fbpx
Wikipedia

HMS Wolfhound (L56)

April 11, 2024

HMS Wolfhound was one of 21 W-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. Completed in 1918 the ship only played a minor role in the war before its end. The ship was converted into an anti-aircraft escort destroyer during the Second World War and was badly damaged during the Dunkirk evacuation. Wolfhound survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1948.

Wolfhound at anchor, 1940
History
United Kingdom
NameWolfhound
Ordered9 December 1916
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotland
Yard number535
Laid downApril 1917
Launched14 March 1918
Commissioned27 April 1918
ReclassifiedAs escort destroyer, May 1940
Motto'In at the death'
Honours and
awards
  • Dunkirk 1940
  • North Sea 1943–45
FateSold for scrap, 18 February 1948
BadgeOn a Field Black, a wolfhound's head, Silver, collared Gold.
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeW-class destroyer
Displacement1,325 long tons (1,346 t) (normal)
Length312 ft (95.1 m) o/a
Beam29 ft 6 in (9 m)
Draught10 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 Shafts; 1 steam turbine
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range4,150 nmi (7,690 km; 4,780 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement104
Armament

Description edit

The W class was a repeat of the preceding V-class armed with triple torpedo tube mounts.[1] The ships had an overall length of 312 feet (95.1 m), a beam of 29 feet 8 inches (9 m) and a normaldraught of 10 feet 8 inches (3 m).[2] They displaced 1,325 long tons (1,346 t) at normal load. The ships' complement was 104 officers and ratings.[3]

The ships were powered by a single Brown-Curtis geared steam turbine that drove two propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,150 nautical miles (7,690 km; 4,780 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]

The W-class ships were armed with four single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V guns protected by gun shields. The guns were arranged in two superfiring pairs, one each fore and aft of the superstructure. They were equipped with a single QF 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun on a platform abaft of the aft funnel. They were also fitted with two rotating triple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes amidships.[4]

Construction and career edit

Wolfhound, the first ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[5] was ordered on 9 December 1916 as part of the Tenth War Programme from Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company.[6] The ship was laid down at the company's Govan shipyard in April 1917,[7] launched on 14 March 1918 and commissioned on 27 April.[8]

First World War and inter-war period edit

Wolfhound was commissioned too late to see much active service in the First World War. She was assigned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla with the Grand Fleet in May, and was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in March 1919.[9] Whilst serving with the Sixth Destroyer Flotillas of the Atlantic Fleet[10] in January 1930, Wolfhound was one of seven V- and W-class destroyers damaged in a storm.[11]

Second World War edit

After the Second World War began in September 1939 she was one of the old V and W class ships to be selected to be converted to an anti-aircraft ("Wair") escort destroyer,[12] As the Allied forces retreated, Wolfhound was one of the ships detached to support the evacuation of troops from France, and on 25 May she and her sister HMS Wolsey bombarded advancing German units near Calais. The following day Wolfhound ferried a shore party to Dunkirk to coordinate the evacuation; on her return voyage to Dover she loaded 142 troops.[13] On 29 May she was badly damaged at Dunkirk by German bombers, having her back broken.[14] After lengthy repairs she returned to service. After VE Day she was detached to support the re-occupation of Norway. On 14 May she and Wolsey were deployed with Norwegian corvettes to cover minesweeping operations prior to the re-occupation of Bergen.[15]

Wolfhound was transferred to BISCO on 18 February 1948 and was towed to the River Forth later that year to be broken up by Granton Shipbreakers.[8]

Citations edit

  1. ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 84
  2. ^ March, p. 205
  3. ^ a b Friedman, p. 297
  4. ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 84; March, plate 25/A
  5. ^ Colledge, p. 389
  6. ^ March, p. 209
  7. ^ Friedman, p. 313
  8. ^ a b "Wolfhound". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla". The Dreadnought Project. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  10. ^ "H. M. S. Wolfhound". The Dreadnought Project. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. ^ March, pp. 209, 211
  12. ^ Whitley, pp. 93–94
  13. ^ Winser, pp. 13, 15, 101
  14. ^ Rohwer, p. 25
  15. ^ Rohwer, p. 416

Bibliography edit

  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • 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. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Cocker, Maurice. Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893–1981. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1075-7.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-081-8.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
  • Preston, Antony (1971). 'V & W' Class Destroyers 1917–1945. London: Macdonald. OCLC 464542895.
  • Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1979). 'V' and 'W' Class Destroyers. Man o'War. Vol. 2. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 0-85368-233-X.
  • 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. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Whinney, Bob (2000). The U-boat Peril: A Fight for Survival. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-35132-6.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
  • Winser, John de D. (1999). B.E.F. Ships Before, At and After Dunkirk. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-91-6.

External links edit

  • battleships-cruisers.co.uk
  • naval-history.net

April 11, 2024
wolfhound, wolfhound, class, destroyers, built, royal, navy, during, first, world, completed, 1918, ship, only, played, minor, role, before, ship, converted, into, anti, aircraft, escort, destroyer, during, second, world, badly, damaged, during, dunkirk, evacu. HMS Wolfhound was one of 21 W class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the First World War Completed in 1918 the ship only played a minor role in the war before its end The ship was converted into an anti aircraft escort destroyer during the Second World War and was badly damaged during the Dunkirk evacuation Wolfhound survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1948 Wolfhound at anchor 1940HistoryUnited KingdomNameWolfhoundOrdered9 December 1916BuilderFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Govan ScotlandYard number535Laid downApril 1917Launched14 March 1918Commissioned27 April 1918ReclassifiedAs escort destroyer May 1940Motto In at the death Honours andawardsDunkirk 1940 North Sea 1943 45FateSold for scrap 18 February 1948BadgeOn a Field Black a wolfhound s head Silver collared Gold General characteristics as built Class and typeW class destroyerDisplacement1 325 long tons 1 346 t normal Length312 ft 95 1 m o aBeam29 ft 6 in 9 m Draught10 ft 8 in 3 3 m Installed power3 Yarrow boilers 27 000 shp 20 000 kW Propulsion2 Shafts 1 steam turbineSpeed34 knots 63 km h 39 mph Range4 150 nmi 7 690 km 4 780 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph Complement104Armament4 single 4 in 102 mm guns 1 single 3 in 76 mm AA gun 2 triple 21 in 533 mm torpedo tubes Contents 1 Description 2 Construction and career 2 1 First World War and inter war period 2 2 Second World War 3 Citations 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDescription editThe W class was a repeat of the preceding V class armed with triple torpedo tube mounts 1 The ships had an overall length of 312 feet 95 1 m a beam of 29 feet 8 inches 9 m and a normaldraught of 10 feet 8 inches 3 m 2 They displaced 1 325 long tons 1 346 t at normal load The ships complement was 104 officers and ratings 3 The ships were powered by a single Brown Curtis geared steam turbine that drove two propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers The turbines developed a total of 27 000 shaft horsepower 20 000 kW and gave a maximum speed of 34 knots 63 km h 39 mph The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4 150 nautical miles 7 690 km 4 780 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph 3 The W class ships were armed with four single QF 4 inch 102 mm Mk V guns protected by gun shields The guns were arranged in two superfiring pairs one each fore and aft of the superstructure They were equipped with a single QF 3 inch 76 mm anti aircraft gun on a platform abaft of the aft funnel They were also fitted with two rotating triple mounts for 21 inch 533 mm torpedoes amidships 4 Construction and career editWolfhound the first ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy 5 was ordered on 9 December 1916 as part of the Tenth War Programme from Fairfield Shipbuilding amp Engineering Company 6 The ship was laid down at the company s Govan shipyard in April 1917 7 launched on 14 March 1918 and commissioned on 27 April 8 First World War and inter war period edit Wolfhound was commissioned too late to see much active service in the First World War She was assigned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla with the Grand Fleet in May and was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in March 1919 9 Whilst serving with the Sixth Destroyer Flotillas of the Atlantic Fleet 10 in January 1930 Wolfhound was one of seven V and W class destroyers damaged in a storm 11 Second World War edit After the Second World War began in September 1939 she was one of the old V and W class ships to be selected to be converted to an anti aircraft Wair escort destroyer 12 As the Allied forces retreated Wolfhound was one of the ships detached to support the evacuation of troops from France and on 25 May she and her sister HMS Wolsey bombarded advancing German units near Calais The following day Wolfhound ferried a shore party to Dunkirk to coordinate the evacuation on her return voyage to Dover she loaded 142 troops 13 On 29 May she was badly damaged at Dunkirk by German bombers having her back broken 14 After lengthy repairs she returned to service After VE Day she was detached to support the re occupation of Norway On 14 May she and Wolsey were deployed with Norwegian corvettes to cover minesweeping operations prior to the re occupation of Bergen 15 Wolfhound was transferred to BISCO on 18 February 1948 and was towed to the River Forth later that year to be broken up by Granton Shipbreakers 8 Citations edit Gardiner amp Gray p 84 March p 205 a b Friedman p 297 Gardiner amp Gray p 84 March plate 25 A Colledge p 389 March p 209 Friedman p 313 a b Wolfhound Scottish Built Ships Caledonian Maritime Research Trust Retrieved 22 July 2020 Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla The Dreadnought Project Retrieved 22 July 2020 H M S Wolfhound The Dreadnought Project Retrieved 22 July 2020 March pp 209 211 Whitley pp 93 94 Winser pp 13 15 101 Rohwer p 25 Rohwer p 416Bibliography editCampbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War II Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 Chesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 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 ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Cocker Maurice Destroyers of the Royal Navy 1893 1981 Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 1075 7 Friedman Norman 2009 British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 59114 081 8 Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 Lenton H T 1998 British amp Empire Warships of the Second World War Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 048 7 March Edgar J 1966 British Destroyers A History of Development 1892 1953 Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records amp Returns Ships Covers amp Building Plans London Seeley Service OCLC 164893555 Preston Antony 1971 V amp W Class Destroyers 1917 1945 London Macdonald OCLC 464542895 Raven Alan amp Roberts John 1979 V and W Class Destroyers Man o War Vol 2 London Arms amp Armour ISBN 0 85368 233 X Rohwer Jurgen 2005 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 The Naval History of World War Two Third Revised ed Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 119 2 Whinney Bob 2000 The U boat Peril A Fight for Survival Cassell ISBN 0 304 35132 6 Whitley M J 1988 Destroyers of World War 2 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 326 1 Winser John de D 1999 B E F Ships Before At and After Dunkirk Gravesend Kent World Ship Society ISBN 0 905617 91 6 External links editbattleships cruisers co uk naval history net Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Wolfhound L56 amp oldid 1134780599, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.