Allied Warships

Destroyers

J class

8 ships


The destroyer HMS Janus (F 53) of the Royal Navy. She was lost on 23 Jan 1944.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1690 (Jervis 1695) BRT 
Length357 feet (oa) 
Complement183 (Jervis 218) men 
Armament

6 4.7" guns (3x2)
4 2pdr AA (1x4)
8 .5" MG AA (2x4)
10 21" torpedo tubes (2x5) 

Max speed36 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power40000 HP 
Notes on class

The J, K and N Class ships were developed as a result of the Admiralty under pressure to cut costs but requiring more new and powerful destroyers. The cost of further Tribal Class ships was attractive but could not be justified on cost grounds. The Staff requirement also required a return to a heavy torpedo outfit. While some see these ships as cut down versions of the Tribal Class they were the first to see the introduction on Longitudinal Frames and other weight saving methods of construction. Several ships owed this method of construction to their survival, HMS Javelin was mined and reduced to less than half her original length, but she was towed in and repaired.

Many of the J and K Classes served and were lost in the Mediterranean they participated in many successful engagements, accounting for Italian cruisers, destroyers and many merchant ships.

Pennant numbers changes from F .. to G .. in late 1940 (in or around December). 


All ships of the J class


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Jackal (F 22) Lost on 12 May 1942
HMS Jaguar (F 34) Lost on 26 Mar 1942
HMS Janus (F 53) Lost on 23 Jan 1944
HMS Javelin (F 61)
HMS Jersey (F 72) Lost on 2 May 1941
HMS Juno (F 46) Lost on 21 May 1941
HMS Jupiter (F 85) Lost on 27 Feb 1942

Flotilla leader


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Jervis (F 00)


8 Destroyers of the J class. 6 of them were lost.

Full wartime service history on this vessel.

See all Destroyer classes.


J class ships hit by U-boats (1)

26 Mar 1942HMS JaguarSunkU-652


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
British destroyers & frigates, Norman Friedman, 2006
British Destroyers 1892 to 1953, March, Edgar J, 2003
Death at a Distance, Michael Sturma, 2006
Full Circle, John Gritten, 2003
A Hard Fought Ship, Moore, Robert J. and Rodgaard, John A., 2010
In Peril on the Sea, Kane, James S., 1994
The Kellys, Langtree, Christopher, 2002
Men of Poseidon, Graves, Richard W., 2000
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Grace, James W., 1999
Raising the Red Banner, Yakubov, Vladimir, 2008



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