HMS Cambrian (R85)

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.

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

Cambrian, 1944
History
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:
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:

Design and description

The Ca-class destroyer was a repeat of the preceding Z class. The ships displaced 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) at standard load and 2,575 long tons (2,616 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m).[1]

The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal load.[2] During her sea trials, Cambrian reached a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) at a load of 2,290 long tons (2,330 t).[3] The Ca-class ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their complement consisted of 186 officers and ratings.[4]

The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four QF 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk IV dual-purpose guns, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure protected by partial gun shields. Their anti-aircraft suite consisted of one twin-gun stabilised Mk IV "Hazemeyer" mount for 40-millimetre (1.6 in) Bofors guns amidships and two twin and a pair of single mounts for six 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA guns. The ships were also fitted with two quadruple mounts amidships for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[4][5] For anti-submarine work, they were equipped with a pair of depth charge rails and four throwers for 108 depth charges.[6]

Construction and career

Cambrian was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering at their shipyard in Greenock on 14 August 1942 with the name of Spitfire and was launched on 10 December 1943 by which time she had been renamed. She was commissioned on 17 July[7] and was allocated to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla for service with the Home Fleet. After a refit in mid-1945 to augment her anti-aircraft armament, she was transferred for service in the Far East in June, but joined the East Indies Fleet at Trincomalee, British Ceylon, in August.[8]

Post war service

Following the war Cambrian paid off into reserve. Along with other Ca group destroyers, she was selected for modernistion 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]

Cambrian at Briton Ferry for scrapping, 1971

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]

Cambrian was paid off in December 1968. She was sold for scrap to Thos W Ward in August 1971 and arrived at their breaker's yard at Briton Ferry on 3 September.[11]

References
  1. Chesneau, p. 43
  2. Whitley, p. 135
  3. March, p. 422
  4. Lenton, p. 179
  5. Preston, p. 185
  6. March, p. 419
  7. Whitley, p. 136
  8. Preston, pp. 185, 193
  9. Marriott, pp. 57–62
  10. Lawrence, Tony (2007). The Dar Mutiny of 1964. Book Guild Publishing. pp. 160–162.
  11. English, pp. 116–117

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.
  • 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.
  • English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 978-0-9560769-0-8.
  • Friedman, Norman (2006). British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-86176-137-6.
  • Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. 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.
  • Preston, Antony (1973). HMS Cavalier and the 'Ca' Class Destroyers. Warship Profile. 2. Windsor, UK: Profile Publications. OCLC 53090718.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
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