User:Shem1805/Workbox2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 HMS Daring at sea during her first commission (1952 - 1954) |
|
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Daring |
| Builder: | Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson |
| Laid down: | 29 September 1945 |
| Launched: | 10 August 1949 |
| Commissioned: | 8 February 1952 |
| Decommissioned: | 9 October 1968 |
| Motto: | Splendide audax ("Finely Daring") |
| Honours and awards: |
Nil |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking, arriving at Blyth on 15 June 1971 |
| Badge: | On a Field Black, an arm and a hand in a cresset of fire all Proper -<Image:Daring Crest.jpg |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Daring Class Destroyer |
| Displacement: | Standard: 2,830 tons, Full load: 3,820 tons |
| Length: | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Beam: | 53 ft (16 m) |
| Draught: | 13.6 ft (4.1 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 Foster Wheeler boilers (650 psi, 850 °F), Parsons steam turbines, 2 shafts, 54,000 shp (40 MW) |
| Speed: | 30 kn (56 km/h) |
| Range: | 4,400 nmi at 20 kn |
| Complement: | Approximately 300 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: |
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Note to self - Reinstate the crest and categories, and ensure the crest image has Daring on its list of articles
HMS Daring was the nameship of the Daring-class of destroyers authorised in 1944. She served five commissions between 1952 and 1968 before being sold for breaking in 1971.
[edit] Construction
Daring was built by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson on the Tyne and engined by the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company. She was laid down on 29 September 1945; launched on 10 August 1949; and commissioned for the first time on 8 February 1952. She was the sixth ship of her name in the Royal Navy.[1]
Daring, in common with Dainty, Defender and Delight had a DC electrical system and these ships comprised the 2nd Destroyer Squadron. The remaining ships of the class received a modern AC electrical system, and formed the 5th Destroyer Squadron. Intended to have been of all-welded construction, Daring and two of her sisters were built using composite welded and riveted construction.
Armament originally consisted of six 4.5 inch guns, six 40 mm AA guns, two 5-barrel 21 inch torpedo tubes and one Squid triple-barrelled depth-charge mortar. Power was provided by Parsons steam turbines giving 54,000 shp and a maximum sea speed of 30.5 knots. Three 6RPHZ Paxman generators provided electrical supplies.
[edit] Career
[edit] First Commission (May 1952 - August 1954)
Needs work[2]
Arrived in Malta in May 1952. CinC Mountbatten, a CO of the previous HMS Daring.
(August 53 - Greek earthquake)
[edit] Second Commission (August 1954 - November 1956)
The ship's company remained onboard for a further ten months after the end of the first commission, serving with the Home Fleet in the Arctic and then back out to the Mediterranean again. Daring returned to Devonport in mid August 1954, leave was granted and the ship returned to the Home Fleet for exercises. Following the exercises, Daring sailed for Tromso in Norway.[3]
- After the Tromso visit Daring sailed once more for the Mediterranean Sea and the island of Malta for a short period - how does this tie in with the third commission?
[edit] Third Commission (November 1956 - October 1958)
Daring was on route from the Kiel Canal to Londonderry when she was redirected to the Mediterranean. She paused at Gibraltar, and went alongside at Malta. She de-stored a UK Destroyer sold to the Egyptians and allowed her to proceed, bombarded Suez with 4.5 inch guns and became a despatch vessel at Suez. On 24 December 1956 she observed the destruction of De Lesseps statue on the mole.[4]
[edit] Refit (October 1958 - January 1959)
In October 1958 she paid off for refit in Devonport, during which her after torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with a deckhouse, providing additional accommodation.
[edit] Fourth Commission (January 1959 - December 1960)
According to the Commissioning Book,[5] Daring recommissioned at Devonport on 20 January 1959 under the command of Capt C P Mills CBE DSC RN. She sailed on 26 January for trials and this revealed faults in the gunnery system which necessitated a long spell in Devonport for repairs. She sailed for shakedown on 5 March before arriving at Portland on 11 March to start work-up under the guidance of the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training.
Leave was given during the second half of April prior to sailing for the Mediterranean, but further faults were discovered in the gunnery system, and a further two weeks had to be spent in the Dockyard rectifying the problem. After another brief work-up at Portland was completed on 29 May, the ship's company were given a week's leave before sailing from Portsmouth on 14 June for the Mediterranean. Stopping briefly at Gibraltar, Daring arrived in Malta and on 20 June was visited by Flag Officer Flotillas, Mediterranean (Rear Admiral Ewing), before joining 45 other ships for the NATO-run Exercise WHITEBAIT off Libya. She conducted a Cyprus Patrol 6 - 26 July, interrupting the patrol to pay a visit to Athens between 16 and 18 July. Reaching Malta on 29 July, the ship's company immediately began final preparations for the Fleet Regatta at Augusta on 4 August.
After a visit to Monaco between 13 and 18 August and a period of leave in Malta, the ship took part in the annual 'SEPTEX' for two weeks. At the end of the exercises she sailed for Venice, visiting the city between 21 and 26 September. A day later the ship arrived in Dubrovnik, but during the early morning of 29 September a fierce gale sprang up, and, fearing that she was dragging her anchor, Daring was forced to weigh and proceed to sea in a fierce storm. Some liberty men were left behind, but were recovered shortly afterwards by HMS Crossbow. After a rough passage to Malta the ship replenished with fuel and stores and joined the ships of the Mediterranean Fleet for exercises with the Spanish Navy, followed by visits to Palma and Port Mahon in the Balearics.
After the Balearics the ship did more exercises with the Fleet before visiting Tunis, where a British Trade Fair was in progress. Much of October was taken up with preparations for an inspection on 4 and 6 November by Flag Officer Flotillas, Mediterranean. 20 November found Daring with other Royal Navy units in Taranto for a lengthy exercise with the Italian Navy, and this was followed by a brief period exercising with the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38). After detaching from Victorious, an oiling connection at a RAS Station fractured and for a time almost the length of the starboard side was flooded by oil. She spent the night at anchor off Fiumincino cleaning the ship of oil before making her rendezvous with HMS Battleaxe for a visit to Civita Vecchia. Shortly afterwards she led the 2nd Destroyer Squadron in a farewell steampast in honour of the Flag Officer Flotillas, Mediterranean, embarked in HMS Tiger.
For ten weeks during Christmas 1959 and New Year 1960 Daring remained in Malta, except for a short visit to Annaba (formerly Bône), Algeria during January. At Malta she docked down and was refitted. In mid-March the maintenance period was over and she left Malta on 14 March 1960. In company with most of the 2nd Destroyer Squadron she made passage for Algiers. After a combined fleet visit to Gibraltar she transferred to the Home Fleet and sailed for Exercise DAWNBREEZE V. Poor weather at the start steadily worsened, and on 26 March the force met a full gale on rounding Cape Trafalgar. Once in the Channel the weather improved, but the Exercise had been badly affected. Daring detached and anchored in Jenny Cliff Bay, Plymouth, having been away for nearly 10 months.
After a brief period of leave the ship returned to Portland for weapon training, and then went by way of Portsmouth to Bremen in company with Crossbow and two submarines. After a nine-day visit she sailed down the Elbe estuary and through the Kiel Canal in thick fog, making her way in to the Baltic Sea. The Baltic was traversed in company with other units of the Home Fleet under the watchful eyes of units of the Soviet Navy, arriving in Helsinki on 26 May. Trials in Scotland saw the ship spend 3 weeks in Campbeltown, and from there she went to Loch Eriboll via the Orkneys. A week at Loch Eriboll was the prelude to another NATO exercise, starting from Rosyth and conducted in poor weather. Visits to Bergen and Horten in Norway were followed by leave at Devonport.
Her final operation of the fourth commission was a patrol off Iceland patrol, a year after the end of the first Cod War. She payed off in December 1960.
[edit] In Reserve (December 1960 - April 1963)
Daring was placed in reserve at Devonport between December 1960 and April 1963.
[edit] Refit (April 1963 - December 1966)
In April of 1963 Devonport Dockyard took the ship in hand for a long refit, with a planned completion date of October 1964. Delay followed delay and the refit was not finally completed until December 1966. There were several changes to her weapon and sensor fit: The Mark V replaced the STAAG mounts, the MRS-3 director replaced the Mark VI, and the remaining set of torpedo tubes was removed. Commander J de B Suchlick Royal Navy, the last CO of Daring joked that the ship earned her only battle honour during this period - Devonport Dockyard (1960 - 1966)[6].
[edit] Fifth Commission (November 1966 - October 1968)
On 24 October 1966 Daring got under way for the first time in nearly 6 years[6]. Four days of preliminary sea trials, with a trials crew and dockyard workers were successful. After sea trials many of the seamen were absent for pre-commissioning courses and command team training, while the dockyard worked feverishly to complete the work required by 16 December, the day of commissioning. After Christmas leave the ship's company took her to sea again January and February for Sea Acceptance Trials. Admiral Wise, CSO(T) to CinC Home Fleet, came on board for the acceptance inspection and pronounced the ship operational, despite problems with the gunnery system. Work-up at Portland followed, although this was interrupted to act as a range safety ship for the bombing of the stranded Torrey Canyon.
The ship visited Cherbourg at Whitsun (mid May 1967), and leave was granted in June and July while the ship was prepared for a deployment East of Suez. The ship sailed from Plymouth for the East on 17 July 1967.[6] After visiting Gibraltar on 20 July, and Freetown in Sierra Leone, she conducted the traditional 'Crossing the line' ceremony on 30 July.
Simonstown Beira Patrol-Mombassa-Diego Suarez-Mombassa to the Far East via Gan, Singapore for seven weeks, including Christmas, then Hong Kong, arriving 31 December 1967 Subic bay (exercises) and Olongapo Jan 1968 (USS Pueblo affair), and HK again Passage to Australia, shoot at Subic bay, Darwin, Barrier Reef, Brisbane (5 days), Sydney (3 days), inspection by Capt D2, Fleet Exercises with RAN off Jervis Bay. Williamstown (Melbourne) for SMP, assisted by HMS Triumph FMU, Moomba beginning of March 1968, King Island
Joined by H.M.S. CAVALIER and H.M.S. TROUBRIDGE we then headed west on the three thousand mile journey to Mauritius. Crossing the Great Australian Bight we experienced our biggest swell of over eighty feet from trough to crest. Often the horizon was a mere fifty yards away, looking upwards, but we completed the passage without mishap, although we had several days of apprehension when cyclone `Monica' crossed our intended track, and entered Mauritius on a bright and sunny morning.
Mombassa-5 weeks Beira Patrol- Two boarding party exercises carried out with H.M.S. AURORA - CO returned to UK with severed Achilles tendon - Simonstown (5 days) - return to UK in company with HMS ZEST and RFA WAVE BARON. Gibraltar
4th July 1968 arrived Devonport. Leave
19th August 1968 Gibraltar for Guardship duties.
23rd September 1968 Portsmouth - Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma came onboard for an informal visit. It was a nostalgic moment for him, as he had commanded the last HMS Daring in 1934 and had been C-in-C Med when the present Daring first commissioned for service in 1952.
27th September Daring arrives in Stockholm for British Week.
On Wednesday 9th October 1968 Daring entered Devonport dockyard to commence reducing to the Disposal List.
December 1968 to Reserve.
"In the course of the past two years we have seen a fair slice of the world - certainly more than our predecessors in other commissions. We have done our share of guardship duties and patrols East of Suez and nearer home; we have steamed many miles on goodwill visits, much of our time has been spent on detached service, remote from normal exercise and training facilities. On the occasions when we have been in company with other units of the Fleet we have acquitted ourselves well and earned a reputation for being a smart ship.
The success we have achieved has required a great deal of hard work, enthusiasm and good - humour from every member of the Ship's Company. It has been a team effort of which I believe you may be justly proud and has provided a fitting climax to the last commission of the sixth DARING.
Good Luck to you all[6]"
Commander J de B Suchlick Royal Navy, Commanding Officer HMS Daring, 1966 - 1968
[edit] Commanding Officers
| From | To | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 8 February 1952 | ? 1952 | Capt E Hale RN |
| 1952 | 18 August 1952 | Capt Vernon John St. Clair-Ford MBE RN (died in command) |
| ? 1952 | ? 1952 | Cdr J L Rathbone DSC RN |
| October 1952 | 25 February 1954 | Capt P D Gick OBE DSC* RN[7] |
| 25 February 1954 | August 1954 | Captain E A Blundell OBE RN |
| November 1956 | October 1958 | ? (Third Commission) |
| 20 January 1959 | December 1960 | Capt C P Mills CBE DSC RN |
| December 1960 | April 1963 | In Reserve |
| April 1963 | December 1966 | Refit (Devonport) |
| February 1966 | 9 October 1968 | Cdr J de B Suchlick RN |
[edit] References
Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- ^ HMS DARING - History. Royal Navy Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Commissioning Book (First Commission). Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ a b HMS Daring's first Commission, Trevor Rawlings. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ Britain's Small Wars.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Commissioning Book (Fourth Commission). Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ a b c d Commissioning Book (Fifth Commission). Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ Unit Histories.com website. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
[edit] External links
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<Category:Destroyers of the United Kingdom> <Category:Ships of the Royal Navy>
