class river built royal_navy late 1930s completion sent china station deployed relieve insect class hms remained declaration war december subsequently transferred singapore naval base participated early near end evacuated base february sister ship days later attacked sunk japanese aircraft island ship survivors later captured sumatra japanese troops design description design class ships based earlier hms ship flagship accommodations replaced low angle director control tower displaced long tons standard load long tons deep load ship overall length feet inches 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 boilers carried maximum long tons fuel oil ship mounted quick firing guns inch guns single mounts fore aft superstructure guns maximum elevation degrees carried single inch anti aircraft defence single mounts inch anti aircraft machine guns crew officers enlisted men service ship ordered august intended replacements existing river stationed chinese rivers laid december southampton launched january april sailed power expected arrive commissioned june hong_kong completed june deployed replaced insect class hms later month crew transferred including ship mascot dog called following japan entry second world war december transferred china singapore january supported retreating allied troops starting january rescued soldiers 15th swamps south cut advancing japanese forces japanese captured ships moved singapore harbour february japanese launched amphibious assault following heavy fighting ships began evacuating harbour february largest vessels left ships left singapore february having taken personnel evacuate commander battleship prince wales sunk japanese months earlier following morning hear attacks japanese aircraft vessels distance sailing south attacked japanese bombers initial pass hit single bomb planes returned hit times sank quickly hit twice set fire order abandon ship given fire spread compartments adjacent ammunition store crew ferried nearby island ship boats japanese aircraft joined survivors ship sink initially planes departed crewmen sent board supplies survivors captured japanese airmen pregnant women babies delivered ship boys named mothers whilst board petty officer found later find source fresh water crew island february remaining crew managed chinese ship boat reached dutch_east_indies days crew departed sumatra chinese leaving injured care eventually reached sumatra sailed river narrowed leaving crew miles jungle entered japanese held area captured miles outside destination crew elected travel sumatra petty officer able lee joined british_army soldiers prevent trouble incoming japanese forces transferred smaller subsequently offered boat island administrator map indian ocean torn child decided aim sail madras india concerns japanese working way islands departure brought forward island visited boat containing japanese officer soldiers told japanese remain island await collection evening prepared boat supplies board departed april travelling night clear islands day landed nearby islands hid days engine broke turned travelled islands passed japanese transport ships japanese bomber sight islands position stars night sun day seventeen days travelling landed india distance miles miles away intended destination
HMS Grasshopper (T85)