HMS Goathland

HMS Goathland (L27) was a Type III Hunt-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.^[1]

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Goathland
Namesake	Village of Goathland, North Yorkshire
Ordered	28 July 1940
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down	30 January 1941
Launched	3 February 1942
Commissioned	6 November 1942
Decommissioned	October 1944
Fate	Scrapped at Troon, February 1946
General characteristics
Class & type	Hunt-class Type III
Displacement	1,067 long tons (1,084 t) (standard) 1,458 long tons (1,481 t) (full load)
Length	85.3 m (279 ft 10 in) (overall)
Beam	10.16 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.51 m (11 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 × geared steam turbines, Parsons 2 × Admiralty three-drum boilers 2 × shafts 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Speed	27 kn (31 mph; 50 km/h)
Range	2,560 nmi (4,740 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h) Operational: approx. 1,550 nmi (2,870 km)
Complement	168
Sensors & processing systems	Type 291 air warning radar Type 285 fire control radar Type 128 ASDIC sonar
Armament	4 × QF 4-inch Mk XVI guns (2 × 2) 4 × QF 2-pounder Mk VIII AA (1 × 4) 3 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon (3 × 1) 2 × 21-inch torpedo tubes Up to 110 × depth charges (2 throwers, 3 rails)

Goathland was ordered on 28 July 1940 under the 1940 Emergency Programme, from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Govan, Scotland, yard number J1694. She was laid down on 30 January 1941, launched on 3 February 1942, and commissioned on 6 November 1942.^[2]

The ship was adopted by the civil community of Axbridge, Somerset, during the National Warship Week campaign in March 1942. Like all her sister ships she was named after fox hunts; in Goathlands case, this was a fox-hunting pack based in the Stokesley district of North Yorkshire.^[3]

The Type III Hunt-class was designed to meet the Royal Navy's demand for numerous small destroyers capable of fleet work and convoy escort. The Type III design added a twin torpedo launcher amidships, in place of the third twin 4-inch gun mount seen on earlier variants. The Type III ships could be identified by their upright funnel with a sloped cap and vertical mast. Fourteen ships had stabilisers omitted to allow additional fuel storage.^[4]

Sensors included Type 291 and 285 radar, and Type 128 sonar,^[5] and crew complement was 168.^[6][7]

Service history

1943

Following trials and commissioning, Goathland joined the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in early 1943.^[8] She transferred to Portsmouth in January, joining the 15th Destroyer Flotilla for coastal patrols and escort duties in the English Channel and Western Approaches. She took part in an unsuccessful interception of the German blockade runner Togo.^[9]

On 16 March, Goathland formed part of the escort for combined convoys WS28/KMF11 bound for the Indian Ocean and Gibraltar, alongside ships including HMS Ashanti, HMS Douglas, Badsworth, Eggesford, Whaddon, ORP Krakowiak, Woodpecker, and Wren. She detached from the convoy at Gibraltar and returned to Portsmouth.^[10]

On 27 April, Goathland and HMS Albrighton attacked a German convoy including the Italian blockade runner Butterfly, sustaining minor damage from return fire. She encountered German E-boats off Portland on 29 May, and again on 3 September with HMS Limbourne (L57).^[11]

Ahead of the Normandy landings, Goathland was withdrawn and converted into a command ship in Liverpool under Rosyth Command. Modifications included enhanced communications equipment, extra accommodation for command staff, and upgraded AA weaponry.^[12]

1944

In February 1944, she was recommissioned as a command ship and relocated to Invergordon, Scotland, to support Exercise Fabius with the 3rd Infantry Division and Force S. She joined Force S at Portsmouth in April, continuing amphibious training with Forces G and J off Littlehampton and Brighton.^[13]

On 3 June, Goathland joined military convoy S2 at Spithead for the Normandy invasion. D-Day was delayed 24 hours due to poor weather, and she sailed on 5 June. On 6 June, she directed the amphibious landings of the 8th Infantry Brigade off Sword Beach, remaining on station until 17 June. After refuelling, she returned on 19 June, destroying two floating mines on 21 June. She was later tasked with patrolling the eastern attack sector.^[14]

On 3 July, patrolling with HMS Bleasdale, she rescued a shot-down German pilot, transferring the prisoner to the United States Navy the following day. She continued in patrol and rescue roles until 24 July, when she was heavily damaged by a naval mine off Normandy. One shaft, turbine and generator were damaged, and she was towed back to England.^[15]

Repairs were limited to restoring mobility. Due to the extent of damage and resource priorities, she was laid up at Portsmouth and the crew reassigned. In October, she was moved to the River Clyde.^[16]

Post-war

Following the end of hostilities, Goathland was declared surplus and sold to BISCO for scrapping by West of Scotland Shipbreaking at Troon. She arrived under tow in February 1946.^[17][18]

Battle honours

• Atlantic 1943
• English Channel 1943
• North Sea 1944
• Normandy 1944