HMS Acasta (H09)

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The third Acasta (H09), launched in 1929, was an A-class destroyer. She served in World War II and was sunk on 8 June 1940 in action against the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, while escorting the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious. Glorious and her other escort, HMS Ardent, were also sunk.

Acasta proved to be a tough opponent for the larger German ships, laying smoke to hide Glorious and making repeated torpedo and gun attacks. She scored several gun hits and one torpedo hit on Scharnhorst, causing severe damage to the much larger German vessel. Acasta was finally sunk after roughly two hours of fighting; the battle flag of the Gneisenau was lowered to half mast and her crew brought to attention to honour the brave fight of the Acasta and her crew. The damage to the German vessels inflicted by Ardent and Acasta caused them to retire to Trondheim, allowing the safe passage of convoys carrying Allied troops from Norway.

Although many of her crew survived to abandon the ship, communication errors meant the British were initially unaware of the sinking. In the end there was only a single survivor from Acasta; estimates place the number of sailors from Ardent, Acasta and Glorious lost to exposure at up to 800.

For other Royal Navy ships named HMS Acasta, see the disambiguation page.