HMS Tuscan (R56)

HMS Tuscan was a T-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that served during the Second World War and was scrapped in 1966.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Tuscan.

HMS Tuscan in 1946
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Tuscan
Ordered: 14 March 1941
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: 6 September 1941
Launched: 28 May 1942
Commissioned: 11 March 1943
Reclassified: Converted to Type 16 frigate 1952
Identification: pennant number R56/F156
Motto: I hold what I take
Fate: Scrapped 26 May 1966
General characteristics as T–class
Class and type: T-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,710 long tons (1,737 t) - 1,730 long tons (1,758 t) (standard nominal)
  • 1,780 long tons (1,809 t) - 1,810 long tons (1,839 t) (actual)
  • 2,505 long tons (2,545 t) - 2,545 long tons (2,586 t) (deep load)
Length:
  • 339 ft 6 in (103.48 m) pp
  • 362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) oa
Beam: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines
  • 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed: 36.75 knots (42.29 mph; 68.06 km/h)
Complement: 180-225
Armament:
General characteristics as Type 16
Class and type: Type 16 frigate
Displacement:
  • 1,800 long tons (1,800 t) standard
  • 2,300 long tons (2,300 t) full load
Length: 362 ft 9 in (110.57 m) o/a
Beam: 37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Draught: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • Steam turbines, 40,000 shp
  • 2 shafts
Speed: 32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h) full load
Complement: 175
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Type 293Q target indication Radar
  • Type 974 navigation Radar
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Type 146B search Sonar
  • Type 147 depth finder Sonar
  • Type 162 target classification Sonar
  • Type 174 attack Sonar
Armament:
  • 1 × twin 4 in gun Mark 19
  • 1 × twin 40 mm Bofors gun Mk.5
  • 5 × single 40 mm Bofors gun Mk.9
  • 2 × Squid A/S mortar
  • 1 × quad 21 in (533 mm) tubes for Mk.9 torpedoes

Second World War service

On 7 October 1944 she and the destroyer Termagant sank the German torpedo boat TA37, the subchaser UJ210 and the harbour patrol boat GK32.[1]

Postwar service

Between 1946 and 1952 Tuscan was held as part of the reserve fleet in Portsmouth. In 1949 and 1950 she had a refit at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. Between May 1952 and September 1953 she was converted into a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate by Mount Stuart Dry Docks, Cardiff and was allocated the new pennant number F156.[2]

In 1953 she was held as part of the Devonport Reserve, and in 1954 the Portsmouth Reserve. In 1960 she was part of the Chatham reserve and between 1961 and 1963 was part of the Portsmouth Operational Reserve. She was eventually sold to McLellan for scrap and arrived at Bo'ness for breaking up on 26 March 1966.

References
  1. Rohwer & Hümmelchen 1992, p. 305
  2. Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 58. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.

Publications



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