Draft:HMS Catterick (L81)

HMS Catterick L81 underway.
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Catterick
Ordered	4 July 1940
Builder	Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down	1 March 1941
Launched	22 November 1941
Commissioned	12 June 1942
Identification	Pennant number: L81
Greece
Name	HHMS Hastings - ΒΠ Χέιστινγκς
Commissioned	May 1946
Decommissioned	1963
Fate	Broken up for scrap at Piraeus
General characteristics
Class & type	Type III Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement	1,050 long tons (1,067 t) standard, 1,490 long tons (1,514 t) full load
Length	264 ft 3 in (80.54 m) pp, 280 ft (85.34 m) oa
Beam	31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
Draught	7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
Propulsion	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Speed	27 kn (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	3,700 nmi (6,900 km; 4,300 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	168
Armament	4 × QF 4 in Mark XVI guns on twin mounts Mk. XIX 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk. VIII (1 × quad mount) 3 × 20 mm Oerlikons 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 70 depth charges, 4 throwers, 2 racks

HMS Catterick (L81) was an escort destroyer of the Royal Navy’s Hunt class (Type III). Built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness under the 1940 Emergency Programme, she was laid down on 1 March 1941, launched on 22 November 1941, and commissioned on 12 June 1942.

Design and specifications

Catterick was a Hunt-class (Type III) escort destroyer. Type III ships had a standard displacement of 1,050 tons (approx. 1,500 tons full load), an overall length of 85.3 m, a beam of 9.6 m, and a draught of about 2.4 m.

Propulsion was provided by two Admiralty 3-drum boilers and Parsons geared steam turbines driving two shafts, producing 19,000 shaft horsepower, giving a speed of up to 29 knots. Range was around 3,700 nautical miles at 15 knots. The complement was approximately 168 personnel.

Armament consisted of four 4-inch (102 mm) QF Mk XVI dual-purpose guns in two twin mounts. For anti-aircraft defence, she carried one quadruple 2-pounder "pom-pom" and three single 20 mm Oerlikon guns. She also carried a twin 21-inch torpedo tube mount, a feature of the Type III subclass replacing one twin 4-inch turret seen on earlier Hunts. For anti-submarine warfare, she carried up to 70 depth charges with two racks and four throwers.

Sensors included Type 291 air warning radar, Type 285 fire control radar, and Type 128 ASDIC sonar.

Design enhancements and unique features

Catterick, was constructed without bilge keels, allowing space for additional fuel tanks, a straight, raked funnel with a sloping top, and a simplified mast without a yard, distinguishing her from earlier Hunt-class variants. The main searchlight was relocated to the aft deckhouse as part of the 1943 structural adjustments.

Service history

1942

After commissioning in June 1942, Catterick completed trials and worked up with the Home Fleet. During this period, she helped cover the Arctic Convoy PQ 17.

In July 1942, she was assigned to the Eastern Fleet and joined military convoy WS21 as an ocean escort. She escorted the convoy from the Clyde via Freetown and Cape Town.

She rescued survivors from the troopship Llandaff Castle, which had been sunk by U-177 off East Africa on 30 November 1942. The former Union-Castle Line passenger ship had 150 passengers on board, including six Soviet diplomats with their wives and children and 70 military officers with their families. All but three were rescued

1943

In 1943, she continued escort duties in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean, joining WS30 in June 1943 and escorting the convoy to Cape Town. She then entered refit at Simon’s Town, where she received propeller repairs and radar upgrades.

In August, Catterick was reassigned to the Mediterranean and escorted Convoy CF13 to Gibraltar.

Salerno landings

In September 1943, she supported Operation Avalanche, the Allied landings at Salerno, Italy. She was part of the destroyer screen protecting the aircraft carriers and provided naval gunfire support and anti-aircraft defence.

1944

In 1944, Catterick participated in convoy escort duties in the western and eastern Mediterranean. In August, she escorted follow-on waves for Operation Dragoon, the Allied landings in southern France.

In September through October 1944, she was transferred to the British Aegean Force. On 5 October 1944, she took part in the surrender of the island of Levitha.

1945

Catterick continued operations in the Aegean and Adriatic. On 1 May 1945, Catterick joined HMS Kimberley and the Greek destroyer Kriti in the liberation of Rhodes. She was later sent to Durban, South Africa, for refit in mid-1945, but with the end of the war, she was not recommissioned for further combat service.

Captains

• Lieutenant Alexander Tyson (RN) March 16, 1942, to January 31, 1944
• Lieutenant Derek Peel Willan (RN) January 31, 1944, to January 1945
• A/Lieutenant Commander John Duff Ritchie (RN) January 1945 to mid-1946

Battle honours

Catterick earned three Battle honours:

• Salerno 1943
• South France 1944
• Aegean 1944

Service with the Hellenic Navy

In May 1946, HMS Catterick was loaned to the Royal Hellenic Navy and renamed HHMS Hastings. She was re-rated as a frigate and served in patrol and training roles, based primarily at Salamis Naval Base.

She remained in Greek service until 1963 and was broken up for scrap at Piraeus in June of that year.