HMS Gabbard (D47)

HMS Gabbard (D47) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named in honour of the Battle of the Gabbard, which occurred in 1653, and which resulted in an English victory over the Dutch Fleet. Gabbard was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited on the Tyne. She was launched on 16 March 1945 and commissioned on 10 December 1946.

Upon commissioning, Gabbard joined the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet based in the UK. In 1947, Gabbard, while on a visit to Malmo in Sweden], narrowly avoided collision with the ferry from Arrhus in Denmark, the 'Malmohus', The harbour at Malmo is in the form of a capital 'E' the central segment being a stone jetty. HMS Solebay (Capt D), entered the harbour first and tied up with the stone jetty on her port bow. She was followed by the ' Gabbard'. When it came to leave the 'Gabbard' swung round on her bow cable and started to steam ahead. At the same time the ferry entered the harbour. In order to avoid a collision the 'Gabbard; went astern at speed. She then went ahead but was still going astern when she hit a ship on the stocks. The depth charge racks which protruded over the stern were forced up over the deck. She then was travelling forward and struck the end of the stone jetty on her starboard side. She suffered serious damage from the 'break' to the stern. In 1948 Gabbard took part in the Autumn Cruise, which included the two carriers HMS Theseus (R64) and HMS Vengeance (R71), and three other smaller vessels. The cruise deployed to South Africa and the West Indies, performing a number of fly-the-flag visits to a variety of ports, and performing naval exercises and other duties. In 1949, Gabbard, escorting Vengeance once more, deployed to the cold climate of the Arctic for experiments in that region.

In 1950, Gabbard, along with a number of other vessels of the Home Fleet, including three aircraft carriers, such as HMS Victorious (R38), and the battleship HMS Vanguard (23), undertook a Spring cruise, visiting the Mediterranean, where the Group performed a number of fly-the-flag visits to port, and naval exercises. In 1953, Gabbard decommissioned, and was subsequently placed in Reserve.

In 1957, Gabbard was sold to the Pakistani Navy, being renamed Badr. In 1971, Badr was heavily damaged by Indian warships during the Indo-Pakistan War.