Difference between revisions of "HMS Kelvin"

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(Created K class (F37) page.)
 
(New Description Project - Great Britain Priority: HMS Kelvin)
 
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=uk_destroyer_k_class
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.''
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<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
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The '''HMS Kelvin (F37)''' is a member of the K-class destroyer family. The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited laid the HMS Kelvin down at Govan, Scotland, on October 5, 1937. She was launched on January 19, 1939, and put into service on November 27, 1939, bearing the pennant number F37. In World War II, the HMS Kelvin participated in combat in multiple theatres. She scuttled HMS Ivanhoe, which had struck a mine off Texel during the Texel Disaster, in September 1940 as a member of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla. She also bombarded Cherbourg in October while accompanying the battleship HMS Revenge in October 1940. The HMS Kelvin was one of the few destroyers of the J, K, and N classes to survive the war. It was broken up at Troon, Scotland, and sold for scrap on April 6, 1949.
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Introduced in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]], the destroyer HMS Kelvin is incredibly fragile. The HMS Kelvin has very little armour protection throughout the ship, making it extremely vulnerable in close-quarters combat with other destroyers. With 208 crew members, the HMS Kelvin is a remarkably unimpressive vessel compared to its German and American counterparts. Ammunition detonation is a serious risk, as some ammunition racks are situated above the waterline. All things considered, playing the HMS Kelvin demands extreme caution. It works best as a support destroyer, engaging opponents from a distance.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
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The Kelvin has absolutely no armour protection other than the gun shields. The main guns have 3.2 mm-thick shields, which will protect against nothing more than light machine gun bullets, while the Vickers .50 cal machine guns have 12.7 mm shields. The hull is standard 16 mm steel, which is resistant to low calibre HE and machine guns, but not much more.
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The bow main gun ammunition racks are located slightly below the waterline, but the ones in the stern, as well as the bow secondary ammunition storage, are exposed above the waterline. This makes the Kelvin very vulnerable to ammunition detonation from hits at the waterline, and caution should be taken.
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The machinery of the Kelvin is also exposed above the waterline, and she is vulnerable to engine damage as well. In addition, the Kelvin has only one funnel, so if it is destroyed, her mobility will be substantially crippled.
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The Kelvin has a crew of 208, which is unremarkable compared to most other destroyers, and substantially worse than the German destroyers, as well as some American ones.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
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The Kelvin has a respectable top speed, and she will easily keep pace with most other destroyers. Her acceleration is good, and she will easily reach her top speed.
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{{NavalMobility}}
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armament ==
 
== Armament ==
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{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
 
=== Primary armament ===
 
=== Primary armament ===
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''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}
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<!-- ''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.'' -->
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{{main|4.7 inch/45 Mk.XII (120 mm)}}
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The Kelvin's main armament consists of six QF 4.7-inch Mk. XII guns, four of them in dual-gun bow A and B turrets, with another two in a stern dual-gun X turret. The upper B and X turrets have unrestricted traverse, while the lower A turret is restricted to 145° to either side. Because of this, the Kelvin can bring all of its gun turrets to bear on a target ahead while showing very little broadside. This can make her harder to hit, especially at range and on the move. The maximum elevation is only 40°, which makes them of limited use against aircraft. The traverse speed of the turrets is also somewhat below average.
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The guns have a rate of fire of 12 rounds/minute while the 30-round first-stage ammunition rack is not empty, dropping to 10 rounds/minute when they are empty.
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The 4.7-inch gun can fire HE, HE-TF, SAP, and HE-VT. HE-VT is flatly superior to HE and HE-TF, hence there is no point using the latter two once HE-VT has been unlocked. It is also very effective against aircraft, though the poor gun elevation means that the Kelvin will often not be able to engage attacking aircraft with the main guns. SAP is useful against armoured targets such as American destroyers with belt armour or light cruiser armour at closer ranges. Due to the smaller calibre, the shells of the 4.7-inch gun generally lack in explosive filler compared to contemporary guns such as the American 5"/38 or the German 12.8 cm guns.
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{{:4.7 inch/45 Mk.XII (120 mm)/Ammunition|4.7 inch HE Mk.VIIA, 4.7 inch SAP Mk.VA, 4.7 inch HE-TF Mk.VIIA, 4.7 inch HE-VT Mk.VIIA}}
  
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
=== Secondary armament ===
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''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}
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<!-- ''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.'' -->
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{{main|2pdr QF Mk.VIII (40 mm)}}
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The secondary armament of the Kelvin consists of a quadruple 2-pounder 'pom-pom' mount. This weapon is mounted amidships, behind the funnel, and is primarily an anti-aircraft weapon. However, it can be very deadly against coastal craft due to its high rate of fire and relatively potent 40 mm rounds.
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* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
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* '''40 mm HE:''' {{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
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* '''40 mm AP:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF|High-explosive fragmentation}}
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{{:2pdr QF Mk.VIII (40 mm)/Ammunition|AP-T, HEF}}
  
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
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''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}
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<!-- ''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.'' -->
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{{main|Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)}}
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In addition to the 'pom-pom' mount, the Kelvin carries two quadruple Vickers .50 cal heavy machine gun turrets. The heavy machine guns have a high rate of fire, but a fairly long reload. It is effective against aircraft at close range, as well as against unarmoured coastal attack craft, but is mostly useless against armoured targets or other destroyers.
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=== Additional armament ===
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{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}
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<!-- ''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.'' -->
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{{main|Mk.IX (533 mm)|Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge}}
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The Kelvin has two quintuple 21-inch torpedo tube mountings located amidships, allowing for a respectable torpedo salvo. Like all British destroyers, however, these mountings have very restricted fields-of-fire, requiring the target to be almost directly abeam of the ship. They also traverse quite slowly and are thus quite risky to use, unless the torpedoes are being fired while out of combat or against unaware opponents.
  
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=== Torpedo armament ===
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The 21-inch Mark IX torpedo itself is a rather respectable weapon, with a good range of 9.6 km and a large explosive warhead of 340 kg. It is considerably slower than the American 21-inch Mark 15 and German G7a torpedo, though it has almost double the range and a much larger warhead than the American weapon. This range can be extended further by installing the torpedo mode modification, if necessary.
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''Torpedoes launchers are standard equipment on many ships and boats. Torpedoes are a significant means of defeating an opponent. Evaluate the position of the torpedo launchers, discuss the ammunition available, firing specifics such as dead zones, features of the torpedoes themselves, etc. If there is no torpedo armament, remove this section.''
 
  
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=== Special armament ===
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The Kelvin also has two 'Y-gun' depth charge throwers located behind the aft torpedo tubes. These cannot be aimed, and are thus very rarely useful at all.
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''Depth charges, mines, rocket launchers and missiles are also effective in skilled hands and can take an off-guard opponent by surprise. Evaluate the ammunition of this type of armament and rate its performance in combat. If there are no special armaments, remove this section.''
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
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*
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* 360° traverse on the B and X turrets
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* Main guns are concentrated forward
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* Large torpedo broadside, with long range, hard-hitting torpedoes
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* Access to HE-VT shells
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* Accurate main guns
 +
* Above average top speed and mobility
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
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* Non-existent armour protection
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* Only one funnel
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* Above-waterline ammunition racks
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* Very restricted torpedo tube firing arcs
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* Below average anti-aircraft defences
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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The K class, HMS Kelvin (F37) was a British destroyer of the K class, built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the preceding [[HMS Jervis|J class]], the ship was designed as a Tribal-class destroyer with more focus on guns and less focus on torpedoes. HMS Kelvin was laid down in October 1937 and commissioned by November 1939. She saw some service during the Second World War, including the task of transporting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the English Channel after the D-Day invasion. HMS Kelvin survived the war, and was scrapped by 1949.
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=== Design ===
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The J, K and N class destroyers were a group of three classes of destroyers built as a follow-up to the preceding Tribal class. At that point in time, the British Admiralty experienced a shift in destroyer doctrine which favoured guns over torpedoes - this trend was continued through the war until the introduction of the Battle class. HMS Kelvin was armed with a main armament of three twin 4.7 inch (119 mm) QF Mark XII dual-purpose main guns, with two fore and one aft. She also carried a secondary armament of a single quad pom-pom anti-aircraft gun, along with two quadruple 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. HMS Kelvin did not carry any torpedo tubes, but could carry depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. Powered by steam turbines delivering 44,000 shp, she could make 36 knots (67 km/h).
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=== Operational History ===
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The HMS Kelvin was commissioned by November 1939 and entered service with the British Navy in the British 5th Destroyer Flotilla. She would later scuttle the destroyer HMS Ivanhoe after the latter struck a mine during the Texel disaster. She escorted the battleship HMS Revenge as she bombarded the port of Cherbourg, and was subsequently reassigned to the British Mediterranean fleet under Admiral James Somerville.
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After arriving in the Mediterranean theatre, HMS Kelvin<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first action was to bombard the town of Benghazi with her sister ships Kashmir, Kelly, and Kipling. She survived this action with little loss of life, but needed repairs and was thus sent all the way to Bombay in India. By March 1942, she had returned to the Mediterranean, and took part in the Second Battle of Sirte, where her convoy was attacked by a formidable Italian force including the battleship Littorio.
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Later in 1942, Kelvin contributed to the sinking of the Italian torpedo boat Lupo, alongside the J-class destroyers Jervis, Janus, and Javelin. In January 1943, she bombarded the port city of Zuwara which culminated in the Battle off Zuwara, where the destroyers sank an Italian convoy attempting to evacuate from Tripoli. She then left the Mediterranean theatre yet again, to be refitted back in the UK. In June 1944, she transported the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with various other foreign leaders, across the English Channel to inspect the troops that had landed in the D-Day landings. She then returned to the Mediterranean theatre, where she would stay for the rest of the war. HMS Kelvin survived the war and was broken up for scrap in 1949; she earned eight battle stars for her service during the Second World War.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_destroyer_k_class Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the ship;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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=== References ===
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* Mason, G. B. (2004). HMS Kelvin, Destroyer. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-39K-HMS_Kelvin.htm</nowiki>
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* Helgason, G. (1995). HMS Kelvin (F37). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4458.html</nowiki>
  
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[[Category:Design templates]]
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{{ShipManufacturer Fairfields}}
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{{Britain destroyers}}

Latest revision as of 16:23, 24 November 2023

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
HMS Kelvin
uk_destroyer_k_class.png
GarageImage HMS Kelvin.jpg
HMS Kelvin
Britain flag.png Britain
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.3 4.3 4.3
Class:
Research:11 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:22 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The HMS Kelvin (F37) is a member of the K-class destroyer family. The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited laid the HMS Kelvin down at Govan, Scotland, on October 5, 1937. She was launched on January 19, 1939, and put into service on November 27, 1939, bearing the pennant number F37. In World War II, the HMS Kelvin participated in combat in multiple theatres. She scuttled HMS Ivanhoe, which had struck a mine off Texel during the Texel Disaster, in September 1940 as a member of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla. She also bombarded Cherbourg in October while accompanying the battleship HMS Revenge in October 1940. The HMS Kelvin was one of the few destroyers of the J, K, and N classes to survive the war. It was broken up at Troon, Scotland, and sold for scrap on April 6, 1949.

Introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind", the destroyer HMS Kelvin is incredibly fragile. The HMS Kelvin has very little armour protection throughout the ship, making it extremely vulnerable in close-quarters combat with other destroyers. With 208 crew members, the HMS Kelvin is a remarkably unimpressive vessel compared to its German and American counterparts. Ammunition detonation is a serious risk, as some ammunition racks are situated above the waterline. All things considered, playing the HMS Kelvin demands extreme caution. It works best as a support destroyer, engaging opponents from a distance.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Main fire tower3 / 3 / 0 mm
Hull16 mm (steel)
Superstructure4 mm (steel)
Number of section7
Displacement2 369 t
Crew208 people

The Kelvin has absolutely no armour protection other than the gun shields. The main guns have 3.2 mm-thick shields, which will protect against nothing more than light machine gun bullets, while the Vickers .50 cal machine guns have 12.7 mm shields. The hull is standard 16 mm steel, which is resistant to low calibre HE and machine guns, but not much more.

The bow main gun ammunition racks are located slightly below the waterline, but the ones in the stern, as well as the bow secondary ammunition storage, are exposed above the waterline. This makes the Kelvin very vulnerable to ammunition detonation from hits at the waterline, and caution should be taken.

The machinery of the Kelvin is also exposed above the waterline, and she is vulnerable to engine damage as well. In addition, the Kelvin has only one funnel, so if it is destroyed, her mobility will be substantially crippled.

The Kelvin has a crew of 208, which is unremarkable compared to most other destroyers, and substantially worse than the German destroyers, as well as some American ones.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB85 / 31 km/h
RB69 / 25 km/h

The Kelvin has a respectable top speed, and she will easily keep pace with most other destroyers. Her acceleration is good, and she will easily reach her top speed.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 85 31
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 69 25

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 526 → 1 985 Sl icon.png
RB2 322 → 3 020 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 920 Rp icon.png
14 500 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces250 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
140 / 320 / 100 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods ship anti fragmentation protection.png
Shrapnel Protection
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ship venting.png
Ventilation
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods ship ammo wetting.png
Ammo Wetting
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_uk_navy_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
40mm_qf_mkxv_he_ammo_pack
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new aa caliber turrets.png
Anti-Air Armament Targeting
Research:
420 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods he frag dist fuse ship.png
120mm_uk_navy_dist_fuse_he_ammo_pack
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
40mm_qf_mkxv_ap_ammo_pack
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
520 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods ship rangefinder.png
Improved Rangefinder
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ship rangefinder.png
Improved Rangefinder
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods he frag proxi fuze ship.png
120mm_uk_navy_radio_fuse_he_ammo_pack
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods ship mortar.png
Bomb mortar
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Research:
560 Rp icon.png
Cost:
740 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png

Armament

Primary armament

3 х Turret2 x 4.7 inch/45 Mk.XII cannon, CPXIX mounting
Ammunition400 rounds
Vertical guidance-10° / 40°
Main article: 4.7 inch/45 Mk.XII (120 mm)

The Kelvin's main armament consists of six QF 4.7-inch Mk. XII guns, four of them in dual-gun bow A and B turrets, with another two in a stern dual-gun X turret. The upper B and X turrets have unrestricted traverse, while the lower A turret is restricted to 145° to either side. Because of this, the Kelvin can bring all of its gun turrets to bear on a target ahead while showing very little broadside. This can make her harder to hit, especially at range and on the move. The maximum elevation is only 40°, which makes them of limited use against aircraft. The traverse speed of the turrets is also somewhat below average.

The guns have a rate of fire of 12 rounds/minute while the 30-round first-stage ammunition rack is not empty, dropping to 10 rounds/minute when they are empty.

The 4.7-inch gun can fire HE, HE-TF, SAP, and HE-VT. HE-VT is flatly superior to HE and HE-TF, hence there is no point using the latter two once HE-VT has been unlocked. It is also very effective against aircraft, though the poor gun elevation means that the Kelvin will often not be able to engage attacking aircraft with the main guns. SAP is useful against armoured targets such as American destroyers with belt armour or light cruiser armour at closer ranges. Due to the smaller calibre, the shells of the 4.7-inch gun generally lack in explosive filler compared to contemporary guns such as the American 5"/38 or the German 12.8 cm guns.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
1,000 m 2,500 m 5,000 m 7,500 m 10,000 m 15,000 m
HE Mk.VIIA HE 35 35 35 35 35 35
SAP Mk.VA SAP 116 92 63 44 33 29
HE-TF Mk.VIIA HE-TF 35 35 35 35 35 35
HE-VT Mk.VIIA HE-VT 35 35 35 35 35 35
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(s) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HE Mk.VIIA HE 808 22.68 0 0.1 3,000 79° 80° 81°
SAP Mk.VA SAP 808 22.68 0.015 5 900 47° 60° 65°
HE-TF Mk.VIIA HE-TF 808 22.68 0 0.1 3,000 79° 80° 81°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Arming
distance (m) 		Trigger
radius (m) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HE-VT Mk.VIIA HE-VT 808 22.68 0 0.1 244 23 3,000 79° 80° 81°

Secondary armament

Turret4 x 40 mm 2pdr QF Mk.VIII automatic cannon
Ammunition8960 rounds
Belt capacity56 rounds
Fire rate200 shots/min
Main article: 2pdr QF Mk.VIII (40 mm)

The secondary armament of the Kelvin consists of a quadruple 2-pounder 'pom-pom' mount. This weapon is mounted amidships, behind the funnel, and is primarily an anti-aircraft weapon. However, it can be very deadly against coastal craft due to its high rate of fire and relatively potent 40 mm rounds.

  • Universal: HEF · AP-T · HEF · AP-T
  • 40 mm HE: HEF · HEF · HEF · AP-T
  • 40 mm AP: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEF

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
AP-T 60 57 48 39 32 26
HEF 3 3 3 3 3 3
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AP-T 701 0.91 - - - 47° 60° 65°
HEF 701 0.82 0 0.1 71 79° 80° 81°

Anti-aircraft armament

2 х Turret4 x 12.7 mm Vickers Mk.V machine gun
Ammunition8000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)

In addition to the 'pom-pom' mount, the Kelvin carries two quadruple Vickers .50 cal heavy machine gun turrets. The heavy machine guns have a high rate of fire, but a fairly long reload. It is effective against aircraft at close range, as well as against unarmoured coastal attack craft, but is mostly useless against armoured targets or other destroyers.

Additional armament

Setup 110 x 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedo
Setup 22 x Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge
Setup 310 x 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedo
2 x Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge
Main articles: Mk.IX (533 mm), Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge

The Kelvin has two quintuple 21-inch torpedo tube mountings located amidships, allowing for a respectable torpedo salvo. Like all British destroyers, however, these mountings have very restricted fields-of-fire, requiring the target to be almost directly abeam of the ship. They also traverse quite slowly and are thus quite risky to use, unless the torpedoes are being fired while out of combat or against unaware opponents.

The 21-inch Mark IX torpedo itself is a rather respectable weapon, with a good range of 9.6 km and a large explosive warhead of 340 kg. It is considerably slower than the American 21-inch Mark 15 and German G7a torpedo, though it has almost double the range and a much larger warhead than the American weapon. This range can be extended further by installing the torpedo mode modification, if necessary.

The Kelvin also has two 'Y-gun' depth charge throwers located behind the aft torpedo tubes. These cannot be aimed, and are thus very rarely useful at all.

Usage in battles

Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 360° traverse on the B and X turrets
  • Main guns are concentrated forward
  • Large torpedo broadside, with long range, hard-hitting torpedoes
  • Access to HE-VT shells
  • Accurate main guns
  • Above average top speed and mobility

Cons:

  • Non-existent armour protection
  • Only one funnel
  • Above-waterline ammunition racks
  • Very restricted torpedo tube firing arcs
  • Below average anti-aircraft defences

History

The K class, HMS Kelvin (F37) was a British destroyer of the K class, built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Designed as a follow-up to the preceding J class, the ship was designed as a Tribal-class destroyer with more focus on guns and less focus on torpedoes. HMS Kelvin was laid down in October 1937 and commissioned by November 1939. She saw some service during the Second World War, including the task of transporting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the English Channel after the D-Day invasion. HMS Kelvin survived the war, and was scrapped by 1949.

Design

The J, K and N class destroyers were a group of three classes of destroyers built as a follow-up to the preceding Tribal class. At that point in time, the British Admiralty experienced a shift in destroyer doctrine which favoured guns over torpedoes - this trend was continued through the war until the introduction of the Battle class. HMS Kelvin was armed with a main armament of three twin 4.7 inch (119 mm) QF Mark XII dual-purpose main guns, with two fore and one aft. She also carried a secondary armament of a single quad pom-pom anti-aircraft gun, along with two quadruple 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. HMS Kelvin did not carry any torpedo tubes, but could carry depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. Powered by steam turbines delivering 44,000 shp, she could make 36 knots (67 km/h).

Operational History

The HMS Kelvin was commissioned by November 1939 and entered service with the British Navy in the British 5th Destroyer Flotilla. She would later scuttle the destroyer HMS Ivanhoe after the latter struck a mine during the Texel disaster. She escorted the battleship HMS Revenge as she bombarded the port of Cherbourg, and was subsequently reassigned to the British Mediterranean fleet under Admiral James Somerville.

After arriving in the Mediterranean theatre, HMS Kelvin's first action was to bombard the town of Benghazi with her sister ships Kashmir, Kelly, and Kipling. She survived this action with little loss of life, but needed repairs and was thus sent all the way to Bombay in India. By March 1942, she had returned to the Mediterranean, and took part in the Second Battle of Sirte, where her convoy was attacked by a formidable Italian force including the battleship Littorio.

Later in 1942, Kelvin contributed to the sinking of the Italian torpedo boat Lupo, alongside the J-class destroyers Jervis, Janus, and Javelin. In January 1943, she bombarded the port city of Zuwara which culminated in the Battle off Zuwara, where the destroyers sank an Italian convoy attempting to evacuate from Tripoli. She then left the Mediterranean theatre yet again, to be refitted back in the UK. In June 1944, she transported the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with various other foreign leaders, across the English Channel to inspect the troops that had landed in the D-Day landings. She then returned to the Mediterranean theatre, where she would stay for the rest of the war. HMS Kelvin survived the war and was broken up for scrap in 1949; she earned eight battle stars for her service during the Second World War.

Media

Skins

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the ship;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References

  • Mason, G. B. (2004). HMS Kelvin, Destroyer. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-39K-HMS_Kelvin.htm
  • Helgason, G. (1995). HMS Kelvin (F37). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4458.html


Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Destroyers 
G-class  ORP Garland
K-class  HMS Kelvin
Battle-class  HMS Cadiz
Hunt-class  La Combattante*
Light Cruisers 
Town-class  HMS Liverpool
Heavy Cruisers 
County-class  HMS Norfolk
Battlecruisers 
Renown-class  HMS Renown
  *HMS Haldon in French service

Britain destroyers
Town-class  HMS Churchill · HMS Montgomery
V-class  HMS Valhalla · HMS Vega · HMS Verdun
G-class  HMS Grafton · ORP Garland
Hunt-class  HMS Calpe · HMS Brissenden
Tribal-class  HMCS Haida · HMS Eskimo · HMS Mohawk
J-class  HMS Jervis
K-class  HMS Kelvin
N-class  HMAS Nepal
Battle-class  HMS Armada · HMS Cadiz · HMAS Tobruk
Daring-class  HMS Daring · HMS Diamond · HMS Diana

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