HMS York

The ninth HMS York was a merchant ship of 1,132 tons, built in 1907.
She was commissioned into the Royal Navy to serve as an armed boarding steamer during the First World War, when she was armed with one 4in and two 12 pdr guns.
Lowestoft 1665
Orfordness 1666
Sole Bay 1672
Schooneveld 1673
Texel 1673
Bantry Bay 1680
Beachy Head 1700
Cartagena 1741
Louisburg 1758
Martiniqe 1809
Atlantic 1939
Norway 1940
Mediterranean 1940/41
Malta Convoys 1941
Facts and Figures
Class: Type 42 destroyer
Pennant number: D98
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: January 8, 1980
Launched: June 21, 1982
Accepted: March 25, 1985
Commissioned: August 9, 1985
Displacement: 4,609 tons
Length: 468ft
Beam: 50ft
Ship's company: 21 officers, 70 senior rates, 178 junior rates
Propulsion: 2 x Olympus and 2 x Tyne gas turbines
Weapons: Sea Dart anti-aircraft missile system; 4.5in Mk 8 gun; 2 x triple-barrelled torpedo launchers; 2 x Phalanx close-in weapon systems; 4 x 20mm GAM-BO guns
Aircraft: Lynx HAS Mk 3 helicopter
Ships Motto: Bon espoir - Good hope
(Ship of the Month November 1995)
The Ship's motto 'Bon Espoir' means Good Hope and was the motto of Edmund Langley, the First Duke of York 1341-1402, who was the fifth son of Edward III.
York was the last of the Type 42 destroyers to be built for the Royal Navy. Launched in 1982 and accepted into service in March 1985, she is the twelfth ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name. Very proud of such a historic name, the ship has a strong affiliation with the City of York who bestowed the Freedom of City on the ship in March 1991.
More Battle Honours Than There Have Been Ships of The Name
Four of HMS York's impressive tally of battle honours were won by her predecessor in the name, a cruiser built at Jarrow and launched in 1928.
Serving on the North American station at the outbreak of the Second World War, she was sent to the Atlantic with the 1st Cruiser Squadron.
After the Norwegian expedition failed, she took on convoy duties in the Mediterranean.
In March 1941 she was hit by an Italian explosive motor boat and was beached at Suda Bay, Crete. Further damage by air attack caused her to be abandoned completely on May 22, 1941. She was later towed to Bari and broken up.
First of the 11 Royal Navy vessels to bear the name York had been built as the marston moor, but was renamed after the Restoration.
She gave sterling service during the Dutch Wars of the late 17th century. After a spell in the Mediterranean and in the foundling colony of Jamaica, she foundered and was wrecked off the Shipwash in 1703.
Second ship of the name was a 60-gun vessel of 987 tons, launched in 1706. Her service took her to the Baltic with Byng and to the East Indies, and she took part in the defence of Gibraltar and the attempt on Cartagena in 1741. She finished her time as part of the Sheerness breakwater.
Laid down by Palmers at Jarrow, 16th May 1927, launched 17th February 1928 and completed 6th May 1930.
Atlantic Fleet, 2nd Cruiser Squadron with DORSETSHIRE EXETER and NORFOLK, 1930 -1933.
Refit at Chatham, October 1933 to January 1934.
American and West Indies Station, Flagship 8th Cruiser Squadron, 17th February 1934 to 1939.
At Vancouver, October 1938.
8th Cruiser Squadron with BERWICK ORION and R.A.N. PERTH, September 1939.
Formed Ocean Escort with BERWICK for the 1st Translantic Convoy HX1 of eighteen transports which left Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom, 16th September 1939.
At Halifax, 20th September 1939 and sailed again 23rd September 1939 as ocean escort to convoy HXF1.
Earmarked with BERWICK to be diverted from Halifax escort duties in October 1939 to form raider-hunting group Force F in the Caribean. However the group never formed due to confirmation that the German pocket-battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER was operating in the North Atlantic, and the two cruisers were therefore retained to cover the large Halifax convoys between 26th November 1939 and 9th March 1940.
Under repair at Bermuda, November 1939.Escort to convoy HX10 to the United Kingdom which left Halifax, 26th November 1939.
Repairs at Liverpool, December 1939 to 10th February 1940.
Home Fleet, 1st Cruiser Squadron, 1st March 1940.
Seconded to Northern Patrol duties when available, March 1940.
Intercepted German merchant-ship Aracus off Iceland, 3rd March 1940. The enemy had left Vigo, Portugal, 10th February 1940 in an attempt to beat the blockade and scuttled on the cruisers approach.
At Rosyth together with BERWICK DEVONSHIRE and GLASGOW embarking troops, 7th April 1940 in readiness to counter any German retaliation to a proposed Allied minelaying operation planned off Stavanger, Norway.
Home Fleet, 18th Cruiser Squadron, May - July 1940.
At Rosyth, 31st May 1940.
Left the United Kingdom, 21st August 1940 as part of escort with cruisers AJAX and SHEFFIELD with ten destroyers to a convoy destined for the Middle East bound for Suez via the Cape. Later the battleship VALIANT and carrier ILLUSTRIOUS joined on their way to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet. At Freetown, 2nd September 1940.
Arrived Alexandria to join Mediterranean Fleet, 24th September 1940.
With Force D left Suda Bay 9th January 1941 to meet up with Force A including VALIANT WARSPITE and ILLUSTRIOUS two hundred miles south east of Malta. Met 10th January 1941 and together proceeded to meet Excess convoy coming from Gibraltar. Rendezvoused south of Pantalleria before heading eastwards. While sixty miles west of Malta came under heavy dive-bombing attack from German aircraft with ILLUSTRIOUS the main target, which was seriously damaged, and forced to make for Malta. During 11th January 1941 the fleet was again attacked with GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON being severely damaged, the latter later being sunk by ORION when it became impossible to save the ship. Off Crete, 12th January 1941 and with the fleet arrived Alexandria 14th January 1941.
At sea during escape of ILLUSTRIOUS from Malta, 24th/25th January 1941.
At Alexandria, early February 1941.
Transporting troop reinforcements to Greece, 6th March 1941.
Part of Mediterranean Fleet which left Alexandria, as distant cover to two Malta convoys, the MW6 which left 21st February 1941 and MW6A which left 19th March 1941. Cruised off Crete and in the Matapan area. With GLOUCESTER returned to Suda Bay, Crete, 24th March 1941.