Navy:

Royal Navy

Type:

Destroyer

Class:

CA 

Pennant:

R73 - D73

Built by:

J. S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.) 

Laid down:

28 Mar, 1943 

Launched:

7 Apr, 1944 

Commissioned:

22 Nov, 1944 

End service:

1972

HMS Cavalier joined the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, and quickly saw action. In February 1945 she took part in three operations off Norway, “Selenium”, a strike against enemy shipping, “Shred” to provide fighter cover for a minesweeping flotilla and “Groundsheet”, an aircraft mine laying strike. Cavalier was one of three destroyers sent from Scapa to reinforce the escort of Arctic Convoy RA64, which had left the Kola Inlet on 17th February. After being attacked by U-boats and enemy aircraft on 23rd February the convoy was scattered in a hurricane combining force 12 winds with icing. Cavalier went to round-up the convoy with the other escorts, and on 1st March thirty-one of the thirty-four merchant ships arrived safely in the Clyde. This mission earned HMS Cavalier a well deserved “Battle Honour”.

Preserved at Chatham Dockyard. As a memorial. see HMS Cavalier