The destroyer HMS Eclipse (H 08) of the Royal Navy. She was lost on 24 Oct 1943.
Technical information
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | 1405 BRT |
| Length | 329 feet (oa) |
| Complement | 145 men |
| Armament | 4 4.7" guns (4x1) 8 .5" AA (2x4) 8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4) |
| Max speed | 36 knots |
| Engines | Geared turbines, 2 shafts |
| Power | 36000 HP |
| Notes on class | The specifications as listed above are for the 'normal' E-class destroyers. HMS Exmouth was fitted as flotilla leader and had some different specifications; Displacement: 1495 BRT Complement: 175 men Lenght: 343 feet (oa) Armament: 5 4.7" guns (5x1) 8 .5" AA (2x4) 8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4) Speed: 36.75 knots Power: 38000 HP With the E-class the Admiralty decided to revert to the enlarged flotilla leader with extra speed and armament based on the A-class leader HMS Codrington. The E-class were fitted with .5" AA machine guns for Anti-Aircraft defence. These machine guns were not very useful. This was realised as early as 1932 by the Admiralty. Nevertheless the E-class and later destroyer classes were fitted with these machine guns. Also the lack of a good AA director had been realised but when the Second World War broke out little had been undertaken to solve this problem. The 4.7" guns were on new mountings allowing 40° elevation compared to 30° in the earlier classes. HMS Esk and HMS Express were designed to be modified in 24 hours to the mine laying role. This involved removing of 'A' and 'Y' 4.7" guns and all the torpedo tubes and the installation of mine rails along the upper deck. They could carry 60 mines. |
All ships of the E class
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| HMCS Gatineau (H 61) | ||
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 | HMS Echo (H 23) (To Royal Hellenic Navy as RHS Navarinon) | |
| | HMS Eclipse (H 08) | Lost on 24 Oct 1943 |
| | HMS Electra (H 27) | Lost on 27 Feb 1942 |
| | HMS Encounter (H 10) | Lost on 1 Mar 1942 |
| | HMS Escapade (H 17) | |
| HMS Escort (H 66) | Lost on 11 Jul 1940 | |
| | HMS Esk (H 15) | Lost on 31 Aug 1940 |
| | HMS Express (H 61) (Became the Canadian destroyer Gatineau) | |
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| | RHS Navarinon (H 23) (ex. HMS Echo) | |
Flotilla leader | ||
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| | HMS Exmouth (H 02) | Lost on 21 Jan 1940 |
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Royal Canadian Navy (more on 
Royal Hellenic Navy (more on See all Destroyer classes.
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E class ships hit by U-boats (1) | |||
| 21 Jan 1940 | HMS Exmouth | Sunk | U-22 |
 The last stand of the tin can sailors Hornfischer, James D. |
Books dealing with this subject include:
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