L and M-class destroyer

The L and M class was a class of sixteen destroyers which served in the British Royal Navy during World War II. The ships of the class were launched between 1939 and 1942.

HMS Legion with her Type 285 radar aerials visible on her HA DCT
Class overview
Operators
  •  Royal Navy
  •  Polish Navy
  •  Turkish Navy
Preceded byJ, K and N class
Succeeded byO and P class
SubclassesL, M
Built1938–42
Completed16
Lost9
Scrapped7
General characteristics as completed
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
  • 1,920 long tons (1,951 t) (standard)
  • 2,660 long tons (2,703 t) (deep)
Length362 ft 3 in (110.4 m) o/a
Beam37 ft (11.3 m)
Draught10 ft (3.0 m)
Installed power48,000 shp (36,000 kW)
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement190
Sensors and
processing systems
  • ASDIC
  • Type 285 anti-aircraft (AA) radar
  • Type 286M air warning radar
Armament
  • 3 × 2 - QF 4.7-inch Mk XI dual purpose guns Or
  • 4 × 2 - QF 4-inch Mk XVI dual purpose guns
  • 1 × 1 - QF 4-inch Mk V anti-aircraft gun
  • 1 × 4 - QF 2-pounder Mk VIII anti-aircraft guns
  • 2 × 4 - QF .5-inch Vickers Mk III anti-aircraft machine guns
  • 2 × 4 - 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 42 × Depth charges, 2 rails and 2 throwers

The L class (also known as the Laforeys) were approved under the 1937 Naval Estimates. Four of these ships (Lance, Lively, Legion and Larne) were built with 4-inch (100 mm) armament instead of 4.7 inch. Six of the eight were war losses, with the surviving pair being broken up in 1948.

The M Class were built under the 1939 Naval Estimates. They served in the Home Fleet until 1944 and then went to the Mediterranean. Three were wartime losses; of the five survivors, the Musketeer was broken up in 1955 and the other four sold to Turkey in 1958.

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