HMS Obdurate (G39)
Encyclopedia
HMS Obdurate (G39) was an O-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
. She was built by William Denny and Brothers
of Dumbarton, being laid down at their yards on the River Clyde
on 25 April 1940, launched on 19 February 1942 and commissioned on 3 September 1942.
During the Second World War she escorted Arctic convoys
in 1942 and 1944, and Atlantic convoys in 1943, taking part in the Battle of the Barents Sea
in 1942. At the end of the war she escorted HMS Norfolk
whilst the latter took King Haakon VII
back to Norway, followed by post-war work in German waters. On 14 July 1945 US president Harry Truman transferred to the Obdurate from USS Philadelphia
in the English Channel to travel the rest of his journey to the Potsdam Conference
.
Her final years were spent in reserve at HMNB Portsmouth
and Chatham Dockyard
. She was finally decommissioned in 1964 and sold for scrap later that year.
O and P class destroyer
The O and P class was a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy. Ordered in 1939, they were the first ships in the War Emergency Programme, also known as the 1st and 2nd Emergency Flotilla, respectively...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was built by William Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers Limited, and often referred to simply as Denny, were a Scottish shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was founded by Peter Denny in 1840 and based in Dumbarton, on the River Clyde. Although the Denny yard was situated near the junction of the River Clyde and the River...
of Dumbarton, being laid down at their yards on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
on 25 April 1940, launched on 19 February 1942 and commissioned on 3 September 1942.
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
in 1942 and 1944, and Atlantic convoys in 1943, taking part in the Battle of the Barents Sea
Battle of the Barents Sea
The Battle of the Barents Sea took place on 31 December 1942 between German surface raiders and British ships escorting convoy JW 51B to Kola Inlet in the USSR. The action took place in the Barents Sea north of North Cape, Norway...
in 1942. At the end of the war she escorted HMS Norfolk
HMS Norfolk (78)
HMS Norfolk was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy; along with her sister ship , she was part of a planned four-ship subclass.She served throughout the Second World War....
whilst the latter took King Haakon VII
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
back to Norway, followed by post-war work in German waters. On 14 July 1945 US president Harry Truman transferred to the Obdurate from USS Philadelphia
USS Philadelphia (CL-41)
USS Philadelphia , a Brooklyn class light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the fifth ship named for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the 1950s, she was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy as Almirante Barroso....
in the English Channel to travel the rest of his journey to the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
.
Her final years were spent in reserve at HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
and Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
. She was finally decommissioned in 1964 and sold for scrap later that year.
External links
- http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Ships/HMSObdurate.html
- http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-47O-Obdurate.htm
- http://www.hmsgangestoterror.org/obdurate/HMSObdurate.htm