Bridgewater class sloop
Encyclopedia
The Bridgewater class sloop was a class composed of two ships built for the Royal Navy
, and . The ships were part of the Royal Navy's 1927 Build Programme as replacements for the .
, Hebburn
in September 1927. They entered service in 1929 and were based at first on the China Station
. Bridgewater was moved to the Cape in 1935, while Sandwich remained in China until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Both ships were active in the Battle of the Atlantic, Bridgewater being based at Freetown
carrying out patrols and escorting convoys until November 1943, when she moved to cover the Western Approaches
. For the last two years of the war she was used in submarine training activities. Sandwich was also used in home waters, being based out of Plymouth
, Liverpool
, and Freetown between 1940 and 1944, though by 1945 her condition had deteriorated so much that she was kept at Bizerta. Both ships were decommissioned after the war, with Sandwich being sold for scrapping in early 1946. Bridgewater was retained for slightly longer, being used for static bomb trials during 1946 and 1947, until being sold and broken up in May 1947.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and . The ships were part of the Royal Navy's 1927 Build Programme as replacements for the .
Design
The Bridgewater class displaced 1,045 tons and were armed with two 4 in guns. They could achieve speeds of 17 kn (33 km/h).Service
Both ships were ordered from Hawthorn Leslie and CompanyHawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
, Hebburn
Hebburn
Hebburn is a small town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Bill Quay...
in September 1927. They entered service in 1929 and were based at first on the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
. Bridgewater was moved to the Cape in 1935, while Sandwich remained in China until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Both ships were active in the Battle of the Atlantic, Bridgewater being based at Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
carrying out patrols and escorting convoys until November 1943, when she moved to cover the Western Approaches
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...
. For the last two years of the war she was used in submarine training activities. Sandwich was also used in home waters, being based out of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and Freetown between 1940 and 1944, though by 1945 her condition had deteriorated so much that she was kept at Bizerta. Both ships were decommissioned after the war, with Sandwich being sold for scrapping in early 1946. Bridgewater was retained for slightly longer, being used for static bomb trials during 1946 and 1947, until being sold and broken up in May 1947.
Ships
| Name | Pennant | Ordered | Launched | Completed | Commissioned | Fate |
| L01/U01 | 19 September 1927 | 6 February 1928 | 14 September 1928 | 14 March 1929 | Sold on 22 May 1947 | |
| L12/U12 | 19 September 1927 | 9 February 1928 | 29 September | 23 March 1929 | Sold on 8 January 1946 | |