HMS Ulster (R83)

HMS Ulster (R83) was a U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F83. HMS Ulster would be the third vessel in Royal Navy history to have that name.

With money's gathered through a Naval Savings Campaign in 1942 known as Warship Week, the ship was adopted by the civil community of Ulster's County Down.

Second World War Service
In June 1943 construction was completed and HMS Ulster went into duty in the English Channel. By the end of the year she would be on duty in the Mediterranean and Adriatic on anti-submarine missions, receiving damages from return fire. In April 1944 she would return to home waters and towards the end of the year would see refitting and new radar and advanced warning systems.

At the beginning of 1945 HMS Ulster was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet with the pendant "D", in keeping with the American system.

Pacific
HMS Ulster while serving with the British Pacific Fleet which was in all but name the fourth task group Of the US 3rd/5th fleet better known as the US Fast Carrier Task Force was near missed by a Japanese Kamikaze and 500 lb bomb during Operation Iceberg the invasion of Okinawa had its machinery spaces blown in and had to be towed to Leyte for temporary repairs whence it sailed for Australia. Two sailors died and one was seriously injured in the attack, though luckily had not lost its armaments. Nearly six months after its attack in October 1945 HMS Ulster made it back to HM Dockyard, Chatham in England to undergo full repairs.

Post WWII
After WWII HMS Ulster was mostly used as a training vessel and for reserve purposes. Between 1953 and 1955 she underwent a full conversion to a Type 15 Frigate at Chatham Dockyard. She then joined 8th Frigate Squadron soon after. Soon she was on duty in Iceland, Azores, West Indies, Caribbean, tours to America, until 1964 when again was put into reserve in Plymouth. A year later in 1965 was re-commissioned in the 2nd Frigate Squadron, but then in 1967 would be withdrawn from operational service.

During the late 1960s, HMS Ulster was used by Naval Ratings from HMS Vernon for seagoing training in the SCR, (sonar control room.) In 1970 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days, at the time she was the Navy's Navigational Training Ship. She was used as a training hulk at HMS Raleigh between 1977 and 1980. Finally in 1980 HMS Ulster was bought by T W Ward and broken up.

Specifications
HMS Ulster had a displacement of 2091tons when full and dimension of 363 ft long, 36 ft wide and a draught of 10 ft. She was powered by 2 x Admiralty 3 drum type water boilers, which gave 40,000 hp through twin shafts making a top speed of 37 knots. Her range was 4,860 nautical miles. The crew complement was 180 hands.

Armaments on the original construction and fitting consisted of; 4 4.7inch Mark IX guns, 2 40mm Bofors, 6 QF 20mm Oerlikons and 2 Quad 21inch Mark IX torpedo tubes. As well as radar, sonar and depth charges.

Publications

 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd, Surrey. ISBN 0 7110 1322 5
 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd, Surrey. ISBN 0 7110 1322 5