) 38) Turner (USA/1919) 95 Tinosa (USA/1942) 145 Tout (F/I9I9) 259 T romoy (cx-Mincarlo) (No/?) 381 Turner (USA/1943) 129 Tinsman (USA/1944) 137 Tourane(F/1936) 279 Tromp(Nc/l937) 380 Turner (USA/1945) 133 Tintagel (GB/1918) 12 Tourmaline (GB/1919) 12 Trondra (GB/1941) 66 Turner (USA/ ) 130 Tintagel Castle (GB/1943) 63 Tours i II c F1926) 263 Trooper (GB/1942) 50 Turpin (GB/1944 51 Tiptoe GB/1944) 51 Tovarishch (USSR/cl915) 324 Tros(USSR/1937) 341 Turquoise F 1929) 274 Tirailleur (F/1944) 278 Tower (GB/1917) 12 T roubndge (GB 1942) 42 Turquoise (GB/1918) 12 Tirane(Al/1926) 424 Towhee (USA/1945) 150 Trouncer (GB/194 3) 26 1 ursas (Fi/l933) 367 Tiree (GB/1941) 66 T owner (USA/c 1943 160 Trousdale USA/c 1943) 160 Turunmaa (Fa/1918) 364 453
Tuscaloosa(USA/l933) 115 Tuscan(GB/19l9) I? Tuscan (GB/1942) 43 Tuscarora (USA/1902) 96 Tusk (USA/1945) 147 Tuibury Castle (GB/-) 63 Tutuiia (USA/1927) 156 Tuuli(Fi/cl942) 367 Tuzer(Hu/extant 1922) 355 Tviordyi (USSR/1906) 324 Tweed (GB/1942) 59 Tweedy (USA/1943) 138 Twiggs (USA/1918) 94 Twiggs (USA) 1943) 131 Twining (USA/1943) 130 Two Step (GB/1941) 66 Tyler (GB/1943) 61 Tyne (GB/1940) 81 Tynedale(GB/1940) 45 Tynwald (GB/1936) 84 Typhon (F/1924) 269 Tyr (Ne/c 1878) 388 Tyr (N'o/1887) 379 Tyrant (GB/1917) 12 Tyrian (GB/1919) 12 Tyrian (GB/1942) 43 Tyrrell (USA/c 1943) 160 Tyrsky (R/CI942) 367 Uad Lucas (Sp,'extant 1922) 400 Uad Martin (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Uad Muluya (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Uad Querl (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Uad Ras (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Uad Targa (Sp/extant 1922) 400 Uanciek (1/1937) 310 Udarnik (USSR/ extant 1922) 324 Udarnyi (USSR/1932) 345 Udzukj(J/l925) 192 Uebi Scebeli (1/1937) 310 Uganda (GB/1941) 34 Ugolini Vivaldi (I/1929) 299 Uhlmann (USA/1943) 131 Uji(J/l903) 177 Uii(J/1940) 211 Ukishima (J/1939) 209 Ukraina (USSR/1904) 323 Uku (Es/extant 1922) 353 Uku (J/1944) 206 Ukuru (J/1944) 206 Ukushima Maru (J/c 1936) 215 Ula (No/1943) 380 Ulac Ali Reis(Tu/1940) 408 UIex(GB/-) 54 UlipioTraiano (1/1942) 297 UUer(No/1876) 379 Ulloa (Sp/1933) 401 Ulster (GB/1917) 12 Ulster (GB/1942) 43 Ulster Monarch (GB/1929) 73 Ulster Queen (GB/1929) 75,84 Ultimatum (GB/1941) 53 Ultor (GB/1942) 53 Ulua(USAZ-) 147 Ulva (GB/1942) 66 Ulven(Sw/l930) 373 UlvertM Moore (USA/1944) 138 Ulv6n(Sw/1941) 376 Ulysses (GB/1943) 43 Umbra (GB/1941) 53 Ume(J/l915) 175 Ume(J/1944) 196 Umikaze (J/1910) 176 Umikaze (J/1936) 194 Umpire (GB/1917) 12 Umpire (GB/1940) 53 Una (GB/1941) 53 Unalga (USA/1912) 96 Unbeaten (GB/1940) 53 Unbending(GB/l941) 53 Unbndled (GB/-) 54 454 Unbroken (GB/1941) 53 Undaunted (GB/1940) 53 Undaunted (GB/1943) 43 Underhill (USA/1943) 137 Undine (GB/1917) 12 Undine(GB/l937) 50 Undine (GB/1943) 43 Ungava (GB/1940) 64 Unicorn (GB/1941) 21 Unicorn (USA/1946) 147 Unicom (USA/-) 147 Unimak (USA/1942) 157 Union (GB/1940) 53 Union (USA/c 1943) 160 Uniontown (USA/1943) 149 Unique (GB/1940) 53 Unison (GB/1941) 53 United (GB/1941) 53 Unity (GB/1938) 50 Universal GB/1942) 53 Unrivalled (GB/1942) 53 Unruffled (GB/1941) 53 Unruly (GB/1942) 53 L’nryu (J/1943) 184 Unseen (GB/1942) 53 Unshaken GB/1942) 53 Unspanng (GB/1942) 53 Unst (GB/1942) 66 Unswerving (GB/1943) 53 Untiring (GB/1943) 53 Unyo(J/1939) 185 Upa»(GB/-) 54 Upham (USA/194-1) 16) Upholder (GB/1940) 53 Uppland (Sw/1946) 373 Upright (GB/1940) S3 Uproar GB/1940) 53 Upshot (GB/1944) 54 Upshur (USA/1918) 94 Upstart (GB/1942) S3 Upward (GB/-) 54 Uragan (USSR/1929) 339 Uragano (1/1942) 303 Urakaze (J/1915) 176 Urakaze (J/1940) 194 Urananu (J/1907) 175 Uranami(J/1928) 193 Urania (GB/1943) 43 Urania (1/1943) 317 Urchin (GB/1917) 12 Urchin (GB/1940) 53 Urchin (GB/1943) 43 Uredd (GB/1941) 53 Uredd (No/1941) 380 Urge (GB/1940) S3 Ursa (GB/1917) 12 Ursa (GB/1943) 43 Ursula (GB/1917) 12 Ursula (GB/1938) 50 Urtica (GB/1944) Я Uruguay(A/1874) 419 Uruguay (Ur/1910) 419 Urumi (J/1945) 206 Usage (USA/1942) 151 L’shio(J/l905) 175 Ushio(J/1930) 193 Usk (GB/1940) 53 Usk (GB/1943) 59 Uskok(Yu/1927) 359 Usugumo (J/1927) 193 Usurper (GB/1942) 53 Utah (USA/1909) 90 Uthaug(No/l944) 380 Uthcr (GB/1943) 53 U most (GB/1940) 53 Utopia (GB/-) 54 Utsira(No/l944) 380 Utstein (No/1943) 380 Uttern(Sw/192i) 370 Utvaer (No/1943) 380 Uusimaa (Fi/1917) 364 Uvlade(USA/cl943) 160 Uyaruk(Tu/1886) 407 Uztiki(J/1906) 175 Vaccasay (GB/1945) 66 Vagabond (GB/1944) 54 Vaillante(F/l917) 259 Vainamoinen (Fi/1930) 365 Vaktaren(Sw/l934) 376 Valcour (USA/1943) 157 Vale (No/1874) 379 Valen(Sw/192$) 373 Valencia (USA/c 1943) 160 Valentine (GB/1917) 12 Valentine (GB/1943) 43 Valeria (USA/c 1943) 160 Valerian (GB/1916) 13 Valhalla (GB/1917) 12 Valiant (GB/1914) 7 Valk(Ne/l929) 39$ Valkyrie (GB/1917) 12 Valkyrien (Dk/1888) 382 Valkyricn (No/1R96) 378 Vallay (GB/1945) 66 Vallejo (i) (USA/—) 120 Vallejo (ii) (USA/-) 123 Vj>Ilero(iii)(USA/-) 149 Valley Forge (USA/1945) 104 Vetleyfietd (GB/1943) 39 Vdmy (F/1928) 267 Valorous (GB/1917) 12 Valrossen (Sw/1918) 370 Valse (GB/1941) 66 Vammcn (USA/1944) 136 Vampire (GB/1917) 12 Vampire(GB/1943) 54 Vamptre(GB/1956) 45 Van Buren (USA/1943) 148 Van Galen (Ne/1928) 390 Van Galen (Ne/1941) 390 Van Ghent (Ne/1926) 389 Van Kinsbergan(Ne/1939) 392 Van Meerliant (Ne/1920) 388 Van Nes(Ne/l930) 390 Van Valkenbutgh (USA/1943) 131 Vanadis (USA/c 1943) 160 Vance (USA/1943) 140 Vancouver (GB/1941) 62 Vandace (USA/-) 147 Vandal (GB/1942) 53 VandivieriUSA/1943) 138 Vandyck (GB/1921) 83 Vanessa (GB/1918) 12 Vanguard (GB/1944) 16 Vanity (GB/1918) 12 Vanoc (GB/1917) 12 Vanquisher (GB/1917) 12 Vansittan (GB/1919) 12 Vantage (GB/-) 54 Varangian (GB 1943) 53 Vardar(Yu/extant 1922) 357 Vardo(No/?) 381 Varese (1/1899) 285 Varg (No/1894) 378 Vartan (USA/1943) 137 Variance (GB/1944) 54 Varne (GB/1943) 53 Varne (GB/1944) 54 Varonis (La/extant 1922) 353 Vartejul (Ro/1913) 360 Vancjul Ro/rl940) 362 Vantul (Ro/c 1940) 362 Vasarna (Fi/?) 367 Vasco da Gama (Po/1876) 396 Vasilefs Georgios (Gr/1938) 405 V asilefs Georgios 11 (Gr/?) 406 VasilissaOlga(Gr/1938) 405 Vasiliy Gromov (USSR/1940) 340 Vatersay (GB/1943) 66 Vauban (F/1930) 267 Vauquelin (F/1931) 268 Vauquois (F/1919) 259 Vautour (F/1930) 268 Vayne (USA/c 1943) 159 Vectis (GB/1917) 12 Vcdenia (Ro/c 1940) 362 Vedetta (1/1937) 317 Vefsna (No/1944) 381 Vega(GB/19l7) 12 Vega (1/1936) 302 Vega (Sw/1910) 370 Vcgreviiie (GB/1941) 64 Vehement (GB/-) Я Vcinte Cuarto de Febrero (Си/1911) 424 Veinticinco de Mayo (А/1929) 420 Velasco (Sp/1923) 399 Veldt (GB/1943) 54 Velebit(Yu/cl936) 359 Vellella (1/1936) 308 Veleta(GB/1941) 66 Velite (1/1941) 301 Vella Gulf (USA/1944) 111 Velocity (USA/1942) 151 Veins (Gr/c 1905) 404 Velox (GB/1917) 12 Ven (Sw/1940) 376 Venango (USA/c 1943) 160 Vendetta (GB/1917) 12 Vendetta (GB/1954) 45 Venerable (GB/1943) 22 Venctia (GB/1917) 12 Venezia (1/1912) 286 Venezia (1/-) 297 Vengeance (GB/1944) 22 Vengeful (GB/1944) 54 Vengeur (F/1928) 273 Veniero (1/1938) 305 Venom (GB/-) 54 Venomous(GB/l9l8) 12 Venturer (GB/1943) 54 Venturous (GB/1917) 12 V*nus (F/1935) 275 Venus (GB/1943) 43 Vera Cruz (Mex/1902) 414 Verbena (GB/1915) 13 Verbena (GB/1940) 62 Verdun (GB/1917) 12 Verdun (F/1928) 267 Veritas (USA/c 1943) 160 Verity (GB/1919) 12 Vermilion (USA/c 1943) 160 Veronica (GB/1915) 13 Veronica (GB/1940) 62 Verp (USSR/r 1935) 341 Versatile (GB/1917) 12 Vcrulam (GB/1943) 43 Vervain (GB/1941) 62 Verve (GB/-) 54 Veryan Bay (GB/1944 ) 61 Vesco(F/1917) 258 Vesco Nunez de Balboa (Sp/1944) 403 Vesihiisi(Fi/1930) 365 Vcsikko (Fi/1932) 365 Vesole (USA/1944) 134 Vespa(I/1942) 317 Vesper (GB/1917) 12 Vesta (Sw/1910) 370 Vestal (GB/1943) 65 Vesuvio (1/1941) 298 Vetch (GB/1941) 62 Vetehinen (Fi/1930) _ 365 Veteran (GB/1919) 12 Veto(GBZ-) 54 Vettor Pisani (1/1927) 307 Viacheslav Molotov (USSR/1939) 346 Viceroy (GB/1917) 12 Vicksburg(USA/l943) 120 Victor Hugo (F/1904) 257 Victor Revell* (F/1916) 258
Victor Schoelcher (F/1939) 279 Vittorio Veneto (I/1937) 289 Wakatsuki (J/IW2) 195 Wave (GB/1944) 65 Victoria (Ve/1940) 415 Vivacious GB 1917) 12 Wake (USA/1927) 156 W'aveney (GB/1942) 59 Victoria Marie(GB/1927) 83 Vivid (GB/1943) 54 Wake Island (USA/1943) 109 Waverley (GB/1899) 84 Victoriaville (GB 1944 60 V Men (GB/1918) 12 Wakeful (GB/1917) 12 W'axwing (USA/1945) 150 Victorious (GB/1939) 19 Vixen (GB/1943) 43 Wakeful (GB/1943) 43 WeFeng(Ca/1912) 412 Vidal de Negreiros(Br/I942) 417 Vladimir Polukhin (USSR? 1940) 340 Wakherrn (Ne/c 1943) 394 Wear (GB/1942) 59 Vidar (Ne/cl878) 388 Vladimir Trefolyev (USSR/1W1) 340 Waldeck Rousseau (F/1908) 257 W'eaver (USA/1943) 139 Vidar (No/1878) 379 Vlastnyi (USSR/1947) 332 Waldegrave (GB/1943) 61 Weber (USA/1943) 136 Vidar (Sw/1909) 369 Vlicland (Ne/c 1942) 394 Waldemar Kophamd 'G/1939) 252 Wedderburn (USA/1943) 131 Videla (Ce/1928) 422 Vlore(AV1926) 424 Waldron (USA/1944) 132 Wedgeport (GB/1941) 64 Vidette (GB/1918) 12 Vrumatelnyi (USSR? 1944) 332 Wale (Sw/1907) 369 Weeden (USA/1943) 137 Viekha (USSR/1937) 341 Vnushitelnyi (USSR/1944) 332 Walke (USA/1910) 93 Wega(Ne/1922) 395 Vtena(Fi/l9IS) 367 Vogelgesang (USA/1W5) 134 Walke (USA/1939) 127 Wei Ning(Ca/c 1936) 413 Vicsturs(La/1926) 353 Vuievoda (Bu/?) 363 Walke (USA/1943) 132 Wei Sheng (Ca/1922) 412 Viforui (Ro/1913) 360 Voima(Fi/1917) 364 Walker (GB 1917) 12 Weichsel(G/1923) 252 Viforul Ro/1939 362 Voiskovoi(USSR1904) 323 Walker (USA/1918) 94 Weiss (USA/1945) 161 V ggen (Sw/c 1940) 377 Volador (USA/1946) 147 Walker (USA/1943) 130 Weiss (USA/-) 138 Vigilance (USA/1943) 151 Volage (GB/1943) 43 Wallace (GB 918) 11 Welborn C Wood (USA/1920) 94 Vigilant (GB/1942) 43 Volatile (GB/1944) 54 Wallace L Lind (USA/1944) 132 Welcome (GB/1941) 65 Vigilant (USA; 1927) 166 Volframio (1/1941) 310 Wallaceberg GB 1942) 65 Welfare (GB/1943) 65 Vigilante (F/1922) 279 Volk(USSR/cl915) 324 Wallaroo (GB/1942) 65 Welles (USA/1919) 95 Vigilante (I/1937) 317 Volodarskiy (USSR/1915) 323 Wallasea (GB/1943) 66 Welles (USA/1942) 129 Vigo (GB/1945) 44 Volta (F/1936) 269 Waller (USA/1942) 130 Wellington (GB/1934) 56 Vigorous (GB/1943) 54 Voltaire (F/1909) 257 Wallflower (GB/1915) 13 Wells (GB/1919) 47 Vigra (No/?) 380 Voltaire (GB/1923) 82 Wallflower (GB/1940) 62 W'elshman (GB/1940) 37 Vihun(Fi/?) 367 Voltigcur (F/1944) 278 Walney (GB/1930) 58 WcnsIeydale(GB/1942) 46 Viima (Fi/?) 367 Volunteer (GB/1919) 12 Walnut (GB/1939) 66 Wentworth (GB/1943) 59 Vijeha(RoJ1914) 360 Von der Groeben G 19181 253 Walpole (GB/1918) 12 Wessex (GB/1918) 12 Vijelia(Ro/l939) 362 Vonder Lippc(G/l9l8) 253 Walrus (GB/1917) 12 Wessex (GB/1943) 43 Vikhr (USSR/1930) 339 Voome (Ne/c 1943) 394 Wanderer (GB/1919) 12 Wesson (USA/1943) 139 Viking (GB/1943) 54 Voracious (GB 1943) 54 Walrus (USA/1946) 147 West Diep(Be/<1915) 385 Villaamii (Sp/1913) 399 Voron (USSR/1941) 339 Walrus (USA/-) 147 West Virginia (USA/1921) 90 Villalobos (USA/1896) 96 Voroshilov (USSR 1935) 327 Walsh (USA/1945) 161 West York (GB/1944) 63 Villar (Pu/1917) 424 Vortex (GB.11944) 54 Walter В Cobb (USA.' 1944) 161 Westbury (GB/-) 60 Ville d'Oran F 1936 279 Vortice (1/1943) 31 Walter C W'ann (USA/1944) 138 Westcott (GB/1918) 12 Ville d Ys(F/1917) 259 Vortigem (GB/1917) 12 W alter S Brown (USA/1943) 135 Westminster (GB/1918) 12 Ville de Quebec (GB/1941) 62 Vos (Ne/1913) 387 W'alter S Gnrka (USA/1945) 161 Westmorland (USA/c 1943) 159 Vilppula (Fi/1916) 364 Votary (GB/1W4) 54 Walter X Young (USA/1944) 161 Westmount (GB/1942) 64 Vilun(Si/1936) 411 Vouga (Po/1933) 397 Walton (USA/1944) 137 Weston (GB/1932) 56 Vim (USA/1943) 156 Vox (i) (GB/1943) 53 Wambola (Es/1917) 352 Wcstraha (GB/1929) 72,82 Vimiera (GB/1917) 12 Vox (ii)(GB/l W3) Я W'anemune (Es/extant 1922) 352 Westray (GB/1941) 66 Vimy (F/1919) 259 Voyager (GB/1918) 12 Wantuck (USA/1944) 161 Westville (GB/-) 60 Vimy (F/1940) 277 Voyager (GB/1952) 45 W'arabi (J/1921) 175 Westward Ho!(GB/1894) 84 Vimy (GB/1918) 12 Volcano (Po/1910) 396 Warburton (GB/-) 60 Westwind (USA/1943) 166 Vincennes (USA/1936) 115 Vulcano (Sp 1935) 402 Ward (USA/1918) 94 Wetaskiwin (GB/1940) 62 Vincennes (USA/1943) 119 Vulcanul (Ro.lr 1W0) 362 Warkworth Castle (GB/-) 63 Wexford (GB/1919) 84 Vincente Yanez Pinzon Vulpine (GB/1943) 54 Warramunga (GB/1942) 40 Weymouth (GB/1910) 10 Sp/ 944) 403 Vyatka (USSRclWl) 344 Warrego(GB/19ll) 11 AX haddun (GB/1940) 45 Vincenzo Gioberti (1/1936) 300 Vyner Brooke (GB/1928) 83 Warrego (GB/1940) 56 Whale (USA/1942) 145 Vincenzo Giordano Orsini Vynoslivyi (USSR1947) 332 Warren (USA/H943) 159 Whalsay (GB/1942) 66 (1/1917) 287 Vyuga (USSR/1934) 339 Warrick (USA/r 1943) 160 Wheat wear (USA/1945) 150 Vind(Sw/1900) 370 V/ryatyel (USSR/1938) 341 Warrington (USA/1910) 93 Wheatland (GB/1941) 46 Vindcx (GB/1943) 24 Vzryv (USSR 1939) 341 Warrington (USA/1937) 127 Wheatland (USA/c 1943) 160 Vindhunden (Dk/1911) 382 Warrington (USA/1945) 134 Whelp(GB/l943) 43 Vindictive (GB/1918) 10 Wachusctt (USA/1944) 165 W'arrior (GB/1944) 22 Whetstone (USA/1945) 161 Vineyard (GB/ 1W4) 54 Wachtmeister (Sw/1917) 369 Warrnaniboot (GB/1941) 65 Whimbrel (GB/1942) 58 Vinga (Sw/1940) 376 Wadleigh (USA/1943) 131 Warspite (GB' 1913) 7 Whippingham (GB/1930) 84 Vinha(Fi/cl929) 366 Wadsworth (USA/1915) 93 Warszawa (PI.'extant 1922) 349 Whipple (USA/1919) 94 Vinnica (USSR/extant 1922) 345 Wadsworth (USA/1943) 130 Warwick (GB/1917) 12 Whirlwind (GB/1917) 12 Vinton (USA/c 1943) 160 Wagga (GB/1W2) 65 Wasa(Sw/1901) 368 Whirlwind (GB/1943) 43 Violet (GB/1940) 62 Wager (GB/1943) 43 Wasaga (GB/1940) 64 Whitby (GB 1943) 63 Violent (GB/1917) 12 Magian (GB/1943) 64 Wasatch (USA/1943) 159 White Marsh (USA/1943) 161 Vipsanio Agrippa (I/-) 297 Wagner (USA/1943) 138 Washburn (USA/c 1943) 160 White Plains (USA/1943) 109 Virago (GB/1943) 43 Wahoo (USA/1942) 145 W ashington (USA/1921) 90 Whitefish (USA/-) 147 Virgo (Sw/1902) 370 Wahoo (USA/-) 147 Washington (USA/1940) 97 Whitehall (GB/1919) 12 Virgo (USA/c 1943) 160 Waiau (GB/-) 67 Washizaki (J/1920) 177 Whitehaven (GB/1941) 64 Virile (GB/-) 54 Waiho (GB/1944) 67 Waskesiu (GB/1942) 59 Whitehurst (USA/1943) 136 Virtue (GB/1943) 54 Waiiti (GB/-) 67 W'asmuth (USA/1920) 95 Whitesand Bay (GB/1944) 61 Virulent (GB/1W4) 54 Waikaka (GB/-) 67 Wasp (USA/1939) 103 Whiteside (USA/c 1943) 160 Visby (Sw/1942) 373 Waikanae (GB/-) 67 Wasp (USA.' 1943) 104 Whitethorn (GB/1939) 66 \iscolul(Ro/'1939) 362 Waikato (GB/1943) 67 Wa tchman (GB/1917) 12 Whitethroat (GB/1944) 66 Viscount (GB/1917) 12 Wtu ma (GB/1943) 67 Waterhen (i)(GB/1918) 12 Whiting (GB/1941) 67 Visigoth (GB. 1913) 54 Wainwright (USA/1915) 93 Waterhen (ii) (GB'-) 45 Whiting (USA/-) 147 Visitant (GB/-) 54 Wainwright (USA/1939) 127 Waterhen (iii) (GB/-) 58 Whitley (GB/1918) 12 Vital (USA/1942) 151 Waipu (GB/1943) 67 Waterloo (GB/-) 44 Whitley (USA/r 1943) 160 Vitality (GB/1942) S3 Wakaba (J/1905) 175 Waterman (USA/1943) 139 Whitman (USA/1943) 135 Vitality (USA/1943) 156 Wakaba(J/1934) 193 Waters (USA.'1918) 94 AThitshed (GB/1919) 12 Vitebsk (USSR/extant 1922) 345 Wakanuja (J/1943) 205 W atcrwitch (GB’ 1943) 65 Whittaker (GB/1943) 61 Vitry le Francois (F 1920) 259 Wakarakura (J/—) 196 Watson (USA -) 130 Whyalla (GB/1941) 64 Vittorio AlGvri (1/1936) 300 Wakatake(J/1922) 175 Waits (USA/1943) 130 Wiay (GB/1945) 66 Vittorio Emanuele (1/1904) 284 Wakatakc(j/I941) 209 Waukesha (USA'r 1943) 160 Wicher (Pl'1928) 349 455
Wichita (USA/1937) 117 Wilherington (GB/1919) 12 Yanagi (J/1917) 175 Zambezi (Po/1886) 396 Wickes (USA/1918) 93 Witte de With (Ne/1928) 390 Yancey (USA/c 1943) 160 Zane (USA/1919) 95 Wickes (USA/1942) 131 Witter (USA/1943) 136 Yang Min (Ma/1934) 414 Zante (USSR/1916) 323 Widder (G/c 1929) 247 Wivern (GB/1919) 12 Yanvarga (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Zanzibar (GB/1943) 62 Widemouth Bay (GB/1944) 61 Wizard (GB/1943) 43 Y arborough (USA/1919) 95 Zapa! (USSR/extant 1922) 324 Widgeon (GB/1938) 62 Wolf (G/1927) 237 Yarmouth (GB/1911) 10 Zara(I/l930) 292 Wlelingen Bc/c)915) 385 Wolf (Ne/1910) 387 Yarnall (USA/1918) 94 Zaragoza (Mex/1891) 414 Wienngen (Ne/cl943) 394 Wolfe (GB/1921) 82 Yarnall (USA/1943) 130 Zaria Svobody USSR/1887) 322 Wigmore Castle (GB/-) 63 Wolffish (USA/-) 147 Yarra (GB/1910) ll Zarnica (USSR/1935) 339 Wigtown Bay (GB/1945) 61 Wolfgang Zenker (G/1936) 233 Yarra (GB/1935) 56 Zaryad (USSR/1936) 341 Wikania (GB/1934) 83 Wolfhound (GB/1918) 12 Yashiro (J/1944) 206 Zashchitnik (USSR/1940) ( 341 Wild Goose GB/1942) 58 Wollondilly (GB/-) 60 Yasoshima(j/I935) 192 Zbik(PV193l) 350 Wild Swan (GB/1919) 12 Wollongong GB 1941) 64 Yastreb (USSR/1940) 339 Zeal (USA/1942) 151 Wileman (USA/1942) 135 Wolsey (GB/1918) 12 Yat Sen (Ca/1930) 413 Zealous (GB/1944) 43 Wiley (USA/1944) 131 Wolverine (GB/1919) 12 Yavuz Sultan Selim (Tu/1911) 406 Zebra (GB/1944) 43 Wilhelm Bauer (G/1938) 252 Wood (USA/1919) 95 Yayoi (J/1905) 175 Zechond(Ne/l932) 392 Wilhelm Heidkamp (G/1938) 233 Woodbridge Haven (GB/1945) 60 Yayoi (J/1925) 192 Zecslang Nc/c 1906) 387 Wilhoite (USA/1943) 140 Woodbury (USA/1919) 95 Ydra(Gr/1931) 405 Zcffiro (1/1904) 286 Wilk (PI? 1929) 350 Woodbury (USA/1927) 166 Yeaton (USA/1927) 166 Zeffiro (1/1927) 299 Wilkes(USA/l916) 93 Woodcock (GB/1942) 58 Yerevan (USSR; 1941) 330 Zci lin (USA/1919) 95 Wilkes (USA/1940) 128 Woodford (USA c 1943) 160 Yestor (GB/1941) 67 Zdlars (USA/1944) 132 Wilkes-Barre (USA/1943) 120 Woodpecker (GB/1942) 58 Yi Shen (Ca/1911) 412 Zenith (GB/1944) 43 Willamette Valley (GB/1928) 84 Woodrow R Thompson Ying Hao (Ca/1933) 413 Zcnobia (USA/c 1943) 160 Willard Keith (USA/1944) 132 (USA/1946) 133 Ying Shan (Ca/1927) 413 Zenson (1/1912) 287 Willard Keith (USA/-) 135 Woodrow R Thompson (USA/-) 138 Ying Swei (Ca/1911) 412 Zephyr (GB/1943) 43 Willem van Ewijck Nc/1937) 394 Woodruff (GB/1941) 62 Yildiray (Tu/1939) 408 Zest (GB/1943) 43 Willem van Ewijck (Ne/1940) 394 Woodson (USA/1944) 137 Ymer(Sw/1932) 377 Zetland (GB/1942) 46 Willem van de Zaan (Ne/1938) 394 Woodstock (GB/1941) 62 Yodo (J/1907) 177 Zheleznyakov (USSR/c 1936) 345 Willem Warmont Ne/c 1905) 387 Wood worth (USA/1941) 128 Yoitsuki (J/1944) 195 Zheleznyakov (USSR/1940) 328 William В Preston (USA/1919) 95 Woolsey (USA/1941) 128 Yokes (USA/1943) 161 Zhcmihug (USSR/c 1936) 340 William C Cole (USA/1943) 136 Woolston (GB/1918) 12 Yornogi (J/1922) 175 Zhemchuzhin (USSR/c 1936) 345 William C Lawe (i) (USA/1945) 133 Woonsocket (USA/1943) 148 York (GB/1928) 28 Zhemchuzhnyt (USSR/1906) 324 William C La we (ii)(USA/~) 135 Woolwich (GB/1934) 80 York (USA/1907) 93 Zhitomir (USSR/extant 1922) 345 WilliamC Lawc(iii)(USA/-) 138 Worcester (GB/1919) 12 York Castle (GB 1944) 63 Zinro(V-) a 311 William C .Miller (USA/1943) 135 Worcester (USA/1947) 123 Yorktown (USA? 1936) 102 Zinnia (Be/1915) 385 William D Porter(USA/1942) 131 Worcestershire (GB/J1931) 82 Yorktown (USA, 1943) 104 Zinnia (GB/1940) 62 William J Pattison (USA/1944) 161 Worden (USA/1919) 95 Yorsh(USSR/cl916) 324 Zinovyev (USSR/1916) 323 William Jones (USA/1919) 95 Worden (USA/1934) 125 5 osif Stalin (USSR/1937) 346 Zmaj Yu/cxtant 1922) 359 William M Hobby (USA/1944) 161 Worthing (GB/1941) 64 Young (USA/1919) 95 Zmicya (USSRA1915) 3’4 William M Wood (USA/1945) 133 Wrangler (GB/1943) 43 Young (USA/1942) 131 Znamya Socyalizma William R Rush (USA/1945) 133 Wrangel (Sw 1917) 369 Youngstown (USA/-) 120 (USSR/extant 1922) 324 William Scivcriing (USA/1944) 138 Wren (GB/1918) 12 Younous (Tu/c 1902) 407 Zodiac (GB/1944) 43 William T Powell (USA/1943) 136 Wren (GB/1942) 58 Ypres(F/19l8) 259 Zoea (1/1937) 305 Williams (USA/1918) 94 W'ren (USA/1944) 130 Yser (F/1917) 259 Zolfo(l/-> 311 Williams (USA/1944) 138 Wrestler (GB/1918) 12 Yser (F/1941) 277 Zuiho (J/1936) 182 Williamson (U SA/ 1919) 94 Wright (USA/1945) 107 Yu Chang (Co/1912) 412 Zuikaku (J/1939) 181 Willlumstou n (GB/-) 60 Wryneck (GB/1918) 12 Yubari (J/1923) 187 Zulu (GB/1937) 40 Willis (USA/1943) 140 Wryneck (GB/-) 58 Yudachi 0/1906) 175 Zuraw (Pl/c 1934) 351 Willmarth (USA/1943) 136 Wulasiock (GB/-) 60 Yudachi (J/1936) 194 Zvczda (USSR/1934) 335 Willow Lake (GB/1945) 72 Wyandot (USA/c 1943) 160 Yudsuki(j/I927) 192 Zwaardvisch (Ne/1943) 392 Willowherb (GB/1943) 63 Wye (GB/1943) 59 Yugao 0/1923) 175 Wilmington (USA/1943) 119 Wyffels (USA/1942) 135 Yugin(J/1930) 193 2dcn Apnl Dk/1913) 382 Wilmington USA/-) 120 Wyman (USA/1943) 135 Yugumo(J/l941) 195 Wilno (Pl/c 1926) 351 Wyoming (USA/1911) 90 Yugure 0/1899) 177 Wilson (USA/1939) 127 Yugure (J/1905) 175 Wilton (GB/1941) 46 Xauen (Sp/extanl 1922) 400 Yugure 0/1934) 193 Wiitrie (USA/1945) 133 Xenia (USA/c 1943) 160 Yukaze(J/l921) 176 Wimmera (GB/-) 60 Xifias (Gr/c 1911) 405 Yukikaze (J/1939) 194 Winchebea (GB/1917) 12 Xifias (Gr/1942) 406 Yun Ning (Ca/c 1936) 413 Winchester GB/1918) 12 Yunagi 0/1906) 175 Windflower (GB/1918) 13 Yadake(J/1945) 196 \unagi (J/1924) 176 Windflower (GB/1940) 62 Yaeyama (J/1931) 208 Yunagi (J/1944) 196 Windham Bay (USA/1944) 110 Yaezakura 0/1945) 196 Yung Chi (Ca/1915) 412 Wndnsh (GB/1943) 59 Yaguar (USSR/c 1915) 324 Yung Chien (Ca/1915) 412 Windsor (GB/1918) 12 Yaguar (USSR/-) 339 Yung Feng (Ca/c 1912) 412 Windsor (USA/c 1943) 159 Yahagi (J/1911) 174 Yung HsiangCa/cl912) 412 Wingfield (USA/1943) 139 Yahagi 0/1942) 191 Yung Shen (Ca/1928) 413 Winnebago (USA/1944) 165 Yakaze (J/1920) 176 Yung Sui(Ca/19’9) 413 Winnipeg (GB/1942) 65 Yakobinec (USSR/1929) 332 Yurijima (J/1942) 209 Wi noma (USA/1945) 165 Yakor (USSR/1939) 341 Yuru(J/1922) 174 Winslow (USA/1915) 93 Yakov Sverdlov USSR/1905) 323 Winslow (USA/1936) 125 Yaku(J/1944) 206 Zabiyaka (USSR/1915) 323 - Winston (USAfc 1943) 160 Yakumo 0/1S99) 173 Zacatecas (Mex/c 1934) 415 Wintie (USA/1943) 135 Yakutat (USA/1942) 157 Zafer (Tu/1931) 407 Wisconsin (USA/1943) 99 Yamacrew (USA/1908) 96 Zaffiro (1/1933) 309 Wiseman (USA/1943) 136 Yamagumo (J/1937) 194 Zafir (Eg/extani 1922) 409 W’ishan (GB/1919) 12 Yamakaze 0/1911) 176 Zagaglia (I/-) 317 Wistaria (GB/1915) 13 Yamakaze J Г 36 194 Zagreb (Yu/1938) 357 Wistaria (GB/1939) 66 Yamashiro (J/1915) 171 Zaibas (Li/extant 1922) 354 Wirch (GB/1919) 12 Yamashiro Maru (J/1944) 213 Zaire (Po/c 1925) 397 Witak(USA/1946) 134 Yamato 0/1940) 178 Zambesi (GB/1943) 43 456