HMS Crossbow (D96) moored at Trondheim. May 1961 (IWM). | |
History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Crossbow |
Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company |
Laid down | 26 August 1944 |
Launched | 20 December 1945 |
Completed | 4 March 1948 |
Identification | Pennant number D96 |
Fate | Sold 14 December 1971, broken up at Briton Ferry |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Weapon-class destroyer |
Displacement | 1,980 tons standard |
Length | 365 ft (111 m) |
Beam | 38 ft (12 m) |
Armament |
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HMS Crossbow was a Weapon-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that was in service from 1948 and scrapped in 1972.
On commissioning in 1948 Crossbow formed part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla (later Squadron), as part of the Home Fleet, along with the other Weapon-class destroyers. [1] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. [2] In 1955 she was replaced in the 6th Destroyer Squadron by Contest.
In 1957 all of the Weapon class were taken into refit and conversion to re-equip them as radar pickets, to supplement the new Salisbury-class frigates. Crossbow was converted at Chatham Dockyard. The conversion involved the removal of both sets of torpedo tubes and the erection of an additional lattice mast, which carried a large Type 965 Radar (AKE -1 aerial). Crossbow re-commissioned in 1959 and was then allocated to the 2nd Destroyer Squadron. She was present at Chatham Navy Days in April 1960.
In 1963 Crossbow was reduced to operational reserve and three years later relieved the destroyer Solebay as the harbor training ship for the shore establishment Sultan. She was replaced in that role by the destroyer Diamond early in 1970. She was placed on the disposal list and sold to Thos. W. Ward for scrapping and arrived at their yard at Briton Ferry on 21 January 1972.
The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), named after naval or other battles fought by British or English forces. 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 estimates. Most of these ships were cancelled when it became apparent that the war was being won and the ships would not be required, although two ships of the third group, ordered for the RAN, were not cancelled and were subsequently completed in Australia.
HMS Finisterre was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named after one of the battles of Cape Finisterre. She was the first and thus far the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear this name.
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The Weapon class was a class of destroyers built for the British Royal Navy towards the end of World War II. They were the smaller counterpart to the Battle class and were the first new destroyer designs for the Royal Navy since the Second World War Emergency Programme. 20 ships were planned, of which only 13 were laid down and 7 were launched, but the cessation of hostilities resulted in only 4 being completed for service. Two of the ships had been previously ordered as part of the planned C class, or 15th Emergency flotilla, of 1944, but the orders were changed to the new design.
HMS Battleaxe was a Weapon-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, completed just after the Second World War.
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HMS Urania was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. After the war she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate and was scrapped in 1971.
HMS Venus was a V-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, of Govan, Scotland and launched on 23 February 1943.
HMS Wakeful was a W-class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1943. She saw service during the Second World War and was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate. She was sold for scrap in 1971.
HMS Crispin was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy built by J. Samuel White, Cowes between 1944 and 1946. She was originally to have been named HMS Craccher. She was sold to the Pakistan Navy in 1958 and renamed PNS Jahangir. She was scrapped in 1982.
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