HMS Amazon (D39)
HMS Amazon underway.
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Amazon |
| Ordered: | 16 July 1924 (contract 8 August 1924) |
| Builder: | John I Thornycroft, Woolston |
| Laid down: | 29 January 1925 |
| Launched: | 27 January 1926 |
| Commissioned: | 5 May 1927 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping 25 October 1948 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) |
| Length: | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) (p/p) |
| Beam: | 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) |
| Draught: | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Installed power: | 42,000 shp (31,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 37 kn (43 mph; 69 km/h) |
| Range: |
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| Capacity: | 433 short tons (393 t) fuel oil |
| Complement: | 138 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Amazon was a prototype design of destroyer ordered for the Royal Navy in 1924. She was designed and built by Thornycroft in response to an admiralty request for a new design of destroyer incorporating the lessons and technological advances of the First World War. Their great rivals Yarrow produced a similar, competitive design — that of Ambuscade.
Thornycroft evolved at least four separate designs for this ship, two being 310 ft (94 m) long (between perpendiculars) and two being 305 ft (93 m) long, with engine output varying from 28,000–33,000 shp (21,000–25,000 kW). Two final designs were offered to the Admiralty, who required prototypes for subsequent destroyer construction. Thornycroft's "A" design used the maximum length allowed (310 ft between perpendiculars). However, their "B" design—which was adopted—reduced the length by 5 ft (1.5 m), using only a single boiler room forward (as in their wartime Wishart).
Two different designs for the machinery were prepared, plus a third outline design. The "B" design was modified in November 1924 after building had begun, to take machinery capable of giving an extra 2 kn (2.3 mph; 3.7 km/h) speed; this required extra length. After the initial trials in 1926, the turbines were altered.
Amazon was easily recognisable by her slab-sided funnels, characteristic of Thornycroft vessels. Most differences were internal. Unlike earlier designs, which were designed for home fleet service, they were designed for colonial use, with higher freeboard, cruising turbines and better ventilation.
Armament was identical to that in the V and W-class destroyers built late during the First World War, and comprised four 4.7 in (120 mm) BL Mark I on CP Mk.VI** mountings. These weapons were based on an Army field piece and had separate bagged charges and no Quick Firing (QF) mechanism. The mountings had half shields and a maximum elevation of 30°.
Fire control was by a 9 ft (2.7 m) base rangefinder and the new "Destroyer Director Control Tower" (DCT). The latter would be fitted to all subsequent Royal Navy destroyer designs from the C class up to the U class of 1942. Amazon reached only 34.5 kn (39.7 mph; 63.9 km/h) on her initial trials, and so was taken in hand for modifications. Her subsequent acceptance trials on 3 January 1927 resulted in a speed of 37.5 kn (43.2 mph; 69.5 km/h). In a later trial on the Skelmorlie Mile in March 1927, she made 38.71 kn (44.55 mph; 71.69 km/h) on her fastest run and 37.34 kn (42.97 mph; 69.15 km/h) on the slowest, with an average engine output of 41,559 shp (30,991 kW). However, this was at nearly 300 long tons (300 t) below her deep displacement. Her sea speed in load condition in service was only 31 kn (36 mph; 57 km/h). She was completed on 5 May 1927.
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