| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Light cruiser |
| Class | D |
| Pennant | D 30 |
| Built by | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Govan, Scotland) |
| Ordered | Mar 1918 |
| Laid down | Jul 1918 |
| Launched | 24 Sep 1919 |
| Commissioned | 2 Jun 1922 |
| End service | |
| Loss position | |
| History | HMS Despatch was completed by Chatham Dockyard. HMS Despatch was not an active unit as of January 1945 Reduced to reserve in January 1945. Sold 5 April 1946 and arrived for scrapping at Arnott Young, Troon, Scotland on 5 May 1946. |
Commands listed for HMS Despatch (D 30)
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| Commander | From | To | ||
| 1 | Capt. Allan Poland, DSO, RN | 31 Jul 1939 | 26 Feb 1940 | |
| 2 | Capt. John Wentworth Farquhar, RN | 26 Feb 1940 | Jun 1940 | |
| 3 | Capt. Cyril George Bucknill Coltart, RN | Jun 1940 | 25 Jun 1940 | |
| 4 | Capt. Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN | 25 Jun 1940 | 18 Mar 1942 | |
| 5 | Capt. Waldeman William Powell Shirley-Rollison, RN | 18 Mar 1942 | Apr 1942 | |
| 6 | Capt. William Ronald Christopher Leggatt, RN | 23 Jun 1942 | Apr 1944 | |
| 7 | Cdr. Richard Taylor White, DSO, RN | Apr 1944 | Jan 1945 ? | |
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Noteable events involving Despatch include:
5 Dec 1939
The German merchant Düsseldorf (4930 GRT) was captured by HMS Despatch (Capt. A. Poland, DSO, RN) off Punta Caldera in Chilean territoral waters.
1 Mar 1940
HMS Despatch (Capt. A. Poland, RN) intercepts the German merchant Troja (2390 GRT) off Aruba, Dutch West Indies. However before the German ship can be captured she is scuttled by her own crew.