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The Hunt class evolved from the unsuitability of converting old fleet destroyers to escort destroyers. The main reasons why such a class were needed was, firstly, that a new, utilitarian design could be built quicker than older construction became available for conversion, and secondly, that the high speed of the older destroyers was wasted as escorts, asdics not working effectively at anything over 20 knots. A small design with dual-purpose main guns, no torpedoes, a light AA armament and a speed of around 25 knots would be cheap, quick and economical to build, and be ideal for both anti-submarine and anti-aircraft escorts.
Those three destroyer, unique in their class in Polish Navy, belongs to the Hunt class escort destroyers. 86 boats were built, in 4 groups. Polish destroyers were built in second group of 34 ships. Hunt class escort destroyers were designed before war, as smaller version of so called 'Fleet Destroyers'. After returning OF Ouragan to the French Navy, KMW come with proposal of loaning second JKN class destroyer. British Admiralty refused but in replacement loaned to Polish Navy two boats of Hunt class escort destroyers. Shortly in 1942 third unit of this class was loaned to PMW. |
