HMS Blankney: Difference between revisions
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* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=401 The Hunt (Type II) class Escort destroyers] |
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=401 The Hunt (Type II) class Escort destroyers] |
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* [http://www.macla.co.uk/newsmag/2008/09/blankney-at-sea.html%20Blankney%20at%20Sea%20Metheringham%20Area%20News Blankney at Sea Metheringham Area News] |
* [http://www.macla.co.uk/newsmag/2008/09/blankney-at-sea.html%20Blankney%20at%20Sea%20Metheringham%20Area%20News Blankney at Sea Metheringham Area News] |
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* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-Blankney.htm%20HMS%20BLANKNEY%20(L%2030)%20at%20Navel%20History.net HMS Blankney at Naval History.net] |
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* [http://digilander.libero.it/planciacomando/WW2/mezzogiugno1.htm La Battaglia di Mezzo Giugno] {{it icon}} |
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* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweenpole2001/630362961/ HMS Blankney off the coast ofg Normandy at June 6th 1944 at flikr] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
Revision as of 20:08, 16 January 2013
![]() HMS Blankney in 1943
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History | |
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Name | HMS Blankney |
Ordered | 4 September 1939 |
Builder | John Brown & Company |
Yard number | 569 |
Laid down | 17 May 1940 |
Launched | 19 December 1940 |
Commissioned | 11 April 1941 |
Fate | Scrapped in 1958 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 1,000 t standard 1,340 t full load |
Length | 280 ft (85 m) |
Beam | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
Draught | 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) |
Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) Two x Admiralty 3 drum boilers Two shaft Parsons geared turbines 19,000 shp |
Speed | 27½ kts (26 knots full) |
Range | 3,500 nmi (6,480 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) / 1,000 nmi (2,000 km) at 29 knots (54 km/h) |
Complement | 146 |
Armament | list error: mixed text and list (help)
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HMS Blankney was a Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy and was the first RN warship to bear the Name [1]. She was laid down on 17 May 1940 at John Brown & Company, Clydebank, Scotland, launched on 19 December 1940 and commissioned on 11 April 1941.
She was one of 36 Type II Hunt Escort Destroyers. The hull had an extra section which, with the increased beam, gave stability for additional armament and more storage for depth charges (raised from 40 to 110).
In 1942 the Government introduced a National Savings campaign named "Warship Week" where British towns could "adopt" a Royal Navy's ship. HMS Blankney was adopted by Nantwich in Cheshire and the town still has a residential street named after her. 53°03′50″N 02°31′17″E / 53.06389°N 2.52139°E
Service
12th escort group
From October 1941 HMS Blankney was a member of the 12th escort group based at Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In December she was dispatched to reinforce Commander Walkers U-boat killer group that was escorting a Convoy HG76 for passage to Gibraltar.
Sinking of U-131
U-131 was spotted on the surface by a Martlet of 802 NAS flying from the escort carrier HMS Audacity on 17 December 1942 and was sunk by depth charges and gunfire from the British escort destroyers HMS Exmoor (L61) and Blankney, the destroyer HMS Stanley (I 73), the Flower class corvette HMS Pentstemon and the sloop HMS Stork. While under this attack, U-131 shot down the Martlet aircraft, killing the pilot. [2]
Sinking of U-434
On the 18 December, HMS Stanley spotted U-434 on the surface and gave chase. As the submarine dived, Blankney achieved firm ASDIC (sonar) contact and made three depth charge attacks. U-434 was severely damaged, but managed to surface and allow her crew escape before sinking. Blankney rescued the crew before returning to Gibraltar to refuel.
Arctic convoys.
At the start of 1942 Blankney under repair at Gibraltar, then part of the escort for Convoy WS16 during Arctic Convoys. Later in the same year she provided Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ17 and the return Convoy QP13 from Murmansk to Iceland.
Allied landings on Sicily 10 July 1943
Operation, Husky. Blankney was able to provide Air Defence and shore bombardment at the Bark East Landing area with the Escort Destroyer HMS Puckeridge.
Sinking of U-450
On 10 March 1944 U-450 was sunk in the western Mediterranean North of Ostia, at position 41°11′N 12°27′E / 41.183°N 12.450°E, by depth charges from, HMS Blankney, HMS Blencathra, HMS Brecon, HMS Exmoor and the U.S. destroyer USS Madison.
Sinking of U-371
On the night of 2/3 May 1944 U-371 was spotted recharging her batteries on the surface off Djidjelli on the Algerian coast and was sunk by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Pride and USS Joseph E. Campbell the French destroyer escort Sénégalais and the British escort destroyer HMS Blankney.
D-Day, 6 June 1944
During Operation Neptune Blankney was a member of Force K Gunfire Support Bombarding, assigned to “Gold Beach” during operation the Allied landings in Normandy.
End of the War
"Blankney " was deployed in and around the Channel and the North Sea to guard against any attepts for E-Boats or U-Boats laying naval mines in the Thames estuary. Her war was completed when in August 1945, following VJ Day she returned to the UK where she was laid up in Sheerness as part of the Reserve Fleet.
Commanders
Name | From | To |
---|---|---|
Lt.Cdr. Philip Frederick Powlett, RN | 27 Feb 1941 | 11 Mar 1943 |
Lt.Cdr. Douglas Henry Reid Bromley RN | 11 Mar 1943 | 24 Apr 1944 |
Lt. Bernard Henry Brown, RN | 24 Apr 1944 | 1 Apr 1946 |
Fate
Blankney was refited after VJ Day and returned to UK. In May 1946 she was Paid off and entered Reserve at Devonport. The ship had another refit in 1948 and was then laid up in Reserve Fleet at Sheerness. During 1952 she wa moved to Hartlepool and approval was given for her to be placed on the Disposal List on 22nd October 1958. She was sold to BISCO for scrapping by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth and was towed to the breaker’s yard 9th March the same year. Her badge can still be seen painted on the Selborne dry dock wall.
Rail Mail Stamp
On the 7th September 1989 a 22p srap fetiring the Ships Badge was issued (SG616)SG616 at shipstamps.co.uk/
External links
- The Hunt (Type II) class Escort destroyers
- Blankney at Sea Metheringham Area News
- HMS Blankney at Naval History.net
- HMS Blankney off the coast ofg Normandy at June 6th 1944 at flikr
References
- ^ HMS BLANKNEY (L 30) - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer at naval-history.net
- ^ U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY Corelli Barnett, RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D Wemyss and U- BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.