Allied Warships

HMS Mahratta (G 23)

Destroyer of the M class

Navy	The Royal Navy
Type	Destroyer
Class	M
Pennant	G 23
Built by	Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Greenock, Scotland)
Ordered
Laid down	18 Aug 1941
Launched	28 Jul 1942
Commissioned	8 Apr 1943
Lost	25 Feb 1944
Loss position	71° 12'N, 13° 30'E

History	HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. Eric Arthur Forbes Drought, DSC, RN) was escorting convoy JW-57 when she was struck by a Gnat from U-990. The destroyer sank within minutes at position 71º12'N, 13º30'E. Only 16 men survived out of a crew of 236. Hit by U-boat Sunk on 25 Feb 1944 by U-990 (Nordheimer).
U-boat Attack	See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Mahratta
Former name	HMS Marksman

Commands listed for HMS Mahratta (G 23)

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	Commander	From	To
1	Lt.Cdr. Eric Arthur Forbes Drought, DSC, RN	18 Feb 1943	25 Feb 1944 (+)

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Notable events involving Mahratta include:

16 Apr 1943
HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Harrier (Cdr. A.D.H. Jay, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Seagull (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Pollock, RN). (1)

23 Jul 1943
HMS Stonehenge (Lt. D.S.M. Verschoyle-Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted practice attacks at Scapa Flow. The target was HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN) that was escorted by HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN). (2)

23 Aug 1943
HrMs O 15 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.C.A. Ingram, RN) and HMS Hussar (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Biggs, DSO, DSC, RN). (3)

24 Aug 1943
In the morning, HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN), conducted attack exercises at/off Scapa Flow for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) with HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN) that was escorted by HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN) and HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN).

During the afternoon attack exercises were carried out with HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN). (4)

15 Oct 1943
HMS Storm (T/Lt. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) conducted A/S exercises with HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), USS Corry (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN) and HMS Brissenden (Lt. the Hon. D.D.E. Vivian, RN). (5)

18 Jan 1944
HMS Vox (Lt. J.M. Michell, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomas, DSC, RN) and HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN). (6)