Name HMS Raider Identification pennant number H15 Name INS Rana Launched 1942 | Commissioned 16 November 1942 Fate Sold to India 1948 Acquired 1948 Builder Cammell Laird | |
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HMS Raider was a R-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
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Description
Raider displaced 1,705 long tons (1,732 t) at standard load and 2,425 long tons (2,464 t) at deep load. She had an overall length of 358 feet 3 inches (109.2 m), a beam of 33 feet 8 inches (10.3 m) and a deep draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.1 m). She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Raider carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Her complement was 176 officers and ratings.
The ship was armed with four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Raider had one quadruple mount for QF 2-pdr Mark VIII ("pom-pom") guns and six single 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon autocannon. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. Two depth charge rails and four throwers were fitted for which 70 depth charges were provided.
Construction and career
HMS Raider was adopted by Romford during World War II as part of Warship Week. She was launched on 1 April 1942 as the second Royal Navy ship to carry the name, previously borne by a destroyer built in 1916 and sold in 1927.
The town council still has all of the relevant documents regarding the adoption. The local Sea Cadet Unit was renamed T S Raider.
Postwar service
Raider was placed in Reserve at Devonport in January 1946 and was recommissioned for service in the Mediterranean on 6 May that year. The ship was extensively deployed for Plane Guard duties with aircraft carriers and took part in Fleet exercises. She returned to UK in August 1947 and reduced to Reserve status.
She was subsequently sold to the Indian Navy in 1948, where she was commissioned in 1949 as INS Rana (D115). Along with two other former R-class destroyers (Rajput and Ranjit) she formed part of the 11th destroyer Squadron. She was decommissioned in 1976, and scrapped in 1979.