S, T class destroyer (1942)

The S and T class were sixteen destroyers of the RN launched in 1942–1943 for the 5th and 6th Emergency Flotilla, fleet and convoy escorts in World War II. They were essentially repeats of the Q and R classes with a proven armament, four 4.7-inch (120-mm) QF Mk IX guns, AA and eighter torpedo tubes plus radar, sonar and depth charges. There were only two losses: Shark under Norwegian service as HNOMS Svenner on 6 June 1944 and HMS Swift on 24 June the same year. Three had long career postwar in the Dutch Netherland Navy as HNLMS Kortenaar, Evertsen, and Piet Hein. Part of those under British flag were converted as ASW frigates in the 1950s, either the Type 15 full conversion or Type 16 austere conversion to deal with the cold war Soviet submarine threat.

A battered HMS Therpsicore in the Pacific by late 1945. Note that like all T-class she had a lattice mast.

Development

The S and T class were the continuation of a considerable effort to boost the number of destroyers for fleet and especially convoy work, the emergency flotillas. This effort started with the L and M destroyers. However its roots went back far earlier, with a new design planned in 1936 already with completely closed gun mounts as a weather protection, and greater top speed, 10 knots more than the future King George V class battleships just as treaty limits was about to expire. The KGV were planned to reach 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) which translated as 38 knots, 40 if possible for the planned destoryers. Several sketch variants were discussed, one repeating the Tribals with a 3,200t standard displacement, 90,000 hp machinery for 42kts but eventualy this settled on a more modest evolution of “J” class with improvements across the board.

The core of the design was mostly agreed upon in 1937 as a repeat of tje J-K-N class with a great question mark over armament. The one which seemed obvious was the good old, trusted 4.7 inches single masked gun with four or five. But they were only capable of ship-to-ship combat, without dual purpose capabilities. For 1937 “regular” destroyer and follow-up, debate went on between either a better AA or a new dual purpose mount. Lessons were also learned from the Spanish Civil War and threat posed by modern aircraft. Vickers Arsmtrong proposed to install the classic QF Mark XI 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns in a new Mark XX twin mounting, light enough not to be much a concern for stability with an elevation of 50 degrees and firing a more powerful shell. The adoption of these twin mounts combined with the bridge of H-I classes and clipper bow saw a first batch authorized in 1938 for the 1937 Naval Estimates (8 ships) and 1939 Naval Estimates (8 ships) to fill two squadrons with L and M classes.

However Vickers soon ran out of steam for producing these twin mounts, so when WW2 broke out, the admiralty went back to the so-called “Intermediate destroyers” in concept already in 1938. These new destroyers were in a soft spot between the costly Tribal class and new Hunt class escort destroyer. They needed to be simplified in construction and armament and justified in peacetime at the parliament by replacing the legacy “V” and “Modified W” classes of 1918-19. Designers chose the “J” class as a base, smaller and cheaper, keeping the same hull and machinery but with modified dimensions, better forecastle shape, reworked sheer for extra seaworthiness, same prismatic bridge, but the “plan B” alternative armament due to the manufactiring bottlenecks mentioned above. It was down to the classic single 120mm (4.7 in QF) A/S mount, pompom, quad Vickers 12.7mm MGs and quad TTs but larger DC stowage. When approved in September 1939 they were planned for completion in 1941 if possible. The first eight, the O class, became the 1st emergency flotilla. This was the first of a long lineage built continuously by batches of eight until 1944.

If the O and P class (1st and 2nd Flotillas) had the original small shield Mark IX main gun on its original mount, the next Q and R class represented the 2nd emergency program destroyers, making for the 3rd and 4th emergency flotillas when ordered in 1940. They were essentally a repeat of the 4.7 inch in classic antiship configuration. Work was ongoing meanwhile on a new dual purpose 4-in gun for an assumed role of AA/AS escort that was planned for the next S and T, respectively the 5th and 6th emergency flotillas, also around 1,700 tonnes but with the same uniform A/S armament of 4.7 inches (120 mm) main guns and strong torpedo armament. The repeat of the 4.7 in guns was just it simplicity of construction and large availability, plus compatbility with late WWI stocks. Mass produced, they remained the cheapest light guns in inventory from Armstrong. The 4.7-in guns with their new HA mount and reworked gun shield both had enough elevation to deal with mid-to-low-flying aircraft while being much more deadly against surfaced U-Boats caught mostly by night entering the convoys. Their HE shells were also twice as much powerful than the 4-in shells or alternative dual purpose mounts.

The S class thus introduced the CP (central pivot) Mark XXII mounting for the QF Mark IX 4.7 in gun, characterized by its new shield with a sharply raked front allowing increased elevation to 55 degrees unlike the previous CP Mark XVIII. HMS Savage was an exception as she wa instead fitted with four 4.5 in guns in a twin mounting forward and two singles aft to spare space for extra AA as an experiment. Both the S and T class however still used the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer. They however no longer kept the traditional quadruple mounting Mark VII for the QF 2-pounder pom-pom. It was indeed replaced by a twin mounting Mark IV, 40 mm Bofors recoignized as far superior despite having only two barrels.

The “Hazemeyer” (or “Haslemere”) was an advanced mounting, tri-axially stabilised to keep a target in the sights despite a pitching deck. It was doubled by an analog fire control computer, and the new Radar Type 282 which was a metric range-finding set. This Hazemeyer design came from the Dutch minelayer Willem van der Zaan, escaping from German occupation in May 1940, which was duplicated, and soon benefited to the USN as well. Accuracy was far greater as a result. Overall this combination of new DP mounts, new stabilized 40mm AA and better fire control made the best AA escort in RN inventory so far. The T class different from the S class as the first to replace pole or tripods foremasts by lattice masts, continued in all War Emergency Flotillas to follow.

Design of the class

Plans of HMS Scourge

The S and T class reproduced essentially the same recipe of the O and P class, same hull, same sheer and detailed design aspects, same bridge, masts, accomodations, ect. This was to gain time in construction. Yard’s only job was to just adapt their main gun mounts to the new Mark XXII mounting for a duel purpose role. This in part forced the digging up of the base to enable the gun to recoil at max elevation of 55 degrees and avoid hitting the deck. To protect this “seawater pit”, there was the new extended shield and a seabreaker around, plus scoops to evacuate any weawater that went above. Other than that, a repeat of the previous design at least for the S class, with also an adaptation of the amidship AA mount that replaced the pompom by the better 40 mm and its Bofors Hazemeyer mount. The only innovation of the T class in that regard, as said above, was the replacement of the tripod by a lattice mast. This made sense given the olf tripod was now considered too flimsy to support radars that were heavier by the day. It gave a lot of support margin for future radar upgrades as well. They carried a crew of 180 men when commissioned, but grew to 225 in 1945 due to multiple additions or when working as flotilla leaders.

Hull and general design

The S and T class had about the same displacement, 1,710 long tons (1,737 t) for the S, and up to 1,730 long tons (1,758 t) for the T class at standard nominal displacement, then 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) for the S and 1,810 long tons (1,839 t) actual displacement for the T class, then 2,505 long tons (2,545 t) for the S to 2,545 long tons (2,586 t) deep load for the T class. They were significantly heavier than pvreious emergency destroyers, the Q-R class being rated at 1,692 long tons (1,719 t) standard and 2,411 long tons (2,450 t) full load. That was an average 150 tonnes extra, notably caused by the new heavier DP mounts and Bofors. Stability was likely also reviewed to cope, but details are not known. The S and T class measured 339 ft 6 in (103.48 m) between perpendiculars, 362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) overall, for a beam of 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m) and draught of 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m), so they were significantly longer (versus 358.25 ft (109.2 m) o/a), slighlty beamier (versus 35.75 ft (10.9 m)) and with a greater darught to regain buoyancy and stability compared to the Q and R classes.

Powerplant

This chapter was left untouched, the S and T reproduced the same powerplant as previous classes, that is two shaft with 3-blmaded bronze propellers driven by two Parsons geared turbines with HP and LP stages, fed in turn by two Admiralty 3-drum boilers for a total of 40,000 shp (30,000 kW), just like the previous Q and R, and for a top speed officially of 36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h) which seems a bit better than the previous Q-R (roughly 36 knots) perhaps due to the longer hull and lightly better ratio. Range was based on a 588 tons of fuel oil as standard, 4,675 nautical miles at 20 knots also on average.

Armament

As said above, the S and T class shared the same main armament of four QF Mark IX 4.7 in gun on Mark XXII mounts with new shields, and a twin Bofors 40mm/56 Mk VIII. They had also four twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV installed and two quad 533mm Torpedu Tubes Banks as well as four DCT, and two DCR (for a total between 70 and 130 Depth Charges). However there were many rearmament attempts to test various combinations, ending with a “jungle” of variants, especially with the T class:
HMS Savage: Twin 4-in (114mm)/45 QF Mk III fwd, two single of the same in Mk IV mounts aft, six twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, same TTs and DCs.
HMS Scorpion: Five twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV.
HMS Terpsichore: Six twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV.
HMS Troubridge, Tyrian: Two single 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV added.
HMS Tuscan: Single 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV added.
HMS Tumult: Two single 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2x experimental 533mm TT instead of A bank.

BL 4.7 inches/45 QF Mark 9/ Mark 22 Mount

The original Mark 9 prototype was mounted on HMS Mackay and was still present on W class destroyer and foreign ships. The original squared shield mount was only able to elevate to 40° elevation.
The S and T class introduced the new DP Mark XXII mount. The latter also called CPXXII had an elevation from -10° to +55°. It weighted 11.58 tons or 11,766 kg versus 9.54 tons for the CPVII. The shield was 0.375 inch or 9.5 mm and it weighted 1.813 tons or 1,842 kg overall. The increase in weight was due to the reduced recoil length requirement (beefier, longer coils and hydraulic dampers), stronger structure overall, and this required strengthening of the ship’s structure around the gun mounts. The gun recoil was 18 in (45.7 cm) compared to 26.5 in (67.3 cm) on previous mounts. The best traverse was for “X” position superfiring aft at 360 degrees. The forward B mount was limited by the bridge despite its prismatic shape.

Specifications 4.7-in/45 QF Mark IX

Gun weight 2.963 – 2.984 tons (3,011 – 3,032 kg), 220.62 in (5.604 m), bore 212.6 in (5.400 m).
Rate Of Fire on the CPXXII single Mounting was 10 – 12 rounds per minute with trained gunners.
Shell: HE 50 lbs. (22.68 kg) or SAP 15 in (38 cm), same weight.
Muzzle Velocity 2,650 fps (808 mps). Typically these destoryers carried 200 SAP rounds and 50 HE rounds plus 50 star shell per ship.
Range at 55° was well above 19,000 yards (17,373 m) with the HE shell. Armour penetration (AP) was 2.5″ (63 mm) at 6,500 yards (5,950 m).

4-in/45 QF Mk III/IV

Only installed experimentally on HMS Savage. She had a twin mount forward, same type as on the Hunt class and many converted vintage light cruisers among others. Ubiquitous mass produced gun with a dual purpose mount from the start.
The QF 4-inch Mark XVI gun (also written as QF 4-inch Mk XVI) was a British dual-purpose naval gun widely used by the Royal Navy and Commonwealth navies during and after World War II.
This Naval artillery was dual-purpose, anti-ship and anti-aircraft. They pioneered the twin 114mm DP turret mount created for “Battle” class.

Specs

Shell weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg)
Rate of fire: 15–20 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity: 2,660 ft/s (810 m/s)
Effective range: 18,150 yards (16,600 m) at 45° elevation
Maximum ceiling: 39,000 ft (11,900 m) against aircraft
Elevation range: -10° to +80°
Traverse: 360° on suitable mounts
Crew: 9 on average.
Mounts used: Twin mounts Mark III, shielded forward on A mount, and Mark IV single on X-Y aft mounts.

40 mm/60 twin Mark IV Hazemeyer

The legendry AA ordnance that ruled the skies for the allies in WW2 had its origin in the interwar. The first order for the “real” L/60 was made by the Dutch Navy, ordering five twin-gun mounts for the cruiser De Ruyter in August 1934. They were stabilized by the Hazemeyer mount, a revolutionary set of layers aimed the gun with a second manually stabilizing the platform and they were all coordinated on a single target at once by a single fire-control system. United Kingdom took out a license but it took time before the Mark IV was standardized. On the S-T class, they were installed on the same spot the former pompom was for the best arc of fire, on a banstand aft of the funnel and between the two torpedo tubes banks. This tri-axially stabilized twin mounting “Hazemeyer” had an on-mounting fire control, and depended from a Radar Type 282 for initial range information. Water-cooled it existed in left and right versions, Type D (left) and E (right). Many were later converted to the Mark XI standard, Mark V mountings. 484 Mark IV produced total. However the shortage of Hazemayers affected the T class, with only three ships entering service with them.

Specs

Barrel length 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in). Mount 9,800 to 13,000 lbs (4445-5897 kg).
Shell 0.9 kg (2 lb 0 oz) 40×311mmR 40 mm (1.57 in).
Action: Automatic extraction and integrated cam-operated recoil powered autoloader
Breech: Vertical sliding-wedge
Elevation −5°/+90° at 55°/s and full 360° traverse in 50°/s.
Rate of fire 120-140 rounds/min, decreased with elevation.
Muzzle velocity 850–880 m/s (2,800–2,900 ft/s)
Maximum firing range7,160 m (7,830 yd)
Crew: 5: 1 Gunner traversing, 1 elevating, 2 loaders, 1 pointer.

20 mm/70 twin Mk II/IV

They were located amidship, one either side of the projector aft of the funnel, and two on sponsons wings at the bridge forward. This was a compact, unshielded, hydraulically operated twin-gun mount that differed from the US twin mounts. The gun itself was called the 20 mm/70 (0.79″) Mark II in twin mount. It was ready in 1941, with a Mark IX mount and later XIA and XIIA, all manual. The Twin Mark V weighted 1.228 tons (1.248 mt).

Specs

87 in (2.210 m) barrel Bore 55.1 in (1.400 m), Rifling 49.1 in (1.246 m)
Rounds: HE 0.272 lbs. (0.123 kg), HE-I, SAP. Full round 7.18 in (18.2 cm) long
Propellant 0.063 lbs. (0.029 kg) NC flake or tube
Elevation -5 / +85 degrees
Working pressure 20 tons/in2 (3,150 kg/cm2)
Muzzle velocity: 2,770 fps (844 mps) new, down to 2,725 fps (835 mps) used barrel (life 9000 rds)
Cyclic 450 rpm x2, practical 250-320 x2 or 2,560 rpm for all four twin mounts combined.
Range at 35.32 degrees 4,734 yards (4,329 m).

Mark IX** Torpedoes

Two quadruple torpedo tubes banks aft amidships, placed on a deck top plaform, reloadable thanks to cranes. These destroyers like their predecessors used the Mark IX. The Mark IX design started in 1928. It was first deployed in 1930, and the design being considerably improved until 1939. The Mark IX was a larger and longer-range Mark VIII essentially. It kept for propulsion a very similar four-cylinder radial kerosene-air burner-cycle propulsion system and replaced the Mark VII in most RN ships in WW2. The main version used from 1940 was the Mark IX**, first issued to J- and K-class destroyers in 1939. In 1943 it was decided to further improve the Mark IX** by lengthening it by 12 inches (30.5 cm), and the weapon mass limit to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg), up to the capacity of torpedo tubes and ships under construction. Nitromethane-augmented propulsion was considered, but its implementation required too many alterations to be practical. The Mark IX*** took up the extra space by enlarging the warhead to 930 lb (420 kg) of Torpex. Sources diverged on their deployment but they only arrived by the end of the war in 1945, by which time the enlarged warhead became unnecessary. But the Mark IX** remained in service throughout the 1960-70s. Note that HMS Tumult had two experimental fixed torpedo tubes instead of the first bank, soon after completion until removed and replaced by regular TT bank after trials.

Specs

Specs 21 inches Mark IX** (1939)
Weight: 3,732 lb (1,693 kg)
Length: 286.5 in (7.28 m)
Explosive Charge: 810 lb (370 kg) Torpex
Range and Speed settings: 11,000 yd (10,000 m) at 41 kn (76 km/h), 15,000 yd (14,000 m) at 35 kn (65 km/h)
Power: Wet-heater

Depts Charges

The usual set comprised from two to four Mark II Depth Charges Throwers (DCT) aft on the poop deck, facing either side, and one or two Depth Charge Racks (DCR) at the stern. Each carried five charges but they were railing to the aft superstructure for a total storage of 40 more DCs. Reload was made by hand, using winches, always a dangerous task with a rolling deck washed by waves. These depht charges were of the standard British type, meaning it was the Mark VII: In entered service in 1939, weighted 420 lbs. (191 kg) and carried a 290 lbs. (132 kg) TNT with a sink Rate or Terminal Velocity of 9.9 fps (3.0 mps) with a max setting at 300 feet (91 m) later 500 feet (182 m).

It’s possible they were later upgraded to the the Mark X (1944) and the Mark X*. The X** was not introduced in service in 1945 despite its great depth (down to 1,500 feet (457 m)). Squid and Hedgehog made them obsolete. There are doubts also if the Mark VII Heavy studied from 1940 and proper to depth charge launchers were used aboard, outside experimentally. Weighting 420 lbs. (191 kg) with a 290 lbs. (130 kg) TNT charge, they had a sink rate/terminal velocity of 16.8 fps (5.1 mps) and a 300 feet (91 m) max setting, helped with a 150 lbs. (68 kg) cast-iron weight attached. The idea was to reach the U-Boat faster, and it was claimed it could split open a 0.875 inch (22 mm) hull at 20 feet (6.1 m), or force to surface at 12 m or more. The game changer was a minol charge (1942) for better results, with a 30% increase.

Fire control: Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer

The Fuze Keeping Clock (FKC) was a simplified version of the High Angle Control System analogue fire control computer. The FKC MkII was installed first on the 1938 Tribal class, later variants on destroyers such as the J/K, L/M, and O/P and Q/R which still had the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer. The FKC MkII was a non-tachymetric anti-aircraft fire control computer, able to accurately engage targets flying at 250 knots (460 km/h; 290 mph). The Mk V Fuze setting tray was combined with a 4 in (102 mm) anti-aircraft (A/A) round and the fuze timing data was received via electrical signals from the FKC, displayed on a dial. The operator matched these settings on the tray’s own dial, adjusting the clockwork in the A/A warhead to the calculated flight time.

Sensors

Type 282 Radar

This was the novelty of the design instead of the previous Type 285. This Type 282 was operating in UHF band range-only fire control radar for anti-aircraft gunnery. The radar used Yagi antennas. A modernized Version Type 282M got an transmitter with pulsed power of 150 kW. Frequency: 600 MHz, peak power 25 kW, instrumented range 3.5 NM (6.5 km).

Type 290 Radar

The Type 290 was an Aerial outfit with a Peak power of 100 kW, 214 MHz frequency and 1,400mm wavelength. In service as a metric target indication set, replacement for Type 282 and 286.

Type 144 Sonar

From 1943, range 2500 yards (2300 meters) to 3000 yards (2700 meters), integrated into the fire control and coupled with Hedgehog. 1st with bearing recorder, automatic scanning, turning 5 degrees after each ping, often coupled with the Type 147 “Sword” depth finding sonar with a beam steerable vertically. Also coupled with the Q attachment reducing the under hull blind spot. 60° deep vertical beam, trained with the main Type 144 transducer.

Wartime Modifications

By mid-1943, HMS Tumult received two single, fixed 533mm TTs and kept “B” quad TT bank. By early 1944, Terpsichore saw the removal of two twin 20mm/70 mounts for a twin 40mm/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX. By HMS Troubridge, Tyrian and Tumult lost two single 20mm/70 AA replaced by a twin 40mm/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX. By early 1944 Tuscan lost her single 20mm/70 for the same twin Bofors. The same year, Scorpion lost a twin 20mm/70 replaced oddly by a quad 40mm/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII. In 1945, almost all had for sensors the type 271 or type 272 radars, type 291 radar for fire control and goinf with it the type 276 radar, and type 293 radar. Sole of the S class, HMS Saumarez in 1945 lost two twin 20mm/70; for four single 40mm/56 Bofors Mk III. At the same time the T class Termagant, Tumult, and Tuscan lost in turn two twin 20mm/70 for four single 40mm/56 Bofors Mk III. On the other hand, Troubridge, Teazer, Tenacious, Terpsichore, Tyrian and the S class HMS Sioux lost two twin 20mm/70 AA for two single 40mm/56 Bofors Mk III.

⚙ S-T specifications
Displacement	1,710 long tons standard, 2,505 long tons deep load
Dimensions	362 ft 9 in x 35 ft 8 in x 14 ft 2 in (110.57 x 10.87 x 4.32 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h)
Range	c4500 nm/20 kts
Armament	4× 4.7-in QF Mk IX, twin 40mm Bofors, 4×2 QF 20 mm Oerlikon, 2×4 21-in TTs, 4 DCT, 2 DCR
Sensors	Type 282, 290 radars, Type 140 sonar, see notes
Crew	180-225

Career of the S class:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_and_T-class_destroyer

Named after James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez she was Ordered on January 1941 at Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, laid down also in January, launched on 20 November 1942 and commissioned on 1 July 1943 under the pennant number G12. After working up she was assigned to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (DF), then 23rd DF, Arctic convoys. She sailed from Seyðisfjörður in Iceland on 23 October with five Russian minesweepers, six Russian motor launches and went from the Kola Inlet with thirteen ships here since the Spring. Convoy RA 54A then sailed from Arkhangelsk on 1 November to UK on 13-14 November without loss but late due to fog. Saumarez escorted the return convoy also without loss. However on 22 December with Convoy RA 55A from Kola (eight destroyers including Saumarez, two Canadian DDs, three corvettes) while the outgoing convoy JW 55B left Loch Ewe on 20 December, expected to reach Bear Island on Xmas Day, meeting RA 55A. There was a cruiser cover east of Bear Island: HMS Belfast, Sheffield and Norfolk and the battleship HMS Duke of York, cruiser Jamaica. Enigma intel had the Admiralty aware that Scharnhorst was deployed. Early on 25 December the convoys were alerted. The Battle of the North Cape that followed saw Saumarez shelling Schanhorst for 11 and pressing two torpedo attacks. She took a hit from Scharnhorst, a ddu that went through her Director Control Tower (11 men kill) and a near miss damaged her forced lubrication system. In this battle, Saumarez, Savage, Scorpion and Stord scored at least three hits on the German battleship.

Saumarez entered Murmansk with one engine working. She had there temporary repairs by the Soviets and returned home for a refit completed in March 1944. She then took part in the Arctic convoys JW 58 and RA 58, unscathed. A raid from the Fleet Air Arm attack on Tirpitz on 3 April was syncronized with JW 58. She took part in Operation Neptune, D-Day naval phase, as the Senior Officer’s ship, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla for gun fire support, Force S, Ouistreham with HMS Onslaught. She later on 14 August damaged or destroyed German minesweepers and an escaping merchant vessel off St Peter Port in Guernsey. She was lightly damage by splinter with a few casualties. In September 1944 back to Arctic convoys, followed by a refit at Newcastle (November 1944-January 1945) adn assigned to the 26th DF, British East Indies Fleet. By January 1945 she departed there with HMS Formidable and escort, from Alexandria to Colombo, reached on 8 February, Trincomalee on 10 March. On 11 March she was part of a sweep in the Andaman Sea with Volage and Rapid. After destroying a junk in Stewart Sound they were straddled by a coastal gun. On 25 March she w sin another sweep and spoted and attacked a Japanese convoy the next day, with gunfire and torpedoes. However they missed, and had to call two Liberator bombers, one of which sank the Japanese auxiliary IJN Risui. Volage sank Teshio Maru with gunfire. Next she joined Force 63 in April for the shelling of Oleelhoe, Sumatra and the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron for Operation Dracula (April-May 1945).

Next, she was in Operation Bishop for the assault on Rangoon, Operation Dukedom, an attack of a naval force heading from Singapore on 10 May 1945 as part of Force 61. They spotted and engaged IJN Haguro and Kamikaze off the Malacca Strait on 14 May. An Avenger from HMS Emperor vectored the destroyers on their position, Saumarez, Verulam and Vigilant, then Venus and Virago in a two prong- intercept on 16 May. Haguro was overwhelmed by torpedoes and sank at 02:09, 45 miles SW of Penang, but she straddled Saumarez twice. Kamikaze escaped, but damaged. Saumarez was refitted at Durban from June to August and the war ended on 2 September, but she helped the occupation of Western Malaya, Operation Zipper, screening the operation. Her unit left the East Indies at Colombo on 17 November for home in December and Saumarez was refitted at Plymouth. She was active in the Mediterranean. (Cold War career to come 2027)

HMS Savage was ordered on 9 January 1941 at R&W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co, Hebburn, Yard number 651, laid down on 7 December 1941, launched on 24 September 1942 and completed on 8 June 1943 under pennant number G20, with a modified armament (see later). After a funraising campaign she was in March 1942 adopted by the town of Burton upon Trent, gaining a modified badge. He first wartime mission was escorting the Aircraft Carrier HMS Furious and the battleships USS Alabama, HMS Anson, Duke of York, Malaya and South Dakota in Operation Camera. This was a diversionary manoeuvre off the Norwegian coast before the invasion of Sicily, successful. On 25 July, Savage HMS Illustrious and HMS Unicorn on Operation Governor off Norway. On 11 August she was in escort from Gibraltar in support of the Allied invasion of Italy. On 13 October she escorted HMS King George V from Gibraltar to Scapa Flow. Next she was assigned to the terrible Arctic convoys: In November 1943, RA 54A, then JW 54B and in December JW 55A and JW 55B, RA 55A. By January 1944 JW 56A, JW 56B from 1st February 1944, RA 56 also in February as JW 57 and RA 57 in March 1944.

In between she was dispatched to take part in the Battle of North Cape, when escorting Convoy JW 55B from Loch Ewe on 20 December 1943, expecting to reach reach Bear Island and meet RA 55A as part of Force 2, covering force led by Duke of York. On 26 December Scharnhorst was signalled at sea and she was intercepted by Ford 2. In addition to the battleship she fought alongside HMS Belfast and Jamaica, all being vectored in by the powerful radar from Duke of York. Duke of York fired star shells illuminating the damaged Scharhnhorst trying to flee, and she was preyed upon like a bunch of snarling hounds, by Saumarez, Savage, Scorpion, and Stord, attacking twice with torpedoes. Savage launched all her eight from 3,500 yards (3,200 m) and scored at least three hits but was unscathed. in April to July 1944 she was back to Arctic convoys in November with RA 61A and in January 1945 JW 63, RA 63, in February RA 64, JW 65 in March 1945 and RA 65. On 12 May 1945, she escorted the 1st Cruiser Squadron led by Devonshire with Crown Prince Olav on board back to Norway. Postwar she was used as a gunnery Firing Ship at Portsmouth , then placed in Reserve at Chatham in 1948, recommissioned for trials of new propellers in 1950, modernised, but kept in reserve until stricken in 1960 and BU at Cashmore from 11 April 1962.

HMS Scorpion was ordered on 9 January 1941 at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 19 June 1941, launched on 26 August 1942, and commissioned on 11 May 1943 under the pennant number G72. Her motto was “Finem espice” or “Look to the end”. Scorpion joined the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow on 11 May 1943 and was deployed on patrol in the Northwestern Approaches.[2] On 20 October she joined an escort group of nine destroyers, a Norwegian corvette and two minesweepers which sailed to the Kola Inlet as part of Operation FR, tasked to bring back merchant ships that had been waiting in Russian ports over the summer while the Arctic Convoys were suspended.[3] Covered by dense fog, convoy RA 54A arrived safely in Loch Ewe on 14 November, while the destroyer flotilla turned around to escort Convoy JW 54B to Archangel.[4] She returned to Scapa Flow, but was out again on 10 December to screen the battleship Duke of York and cruiser Jamaica which had been ordered to sea to cover Convoy JW 55A. The Kriegsmarine did not emerge and so she sailed with the battleship all the way through to the Kola Inlet, an unusual and risky move that surprised the Russians.[5]
Battle of the North Cape
Main article: Battle of the North Cape
Scorpion covered Duke of York as she returned west to refuel in Akureyri in Iceland on 21 December 1943. The Home Fleet left Iceland on 23 December to cover Convoy RA 55A and Convoy JW 55A, alerted of German intentions to intercept one of the convoys by Ultra intelligence.[6] On 26 December the German battleship Scharnhorst, escorted by five destroyers, attempted to attack the ships of Convoy JW 55A, but were driven away by Admiral Burnett’s three light cruisers and then cut off by Admiral Fraser’s force. During the action Duke of York hit Scharnhorst’s starboard boiler room with a 14-inch shell, slowing her briefly to 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) as she attempted to evade the British fleet.[7] This provided the destroyers with an opportunity to attack with torpedoes. Closing from astern, Saumarez and Savage fired star-shells, blinding the Germans to the approach of Scorpion and the Norwegian Stord on the starboard side of the battleship.[8] The two destroyers launched 16 torpedoes, scoring one hit, and driving Scharnhorst into firing range of Saumarez and Savage, which scored two more hits.[7] This crippled the German ship and allowed the slower Duke of York to catch up and sink her. After the battle Scorpion picked up 30 survivors and sailed on to the Kola Inlet, arriving there on 27 December. She returned to Scapa Flow with the rest of the fleet on New Year’s Eve.[9]
Operation Neptune
Main article: Normandy landings
In March 1944 Scorpion was assigned to the “Ocean Escort” force for Convoy JW 58, one of the largest Arctic convoys of the war. All ships arrived safely and Scorpion returned with Convoy RA 58.[2] Scorpion was then assigned to Force S, alongside several other S-class destroyers, part of the fleet for the Normandy landings. During May she took part in preparatory exercises before sailing to Spithead early in June. She crossed the channel on 5 June and took up position off Ouistreham to bombard targets in support of Allied landing forces in the Queen Sector of Sword Beach.[10] On 7 June she was assigned to patrol the Eastern Task Force area following the loss of her sister ship, the Norwegian Svenner to German T-boats. On 9 June she was detached with Scourge to reinforce the O-class destroyer flotilla against the threat posed by the German heavy destroyers from Brest.[2] She spent the rest of June, July and August on patrol in the English Channel protecting convoys from E-boats.[2]
Arctic convoys
Main article: Arctic convoys of World War II
Scorpion returned to escorting the Arctic convoys in September 1944, screening the battleship Rodney in support of Convoy JW 60 and then Convoy RA 60.[11] In October she was diverted to support Operation Lycidas, screening two escort carriers, Fencer and Trumpeter, as they carried out aerial minelaying around the Norwegian coast.[2] In November, sailing with Savage, she carried Norwegian troops to the Kola Inlet (Operation Freeman), their role being to join Red Army as it pushed the Germans away from Murmansk back into Norway, lending authority to the Norwegian Government in exile.[12] She then joined the escort for Convoy RA 60A on 11 November. Later in the month she supported two more operations with escort carriers off the Norwegian coast near Karmøy on 20 November (Operation Handfast) and then near Mosjøen on 27 November.[2]
She escorted Convoy JW 63 over the New Year period, her anti-aircraft gunners accidentally shooting at (and missing) two Wildcats which had been launched to intercept a German aircraft.[13] She escorted four more Arctic convoys early in 1945, RA 63 in January, RA 64 in February, and JW 65 and RA 65 in March. She was also deployed to support three more operations in the North Sea in February, Operations Selenium, Shred and Groundsheet. She continued in service with the Home Fleet until VJ Day in August 1945 when she was placed in reserve.[2]

Name HMS Scourge
Ordered 9 January 1941
Builder Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down 26 June 1941
Launched 8 December 1942
Commissioned 14 July 1943
She was at sea during the Battle of North Cape in 1943, escorting the Russia-bound Arctic convoy JW 55B. She took no part in the fighting.
Postwar
Evertsen (D802) at Yokosuka 1951.
Plan from 1944
She was sold to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 1 February 1946 and was renamed HNLMS Evertsen (D802). During the Korean War she was part of the diverse Task Force 96 in the US Seventh Fleet, and saw service during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. She was converted to a fast frigate in 1957.
She was deployed during the period of tension between the Netherlands and Indonesia over the fate of New Guinea, and saw action during the Battle of Arafura Sea, sinking the Indonesian Jaguar-class torpedo boat Matjan Tutul, commanded by Yos Sudarso.
She was scrapped at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht from July 1963.

Career of the T class:

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