Cape Class Destroyers
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The Cape class destroyers took the River class one step further with a full
superfiring X mounting aft. Where the mid 4" was on UK ships were replaced with
two 2 pounder quick firing guns. Those guns were remounted to AA mountings
during the late 1920's - early 30's. The torpedoes were kept at the 18" twin
mountings. These were the last class with the twins, after the Cape class the
Algarvian destroyers went to triple mountings of the more powerful and longer
ranged 21" torpedoes.
The class was ordered and the first units laid down in 1910, the first four
units were completed in 1913. With the laying down of the Newport class, escorts
were going to be needed for these ships. A further twelve units were ordered in
1910/11 and completed in early 1914. The sixteen units fought in both the north
sea with Grand Fleet helping to screen the Algarvian battleships, and in the
Mediterranean helping with the Galipoli campaign and in actions against the
Austro-Hungarian Fleet units.
12 units survived WW1 and from 1919 provided the second line units and patrol
craft for around the Algarvian mainland and the Algarvian Bight. All twelve had
been discarded/scrapped by 1939.
Displacement: 900 tons standard, 1,150 tons full load.
Dimensions: 272 x 30 x 11 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, steam turbines, 28,000shp
Speed: 32 knots
Endurance: 3,500 miles @ 14 knots.
Armour: nil
Armament:
3 x 4" (3x1)
2 x 2pd (2x1)
4 x 18" torpedoes (2x2)
Crew: 77
Cape Estoril (1913) Service/Fate