* - Flotilla leaders

The "S" class were the next step in the 'utility' destroyer progrma. AA defence was the main improvement, a stabilized Hazemeyer twin Bofors gun being adopted. Lattices were carried too, as were new mounts for the 4.7" guns, giving increased elevation. © Andrew Arthur.

Scorpion carried a quad pom-pom due to shortage of twin Bofors guns. © Andrew Arthur.

Savage was completely different, having a twin 4.5" and two single 4.5" as an experiment, no "B" gun, SW RDF on the Bofors platform and a tripod mast. © Andrew Arthur.

Whilst generally being repeats of earlier units, this class incorporated several new features for a much improved vessel - most noticeably in the AA sections. At last a DP 4.7" gun monting had been developed, all though only elevating to 55 degrees until an 80 degrees mounting could be satisfactorily developed. This weapon's shield had a marked slope to the face, and was very similar to the 4.5" single mouting in appearance.
Secondly a twin Bofors 40mm was included aft instead of the venerable pom-pom. This was a design from the dutch Hazemeyer company which had escaped, was fully stablised and included it's own AR.282 set. To improve the arcs of fire of theis new weapon, it was transplaced with the searchlight, to between the torpedoes. Scorpion however retained the pom-pom due to supply problems. Four twin 20mm cannons finished off the AA armament.
Prewar, a very satisfactory 4.5" DP mount with 80 degrees elevation had been fitted to the new aircraft carriers and re-built battleships, but this was a heavyily armoured, countersunk turret, and was not appropriate for destroyers. In the gap of time, this turret had been re-worked into the Mark 4 twin weapon, next to feature on the Battle class. To get this to sea as quickly as possible, Savage was modified to carry it forward, with no superfiring gun, and to make a nomogenous battery, two prototype single guns were carried aft, with 55 degree elevation. The 4.5" gun was much improved over the 4.7", actually fired a heavier shell, and had a slightly improved performance.
Suamarez, Savage, Scorpion and Scourge had a tripod foremast and ( not Savage ) a light lattice mainmast for huff-duff. The foremast took a lot of weight from RDF, and had severe vibrational problems, so a lattice mast replaced it in the other four. All but Savage were so modified, with GW type 293 at masthead, huff-duff moved to the lattice, and the aft lattice replaced by a pole for AW type 291. Svage had the AW RDF on the tripod, and carried SW type 271 on a platform amidships.
The bow was modified from the preceding classes, to leave it much drier forward, and increased the length slightly.
Later, Suamarez replaced her 20mm cannons with single Bofors, and lost the forward tubes as a compensation.