Specifications
for HMS Lewes
Displacement:
1,020 tons Speed: 30kts Complement: 146
Armament:
Two 2 pdr anti-aircraft guns. Five 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
HMS
Lewes was built at Norfolk shipyard on the 29th June 1918 and named USS
Craven and then USS Conway. HMS Lewes arrived at Devonport
,Plymouth on the 17th November 1940. while in refit she was damaged during
a air raid on the 22nd April 1941. which caused a delay in her joining
service, finally arriving at Rosyth in February 1942. She served for 10
months on the east Coast command. before being refitted as an SAir target
Ship, serving until March 1943. after this date she was transferred to
Capetown as part of the South Atlantic Command. continuing service
as a Air target Ship, except for one occassion escorting Convoy WS29. and
one other trip to Casablanca.. HMS Lewes continued her travels
becoming the Air Target Ship at Ceylon for the East Indies Fleet. HMS
Lewes was also used on some supply convoy duties to Addu Atoll during
September 1944. In 1945 she went to Sydney as part of the new British
Pacific Fleet. HMS Lewes was the last of the "Town Class"
to be scrapped. finally being scuttled on the 25th May 1946 off Sydney,
Australia.
.
HMS Ludlow
HMS
Ludlow built by Cramp on the 17th July 1917 and named USS Stockton. On the
23rd October 1940 arriving for refit at Devonport, Plymouth on the 17th
November 1940 completing for service 1st March 1941. joining the Rosyth
command. HMS Ludlow served on convoy duty for east Coast convoys for
the entire war. She was stripped of all useful salvage and then beached
and used for target practice for rocket firing aircraft. The remains
of HMS Ludlow can probably still be seen at low tide off Findra Island on
the Forth.
HMS
Leeds
HMS
Leeds was built by Cramp, the same as her sister ship and launched on the
21st August 1917. and named USS Conner (DD72). arrived at Devonport,
Plymouth for refit on the 17th November 1940 finally being completed
on the 2nd March 1941. her time was spent on escort duty on the eats Coast
convoys but spent half of the time in Docks for repairs and refit.
HMS Leeds was finally paid off in April 1945 and broken up at T W Ward
ltd, at Grays Essex on the 19th January 1949.
Displacement:
1,020 tons Speed: 30kts Complement: 164
Armament:
Two 4 inch guns, two 2 pdr anti-aircraft guns and four 20mm anti-aircraft
guns.
