NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Ambuscade	D38		Yarrow, Scotstoun	8.12.1924	15.1.1926	3/1927	target ship 8.1944, BU 1946

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	37
Displacement standard, t	1173
Displacement full, t	1585 (later 1820)
Length, m	93.6 pp 98.1 oa
Breadth, m	9.47
Draught, m	3.45 (later 3.81) deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	33000
Fuel, t	oil 381
Endurance, nm(kts)	3310(15)
Armament	4 x 1 - 120/45 BL Mk I/II, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 3 - 533 TT
Complement	138

Standard scale images

Project history

The first RN destroyers created taking into account experience of World war One were Amazon and Ambuscade. They were built under the 1924 Programme and designed by builders; Admiralty has stipulated only fulfilment of some obligatory conditions on armament, endurance range, seaworthiness and habitability, in remaining full freedom had been awarded for designers. At the same armament, as on "Modified W" class ships, new destroyers should exceed them in maximal speed by 2-3kts (37 against 34-35), have more freeboard (2.6m against 1.9), more spacious all-metal bridge and better habitability.

Machinery of new ships had many innovations: separated cruising and reverse turbines, usage of high-pressure steam (Yarrow), and superheated steam (Thornycroft, first time in world practice).

During designing specific features of each of these firms in the approach to creation of fast ships were showed become already traditional. Prototypes have appeared successful and were close enough on the elements, however Yarrow ship could solve a task in view, having stowed in smaller displacement, and thanks to it to lower engine power. At the same time Amazon, built by Thornycroft, having 200t more displacement, has appeared notably more cheaply the contender. Besides at the expense of the bigger dimensions he benefited in seaworthiness a little. As a whole both ships represented a little increased "Modified W" class with more powerful machinery and improved conditions of habitability.

Modernizations

1940: - 1 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I/II/V, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (20 DC), type 128 sonar

1941: + type 286 radar

1942 - 1943: 65 t of solid ballast were added, - 2 x 1 - 120/45, type 128 sonar; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (70 DC totally), type 271 radar, type 144 sonar

mid-1943: - 1 x 1 - 76/45, 1 x 3 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, type 286 radar; DC stowage decreased to 25 pcs, + 1 x 3 - 305 Squid ASWRL, type 147 sonar

early 1944: - 1 x 3 - 305 Squid ASWRL, type 147 sonar; + 1 x 1 - 120/45 BL Mk I/II, 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I/II/V, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (70 DC totally)

Naval service

In 8.1944 she became a target ship for aviation.