HMS Mashona (F59)

HMS Mashona (pennant number L59, later F59) was a destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service in the Second World War.

She was built by Vickers Armstrong, with her machinery supplied by Parsons. She was authorised in the program year 1936. Mashona was laid down on 5 August 1936, launched on 3 September 1937 and completed by 30 March 1939.

In September 1939 she was serving with the sixth Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow. She took part in operations resulting in the sinking of the Bismarck on 27 May 1941. She came under heavy air attack from the Luftwaffe while returning to port the following day, and was bombed and sunk off the coast of Galway with the loss of 48 men. HMS Tartar (F43) took the survivors to Greenock.

She was awarded the following battle honours:


 * Norway 1940
 * "Bismarck" 1941