HMS Milne (G14)

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HMS Milne WWII IWM FL 7744.jpg
HMS Milne on completion, 1942
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Milne
Builder Scotts, Greenock
Laid down24 January 1940
Launched30 December 1941
Commissioned6 August 1942
Honours and
awards
  • Arctic (1943–44)
  • North Africa (1942–43)
FateSold to Turkish Navy on 27 April 1959, renamed Alp Arslan
Flag of Turkey.svgTurkey
NameAlp Arslan
Acquired27 April 1959
FateDiscarded 1970
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type M-class destroyer
Displacement
Length362 ft 3 in (110.4 m) (o/a)
Beam37 ft (11.3 m)
Draught14 ft (4.3 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range5,500  nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement224
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Milne was a M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy which served during World War II. She was equipped as a flotilla leader.

Contents

Description

The M-class destroyers were repeats of the preceding L class. Milne, being the flotilla leader, was slightly larger than her sister ships. She displaced 1,935 long tons (1,966 t) at standard load and 2,750 long tons (2,790 t) at deep load. The ships had an overall length of 362 feet 3 inches (110.4 m), a beam of 37 feet (11.3 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet (4.3 m). They were powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 48,000 shaft horsepower (36,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 567 long tons (576 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 224 officers and ratings. [1]

The ships mounted six 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark XI guns in twin-gun mounts, two superfiring in front of the bridge and one aft of the superstructure. The aft torpedo tubes were replaced by a single QF 4-inch Mk V anti-aircraft gun. Their light anti-aircraft suite was composed of one quadruple mount for 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns, two single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and two quadruple and two twin mounts for 0.5 inch Vickers Mark III anti-aircraft machinegun. Later in the war, single Oerlikons replaced the .50-calibre machineguns and, still later, twin Oerlikon mounts replaced four of the singles. The M-class ships completed with only one above-water quadruple mount for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes, but the aft mount was later replaced and the 4-inch AA gun removed. The ships were equipped with two depth charge throwers, two racks and 42 depth charges. [1]

Construction and career

Milne was laid down on 24 January 1940 by Scotts at their Greenock shipyard and launched 30 December 1941. [2] Because of bomb damage to the shipyard, she had to be towed to John Brown & Company to be completed on 6 August 1942. During the war she saw service in the Mediterranean and Arctic theatres.

Postwar service

Following the Second World War Milne, along with three other ships of the same class, was transferred to the Turkish Navy as part of an agreement signed at Ankara on 16 August 1957. They underwent a refit which involved the removal of the after set of torpedo tubes and some secondary armament. They received a new deckhouse and Squid anti-submarine weapons system. On 29 June 1959 they were handed over at Portsmouth. Milne was renamed Alp Arslan. [3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Lenton, p. 169
  2. Whitley, p. 121
  3. Lyon & Chumbley, p. 41

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References