HMS Wessex (R78)

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

Wessex at anchor, 10 May 1944
History
United Kingdom
NameWessex
Ordered3 December 1941
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down25 October 1942
Launched2 September 1943
Commissioned11 May 1944
Decommissioned14 March 1946
FateSold to South African Navy, 29 March 1950
South Africa
NameSAS Jan van Riebeeck
NamesakeJan van Riebeeck
Acquired29 March 1950
Commissioned29 March 1950
Out of serviceLate 1975
ReclassifiedConverted into an anti-submarine frigate, 1964–66
Nickname(s)JVR
FateSunk as target, 25 March 1980
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeW-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) (standard load)
  • 2,530 long tons (2,570 t) (
    deep load
    )
Length362 ft 9 in (110.6 m)
Beam35 ft 8 in (10.9 m)
Draught14 ft 6 in (4.4 m) (deep load)
Installed power
  • 2
    Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × geared
    steam turbines
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range4,675 nmi (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement179
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Wessex (

Okinawa
.

Wessex was then reduced to

decommissioned
in 1975. The ship was sunk as a target in 1980.

Description

The W-class ships displaced 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) at

Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). They carried 615 long tons (625 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Their crew numbered 179 officers and ratings.[1]

The W-class destroyers were armed with four single

ASDIC and two rails and four throwers for 70 depth charges.[2] They were equipped with a Type 272 surface-search radar, Type 282 and 285 gunnery radars and a Type 291 early-warning radar.[1]

To better defend the ship against Japanese

4-inch (102 mm) Mk XVI guns, one forward of the bridge and the other aft of the hangar. Her electronics were modernized as well although she retained the existing search radar. The changes increased her crew to 186–210 officers and ratings.[3]

Construction and career

Wessex was ordered from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company on 3 December 1941 under the name of Zenith and was laid down at their Govan, Scotland, shipyard on 20 October 1942.[1] She was renamed in January 1943[4] and was launched on 2 October 1943. Completed on 11 May 1944,[1] the ship was assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean and escorted the aircraft carriers Indomitable and Victorious while their aircraft attacked Nancowry harbour and other targets in the Nicobar Islands as part of Operation Millet, 15–19 October. During Operation Robson, an aerial attack on the oil refinery complex at Pangkalan Brandan, Sumatra, on 17–22 December, Wessex escorted the main body of the fleet. The ship did much the same during Operation Meridian, multiple aerial attacks on the refineries in Sumatra 16–29 January 1945, although she was held back to pick up radar spare parts and did not rendezvous with the fleet until the 19th.[5]

Now part of the British Pacific Fleet, Wessex continued to escort ships and screen operations during the Battle of Okinawa[6] until she began a refit at Auckland that lasted from 5 July to 27 August. The ship rejoined the fleet in September[7] and ferried Allied prisoners of war back home.[8] She arrived at Devonport on 28 December and was reduced to Category B Reserve on 14 March 1946 after being refitted in January–February. Wessex was recommissioned on 28 August 1947 and was refitted at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard in August–September in preparation for the voyage to South Africa in company with her sister ships, Kempenfelt, Whelp and Wrangler. Upon arrival, they formed the South Atlantic Reserve Force in Simon's Town.[9]

Wessex was sold to the

hulk was initially struck by a Skerpioen missile fired by the fast attack craft SAS Jim Fouché from over the horizon, but had to be finished off by gunfire.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Lenton, p. 178
  2. ^ Raven & Roberts, pp. 48–49
  3. ^ du Toit, pp. 196, 199
  4. ^ Colledge, p. 384
  5. ^ Hobbs, pp. 57, 61, 64, 73–74; Rohwer, pp. 377, 388
  6. ^ English, p. 101; Rohwer, pp. 408, 415
  7. ^ English, p. 101
  8. ^ du Toit, p. 195
  9. ^ du Toit, p. 195; English, pp. 101–02
  10. ^ du Toit, pp. 195–97; English, p. 103

References

External links
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