HMS Bridgewater (L01)

Bridgewater at anchor, January 1943
History
United Kingdom
NameBridgewater
NamesakeTown of Bridgwater
Ordered19 September 1927
BuilderHawthorn Leslie, Newcastle upon Tyne
Laid down6 February 1928
Launched14 September 1928
Commissioned14 March 1929
Out of serviceJuly 1945
Honours and
awards
FateSold for scrap, 22 May 1947
BadgeOn a Field Gold, three castles on a bridge, all Silver, below a star and a fleur-de-lys Gold.
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeBridgewater-class sloop
Displacement
Length266 ft 4 in (81.2 m) (o/a)
Beam34 ft (10.4 m)
Draft11 ft 5 in (3.5 m) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbine sets
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement96
Armament

HMS Bridgewater (L01) was the lead ship of her class of sloops built for the Royal Navy in the 1920s. Completed in 1929, the ship was initially assigned to the China Station and then joined the Commander-in-Chief, Africa in 1935. During the Second World War, Bridgewater spent most of her time on convoy escort duties off the West African coast although she did play a minor role in the Battle of Dakar in 1940. She was replaced in that role before the end of the war by more modern ships and was relegated to training duties in the UK. The ship was reduced to reserve shortly after the end of the war and was sold for scrap in 1947.