"M" Class Destroyers |
Name | Pennant | Builder | Launched | Fate |
Milne* | G14 | Scotts | 30 Dec 1941 | To Turkey as Alp Arslam, scrapped 1958 |
Mahratta ( ex Marksman ) | G23 | Scotts | 28 July 1942 | Torpedoed 25 Feb 1944 |
Marne | G35 | Vickers Armstrong | 30 Oct 1940 | To Turkey as Maresal Fevzi Cakmak, scrapped 1958 |
Martin | G44 | Vickers Armstrong | 12 Dec 1940 | Torpedoed by U-431 10 Nov 1942 |
Matchless | G52 | Stephens | 4 Sept 1941 | To Turkey as Kilicali Pasha, scrapped 1958 |
Meteor | G73 | Stephens | 3 Nov 1941 | To Turkey as Piyale Pasha, scrapped 1958 |
Musketeer | G86 | Fairfield | 2 Dec 1941 | Scrapped 6 Dec 1955 |
Myrmidon | G90 | Fairfield | 2 March 1942 | To Poland as Orkan, Lost Oct 1943 |
* - Flotilla Leader
The original "M" class design, a copy of the "L". Note the hude powered 4.7" gun turrets, which called for the removal of the large spray shields to the shelterdecks, a feature of ships with smaller turrets, and the novel low / high angle director for these weapons. Note also the twin 0.5" guns under the "X" 4.7" barrels. © Andrew Arthur. |
Marne, showing war modifications. The quad MG AA were replaced by 20mm AA, although the twins were retained, a 4" gun replaced the after tubes, and SW type 272 was shipped in place of the searchlight. © Andrew Arthur. |
A second batch of "L" class
destroyers, built due to this being the only design available to
urgently get another flotilla in hand ( the "J"
was seen as inferior in terms of firepower. )
All were laid down after war broke out and so some changes were
made; a 4" AA gun replaced the after tubes, 2 single 20mm AA
cannons were added abreast the searchlight and two twin 0.5"
MG AA at the stern, and two DC mortars and racks for 42 DC's were
also fitted. AR type 285 was fitted on the HA/LA.DCT and AW type
286 was carried at the masthead. Later, the quad 0.5" MG's
in the wings were replaced by single 20mm Oerlikon cannons, and
all single 20mm were later replaced by twins, and the torpedoes
replaced the 4".
Dimensions | |||
Full Displacement | 2725 tons ( 2750 tons Flotilla Leaders ) | Length | 362.5' |
Empty Displacement | 1920 tons ( 1935 tons Flotilla Leaders ) | Beam | 36.75'' |
Load | 805 tons ( 840 tons Flotilla Leaders ) | Draft | 10.0' |
Performance & Propulsion | |
Machinery | 4 x Admirality 3 drum boilers, 2 x Parsonds Steam Turbines @ 48000 hp |
Speed | 36 kts |
Armament & Complement | |
Complement | 221 Officers & Ratings, except § 226 |
Armament Original |
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Armament Later |
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