Allied Warships

Destroyers

O class

8 ships


The destroyer HMS Orwell (G 98) of the Royal Navy.

Technical information

TypeDestroyer
Displacement1540 BRT 
Length345 feet 
Complement175 men 
Armament

As designed;
4 4.7" guns (4x1)
4 2pdr AA (1x4)
6 20mm AA (2x2, 2x1)
8 21" torpedo tubes(2x4)
Upon completion the after bank of torpedo tubes was omitted in favour of a 4" AA gun.

HMS Obdurate, HMS Obedient, HMS Opportune and HMS Orwell were fitted as minelayers and had a different armament when completed;
4 x 4" guns (4x1)
4 x 2pdr AA (1x40
6 x 20mm (2x2, 2x1)
8 x 21" torpedo tubes (2x4) 

Max speed37 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power40000 HP 
Notes on classThe displacement of HMS Onslow was 1550 tons as she was fitted as flotilla leader.  


All ships of the O class


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Obdurate (G 39)
HMS Obedient (G 48)
HMS Offa (G 29)
HMS Onslaught (G 04)
HMS Opportune (G 80)
HMS Oribi (G 66)
HMS Orwell (G 98)

Flotilla leader


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Onslow (G 17)


8 Destroyers of the O class.

See all Destroyer classes.


O class ships hit by U-boats (1)

25 Jan 1944HMS ObdurateDamagedU-360


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



Return to the Allied Warships section