- Yes
- No
- 1956 (4 x 113mm, 6 x 40mm, 8 x torpedo tubes)
- mid-1960’s (3 x 113mm, 6 x 40mm, 4 x torpedo tubes)
- I said ‘No’ in the first question.
Hello everyone, today I’d like to suggest another Israeli Z-class destroyer!
This is the INS Yaffo (K-42)!
Source: File:Yafportvaleta.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Quick note:
Israeli naval vessels are not the easiest things to find sources for. So sadly I’ve had to resort to using Wikipedia more then I’d like for this suggestion. I’ve done my best to not copy paste everything, but since the history for the INS Yaffo is rather short I was left with only a few options.
History
Spoiler
Source: File:FrigateswelcomeDestroyer61956.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
The INS Yaffo started it’s life as the Z-class destroyer HMS Zodiac (R54). She was put into service in October of 1944 where she was put into the 2nd destroyer flotilla. Zodiac did not partake in any mayor actions during WW2, and her career remained very calm from there on.
Zodiac was sold to Israel in 1955 and commissioned into the Israeli Navy as INS Yaffo. She was refitted by Crighton at Liverpool and sailed for Israel in 1956.
By looking at photos of the two Israeli Z-class destroyers, it would seem that when first given to Israel, the ships were only armed with the primary guns, a single twin 40mm Mark V Bofors mount, four single 40mm Mark VII mounts and two quad torpedo tube launchers. But later this was changed in the early-1960’s by removing one of the torpedo launchers. Yaffo and her sister ship INS Eilat would also see one of their rear primary turrets removed around this time. It is likely that Yaffo was the first that had it removed, and Eilat follow a little bit after that.
On the 29th of October 1956, the Suez Crisis broke out. And Israel found itself together with France and the UK, fighting against the eqyptians. The INS Yaffo was ofcourse also present during this conflict and would be brought into action only a two days later. On the morning of 31 October an Egyptian destroyer shelled Haifa harbour. This sparked an counter attack by a French destroyer, the Israeli INS Eilat and ofcourse INS Yaffo. The three ships forced the Egyptian destroyer to steam back towards Port Said. It was then also attacked by a pair of IDF/AF Ouragans and a Dakota. After this final attack the crew of the badly damaged vessel finally capitulated, and the Israelis towed the ship to Haifa, it later became the INS Haifa in the Israeli Navy.
In 1967 the War of Attrition broke out. And while Yaffo’s sister ship INS Eilat would be sunk during this conflict, Yaffo did not get into any action during this War. And after this point Yaffo did not really partake in any mayor conflicts.
Yaffo remained in active service until 1972. After which she was used as a target ship and sunk after being hit by a Gabriel missile.
The 4.5-inch gun turret that was removed from her is during the mid 1960’s is still preserved at the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum, Haifa.
Specifications
Spoiler
Displacement: 1,710 tons
Length: 362.7 ft (110.6 m)
Beam: 35.7 ft (10.9 m)
Propulsion: 40,000 hp (30,000 kW)
Speed: 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Complement: 186
Armament (1956)
If you look closely at the photo below you will see that the ship has two torpedo tube launchers present on the ship.
Source: File:INS Yaffo (Q-42) After Greek Voyage.jpg - Wikimedia Commons4 x 1 QF 4.5-inch (113 mm) Mark V guns
1 x 2 40 mm Mark V Bofors guns
4 x 1 40 mm Mark VII Bofors guns
2 x 4 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armament (Mid-1960’s)
This photo clearly shows that one of the torpedo tube launchers has been revoved (The one that used to be between the twin 40mm Mark V mount and the C turret), but more importantly we clearly see that the rear most 113mm Mark V turret has been removed.
Source: File:IsraeliDestroyersMalta1965.jpg - Wikimedia Commons3 x 1 QF 4.5-inch (113 mm) Mark V guns
1 x 2 40 mm Mark V Bofors guns
4 x 1 40 mm Mark VII Bofors guns
1 x 4 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Ingame
Spoiler
The INS Yaffo would be another interesting addition for the Israeli navy. She is one of the only bigger-ish ships Israel has operated. The Z-class destroyer together a single Hunt-class destroyer escort are the only destroyer types Israel has operated.
The low number of primary guns, together with a lack of smaller autocannons would make this ship a BR 3.7 - 4.0 destroyer for sure. The ship in her 1960’s refit would be able to down some planes with her six 40mm Bofors guns, but the lack of primary guns is still it’s biggest downfall.
Source: File:Yaforedside.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
That is all for now folks! Make sure to comment down below and submit your vote in the poll above!
Also check out my post of the sister ship of INS Yaffo!
More images
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Sources
Spoiler
Vehicle sources:
HMS Zodiac - Wikipedia
HMS Zodiac (R 54) of the Royal Navy - British Destroyer of the Z class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net
Eilat Destroyer
EILATH destroyers (1944/1955)Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=ins+yaffo&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image