Name: HMS ZETLAND; Ordered: 20 December 1939; Builder: Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow; Laid down: 2 October 1940; Launched: 7 March 1942; Commissioned: 27 June 1942; Out of service: Loaned to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1952; Sold to them in July 1956
Honours and awards: Atlantic 1942-43; Malta Convoys 1942; North Africa 1942-4; Mediterranean 1943-44; Aegean 1944; Adriatic 1944; South France 1944
Career (Norway)Name: HNoMS TROMSØ
Acquired: By loan 1952
Purchased July 1956 Transferred to the Norwegian Navy 31st October 1954 at South Shields Co Durham. Fate: Sold for breaking up in 1965
General characteristics:
Class and type: Hunt class destroyer, Type II, Displacement: 1,050 tons standard, 1,490 tons full load, Length: 85.34 m, Beam: 9.62 m, Draught: 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in), Propulsion: 2 shaft Parsons geared turbines; 19,000 shp, Speed: 25.5 knots (25½ kts full), Range: 3,600 nmi (6,670 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h), Complement: 164, Armament: 6 x QF 4 in Mark XVI on twin mounts Mk. XIX, AAA - 2 x 4 12.7mm Vickers, 2 x 20mm, 6 Thornycroft depth charge throwers,
HMS ZETLAND (L59) was a Type II Royal Navy Hunt-class destroyer, named after the ZETLAND HUNT.
Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow and launched on 7 March 1942. She was commissioned on 27 June 1942. HMS ZETLAND was gifted to the Royal Norwegian Navy and commissioned as HNoMS TROMSØ. She was sold for breaking up in 1965.
During the Second World War, ZETLAND saw service in the Atlantic (1942–43), Malta Convoys (1942), North Africa (1942–43), Mediterranean (1943–44), Aegean (1944), Adriatic (1944) and Operation Dragoon, the landings in southern France in 1944.
HMS ZETLAND completed refit in October 1945 and returned to UK for service with Portsmouth Local Flotilla. The ship was used for training and port duties until 1946 when she was paid-off and reduced to Reserve status in the Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth.
At the end of 1952 this destroyer was loaned to the Royal Norwegian Navy for four years. Renamed KNM TROMSO she was sold outright to Norway in July 1956. Modifications made later included fit of lattice mast and replacement of X mounting by two SQUID Anti-submarine mortars. Pennant No during Norwegian service was initially D311 but changed to F311 after ship was classified as a frigate. She remained in service until being sold for breaking up in 1965.
Sources: Wikipedia. http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... etland.htm.
Information Mr P Crichton.