These were seriously large destroyers. They had been designed to be Leaders and would either carry a Captain 'D' or an Area Commander 'Destroyers', which was usually a Commodore or Rear Admiral. Accommodation needed to be appropriate to those gentleman's status. These ships were considered large enough to have a second gun director aft. Either director could control all or some of the guns (and later torpedoes) which allowed for battle damage or multiple targets. The addition of radar control later would enhance these directors.



The class had been ordered in pairs with the last pair completing in 1940 with some of the common enhancements fitted from new. It was not until the 1942 refit with 40mm that the ships full potential had been unlocked. By then only nine were left. One was sunk in the Battle for Norway, one lost to mines at Dunkirk, and the last in the early battles against the Italians as the Leader of Force K.



The seven remaining ships were all sold at wars end. They had been worked hard all war with very little time in port except for basic refits and updates as required. They were needed at sea.



All were sold to minor navies who liked the idea of having a light cruiser for the price of a destroyer. The last remaining Pakistani ship was not discarded till 1974.

 

Displacement	3,100 tons standard, 3,450 tons full load
Length	436 ft
Breadth	44 ft
Draught	15 ft
Machinery	2 shaft, steam turbines, 70,000shp
Speed	37 knots
Range	7,000 miles at 10 knots
Armament	As completed 8 x 5" (4x2) 4 x 2pd (1x4) 12 x 20mm (4x2, 4x1)	Refits to 1942 8 x 5" (4x2) 16 x 40mm AA (1x4, 6x2) 2 x Hedgehog
Torpedoes	10 x 21" (2x5)	10 x 21" (2x5)
Complement	165	185
Notes	Ronne Kangchenjunga Manaslu Everest Chooyu Anapurna Lhotse Shishapangma Kumbakhana Gyachung Trichmir Makalu

HMS Warspite leads the line into Narvik Fjord where the Manaslu was lost.