HMS Eridge (L68)

Last updated

HMS Eridge (L68).jpg
Eridge in July 1941
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Eridge
Builder Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear
Laid down21 November 1939
Launched20 August 1940
Commissioned28 February 1941
ReclassifiedBase ship on 29 August 1942 (constructive total loss)
FateSold for scrap, 1946
General characteristics Type II
Class and type Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) full load
Length85.3 m (279 ft 10 in) o/a
Beam9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught2.51 m (8 ft 3 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
  • 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) full
Range3,600  nmi (6,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement164
Armament
Service record
Commanders: Lt.Cdr. William Frank Niemann Gregory-Smith

HMS Eridge was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War.

Contents

Service history

On 29 August 1942, Eridge assisted the destroyers Hero and Hurworth in sinking the German submarine U-568. [1] At 04:15 on 29 August 1942, she began shelling Axis positions off El Daba, Egypt, at 31°7′N28°26′E / 31.117°N 28.433°E / 31.117; 28.433 , together with the destroyers Croome and Hursley. At 05:00, she was permanently disabled by a 450mm torpedo fired by the Italian motor torpedo boat MTSM-228. The attack caused five fatalities on board Eridge. [2]

HMS Eridge being brought back to harbour after being torpedoed, Alexandria, 29 August 1942 (IWM A13534) HMS Eridge Brought Safely Back To Harbour. 29 August 1942, Alexandria Harbour. the British Hunt Class Destroyer As She Was Towed Back To Harbour After Being Torpedoed by a German E-boat. A13534.jpg
HMS Eridge being brought back to harbour after being torpedoed, Alexandria, 29 August 1942 (IWM A13534)

She was towed to Alexandria by the destroyer Aldenham, [3] where Eridge was declared a constructive total loss due to structural damage to the hull and damage beyond repair to the main turbines, condenser, gearing and intermediate shaft. The destroyer was used as a base ship in situ for the rest of the war and sold for scrapping in October 1946. [4]

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References

  1. "HMS Eridge (L 68) of the Royal Navy - British Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. Paul Kemp (1999). The Admiralty regrets: British warship losses of the 20th century. Sutton. p. 192. ISBN   9780750915670.
  3. "Commander Alex Stuart-Menteth". The Daily Telegraph . 6 June 2000. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015.
  4. Webb, Tim (1 August 2020). "HMS ERIDGE". Ships Nostalgia. Retrieved 12 April 2024.

Publications

Further reading