Allied Warships

Destroyers

G class

10 ships


The destroyer HMS Grafton (H 89) of the Royal Navy. She was lost on 29 May 1940.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1350 BRT 
Length323 feet (oa) 
Complement145 men 
Armament

4 4.7" guns (4x1)
2 .5" AA (2x4)
8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4)
(10 21" torpedo tubes (2x5) in HMS Glowworm) 

Max speed36 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power34000 HP 
Notes on class

The specifications as listed above are for the 'normal' G-class destroyers. HMS Grenville was fitted as flotilla leader and had some different specifications;
Displacement: 1465 BRT
Complement: 175 men
Lenght: 330 feet (oa)
Armament:
5 4.7" guns (5x1)
8 .5" AA (2x4)
8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4)
Speed: 36 knots
Power: 38000 HP
HMS Grenville was a slightly modified version of the Exmouth/Faulknor design. The G-class destroyer was slightly smaller than the preceding E/F-class destroyers due to some internal reorganisation and the omission of cruising turbines. 


All ships of the G class


Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Navy (more on Royal Canadian Navy)

HMCS Ottawa (ii) (H 31)


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Gallant (H 59)
HMS Garland (H 37) (Became the Polish destroyer Garland)
HMS Gipsy (H 63) Lost on 21 Nov 1939
HMS Glowworm (H 92) Lost on 8 Apr 1940
HMS Grafton (H 89) Lost on 29 May 1940
HMS Grenade (H 86) Lost on 29 May 1940
HMS Greyhound (H 05) Lost on 22 May 1941
HMS Griffin (H 31) (Became the Canadian destroyer Ottawa (H 31))


Polish Navy Polish Navy (more on Polish Navy)

ORP Garland (H 37) (ex. HMS Garland)

Flotilla leader


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Grenville (i) (H 03) Lost on 19 Jan 1940


10 Destroyers (11 names) of the G class. 6 of them were lost.

See all Destroyer classes.


G class ships hit by U-boats (1)

29 May 1940HMS GraftonSunkU-62


The last stand of the tin can sailors

Hornfischer, James D.

Books dealing with this subject include:

200,000 Miles Aboard the Destroyer Cotten, Robinson, C. Snelling, 1999
A Home on the Rolling Main, A G F Ditcham, 2013
All the Gallant Men, Donald Stratton, 2016
Arctic Convoy PQ8, Michael Wadsworth, 2010
The Battle of Tassafaronga, Russell Syndnor Crenshaw, 2010
Battlestations, Veronico, Nicholas A., 2001
Blood on the Sea, Parkin, Robert Sinclair, 1996
A Blue Water Navy, WAB Douglas, R. Sarty, M. Whitby et al., 2007
British destroyers & frigates, Norman Friedman, 2006
British Destroyers 1892 to 1953, March, Edgar J, 2003
Cadillac of Destroyers, Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken, 1996
Cape Hatteras, Lloyd, Keith Warren, 2008
The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War, Collingwood, Donald, 1999
Capturing Enigma, Harper, Stephen, 2000 (transl.)
Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, Chesneau, Roger, 1988



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