HMS Daring (H16)

HMS "Daring" was a D Class destroyer of the Royal Navy, built in 1931 and sunk in 1940.

Construction

Ordered in the 1930 Programme at a cost of £225,536, "Daring" was laid down at John I Thornycroft's yard at Woolston, Southampton on 18 June 1931 and launched on 7 April 1932. She was commissioned on 25 November 1932, joining the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean early in 1933.

History

Pre-World War II

In December 1934 she sailed to join the 8th Destroyer Flotilla on the China Station and served there until the outbreak of war. Her captain until arrival at Singapore was the renowned Lord Louis Mountbatten.

World War II

In September 1939 she joined the Fleet at Alexandria with HM Destroyers "Duncan", "Diana" and "Dainty". After patrols in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, she dry-docked in Malta in November. In early 1940 she escorted RMS "Duttotar Castle" from Gibraltar to Belfast, and from there went to Portsmouth for repairs. Joining her flotilla in Scapa Flow in February 1940, she deployed for escort of convoy to and from Norway.

inking

On 18 February 1940 she was torpedoed in position coord|58|40|N|01|35|W| [cite web|url=http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4367.html|title=U-Boat.net - HMS Daring (H16)|accessdate=2008-05-13] about convert|40|nmi|km east of the Pentland Firth by "U-23", under the command of the legendary Otto Kretschmer. She capsized and sank very quickly after being hit in the stern. 157 of the ship's company were lost, including her captain, Cdr Sydney Alan Cooper RN. There were only five survivors. [ cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.6533|title=HMS DARING - History |publisher=Royal Navy Website|accessdate=2008-05-12]

Commanding Officers

References

External links

*U-Boat.net - [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4367.html]
*Naval History.net - [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Daring.htm]
*Axford's Abode, the home of the Daring Association (Last Commission) - [http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/darfo102.htm]