HMS Express (H61)
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The HMS Express (H.61) was an E-Class destroyer with the Royal Navy. She was launched on 29th of May 1934. It had an overall length of 100 m, displacement of 1,375 tons, and a maximum speed of 35.5 knots (66 km/h). It was equipped with:
- 4 x 4.7 inch guns
- 8 x 0.5 inch anti-aircraft guns in fours
- 8 x 21 inch torpedo tubes in fours
Brief History:
September 1939: took the Duke and Duchess of Windsor from Portsmouth to Cherbourg.
June 1940/July 1940 made a number of trips to Dunkirk and was one of the first to arrive and commence taking troops off the beaches. It brought out 2,795 troops. Later troops were taken off from Dunkirk Harbour. It was damaged by bombing, but was repaired in time to continue taking part in the evacuation.
31st of August, 1940 left Immingham to lay an offensive field off the coast of the Netherlands. Struck a mine. lost 4 officers and 55 ratings.
September 1941 came back into service as a Fleet Destroyer and was part of the escort of the Prince of Wales and Repulse when they were sunk off the coast of Malaysia. It rescued 1000 survivors from Prince of Wales on 10th December 1941.
1943 transferred to the Canadian Navy and was renamed the HMCS Gatineau serving with distinction in the Atlantic.
1955 broken up
See HMS Express for other ships of the same name.