Allied Warships

Destroyers

Battle class

18 ships


The destroyer HMS Gravelines (R 24) of the Royal Navy.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement2325 BRT 
Length379 feet 
Complement240+ men 
Armament

As designed;
4 4.5" guns (2x2)
1 4" AA gun
8 40mm AA (4x2)
6 20mm AA (2x2, 2x1)
10 21" torpedo tubes (2x5)  

Max speed36 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power50000 HP 
Notes on class

There were another 23 destroyers often referred to as the "2nd Group" ordered of this class but none was completed before end of the Second World War so these are not included here. 15 of those 2nd Group ships were cancelled before completion in 1947 and scrapped on the slipways. 


All ships of the Battle class


Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Navy (more on Royal Australian Navy)

HMAS Anzac
HMAS Tobruk


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Armada (R 14)
HMS Barfleur (R 80)
HMS Cadiz (R 09)
HMS Camperdown (R 32)
HMS Finisterre (R 55)
HMS Gabbard (R 47)
HMS Gravelines (R 24)
HMS Hogue (R 74)
HMS Lagos (R 44)
HMS Saintes (R 84)
HMS Sluys (R 60)
HMS Solebay (R 70)
HMS St. James (R 65)
HMS St. Kitts (R 18)
HMS Trafalgar (R 77)
HMS Vigo (R 31)


18 Destroyers of the Battle class.

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
All the Gallant Men, Donald Stratton, 2016
The Battle of Tassafaronga, Russell Syndnor Crenshaw, 2010
Battlestations, Veronico, Nicholas A., 2001
Blood on the Sea, Parkin, Robert Sinclair, 1996
British Destroyers 1892 to 1953, March, Edgar J, 2003
HMCS Haida: Battle Ensign Flying, Gough, Barry M., 2001
In Peril on the Sea, Kane, James S., 1994
The Kellys, Langtree, Christopher, 2002
Men of Poseidon, Graves, Richard W., 2000
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Grace, James W., 1999
Raising the Red Banner, Yakubov, Vladimir, 2008
Sailors' Journey Into War, Maher, Robert and Wise, James, 1998
South pacific destroyer, Russell Sydnor Crenshaw Jr., 2009



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