hms hunter class destroyer built royal_navy mid-1930s spanish civil war ship enforced arms blockade imposed sides britain france struck repair year half rejoined mediterranean_fleet months world war hunter searched german commerce raiders atlantic_ocean transferred britain february returning action sunk german destroyers april description hunter 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 hunter carried maximum long tons fuel oil gave range nautical miles knots mph ship complement officers men peacetime increased wartime ship mounted calibre inch mark guns single mounts anti aircraft defence hunter 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 december hunter laid england march launched february completed september excluding government furnished equipment armament ship cost hunter assigned 2nd destroyer flotilla mediterranean_fleet commissioning spanish civil war destroyer patrolled spanish waters spanish civil war enforcing hunter struck south spain afternoon suffered severe damage heavy list radio wrecked bow flooded complement killed wounded ship towed clear minefield spanish republican destroyer laid weeks earlier german spanish nationalist boats hunter towed arrived early hours light cruiser towed gibraltar temporarily repaired august hunter towed malta permanent repairs august completed november ship assigned 2nd destroyer flotilla repairs finished given brief overhaul malta june july hunter sent plymouth thorough refit mid august lasted august world war world war began september hunter route sierra search german commerce raiders transferred north_america west indies station late october hunter remained station transferred british isles february began refit lasted march ship rejoined 2nd destroyer flotilla home fleet flow march april hunter rest 2nd destroyer flotilla escorted destroyer 20th destroyer flotilla sailed implement operation lay mines prevent transport swedish iron ore germany mines laid early morning april germans began invasion destroyers joined battlecruiser renown escorts battle april hunter class ships 2nd destroyer flotilla attacked german destroyers transported german troops occupy northern norway previous day flotilla leader hardy led half sisters surprise dawn attack harbour hostile initially left entrance hunter followed hardy harbour fired torpedoes mass shipping torpedo hit german destroyer forward engine room followed hunter inch shells british ships withdrawing encountered german destroyers close range german ships crossed british ships quickly set hardy fire forced run aground hunter eventually took lead severely damaged germans probably including torpedo hit speed dropped rapidly immediately temporarily control hits rammed ships managed hunter capsized men crew killed died wounds german destroyers rescued men released sweden april wreck discovered march control vessel unknown nearly years marked war grave commemorate lost members crew series coordinated memorial ceremonies held board british norwegian warships saturday march died battles thousand nato personnel took including british norwegian sailors soldiers led warships steamed line past spot ship lies marked occasion hunter final resting place marked cast sea
HMS Hunter (H35)