HMS Imperieuse (training establishment)

HMS "Imperieuse" was the name given to a floating Training establishment of the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

History

There had been a previous floating establishment known as HMS "Imperieuse". This was the old ironclad HMS "Audacious" which had borne the name whilst serving as a repair and store ship alternately at Scapa Flow and Rosyth between 1914 and 1920. [Colledge, p. 171.] The second establishment was commissioned as HMS "Imperieuse I" on 12 May 1944 as the base of the Naval Officer in Charge at Gareloch, and a stokers' training establishment.Ward, "Shore establishments" p. 75.] Also established that day was HMS "Imperieuse II", which was the name given to two obsolete "Revenge" class battleships, HMS "Resolution" and HMS "Revenge". They had previously been laid up at Southampton as stokers' training ship under the name HMS "Shrapnel II".

The two ships spent a brief period at Gareloch before it was decided by the Admiralty to move the establishment to Devonport. The ships reverted back to being "Revenge" and "Resolution" for the tow, and arrived at Devonport on 11 December 1944. They were commissioned that day as HMS "Imperieuse", but retained their individual names. They were later joined by a number of other ships that had been reduced from active duty. These included the battlecruiser HMS "Renown", the battleship HMS "Valiant", the aircraft carrier HMS "Unicorn" and the light cruiser HMS "Newfoundland". These were all jointly commissioned as HMS "Imperieuse" on 21 June 1946, but the ships retained their individual names.

The ships were reduced to the reserve by October 1947, with the exception of HMS "Newfoundland" which was transferred for refitting to become flagship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron. The facility's role was transferred to HMS "Raleigh" on 10 March 1948 and HMS "Imperieuse" was paid off on 1 June 1948.

References

*Colledge
*Warlow, Ben, "Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy", Liskeard : Maritime, 2000. ISBN 9780907771739