class destroyer built royal_navy early 1930s ship initially assigned mediterranean_fleet transferred early temporarily deployed red_sea late crisis returning assigned station remained defender transferred mediterranean_fleet world war began september briefly assigned west_africa convoy escort duties returning mediterranean ship participated year damage defender assisted evacuations greece crete april began running supply missions libya june ship badly damaged german bomber missions scuttled consort july description defender 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 defender 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 diamond single pounder inch gun funnels millimetre pounder guns mounted bridge 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 programme defender laid yard yard number june launched april completed october having cost total excluding admiralty supplied equipment guns ammunition wireless outfits ship initially assigned 1st destroyer flotilla mediterranean brief deployment red_sea september november defender refitted september october service 8th later 21st arrived hong_kong january ship attached mediterranean_fleet red_sea november june crisis visited ports month returning boilers singapore november january repaired hong_kong january march outbreak war defender assigned mediterranean_fleet arrived alexandria september assigned control duties transferred gibraltar january ship patrolled portuguese coast transferred mid february escort convoys west african coast defender transferred gibraltar april escorting light cruiser neptune route arrived april month joined 10th destroyer flotilla mediterranean_fleet escorted convoy carrying australian new_zealand troops middle_east red_sea june destroyers sank italian submarine console south east crete defender participated july escort heavy ships force unsuccessfully engaged italian destroyers suffering damage sisters diamond australian destroyer stuart light cruisers liverpool escorted convoy egypt ports late july november defender destroyers hasty hero screened capital ships mediterranean_fleet provided distant cover passage egypt malta convoy malta operation operation collar late november defender anti aircraft cruiser destroyers sailed alexandria rendezvous convoy coming gibraltar reaching malta november destroyers joined battleship light cruisers sailed rendezvous force coming gibraltar day british forces combined spotted italians inconclusive fought january defender escorted convoy sister diamond anti aircraft cruiser calcutta alexandria malta operation excess ship refitted malta february march participated march operation demon evacuation allied troops greece escorted convoy april alexandria italian destroyer torpedo boats attacked convoy night east crete rebuffed defenders inflicting damage following month defender assisted evacuation troops crete egypt germans invaded operation june defender ships 10th arrived coast reinforce royal_navy forces supporting invasion french controlled syria lebanon ship engaged time lebanon syria later month began escorting convoys june australian destroyer badly damaged italian dive bombers defender took tow day capsized sank loss july defender returning company australian destroyer attacked single bomber piloted reconnaissance flight coast dawn bomber scored near miss defender detonated ship forward engine room shock broke ship flooded engine room casualties crew passengers took defender tow leaving skeleton crew aboard damaged ship started break forced torpedo gunfire hours later
HMS Defender (H07)