HMS Heythrop (L85)

HMS Heythrop (L85) was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy She was ordered as part of the 1939 War Emergency programme. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War. She was named after the Heythrop Hunt.

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

HMS Heythrop (L85)
History
United Kingdom
Name: Heythrop
Namesake: Heythrop Hunt
Ordered: 4 September 1939
Builder: Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Yard number: J4139
Laid down: 18 December 1939
Launched: 20 October 1940
Commissioned: 21 June 1941
Identification: L85
Honours and
awards:
  • Battle Honours
  • Atlantic 1941
  • Libya 1941/42
  • Malta Convoys 1941/42
Fate: Sunk by torpedo from U-652 20 March 1942
General characteristics Type II
Class and type: Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) full load
Length: 85.3 m (279 ft 10 in) o/a
Beam: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Speed:
  • 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
  • 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) full
Range: 3,600 nmi (6,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement: 164
Armament:
  • 6 × QF 4 in Mark XVI on twin mounts Mk. XIX
  • 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk. VIII on quad mount MK.VII
  • 2 × 20 mm Oerlikons on single mounts P Mk. III
  • 110 depth charges, 2 throwers, 3 racks
Service record

Service history

On completion Heythorp proceeded to the Mediterranean where she was employed on escort tasks until her loss. On 20 March 1942 she was 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Bardia when she was hit by a torpedo fired by U-652. She was severely damaged and was taken under tow however when her pumps could not cope she was abandoned and the crew transferred by boat to HMS Eridge. She sank later that day.

References

    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.
    • English, John (1987). The Hunts: a history of the design, development and careers of the 86 destroyers of this class built for the Royal and Allied Navies during World War II. England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-44-4.



    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.