J/K/N class destroyer

HMS Nepal (G25) underway before its transfer to the Royal Australian Navy.

The J, K and N-class was a class of nearly 30 destroyers of the British, Australian, Dutch, and Polish navies launched in 1938. They were a return to a smaller vessel, with a heavier torpedo armament, after the Tribal-class that emphasized guns over torpedoes. The ships were built in three flotillas or groups, each consisting of eight ships with names beginning with "J", "K" and "N". The flag superior of the pennant numbers changed from "F" to "G" in 1940.

The ships were modified throughout their war-time service, particularly their anti-aircraft guns; they were also fitted with radar.

Specifications

J/K-classes

• Type: Destroyer
• Service Period: 1939-1961
• Characteristics:
  • Length: 356 feet 6 inches (108.66 meters)
  • Beam: 35 feet 9 inches (10.9 meters)
  • Draught: 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 meters)
  • Displacement: 1,690 tons (Standard); 2,330 tons (Full Load)
• Crew: 183 (218 in flotilla leader)
• Propulsion: 2 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 x shafts, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
• Range: 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 kilometers) at 15 knots (27.78 km/h)
• Speed: 36 knots (66.67 km/h)
• Sensor Suite:
  • Type 271 Target Indication RDF - replaced by Type 293 RDF
  • Type 285 Fire Control RDF
  • Type 286 Air Warning RDF - replaced by Type 291 RDF
• Armament:
  • 6 x QF 4.7"/45-caliber Mk.IX/XII dual purpose naval guns (3x2)
  • 4 x QF 2-pdr (40mm/39-caliber) Mk.VIII anti-aircraft guns (1x4)
  • 2 x Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannons (2x1)
  • 10 x 21" torpedo tubes (2x5)

N-class

• Type: Destroyer
• Service Period: 1939-1961
• Characteristics:
  • Length: 356 feet 6 inches (108.66 meters)
  • Beam: 35 feet 9 inches (10.9 meters)
  • Draught: 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 meters)
  • Displacement: 1,773 tons (Standard); 2,384 tons (Full Load)
• Crew: 183 (218 in flotilla leader)
• Propulsion: 2 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 x shafts, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
• Range: 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 kilometers) at 15 knots (27.78 km/h)
• Speed: 36 knots (66.67 km/h)
• Sensor Suite:
  • Type 271 Target Indication RDF - replaced by Type 293 RDF
  • Type 285 Fire Control RDF
  • Type 286 Air Warning RDF - replaced by Type 291 RDF
• Armament:
  • 6 x QF 4.7"/45-caliber Mk.IX/XII dual purpose naval guns (3x2)
  • 2 x QF 4"/45-caliber Mk.XVI dual purpose naval gun (2x1)
  • 4 x QF 2-pdr (40mm/39-caliber) Mk.VIII anti-aircraft guns (1x4)
  • 4 x QF Vickers .50-caliber Mk.III machine guns (2x2)
  • 4 x Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannons (4x1)

Unit Run

Royal Navy

J-class

• HMS Jervis (F00)
• HMS Jackall (F22)
• HMS Jaguar (F34)
• HMS Juno (F46) - Bombed and sunk south of Crete on May 21st, 1941
• HMS Janus (F53)
• HMS Javelin (F61)
• HMS Jersey (F72) - Mined off Valletta on May 2nd, 1941, broke in two and sank 2 days later
• HMS Jupiter (F85)
• HMS Jubilant (F92)

K-class

• HMS Kelley (F01) - Bombed by German aircraft and sunk south of Crete on May 23rd, 1941
• HMS Kashmire (F12) - Bombed by German aircraft and sunk south of Crete on May 23rd, 1941
• HMS Kandahar (F28)
• HMS Kangaroo (F29)
• HMS Kelvin (F37)
• HMS Khartoum (F45) - Sank in Perim Harbour after an exploding torpedo air vessel started a fire which reached the aft magazine on June 23rd, 1940
• HMS Kimberly (F50)
• HMS Kingston (F64)
• HMS Kipling (F91)

N-class

• HMS Nestor (G02) - transferred to Australia in 1940
• HMS Nonpareil (G16) - transferred to Netherlands in 1942, renamed HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes
• HMS Nepal (G25) - transferred to Australia in 1940
• HMS Norseman (G32) - transferred to Australia in 1940
• HMS Nizam (G38) - transferred to Australia in 1940
• HMS Norman (G49) - transferred to Australia in 1940
• HMS Nerissa (G65) - transferred to Poland in 1940, renamed ORP Piorun
• HMS Noble (G84) - transferred to Netherlands in 1942, renamed HNLMS Van Galen
• HMS Napier (G97) - transferred to Australia in 1940