been replaced with an HA 4in, four 20mm Oerlikons and two single 2pdrs, plus numerous MGs. The scheme she wears is the American overall blue which was used by several Australian ships. Note the impressive number of DC throwers and USN radar on mast. British Type 271 radar aerial amidships.
‘V&W’ CLASS DESTROYERS CONVERTED TO AA ESCORTS (WAIR)
HMS VANITY L38
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1940
Vanity is shown wearing an early unofficial scheme. Her only light AA is multiple MG mounts amidships. Note the false wave effect of the camouflage. She has early radar at the masthead. Black and grey were of course very easy to obtain and a scheme based around them is hardly surprising. The lack of Type 285 radar on the gun director would have affected her efficiency in the AA role. Scheme is possibly an unofficial mix, appearing to be G5/MS1 and MS4 on a 507c hull. Gun mounts and aft funnel are dark blue.
HMS VICEROY L21
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
Viceroy is shown in an Admiralty scheme common to ships escorting convoys on the UK East Coast. The colours are PB10, mid-blue washed and 507c hull. There is a lower than usual radar lantern amidships, perhaps indicating a topweight problem as it should have been carried higher. AA defence was very important for the North Sea and coastal convoys and the extra light guns fitted here may be the cause of the weight problem. There is extra DC stowage, and a mix of 20mm and single 2pdr AA guns, with the 2pdrs in front of the radar lantern. Type 285 radar on the gun director.
HMS VANITY L38
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942+
Vanity has an Admiralty light disruptive camouflage scheme. Note radar lantern aft. Four single 20mm guns. She served mostly on the UK East Coast convoys. WAIR ships did not need to carry the large number of DCs other destroyers needed on Atlantic convoys. Colours are mid-blue on white washed with PB10.
HMS VALOROUS L00
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1944
Valorous is shown wearing an Admiralty light scheme. She has some extra DC stowage. Light AA four single 20mm. There is Type 285 radar on her gun director and Type 291 at the masthead and this would have been her final war configuration. Note HF/DF mast aft. It was unusual for WAIR ships to carry that equipment. The colours are PB10 and a lightened 1941 blue on a 507c hull.
HMS VEGA L52
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1940
This was a very early unofficial scheme for ships that served near the coast. The main colour is MS4a but the khaki was almost certainly locally mixed. 1941 blue is outlined in white, but even this could have been local procurement. There is a prominent bow wave. Note the ship has no radar fitted. The light AA comprised two quad 0.5in MG mounts and Lewis machine guns in the bridge wings.
HMS VEGA L41
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
Vega is shown in MS4a Home Fleet grey with areas of MS2 mid olive. There was a radar type 285 on the director and a 286P rotating set on the mast. It was most uncommon for ships on the UK East Coast to have a HF/DF mast but this implies she may also have been used on convoys to Iceland.
HMS WOLFHOUND I56
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1941
This scheme was intended for coastal convoy work where the WAIRs were mostly employed. It comprises a light grey hull, probably 507c, 1941 blue, and the aft funnel possibly in WA blue. However, this is still in the period when many unofficial or experimental schemes were used and the colours could have been unique to the ship as the green appears non standard. Four 20mm singles was standard for these ships. Type 271 radar amidships and Type 285 on the director.
HMS WINCHESTER L55
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
A Type 271 radar lantern sits aft but in 1942 Winchester does not yet seem to be fitted with Type 285 on the gunnery director. Although it was a high priority, there was a heavy call on production of this set and refit of the director to use it. Her scheme is of mixed type utilising 507c grey and 1940 green but with white or very pale upper works. This was probably derived from the WA scheme but darkened for the East Coast of the UK.
HMS WOOLSTON L49
‘V&W’ Class AA Destroyer 1942
Woolston is shown wearing an Admiralty Intermediate scheme of B6/B30, B5, and 1941 blue. It was intended that at a distance these would blend together to make the ship harder to see. There was a radar lantern for 271 aft but positioned rather lower than normal. As usual the director has type 285 radar fitted. The light AA armament is unusual in that there are four single 20mm Oerlikon guns, as well as two single 2pdr manual mounts.
HMS
