three points on Town Class DDs

All,

Three points on the Town Class DDs:

1. < The Dutch indeed crewed this vessel (April to late September '41) under a Dutch flag--see photo--but the renaming idea was nixed by the British on the basis of maintaining name continuity with the other transferred ships of this class. >

So Jacques's premise is wrong: the prohibition on renaming these warships had naught to do with the Lend Lease tenets and the Americans, but originated with the Royal Navy, who wished their Town Class names retained whichever Allied crews manned them.

2. It appears that the Royal Navy reserved the right of recall on loaned Town Class DDs. For example, Canada got six (possibly seven) of these old destroyers as permanent additions to the RCN, but in addition received some British loaners that could be recalled into RN service.

< In late September '41 [CAMPBELTOWN] reverted to British crew, and remained so manned until her end at Nazaire. >

Similarly, it would seem that the Dutch-commissioned Hr.Ms. CAMPBELTOWN was only a temporary measure: very likely she was once again HMS CAMPBELTOWN when she rammed the drydock gate at St. Nazaire (and thereafter exploded, taking a substantial number of ranking German naval and military officers to Valhalla).

3. < Her fourth funnel is cut down here, but the reason for this is unknown. >

The American four-pipers had become top-heavy over the course of the intervening years, so to reduce that top weight and improve their sea-keeping qualities, masts and one or more funnels--ships varied in the degree of top heaviness--were reduced in height, and 50 tons of iron ballast were deposited in the bilges.

Nelson