HMS Terpsichore

Vessel name on Arrival: HMS Terpsichore

Original Builder: William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland

Original Yard No: 1366

Official Number:

Vessel Type: destroyer

GRT: 1802

Year Built: 1943

Arrival Date: 16/05/1966

Breakup Started: 04/08/1966

Date First Beached: 09/04/1967

Date Breakup Completed: 20/06/1967

Draught For’d: 9' 0"

Draught Aft: 9' 6"

Name Changes:

Other Information:

 

'T'-Class Destroyer HMS Terpsichore for the Royal Navy                Pennant Nos.  R-33, D-48 and F-19

 

Converted to Type 16 Frigate  (1952 – 1955)

 

13-03-1941  :  Ordered

25-11-1941  :  Laid Down

17-06-1943  :  Launched

20-01-1944  :  Completed

 

Tonnages  :   1,802 tons  /  2,530 tons

 

Dimensions  :   110.6 metres  x   10.9 metres   x    4.3 metres

 

Propulsion  :   2  x  Parsons geared steam turbines developing 40,000 SHP

 

Speed  :  36 knots

 

Complement  :   225

 

Armaments

4  x  4.7 inch A.A. Deck Guns

2  x  40 mm A.A. Guns

8  x  21 inch Torpedo Tubes

 

 

Vessel Battle Honours and History

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

MARTINIQUE – 1794

TENERIFFE –  1797

JAVA – 1806

ADRIATIC – 1944

SOUTH FRANCE – 1944

AEGEAN – 1944

 

12 – 1943  :   Contractors sea trials and Commissioned for service

 

01 – 1944  :   Build completion and Acceptance trials.

                     Worked-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                     Joined 24th Destroyer Flotilla in the Home Fleet on completion of work-up.

 

02-1944  :   Transferred with Flotilla for support duties in Mediterranean.

 

06 1944  :   Deployed on escort and support of military operations in Adriatic and central Mediterranean

 

07-1944  :  Nominated for duty with ALPHA Gunfire Support Group during allied landings in the South of

                          France (Operation ANVIL).

                          Carried out preparation for support role.

                          Operation ANVIL renamed DRAGOON.

 

08-1944  :  Joined with others in Malta forming Gunfire Support Group ALPHA.

                        Sailed for landing support duty.

                        Met HM Battleship RAMILLIES which joined Group from UK and took up position   

                        Provided naval gunfire support with ALPHA Group during landings

                        Released from bombardment duties but remained in assault area.

                        Released from DRAGOON duty with HMS TERMAGANT and USS QUINCY

                        Reverted to control by C-in-C Mediterranean.

 

09-1944  :  Deployed on support and escort duty in Eastern Mediterranean.

                       Bombarded Melos in Cyclades.

                      Took part in sinking of U407

                      Transferred to British Aegean Force with ships of 24th Flotilla                              

 

                      Deployed in support of military operations to re-occupy islands Aegean and Greece

 

                      Provided support gunfire.

           

10-1944 :   Deployment with British Aegean Force in continuation.

                  Deployed with HM Cruiser BLACK PRINCE and took part in sinking caique and landing craft

                  Took part in occupation of Scarpanto with HM Destroyer CLEVELAND.

 

11-1944 :  Deployed in central Mediterranean

                 Nominated for duty with British Pacific Fleet after UK refit.

 

12-1944 :  Passage to Plymouth for refit in HM Dockyard, Devonport.  Taken in hand for refit

 

 

02-1945 : Under refit and preparation for service in Pacific.

                Radar and communications fit up-dated.

               

03-1945 : Post refit trials and prepared for foreign service.

                Took passage to Australia to join 24th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                                             

04-1945 : Exercised in Mediterranean prior to onward passage to Sydney.

 

05-1945 : Deployed in Australian waters in preparation for service with US Navy.

                Took passage to join British Pacific Fleet at Manus.

                                

06-1945 : Deployed at Manus with British Pacific Fleet.

                                

(Note: RN Ships deployed with US 5th Fleet as Task Force 57 had had returne to Manus in late May after completion of attacks on Sakashima Gunto with US Task Forces. They then went to Sydney, Australia.

 

 07-1945       

Joined Task Force 37 on arrival at Manus from R&R.

Sailed from Manus to join US Task Groups In operational area off Japan.

Task Force 37 ships met refuelling Group before starting operations.

Deployed with screen for HMS KING GEORGE V, Carriers and Cruisers of BPF

Deployment for screening duties in continuation during further combined air attacks.

After further air operations by BPF carriers withdrew with screen to replenish.

Replenished with BPF ships delayed by typhoon threat In planned area.

During passage with screen, destroyers were refuelled from cruiser in order to ensure full availability

Deployed with screen for BPF ships during air attacks on subsidiary targets

After withdrawal to replenish came under air attacks.

Returned with screen for BPF to rejoin US Task Groups in operational area.

Screening deployment in continuation.

Remained with screen for cruisers and carriers when HMS KING GEORGE V detached for bombardment

Screening duty continued.

Deployed for screening during passage of Task Force 37 ships or replenishment.

 

08-1945  :  

Replenishment transferred to new area because of swell conditions.

Passage with screen for BPF ships to renew operations.

Refuelled during passage from BPF cruiser – availability of fuel in destroyers was of Increasing concern

Detached from screening duty during air strikes and joined Task Group 38.5

Took part in bombardment of shore targets at Kamaisha, Honshu during main attack

Rejoined Task Force 37 on completion of detached duty.

Fuelling programme altered and screening duty during to further series of combined attacks                    

(Decision to extend operational period was made following the entry of USSR into war with Japan.)

Transferred to US Task Force 38 for deployment in Task Group 38.5.

 

(Note: During Replenishment period agreement with US Navy was made for fuel to be provided for Token Force of RN ships required to take part in surface ship bombardments and air attacks in Tokyo area.

 

Remaining British Pacific Fleet ships took passage to Manus prior to R&R in Australia.

Deployed with screen for TG38.5 during air attacks in Tokyo area.

 

Determined attempts by Japanese to carry out bombing attacks defeated by early interception

            

Screening duties continued for passage to operation area after refuelling with US warships of Task Force 38.

 

Deployed with screen for Task group 38.5 final air strikes.  Air attacks after formal surrender all failed.

                                    

Deployed with reformed Task Force 37 and anchored in Sagami Bay.

                                   

 

P o s t   W a r

 

HMS TERPSICHORE was deployed for the support of repatriation of allied personnel from Japan and attended the final surrender of Japan with reformed Task Force 37 in Tokyo Bay on 2nd September. On release from service with the British Pacific Fleet the ship returned to UK in 1946. She was placed in Reserve and laid up at Devonport. In 1953 this ship was converted for use as a Type 16 Anti-submarine Frigate by her builders at Wololston. After completion and trials in her new role in 1954 she was replaced in Reserve at Devonport. Refitted during 1958.and in 1960 laid-up at Lisahally, Northern Ireland. This destroyer was placed on the Disposal List in 1964 and sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreakers. She arrived at the Breaker's yard in Troon, Ayrshire under tow on 17th May 1966.