HMS Kelly (F01)

HMS Kelly
History
United Kingdom
Namesake	Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Kelly
Ordered	24 March 1937
Builder	R&W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. Ltd, Hebburn[1]
Yard number	615
Laid down	26 August 1937
Launched	25 October 1938
Commissioned	23 August 1939
Homeport	HMNB Portsmouth
Motto	Keep on instead of Hold on
Fate	Sunk by Luftwaffe bombardment 23 May 1941, position 34°40′N 24°10′E / 34.667°N 24.167°E / 34.667; 24.167
General characteristics
Class and type	K-class destroyer
Displacement	1,760 tons; 2,400 tons full load
Length	339½ ft p/p; 356½ ft o/a
Beam	35¾ ft
Draught	9 ft (2.7 m) ; 12 ft (3.7 m) deep
Propulsion	2 Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers (300 psi, 620 °F), Parsons geared steam turbines on 2 shafts, 40,000 shp
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h) light; 32 knots (59 km/h) deep
Range	484 tons bunkerage, 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h), 1,050 nmi (1,940 km) at 32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement	218
Armament	6 × QF 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mk.XII guns 3 × twin mount CP Mk.XIX 4 × QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" Mk.VIII quad mount Mk.VII 8 × .50-inch (12.7 mm) anti-aircraft machine guns 10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes Mk.IX

HMS Kelly (pennant number F01) was a K-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy, and flotilla leader of her class. She served through the early years of the Second World War; in Home Waters, off Norway and in the Mediterranean. Throughout her service, Kelly was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten, as commander (Captain (D)) of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla. She was lost in action in 1941 during the Battle of Crete.

Kelly was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company at Hebburn on the River Tyne. She was laid down on 26 August 1937, launched on 25 October 1938 and commissioned on 23 August 1939, just 11 days before commencement of hostilities. She was named after Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Kelly.^[2]