HMS Oribi in 1946
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Class overview | |
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Name: | O and P class |
Operators: | |
Preceded by: | L and M class |
Succeeded by: | Q and R class |
Subclasses: | 4 inch O, 4.7 inch O, P |
Completed: | 16 |
Lost: | 4 |
Retired: | 12 |
General characteristics P class | |
Type: | Destroyer |
Displacement: | |
Length: | 345 ft (105 m) o/a |
Beam: | 35 ft (10.7 m) |
Draught: | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
Propulsion: | 2 x Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp on 2 shafts |
Speed: | 36.75 kt |
Range: | 3,850 nmi at 20 kt |
Armament: |
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General characteristics (4.7 inch O class) | |
Displacement: |
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Complement: | 176 (217 in leader) |
Armament: |
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Notes: | Other characteristics as per P class |
General characteristics (4 inch O class) | |
Displacement: |
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Armament: |
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Notes: | Other characteristics as per P class |
The O and P class was a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy. Ordered in 1939, they were the first ships in the War Emergency Programme, also known as the 1st and 2nd Emergency Flotilla, respectively. They served as convoy escorts in World War II, and some were subsequently converted to fast second-rate anti-submarine frigates in the 1950s.
The O and P class were based on the hull and machinery of the preceding J class, but with more sheer forward to counter the poor riding qualities of the Js. These ships used the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer.
The O-class ships were built in two groups of four. The first group had 4.7 in guns. They were in low-angle mounts which could elevate to only 40 degrees, and were additionally fitted with a 4 in anti-aircraft gun in place of one set of torpedo tubes. The second group had 4-inch (102 mm) guns in high-angle mounts and were fitted to act as minelayers; they could be recognised by the flat "beaver tail" stern over which the mines were dropped. When carrying mines they had to land Y gun, their torpedo tubes and depth charges. The designed anti-aircraft armament was one quadruple QF 2-pounder "pom pom" and a pair of quadruple 0.5-inch Vickers A/A machine guns. The latter proved to be outdated, and were replaced by 20 mm Oerlikon guns as they became available, with a total of six single mounts eventually being carried.
The P class were repeats of the O class, armed entirely with 4 in guns, in high-angle mounts fitted with a new tall design of shield which did not require the ships to lose a set of torpedo tubes to take on further AA guns.
All ships survived the war. Five of them were involved in the Battle of the Barents Sea, Onslow being badly damaged. After the battle, the ships were refitted with tall lattice masts instead of the normal mast.