Dates: 1946 - 1965
HMS Dunkirk (D09) was a 4th of the line Battle-class fleet destroyer of the British Royal Navy (RN).
Though there were other ships of the Navy that had been named Dunkirk, as far back as the 1650s, it held added meaning after the dramatic, and at times, tragic and heroic evacuation from Dunkirk between late May and early June 1940, in which over 300,000 British, as well as French troops, were rescued by a ragtag fleet of ships.
Dunkirk was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons of Govan. She was launched on 27 August 1945 and commissioned on 27 November 1946.
In the year of her commissioning, Dunkirk joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet. In 1950, Dunkirk was placed in Reserve, just many of her sister-ships in the 1950s.
She subsequently performed a variety of duties and in 1958, while in the Mediterranean, Dunkirk, in broad daylight, collided with her sister-ship HMS Jutland during naval manoeuvres off Malta, causing minor damage.
In 1961, Dunkirk, along with the cruiser HMS Lion and the frigate HMS Leopard, undertook a tour of the South American continent.
Instead of returning home to the UK from the deployment’s culmination Dunkirk deployed to the Mediterranean where HMS Broadsword, a Weapon-class destroyer, and of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, which was based in the Mediterranean, had experienced some engine problems and therefore had to be replaced.
Dunkirk finally returned home in 1963. Just two years later, Dunkirk was scrapped at Faslane.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Dunkirk
" I am trying to find any information regarding my late father who served in the RN from 1944-1966 as a stoker. He served on a number of ships the ones I have some info for are below HMS Swiftsure 1944-45 HMS Alaunia 1954 HMS Tyrian 1955 HMS Tumult 1956 HMS Sheffield ..."
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"There seems to be quite a few old crew members from different commissions for the Dunkirk, I am quite surprised you haven’t joined the HMS Dunkirk Association. We have been in operation since 2005, and I see only one person listed as a Member, perhaps now is the time to join, our next reuonion takes place in Whitby, 20th April 2012 maybe we will see you there. Bill Flack"
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