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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

TORPEDO SHIPS

"L" and "M" destroyers (GURKHA)

Lance 1942

Myrmidon 1942

Musketeer 1943

       Loyal 1944

   

Displacement standard, t	1920 - 1935
Displacement full, t	2660 - 2725 (later 2810 - 2840)
Length, m	105.3 pp 110.5 oa
Breadth, m	11.2
Draught, m	4.34 - 4.39 (later 4.52) deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	48000
Max speed, kn	36
Fuel, t	oil 537
Endurance, nm(kts)	5500(15)
Armament	Gurkha, Lance, Lively, Legion: 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 1 x 4 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (110 DC) Laforey, Lightning, Lookout, Loyal, "M" class but Mahratta: 3 x 2 - 120/50 QF Mk XI, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA, 1 x 4 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 1 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (45 DC) Mahratta: 3 x 2 - 120/50 QF Mk XI, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA, 1 x 4 - 40/39 pompom, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (45 DC)
Sensors	presumably "L" class but Loyal, Marne, Martin: type 286, 285, 282, 290 radars, sonars presumably Loyal and "M" class but Marne and Martin: type 271, 282, 285, 290 radars, sonars
Complement	190 - 226

Ship project history: By the moment of the beginning of designing of destroyers of 1937 ("L" class) and 1939 ("M" class) programs contractual limitations any more did not hold down British designers. Therefore, when the Admiralty has made the demand to create the new ships equipped completely closed gun mounts (i.e. protected from a bad weather) and capable to develop higher speed (on 10kts more than King George V class battleships), a task have tried to solve directly, at the expense of a enlarging. So, one of variants of sketch design provided something an average between destroyer and cruiser with 3200t standard displacement, 90 000hp machinery, 42kts speed and six 133mm DP guns in three turrets. Fortunately, prudence has won, and they were stopped on much more modest variant on the basis of "J" class destroyer, with some improvement of general performances. The main difference from a prototype should become new turret-shape gun mounts (no turrets) with 50° maximal elevation angle. Guns were of new model, with increased to 50cal bore length and in heavier 28kg shell. It was supposed to equip also ships by second quadruple pompom, but when it was found out, that thus it is necessary to leave one of TT, this idea have refused. Growth of the upper weight (to that promoted almost on 10t heavier mounts and new directors) has forced to return to quadruple TT. The delay with manufacturing of new artillery has increased also to an overload problem: hulls were built faster. This lagging could lead to failure of limits for series readiness, and summer of 1940 first 4 ships (Gurkha, Lance, Legion and Lively) have decided to finish building with the changed structure of artillery with four twin 102mm mounts (two on regular positions in a bow, two more on the increased aft superstructure). As addition to regular antiaircraft arms 2 Oerlikons were installed.

The remained 12 ships have received designed 120mm mounts but have lost one TT in favour of AA 102mm gun.

Modernizations: 1942, all survived: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon

late 1942, Laforey, Lightning, Lookout, Loyal, "M" class but Mahratta: - 2 x 2 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon

1943 - 1944, Laforey, Lookout, Loyal, "M" class: - 4 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon

1944, Loyal, Lookout, Mahratta, Marne, Matchless, Meteor, Milne, Musketeer: - 1 x 1 - 102/45; + 1 x 4 - 533 TT

Naval service: Gurkha was sunk by German submarine U133 at coast of Libya 17/1/1942. Legion was damaged by bombs 23/3/1942, ran aground, salvaged 25/3/1942 but again damaged 26/3/1942 and never repaired. Lance was badly damaged by German aircraft 5 and 9/4/1942 on Malta (in a drydock) and never repaired. Lively was sunk by German aircraft at Sollum 11/5/1942. Martin was sunk by German submarine U431 N of Algiers 10/11/1942. Lightning was sunk by German MTBs S55 and S158 N of Algiers 12/3/1943. Marksman, ordered by Scott's in 1940, in May of next year, being in high pre-launching availability, was completely destroyed during German air raid. She was laid down on the same Yard under a new name as Mahratta and sunk by German submarine U956 25/2/1944 in Barents sea. Laforey was sunk by German submarine U223 N of Sicily 30/3/1944. Loyal was mined 12/10/1944 at NE coast of Italy, and never repaired. Matchless was badly damaged by a torpedo in June, 1942. Marne 12/11/1942 was badly damaged by a torpedo from German submarine U515 (stern was broken off), repair lasted till January, 1944.

       Lookout 1945

 

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© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10