History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name: | HMS Glowworm |
Ordered: | 5 March 1934 |
Builder: | John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston, Hampshire |
Laid down: | 15 August 1934 |
Launched: | 22 July 1935 |
Commissioned: | 22 January 1936 |
Identification: | pennant number: H92 |
Motto: | Ex tenebris lux : 'Out of darkness light'. |
Fate: | Sunk by the German cruiser Admiral Hipper, 8 April 1940 |
Badge: | On a Field Blue, a lantern Black with rays issuing Silver |
General characteristics as built | |
Class and type: | G-class destroyer |
Displacement: | |
Length: | 323 ft (98.5 m) |
Beam: | 33 ft (10.1 m) |
Draught: | 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m) |
Installed power: | 34,000 shp (25,000 kW) |
Propulsion: |
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Speed: | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
Range: | 5,530 nmi (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Complement: | 137 (peacetime), 146 (wartime) |
Sensors and processing systems: |
ASDIC |
Armament: |
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HMS Glowworm was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. During the Spanish Civil War the ship spent part of 1936 and 1937 in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. Glowworm was transferred from the Mediterranean Fleet shortly after the beginning of World War II to the British Isles, to escort shipping in local waters. In March 1940, she was transferred to the Home Fleet, just in time to participate in the opening stages of the Norwegian Campaign. On 8 April 1940 Glowworm encountered German destroyers transporting troops to invade Norway in Operation Weserübung. The destroyers attempted to disengage while calling for help from the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. Glowworm was heavily damaged by Admiral Hipper, but still attempted to torpedo the German ship. The two ships collided, which broke the bow off Glowworm, and she sank shortly afterwards.
Glowworm displaced 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) at standard load and 1,883 long tons (1,913 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 323 feet (98.5 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 5 inches (3.8 m). She was powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 34,000 shaft horsepower (25,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Glowworm carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 5,530 nautical miles (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 137 officers and men in peacetime.