HMS Thanet (H29)

History
RN EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Thanet
OrderedJuly 1917
BuilderHawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn
Laid down13 December 1917
Launched5 November 1918
Commissioned3 August 1919
IdentificationPennant number: H29
MottoIn hoc signo: 'By this sign you will conquer'
FateSunk on 27 January 1942
BadgeOn a field Blue a Cross fitched Gold
General characteristics
Class and typeS-class destroyer
Displacement1,075 tons
Length276 ft (84 m) o/a
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught10 ft 10 in (3.30 m)
PropulsionBrown-Curtis, steam turbines, 2 shafts, 27,000 shp
Speed36 knots
Range250-300 tons of oil
Complement90
Armament

HMS Thanet was an S-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Built during, and commissioned shortly after the First World War, she went on to see service in the Second World War, and was sunk early in 1942.

Thanet had been one of the ships on the China Station on the outbreak of war. After briefly being converted to a minelayer she spent the early years of the war patrolling off Hong Kong. With the Japanese entry to the war Thanet evacuated Hong Kong with another destroyer, just hours after the Japanese began their attack on the city. She made her way to Singapore and briefly deployed there until she was sent to intercept an enemy troop convoy, in company with the Australian destroyer Vampire. The allied ships ran into a heavy Japanese force, and after a short battle Thanet was sunk and Vampire was forced to withdraw.