en HMS Consort (R76)

	Consort on the River Clyde in 1946
History
United Kingdom
Name	Consort
Ordered	14 August 1942
Builder	Alexander Stephen & Sons, Linthouse
Laid down	26 May 1943
Launched	19 October 1944
Commissioned	19 March 1946
Identification	Pennant number: R76
Fate	Arrived for scrapping at Swansea on 15 March 1961
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	C-class destroyer
Displacement	1,865 long tons (1,895 t) (standard)
Length	362 ft 9 in (110.6 m) o/a
Beam	35 ft 8 in (10.9 m)
Draught	15 ft 3 in (4.6 m) (full load)
Installed power	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; 40,000 shp (30,000 kW);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	186
Armament	4 × single 4.5 in (114 mm) DP guns; 1 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) AA gun; 2 × single 2-pdr (40 mm) AA guns; 2 × single 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns; 2 × quadruple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes; 2 throwers and 2 racks for 35 depth charges;

HMS Consort was one of thirty-two C-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, a member of the eight-ship Co sub-class.

Design and description

The Co sub-class was a repeat of the preceding Ch sub-class. Consort displaced 1,865 long tons (1,895 t) at standard load and 2,515 long tons (2,555 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 15 feet 3 inches (4.6 m).^[1]

The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal load.^[2] During her sea trials, Consort reached a speed of 31.6 knots (58.5 km/h; 36.4 mph) at a load of 2,356 long tons (2,394 t).^[3] The Co sub-class carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The ships' complement was 186 officers and ratings.^[1]

The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four QF 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk IV dual-purpose guns, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure protected by partial gun shields. Their anti-aircraft suite consisted of one twin-gun stabilised Mk IV "Hazemeyer" mount for 40-millimetre (1.6 in) Bofors guns and two single 2-pounder (40 mm) AA guns amidships, and single mounts for a 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA gun on the bridge wings.^[1] The ships were fitted with one quadruple mount for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.^[4] The ships were equipped with a pair of depth charge rails and two throwers for 35 depth charges.^[5]

Construction and career

Consort was ordered from Alexander Stephens & Sons and the ship was laid down on 26 May 1943 at its shipyard in Linthouse, launched on 19 October 1944 and was commissioned on 19 March 1946.^[1]

Consort was damaged by artillery fire during the Yangtze Incident in an attempt to tow the sloop Amethyst from a mudbank, taking 56 direct hits, and causing casualties of 23 wounded and a further ten dead.^[6]

Following decommissioning she was sold to the Prince of Wales Drydock Co., of Swansea, Wales, for scrap and arrived there on 15 March 1961.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lenton, p. 183
^ Whitley, p. 136
^ March, p. 429
^ Chesneau, p. 43
^ March, p. 424
^ Cotterell, Arthur (26 January 2010). Western power in Asia: its slow rise and swift fall, 1415-1999. John Wiley & Sons. p. 307. ISBN 978-0-470-82489-4.
^ English, p. 139

Bibliography

Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
English, John (2001). Obdurate to Daring: British Fleet Destroyers 1941–45. Windsor, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 978-0-9560769-0-8.
Friedman, Norman (2006). British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-86176-137-6.
Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

[l8-1] Lenton, p. 183

[2] Whitley, p. 136

[3] March, p. 429

[4] Chesneau, p. 43

[5] March, p. 424

[Cotterell,_Arthur-6] Cotterell, Arthur (26 January 2010). Western power in Asia: its slow rise and swift fall, 1415-1999. John Wiley & Sons. p. 307. ISBN 978-0-470-82489-4.

[7] English, p. 139

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