HMS Relentless (H85)

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HMS Relentless 1942 IWM FL 1968.jpg
Relentless As Built, December 1942
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Relentless
OwnerRoyal Navy
OrderedMay 1941
Builder John Brown & Company, Clydebank, Yard No.590
Laid down20 June 1941
Launched15 July 1942
Commissioned30 November 1942
Out of serviceReserve Fleet - November 1947
Reinstated1952. Converted to Type 15 frigate
Identification Pennant number H85
Honours and
awards
SABANG 1944
FateScrapped 1971
General characteristics As R-class destroyer
Class and type R-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,705 tons (1,732 tonnes)
  • 2,425 tons (2,464 tonnes) full load
Length358.25 ft (109.19 m) o/a
Beam35.75 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 shafts
Speed36 kn (67 km/h)
Range4,675 nmi (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement176
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 290 air warning
  • Radar Type 285 ranging & bearing
Armament
General characteristics As Type 15 frigate
Displacement
  • 2,300 tons (standard)
  • 2,700 tons (full load)
Length358 ft (109 m) o/a
Beam37.75 ft (11.51 m)
Draught14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Propulsion
Speed31 kn (57 km/h) (full load)
Range4,675 nmi (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement174
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar
  • 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 attack
Armament

HMS Relentless was an R-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F185.

Contents

History

HMS Relentless (F185) after her conversion to a Type 15 frigate. HMS Relentless (F185) broadside view.jpg
HMS Relentless (F185) after her conversion to a Type 15 frigate.

Commissioned at Greenock on 30 November 1942, Relentless performed anti-submarine escort duties and patrolling activities in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean for the balance of the war. [2]

From 1946 until 1949 Relentless was held in reserve at Chatham and then Harwich. From 1949 until 1951 she underwent conversion to a Type 15 Anti-Submarine Frigate. [3] In 1951–1952 she was the leader of the 3rd Training Squadron. [4] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. [5]

In 1954 she was involved in a serious collision with the destroyer Vigilant. [6] From October 1956 until 1964 she was held in reserve at Gareloch, Chatham and Rosyth.

On 27 June 1964 she was re-commissioned to serve as part of the 29th Escort Squadron, to replace the destroyer Diana.

Decommissioning and disposal

Relentless was placed on the disposal list in August 1965 and was sold to Thos. W. Ward for scrapping at Inverkeithing in 1971.

Commanding officers

The Commanding Officer from 1951 to 1952 was Captain Michael Le Fanu RN. [7]

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References

  1. Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. p. 47.
  2. "HMS Relentless – Operational movements" (PDF). Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN   0-9506323-9-2, page 52
  4. Mackie, Colin. "II: Royal Navy- Captains Commanding Warships". British Armed Forces (1900–). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  5. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  6. Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN   0-9506323-9-2, page 52
  7. Mackie, Colin. "II: Royal Navy- Captains Commanding Warships". British Armed Forces (1900–). Retrieved 19 January 2014.

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