HMS ULSTER
HMS ULSTER was a U-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend under the War Emergency Programme on 12th June 1941. The ship was laid down on 12th November 1941 and launched on 9th November 1942. Vessel was commissioned on 30th June 1943.
For WWII service see
www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-59U-HMS_Ulster.htm
Post WWII service. On the 1st April 1945 while serving with the British Pacific Fleet, HMS ULSTER, had a near miss by a Japanese kamikaze and a 500 lb bomb during Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa. HMS Ulster had her machinery spaces badly damaged and had to be towed to Leyte by the cruiser HMS GAMBIA for temporary repairs. Two sailors died and one was seriously injured in the attack. After temporary repairs she sailed for Australia on a single shaft (she was able to reach 24 knots if required). Nearly six months after the attack in October 1945 Ulster made it back to HM Dockyard, Chatham in England to undergo full repairs.
February 1946 she recommissioned as a training vessel, first for boys then Cadets and Midshipmen. December 1952 she paid off into Reserve Fleet at Devonport.
1953 Selected for conversion to a Type 15 frigate and towed to Chatham in 1954 in preparation for the conversion which was carried out between 1955-1956.
In 1957 she joined the 8th Frigate Squadron. Soon she was on duty in Iceland, Azores, and assigned to the North America and West Indies Station, based at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, cruising to the West Indies and visiting the United States.
In 1964 she was again put into reserve in Plymouth. A year later in 1965, Ulster was re-commissioned in the 2nd Frigate Squadron, but then in 1967 was withdrawn from operational service.
In 1966, the heavily damaged stern was replaced with that of HMS Urchin
During the late 1960s, Ulster was used by naval ratings from HMS Vernon for seagoing training in the Sonar Control Room (SCR). In 1970 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days; at the time she was the Navy's Navigational Training Ship. The destroyer was used as a training hulk at HMS Raleigh between 1977 and 1980.
Finally in 1980 Ulster was bought by Thos W Ward .The ship was taken under tow to Inverkeithing, Rosyth where she arrived on 2nd November 1980 for demolition.
HMS ULSTER photographed at 1956, location not known
HMS ULSTER
HMS ULSTER was a U-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend under the War Emergency Programme on 12th June 1941. The ship was laid down on 12th November 1941 and launched on 9th November 1942. Vessel was commissioned on 30th June 1943.
For WWII service see
www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-59U-HMS_Ulster.htm
Post WWII service. On the 1st April 1945 while serving with the British Pacific Fleet, HMS ULSTER, had a near miss by a Japanese kamikaze and a 500 lb bomb during Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa. HMS Ulster had her machinery spaces badly damaged and had to be towed to Leyte by the cruiser HMS GAMBIA for temporary repairs. Two sailors died and one was seriously injured in the attack. After temporary repairs she sailed for Australia on a single shaft (she was able to reach 24 knots if required). Nearly six months after the attack in October 1945 Ulster made it back to HM Dockyard, Chatham in England to undergo full repairs.
February 1946 she recommissioned as a training vessel, first for boys then Cadets and Midshipmen. December 1952 she paid off into Reserve Fleet at Devonport.
1953 Selected for conversion to a Type 15 frigate and towed to Chatham in 1954 in preparation for the conversion which was carried out between 1955-1956.
In 1957 she joined the 8th Frigate Squadron. Soon she was on duty in Iceland, Azores, and assigned to the North America and West Indies Station, based at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, cruising to the West Indies and visiting the United States.
In 1964 she was again put into reserve in Plymouth. A year later in 1965, Ulster was re-commissioned in the 2nd Frigate Squadron, but then in 1967 was withdrawn from operational service.
In 1966, the heavily damaged stern was replaced with that of HMS Urchin
During the late 1960s, Ulster was used by naval ratings from HMS Vernon for seagoing training in the Sonar Control Room (SCR). In 1970 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days; at the time she was the Navy's Navigational Training Ship. The destroyer was used as a training hulk at HMS Raleigh between 1977 and 1980.
Finally in 1980 Ulster was bought by Thos W Ward .The ship was taken under tow to Inverkeithing, Rosyth where she arrived on 2nd November 1980 for demolition.
HMS ULSTER photographed at 1956, location not known