HMS GLOWWORM 1938 BRITISH G-CLASS DESTROYER

HMS Glowworm (H92) was a British destroyer from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in 1934, the launch took place in July 1935, and the entry into service with the Royal Navy - in January 1936. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 98.5 meters and a width of 10.1 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 1,850 tons, and the maximum speed was approx. 36 knots. The armament at the time of the launch consisted of, among others: four single 120 mm guns, eight 533 mm torpedo tubes and depth charge drop-offs. HMS Glowworm (H92) was one of the destroyers belonging to the G-type. In general, the destroyers of this type were modeled on the F-class ships, but had a changed and more efficient propulsion system and were slightly smaller. When building G-class destroyers, emphasis was placed on their anti-submarine anti-submarine (ZOP) capabilities, equipping them with ASDICs. One of the destroyers of this type was just that HMS Glowworm, which was built in the company's yard John I. Thornycroft and Company in Woolston, near Southampton. Destroyer, spent the first weeks of World War II in the Mediterranean Sea, only to reach its mother waters at the end of 1939. In April 1940, he took part in the Royal Navy's operations in Norwegian waters. On April 8 this year HMS Glowworm established combat contact with the German invasion forces and undertook an unequal fire fight with the German cruiser Admiral Hipper. After receiving several hits from the 203 mm caliber guns, the destroyer commander (Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope) decided to ram the enemy cruiser, as a result of which Admiral Hipper was badly damaged. However, as a result of this heroic deed, HMS Glowworm sank and its commander fell. It was posthumously decorated with the highest British order - the Victoria Cross.