HMS Urchin (R99)
![]() Urchin off Greenock, September 1943 | |
Career (UK) | ![]() |
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Name: | HMS Urchin (R99) |
Builder: | Vickers-Armstrongs |
Laid down: | 28 March 1942 |
Launched: | 8 March 1943 |
Commissioned: | 24 September 1943 |
Decommissioned: | 1964 |
Fate: | scrapped 1967 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | U-class destroyer |
HMS Urchin (R99) was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II.
Second World War Service
Urchin formed part of the British Pacific Fleet during the latter part of the War.
![](../I/m/USS_Randolph_(CV-15)_and_HMS_Urchin_(D28)_off_Japan_1945.jpg)
Post War service
Following service in the Second World War Urchin was held in reserve at Harwich, then Chatham Dockyard until 1952.[1] Between 1952 and 1954 she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, by Barclay Curle, Glasgow. Following this she was allocated the new pennant number F196. She re-commissioned on the 3 June 1954 into the 3rd Training Squadron, based at Londonderry.
In 1956 she went back into reserve at Portsmouth Dockyard. In 1957 she was refitted as a training Frigate and re-commissioned for service with the Dartmouth Training Squadron. She subsequently served off Iceland during the 'Cod wars' in 1959.
Decommissioning and disposal
Urchin was decommissioned in 1964 and placed on the Disposal List. Before sale for breaking-up her stern structure was removed and fitted in sister ship HMS Ulster during 1966. The hulk was later towed to Troon where she arrived in August 1967 for demolition.[2]
Commanding Officers
From | To | Captain |
---|---|---|
1943 | 1944 | Lt Cdr John Travis Beaufoy Birch DSO DSC RN |
1944 | 1945 | Lt Cdr Archibald Ferguson Harkness OBE DSO RD RNR |
1945 | 1946 | Lt Cdr Dennis Roy Newton Murdoch RN[4] |
1947 | 1952 | In reserve |
1952 | 1954 | Under conversion to Type 15 Frigate |
1961 | 1963 | Captain T Lewin LVO DSC RN |
1963 | 1964 |
References
- ↑ Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2, page 66
- ↑ http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-59U-HMS_Urchin.htm
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. "II: Royal Navy- Captains Commanding Warships". British Armed Forces (1900–). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ↑ http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4225.html
Publications
- History of HMS Urchin at naval-history.net
- 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
- Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
- Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
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