HMS Contest (R12)

HMS Contest on the Solent, 8 November 1945
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Contest
Builder: White, Cowes
Laid down: 1 November 1943
Launched: 16 December 1944
Commissioned: 9 November 1945
Identification: Pennant number: R12 (later D48)
Fate: Arrived for breaking up at Thos W Ward Grays, Essex on 2 February 1960
General characteristics
Class and type: C-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,885 tons (1,915 tonnes)
  • 2,545 tons full (2,585 tonnes)
Length: 362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a
Beam: 35.75 ft (10.90 m)
Draught: 11.75 ft (3.58 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers,
  • Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines,
  • 40,000 shp (29.8 MW), 2 shafts
Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h) / 32 knots (59 km/h) full
Range:
  • 4,675 nmi (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
  • 1,400 nmi (2,600 km) at 32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement: 186
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mk.VI
Armament:

HMS Contest was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, built by J. Samuel White, Cowes. She was launched on 1 November 1943 and commissioned on 9 November 1945. She was scrapped in 1960.

Operational service

On commissioning Contest served as part of the 8th Destroyer Squadron in the Far East. She returned to the UK for a refit in 1948.[1] She was given an interim modernization and was fitted for minelaying.[2] In 1951 she was the Torpedo training ship at Portsmouth. She then served as part of the 6th Destroyer Squadron in the Home Fleet.[3] In 1953 she took part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[4]

Decommissioning and disposal

Contest was paid off in the late 1950s. Following her sale she arrived at the breakers yard for scrapping at Thos W Ward Grays, Essex on 2 February 1960.

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain
19481949Lieutenant-Commander R A M Hennessy RN.??
19531953Lieutenant-Commander H P Fleming RN
19551956Commander Chichester RN
19561958Commander J Roxburgh RN
19541954Lt Geoffrey Lacashire

References

  1. ↑ Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. p. 65.
  2. ↑ Marriott, 1989. p.66
  3. ↑ Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 102. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.
  4. ↑ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 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. OCLC 67375475.
  • Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0.
  • Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.


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