Allied Warships


Destroyers

K class

8 ships


The K class destroyer HMS Kingston. She was lost on 11 Apr 1942.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1690 (Kelly 1695) BRT 
Length357 feet (oa) 
Complement183 (Kelly 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 K class:

Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Kandahar (F 28) (lost 20 Dec 1941)
HMS Kashmir (F 12) (lost 23 May 1941)
HMS Kelvin (F 37)
HMS Khartoum (F 45) (lost 23 Jun 1940)
HMS Kimberley (F 50)
HMS Kingston (F 64) (lost 11 Apr 1942)
HMS Kipling (F 91) (lost 11 May 1942)

Flotilla leader

Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Kelly (F 01) (lost 23 May 1941)

6 destroyers of the K class lost.


K class ships hit by U-boats (1)

12 Jan 1942HMS KimberleyDamagedU-77


The last stand of the tin can sailors

Hornfischer, James D.

Books dealing with this subject include:

Blood on the Sea, Parkin, Robert Sinclair, 1996
Cadillac of Destroyers, Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken, 1996
Cape Hatteras, Lloyd, Keith Warren, 2008
Capturing Enigma, Harper, Stephen, 2000 (transl.)
The Court-Martial of Ensign Mason, Nash, Edgar M., 2001
Deadly Seas, Bercuson, David Jay and Herwig, Holger H., 1997 (transl.)
Destroyer, Brookes, Ewart, 1973
Destroyer Leader, Smith, Peter Charles, 1968
Destroyers of World War Two, Whitley, M. J., 2000
Destroyer's War, Divine, Arthur Durham, 1942
The Enemy Below, Rayner, D. A., 1956 (transl.)
Fighting Destroyer, Connell, G. G., 1994
Full Circle, John Gritten, 2003
The Good Shepherd, Forester, C.S., 1955 (transl.)
Hero of the Upholder, Allaway, Jim, 1991



Return to the Allied Warships section