Dates: 1940 - 1955

“NAPIER” Class destroyer ordered from John Brown, Clydebank on 15th April 1939 and laid down on 26th July

that year at the same time as sister ships being built at Govan by Fairfield and to be named NAPIER and NESTOR. .She was launched on 7th May 1940 and was the 2nd RN ship to bear this name, previously carried by a WW1 destroyer sold in 1921. Due to delay caused by late delivery of fire-control equipment it was possible to fit recently developed de-gaussing cables and 20mm close-range Oerlikon guns for AA defence before completion. The ship was transferred on loan to the Polish Navy in place of ORP GROM which had been sunk by aircraft off Norway in May 1940. Commissioned as ORP PIORUN her build was completed 4th November 1941 and she was nominated for service with the 7th Destroyer Flotilla in the Home Fleet. This ship was Lead Ship of the Class and her build cost excluding equipment supplied by the Admiralty such as guns, ammunition and signalling outfits was ?400,963.16s. Details of service recorded are from British sources.

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