HMS Trafalgar (D77)
Encyclopedia
HMS Trafalgar (D77) was a Battle-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
(RN). She was named after the Battle of Trafalgar
, a decisive British victory over a Franco-Spanish Fleet in 1805. Trafalgar was built by Swan Hunter
on the Tyne
. She was launched on 12 January 1944 and commissioned on 23 July 1945.
In 1946, Trafalgar deployed to the Far East
as part of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla, which was filled with her sister-ships, and which performed a variety of duties in that region while based there. It was a brief stay however, for just the following year, Trafalgar, along with the rest of the 19th Flotilla, returned to the UK
via the Mediterranean. Upon returning home to the UK, Trafalgar was placed in reserve, an occurrence quite familiar to her sister-ships during the 1950s.
In 1958, Trafalgar became the leader of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, having spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. Just prior to her return to the UK in 1961 she was accidentally rammed by her sister-ship HMS Solebay
, Captain(D) 1st Destroyer Squadron, thus delaying her return to the UK. In 1962, Trafalgar along with ships of the squadron, sailed for the sunny climes of the Mediterranean for the last time, performing a number of naval exercises, as well as fly-the-flag visits. She, with the rest of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, finally returned to the UK in 1963 where she was decommissioned, and subsequently placed in Reserve at Devonport Dockyard
. She was eventually broken up for scrap at Dalmuir
in 1970.
Battle class destroyer
The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Built in three groups, the first group were ordered under the 1942 naval estimates. A modified second and third group, together with two ships of an extended design were planned for the 1943 and 1944...
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...
(RN). She was named after the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, a decisive British victory over a Franco-Spanish Fleet in 1805. Trafalgar was built by Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
on the Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
. She was launched on 12 January 1944 and commissioned on 23 July 1945.
In 1946, Trafalgar deployed to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
as part of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla, which was filled with her sister-ships, and which performed a variety of duties in that region while based there. It was a brief stay however, for just the following year, Trafalgar, along with the rest of the 19th Flotilla, returned to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
via the Mediterranean. Upon returning home to the UK, Trafalgar was placed in reserve, an occurrence quite familiar to her sister-ships during the 1950s.
In 1958, Trafalgar became the leader of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, having spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. Just prior to her return to the UK in 1961 she was accidentally rammed by her sister-ship HMS Solebay
HMS Solebay (D70)
HMS Solebay was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy . She was named after the Battle of Solebay which took place in 1672 between an Anglo-French force and the Dutch Navy during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Solebay was built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Company Limited on the Tyne...
, Captain(D) 1st Destroyer Squadron, thus delaying her return to the UK. In 1962, Trafalgar along with ships of the squadron, sailed for the sunny climes of the Mediterranean for the last time, performing a number of naval exercises, as well as fly-the-flag visits. She, with the rest of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, finally returned to the UK in 1963 where she was decommissioned, and subsequently placed in Reserve at Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. She was eventually broken up for scrap at Dalmuir
Dalmuir
Dalmuir is an area on the western side of Clydebank, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.-Location:It is neighboured by the village of Old Kilpatrick, the Mountblow and Parkhall areas of Clydebank, as well as the town centre...
in 1970.