small and short-ranged for work in the North Atlantic. Units did serve on distant stations, however.
HMS SALADIN H54
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Saladin in a green and blue WA-style camouflage which probably suited work on the Eastern Approaches as well. As with her sister ships, she has a big ASW capability. Her light AA is twin Lewis guns in the bridge wings, 20mm between the funnels, a 12pdr amidships and two single 2pdr aft. Radar Type 286 on masthead. WA white, WA blue, WA green. Decks Corticene brown and 507b.
HMS SABRE H18
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Sabre in a very dark, unofficial or experimental scheme suited for the Icelandic convoy run in poor light conditions. The effect would be to make the ship look shorter or further away. She spent a lot of time with convoys to and from Iceland. Her general appearance and armament is similar to her sister ships in home waters. She has Type 286 radar at the top of the foremast. Colours are PB10 blue, G5/MS1 and mid-blue washed.
HMS TENEDOS H04
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Schemes in the Far East were locally designed with the paint available. This is taken from photographic records and verbal descriptions. Mostly unmodified, she still carries a full Corticene deck covering. Light AA was twin Lewis guns, a single 2pdr and two single 20mm. The aft gun was removed for minelaying but she carries both sets of twin torpedo tubes. No radar fitted. Colours possibly 507a and 507c, but probably mixed locally.
HMS SCOUT H51
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Scout is shown in another unofficial scheme probably designed by the officers based on information from other war zones and paint available. Aft gun removed for minelaying which was a major mission for these ships in the run-up to war with Japan. They were at the bottom of the priority list to get radar and modern AA due to the demand in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. No radar fitted. One single 2pdr pom-pom and Lewis guns make up her only AA armament. Colours black, 507c, B6.
HMS STRONGHOLD H50
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Stronghold is shown as in official records. However, like Thanet, she may have reshipped her aft gun as it was stored on station. The aft tubes had been landed while on minelaying duty. They may also have been re-shipped when the first warning of Japanese attacks came. Note no radar. Camouflage based on MS1 and 507c.
HMS THANET H29
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1942
Prior to departing on her last mission, Thanet had re-shipped her full gun and torpedo armament. She had previously reduced her armament to carry out minelaying duties. Confirmation of final fit comes from divers who have visited her wreck and from official action reports that describe her using all three guns and both torpedo mounts. Her light AA is just a 2pdr and some Lewis guns. Colours 507c and 507b.
MOUNTBATTEN PINK
HMS THANET H28
Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer
Many years ago I was told by an Australian veteran that some of the British ships on the Far East station adopted Mountbatten Pink late in 1941 due to contact with officers from the Mediterranean Fleet. I have found no written evidence of this at all. However, considering the rapid course of events from December 1941 onward and the loss of some ships I cannot entirely discount it. These drawings of Thanet show how she may have looked if dark and light
Mountbatten Pink was applied, instead of the grey seen in black and white photographs. Unofficial schemes were quite common early in WWII. Mountbatten Pink was very popular with crews and thought to have superior qualities. However, research showed that in some conditions it could make the ship more visible, not less. In fading light or at sunset it appeared darker. Its use eventually died out. Colours are Mountbatten Medium and Light.
PB 101
British Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1943
HMS Thracian ran aground at Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941 and was scuttled. The RN considered her too damaged for salvage having even removed some parts. The Japanese raised her as Patrol Boat 101. She is shown here in IJN dull dark grey. There is a 3in AA aft and a 4.7in forward, both of Japanese type. There are triple 25mm guns to port and starboard amidships, another triple behind the aft deck house and twin 13mm on the bridge roof. She has a row of DC throwers and a rack aft. The new bridge is IJN style. The grey is similar to 507b.
PB 101
British Admiralty ‘S’ Class Destroyer 1945
