HMS Vancouver (1917)
As HMS Vancouver
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Vancouver |
| Builder: | Beardmore |
| Launched: | 28 December 1917 |
| Renamed: | HMS Vimy in April 1928 |
| Decommissioned: | March 1947 |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Sold for scrap December 1947 |
| General characteristics (see below) | |
| Class and type: | V-class destroyer |
| Armament: |
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HMS Vancouver was a British V-class destroyer. She was launched on 28 December 1917; in July 1922 she accidentally rammed the submarine H24. She was renamed HMS Vimy in April 1928. She served with distinction during World War II, earning two battle honours and damaging or sinking three enemy submarines. The Royal Navy retired her in 1945 and she was scrapped in 1948.
On 6 February 1940, Vimy rescued the sole survivor of a crew of four from an Avro Anson that had crashed into the sea while escorting a convoy.
In May 1940 she participated in the Dunkirk evacuation. Anticipating the need, the Royal Navy had sent 200 seaman and marines aboard Vimy, to organise the port of Boulogne on 23 May. At one point, U-60 fired at her but without result as the torpedoes were faulty. Also on 23 May, small arms fire from the shore fatally wounded Lieutenant Commander Colin Donald, her captain, and killed the officer of the watch, Sub Lieutenant Webster. Lt Cdr Donald was carried below and died in hospital in Dover; the first lieutenant took temporary command. Lieutenant Commander Donald's replacement as captain was found to be missing on the second day of the Dunkirk evacuation, and the crew searched the entire vessel for him without result.
On 1 June, Vimy collided with and sank the yacht Amulree in the Gull Channel, to the west of the Goodwin Sands. That same day an air attack caused some damage. During the evacuation of Dunkirk, Vimy transported 2,976 troops; for her efforts she received the battle honours "Dunkirk 1940".
In 1941 she was reconstructed to long range escort, the work being finished in June 1941. On 21 September 1941, depth charges from Vimy damaged the Italian Marconi-class submarine Luigi Torelli, which was attempting to attack Convoy HG 73, west of Gibraltar.
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