HMS Woodcock (U90)

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HMS Woodcock 1943 IWM FL 21777.jpg
HMS Woodcock in June 1943
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameWoodcock
Namesake Woodcock
Ordered13 April 1940
Builder Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering, Govan
Laid down21 October 1941
Launched26 November 1942
Commissioned29 May 1943
Identification Pennant number: U08
FateScrapped 28 November 1955
General characteristics
Class and type Modified Black Swan-class sloop
Displacement1,350 tons
Length283 ft (86 m)
Beam38.5 ft (11.7 m)
Propulsion
  • Geared turbines
  • two shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h) at 4,300 hp (3,200 kW)
Complement192 men
Armament

HMS Woodcock was built by Fairfields at Govan; laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 26 November 1942, and completed 29 May 1943. She was the fifth Royal Naval vessel to carry this name.

Contents

Construction and career

On completion, she joined the 2nd Support Group and operated in the Atlantic Ocean until May 1944, sinking the German submarine U-226 on 6 November 1943. She then moved to the English Channel in May 1944, intending to take part in the Normandy landings. However, she collided with the destroyer HMS Venus on 27 May 1944, and repairs took until December 1944.

The work included changes to fit her for service in the Pacific Ocean, and she joined the British Pacific Fleet at Manus 5 March 1945. She was present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945) when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on board the battleship USS Missouri.

Woodcock remained in the Pacific Ocean until late 1946 when she returned to the UK to be put into reserve at West Hartlepool. She was sold for breaking up in November 1955 and was scrapped at Rosyth.

See also

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References

    Further reading