class destroyer built royal_navy early 1930s ship initially assigned mediterranean_fleet transferred early temporarily deployed red_sea late crisis returning assigned station remained transferred mediterranean_fleet world war began september briefly assigned west_africa convoy escort duties returning mediterranean ship participated july assigned convoy escort patrol duties sunk german bombers february description displaced long tons standard load long tons deep load ship overall length feet beam feet draught feet inches powered parsons geared steam turbines driving shafts developed total shaft horsepower gave maximum speed knots mph steam turbines provided admiralty drum water tube boilers carried maximum long tons fuel oil gave range nautical miles knots mph ship complement officers men ship mounted calibre inch mark guns single mounts anti aircraft defence single pounder inch gun quadruple mark mounts inch vickers machine gun fitted water quadruple torpedo tube mounts inch torpedoes depth charge rail throwers fitted depth charges originally carried increased shortly war began career ordered february naval estimates laid yards engineering company april launched completed december total cost excluding equipment supplied admiralty weapons ammunition wireless equipment ship initially assigned 1st destroyer flotilla mediterranean brief deployment red_sea october november refitted portsmouth september october service 8th later 21st arrived january attached mediterranean_fleet red_sea september june crisis ship refitted hong_kong september october conducted anti piracy patrols refit complete january merchant ship grounded posted guard aboard refloated ship number port visits singapore philippines january march war transferred mediterranean_fleet arriving alexandria sister duncan september outbreak world war assigned search shipped mediterranean october november undergoing refit malta december completion transferred 2nd based sierra search german commerce raiders operating ship transferred mediterranean_fleet april given refit malta april june completion assigned 10th destroyer flotilla june rescued survivors light cruiser sunk crete days later ship destroyers escorted french battleship british cruisers bombarded night june june sister defender destroyer attacked italian submarine console damaged badly crew scuttled days later attacked submarines sinking able escape british ships able salvage important material including latest responsible sinking italian submarine june returned participated july escort heavy ships force unsuccessfully engaged italian destroyers suffered damage sisters defender diamond australian destroyer stuart light cruisers liverpool escorted convoy egypt ports late july august diamond destroyers escorted tanker merchant ships egypt malta relief supplies escorted australian light cruiser sydney bombarded italian airfield september australian destroyers british anti aircraft cruisers ship escorted convoy egypt malta early november december assigned intercept enemy supply convoys north african coast captured december early january escorted capital ships force operation excess towed disabled tanker torpedoed italian torpedo boat crete january sinking shortly returned patrol north african coast late afternoon february left patrol accompanied destroyer hasty ships attacked bombers iii hit bomb passed captain cabin detonated fuel tanks started big fire caused magazine explode ship sink crew killed attack wounded
HMS Dainty (H53)