HMS Vigo (D31)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Vigo.

HMS Vigo
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Vigo
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Laid down	11 September 1943
Launched	27 September 1945
Commissioned	9 December 1946
Decommissioned	1 October 1959
Identification	Pennant number D31
Fate	Sold for breaking up
General characteristics
Class and type	Battle-class destroyer
Displacement	2,325 tons
Length	379 ft (116 m)
Beam	40.25 ft (12.27 m)
Propulsion	Boilers: 2 Admiralty, 3 drum type Turbines: 2 Parsons Horsepower: 50,000 shp (37 MW) Shafts: 2
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h)
Complement	247
Armament	2 × twin 4.5 in guns QF Mark III on mounting BD Mk. IV 1 × single QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII on mount Mk. III 4 × twin 40 mm Bofors mounts "Hazemeyer" Mk. IV 4-6 × single 40 mm Bofors mounts Mk. VII 2 × quad tubes for 21 inch (533 mm) torpedoes Mk. IX Two depth charge rails. Four depth charge throwers. Depth charges later replaced by 1 × Squid A/S mortar

HMS Vigo was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was named after the Battle of Vigo, which took place in 1702 during the War of Spanish Succession between a British-Dutch Fleet and the French, and which ended in a victory for the British. Vigo was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Govan. She was launched on 27 September 1945 and commissioned on 9 December 1946.

Service history

Upon commissioning, Vigo was placed in Reserve along with a number of her sister-ships. In 1949, Vigo joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, based in the Mediterranean, which at that time, had quite a large Royal Navy presence. She performed a variety of operations there, at a time when there was much going on in the region and nearby, such as the internal turmoil in Egypt between 1951–1954.

In 1953, while still in the Mediterranean, Vigo suffered a fire onboard her, causing minor damage, though Vigo would suffer another fire in 1954. Also that year, Vigo became the Gunnery Training Ship based at Portsmouth, a duty that a number of her sister ships also performed.

In addition to being the Gunnery Training Ship to HMS Excellent, at Whale Island, Vigo was also Captain (D) of the Portsmouth Squadron.

As well as her Gunnery duties, during the period 1958–59, Vigo also carried out two Icelandic patrols during the first Cod War; took part in NATO exercises, and visited such ports as Vigo, Cuxhaven, Caen and Den Helder, before being paid off in September, 1959, having been relieved as Captain (D) by Wakeful around 17 August 1959. By this date her hull was considered to be beyond economic repair. Her last commanding officer, Captain Michael Pollock, went on to become an Admiral of the Fleet.

Disposal

Following decommissioning in 1959, she was finally scrapped in 1964 at Faslane.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Hodges, Peter (1971). Battle Class Destroyers. London: Almark Publishing. ISBN 0-85524-012-1.
• Whitley, M.J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.