HMS Wakeful (R59)

HMS Wakeful underway on 28 February 1944
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Wakeful
Ordered:	3 December 1941
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotland
Laid down:	3 June 1942
Launched:	30 June 1943
Commissioned:	17 February 1944
Identification:	Pennant number: 1941 - 1953: R59 1953 - 1970: F159
Motto:	Si dormiam capiar ("If I sleep, I may be caught")
Fate:	Sold for scrap on 10 June 1971
Badge:	On a Black field an eye proper with rays ensuing therefore, Gold.
General characteristics as W class
Class and type:	W-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,710 tons (1,730 tonnes) 2,530 tons full (2,570 tonnes)
Length:	362.75 ft (110.57 m) o/a
Beam:	35.75 ft (10.90 m)
Draught:	10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion:	2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (30 MW), 2 shafts
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) / 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) full
Range:	4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	179 (225 as leader)
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 272 target indication Radar Type 291 air warning Radar Type 285 fire control on director Mk.III(W) Radar Type 282 fire control on 40 mm mount Mk.IV
Armament:	4 × QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) L/45 Mk.IX, single mounts CP Mk.XXII 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk.VIII, quad mount Mk.VII, or; 2 × QF 40 mm Bofors, twin mount "Hazemeyer" Mk.IV 4 × A/A mountings; twin 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.V single Bofors 40 mm Mk.III or "Boffin" Mk.V single QF 2 pdr Mk.XVI 8 (4x2) tubes for 21 in torpedoes Mk.IX 2 racks & 4 throwers for 70 depth charges
General characteristics Type 15 frigate
Class and type:	Type 15 frigate
Displacement:	2,300 tons (standard)
Length:	358 ft (109 m) o/a
Beam:	37.75 ft (11.51 m)
Draught:	14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, steam turbines on 2 shafts, 40,000 shp (30 MW)
Speed:	31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) (full load)
Complement:	174
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Type 293Q target indication (later Type 993) Type 277Q surface search Type 974 navigation Type 262 fire control on director CRBF Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar: Type 174 search Type 162 target classification Type 170 attack
Armament:	1 × twin 4 in gun Mark 19 1 × twin 40mm Bofors Mk.5; 2 × Squid A/S mortar or; 2 × Limbo Mark 10 A/S mortar

HMS Wakeful was a W-class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1943. She saw service during the Second World War and was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate. She was sold for scrap in 1971.

HMS Wakeful was a W-class destroyer ordered from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Glasgow on 3 December 1941 as part of the 9th Emergency Flotilla. She was laid down on 3 June 1942 under the provisional name of Zebra, but was renamed Wakeful in January 1943, exchanging names with a destroyer also under construction, which was subsequently launched as HMS Zebra. She became the second ship of the name, the first being an Admiralty W-class destroyer sunk by a German E-Boat off Dunkirk in 1940 during Operation Dynamo, the evacuation from Dunkirk.

Wakeful joined the Home Fleet on 17 February 1944 for sea trials and working up, before entering active service in March and forming part of the 27th Destroyer Flotilla when more ships of the class became available. While serving with the Home Fleet the Flotilla was deployed to support Operation Tungsten, where she served as an escort vessel during the air raids on the German battleship Tirpitz in Altenfjord. In May 1944 Wakeful served as an escort during air attacks on German shipping off Narvik and Stadlandet, Norway as part of the 27th Destroyer Flotilla.