| Individual
specifications |
| Name |
Pennant |
Builder |
Fate |
| First
Group |
| Lewes 3 |
G68 |
Norfolk Shipyard |
Survived the war |
| Leeds 3 |
G27 |
Cramp of
Philadelphia |
Survived the war |
| Ludlow |
G57 |
Cramp of
Philadelphia |
Survived the war |
| Second
Group |
| Caldwell |
I20 |
Bath Iron Works |
Survived the war |
| Campbeltown |
I42 |
Bath Iron Works |
Sunk at St. Nazaire
March 1942 |
| Castleton |
I23 |
Bath Iron Works |
Survived the war |
| Chelsea |
I35 |
Bath Iron Works |
Survived the war |
| Lancaster |
G05 |
Bath Iron Works |
Survived the war |
| Leamington |
G19 |
NewYork Ship
Building |
Survived the war |
| Lincoln |
G42 |
Cramp of
Philadelphia |
Survived the war |
| Mansfield |
G76 |
Bath Iron Works |
Scrapped before the
end of the war |
| Montgomery |
G95 |
Bath Iron Works |
Scrapped before the
end of the war |
| Richmond |
G88 |
Mare Island |
Survived the war |
| Salisbury |
I52 |
Mare Island |
Scrapped before the
end of the war |
| Wells |
I95 |
Charleston |
Survived the war |
| Third
Group |
| Annapolis |
I04 |
Union Iron Works, SF |
Survived the war |
| Bath |
I17 |
Newport News
Shipyard |
Torpedoed by U-201,
October 1941 |
| Brighton |
I08 |
Fore River |
Survived the war |
| Charleston |
I21 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Columbia |
I49 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Georgetown |
I40 |
Fore River |
Survived the war |
| Hamilton |
I24 |
Fore River |
Survived the war |
| Newark |
G08 |
Union Iron Works, SF |
Survived the war |
| Newmarket |
G47 |
Union Iron Works, SF
|
Survived the war |
| Newport |
G54 |
Fore River |
Survived the war |
| Niagra |
G47 |
Fore River |
Survived the war |
| Roxburgh |
I07 |
Fore River |
Scrapped before the
end of the war |
| St Albans |
I15 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| St Clair |
I65 |
Union Iron Works, SF |
Survived the war |
| St Mary's |
I12 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Fourth
Group |
| Belmont |
H46 |
Newport News |
Torpedoed by U-82,
January 1942 |
| Beverley |
H64 |
Newport News |
Torpedoed by U-188,
April 1943 |
| Broadwater |
H81 |
Newport News |
Torpedoed by U-101,
November 1941 |
| Broadway |
H90 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Chesterfield |
I28 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Churchill |
I45 |
Newport News |
Sold to Russia |
| Clare |
I14 |
Newport News |
Survived the war |
| Bradford |
H72 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Burnham |
H82 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Burwell |
H94 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Buxton |
H96 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Cameron |
I05 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Ramsey |
G60 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Reading |
G71 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Ripley |
G79 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Survived the war |
| Rockingham |
G58 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Mined September 1944 |
| St Croix |
I81 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Torpedoed by U-305,
September 1943 |
| St Francis |
I93 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Lost in collision
July 1945 |
| Sherwood |
I80 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Expended as air
target, March 1943 |
| Stanley |
I73 |
Bethlehem Steel |
Torpedoed by U-574,
December 1941 |
| |
In 1940, the RN's destroyer situation was critical,
and an offer from America for fifty old WWI destroyers
could not go amiss. They were contemporaries to the
"V & W" class of the RN, and were
noticeable for their flush decks, to retain strength
amidships. This was pitched up from a low stern to a high
bow, so there was the usual height differences fore and
aft.
Amidships there was a large casing built into the hull,
over the boiler / engine rooms. The four ( except the
first three which had three ) funnels rose out of this
casing and led to their popuolar nickname of 'four
pipers.'
There were two general production standards, that by
Bethlehem Steel and their associated yards ( Union &
Fore River ) and the other by Bath Iron to which the
other builders adhered. Built in wartime by the U.S
industrial machine, the famed prefabrication and all
hours work of that country's industry allowes Ward
to be built and launched in an incredible 17 days!
Compared to the "V & W" class, they were
beamier and shallower, and equal in terms of speed and
power. Gun calibre and disposition was far better in the
"V & W", but the US ships completely
eclipsed them in terms of torpedoes; 12 tubes against
four / six. The American machinery installations made
more sense - although the beamier hull helped - but had
bridges very close to the bow and very low, and was very
wet.
Because RN fighting practice was to command from an open
bridge, the US vessel's enclosed bridge and conning tower
was removed, some aquiring towering bridges like the
"V & W" wairs, others modifications of the
original. Armament when supplied was various, but as a
rule of thumb, four USN type LA 4" Guns were carried
fore, one on each beam, and aft, a USN 3" AA gun on
the quarterdeck, four sets of triple torpedoes arranged
amidships and three 0.5" Brwning MG's finished off
the armament.
Initial modifications to all ( generally ) was to reduce
LA armament and increase AA armament, being destined
solely for escort work. The two after funnels were cut
down, and DC lobbers replaced the after pair of tubes.
The mainmast was removed to improve AA fire arcs, the aft
4" gun was removed and the 3" replaced by a
12pdr AA gun. Various combinations of 2 pounders and 20mm
cannons were added, and some removed the forward gun -
useless in a heavy sea. This tended to be replaced by a
Hedgehog launcher. SW type 271 was added on the bridge,
and AW type 291 at the masthead.
Most of these ships were in a poor material state, and
required a lot of dockyard attention to keep them going.
They were also very prone to accidents, a common problem
being associated witht he steering gear. The engine for
this was amidships, and a rod and chain arrangement was
laid along the upper deck to actuate the rudders - this
was most prone to jamming and snapping at the most
innopurtune times. Corrouded fuel tanks also let in small
amounts of salt water - leading to sudden power
fluctuations. |
| |
| First
Group Modifications |
| Immediately modified to suit escort duties. Aft tubes
replaced by DC lobbers and storage. Operated off East
coast, and so were armed to suit - namely against
aircraft and E-boats. Two 2pdr pom-poms were
mounted on a platform infront of the bridge, two 12pdr AA
guns in the beam positions, two 20mm cannon en-echelon
aft and a 12pdr gun on the quarterdeck. Ludlow
later replaced the pom-poms with a 12pdr, and all had
modified bridges and SW type 271 RDF on it. Leeds
and Ludlow had only three funnels; the two
central exhausts merged into one larger casing. These
ships passed onto duties as target ships, with armament
removed. |
 |
| 1:600 Leeds. The three stackers were
prototypes for the series. She was re-armed with a
4" gun forward, three 12pdr. AA and two 20mm
Oerlikons en-echelon aft. SW type 272 was
carried at bridge top. © Andrew Arthur |
 |
| HMS Lewes had four funnels. This shows her
with three 12pdr. AA guns, two 2 pdr. pom-pom AA forward
and two 20mm Oerlikon AA en-echelon aft. ©
Andrew Arthur |
| |
| Second
Group Modifications |
Employed on North Atlantic work, with an armament to
suit. Castleton, Montgomery, Wells
and Richmond were fitted with the tall bridges.
A 4" AA gun was mounted forward and a 12pdr AA gun
on the quarterdeck. Two 20mm AA were carried, one in each
beam position and only one torpedo bank was retained.
Four lobber and two rails for DC's were fitted and a
Hedgehod forward. RDF fit was standard. Some ships
carried two or four extra 20m cannon oround the
searchlight.
Campbletown was specially modified for a daring
raid on the St. Nazaire dock gates - this was
the only dry dock in the vicinity large enough to
accomodate Tirpitz, and it had to be destroyed.
She was modified to resemble the German torpedo boat Mowe.
The two aft funnels and boilers were removed, and the
forwad funnels trunked together with a large raking cap
characteristic to German ships. One 12pdr AA, eight 20mm
AA and two 0.5" MG's were carried. 1/4" armour
was applied to the bridge and fragile steering gear, and
a large armoured bulwark forward to shelter commando
soldiers. To provide sufficiently shallow draught to
clear the docks, only enough fuel was carried for the out
journey. She was loaded with explosives, and rammed the
dock gates; exploding 1/2 an hour later and devestating
the docks. |
 |
| HMS Salisbury. She was armed with a 4"
gun forward and a 12pdr. AA gun aft. The wing postions
were filled by two 20mm Oerliokons, and the after pair of
triple torpedoes were retained. SW type 272 was carried
at bridge top. © Andrew Arthur |
| |
| Third
Group Modifications |
Similar to above ships. Annapolis, Georgetown,
Newark, Roxburgh and St. Albans recieved the new bridge
style, and St. Clair had two extra 20mm cannon.
Annapolis's after boiler burnt out in an accident, and
this and it's funnel was removed. |
 |
| HMS Annapolis had her after funnel removed
after a boiler accident. She had three 4" gun, a 12
pdr. AA gn aft, and two sided 20mm Oerlikons with two
triple torpedo tubes abaft them. She also had the
modified bridge, taller, drier and fitting with RN open
conning techniques. SW type 272 was fitted at bridge
head. © Andrew Arthur |
 |
| HMS Columbia was kept in excellent condition
by the USN berween wars. She was delivered with four
4" guns and a USN 3" gun on the after shelter
deck. All four torpedo tubes were retained, and she had
the original temporary upper bridge. © Andrew Arthur |
| |
| Fourth
Group Modifications |
| Similar to Group 2 aswell, Beverly, Broadway,
Chesterfield, Ripley, Rockingham and St. Francis had new
bridges. Bradford, Clare and Stanley were modified as
long range escorts, and the first two boilers and funnels
to provide for extra bunkers. |
| |