HMS Ursa – R 22 – D-Day – Battle of Normandy

HMS Ursa history

This U-class destroyer was launched on June 1, 1943 and entered active service on December 23 of the same year. Named HMS Ursa, it is deployed in the English Channel after his sea trials in order to carry out patrols and escorts.

In May 1944, as part of the preparation for Operation Overlord, it joined the Bombarding Force K, itself subordinated to Task Force G. It participated in Exercise Fabius on May 3rd, the general rehearsal of the amphibious operations in Normandy. The Ursa escorts the G10 convoy across the English Channel during the night of June 5-6, 1944, to Gold Beach. On D-Day, it participated in the fire support of the English troops and patrolled in the sector: on 9 June, it hunted E-Boote german speedboats off Le Havre.

In October, HMS Ursa is being renovated to prepare for its involvement in Pacific waters, which is in December. From February 1945, it operated under American command against the Japanese installations until August 17, when it served again under the command of the Royal Navy.

Based in Hong Kong until 1946, it was transformed into an anti-submarine frigate in 1955 and integrated the 6th fleet of frigates in the Mediterranean Sea for four years. Definitely placed in reserve on 28 November 1966, HMS Ursa was sold for scrap metal on 23 September 1967.

HMS Ursa technical sheet

Creator/User: Great-Britain
Denomination: R 22 – H.M.S. Ursa
Class: U-class destroyer

Crew: 180-225 sailors

Armament (1944): 4x 120 mm guns, 2x 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, 6x 20 mm anti-aircraft guns, 8x 533 mm torpedo tubes

Displacement: 1,710 tons
Speed: 37 knots
Length: 111 m
Beam: 10,87 m
Draught: 3 m