Hunt Type III (Airedale) class Destroyer Escort

The Hunt class Type III were the last mass-built destroyer escorts, and arguably the best armed and ironed-out of the series. Tenty eight were completed in 1942-43 in about a year of construction at Yarrow, White, Vickers, Swan Hunter, Stephens, Fairefield, Camell Laird, Hawthorne leslie, and John Brown. The most sticking difference with the Type II was their augmented beam, from 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) to 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in) with a greater draft in order to increase stability and add extra armament, two 21-inches (53 cm) torpedo tubes and extra depth charges. The price to pay was a slight loss in speed and range. Ten were lost to various causes, torpedoes, mines, air attacks and one after a collision. Next stop: The pair of Type IV from Thornycroft.

HMS Bleasdale in 1945 IWM

Development

The Royal planned for two types of destroyer prewar going back to 1937, on one side exceptionally large destroyer for fleet work and par-competitionj, the Tribals, and on other end the lineage of stabdard flotilla destroyers made from the vintage V-W and flotilla leaders back in WW1. In case of war, the latter could be used after a few modifications for escort work alone, as well as the interwar A to F classes. But as the V-W needed replacement, the RN even in budget-constrained peacetime conditions, could still plan for a new class dedicated to escort work. In case war brok out, the conversion of these ageing V-W class would take time, ahd have these hulls out of service for many months so the admiralty had a contingency Plan prepared alongside. Contracting civilian yards was one solution with expercted military-capable yards likely fully booked, which gave us the Flower and later River class. However none has been built and they only existed in 1939 on paper, so there was still the need for a backup destroyer escort to be built in regular Navy Yards.

The design requirements followed fleet destroyers, just trimmed down the essentials, speed being the first to be reduced, halving output, as for escort work they eneded to proceed at 5.5 knots for the slowest con,voys and about 9 knots for the fastest. New naval construction will raise this to 7 and 10 knots respectively, so the new escorts would need to zip in and out of convoys hunting submarines, blue remaining closer unlike regular fleet destroyers. Doubling this speed gave around 20 knots, with a reserve to sail back and forth and change position. Halving the machinery, and reducing the hull’s lenght would also allow to increase fuel oil bunkerage for extra range. They were also intended for the Atlantic and thus having the required seaworthiness to deal with open sea, and the same structural sttenght as resular destroyer to deal with heavy weather in winter in the North Atlantic route. the hull shape had to be less optimized for speed again than to face heavy weather, especially at lower speed.

HMS Witch (D89) in 1942, one of the many vintage W class that nedeed replacement. She was modified for escort work (No TT, more ASW, fuel and modern sonar).

The naval staff also uprate in 1939 fast convoys to 12 knots and looked at triple expansion or diesels instead of steam turbines to spare these for regular destroyers and avoid bottlenecks. This was the same logi applied by the USN to their own destroyer escorts, looking at many alternative powerplants. However there was still a clash between generation about their armament, some sadvocating a powerful surface armament to deal against Kriegsmarine’s commerce raiders, others wanted to deal strictly with submarines. Even after the construction of the Hunt Type I was decided, the debate remained and the “surface faction” won with the Type III.

The final Hunt class, named aft hunting logdes and domains across the British Isles was drafted in 1938 and famously resulted in a gross design calculation error leading the first ships to be worefully over-rmed and top-heavy, dangerously unstable. HMS Atherstone, Fernie and Hambledon needed to have extra add ballasts and some guns removed, Denny fin stabilisers added. The Type 2 planned afterwards had to cure these glaring stability issues from the start, and by 1940 preparations were made theur design with a beam increased by 0.8m, but otherwise they repeated the original Type I design. In between, US Yards under lend-lease, from the 1941 Commission were gearing towards the delivery of dozens of Captain class in 1942.

Changes of the Type III

Hunt Type III HMS Aldenham (L22) with her quirky Mediterranean march 1942 camouflage

The “surface (warfare) faction in the RN eventually prevailed in late 1939 and it was decided to build a new serie at John Brown of escorts fitted with two standard 533 mm or 21-inches torpedo tubes for Mark IX torpedoes taking the place of a potential extra twin mount main guns, so these still lacked their originally planned three mounts. In the end, the batch III were nearly the last of the eighty-six (86) Hunt class escort destroyer ever completed. Some of the Type IIIs would also go with allied navies, taking part in escort missions. The series III to deal with the extrta weight of these torpedoes would have a beamier hull which proved efficient, so much stabilisers were discutinued in later ships of Batch III for extra fuel oil and larger tanks.

Construction was stopped in Februrary 1942. New cheap escorts like the River class frigates built to naval standards in civilian yards were now plentyful indeed, in addition to a steady deliver of flotilla destroyers on the other end, making the Hunt class, down between, a bit redundant. There were also considerable variations between ships, some receiving an extra single 2-pdr pompom to deal with U-Boats close by at the bow, some received extra 20mm Oerlikon mounts, up to six total, or replaced by a pair of 40 mm Bofors later in the war. Only one was lost in a surface duel, others by mines and U-Boats. Those in foreign service postwar, reclassified as frigates (West Germany, France, Greece) saw a long service.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The Hunt Group III class derived from the Group II, themselves somewhat originally modelled after the 1938 escort sloop Bittern, and had had geared steam turbines. The return of torpedo tubes was done through a gap between the bridge structure and admisdhip light projector where were located to single twin bank. A triple one was desired, but rejected after a calculation, and there were no spare torpedoes as well. The main guns in turrets fore and aft still were controlled by a Fuze Keeping Clock AA fire control computer enabling to engage aircraft and by default, efficient AA/S fire. The quadruple QF 2-pounder mount Mark VII AA was still there, as well as the two extra 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns.

The hull as long at 85.3 m (279 ft 10 in), as for the Type II, for a similar displacement at 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard and 1,435 long tons (1,458 t) full load. However the beam was extended to 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in), quite an increase of two feet (30 cm) from 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in). This created a buoyancy reserve and extra stability and worked with a greater draft as well, from 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in) to 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in). All this meant a far better stability, with still a hull ratio favourable to speed, over the same output. Another key improvement was the slightly enlarged fuel tanks, and this was increased further with the removal on latter ships of the stabilisers, enabling to increase fual storage even more. Otherwise, apart the torpedo tubes, the Type III profile was mostly the same. The addition of torpedo tubes was the same “insurance” of not being completely disarmed of regular destroyers were not present to defend a convoy against a surface attack. It became usual practice to have per convoy one Hunt Type I or II each and one Type III.

Powerplant

MeLesCo superheaters for the 3-drum Boilers scheme, Hunt class

Propulsion was the same across the Hunt Type I, II and III: Steam Turbines designed for a reduced top speed but at a rate that favoured reliability and maintenance. They are sere simpler, easier to repair and maintain than usual destroyer HP/LP turbines. They still kept high-pressure and low-pressure stages to improve consumption. These Parsons geared turbines used new ratios making for economical speed, still rated at 19,000 shp (14,20 kW). These steam geared turbines were fed by two Admiralty 3-drum boilers likely rated for 450 psi (3.1 MPa) for a top speed of 27 knots (instead of 27.5 knots initially) or 31 mph; 50 km/h, and down to a more practical 26 knots (29.9 mph; 48.2 km/h) in operations.

The Range on Group II was of 3,600 nmi (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) thanks better internals’ management of oil capacity. They had 265 tonnes of fuel oil versus 245 for the Type I but already it was discovered that by omitting stabilizers, the space freed could serve for extra bunker age up to 328 tonnes. The generally accepted figure is 2,350 nmi (4,350 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h).

Armament

The Hunt class Type III kept two twin QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark XVI guns in twin mounts Mk. XIX fore and aft, the first, “A” on deck and the second super firing over the aft deck in a structure. The initial Type I “X” mount super firing aft was replaced by a QF 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk. VIII “pompom”. This was completed by two 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns on single mounts P Mk. III and more in wartime (see below). As for ASW armament, they had now in standard 110 depth charges, with four throwers instead of two, and now three racks instead of two and three racks.

QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark XVI guns

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. After design modifications, notably by giving them a greater beam and reworked bridge, the Type II, III and IV all had three twin mounts.
Specs:
2,495 kg (barrel and breech), 4 inches (102 mm) 45 calibers (180 inches/4.57 m)
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 XIX), shielded (no fully enclose turret).
The Mk XVI was also used as standard secondary armament for many British and Commonwealth warships during WWII, notably the Canadian Tribal-class and J-K-N-class.
The twin HA/LA (High Angle/Low Angle) mounts Mark XIX were powered and allowed quick traverse and elevation, essential for anti-aircraft use. They director-controlled, especially on larger ships, integrating radar and fire-control systems, but not on the Hunt class due to weight issues.

QF 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk. VIII AA guns

The QF 2-pounder “pompom” was the emblematic British naval anti-aircraft (AA) autocannon of WW2 which needs no further introduction. It was seen virtually on all RN ships from the smallest coastal vessels to the largest aircraft carrier and battleship, declined into single, twin, quad and octuple mounts. On the Type I they replaced the “X” twin 4-in mount, being lighter and still having an excellent arc of fire to offer an almost unobstructed 360° coverage. It was tasked on the Hunt Type I of short- to medium-range air defence after the DP 4-in guns which were slower firing.
The Quadruple mount needed a crew of six, but can be limited to just 4 if needed.
The 40 mm (1.575 in) in latter models fired in Automatic mode with belts for no interruption at 240 rounds a min, but the usual rate was 115 rounds per minute per barrel at a practical rate with 14 or 28-round hopper-fed magazines.
Each shell weighted 2 lb (0.91 kg) — hence the name “2-pounder” at a Muzzle Velocity: 2,040 ft/s (622 m/s).

Effective Range was c3,800 meters (AA)/5,500 meters (surface)
It became less effective against faster aircraft as WWII progressed, leading to gradual replacement by Bofors 40 mm.
However, it was active until 1945 as being reliable and easy to maintain, with a high rate of fire for its quadruple mount, but had a low velocity, limited hitting power and range compared to the Bofors with an accuracy and lethality diminished against high-speed aircraft in 1944-45.

20 mm Oerlikon AA guns

The 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft (AA) gun needs no presentation. It was one of the most widely used light automatic cannons during World War II, a staple on Allied warships, merchant vessels, and land-based platforms due to its simplicity, reliability, and effectiveness at close-range air defense. However, it was not present of course in the original design, only installed with modernizations in 1942-43.
The 20 mm (0.787 in) Automatic anti-aircraft gun was Blowback-operated (open bolt) and fed by 60-round drum magazine (top-mounted), needed only a single gunner and a couple of loaders/spotters. Simple, robust, light, compact, it could be operated by minimally trained crews and placed on tight spot on a ship. The Hunt class were given two single Mk. II/IV models at first.
Performance:
Muzzle Velocity: 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s), with 123 g (High-Explosive) shells.
Rate of Fire: ~250–320 rounds/min (cyclic)
Effective Range: 1,000–1,500 m (air targets), 4,800 m surface
The Single mount was manually aimed with shoulder supports and ring sights. Its mount included walls lined internally with ammunition holders, but full cheese box magazines were carried from a secured, armoured locker by the loaders. It became the shorter ranges AA defensive layer on the Hunt class, but they only carried two in their career.

depth charges

The Hunt class were given a single Roll-off depth charge rack art the stern at first (capacity ten DCs) and just two depth charge projectors (Y-Gun) for a global provision of 30 depth charges at the stern. On the Group II already this went to 60 depht charge and three racks, and for Group III vessels, 110 charges as standard, and four throwers plus three racks. They used the follwoing depth charges:
Standard Mark VII: Entered service in 1939, weighted 420 lbs. (191 kg) and carried 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).
Mark X (introduced 1944) and Mark X*, data to come for latter versions.
The depth charge load was raised to 50 (20 more) in 1941-42, but not raised further. In comparison, the Flower class corvettes and River class Frigates carried way more, including up to eight depth charge thrower.

Sensors

Type 285 radar

25 kW Gunnery radar for surface and AA ranging, coupled with the twin 4-in HA mounts.
Frequency 600 MHz, Beamwidth 18° (horizontal) 43° (vertical). Pulsewidth 2 μs
Range 18,000 yd (16,000 m), Altitude 15,000 ft (4,600 m), Precision 150 yd (140 m)

Type 286 radar

6 kW surface radar operating in VHF-band British naval air search radar, available since 1940. Designed for small ships and without rotating antenna (the ship needed to be swayed to focus the beam). Replaced by Type 291. frequency 214 MHz, pulse repetition frequency (PRF) 200 to 800 Hz, pulsewidth (τ) 2 µs. Range 25 nl (46 km).

Type 271 radar

5-70 kW Surface search radar introduced in 1941, with a naval microwave-frequency system, small antenna (28 in (0.71 m)) but with improved resolution to pick up a surfaced U-boat at 3 miles (4.8 km) or even a periscope at 900 yards (820 m), very useful by night. Frequency 2950 at 50 MHz (S-band), PRF 500 pps. Beamwidth 8.6º horizontal, 85º vertical, pulsewidth 1.5 μs, 2 rpm. Range 1-11 NM (1.9–20.4 km). Azimuth 220-360º accuracy ~2º, 250 yards range.

Type 128 sonar

Typical British destroyer sonar, retractable, installed from 1937, last prewar set. Equipped with a range recorder and controlled from the bridge if needed.

Appearance

The Hunt class camouflage for Type I, II and III mixed the usual western approach patterns of base light gray, light blue, dark blue mostly in straight shapes. The same as for the River class frigates, especially in 1942-43. In 1940 as they entered service, the usual pattern was medium gray for the hull, lighter structures, and a fake wave painted at the bow creating the illusion of a greater speed to break target calculation accuracy by submariners. In 1945, this reverted with a simple dark band amidship.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	1,050 long tons standard, 1,435 long tons (1,458 t) full load
Dimensions	85.3 x 10.16 x 3.51m (279 ft 10 in x 33 ft 4 in x 11 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 19,000 shp (14,170 kW)
Speed	27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h) top, 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) average.
Range	2,350 nmi (4,350 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h)
Armament	2×2 QF 4-inch Mark XVI guns, 1×4 QF 2-pdr pompom Mk. VIII, 2x20mm AA, 2x 21-in TTs, 110 DCS (4 DCT, 3 DCR)
Protection	Usual ASW compartments and double bottom
Sensors	See notes (from 1942)
Crew	168

Modifications of the Hunt Group III class

In 1942-1943, most her their type 286 radar replaced by a type 291. In 1943, Albrighton, Bleasdale, Eskdale, Glaisdale, Haldon, and Stevenstone: had their quad 40mm/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII pompom removed for extra 20mm Oerlikon AA. Towards the end of 1943 and 1944 those equipped with the type 271 radar had it replaced by the type 272 radar. Still in 1944, Aldenham, and Wensleydale had ther single Oerlikon 20mm/70 replaced by twin Mk II/IV.
Then by 1945, Belvoir, Easton, Haldon, Melbreak, Talybont had three Oerlikpn replaced by two single 40mm/56 Bofors Mk III. Stevenstone had its 40mm/39 pompom and triple Oerlikon AA guns replaced by three of the latter and two single Bofors Mk III. Catterick, Eggesford, Haydon, Tanatside kept their Mk VII pompom postwar, and Belvoir, Easton, Melbreak, Talybont, Stevenstone: had instead two Bofors 40mm/60 Mk III, plus a quad pompom whereas Albrighton and Bleasdale had a pompom plus a single Bofors and three Oerlikon AA guns.

Airedale was ordered from John Brown & Company, Clydebank, laid down on 27 November 1939, launched on 17 July 1940 and completed on 9 December 1940. She was assigned to the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow and trained until on 14 February 1942 left Kirkwall, Orkney for Arctic convoy PQ 11 to Murmansk. In March, she escorted the Queen Victoria to Gibraltar and the old D-class cruiser HMS Dauntless to the Cape of Good Hope. Next she joined the Mediterranean Fleet, based in Alexandria from 1 May, 5th Destroyer Flotilla and on the 10th she was assigned to the 14th DF with Jackal, Jervis, Kipling and Lively sent to intercept an Italian convoy to Benghazi. They were spotted by a Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft on 11 May, and soon came under heavy air attack: Lively and Kipling were sunk, Jackal badly damaged, taken under tow by Jervis and Airedale, Beaufort, Dulverton and Hurworth, Sikh and Hasty were ordered out from Alexandria to escort them to port. However, in between Jackal was scuttled by Jervis.

On 13 June Airedale left Alexandria to Malta for Operation Vigorous and on 14 June heavy air attack, made the convoy turned back towards Alexandria. In 14/15 June, German S-Boats in turn attacked the convoy, torpedoing the cruiser Newcastle and destroyer Hasty. Air attacks went on 15 June, Birmingham badly damaged and at 15:20, twelve Ju 87 Stukas from StG 3 near missed Airedale by three bombs but hit with two her aft section, obliterating her aft 4-inch gun mount and the fire detonated either the aft 4-in magazine or depth charges. The fire aft could not be tamed, and the captain ordered to abandoned ship, later scuttled by gunfire from Hurworth and Aldenham. 45 died, 133 rescued.

Albrighton was ordered from John Brown & Company, Clydebank, laid down on 8 January 1940, launched on 17 August 1940 and completed on 4 January 1941. After working up at Greenock she was assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth from April 1942. She was then sent to an anti-E-boat (S-Boote) operation, with engagements on 24 April and 6 May. On 19 June with the Steam Gun Boats SGB 6, SGB 7 and SGB 8 she managed to find and attack, savage a German convoy off the Cotentin Peninsula. SGB 7 was sunk. Albrighton also was chosen to escort Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942. She took splinter damage from the German shore batteries and rescued survivors from HMS Berkeley and scuttled her.
On the night of 13/14 October she was underway with Cottesmore, Eskdale, Glaisdale, Quorn, and eight MTbs on the hunt for KMS Komet attempting its breaking out into the Atlantic, escorted by four Type 35 and Type 37 torpedo boats. The ended with the battle of Cherbourg and the only loss for the RN of MTB 236.

On 2–10 November 1942, she joined Convoy KMS 2, with troopships to Gibraltar for Operation Torch. On 12 November she assisted HMS Marne, damaged by a torpedo while rescuing men from HMS Hecla, and towed her to Gibraltar. Albrighton was back home with Convoy MKF 001. She then joined the 1st Destroyer Flotilla. On 12 December she was in Operation Valuable, attack on a German convoy off Dieppe, co-sinking the Sperrbrecher Beijerland with Eskdale. On 27–28 April 1943 with Goathland she sank the Italian blockade runner “Butterfly” and German sub-chaser trawler UJ1402, but this was paid by 8 killed and 25 wounded. In February 1944, Albrighton was converted to a headquarters ship for control and landing craft for D-Day. On 6 June she was escorting landing craft and acted for the remainder of the operation as a reserve headquarters ship for weeks until back to patrol operations. On 12 August she found and attacked three trawlers south of Lorient, sank two weeks later. In early 1945, she was converted back to her earlier role, entered the 21st DF at Sheerness, North Sea/Thames Estuary. She had a collision with LST 238 on 23 May 1945. Next she was sent to the Eastern Fleet, refitted for Pacific service in Immingham until December but as the war has ended she was in reserve at Devonport, then Gibraltar in 1953, back home 1955, hulked 6 January 1956.

In May 1956, Albrighton selected among seven frigates to equip the West German Navy and sold on 11 November 1957, after refit in Liverpool, recommissioned on 14 May 1959 as Raule. Dhe was rebuilt as an ASW TS, armament modified, no fwd gun but a 40 mm Bofors and modern ASW mortar and sonar. Raule was decommissioned in 1968, sold to Eisen & Metall (Hamburg) in 1969.

Aldenham was ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 7 March 1941, launched on 20 November 1941 and completed on 29 March 1942. Under Lieutenant Alex Stuart-Menteth she had training at Scapa Flow and on 21 March joined the Escort Group of convoy WS 17 to the Cape of Good Hope. On 27 March, with Leamington, Grove and Volunteer, she sank U-587 underway to Ushant. After circumnavigating Africa via the Suez Canal with HMS Grove, Aldenham joined the 5th DF, Mediterranean. She escorted 14 convoys between Alexandria, Malta and Tobruk. On 29 August she was assigned to coastal bombardment, notably at El Daba. She towed Eridge back to Alexandria after disabled by an Italian MTSM.
Aldenham was in the Allied blockade off Cap Bon in May 1943. She later took part in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily in July. Next she took part in the landings of Salerno in September 1943. She notably assisted the Tribal class Eskimo after being badly damaged by the Luftwaffe on 15 July. She took part in the Dodecanese Campaign of 1944, damaged in an air attack. After repairs in Alexandria, she took part in Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, escorting convoys between Oran and Naples. She was based in Taranto from May, Bari in June, and in August escorted convoys for Operation Dragoon, and the first wave of landing craft.

She later was sent to the Adriatic Sea flotilla preying on the last axis convoys (Aldenham, Atherstone, Avon Vale, Lamerton, Lauderdale, Wheatland, Wilton, Brocklesby and Quantock). By late November 1944 Aldenham led it underr Commander James Gerald Farrant. They the German hospital ship “Bonn” (ex- Šumadija) and with Atherstone shelled units on the island of Rab on 9 December in support of Yugoslav Partisans advance.
Her final deployment wasn on 14 December 1944, off Ist Island and at the west coast of Pag Island, north of Zadar to shell the positions at Karlobag and others at Pag in poor visibility. In all with the others she fired 500 4-inch (102 mm) rounds on bunkers and barracks, as well as the town of Pag. Aldenham alone engaged the battery at Karlobag and later that day returned to Ist still led by Aldenham at 20 knots.
As she turned north of the islet of Škrda, to pass between Planik and Olib, she hit a mine, detonating under her engine room, broke in two. The bow sank quickly, then the stern. But cold weather hampered rescue by Atherstone, ML 238 and HDML 1162. 63 survived still, including Farrant but 126 died, inc. liaison colonel Ivan Preradović. She became the last RN destroyer lost in this war. Her wreck was rediscovered and studied in 1974, 1984, and 1999, by Italian wreck divers located off Škrda.

Belvoir was ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 2 April 1941, launched on 18 December 1941 and completed on 5 May 1942. Fate: Scrapped at Borrowstounness (“Bo’ness”) October 1957

Blean was ordered from Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn, laid down on 24 May 1941, launched on 28 January 1942 and completed on 26 May 1942. She was lost 30 December 1942, torpedoed by U-443.

Bleasdale was ordered from Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness, laid down on 16 July 1941, launched on 27 February 1942 and completed on 3 June. Fate: Scrapped at Blyth in September 1956

Bolebroke was ordered from Swan Hunter, Wallsend, laid down on 16 December 1941 and launched on 28 September 1942. She was completed on 9 March 1943. Fate: Transferred to Greece as Pindos postwar, scrapped in 1960.

Border was ordered from Swan Hunter, Wallsend, laid down on 9 January 1942, launched on 1 October 1942 and completed on 19 March 1943. Fate: Transferred to Greece as Adrias, written off after mine damage October 1943. To be completed in 2027

Catterick was laid down at Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness on 15 September 1942, launched on 21 May 1943 and completed on 26 July. Fate: Bought by Greece in 1946 as Hastings, scrapped at Piraeus June 1963. To be completed in 2027

Derwent was laid down at Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness on 5 October 1942, launched on 19 June 1943 and completed on 3 August 1943. Fate: Torpedoed by aircraft and written off March 1943. To be completed in 2027.

Easton was ordered from J. Samuel White, Cowes, laid down on 15 March 1940, launched on 14 June 1941 and completed on 3 September 1941. Fate: Scrapped at Rosyth in January 1953. To be completed in 2027.

Eggesford was laid down at J. Samuel White, Cowes on 1 May 1940, launched on 21 February 1941 and completed on 15 June 1941. Fate: Sold to Federal German Navy in 1959 as Brommy, scrapped in 1969. To be completed in 2027.

Eskdale was laid down at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 17 June 1940, launched on 20 February 1941 and completed on 15 June 1941, transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy, torpedoed by S 65 or S 112 on 13–14 April 1943. To be completed in 2027.

Glaisdale was laid down at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 2 September 1940, launched on 23 June 1941, and completed on 7 October 1941. Fate: Transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy; bought by Norway in 1946 as Narvik, scrapped in 1963. To be completed in 2027.

Goathland was ordered from Fairfield, Govan, laid down on 12 June 1940, launched on 9 May 1941, completed on 12 September 1941. Fate: Lost after mine damage in July 1944. To be completed in 2027.

Haldon was ordered from Fairfield, Govan, laid down on 25 May 1940, launched on 13 March 1941 and completed on 3 June 1941. Fate: Transferred to Free French Navy as La Combattante, lost to mine February 1945. To be completed in 2027.

Hatherleigh was laid down at Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness on 22 August 1940, launched on 15 May 1941 and completed: 25 September 1941. Fate: Transferred to Greece as Kanaris, returned to the Royal Navy and scrapped in 1960. To be completed in 2027.

Haydon was ordered from Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness and laid down on 10 November 1941, launched 20 July 1942 and completed 20 December 1942. She was scrapped at Dunston-on-Tyne in May 1958. To be completed in 2027.

Holcombe Stephens, Linthouse laid down on 15 September 1940, launched on 20 May 1941, completed on 9 October 1941. Fate: Torpedoed by U-593 on 12 December 1943. To be completed in 2027.

Limbourne was laid down at Stephens, Linthouse on 25 September 1940, launched on 30 May 1941 and completed on 22 October 1941. Fate: Torpedoed by German torpedo boat T22 on 22 October 1943. To be completed in 2027.

Melbreak was ordered from Swan Hunter, Wallsend, laid down on 2 December 1941, launched on 9 September 1942, and completed on 1 February 1943. Fate: Scrapped at Grays, November 1956. To be completed in 2027.

Modbury was laid down at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on 28 January 1942 and launched of 11 October 1942, completed of 21 February 1943. Fate: Transferred to Greece as Miaoulis returned to the Royal Navy and scrapped in 1960. To be completed in 2027.

Penylan was laid down at Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness on 7 January 1942, launched on 27 August 1942 and completed on 11 December 1942. Fate: Torpedoed by S 115 on 3 December 1942. To be completed in 2027.

Rockwood was ordered from Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness, laid down on 14 August 1940, launched on 10 April 1941, completed on 3 August 1941. Fate: Written off after hit by Henschel Hs 293 glider bomb in November 1943. To be completed in 2027.

Stevenstone was laid down at J. Samuel White, Cowes on 6 June 1940, launched on 18 March 1941, completed on 14 June 1941. Fate: Scrapped at Dunston, September 1959. To be completed in 2027.

Talybont was ordered from J. Samuel White, Cowes, laid down 9 June 1941 and launched on 25 March 1943, completed on 4 November 1943. Fate: Sold for scrapping in 1961. To be completed in 2027.

Tanatside was ordered from Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotland and laid down on 4 February 1942. She was launched 7 November 1942, completed on 20 April 1943. Fate: Bought by Greece in 1946 as Adrias, scrapped in 1964. To be completed in 2027.

Wensleydale was ordered from Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotland, laid down on 21 February 1942, launched on 5 December 1942, and completed on 18 May 1943. Fate: Written off after collision November 1944. To be completed in 2027.

Read More/Src

Books

HMS Badsworth: The British Hunt-class Escort Destroyer, Waldemar Góralski – Topdrawings Nr. 69 (Kagero pub)
Brown, D. K. Nelson to Vanguard, Chatham Publishing, 2000
Cocker, Maurice. Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893–1981, Ian Allan
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.
English, John. The Hunts: A History of the Design, Development and Careers of the 86 Destroyers of This Class Built for the Royal and Allied Navies During World War II, World Ship Society, 1987
Gardiner, Robert (ed.) Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946, Naval Institute Press
Ireland, Bernard (2003). Battle of the Atlantic. Barnsley: Naval Institute Press.
Lenton, H. T. British and Empire Warships of the Second World War, Greenhill Books
Marriott, Leo. Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945, Ian Allan
M. J. Whitley, Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopaedia, Arms and Armour Press, 1999
Brown, David (1995) [1990]. Warship Losses of World War Two (2nd rev. ed.). London: Arms and Armour Press.

Links

coatneyhistory.com/Hunts
naval-history.net
navypedia.org/
coatneyhistory.com Hunts.htm
uboat.net
en.wikipedia.org
commons.wikimedia.org
ONI drawings

3D

HMS-Badsworth

Video

Hunt class by Drachinifels
Hunt class by Dr. Alex

Model Kits

all kits on scalemates.com/
britmodeller.com/ Hunt 3 colors