BRITISH & COMMONWEALTH NAVIES in WORLD WAR 2

27. Destroyers, including Escort Destroyers
& ex-US Flushdeckers
,
Part 1 of 2

Part 1 - World War 1 classes - Fleet Destroyers;
Part 2 - Escort Destroyers - ex-US Destroyers


back to Sample Contents

HMS Westcott, "V" and "W" class destroyer of Great War vintage. Widely used, re-equipped, rearmed, overloaded in World War 2 in many roles
 

LOSSES BY YEAR and AREA - Destroyers
(in date order within each year; ctl - constructive total loss)

Year

Atlantic

Europe

Mediterranean

Far East

1939

-

Blanche, Gipsy, Duchess

-

-

1940

Whirlwind, Margaree (RCN)

Grenville, Exmouth, Daring, Glowworm, Gurkha, Hardy, Hunter, Afridi, Valentine, Whitley, Wessex, Grafton, Grenade, Wakeful, Keith, Basilisk, Havant, Acasta, Ardent, Fraser (RCN), Imogen, Brazen, Codrington, Wren, Delight, Esk, Ivanhoe, Venetia, Sturdy, Cameron (ctl), Acheron

Khartoum, Escort, Hostile, Hyperion

-

1941

Mashona, Broadwater, Cossack, Stanley

Exmoor

Gallant (ctl), Dainty, Mohawk, Diamond, Wryneck, Jersey, Juno, Greyhound, Kashmir, Kelly, Hereward, Imperial, Waterhen (RAN), Defender, Fearless, Kandahar

Thracian

1942

Matabele, Belmont, Punjabi, Wild Swan, Ottawa (RCN), Somali, Veteran, Saguenay (RCN), Firedrake, Achates

Vimiera, Vortigern, Campbeltown, Berkeley, Penylan

Gurkha (2), Maori, Southwold, Legion, Jaguar, Havock, Lance (ctl), Kingston, Heythrop, Lively, Kipling, Jackal, Grove, Bedouin, Airedale, Hasty, Nestor (RAN), Foresight, Eridge (ctl), Sikh, Zulu, Broke, Martin, Ithuriel (ctl), Quentin, Porcupine (ctl), Blean, Partridge

Thanet, Jupiter, Electra, Encounter, Stronghold, Tenedos, Vampire (RAN), Yoyager (RAN)

1943

Harvester, Beverley, St Croix (RCN), Hurricane

Limbourne

Lightning, Derwent (ctl), Pakenham, Arrow (ctl), Intrepid, Panther, Hurworth, Eclipse, Rockwood (ctl), Dulverton, Holcombe, Tynedale

-

1944

Hardy (2), Mahratta, Skeena (RCN)

Warwick, Athabaskan (RCN), Wrestler (ctl), Boadicea, Fury (ctl), Swift, Isis, Goathland (ctl), Quorn, Rockingham, Wensleydale (ctl)

Janus, Inglefield, Laforey, Quail, Loyal (ctl), Aldenham

-

1945

-

Walpole (ctl)

-

Pathfinder (ctl)

     

Key to Main Characteristics

Tonnage   standard displacement
Speed   designed speed at standard displacement, rarely attained in service
Main armament   sometimes changed as the war progressed; secondary armament usually changed
Complement   normal peacetime. Exceeded in war with consequent reduction in living space and higher battle casualties
Year   year or years class completed and normally entered service. Only includes ships completed up to war's end
Loss Positions   to nearest quarter degree unless given otherwise
Casualties   totals of men lost, or survivors plus saved, will often exceed peacetime complements. Cross (+) after commanding officer, where included, indicates killed or lost in the sinking.

WORLD WAR 1 CLASSES

46. 'R' and 'S' classes - 900 tons, 36 knots, 1-4in, 90 crew, 1918-24, 12 ships, 5 lost

HMS Shikari pre-war (All photographs courtesy Cyberheritage)

STRONGHOLD, 2nd or 4th March 1942 (sources vary), Indian Ocean, south of Java - by gunfire from Japanese 8in cruiser 'Maya' and destroyers. Sailing from Java to Australia (Japanese Invasion of Java)

STURDY, 30th October 1940, Western Europe, west coast of Scotland, on Tiree Island (c 56-30'N, 7-00'W) - ran aground in fog and wrecked. Local Western Approaches with Halifax/UK convoy SC.8 (Battle of the Atlantic)

TENEDOS, 5th April 1942, Indian Ocean at Colombo, Ceylon - by Japanese carrier bombers. "Tenedos" (CO believed to be Lt R Dyer) was in harbour (Japanese Carrier Attacks on Ceylon)

THANET, 27th January 1942, South East Asia off Endau, south east Malaya in South China Sea - by gunfire of Japanese 5.5in cruiser 'Sendai' and destroyers. "Thanet" (Lt Cdr B S Davies) and Australian destroyer 'Vampire' were attacking Japanese troop transports (Japanese Invasion of Malaya)

THRACIAN, 17th December 1941, Far East at Hong Kong - ran aground, dry-docked but damaged by Japanese bombing, later beached. "Thracian" (Cdr A L Powers) was in action during Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. Salvaged and served in Japanese Navy (Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong)

Surviving ships - SABRE, SALADIN, SARDONYX, SCIMITAR, SCOUT, SHIKARI, SKATE

47. 'V' and 'W' classes - 1,100 tons, 34 knots, 2 to 4-4in, 125 crew, 1917-24, many converted to escorts, 58 ships, 16 lost, 2 not repaired

HMS Vansittart

VALENTINE, 15th May 1940, Western Europe off Terneuzen, Holland in the Scheldt Estuary - damaged by German bombers and beached. Protecting Scheldt ferry (German invasion of Holland and Belgium)

VAMPIRE (RAN), 9th April 1942, Indian Ocean off south east coast of Ceylon (c 7-30'N, 82-00'E) - by Japanese carrier divebombers. Returning to Trincomalee with carrier 'Hermes', also lost (Japanese Carrier Attacks on Ceylon)

VENETIA, 19th October 1940, Western Europe 15 miles off North Foreland in Thames Estuary, south east England - by German mine. Believed on patrol with destroyers 'Garth' and 'Walpole' (Defence of British Waters)

VETERAN, 26th September 1942, Mid Atlantic, far west of Ireland (c 55-00'N, 23-00'W) - by 1 torpedo from German U-404. Escorting convoy RB.1 of Great Lakes steamers from Newfoundland to UK (Battle of the Atlantic)

VIMIERA, 9th January 1942, Western Europe in Thames Estuary, SE England (c 51-30'N, 1-00'E) - by German mine. Escorting southbound East Coast convoy (British Coastal Convoys)

VORTIGERN, 15th March 1942, Western Europe, off Cromer, East Coast of England in North Sea (c 53-00'N, 1-15'E) - by 1 torpedo from German E-boat S-104. Escorting Firth of Forth/Thames coastal convoy FS.749 (British Coastal Convoys)

VOYAGER (RAN), 23rd September 1942, East Indies, south coast of Timor (c 9-15'S, 125-45'E) - ran aground, possibly bombed by Japanese aircraft (sources vary) and destroyed by own forces. Landing reinforcements for Dutch and Australian 'Sparrow' guerrilla force on Timor (In Support of Land Forces)

WAKEFUL, 29th May 1940, Western Europe off Nieuport, Belgium (c 51-15'N, 2-45'E) - by 1 torpedo from German E-boat S-30. Evacuating troops from Dunkirk to Dover during Operation 'Dynamo' (Dunkirk Evacuation)

WALPOLE, damaged 6th January 1945, Western Europe off the Scheldt Estuary, Holland (c 51-30'N, 3-00'E) - by German mine. Believed on patrol in North Sea at the time. Not repaired (Defence of British Waters)

WARWICK, 20th February 1944, Western Europe off Trevose Head, north Cornwall, south west England (c 50-30'N, 5-30'W) - 1 torpedo from German U-413. On patrol in support of coastal convoys (British Coastal Convoys)

WATERHEN (RAN), 30th June 1941, Eastern Mediterranean off Bardia, east Libya (c 32-15'N, 25-30'E) - by German divebombers on the 29th June. With Inshore Squadron carrying supplies on the 'Tobruk Run' to the besieged town. Some sources show her lost on the 29th (North African Campaign).

WESSEX, 24th May 1940, Western Europe off Calais, northern France in English Channel - by German bombers. Supporting British land forces in the defence of Calais (German invasion of France).

WHIRLWIND, 5th July 1940, North Atlantic 120 miles west of Lands End, south west England (c 50N, 8W) - 1 torpedo from German U-34. Detached from UK outward OB convoy to search for reported U-boat with destroyer 'Westcott' (Battle of the Atlantic)

WHITLEY, 19th May 1940, Western Europe, between Nieuport and Ostend, Belgium - damaged by German bombers and beached. Supporting Allied land forces (German invasion of Holland and Belgium).

WILD SWAN, 17th June 1942, North Atlantic off south west Ireland (c 50-00'N, 11-00'W) - by German Ju88 bombers. With support group for Gibraltar/UK convoy HG.84 (Battle of the Atlantic)

WREN, 27th July 1940, Western Europe, 10 miles of Aldeburgh, eastern England in North Sea - by German bombers. With destroyer 'Montrose' providing AA defence for minesweeping trawlers (Defence of British Waters)

WRESTLER, damaged 6th June 1944, Western Europe off Normandy beaches, northern France in English Channel (c 49-30'N, 0-30'W) - by German mine. Escorting convoy to British sector as part of operation Neptune. Not repaired (Normandy Invasion)

WRYNECK, 27th April 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, east of Cape Malea, south east Greece (c 36-30'N, 23-30'E) - by German bombers. Evacuating British Commonwealth troops from Greece with destroyer 'Diamond', also sunk (Battle for Greece)

Surviving ships - VALOROUS, VANESSA, VANITY, VANOC, VANQUISHER, VANSITTART, VEGA, VELOX, VENDETTA (RAN), VENOMOUS, VERDUN, VERITY, VERSATILE, VESPER, VICEROY, VIDETTE, VIMY, VISCOUNT, VIVACIOUS, VIVIEN, VOLUNTEER, WALKER, WANDERER, WATCHMAN, WESTCOTT, WESTMINSTER, WHITEHALL, WHITSHED, WINCHELSEA, WINCHESTER, WINDSOR, WISHART, WITCH, WITHERINGTON, WIVERN, WOLFHOUND, WOLSEY, WOLVERINE, WOOLSTON, WORCESTER

48. Shakespeare class - 1,480 tons, 36 knots, 2-4.7in, 160 crew, 1919-22, 3 ships, 1 lost

HMS Shakespeare - broken up 1936

BROKE, foundered 9th November 1942, Western Mediterranean off Algiers, Algeria - hit by French shore batteries on the 8th November. With destroyer 'Malcolm' landing troops at Algiers during Operation 'Torch', the Allied invasion of French North Africa (French North African Campaign)

Surviving ships - KEPPEL, WALLACE

49. Scott class - 1,530 tons, 36 knots, 2 to 5 -4.7in, 160 crew, 1918-19, 7 ships, all survived

HMS Douglas

Ships - CAMPBELL, DOUGLAS, MACKAY, MALCOLM, MONTROSE, STUART (RAN). Also BRUCE, disarmed and expended in 1939

FLEET DESTROYERS AFTER 1918

50. Amazon & Ambuscade - 1,350 and 1,170 tons, 37 knots, 4-4.7in/6tt, 140 crew,1926, 2 prototypes, both survived

51. 'A' and 'B' classes - 1,350 tons, 35 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 140 crew, 1930-31, 20 ships including leaders, 11 lost and 2 not repaired

HMS Beagle

CODRINGTON ('A' leader), 27th July 1940, Western Europe at Dover, SE England - by German bombers. In harbour boiler cleaning after evacuating Allied forces from Dunkirk and Le Havre (Dunkirk Evacuation)

ACASTA (Cdr Charles Glasfurd+) and ARDENT (Lt Cdr J F Barker+), both 8th June 1940, Western Europe, west of Lofoten Islands in Norwegian Sea (c 68-00'N, 4-00'E) - by gunfire of 11in German battlecruisers 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau'. Escorting carrier 'Glorious' from northern Norway at end of Allied evacuation. 'Glorious' also sunk and 'Scharnhorst' damaged by torpedo from 'Acasta'; 1 survivor from 'Acasta', 160 men lost; 1 survivor from 'Ardent', 152 lost (Norwegian Campaign)

ACHATES (Lt Cdr A H T Johns+), 31st December 1942, Arctic Ocean, north east of North Cape in Barents Sea (c 73-00'N, 30-00'E) - by 8in gunfire of German cruiser 'Admiral Hipper'. Escorting UK/Russian convoy JW.51B (Battle of the Barents Sea - Russian Convoys)

ACHERON, 17th December 1940, Western Europe, off Isle of Wight, southern England in English Channel (c 50-30N, 1-30'W) - by German mine. Carrying out trials after repairs to bomb damage

ARROW, damaged 4th August 1943, Western Mediterranean, off Algiers Harbour, Algeria - by explosion of SS 'Fort Le Montee' and resulting fire. 'Arrow' believed alongside at time to assist with firefighting. Partially repaired for limited duties (French North African Campaign)

SAGUENAY (RCN) damaged 15th November 1942, North Atlantic, 12 miles off Cape Race, SE Newfoundland - collision with SS 'Azara'. Escorting iron ore convoy WB.13, Wabans to Sydney, Cape Breton Island. Not repaired (Battle of the Atlantic)

SKEENA (RCN), 25th October 1944, North Atlantic at Reykjavik, Iceland - driven ashore in heavy gale and wrecked. With Canadian 11th Escort Group operating in the Iceland/Shetland passage against U-boats (Battle of the Atlantic)

KEITH ('B' leader) and BASILISK, both 1st June 1940, Western Europe off Dunkirk, northern France in English Channel - by German Ju.87 divebombers. Evacuating Allied forces from Dunkirk during Operation 'Dynamo' (Dunkirk Evacuation)

BLANCHE, 13th November 1939, Western Europe in Thames Estuary, SE England - by German destroyer-laid mines. Escorting minelayer 'Adventure' (also mined) to Portsmouth.

BOADICEA, 13th June 1944, Western Europe off Portland Bill, southern England in English Channel - by 2 torpedoes from German Ju.88 torpedo bombers. Escorting follow-up convoy to Normandy beachhead (Normandy Invasion)

BRAZEN, 20th July 1940, Western Europe off Dover, SE England in English Channel - by German bombers. Escorting English Channel convoy CW.7, Thames to Isle of Wight (British Coastal Convoys)

Surviving ships - ACTIVE, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, BEAGLE, BOREAS (Greek 'Salamis' from 1944) BRILLIANT, BULLDOG

52. 'C' and 'D' classes - 1,370 tons, 36 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1932-33, 14 ships including leaders, 9 lost

HMS Kempenfelt, leader in 1932 (HMCS Assiniboine, RCN leader from 1939)

FRASER (RCN, ex 'Crescent), 25th June 1940, Western Europe, off Gironde Estuary, western France (c 45-45'N, 1-30'W) - by collision with RN cruiser 'Calcutta'. Returning with 'Calcutta' from supporting Allied evacuation of south west France, operation 'Aerial' (German Invasion of France)

OTTAWA (RCN, ex 'Crusader'), 14th September 1942, North Atlantic, east of Newfoundland (c 48-00'N, 43-00'W) - by 1 torpedo from German U.91. With Canadian C4 Group supporting UK/North American convoy ON.127 (Battle of the Atlantic)

DAINTY, 24th February 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off Tobruk, eastern Libya - by German Ju.87 divebombers. With 'Inshore Squadron' escorting supplies on 'Tobruk Run' (North African Campaign)

DARING, 18th February 1940, Western Europe, off Pentland Firth, northern Scotland (c 58-45'N, 1-45'W) - by 2 torpedoes from German U-23. Escorting Norway/UK convoy ?HN.12 (Defence of Trade)

DEFENDER, 11th July 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani, Egypt (c 31-45'N, 25-30'E) - by German (or Italian) bombers. With 'Inshore Squadron' carrying supplies on 'Tobruk Run' (North African Campaign)

DELIGHT, 29th July 1940, Western Europe, 20 miles south of Portland Bill, southern England in English Channel - by German bombers. Escorting English Channel convoy (British Coastal Convoys)

DIAMOND, 27th April 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, east of Cape Malea, SE Greece (c 36-30'N, 23-30'E) - by German bombers. Evacuating British Commonwealth troops from Greece with destroyer 'Wryneck', also sunk (Battle for Greece)

DUCHESS, 12th December 1939, Western Europe in North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland - by collision with RN battleship 'Barham'. Escorting 'Barham' to join Home Fleet in the Clyde (Home Fleet Operations)

MARGAREE (RCN , ex 'Diana'), 22nd October 1940, North Atlantic, west of Ireland (c 54-00'N, 20-00'W) - by collision with SS 'Port Fairy'. Escorting Liverpool-outwards convoy OL.8 (Battle of the Atlantic)

Surviving ships - ASSINIBOINE (RCN leader, ex 'Kempenfelt'), RESTIGOUCHE (RCN , ex 'Comet'), ST LAURENT (RCN , ex-'Cygnet'), DUNCAN (leader), DECOY (RCN KOOTENAY from 1943)

53. 'E' and 'F' classes - 1,370 tons, 36 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1934-35, 18 ships including leaders, 9 lost and 1 not repaired

EXMOUTH (leader), 21st January 1940, Western Europe, east of Wick, NE Scotland in North Sea (c 58-15'N, 2-30'W) - torpedoed by German U-22. Hunting for U-boat after torpedoing of Danish SS 'Tekla' in the Moray Firth (Defence of British Waters)

ECLIPSE, 24th October 1943, Eastern Mediterranean, north of Kos Island in the Dodecanese (c 37-00'N, 27-15'E) - by German mines laid by minelayer 'Drache' (ex-Yugoslavian). Carrying troops to Leros (British Aegean Campaign)

ELECTRA, 27th February 1942, East Indies, NW of Surabaya, Java in the Java Sea (c 6-30'S, 112-00'E) - by gunfire of Japanese cruiser force and destroyers. With Allied cruiser force in action (Battles of the Java Sea - Japanese Invasion of Java)

ENCOUNTER, 1st March 1942, East Indies, NW of Surabaya in Java Sea (c 4-30'S, 111-00'E) - by Japanese 8in cruiser force and destroyers. Sailing from Surabaya with RN cruiser 'Exeter' for the Sunda Strait after the main Java Sea action (Battles of the Java Sea - Japanese Invasion of Java)

ESCORT, 11th July 1940, Western Mediterranean, east of Gibraltar (c 36-00'N, 4-00'W) - by 1 torpedo from Italian submarine 'Marconi'. Returning to Gibraltar with Force 'H' at the time of the 'Action off Calabria' (Mediterranean Operations)

ESK, 31st August 1940, Western Europe, off Frisian Islands, Holland in North Sea (c 53-30'N, 3-45'E) - by 2 German mines. Minelaying mission off Dutch coast during threat of German invasion of Britain. Destroyers 'Express' damaged and 'Ivanhoe' sunk (Battle of Britain)

FEARLESS, 23rd July 1941, Western Mediterranean, 50 miles NNE of Bone, Algeria (c 37-45'N, 815'E) - by 1 torpedo from Italian torpedo aircraft. With Gibraltar-based Force 'H' covering Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Substance' (Malta Convoys)

FIREDRAKE, night of 16th/17th December 1942, Mid North Atlantic (c 51-00'N, 25-00'W) - 1 torpedo from German U-211. Escorting UK/North America convoy ON.153 (Battle of the Atlantic)

FORESIGHT, scuttled 13th August 1942, Western Mediterranean, NE of Bone, Algeria off Galita Island - 1 torpedo on 12th from Italian torpedo aircraft. Close escort Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Pedestal' (Malta Convoys)

FURY, damaged 21st June 1944, Western Europe, off Normandy beaches, northern France - by German mine and driven ashore in gale. Convoy escort to Normandy beachhead during Allied invasion. Not repaired (Normandy Invasion)

Surviving ships - ECHO (Greek 'Navarinon' from 1944), ESCAPADE, EXPRESS (RCN GATINEAU from 1943), FAME, FAULKNOR (leader), FORESTER, FORTUNE (RCN SASKATCHEWAN from 1943), FOXHOUND (RCN QU'APPELLE from 1944)

54. 'G' and 'H' classes - 1,330 tons, 36 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1936-37, 18 ships including leaders, 14 lost

HMCS Chaudiere

GRENVILLE (leader), 19th January 1940, Western Europe, off Thames Estuary, SE England (c 51-45'N, 2-30'E) - by German destroyer-laid mines. Returning from contraband control operations off Dutch coast (Contraband Control)

GALLANT, damaged 10th January 1941, Central Mediterranean, 25 miles SE of Pantelleria island (c 36-30'N, 12-15'E) - by Italian mines laid by cruiser force in August 1940. With Mediterranean Fleet covering Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Excess'. Towed to Malta and finally wrecked by bombing on 5th April 1942 (Malta Convoys)

GIPSY, 21st November 1939, Western Europe off Harwich, east coast of England in North Sea - by German destroyer-laid mines. Leaving Harwich with a destroyer force, she is badly damaged with the loss of 30 men. Beached in shallow water with only her hull submerged, and according to one source salvaged, she was not re-commissioned (Defence of British Waters)

GLOWWORM (Lt Cdr Gerard Roope+, awarded VC), 8th April 1940, Western Europe, NW of Trondheim in Norwegian Sea (c 64-30'N, 6-30'E) - by German 8in-gunned heavy cruiser 'Admiral Hipper'. Detached from screen for British minelaying operations to search for man overboard at time of German invasion of Norway; 40 survivors. 'Hipper' damaged when rammed by 'Glowworm' (Norwegian Campaign)

GRAFTON, 29th May 1940, Western Europe, off Nieuport, Belgium in southern North Sea (c 51-15'N, 2-45'E) - by 1 torpedo from German U-62. Rescuing survivors from destroyer 'Wakeful' (Dunkirk Evacuation)

GRENADE, 29th May 1940, Western Europe in Dunkirk Harbour, northern France - by German bombers. Evacuating Allied forces from Dunkirk (Dunkirk Evacuation)

GREYHOUND, 22nd May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, NW of Crete (c 36-00'N, 23-15'E) - by German Ju.87 divebombers. In action with Mediterranean Fleet against German sea-borne invasion of Crete (Battle for Crete)

HARDY (leader; Capt Bernard Warburton-Lee+, awarded posthumous VC) and HUNTER, both 10th April 1940, Western Europe, off Narvik, northern Norway in Ofotfiord - by German destroyer gunfire and torpedoes. Attacking troop transports during the German invasion of Norway (First Battle of Narvik - Norwegian Campaign).

HASTY, 15th June 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, SW of Crete (c 34-00'N, 22-15'E) - by 1 torpedo from German E-boat S.55. Cover force for Alexandria/Malta convoy 'Vigorous' (Malta Convoys)

HAVOCK, 6th April 1942, Central Mediterranean, near Cape Bon, Tunisia, off Kelibia in Strait of Sicily- ran aground and wrecked; later torpedoed by Italian submarine 'Aradam'. On passage from Malta to Gibraltar after being damaged in the Second Battle of Sirte (Malta Convoys)

HEREWARD, 29th May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off eastern Crete in Kaso Strait - by German divebombers. With Mediterranean Fleet evacuating British Commonwealth forces from Crete (Battle for Crete)

HOSTILE, 23rd August 1940, Central Mediterranean, 18 miles SE of Cape Bon, Tunisia in Strait of Sicily - by Italian destroyer-laid mines. On passage from Malta to Gibraltar (Mediterranean Operations)

HYPERION, 22nd December 1940, Central Mediterranean, 24 miles east of Cape Bon in Strait of Sicily (c 37-00'N, 11-30'E) - by 1 Italian destroyer-laid mine. Escorting battleship 'Malaya' on passage through from Alexandria to Gibraltar (Mediterranean Operations)

Surviving ships - GARLAND (Polish from 1940), GRIFFIN (RCN OTTAWA (2) from 1943), HERO (RCN CHAUDIERE from 1943), HOTSPUR

55. 'I' class - 1,370 tons, 36 knots, 4-4.7in/10tt, 145 crew, 1937-38, 9 ships including leader, 6 lost

INGLEFIELD (leader), 25th February 1944, Central Mediterranean, off Anzio beachhead, western Italy - by German aircraft-launched, Hs.293 glider bomb. With cover force (Battle for Anzio - Italian Campaign).

IMOGEN, 16th July 1940, Western Europe, off Pentland Firth, north Scotland (c 58-30'N, 3-00'W) - in collision with RN cruiser 'Glasgow'. On passage to Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands with 'Glasgow' (Home Fleet Operations)

IMPERIAL, scuttled 29th May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off north coast of Crete (c 35-30'N, 25-30E) - by German bombers on 28th. With Mediterranean fleet evacuating British forces from Crete. (Battle for Crete)

INTREPID, capsized 27th September 1943, Eastern Mediterranean, off Leros Island in the Aegean Sea - by German Ju.88 bombers on 26th. In harbour carrying troops to Leros (British Aegean campaign)

ISIS, 20th July 1944, Western Europe, off Normandy beaches, northern France - by German mine or possibly 'Neger' human torpedo. On anti-submarine patrol off the Western Sector (Normandy Invasion)

IVANHOE, 1st September 1940, Western Europe, off Frisian Islands, Holland in North Sea (c 53-30'N, 3-30'E) - by German mines on 31st August. Minelaying mission off Dutch coast during the threatened German invasion of Britain. 'Express' damaged and 'Esk' sunk (Battle of Britain)

Surviving ships - ICARUS, ILEX, IMPULSIVE

56. Brazilian and Turkish ships building in Britain - 1,370 tons, 35 knots, 3/4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1940-41,8 ships, 3 lost and 1 not repaired

HARVESTER, 11th March 1943, mid-North Atlantic (c 51-00'N, 29-00'W) - by 2 torpedoes from German U.432. With British B3 Group escorting Halifax/UK convoy HX.228. Commanding Officer Lieut Cdr A A Tait was amongst those lost (Battle of the Atlantic)

HAVANT, 1st June 1940, Western Europe, off Dunkirk, northern France in English Channel - by German bombers. Evacuating Allied forces (Dunkirk Evacuation)

HURRICANE, scuttled 25th December 1943, North Atlantic, NE of Azores (c 45-00'N, 22-00'W) - by 1 torpedo from German U.305 or U.415. With 1st Escort Group supporting UK/African convoys OS.62 and KMS.36, and also US escort carrier 'Card' task force (Battle of the Atlantic)

ITHURIEL, damaged 28th November 1942, Western Mediterranean, at Bone, Algeria - by German bombers. In harbour as part of Force 'H' cover force for Allied invasion of French North Africa. Not repaired (French North African Campaign)

Surviving ships - HAVELOCK, HESPERUS, HIGHLANDER, INCONSTANT

57. Tribal classes - 1,870 tons, 36 knots, 8-4.7in/4tt, 190 crew, 1938/39, 16 ships, 12 lost

HMS Tartar

AFRIDI (Capt Philip Vian), 3rd May 1940, Western Europe, NW of Namsos, Norway in Norwegian Sea (c 66-15'N, 5-45'E) - by German Ju.87 divebombers. Withdrawing after Allied evacuation of Namsos; 100 men lost including rescued troops and survivors from French destroyer 'Bison' (Norwegian Campaign)

BEDOUIN (Cdr B G Scurfield), 15th June 1942, Central Mediterranean, off Pantelleria island in Strait of Sicily (36-15'N, 11-30'E) - by 6in-gunfire of Italian cruiser 'di Savoia' and torpedo aircraft. Close escort, Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Harpoon' (Malta Convoys)

COSSACK, foundered 27th October 1941, North Atlantic, west of Strait of Gibraltar (c 35-15'N, 8-15'W) - by 1 torpedo from German U.563 on 23rd. Escorting Gibraltar/UK convoy HG.75 - HG.74 in some sources (Battle of the Atlantic)

GURKHA, 9th April 1940, Western Europe, SE of Bergen, Norway in North Sea - by German Ju.88 and He.111 bombers. Withdrawing with cruiser force from planned attack on Bergen during German invasion of Norway (Norwegian Campaign)

MAORI (Cdr R E Courage), 12th February 1942, Central Mediterranean, Malta Grand Harbour - by 1 bomb from German bombers. In harbour as part of Malta-based destroyer strike force. Many of the crew ashore in shelters, sank at moorings with 1 man killed (North African Campaign)

MASHONA, 28th May 1941, North Atlantic, off Galway, western Ireland (c 53-00'N, 12-00'W) - by German Ju.88 bombers. Returning from successful hunt for German battleship 'Bismarck' (Battle of the Atlantic)

MATABELE, 17th January 1942, Arctic Ocean, off Murmansk, Russia in Barents Sea (c 69-15'N, 35-30'E) by 1 torpedo from German U.454. Escort, Iceland/Russian convoy PQ.8; 2 survivors from crew of 200 (Russian Convoys)

MOHAWK, 16th April 1941, Central Mediterranean, off Kerkennah Island, eastern Tunisia - by 2 torpedoes from Italian destroyer 'Tarigo'. With three other destroyers in attack on 5 ship Italian convoy. All 5 ships and 3 escorts, including 'Tarigo' sunk (Action off Sfax - North African Campaign).

PUNJABI, 1st May 1942, North Atlantic, east of Iceland - by collision with RN battleship 'King George V'. Escort to 'King George V' as cover force for Iceland/Russian convoy PQ.15; 206 survivors (Russian Convoys)

SIKH, 14th September 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, off Tobruk, eastern Libya - by German shore batteries. Landing Royal Marines for British combined operations raid on Tobruk (North African Campaign)

SOMALI (Lt Cdr C Maud), foundered 24th September 1942, North Atlantic, north of Iceland (c 69-00'N, 15-30'W) - by 1 torpedo from German U.703 on 20th at 75N, 1W in Greenland Sea. Close escort, Russia/UK convoy QP.14. Being towed by 'Ashanti', went down in bad weather, 45 men lost (Russian Convoys)

ZULU, 14th September 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, NW of Alexandria, Egypt (c 32-00'N, 29-00'E) - by Italian/German force of Ju87 and Ju88 bombers. Returning to Alexandria after combined operations raid on Tobruk (see 'Sikh ' above). Cruiser 'Coventry' also lost (North African Campaign)

Surviving ships - ASHANTI, ESKIMO, NUBIAN, TARTAR

Second Group - 1,930 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/4tt, 250 crew, 1942-45, 7 ships completed by war's end, 1 lost

HMS Athabaskan

ATHABASKAN (RCN), 29th April 1944, Western Europe, off north coast of Brittany, France in English Channel, 10 miles north of Ile de Vierge - by 1 or 2 torpedoes from German torpedo boat T.24. Covering minelaying operation of Brittany with Canadian destroyer 'Haida'. German T.27 driven ashore by 'Haida' in the action (English Channel Operations)

Surviving ships - ARUNTA, BATAAN, WARRAMUNGA (all RAN), HAIDA (preserved), HURON, IROQUOIS (all RCN)

58. 'J' and 'K' classes - 1,690 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/10tt, 185 crew, 1939, 16 ships, 12 lost

HMS Javelin

JACKAL, scuttled 12th May 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, north of Sidi Barrani, Egypt (c 36-30'N, 26-30'E) - by German Ju.88 bombers on 11th. Returning to Alexandria from planned hunt for Axis convoy to Benghazi. 'Kipling' (below) and 'Lively' also lost. Only 'Jervis' escaped with 630 survivors from the other three destroyers (North African Campaign)

JAGUAR, 26th March 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani (c 32-00'N, 26-15'E) - by 2 torpedoes from German U.652. Escorting tanker, also sunk, to Tobruk (North African Campaign)

JANUS, 23rd January 1944, Central Mediterranean, off Anzio beachhead, western Italy - by 1 torpedo from German He111 torpedo bomber. On patrol off Anzio during Allied landings (Battle for Anzio - Italian Campaign)

JERSEY, 2nd May 1941, Central Mediterranean, off Malta Grand Harbour - by mine, assumed Italian. Returning to Malta with cruiser 'Gloucester' after hunt for Axis convoy to Libya (North African Campaign)

JUNO, 21st May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off SE Crete (c 34-30'N, 26-30'E) - by German bombers. In action with Mediterranean Fleet against the German sea-borne invasion of Crete (Battle for Crete).

JUPITER, 27th February 1942, East Indies, off north Java coast in Java Sea (c 6-45'S, 112-00'E) - by mines, probably Dutch. With Australian/British/Dutch/American (ABDA) cruiser force in action (Battle of the Java Sea - Japanese Invasion of Java).

KANDAHAR, scuttled 20th December 1941, Central Mediterranean, off Tripoli, western Libya (c 33-15'N, 13-15'E) - by Italian cruiser-laid mines on 19th. With cruiser Force 'K' in search for Italian convoy to Tripoli. Cruiser 'Neptune' also sunk (North African Campaign)

KASHMIR and KELLY (leader; Capt Lord Louis Mountbatten), both 23rd May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off south Crete (c 34-30'N, 23-15'E) - by 1 bomb each from German Ju.87 or Ju.88 divebombers. In action with Mediterranean Fleet against German sea-borne invasion of Crete; 'Kelly' lost 130 officers and men. (Battle for Crete)

KHARTOUM, 23rd June 1940, southern Red Sea, off island of Perim - by internal explosion from burst torpedo air vessel followed by fire. During gun action with other destroyers against Italian submarine 'Torricelli', also sunk (Defence of Trade)

KINGSTON, 11th April 1942, Central Mediterranean, at Malta - by German or Italian bombers. In harbour, damaged after the Second Battle of Sirte (Malta Convoys)

KIPLING, 11th May 1942, Eastern Mediterranean, north of Sidi Barrani, Egypt (c 32-30'N, 26-00'E) - by German Ju.88 bombers. See 'Jackal' above (North African Campaign)

Surviving ships - JERVIS (leader), JAVELIN, KELVIN, KIMBERLEY

59. 'L' and 'M' classes - 1,930 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/8tt, 190 crew, 1940/42, 16 ships, 7 lost and 2 not repaired

HMS Meteor

 

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