View source for C and D-class destroyer

{{For|other classes of the same name|C class destroyer (disambiguation){{!}}C-class destroyer|D-class destroyer (disambiguation){{!}}D-class destroyer}}
{{short description|Ship class}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Ottawa (H60).jpg
|Ship caption=[[HMS Crusader (H60)|HMCS ''Ottawa'']]
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=C and D
|Builders=
|Operators=*{{navy|United Kingdom}}
* {{naval|Canada|1911}}
|Class before={{sclass2|A- and B|destroyer|4}}
|Class after={{sclass2|E and F|destroyer|4}}
|Subclasses=C, D
|Cost=
|Built range=1930–1933
|In commission range=1932–1945 
|Total ships planned=14
|Total ships completed=14
|Total ships lost=10
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(HMS ''Dainty'' as built)
|Ship type=[[Destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1375|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
* {{convert|1890|LT|t}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|329|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam={{convert|33|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*3 × [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
* {{cvt|36000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 × shafts; 2 × geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|5870|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|Ship complement=145
|Ship sensors=[[ASDIC]]
|Ship armament=*4 × single [[QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun|QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns]]
* 1 × single [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|QF 3-inch]] [[AA gun]]
* 2 × quadruple [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF .5-inch Vickers Mk III]] [[anti-aircraft machinegun]]s
* 2 × quadruple [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-inch]] [[torpedo tube]]s
* 1 × [[depth charge]] rail and 2 throwers for 20 depth charges
}}
|}

The '''C and D class''' was a group of 14 [[destroyer]]s built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the early 1930s. As in previous years, it was originally intended to order a complete flotilla comprising eight destroyers—plus a [[flotilla leader]] as the ninth unit—in each year. However, only four ships—plus a leader—were ordered under the 1929–1930 Programme as the C class. The other four ships planned for the C class were never ordered as an economy measure and disarmament gesture by the [[1929 United Kingdom general election|Labour government]] of [[Ramsay MacDonald]]. A complete flotilla—the 'D' class—was ordered under the 1930–1931 Programme.

The five ships of the '''C class''' were assigned to [[Home Fleet]] upon their completion, although they reinforced the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] during the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|Italian invasion of Abyssinia]] of 1935–1936 and enforced the [[Non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War|Non-Intervention Agreement]] during the [[Spanish Civil War]] of 1936–1939. They were transferred to the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] (RCN) in 1937–1939 and spent most of their time during World War II on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic Ocean. ''Fraser'' (formerly ''Crescent'') was sunk when she was accidentally [[ramming|rammed]] by the British cruiser HMS ''Calcutta'' in 1940.  ''Ottawa'' (formerly ''Crusader'') was sunk by a German submarine in 1942, though she had sunk an Italian submarine in 1940. The other ships of the class sank three German submarines during the war. They were all worn out by the end of the war and were [[ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1946–1947.

The '''D-class''' destroyers were initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet upon [[Ship commissioning|commissioning]], but were transferred to the [[China Station]] in 1935. Like the C class, most were temporarily deployed in the [[Red Sea]] when the Italians invaded Abyssinia, but returned to the China Station when that was over. They were still there when the war began, but reinforced the Mediterranean Fleet shortly afterwards. Five ships were transferred to Home Fleet in December 1939, but ''Duchess'' was sunk en route when she was accidentally rammed by the battleship HMS ''Barham'', and ''Duncan'' was badly damaged when she collided with a merchant ship, requiring lengthy repairs. ''Daring'' was sunk by a German submarine in February 1940. The other two participated in the [[Norwegian Campaign]] of April–June, but ''Delight'' was sunk by German aircraft in July and ''Diana'' was transferred to the RCN as a replacement for the ''Crescent'' after she was sunk by the cruiser ''Calcutta''. However, she too was rammed and sunk several months later by a freighter that she was escorting.

The four ships that remained with the Mediterranean Fleet sank three Italian submarines in 1940 while escorting [[Malta convoys]] and larger warships of the fleet. Several participated in the [[Battle of Calabria|Battles of Calabria]] and [[Battle of Cape Spartivento|Cape Spartivento]] that year. ''Duncan'' joined [[Force H]] at [[Gibraltar]] in October and escorted that group. ''Dainty'' was sunk by German bombers in February 1941 and ''Diamond'' in April while evacuating [[Operation Demon|Allied personnel from Greece]]. ''Defender'' had to be [[scuttled]] in July when she was crippled by a German bomber when returning from escorting a convoy to Tobruk. ''Duncan'' and ''Decoy'' remained on escort duties for the rest of the year before being transferred to the [[Eastern Fleet]] in early 1942. They returned to the UK late in the year to begin conversions to [[escort destroyer]]s. ''Decoy'' was transferred to the RCN in early 1943, but both became convoy escorts in the Atlantic. They sank two German submarines before being assigned to the UK to protect Allied shipping during [[Operation Overlord]]. They sank three more submarines before the end of the war and were [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] in 1945. ''Duncan'' was scrapped in 1945 and ''Decoy'' during 1946.

==Design and description==
These ships were based on the preceding [[B-class destroyer|B class]], but were enlarged to increase their endurance and to allow for the inclusion of a [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft gun]].<ref name=l4/> This class introduced a [[Fire-control system|director-control tower]] for British destroyers. The 'C' class were unique in having a split [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]], with the compass platform and [[Pilothouse|wheelhouse]] separated from the chartroom and director tower. This unusual layout was not repeated. As per [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] policy in alternating Two-Speed Destroyer Sweep (TSDS) [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeping gear]] and [[Sonar#History|ASDIC]] (sonar) capability between destroyer flotillas, the C class lacked ASDIC and were designed to carry only six [[depth charge]]s. The D class were repeats of the C's, except that the TSDS was replaced by storage for up to 30 depth charges and ASDIC.<ref>Friedman, pp. 205–215, 298–299</ref>

The C- and D-class destroyers displaced {{convert|1375|LT|t}} at [[Displacement (ship)|standard]] load and {{convert|1865|LT|t}} at [[deep load]]. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|329|ft|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|33|ft|m|1}} and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|1}}. They were powered by [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, driving two shafts, which developed a total of {{convert|36000|shp|lk=in}} and gave a maximum speed of {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}.<ref>Whitley, pp. 26, 102</ref> Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum [[water-tube boiler]]s that operated at a pressure of {{convert|300|psi|kPa kg/cm2|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} and a temperature of {{convert|600|°F}}. The destroyers carried a maximum of {{convert|473|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]] that gave them a range of {{convert|5500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}. Their complement was 145 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=l4>Lenton, p. 154</ref>

{{HMS|Kempenfelt|I18|2}}, leader of the C class, displaced {{convert|15|LT|t}} more than her destroyers and carried an extra 30 personnel who formed the staff of the [[Captain (D)]], commanding officer of the flotilla.<ref name=w7>Whitley, p. 27</ref> Unique among the C and D-class ships, she had three [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow]] [[water-tube boiler]]s that operated at a pressure of {{convert|310|psi|kPa kg/cm2|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=l4/> {{HMS|Duncan|D99|2}}, leader of the 'D' class, displaced {{convert|25|LT|t}} more than her destroyers and also carried an extra 30 personnel.<ref>Whitley, p. 101</ref>

All of the ships of the class mounted four 45-[[caliber (artillery)|calibre]] [[QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun|4.7-inch Mk IX guns]] in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front to rear. For [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence, they had a single [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt]]<ref group=Note>"cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> AA gun between her [[funnel (ship)|funnel]]s. The C-class ships carried two {{convert|40|mm|adj=on|1}} [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2-pounder Mk II]] AA guns mounted on the aft end of their [[forecastle]] deck. The D-class destroyers had been intended to carry the new [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF 0.5-inch (12.7&nbsp;mm) Mk III]] machine gun in quadruple mountings on the bridge wings, but these were not initially available, so the old 2-pounder guns were retained in ''Daring'', ''Diana'', ''Diamond'' and ''Defender''. The 3-inch AA gun was removed in 1936–37, and the 2-pounders were relocated between the funnels on platforms The ships were fitted with two above-water quadruple mount for [[British 21-inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}}]] torpedoes.<ref>Lenton, pp. 154–55</ref>

The main guns were controlled by an [[Admiralty Fire Control Clock]] Mk I that used data derived from the director and the [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]]. They had no capability for anti-aircraft fire and the anti-aircraft guns were aimed solely by eye.<ref>Hodges and Friedman, pp. 12, 17</ref>

When purchased by Canada in 1937–38, the four C-class destroyers were refitted to meet Canadian specifications,<ref>Douglas, p. 52</ref> including the installation of [[List of British Asdic systems|Type 124]] [[ASDIC]].<ref>Brown, p. 164</ref> It is not clear how much ''Kempenfelt'' had been modified when she was turned over in October 1939, other than steam heating had yet been fitted.<ref>Douglas, p. 65</ref>

===Wartime modifications===
Beginning in May 1940, the after bank of torpedo tubes was removed and replaced with a [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder Mk V anti-aircraft gun]], the after mast and funnel being cut down to improve the gun's field of fire. Four to six [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|QF 20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon]] [[Autocannon|cannon]]s were added to the surviving ships, usually replacing the 2-pounder or .50-calibre machine gun mounts between the funnels. One pair of these was added to the bridge wings and the other pair was mounted on the [[searchlight]] platform.<ref name=l6/> Early in the war, depth charge stowage increased to 33 in the C class, while the D class carried 38.<ref>Friedman, pp. 236–37</ref> 'Y' gun on the [[Deck (ship)|quarterdeck]] was removed on many ships to allow for additional depth charge stowage as was the 12-pounder. On at least one ship, this latter gun replaced 'X' gun. Most ships had either 'A' or 'B' gun replaced by a [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] anti-submarine [[spigot mortar]], although ''Duncan'' retained both and received a split Hedgehog that was mounted on either side of 'A' gun. Some ships that received the Hedgehog in 'B' position also mounted two old [[QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss|QF 6-pounder]] [[Hotchkiss gun]]s for use against U-boats at very close range.<ref name=l6>Lenton, pp. 154–56</ref>

Most ships had their [[List of British ordnance terms#DCT|director-control tower]] and [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]] above the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] removed in exchange for a [[Type 271 radar|Type 271]] target-indication [[radar]]. A [[Type 286 radar|Type 286]] short-range surface search radar, adapted from the [[Royal Air Force]]'s ASV radar, was also added. The early models, however, could only scan directly forward and had to be aimed by turning the entire ship. Some ships also received a [[Huff-Duff]] [[radio direction finder]] on a short [[mainmast]].<ref name=l6/>

==Ships==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ C class construction data
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Builder<ref name=e45/>
!scope="col"|[[Laid down]]<ref name=e45/>
!scope="col"|[[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]]<ref name=e45>English, p. 45</ref>
!scope="col"|Completed<ref name=e45/>
!scope="col"|Fate
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Kempenfelt|I18|2}}
|[[J. Samuel White]], [[Cowes]]
|18 October 1930
|29 October 1931
|30 May 1932
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Assiniboine|I18|6}} 1939, wrecked on [[Prince Edward Island]], 10 November 1945; scrapped 1952<ref name=w7/>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Comet|H00|2}}
| rowspan="2" |[[HMNB Portsmouth|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]
| rowspan="2" |12 September 1930
| rowspan="2" |30 September 1931
|2 June 1932
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Restigouche|H00|6}} 1938, scrapped 1946<ref>English, p. 47</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Crusader|H60|2}}
|2 May 1932
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Ottawa|H60|6}} 1938, torpedoed by the {{GS|U-91|1941|6}}, 13 September 1942<ref>English, p. 49</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Cygnet|H83|2}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Vickers Armstrongs]], [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow]]
| rowspan="2" |1 December 1930
| rowspan="2" |29 September 1931
|15 April 1932
|To Canada as {{HMCS|St. Laurent|H83|6}} 1937; scrapped 1947<ref>English, p. 50</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Crescent|H48|2}}
|1 April 1934<ref name=e45/>
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Fraser|H48|6}} 1937, sunk in collision with {{HMS|Calcutta|D82|6}}, 25 June 1940<ref>English, p. 48</ref>
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+D class construction data
|-
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Builder<ref name=e1>English, p. 51</ref>
!scope="col"|Laid down<ref name=e1/>
!scope="col"|Launched<ref name=e1/>
!scope="col"|Completed<ref name=e1/>
!scope="col"|Fate
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Duncan|D99|2}}
|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
|25 September 1931
|7 July 1932
|31 March 1933
|Scrapped, 1945<ref>English, p. 53</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Dainty|H53|2}}
|[[Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company|Fairfield]], [[Govan]]
|20 April 1931
|3 May 1932
|22 December 1932
|Bombed and sunk, 24 February 1941<ref name=e54>English, p. 54</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| {{HMS|Daring|H16|2}}
| rowspan="2" |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company|Thornycroft]], [[Woolston, Hampshire|Woolston]]
|18 June 1931
|7 April 1932
|25 November 1932
|Sunk by the {{GS|U-23|1936|6}}, 18 February 1940<ref name=e54/>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Decoy|H75|2}}
|25 June 1931
|7 June 1932
|17 January 1933
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Kootenay|H75|6}} 1943; sold for scrap, 1946<ref>English, p. 56</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Defender|H07|2}}
|Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow
|22 June 1931
|7 April 1932
|31 October 1932
|Bombed and sunk, 11 July 1941<ref>English, p. 57</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Delight|H38|2}}
|Fairfield, Govan
|22 April 1931
|2 June 1932
|31 January 1933
|Bombed and sunk, 29 July 1940<ref>English, p. 58</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Diamond|H22|2}}
|Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow
|29 September 1931
|8 April 1932
|3 November 1932
|Bombed and sunk, 27 April 1941<ref>English, p. 59</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Diana|H49|2}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company|Palmers]], [[Jarrow]]
| rowspan="2" |12 June 1931
|16 June 1932
|21 December 1932
|To Canada as {{HMCS|Margaree|H49|6}} 1940, sunk in collision with {{MV|Port Fairy}}, 22 October 1940<ref name=e60>English, p. 60</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|{{HMS|Duchess|H64|2}}
|19 July 1932
|27 January 1933
|Sunk in collision with {{HMS|Barham|04|6}}, 12 December 1939
|}

==Service==
[[File:HMCS Restigouche (H00) CT-284.jpg|HMCS ''Restigouche'' about 1942–43|thumb|250px|left]]
All five of the C class were assigned to the [[2nd Destroyer Flotilla]] of the Home Fleet upon [[Ship commissioning|commissioning]] during 1932. Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, the entire flotilla was sent to the Red Sea in August 1935 to monitor Italian warship movements until April 1936. Refitted upon their return, they were deployed to Spanish waters during the [[Spanish Civil War]] in 1936–37 to intercept shipping carrying contraband goods to Spain and to protect British-flagged ships. ''Crescent'' and ''Cygnet'' were sold to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1937 and ''Comet'' and ''Crusader'' in 1938. ''Kempenfelt'' was bought in 1939, but the [[Royal Navy]] did not turn her over until enough auxiliary anti-submarine ships had been commissioned to replace her after World War II had started. All four 'C'-class ships were stationed at [[CFB Esquimalt|Esquimalt]] in British Columbia when the war began, but only ''Fraser'' and ''St. Laurent'' were immediately recalled to begin convoy escort duties on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic Coast]], the other two following in November. ''Assiniboine'' was sent to the [[Caribbean]] for local escort duties in December where she assisted in the capture of the [[blockade runner]] {{MV|Hannover||6}} in March 1940. ''Fraser'', ''St. Laurent'', and ''Restigouche'' were transferred to the UK in late May and helped to evacuate refugees from France. ''Fraser'' was sunk on 25 June 1940 in a collision with the [[anti-aircraft cruiser]] {{HMS|Calcutta|D82|6}} in the [[Gironde estuary]] while the other two were assigned to the [[Western Approaches Command]] for escort duties.<ref name=e0>English, pp. 45–50</ref>

The remaining ships spent most of the rest of the war escorting convoys in the North Atlantic, based in either Canada or the UK. ''Ottawa'' assisted the British destroyer {{HMS|Harvester|H19|2}} in sinking the {{ship|Italian submarine|Comandante Faà di Bruno}} on 7 November 1940. She was sunk by the {{Ship|German submarine|U-91|1941|6}} on 14 September 1942 while escorting [[Convoy ON 127]]. ''St. Laurent'' had her first victory on 27 December 1942 when she was credited with sinking {{Ship|German submarine|U-356||2}} while defending [[Convoy ON 154]].<ref>Douglas, pp. 568–70</ref> Together with the destroyer {{HMS|Forester|H74|6}}, and the [[frigate]]s {{HMCS|Owen Sound|K340|6}} and {{HMCS|Swansea|K328|6}}, she sank {{Ship|German submarine|U-845||2}}. While escorting [[Convoy SC 94]] on 3 August 1942, ''Assiniboine'' [[ramming|rammed]] and sank {{GS|U-210||2}}. ''Restigouche'' never sank a submarine, but she and ''St. Laurent'' were transferred to the UK to protect the shipping mustering for [[Operation Overlord]] in May 1944 and ''Assiniboine'' followed in July. They saw some action against German patrol boats in the [[Bay of Biscay]], but ''Restigouche'' and ''St. Laurent'' were in poor shape by this time and were sent back to Canada for lengthy refits in late 1944. They remained in Canada after the completion of their refits in early 1945, while ''Assiniboine'' remained in the UK until June. All three ships transported Canadian troops home after [[VE Day]] until they were decommissioned in late 1945. All three were broken up in 1946–47.<ref name=e0/>

Upon commissioning in 1932–33, the D class formed the [[1st Destroyer Flotilla]] assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet. The flotilla toured the [[Persian Gulf]] and the Red Sea in September–November 1933. After refitting in the UK during 1934, the flotilla was transferred to the China Station, arriving at Hong Kong in January 1935 and renumbered as the [[8th Destroyer Flotilla]]. Most of the flotilla was sent to the Red Sea during the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935–36. They returned to the Hong Kong in mid-1936 and remained there until World War II began. ''Diamond'' was in the midst of a refit that lasted until November, but the rest of the flotilla was immediately transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet. ''Daring'' was kept in the Red Sea for escort duties until November, but the rest of the flotilla was used on contraband patrol duties upon arrival. They all needed repairs which were made before the end of the year.<ref name=e5>English, pp. 51–60</ref>

''Duncan'', ''Diana'', ''Duchess'', ''Delight'' and ''Daring'' were transferred to the Home Fleet in December 1939, although ''Duchess'' was rammed and sunk on 10 December by the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Barham|04|2}} that she was escorting. ''Duncan'' was so badly damaged in a collision with a merchant ship in January 1940 that her repairs required six months to complete. ''Daring'' was sunk by the {{GS|U-23|1936|6}} on 18 February while escorting a convoy from Norway. ''Diana'' and ''Delight'' were assigned to convoy escort duties in early 1940, before participating in the [[Norwegian Campaign]] in April–June. While attempting to sail through the English Channel in daylight, contrary to orders, ''Delight'' was sunk by German aircraft on 29 July. After a brief refit in July–August, ''Diana'' was transferred to the RCN to replace HMCS ''Fraser'' which had been sunk in a collision by a Royal Navy cruiser. Recommissioned on 6 September and renamed HMCS ''Margaree'', the ship was assigned to convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. On 22 October, she was sunk in a collision with the freighter {{MV|Port Fairy}}.<ref name=e5/>

The remaining four ships of the flotilla were briefly assigned to [[Freetown]], West Africa in early 1940 to escort convoys passing through the area and to search for German [[commerce raider]]s. They were all recalled to the Mediterranean in April–May in anticipation of Italian entry into the war. ''Decoy'', ''Defender'', and ''Dainty'' sank two Italian submarines, ''Dainty'' sinking one more with the destroyer {{HMS|Ilex|D61|2}} in June, before they participated in the [[Battle of Calabria]] early the following month.<ref name=e5/> ''Diamond'' joined her sisters in late July and all four ships escorted convoys and the ships of the Mediterranean Fleet for the rest of the year. ''Duncan'' joined Force H at Gibraltar in October and participated in the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento together with ''Diamond'' and ''Defender'' in November. ''Decoy'' had been damaged by aircraft earlier that month and was under repair until February 1941.<ref name=e5/>

While patrolling the North African coast on 24 February with the destroyer {{HMS|Hasty|H24|2}}, ''Dainty'' was sunk by German bombers. ''Duncan'', ''Diamond'' and ''Defender'' continued to provide escorts as needed in early 1941, although ''Duncan'' was transferred to Freetown in March. ''Decoy'', ''Defender'' and ''Diamond'' evacuated Allied troops from Greece and Crete in April–May, although ''Diamond'' was sunk by German aircraft on 27 April while doing so. After ''Defender'' participated in the invasion of [[Vichy French]]-controlled Syria and Lebanon in June, she joined ''Decoy'' in escorting convoys to [[Tobruk]] and was badly damaged when returning from one of these missions. The ship was attacked by a single German [[Junkers Ju 88]] bomber on 11 July and had to be scuttled by her consort, the Australian destroyer {{HMAS|Vendetta|D69|2}}. ''Duncan'' rejoined Force H that same month and she escorted several major convoys to Malta before returning to the UK in October for a lengthy refit. ''Decoy'' was damaged in a collision in December and was repaired at Malta until February 1942.<ref name=e5/>

''Decoy'' was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in March and was escorting Force B when the [[Indian Ocean raid (1942)|Japanese carriers attacked]] [[Ceylon]]. The Japanese never spotted Force B, and the ship remained with the fleet until ordered home in September to convert to an escort destroyer. After ''Duncan''{{'}}s refit was completed in January 1942, she rejoined Force H and escorted several missions to fly off [[Royal Air Force]] [[fighter aircraft|fighters]] from aircraft carriers to Malta before she was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in April to support Operation Ironclad, the invasion of [[Diego Suarez, Malagasy Republic|Diego Suarez]], in early May. She, too, was recalled to the UK to be modified as an escort destroyer.<ref name=e5/>

[[File:HMS Ottawa (H60).jpg|thumb|left|250px|HMCS ''Ottawa'' about 1942–43]]
''Decoy'' was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on 1 March 1943 during her conversion and was recommissioned on 12 April with the new name of HMCS ''Kootenay'' (the ship was gifted to the Canadians on 15 June). After working up, she was assigned to [[Escort Group (naval)|Escort Group]] C5 for convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. In April, ''Duncan'' joined [[Mid-Ocean Escort Force#Escort Group B-7|Escort Group B-7]].<ref name=e3>English, pp. 53, 56</ref> While defending Convoy ON-207 on 23 October, ''Duncan'', together with the destroyer {{HMS|Vidette|D48|2}} and a [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] of [[No. 224 Squadron RAF]], sank {{GS|U-274||2}}.<ref>Rohwer, p. 283</ref> Later the same month, on 29 October, ''Duncan'' shared the sinking of {{GS|U-282||2}} with ''Vidette'' and the [[corvette]] {{HMS|Sunflower|K41|2}} while protecting Convoy ON-208. Both ships remained on escort duty until May 1944 when they were transferred to the UK in preparation for Operation Overlord. ''Duncan'' was assigned to the [[Western Approaches Command]], conducting anti-submarine operations, for the rest of the war. ''Kootenay'' was tasked to protect Allied shipping in the [[English Channel]] and the [[Bay of Biscay]] and, together with other ships, she sank {{GS|U-678||2}} in the [[English Channel]] on 7 July 1944, {{GS|U-621||2}} in the [[Bay of Biscay]] on 18 August, and, two days later, {{GS|U-984||2}} west of [[Brest, France|Brest]].<ref name=e3/>

After a lengthy refit in Canada from October 1944 to February 1945, ''Kootenay'' returned to the UK and was assigned to the Western Approaches Command until the end of the war. She then transported returning troops in Canada until paid off in October. She was sold for scrap in 1946. ''Duncan'' was paid off in May and sold in July although she was not completely broken up until 1949.<ref name=e3/>

==See also==
* [[List of ship classes of World War II]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Brown|first=David K.|title=Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2007|isbn=978-1-59114-012-2|author-link=David K. Brown}}
* {{cite book |last1=Douglas |first1=W. A. B.|last2=Sarty |first2=Roger |author3=Michael Whitby |author4=Robert H. Caldwell |author5=William Johnston |author6=William G. P. Rawling |title=No Higher Purpose|series=The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1939–1943 |volume=2, pt. 1 |year=2002 |publisher=Vanwell |location=St. Catharines, Ontario |isbn=1-55125-061-6|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s|year=1993 |publisher=World Ship Society|location=Kendal, England|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2009|isbn=978-1-59114-081-8|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hodges |first1=Peter |last2=Friedman |first2=Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location= London|isbn=0-87021-929-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|C and D class destroyers (1932)}}

{{C and D class destroyer}}
{{Interwar standard destroyer}}
{{WWII British ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:C And D Class Destroyer}}
[[Category:C and D-class destroyers| ]]
[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]