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| Converting Campbeltown The convertion of HMS Campbeltown took place in Devonport Dockyard. She was 95m long by almost 10m across the beam, she was a very slim craft her flush deck and four tall funnels giving her an instantly recognisable silhouette. She was capable of 35 knots if all her boilers were functioning. Her draught (the distance between waterline and keel) was a prime consideration throughout, was listed at just below 3m, this meant that the ship would be unable to clear the sand banks at the entrance to the Loire Estuary. In converting her it would be essential to think how her draught would be affected by every pound of armour and explosives brought on board.
To make sure of getting Campbeltown safely across the mud banks she would have to be lightened to the extent, when the work was completed her draught would be less than at present. Her three 4" guns, her torpedo tubes, depth charges and throwers were removed. The light 12-pounder gun was mounted to the front of the boat. And for close battle she had eight 20mm Oerlikon cannons on her upperworks. Both bridge and wheelhouse needed protection by armour plate to give shelter to commandos on her final approach, and to bolt four low armour screens along most of the main deck. To stiffen the forward part of the ship the suggestion was made to fill the bow compartments with cement. However the potential effect of the added weight needed to be checked, because of the implications on the draught. She was converted in nine days, time being shortened due to a misunderstanding of the order: as soon as possible! Campbeltowns funnels were also cut so she would look more like a German destroyer. BACK |
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