HMS Eridge was a Hunt class

Hunt class destroyer

The Hunt class was a class of Destroyer escort of the Royal Navy. The first vessels were ordered early in 1939, and the class saw extensive service in World War II, particularly on the British East Coast and Mediterranean convoys. They were named after British fox hunts...

 destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 of the Royal Navy

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...

. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War. She was permanently disabled while shelling Axis positions on 29 August 1942 off El Daba

RAF El Daba

El Daba is a village and rail station about 180 km West of Alexandria by road. RAF El Daba is a former Royal Air Force military airfield located approximately 4.6 kilometres south-southeast of the village....

, Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

, at 31°7′N 28°26′E, by a 450mm torpedo fired by a small Italian surface craft

MAS (boat)

Motoscafo Armato Silurante , commonly abbreviated as MAS was a class of fast torpedo armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II...

 and subsequently used as a base ship at Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...

for the rest of the war. She was sold for scrapping in October 1946 .

External links

• HMS Eridge (L 68) at uboat.net
• HMS Eridge (L 68)
• Captain Frank Gregory-Smith - Daily Telegraph obituary