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
continued
back to Sample Contents
|