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Coordinates: 51°7′32″N 1°20′4″E / 51.12556°N 1.33444°E / 51.12556; 1.33444
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[[Image:HMS Codrington and King George VI.jpg|thumb|left|King George VI returns to Britain aboard ''Codrington'' after visiting the BEF]]
[[Image:HMS Codrington and King George VI.jpg|thumb|left|King George VI returns to Britain aboard ''Codrington'' after visiting the BEF]]


After being recommissioned after her refit, ''Codrington'' became part of the [[19th Destroyer Flotilla]], based at [[Dover]] as part of the [[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore|Nore Command]]. During September and October 1939, ''Codrington'' escorted convoys carrying the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France.<ref name="engp16"/> She remained in the [[English Channel]] throughout October, before being transferred to [[Harwich]] to defend against a perceived threat of a German attack on the [[Low Countries]]. She was back in Dover in December, and on 4 December ''Codrington'' embarked [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] and transported him to [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] for his visit to the British Expeditionary Force in France.<ref name=navhist>[http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-12A-Codrington.htm Codrington's career]</ref> ''Codrington'' re-embarked him on 10 December and brought him back to Dover. On 22 December, she joined the escort – consisting of {{HMS|Esk|H15|2}}, {{HMS|Express|H61|2}} and {{HMS|Brazen|H80|2}} – for the auxiliary [[minelayer]] ''Princess Victoria'' during a minelay in the Dover Barrage.
After being recommissioned after her refit, ''Codrington'' became part of the [[19th Destroyer Flotilla]], based at [[Dover]] as part of the [[Commander-in-Chief, The Nore|Nore Command]]. During September and October 1939, the ship escorted convoys carrying the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] to France. She conducted patrols and escorted convoys in the [[English Channel]] and the [[North Sea]] through December. ''Codrington'' embarked [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] on 4 December and transported him to [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] for his visit to the British Expeditionary Force in France. ''Codrington'' re-embarked him on 10 December and brought him back to Dover.<ref name="engp16"/>


1940 saw ''Codrington'' continue to host [[Very Important Person|VIP]]s, as on 4 January, she embarked [[Winston Churchill]] (then [[Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty|First Lord of the Admiralty]]) on a visit to France. In February, she was nominated as the flotilla leader of the [[1st Destroyer Flotilla]] based at Harwich, replacing {{HMS|Grenville|H03|2}}, which had been sunk by a [[Naval mine|mine]] on 19 January. On 5 February, she carried Prime Minister [[Neville Chamberlain]], Winston Churchill and several high-ranking military leaders to Boulogne for a war council meeting in Paris.<ref name="navhist"/> ''Codrington'' then put into [[Chatham Dockyard]] for a refit.
1940 saw ''Codrington'' continue to host [[Very Important Person|VIP]]s, as on 4 January, she embarked [[Winston Churchill]] (then [[Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty|First Lord of the Admiralty]]) on a visit to France. In February, she was nominated as the flotilla leader of the [[1st Destroyer Flotilla]] based at Harwich, replacing {{HMS|Grenville|H03|2}}, which had been sunk by a [[Naval mine|mine]] on 19 January. On 5 February, she carried Prime Minister [[Neville Chamberlain]], Winston Churchill and several high-ranking military leaders to Boulogne for a war council meeting in Paris. ''Codrington'' then put into [[Chatham Dockyard]] for a refit.


====The North Sea and Norwegian coast====
====The North Sea and Norwegian coast====

Revision as of 19:46, 23 May 2024

Codrington at sea, 4 June 1930
History
United Kingdom
NameCodrington
NamesakeAdmiral Sir Edward Codrington
Ordered6 March 1928
BuilderSwan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend
Laid down20 June 1928
Launched8 August 1929
Commissioned4 June 1930
Motto
  • Vultus in hosten
  • "Facing the enemy"
FateBombed and sunk, 27 July 1940
BadgeOn a Field Silver, a Lion passant Red
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeA-class destroyer flotilla leader
Displacement1,540 long tons (1,565 t) (standard)
Length343 ft (104.5 m)
Beam33 ft 9 in (10.3 m)
Draught19 ft 9 in (6 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement185
Armament

HMS Codrington was the flotilla leader for the A-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy (RN) during the 1920s. Completed in 1930, the ship spent most of the 1930s assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet. She helped to enforce the arms embargo imposed on both sides in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939. Codrington returned home in early 1937 and was refitted before serving as a training ship in 1938–1939.

During the Second World War she served in home waters and off the Norwegian coast, before being bombed and sunk on 27 July 1940 whilst in dock at Dover.

Background and description

Codrington was an improved version of the Admiralty type flotilla leader built during World War I.[1]As a flotilla leader the ship was almost 200 long tons (200 t) larger than the other A-class destroyers because she carried more guns and her bridge structure had to be enlarged to provide the additional accommodation required for the Captain (D) and his staff.[2] Codrington displaced 1,540 long tons (1,560 t) at (standard load) and 2,012 long tons (2,044 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 343 ft (104.5 m), a beam of 34 ft 9 in (10.6 m) and a draught at deep load. of 12 ft 4 in (3.8 m). Codrington's crew consisted of 138 officers and ratings.[3][1]

She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by three Admiralty three-drum boilers that operated at a pressure of 300 pounds per square inch (2,068 kPa; 21 kgf/cm2) and a temperature of 600 °F (316 °C).[3] The turbines developed a total of 39,000 shaft horsepower (29,000 kW) for a designed speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), but the ship exceeded that during her sea trials in February 1930 when she reached a speed of 37.74 knots (69.89 km/h; 43.43 mph) from 39,257 shp (29,274 kW).[4] Codrington carried a maximum of 430 long tons (440 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,800 nautical miles (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship was significantly less manoeuverable than the other ships of her flotilla with a turning circle 380 yards (350 m) greater;[5] this caused difficulties when moving in concert with her flotilla.[1]

The main armament of the leader consisted of five quick-firing (QF) 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts protected by gun shields, designated 'A', 'B', 'Q', 'X', and 'Y' from front to rear. They were positioned in two superfiring pairs at the front and rear of the superstructure; the fifth gun was located on a platform between funnels. The gun mounts had a maximum elevation of 30°. The guns fired a 50-pound (23 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,650 ft/s (810 m/s) to a range of 16,970 yards (15,520 m).[6] Each gun was provided with 190 rounds. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Codrington was fitted with two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF two-pounder Mark II AA guns mounted on platforms abaft the rear funnel, each with 500 rounds. The ship was equipped with two quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Although she was never fitted with ASDIC, Codrington carried eight depth charges that were delivered by four chutes, each dropping one depth charge, and two throwers.[7]

Modifications

It is unknown if the flotilla leader's depth-charge equipment changed after the beginning of World War II, but her stock of depth charges gradually increased. The first step was to 25 depth charges and then to 47 before her loss in July 1940. The Norwegian Campaign had shown the RN that its ships were much more vulnerable to aircraft than it had realized and it decided to substitute a QF three-inch (76 mm) 20-cwt anti-aircraft gun,[Note 1] for the ship's after torpedo-tube mount on 17 May 1940.[8]

Construction and career

HMS Codrington was ordered on 6 March 1928 from Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, under the 1927 Naval Estimates. The ship was laid down at the shipyard's facility in Wallsend, on 20 June 1928 and launched on 8 August 1929. Commissioned on 4 June 1930,[9] she has thus far been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Codrington.[10]

Pre-war operations

After working up, in July 1930 Codridgton became the leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet.[11] In June 1931, the destroyer returned to Devonport Naval Base for modifications to her turbines, returning to the Mediterranean at the end of the month after the completion of the modifications. Codrington was refitted again at Devonport in September–October 1932, again returning to the 3rd Flotilla.[11] On 12 June 1934, Codrington and the destroyer Acasta collided. Both ships received minor damage, with no injuries occurring.[12][13]

On 17 July 1936, the Spanish Civil War began,[14] with Codrington carrying out patrols off the Spanish coast.[11] On 23 August, Codrington went to the aid of the British steamer Gibel Jerom (operated by the Bland Line), which had been stopped by the Spanish Republican cruiser Miguel de Cervantes off Cape Tres Forcas while bound for Nationalist-held Melilla with a cargo of petrol. Codrington's commanding officer warned the Captain of Miguel de Cervantes that Britain would not tolerate any interference with British shipping outside the Three-mile limit. Codrington escorted Gibel Jerom back to Gibraltar.[15][16] On 12 January 1937, Codrington and the depot ship Woolwich were in Valencia harbour when the harbour was shelled by a Nationalist warship.[17]

Codrington returned to Britain in March 1937,[18] and was replaced as leader of the 3rd Flotilla by the newly built Inglefield in June 1937.[19] She then entered the reserve, but was refitted and then attached to the Royal Naval Engineering College at Keyham, Plymouth in October 1938.[11][20] On 7 June 1939, Codrington took part in a tribute to the crew of the submarine Thetis, which had sunk on trials in Liverpool Bay, above where Thetis had sunk.[21] After another refit she was recommissioned on completion of the refit in August 1939.[11]

Wartime career

The English Channel and French coast

King George VI returns to Britain aboard Codrington after visiting the BEF

After being recommissioned after her refit, Codrington became part of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Dover as part of the Nore Command. During September and October 1939, the ship escorted convoys carrying the British Expeditionary Force to France. She conducted patrols and escorted convoys in the English Channel and the North Sea through December. Codrington embarked King George VI on 4 December and transported him to Boulogne for his visit to the British Expeditionary Force in France. Codrington re-embarked him on 10 December and brought him back to Dover.[11]

1940 saw Codrington continue to host VIPs, as on 4 January, she embarked Winston Churchill (then First Lord of the Admiralty) on a visit to France. In February, she was nominated as the flotilla leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich, replacing Grenville, which had been sunk by a mine on 19 January. On 5 February, she carried Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill and several high-ranking military leaders to Boulogne for a war council meeting in Paris. Codrington then put into Chatham Dockyard for a refit.

The North Sea and Norwegian coast

On completion of the refit, she joined the flotilla at Harwich on 6 March and began convoy defence and patrol duties in the North Sea.

In April, she was transferred for detached service with the Home Fleet after the German invasion of Norway. On 7 April, Codrington was deployed with the destroyers Griffin, Jupiter, Electra, Escapade, Brazen, Bedouin, Punjabi, Eskimo and Kimberley as a screen for the battleships Ramillies and Valiant, the battlecruiser Repulse, the light cruisers Sheffield, Penelope and the French Émile Bertin.[22] The fleet was to cover planned operations off Norway, including Operation Rupert, a minelaying mission to prevent German ships carrying iron ore. The operation was overtaken though by the sudden German invasion the following day on 8 April. Codrington came under air attack on 9 April whilst with the fleet, and was detached to return to Sullom Voe for refuelling.

She was back in action on 14 April, being deployed with Acasta and Ardent as part of the screen for Valiant and the heavy cruiser Vindictive, which were escorting military convoys transporting troops and stores for the planned landings in Norway.[23] On 28 April, Codrington embarked Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl of Cork and Orrery and the French General Antoine Béthouart. They carried out a reconnaissance of the Narvik area, in preparation for the later assaults by allied troops. During the survey, Codrington carried out bombardments of enemy gun positions and railway targets.[24]

Covering the evacuations

She was released from the Home Fleet deployment off Norway in May, and on 10 May took passage to Dover to support the evacuation of allied personnel from Belgium and the Netherlands. She managed to complete the 530 mi (850 km) passage from Scapa Flow to Dover in just 23 hours. She refuelled on 11 May and began patrolling off the Dutch and Belgian coasts. On 13 May, she embarked members of the Dutch royal family at IJmuiden and carried them to safety in the UK. She returned to deploying out of Harwich on 15 May, and on 27 May she deployed with Grenade, Jaguar and Javelin to intercept German surface craft attempting to attack Allied ships. She was then transferred to Dover Command to assist in Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation. On 28 May she embarked 866 troops from the beaches, and took on survivors from the coaster SS Abukir with Grenade and Anthony and took them to Dover. She made a second trip on 29 May, embarking 766 troops, and a third on 30 May, embarking 799 troops. A fourth trip followed on 31 May, when she embarked 909 troops, landing 440 at Dover. 1 June saw her taking 746 troops back to Dover, and her final run on 2 June brought 878 troops back to the UK. Codrington was one of the few destroyers that had escaped major damage and was able to continue supporting operations after the evacuation had been completed.

Codrington was deployed at Dover on 3 June, carrying out patrols in the Channel, and covering the evacuations from the French Channel ports. On 12 June, she was deployed as the base of the Senior Naval Officer (Afloat) during Operation Cycle, the troop evacuation from Le Havre, returning to Portsmouth once it had been completed. On 15 June, she was supporting the continuing military evacuation from French ports, and remained on patrol against attempts to intercept allied shipping in the North Sea and English Channel.

In July 1940 Codrington was deployed out of Dover for convoy defence and patrol duties in the English Channel. She put into port near the end of the month for a boiler clean, alongside the depot ship Sandhurst in the Submarine Basin. The port came under air attack on 27 July and a bomb fell alongside Codrington. The subsequent explosion broke her back and she sank. She had only three men wounded. The sinking was not made public until 18 May 1945. The wreck was still evident in 1947.

Notes

  1. ^ "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 20 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Whitley 1988, p. 97
  2. ^ March 1966, pp. 247, 258–259
  3. ^ a b Lenton 1998, p. 152
  4. ^ March 1966, pp. 247, 260
  5. ^ March 1966, p. 247, 259
  6. ^ Campbell 1985, p. 48
  7. ^ Friedman 2009, pp. 197–198
  8. ^ Friedman 2009, pp. 236, 239
  9. ^ English 1993, p. 15
  10. ^ Colledge, Warlow & Bush 2020, p. 90
  11. ^ a b c d e f English 1993, p. 16
  12. ^ English 1993, pp. 16–17
  13. ^ "Telegrams in Brief". The Times. No. 46780. 14 June 1934. p. 15.
  14. ^ Halpern 2016, p. 191
  15. ^ Halpern 2016, pp. 212–213
  16. ^ "British Warships Rush to Aid". Daily Advertiser. Wagga Wagga, Australia. 25 August 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Valencia and Malaga Shelled". The Times. No. 47581. 13 January 1937. p. 11.
  18. ^ "The Services: Royal Navy: Third Destroyer Flotilla". The Times. No. 47639. 22 March 1937. p. 22.
  19. ^ "The Services: Royal Navy: New Destroyers". The Times. No. 47701. 3 June 1937. p. 9.
  20. ^ "The Services: Royal Navy: Changes in Command". The Times. No. 48122. 11 October 1938. p. 8.
  21. ^ "Memorial Services Today: Naval Tribute at Sea". The Times. No. 48325. 7 June 1939. p. 18.
  22. ^ Battle Summary - No. 17, 1951, p. 11
  23. ^ Battle Summary - No. 17, 1951, p. 43
  24. ^ Battle Summary - No. 17, 1951, p. 103

References

51°7′32″N 1°20′4″E / 51.12556°N 1.33444°E / 51.12556; 1.33444

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