HMS Vigo (D31)

HMS "Vigo" (D31) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was named after the Battle of Vigo, which took place in 1702 during the War of Spanish Succession between a British-Dutch Fleet and the French, and which ended in a victory for the British. "Vigo" was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Govan. She was launched on the on 27 September 1945 and commissioned on the on 9 December 1946.

Upon commissioning, "Vigo" was placed in Reserve along with a number of her sister-ships. In 1949, "Vigo" joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, based in the Mediterranean, which at that time, had quite a large Royal Navy presence. She performed a variety of operations there, at a time when there was much going on in the region and nearby, such as the internal turmoil in Egypt between 1951–1954.

In 1953, while still in the Mediterranean, "Vigo" suffered a fire onboard her, causing minor damage, though "Vigo" would suffer another fire in 1954. Also that year, "Vigo" became the Gunnery Training Ship based at Portsmouth, a duty that a number of her sister-ships also performed.

In addition to being the Gunnery Training Ship to HMS "Excellent," at Whale Island, the "Vigo" was also Captain (D) of the Portsmouth Squadron. As well as her Gunnery duties, during the period 1958-59, the "Vigo" also carried out two Icelandic patrols during the first "Ice War;" took part in NATO exercises, and visited such ports as Vigo, Cuxhaven, Caen and Den Helder, before being paid off in September, 1959, having been relieved as Captain (D) by HMS "Wakeful" circa 17 Aug 1959 : by this date her hull was considered to be beyond economic repair. Her last commanding officer, Captain M.P. Pollock, MVO, DSC, went on to become Admiral of the Fleet.

She was finally scrapped in 1964 at Faslane.

References

*Colledge