Walker was chosen at random from the V and W class to illustrate the career of a typical destroyer. Much of her service consisted of routine duty interrupted by brief periods of combat or other excitement. Following one ship across both world wars gives a clearer view of what everyday destroyer service demanded from its crews and officers. Walker proved slightly more eventful than expected, but her career still works as a case study of the work done by the Royal Navy's less celebrated ships.
Notable Point · 5:31-8:00
What an ordinary destroyer career can show
A mostly ordinary destroyer reveals the routine service that accounts of famous ships and exceptional actions can obscure.