C-Class Destroyer ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle on 12th September 1942 and laid down on 11th March 1943. She was launched on 22nd June 1944 as the 7th RN ship to carry this name, introduced for a 6th Rate captured off Brest from the French in 1979 but retaken nine years later. It was previously used for a Light Cruiser built in 1915 and sold in 1936. Build was completed on 6th June 1945 and she commissioned for service in the British Pacific Fleet. This destroyer was not adopted by a civil community in UK after a WARSHIP WEEK between 1941 and 1942 as she had not been ordered.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

JUTLAND 1916 - KOREA 1951-52

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a field Blue, a Dragon  Red on three wavelets Gold

 

M o t t o

Desirmais “Thereafter”

 

 

S u m m a r y   o f   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

May                    Contractors Trials

 

June

              6th         Build completion and commissioned for service in 8th Destroyer Flotilla

                             On completion of trials and storing took passage to work-up

 

July                      Deployed for working-up in Home waters

to

August

 

September            Home waters deployment in continuation

to December         (Note: Passage to Far East was delayed by manning problems.)

 

1 9 4 6

 

January                 Passage to Hong Kong to join Flotilla as Tender to HMS TAMAR

to

June

 

July                       Deployed on Far East Station

to                           (Note: The Eight ships of the Flotilla did not join together.

December                           Other ships in Flotilla were HM Destroyers COSSACK (Leader),

                                            COMET, COMUS, CONCORD, CONSORT, CONTEST and

                                            COCKADE.)

 

1 9 4 7

 

                              Deployed with Flotilla and carried out patrols to protect British Flagged shipping,

                              Fleet and Squadron exercises and visits to ports in Japan, Malaya and Indo China.

                              Based at Hong Kong with routine dockings at Hong Kong and refits at Singapore.

 

1 9 4 8   to   1 9 4 9

 

                               Far East duties with Flotilla including support of military operations against

                               Communist insurgents which threatened stability in Malaya

 

1 9 5 0

 

January                   Flotilla duties in continuation,

to

May

 

June                        Deployed in support of UN operations in Korea in addition to Fleet duties

to                            During UN service based in Japan at Sasebo with Rest and Recreation at

December               (Note: Ships of Flotilla spent about two months on UN service and on

                                            return to Hong Kong continued Fleet duties and patrols to protect

                                            British Flagged shipping which were frequently intercepted by

                                             Chinese warships whilst leaving or entering ports.

 

1 9 5 1   t o   1 9 5 2

 

                               Far East service including UN duties in continuation.

                               Support of Malaya military operations were carried out with patrols off

                               east and west coasts of Malaya.

 

1 9 5 3   t o   1 9 54

 

                                Following Korean War armistice in June continued UN service in addition to

                                Flotilla duties for exercises and patrols off Malaya

 

1 9 5 4

 

                                Flotilla and UN duties in continuation

                                Nominated for return to reduce to Reserve status

 

1 9 5 5

 

                                Took passage to UK and returned to Chatham

                                Paid off at Chatham and reduced to Reserve.

 

1 9 5 6

 

                                Laid-up in Reserve

                                Placed on Disposal List.

 

F i n a l   P ha s e

 

HMS CONSTANCE was sold to BISCO in arrived in tow at Inverkeithing near Rosyth  for demolition by T W Ward on 8th March 1956.