HMS Boadicea (H65) facts for kids
Boadicea at anchor sometime during World War II
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Boadicea |
| Namesake | Boadicea |
| Ordered | 4 March 1929 |
| Builder | Hawthorn Leslie |
| Laid down | 11 July 1929 |
| Launched | 23 September 1930 |
| Completed | 7 April 1931 |
| Identification | Pennant number: H65 |
| Fate | Sunk 13 June 1944, Lyme Bay |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | B-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 323 ft (98.5 m) o/a |
| Beam | 32 ft 3 in (9.8 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 3 in (3.7 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range | 4,800 nmi (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 142 (wartime) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
Type 119 ASDIC |
| Armament |
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HMS Boadicea was a type of warship called a B-class destroyer, built for the Royal Navy (RN) around 1930. She was named after Boadicea, a famous ancient British queen. This ship played many important roles, from helping people escape danger during the Spanish Civil War to protecting convoys of ships during World War II. She was involved in major events like the Battle of the Atlantic and the Normandy landings. Sadly, Boadicea was sunk by German aircraft in 1944.
Contents
About HMS Boadicea
What Was She Like?
Boadicea was a fast and powerful ship. She weighed about 1,360 long tons (1,380 t) when empty and up to 1,790 long tons (1,820 t) when fully loaded. The ship was 323 feet (98.5 m) long, which is about the length of a football field. She was 32 feet 3 inches (9.8 m) wide and sat 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m) deep in the water.
To make her move, Boadicea had two large steam turbine engines. These engines gave her a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), which is very fast for a ship. She could travel about 4,800 nautical miles (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) (about 8,890 kilometers) at a slower speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) before needing more fuel. The ship usually had a crew of 134 officers and sailors, but this number grew to 142 during wartime.
Her Weapons and Defenses
Boadicea was armed with four main guns, each 4.7 inches (119 mm) wide. These guns were placed at different points on the ship. For defense against aircraft, she had two smaller 40-millimetre (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns.
She also carried eight torpedoes in two groups of four. Torpedoes are like underwater rockets used to attack other ships. To find and attack submarines, Boadicea had a special device called ASDIC. This device used sound waves to detect objects underwater. She also carried depth charges, which are bombs dropped into the water to explode near submarines.
How Her Weapons Changed
Over time, the ship's weapons were updated. In 1940, one set of torpedo tubes was removed and replaced with a 3-inch (76.2 mm) anti-aircraft gun. Later, one of the main guns was also removed to make space for more depth charges.
By the end of 1943, Boadicea was changed to be an "escort destroyer." This meant she was specially equipped to protect other ships. A new anti-submarine weapon called a Hedgehog was added. This fired small bombs forward to hit submarines. Her old anti-aircraft guns were replaced with faster-firing 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon cannons, and more of these were added. She also got two QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns to fight submarines that came to the surface.
Building and Early Service
Boadicea was ordered in 1929 and built by Hawthorn Leslie in Hebburn-on-Tyne, England. She was launched on 23 September 1930 and finished on 9 April 1931. Her cost was about £225,325, not including her weapons and communication gear.
After she was ready, Boadicea joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1935, she was damaged while refueling at sea and needed repairs. Later that year, she helped British forces calm down unrest in Cyprus and Haifa, Palestine.
In 1936, at the start of the Spanish Civil War, Boadicea went to Cartagena and Valencia to help evacuate civilians. She then had a refit (a period of repairs and upgrades) in Portsmouth. For a few years, she spent a lot of time off the coast of Spain, helping to enforce a ban on weapons being sent to either side of the conflict.
After leaving the 4th Flotilla in 1939, Boadicea briefly served with aircraft carriers and then became an emergency destroyer. In August 1939, she was part of a large Fleet Review at Portland.
World War II Service
Protecting Convoys
When World War II began, Boadicea was assigned to the 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Dover. She helped escort troopships carrying British soldiers in 1939. She later moved to Harwich and then rejoined the 19th Flotilla, protecting convoys of ships traveling through the English Channel. In March 1940, she rescued an oil tanker that had hit a naval mine.
Damage and Repairs
In May 1940, Boadicea began another refit. In June, she sailed to Le Havre, France, to help evacuate British troops as German forces advanced. On 10 June, she was badly damaged by German Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bombers. Her engines and boilers were knocked out. To keep her afloat, the crew threw overboard all depth charges and torpedoes. Another destroyer, Ambuscade, and a tugboat towed Boadicea to Dover for safety.
Repairs at Portsmouth lasted until February 1941. During this time, she received a new Type 286 radar system to detect ships nearby.
Atlantic and Arctic Convoys
After repairs, Boadicea joined the Home Fleet and helped search for German battleships. In March 1941, she became part of the 4th Escort Group and began protecting convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. She also escorted Convoys PQ 15 and Convoy QP 12 to and from Murmansk, Russia, in April–May 1942.
Operation Torch and Later Missions
After another refit, Boadicea escorted a convoy to Gibraltar in preparation for Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. During the invasion on 8 November, she was hit by a shell from a French destroyer, but it caused little damage. Three days later, she tried to tow the damaged ocean liner RMS Viceroy of India after it was torpedoed, but could not save it. Boadicea rescued 449 people from the liner and took them to Gibraltar.
Back home, she joined the 20th Escort Group and escorted more convoys to and from Russia, including Convoys JW 51A, JW 53, and RA 53. In March 1943, she was badly damaged by sea ice during a convoy and needed more repairs until May.
After repairs, Boadicea was sent to Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she continued to escort ships. In July, she rescued 220 survivors from a torpedoed ocean liner called MV Incomati.
Final Missions and Loss
In September 1943, Boadicea returned to the Home Fleet. In November, she began a major conversion to become a dedicated escort destroyer. This included adding new radar systems, like the Type 271 for finding targets.
After her conversion was finished in January 1944, Boadicea rejoined the 8th Escort Group. She escorted more convoys to Russia, including Convoys JW 57, RA 58, and RA 59, from February to April.
In preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, she was moved to Portsmouth. She escorted convoys arriving in England and also those crossing the English Channel to France.
On 13 June 1944, while escorting a convoy of merchant ships to France, Boadicea was sunk by German aircraft off Portland Bill. It's believed she was hit by either Fritz X missiles from Dornier Do 217 planes or torpedoes from Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. The attack caused a huge explosion in her ammunition storage, and Boadicea sank very quickly. Only 12 of her 182 crew members survived.
The ship is remembered at the Chatham Naval Memorial. Her wreck lies about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of the Isle of Portland in 53 metres (174 ft) of water. The front part of her bow is blown off, but her stern (back) section is still upright and mostly together. The wreck site is protected by law as a protected place.
Images for kids
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A view of Boadicea's stern in heavy weather
See also
In Spanish: HMS Boadicea (H65) para niños
