HMSAmazon(D39)
 HMSAmazonunderway.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Admiralty Modified W class |
| Succeeded by | A- and B class |
| History | |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSAmazon |
| Ordered | 16 July 1924 (contract 8 August 1924) |
| Builder | John I Thornycroft, Woolston |
| Laid down | 29 January 1925 |
| Launched | 27 January 1926 |
| Commissioned | 5 May 1927 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping 25 October 1948 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,350 long tons (1,372 t) |
| Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) (p/p) |
| Beam | 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Installed power | 42,000shp(31,000 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 37kn(43 mph; 69 km/h) |
| Range |
|
| Capacity | 433 short tons (393 t)fuel oil |
| Complement | 138 |
| Armament | |
HMSAmazonwas a prototype design ofdestroyerordered for theRoyal Navyin 1924. She was designed and built byThornycroftin response to an Admiralty request for a new design of destroyer incorporating the lessons and technological advances of theFirst World War.Their great rivalsYarrowproduced a similar, competitive design — that ofAmbuscade.
Design and construction
[edit]Thornycroft made at least four designs for this ship, two being 310 ft (94 m) long (between perpendiculars) and two being 305 ft (93 m) long, with engine output varying from 28,000–33,000shp(21,000–25,000 kW). Two designs were offered to the Admiralty, who required prototypes for subsequent destroyer construction. Thornycroft's "A" design used the maximum length allowed (310 ft between perpendiculars). The "B" design—which was adopted—reduced the length by 5 ft (1.5 m), using only one boiler room forward (as in their wartimeWishart).
Two designs for the machinery were prepared, plus a third outline design. The "B" design was modified in November 1924 after building had begun, to take machinery capable of giving an extra 2kn(2.3 mph; 3.7 km/h) speed, which required extra length. After trials in 1926, the turbines were altered.Amazonwas easily recognisable by her slab-sided funnels, characteristic of Thornycroft vessels. Most differences were internal. Unlike earlier designs, which were designed for home fleet service, they were designed for colonial use, with higher freeboard, cruising turbines and better ventilation.
Armament was identical to that in theV and W-classdestroyersbuilt late during theFirst World War,and comprised four 4.7 in (120 mm) BL Mark I on CP Mk.VI** mountings. These weapons were based on an Army field piece and had separate bagged charges and no Quick Firing (QF) mechanism. The mountings had half shields and a maximum elevation of 30°.
Fire control was by a 9 ft (2.7 m) base rangefinder and the new "Destroyer Director Control Tower" (DCT). The latter would be fitted to all subsequent Royal Navy destroyer designs from theC classup to theU classof 1942.Amazonreached only 34.5 kn (39.7 mph; 63.9 km/h) on her initial trials, and so was taken in hand for modifications. Her acceptance trials on 3 January 1927 resulted in a speed of 37.5 kn (43.2 mph; 69.5 km/h). In a later trial on theSkelmorlieMile in March 1927, she made 38.71 kn (44.55 mph; 71.69 km/h) on her fastest run and 37.34 kn (42.97 mph; 69.15 km/h) on the slowest, with an average engine output of 41,559 shp (30,991 kW). This was at nearly 300 long tons (305 t) below her deep displacement. Her sea speed in load condition in service was only 31 kn (36 mph; 57 km/h).[1]She was completed on 5 May 1927.
Such was the Navy's satisfaction with the design that they formed the basis of the next 77 destroyers, often known as the "interwar standard", until theTribal classof 1936.Amazonwas fitted out for service during theSecond World Waras a convoy escort. Her "A" and "Y" 4.7 in guns and after set of torpedo tubes were removed. A 12-pounder 3 in (76 mm) Mk.Vanti-aircraft gunwas added in place of the torpedoes (to remedy the lack of a heavy anti-aircraft weapon) and a"Hedgehog"anti-submarineprojectorwas added on theforecastle.Type 286Pradarwas added at the masthead, and the rangefinder and director on the bridge were replaced with a centimetricType 271for detecting surfaced submarines. The 2-pounder pom-poms were replaced with20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraftcannons,with a further pair added in the bridge wings. In 1943, the 12-pounder gun and the remaining torpedo tubes were removed to allow a 10-rounddepth chargepattern to be carried, and Type 291 radar replaced her Type 286P.
Service history
[edit]She spent most of the war up to 1942 escortingNorth AtlanticandRussianconvoys, moving to theMediterraneanand taking part inOperation Pedestal,until returning to home waters in 1943 for the duration of the war. By 1944 she was reduced to acting as a target and was broken up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking atTroonin 1949.
The ship was depicted on aMaltese postage stampthat was issued on 10 August 2012 commemorating the 70th anniversary of Operation Pedestal.
References
[edit]- ^D K Brown, 'Speed on Trial',WarshipNo. 3 (July 1977), p. 57.
References
[edit]- Colledge, J. J.;Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969].Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy(Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing.ISBN978-1-86176-281-8.
- English, John (1993).Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s.Kendal, England: World Ship Society.ISBN0-905617-64-9.
- Friedman, Norman (2009).British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1-59114-081-8.
- Haarr, Geirr H. (2010).The Battle for Norway: April – June 1940.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1-59114-051-1.
- Haarr, Geirr H. (2009).The German Invasion of Norway, April 1940.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1-59114-310-9.
- Hodges, Peter; Friedman, Norman (1979).Destroyer Weapons of World War 2.Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN978-0-85177-137-3.
- Lenton, H. T. (1998).British & Empire Warships of the Second World War.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-048-7.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005).Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two(Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-59114-119-2.
- Whitley, M. J.(1988).Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-326-1.
- Winser, John de D. (1999).B.E.F. Ships Before, At and After Dunkirk.Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society.ISBN0-905617-91-6.