HMS Zulu (F18)

The second HMS Zulu (pennant number L18, later F18) was a destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was built in Glasgow by Alexander Stephen and Sons. Her keel was laid down on 10 August 1936. She was launched on 23 September 1937 and commissioned on 7 September 1938. She had the task of scuttling HMS Coventry (D43) after she was damaged in an air raid.

On 4 August 1942, Zulu — together with HMS Sikh (F82), HMS Croome (L62) and HMS Tetcott (L99) — sank the German submarine GS U-372 off Haifa. Zulu's commanding officer — Commander R.T. White, D.S.O.* — was Mentioned in Despatches for his efforts in sinking U-372.

Zulu was sunk by Italian Macchi C.200 Saetta fighter-bombers on 14 September 1942, after bombarding Tobruk, following the rescue of Sikh. The two ships were covering a commando raid at Tobruk (see: Operation Agreement). Shore batteries hit Sikh which began to sink. White manoeuvred his ship to try to rescue Sikh and her crew, attaching lines to her to drag her out of danger, having laid a smokescreen. Sikh eventually sank but Zulu succeeded in saving the lives of a number of her crew. Aircraft continued to attack Zulu and she finally succumbed, sinking the following day.