HMS Contest (R12)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 HMS Contest on the Solent, 8 November 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Contest |
| Builder | White, Cowes |
| Laid down | 1 November 1943 |
| Launched | 16 December 1944 |
| Commissioned | 9 November 1945 |
| Identification | Pennant number: R12 (later D48) |
| Fate | Arrived for breaking up at Thos. W. Ward Grays, Essex on 2 February 1960 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | C-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a |
| Beam | 35.75 ft (10.90 m) |
| Draught | 11.75 ft (3.58 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 36 knots (67 km/h) / 32 knots (59 km/h) full |
| Range |
|
| Complement | 186 |
| Sensors & processing systems | Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mk.VI |
| Armament |
|
HMS Contest was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, built by J. Samuel White, Cowes. Laid down on 1 November 1943 and commissioned on 9 November 1945, she was the Royal Navy's first all-welded warship.[1][2][3][4] She was scrapped in 1960.
On commissioning Contest served as part of the 8th Destroyer Squadron in the Far East.
In 1947, Contest was ordered to the Solomon Islands as a deterrence against feared violence when the leaders of the Maasina Ruru independence movement were arrested.[5] While on passage back to the UK from the Far East in December 1947, Contest and sister ship Cockade were diverted to Aden in response to anti-Jewish rioting, with men from the two destroyers and the survey ship Challenger being landed to try to restore order.[5] She returned to the UK for a refit in 1948.[6] She was given an interim modernization and was fitted for minelaying.[7] In 1951 she was the Torpedo training ship at Portsmouth. She then served as part of the 6th Destroyer Squadron in the Home Fleet.[8] In 1953 she took part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[9]
