Weapon-class destroyer

HMS Scorpion in Amsterdam on 29 September 1961
Class overview
NameWeapon class
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byC class
Succeeded byBattle class
Planned20
Completed4
Cancelled16
General characteristics as built
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 1,980 tons (standard)
  • 2,825 tons (full)
Length365 ft (111 m) o/a, 341.5 ft (104.1 m) p/p
Beam38 ft (12 m)
Draught14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Propulsion2 x Foster-Wheeler water-tube boilers, Parsons double-reduction geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) on 2 shafts
Speed31-knot (57 km/h)
Range630 tons oil, 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement234 (256 in Battleaxe)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 293M target indication
  • Radar Type 291 air warning
  • Radar Type 275 fire control on Director Mk. VI(M)
  • Radar Type 262 STAAG fire control
Armament
General characteristics (A/D conversion)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 965 surveillance, antenna array AKE-1
  • Radar Type 293Q target indication
  • Radar Type 262R fire control on director MRS-8
  • Radar Type 262 STAAG fire control

The Weapon class was a class of destroyers built for the British Royal Navy towards the end of World War II. They were the smaller counterpart to the Battle class (which followed them) and were the first new destroyer designs for the Royal Navy since the Second World War Emergency Programme. 20 ships were planned, of which only 13 were laid down and 7 were launched, but the cessation of hostilities resulted in only 4 being completed for service. Two of the ships had been previously ordered (as Celt and Centaur) as part of the planned C class, or 15th Emergency flotilla, of 1944, but the orders were changed to the new design.