WW2 British destroyer at Brighton in 1980

Does anyone recall a destroyer moored and open to the public in Brighton in 1980. It was just to the West of the pavilion pier. I remember how very spartan it seemed, thinly armored m and could not imagine crossing the Atlantic on one, let alone Murmansk. I was curious as to her name so I might look it up. I want to see if my recollections were remotely correct.


Gaines
Auburn, AL
US

 

Maybe HMS Cavalier? She was on view in Brighton in '83.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cavalier_%28R73%29

'610

 

Yes.HMS Cavalier. 'C' Class destroyer.

I went to Brighton to see her but she had moved. She is now at Chatham.

Mike

PS.
I have just looked on Google and it seems Cavalier did not move to Brighton until 1983. Everything else fits.

 

Thanks guys, you have solved a mystery 34 years old. I shot slide film in those days and storage was broken down into architectural categories but some how the destroyer got lost. No WW2 destroyer category in my work ! Probably lurking in my attic .

I remember being extremely moved by the idea of how hard life plus combat must have been aboard but then so would being in a plane, tank or on foot. I remember reading that two US destroyers were broken into by a typhoon late in the PTO.

I really appreciate the photo and link. I will see if I can dig up more information.

I knew the vast knowledge on this forum would culminate in an answer. I think this is where I should say "brilliant" to illustrate I know just a we bit of English.

Now if I could only find a single pint of bitter in this country awash in watery beer I would toast all of you.

Cheers,
Gaines

 

There's actually very decent beer including bitter in the more civilised parts of the US these days.

Alabama however... I feel for you.

The Italians also lost at least one destroyer (Scirocco - in hindsight an unfortunate name) in a storm on the return from the 2nd Battle of Sirte in March 1942.

All the best

Andreas

 

Andreas, after 74 years I an convinced that beer in Alabama is made from corn !Our daughter lives in Denver and they have excellent local beer as did her last post in Seattle. She almost got assigned to the US base at Mons but then we cut back. I was really excited about visiting her in Belgium. Ambev is probably wishing they had not bought Budweiser who is loosing sales to craft brewers rather rapidly.

 

Oh, I do owe you kind folks a time explanation. I was in the UK in 1980 on sabbatical from my university doing research of Lutyens, Voysey and Mackintosh. I returned in 1984 on a short business trip with a person I was working for. They wanted to see the Royal Pavilion and pier and I spotted the destroyer. Just got my "sightings" times confused. age, what?

Gaines

PS, HMS Cavalier shows up rather nicely on Google Earth at Chatham ( Archives Warf)

Again ,many thanks for helping me run this down, much fun. Great forum.

 

Hi Gaines

Perhaps you had better alter the date then?

Lesley

 

Lesley, I am far older than you think!!!!!! But thanks, I inverted it ! Not quite that old........Gaines

 

Gaines

There is a Tribal Class on permanent display north of the border.

 

Can 'Mericans cross over to see it ? BTW where in Canada and what is her name ? Big country!

The US saved 3 Fletcher class destroyers for museum/memorial ships. One near you in Buffalo, another in Boston and the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge. The Kidd is restored to WW2 configuration.

I am glad I got to see HMS Cavalier.

Gaines

 

HMCS Haida, berthed in Hamilton ON

Just go north until you meet people without an accent. It don't be like those dozens per day who don't realize that you need a passport to visit a foreign country

 

Thanks, found it on Google Earth. Hamilton, Buffalo and Boston are well defended by WW11 destroyers. Rare birds to be so close .together.

Gaines

So a deep, deep South accent may cause suspicion ? Someone is Devon ask me if I were Australian !! LOL I was pleased they thought I was speaking any form of English !

 

When researching radio deception at the time of Overlord I came across a link to an unusual operation HMCS Haida was employed on and a summary is here:-

http://jproc.ca/rrp/accumulator.html


Jerry Proc has a wealth of WW2 info on his site, well worth a look.

'610E

 

Haida had a very distinguished record and sank more enemy surface tonnage than any other Canadian ship in WW2.