HMS Ulster (R83)

HMS Ulster on the River Tyne, 26 June 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Ulster
Builder:	Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Laid down:	12 November 1941
Launched:	9 November 1942
Commissioned:	30 June 1943
Decommissioned:	1977
Identification:	pennant number R83
Fate:	Withdrawn from service 1977; Broken up 1980
General characteristics
Class and type:	U-class destroyer

HMS Ulster was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F83. Ulster would be the third vessel in Royal Navy history to have that name.

With funds gathered through a Naval Savings Campaign in 1942 known as Warship Week, the ship was adopted by the civil community of Ulster's County Down.

HMS Ulster had a displacement of 2091 tons when full and dimensions of 363 feet (111 m) long, 36 feet (11 m) wide and a draught of 10 feet (3.0 m). She was powered by 2 Admiralty 3 drum type water boilers, which gave 40,000 horsepower (30 MW) through twin shafts making a top speed of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). Her range was 4,860 nautical miles (9,000 km; 5,590 mi). The crew complement was 180 hands.

Armaments on the original construction and fitting consisted of: four 4.7 inch Mark IX guns, two 40mm Bofors, six QF 20mm Oerlikons and two quad-mounted 21 inch (533 mm) Mark IX torpedo tubes, as well as radar, sonar and depth charges.

In June 1943 construction was completed and Ulster went into duty in the English Channel. By the end of the year she would be on duty in the Mediterranean and Adriatic on anti-submarine missions, receiving damage from return fire. In April 1944 the destroyer would return to home waters and towards the end of the year would refit and have new radar and advanced warning systems installed.