Introduction
The Commission here was to design and build a Royal Navy destroyer, in 20mm, based on the E & F Types, for use in a varitey of Early to Mid World War Two games. The design was to capture the look of the ship, while at same time designing a model that was pratical for wargaming purposes.
Historical Background
The end of WWI saw the Royal Navy as the world leader in destroyer design, with the V & W designs setting the standard. Between the A Class (1927 Programme) and the I Class, Royal Naval Destroyer followed the same basic design with very little change. As consequence, while the Royal Navy had ended the last war as world leaders in destroyer design, by the mid-1930's, they were dated and falling behind there rival in many areas. In particular, one of the greatest failings pre-war RN destoyers was that, despite some recognition of the need, was the lack of a effective dual high angle purpose main armament in 4.7" with a elevation greater than 40 degrees, (there was a 4.5" HA weapon in service and which was used on Carriers and some Capital ships, and in a modifeid form, by the Army, and this eventually was introduced as a destroyer weapon later in the war).
The offer great weakness, as weak close range armerment, which until the introduction of the Quad 2 Pounder on the Tribal's, consisted of either 2 single 2 pdrs, and sometimes a single 3" or 12pdr HA gun on early types (mainly V & W, D-Class and some leaders), and 2 Quad .5 cal machines guns from E Class onwards. The later proved to be a disappointment. In hindsight, this level of CRA was hopelessly inadequate, but in defence, most other navy's followed a similiar pattern, even as late as 1940 newly launched American destroyers in the Sims and Benson Classes had only 4 to 6 single .5 cal machine guns as there close range armerment. However this a complex subject and outside the scope of this summary.
Pre-war Royal Destroyers destroyers consisted of two types, Leaders and Fleet Destroyers, the principle difference between the two being that leaders had five main guns and additional accomadation for flotila cammder and staff. As war approached, escort destroyers of the Hunt Class were added to the RN types. Contary to popular belief, destroyers were not suited to the role of convoy escort, lacking range and endurance, and carrying unsuitable mix armerment for the role. Many of the older types, such as V&W's were either converted to Long Range Escorts or under went the WAIR conversion to AA escorts.
The princple early war changes to destroyers that remained in the fleet role, was the replacement of one set of Quad Torpedo tubes with a single 3" or 4" HA gun, (these had become available as Twin 4" guns replaced singles on lager ships) in a belated attempt to improve AA defence and an increases in depth charges. As weapons became available, additional weapon were added, such as 20mm guns which supplmented and then replace the .50 cal machine guns.
As designed, the E & F Class destroyers, had a overal lenght of 100.28 metres, and armerment of 4x 4.7" QF MK IX, 2x Quad .5 Machine Guns and 2 Quad 21" Torpedeo Tubes. The main early war changes consited of addition of Radar, extra depth charges and the replacement of one set of tubes with a 3" or 4" HA gun, and from 1941, additional 20mm guns.
Desigining a Model
For the model it was decided to use the E type as the basis, with some of the early war modification added, so that the model would have 4x 4.7", but only one set of torpedeo tubes, but with 3" HA, and the two sets of .5 Mg, with depth charge rack and two throwers.
The main challenge though, was to reduce the size of the model to somethng practical, while retaining the look of the orginal design. To make in scale, in 1:72, the model would be 1.39 metres long, and while this would be impressive, it was far to large for the average normal wargames table. After discussing this with the customer, I decided to aim for a lenght of approximatly 60-70cm. Looking at the orginal plans, I could see plenty of areas where I could reduce space, such as the forecastle and the space between "B" gun and the Brigde and between the funnels.
Stage One - this consisted of purchasing a Tamiya 1:700 E Class kit, with provided me with a 3D reference too, and several plans, and consult any available sources that could find, and look for images on the internet.
Stage Two - Currently in progress - Prepare a set of plans for the actual model and specific details, just as the bridge area, guns etc. I've decided that many of the fittings could be used on other projects, and so I shall make master and mould cast them in white metal and resin.
