HMS Zambesi (R66)

HMS Zambesi was a Z-class destroyer. She has been the only Royal Navy warship to bear that name. She was launched on 21 December 1942 at the Cammell Laird shipyard at Birkenhead and commissioned on 18 July 1944. She was 'adopted' by the civil community of Bromley, as part of Warship Week in 1942.

HMS Zambesi 1944 IWM FL 9776
HMS Zambesi under tow on the River Mersey, 19 July 1944
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Zambesi
NamesakeZambesi
Ordered12 February 1942
BuilderCammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down21 December 1942
Launched21 November 1943
Commissioned18 July 1944
IdentificationPennant number: R66 later changed to D66
Honours and
awards
-Norway 1944 - Arctic 1945
FateArrived John Cashmore Ltd, Newport for breaking up 12 February 1959
BadgeOn a Field Barry wavy, a crocodile
General characteristics
Class and typeZ-class destroyer
Displacement1,710 tons
Length362 ft 9 in (110.57 m)
Beam35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught10 ft (3.0 m)
PropulsionTwin steam turbines
Speed37 knots (69 km/h) maximum
Complement185
Armament

Second World War

After a period of working up with ships of the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow she joined the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet for screening duty and patrol on the North Western Approaches, including operations against the German battleship Tirpitz. She escorted a number of Arctic convoys, and other operations in the North Sea and off the coast of Scandinavia. As the war reached its end Zambesi was deployed with the Home Fleet to support operations to re-occupy countries previously under German occupation, and this included guardship duties.

Postwar

After the end of the war Zambesi joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla in which she served until 1947 when she was paid-off and was reduced to reserve status in the Plymouth Reserve Fleet. She remained in reserve until 1950, though received a refit at Gibraltar in 1948. In 1951 she was a target ship for the 3rd Submarine Flotilla, based at Rothesay. Between 1953 and 1954 she was given a refit at Penarth, before being held at reserve at Cardiff until 1959.[1]

Decommissioning and disposal

In 1959 Zambesi was placed on the Sale List and she was sold to Thos. W. Ward for breaking-up. On 12 February 1959 she arrived in tow at their yard at Briton Ferry, Wales.

Zambesi's bell was presented to St Cuthbert's Church in Portsmouth in 1959, where it still survives.[2]

References

  1. Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 82. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.
  2. "The Bell from HMS Zambesi". The Parish of St. Cuthbert with St. Aidan. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.

Publications

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