Appendix III
Brief details of nine losses from 1934 to 1944 follow.
Tomozuro, 16 March 1934, Japan. Capsized following heel due to beam winds combined with heavy rolling. Blamed on poor large-angle stability.1
Branlebas, 14 December 1940, France. Broke in half at break of forecastle in a moderate gale. Investigation of sisters showed very poor stability.
Lanciere, 23 March 1942, Italy. Progressive flooding through weak hatches, doors and superstructure caused loss of power followed by capsize.2
Scirocco, 23 March 1942, Italy. No details, probably as above.
Sokrushitelnyi, 22 November 1942, Soviet Union. Pooped, lost power and later broke in half.3
Warrington, 13 September 1944, USA. Flooded down intakes, lost power and foundered.
Hull, Monaghan and Spence, 18 December 1944, USA. These three ships were operating with a considerable heel resulting from a strong beam gale with heavy rolling superimposed. Water came down the boiler room intakes, shorting the switchboard and causing the vessels to lose steering. The ships capsized. The USN investigation blamed the CO’s blind obedience of the Admiral’s orders. It was not uncommon for RN destroyers to signal ‘Cannot maintain course and speed’ without any blame ensuing. The investigation also led to the ‘Sarchin and Goldberg’ stability standards, adopted in principle by many navies, including the RN.4