Editing V and W-class destroyer (section)

==Conversions for the Second World War==
From 1937 the disposal of elderly '''V and W class''' vessels ceased, and most survivors were converted to fast escort vessels. The onset of the [[Second World War]] put a stop to lengthy conversions, but many ships were converted for convoy escort duty.

===Long-range escort===
[[File:Velox.jpg|thumb|right|HMS ''Velox'' in 1944 after conversion to a long range escort (LRE).]]
The V and W class were designed to support the [[British Grand Fleet|Grand Fleet]] in its actions in the North Sea, for which they were required to make fairly short, high speed dashes. Thus, they were unsuitable for the [[Mid-Ocean Escort Force]] role to which they found themselves allocated in the Second World War, where speeds over 20 knots were of limited value (as [[Sonar|ASDIC]] rapidly lost efficiency) and endurance was desirable over firepower.

To remedy such shortcomings, a number of V and W class were modified into '''long-range escorts''' to suit them to this sort of warfare. The small, single-unit boiler room was struck and the resulting space divided into fuel tanks (lower) and accommodation (upper). Not only did this both lower fuel consumption and increase bunkerage, but it provided much needed space for ballooning wartime crews. 'A' and 'Y' guns were landed and replaced with a [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] [[Anti-submarine weapon|ahead-throwing weapon]] and [[depth charge]] stowage and launchers, respectively. The torpedo tubes were replaced with a QF 12 pdr anti-aircraft gun and platforms for a pair of [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] guns amidships, with a further pair in the bridge wings. [[Type 271 radar|Type 271]] target indication radar was added in its distinctive "lantern" dome on the bridge and [[Type 291 radar|Type 291]] air warning radar was added at the masthead, with [[Huff-Duff|High Frequency Direction Finding]] (HF/DF) fitted in some ships. The maximum speed of the conversions was around {{convert|24.5|kn|abbr=on}}.

Converted long-range escorts were (in order of date):
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Vimy (Jan – April 1941)
* Viscount (Jul – Nov 1941)
* Vanessa (Sep 1941 – Jun 1942)
* Winchelsea (Feb – Mar 1942)
* Whitehall (Jun – Jul 1942)
* Volunteer (Aug – Dec 1942)
* Vidette (Oct – Dec 1942)
* Vanquisher (Nov 1942 – Mar 1943)
* Wrestler (Jan – Apr 1943)
* Westcott (Jan – Jun 1943)
* Vesper (Jan – Jul 1943)
* Walker (Feb – Apr 1943)
* Warwick (Feb – Apr 1943)
* Wanderer (Feb – Apr 1943)
* Vansittart (Feb – May 1943)
* Versatile (Feb – Aug 1943)
* Watchman (May – Jul 1943)
* Verity (May – Sep 1943)
* Vanoc (May – Oct 1943)
* Velox (Jan – Apr 1944){{div col end}}

===WAIR===
<!-- Linked from [[Thornycroft type leader]] -->
The '''WAIR type''' conversion supplemented the construction of {{sclass2|Hunt|destroyer|5}} and {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|5}}-class escorts with their emphasis on [[anti-aircraft]] capabilities for east coast service (the exact meaning of 'WAIR' has fallen into obscurity; it is often capitalised suggesting an [[abbreviation]] or [[acronym]], but it is most likely derived from '''W'''-class anti-'''AIR'''craft). The [[Thornycroft type leader]] {{HMS|Wallace|1918|2}} was also given a WAIR conversion, but as a larger ship she also received a quadruple QF 2 pdr Mark VII mounting.

Converted ships were cleared to the main deck level, leaving only the funnels and after shelter deckhouse. The armament was replaced with four [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI|QF 4 inch L/45 Mark XVI guns]] in two twin mountings HA/LA Mark XIX, shipped on the fore and aft main decks. The armament was controlled by a Mark II(W) [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder - director]], fitted with [[Type 285 radar]] for target ranging as soon as it became available. A new tower bridge, reminiscent of the Hunt class, was built and the metric Radar Type 286 air warning was added at the foremast head, replaced by [[Type 291 radar]] as it became available. The armament was completed by a pair of quadruple [[Vickers .50 machine gun|0.5 inch Vickers machine guns]] on a platform amidships, although sometimes single [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|QF 2 pdr Mark VIII]] were carried in lieu. These guns were generally sided, but a number of ships had them arranged ''en echelon'' to allow cross-deck fire. These light weapons proved to be generally ineffective and were replaced by the [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon gun]] as it became available, although other ships took priority and the older weapons were carried well into 1942 in some cases. Two racks and throwers for [[depth charge]]s were carried aft, principally for self-defence purposes, although ''Viceroy'' sank {{GS|U-1274||2}} off the east coast of Scotland on 16 April 1945.

Ships were allocated new L-series (escort) [[pennant number]]s upon re-commissioning:
* ''Vanity'' (L38)
* ''Valentine'' (L69)
* ''Valorous'' (L00)
* ''Vega'' (L41)
* ''Verdun'' (L93)
* ''Vimiera'' (L29)
* ''Vivien'' (L33)
* ''Viceroy'' (L21)
* ''Westminster'' (L40)
* ''Whitley'' (L23)
* ''Winchester'' (L55)
* ''Wolfhound'' (L56)
* ''Wolsey'' (L02)
* ''Woolston'' (L49)
* ''Wryneck'' (L04)

===Short-range escort===
The remaining V and W class were not given either of the former conversions as they were either early war losses, had the valuable [[BL 4.7 inch /45 naval gun|BL 4.7 inch main gun]] or had the modified boiler arrangements of the Thornycroft and Admiralty modified designs with the small room aft. This latter feature proved unsuitable for the long-range escort conversion. Thus, these ships were known as '''Short-range escorts'''.

The conversion was generally limited to adding more role-specific armaments and new technology as it became available. Additions were made piecemeal, and ships were often lost with only some, or even none, of the following modifications. In common with most elderly destroyers allocated to escort duties in World War II, the after bank of torpedo tubes was removed early in the war and replaced with a single QF 12 pdr A/A gun. They also landed 'Y' gun to receive additional space for depth charge gear and stowage. Generally, two 20&nbsp;mm Oerlikons were added in the bridge wings and (when available) replaced the old 2 pounder guns amidships, 'A' gun was replaced by a Hedgehog weapon and Radar Type 271 target indication was added on the bridge, with Type 286 or 291 air warning fitted at the masthead as and when available. ''Walpole'', ''Windsor'', ''Witshed'' and ''Wivern'' received an army-pattern semi-automatic twin [[QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun]] in 'A' position for East Coast anti-[[E boat]] work.

[[File:HMS Wolverine (D78).jpg|thumb|right|[[HMS Wolverine (D78)|HMS ''Wolverine'']] (Admiralty Modified W class) as modified into a "short range escort". She retains both boiler rooms and funnels, but has "Y" gun replaced by depth charges, the after torpedo tubes replaced by a 12 pdr anti-aircraft gun, centimetric Radar Type 271 has been added on the bridge and (not visible) "A" gun has been replaced by a hedgehog weapon.]]The following vessels were short range escorts (one vessel was allocated a new [[pennant number]] in the L – escort – series):
* ''Venomous''
* ''Vivacious''
* ''Vortigern''
* ''Walpole''
* ''Windsor'' (L94)
* ''Veteran''
* ''Whitshed''
* ''Wild Swan''
* ''Wishart''
* ''Witch''
* ''Witherington''
* ''Wivern''
* ''Wolverine''