HMS Middleton - 1943 - Hunt II Class Destroyer

Following the Hunt class destroyers in Polish service, IBG Models has now released some of the sister ships in the Royal Navy. One of these is the escort destroyer HMS Middleton.

Before the outbreak of World War II, the Royal Navy realised that it would need to have two different types of destroyer. As the conventional large fleet destroyers, designed for speed, consumed too much fuel at low speeds, resulting in a reduced range of action, it was decided to develop a type designed for convoy service. Thus, in 1938, the Hunt class was designed. The 80 m long ships were armed with three 102 mm twin guns, one QF 2 pounder quadruplet and two 20 mm guns. The present ship is of Type II which was 2 1/2 feet wider to increase displacement and stability of the ships. HMS Middleton was commissioned in early 1942 and subsequently served as an anti-aircraft escort for minelayers in the Atlantic, on the Russian convoys, Malta convoys, in the English Channel in 1944 during the Normandy landings, and in the North Sea in 1944-45.

After the war she remained in reserve until 1955 and was finally scrapped in 1958.

In addition to neatly moulded plastic parts and instructions, the kit includes decals and a sheet of etched parts.