HMS Frobisher (D81)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Frobisher.

Frobisher c. 1924–1930
History
United Kingdom
NameFrobisher
NamesakeSir Martin Frobisher
OrderedDecember 1915
BuilderHM Dockyard, Devonport
Laid down2 August 1916
Launched20 March 1920
Commissioned20 September 1924
Out of service1947
Reclassified
  • As a training ship, 1932
  • As a heavy cruiser, March 1942
  • As a training ship, May 1945
IdentificationPennant number: 81 (1924);[1] I81 (1938); D81 (1940)[2]
FateSold for scrap, 26 March 1949
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeHawkins-class heavy cruiser
Displacement
Length604 ft 2 in (184.2 m) (o/a)
Beam65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught19 ft 3 in (5.9 m) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × shafts; 4 × geared steam turbines
Speed30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph)
Range5,640 nmi (10,450 km; 6,490 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement709
Armament
Armour
  • Belt: 1.5–3 in (3.8–7.6 cm)
  • Deck: 1–1.5 in (2.5–3.8 cm)
  • Gun shields: 1 in (2.5 cm)

HMS Frobisher was one of five Hawkins-class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was not finished during the war and construction proceeded very slowly after the end of the war in 1918. Completed in 1924, the ship was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in 1929, sometimes serving as a flagship. Placed in reserve in 1930, Frobisher was converted into a cadet training ship in 1932 before being returned to reserve in 1937. Two years later she was reactivated to again serve as a training ship.

When the Second World War began in 1939, the Royal Navy decided to reconvert her back into a heavy cruiser, but the work was repeatedly delayed by higher-priority repairs for other ships and she did not reenter service until early 1942. Frobisher was transferred to the Eastern Fleet and spent most of the next two years on escort duty. She returned to the UK in early 1944 to participate in Operation Neptune, the naval portion of the invasion of Normandy in June. The ship bombarded German coastal defences on 6 June, but was damaged by a torpedo in August. The Royal Navy decided to convert her back into a training ship while she was under repair and that work was completed in 1945. Frobisher served in that role until she was replaced in 1947 and the vessel was sold for scrap in 1949.

  1. ^ Dittmar, F J; Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 49.
  2. ^ Lenton, H T (1973). British Cruisers. London: Macdonald. p. 151.