HMS Trafalgar (D77)

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Trafalgar
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: 1943
Launched: 12 January 1944
Commissioned: 23 July 1945
Decommissioned: 1963
Identification: Pennant number: D77
Fate: Laid up in reserve at Portsmouth. Scrapped at Dalmuir in 1971
General characteristics
Class and type: Battle-class destroyer
Tons burthen: 2,325 tons
Length: 379 ft (116 m)
Beam: 40.25 ft (12.27 m)
Armament:

HMS Trafalgar was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named after the Battle of Trafalgar, a decisive British victory over a Franco-Spanish Fleet in 1805. Trafalgar was built by Swan Hunter on the Tyne. She was launched on 12 January 1944 and commissioned on 23 July 1945.

Royal Navy service

In August 1945, Trafalgar deployed to the Far East via the Mediterranean as part of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla,[1] which consisted of her sister ships, and which performed a variety of duties in that region while based there. It was a brief stay however, for just the following year, the destroyer, along with the rest of the 19th Flotilla, returned to the UK via the Mediterranean. Upon returning home to the UK, Trafalgar was placed in reserve, an occurrence quite familiar to her sister ships during the 1950s. In 1953, while still in reserve, she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

In 1958, Trafalgar emerged from a refit, was commissioned and became the leader of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, having spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets.[3] Just prior to her return to the UK in 1961 she was accidentally rammed by her sister-ship Solebay, Captain(D) 1st Destroyer Squadron, thus delaying her return to the UK. In 1962, Trafalgar along with ships of the squadron, sailed for the Mediterranean for the last time, performing a number of naval exercises, as well as fly-the-flag visits.

Decommissioning and disposal

Trafalgar, with the rest of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, finally returned to the UK in 1963 where she was decommissioned, and subsequently placed in Reserve at Devonport Dockyard. She was eventually broken up for scrap at Dalmuir arriving there on 8 June 1970.

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain[4]
19461947Captain Anthony F Pugsley RN
19471958In reserve then refit
19581959Captain Colin D Madden RN
19591961Captain George C Crowley RN
19611963Captain Robert R B Mackenzie RN

References

  1. ↑ Pugsley, AF; Macintyre, Donald (1957). Destroyer Man. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
  2. ↑ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  3. ↑ Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. p. 75.
  4. ↑ Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Colin Mackie

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