HMS Zebra (R81)

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Zebra
Namesake	zebra
Ordered	12 February 1942
Builder	William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down	14 May 1942
Launched	18 March 1944
Commissioned	13 October 1944
Identification	Pennant number: R81
Fate	Arrived in Newport for breaking up 12 February 1959
General characteristics
Class and type	Z-class destroyer
Displacement	1,710 tons
Length	362 ft 9 in (110.57 m)
Beam	35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Draught	10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion	Twin steam turbines
Speed	37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) maximum
Complement	185
Armament	4 × QF 4.5 in (114 mm) guns 5 × 40 mm guns 8 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

HMS Zebra was a Z-class destroyer. She was to have been named HMS Wakeful but was renamed in January 1943 before launching. The destroyer was launched on 18 March 1944 at William Denny & Brothers shipyard in Dumbarton, Scotland and commissioned on 13 October 1944. She was 'adopted' by the civil community of Urmston, then in the county of Lancashire.