HMS Active

It's nice to see that hands fallen in neatly totally ignoring the carnage of the focsle just in front of them! I can imaging the Port Admirals signals would be a little caustic (Malta?)
I would suggest that her paint scheme and the fact that her ships company have white caps would make this photo pre war?

Thanks Tomvart,
I would tend to agree that this is probably pre-war as per your conclusions. It is one of several in an ex-RN uncle`s collection. I will modify the ww2 header to correct this. Many of the photos are dated immediate pre-war.
regards, Donald

Certainly Malta, the Baracca Lift is on view.
H . M . S . A C T I V E ( H 1 4 )
A-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn, Newcastle on 6th March 1928 under the 1927 Programme and laid down on 10th July that year. She was launched on 9th July 1929 as the 23rd R N ship to carry this name, introduced in 1758 for a Frigate and last borne by a 1904 cruiser sold in 1920 and a trawler hired for use as minesweepers in 1915. Build was completed on 9th February 1930 and she commissioned for service on 10th April 1930. Her pre-war service, apart from refits in UK was with the Mediterranean Fleet until October 1938 when she was placed in Reserve.
This ship had the distinction of serving in many areas abroad during WW2 and was one of the very few destroyers built before 1939 to survive without major damage.

Nice image of Active, I think this was a difference of opinion with the modified W class destroyer Worcester, Worcester came off worse - the plate sticking out at right angles with portholes in it was 'borrowed' from Worcester.

Hi Lancastrian,
After my Dad was sunk on the City of Athens, 8th Oct 1942, he and the survivors were picked up by HMS Active, and was onboard her still the same evening when she attacked and sunk U-179 which turned out to be the same u-boat which had earlier sunk my Dad`s ship. It was the U-boat`s first war patrol and the City of Athens was her only successful attack before she was sunk by HMS Active, with all hands lost.