Battle-class destroyer

Class overview
NameBattle class
Operators
Preceded byWeapon class
Succeeded byDaring class
Subclasses"1942", "1943"
Completed26
Lost1
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 1942 ships: 2,315 tons standard / 3,290 tons full load
  • 1943 ships: 2,480 tons standard / 3,430 tons full load
Length379 ft (116 m)
Beam
  • 1942 ships: 40 ft 3 in (12.27 m)
  • 1943 ships: 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Draught
  • 12.75 ft (3.89 m) standard
  • 15.3 ft (4.7 m) full load
Propulsion
Speed
  • 1942 ships: 34 knots (63 km/h)
  • 1943 ships: 35.75 knots (66.21 km/h)
Range4,400 nmi (8,100 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement
  • 1942 ships: 247 peacetime, 308 war
  • 1943 ships: 232 peacetime, 268 war
Armament
  • 1942 Battle
  • 2 × twin 4.5 in guns QF Mark III on mounting BD Mk. IV
  • 1 × single 4 in gun QF Mk. XXIII on mount Mk. III (First six ships only. Later removed)
  • 4 × twin 40 mm Bofors mounts "Hazemeyer" Mk. IV
  • 4-6 × single 40 mm Bofors mounts Mk. VII
  • 2 × quad tubes for 21 inch (533 mm) torpedoes Mk. IX
  • Two depth charge rails.
  • Four depth charge throwers.
  • Depth charges later replaced by 1 × Squid A/S mortar
  • 1943 Battle
  • 2 × twin 4.5 in guns QF Mark III on mount BD Mk. IV
  • 1 × single 4.5 in gun QF Mark IV on mount CP Mk. V
  • 2 × twin 40 mm Bofors mounts "STAAG" Mk. II
  • 1 × twin 40 mm Bofors mounts "utility" Mk. V
  • 2 × single 40 mm Bofors mount Mk. VII
  • 2 × quintuple tubes for 21 in torpedoes Mk. IX
  • 1 × Squid A/S mortar

The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), named after naval or other battles fought by British or English forces.[1] Built in three groups, the first group were ordered under the 1942 naval estimates. A modified second and third group, together with two ships of an extended design were planned for the 1943 and 1944 estimates. Most of these ships were cancelled when it became apparent that the war was being won and the ships would not be required, although two ships of the third group, ordered for the RAN, were not cancelled and were subsequently completed in Australia.

Seven Battles were commissioned before the end of World War II, but only Barfleur saw action, with the British Pacific Fleet.

  1. ^ "RN Destroyer Classes: Battle Class (1943–47)". Rnwarships.informe.com. Retrieved 27 May 2016.