HMS Skate (1917)

HMS Skate was an Admiralty R-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that was laid down and completed during World War I. Skate was the sole survivor of her class by 1939, and saw extensive service during World War II as a convoy escort. This gave her the honour of being the oldest destroyer to see service with the Royal Navy in the latter conflict.

Skate was damaged by a mine in the First World War, and was converted to a minelayer while undergoing repairs, which is likely why she remained active on the Navy List in 1939. Initially she served as an influence minesweeper to combat the threat of magnetic mines, but such was the need for escorts that she was rearmed in 1941 to take part in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was on North Atlantic duties until 1942 and was part of the escort for the Normandy landings in June 1944.