HMS Eskimo

This page is about the British Destroyer HMS Eskimo. For other ships of her class, see Tribal (Family).

HMS Eskimo

HMS Calpe

HMAS Nepal

HMS Eskimo

HMS Calpe

HMAS Nepal

Britain

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.3	4.3

Class:

Destroyer

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

Description

The Tribal-class, HMS Eskimo (F75), 1941 is a rank II British destroyer with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea" as part of the British fleet closed beta test.

HMS Eskimo, pennant number F75, part of the Tribal class, was a fleet destroyer finished during December 1938. She was intended to provide counter-destroyer firepower and support the combat flotillas, she served in this role throughout the Second World War. 

Following an intermission from the escort destroyer role, the HMS Eskimo offers an offensive hit-and-run approach to the British destroyers; very comparable to the G-class (H89). Mainly by the superior firepower of six 120 mm main guns, each one firing devastating 3 kg High Explosive shells in quickfire rate: initially of 12 rounds per second!

Of course, when regarding destroyers, is not all about firepower but also about the increased top speed; unachieved on the earlier escort destroyer. The now fairly average survivability and auxiliary armaments surely will assist captains in control of this well-balanced combat destroyer.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Main fire tower3 / 3 / 0 mm

Hull16 mm (steel)

Superstructure4 mm (steel)

Number of section7

Displacement2 519 t

Crew260 people

The Eskimo is lightly armoured overall. anti-fragmentation armour plates no thicker than 12.7 mm protect most of the gun emplacements. While the main turrets are protected by 3.2 mm of anti-fragmentation armour. As seen on the HMS Grafton and previous destroyers, this anti-fragmentation armour is mainly effective in protecting the gun breech versus HE shells. Any other type of shell is likely to go through this type of armour and disable the turret. 

Regarding survivability, the Eskimo is packed with a lot of ammunition storages for the quick-firing high calibre main and secondary cannons. The most dangerous zones are the bow and the stern. There is no armour whether above or below the waterline; and the area is not even effectively protected by fuel tanks. This means an accurate enemy salvo is likely to cause ammunition damage or a catastrophic detonation of the ammo magazines. The ammunition storages are not limited within the hull, but as another drawback of the high rate of fire, there are large quantities of ready-use ammo racks near most of the high-calibre cannons. SAP and APCBC shells are likely to cause a lot of damage to all the ammo storages since they are only protected by steel boxes.

Another aspect to consider is the constant loss of the ship's control. The transmission and engine rooms are located in an easily targetable area. There is no fuel tank or armour plates to protect none of them from enemy fire, unlike adversaries as the German destroyer Type 1936A or the Italian Corazziere which are decently protected with fuel tanks in those areas.

A complement of 260 members remains average amongst the majority of destroyers at the rank: average of 267. While it is significantly less than most of the German adversaries, with an average of 325 crew members in their destroyers at the same battle rating. This places the Tribal class at a tactical disadvantage when duelling with all German destroyers.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB82 / 31 km/h

RB67 / 25 km/h

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.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	82	31
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	67	25

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB1 194 → 1 553

RB1 870 → 2 432

Total cost of modifications8 830

9 980

Talisman cost640

Crew training4 500

Experts16 000

Aces180

Research Aces190 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 240 / 100 %

118 / 118 / 118 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Research: 340 Cost: 380 100 Rudder Replacement Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 Propeller Replacement Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 Engine Maintenance Research: 460 Cost: 520 135	Damage Control Division Research: 340 Cost: 380 100 Fire Division Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 Smokescreen Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 Shrapnel Protection Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 Ventilation Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 New Pumps Research: 460 Cost: 520 135 Ammo Wetting Research: 460 Cost: 520 135	120mm_uk_navy_AP_ammo_pack Research: 340 Cost: 380 100 102mm_uk_mkxvi_navy_SAP_ammo_pack Research: 340 Cost: 380 100 Anti-Air Armament Targeting Research: 340 Cost: 380 100 120mm_uk_navy_dist_fuse_he_ammo_pack Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 102mm_uk_mkxvi_navy_he_dist_fuse_ammo_pack Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 Auxiliary Armament Targeting Research: 320 Cost: 360 95 Improved Rangefinder Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 Improved Rangefinder Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 102mm_uk_mkxvi_navy_he_radio_fuse_ammo_pack Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 Primary Armament Targeting Research: 350 Cost: 400 100 Torpedo Mode Research: 460 Cost: 520 135 120mm_uk_navy_radio_fuse_he_ammo_pack Research: 460 Cost: 520 135 Bomb mortar Research: 460 Cost: 520 135

Armament

Primary armament

3 х Turret2 x 4.7 inch/45 Mk.XII cannon, CPXIX mounting

Ammunition400 rounds

Vertical guidance-10° / 40°

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: {{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.

Secondary armament

Turret2 x 4 inch/45 Mark XVI cannon

Ammunition400 rounds

Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control Select secondary weapon. 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.

Anti-aircraft armament

Turret4 x 40 mm 2pdr QF Mk.IIc automatic cannon

Ammunition8960 rounds

Belt capacity56 rounds

Fire rate200 shots/min

2 х Turret20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II autocannon

Ammunition1800 rounds

Belt capacity60 rounds

Fire rate450 shots/min

2 х Turret4 x 12.7 mm Vickers Mk.V machine gun

Ammunition8000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Fire rate600 shots/min

An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control Select anti-aircraft weapons. 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.

Additional armament

Setup 14 x 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedo

Setup 22 x Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge

Setup 34 x 533 mm Mk.IX** torpedo

2 x Y-gun Mk.VII depth charge

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.

Usage in battles

While the Tribal can fill numerous roles (and works well as a general all-rounder destroyer), it excels best as a gunnery ship. Thanks to the hefty calibre of its shells, as well as the accuracy of the guns, the Tribal can give other destroyers a good beating even from a distance. In addition, the concentration of 2/3rds of the Tribal's guns at the front of the ship means the Tribal can still pump out a good amount of damage while keeping a small profile. Still, if the Tribal's position is relatively safe from being shot at, don't be afraid to swing the rear turret around and let rip. While the rate-of-fire (RoF) of the guns is nothing special compared to some of the 4.7+ destroyers, it's more than enough for 4.3

The Tribal does also boast a hefty secondary armament for a destroyer. The 4-inch dual-mounted gun located towards the aft of the ship can also damage enemy destroyers, and can be a nasty surprise for coastal ships trying to get the jump on the Tribal. In addition, the Tribal is littered with AA guns that can make short work of both aircraft big and small, and torpedo boats. Combined with the Tribal's fast speed, this can make the Tribal an excellent support/escort ship if brought into higher-rank games, where the ship's 4.7-inch guns will begin to struggle against cruisers.

The main downside to the Tribal is its vulnerability. Not only is it far from the smallest destroyer, making it a big target, but it's also built out of ammo racks. The ready-use ammo located on the deck, as well as the thousands of shells under the turrets, can cause very unwelcome detonations from well-aimed enemy fire. The Tribal also suffers at close quarters, due to the mediocre traverse speed of the main turrets, and its lackluster torpedoes, which are few in number and lack the speed of contemporary torpedoes (though they do pack a big punch if they hit). Keep the Tribal away from close quarters fighting however, and it can out-gun its opponents at long range comfortably.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Numerous auxiliary and anti-air weaponry, as well as some torpedoes (4) and depth charges
• Primary guns have great precision even at long ranges (~10 km)
• Dual purpose guns; HE-VT shells for primary and secondary guns makes it easy to destroy aircraft
• 3 kg of explosive in the HE shells is great versus other destroyers and small vessels
• Top speed is average, but amongst the fastest Bluewater ships on the British Naval Tree
• The destroyer with the largest crew complement of the British rank II

Cons:

• Ammo racks are easily detonated by SAP or APCBC shells near the waterline; no armour present in the area
• Crew size remains below average versus German, American and Soviet destroyers
• Limited torpedo count may be ineffective versus heavier fleets due to small quantity
• Outmatched in most combat aspects versus early light cruisers as Köln, Leipzig or IJN Agano

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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the HMS Eskimo from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Shared operational history

• J-class (Flotilla leader)

Related development (same class)

• Haida (G63)

Analogues on other nations

• Fletcher (Family)
• USS Phelps (DD-360)
• Type 1934A (1940)
• Type 1936B
• Pr.7U (Family)
• IJN Shimakaze
• IJN Yugumo

External links

• [Devblog] Tribal-class destroyer