BRITISH E CLASS DESTROYER

The term "E" class (E-Class desttoyers) is the collective name for the British destroyer class of the interwar period and World War II. All ships of this class were launched in 1934. In total, 9 units of this type were created. The length of the class "E" destroyers at the time of launching was 100.3 meters, and the width was 10.13 meters. The maximum speed was up to 35.5 knots. It was armed with four 120mm QF 4.7-inch Mark IX cannons, two quadruple 12.7mm machine guns, and two quadruple 533mm torpedo tubes. Destroyers of this class were also armed with 20 depth charges. Type "E" destroyers were ordered by the British Royal Navy in 1931, and a year later an almost twin class of units - Type "F" was ordered. The "E" class (E-Class) ships were structurally based on the C-type and, above all, the D-class destroyers. In relation to the latter class, the changes concerned the hull and, to a lesser extent, the armaments used. E-Class units have been adapted primarily to carry out escort tasks, and this function was improved during World War II by, among others, adding ASDIC and systematic expansion of the ZOP capabilities of this class of units. Ships of this class fought during World War II both in the Pacific (HMS Electra and HMS Encounter took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, MW 1942), the Mediterranean Sea (HMS Eclipse) and the Atlantic. It is worth adding that after 1945 the surviving units of this class served in the following navies: Canada, Greece and the Dominican Republic.