A British destroyer goes through her paces. 17 February 1943, on board HMS Rapid, a British destroyer proves her sea-going and fighting qualities during trials at sea. A14607
During build Rapid was adopted by the civil communities of Sutton and Cheam as part of the Warship Week National savings campaign in 1943.
In February 1943 Rapid began sea trials and was allocated for service with the 11th Destroyer Flotilla.[2] Her first patrols were as convoy defence on Atlantic convoys, travelling to Freetown, and by the end of 1943 she was allocated for service in the Eastern Fleet, based in Ceylon.
In March 1945 Rapid was part of Force 68, serving in the Indian Ocean, and later the Pacific. In one operation she was damaged by fire from a shore battery, with 11 killed and 23 wounded. She was towed to Akyab for repairs. The repairs were completed by August 1945, and she returned for service in the planned landings on Malaya, as part of Operation Zipper, which were cancelled on the dropping of the atomic bomb.
Postwar service
In 1946 Rapid commissioned as an air training target ship and attendant destroyer to aircraft carriers. In February 1947 she was based at Rosyth.[3]
HMS Rapid, as a Type 15 frigate in the North Sea Race, 1971 (IWM)
Between June 1951 and October 1953, she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarinefrigate, by Alex Stephen on the Clyde, with the new pennant number F138.[4] Between 1954 and 1965 Rapid was part of the Reserve Fleet, but did take part in 'Navy Days' in Portsmouth during 1959.[5]
On 6 July 1971 Rapid would participate in a race against a similar ship, HMS Cavalier. Rapid narrowly lost the race after a safety valve blew.[6]
Decommissioning and disposal
In 1965 Rapid was placed on the disposal list. However, in 1966 she was allocated to the shore establishment Caledonia to assist in the sea training of engine room artificers. The ship was used as a day runner from Rosyth Dockyard to give help in certificating artificers, who were under training. Rapid was replaced in this role by the frigate Eastbourne in 1973.
She then became a target ship, being damaged by missiles launches from the guided missile destroyerBristol in 1976. Following repairs in 1977 she was used as a target ship in Milford Haven. She was placed on the disposal list again in 1978. She was subsequently sunk in the Western Approaches by torpedoes from the submarine Onyx in 1981.
References
^Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. p. 47.
^Mason, Geoffrey B. (2004). Gordon Smith (ed.). "HMS Rapid (H 32) – R-class Destroyer". naval-history.net. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
^Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN0-9506323-9-2, page 52
^Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN0-9506323-9-2, page 52
^Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth 28–30th March 1959, HMSO
^World of Warships Official Channel (22 September 2017), Naval Legends: HMS Cavalier | World of Warships], retrieved 13 May 2019
Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN0-9506323-9-2.
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 & 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.
Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983. Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-1322-5.
Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN0-85680-010-4.
Richardson, Ian (August 2021). Osborne, Richard (ed.). "Type 15 Frigates, Part 2: Ship Histories". Warships: Marine News Supplement. 75 (8): 381–391. ISSN 0966-6958.
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.
rapid, other, ships, with, same, name, rapid, rapid, class, destroyer, royal, navy, that, service, during, second, world, sunk, target, 1981, rapid, underway, river, mersey, february, 1943historyunited, kingdomnamehms, rapidordered1, april, 1940buildercammell,. For other ships with the same name see HMS Rapid HMS Rapid was an R class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War and was sunk as a target in 1981 Rapid underway on the River Mersey February 1943HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS RapidOrdered1 April 1940BuilderCammell Laird amp CompanyLaid down16 June 1941Launched16 July 1942Commissioned20 February 1943IdentificationPennant number H32 F138 from 1953 FateSunk as target 13 September 1981General characteristics As R class destroyerClass and typeR class destroyerDisplacement1 705 tons 1 732 tonnes 2 425 tons 2 464 tonnes full loadLength358 25 ft 109 19 m o aBeam35 75 ft 10 90 m Draught9 5 ft 2 9 m Propulsion2 x Admiralty 3 drum water tube boilers Parsons geared steam turbines 40 000 shp 30 000 kW on 2 shaftsSpeed36 kn 67 km h Range4 675 nmi 8 658 km at 20 knots 37 km h Complement176Sensors and processing systemsRadar Type 290 air warning Radar Type 285 ranging amp bearingArmament4 QF 4 7 inch 120 mm Mk IX guns single mounts CP Mk XVIII 4 QF 2 pdr Mk VIII 40 mm L 39 quad mount Mk VII 2 2 4 1 QF 20 mm Oerlikon single mount P Mk III 1 8 2x4 tubes for 21 inch 530 mm torpedoes Mk IX 4 throwers amp 2 x racks 70 depth chargesGeneral characteristics As Type 15 frigateDisplacement2 300 tons standard 2 700 tons full load Length358 ft 109 m o aBeam37 75 ft 11 51 m Draught14 5 ft 4 4 m Propulsion2 Admiralty 3 drum boilers steam turbines on 2 shafts 40 000 shpSpeed31 kn 57 km h full load Range4 675 nmi 8 658 km at 20 knots 37 km h Complement174Sensors and processing systemsRadar Type 293Q target indication Type 277Q surface search Type 974 navigation Type 262 fire control on director CRBF Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar Type 174 search Type 162 target classification Type 170 attackArmament1 twin 4 in gun Mark 19 1 twin 40mm Bofors Mk 5 2 Limbo Mark 10 A S mortar Contents 1 Second World War service 2 Postwar service 3 Decommissioning and disposal 4 References 5 PublicationsSecond World War service Edit A British destroyer goes through her paces 17 February 1943 on board HMS Rapid a British destroyer proves her sea going and fighting qualities during trials at sea A14607 During build Rapid was adopted by the civil communities of Sutton and Cheam as part of the Warship Week National savings campaign in 1943 In February 1943 Rapid began sea trials and was allocated for service with the 11th Destroyer Flotilla 2 Her first patrols were as convoy defence on Atlantic convoys travelling to Freetown and by the end of 1943 she was allocated for service in the Eastern Fleet based in Ceylon In March 1945 Rapid was part of Force 68 serving in the Indian Ocean and later the Pacific In one operation she was damaged by fire from a shore battery with 11 killed and 23 wounded She was towed to Akyab for repairs The repairs were completed by August 1945 and she returned for service in the planned landings on Malaya as part of Operation Zipper which were cancelled on the dropping of the atomic bomb Postwar service EditIn 1946 Rapid commissioned as an air training target ship and attendant destroyer to aircraft carriers In February 1947 she was based at Rosyth 3 HMS Rapid as a Type 15 frigate in the North Sea Race 1971 IWM Between June 1951 and October 1953 she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti submarine frigate by Alex Stephen on the Clyde with the new pennant number F138 4 Between 1954 and 1965 Rapid was part of the Reserve Fleet but did take part in Navy Days in Portsmouth during 1959 5 On 6 July 1971 Rapid would participate in a race against a similar ship HMS Cavalier Rapid narrowly lost the race after a safety valve blew 6 Decommissioning and disposal EditIn 1965 Rapid was placed on the disposal list However in 1966 she was allocated to the shore establishment Caledonia to assist in the sea training of engine room artificers The ship was used as a day runner from Rosyth Dockyard to give help in certificating artificers who were under training Rapid was replaced in this role by the frigate Eastbourne in 1973 She then became a target ship being damaged by missiles launches from the guided missile destroyer Bristol in 1976 Following repairs in 1977 she was used as a target ship in Milford Haven She was placed on the disposal list again in 1978 She was subsequently sunk in the Western Approaches by torpedoes from the submarine Onyx in 1981 References Edit Raven Alan Roberts John 1978 War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes London Bivouac Books p 47 Mason Geoffrey B 2004 Gordon Smith ed HMS Rapid H 32 R class Destroyer naval history net Retrieved 11 July 2016 Critchley Mike British Warships Since 1945 Part 3 Destroyers Maritime Books Liskeard UK 1982 ISBN 0 9506323 9 2 page 52 Critchley Mike British Warships Since 1945 Part 3 Destroyers Maritime Books Liskeard UK 1982 ISBN 0 9506323 9 2 page 52 Programme Navy Days Portsmouth 28 30th March 1959 HMSO World of Warships Official Channel 22 September 2017 Naval Legends HMS Cavalier World of Warships retrieved 13 May 2019Publications 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 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 amp 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 Marriott Leo 1983 Royal Navy Frigates 1945 1983 Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 1322 5 Raven Alan amp Roberts John 1978 War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes London Bivouac Books ISBN 0 85680 010 4 Richardson Ian August 2021 Osborne Richard ed Type 15 Frigates Part 2 Ship Histories Warships Marine News Supplement 75 8 381 391 ISSN 0966 6958 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 2 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 326 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Rapid H32 amp oldid 1144336828, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
