HMS Camperdown (D32)

HMS Camperdown (pennant number D32) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named after the Battle of Camperdown, a naval engagement between the British and Dutch that took place in 1797, and which resulted in a British victory.

She was built by Fairfields and launched on 8 February 1944 and commissioned on 18 June 1945.

Service
Camperdown subsequently joined the British Pacific Fleet, though she did not see action during the Second World War. In 1946, she deployed to the Far East as part of the 19th Destroyer Flotilla, visiting a variety of ports, as well as performing a number of naval exercises on the way. The following year, Camperdown, along with the rest of the 19th Flotilla, after visits to many Far East ports, and a trip through the Mediterranean, returned to the United Kingdom. She was subsequently placed in Reserve.

She was  put back into service in 1953 and formed part of the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on the Solent,a record of which can be found displayed on board the Royal Yacht Brittania.

In 1953, at Plymouth, Camperdown was accidentally rammed by Coreopsis, a Flower class corvette (renamed Compass Rose for her role in the film The Cruel Sea), causing damage. In 1957, the ship joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet, and just the following year, suffered a fire. In 1960, Camperdown joined the 1st Destroyer Squadron, with spells with the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. In 1962, Camperdown was placed on the disposal list and in 1970, she was finally scrapped at Faslane.