HMS Heythrop (L85)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Heythrop.

HMS Heythrop (L85)

History
United Kingdom
Name	Heythrop
Namesake	Heythrop Hunt
Ordered	4 September 1939
Builder	Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear
Yard number	J4139
Laid down	18 December 1939
Launched	20 October 1940
Commissioned	21 June 1941
Identification	Pennant number: L85
Honours and awards	Battle Honours Atlantic 1941 Libya 1941/42 Malta Convoys 1941/42
Fate	Sunk by torpedo from U-652 20 March 1942
General characteristics Type II
Class and type	Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement	1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) full load
Length	85.3 m (279 ft 10 in) o/a
Beam	9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	2.51 m (8 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Speed	27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h) 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) full
Range	3,600 nmi (6,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement	164
Armament	6 × QF 4 in Mark XVI on twin mounts Mk. XIX 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk. VIII on quad mount MK.VII 2 × 20 mm Oerlikons on single mounts P Mk. III 110 depth charges, 2 throwers, 3 racks
Service record

HMS Heythrop (L85) was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy She was ordered as part of the 1939 War Emergency programme. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War. She was named after the Heythrop Hunt.

Service history

On completion Heythorp proceeded to the Mediterranean where she was employed on escort tasks until her loss. On 20 March 1942 she was 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Bardia when she was hit by a torpedo fired by U-652. She was severely damaged and was taken under tow however when her pumps could not cope she was abandoned and the crew transferred by boat to HMS Eridge. She sank later that day.

Publications

• 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 (1987). The Hunts: a history of the design, development and careers of the 86 destroyers of this class built for the Royal and Allied Navies during World War II. England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-44-4.