Shannon Class Destroyer
Shannon, Antaran destroyer laid down 1940
Displacement:
2 472 t light; 2 562 t standard; 2 830 t normal; 3 044 t full load
Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(410,43 ft / 406,50 ft) x 40,19 ft x (13,12 / 13,84 ft)
(125,10 m / 123,90 m) x 12,25 m x (4,00 / 4,22 m)
Armament:
10 - 5,00" / 127 mm 40,0 cal guns - 59,90lbs / 27,17kg shells, 100 per gun
Dual purpose guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1940 Model
3 x 2-gun mounts on centreline, aft deck aft
2 raised mounts - superfiring
2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
Weight of broadside 599 lbs / 272 kg
Main Torpedoes
8 - 21,0" / 533 mm, 30,00 ft / 9,14 m torpedoes - 1,974 t each, 15,795 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted centre rotating tubes
Main DC/AS Mortars
50 - 250,00 lbs / 113,40 kg Depth Charges + 2 reloads - 5,804 t total
in Stern depth charge racks
Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1,00" / 25 mm 1,00" / 25 mm 1,00" / 25 mm
- Protected deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 0,75" / 19 mm
Forecastle: 0,75" / 19 mm Quarter deck: 0,75" / 19 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 65 606 shp / 48 942 Kw = 35,00 kts
Range 4 800nm at 15,00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 482 tons
Complement:
193 - 252
Cost:
£2,064 million / $8,254 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 203 tons, 7,2%
- Guns: 165 tons, 5,8%
- Weapons: 39 tons, 1,4%
Armour: 220 tons, 7,8%
- Armament: 73 tons, 2,6%
- Armour Deck: 147 tons, 5,2%
Machinery: 1 476 tons, 52,2%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 573 tons, 20,2%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 358 tons, 12,6%
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0,0%
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
455 lbs / 207 Kg = 7,3 x 5,0 " / 127 mm shells or 0,2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,00
Metacentric height 1,3 ft / 0,4 m
Roll period: 14,9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,65
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 0,60
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle,
a normal bow and a cruiser stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0,462 / 0,471
Length to Beam Ratio: 10,11 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 20,16 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 68 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 85
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10,00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 30,00%, 22,31 ft / 6,80 m, 18,70 ft / 5,70 m
- Forward deck: 30,00%, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m
- Aft deck: 25,00%, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m
- Quarter deck: 15,00%, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m, 11,15 ft / 3,40 m
- Average freeboard: 13,85 ft / 4,22 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 184,4%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 88,3%
Waterplane Area: 10 526 Square feet or 978 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 67%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 39 lbs/sq ft or 191 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0,48
- Longitudinal: 0,78
- Overall: 0,50
The Shannon class destroyer was designed after US destroyers such as the Benson and was first launched in early 1940 after the lead ship had passed her sea trials. The Shannon class was considered a highly successful design and was the highest produced destroyer of World War Two. Unfortunately, nearly half of these destroyers never saw combat because of Japan's surprise attack on Antara, which destroyed most ships that were anchored in port. They were praised for their ruggedness, speed and artillery fire power. Following the surprise attack in 1940, the remaining destroyers underwent extensive repairs and refits. By 1941, most Antaran ships, especially the Shannon class destroyers, received a huge buff in AA power. Sadly most destroyers of this class were sunk by the end of the war, but proved to be a valuable member of the Antaran navy.
Notable Ships
Ships in class -Entered Service - Fate
Shannon - 1939 - Sold to Brazilian Navy 1954
Daisy - 1940 - Sold to Brazilian Navy 1954
Hemsley - 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1940
Sheridon - 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1940
Erin - 1940 - Preserved as museum
Hudson - 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1940
Charlette - 1940 - Sunk by friendly fire 1943
Harry - 1940 - Sunk by surface fire 1944
Peyton - 1940 - Sunk by surface fire 1942
Ensworth - 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1940
Zachary - 1940 - Sunk by submarine 1944
Michael - 1940 - Sunk by surface fire 1944
Becker - 1940 - Scrapped 1960
Keagon (converted to minelayer)- 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1940
Abigail (converted to minelayer)- 1940 - Sunk by aircraft 1944
Terez (converted to minelayer)- 1940 - Sold for scrap 1958
Ashton - 1941 - Sunk by collision with ARS Becker 1951
Andre - 1941 - Sunk by submarine 1944
Beal - 1941 - Sunk as target 1971