uboat.net

Allied Warships

HMS Despatch (D 30)

Light cruiser of the D class


HMS Despatch during the war

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeLight cruiser
ClassD 
PennantD 30 
Built byFairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Govan, Scotland) 
Ordered 
Laid downJul, 1918 
Launched24 Sep, 1919 
Commissioned2 Jun, 1922 
End service 
Loss position
 
HistoryHMS Despatch was completed by Chatham Dockyard.

Reduced to reserve in January 1945. Sold 5 April 1946 and arrived for scrapping at Arnott Young, Troon, Scotland on 5 May 1946.

Commanding Officers:
Capt. Allan Poland, DSO, RN
31 July 1939 – 26 February 1940

Capt. John Wentworth Farquhar, RN
26 February 1940 – June 1940

Capt. Cyril George Bucknill Coltart, CVO, RN
June 1940 - 25 June 1940

Capt. Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN
25 June 1940 - 18 March 1942

Capt. Waldeman William Powell Shirley-Rollison, RN
18 March 1942 – April 1942

??? HMS Despatch was possibly in Dockyard Control during refit

Capt. William Ronald Christopher Leggatt, RN
23 June 1942 – April 1944

A/Capt. Richard Taylor White, DSO and 2 Bars, RN
April 1944 – late 1944 or January 1945

HMS Despatch was not an active unit as of January 1945 


Noteable events involving Despatch include:

5 Dec, 1939
The German merchant Düsseldorf (4930 GRT) was captured by HMS Despatch (Capt. A. Poland, 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.


Return to the Allied Warships section