HMS Vigilant (R93)

Vigilant on the River Tyne, September 1943

HMS Vigilant was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II.

Second World War service

On 26 March 1945 she, along with the destroyers , , and , intercepted a Japanese supply convoy east of Khota Andaman, Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. She and Virago sank . Also part of the escorting destroyers of the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron involved in Operation Dracula from April to May 1945. She participated in the Battle of the Malacca Strait with the destroyers Saumarez, , , and Virago which culminated in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser on 16 May 1945.

Post-War service

In January 1946 Vigilant was part of the Londonderry Flotilla and in September 1946 went to the Mediterranean. Between 1947 and 1951 she was held in reserve at Portsmouth.

In 1951 she began conversion into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, by Thornycroft at Woolston. She was also allocated the new pennant number F93. Between 1953 and 1955 she was part of the 6th Frigate Squadron as part of the Home Fleet. In October 1954 she collided with another Type 15 Frigate HMS Relentless and was repaired at Devonport Dockyard.

In 1955 she had been converted for use as a training frigate and became leader of the Dartmouth Training Squadron. In 1956 this consisted of Vigilant, Venus, and the minesweepers Jewel and Acute.

Decommissioning and disposal

Vigilant was paid off in 1963 and arrived at Faslane for breaking up on 4 June 1965.

External links

• Naval-History.net HMS Vigilant

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