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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
ESCORTS
CALDWELL ex-US destroyers (LEWES) (3, 1917 - 1918 / 1940)


Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Leeds (ex-Conner) G27 436 Cramp, Philadelphia, USA 10/1916 21.8.1917 1/1918 // 10.1940 BU 3.1947
Lewes (ex-Conway, ex-Craven) G68   Norfolk N Yd, USA 11.1917 29.6.1918 10.1918 // 10.1940 sunk as target 25.5.1946
Ludlow (ex-Stockton) G57 437 Cramp, Philadelphia, USA 10/1916 17.7.1917 11/1917 // 10.1940 target 15.7.1945


Technical data


Max speed, kts, kn

30

Displacement standard, t

1120

Displacement full, t

1340

Length, m

94.5 wl 96.2 oa

Breadth, m

9.30

Draught, m

2.70

No of shafts

Leeds, Ludlow: 3

Lewes: 2

Machinery

Leeds, Ludlow: 3 Parsons steam turbines / 1 Parsons geared steam turbine for cruising, 4 Thornycroft boilers

Lewes: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Thornycroft boilers

Power, h. p.

Leeds, Ludlow: 18500

Lewes: 20000

Fuel, t

oil 290

Endurance, nm(kts)

4000(14)

Armament

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)

Electronic equipmenttype 141 sonar
Complement

146



Standard scale images


<i>Stockton</i> 1917
Stockton 1917


Project history

In May, 1940 Sir Winston Churchill has suggested US president Roosevelt to take for 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 in 20 years of service and suited for the anti-air and anti-submarine tasks a little. Besides, insufficient, from the point of view of Admiralty, 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 3'' AA, and short gun of the same calibre was removed, as well as pair of TT mounts. 4 DCTs were installed (rarely 2).

Modernizations

late 1940, all: - 1 x 1 - 102/50, 1 x 1 - 76/23, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 10.19/20, 4 DCT, DC stowage increased up to 60

1941-1942, most: + type 271, type 286 radars

1941 - 1942, Leeds: - 2 x 1 - 102/50, 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 2 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 10.19/20, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1941 - 1942, Lewes, Ludlow: - 3 x 1 - 102/50, 2 x 3 - 533 TT: + 2 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 10.19/20, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

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

1943 - 1944, Leeds: - 1 x 1 - 102/50, 3 x 1 - 76/50; + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1943 - 1944, Lewes, Ludlow: - 3 x 1 - 76/50; + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1/1946, Lewes: 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60), type 271, type 286 or type 291 radars, type 141 sonar

1/1946, Leeds: 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60), type 271, type 286 or type 291 radars, type 141 sonar

Naval service

No significant events.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.