Name HMS Broadsword Completed 4 October 1948 Class and type Weapon-class destroyer Launched 4 February 1946 Builder Yarrow Shipbuilders | Laid down 20 July 1944 Identification Pennant number G31/D31 Construction started 20 July 1944 Length 111 m | |
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Fate Arrived at Inverkeithing for scrapping in October 1968 | ||
HMS Broadsword was a Weapon-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy in service from 1948 and scrapped in 1968.
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Service
On commissioning in 1948 Broadsword became part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla (later Squadron), as part of the Home Fleet, along with the other Weapon-class destroyers. In 1953 she went into reserve, being replaced in the 6th Destroyer Squadron by Comet.
In 1957 all of the Weapon class were taken into refit and conversion to re-equip them as radar pickets, to supplement the new Salisbury-class frigates. Broadsword was converted at Rosyth. The conversion involved the removal of both sets of torpedo tubes and the erection of an additional lattice mast, which carried a large Type 965 Radar (AKE -1 aerial). She re-commissioned in October 1958 and was then allocated to the 7th Destroyer Squadron serving in Home and Mediterranean waters until paying off in 1963.
Decommissioning and disposal
Following decommissioning Broadsword was towed on 25 April 1968 to Rosyth for use in target trials. She was scrapped at Inverkeithing, arriving there on the 8 October 1968.
In popular culture
Broadsword was featured on the Look at Life (film series) shown on BBC Four titled 'Britain on Film' Episode 2:6 Messing About on Boats. During the short clip, D31 is filmed from a trawler patrolling the fishing limits with Iceland at some time during the 1960s.