NAVYPEDIA

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Devonshire 1977  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Devonshire	D02		Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	9.3.1959	10.6.1960	15.11.1962	sunk as target 17.7.1984
Hampshire	D06		John Brown, Clydebank	26.3.1959	16.3.1961	15.3.1963	for BU 4.1979
London	D16		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	26.2.1960	7.12.1961	14.11.1963	to Pakistan 3.1982 (بابر [Babur])
Kent	D12		Harland & Wolff, Belfast	1.3.1960	27.9.1961	15.8.1963	training hulk 4.1980
Fife	D20		Fairfield, Govan	31.5.1962	9.7.1964	21.6.1966	to Chile 8.1987 (Almirante Blanco Encalada)
Glamorgan	D19		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	13.9.1962	9.7.1964	13.10.1966	to Chile 9.1986 (Almirante Latorre)
Antrim	D18		Fairfield, Govan	20.1.1966	10.10.1967	14.7.1970	to Chile 6.1984 (Almirante Cochrane)
Norfolk	D21		Swan Hunter, Tyne	15.3.1966	16.11.1967	7.3.1970	to Chile 4.1982 (Capitán Prat)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	5440
Displacement full, t	6800
Length, m	153.9 pp 158.9 oa
Breadth, m	16.4
Draught, m	6.20 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	COSAG: 2 sets AEI geared steam turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers + 4 G6 gas turbines
Power, h. p.	30000+30000=60000
Max speed, kts	32.5
Fuel, t	oil + gas turbine oil 600
Endurance, nm(kts)	3500(28)
Armament	D02, 06, 16: 1 x 2 Sea Slug SAM (36), 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS21 SAM (8), 2 x 2 - 120/45 Mk 6, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 1 helicopter (Wessex) D12: 1 x 2 Sea Slug SAM (36), 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS22 SAM (8), 2 x 2 - 120/45 Mk 6, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 1 helicopter (Wessex) D18 - 21: 1 x 2 Sea Slug Mk 2 SAM (36), 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS22 SAM (8), 2 x 2 - 120/45 Mk 6, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 1 helicopter (Wessex)
Electronic equipment	D02, 06, 16: type 978, type 965 AKE-1, type 277/278, type 992/993, type 901, type 903 radars, type 162M, type 184M sonars, UA-8/9 ECM suite, 2x Corvus decoy RL D12: type 978, type 965 AKE-1, type 277/278, type 992/993, type 901, type 903, 2x type 904 radars, type 162M, type 184M sonars, UA-8/9 ECM suite, 2x Corvus decoy RL D18 - 21: type 978, type 965 AKE-2, type 277/278, type 992Q/993, type 901, type 903, 2x type 904 radars, type 162M, type 184M sonars, UA-8/9 ECM suite, 2x Corvus decoy RL, ADAWS-1 CCS
Complement	440 - 471

Standard scale images

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Project history

The term 'destroyer' was applied to these ships to obtain Treasury approval, but they were later rated as DLGs, from the American term 'Destroyer Leader, Guided Missile', applied to the new generation of big fleet escorts. As in the USN ships, however, destroyer principles governed their design: there was no longitudinal subdivision and the ships had relatively light scantlings to keep down size and weight.

Like the Whitbys the design was volume-critical, and in particular it centered on the Seaslug missile system. Seaslug was a first-generation beam-rider, with its four booster-motors wrapped around the body. British guided weapons of the period relied on wrap-around boosters because it was feared (incorrectly) that end-on mounting of the booster would produce instability in the missile after launch.

Thus although the new DLG had ample vertical space between decks for upright stowage and loading through deck-hatches, she had to be given a horizontal 'tunnel' through the superstructure. The missiles are brought up from the forward magazine on a hoist and then travel through the tunnel, undergoing checkouts, fitting of wings, etc, before being run out on to the launcher. This was a somewhat over-engineered, massive lattice-work affair weighing as much as a gun turret. Although the figure of thirty-six rounds is quoted, it is believed to be less in view of their bulk.

Four ships were voted under the 1955-56 and 1956-57 Estimates, followed by another four under the 1961-622 and 1964-65 Estimates. The second group had the slightly unproved Seaslug Mk 2, externally identical, but having some capability against surface targets. They were also fitted with the 'double bedstead' AKE-2 version of the Type 965 long-range radar and had GWS22 directors controlling the Seacat missiles in place of GWS21. For the first time in a British warship, the design included provision for a medium helicopter, but arrangements for housing the Wessex - a hangar with a folding vertical door on the port side of the superstructure - were rather cumbersome.

The 'Counties' were, together with the 'Tribals', the first ships to have Combined Steam and Gas turbine (COSAG) machinery; main drive was supplied by twin HP and LP steam turbines and twin gas turbines are geared to the same shafts for boost. The system has the advantage of permitting the ship to get under way at short notice, as well as providing more power at high speed without excessive weight.

Modernizations

1974, Norfolk; 1975, Antrim, Glamorgan, Fife: - 1 x 2 - 120/45, type 992/993 radar; + 4 x 1 Exocet MM38 SSM (4), type 992Q/993 radar

1974-75, Devonshire, Hampshire, London: - 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS21 SAM (8); + 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS22 SAM, 2x type 904 radars

1980s, all survived: + 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL

1984, Glamorgan: - helicopter (deckhouse on the helicopter deck)

1985, Fife: - 1 x 2 Sea Slug SAM

Naval service

Antrim was damaged by unexploded 1000pdr bomb from Argentine Dagger 21.5.1982. Glamorgan was badly damaged by unexploded Argentine Exoset launched from coastal launcher 12.6.1982.