Destroyer histories. Royal naval old destroyer Town class. Destroyer website dedicated to the history of HMS Lewes, HMS Leeds, HMS Ludlow, HMS Campbelltown, HMS Caldwell, HMS Castleton, HMS Chelsea, HMS Lancaster, HMS Leamington, HMS Lincoln, HMS Mansfield, HMS Montgomery, HMS Richmond, HMS Salisbury, HMS Wells, HMS Annapolis, HMS Bath, HMS Brighton, HMS Charlestown, HMS Columbia, HMS Georgetown, HMS Hamilton, HMS Newark, HMS Newmarket, HMS Newport, HMS Niagara, HMS Roxburgh, HMS St Albans, HMS St Clair, HMS St Mary's, HMS Belmont, HMS Beverley, HMS Bradford, HMS Broadwater, HMS Broadway, HMS Burnham, HMS Burwell, HMS Buxton, HMS Cameron, HMS Chesterfield, HMS Churchill, HMS Clare, HMS Ramsey, HMS Reading, HMS Ripley, HMS Rockingham, HMS St Croix, HMS St Francis, HMS Sherwood and HMS Stanley from their launch to their participation in major wars also notice board for descendents of ex-crew of Town Class destroyers. 

[ 1st + 2nd Group ] [ 3rd Group ] [ 4th Group ] [ 5th Group ]

Due to the large number of losses of destroyers during the opening year of the war, it was considered a priority to acquire destroyers as soon as possible. The building programmes at the time would not be able to cope with the needs of the admiralty. The British Ambassador in Paris during May 1940. stated that his American colleague had heard that the French had been offered 10 old Us Destroyers which had been proposed by the American Ambassador. It was also asked if Britain would like 50 to 100 Old destroyers on the same basis. The Admiralty replied that they would like 16 up to date destroyers with the addition of 32 "Flush deckers" .

On the 1st August 1940, President Roosevelt offered to sell 50 ships to the Canadian Government who would inturn donate them to Britain.  This idea was rejected by Churchill and it was finally agreed that the sell of 50 ships would be for the lease of Bases in the United Kingdom.  "Lend Lease".