HMS Solebay (D70)

HMS "Solebay" (D70) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named after the Battle of Solebay which took place in 1672 between an Anglo-French force and the Dutch Navy during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. "Solebay" was built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Company Limited on the Tyne. She was launched on the on 22 February 1944 and commissioned on the on 25 September 1945.

History

"Solebay" was intended to join the 19th Destroyer Flotilla of the British Pacific Fleet, but the war against Japan ended while "Solebay" was working up in the Mediterranean, and so she returned to Home Waters. She subsequently became Captain (D), or leader, of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet which was based in the UK. "Solebay" also took part in Operation Deadlight, the large-scale destruction of the German U-boat fleet, and which resulted in over one hundred of the boats being sunk in a variety of ways.

In 1953, "Solebay" was involved in the 1953 Fleet Review at Spithead, which took place in celebration of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and which showed the still, at that time, immense splendour, and power of the Royal Navy. "Solebay" was positioned in the middle of her sister-ships "Cadiz" and "Corunna". Later that year, like many of her sister-ships, "Solebay" was placed in Reserve. In 1957, "Solebay" finally returned to active service, becoming Captain (D) of the 1st Destroyer Squadron, which saw service with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. In 1959, while still part of that squadron, "Solebay" deployed to the Far East. While there, tragedy struck her sister-ship, "Hogue", which had collided with the Indian light cruiser INS "Mysore". "Solebay", along with another sister-ship, towed the heavily damaged "Hogue" to a nearby base.

After returning home in 1960, "Solebay" subsequently saw service once more in the Mediterranean, when she and the rest of the 1st Destroyer Squadron deployed to that region to relieve the 5th Destroyer Squadron. During this deployment "Solebay" accidentally rammed her sister-ship "Trafalgar", leader of the 7th DS, while at Malta, delaying that Squadron's departure from the Mediterranean. While there, "Solebay" acted as escort for HMY "Britannia", carrying Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, who were visiting Italy on a state visit. "Solebay" subsequently joined the Home Fleet, and once more joined up with the yacht "Britannia" and the Queen, when "Solebay" became escort during the Queen's visit to West Africa. In 1962, "Solebay's" eventful career came to an end, when she was decommissioned and placed on the disposal list, becoming the Harbour Training Ship, being based at Portsmouth. She was broken up at Troon in 1967.