Kingston was able to launch a successful depth charge attack, forcing the U-boat to surface and scuttle itself. Fellow destroyers Kingston and Kashmir were called to the scene, and Icarus departed. On 29 November 1939, Icarus sighted the German submarine U-35 between the Shetland Islands and Bergen (Norway), but was unable to launch an effective attack because her ASDIC (sonar) was out of commission. The I-class ships were fitted with the ASDIC sound detection system to locate submarines underwater. The ships could carry a maximum of 72 mines. 'A' and 'Y' guns and both sets of torpedo tubes were modified to allow them to be removed to compensate for the weight of the mines. A pair of sponsons were added to the stern to allow the mines to clear the propellers when dropped into the sea. This consisted of mounts for rails on the deck on which to carry the mines and an electric winch to move the mines down the rails. Icarus was one of the four I-class destroyers fitted with minelaying equipment in late 1938 – January 1939 at Malta. One depth charge rack and two throwers were fitted 16 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.
The I class was fitted with two above-water quintuple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, they had two quadruple mounts for the 0.5 inch Vickers Mark III machine gun.
The ships mounted four 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X' and 'Y' from bow to stern. Their crew numbered 145 officers and ratings. The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h 17 mph). Icarus only reached a speed of 35.1 knots (65.0 km/h 40.4 mph) from 33,380 shp (24,890 kW) during her sea trials. The turbines developed a total of 34,000 shaft horsepower (25,000 kW) and were intended to give a maximum speed of 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h 40.9 mph). They were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Admiralty three-drum boilers. The ships had an overall length of 323 feet (98.5 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). They displaced 1,370 long tons (1,390 t) at standard load and 1,888 long tons (1,918 t) at deep load. The I-class ships were improved versions of the preceding H-class. HMS Icarus was one of nine I-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s. 1 × rack and 2 throwers for 16 depth charges.2 × quintuple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes.2 × quadruple 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) machine guns.On a Field Blue, a sun in splendour Proper above two wings Whiteĥ,500 nmi (10,200 km 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h 17 mph)
John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland For other ships with the same name, see HMS Icarus.
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