The first Hunt class escort destroyers were ordered in 1939 and were based on the Bittern class escort sloop, which measured 266 feet overall and were armed with 4-inch Mark XVI guns in three twin Mark XIX mounts. The original Hunt design was slightly larger at length of 278 feet 10 inches overall but with a narrower beam by approximately 8 feet when compared to the Bittern, or 28 feet 10 inches. The Hunts were originally to be armed with six 4-inch Mark XVI guns in three twin Mark XIX mounts. In addition, a quadruple QF 2-pounder Mark VII Pom Pom was fitted aft of the funnel. They also had a depth charge stowage of 40. Twenty ships were ordered in March and April of 1939.

It quickly became apparent that the Hunts had limitations. They were too short and narrow and with a limited range that made them unsuitable for the open oceans. So, they were restricted to convoy escort duties in the North Sea and the Mediterranean. In addition, the narrow beam resulted in the ships to be about 70 tons overweight, making them top heavy and very unstable. The first 20 ships were too far advanced in construction, so to compensate the “X” twin 4-inch gun mount was removed and 50 tons of ballast added. The quad Pom Pom was also relocated to the “X” position. These initial batch of ships became the Hunt Type I group.

HMS Tynedale was laid down at Alexander Stephen and Sons on July 27, 1939 and launched on June 5, 1940. She was commissioned on November 5, 1940 and was initially was used as an escort ship around the United Kingdom based out of Portsmouth and later Plymouth.

Tynedale took part in the famous St. Nazaire Raid on March 27, 1942 as one of the escorts for the converted destroyer HMS Campbeltown and the small craft which were to enter the harbor. While undergoing this operation, Tynedale sighted U-593 and attacked her first with depth charges. This forced the U-Boat to surface and Tynedale then used a deck gun to shoot at the submarine. U-593 managed to dive again and escape the attack, which would ultimately prove to be fateful. Subsequently, Tynedale and another Type I Hunt, HMS Atherstone, engaged five German torpedo boats.

After returning to Plymouth, Tynedale underwent repairs and resumed escort duties on April 18, 1942. A little over a month later, she was part of the task force that encountered and sank the German auxiliary cruiser Stier.

In March 1943, Tynedale was deployed to the Mediterranean, where she escorted convoys between Gibraltar and Algeria and participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily. October 1943 was an eventful month for Tynedale. She aided in the rescuing of 218 passengers from the Dutch freighter Felix Jan Van Manix which was torpedoed and later participated in a support role in the sinking of the German auxiliary cruiser Komet. 

During convoy escorts on December 12, 1943, Tynedale was torpedoed off the coast of Algeria by U-593, the same submarine it had damaged during the St. Nazaire raid. She broke in two and sank with the loss 73 crewmen. U-593 then sank HMS Holcombe, a Type III Hunt. The next day, U-593 was captured and sunk by the USS Wainwright and HMS Calpe. The entire submarine crew survived.

If you plan to build a full-hull model you will see corresponding pins and holes at the bow and stern and midway on the lower hull you will see tabs to help align the upper and lower hulls when gluing the two parts together. Before joining the two halves you will have to sand down several bumps which appear to be the resin equivalent injector pin marks. Some putty will probably be required to fill in the joint. With an overall length 279 ft and 10 inches, in 1:350 that would measure out to about 9.6 inches. The kit hull length measures spot on as well as in the beam.

The smaller resin parts include the 4-inch gun shields, searchlight, rangefinder director, 4-barreled Pom Pom base, 27’ whaler, 25’ Admiral motor cutter and depth charge throwers. The casting is very good with some minor cleanup of excess resin in some spots.