HMS Terpsichore was a T-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Description

Terpsichore, named after Terpsichore of Greek mythology, displaced 1710 LT at standard load and 2530 LT at deep load. She had an overall length of 362 ft, a beam of 35 ft and a deep draught of 14 ft. She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40000 shp and gave a maximum speed of 36 kn. Terpsichore carried a maximum of 615 LT of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4675 nmi at 20 kn. Her complement was 170 officers and ratings. The ship was armed with four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark XII guns in dual-purpose mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Terpsichore had one twin mount for Bofors 40 mm guns and four twin 20 mm Oerlikon autocannon. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple mounts for 21 in torpedoes. Two depth charge rails and four throwers were fitted for which 70 depth charges were provided.

Construction and career

In August 1945 Terpsichore was sent to Japan, under the command of Commander R. T. White D.S.O.** (later Captain R. T. White D.S.O.**, 2nd son of Sir Archibald White, Bt., of Wallingwells), as the lead destroyer in the escort group of the USS Mississippi (BB-41) into Tokyo Bay. Commander White witnessed the surrender of the Japanese Forces and received a surrendered Samurai sword from the Japanese. Between 1946 and 1953 Terpsichore was held in reserve at Devonport. Between 1953 and 1954 she was converted to a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate, by Thornycroft, Woolston, with the new pennant number F19. In 1955 she was placed in reserve in Devonport, undergoing a refit there in December 1957. Between 1960 and 1966 Terpsichore was held in reserve at Lisahally. She was subsequently sold for scrap and arrived at Troon on 17 May 1966.