A departure from the split level ships of the past. A new flush deck design was produced that could be applied to destroyers, destroyer leaders and other escort vessels. Tough and dependable ships the original 25 Thanatos class with the 5 Shark Class made up the five leading flotillas for escorting the fleet units. The last of the class were completing in 1939 on the outbreak of war. Rather than design a new class of destroyer several repeat orders were placed for these destroyers and the escort offshoot. Added to the original 25, orders were placed for another 35 units.
Displacement: 1750 tons standard, 2400 tons full load.
Dimensions: 349 x 36 x 13 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, geared turbines, 40,000shp
Speed: 35 knots
Endurance: 4500 miles at 15 knots
Armament:
4 x 5" (2x2)
8 x 40mm (1x4 2x2)
6 x 25.4mm (3x2)
Torpedoes: 8 x 21" (2x4)
Crew: 185
Fates and Losses: