Walpole 1942
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Admiralty design | ||||||
| Wakeful | H88 - L91 | John Brown, Clydebank | 1/1917 | 6/10/1917 | 11/1917 | sunk 29/5/1940 |
| Watchman | D26 | John Brown, Clydebank | 1/1917 | 2/11/1917 | 1/1918 | BU 7/1945 |
| Walpole | D41 | Doxford, Pallion | 5/1917 | 12/2/1918 | 8/1918 | CTL 6/1/1945, never repaired, BU 2/1945 |
| Whitley (ex-Whitby) | L23 | Doxford, Pallion | 6/1917 | 13/4/1918 | 10/1918 | sunk 19/5/1940 |
| Walker | D27 | Denny, Dumbarton | 3/1917 | 29/11/1917 | 2/1918 | BU 3/1946 |
| Westcott | D47 - I47 | Denny, Dumbarton | 3/1917 | 14/2/1918 | 4/1918 | BU 1/1946 |
| Walrus | Fairfield, Govan | 1917 | 27/12/1917 | 3/1918 | wrecked 12/2/1938 | |
| Wolfhound | L56 | Fairfield, Govan | 4/1917 | 14/3/1918 | 4/1918 | BU 2/1948 |
| Warwick | D25 | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 3/1917 | 28/12/1917 | 3/1918 | sunk 20/2/1944 |
| Wessex | D43 | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 5/1917 | 12/3/1918 | 5/1918 | sunk 24/5/1940 |
| Voyager (10/1933- RAN) | D31 | A. Stephens, Linthouse | 5/1917 | 8/5/1918 | 6/1918 | wrecked and scuttled 23/9/1942 |
| Whirlwind | D30 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 5/1917 | 15/12/1917 | 3/1918 | sunk 5/7/1940 |
| Wrestler | D35 - L10 - I50 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 7/1917 | 25/2/1918 | 5/1918 | CTL 6/6/1944, BU 7/1944 |
| Winchelsea | D46 | White, Cowes | 5/1917 | 15/12/1917 | 3/1918 | BU 3/1945 |
| Winchester | L55 | White, Cowes | 6/1917 | 1/2/1918 | 4/1918 | BU 3/1946 |
| Westminster | D45 - L40 | Scotts, Greenock | 4/1917 | 24/2/1918 | 4/1918 | BU 3/1947 |
| Windsor | D42 - L94 | Scotts, Greenock | 4/1917 | 21/6/1918 | 8/1918 | BU 3/1947 |
| Wryneck | D21 | Palmers, Jarrow | 7/1917 | 13/5/1918 | 11/1918 | sunk 27/4/1941 |
| Waterhen (10/1933- RAN) | D22 | Palmers, Jarrow | 7/1917 | 26/3/1918 | 7/1918 | sunk 29/6/1941 |
| Wayfarer | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1917 | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| Woodpecker | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1917 | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| Thornycroft specials | ||||||
| Wolsey | D98 - L02 | Thornycroft, Woolston | 3/1917 | 16/3/1918 | 5/1918 | BU 3/1947 |
| Woolston | L49 | Thornycroft, Woolston | 4/1917 | 27/4/1918 | 6/1918 | BU 2/1947 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
Admiralty design: 1100 Thornycroft specials: 1095 |
|
Displacement full, t |
Admiralty design: 1490 Thornycroft specials: 1512 |
|
Length, m |
95.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
Admiralty design: 9.00 Thornycroft secials: 9.40 |
|
Draught, m |
Admiralty design: 3.20 Thornycroft specials: 2.90 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
Wakeful, Watchman, Walker, Westcott, Walrus, Wolfhound, Warwick, Wessex, Voyager, Westminster, Windsor, Wryneck, Waterhen, Wolsey, Woolston, Wayfarer, Woodpcker: Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Walpole, Whitley, Whirlwind, Wrestler: Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Winchelsea, Winchester: Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 White-Forster boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
27000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
34 |
|
Fuel, t |
Admiralty design: oil 367 Thornycroft specials: oil 374 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
2600(15) |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, sweeps Walker, Walrus, Warwick, Watchman, Whirlwind: (3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCR, 60 mines) or (4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCR, sweeps) |
| Sensors | sonar (on part of class) |
|
Complement |
134 |
Ship project history: The ships which for a long time become by the sample for imitation in many countries and have defined "standard" of a destroyer in English fleet almost for 20 years. They were originally designed as leaders for "R" class destroyers, were equipped by same machinery and differed in the bigger dimensions as should carry strengthened armament (4 102mm guns and 4 TT) and have accommodations for a flotilla headquarters. For the first time the schemes of guns arranging which has appeared by these ship (two raised one over another guns in a bow and a stern) for a long time became classical.
Building of five units was provided, however the order has been increased by summer of 1916 by 25 ships, but without accommodations for a headquarters and with minesweeping equipment. All ships were built under the design developed by Admiralty, except for two, ordered to Thornycroft and differing by 1kts more speed.
In the end of 1916 the order for 23 ships of "V" class (two of them have soon refused) has followed. Names of these destroyers began with the letter "W" (except for one), they have received popularity as "W" class. It was originally supposed, that these ships become exact repeating of previous type, however already after a first units were laid down the decision to equip them by triple TT has followed.
By the end of 1930 "V" and "W" classes have morally become outdated, they partly have sold for BU and the majority of the remained was in a reserve. In 1938 it was offered to convert them to fast AA escorts. It allowed to supplement fleet with so necessary units till 1940 when completion of the first special "Hunt" class ships was expected. In total under the program which has received a title "WAIR", it was supposed to rearm 20 "V" and "W" classes destroyers.
During their update all old arms were changed by 2 twin 102mm multipurpose guns (fore and aft) and 2 õ 4 12.7mm MGs. Fwd superstructure became box-type shape and had bigger sizes. Works on the hull were limited to the insignificant re-planning of internal compartments called in basic changes in a construction of magazines, some (nearby 2m) slenderness of a forecastle and demounting of side oil fuel tanks over wl.
Modernizations: early 1920s, all: - 1 x 1 - 76/45; + 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom
(3 - 10/1938), Whitley; (5 - 9/1939), Woolston; (9/1938 - 12/1939), Wolsey; (6/1939 - 1/1940), Westminster; (4/1939 - 4/1940), Winchester; (9/1939 - 4/1940), Wryneck; (5/1939 - 5/1940), Wolfhound: - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 1 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; (2 DCT and 1 DCR with 25 DCs totally)
early 1940, Voyager, Waterhen: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62 (33 DC)
spring 1940, Wakeful, Walpole, Westcott, Wessex, Wrestler, Winchelsea, Windsor, Wryneck: + 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, DCs stowage was 33 pcs
spring 1940, Walker, Warwick, Watchman, Whirlwind: + 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 DCT (DCs stowage was 33 pcs)
spring - summer 1940, Walker, Walpole, Warwick, Watchman, Westcott, Winchelsea, Windsor, Wrestler: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA
early 1941, Voyager, Waterhen: - 1 x 1 - 40/39; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA
1941, Woolston, Wolsey, Westminster, Winchester, Wolfhound: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
(1941), Westcott: 1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 445t, engine power decreased to 15 000 hp, maximal speed was 25kts, full displacement was 1690-1775t. - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (110 DCs for 4 DCT and 2 DCR)
(1 - 4/1942), Winchelsea: 1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 445t, engine power decreased to 15 000hp, maximal speed was 25kts, full displacement was 1690-1775t; - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 6 DCT, 1 DCR (140 DCs for 8 DCT and 2 DCR totally)
1942, Woolston, Wolsey, Westminster, Winchester, Wolfhound: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
1942, Westcott, Winchelsea: - 1 x 1 - 102/45; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT
1942, Wrestler, Warwick, Walker: - 1 x 1 - 76/40
1943 - 1944, Walpole, Windsor: - 2 x 1 - 102/45; + 1 x 2 - 57/47 QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon (20 DC totally)
(1 - 5/1943), Walker; (1/1943 - 5/1943), Warwick; (1 - 5/1943), Wrestler: 1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 445t, engine power decreased to 15 000hp, maximal speed was 25kts, full displacement was 1690-1775t; - 2 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (110 DCs for 4 DCT and 2 DCR)
(4 - 8/1943), Watcman:1 boiler was removed, fuel stowage rose up to 445t, engine power decreased to 15 000hp, maximal speed was 25kts, full displacement was 1690-1775t; - 2 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (110 DCs for 4 DCT and 2 DCR)
1943 - 1944, Westcott, Winchelsea: - 2 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
to 1945, Westcott, Winchelsea, Walker, Watchman: + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
to 1945, Woolston, Wolsey, Westminster, Winchester, Wolfhound: DCs stowage rose up to 30 - 45 pcs, full displacement was 1665-1710t, fuel stowage decreased to 325t.
Naval service: Walrus stranded in Filey Bay 12/2/1938 and stricken as CTL. During evacuation from France 2 destroyers were lost under air strikes: Whitley (German Ju 88 bombers 19/5/1940 at Newport) and Wessex (German Do 17 torpedo bomber 24/5/1940 at Calais). Wakeful was torpedoed 29/5/1940 by German MTB S30 in 13nm N of Newport and turned over. Whirlwind was torpedoed 5/7/1940 by German submarine U34 at Southern coast of Ireland. During evacuation from Greece Wryneck was sunk 27/4/1941 by German Ju 88 bombers at Peloponnese peninsula. Waterhen 29/6/1941 was badly damaged by Italian Ju 87 bombers at Tobruk and 30/6/1941 sunk at tow N of Es-Sallum. Voyager 23/9/1942 ran aground as a result of a nautical fault S of Timor and abandoned. Warwick 20/2/1944 was sunk by a torpedo from German submarine U413 in La Manche. Wolfhound was badly damaged 3/9/1941 by German aircraft and broken apart. The stern is towed off in a port, repair lasted 18 months. Wrestler was badly damaged having mined off Normandy 6/6/1944. Walpole was badly damaged by a mine in the North Sea 6/1/1945. Both ships were not repaired.
Windsor 1933
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10