* - Flotilla Leader

1:600 view of the "H" class members, prewar, which retained the flat faced bridge. Note tripod mainmast, and, compared to below, a tall after funnel © Andrew Arthur.

"Hereward" prewar. Both the new angled bridge-face and the temporary twin 4.7" mount were very novel. The latter was the prototype for the type in the "Tribal", "J", "K" and "N" classes. © Andrew Arthur.

1:600 Hero. She too had the new standard of bridge face, and in this wartime view, 20mm AA added, extra DC's in place of "Y" gun, a hedgehog in place of "B" and a 4" AA gun in place of the after tubes. To improve 20mm fire-arcs, the after funnel and large tripod were cut down. © Andrew Arthur.

Hotspur was similarly armed as Hero but had "B" gun and the flat faced bridge. © Andrew Arthur.

By further small weight reductions in the "G" class design, so the "H" evolved, with an enlarged flotilla leader - the Hardy. It was this class that took part in the Second Battle of Narvik, where Warspite and the "H" in attendance barged into Ofot Fjord and sank a great number of German destroyers, for the loss of 2 of our own.
Wishing for a DP and not an LA 4.7" gun mount, the guns, which had previously been placed in recessed wells to allow elevation to the dizzy heights of 40 degrees to test the idea, were placed on new pivoting mounts to allow greater elevation.
The Hereward was fitted with an experimental twin mounting in "B" position, and so a new, armoured bridge / wheelhouse was devised - with the characteristic angled sides and top. This was judged a success, and so was worked into Hero's design, and all later destroyers.
Main wartime changes were shortening the after funnel to improve AA arcs, removing the mainmast and replaceing a torpedo bank with a 12 pounder AA gun. Various other changes were made to thew remaining pair, generally invollving adding 20mm AA cannons and replacing "Y" gun with extra DC's.

Pictures of "H" class Destroyers

Hereward makes a lot of smoke, thanks to Ken Ettie for photo. Just visible is the square bridgework, not possesed by the two sisters below.

Huge thanks to Ken Ettie for the above sequence showing his Father's Hero oiling from Repulse in the happy days of the 1930's Meditteranean. The action can be followed very well - Hero approaches, is the oiled, and then pleasantries are exchanged before she makes off back to her station.

George Ettie's Hero in port, thanks to Ken for the picture.

Hero rides out a huge swell - got to watch not to fall on a deck like that!

Hero's tubes are trained to port in this shot taken at full speed, possibly just after torpedo launch.

Herspeus in a wartime camouflage. Note funnel banding.