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| History | |
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| Name | HMS Exmouth |
| Ordered | 1 November 1932 |
| Builder | Portsmouth Dockyard |
| Laid down | 15 March 1933 |
| Launched | 30 January 1934 |
| Commissioned | 9 November 1934 |
| Motto | list error: <br /> list (help) Deo Adjuvante ("By God’s help") |
| Honours and awards | Atlantic 1939 |
| Fate | Sunk by German submarine U-22, 21 January 1940 |
| Badge | On a Field Red, a lion passant Gold |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | E-class destroyer/flotilla leader |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 1,495 long tons (1,519 t) (standard) 2,050 long tons (2,082.9 t) (deep) |
| Length | 343 feet (104.5 m) o/a |
| Beam | 33 feet 9 inches (10.3 m) |
| Draught | 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m) |
| Installed power | 38,000 shaft horsepower (28,000 kW) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 × shafts, 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines 3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
| Speed | 36.75 knots (68.06 km/h; 42.29 mph) |
| Range | 6,350 nmi (11,760 km; 7,310 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 175 |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 5 × 4.7 in (120 mm) Mark IX guns 2 × 4 - QF .5 in (13 mm) Vickers Mk.I anti-aircraft machine guns |
HMS Exmouth was an E-class destroyer flotilla leader built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. She served during the Second World War.
Description
Exmouth displaced 1,495 long tons (1,519 t) at standard load and 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 343 feet (104.5 m), a beam of 33 feet 9 inches (10.3 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She was powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 38,000 shaft horsepower (28,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Exmouth carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 6,350 nautical miles (11,760 km; 7,310 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 175 officers and men.
The ship mounted five 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Exmouth had two quadruple Mark I mounts for the 0.5 inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.
Construction and commissioning
Exmouth was ordered on 1 November 1932 under the 1931 Naval Programme, and was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 15 March 1933. She was launched on 15 February 1934, named the following day, and commissioned for service on 11 November 1934.
Pre-war career
On commissioning, Exmouth was assigned as leader of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, with the Home Fleet. She joined the flotilla at Scapa Flow in December, and spent the period from January-July 1935 carrying out exercises. The increased tensions between Italy and Abyssinia — eventually leading to the outbreak of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War — caused the Admiralty to nominate the flotilla for service in the Mediterranean. They joined the Mediterranean Fleet in August and spent September on exercises. Exmouth put in to Alexandria on 4 October to begin a refit, which lasted until December. After her return to service in January 1936, Exmouth continued to carry out exercises with the flotilla, until returning to Britain in March.
After spending time with the Home Fleet, the flotilla sailed to the Spanish coast in August, following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The flotilla remained on this station, protecting British shipping and enforcing an arms embargo. Exmouth again returned to Britain for a refit at Portsmouth, which lasted until January 1937. She returned to the flotilla off the Spanish coast, where they remained until April. They were then reassigned to the Home Fleet, and on 20 May they were amongst the ships assembled for the Coronation Fleet Review by HM King George VI. The ships then returned to operating with the Home Fleet and carrying out a visits programme, until they were reassigned to the western Mediterranean in October.
The flotilla was active in the Mediterranean until February 1938, when they rejoined the Home Fleet. With the Munich crisis in September the flotilla prepared for war service. On 21 November, Exmouth again underwent a refit at Portsmouth. In January 1939, the flotilla returned to the Mediterranean, returning in March. On 28 April, Exmouth had her complement reduced and she was assigned to training duties and local flotilla work based at Portsmouth. She carried out these duties until July, when she was ordered to take up her war station as leader of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla. Her full complement was re-established by 2 August and she prepared for combat.
Wartime career and sinking
She spent the period from August-November 1939 deploying with the flotilla. In December, she was transferred to the Western Approaches Command to carry out patrols and escort convoys through the North Western Approaches, and the North Sea. She was escorting the merchant Cyprian Prince on 21 January 1940 when she was spotted by U-22, under the command of Karl-Heinrich Jenisch and torpedoed at 05:35. She sank with the loss of all 189 hands. Eighteen bodies were later recovered and buried in a cemetery at Wick.
Aftermath
The wreck of Exmouth was discovered in the Moray Firth in July 2001 by an independent expedition, with their findings being verified by Historic Scotland. The wreck is one of those listed as a 'protected place' under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. A relatives association for the crew of Exmouth was formed in 2001, which holds services in memory of those lost.
Notes
References
- English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
External links
- http://www.btinternet.com/~byrnell/hms_exmouth/hms-exmouth.htm?speed=high HMS Exmouth relatives association.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1458634.stm BBC news links relating to the discovery of the wreck
- http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/189.html MS Miranda at uboat.net
- http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/194.html MS Tekla at uboat.net
- http://www.fv-trident.org.uk/ Information about FV Trident
- http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 Designation under Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
58°18′N 2°25′W / 58.300°N 2.417°W / 58.300; -2.417
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