HMS Redoubt (H41)

HMS Redoubt was an R-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Redoubt and INS Ranjit.

Redoubt in November 1942
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Redoubt
Namesake:	The redoubt
Ordered:	April 1940
Builder:	John Brown & Company
Laid down:	19 June 1941
Launched:	2 May 1942
Commissioned:	1 October 1942
Fate:	Transferred to the Indian Navy in 1949
India
Name:	INS Ranjit
Commissioned:	1949
Decommissioned:	1979
General characteristics
Class and type:	R-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,705 long tons (1,732 t) (standard) 2,425 long tons (2,464 t) (deep load)
Length:	358 ft 3 in (109.2 m) (o/a)
Beam:	35 ft 8 in (10.9 m)
Draught:	13 ft 6 in (4.1 m) (deep)
Installed power:	40,000 shp (30,000 kW) 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Propulsion:	2 × shafts; 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range:	4,675 nmi (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 290 air warning Radar Type 285 ranging & bearing
Armament:	5 × single QF 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mk.IX guns 1 × quadruple QF 2-pdr Mk.VIII AA guns 6 × single QF 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns 2 × quadruple 21-inch torpedo tubes 4 × throwers and 2 × racks for 70 depth charges

Description

Redoubt displaced 1,705 long tons (1,732 t) at standard load and 2,425 long tons (2,464 t) at deep load. She had an overall length of 358 feet 3 inches (109.2 m), a beam of 33 feet 8 inches (10.3 m) and a deep draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.1 m). She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Redoubt carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Her complement was 176 officers and ratings.[1]

The ship was armed with four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Redoubt had one quadruple mount for QF 2-pdr Mark VIII ("pom-pom") guns and six single 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon autocannon. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. Two depth charge rails and four throwers were fitted for which 70 depth charges were provided.[2]

Construction and career

HMS Redoubt was built by Clydebank and launched in 1942.

Postwar service

Between 1946 and 1947 Redoubt was part of the reserve held at Chatham Dockyard, being transferred to the Harwich reserve in August 1947. Between 1948 and 1949 she underwent a refit at Chatham Dockyard. She was transferred to India 4 July 1949, where she was commissioned as INS Ranjit and allocated the pennant number D209.[3]

In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II[4] Along with two other former R-class destroyers (Rajput and Rana) she formed part of the 11th destroyer Squadron.[5] She served until 1979, and was scrapped after decommissioning.[6]

References

1. Lenton, p. 174
2. English, p. 51
3. Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2, page 50
4. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
5. Blackman, Raymond V B, Jane's Fighting Ships 1963-4, Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd, London, p122
6. http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-53R-Redoubt.htm

Bibliography

• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 978-0-9560769-0-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2006). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-86176-137-6.
• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
• Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.