HMS Woodpecker (U08)
Woodpecker in December 1942
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Woodpecker |
| Namesake: | Woodpecker |
| Builder: | William Denny & Brothers |
| Launched: | 29 June 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 14 December 1942 |
| Motto: | Inveniet qui exquirit: 'He who seeks carefully shall find' |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: |
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| Badge: | On a Field White, a woodpecker clinging to a stump of a tree proper |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Black Swan-class sloop |
| Displacement: | 1,350 tons |
| Length: | 299 ft 6 in (91.29 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m) |
| Draught: | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Range: | 7,500 nmi (13,900 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 192 |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: | 2nd Support Group |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | Battle of the Atlantic |
| Victories: | 6 U-boats (shared) |
HMS Woodpecker, pennant number U08, was a Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of six U-boats.
Woodpecker was ordered on 13 April 1940 under the 1940 Building Programme; she was laid down by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton, Scotland on 23 February 1941. She was launched on 29 June 1942, and commissioned 14 December the same year, with a build time of 23 months and 10 days. The Black Swan design was subject to many modifications during the building process, which were later consolidated into the Modified Black Swan design. Although Woodpecker was ordered under the original design, her late build meant she incorporated many of these modifications and is consequently listed in some sources as one of the Modified Black Swan class.
After commissioning, Woodpecker was assigned to convoy escort duty. In April, Woodpecker joined 2nd Support Group, a highly successful anti-submarine warfare group under the command of FJ Walker.
In February Woodpecker, and 2 SG, were on support duty in the Atlantic, though they saw little action.
In June they were assigned to the Bay of Biscay, supporting Coastal Command's Operation Musketry. On 24 June Woodpecker, with others, found and destroyed two U-boats, U-119 and U-449, off Cape Ortegal.
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