HMAS Napier: Difference between revisions

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#REDIRECT [[HMAS Napier (G97)]]
{{other ships|HMS Napier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
|image=HMS Napier during the Second World War IWM photo A13956.jpg
|image_caption=HMAS ''Napier''
}}
 
|section2={{Infobox ship/career
|country=Australia
|flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|namesake=Admiral Sir [[Charles John Napier|Charles Napier]]
|ordered=1939
|builder=[[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering]]
|laid_down=26 July 1939
|launched=22 May 1940
|commissioned=28 November 1940
|decommissioned=25 October 1945
|motto=
|nickname=
|honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
          *[[Battle of Crete|Crete]] 1941
          *Libya 1941
          *[[Indian Ocean in World War II|Indian Ocean]] 1942–44
          *[[Burma campaign|Burma]] 1944–45
          *[[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1945
          *[[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] 1945
|fate=Returned to Royal Navy 1945 and scrapped 1956
|notes=
|badge=
}}
 
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
|header_caption=(as built)
|class= [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class]] [[destroyer]]
|displacement=*{{convert|1773|LT|t}} ([[Standard displacement|standard]])
              *{{convert|2384|LT|t}} ([[deep load]])
|length= {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|beam= {{convert|35|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|draught= {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|power=*{{convert|40000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}
        *2 × [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
|propulsion= 2 shafts; 2 [[steam turbine]]s
|speed= {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|range= {{convert|5500|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|complement=183
|sensors=*[[ASDIC]]
          *[[Type 285 radar|Type 285 gunnery radar]]
          *[[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 286|Type 286 radar]] surface-search radar
|EW=
|armament=*3 × twin [[QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun|QF 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mk XII guns]]
          * 1 × single [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk V|QF 4-inch Mk V (102 mm)]] [[AA gun]]
          * 4 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|1|abbr=on}} Oerlikon]] AA guns
          * 2 × twin [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) Mk III]] machineguns
          * 1 × quintuple [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
          *45 × [[depth charge]]s, 1 × rack, 2 × throwers
}}
}}
'''HMAS ''Napier'' (G97/D13)''' was an [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class]] [[destroyer]] serving in the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) during World War II. Built during 1939 and 1940, the destroyer was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the RAN, although she was ordered and owned by the British government. During 1941, ''Napier'' operated in the Mediterranean, before being transferred to the [[British Eastern Fleet]] at the start of 1942, then to south Atlantic operations in early 1944. In 1945, ''Napier'' was assigned to the [[British Pacific Fleet]], and spent the rest of World War II in the fight against Japan. After the war's end, the destroyer was [[Ship commissioning#Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] and returned to the British. She was sold off in 1955, and [[ship breaking|broken up]] in 1956.
 
==Design and construction==
The [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class destroyer]] had a [[displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 1,760 tons at standard load, and 2,353 tons at full load.<ref name=Cassells51>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 51</ref> ''Napier'' was {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|229|ft|6|in|m}} long [[between perpendiculars]], had a [[beam (ship)|beam]] of {{convert|35|ft|8|in|m}}, and a maximum draught of {{convert|16|ft|4|in|m}}.<ref name=Cassells51/> Propulsion was provided by [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s connected to Parsons geared steam turbines, which provided 40,000 shaft horsepower to the ship's two propellers.<ref name=Cassells52>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 52</ref> ''Napier'' was capable of reaching {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=Cassells51/> The ship's company consisted of 226 officers and sailors.<ref name=Cassells52/>
 
The ship's armament consisted of six [[QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun|4.7-inch QF Mark XII guns]] in three twin mounts, a single [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk V|4-inch QF Mark V gun]], a [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder 4-barrel Pom Pom]], four [[0.5 inch Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch machine guns]], four [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns]], four [[Lewis gun|.303 Lewis machine guns]], two Pentad dual torpedo launcher tube sets (with 8 torpedoes carried), two [[depth-charge]] throwers and one depth-charge chute (with 45 charges carried).<ref name=Cassells51.2>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pp. 51–2</ref> The 4-inch gun was removed later in ''Napier''{{'}}s career.<ref name=Cassells51/>
 
''Napier'' was the first of the eight-ship N class laid down under the [[War Emergency Programme destroyers|War Emergency Programme]] when construction started at the [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering]] Company shipyard in [[Govan]], Scotland on 26 July 1939.<ref name=Cassells51.2/> The destroyer was launched on 22 May 1940 by the wife of one of the company directors, and was commissioned into the RAN on 28 November 1940.<ref name=Cassells52/> Although commissioned as an Australian warship, ''Napier'' remained the property of the Royal Navy.<ref name=SPC>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-napier|title=HMAS Napier |accessdate=15 September 2008 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia}}</ref> The ship was named after Scottish Admiral Sir [[Charles John Napier|Charles Napier]], with the [[ship's badge]] taken from the family coat of arms, and cost 403,960 pounds to build.<ref name=Cassells52/>
 
==Operating history==
During the ship's first weeks of operation, several sailors threatened to mutiny by refusing to leave the mess decks; this was defused when the ship's first lieutenant humorously threatened to "flog 'em out of the mess decks with ropes' ends".<ref>Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', pp. 153–4</ref>
 
In January 1941, "Napier" carried [[Winston Churchill]] to the Royal Navy base at [[Scapa Flow]] from nearby Scrabster when Churchill accompanied Lord Halifax there for his departure for the United States to serve as British Ambassador.<ref>Larson, Erik. (2020). The Splendid and the Vile. New York. Crown.</ref>
 
After completing sea trials, ''Napier'' spent the first part of her career operating as a convoy escort in the North Atlantic.<ref name=Cassells52/> ''Napier'' and sister ship {{HMAS|Nestor|G02|2}} were transferred to the Mediterranean, arriving in time to participate in the [[Battle of Crete#Evacuation, 28 May – 1 June|evacuation of Crete]].<ref name=Cassells52/> ''Napier'' was then assigned to [[Port Said]] for {{frac|2|1|2}} months, serving as control ship for the harbour's defence at night, while undergoing repairs and refits in the day.<ref name=Cassells52/> On completion in August, the destroyer was assigned as lead ship of the [[7th Destroyer Flotilla]].<ref name=Cassells52/> During the remainder of the year, ''Napier'' participated in the [[Tobruk Ferry Service]], escorted convoys through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and transferred troops between Cyprus and Hafia.<ref name=Cassells52/>
 
At the start of 1942, ''Napier'', ''Nestor'', and {{HMAS|Nizam|G38|2}} were transferred to the [[British Eastern Fleet]].<ref name=Cassells52/> The ships' first task was to escort the carrier {{HMS|Indomitable|R92|6}} to the Malaya-Java area.<ref name=Cassells52/> In June, ''Napier'' and ''Nestor'' returned to the Mediterranean for [[Operation Vigorous]], a major convoy to support besieged [[Malta]].<ref name=Cassells52/> ''Napier'' returned to duties with the Eastern Fleet after the unsuccessful convoy run, and in September participated in the [[Madagascar campaign]], particularly the surrender of [[Majunga]] and the occupation of [[Tamatave]].<ref name=Cassells52/>
 
The destroyer commenced patrols of the East Indian Ocean in October, which she continued until March 1943, when she joined the Atlantic anti-submarine force based in South Africa.<ref name="Cassells52" /> At the start of 1944, ''Napier'' was assigned to Indian waters.<ref name="Cassells52" /> Later in the year, the ship sailed to Australia for a long period of refitting at Williamstown, but returned to the Eastern Fleet in early November.<ref name="Cassells52" /> During December, ''Napier'' supported operations of the [[74th Indian Infantry Brigade]].<ref name="Cassells52" /> In January 1945, ''Napier'' took part in landings at Akyab and Ramree.<ref>Gillett & Graham, ''Warships of Australia'', p. 162</ref>
 
In early 1945, ''Napier'' was reassigned to the [[British Pacific Fleet]], changing her pennant from G97 to D13.<ref name=Cassells51.2/> During May, the destroyer was part of the escort screen for the carrier air raids on [[Sakishima Islands|Sakishima]].<ref name=Cassells53>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 53</ref> ''Napier'' was present in [[Tokyo Bay]] on [[Victory over Japan Day]] (2 September 1945), when the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] was signed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |title=Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945 |accessdate=13 January 2007 |date=27 May 2005 |publisher=Naval Historical Center – U.S. Navy |quote=Taken from ''Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA) A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946: Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan'' |archive-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205021301/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> After supporting the occupation landings, the destroyer sailed to Sydney.<ref name=Cassells53/>
 
''Napier'' earned six [[battle honour]]s for her wartime service: "Crete 1941", "Libya 1941", "Indian Ocean 1942–44", "Burma 1944–45", "Pacific 1945", and "Okinawa 1945".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archivedate=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archivedate=14 June 2011 |accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref>
 
==Decommissioning and fate==
The Australian ship's company left on 25 October 1945, and ''Napier'' was returned to the RN.<ref name=SPC/> The ship was not recommissioned, and was sold to [[Thos. W. Ward]] for scrap in 1955.  She arrived at [[Briton Ferry]] in January 1956 for [[ship breaking|breaking]].<ref name=Cassells53/>
 
==Citations==
{{reflist}}
 
==References==
*{{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, New South Wales |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}
*{{cite book |last=Frame |first=Tom |author2=Baker, Kevin  |title=Mutiny! Naval Insurrections in Australia and New Zealand |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, New South Wales |year=2000 |isbn=1-86508-351-8 |oclc=46882022}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gillett |first1=Ross |last2=Graham |first2=Colin |title=Warships of Australia|year=1977 |publisher=Rigby |location=Adelaide, South Australia |isbn=0-7270-0472-7}}
 
==Further reading==
*{{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Afridi to Nizam: British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend, Kent|year=2001|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=2006|isbn=1-86176-137-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Hodges |first=Peter |author2=Friedman, Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich |isbn=978-0-85177-137-3 }}
*{{cite book|last=Langtree|first=Charles|title=The Kelly's: British J, K, and N Class Destroyers of World War II |year=2002|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=1-55750-422-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7}}
*{{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |oclc=164893555}}
* {{Cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}
 
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|HMAS Napier (G97)|HMAS ''Napier'' (G97)}}
 
{{J, K and N class destroyer}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Napier (G97)}}
[[Category:N-class destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Govan]]
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Australia]]

Latest revision as of 14:22, 12 December 2025

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HMAS Napier (G97/D13) was an N-class destroyer serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. Built during 1939 and 1940, the destroyer was commissioned into the RAN, although she was ordered and owned by the British government. During 1941, Napier operated in the Mediterranean, before being transferred to the British Eastern Fleet at the start of 1942, then to south Atlantic operations in early 1944. In 1945, Napier was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet, and spent the rest of World War II in the fight against Japan. After the war's end, the destroyer was decommissioned and returned to the British. She was sold off in 1955, and broken up in 1956.

Design and construction

The N-class destroyer had a displacement of 1,760 tons at standard load, and 2,353 tons at full load.[1] Napier was Script error: No such module "convert". long overall and Script error: No such module "convert". long between perpendiculars, had a beam of Script error: No such module "convert"., and a maximum draught of Script error: No such module "convert"..[1] Propulsion was provided by Admiralty 3-drum boilers connected to Parsons geared steam turbines, which provided 40,000 shaft horsepower to the ship's two propellers.[2] Napier was capable of reaching Script error: No such module "convert"..[1] The ship's company consisted of 226 officers and sailors.[2]

The ship's armament consisted of six 4.7-inch QF Mark XII guns in three twin mounts, a single 4-inch QF Mark V gun, a 2-pounder 4-barrel Pom Pom, four 0.5-inch machine guns, four 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, four .303 Lewis machine guns, two Pentad dual torpedo launcher tube sets (with 8 torpedoes carried), two depth-charge throwers and one depth-charge chute (with 45 charges carried).[3] The 4-inch gun was removed later in NapierTemplate:'s career.[1]

Napier was the first of the eight-ship N class laid down under the War Emergency Programme when construction started at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company shipyard in Govan, Scotland on 26 July 1939.[3] The destroyer was launched on 22 May 1940 by the wife of one of the company directors, and was commissioned into the RAN on 28 November 1940.[2] Although commissioned as an Australian warship, Napier remained the property of the Royal Navy.[4] The ship was named after Scottish Admiral Sir Charles Napier, with the ship's badge taken from the family coat of arms, and cost 403,960 pounds to build.[2]

Operating history

During the ship's first weeks of operation, several sailors threatened to mutiny by refusing to leave the mess decks; this was defused when the ship's first lieutenant humorously threatened to "flog 'em out of the mess decks with ropes' ends".[5]

In January 1941, "Napier" carried Winston Churchill to the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow from nearby Scrabster when Churchill accompanied Lord Halifax there for his departure for the United States to serve as British Ambassador.[6]

After completing sea trials, Napier spent the first part of her career operating as a convoy escort in the North Atlantic.[2] Napier and sister ship Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". were transferred to the Mediterranean, arriving in time to participate in the evacuation of Crete.[2] Napier was then assigned to Port Said for <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2+1⁄2 months, serving as control ship for the harbour's defence at night, while undergoing repairs and refits in the day.[2] On completion in August, the destroyer was assigned as lead ship of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla.[2] During the remainder of the year, Napier participated in the Tobruk Ferry Service, escorted convoys through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and transferred troops between Cyprus and Hafia.[2]

At the start of 1942, Napier, Nestor, and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". were transferred to the British Eastern Fleet.[2] The ships' first task was to escort the carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". to the Malaya-Java area.[2] In June, Napier and Nestor returned to the Mediterranean for Operation Vigorous, a major convoy to support besieged Malta.[2] Napier returned to duties with the Eastern Fleet after the unsuccessful convoy run, and in September participated in the Madagascar campaign, particularly the surrender of Majunga and the occupation of Tamatave.[2]

The destroyer commenced patrols of the East Indian Ocean in October, which she continued until March 1943, when she joined the Atlantic anti-submarine force based in South Africa.[2] At the start of 1944, Napier was assigned to Indian waters.[2] Later in the year, the ship sailed to Australia for a long period of refitting at Williamstown, but returned to the Eastern Fleet in early November.[2] During December, Napier supported operations of the 74th Indian Infantry Brigade.[2] In January 1945, Napier took part in landings at Akyab and Ramree.[7]

In early 1945, Napier was reassigned to the British Pacific Fleet, changing her pennant from G97 to D13.[3] During May, the destroyer was part of the escort screen for the carrier air raids on Sakishima.[8] Napier was present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945), when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed.[9] After supporting the occupation landings, the destroyer sailed to Sydney.[8]

Napier earned six battle honours for her wartime service: "Crete 1941", "Libya 1941", "Indian Ocean 1942–44", "Burma 1944–45", "Pacific 1945", and "Okinawa 1945".[10][11]

Decommissioning and fate

The Australian ship's company left on 25 October 1945, and Napier was returned to the RN.[4] The ship was not recommissioned, and was sold to Thos. W. Ward for scrap in 1955. She arrived at Briton Ferry in January 1956 for breaking.[8]

Citations

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c d Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 51
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 52
  3. ↑ a b c Cassells, The Destroyers, pp. 51–2
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Frame & Baker, Mutiny!, pp. 153–4
  6. ↑ Larson, Erik. (2020). The Splendid and the Vile. New York. Crown.
  7. ↑ Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, p. 162
  8. ↑ a b c Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 53
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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References

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Further reading

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External links

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