HMS Comus (R43)

HMS Comus, 28 June 1946
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Comus
Builder:	Yarrow, Scotstoun
Laid down:	21 August 1943
Launched:	14 March 1945
Commissioned:	8 July 1946
Homeport:	Portsmouth
Identification:	Pennant number: R43 (later D20)
Fate:	Scrapped
Status:	Arrived for breaking up on 12 November 1958
General characteristics
Class and type:	C-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,885 tons (1,915 tonnes) 2,545 tons full (2,585 tonnes)
Length:	362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a
Beam:	35.75 ft (10.90 m)
Draught:	11.75 ft (3.58 m)
Propulsion:	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (29.8 MW), 2 shafts
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h) / 32 knots (59 km/h) full
Range:	4,675 nmi (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h) 1,400 nmi (2,600 km) at 32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement:	186
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mk.VI
Armament:	4 × QF 4.5 in (114 mm) L/45 guns Mark IV on mounts CP Mk.V Later reduced to three 4.5s and armed with anti submarine mortars in place of Y turret 2 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns on twin mount Mk V 4 × anti-aircraft mountings; Single Bofors 40 mm Mk.III Single QF 2 - pdr Mk.VIII Mk.XVI Single Oerlikon 20 mm P Mk.III Twin Oerlikon 20 mm Mk.V 8 (2x4) tubes for 21 inch (533 mm) torpedoes Mk.IX 4 throwers and 2 racks for 96 depth charges removed when armed with anti submarine mortors

HMS Comus was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, built by Yarrow at Scotstoun. She was launched on 24 August 1943 and commissioned on 20 December 1946.

Operational service

Comus served in the Far East between 1947 and 1957 as part of the 8th Destroyer Squadron.^[1]

On Tuesday, August 22, 1950, engaged in the Korean War, it is damaged in the Yellow Sea by two Ilyushin Il-10 North Koreans.

In 1955 she was engaged in the bombardment of Communist forces as part of the Malayan Emergency.^[2]

Decommissioning and disposal

Comus was withdrawn from active service and listed for disposal in 1955. Following her sale Comus arrived at the breakers yard of John Cashmore Ltd for scrapping at Newport, Wales on 12 November 1958.

References

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 (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. 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.