HMS Corunna (D97)

HMS Corunna (D97) was a later or 1943 Battle-class fleet destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was named in honour of the Battle of Corunna, which took place during the Peninsular War in 1809 between British and French forces. Corunna was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited on the Tyne. She was launched on 29 May 1945 and commissioned on 6 June 1947.

History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Corunna
Ordered:	1943
Builder:	Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Laid down:	12 April 1944
Launched:	29 May 1945
Commissioned:	6 June 1947
Decommissioned:	1967
Fate:	Broken up 1975
General characteristics
Class and type:	Battle-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,480 tons standard
Length:	379 ft (116 m)
Beam:	40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Draught:	12 ft 8 in (3.86 m) mean 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) maximum
Propulsion:	Oil-fired, two three-drum boilers Parsons geared turbines, twin screws, 50,000 hp (37,285 kW)
Speed:	35.75 knots (66.21 km/h)
Complement:	268
Armament:	Originally: 5 × 4.5 in (114 mm) guns 8 × Bofors 40 mm guns 10 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × Squid mortar Later: Sea Cat missiles
Service record
Part of:	4th Destroyer Flotilla 7th Destroyer Squadron 21st Escort Squadron

Service

In 1948, Corunna joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet.[1] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2] In 1954, Corunna, with the rest of the Squadron, formerly Flotilla, deployed to the Mediterranean, remaining there until 1955. Between 1955 and 1957 she was commanded by the future Admiral of the fleet T Lewin DSC. Corunna, with the rest of the Squadron, returned to the region in 1956 and took part in the Suez Crisis. On 15 March 1959, Corunna accidentally collided with her sister ship HMS Barrosa in the Bay Of Biscay.

Handling a Sea Cat missile, HMS Corunna at Rosyth in 1962

Corunna subsequently began her conversion to a Radar Picket, of which three other ships were also converted. The conversion included new Anti-Aircraft weaponry, new radar, and the addition of the Sea Cat missile system. In 1962, Corunna joined the 7th Destroyer Squadron, based in the Mediterranean, and the following year joined the 21st Escort Squadron.

In 1964, Corunna deployed, along with the rest of the Squadron, to the Far East, where she would remain until 1965.

Decommissioning and fate

In 1967, Corunna was placed in reserve and was put on the disposal list in 1972. On Friday 17 January 1975 "Corunna" was photographed alongside the partially demolished D86 HMS Agincourt at Sunderland. In 1975, Corunna arrived at Blyth in Northumberland where she was subsequently broken up.

References

1. Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2, page 115-6
2. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden

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.
• Hodges, Peter (1971). Battle Class Destroyers. London: Almark Publishing. ISBN 0-85524-012-1.