nearly sister-ship Viscount 1918
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Vampire (ex-Wallace), 10/1933 - RAN | D68 | White, Cowes | 10/1916 | 21/5/1917 | 9/1917 | sunk 9/4/1942 |
| Valentine (ex-Bruce) | D49 - L69 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 8/1916 | 24/3/1917 | 6/1917 | sunk 15/5/1940 |
| Valhalla (ex-Douglas) | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 8/1916 | 22/5/1917 | 7/1917 | BU 12/1931 | |
| Valorous (ex-Montrose) | L00 | Denny, Dumbarton | 5/1916 | 8/5/1917 | 8/1917 | BU 3/1947 |
| Valkyrie (ex-Malcolm) | Denny, Dumbarton | 5/1916 | 13/3/1917 | 6/1917 | BU 9/1936 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1188 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1400 |
|
Length, m |
95.1 |
|
Breadth, m |
9.00 |
|
Draught, m |
3.20 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
Vampire: Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 White-Forster boilers Valentine, Valhalla: Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers Valorous, Valkyrie: Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
27000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
34 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 367 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
2600(15) |
|
Armament |
4 õ 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 1 DCR (10) Vampire: 4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 DCR (10) |
|
Complement |
115 |
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.
By the end of 1930 "V" and "W" classes have morally become outdated, they partly have sold for BU and the majority of the remained was in a reserve.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, Valentine, Valhalla, Valorous, Valkyrie: - 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + 2 x 3 - 533 TT
(11/1938 - 6/1939), Valorous; (6/1939 - 4/1940), Valentine: - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT (25 DC for 2 DCT and 1 DCR)
early 1940, Vampire: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT
1941 - 1942, Valorous: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
1942, Valorous: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
to 1945, Valorous: DC stowage rose up to 30 - 45, full displacement was 1665 - 1710 t, fuel stowage has fallen to 325 t.
Naval service: Vampire 9/4/1942 was sunk by Japanese D3A1 bombers from Akagi and Hiryu W of Ceylon. Valentine was sunk by German Ju 87 bombers 15/5/1940 in a mouth of Schelde.
Valentine 1919
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10