View source for "V" Class Flotilla Leader (1917)

The five [[Flotilla Leader|flotilla leaders]] of the '''"V" Class''' were completed in 1917 and boasted a higher speed so they could keep pace with the very fast [["S" Class Destroyer (1918)|"S" class]] destroyers.

<div name=fredbot:ships>
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border=2 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0 0 1em 0.5em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" align=center;
|-
! colspan=6 align=left|Overview of 5 vessels
|-
| colspan=6 align=left|<small>Citations for this data available on individual ship pages</small>
|-
! align=center | Name 
! align=center | Builder 
! align=center | Laid Down 
! align=center | Launched 
! align=center | Completed 
! align=center | Fate
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Vampire}}
|[[J. Samuel White]]
|
|21 May, 1917
|
|Sunk 9 Apr, 1942
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Valentine}}
|[[Cammell Laird]]
|
|24 Mar, 1917
|
|Stranded 15 May, 1940
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Valhalla}}
|[[Cammell Laird]]
|
|22 May, 1917
|
| 17 Dec, 1931
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Valorous}}
|[[William Denny & Brothers]]
|
|8 May, 1917
|
| 4 Mar, 1947
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Valkyrie}}
|[[William Denny & Brothers]]
|
|13 Mar, 1917
|
|Handed over 24 Aug, 1936
|}
</div name=fredbot:ships>
==Machinery==
===Generators===
In 1916, it was stated that flotilla leaders have two 26.25 kw dynamos arranged in parallel with an additional 9 kw oil-fired set for emergency use.{{ARTS1916|p. 120}}  However, another source indicates the ships carried a single 36.5 kw set.{{March|pp. 205-206}}

==Armament==

In 1918, it was ordered that those destroyers with director installations were to additionally receive:{{ARTS1918|p. 376. (C.I.O. 1081/18, G. 24486/15)}}
* a voice pipe from {{TS}} to director
* a fire gong at director worked from existing push in {{TS}}
* a fire gong push on fore bridge to be added, wired in parallel to that in the T.S.
* the repeat receivers on the fore bridge were to be positioned so as to be visible to the director sightsetter.

===4-in Guns===
* Four 4-in H.V. Q.F. Mark V guns on {{Mount|C.P. II|UK}}s, recoiling 20 inches, elevating 30 degrees with sights etched to 13,600 yards.{{UKTHVol4Part34|p. 17}}

The mounting may have been P. IX with 25 degree elevation in initial planning.  There were 120 rounds per gun.{{March|p. 194}}

===Other Guns===

Initially:
* Two 2-pdr with 100 rounds per gun
Eventually altered to:
* one 3-in 20 cwt H.A. Mark III with 100 rounds

In 1918, it was ordered that the ''Scott'' class flotilla leaders and destroyers of "V" and "W" classes should have range and deflection receivers for their 3-in H.A. guns and fire gongs worked off the firing key used for the ships' L.A. weaponry.{{ARTS1918|p. 376. (C.I.O. 11/18, G. 39278/17)}}

===Torpedoes===
''Vampire'' had a different scheme.{{March|p. 194}}

''Vampire'':
* Two Triple Revolving 21-in torpedo tubes

Others:
* Two Double Revolving 21-in torpedo tubes

==Rangefinders==
A photo of ''Valkyrie'' in 1918 or afterward shows her with a 9- or 12-foot rangefinder on her bridge.{{March|Photo 24/1}}

By 1921, all R.N. destroyer leaders mounted a 9ft [[F.Q. 2]] on an [[M.Q. 1]], [[M.Q. 9]] or [[M.Q. 12]] mount on their fore bridge.{{HRFs1921|p. 168}}

==Fire Control==
These ships had electric fire control systems as did the earlier flotilla leaders, but also had the light training director system.{{UKTHVol4Part34|p. 17}}

===Directors===
[[File:ARTS1917Plate100.jpg|thumb|480px|'''Firing Circuits'''{{ARTS1917|Plate100}}]]
[[File:ARTS1917Plate101.jpg|thumb|480px|'''Training and Slewing Circuits'''{{ARTS1917|Plate101}}]]
In 1917, it was approved that all flotilla leaders except {{UK-Swift}} and {{UK-Abdiel}} should receive installations of the [[British Destroyer Director Firing System]],{{ARTS1917|p. 229}} but none of these installations were completed before 1918.{{UKProgressInNavalGunnery1914-1918|p. 37}}

However, the ''Director Firing Handbook, 1917'' reports that they were to receive [[Small Type Training Receiver]]s of pattern number 20 on #1, #2 guns, and pattern number 21 on #3 and #4.{{DirectorH|p. 146}}

===Dreyer Table===
These ships had no fire control tables.<ref>absent from list in ''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>

==Torpedo Control==
[[File:ARTS1917Plate82.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Torpedo Control Circuits in ''Vampire'''''{{ARTS1917|p. 210. Plate 82}}]]
The arrangements were said to be similar to those portrayed in Plate 82.

==Alterations==
By November 1918, {{UK-Valorous}} and {{UK-Valentine}}  (only), operating with the {{UK-DF|11}} and {{UK-DF|13}}, respectively, were fitted to carry 40 "H" and "M" type mines.  The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.<ref>Admiralty. ''Annual Report of the Torpedo School Mining Appendix, 1917-1918'', p. 11. Plate 7.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [["V" Class Destroyer (1917)]]
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_and_W_class_destroyer#Admiralty_V_class_leaders}}
{{refend}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{HFCI1909}}
*{{DreyerH}}
{{refend}}

{{Footer "V" Class Flotilla Leader (1917)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:V}}

{{CatClassFlotillaLeader|UK}}


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