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HMS Saintes (D84)
Encyclopedia
HMS Saintes (D84) was a 1942 Battle-class
fleet destroyer of the Royal Navy
(RN), she and 15 sister ships being ordered under the 1942 defence estimates. She was named after the Battle of the Saintes
, a Royal Navy
victory over a French fleet intending to invade Jamaica
in 1782. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. Saintes was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company
on the Tyne
. She was launched on the on 19 July 1944 and commissioned on the on 27 September 1946.
When Saintes first commissioned in 1946 she joined the 5th destroyer flotilla and was used to trial the new 4.5" Mk 6 twin turret which became the standard destroyer main armament until well into the 1970s. In 1947, during live-fire trials of the new armament, Saintes accidentally hit and sank the Brigand-class tug HMS Buccaneer while it was towing the actual target.
Saintes paid off on completion of the trials and was refitted with the conventional main armament of the class. In 1949, Saintes recommissioned into the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla and deployed to the Mediterranean where she took over as Captain (D)3, the senior officer in command of the flotilla.
In 1954, whilst still in the Mediterranean, Saintes came to the assistance of the Empire Windrush, which had suffered an engine room explosion and fire whilst carrying troops and their families home from the Far East. Saintes took charge of the rescue operation and put fire and towing parties aboard and attempted to tow the ship to Gibraltar
but Empire Windrush foundered whilst under tow. Apart from the four engine room staff killed in the original explosion all crew and passengers were rescued unharmed.
Saintes remained Captain (D)3 until she went for a major refit in 1956 at Rosyth
when her crew transferred to her sister ship HMS Armada
. On completion of her refit in 1958, Saintes again took over as Captain (D)3, this time as part of a General Service commission spending a part of the time with the Home Fleet and part of the time with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1960, Saintes recommissioned with the 1st Destroyer Squadron, again having spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets
Saintes finally paid off in May 1962 at Devonport. She was then towed to Rosyth
by a towing crew of volunteers from her last commission. At Rosyth
she became the training ship for Artificer Apprentices from HMS Caledonia
. Her armament was mothballed but her engines were kept in full working order by the trainees.
Saintes was broken up at Cairn Ryan in 1972, the last of the Royal Navy's 1942 Battle-class
fleet destroyers.
Battle class destroyer
The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Built in three groups, the first group were ordered under the 1942 naval estimates. A modified second and third group, together with two ships of an extended design were planned for the 1943 and 1944...
fleet destroyer of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(RN), she and 15 sister ships being ordered under the 1942 defence estimates. She was named after the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
, a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
victory over a French fleet intending to invade Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in 1782. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. Saintes was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company
Hawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
on the Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
. She was launched on the on 19 July 1944 and commissioned on the on 27 September 1946.
When Saintes first commissioned in 1946 she joined the 5th destroyer flotilla and was used to trial the new 4.5" Mk 6 twin turret which became the standard destroyer main armament until well into the 1970s. In 1947, during live-fire trials of the new armament, Saintes accidentally hit and sank the Brigand-class tug HMS Buccaneer while it was towing the actual target.
Saintes paid off on completion of the trials and was refitted with the conventional main armament of the class. In 1949, Saintes recommissioned into the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla and deployed to the Mediterranean where she took over as Captain (D)3, the senior officer in command of the flotilla.
In 1954, whilst still in the Mediterranean, Saintes came to the assistance of the Empire Windrush, which had suffered an engine room explosion and fire whilst carrying troops and their families home from the Far East. Saintes took charge of the rescue operation and put fire and towing parties aboard and attempted to tow the ship to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
but Empire Windrush foundered whilst under tow. Apart from the four engine room staff killed in the original explosion all crew and passengers were rescued unharmed.
Saintes remained Captain (D)3 until she went for a major refit in 1956 at Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
when her crew transferred to her sister ship HMS Armada
HMS Armada
HMS Armada was the name of two ships of the British Royal Navy: was a 74-gun third rate launched in 1810 that saw action in the War of 1812 and was sold in 1863. was a Battle-class destroyer launched in 1943 and scrapped in 1965....
. On completion of her refit in 1958, Saintes again took over as Captain (D)3, this time as part of a General Service commission spending a part of the time with the Home Fleet and part of the time with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1960, Saintes recommissioned with the 1st Destroyer Squadron, again having spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets
Saintes finally paid off in May 1962 at Devonport. She was then towed to Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
by a towing crew of volunteers from her last commission. At Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
she became the training ship for Artificer Apprentices from HMS Caledonia
HMS Caledonia
Five ships and three shore establishments of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Caledonia after the Latin name for Scotland:Ships was a 3-gun brig launched in 1807. She was captured by the Americans in 1812, and burnt several days later. was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line launched in 1808...
. Her armament was mothballed but her engines were kept in full working order by the trainees.
Saintes was broken up at Cairn Ryan in 1972, the last of the Royal Navy's 1942 Battle-class
Battle class destroyer
The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Built in three groups, the first group were ordered under the 1942 naval estimates. A modified second and third group, together with two ships of an extended design were planned for the 1943 and 1944...
fleet destroyers.