HMS Afridi moved from prewar Mediterranean service into the Norwegian campaign, where aircraft sank her on 3 May 1940. Her captain had to judge an incoming bombing attack from the open bridge and choose a turn before the bombs began falling. Maneuver formed part of the ship's air defence, and one wrong decision could be fatal. Afridi's earlier exercises, diplomatic visits, and carrier escort work show how quickly a modern flotilla leader entered combat for which her gun arrangement was poorly suited.
Chapter · 20:09-30:10
Afridi and the cost of weak destroyer air defence
Afridi's career and loss connect the Tribal class's exposed command positions and limited high-angle armament to the realities of the Norwegian campaign.