HMS Caprice was a C-classdestroyer of the Royal Navy, ordered on 16 February 1942 from Yarrow, Scotstoun. She was originally to be named HMS Swallow but this was changed to Caprice before launch to fit her revised class name. She is the only British warship to have had this name. She was adopted by the Civil Community of Bexley and Welling, as part of the Warship Week programme.
History
United Kingdom
Name
HMS Caprice
Ordered
16 February 1942
Laid down
28 September 1942
Launched
16 September 1943
Completed
5 April 1944
Commissioned
5 April 1944
Decommissioned
1973
Renamed
Built as Swallow
Renamed Caprice before launch
Identification
Pennant number: R01 initially, but changed to D01 in 1945
Honours and awards
None
Fate
Arrived at Queenborough breaker's yard for scrapping, November 1979
On commissioning Caprice was allocated to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla with the Home Fleet and took part in Russian and Atlantic convoys and acted as escort to the ocean liners, Queen Elizabeth and Île de France on their high speed trooping runs. In 1945 she saw action in the Far East at the close of the Japanese War and received the surrender of some 5,000 Japanese prisoners at Uleeheue.[1]
Post war serviceedit
Following the war Caprice paid off into reserve. Along with other Ca group destroyers she was selected for modernisation by Yarrow in 1959. 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.[2] Following the refit, Caprice was sent to the Far East, joining the 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Singapore. She remained in the Far East for four years before returning to Britain.[3][4] On 1 January 1961, she was on passage from Hong Kong to Singapore when she responded to a distress signal from the Panamanian freighter SS Galatea, which had run aground on Pearson Reef in the Spratly Islands. Caprice saved 20 of the 21-man crew of Galatea, but Galatea's captain fell into the sea during the rescue attempts and died. Two of Caprice's crew were awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct for their part in the rescue.[5][6][7]
In 1963, Caprice left the Far East, joining the 21st Destroyer Squadron, and serving in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. She was Guard ship at Georgetown, Guyana from May to July 1963 and then carried out anti-immigration patrols in the Bahamas from July to August that year.[8] In 1966 Caprice (along with Cavalier) received the Sea Cat anti-aircraft missile system - the only two Ca ships to receive it. This meant losing the last of her torpedo tube armament.[9]
In 1966–67, Caprice spent six months away from British waters, including three months on the Beira Patrol in the Mozambique Channel, as part of the oil blockade against Rhodesia, and three weeks at Aden where her security detachment supported the Army in the ongoing Aden Emergency. Three of the ship's crew were wounded during a gunpower demonstration when a WOMBAT recoilless rifle being used by the Army exploded. She returned to Portsmouth on 22 February 1967.[10] On 25 January 1968 Caprice left England for the East of Suez leg of a General Service Commission. She visited Gibraltar, Freetown and Simonstown on the outwatrd leg and then spent a month on duty on the Beira Patrol. The ship arrived in Singapore on 6 April 1968. For the next five months she alternated between Singapore and Hong Kong, carrying out guard duties and exercising with other ships of the Australian, New Zealand and United States navies. During this period she also visited Japan. Leaving Singapore in early September, the ship headed south for a visit to Sydney and took part in exercise Coral Sands until October when the ship arrived in Auckland. She then went on to complete her round-the-world trip, returning to Portsmouth on 19 December 1969.[11]
Decommissioning and disposaledit
She was paid off in 1973 as the last war time destroyer in service. She was disarmed and laid up until November 1979 when she arrived at the breaker's yard at Queenborough for scrapping.
Referencesedit
^Mason, Geoffrey B. (2003). Gordon Smith (ed.). "HMS Caprice (R 01) - Ca-class Destroyer". naval-history.net. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN0-9506323-9-2.
English, John (2008). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN978-0-9560769-0-8.
Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN0-7110-1817-0.
External linksedit
HMS Caprice 1968 website
April 11, 2024
caprice, class, destroyer, royal, navy, ordered, february, 1942, from, yarrow, scotstoun, originally, named, swallow, this, changed, caprice, before, launch, revised, class, name, only, british, warship, have, this, name, adopted, civil, community, bexley, wel. HMS Caprice was a C class destroyer of the Royal Navy ordered on 16 February 1942 from Yarrow Scotstoun She was originally to be named HMS Swallow but this was changed to Caprice before launch to fit her revised class name She is the only British warship to have had this name She was adopted by the Civil Community of Bexley and Welling as part of the Warship Week programme HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS CapriceOrdered16 February 1942Laid down28 September 1942Launched16 September 1943Completed5 April 1944Commissioned5 April 1944Decommissioned1973RenamedBuilt as Swallow Renamed Caprice before launchIdentificationPennant number R01 initially but changed to D01 in 1945Honours andawardsNoneFateArrived at Queenborough breaker s yard for scrapping November 1979BadgeOn a Field Green a kid salient Proper General characteristicsClass and typeC class destroyerDisplacement1 710 tons standard 2 520 tons full Length363 ft 111 m o aBeam35 75 ft 10 90 m Draught10 ft 3 0 m light 14 5 ft 4 4 m fullPropulsion2 Admiralty 3 drum boilers Parsons geared steam turbines 40 000 shp 30 000 kW 2 shaftsSpeed37 knots 69 km h Range615 tons oil 1 400 nautical miles 2 600 km at 32 knots 59 km h Complement192 1959 ArmamentInitial 3 QF 4 5 in L 45 guns Mark IV on mounts CP Mk V 2 Bofors 40 mm L 60 guns on twin mount Hazemeyer Mk IV or 4 QF 2 pdr L 39 guns Mk VIII on quad mount Mk VII 4 anti aircraft mountings Bofors 40 mm single mount Mk III QF 2 pdr Mk VIII single mount Mk XVI Oerlikon 20 mm single mount P Mk III Oerlikon 20 mm twin mount Mk V 2 pentuple tubes for 21 inch 533 mm torpedoes Mk IX 4 throwers and 2 racks for 96 depth charges From 1966 3 QF 4 5 in L 45 guns Mark IV on mounts CP Mk V 2 Bofors 40 mm L 60 guns 6 Squid anti submarine launchers after modernization 1 Quadruple Sea Cat GWS 20 Launcher from 1966 Aircraft carriedNone Contents 1 Wartime service 2 Post war service 3 Decommissioning and disposal 4 References 5 Publications 6 External linksWartime service editOn commissioning Caprice was allocated to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla with the Home Fleet and took part in Russian and Atlantic convoys and acted as escort to the ocean liners Queen Elizabeth and Ile de France on their high speed trooping runs In 1945 she saw action in the Far East at the close of the Japanese War and received the surrender of some 5 000 Japanese prisoners at Uleeheue 1 Post war service editFollowing the war Caprice paid off into reserve Along with other Ca group destroyers she was selected for modernisation by Yarrow in 1959 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 2 Following the refit Caprice was sent to the Far East joining the 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Singapore She remained in the Far East for four years before returning to Britain 3 4 On 1 January 1961 she was on passage from Hong Kong to Singapore when she responded to a distress signal from the Panamanian freighter SS Galatea which had run aground on Pearson Reef in the Spratly Islands Caprice saved 20 of the 21 man crew of Galatea but Galatea s captain fell into the sea during the rescue attempts and died Two of Caprice s crew were awarded the Queen s Commendation for Brave Conduct for their part in the rescue 5 6 7 In 1963 Caprice left the Far East joining the 21st Destroyer Squadron and serving in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean She was Guard ship at Georgetown Guyana from May to July 1963 and then carried out anti immigration patrols in the Bahamas from July to August that year 8 In 1966 Caprice along with Cavalier received the Sea Cat anti aircraft missile system the only two Ca ships to receive it This meant losing the last of her torpedo tube armament 9 In 1966 67 Caprice spent six months away from British waters including three months on the Beira Patrol in the Mozambique Channel as part of the oil blockade against Rhodesia and three weeks at Aden where her security detachment supported the Army in the ongoing Aden Emergency Three of the ship s crew were wounded during a gunpower demonstration when a WOMBAT recoilless rifle being used by the Army exploded She returned to Portsmouth on 22 February 1967 10 On 25 January 1968 Caprice left England for the East of Suez leg of a General Service Commission She visited Gibraltar Freetown and Simonstown on the outwatrd leg and then spent a month on duty on the Beira Patrol The ship arrived in Singapore on 6 April 1968 For the next five months she alternated between Singapore and Hong Kong carrying out guard duties and exercising with other ships of the Australian New Zealand and United States navies During this period she also visited Japan Leaving Singapore in early September the ship headed south for a visit to Sydney and took part in exercise Coral Sands until October when the ship arrived in Auckland She then went on to complete her round the world trip returning to Portsmouth on 19 December 1969 11 Decommissioning and disposal editShe was paid off in 1973 as the last war time destroyer in service She was disarmed and laid up until November 1979 when she arrived at the breaker s yard at Queenborough for scrapping References edit Mason Geoffrey B 2003 Gordon Smith ed HMS Caprice R 01 Ca class Destroyer naval history net Retrieved 20 May 2015 Marriott 1989 pp 55 59 Critchley 1982 p 86 Marriott 1989 p 59 21 Saved in Sea Drama But Ship s Master Dies The Straits Times 3 January 1961 p 14 Retrieved 28 August 2018 via NewspaperSG A Hazardous Situation Queen s Commendation Navy News July 1961 p 9 Retrieved 28 August 2018 State Intelligence Admiralty The London Gazette No 42367 30 May 1961 p 3995 English 2008 p 117 Marriott 1989 pp 60 61 Caprice s Beira Patrols Navy News April 1967 p 8 Retrieved 18 August 2018 Caprice Ends Her World Tour PDF Navy News January 1969 p 8 Retrieved 15 October 2020 Publications editColledge 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 Critchley Mike 1982 British Warships Since 1945 Part 3 Destroyers Liskeard UK Maritime Books ISBN 0 9506323 9 2 English John 2008 Obdurate to Daring British Fleet Destroyers 1941 45 Windsor UK World Ship Society ISBN 978 0 9560769 0 8 Marriott Leo 1989 Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945 Ian Allan Ltd ISBN 0 7110 1817 0 External links editHMS Caprice 1968 website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Caprice amp oldid 1072178193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
