RZS Valinor (DD-1927)

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The Valinor class were the first post-war destroyers to be built by the Zealandian Navy. The data from the trials with the Amazon and Ambuscade for the Royal Navy was to hand and this information did help with the design of the Valinor class. The Valinor class were to be at least 30 feet longer than the RN vessels. The bow and center section absorbed this extra length to make the ships more weatherly and to increase the range over the RN vessels (6400@14k -v- 9000@14k). These eight vessels were built to replace the aged and worn out 'L' class destroyers of 1913-15.

Where the RN went with the same 4.7" gun that they had put aboard some of the final VW class ships, the Zealandian designers used a variant of the 4" AA gun put aboard many of the cruisers and battleships in 1917-20+. The same gun was fitted with a shield and five mountings were placed aboard. The placement was not ideal with the fifth mounting being placed between the funnels. The next class would use the same gun but a different layout.



The minor AA armament increased from the three 2 pounder guns they were completed with, adding four 20mm Hispano cannons in the mid 1930's. 1939-40 the whole class was given a completely revamped AA armament, the single 2 pounder were finally replaced with a quad mounting with a predictor mounted behind it. The Hispano cannons were replaced with Oerlikons in single and twin mountings. One of the major upgrades was the replacement of the main gunnery director with a full dual purpose unit with surface and air capable radar attached.

Building the 4" guns for the Valinor and other classes of ships that used them.

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