.PNG)
HMS Ledbury (1942)
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The Hunt class started completing in 1938. These ships were to be the replacements for the older R/S type destroyers. Their smaller size and their intended use got them to be termed Escort Destroyers. The ships were designed to act as inshore escorts around the coasts of Britain and for this they were given a heavy Anti-aircraft armament with only 1 set of triple torpedo tubes.
The ships were fitted with a twin 4" light turret as they were to be in areas where the ships were likely to be straffed by enemy aircraft and it was felt the light turret would give protection to the crew. Quad 2 pounder and 20mm Oerlikons rounded out the armament.
Like other ships these escorts ended up serving everywhere from the Arctic to the Pacific and everywhere inbetween. The light turret proved its worth wherever the ships served.
| Displacement | 1200 tons std, 1,575 tons full load |
| Length | 299.5 |
| Breadth | 32 ft |
| Draught | 13 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft Steam turbines, 25,000shp |
| Speed | 28 knots |
| Range | 1200 miles at 25 knots |
| Armour | nil |
| Armament | 6 x 4" (3x2) 4 x 2pd (1x4) 2 x 40mm (1x2) 4 x 20mm (2x2) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | 3 x 21" (1x3) |
| Complement | 170 |
| Notes |