U-BOATS

www.military-history.org 19MilitaryHistorymonthly18 June 2012MilitaryHistorymonthly

Depth-charge thrower 4.7in QUIcK-FIrINg gUNS

4.7in QUIcK-FIrINg gUNS

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4.7in QUIcK-FIrINg gUN

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trIpLe 21in torpeDo tUBeS

3in hIgh-aNgLe aNtI-aIrcraFt gUN

water tUBe BoILerStUrBINe eNgINe rooM

ShAkeSpeAre-clASS DeSTrOyerDestroyers were the workhorses of anti-submarine work. During the First world war, the British developed destroyers into specialised hunter-killers of german U-boats. this cutaway diagram shows the result. It depicts a British destroyer of the early interwar period, showing the full range of tried-and-tested anti-submarine devices. the ship is armed with a searchlight, a 3in anti-aircraft gun, five 4.7in quick-firing guns, torpedo tubes, and depth-charges.

Above a British destroyer in action during the First world war. Note that both guns and torpedo tubes are firing.

the destroyer, which was created by the admiralty to counter torpedo-boats, evolved into the principal anti-submarine vessel of the royal Navy during the First world war. the struggle against the submarine menace in the atlantic, the channel, the North Sea, and the Mediterreanean showed that these vessels needed to become more powerful and more heavily armed. this image depicts a post-war ‘super-destroyer’ or ‘flotilla-leader’ of the Shakespeare class. Displacement was 1,480 tons, length 329ft, and the crew 183 officers and men. Speed was 36 knots. as well as the main armament, the ship mounted a 2-pdr pom-pom and four Lewis light machine-guns.