* - Flotilla Leader

1:600 "A" class, prewar. They re-initiated destroyer production, and was a modern and advanced design in it's day. Note that the rangefinder is seperate from the director, and that 2pdr pom-poms have replaced the original 3" AA designed into the class. © Andrew Arthur.

Achates with war modifications. A hedgehog replaces "A" gun, DC's replace "Y" gun, and a 12pdr AA replaces the after tubes. Two 20mm Oerlikons are fitted, and so is SW.272 RDF. © Andrew Arthur.

The "A" class were a 1350 ton class, and could reach 35 knots. In terms of RN destroyers, they were groundbreaking, being the first new destroyers since WW1 "V&W" types. They had rather long foc's'les in relation to length, and special attention was paid to accommodation and sea-keeping. They were so succesful, they formed the standard for the next 8 classes of destroyers, with the Admirality 3-drum boiler being another standard.
Acheron had special 500lb. boilers (the others had 300lb.)
Arrow and Anthony had their after set of tubes retro-fitted in the war ( the majority of the "A" ~ "I" class ships had these replaced by a 3" AA earlier ). In 1942~3, surviving class members were converted to ASW escorts, with Y gun replaced by more depthcharges. Achates had A mount replaced by a "Hedgehog."

Pictures of "A" class Destroyers

Flotilla leader "Codrington" in 1930

Acheron seen is 1935, still with after tubes and mainmast ( later removed and replaced with 12pdr AA )