HMS Verulam (R28)

HMS Verulam was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War.

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

Verulam anchored in the Clyde, December 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Verulam
Ordered: 1 September 1941
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: 26 June 1942
Launched: 22 April 1943
Commissioned: 12 December 1943
Decommissioned: 1970
Identification: Pennant number R28/F29
Honours and
awards:
  • Arctic 1944
  • Normandy 1944
  • Norway 1944
  • Malaya 1945
  • Burma 1945
Fate: Scrapped 23 September 1972
General characteristics V-class destroyer
Class and type: V-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,777 long tons (1,806 t) standard
  • 2,058 long tons (2,091 t) full load
Length: 363 ft (111 m)
Beam: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught: 10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers
  • Geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (29,828 kW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed: 37 knots (43 mph; 69 km/h)
Range: 4,860 nmi (9,000 km) at 29 kn (54 km/h)
Complement: 180 (225 in flotilla leader)
Armament:
General characteristics Type 15 frigate
Class and type: Type 15 frigate
Displacement: 2,300 long tons (2,337 t) standard
Length: 358 ft (109 m) o/a
Beam: 37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Draught: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers,
  • steam turbines on 2 shafts,
  • 40,000 shp
Speed: 31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h) (full load)
Complement: 174
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Radar
  • Type 293Q target indication (later Type 993)
  • Type 277Q surface search
  • Type 974 navigation
  • Type 262 fire control on director CRBF
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Sonar:
  • Type 174 search
  • Type 162 target classification
  • Type 170 attack
Armament:

Service history

Second World War service

HMS Verulam began her service in late 1943 by joining the 26th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet, stationed in the North Atlantic. The flotilla was supported by the depot ship, HMS Tyne.[1] The flotilla's first role during 'work up' was to participate in an offensive patrol of the Norwegian coast.

In February 1944, the flotilla then escorted convoy RA56 returning from Murmansk. The same month HMS Verulam and the flotilla was part of the escort group attached to convoy JW57 along with the light cruiser, HMS Black Prince and the escort carrier, HMS Chaser. On 28 February the convoy reached the Kola Inlet with the loss of one destroyer, HMS Mahratta and the destruction of two U-boats. She returned with the escort group as part of convoy RA57, arriving at Loch Ewe on 7 March 1944.[2][3]

In April 1944, the 26th Destroyer Flotilla took part in Operation Tungsten; the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz and the distant cover of the convoy JW58 which was bound for the Kola Inlet. On 28 April, Verulam embarked seventeen personnel and joined convoy RA59; returning to home waters on 3 May.[4]

During May 1944, Verulam participated in preparations for Operation Neptune as part of Force S. The following month, on 5 June, she entered the Solent and began her part in the Normandy landings; bombarding targets around Lion-sur-Mer on 6 June.

She participated in the Battle of the Malacca Strait with the destroyers Saumarez, Venus, Vigilant, and Virago which culminated in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Haguro on 16 May 1945.

Postwar service

In 1946 Verulam was part of the Londonderry Flotilla. Between February 1947 and March 1949 she was part of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, based in the Mediterranean.[5] During that time she saw service, along with other Royal Navy ships in preventing illegal immigration into Palestine in 1947.[6]

Between 1951 and 1952 she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate at Portsmouth Dockyard, and was allocated the new pennant number F29. In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[7] In 1954 Verulam was placed in the Portsmouth Reserve.

Between 1958 and 1961 she was the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment (ASWE) trials ship. In 1961 she was the 2nd Frigate Squadron Portland Trials ship for the Underwater Weapons Development establishment (AUWE)

Decommissioning and disposal

Verulam was paid off on 21 December 1970 and sold for scrap to John Cashmore Ltd and arrived at their yard at Newport, Wales for breaking on 23 October 1972.

References
  1. RN Service Record of Frederick George Lancelot Salter (C/J. 89781)
  2. uboat.net
  3. naval-history.net
  4. naval-history.net
  5. Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 72. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.
  6. Stewart, Ninian (2002). The Royal Navy and the Palestine Patrol. Routledge. p. 140. ISBN 0-714-65210-5.
  7. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden

Publications
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