HMAS Napier

HMAS Napier

Anti - submarine patrol early 1942
On her return to Australia 1944
History
Name	HMAS Napier
Owner	Royal Australian Navy
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Scotland
Launched	22 May 1940
Completed	November 1940
In service	28 Nov 1940
Out of service	25 Oct 1945
Fate	Transferred to Royal Navy
General characteristics
Type	N Class Destroyer
Tonnage	2,550 tons
Length	356 ft 6 in (108.66m)
Beam	35 feet 8 in (10.87m)
Depth	16 ft 4 in (4.98m)
Propulsion	twin screw
Speed	36 knots (66.7 kmh)
Capacity	226 crew

Remarks

One of eight N Class destroyers built during 1939, five of which were operated by the RAN. Initial utilisation was as an escort for Atlantic convoys before being sent to the Mediterranean just prior to the withdrawl from Crete. She participated in the evacuation of Crete making two trips and sustaining major damage from bomb near misses. As a result she underwent a refit before becoming the lead ship of the 7th Flotilla.

During late 1941 Napier carried supplies to Tobruk while it was under seige by the Germans, and late assisted in the bombardment of Bardia in Libya. In January 1942 Napier shifted to the Indian Ocean and joined the Royal navy's Eastern Fleet to undertake escort duties, and patrols. In the later half of 1942 Napier was based at Kilindini in Kenya, but in early 1943 was back based at Durban

Armament Guns

• 6 x 4.7-inch guns
• 1 x 2-pounder 4 barrel Pom Pom
• 1 x 40mm Bofors
• & 2 x .5-inch machine guns

Torpedoes

• 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes (2 pentad mounts)