 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSHunter |
| Ordered | 13 December 1934 |
| Builder | Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom |
| Cost | £253,167 |
| Laid down | 25 March 1935 |
| Launched | 25 February 1936 |
| Completed | 30 September 1936 |
| Identification | Pennant number: H35 |
| Fate | Sunk in theFirst Battle of Narvik, 10 April 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | H-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 323 ft (98.5 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10.1 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, gearedsteam turbines |
| Speed | 36knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range | 5,530 nmi (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 137 (peacetime), 146 (wartime) |
| Sensors & processing systems | ASDIC |
| Armament |
|
HMSHunter was aH-classdestroyer built for theRoyal Navy in the mid-1930s. During theSpanish Civil War of 1936–1939 the ship enforced the arms blockade imposed on both sides by Britain and France, until she struck amine in May 1937. She was under repair for the next year and a half, after which she rejoined theMediterranean Fleet. During the first few months of theSecond World War,Hunter searched for Germancommerce raiders in the Atlantic Ocean until she was transferred back to Britain in February 1940. Returning to action in theNorwegian Campaign, she was sunk by German destroyers during theFirst Battle of Narvik in April 1940.
Hunter displaced 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) atstandard load and 1,883 long tons (1,913 t) atdeep load. The ship had anoverall length of 323 feet (98.5 m), abeam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and adraught of 12 feet 5 inches (3.8 m). She was powered byParsons gearedsteam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 34,000shaft horsepower (25,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drumwater-tube boilers.Hunter carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) offuel oil that gave her a range of 5,530nautical miles (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 137 officers and men in peacetime,[1] but this was increased to 146 in wartime.[2]
The ship mounted four 45-calibre4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts. Foranti-aircraft (AA) defence,Hunter had two quadruple Mark I mounts for the0.5 inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. She was fitted with two above-water quadrupletorpedo tube mounts for21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.[1] Onedepth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[3]
Ordered on 13 December 1934,Hunter was laid down bySwan Hunter & Wigham Richardson atWallsend-on-Tyne, England, on 27 March 1935. She was launched on 25 February 1936 and completed on 30 September. Excluding government-furnished equipment such as armament, the ship cost £253,167.[4][Note 1]Hunter was assigned to the2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet upon commissioning.[5]
The destroyer patrolled Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War, enforcing the edicts of theNon-Intervention Committee.[5]Hunter struck a mine south ofAlmeria, Spain, on the afternoon of 13 May 1937. She suffered severe damage, with a heavy list, her radio wrecked and the bow flooded. Eight of her complement were killed and 24 wounded.[6] The ship was towed clear of the minefield by the SpanishRepublican destroyerLazaga.[5] The mines had been laid by two ex-GermanSpanish NationalistE-boats, theRequeté and theFalange on the night of 6 April.[7]Hunter was towed to Almeria byHyperion, where she arrived in the early hours of 14 May. Thelight cruiserArethusa towed her toGibraltar,[6] where she was temporarily repaired from 15 May to 18 August.Hunter was towed toMalta for permanent repairs in August 1937, but they were not completed until 10 November 1938. The ship was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla once her repairs were finished and she was given a brief overhaul in Malta between 24 June and 4 July 1939.Hunter was sent to Plymouth for a more thorough refit in mid-August 1939 that lasted through 27 August.[5]
When the Second World War began on 3 September,Hunter was en route toFreetown,Sierra Leone to search for German commerce raiders, before being transferred to theNorth America and West Indies Station in late October.Hunter remained on that station until she was transferred to theBritish Isles in February 1940 and began a refit atFalmouth that lasted until 9 March. The ship rejoined the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of theHome Fleet atScapa Flow on 17 March.[8] On 6 AprilHunter and the rest of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla escorted the four destroyerminelayers of the20th Destroyer Flotilla as they sailed to implementOperation Wilfred, an operation to laymines in theVestfjord to prevent the transport of Swedish iron ore fromNarvik to Germany. The mines were laid on the early morning of 8 April, before the Germans began their invasion, and the destroyers joined thebattlecruiserRenown and her escorts.[9]
During the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940,Hunter and four other H-class ships of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked theGerman destroyers that had transportedGerman troops to occupyNarvik in northernNorway the previous day. Theflotilla leaderHardy led four of herhalf-sisters downOfotfjord in a surprise dawn attack on Narvik harbour during a blinding snowstorm.Hotspur andHostile were initially left at the entrance, butHunter followedHardy into the harbour and fired all eight of her torpedoes into the mass of shipping. One torpedo hit theGerman destroyer Z22 Anton Schmitt in the forward engine room, followed by one ofHunter's 4.7-inch shells. As the British ships were withdrawing, they encountered five German destroyers at close range. Two of the German shipscrossed the T of the British ships and quickly setHardy on fire and forced her to run aground.Hunter eventually took the lead, but was severely damaged by the Germans, probably including one torpedo hit, and her speed dropped rapidly.Hotspur, immediately behind her, was temporarily out of control due to two hits, and rammed her from behind. When the ships managed to disengage,Huntercapsized.[11] 107 men of the crew were killed and another five died of their wounds. The German destroyers rescued 46 men, who were released into Sweden on 13 April.[12]
The wreck was discovered on 5 March 2008 by theRoyal Norwegian Navy mine control vesselHNoMS Tyr, after being unknown for nearly 70 years, and will be marked as a war grave to commemorate the lost members of her crew.[13] A series of coordinated memorial ceremonies were held on board British and Norwegian warships on Saturday 8 March 2008, honouring all those who died during the battles of Narvik. Over a thousandNATO personnel took part, including British and Norwegian sailors, Royal Marines and soldiers. Led byHMS Albion, the UK's Fleet Amphibious Flagship, five warships steamed in line past the spot where the ship lies, marked for the occasion byTyr.Hunter's final resting place was marked with wreaths cast into the sea.[14]
We searched the area where HMS Hunter most likely was located and spent around 14 hours before we found the vessel.
68°24′53″N17°10′22″E / 68.41472°N 17.17278°E /68.41472; 17.17278
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1940 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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