Town class (1940)
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|---|---|
| Town class | |
 HMS Leamington (G19) |
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| Overview | |
| Type | destroyer |
| units | 50 (44 + 6) |
| Namesake |
i. d. R. Places in GB a. USA (British) or rivers in Can u. United States |
| period of service |
1940-1946 |
| Technical specifications | |
| displacement | |
|
Armament (after conversion) |
3 - 102 mm L / 50 Mk.IX guns |
| Sensors | |
The destroyers of the British Town-class were the 50 destroyers of the US Navy, which Great Britain took over from the USA in 1940 as part of the destroyer-for-base agreement to secure the transatlantic supply. These were destroyers of the American flat deck type of the Caldwell ('Ca', 3 RN), the Wickes ('W', 27 RN / RCN) and the Clemson class ('CL', 20 RN / RCN) some of which were only used by the US Navy shortly after completion and then again in 1939 after the start of the war in Europe. The Royal Navy took over 44 destroyers and renamed them after places that existed in the USA and the British Empire. The Royal Canadian Navy immediately took over six destroyers and later received (at least temporarily) another ten. Other users were the exiled navies of the Netherlands (one in early 1941) and Norway (five between 1941 and 1944) and the Soviet Union (nine from 1944 to 1952).
Some ships of the various users were mostly lost to German submarines during World War II, others were no longer repaired or only used as auxiliary ships. By the end of 1952, all 50 destroyers had been lost or retired.
The ships of the class
The destroyers taken over by the US Navy were built around the same time as the British V and W class destroyers , but were not as appreciated by the British crews as their contemporaries. The American ships were considered bad sea-going vessels and their American facilities did not appeal to all British seafarers. The handling of the American destroyers took some getting used to, as both screws turned in the same direction and the destroyers had a very large turning circle. In the weather conditions on the Atlantic, the closed bridge was not always an advantage, especially at night. Despite their disadvantages, these destroyers performed vital tasks for the UK by securing convoys across the Atlantic as the German submarines became increasingly threatening to supplies to the British Isles from their new bases in occupied France .
Armament
Originally the Town destroyers had four 102 mm cannons , initially three 76 mm anti-aircraft guns and four triple torpedo tube sets on the sides of the ships. Of the main guns, one was placed on the center line on the forecastle and one raised in front of the stern. The other two cannons stood on side platforms between the 2nd and 3rd chimneys. When the ships were handed over to the British, the anti-aircraft armament consisted only of a 76 mm gun and three heavy 12.7 mm machine guns . After the handover to the Royal Navy, the ships were converted for operations under the British flag. To this end, the rear gun, the 76 mm anti-aircraft gun and two torpedo tube sets were removed. These changes should increase the stability of the destroyers. As the new main anti-aircraft gun, a British 76 mm anti-aircraft gun was added to the position of the rear gun in order to get a better fire area. In addition, the ships received a British sonar system and, from 1941, a radar system and, in some cases, a Huff-Duff radio direction finder .
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In 1941, some destroyers of the class - similar to some of the V- and W-class destroyers - underwent a total conversion that turned them into escort boats. The British Bradford , Clare and Stanley lost their two front chimneys and two boilers. As long-distance escort boats, they had a great range; her top speed was reduced to 25 knots. The three Canadian sister ships Annapolis , Columbia and St. Francis were also converted into escorts; but they only gave a boiler and a chimney. This conversion is said to have left the ships at a maximum speed of 30 knots. ( see also HMS Stanley (I73) )
Over 20 Town-class destroyers continued to be rebuilt for submarine hunting needs. These ships also surrendered their 102mm side guns and one of the remaining torpedo tube triplet sets. The remaining set of pipes was installed on the boat center line and could be used on both sides. The destroyers affected also received a Hedgehog volley launcher for anti-submarine use and some 20 mm Oerlikon cannons for anti- aircraft defense . Allegedly at least 23 Town- class destroyers underwent such a conversion between 1941 and 1943, but it is likely that they were only similarly re-armed.
Use in secondary tasks
From 1943, the influx of new units was so great that the use of the town destroyers could largely be dispensed with, especially since the Royal Navy could not man the modern influxes and the old units at the same time. The Town destroyers were increasingly used for secondary tasks and after the end of the war in Europe quickly retired from service in combat units and were scrapped. This also applies to the destroyers flying the Canadian flag.
Operations with allies
Canada , which in addition to the first takeover of six destroyers of the 1940 type, lent or took over more, gradually withdrew the ships from active service at the end of 1943. The Soviet Union was still a flotilla of eight destroyers and a ninth vessel to replace donor in the summer 1944th All nine destroyers were used for anti-submarine defense in the North Sea. The Norwegian Navy gradually deployed five destroyers of the class under British or Canadian command. In the summer of 1942, four destroyers were briefly in service under the Norwegian flag at the same time, from autumn 1942 to the end of 1943 only the Lincoln remained in service under the Norwegian flag, which was used together with similar Canadian ships. The Campbeltown was only briefly in service under the Dutch flag before it was converted into an explosive device.
Town-class destroyer
| Surname | handing over | Type | ex USS | Shipyard | Launch | finished | other services | Final fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath (I17) | 23.09.40 | W. | Hopewell (DD181) | Newport News | 6/8/18 | 03/22/19 |
 Norway from April 8, 1941 |
Sunk by U 204 on August 19, 1941 , 86 dead |
| Belmont (H46) | 8/10/40 | CL | Satterley (DD190) | Newport News | 12/21/18 | 23.12.19 | Sunk by U 82 on January 31, 1942 , all 138 men on board dead | |
| Beverley (H64) | 8/10/40 | CL | Branch (DD197) | Newport News | 04/19/19 | 07/26/20 | Sunk by U 188 on April 11, 1943 , 139 dead | |
| Bradford (H72) | 8/10/40 | CL | McLanahan (DD264) | Bethlehem , Squantum | 09/22/18 | 5.04.19 | Sold for demolition June 19, 1946 | |
| Brighton (I08) | 23.09.40 | W. | Cowell (DD167) | Fore River , Quincy | 11/23/18 | 03/12/19 |
 Soviet Union 7.44 Zharkiy
|
Sold for demolition May 18, 1949 |
| Broadwater (H81) | 10/9/40 | CL | Mason (DD191) | Newport News | 3/8/19 | 02/28/20 | Sunk by U 101 on October 18, 1941 , 44 dead | |
| Broadway (H90) | 8/10/40 | CL | Hunt (DD194) | Newport News | 02/14/20 | 11/30/20 | Sold for demolition March 19, 1948 | |
| Burnham (H82) | 8/10/40 | CL | Aulick (DD258) | Bethlehem | 04/11/19 | 07/26/19 | Sold for demolition December 2, 1948 | |
| Burwell (H94) | 8/10/40 | CL | Foliage (DD263) | Bethlehem | 08/28/18 | 03/17/19 | March 1947 sold for demolition | |
| Buxton (H96) | 8/10/40 | CL | Edwards (DD265) | Bethlehem | 10/10/18 | 04/24/19 |
 Canada from 8.42 RCN
|
Sold for demolition March 21, 1946 |
| Caldwell (I20) | 9.09.40 | W. | Hale (DD133) | Bath Iron Works | 05/29/19 | 06/26/19 |
Canada from 7.42 RCN |
December 1, 1943 a. D., 12.44 sold for demolition |
| Cameron (I05) | 9.09.40 | CL | Welles (DD257) | Bethlehem | 5/8/19 | 2.09.19 | by air raid | Severely damaged in the shipyard on December 5, 1940, no active service, October 5, 1943 separated / sold for demolition |
| Campbeltown (I42) | 9.09.40 | W. | Buchanan (DD257) | Bethlehem | 2.01.19 | 01/20/19 |
 Netherlands 3.-8.41 |
Blown up in Saint-Nazaire on March 29, 1942 ( Operation Chariot ) |
| Castleton (I23) | 9.09.40 | W. | Aaron Ward (DD258) | Bath iron | 04/11/19 | 07/26/19 | Sold for demolition on January 20, 1948 | |
| Charlestown (I21) | 23.09.40 | W. | Abbot (DD 184) | Newport News | 4.07.18 | 07/19/19 | 1/15/45 a. D., 1947 demolition | |
| Chelsea (I35) | 9.09.40 | W. | Crowninshield (DD134) | Bath iron | 07/24/19 | 8/6/19 |
Canada 11.42-12.43, Soviet Union 7.44 Derzkiy
|
June 1949 demolished |
| Chesterfield (I28) | 9.09.40 | CL | Welborn C. Wood (DD195) | Newport News | 3/6/20 | 01/14/21 | March 1947 demolition | |
| Churchill (I45) | 9.09.40 | CL | Herndon (DD198) | Newport News | 05/31/19 | 14.09.20 |
Soviet Union 3.44 Dejatelnyy
|
sunk by a German submarine on January 16, 1945 |
| Clare (I14) | 9.09.40 | CL | Abel P. Upshur (DD193) | Newport News | 4.07.18 | 07/19/19 | March 1947 demolition | |
| Georgetown (I40) | 23.09.40 | W. | Maddox (DD168) | Fore River | 10/27/18 | 03/10/19 |
Soviet Union <8.44 Zhostki
|
September 9, 1952 returned, scrapped |
| Hamilton (I24) | 23.09.40 | W. | Lime (DD170) | Newport News | 12/21/18 | 03/29/19 |
Canada from 6.41 RCN |
June 8, 1945 a. D. / abort |
| Lancaster (G05) | 23.10.40 | W. | Philip (DD 76) | Newport News | 07/25/18 | 08/24/18 | March 1947 demolition | |
| Leamington (G19) | 23.10.40 | W. | Twiggs (DD127) | New York Shb | 28.09.18 | 07/28/19 |
Canada 12.42-12.43 RCN Soviet Union 3.44 Zhguchiy
|
50 returned, in the film The Gift Horse , demolished from July 1951 |
| Leeds (G27) | 23.10.40 | Approx | Conner (DD 72) | Cramp | 08/21/17 | 01/12/18 | March 1947 demolition | |
| Lewes (G68) | 23.10.40 | Approx | Conway / Craven (DD 70) | Norfolk Navy Yard | 06/29/18 | 10/19/18 | Sunk off Sydney on May 25, 1946 | |
| Lincoln (G42) | 23.10.40 | W. | Yarnall (DD143) | Cramp , Philadelphia | 06/19/18 | 11/29/18 |
Norway 2.42-1.44 Soviet Union August 26, 1944 Druzhnyy
|
Scrapped September 1952 |
| Ludlow (G57) | 23.10.40 | Approx | Stockton (DD 73) | Cramp | 07/17/17 | 11/26/17 | Sunk 15 July 1945 as a target | |
| Mansfield (G76) | 23.10.40 | W. | Evans (DD 78) | Bath iron | 10/30/18 | 11/11/18 |
Norway 12/18/40 - 02:42 |
October 1944 demolition |
| Montgomery (G95) | 10/25/40 | W. | Wickes (DD 75) | Bath iron | 06/25/18 | 07/31/18 |
Canada 2.42-12.43 RCN |
2.44 Reserve Royal Navy, early 1945 demolished |
| Newark (G08) | 12/5/40 | W. | Ring gold (DD 89) | Union Iron Works | 04/14/18 | 11/14/18 | Canceled September 1947 | |
| Newmarket (G47) | 12/5/40 | W. | Robinson (DD 88) | Union Iron Works | 28.03.18 | 10/19/18 | September 1945 canceled | |
| Newport (G54) | 12/5/40 | W. | Sigourney (DD81) | Bethlehem | 12/16/17 | 05/15/18 |
Norway 03.41-06.42 |
February 1947 demolition |
| Ramsey (G60) | 11/26/40 | CL | Meade (DD274) | Bethlehem | 05/24/19 | 9/8/19 | scrapped from February 1947 | |
| Richmond (G88) | 11/26/40 | W. | Fairfax (DD 93) | Bethlehem | 12/15/17 | April 6, 2018 |
Soviet Union 6/16/44 Zhivuchi
|
scrapped from June 1949 |
| Ripley (G79) | 11/26/40 | CL | Shubrick (DD274) | Bethlehem | 12/31/18 | 3.07.19 | March 1945 sold for demolition | |
| Rockingham (G58) | 11/26/40 | CL | Swasey (DD274) | Bethlehem | 5/7/19 | 8/8/19 | Sunk in British minefield on September 27, 1944 , 1 dead | |
| Roxborough (I07) | 23.09.40 | W. | Foote (DD169) | Bethlehem | 12/14/18 | 03/21/19 |
Soviet Union 08/10/44 Doblestnyi
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scrapped in the UK from May 1949 |
| Salisbury (I52) | 12/5/40 | W. | Claxton (DD140) | Mare Island NY | 1/15/19 | 09/13/19 | 6.44 out of service, canceled in the USA from April 1945 | |
| St. Albans (I15) | 23.09.40 | W. | Thomas (DD182) | Newport News | 4.07.18 | 04/25/19 |
Norway 4.41-10.42 Soviet Union 7.44 Dostoynyy
|
Scrapped in the UK May 1949 |
| St. Croix (I81) | 09/24/40 | CL | McCook (DD252) | Bethlehem | 01/31/19 | 04/30/19 |
Canada from 6.41 RCN |
Sunk by U 305 on September 30, 1943 , 81 men rescued from the frigate Itchen , whose subsequent sinking by U 666 only 3 men survive, including a crew member of the St. Croix |
| St. Mary's (I12) | 23.09.40 | W. | Doran, Bagley (DD185) | Newport News | 10/19/18 | 06/17/19 | Scrapped in the UK in March 1945 | |
| Sherwood (I80) | 23.10.40 | CL | Rodgers, Lime (DD170) | Bethlehem | 04/26/19 | 07/22/19 | Sunk September 20, 1943 as a target ship | |
| Stanley (I73) | 23.10.40 | CL | McCalla (DD253) | Bethlehem | 03/28/19 | 05/19/19 | Sunk by U 574 on December 19, 1941 , over 100 dead | |
| Wells (I95) | 12/5/40 | W. | Tillman (DD135) | Charleston NY | 7/7/19 | 04/10/20 | Scrapped July 1945 | |
| Royal_Canadian | Navy | and ex british see above | ||||||
| Annapolis (I04) | 09/29/40 | W. | MacKenzie (DD175) | Union Iron | 19.09.18 | 07/25/19 | June 22, 1945 to the USA for demolition | |
| Columbia (I49) | 09/24/40 | W. | Haraden (DD183) | Newport News | 01/31/19 | 6/7/19 | Accumulated 02/25/44, badly damaged / used as a warehouse, August 1945 demolished | |
| Hamilton (I24) | 23.09.40 | W. | Lime, Rodgers (DD170) | Bethlehem | 12/21/18 | 03/29/19 | Sunk in tow in 1945 on the way to demolition in Boston | |
| Niagara (I57) | 09/26/40 | W. | Thatcher (DD162) | Bethleham | 08/31/18 | 01/14/19 | 15.09.45 out of service, canceled in 1947 | |
| St. Clair (I65) | 09/29/40 | W. | Williams (DD108) | Union Iron | 4.07.18 | 1.03.19 | 5.1946 for cancellation | |
| St. Francis (I93) | 09/24/40 | CL | Bancroft (DD256) | Bethlehem | 03/21/19 | 06/30/19 | Sunk on the way to demolition on July 14, 1945 after a collision |
Individual evidence
- ↑ 3 "-L / 23-Mk. 7, 9, 11 and 13
- ↑ Picture of the converted HMCS Annapolis in 1944
- ↑ Picture of the converted HMCS Columbia without bow as a barge in Liverpool, Canada .
- ↑ Picture of the converted St. Francis after conversion into a Long Range Escort (7-10.41)
- ↑ according to navypedia.org (Ivan Gogin / Wolfgang Stöhr) with Annapolis , Brighton , Castleton , Chelsea , Columbia , Georgetown , Hamilton , Lincoln , Mansfield , Montgomery , Newark , Newmarket , Niagara , Richmond , Roxburgh , Salisbury and Wells 17 destroyers of the Wickes subclass and with Beverley , Bradford , Broadway , Burnham , Buxton , Chesterfield , Churchill , Clare , Ripley , Rockingham , St. Francis and Stanley twelve destroyers of the Clemson subclass so rearmed.
literature
- Arnold Hague: Destroyers for Great Britain: A History of 50 Town Class Ships Transferred From the United States to Great Britain in 1940. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis / Maryland 1988, ISBN 0-87021-782-8 .
- HF Lenton, JJ Colledge: British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Doubleday and Company, 1968.
- Marc Milner: North Atlantic Run. Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-450-0 .
- Jürgen Rohwer , Gerhard Hümmelchen : Chronicle of the naval war 1939-1945. Stalling, Oldenburg 1968.
Web links
- CLEMSON ex-US destroyers (1919-1921 / 1940)
- WICKES ex-US destroyers (1918-1920 / 1940)
- CALDWELL ex-US destroyers (1917-1918 / 1940)
- ST. CROIX destroyers (1919 / 1940-1942)
- MONTGOMERY destroyers (1918-1919 / 1940-1943)
- BATH ex-US destroyers (1918-1919 / 1940-1942)
- DERZKIY destroyers (1918-1919 / 1944)
- DEYATELNYY destroyer (1920/1944)
- Flush deckers
- Jürgen Rohwer together with Gerhard Hümmelchen Chronicle of the Naval War 1939–1945.