O and P-class destroyer

HMS Oribi in 1946
Class overview
Name: O and P class
Operators:
Preceded by: L and M class
Succeeded by: Q and R class
Subclasses: 4 inch O, 4.7 inch O, P
Completed: 16
Lost: 4
Retired: 12
General characteristics P class[1]
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
Length: 345 ft (105 m) o/a
Beam: 35 ft (10.7 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion: 2 x Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp on 2 shafts
Speed: 36.75 kt
Range: 3,850 nmi at 20 kt
Armament:
General characteristics (4.7 inch O class)
Displacement:
  • 1,610 tons (1,636 tonnes)
  • 2,270 tons (2,306 tonnes) full load
Complement: 176 (217 in leader)
Armament:
Notes: Other characteristics as per P class
General characteristics (4 inch O class)
Displacement:
  • 1,540 tons (1,564 tonnes)
  • 2,220 tons (2,255 tonnes) full load
Armament:
Notes: Other characteristics as per P class

The O and P class was a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy. Ordered in 1939, they were the first ships in the War Emergency Programme, also known as the 1st and 2nd Emergency Flotilla, respectively. They served as convoy escorts in World War II, and some were later converted to fast second-rate anti-submarine frigates in the 1950s.

Design

The O and P class were based on the hull and machinery of the preceding J class, but with more sheer forward to counter the poor riding qualities of the Js. These ships used the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer.[2]

O class

The O-class ships were built in two groups of four. The first group had 4.7 in guns. They were in low-angle mounts which could elevate to only 40 degrees, and were additionally fitted with a 4 in anti-aircraft gun in place of one set of torpedo tubes. The second group had 4-inch (102 mm) guns in high-angle mounts and were fitted to act as minelayers; they could be recognised by the flat "beaver tail" stern over which the mines were dropped. When carrying mines they had to land Y gun, their torpedo tubes and depth charges. The designed anti-aircraft armament was one quadruple QF 2-pounder "pom pom" and a pair of quadruple 0.5-inch Vickers A/A machine guns. The latter proved to be outdated, and were replaced by 20 mm Oerlikon guns as they became available, with a total of six single mounts eventually being carried.

P class

The P class were repeats of the O class, armed entirely with 4 in guns, in high-angle mounts fitted with a new tall design of shield which did not require the ships to lose a set of torpedo tubes to take on further AA guns.

Ships

O class

All ships survived the war. Five of the ships were involved in the Battle of the Barents Sea, Onslow being badly damaged. After the Battle of the Barents Sea, the ships were refitted with tall lattice masts instead of the normal mast.

* = flotilla leader
† = fitted for minelaying

P class

They served mainly in the Mediterranean, where four ships were lost.

* = flotilla leader

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ British and Empire Warships of the Second World War, H. T. Lenton, Greenhill Books, ISBN 1-85367-277-7
  2. ↑ Destroyer Weapons of WW2, Hodges/Friedman, ISBN 0-85177-137-8

References

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