ST. CROIX destroyers (1919/1940-1942)

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Ships

Name	No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Buxton (ex-DD265 Edwards)	H96	Bethlehem, Squantum, USA	4/1918	10.10.1918	4/1919 // 9.1942	to UK 6.1945
St. Croix (ex-DD252 McCook)	I81	Bethlehem, Quincy, USA	9.1918	31.1.1919	4.1919 // 9.1940	sunk 20.9.1943
St. Francis (ex-DD256 Bancroft)	I93	Bethlehem, Quincy, USA	11.1918	21.3.1919	6.1919 // 9.1940	collision 14.7.1945

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1190
Displacement full, t	1590
Length, m	94.5 wl 95.8 oa
Breadth, m	9.40
Draught, m	3.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	exact data is not available in many cases, following machinery composition is somewhat conjectural 2 Curtis steam turbines / 1 geared steam turbine for cruising, 4 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	Buxton: 26000 St. Croix, St. Francis: 27000
Max speed, kts	35
Fuel, t	oil 375
Endurance, nm(kts)	5000(14)
Armament	St. Croix, St. Francis: 4 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 1 x 1 - 76/23 Mk 14, 3 x 1 - 12.7/90, 4 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCR (10 - 15) Buxton: 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 3 x 1 - 12.7/90, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60)
Electronic equipment	St. Croix, St. Francis: type 141 sonar Buxton: type 271, type 286 radars, type 141 sonar
Complement	146

Standard scale images

St. Croix 1942

St. Francis 1943

Project history

In May, 1940 Sir Winston Churchill has suggested US president Roosevelt to take in 99-year use all English naval and aviation bases in Western hemisphere, in exchange for 50 old destroyers. Originally the request has been turned down, however after the heavy losses suffered by Royal Navy in the summer of the same year, Churchill nevertheless managed to persuade Roosevelt, and 2.9.1940 president has signed the agreement. Transferred destroyers concerned to numerous class of "flushdeckers" built in the USA in 1917-1920. Their distinctive feature were flyshdecked hull silhouette, a rhombic arrangement of main guns and powerful torpedo armament. Ships were sectioned into some groups, differing by macinery structure, number of funnels and a fuel stowage. Transfer passed from September till November, 1940, part at once has arrived to RCN. Though Admiralty was in great need in the ships for escort of Atlantic convoys, destroyers received from the USA needed many modernizing works to use them in this role. Armament of "flushdeckers" has not undergone some serious changes or 20 years of service and approached for the anti-air and anti-submarine tasks a little. Besides, insufficient, from the point of view of Admiralty, the stability of ships demanded acceptance of measures for decrease of the top weight. As a whole update of former American destroyers repeated update to which have undergone in 1940 on old British WWI-era destroyers: British-constructed sonar was fitted, aft 102mm main gun was changed by British 3`` AA, and American gun of the same calibre was demounted, as well as pair of TT mounts. 4 DCTs were installed (rarely 2).

Modernizations

late 1940, St. Francis: - 1 x 1 - 102/50, 1 x 1 - 76/23, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 DCT, DC stowage increased up to 60

late 1940, St. Croix: - 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 4 DCT, DC stowage increased up to 60

1941-1942, most early commissioned ships: + type 271, type 286 radars

1941 - 1943, St. Francis: - 2 x 1 - 102/50, 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + (2 - 4) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL. TT was moved to center line.

1942 - 1943, St. Francis: 1 boiler and its funnel were removed. Fuel stowage rose. Engine power and maximal speed were decreased.

1943-1944, some: - type 286 radar; + type 291 radar

Naval service