HMS Broadsword (D31)


HMS Broadsword was a of the British Royal Navy in service from 1948 and scrapped in 1968.

Service

On commissioning in 1948 Broadsword became part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Home Fleet, along with the other Weapon-class destroyers. In 1953 she went into reserve, being replaced in the 6th Destroyer Squadron by.
In 1957 all of the Weapon class were taken into refit and conversion to re-equip them as radar pickets, to supplement the new s. Broadsword was converted at Rosyth. The conversion involved the removal of both sets of torpedo tubes and the erection of an additional lattice mast, which carried a large Type 965 Radar. She re-commissioned in October 1958 and was then allocated to the 7th Destroyer Squadron serving in Home and Mediterranean waters until paying off in 1963.

Decommissioning and disposal

Following decommissioning Broadsword was towed on 25 April 1968 to Rosyth for use in target trials. She was scrapped at Inverkeithing, arriving there on 8 October 1968.

In popular culture

Broadsword was featured on the Look at Life shown on BBC Four titled 'Britain on Film' Episode 2:6 Messing About on Boats. During the short clip, D31 is filmed from a trawler patrolling the fishing limits with Iceland at some time during the 1960s.

Publications

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