HMS Escapade was an E-class destroyer constructed for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s, representing a slightly improved version of the preceding D-class design. She displaced approximately 1,405 long tons at standard load and up to 1,940 long tons at deep load. Her overall length was 329 feet (100.3 meters), with a beam of 33 feet 3 inches (10.1 meters) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 meters). Power was supplied by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, fueled by three Admiralty three-drum boilers. This propulsion system generated a total of 36,000 shaft horsepower, allowing her to reach a maximum speed of 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h). She carried a fuel oil capacity of 470 long tons (480 tons), which provided a range of 6,350 nautical miles (11,760 km) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). The ship's complement consisted of 145 officers and ratings. Her armament included four 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts ('A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y'), two quadruple mounts for 0.5-inch Vickers AA machine guns, and two quadruple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. She was equipped with one depth charge rack, two throwers, and initially carried 20 depth charges, later increased to 35. as the war progressed. In April 1941, her rear torpedo tubes were replaced by a 12-pounder (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun. During her service, she underwent multiple refits, notably in 1943 when she was converted into an escort destroyer, receiving radar systems (Type 286, 271, and later 277 and 291), additional AA guns including 20 mm Oerlikons, and a split Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar. After an accident that destroyed her Hedgehog mount in September 1943, she was extensively repaired and fitted with two new Squid anti-submarine mortars. HMS Escapade’s service record included patrols and convoy escort duties across European waters, participation in the Norwegian Campaign, Arctic convoy escort missions, and anti-invasion patrols. She was involved in notable operations such as the blockade enforcement during the Spanish Civil War, the hunt for German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union. Her wartime career was marked by her adaptability and resilience, despite sustaining damage from an accidental explosion of her Hedgehog projectile in 1943, which took her out of action for over a year. She returned to convoy escort duties in late 1944, continued until the end of hostilities, and was ultimately sold for scrap in 1947, ending her service as a significant part of the Royal Navy’s wartime destroyer fleet.

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