Allied Warships


Destroyers

J class

8 ships


The J class destroyer HMS Jupiter. She was lost on 27 Feb 1942.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1690 (Jervis 1695) BRT 
Length357 feet (oa) 
Complement183 (Jervis 218) men 
Armament

6 4.7" guns (3x2)
4 2pdr AA (1x4)
8 .5" MG AA (2x4)
10 21" torpedo tubes (2x5) 

Max speed36 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power40000 HP 
Notes on class

The J, K and N Class ships were developed as a result of the Admiralty under pressure to cut costs but requiring more new and powerful destroyers. The cost of further Tribal Class ships was attractive but could not be justified on cost grounds. The Staff requirement also required a return to a heavy torpedo outfit. While some see these ships as cut down versions of the Tribal Class they were the first to see the introduction on Longitudinal Frames and other weight saving methods of construction. Several ships owed this method of construction to their survival, HMS Javelin was mined and reduced to less than half her original length, but she was towed in and repaired.

Many of the J and K Classes served and were lost in the Mediterranean they participated in many successful engagements, accounting for Italian cruisers, destroyers and many merchant ships.

Pennant numbers changes from F .. to G .. in late 1940 (in or around December). 


All ships of the J class:

Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Jackal (F 22) (lost 12 May 1942)
HMS Jaguar (F 34) (lost 26 Mar 1942)
HMS Janus (F 53) (lost 23 Jan 1944)
HMS Javelin (F 61)
HMS Jersey (F 72) (lost 2 May 1941)
HMS Juno (F 46) (lost 21 May 1941)
HMS Jupiter (F 85) (lost 27 Feb 1942)

Flotilla leader

Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Jervis (F 00)

6 destroyers of the J class lost.


J class ships hit by U-boats (1)

26 Mar 1942HMS JaguarSunkU-652


The last stand of the tin can sailors

Hornfischer, James D.

Books dealing with this subject include:

Full Circle, John Gritten, 2003
In Peril on the Sea, Kane, James S., 1994
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Grace, James W., 1999
Sailors' Journey Into War, Maher, Robert and Wise, James, 1998
South pacific destroyer, Russell Sydnor Crenshaw Jr., 2009
The last stand of the tin can sailors, Hornfischer, James D., 2005
Tin Can Sailor, Calhoun, C. Raymond, 1993
The U-Boat Hunters, Connolly, James B., 1918
United States Destroyer Operations In World War II., Roscoe, Theodore, 1953
World War II American Destroyer Escorts, John C. Butler Class (WGT), Borchers, Duane D., Sr.,



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