HMS Ulster (R83)

HMS Ulster was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II.[2] She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F83. Ulster was the second vessel in Royal Navy history to have that name.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Ulster.

HMS Ulster on the River Tyne, 26 June 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Ulster
Builder:	Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom[1]
Laid down:	12 November 1941
Launched:	9 November 1942
Commissioned:	30 June 1943
Decommissioned:	1977
Identification:	pennant number R83
Fate:	Withdrawn from service 1977; Broken up 1980
General characteristics V-class destroyer
Class and type:	V-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,777 long tons (1,806 t) standard 2,058 long tons (2,091 t) full load
Length:	363 ft (111 m)
Beam:	35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught:	10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers Geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (29,828 kW) 2 shafts
Speed:	37 knots (43 mph; 69 km/h)
Range:	4,860 nmi (9,000 km) at 29 kn (54 km/h)
Complement:	180 (225 in flotilla leader)
Armament:	Original configuration : 4 × QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) Mk XII guns in single mountings CP Mk.XXII 2 × QF 40 mm Bofors guns in twin mount Mk.IV 6 × QF 20 mm Oerlikon guns; 2 × twin mounts Mk.V, 2 × single mounts Mk.III 2 × quadruple tubes for 21 in (533 mm) torpedo Mk.IX
General characteristics Type 15 frigate
Class and type:	Type 15 frigate
Displacement:	2,300 long tons (2,337 t) standard
Length:	358 ft (109 m) o/a
Beam:	37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Draught:	14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, steam turbines on 2 shafts, 40,000 shp
Speed:	31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h) (full load)
Complement:	174
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 293Q target indication (later Type 993) Type 277Q surface search Type 974 navigation Type 262 fire control on director CRBF Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar: Type 174 search Type 162 target classification Type 170 attack
Armament:	1 × twin 4 in gun Mark 19 1 × twin 40mm Bofors Mk.5; 2 × Squid A/S mortar or; 2 × Limbo Mark 10 A/S mortar

With funds gathered through a Naval Savings Campaign in 1942 known as Warship Week, the ship was adopted by the civil community of Ulster's County Down.

Specifications

HMS Ulster had a displacement of 2091 tons when full and dimensions of 363 feet (111 m) long, 36 feet (11 m) wide and a draught of 10 feet (3.0 m). She was powered by 2 Admiralty 3 drum type water boilers, which gave 40,000 horsepower (30 MW) through twin shafts making a top speed of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). Her range was 4,860 nautical miles (9,000 km; 5,590 mi). The crew complement was 180 hands.[3]

Armaments on the original construction and fitting consisted of: four 4.7-inch Mark IX guns, two 40mm Bofors, six QF 20mm Oerlikons and two quad-mounted 21-inch (533 mm) Mark IX torpedo tubes, as well as radar, sonar and depth charges.

Service history

Second World War service

In June 1943 construction was completed and Ulster went into duty in the English Channel. By the end of the year she would be on duty in the Mediterranean and Adriatic on anti-submarine missions, receiving damage from return fire. In April 1944 the destroyer would return to home waters and towards the end of the year would refit and have new radar and advanced warning systems installed.[4]

At the beginning of 1945 Ulster was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet with the pendant "D", in keeping with the American system.[4]

Pacific

Ulster, while serving with the British Pacific Fleet, had a near miss by a Japanese kamikaze and a 500 lb bomb during Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa. Ulster had her machinery spaces blown in and had to be towed to Leyte for temporary repairs, whence it sailed for Australia. Two sailors died and one was seriously injured in the attack. Nearly six months after the attack in October 1945 Ulster made it back to HM Dockyard, Chatham in England to undergo full repairs.[4]

Post-War

After the Second World War Ulster was mostly used as a training vessel and for reserve purposes. Between 1953 and 1956 she underwent a full conversion to a Type 15 frigate at Chatham Dockyard.[5] In 1957 she joined the 8th Frigate Squadron.[6] Soon she was on duty in Iceland, Azores, West Indies, Caribbean, and tours to the United States. In 1958 Ulster helped to restore power ashore in Nassau, Bahamas.[7]

In 1964 she was again put into reserve in Plymouth. A year later in 1965, Ulster was re-commissioned in the 2nd Frigate Squadron, but then in 1967 was withdrawn from operational service.

In 1966, the heavily damaged stern was replaced with that of HMS Urchin.[8]

During the late 1960s, Ulster was used by naval ratings from HMS Vernon for seagoing training in the Sonar Control Room (SCR). In 1970 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days; at the time she was the Navy's Navigational Training Ship.[9] The destroyer was used as a training hulk at HMS Raleigh between 1974 and 1980.[5] Finally in 1980 Ulster was bought by Thos W Ward and broken up.[4]

Commanding officers

• 1943–1944 Lieutenant Commander W.S. Donald, DSC, RN
• 1944–1945 Lieutenant Commander Ronald John Hanson, DSO, DSC, RN
• 1945–1946 Lieutenant John Trevor Kay, RN
• 1946 Lieutenant Commander H C Fox 4 June 1946
• 1946–1949 Lieutenant Commander Rycroft RN Oct 46
• 1949–1949 Lieutenant Commander A W Langridge DSC 30 March 1949
• 1949–1950 Lieutenant Commander L E Blackmore from 26 October 1949
• 1949–1952 Lieutenant Commander J Sampson
• 1953–1953 Lt Bailey & Lieutenant Commander G.J Shaw RN
• 1954–1955 Reserve Category (Class III)
• 1956–1957 Lieutenant Commander A Card RN
• 1957–1958 Commodore G E Hunt from July 57
• 1958–1960 Commander Cameron Rusby RN
• 1960–1960 Lieutenant Commander D. J. Halifax
• 1960–1961 Commander J R C Johnston RN
• 1961–1963 Commander R.L Mayne RN
• 1963 Spring Commander J RC Johnston RN
• 1963 Winter Lieutenant Commander T R Duchesne RN
• 1964 No command
• 1965–1965 Lieutenant Commander R W Keogh RN
• 1966–1967 Lieutenant Commander A.H.N. Weeks RN
• 1967 Lieutenant Commander D R Cowling 30 January 1967
• 1968–1969 Lieutenant Commander J W F Briggs RN
• 1969–1969 Lieutenant Commander R. Phillips RN
• 1969–1970 Commander C T Chamberlain RN
• 1970 Lieutenant Commander A. R. Evans
• 1971–1972 Lieutenant Commander J L Weatherall RN
• 1973 Spring/Winter
• 1974 Spring Captain G G R Hunt RM
• 1974 Autumn Lieutenant Commander W J Corry RN (Non-Sea going)
• 1975–1976 Lieutenant Commander W J Corry RN (Non-Sea going)
• 1977 Lieutenant Commander D J Leach RN (Non-Sea going)

References

1. "HMS Ulster (R83)". hmscavalier.org.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
2. "HMS Ulster". navalhistory.flixco.info. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
3. "RN Destroyer Classes: U & V Class 1942–43". rnwarships.informe.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
4. "HMS Ulster History From Launch To Scrap". candoo.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
5. Marriott 1983, p. 38
6. Critchley 1982, p. 64
7. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2007). "Chronology, Part 2 – 1951-60". naval-history.net. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
8. "Welcome to HMS Ulster! 1957". www.candoo.com.
9. Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 29–31 August 1970, p19.

Publications

• 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.
• Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1322-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.