HMS Comet (R26)

HMS Comet, 19 September 1945
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Comet
Builder:	Yarrow, Scotstoun
Laid down:	14 June 1943
Launched:	22 June 1944
Commissioned:	6 June 1945
Identification:	Pennant number: R26 (later D26)
Fate:	Arrived for breaking up at Troon on 23 June 1962
General characteristics
Class & type:	C-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,885 tons (1,915 tonnes) 2,545 tons full (2,585 tonnes)
Length:	362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a
Beam:	35.75 ft (10.90 m)
Draught:	11.75 ft (3.58 m)
Propulsion:	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (30 MW), 2 shafts
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h) / 32 knots (59 km/h) full
Range:	4,675 nmi (8,658 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h) 1,400 nmi (2,600 km) at 32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement:	186
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mk.VI
Armament:	4 × QF 4.5 in (114 mm) L/45 guns Mark IV on mounts CP Mk.V 2 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns on twin mount Mk V 4 × anti-aircraft mountings; Single Bofors 40 mm Mk.III Single QF 2 - pdr Mk.VIII Mk.XVI Single Oerlikon 20 mm P Mk.III Twin Oerlikon 20 mm Mk.V 8 (2x4) tubes for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes Mk.IX 4 throwers and 2 racks for 96 depth charges

HMS Comet was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, built by Yarrow at Scotstoun. She was launched on 22 June 1944 and commissioned on 6 June 1945.

Operational service

On commissioning Comet served as part of the 8th Destroyer Squadron in the Far East. She returned to the UK for a refit in 1948.^[1] She was given an interim modernization and was fitted for minelaying.^[2] She then served as part of the 6th Destroyer Squadron in the Home Fleet between 1953 and 1957.^[3]

Decommissioning and disposal

Comet was paid off in February 1958. Following her sale she arrived at the breakers yard for scrapping at Troon on 23 October 1962.

References

1. Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. p. 65.
2. Marriott, 1989. p.66
3. Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 102. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1817-0.
• Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.