Allied Warships

Destroyers

B class

9 ships


The destroyer HMS Boadicea (H 65) of the Royal Navy. She was lost on 13 Jun 1944.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1360 BRT 
Length323 feet (oa) 
Complement138 men 
Armament

4 4.7" guns (4x1)
2 2pdr AA (2x1)
8 21" torpedo tubes (2x4) 

Max speed35.25 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power34000 HP 
Notes on class

The specifications as listed above are for the 'normal' B-class destroyers. HMS Keith was fitted as flotilla leader and had some different specifications;
Displacement: 1400 BRT
Complement: 175 men.
HMS Keith was a smaller leader, she did not have an extra 4.7" gun as did HMS Codrington the leader of the A-class destroyers.

The regular B-class destroyers were repeat A-class destroyers with only minor modifications.  


All ships of the B class


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Basilisk (H 11) Lost on 1 Jun 1940
HMS Beagle (H 30)
HMS Blanche (H 47) Lost on 13 Nov 1939
HMS Boadicea (H 65) Lost on 13 Jun 1944
HMS Boreas (H 77) (Became the Greek destroyer Salamis)
HMS Brazen (H 80) Lost on 20 Jul 1940
HMS Brilliant (H 84)
HMS Bulldog (H 91)


Royal Hellenic Navy Royal Hellenic Navy (more on Royal Hellenic Navy)

RHS Salamis (H 77) (ex. HMS Boreas)

Flotilla leader


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Keith (D 06) Lost on 1 Jun 1940


9 Destroyers (10 names) of the B class. 5 of them were lost.

Full wartime service history on this vessel.

See all Destroyer classes.



The last stand of the tin can sailors

Hornfischer, James D.

Books dealing with this subject include:

200,000 Miles Aboard the Destroyer Cotten, Robinson, C. Snelling, 1999
A Home on the Rolling Main, A G F Ditcham, 2013
Afridi to Nizam – British Fleet Destroyers 1937 – 43, English, John, 2003
All the Gallant Men, Donald Stratton, 2016
Arctic Convoy PQ8, Michael Wadsworth, 2010
The Battle of Tassafaronga, Russell Syndnor Crenshaw, 2010
Battlestations, Veronico, Nicholas A., 2001
Blood on the Sea, Parkin, Robert Sinclair, 1996
A Blue Water Navy, WAB Douglas, R. Sarty, M. Whitby et al., 2007
British destroyers & frigates, Norman Friedman, 2006
British Destroyers 1892 to 1953, March, Edgar J, 2003
British Destroyers in World War Two, Burt, R.A., 1986
Cadillac of Destroyers, Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken, 1996
Cape Hatteras, Lloyd, Keith Warren, 2008
The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War, Collingwood, Donald, 1999



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