Name HMS Orwell Laid down 20 May 1940 Construction started 20 May 1940 Length 105 m | Ordered 3 September 1939 Commissioned 17 October 1942 Fate Broken up, 1965 Launched 2 April 1942 Draft 4.11 m | |
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Builder John I. Thornycroft & Company Operations Battle of the Barents Sea (1942), Battle of the North Cape (1943) | ||
HMS Orwell was an O-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that entered service in 1942 and was broken up in 1965.
Contents
Second World War service
Orwell saw action at the Battle of the Barents Sea, and was involved in convoy escort duties during the Battle of North Cape.
Postwar service
Between 1946 and 1947 Orwell was part of the Portsmouth local flotilla and used for torpedo training. Between 1947 and 1949 she was held in reserve at Harwich. In 1949 the destroyer underwent a refit at Cowes and between 1950 and 1952 was held in reserve at Chatham.
In 1952 she was converted to a Type 16 frigate at Rosyth Dockyard. Following re-commissioning in 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Between 1953 and 1958 she was Captain (Destroyers) at Plymouth. In December 1959 Orwell underwent refit at Rosyth, being held in reserve there until 1961. Between 1961 and 1963 the frigate was held on reserve at Portsmouth, before being placed on the disposal list.
She was sold for scrap to John Cashmore Ltd and arrived for breaking up at Newport on 28 June 1965.