HMS Broadsword (D31)
_MOD_45140212.jpg) HMS Broadsword (D31) | |
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Broadsword |
| Builder: | Yarrow Shipbuilders |
| Way number: | 20 July 1944 |
| Launched: | 4 February 1946 |
| Completed: | 4 October 1848 |
| Fate: | Arrived at Inverkeithing for scrapping in October 1968 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Weapon class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,980 tons standard |
| Length: | 365 ft (111 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Armament: |
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HMS Broadsword (D31) was a Weapon-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy in service from 1948 and scrapped in 1968.
Service
On Commissioning in 1948 Broadsword became part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla (later Squadron), as part of the Home Fleet, along with the other Weapon Class destroyers.[1] In 1956 she was replaced in the 6th Destroyer Squadron by HMS Cavendish.
In 1957 all of the Weapon Class were taken into refit and conversion to re-equip them as radar pickets, to supplement the new Salisbury Class Frigates. Broadsword was converted at Rosyth. The conversion involved the removal of both sets of torpedo tubes and the erection of an additional lattice mast, which carried a large Type 965 Radar (AKE -1 aerial). She re-commissioned in October 1958 and was then allocated to the 7th Destroyer Squadron serving in Home and Mediterranean waters until paying off in 1963.
She was featured on the Look at Life (film series) shown on BBC Four titled 'Britain on Film' Episode 2:6 Messing About on Boats.[2] During the short clip, D31 is filmed from a trawler patrolling the fishing limits with Iceland at some time during the 1960s.
Decommissioning and disposal
Following decommissioning Broadsword was towed on 25 April 1968 to Rosyth for use in target trials. She was scrapped at Inverkeithing, arriving there on the 8 October 1968.
References
- ↑ Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2, pages 124-126
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036f8nw
Publications
- 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. OCLC 67375475.
- Marriott, Leo, Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0 7110 1817 0
External links
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