HMS Woodcock (U90)

HMS Woodcock was built by Fairfields at Govan; laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 26 November 1942, and completed 29 May 1943. She was the fifth Royal Naval vessel to carry this name.

HMS Woodpecker anchored in December 1942.
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Woodcock
Namesake:	Woodcock
Ordered:	13 April 1940
Builder:	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down:	21 October 1941
Launched:	26 November 1942
Commissioned:	29 May 1943
Identification:	Pennant number: U08
Fate:	Scrapped 28 November 1955
General characteristics
Class and type:	Modified Black Swan-class sloop
Displacement:	1,350 tons
Length:	283 ft (86 m)
Beam:	38.5 ft (11.7 m)
Propulsion:	Geared turbines two shafts
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h) at 4,300 hp (3,200 kW)
Complement:	192 men
Armament:	6 × QF 4 in Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns 12 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns

Construction and career

On completion, she joined the 2nd Support Group and operated in the Atlantic until May 1944 sinking the German submarine U-226 on 6 November 1943. She then moved to the Channel in May 1944, intending to take part in the Normandy landings. However she collided with the destroyer HMS Venus, on 27 May 1944 and repairs took until December 1944.

The work included changes to fit her for service in the Pacific and she joined the Pacific Fleet at Manus 5 March 1945. She was present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945) when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on board the battleship USS Missouri.

Remained in the Pacific until late 1946 when she returned to the UK to be put into reserve at West Hartlepool. She was sold for breaking up in November 1955 and was scrapped at Rosyth.

See also

• Black Swan-class

References

Further readings

• Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
• Blair, Clay Gardiner (2000). Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted 1942–1945. Vol. 3. New York: Modern Library. ISBN 0-679-64033-9.
• Gardiner, Robert Gardiner (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships (1922-1946). Vol. 3. Conway Maritime Press. p. 456. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Gardiner, Robert Gardiner (1996). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships (1947-1995). Vol. 4. US Naval Institute Press. p. 675. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Hague, Arnold (1993). Sloops: A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946. Kendal, England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-67-3.