BATTLE-Class Group 1 Fleet destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle on 27th April 1941 and laid down on
29th December 1942. The ship was launched on 9th
December 1943 as the 2nd RN ship to bear this name, introduced in 1810 for
a 3rd Rate sold in 1863. Due to difficulties in
completion and delivery of the new Mark VI Director for control of main armament completion of build was delayed until 2nd July
1945.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
None
C r e s t
Field: Blue
Badge: A Lion statant guardant within a chaplet
of laurel, all gold.
S u m m a r y
o f S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
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1 9 4 5
June
Commissioned for trials.
Nominated for service with 19th Destroyer Flotilla in British Pacific Fleet.
July
2nd
Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials.
August On completion of Acceptance trials took passage to Home Port to complete
complement and prepare
to
for equipment trials.
September Deployed in Home waters and Mediterranean for trials and wok-up for operational
Service.
To join
Flotilla at Hong Kong on completion.
October
Worked-up in Mediterranean.
to
November
December
Passage to Hong Kong to join Flotilla
1 9 4 6
January
Passage to Australia
24th
At Melbourne
February
Deployed with Flotilla with British Pacific Fleet for screening duties and the
support of the
to
repatriation and relief operations in the Far East. Visits were
paid by the Flotilla to ports in
September
Japan and to Australia. Patrols were established to ensure safe passage for
British flagged
Ships of the coasts of China and
Indo-China. He continuation of war in
China presented
many unpredictable situations for RN ships deployed in the Far East.
(Note: The British Pacific Fleet was based at Hong Kong as the Dockyard in
Singapore was
not ready for support of warships. Facilities in Hong Kong were also
limited but a
Depot Ship was available.).
October
Nominated for return to UK to pay off into Reserve.
November
Passage to UK via Mediterranean.
26th
Arrived at Portsmouth.
December Paid-off and destored.
Began
to reduce to Reserve status.
1 9 4 7
January
Reducing to Reserve in continuation.
February
Laid up in Reserve at Portsmouth.
to
December
1 9 4 8
Laid up in Reserve.
1 9 4 9
January
Nominated for service with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
to
Other ships of the Class to be brought forward for this Flotilla were:
June
HM Destroyers SAINTES (Leader), GRAVELINES and VIGO
July
Brought forward from Reserve and prepared for operational use.
to
Commissioned for service and carried out trials in Home waters.
August
September Passage to Malta with other ships of Flotilla to relieve V-Class destroyers.
October Deployed with Flotilla based in Malta and part of Destroyer Command.
to
Flotilla was supported by HM Depot Ship FORTH on board which
Flag Officer
December
(Destroyers) flew his Flag.
Ships of the Flotilla took part in Mediterranean Fleet training exercises and
also
carried out duty as Guardship at Alexandria and at Trieste.
1 9 5 0
Mediterranean Fleet duties with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in continuation.
Took part in Spring and Summer Fleet Exercises and visits to ports in
Mediterranean
Maintenance and refits were carried out in Malta.
1 9 5 1
January Mediterranean Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
to
Fleet visits, exercises and Guardship duties in
continuation
August
September Nominated
for detached service at Abadan with Flotilla in August
(Note: The Flotilla was to relieve
HM Destroyers CHEQUERS, CHEVRON, CHIEFTAIN
and CHIVALROUS to protection British interests after
Dr. Mossadeq , the Iranian
Leader began moves to nationalise the Anglo Iranian Oil Company. Mediterranean
Fleet ships were also deployed in the eastern Mediterranean after demands
by Egypt
that British forces should leave the Canal Zone. These requirements
followed increase
in RN deployments in the Far East to support the UN in Korea and
stretched all the
Fleet resources and limited other deployments
Passage to Abadan with Flotilla.
(Note: The Flotilla was relieved in the Mediterranean by
HM Destroyers AGINCOURT,
AISNE, CORUNNA and JUTLAND.)
October
Deployed at Abadan until evacuation of British nationals who were taken to Basra
by the
Cruiser HMS MAURITIUS.
Took passage to Malta
November
Resumed Flotilla duties at Malta.
Nominated for return to UK.
December
Deployed for Fleet duties with Flotilla at Malta.
1 9 5 2
January Flotilla deployment at Malta in continuation.
to
Took part in joint exercises with Home Fleet during Mediterranean Fleet Spring
cruise.
March
(Note: 3rd Destroyer Flotilla redesignated as 3rd Destroyer Squadron.)
April
At Athens with HM Fast Minelayer MANXMAN, HM Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier
THESEUS
HM Cruiser GLASGOW and destroyers of the Mediterranean Fleet.
May
Mediterranean Fleet deployment with 3rd Destroyer Squadron in
continuation.
to
Took part in exercise and visits programme with ships of the Fleet and also
those of other NATO
December countries – France, Italy. Greece, Turkey and the USA.
(Note: A NATO Command was set up in the Mediterranean with Headquarters in
Naples.
CinC Mediterranean remained in Malta.
1 9 5 3
1 9 5 4 t o 1 9 5 5
Taken in hand for refit to update equipment to latest standards required for
Fleet use.
Commissioned for trials and paid-off on completion.
Nominated for service in 3rd Destroyer Squadron
1 9 5 6
January
Commissioned for General Service and replaced HMS SAINTES in 3rd
Destroyer Squadron.
to
Squadron comprised HM Destroyers BARFLEUR, ST KITTS and VIGO.
September Deployed for Fleet duties in Home waters including visits programme.
October Detached with Fleet units for service in Mediterranean after nationalisation of
Suez Canal by
Egypt. Passage to Malta to prepare for support of Anglo-French operations
against Egypt.
November Took part in Operation MUSKETEER.
(Note: Operation was terminated after United Nations intervention.
December
Return passage to UK to resume duties in Home waters.
1 9 5 7 t o 1 9 5 9
Deployed with 3rd Flotilla as part of Home Fleet and took part
in Home Fleet exercise and visits programmes as well as NATO Exercises.
(Note: During 1957 and 1958 Home Fleet ships were deployed off Iceland for
the protection of British fishing vessels after the dispute with Iceland
over fishing limits (“Cod War”).
There was also a marked increase in Soviet surveillance of NATO ship
movements.)
1 9 6 0
January Deployment with Squadron in continuation with Home Fleet.
to
On the amalgamation of the 1st and 3rd Destroyer Squadrons nominated for
reduction to Reserve.
March
April
Paid off and reduced to Reserve.
May
Destored and laid-up in Reserve Fleet.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS ARMADA remained in Reserve until 1965 when she was placed on the Disposal
List. The ship was sold to BISCO on 12th November 1965 for breaking up by T W
Ward at Inverkeithing where she arrived in tow on 18th December that year for
demolition.