Lots of Canadian choices here but to have some diversity AU HMCS Prince Henry - AUX - CAN DD River Class - Frigate- Canada
Australia and Sweden can use more options DD HSwMS Klas Horn - Destroyer - Sweden DD HMAS Yarra - Destroyer- gives something a shade bigger then the corvettes
So i noticed that we're lacking any Japanese or US Destroyers. So they can be a write in category in here in addition. But youll need to explain your choice
When looking at IJN DDs Kasumi stood out. Managed to survive from the start of the war until it was sunk escorting Yamato on its final sortie. Present at several fleet engagements and landings as well as numerous sorties as a big ship escort. Also rescued survivors form Nachi at Surigao Strait and survived a submarine torpedo hit.
USS Drayton - Busy war service start to finish. 11 battle stars. Nicknamed the 'blue bottle/beetle' destroyer when it sported the blue overall colour scheme, similar to that used on a cruiser(s) at the same time (Minneapolis?)
USS Pope - Survived the Java sea battle and then initially the run with Exeter & Encounter, where the three units had a prolonged running battle with four IJN DDs and four cruisers. Having used most of its ammunition stocks it was the lone survivor of the three only to be finished off by air attack.
Just realised HMCS Oakville is not on this list. It got several votes I believe. I voted it after somebody else had listed it, mainly for its u boat boarding! Also the SS Stephen Hopkins makes for similar heroic reading after going down in a blaze of glory after 'bumping' into the raider Stier and her tender in a fog bank, with both the former sinking each other. Then thirty days in a lifeboat to boot. If JOB has the longevity and preservation factor, then this has the action and drama needed for a spiced up liberty card.
At Omaha Beach on D-Day, from 0900 onward for seven hours, she went into the surf line, sometimes only 300–400 yards off the beach, and provided gunfire support to the First and 29th Infantry Divisions that were pinned down.
From the Frankford Action Report:
"Throughout morning and afternoon rendered direct fire support at targets of opportunity on beach "DOG RED" and DOG WHITE."
Took part in the battle of Vella Lavella. Yūgumo, first in the Japanese line, after charging the US destroyers and firing several torpedoes was hit several times, knocking out her steering. She was finished off by a torpedo and sunk at about 23:10. However, one of her torpedoes hit Chevalier, detonating the forward magazine. Destroyer hunter?
Suzukaze or Tanikaze
Two of the Japanese destroyers launched their Long Lance torpedoes and hit Helena, fatally damaging her. After heading away from Vila following first contact, the main Japanese force broke away behind a smokescreen. Both launched torpedoes so not sure which could claim credit.
Shiranui
She was assigned to escort the aircraft carrier Chiyoda to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands on a supply mission. On 5 July, while outside Kiska Harbor, she was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by the submarine USS Growler, which severed her bow, killing three crewmen. Her crew managed to keep her afloat and she took two months to limp back to Maizuru under tow, where she remained under repairs until 15 November 1943. Torpedo survivor?
Oyashio
During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13–15 November, Oyashio, launched a torpedo attack against the American battleship USS Washington. After the battle, she returned with the cruiser Chōkai to Rabaul. On 21 November, she sortied from Rabaul to assist the destroyer Umikaze. During the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November, Oyashio torpedoed the American cruiser USS Northampton.
Amatsukaze
During the first year of the Pacific War, the destroyer was under the command of Tameichi Hara and participated in the battles of the Java Sea, Eastern Solomons and the Santa Cruz Islands. During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Amatsukaze sank the destroyer USS Barton with two torpedoes and probably damaged USS Juneau with a third, but injudicious use of her searchlights attracted the attention of the light cruiser USS Helena. The ensuing barrage silenced Amatsukaze's guns, knocked out her steering engine and killed 43 of her crew but her turbines were not affected and she was able to withdraw at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) using emergency manual steering.[4]
Amatsukaze was under repair at Kure Naval Arsenal until February 1943, and was then deployed to Truk, carrying out escort and transport operations until returning to Japan for refit at Kure in December that year.[5]
On 11 January 1944, while escorting a convoy of four ships in the South China Sea, Amatsukaze was torpedoed by the submarine USS Redfin. The resulting magazine explosion severed the bow of the ship and killed 80 crewmen. Miraculously, the ship did not sink. Presumed sunk, the ship was not discovered for six days until she was spotted by a patrol plane. Amatsukaze was eventually towed to Singapore where a temporary bow was rigged.
So once again we are leaving off SS Ohio... I think that is an absolute travesty. She more than deserves to be in the game, and in my opinion, she should have already been in the game...