Allied Warships

Destroyers

A class

11 ships


The destroyer HMS Ardent (H 41) of the Royal Navy. She was lost on 8 Jun 1940.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1350 BRT 
Length323 feet (oa) 
Complement138 men 
Armament

4 4.7" guns (4x1)
2 2pdr AA (2x1)
8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4) 

Max speed35 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power34000 HP 
Notes on class

The specifications as listed above are for the 'normal' A-class destroyers. HMS Codrington was fitted as flotilla leader and had some different specifications;
Displacement: 1540 BRT
Complement: 185 men
Lenght: 343 feet (oa)
Armament:
5 4.7" guns (5x1)
2 2pdr AA (2x1)
8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4)
Power: 39000 HP
Unfortunately Codrington had a large turning circle, much greater than the rest of the class. The result was that there were some difficulties when manoeuvring her flotilla.

During the conflict the surviving ships underwent changes such as a 3" AA gun in lieu of the after bank of torpedo tubes and 20mm Oerlikon AA guns in the bridge wings.

The Canadian ships HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena were a slightly modified design with heavier plating around the bow so they could operate in waters where there was a risk of Ice, they were not fitted or intended to be icebreakers. 


All ships of the A class


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

HMCS Saguenay (D 79)
HMCS Skeena (D 59) Lost on 25 Oct 1944


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Acasta (H 09) Lost on 8 Jun 1940
HMS Achates (i) (H 12) Lost on 31 Dec 1942
HMS Acheron (i) (H 45) Lost on 17 Dec 1940
HMS Active (H 14)
HMS Antelope (H 36)
HMS Anthony (H 40)
HMS Ardent (H 41) Lost on 8 Jun 1940
HMS Arrow (H 42)

Flotilla leader


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Codrington (D 65) Lost on 27 Jul 1940


11 Destroyers of the A class. 6 of them were lost.

See all Destroyer classes.



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
Afridi to Nizam – British Fleet Destroyers 1937 – 43, English, John, 2003
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
British Destroyers in World War Two, Burt, R.A., 1986
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



Return to the Allied Warships section