HMS Eridge (L68)

HMS Eridge was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War.

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

Eridge in July 1941
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Eridge
BuilderSwan Hunter, Tyne and Wear
Laid down21 November 1939
Launched20 August 1940
Commissioned28 February 1941
ReclassifiedBase ship on 29 August 1942
FateSold for scrap, 1946
General characteristics Type II
Class and typeHunt-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) full load
Length85.3 m (279 ft 10 in) o/a
Beam9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught2.51 m (8 ft 3 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
  • 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) full
Range3,600 nmi (6,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement164
Armament
Service record
Commanders: Lt.Cdr. William Frank Niemann Gregory-Smith

Service history

On 29 August 1942, Eridge assisted the destroyers Hero and Hurworth in sinking the German submarine U-568.[1] At 04:15 on 29 August 1942, she began shelling Axis positions off El Daba, Egypt, at 31°7′N 28°26′E, together with the destroyers Croome and Hursley. At 05:00, she was permanently disabled by a 450mm torpedo fired by the Italian motor torpedo boat MTSM-228. The attack caused five fatalities on board Eridge.[2]

HMS Eridge being brought back to harbour after being torpedoed, Alexandria, 29 August 1942 (IWM A13534)

She was towed to Alexandria by the destroyer Aldenham,[3] where the destroyer was used as a base ship for the rest of the war and sold for scrapping in October 1946.

References
  1. "HMS Eridge (L 68) of the Royal Navy - British Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. Paul Kemp (1999). The Admiralty regrets: British warship losses of the 20th century. Sutton. p. 192. ISBN 9780750915670.
  3. "Commander Alex Stuart-Menteth". The Daily Telegraph. 6 June 2000. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015.

Publications

Further reading
  • Smith, Gregory (2008). Red Tobruk: Memoirs of a World War II Destroyer Commander. Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 978-1-84415-862-1.


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