HMS Termagant (R89)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Termagant.

HMS Termagant at anchor, c1943 (IWM)
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Termagant
Ordered	14 March 1941
Builder	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down	25 November 1941
Launched	22 March 1943
Commissioned	8 October 1943
Identification	Pennant number: R89 (later F189)
Motto	'Untameable'
Honours and awards	Arctic 1943 Mediterranean 1943-44 Adriatic 1944 South France 1944 Aegean 1944 Okinawa 1945
Fate	Arrived for scrapping on 5 November 1965
Badge	On a field White, a shrew mouse proper.
General characteristics as T–class
Class and type	T-class destroyer
Displacement	1,710 long tons (1,737 t) - 1,730 long tons (1,758 t) (standard nominal) 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) - 1,810 long tons (1,839 t) (actual) 2,505 long tons (2,545 t) - 2,545 long tons (2,586 t) (deep load)
Length	339 ft 6 in (103.48 m) pp 362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) oa
Beam	35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught	14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft Parsons geared turbines 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h)
Complement	180-225
Armament	4 × 4.7-inch (120-mm) QF Mk IX guns (4×1) 2 × 40mm Bofors (1x2) 8 × 20 mm guns anti-aircraft guns 8 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2×4)
General characteristics as Type 16
Class and type	Type 16 frigate
Displacement	1,800 long tons (1,800 t) standard 2,300 long tons (2,300 t) full load
Length	362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) o/a
Beam	37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Draught	14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion	2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers Steam turbines, 40,000 shp 2 shafts
Speed	32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h) full load
Complement	175
Sensors and processing systems	Type 293Q target indication Radar Type 974 navigation Radar Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Type 146B search Sonar Type 147 depth finder Sonar Type 162 target classification Sonar Type 174 attack Sonar
Armament	1 × twin 4 in gun Mark 19 1 × twin 40 mm Bofors gun Mk.5 5 × single 40 mm Bofors gun Mk.9 2 × Squid A/S mortar 1 × quad 21 in (533 mm) tubes for Mk.9 torpedoes

HMS Termagant was a T-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton and launched on 22 March 1943. She was scrapped in 1965.

Second World War service

On 7 October 1944 she and sister ship Tuscan sank the German torpedo boat TA37 . From March to April 1945 was with the East Indies Fleet as part of the escorting destroyers of the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron.

Postwar service

Between 1946 and 1951 Termagant was held in reserve at Portsmouth. Between 1952 and 1953 she was converted to a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F189. On re-commissioning in 1953 she joined the 3rd Submarine Flotilla at Rothesay as a target ship. In the same year she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

In August 1957 she returned to the reserve at Devonport, re-commissioning briefly in 1958 for trials.

Decommissioning and disposal

After decommissioning for the last time Termagant was held in reserve at Lisahally between 1960 and 1965. She was then sold for scrapping in 1965 to Arnott Young, Dalmuir, arriving there on 5 November 1965.

Publications

• 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.
• Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.
• Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.