FIRST FLOTILLA FROM U.S.

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 6

FIRST FLOTILLA FROM U.S.

DESTROYERS REACH BRITISH PORT .

VESSELS IN SPLENDID CONDITION

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received September 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 29.

The first flotilla of destroyers acquired from the United States arrived in a British port to the accompaniment of tremendous enthusiasm. The leader will shortly be renamed Churchill. A flying-boat spotted the destroyers in the Atlantic and dived in salute before returning to its base.

The ships tied up without ceremony. All are of the 1200-ton flush deck class, contemporaries of the British V and W classes. They mount almost the same armament and have a speed of 35 knots. Most of them are four funnelled. All are equipped with 4-inch guns, 21-inch torpedo tubes and 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. All are to be renamed after towns beginning with the letter C. A large flotilla of this class served in European waters from 1919 to 1924. They have a high standard of comfort aboard.

Naval ratings lining the decks as they came in highly praised the American crews from whom they took over. The British crews proceeded to Canada aboard a liner which a German plane unsuccess-

fully attacked before its departure. The commander of one destroyer said that the Americans were extraordinarily charming and handed over the ships in spic and span condition. “Our men quickly settled down to handling the vessels,” he said. “The American skeleton crews accompanied us on the trial runs and wanted to go to England. They nearly wept when we sailed.” The British crews agreed that the destroyers were better than British destroyers of the same age. The Atlantic was crossed in six days. All had plenty of fuel left. Everyone paid a tribute to the ships’ machinery and equipment. They require only the slightest touching up for active sei-vice.