The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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| Tonnage | 2380 tons standard displacement 3400 tons fully loaded |
| Dimensions | 379' by 40'6" by 15'6" 115.52m by 12.34m by 4.72m |
| Maximum speed | 30 knots |
| Complement | 319 |
| Armament | 2x2, 1x1 4.5"/45
guns 4x2 40mm Bofors AA guns 2x2 2x1 20mm Oerlikon AA guns 2x5 21" torpedoes 1 Squid (42 depth charges) |
| Machinery |
2-shaft Parsons geared turbine
(50,000 shp) 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
| Bunkerage | 743 tons fuel oil |
| Range | 2820 nautical miles (5220 km) at 20 knots |
| Sensors |
Type 144 sonar Type 275 fire control radar Type 282 fire control radar HF/DF |
The first units of the "Battle" class were being completed just as the war was winding down, and only one unit, Barfleur,
reached the Pacific in time for combat. The design was a significant
departure from previous British destroyer designs, with heavy emphasis
on antiaircraft. Friedman (2013) attributes this emphasis to the shock experienced by the British when Illustrious was severely damaged by German dive bomber attacks in early January 1941.
The ships were
rather larger and slower than previous designs, with unimpressive
range, but carried a powerful battery of dual-purpose 4.5" guns and 40mm
Bofors guns, all under radar control. The 20mm Oerlikon battery was
deliberately reduced from four twin to two twin and two single mounts
because the latter were unpowered and would not be disabled if power was
lost. Antisubmarine weaponry was the new Squid depth charge thrower,
which was far more effective than a conventional depth charge attack.
The main guns were all crowded forward. In spite of serious misgivings
about the future of surface torpedo attack, the ships were given a
powerful torpedo battery of two quintuple tubes.
| Arrived 1945-6 |
References
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