S and T class
Builders
Class beforeQ and R-class destroyer
Class afterU and V-class destroyer
SubclassesS, T
Total ships completed16
Total ships lost2
Total ships retired14
S and T-class destroyer
Destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,710 long tons (1,737 t) - 1,730 long tons (1,758 t) (standard nominal)
  • 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) - 1,810 long tons (1,839 t) (actual)
  • 2,505 long tons (2,545 t) - 2,545 long tons (2,586 t) (deep load)
Length
  • 339 ft 6 in (103.48 m) pp
  • 362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) oa
Beam35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines
  • 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 40,000 hp (30,000 kW)
Speed36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h)
Complement180-225
Armament

The S and T class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were built as two flotillas, known as the 5th and 6th Emergency Flotilla, and they served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.

Design features

The S class introduced the CP (central pivot) Mark XXII mounting for the QF Mark IX 4.7 in guns. This new mounting had a shield with a sharply raked front, to allow increased elevation (to 55 degrees), contrasting noticeably with the vertical front of the previous CP Mark XVIII, and easily differentiated the S class onwards from their immediate predecessors. Savage was the exception in this respect, being fitted with four 4.5 in guns; a twin mounting forward and two singles aft. These ships used the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer.[1]

The quadruple mounting Mark VII for the QF 2-pounder pom-poms was replaced by the twin mounting Mark IV for the 40 mm Bofors gun. Known as the "Hazemeyer" (or "Haslemere"), this advanced mounting was tri-axially stabilised in order that a target could be kept in the sights on the pitching deck of a destroyer and was fitted with an analog fire control computer and Radar Type 282, a metric range-finding set. The Hazemeyer design had been brought to Britain by the Dutch minelayer Willem van der Zaan that had escaped from the German occupation in May 1940.

The T class also was the first class to replace pole or tripod foremasts with lattice masts, which continued in subsequent War Emergency Flotillas.

Ships in class

S class

T class

Ships

S class

Construction data
NamePennant numberBuilder, YardLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFate
HMS Saumarez[a]G12Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn6 January 194120 November 19421 July 1943Broken up in Charlestown, Fife in October 1950.
HMS SavageG20Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn7 December 194124 September 19428 June 1943Broken up in Newport on 11 April 1962.
HMS ScorpionG72Cammell Laird, Birkenhead19 June 194126 August 194211 May 1943Sold to the Dutch in October 1945
HMS ScourgeG01Cammell Laird, Birkenhead26 June 19418 December 194214 July 1943Sold to the Dutch in October 1945
HMS SerapisG94Scotts, Greenock14 August 194125 March 194323 December 1943To Netherlands 5 October 1945
HMS SharkG03Scotts, Greenock5 November 19411 June 194311 March 1944Transferred to Norway, sunk off Sword Beach 6 June 1944.
HMS SuccessG26J.Samuel White, Cowes25 February 19423 March 194326 August 1943Transferred to Norway prior to completion as HNoMS Stord. Sold for scrapping 1959
HMS SwiftG46J.Samuel White, Cowes12 June 194215 June 194312 December 1943Sunk by mine 24 June 1944
  1. ^ flotilla leader

T class

Construction data
NamePennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFate
HMS TeazerR23Cammall Laird, Birkenhead20 October 19417 January 194313 September 1943Scrapped Dalmuir 7 August 1965
HMS TenaciousG45Cammall Laird, Birkenhead3 December 194124 March 194330 October 1943Scrapped Troon 29 June 1965.
HMS TermagantR89William Denny, Dumbarton25 November 194122 March 19438 October 1943Scrapped Dalmuir 5 November 1965
HMS TerpischoreR33William Denny, Dumbarton25 November 194117 June 194320 January 1944Scrapped at Troon May 1966
HMS Troubridge[a]R00John Brown & Co., Clydebank10 November 194123 September 19428 March 1943Broken up Newport 5 May 1970.
HMS TumultR11John Brown & Co., Clydebank16 November 19419 November 19422 April 1943Scrapped Dalmuir 24 October 1965.
HMS TuscanR56Swan Hunter, Wallsend6 September 194128 May 194211 March 1943Scrapped Bo’ness 26 May 1966
HMS TyrianR67Swan Hunter, Wallsend15 October 194127 July 19428 April 1943Scrapped Troon 9 March 1965

See also

References

  1. ^ Hodges, Peter & Friedman, Norman (1979). Destroyer Weapons of World War II. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-85177-137-8.

Publications

  • Cocker, Maurice (1981). Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893–1981. Littlehampton Book Services. ISBN 0-7110-1075-7.
  • Robert Gardiner (ed.) (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-913-8.
  • Marriott, Leo (1994). Royal Navy Destroyers since 1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0.
  • Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.