HMS Cavalier (R73) facts for kids
HMS Cavalier, September 2015, as she appears at Chatham Dockyard.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Cavalier |
| Builder | J. Samuel White and Company, Cowes, Isle of Wight |
| Laid down | 28 March 1943 |
| Launched | 7 April 1944 |
| Commissioned | 22 November 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 1972 |
| Identification | Pennant number: R73 (later D73) |
| Motto | "Of one Company" |
| Fate | Sold 21 October 1977. Preserved as a museum ship since 1998 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | C-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,710 tons (standard) 2,520 tons (full) |
| Length | 363 ft (111 m) o/a |
| Beam | 35.75 ft (10.90 m) |
| Draught |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 37 knots (69 km/h) |
| Range | 615 tons oil, 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km) at 32 knots (59 km/h) |
| Complement | 186 |
| Armament |
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HMS Cavalier is a famous destroyer ship that used to be part of the Royal Navy (Britain's navy). She was built during World War II and launched in 1944. After the war, she served in places like the Far East until 1972. Today, Cavalier is a special museum ship at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in England, where people can visit her. She is the last surviving British destroyer from World War II.
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Building a Warship: HMS Cavalier's Construction
Cavalier was one of 96 destroyers built quickly during World War II. These ships were part of a special program to help with the war effort. She was one of the first ships to use a new building method. The front and back parts of her hull (the main body of the ship) were welded together. The middle part was riveted (joined with strong pins). This new way of building helped the ship go faster.
The Famous Race: Cavalier vs. Rapid
In 1970, Cavalier had an exciting race against another ship called Rapid. Rapid was a frigate, but she had the same hull shape and engines as Cavalier. The race was 64 miles long. Cavalier won by just 30 yards after Rapid had a small problem with a safety valve. Cavalier reached an average speed of about 31.8 knots (around 58.9 km/h). This win earned Cavalier the special 'Cock o' the Fleet' award, which you can still see on her bridge today!
HMS Cavalier's Service History
After she was built, Cavalier joined the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, a group of ships in the Home Fleet. She took part in missions near Norway during World War II.
Helping Convoys in World War II
In February 1945, Cavalier was sent to help a group of supply ships, called a convoy, coming from Kola Inlet in Russia. This convoy had been attacked by enemy planes and U-boats (German submarines). A big storm had also scattered the ships. Cavalier and other escort ships helped gather the convoy again. They managed to bring most of the ships safely back to Britain, losing only three out of thirty-four. This brave action earned Cavalier a special honor for her service in battle.
Post-War Service in the Far East
Later in 1945, Cavalier was sent to the Far East. She helped by firing her guns to support troops during the Battle of Surabaya. In February 1946, she went to Mumbai (then called Bombay) to help calm down a rebellion by parts of the Royal Indian Navy. After serving with the British Pacific Fleet, Cavalier was put into reserve in Portsmouth in May 1946. This meant she was kept ready but not actively sailing.
Modernization and Later Missions
From 1955 to 1957, Cavalier was updated at a shipyard in Woolston, Southampton. During this time, some of her torpedo tubes and a 4.5-inch gun were removed. In their place, she received two Squid anti-submarine mortars, which were used to fight submarines.
She started active service again on June 16, 1957. She joined the 8th Destroyer Squadron in Singapore. In 1958, Cavalier took part in Operation Grapple, which were British tests of nuclear weapons. In August 1959, she was sent to Gan Island in the Maldives to help with civil unrest. In December 1962, she carried 180 troops from Singapore to Brunei to help stop a rebellion there. This rebellion was part of the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. After dropping off the troops, she stayed in Brunei for several days to act as a communication center until other Royal Navy ships arrived.
The Final Journey: HMS Cavalier's Fate
Cavalier was taken out of service in 1972. She was the last surviving British destroyer from World War II still in the UK.
Becoming a Museum Ship
After being decommissioned at Chatham Dockyard, Cavalier was stored in Portsmouth. Because she was a unique survivor, a five-year effort led by Lord Louis Mountbatten helped save her. The ship was bought by the Cavalier Trust for £65,000 in 1977.
A special permission was given to Cavalier to keep the prefix "HMS" (meaning Her Majesty's Ship) and to fly the White Ensign. These are usually only allowed for ships that are still active in the Royal Navy. Another museum ship, the cruiser Belfast, also has this special privilege.
Cavalier first opened as a museum and memorial ship in Southampton in August 1982. However, it wasn't very successful there. In October 1983, the ship moved to Brighton, where she became the main attraction of a new yacht marina.
Moving to Chatham Historic Dockyard
In 1987, Cavalier was brought to the River Tyne for a planned national shipbuilding exhibition. But the plans for the museum didn't work out. The local council faced high maintenance costs and decided to sell the ship in 1996. Cavalier was left in a dry dock, rusting, waiting to be sold or scrapped.
After the Cavalier Trust was reformed and a discussion happened in Parliament, Cavalier was bought by Chatham Historic Dockyard in 1998 to be a museum ship. She arrived on May 23, 1998, and now rests in No. 2 dry-dock at Chatham.
A War Memorial and Educational Site
On November 14, 2007, Cavalier was officially named a war memorial. She honors the 142 Royal Navy destroyers that were sunk during World War II and the 11,000 sailors who died on those ships. A bronze monument was unveiled next to the ship by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Since the summer of 2009, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust has allowed youth groups to stay overnight on Cavalier. This gives them a chance to experience what life was like on a Royal Naval Destroyer.
In September 2010, Cavalier fired her guns in a full broadside. This was the first time a ship flying the White Ensign had done this since 1981! This was possible because a team of heritage volunteers restored all three of her 4.5-inch guns to working condition.
In April 2014, Cavalier was added to Google Maps Business View. This allowed people to explore the ship online, including her engine room. The online tour also has audio information to help visitors with accessibility needs.
Gallery
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Cavalier in 2014
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Navigation bridge
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Forward 4.5in guns
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Operations room
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Seacat launcher
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Seaman's mess
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Ship's bell
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The grog tub
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