Cossack

HMS Cossack at anchor, date and location unknown.

History

Design

First thoughts of a new destroyer class percolated within the Royal Navy as early as 1934, when became clear that a versatile and powerful destroyer leader design was needed which would displace not more than 1,850 tons to not break the 1930 London Naval Treaty. The intended tasks of such a vessel would range from patrol and guard duties over to escorting convoys, to supporting destroyer flotillas, up to defending fleets, convoys, and ports against air attacks. To fulfill these tasks, it was concluded that a heavy artillery component would be required, so early designs proposed ten (10) 120mm guns in five turrets, several machine guns for air defense, and also torpedo tubes in case of night battles. The idea of installing the 40mm 2-pdr “PomPoms” was quickly discarded, as such installations would only increase the displacement, and they could always be installed later on in case of hostilities, as in those cases the restrictions of any treaty would no longer be a factor.

As the design progressed through 1935, it was decided to abandon the idea of five turrets and incorporate the “PomPoms” into the design. This happened in part as a result of the American Somers-class, which also featured four twin turrets, and the British designers did not want to cause a naval arms race by building even stronger ships.

The initial configuration displaced 1,854 tons, and had machinery which allowed up to 44,000 shaft horsepower for a maximum speed of 36 knots. However, when fully loaded up to 2,519 tons displacement, this speed would drop to 32.5 knots. Like most destroyers of the British Navy, they had a very impressive cruising range of 5,700 statute miles, exceeding the operating range of many foreign destroyers. The armament consisted of four twin-mounted 120mm guns with a maximum elevation 40°, which were directed by a fire control system that could track both sea and air targets, giving the main armament a theoretical ability to engage low flying aircraft. One quadruple 40mm 2-pdr and two .50-caliber machine guns would ensure close range AA defense, while one quadruple 533mm torpedo launcher provided additional striking power against surface units. The anti-submarine armament consisted of 20 depth charges.

In 1936, seven ships were ordered; these began to enter service in 1938. Due to political reasons, and the increasing threat of foreign navies — particularly Germany, which had begun to build very large and combat capable destroyers — nine more were ordered only a few months after the first seven. In 1939, three further vessels were built for the Royal Australian Navy, and four more for the Royal Canadian Navy followed in 1940. Canada also built four more ships in their own shipyards, bringing the final tally to twenty-seven (27) vessels of the class constructed. Christened the Tribal class, all twenty-seven ships were named after indigenous tribes of native peoples found throughout the British Empire (such as Sikh, Iroquois, and Warramunga).

After the onset of World War II, aircraft proved to be a very effective counter to destroyers, and two Tribal-class ships were sunk by air attacks (HMS Afridi and HMS Gurkha). In the interest of increasing their anti-aircraft defenses, the X-turret was removed and replaced by a twin high-angle 102mm dual purpose gun. The light and medium AA was similarly revised and modernized by adding 20mm Oerlikons and the famous 40mm Bofors, which eventually replaced the 2-pdr quadruple and the .50-caliber machine guns. Additionally, the number of depth charges was increased to up to 46 as the ships saw increasing service performing convoy duties during the Battle of the Atlantic. As it became available, members of the class also received radar equipment; however, this only happened from 1944 onwards.

Service

Historical Inaccuracies

• The Admiralty light mottle type camouflage is actually the historical camouflage of HMS Matabele (F26). Cossack was never camouflaged; she was painted in overall Mediterranean White with a red funnel band during the pre-war period and was in solid grey at the time of her loss.

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  Ship's crest of HMS Cossack.

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  Cossack under way in 1938.

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  Cossack in port.

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  Photos of battle damage sustained by Cossack on 13 April 1940 near Narvik, Norway.

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  The remains of Cossack after being struck by a torpedo from a German submarine on 23 October 1941.