V and W-class destroyer

HMS Veteran, an Admiralty modified W ship, a model at the Glasgow Museum of Transport
Class overview
NameV and W
Operators
Preceded by
Succeeded byThornycroft type destroyer leader Ambuscade and Amazon
Subclasses
  • Admiralty V-class leader
  • Admiralty V class
  • Admiralty W class
  • Thornycroft V and W class
  • Thornycroft modified W class
  • Admiralty modified W class
Built1916–1924
In service1917–1945
Planned107
Completed67
Cancelled40
General characteristics (see below)
TypeDestroyer

The V and W class was an amalgam of six similar classes of destroyer built for the Royal Navy under the 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th of fourteen War Emergency Programmes during the First World War and generally treated as one class. For their time they were among the most powerful and advanced ships of their type in the world, and set the trend for future British designs.

They arrived in time to see service in the First World War. During the interwar period these ships formed the backbone of the Royal Navy's destroyer flotillas until gradually replaced by new construction; by the mid-1930s most had been displaced to the reserve fleet. Most ships survived to make an extensive contribution to the Second World War effort, in the vital role of convoy escort, freeing up more modern ships for fleet action.