For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cambrian.
HMS Cambrian was one of eight C-classdestroyers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. commissioned in mid-1944, she was assigned to the Home Fleet and escorted two Arctic convoys as well as larger elements of the fleet during operations off the German-occupied Norwegian coast.
The Ca-class destroyer was a repeat of the preceding Z class. The ships displaced 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) at standard load and 2,575 long tons (2,616 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m).[1]
The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal load.[2] During her sea trials, Cambrian reached a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) at a load of 2,290 long tons (2,330 t).[3] The Ca-class ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their complement consisted of 186 officers and ratings.[4]
Cambrian was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering at their shipyard in Greenock on 14 August 1942 with the name of Spitfire and was launched on 10 December 1943 by which time she had been renamed. She was commissioned on 17 July[7] and was allocated to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla for service with the Home Fleet. After a refit in mid-1945 to augment her anti-aircraft armament, she was transferred for service in the Far East in June, but joined the East Indies Fleet at Trincomalee, British Ceylon, in August.[8]
Post war serviceedit
Following the war Cambrian paid off into reserve. Along with other Ca group destroyers, she was selected for modernisation in 1963. Work included a new enclosed bridge and Mark 6M gunnery fire control system, as well as the addition of two triple Squid anti-submarine mortars.[9]
In January 1964 Cambrian saw operational service off the coast of East Africa, as part of the operation to quell the mutiny by the Tanganyika Rifles. The destroyer operated as part of a force, along with the aircraft carrierCentaur, which landed Royal Marines from 45 Commando. Cambrian used her three 4.5-inch guns to provide naval gunfire support.[10]
During January 1968, Cambrian, who had been on duties near Mauritius in preparation for the islands upcoming independence was diverted to the outlying island of Rodrigues to quell a reported uprising by some of the populace. The so-called uprising consisted of a number of individuals who had been arrested by the local authorities for looting a government food storage warehouse and appropriating a supply of sweet potatoes following a devastating hurricane on Christmas Eve 1967 that had left them homeless and penniless. At this point it is believed that the authorities requested assistance which was provided by the destroyer. On her early morning arrival the ships 4.5" guns were fired (With blanks it is believed) and an armed landing party was provided. The landing party patrolled with the local police for several weeks to help restore order again.
English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN978-0-9560769-0-8.
Friedman, Norman (2006). British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-86176-137-6.
Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-048-7.
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-1817-0.
Preston, Antony (1973). HMS Cavalier and the 'Ca' Class Destroyers. Warship Profile. Vol. 2. Windsor, UK: Profile Publications. OCLC 53090718.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-326-1.
External linksedit
HMS Cambrian Association website
March 16, 2024
cambrian, other, ships, with, same, name, cambrian, cambrian, eight, class, destroyers, built, royal, navy, during, second, world, commissioned, 1944, assigned, home, fleet, escorted, arctic, convoys, well, larger, elements, fleet, during, operations, german, . For other ships with the same name see HMS Cambrian HMS Cambrian was one of eight C class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War commissioned in mid 1944 she was assigned to the Home Fleet and escorted two Arctic convoys as well as larger elements of the fleet during operations off the German occupied Norwegian coast Cambrian 1944HistoryUnited KingdomNameCambrianOrdered16 February 1942BuilderScotts GreenockLaid down14 August 1942 as SpitfireLaunched10 December 1943Completed17 July 1944Commissioned17 July 1944Decommissioned1968RenamedCambrian before launchIdentificationPennant number R85 initially but changed to D85 in 1945MottoParves pars magna Of a small people I am a great part Honours andawardsNavarino 1827 China 1860 Arctic 1944FateSold for scrap August 1971BadgeOn a Field White On a mount Green the Dragon of Wales General characteristics as built Class and typeC class destroyerDisplacement1 710 long tons 1 740 t standard Length362 ft 9 in 110 6 m o aBeam35 ft 8 in 10 9 m Draught14 ft 6 in 4 4 m full load Installed power2 Admiralty 3 drum boilers 40 000 shp 30 000 kW Propulsion2 shafts 2 geared steam turbinesSpeed36 knots 67 km h 41 mph Range4 675 nautical miles 8 658 km 5 380 mi at 20 knots 37 km h 23 mph Complement186Armament4 single 4 5 in 114 mm DP guns 1 twin 40 mm 1 6 in AA gun 2 twin and 2 single 20 mm 0 8 in AA guns 2 quadruple 21 in 533 mm torpedo tubes 4 throwers and 2 racks for 108 depth charges Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 2 1 Post war service 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign and description editThe Ca class destroyer was a repeat of the preceding Z class The ships displaced 1 710 long tons 1 740 t at standard load and 2 575 long tons 2 616 t at deep load They had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches 110 6 m a beam of 35 feet 8 inches 10 9 m and a deep draught of 14 feet 6 inches 4 4 m 1 The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three drum boilers The turbines developed a total of 40 000 indicated horsepower 30 000 kW and gave a speed of 36 knots 67 km h 41 mph at normal load 2 During her sea trials Cambrian reached a speed of 33 knots 61 km h 38 mph at a load of 2 290 long tons 2 330 t 3 The Ca class ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4 675 nautical miles 8 658 km 5 380 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph Their complement consisted of 186 officers and ratings 4 The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four QF 4 5 inch 114 mm Mk IV dual purpose guns one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure protected by partial gun shields Their anti aircraft suite consisted of one twin gun stabilised Mk IV Hazemeyer mount for 40 millimetre 1 6 in Bofors guns amidships and two twin and a pair of single mounts for six 20 millimetre 0 8 in Oerlikon AA guns The ships were also fitted with two quadruple mounts amidships for 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes 4 5 For anti submarine work they were equipped with a pair of depth charge rails and four throwers for 108 depth charges 6 Construction and career editCambrian was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding amp Engineering at their shipyard in Greenock on 14 August 1942 with the name of Spitfire and was launched on 10 December 1943 by which time she had been renamed She was commissioned on 17 July 7 and was allocated to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla for service with the Home Fleet After a refit in mid 1945 to augment her anti aircraft armament she was transferred for service in the Far East in June but joined the East Indies Fleet at Trincomalee British Ceylon in August 8 Post war service edit Following the war Cambrian paid off into reserve Along with other Ca group destroyers she was selected for modernisation in 1963 Work included a new enclosed bridge and Mark 6M gunnery fire control system as well as the addition of two triple Squid anti submarine mortars 9 nbsp Cambrian at Briton Ferry for scrapping 1971In January 1964 Cambrian saw operational service off the coast of East Africa as part of the operation to quell the mutiny by the Tanganyika Rifles The destroyer operated as part of a force along with the aircraft carrier Centaur which landed Royal Marines from 45 Commando Cambrian used her three 4 5 inch guns to provide naval gunfire support 10 During January 1968 Cambrian who had been on duties near Mauritius in preparation for the islands upcoming independence was diverted to the outlying island of Rodrigues to quell a reported uprising by some of the populace The so called uprising consisted of a number of individuals who had been arrested by the local authorities for looting a government food storage warehouse and appropriating a supply of sweet potatoes following a devastating hurricane on Christmas Eve 1967 that had left them homeless and penniless At this point it is believed that the authorities requested assistance which was provided by the destroyer On her early morning arrival the ships 4 5 guns were fired With blanks it is believed and an armed landing party was provided The landing party patrolled with the local police for several weeks to help restore order again Cambrian was paid off in December 1968 She was sold for scrap to Thos W Ward in August 1971 and arrived at their breaker s yard at Briton Ferry on 3 September 11 References edit Chesneau p 43 Whitley p 135 March p 422 a b Lenton p 179 Preston p 185 March p 419 Whitley p 136 Preston pp 185 193 Marriott pp 57 62 Lawrence Tony 2007 The Dar Mutiny of 1964 Book Guild Publishing pp 160 162 English pp 116 117Bibliography editChesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 English John 2001 Obdurate to Daring British Fleet Destroyers 1941 45 Windsor UK World Ship Society ISBN 978 0 9560769 0 8 Friedman Norman 2006 British Destroyers and Frigates the Second World War and After Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 86176 137 6 Lenton H T 1998 British amp Empire Warships of the Second World War Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 048 7 March Edgar J 1966 British Destroyers A History of Development 1892 1953 Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records amp Returns Ships Covers amp Building Plans London Seeley Service OCLC 164893555 Marriott Leo 1989 Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945 Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 1817 0 Preston Antony 1973 HMSCavalierand the Ca Class Destroyers Warship Profile Vol 2 Windsor UK Profile Publications OCLC 53090718 Rohwer Jurgen 2005 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 The Naval History of World War Two Third Revised ed Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 119 2 Whitley M J 1988 Destroyers of World War Two An International Encyclopedia Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 326 1 External links editHMS Cambrian Association website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Cambrian R85 amp oldid 1072178155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
