Allied Warships

Destroyers

K class

8 ships


The destroyer HMS Kingston (F 64) of the Royal Navy. 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). 

Royal Navy Royal Navy ships of the K class

To see all K class ships click here.

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

Flotilla leader

HMS Kelly (F 01) Lost on 23 May 1941


8 Destroyers of the K class. 6 of them were lost.

Full wartime service history on this vessel.

See all Royal Navy Destroyer classes.


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:

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
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.)
The Court-Martial of Ensign Mason, Nash, Edgar M., 2001
Deadly Seas, Bercuson, David Jay and Herwig, Holger H., 1997 (transl.)



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