More on DD renaming

Hello,

According to Hague's book, the files pertaining to the renaming decision(s) no longer exist. Here are some more interesting facts I had not come across--or failed to retain if I had:

Official policy initially was for the ships to retain their American (USN) names. And the first 16 ships in facts sailed with these names under British commission(e.g., as HMS HERNDON)--The name change came in Sept 1940 "to ease American susceptibilities"--Hague next goes on to state that despite extensive searching it is clear that the Admiralty file re the decision for renaming the ships no longer exists.
First batch of names promulgated in early OCT 1940--once the nomenclature method (towns common to both the US & GB) had been agreed upon. Hague speculates that none other than the PM, a meddlesome gentleman named Churchill, was probably responsible for the decision to use town names common to both nations, "although there has been a suggestion" that a CAPT T. Dorling, DSO, RN, "may have been involved." (p.10)

Last but not least, there were (at least) two DDs transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy & crewed by Norwegian crews (YARNALL/LINCOLN & MANSFIELD), and up to nine that served late in their careers with the Russian navy.

FWIW