Dates: 1919 -

HMS Campbeltown was a Town class destroyer of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was originally an American destroyer, the USS Buchanan, but like many other obsolete US Navy destroyers, she was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940 as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement. Campbeltown became one of the most famous of these ships when she was used in the St. Nazaire Raid in 1942.

Having been formally commissioned she took passage from Halifx to Plymouth, travelling via St. Johns, Newfoundland. She arrived at Devonport Dockyard on 29 September and was taken in hand for modifications to fit her for service with the Royal Navy. The refits lasted throughout October, and on completion of the final harbour trials on 1 November she was nominated to join the 17th Flotilla operating in the Western Approaches. The next, whilst she was carrying out sea trials, she collided with the SS Risoy and sustained damage, but continued on to Liverpool. She arrived safely and underwent repairs from 7 November. On their completion on 24 November, Campbeltown continued on to join the flotilla. She began deploying with the flotilla in early December, but on 3 December she collided with the SS Comus and had to put into port for repairs. The repairs lasted until late March, and involved the shortening of the fourth funnel.

On completion of the work on 28 March Campbeltown was transferred on loan to the Royal Netherlands Navy, and she joined the 7th Escort Group, and deployed with them throughout April and May. There was at this time a proposal to rename her Middleburg, but this was not agreed upon, as it would have been contrary to the naming agreed with the US Navy on her original transfer. She underwent further repairs throughout June, and resumed convoy defence with the group in July through to August. She was then nominated to be returned to the Royal Navy in September, but remaining with the 7th Escort Group. She spent September working up with her Royal Navy crew and rejoined the group in October, where she covered convoys travelling between the UK and West Africa. On 15 September she picked up the survivors of the Norwegian motor tanker Vinga, which had been damaged in an enemy air attack. She carried out escort duties throughout November and into December, before taking passage to Devonport to undergo repairs.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Campbeltown

" Aircraft Carriers. Ship Name, Launch Date, Displacement, Total Crew. HMS Invincible 1977--22,000--1051. HMS Illustrious 197--22,000--1051. HMS Ark Royal 1981--22,000--1051. Amphibious Assault Ships Ship. HMS Ocean 1995--20,700--265. HMS Albion 2001--18,500--363. HMS Bulwark ..."

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" Under the headline ’Scots-led Ministry of Defence continues to favour Scottish naval shipyards at England’s expense’  the campaign says: The MoD press notice last Friday sounded sweet and innocent enough: ‘The Royal Navy frigate HMS Campbeltown left her base port in Plymouth last ..."

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"is searching for a very good matey of mine that i lost contact with. ab sonar scot meacher. served on hms cumberland and also on hms campbeltown. originally he came from crawley in sussex near to gatwick. if anyone knows anything please let me know as he seems to have dropped off the face of the planet ! cheers muckers."

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