NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Roberts  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Roberts	F40	573	John Brown, Clydebank	30.4.1940	1.2.1941	27.10.1941	stricken 1955
Abercrombie	F109	42	Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	26.4.1941	31.3.1942	5.5.1943	drill ship 7.1946, sold for BU 1954

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	Roberts: 7973 Abercrombie: 8536
Displacement full, t	Roberts: 9150 Abercrombie: 9717
Length, m	113.8
Breadth, m	27.4
Draught, m	Roberts: 4.11 deep load Abercrombie: 4.39 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	4800
Max speed, kts	12.5
Fuel, t	491 oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	2600-2800(12)
Armour, mm	Roberts: belt: 381 - 102, barbette: 203, turret: 330 (face) - 280 (sides and rear) - 127 (roof), CT: 76 - 51, deck: 102 - 51, longitudinal bulkhead: 38 Abercrombie: belt: 381 - 102, barbette: 203, turret: 330 (face) - 280 (sides and rear) - 152 (roof), CT: 76 - 51, deck: 102 - 51, longitudinal bulkhead: 38
Armament	Roberts: 1 x 2 - 381/42 BL Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 1 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV Abercrombie: 1 x 2 - 381/42 BL Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 1 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
Electronic equipment	Roberts: type 281, 3x type 282, 2x type 285 radars Abercrombie: type 272M, type 281, 3x type 282, 2x type 285 radars
Complement	442/460

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Roberts was built by the 1940 program under modified Erebus design with shorter hull, some smaller machinery power and geared turbines instead of steam machines. In comparison with a prototype they had more developed superstructure and outwardly resembled Nelson class. Roberts received 381mm turret from monitor Marshal Soult. The second ship of this class Abercrombie was armed with a turret in due time ordered for a battlecruiser Furious. She differed from leading ship by arranging of 102mm guns, they were raised by one deck level.

Protection

Main belt extended between barbette and main mast and sloped outwards along the top of bulges. Abercrombie has a greater area of 102mm deck armour than Roberts. Main deck over main magazines was raised and has 152-102mm glacis. There was also 38mm splinter protection for magazines. Thickness of lower deck over steering gear was 76mm. Underwater protection depth was 5.2m, there was 38mm torpedo bulkhead.

Modernizations

1943, Roberts: - type 281 radar; + 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 279, type 272P radars

7/1945, Roberts: - type 272P radar; + 8 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 268 radar, full displacement: 9500 t

1945, Abercrombie: - type 272M, 281 radars; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 293, 79B radars, oil stowage was 670t, full displacement: 9900t

1/1946, Roberts: 1 x 2 - 381/42 Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 8 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, type 272P, type 279, 3x type 282, 2x type 285 radars

1/1946, Abercrombie: 1 x 2 - 381/42 Mk I/N, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 1 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, type 79B, 3x type 282, 2x type 285, type 293 radars

Naval service

Roberts served as drill ship after war, stricken in 1955 and sold for BU in 1965. Abercrombie from 7.1946 served as drill ship and later as accommodation ship for RNVR.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.