Eclipse during World War II
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name: | HMS Eclipse |
Namesake: | Eclipse |
Ordered: | 1 November 1932 |
Builder: | William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton |
Cost: | £246,664 |
Laid down: | 22 March 1933 |
Launched: | 12 April 1934 |
Completed: | 29 November 1934 |
Identification: | Pennant number: H08 |
Motto: |
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Honours and awards: |
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Fate: | Sunk by a mine, 24 October 1943 |
Badge: | On a Field Blue, the Earth Black over a sun Gold. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | E-class destroyer |
Displacement: | |
Length: | 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a |
Beam: | 33 ft 3 in (10.13 m) |
Draught: | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (deep) |
Installed power: |
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Propulsion: | 2 × shafts; 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines |
Speed: | 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph) |
Range: | 6,350 nmi (11,760 km; 7,310 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Complement: | 145 |
Sensors and processing systems: |
ASDIC |
Armament: |
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HMS Eclipse was an E-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Mediterranean theatres during World War II, until sunk by a mine in the Aegean Sea on 24 October 1943.
The E-class ships were slightly improved versions of the preceding D class. They displaced 1,405 long tons (1,428 t) at standard load and 1,940 long tons (1,970 t) at deep load. The ships had an overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet 3 inches (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). They were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph). Eclipse carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 6,350 nautical miles (11,760 km; 7,310 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ships' complement was 145 officers and ratings.
The ships mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, they had two quadruple Mark I mounts for the 0.5 inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. The E class was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.