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Tribal class destroyer

The Royal Navy developed two Tribal class destroyers - the 1905 class and the 1936 class. The Canadian Navy developed a class of destroyers in the 1970s which was to be called the Tribal class but under the current lead-ship designation convention is known as the Iroquois class.

The Tribals were named after native tribes in different areas of the British Empire.

Table of contents
1 Tribal Class Destroyers 1905
2 Tribal Class Destroyers 1936

Tribal Class Destroyers 1905

Between 1905 and 1908, the Royal Navy built 12 ships of this class. During World War I, they saw action in the North Sea and English Channel.

Specifications

Tribal Class Destroyers 1936

In 1936, the Royal Navy ordered 16 large destroyers to compete with the similarly sized vessels being built for Japan, Germany and Italy. Canada ordered four ships from British shipyards and built another four at Halifax. Australia built three ships for its navy.

The Tribals are considered beautiful ships and are remembered with great affection to this day.

Specifications

The exact specifications of the ships varied depending on when and where they were built. Some details, like the armament, changed during the course of the war. These specs are for the original design.

The Ships

Royal Navy

Royal Canadian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Ships Today

HMCS Haida, the only surviving tribal, is being restored and preserved as a museum in the harbour of Hamilton, Ontario Canada.

The front half of HMS Maori is under 13 meters of water in Marsamaxett Harbour, Valletta, Malta where it sunk during World War II. It is a well-known scuba diving site.

Books about the Tribals

External Links