HMS Urchin – R99
Index of Allied warships during Operation Neptune
History, technical sheet and photo
Historique de l’HMS Urchin
This U-class destroyer was launched on 8 March 1943 and entered active service on 24 September of the same year. Called HMS Urchin, it was deployed to the 25th fleet of destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea and participated in the landing operations of the 1st British infantry division in Anzio in January 1944 before patrolling and escorting convoys off the coast of Italy.
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 Urchin escorts the G14 convoy across the English Channel on 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 until 25 June.
Once again deployed in the Mediterranean Sea from July to October, it traveled from January 1945 to the waters of the Pacific, where it worked under the command of U.S. Navy until 28 August.
Based in Hong Kong until 1946, it was converted into an anti-submarine frigate in 1954 and served for the benefit of English cadets as of 1959. Definitely placed in reserve in 1964, HMS Urchin is sold for being scrapped in 1967.
HMS Urchin technical sheet
Creator/User: Great-Britain
Denomination: R 99 – H.M.S. Urchin
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
