TheAdmiralty type leader, sometimes known as theScott class, were aclass of eightdestroyer leaders designed and built for theRoyal Navy towards the end ofWorld War I. They were named afterScottish historical leaders[citation needed]. The function of a leader was to carry theflag staff of a destroyerflotilla, therefore they were enlarged to carry additional crew, offices and signalling equipment, allowing a fifth gun to be carried. These ships were contemporary with theThornycroft type leader, distinguishable by their two narrow funnels of equal height, theThornycroft designs latter having characteristic broad, slab-sided funnels.
All exceptMackay andMalcolm were completed in time for wartime service,Scott being a war loss. The two final orders –Barrington andHughes – were cancelled with the end of the War; these two had originally been ordered to the Thornycroft leader design.Stuart was transferred to Australia in 1933. All the remaining ships exceptBruce (expended as a target ship in 1939) survived service inWorld War II, being converted to escort ships.Montrose andStuart had Brown-Curtissteam turbines, giving 43,000 shp (32,000 kW) for an extra ½ knot.
Scott; built byCammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, launched 18 October 1917 and completed 1918. Torpedoed byU-boat 15 August 1918 in theNorth Sea off the Dutch coast.
Two more were ordered in December 1916:
Bruce; built by Cammell Laird, laid down 12 May 1917, launched 26 February 1918 and completed 30 May 1918. Sunk as target off theIsle of Wight, 22 November 1939
Douglas; built by Cammell Laird, laid down 30 June 1917, launched 8 June 1918 and completed 2 September 1918. Convoy escort during World War II, sold for breaking up 20 March 1945.
Five more were ordered in April 1917. The second vessel was originally namedClaverhouse, but was renamedMackay 31 December 1918:
Campbell; built by Cammell Laird, laid down 10 November 1917, launched 21 September 1918 and completed 21 December 1918. Convoy escort during World War II, sold for breaking up 18 February 1947.
Mackay; built by Cammell Laird, launched 21 December 1918 and completed 1919. Allocated to11th Destroyer Flotilla in September 1939. Convoy escort during World War II, sold for breaking up 18 February 1947.
Malcolm; built by Cammell Laird, laid down 5 March 1918, launched 29 May 1919 and completed 1919. Convoy escort during World War II, sold for breaking up 25 July 1945.
Montrose; built by R. & W.Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn on Tyne, laid down 4 October 1917, launched 10 June 1918 and completed 14 September 1918. Convoy escort during World War II, sold for breaking up 31 January 1946.
Stuart; built by Hawthorn Leslie, laid down 18 October 1917, launched 22 August 1918 and completed 21 December 1918. Transferred to theRoyal Australian Navy 11 October 1933, sold for breaking up 3 February 1947.
Another two were ordered in April 1918, but were cancelled with the end of the war:
Barrington, ordered from Cammell Laird, cancelled December 1918.
Hughes, ordered from Cammell Laird, cancelled December 1918.
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