HMS Crusader was a C-class destroyer constructed for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. She displaced approximately 1,375 long tons at standard load and up to 1,865 long tons at deep load. The vessel measured 329 feet in overall length, with a beam of 33 feet and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches. Powered by Parsons geared steam turbines driving two shafts, she could reach a maximum speed of 36 knots, powered by three Admiralty 3-drum boilers. Her fuel capacity allowed a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 15 knots, and she was crewed by approximately 145 officers and men. Crusader's armament consisted of four 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y'. For anti-aircraft defense, she initially carried a single QF 3-inch gun, later removed in 1936, and two 40mm QF 2-pounder guns. She was equipped with two quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes and three depth-charge chutes, with capacity increased during wartime to 33 depth charges. Laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard in September 1930 and launched in September 1931, Crusader was completed by May 1932. She initially served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet, participating in various duties including patrols during the Spanish Civil War and convoy escort duties. In 1938, Crusader was refitted to meet Canadian specifications and was sold to the Royal Canadian Navy, renamed HMCS Ottawa. She was deployed on the Pacific Coast before World War II and later transferred to the Atlantic, where she became a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. Her notable service included sinking an Italian submarine in November 1941 alongside a British destroyer. Tragically, HMCS Ottawa was sunk on 14 September 1942 after being torpedoed by U-91 while escorting convoy ON 127 off Newfoundland, resulting in the loss of 114 crew members. Her service highlights her role in maritime patrol, convoy protection, and anti-submarine warfare during a critical period of naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.