HMS Gabbard (D47)

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Career (UK) RN Ensign
Name: HMS Gabbard
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: 2 February 1944
Launched: 16 March 1945
Commissioned: 10 December 1946
Decommissioned: 1953
Fate: Sold to Pakistan 1957
Career (Pakistan) Pakistani Naval Jack
Name: PNS Badr
Acquired: 1957
Fate: Damaged during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
General characteristics
Class and type: Battle class destroyer
Displacement: 2,480 tons standard
3,430 tons full load
Length: 379 ft (116 m)
Beam: 40 ft 3 in (12.3 m)
Draught: 15.3 ft (4.7 m) full load
Propulsion: 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
2 × Parsons geared steam turbines
2 shafts, 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed: 35.75 knots (66 km/h)
Range: 4,400 nautical miles (8,100 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 232 peace time
268 war
Armament: 2 × dual 4.5-inch (114 mm) gun
1 × single 4.5 in gun QF Mark IV on mount CP Mk.V
2 × twin 40 mm Bofor mounts "STAAG" Mk.II
1 × twin 40 mm Bofors mounts "utility" Mk.V
2 × single 40 mm Bofors mount Mk.VII
10 × tubes for 21-inch (533 mm) Mk.IX torpedoes
1 × Squid mortar
Service record
Part of 5th Destroyer Flotilla (UK)
Operations Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

HMS Gabbard (D47) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named in honour of the Battle of the Gabbard, which occurred in 1653, and which resulted in an English victory over the Dutch Fleet. Gabbard was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited on the Tyne. She was launched on 16 March 1945 and commissioned on 10 December 1946.

Upon commissioning, Gabbard joined the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet based in the UK. In 1947, Gabbard, while on a visit to Scandinavia, collided with a ferry, causing some damage to Gabbard. In 1948, Gabbard took part in the Autumn Cruise, which included the two carriers HMS Theseus and HMS Vengeance, and three other smaller vessels. The cruise deployed to South Africa and the West Indies, performing a number of fly-the-flag visits to a variety of ports, and performing naval exercises and other duties. In 1949, Gabbard, escorting Vengeance once more, deployed to the cold climate of the Arctic for experiments in that region.

In 1950, Gabbard, along with a number of other vessels of the Home Fleet, including three aircraft carriers, such as HMS Victorious, and the battleship HMS Vanguard, undertook a Spring cruise, visiting the Mediterranean, where the Group performed a number of fly-the-flag visits to port, and naval exercises. In 1953, Gabbard decommissioned, and was subsequently placed in Reserve.

In 1957, Gabbard was sold to the Pakistani Navy, being renamed Badr. In 1971, Badr was heavily damaged by Indian warships during the Indo-Pakistan War.