Hunt type Destroyer Escorts (DDE)

HMS Ledbury (1942)

 

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The Hunt class started completing in 1940. These ships were to be the replacements for the older R/S/V/W type destroyers. Their smaller size and their intended use got them to be termed Escort Destroyers. The ships were designed to act as inshore escorts around the coasts of Britain and for this they were given a heavy Anti-aircraft armament with only 1 set of triple torpedo tubes. Eventually these escorts ended up serving everywhere from the Arctic to the Pacific and everywhere in-between, They were versatile ships with over 100 built for the RN and other Commonwealth countries.



The ships were fitted with a twin 4" light turret as they were to be in areas where the ships were likely to be straffed by enemy aircraft and it was felt the light turret would give protection to the crew. One quad 2 pounder and four twin 20mm Oerlikons rounded out the armament. The light turret proved its worth wherever the ships served. Protecting its crew from not only enemy action but also from the weather as well. Many variables in weapon fit outs, depended on where the ship was serving. Some serving in the English Channel area were fitted with a single 2 pounder or 40mm gun, in the bow, for firing at E-Boats, that liked to attack from the bow where most escorts only had a slow firing 4" or similar.


 

Displacement 1200 tons standard, 1,600 tons full load
Length 299.5
Breadth 32 ft
Draught 13 ft
Machinery 2 shaft Steam turbines, 25,000shp
Speed 28 knots
Range 4000 miles at 14 knots
2500 miles at 20 knots
1200 miles at 25 knots
Armament 4 x 4" (2x2)
4 x 2pd (1x4)
8 x 20mm (4x2)
Torpedoes 3 x 21" (1x3)
Complement 180
Notes  




Original drawing using a cut down destroyer hull and upperworks.

Real World Hunt class DDE's Type I - II - III - IV







 

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