Allied Warships

Destroyers

C class

6 ships


The destroyer HMCS Fraser (H 48) of the Royal Canadian Navy. She was lost on 25 Jun 1940.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1360 BRT 
Length329 feet 
Complement138 men 
Armament

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

Max speed36 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power36000 HP 
Notes on class

The specifications as listed above are for the 'normal' C-class destroyers. HMS Kempenfelt/HMCS Assiniboine was fitted as flotilla leader and had some different specifications; Displacement: 1390 BRT Complement: 175 men.

These ships were repeat B-class ships with only minor modifications.

The C-class destroyers were taken over by the R.C.N. from the R.N. before the Second World War with the exception of the Flotilla leader HMS Kempenfelt. She was taken over in October 1939.

The survivors were later modified for escort duties. 


All ships of the C class


Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Navy (more on Royal Canadian Navy)

HMCS Fraser (H 48) Lost on 25 Jun 1940
HMCS Ottawa (i) (H 60) Lost on 14 Sep 1942
HMCS Restigouche (H 00)
HMCS St. Laurent (H 83)

Flotilla leader


Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Navy (more on Royal Canadian Navy)

HMCS Assiniboine (I 18)


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Kempenfelt (i) (I 18) (Transferred to Canada as HMCS Assiniboine)


6 Destroyers of the C class. 2 of them were lost.

See all Destroyer classes.


C class ships hit by U-boats (1)

14 Sep 1942HMCS Ottawa (i)SunkU-91


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
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
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
Capturing Enigma, Harper, Stephen, 2000 (transl.)
Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, Chesneau, Roger, 1988



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