W and Z class destroyer

The W and Z class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1943–1944. They were constructed as two flotillas, with names beginning with "W-" and "Z-", respectively, although, like the preceding U and V class, two of the flotilla leaders were named after historical naval figures (as had been Royal Navy practice during the inter-war years). They were known as the 9th and 10th Emergency Flotilla, respectively. They served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.

W class

*"Kempenfelt" - flotilla leader, built by John Brown, Clydebank, laid down 24 June 1942, launched 8 May 1943, and completed 25 October 1943. Transferred to Yugoslavia in 1958 as "Kotor".
*"Wager", built by John Brown, laid down 20 November 1942, launched 1 November 1943, and completed 14 April 1944. Transferred to Yugoslavia in 1958 as "Pula".
*"Wakeful", built by Fairfields, laid down 3 June 1942, launched 30 June 1943, and completed 17 February 1944.
*"Wessex", built by Fairfields, laid down 20 October 1942, launched 2 September 1943, and completed 11 May 1944. Transferred to South Africa in 1950 as "Jan van Riebeeck".
*"Whelp", built by Hawthorn Leslie, laid down 1 May 1942, launched 3 June 1943, and completed 26 April 1944. Transferred to South Africa in 1953 as "Simon van der Stel".
*"Whirlwind", built by Hawthorn Leslie, laid down 31 July 1942, launched 30 August 1943, and completed 20 July 1944.
*"Wizard", built by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow, laid down 14 September 1942, launched 29 September 1943, and completed 30 March 1944. Broken up in March 1967 at Inverkeithing.
*"Wrangler", built by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow, laid down 23 September1942, launched 30 December 1943, and completed 14 July 1944. Transferred to South Africa in 1957 as "Vrystaat".

Z class

*"Myngs", built by Vickers-Armstrong, Tyneside, laid down 27 May 1942, launched 31 May 1942, and completed 23 June 1944. Transferred to Egypt 1955 as "El Qaher".
*"Zephyr", built by Vickers-Armstrong, Tyneside, laid down 13 July 1942, launched 15 July 1943, and completed 6 September 1944. Broken up July 1958 at Dunston.
*"Zambesi", built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 21 December 1942, launched 12 November 1943, and completed 18 July 1944. Broken up December 1959 at Briton Ferry.
*"Zealous", built by Cammell Laird, laid down 5 May 1943, launched 28 February 1944, and completed 9 October 1944. Transferred to Israel 1955 as "Eilat".
*"Zebra", built by Denny, Dunbarton, laid down 14 May 1942, launched 8 March 1944, and completed 13 October 1944. Broken up February 1959 at Newport.
*"Zenith", built by Denny, laid down 19 May 1942, launched 5 June 1944, and completed 22 December 1944. Transferred to Egypt 1955 as "El Fateh".
*"Zest", built by John I. Thornycroft, Woolston, laid down 21 July 1942, launched 14 October 1943, and completed 20 July 1944.
*"Zodiac", built by John I. Thornycroft, laid down 7 November 1942, launched 11 March 1944, and completed 23 October 1944. Transferred to Israel 1955 as "Yaffa".

ee also

* The V and W class destroyers.
*Type 15 frigate: postwar full conversion of Wartime Emergency Programme destroyers into first-rate fast anti-submarine frigates

Bibliography

* "Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981", Maurice Cocker, Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-1075-7
* "Royal Navy Destroyers since 1945", Leo Marriot, Ian Allan, ISBN 0-7110-1817-0
* "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946", Ed. Robert Gardiner, Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-913-8
* "Destroyers of World War II, An International Encyclopedia", M. J. Whiteley, Arms and Armour Press, 1988, ISBN 1-85409-521-8