P-class destroyer, HMS Pathfinder (G10) (1942)

nathanclawfish · July 20, 2023, 12:37am

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P-class destroyer, HMS Pathfinder (G10) (1942)

Design history:

The P-class destroyers were a repeat of the preceding O class, with the exception of being armed with 4-inch (102 mm) anti-aircraft guns instead of the QF 4.7-inch found on the preceding class. Because of this they displaced a similar 1,640 long tons(1,670 t) at standard load and 2,250 long tons (2,290 t) at deep load. The ships of this class had an overall length of 345 feet (105.2 m), a beam of 35 feet (10.7 m) and a deep draught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m). The P-class were powered by a pair of Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving their own propeller shaft, using steam generated by a duo of admiralty three drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). This was fueled by a maximum of 500 long tons of fuel oil, giving the vessels a range of 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 km; 4,430 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The ships possessed a complement of 176 officers and men.

The main change regardin the addition of four QF 4-inch Mark V guns in single mounts, mounted in two superfiring pairs fore and aft was their high angle mounts, that allowed the guns to raise high enough to engage enemy aircraft. This was complimented by her light anti air suite, which composed of a single quadruple mount for 2-pounder “pom-pom” gun aft of the funnel, and four single 20mm oerlikon cannons. Her torpedo armament was a pair of above-water quadruple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoe mounts, as the reduction in weight due to the smaller main guns allowed her to retain the mounting lost in the O-class. In addition to this she was also fitted with four depth chage throwers and a pair of depth charge racks, for a total of 70 depth charges.

Service history:

HMS Pathfinder was built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co, and was launched on 10 April 1941, before entering commission a year later in april of 1942. During the war Pathfinder was active in multiple theaters and took part in the sinking of several enemy submarines. The first of which was the sinking of the italian submarine Cobalto, followed by german U-162 and finally U-203. She also aided in the rescue of nearly 5,000 survivors from the troopship Strathallan after it was torpedoed off Oran, Algeria. She would go through the war relativly unscathed until on the 11th of february 1945 she would be struck bay a japanese kamikaze off Ramree. The KI-43 striking the destroyer knockign out one of her engine rooms, forcing her to be taken out of service to return to the UK for repair. Due to the end of the war, she was soon put in reserve, and would eventually be sold to the ship breakers Howells and ultimately scrapped in november of 1948 at milford haven.

Ship specification:

Displacement: 1,640 long tons (1,666 t) standard, 2,250 long tons (2,286 t) full

Length: 345 ft (105 m) o/a

Beam: 35 ft (11 m)

Draught: 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m)

Installed power: 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 × steam turbines

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 km; 4,430 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)

Complement: 176

Armament: 4 × single QF 4 in Mk.V (102 mm)
1 × quadruple QF 2 pdr Mk.VIII (40 mm)
4 × single QF 20 mm Oerlikon
2 × quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes
4 × throwers and 2 × racks for 70 depth charges

Additional Historical pictures:

Pair of images showing HMS Pathfinder in 1943:

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