Dates: 1936 - 1949
HMS Ashanti was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Following the style of her sister ships she was named for an ethnic group, in this case the Ashanti people of the Gold Coast in West Africa. She served in the Second World War and was broken up in 1949. She was the first of two Royal Navy ships to bear the name Ashanti.
Although it was initially intended for all Tribal-class destroyers to visit the land of the people after whom they were named, HMS Ashanti was one of the few to actually do this. She sailed to Takoradi, Gold Coast, on 27 February 1939. During the visit, the ship’s company was presented with a silver bell and a gold shield by the Asantehene, the ceremonial leader of the Ashanti, then the Chief Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II. The ship also accepted visitors from the tribe, many of whom presented good-luck charms and symbols of valour and survival to the ship.
In May 1939, the ship went to France on a good-will visit. It was in preparation for the looming Second World War and for British seamen to make friends with their future allies of the French Navy.
The following month, Ashanti, as part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, attempted to rescue the stricken submarine HMS Thetis. Although the submarine was found still afloat, salvage attempts failed and only four men were saved when the ship sank with the remaining 99 trapped within.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Ashanti
" Hello. I am looking for information about life aboard the HMS Ashanti (Destroyer, Tribal Class, F51) during WW2. I am trying to find out some information about my grandfather Leonard George Bird, DoB Oct 1913 born Fulham, London, for my mother (his daughter). Even if I can not find anything about ..."
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" Quoting: Philippa Matthews Hello. I am looking for information about life aboard the HMS Ashanti (Destroyer, Tribal Class, F51) during WW2. I am trying to find out some information about my grandfather Leonard George Bird, DoB Oct 1913 born Fulham, London, for my mother (his daughter). Even ..."
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" Quoting: Philippa Matthews Hello. I am looking for information about life aboard the HMS Ashanti (Destroyer, Tribal Class, F51) during WW2. I am trying to find out some information about my grandfather Leonard George Bird, DoB Oct 1913 born Fulham, London, for my mother (his daughter). Even ..."
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" Quoting: John (scouse) Hirons Alright Philippa, I’m afraid being a crabfat & too young, I don’t know the Ashanti, But I’m bit of a history nut so I have got a site that might interest you. http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4230.html The picture is HMS Ashanti off Iceland in 1942. ..."
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"Excellent site have only found one oppo so far but there are more out there if you were in the Royal Marine Detachment on HMS Ashanti F117 in 1972-1974 West Indies, drop us a line. "
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