W and Z class destroyer (1943)

The W and Z class were sixteen destroyers of the RN, launched in 1943–1944 for the 9th and 10th Emergency Flotilla and acting as fleet/convoy escorts as repeats of the S-T class and armed with four 4.7-inch (120-mm) in dual purpose mounts for the W class, 4.5 in guns for the Z class, new lattice mast and modified director structures, modern radar and sonars. At that stage in the war there was not a single loss. HMS Kempenfelt and Myngs were their respective flotilla leaders. Cold war fates: Two sold to Yugoslavia, three to South Africa, two to Israel, two to Egypt, and one converted as a Type 15 Frigate. Those in RN service were retired.

Development

The W class (and associated Z class) were the follow-up effort started in 1940 to deliver more destroyers for convoy work, the “emergency flotillas”. The blueprints were the L and M destroyers, a design planned all the way back to 1936 aside the Tribals, but evolved with the lessons of the Spanish Civil War towards a new QF Mark XI 4.7-inch and combining the bridge of H-I class and new clipper bow. In 1939 this program evolved for simplified construction and cheaper standard armament, officially to to replace the vintage V-W destroyer. The “J” class was a base for this emergency design, keeping the same hull and machinery on modified dimensions and improved seaworthiness. It was approved in September 1939 with a completion planning FY1941 leadiung to the “O” class the first of these ten “emergency flotilla” continuously made until 1944.

The P class was soon created for the 2nd Flotillas combining its main guns with the small shield Mark IX. The next Q and R class of the 3rd and 4th emergency flotillas ordered in 1940 had a Dual Purpose mount and the S and T (5th and 6th emergency flotillas) approached 1,700 tonnes but with the same main guns albeit the second had new HA mount with reworked gun shields for better elevation. The S class introduced the CP (central pivot) Mark XXII mounting for the QF Mark IX 4.7 in gun for an elevation to 55 degrees buty started to replace their pompom for twin mount 40mm Bofors Mark IV, using for most the new “Hazemeyer” advanced tri-axially stabilised mount and a new analog fire control computer, new Radar Type 282, making them the best AA escorts at this point. The T class inaugurated as well new lattice masts that were generalized oin the next classes.

The U, V (and W that were still close) were essentially a repeat of the S and T. HMS Savage tested a forward single mark III 4.5 in/45 with a new 80° mounting, initially planned but deferred not to delay constructtion of these new flotillas as it was not ready for production. Some ships had quad bofors, single or twin 20 mm Oerlikon guns and the last were completed in 1944. Grenville and Hardy became flotilla leaders.

Specific of the W/Z classes

They were essentially repeats of the U-V, but both had modified director structures and lattice mast, same hull, and same powerplant and performances (roughly). However the Z class diverged in many aspects: The W class main armament stuck to the same QF 4.7 inch (120-mm) L/45 Mk.IX guns, single mounts CP Mk.XXII, whereas the Z class introduced QF 4.5 in (113 mm) Mk.IV guns, single mounts CP Mk.V, high angle for better AA defence at 55° versus 30-40°, and fired a shell slightly heavier. The other changes were in the sensors suite, modernized: The W class had the Radar Type 272 for target indication and bearing, Type 291 radar for air warning and the Type 285 radar for main fire control, on director Mk.III and the Type 282 radar as fire control for the 40 mm mount Mk.IV when present. Indeed, on both classes, yards delivered the ships either with QF 2-pounder (40-mm) Mk.VIII “pom-poms” in quad mount Mk.VII, two QF 40 mm Bofors twin mount “Hazemeyer” Mk.IV, completed by a number of twin 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.V.

The W and Z classes had the same hull as their predecessors in general desig, with the same sheer and details, clipper bow, forecastle proportions, bridge (apart structure changes and a new lattice mainmast replacing the tripod), same accomodations. The Yards could accelerate construction given the years they had perfecting the same design. The W class inherited the Mark XXII dual purpose mount elevating at 55 degree. The twin mounts 40 mm with Bofors Hazemeyer were located (or pompom if not available) in the same position as before and they kept the same torpedo tubes, in the same order. The big external difference, their lattice mast, was a design inherited of the V class and earlier ships, for a structure that was heavier but much sturdier to support heavier and more sophisticated radars, while planning for future, heavier aerials. However this margin was counterbalanced by the need for extra electric power, that could only be obtained by more powerful generators. The crew was now fixed at 178 men with either 225 as flotilla leader, and could grow until 1945 with extra AA additions. The two flotilla leaders, Kempenfelt and Myngs, differed by their extra accomodations.

Naming

The ships of the 9th and 10th flotillas honored for some lost destroyers, like the former C class flotilla leader Kempenfelt (also named after a lost ship in WW 1) continuing an old tradition. Myngs, leader of the Z class, replaced the M-class of the same name seeing heavy combat with the Harwhich Force and Dover Patrol, including the 1917-18 raids on Ostende and Zeebruge. She had been discarded and scrapped in 1921 and honored herself the XVIIth cent. Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs that fought the Dutch. For the remainer, the inspired pencil of PM Sir Winston Churchill was personnally behind these choices, having a way with words.

Construction

Hawthorne Leslie: Whelp, Wirlwind
Cammell Laird, Birkenhead: Zambesi, Zealous
John I. Thornycroft and Co. Woolston: Zest, Zodiac
Vickers-Armstrongs: Wizard, Wrangler (Barrow), Myngs, Zephyr (Tyneside).
Fairfields of Glasgow: Wakeful, Wessex.
John Brown & Co. Clydebank: Kempenfelt, Wager.
William Denny and Brothers, Dunbarton: Zebra, Zenith.

Design of the class

The “W” classes differed also by their Arctic equipment, intended for the arctic convoys. The W class were also the first to introduce a new fire control system and had systematically their Hazemayers mounts.

Hull and general design

The W class were not slighty larger than the U-V class, at 1,710 tons (1,730 tonnes) and 2,530 tons full (2,570 tonnes), but definitely heavuer for the Z class at 1,830 tons (1,860 tonnes)
2,530 tons full (2,570 tonnes) versus 1,777 long tons (1,806 t) standard and 2,058 long tons (2,091 t) full load. A substantial jump explained by the new director, better sensors, new DP mounts and Bofors, heavier thn the pompom albeit the W and Z were very close for AA. Stability was still sufficient, with dimensions for both class reaching 362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a versus 363 ft (111 m) overall, a beam or 35.75 ft (10.90 m) almost unchanged (previously 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)) and draught as well, same 10 feet (3 meters) and standard and close to 14 feet (4 meters) mean. The shapes are proportions were also the same, apart some changes in the structure and heavier lattice mast.

Powerplant

A true repeat scheme, samed as the U-V and S-T class with two 3-bladed 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 (29,828 kW). Top speed was officially 36 knots, but sometimes mentioned as 36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h). Range was based on a xxxxxx588 tons of fuel oil as standard, for 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), 200 less than the previous class (4,860 nmi). Depending of sea conditions notably in the North Atantic and Arctic and specially by dreadful winter gales, that speed of 36 knots was nowhere near achievable in service. The W class were however better equipped to deal with these arctic conditions, but no the Z class.

Armament

The W class repeated the main armament of the U-V and S-T class: Four QF Mark IX 4.7 in gun on Mark XXII mounts with new shields for extra elevation, a twin Bofors 40mm/56 Mk VIII. They had also two twin and two single 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, and two quad 533mm Torpedo Tubes Banks as well as four DCT, and two DCR (for a total of 130 Depth Charges).
There were differences through: Whelp, and Wessex were completed with a quad 40mm/39 2pdr pompom QF Mk VIII, compensated by four twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV due to the shortage of Bofors with the Hazemeyer mount.

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.

Main Gun aft shield on HMS Grenville deployed for sweeps in the Bay of Biscaye and Channel in July 1943 (IWM). Note the tarpaulin at its end.

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 destroyers 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).

BL 4.5-in/45 QF Mark 4/ Mark 5 CP Mount

Conceived as a dual purpose weapon prewar for large ships in dual mounts, but also declined in single mounts with tailor shields for destroyers.

Specifications 4.5-in/45 QF Mark V

Barrel 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m), 45 calibres.
Shell: Fixed or Separate QF 113mm 640–645 mm R 55 pounds (24.9 kg)
Horizontal sliding block, +80°. 16 RPM at 2,449 ft/s (746 m/s)
Range 20,750 yd (18,970 m) at 2,449 ft/s (746 m/s), ceiling 41,000 ft (12,500 m).

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 U, V 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 versionU, V, Wype 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

Depth 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: Type K Fire Control/Type 285

The Fuze Keeping Clock (FKC) was a simplified version of the High Angle Control System analogue fire control computer. HACS A/A system for destroyers from 1938. The pompom had their own director as well, using gyroscopic tachymetric fire-control. The new Type K was adopted by the Z class, and went with the Type 285P radar (1942) mounted on top, which had a peak power of 150 kw, frequency of 600, and wavelenght of 50.
This made for a complete ranging set for anti-aircraft fire control, using ranging panel L12 (if the Type 285M was substituted). The Type 285 combined five Yagi antennae with combined Tx/Rx function and introduced a Precision Ranging Panel with a 25 yard RMS range accuracy.

Sensors

The previous U class, the W class and Kempenfelt shared the same type 272, type 285, type 291 radars, the Type 282 if equipped with Bofors, and the type 144 sonar. Fire direction was the same as before, the HACS. Z class ships had the type 276 radar, Type 293 radar for target indication and a Type 285 fire-control radar on director type K.

Type 272 Radar

Peak power 90, Frequency 2,997 MHZ. Wavelength 100mm, introduction in 1941. A version of the Type 271 with a cable-drive and more powerful receiver allowing the antenna to be mounted remotely from the radar office. Was not considered successful and not widely used.

Type 282 Radar

Decimetric (50 cm) ranging set for Bofors 40 mm and pom-pom fire control, either the Mark IV “Hazemeyer” and “Pom-pom Director Mk IV” using twin Yagi antennas, mechanical ranging panel with 0-5000yd display. Likely they were fitted with the later Type 282M with increased transmission power to 150 kW with Beam Switching of the Type 282P with Precision Ranging Panel. PP 25 KW, Frq. 600 MHZ Wavelenght 50, 1941.

Type 285 Radar

Ranging set for anti-aircraft fire control, introduced in 1942 likely the 285P (see fire control).

Type 291 Radar

Designed as a search radar for destroyer-sized and submarines, in service by 1942. Combined transmitting and receiving antenna. Either a Type 291M, P, or Q with power training and plan position indicator were installed but on the W variant it had different antennas.

Type 293 Radar

Target Indication radar, installed from 1945 onwards. Short-range aerial-search model for surface ships, same transmitter as the Type 277 surface-search radar, but new antenna design for better coverage above the ship and for air warning. “cheese” antenna, 6 feet (1.8 m) diamete later upgraded to 8 feet (2.4 m) on the Type 293P and 12 feet (3.7 m) on the cold war 293Q.

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

Z class flotilla leader, Kempenfelt, and Wager ended the war with their TTs and main guns enchanged but a quad 40mm/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, single 40mm/60 Mk III, and original four twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk V, but also 130 depht charges, and the type 276, 285, 291, 293 radar and type 144 sonar. There were small differences, with Wizard, Whelp and Wessex keeping their pompom mount, Wakeful having a single twin 20mm mount, others two, completed by single 40mm/60 Mk III Bofors.

Cold War Modifications

Apart the Type 15 conversions, the only changes in the 1950s were the removal of two 533 mm (21 inches) torpedo tubes from generally the aft mount to spare weight and regain stability.

Appearance

These destroyers had the late simplified “western approaches” pattern of curves in light blue, dark blue and dark grey, with many Z class completed later with a generally simpler dark band camouflage broken with broken light blue shapes on the forecastle, over light grey as standard (like here for HMS Zest in 1944 as completed (IWM). With radars, fancy camouflages were now simplified and optimized for longer range identification. There were also cases of the hull painted entirely uniform dark grey, structures light grey (Wager, Wessex, Wakeful), or with a broken short lower dark grey or medium grey band (ex. HMS Zodiac, Wizard in 1945). The leader Kempenfelt had more complicated broken shapes with a two-tone approach, the superstructure being painted as well.

⚙ W specifications
Displacement	1,710 long tons standard, 2,530 long tons deep load
Dimensions	362.75 ft x 35.75 ft x 10-11 ft (110.57 x 10.90 x 3-4 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h), 32 knots FL
Range	c4500 nm/20 kts
Armament	4× 4.7-in QF Mk IX, quad pompom or twin 40mm Bofors, 4×2 QF 20 mm Oerlikon, 2×4 21-in TTs, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70)
Sensors	Type 272, 291, 285/282, Type 140 sonar, see notes
Crew	180-225

⚙ Z specifications
Displacement	1,830 long tons standard, 2,530 long tons deep load
Armament	4× 4.5-in QF Mk IV, and same.
Sensors	Type 293, 285 radar, Type 140 sonar, see notes

Cold War Conversions: Type 15

Concerned: Wrangler (1953), Wakeful, Whirlwind (1954), Wizard (1956).

HMS Whilwind as a type 15 Frigate
For both classes, a few ships were converted postwar into a 15 ASW frigate. After the end of the Second World War, the Cold War started a shortage of fast anti-submarine escorts to deal with the latest Soviet fast subs led to use the recent War Emergency destroyers, convert into fast escorts as a stop-gap solution until new-build ships would arrive like the Type 12 frigates and successors. The Type 15 were considered ‘first-rate’ anti-submarine conversion compared to more austere type 14 conversions. They had a similar equipment as the new frigates, superstructure and armament entirely new, forecastle extended rearwards, low and wide superstructure fitted to deal with bad weather in the north atlantic, reduced gun armament and AA and same anti-submarine armament as the Type 12s.

Career of the W class:

She was ordered in December 1941 from John Brown & Co. Clydebank, laid down on 24 June 1942
and launched on 8 May 1943, commissioned on 25 October and joining the 24th DF (former 9th emergency flotilla) in the Mediterranean by December 1943. In January she was present for the Allied landings at Anzio, Operation Shingle. On 21 January with Inglefield and Le Malin she shelled Gaeta before screening the cruisers Orion and Spartan. On 27 January she shelled and destroyed a train near Formia. In February-April she escorted convoys in the central Mediterranean. She then returned to the UK, assigned to the 26th DF for the invasion of Normandy, Force J, off Lagrune sur Mer. She screen the cruiser Diadem off Beny sur Mer and was back for a refit in July, assigned to the Home Fleet, Scapa Flow, refitted at Cardiff to join the British Eastern Fleet in the 27th DF. On 22 August 1944 she, instead, was sent in Norway screening Indefatigable, Furious and Formidable, Duke of York, Berwick and Devonshire Operation Goodwood, raids on Tirpitz. On 24 August she was back to Cardiff to complete her far east refit. In October she sailed for Ceylon, then Trincomalee on 22 November, and by December, screened the task force for air raids on oilfields on Sumatra, Operation Outflank from 20 December and back to Trincomalee.

Kempenfelt later took part in January 1945 to Operation Meridian, and joined at Fremantle Force 63, arriving on 4 February, then Sydney for exercises with the US Navy and underway again on 28 February to join the BPF (British Pacific Fleet) at Manus, Admiralty. Her unit changed name for Task Force 113 for various operations with the USN in March, and entering the 5th Fleet on 22 March, later taking part in the Battle of Okinawa, Operation Iceberg. On 25 April she was in Leyte, to resupply and R&R and returned in May. On 11 May she screened the cruiser Swiftsure, her sensors used for picket duties, warning of incoming kamikaze. She was detached on 22 May to escort the damaged Formidable to Manus, and then to Sydney in June, after which herself had a last refit. She was back to Manus in August, and after the 15th, she was in Subic Bay to join the taskforce destined to Hong Kong. She sailed there on 27 August with Whirlwind, Quadrant and Ursa, Indomitable and Venerable, Swiftsure, Euryalus and Black Prince. She was still with the BPF in December 1945 but returned to Chatham in January 1946, placed in reserve for two years, then transferred to Simonstown in South Africa, back to Britain in 1953, laid up at Portsmouth, on the disposal list, but purchased by Yugoslavia with Wager in 1956, towed there for a domestic refit in October. As R-21 Kotor from 10 September 1959 she was active until decommissioned in 1971.

Wager was ordered December in 1941 at John Brown & Company, Clydebank, laid down on 20 November 1942 and launched on 1 November 1943, commissioned on 14 April 1944. Initial pennant R98 later changed to D298. Assigned to the 27th DF, initially deployed for screening ships Home Fleet ships, but under refit by July 1944. In August she was sent to join the Eastern Fleet at Ceylon, screening major fleet units such as HMS Indomitable. She saw further screening operations in January, covering vessels in Operation Meridian, and left for Fremantle to join Force 63 on 4 February. She sailed to Sydney for exercises with the US Navy and departed on 28 February to join the British Pacific Fleet at Manus, Admiralty. What became Task Force 113 was in training until March, assigned to the 5th Fleet on 22 March and sent to Okinawa. The destoryers used to return periodically to the Forward-base at Leyte. She was there on 20 April. On 4 May she returned to Sydney for a refit in June 1945, transferred to the US 3rd Fleet but learning underway about the Japanese surrender, and being present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. She was based afterwards in Hong Kong following the reoccupation bt British forces there and remained until December, then returned to Portsmouth in January 1946, placed in reserve. She was on station at Simonstown, South Africa and back in 1955, placed on the disposal list, but purchased by the Yugoslav government, alongside Kempenfelt, in 1956, towed to Yugoslavia for a refit in October and renamed R-22 Pula, re-commissioned in late 1959. She was again decommissioned and scrapped in 1971. Her name inspired the South African “Wager class” made of two ex-W class, Wessex and Whelp.

Ordered 3 December 1941, wakeful was built at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotland, laid down on 3 June 1942, launched on 30 June 1943, and commissioned on 17 February 1944. Pennants changed from R59 to postwar F159. Second ship of the name, honoring an Admiralty W-class sunk off Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo. She joined the Home Fleet on 17 February for sea trials, fully active in March for the 27th DF. She took part in Operation Tungsten against Tirpitz in Altenfjord. In May 1944 she screened ther raids on Narvik and Stadlandet. In June-July she was refitted for the Eastern Fleet and sailed via the Indian Ocean to Trincomalee in September. In October she screened diversionary raids on the Nicobar Islands as a diversion for the US invasion of Leyte. In November she was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) when created, and in January 1945 was in Operation Meridian One, the raid on Pladjoe, and on Soengi-Gerong, near Palembang. In March 1945 she was assigned to the US 5th Fleet and then under Halsey’s 3rd Fleet in May 1945. In August 1945 she was on escort duties for supplying the fleet making last raids on Hokkaido and North Honshū. She was in Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender and took part in the occupation of Japan, taking part also in the magic carpet operation (repatriation of allied nationals) to Sydney. She wa sback home in December 1945 with the battle honours ‘North Sea 1944’, ‘East Indies 1944’. She was converted to a Type 15 ASW frigate at Scotts in 1951-1953 (See the relevant page).

HMS Wessex (ex-Zenith, renamed January 1943) was ordered on 3 December 1941 from Fairfield in Govan, laid down on 25 October 1942, launched on 2 September 1943 and commissioned on 11 May 1944 and decommissioned on 14 March 1946. That late unto the war after her training she was reassigned directly to the Eastern Fleet for operations in the Indian Ocean, escorting Indomitable and Victorious for the raid on Nancowry harbour and the Nicobar Islands (Operation Millet) on 15–19 October. Operation Robson followed on Pangkalan Brandan in Sumatra, on 17–22 December and Operation Meridian, again on Sumatra on 16–29 January 1945, albeit she was sent to fetch spare parts and missed part of the action, only arriving on the 19th. In what was next the British Pacific Fleet, she took part in the Battle of Okinawa until a refit at Auckland from 5 July to 27 August. After V-Day she ferried men back home, and herself sailed and arrived at Devonport on 28 December, placed in Category B Reserve on 14 March 1946 after her January–February refit. Wessex was recommissioned on 28 August 1947, refitted at Portsmouth in August–September to be posted in South Africa with Kempenfelt, Whelp and Wrangler, creating the South Atlantic Reserve Force, Simon’s Town. It was then logic that after South African full indepdendence she was sold to the South African Navy on 29 March 1950. The subject of HMSAS Jan van Riebeeck, can be found on Reinhardt Ackerman’s Wager class article.

Ordered in December 1941, Wizard was laid down at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness (hull 833) on 14 September 1942, launched on 29 September 1943 and commissioned on 30 March 1944. She had the usual sea trials and workups bringing her to full readiness in May, when she hoined a mixed destroyer group on 6 May to screen HMS Furious and Searcher for ASW patrols until 9 June 1944. During one mission one depht charge exploded prematurely after dropping, causing major damage to her poop with the entire rear compartment flooded. She was towed to Lyness for emergency dry dock patching, completed later, still towed, to Middlesbrough for further repairs until April 1945. In between she had been reassigned to the British Pacific Fleet. After new sea-trials, training and and preparation with a rookie crew, she sailed all the way to the Pacific, via Sydney, joining the 27th DF in August for final operations with the British Pacific Fleet. She was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September and ended with no Battle Honour. From 1946 to 1951, Wizard was based in the Plymouth local flotilla and from 1953 to 1954 she was converted at Devonport into a Type 15 frigate, pennant F72 (See the relevant page).

Wrangler was ordered on 3 December 1941 from Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, laid down on 23 September 1942, launched on 29 September 1943 and completed on 14 July 1944 under the pennant R48 and F157 as an ASW frigate postwar. She was assigned to the 27th DF at completion, trained at Scapa Flow from 21 July to 16 August and then proceeded to the Mediterranean for months of escort work. She was then reassigned to the Eastern Fleet in late 1944 and transioted to the Indian Ocean. There, she screened the task force that took part in Operation Robson, the raid on Pangkalan Brandan by mid-December, but she was sent for a refit at Bombay for having her boiler tubes replaced from 14 January to 19 May 1945. By 17 July she reinforced the BPF off the coast of Japan. On 20 August she escorted HMS Indefatigable during the occupation of Japan, and was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September. Postwar, she ferried POWs back home to Australia. She left Sydney on 8 November for Plymouth (16 December). She escaped reserve and instead worked with the Naval Training Command from 18 January 1946, used for chemical warfare tests at the Dockyard. From September 1946 until 1950 she remained at the Rosyth Local Flotilla, as boys’ training ship with her 40 mm guns removed in her January 1947 refit. In 1949 she side-collided with another vessel, damaged her Carley floats and main deck plating. In 1950–51 she joined the 4th Training Flotilla. She was selected to be converted as a Type 15 Frigate on 4 January 1950, sent to Devonport in February 1951 for a reconstruction, from June 1951 to 10 March 1953 at Harland & Wolff at Belfast. See the relevant page and in South African service as SAS Vrystaat.

Career of the Z class:

Myngs was ordered on 12 February 1942 from Vickers-Armstrongs, High Walker and laid down on 27 May 1942 launched on 31 May 1943 and completed, commissioned both on 23 June 1944 (Pennant R06, D06). She started with the battle honour “Zeebruge 1918” of her predecessor to which she added the Norway 1944 and Arctic 1945. She was the class leader, of the 10th (2nd) Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, seeing patrols on the North West approaches and escorting allies convoys via the Arctic route. Off Norway she took part in several raids on the German battleship Tirpitz, screen aircraft carriers. By April 1945 she was transferred to the 4th DF and saw the end of the war and Victory in Europe (VE) celebrations in London from June to August 1945 with Zest and Zealous. From June 1946 to August 1947 she integrated the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet. In August 1948 she wa sin the 3rd Escort Flotilla, Portland. From April 1949 to August 1954 she joined the 2nd Training Flotilla, Portland. From September 1954 she joined the reserve for conversion to a Type 15 frigate (suspended) and by June 1953 she was present at the Coronation Review at Spithead. By May 1955 she was transferred to Egypt along with HMS Zenith, commissioned as El Qaher, refitted by White in Cowes before sailing to the Med on 28 August 1956, after the Suez crisis, and had another refit from May 1963 and July 1964. She took part in the 1967 war, but she was sunk on 16 May 1970, by IAF aircraft at Berenice, as part of the “War of Attrition”.

HMS Zephyr was ordered on 12 February 1942 at Vickers-Armstrongs, High Walker, laid down on 13 July 1942, launched on 15 July 1943 and commissioned 6 September 1944 under the Pennant R19. She worked up at Scapa Flow, joined the 2nd DF, Home Fleet, in October 1944. She was part on raids off Norway against German shipping and later screened HMS Campania and Trumpeter sending mine-loaded aircraft near Ålesund and raided the German radio stations from 24 October to 4 November 1944. On 14 November, Zephyr escorted the carrier Pursuer in a sweep off Trondheim, leading to sinking V6413. On 27 November she escorted HMS Implacable for Operation Provident off Mosjøen, an attack on a German convoy sinking the freighters Rigel(which carried 2000+ Russian POWs) and Korsnes, plus the Spree lying at anchor. On 14 December she escorted the carriers Premier and Trumpeter, cruiser Devonshire, but they were spotted and the Luffwaffe sent 30 torpedo-bombers, but failed to find the target, which manoeuvered away in bad weather.

During an ASW sweep on 31 December 1944 Zephyr was badly damaged off of the Pentland Firth, attributed to a torpedo from U-1020 or a mine (1 killed). Her aft boiler room was flooded, she lost steam and electrical power. The crew promptly jettisoned torpedoes and depth charges overboard to lighten her up, while another team frantically tried to make pumps working and stop further flooding. She survived, and made it to port. After inspection and temporary repair at Scapa she was fully repaired at Caledon Shipbuilding, Dundee, from 8 January to 12 April 1945. On 18 April, she joined Arctic convoy JW 66, meeting a string U-boat force off the entrance to the Kola Inlet. But sonars failed to detect them, so the DDs were ordered ahead, dropping a blind barrage of depth charges on 25 April. The convoy made it without loss. The return Convoy RA 66 departed on 29 April, with Zephyr escorting until 7 May, and U-307 and U-286 were sunk, to the loss of the frigate Goodall, albeit the convoy was safe. She stopped at Copenhagen on 9 May to accept the surrender of German warships, like the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. In June-July 1945 she was in occupation duties at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. Back home she was refitted at Portsmouth until 8 September, new fire control director fitted. She took part in the mass destruction of U-Boats, Operation Deadlight, in November–December 1945.

From August 1946 to May 1947 Zephyr she remained with the 4th DF, Home Fleet. From July 1947 to February 1948 she served with the Portsmouth Flotilla. From February 1948 she joined the 3rd Escort Flotilla at Portland. In February 1949 she led the 2nd Training Flotilla. On 28 February 1952 she collided with the rescue ship Reclaim. On 13 June she collided with the submarine Sleuth and needed repairs again. She was relieved by Vigilant by March 1953, planned for conversion as a Type 15 frigate, cancelled due to her poor shape and extensive corrosion. In June 1953 she took part in the Coronation Review at Spithead, but in December she was paid-off to reserve at Portsmouth. In November 1956 she was offered to Peru, but declined ad instead she was stricken, and sold for BU on 27 June 1958.

HMS Zambesi was ordered on 12 February 1942 from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 21 December 1942, launched on 21 November 1943, and commissioned on 18 July 1944 (Pennant R66 then D66). After working up with the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, she joined the 2nd DF for usual escort and patrol work, North Western Approaches. She also took part in the raid against Tirpitz, screening carriers. She escorted Arctic convoys as well and took part in sweeps off Norway and operations in the North Sea. She was not planned for deployment in the east and instead at V-Day in Europe, she took part in various support operations into re-occupy countries, previously under German occupation, notably guardship duties. She joined the 4th DF and served until 1947, until paid-off, reduced to reserve, Plymouth, until 1950, interrupted by refit at Gibraltar in 1948. In 1951 given her general state, she was not chosen for conversion but was kept as target ship for the 3rd Submarine Flotilla at Rothesay. From 1953 and 1954 she had a limited refit at Penarth, but remained in reserve at Cardiff until 1959. She was sold for BU to Thos. W. Ward after being stricken on 12 February 1959. He bell is now at St Cuthbert’s Church, Portsmouth.

Ordered on 12 February 1942 from Cammell Laird, Zealous was laid down on 5 May 1943 and launched on 28 February 1944, commissioned on 9 October 1944. After the usual workup at Scapa Flow, Zealous joined the 2nd DF, Home Fleet and on 20 November she took part in a sweep off Norway against German shipping. Later with Onslaught, Scorpion and Scourge, led by Diadem, she escorting Premier and Pursuer for an airborne minelaying operation off Haugesund. On 7–14 December she was part of Operation Urbane, for another anti-shipping operation off Norway involving Implacable, Premier and Trumpeter, Arctic convoy RA 62. Zealous, was spotted by Luftwaffe reconnaissance on 14 December but the torpedo-bomber force launched later never found the British. On 6 February 1945 she wa spart of Arctic Convoy JW 64 and faced eight U-boats near Bear Island and four off the Kola Inlet. The Castle class Corvette Denbigh Castle was sunk by U-992, but the merchant ships survived. Zealous, Zambesi, Zest, and HMCS Sioux rescued 525 Norwegians on Sørøya island on 14 February, starving and hiding from the Germans behind enemy lines. They were transferred to Gourock. On 16 February she was par tof a diversion off Kola Inlet. On 17 February she was in close escort. A sloop and corvette, two merchant ships were traded for U-425.

On 5 April 1945 Zealous attacked a convoy entering the Jøssingfjord (see above). On 18 April 1945, she escorted Arctic Convoy JW 66 to Kola Inlet on 25 April and four days later, she escorted he return convoy RA 66 until 5 May. On 9 May (VE+1), she sailed with two cruisers and four destroyers to Copenhagen, accepting the German surrender and then to Kiel. Postwar, she had a refit at Devonport from July 1945. From October 1945 until August 1946 remained in the 2nd DF, with ports occupation duties by November–December 1945 and from From 1947 to 1950, in reserve at Devonport. In 1950-1951 she was refitted at Cardiff and in 1953 at Harland and Wolff, Liverpool. She was in reserve from 1953 to 1954 at Penarth and the next year she was sold to Israel, recommissioned as INS Eilat (replacing the earlier INS Eilat) in July 1956. See the IDF page for more.

Zebra was ordered on 12 February 1942 from William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, laid down on 14 May 1942, launched on 18 March 1944 and commissioned on 13 October 1944. After working up she entered the 2nd DF, Scapa Flow, but was an unlucky ship, with a collision with the oiler San Castro on 3 October 1944, a jetty at Greenock on 15 October, under repair at Glasgow until 16 December. She had screening duty, patrolled the North Western Approaches, escorted Arctic convoys. On 1 January 1945, she joined the Arctic convoy JW63 leaving Loch Ewe on 30 December, arriving in Kola Inlet on 8 January 1945, and return convoy RA 63, from 11 to 21 January at Loch Ewe. She was to escort JW 64, but engine issues forced ger back to the Faroe Island for fixes, and from on 11 February she escoered the carriers Premier and Puncher for Operation Selenium (airborne minelaying) off Norway. On 26-27 February, she was part of the Arctic convoy RA 64 and had a rerfit at Liverpool from 17 March to 15 May. She was deployed in former occupied countries and German ports in guardship duties after VE day. Like ther other Z class, her arctic equipments were ill-suited to a deployment in the British Pacific Fleet. She remained in the 4th DF until 1947 and was paid-off, placed in reserve in Plymouth. In 1952 she entered the Harwich Reserve and bacl to Plymouth in 1953. She was nominated for conversion as a Type 15 frigate, armament removed, but work was stopped in 1955 and instead she was placed on the Sale List. Poor condition led to a rejection of her sale to West Germany, and instead she was sold to BISCO in 1958 for BU, arriving on 12 February 1959.

HMS Zenith was ordered on 12 February 1942 from William Denny and Bros. Dunbarton, laid down on 19 May 1942, launched on 5 June 1944, completed and commissioned on 22 December 1944. After workup with the Home Fleet, trials showed issues with her powerplant and she returned for repairs, and oddly compared to the others ships in class, she was allocated for service in the Far East, via the Mediterranean, and the war ended in August before she could see any operation. Postwar, in 1946, Zenith entered the 4th DF, Home Fleet. In 1947 she was in reserve at Chatham, until 1950. On 17 October 1950 she was towed to Palmers, Tyne, for refit and entered the Harwich reserve in 1951-1954. Conversion to a Type 15 frigate was cancelled. In May 1955 she was sold to Egypt like HMS Myngs. She was recommissioned as El Fateh. See the Egyptian Navy for more.

HMS Zest was ordered on 12 February 1942 from John I. Thornycroft, laid down on 21 July 1942, launched on 14 October 1943 and commissioned on 12 July 1944. She saw service for example from 15 August 1944 for Operation Victual, the passage of convoys JW 59 and return RA 59A. On the 16th she departed, screening HMS Implacable but returned to Scapa later. She departed on the 22 August with HMS Kempenfelt, Cassandra, Venus and the frigate Kempthorne, making a rendezvous with escort carriers taking over escort from frigates sent to the Faeroe Islands. On 4 September, she sailed tothe Western Aproaches. A day later she escorted Convoy TA 144 with the troopship Queen Mary, with on board PM Winston Churchill and his entourage from the Clyde bound for New York via Halifax, with HMS Kent and HMS Zambesi, back on the 9th. On 18 December she had ASW exercises with HMS Trusty. She provided support also for Operations Spellbinder and Gratis, the first with Force 3 led by HMS Dido and the carriees Premier and Trumpeter.
The mission ended on 26 January 1945.

She also took part in Operation Goodwood, covering raids against the German battleship Tirpitz in the Kaafjord, under command of Lt.Cdr. Roger Bertram Nettleton Hicks, DSO, RN until 23 October 1945. She also took part in Operation Hotbed in February 1945, convoys JW 64 and RA 64, escorting the cariers HMS Campania and Nairana. Then on 19 March 1945 she took part in Operation Cupola, a minelaying mission south of Askenvold with the carriers HMS Searcher, Premier and Queen, the cruiser Bellona. On 24 March she was involved in Operations Muscular and Prefix with HMS Searcher, Puncher, Queen, Nairana and the cruisers Dido and Bellona. From 3 April 1945 she took part in Operation Foxchase, a raid on the south-west coast of Norway, between Lister and Stavanger, in Force 3 (HMS Onslow, Zealous, Zest, HMCS Iroquois), they caught a convoy, sank one ship, damaged two. On 6 April she took part in Operation Newmarket, covering air raids on German submarine tenders at Kilbotn. On 16 April this was Operation Roundel, the passage of convoys JW 66 and RA 66 to Murmansk and back. Then on 6 May 1945
she was in Operation Cleaver, a surface raid into the Skagerrak and Kattegat and she entered Copenhagen after VE day for the German surrender.

Post war in September-November 1945 she was refitted at Leith. From August 1946 to February 1947 she entered the 4th Destroyer Flotilla,. From July 1947 to February 1948 she was used for torpedo training at Portsmouth. From September 1952 to February 1954 she remained in reserve at Chatham. In 1954-1956 she was converted into a Type 15 ASW frigate at Chatham, pennant F102. See the relevant page.

HMS Zodiac was ordered on 12 February 1942 from John I. Thornycroft, Woolston, laid down on 7 November 1942, launched on 11 March 1944 and commissioned on 23 October. After work up, Zodiac was assigned to the 2nd DF, Home Fleet. She joined the North West approaches, escorted Russian convoys. In 1945 she was assigned to the 29th DF with sisters Zephyr and Zest, and performed more escort missions (Upgates in 2027 planned for their combat records). After V-Day she was stationed at Wilhelmshaven, the main Kriegsmarine base, for occupation duties and as guard ship. Postwar by 1946 she joined the 2nd DF and in 1947-1948 she remained in reserve at Portsmouth. In 1949 she entered the 2nd Training Flotilla, Portland. In 1952 she was in reserve at Portsmouth, two years later she had a refit at Penarth, and was offered for sale, and acquired by Israel on 15 July 1955 with Zealous. She was recommissioned into the Israeli Navy as INS Yaffo. See the IDF page for more.

Read More/Src

Books

Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books.
Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press.
Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) Ships of the Royal Navy, Complete Record. Chatham Publishing.
English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. World Ship Society.
Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis NIP
Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

Links

W/Z class destroyer
navypedia.org
navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_2cm-70_mk234
avweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12
45-45_mk1-4
QF_4.7-inch_Mk_IX_%26_XII
47-45_mk9
uboat.net W class
uboat.net Z class

Model Kits

Scalemates: Z class Zambesi: Starling models 1:700
ships plans (generic)

3D

None found so far.