HMS Cambrian (R85)
Cambrian, 1944
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Cambrian |
Ordered | 16 February 1942 |
Builder | Scotts, Greenock |
Laid down | 14 August 1942 as Spitfire |
Launched | 10 December 1943 |
Completed | 17 July 1944 |
Commissioned | 17 July 1944 |
Decommissioned | 1968 |
Renamed | Cambrian before launch |
Identification | Pennant number: R85 initially, but changed to D85 in 1945 |
Motto | Parves pars magna: 'Of a small people I am a great part'. |
Honours and awards | Navarino 1827 - China 1860 - Arctic 1944 |
Fate | Sold for scrap, August 1971 |
Badge | On a Field White, On a mount Green the Dragon of Wales. |
General characteristics (as built) | |
Class and type | C-class destroyer |
Displacement | 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) (standard) |
Length | 362 ft 9 in (110.6 m) o/a |
Beam | 35 ft 8 in (10.9 m) |
Draught | 14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) ( full load ) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
Speed | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
Range | 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Complement | 186 |
Armament |
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HMS Cambrian was one of eight C-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. commissioned in mid-1944, she was assigned to the Home Fleet and escorted two Arctic convoys as well as larger elements of the fleet during operations off the German-occupied Norwegian coast.
Design and description
The Ca-class destroyer was a repeat of the preceding
The ships were powered by a pair of geared
The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four
Construction and career
Cambrian was
Post war service
Following the war Cambrian paid off into reserve. Along with other Ca group destroyers, she was selected for modernisation in 1963. Work included a new enclosed bridge and Mark 6M gunnery fire control system, as well as the addition of two triple Squid anti-submarine mortars.[9]
In January 1964 Cambrian saw operational service off the coast of East Africa, as part of the operation to quell the mutiny by the Tanganyika Rifles. The destroyer operated as part of a force, along with the aircraft carrier Centaur, which landed Royal Marines from 45 Commando. Cambrian used her three 4.5-inch guns to provide naval gunfire support.[10]
During January 1968, Cambrian, who had been on duties near Mauritius in preparation for the islands upcoming independence was diverted to the outlying island of Rodrigues to quell a reported uprising by some of the populace. The so-called uprising consisted of a number of individuals who had been arrested by the local authorities for looting a government food storage warehouse and appropriating a supply of sweet potatoes following a devastating hurricane on Christmas Eve 1967 that had left them homeless and penniless. At this point it is believed that the authorities requested assistance which was provided by the destroyer. On her early morning arrival the ships 4.5" guns were fired (With blanks it is believed) and an armed landing party was provided. The landing party patrolled with the local police for several weeks to help restore order again.
Cambrian was
References
Bibliography
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 978-0-9560769-0-8.
- ISBN 1-86176-137-6.
- ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
- March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
- Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0.
- OCLC 53090718.
- ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- ISBN 0-87021-326-1.