Article number:

10.11.099

HMS Terpsichore — Type 16 A/S Frigate

(Originally: T-class destroyer)

General Information

Name: HMS Terpsichore

Hull number (WWII): R33

Type:

Originally: T-class destroyer (8th Emergency Flotilla)

Later: Type 16 anti-submarine frigate

Shipyard: William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton

Keel laid: 6 May 1942

Launched: 23 March 1943

Commissioned: 29 September 1943

 

Design & Specifications (as a T-class destroyer)

 

Dimensions

Displacement: approx. 1,710 tonnes (standard), 2,530 tonnes (full load)

Length: 111.5 m

Beam: 10.9 m

Draught: 3.9 m

 

Engineering

2 × Parsons steam turbines

2 × propellers

Speed: 36+ knots

Range: approx. 4,675 nautical miles @ 20 knots

 

Original Armament (WWII)

4 × 120 mm guns (4 × single)

1 × 102 mm anti-aircraft gun

40 mm Bofors

Torpedo tubes (8 × 533 mm)

Depth charges

 

Converted to Type 16 A/S Frigate (1951–1953)

In the early Cold War, several obsolete destroyers were converted into Type 16 frigates for rapid anti-submarine operations.

 

Major modifications

Removal of most of the original armament

Installation of anti-submarine missiles:

2 × Limbo mortars (Mark 10)

Improved sonar and ASW radars

Lighter anti-aircraft guns (40 mm Bofors)

Improved communications equipment

Modification of superstructure and bridge

 

Role as Type 16

Rapid-response anti-submarine vessel

Escort vessel

Training and fleet defence

 

Service history

WWII (as a destroyer)

HMS Terpsichore operated mainly in:

The Arctic convoy routes to Russia

The North Atlantic

Operations against German surface vessels and U-boats

She was known as a reliable, hard-working ship in severe weather conditions.

 

Cold War (as a Type 16 frigate)

Following her conversion, she remained active in:

Home Fleet

Anti-submarine warfare exercises

NATO duties

 

End of service

Decommissioned: 1965

Scrapped: 1966 (Inverkeithing)

No part of the ship has survived.

Specifications:

Drawing number	10.11.099
Description	Fast A/S frigate type 16 HMS "Terpsichore" (1952)
Quality	side view; deck plans; layout plan; cross-sections/frame lines; English text
Scale	1 : 192
Number of sheets A00	0
Number of A0 sheets	0
Number of A1 sheets	0
Number of A2 sheets	2
Number of A3 sheets	0
Number of A4 sheets	0
Total number of drawing sheets	2
Number of A4 text pages	0
Weight in grams	65
Details	length 58 cm
Comments	artek 0035