HMS_Eridge_(L68)

HMS <i>Eridge</i> (L68)

HMS Eridge (L68)

Destroyer of the Royal Navy

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

HMS Eridge was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1940 and served during the Second World War.

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Service history

On 29 August 1942, Eridge assisted the destroyers Hero and Hurworth in sinking the German submarine U-568.[1] At 04:15 on 29 August 1942, she began shelling Axis positions off El Daba, Egypt, at 31°7′N 28°26′E, together with the destroyers Croome and Hursley. At 05:00, she was permanently disabled by a 450mm torpedo fired by the Italian motor torpedo boat MTSM-228. The attack caused five fatalities on board Eridge.[2]

HMS Eridge being brought back to harbour after being torpedoed, Alexandria, 29 August 1942 (IWM A13534)

She was towed to Alexandria by the destroyer Aldenham,[3] where Eridge was declared a constructive total loss due to structural damage to the hull and damage beyond repair to the main turbines, condenser, gearing and intermediate shaft. The destroyer was used as a base ship in situ for the rest of the war and sold for scrapping in October 1946.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    "HMS Eridge (L 68) of the Royal Navy - British Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. [2]
    Paul Kemp (1999). The Admiralty regrets: British warship losses of the 20th century. Sutton. p. 192. ISBN 9780750915670.
  3. [3]
    "Commander Alex Stuart-Menteth". The Daily Telegraph. 6 June 2000. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015.
  4. [4]
    Webb, Tim (1 August 2020). "HMS ERIDGE". Ships Nostalgia. Retrieved 12 April 2024.

Publications

Further reading

  • Gregory-Smith, Frank (2008). Red Tobruk: Memoirs of a World War II Destroyer Commander. Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 978-1-84415-862-1.


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