HMS Vidette (D48)

Career
Name: HMS Vidette
Builder: Alexander Stephens & Sons Limited
Laid down: 1 February 1917
Launched: 28 February 1918
Completed: 27 April 1918
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 1947
General characteristics
Class and type:Admiralty V class destroyer
Service record
Part of: 16th Destroyer Flotilla
13th Destroyer Flotilla
Mid-Ocean Escort Force group B7
Operations: World War II
• Attack on Mers-el-Kébir
• Battle of the Atlantic
Victories: U 531
U 274
U 282
U 413
U 630

HMS Vidette (D48) was an Admiralty V class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Alexander Stephens & Sons Limited in Linthouse, Govan on 1 February 1917, was launched on 28 February 1918, and completed on 27 April 1918.

She spent most of the 1920s and 1930s in reserve, but was brought back to active service in 1939 for World War II. In the picture, taken probably in 1939, she is wearing the funnel bands of the 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth; one red over one white. Early in the war she would have landed the after set of torpedo tubes and shipped a QF 12 pounder 12 cwt gun in lieu.

For the first three years of war she was based at Gibraltar, as part of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla. She took part in the attack on the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940, but spent most of her time escorting Atlantic convoys into and out of Gibraltar.

She was converted to a long-range escort destroyer in September 1942 and served with Peter Gretton's 'B7' escort group in the crucial battles around convoys HX-231, ONS-5 and SC-130 in the Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945). She helped to sink four submarines: U 531, U 274, U 282, U 413 and U 630.

Vidette was sold for scrapping in 1947.

References