G
e n e r a l I n f o r
m a t i o
n
The tenth RN warship ship to bear the name which dates from 1797
and was previously used by a destroyer
lost in 1917. The ship was ordered in July
1942 with 7 other destroyers of the
13th Emergency Flotilla. She was laid down by
J S White of Cowes, IoW on 1st
November 1943 and was first RN destroyer to be
of all welded construction. Special
arrangements were made at the builder's yard
for this new
procedure including provision of new
workshops, a revision of drawing office
practices and radiological examination of
welded structures. When launched on 16th
December
1944, 95% of the hull construction was
complete. Among the various factors which
delayed completion were late delivery of the
gunnery Director and the need for
additional weight compensation because of fit
of additional equipment. Build was completed
on 9th November 1945 and
the ship carried out the usual series of
Acceptance trials before being fully
commissioned for service.
The
Co-Class of
Fleet Destroyers to which the ship belonged
displaced 1,825 tons and dimensions
of 363 feet length overall, a beam of 36 feet
with a draught of 11 feet. The
turbine machinery had a shaft horsepower of
40,000 driving twin screws to give
a speed of almost 32 knots on trials in 1945.
The armament as designed comprised four
single 4.5in guns for use against surface and
air targets; 20mm and 40mm
Close Range AA guns; 2 quadruple 21in torpedo
tube mountings for attacks against surface
ships; 2 Depth Charge rails for
Anti-submarine use. Extensive changes were
made during post war refits during
which the two after 4.5in guns and
the torpedo tubes were removed. An
Anti-submarine Mortar was fitted instead.
Special Note
HMS CONTEST replaced HM Destroyer ACHATES
as the warship adopted by the civil community
of Halesowen, then in
Worcestershire.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
BASQUE
ROADS - BURMA 1855 - JUTLAND 1916
H
e r a l d i c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field
Blue,
on a mount Proper, two Cocks
combatant Gold.
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 4
5
January Under construction.
to
(Note:
Completion delayed by arrival of new design
Gunnery Director.)
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
After
commissioning in 1946 HMS CONTEST served with
the 6th
Destroyer Flotilla
in the Far East and also in Home
Waters. She was placed in Reserve after the
Defence Review in 1957 and later
placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO
for
demolition by T W
Ward the ship arrived at the
Breakers yard in Grays,
Essex on
2nd February I960.