HMS Campbeltown (I42) , was first called the USS Buchanan and was initially an American and later British destroyer of the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in 1918, the launch took place in January 1919, and the entry into service with the US Navy - also in 1919. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 95.8 meters and a width of 9.3 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 1,250 tons and maximum speed to approx. 36 knots. The armament at the time of launch consisted of four single 102 mm guns, 76 mm guns and six 533 mm torpedo tubes.
The USS Buchanan was one of 111 Wickes-class destroyers, which, along with the Clemson and Caldwell-class ships, are often referred to as "four-pipe" or "flush-deck" destroyers. The Wickes-class ships were designed to be as cheap and capable of mass production as possible high-speed destroyers. USS Buchanan was built at Bath Iron Works, Maine, in the USA. He remained in the American service in the years 1919-1940. During this period, among others: it was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet. In September 1940, he was handed over to the Royal Navy, where he served under the name HMS Campbeltown (I42) . Almost from the beginning of his service under the British flag, until March 1942, he served as an element of the protection of Atlantic convoys. However, in March 1942, it was hastily rebuilt, resembling a German destroyer, and used on a mission against the dry dock in St. Nazaire. During this mission HMS Campbeltown crashed into the gates of the dry dock, and several hours later the explosive device placed on the vessel exploded and seriously damaged the nearby port facilities. Thus, the mission was fully successful.