Specifications
for HMS Campbeltown, HMS Caldwell, HMS Lancaster, HMS Leamington and HMS
Richmond.
HMS
Campbeltown was commissioned at Halifax and arrived at Devonport, Plymouth
for refit on the 29th September 1940, for five weeks, the following day
while on trials HMS Campbeltown was involved in a collision with HMS Risoy
on the 2nd November. After repairs carried out in Liverpool HMS
Cambeltown joined the 17th Flotilla, part of the Western Approaches
Command. On the 3rd of December HMS Cambeltown was involved in a
second collision, this time with HMS Comus which put her in for repairs
for 4 months until the 28th March 1941. When she emerged from repairs HMS
Cambeltown was manned by a Dutch crew and under Dutch naval flag,
serving with the 7th Escort Group. The Dutch Government requested that the
name be changed to Middleburg but because this would not keep with the the
initial town name system this idea was refused by the British Government.
HMS Cambeltown reverted back to being manned by British Crew at the
beginning of October and joined the 27th Escort Group. and given the job
of protecting convoys on the West African route. While on these duties,
she again went into Devonport for repairs. After the repairs HMS
Cambeltown was selected for the now famous St Naziare raid. At
Devonport she had two funnels removed so to look like the German Mowe
class destroyer/torpedo boat. HMS Cambeltown (with a large number of
Commandoes onboard) along with supporting MTBs, on the night of the
28th March 1942. HMS Cambeltown succeeded in lodging herself at the gates
of the Normandie Lock, (this being the only lock which had been built for
the Ocean Liner Normandie, that could take the Mighty German battleship
Tirpitz. HMS Cambeltown remained wedged until 1135 hours, when she
exploded. HMS Cambeltown became the most famous of all the
"town Class" ships for this daring raid and subsequent dramatic
end.
HMS
Caldwell.
HMS Caldwell
was built at the Bath Iron Works and launched on the 29th May 1919 and
named USS Hale. (DD.133). Commissioned at Halifax on the 9th September
1940. arriving on the 28th September at Devonport, Plymouth moving to
Liverpool in December 1940. and joining the 17th Flotilla operating on the
Western Approaches.
In February
1942 HMS Caldwell transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and became part
of the Western Local escort Force, spending most of her time escorting
ships between Halifax and Aruba. In May went to refit in Boston. On
the 14th August 1942 she was involved in a collision with the Liner
Aquitania but only received minor damage. she was again unlucky , on the
18th January 1943 received severe damage during a storm and drifted for
several days until being finally towed to safety by HMS Wanderer arriving
on Christmas Eve at St Johns. But had to be further towed to Boston
for repairs. Finally returning to the UK on the 29th December 1943.
finally going to Granton and broken up on the 7th June 1945.
HMS
Lancaster
HMS
Lancaster was built at the Bath Iron Works and launched on the 25th May
1918 and named USS Philip. (DD.76). Commissioned at Halifax on the 23rd
October 1940. arriving on the 26th November 1940 at Portsmouth where she
went into refit until 11th January 1941. On completion HMS Lancaster went
to Scapa Flow and then to The Kyle of Lochalsh where she joined the 1st
Minelaying Squadron. along with escorting the minelayers she also
participated in convoy duties on the Icelandic ferry Service. (DS and SD
convoys) HMS Lancaster went into a second refit for three months
form June to September at Humberside. After completion she was
involved in escorting ships to Gibraltar and for the build up for the
Invasion of North Africa. In January 1943 HMS Lancaster went to
Belfast for a further refit before returning to Tobermoray in May 1943 to
again join the minelaying Squadron until they were de commissioned. While
on duty with the Rosyth Command escorting Convoys she was involved in a
collision with the Swedish Ship Hedera on the 25th January 1944. She
was also involved int eh rescue of the crew of HMS Rockinghamk which had
hit a mine off Aberdeen. She was finally scraped at Blyth on the
30th May 1947 being dismantled by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreakers.
HMS
Leamington
Displacement:
1,090 tons Speed: 35kts Complement: 146
Armament:
Three 4 inch guns, one 3 inch anti-aircraft gun, two 0.5 inch
anti-aircraft guns, (two 0.303 inch anti-aircraft guns on Leamington), six
21 inch torpedo tubes.
Specifications
for HMS Castleton, HMS Chelsea, HMS Lincoln, HMS Mansfield, HMS
Montgomery, HMS Richmond, HMS Salisbury and HMS Wells.
Displacement:
1,090 tons Speed: 35kts Complement: 146
Armament:
One 4 inch anti-aircraft gun, one 3 inch anti-aircraft gun, four (Wells
had three) 20mm anti-aircraft guns and three 21 inch torpedo tubes.
