Name HMS Locust Laid down 29 November 1938 Decommissioned May 1946 Launched 28 September 1939 Weight 594.4 tons Draft 1.5 m | Ordered 20 June 1938 Commissioned 17 May 1940 Construction started 29 November 1938 Length 60 m Displacement 530,700 kg Builder Yarrow Shipbuilders | |
 | ||
Reclassified Royal Naval Reserve drill ship in 1951 | ||
HMS Locust was one of 4 Dragonfly-class river gunboats of the Royal Navy, and was named after the locust, an insect. Launched on 28 September 1939 and commissioned on 17 May 1940, she survived the Second World War despite being severely damaged many times, including taking a shell hit during Operation Overlord.
Contents
Service
Locust had a central role in Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. She was commanded by Commander Robert Ryder, who had previously attacked the drydock in Operation Chariot, the St Nazaire Raid. Locust carried about 200 Royal Marine Commandos.
She served during Operation Overlord, during which she received a hit from shellfire.
Fate
She was placed in reserve from 1946 until 1951 when she was converted to a drill ship for the Royal Naval Reserve and used for training. She was decommissioned in 1968 and sold on 24 May 1968 to Cashmore for breaking. She was broken up in Newport.