HMS Lamerton (L88)

Aerial photograph of HMS Lamerton in September 1941
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Lamerton
Ordered	3 September 1939
Builder	Swan Hunter
Laid down	10 April 1940
Launched	14 December 1940
Commissioned	16 August 1941
Identification	Pennant number: L88
Honours and awards	Atlantic, 1941–42 Arctic , 1942 North Africa, 1942–43 Sicily, 1943 Salerno, 1943 Mediterranean, 1944 Aegean, 1943 Adriatic, 1944
Fate	Loaned, then sold, to Indian Navy
India
Name	INS Gomati
Namesake	Gomti River
Acquired	April 1958
Commissioned	24 April 1953
Decommissioned	1975
Identification	Pennant number: D93
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type	Type II Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement	1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard[1] 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[1]
Speed	27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h) 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) full
Range	3,700 nmi (6,900 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)[1]
Complement	164
Armament	6 × QF 4 in Mark XVI guns on twin mounts Mk. XIX 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk. VIII on quad mount MK.VII 2 (later 4) × 20 mm Oerlikons on single mounts P Mk. III [1] 110 depth charges, 2 throwers, 3 racks

HMS Lamerton was a Type II Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was sold to the Indian Navy in 1952, where she served as INS Gomati.

Following the war, early in 1946, she was reduced to Reserve status at Harwich.

Royal Navy

Lamerton was ordered on 3 September 1939 under the 1939 War Emergency Build Programme. She was laid down as Job No. J4142.^[2] She was commissioned on 16 August 1941.

Operation Torch

Lamerton was present at the Allied invasion of North Africa, known as Operation Torch, as part of Force H. At 1045 on 6 November 1942, after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, the screen of Force H was augmented by the arrival of Lamerton, along with Acute, Algerine, Alarm, Albacore, Cadmus, Speedwell, Hussar, ORP Błyskawica, Wilton, and Wheatland, whilst Ibis, Enchantress, Clare, Broke, Malcolm, Wrestler and Vanoc were detached to join convoy KMSA 1.

At 1230 on 6 November, the Spanish fishing vessel Jesus Dei Gran was sighted to the south-east.

Along with Bedale and Chiddingfold, Lamerton was leased to India in 1952, as recompense for the Royal Navy not supplying a cruiser which was originally planned.^[1] The three ships became the 22nd Destroyer Squadron, with Bedale (now INS Godavari) as the leader.^[1] They would all require refits which were expected to cost approximately £120,000 and take around eight months.^[1] The ships were initially loaned to India on seven conditions:

1. India would be responsible for any work required before taking over the ships, including installing any equipment
2. Armament and logistic support would be provided free of charge, but equivalent amounts were to be returned at the end of the loan period
3. The standard of maintenance, and the period between refits, would be the same as when in Royal Navy service
4. All additions and alterations were to be at India's expense, and subject to the approval of the Admiralty
5. When the vessels were returned, they should be returned with stores, and in good condition (allowing for wear and tear)
6. In the event of any loss, compensation would be payable
7. That the loan would be for three years initially, subject to extension by an agreement: but the vessels would be returned if the UK needed them in an emergency - although the Royal Navy had plenty of frigates, NATO had a shortage of them.

The transfer deal was agreed by

Publications

• ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8
  .
• 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, John English, World Ship Society, 1987,
  ISBN 0-905617-44-4

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Lamerton (L88).