HMIS Godaveri (U53)

HMIS GODAVARI launched at Southampton by Mrs Lall, the wife of the Deputy High Commissioner for India
History
Royal Indian Navy
Name:	Godavari
Namesake:	Godavari River
Ordered:	29 August 1940
Builder:	Thornycroft
Yard number:	Yard 1386
Laid down:	30 August 1941
Launched:	21 March 1943
Commissioned:	28 June 1943
Out of service:	1948
Honours and awards:	Burma, 1945
Fate:	Transferred to Pakistan
Badge:	Map of India and the Indian Ocean with a border of lotus; sea Blue, British territory Gold and Lotus proper
General characteristics
Type:	Sloop-of-war
Displacement:	1,250 tons original 1,350 tons modified
Length:	299 ft 6 in (91.29 m)
Beam:	37 ft 6 in (11.43 m) original 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m) modified
Draught:	11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion:	Geared turbines, 2 shafts: 3,600 hp (2.68 MW) (original) 4,300 hp (3.21 MW) (modified)
Speed:	19 knots (35 km/h) (original) 20 knots (37 km/h) (modified)
Range:	7,500 nmi (13,900 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h)
Complement:	180 (original) 192 (modified)
Armament:	6 × QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk XVI AA guns (3 × 2) 4 × 2-pounder AA pom-pom 4 × 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) AA machine guns (original) 12 × 20 mm Oerlikon AA (6 × 2) (modified)

HMIS Godavari (U 52) was a Black Swan class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.

Godavari was transferred to Pakistan in 1948 after the Partition of India and eventually renamed PNS Sind.

History

HMIS Godavari was built by John I. Thornycroft & Company and commissioned in 1943. Her commanding officers in the Royal Indian Navy were:

• From 22 Jun 1943 to 10 May 1944: A/Capt. James Wilfred Jefford OBE, RIN
• From 10 May 1944 to 10 Feb 1945: A/Cdr. Anthony Brian Goord, RIN
• From 10 Feb 1945 to 1948: A/Lt.Cdr. Hajee Mohammed Siddiq Choudry, RIN

She was deployed during World War II.

After the Independence of India and the subsequent Partition, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan, where she was renamed PNS Sind.

Operations in World War II

The German submarine U-198 was sunk near the Seychelles, in position 03º35'S, 52º49'E, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Findhorn (under the command of Lt.Cdr. J.C. Dawson, RD, RNR) and Godavari (under the command of A/Cdr. A.B. Goord, RIN).^[1]

Notes

1. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3922.html

References

• Hague, Arnold (1993). Sloops: A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946. Kendal, England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-67-3.