Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1939-40
Wallace was larger than the other WAIR ships and carried a quadruple 2pdr AA aft. She has no radar as shown here and has quad 0.5in MGs as part of her AA armament. She was built as a destroyer leader and was intended to act in that role for WAIR ships. Pale grey was a common 1939–40 scheme but without a black boot topping.
HMS WALLACE L64
Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1942
By 1942 Wallace had a radar lantern Type 271 in place of her searchlight platform. The 1941 blue with bold outline was distinctive, but a similar area near the bow was not outlined in white. The hull was MS4a grey. The upperworks were much lighter in 507c pale grey. Decks were dark grey. Extra depth charge stowage had been added amidships. Single 2pdr AA guns have replaced the previous quad machine gun mounts and there were four single 20mm as well.
HMS WALLACE L64
Shakespeare Class AA Destroyer Leader 1944-5
Wallace at the end of WWII. The 1941 blue panel, on 507c light grey, was intended to make the ship look shorter or further away to spoil the aim of a torpedo being fired. A full range of electronics and radar types are fitted, making her very up to date for the period. It is worth remembering that when Wallace was first built radar did not exist and no ships were actually designed to carry it until the first wartime designs. Yet by 1945 it was considered indispensable.
‘V & W’ CLASS CONVERTED TO LONG-RANGE ESCORTS (LRE)
HMS WALKER I27
‘W’ Class LRE
This is an Admiralty intermediate scheme favoured for ships that might work in several areas rather than just Atlantic convoys. On a WA blue hull, she has B5 forward and PB10 aft. She has extra DC stowage and, of course, the forward funnel removed with its boilers to create more space for fuel tanks. There are single 20mm in the bridge wings and another right aft on the quarterdeck. There are two single 2pdr AA amidships and a Hedgehog forward in place of ‘A’ gun mount. The Type 271 lantern on the bridge is set low to reduce topweight. These ships had a very long endurance.
HMS VANQUISHER I54
‘V’ Class LRE
Vanquisher is shown in a non-typical WA scheme including MS4a grey. The remainder is of standard WA blue and WA green. She has a Type 271 radar lantern on the bridge, Type 291 at the masthead, and HF/DF mast aft. There is a Hedgehog forward in ‘A’ position and four single 20mm AA. All torpedo tubes have been removed and extra DCs are in the aft tube position. The forward boilers and funnel have been removed in order to provide extra fuel tanks to increase range.
HMS VISCOUNT I92
Thornycroft ‘V’ Class LRE
Not all ‘V&W’ class had a thin aft funnel. Viscount’s camouflage scheme is based around the WA style but a bit more elaborate with more WA green and WA blue on white than usual. The forward tubes have been retained and probably carry a single one-ton Mk X DC. There is also a Hedgehog forward. A 12pdr AA has replaced the aft torpedo tubes. Only the ‘V&Ws’ in best condition were given this refit to extend their lives and range. The light AA is mixed, with single 20mm in the bridge wings and two single 2pdr aft of the funnel.
HMS VANSITTART I64
Modified ‘W’ Class LRE
Vansittart is displaying a standard WA camouflage scheme of white hull with patches of WA green and WA blue. Type 271 radar on the bridge with Type 291 at masthead. There are 20mm in the bridge wings and aft of the funnel. Weight had been drastically reduced and the forward boiler room removed for extra fuel stowage which enabled these ships to cross the Atlantic without refuelling. All torpedo tubes have been removed to save weight and allow extra DC stowage. These ships not only had a very long range, but were also formidable ASW ships.
HMS VIMY I33
‘V’ Class LRE 1942
Vimy wears a dark Admiralty scheme best suited for dull northern waters. The pattern seems to concentrate the eye on the centre of the ship using dark colours yet with a break to make it seem there could be two ships. All ideas to fool a U-boat captain during his quick glimpse through a periscope were considered. It was often necessary to have a dark colour aft to enable other ships to keep station when steaming in line. Here the aft gun shield is black. Note there is no Hedgehog. Colours are black, white, 1941 blue, and a patch of WA blue at the bow.
HMS WHITEHALL I94
Modified ‘W’ Class LRE 1944
This is an Admiralty intermediate scheme introduced mid-war, intended for use on ships not necessarily on the Atlantic convoy runs, but nonetheless able to be used there if there was no time to repaint. 1941 blue, darkened WA blue and a hull that appears to be MS4a with a greenish tint. The ship is fitted with 20mm AA in the bridge wings and amidships. There is a Hedgehog in place of ‘A’ gun and no tubes are fitted. A Type 271 radar lantern is on the bridge with Type 244 IFF on top plus Type 291 at the masthead. There are Type 253 hourglass interrogators on the mast.
