The wreck of HMS WHIRLWIND lies in 31m of water and is orientated 300 (bow)/120 (stern) degrees. It is reported as being collapsed and lying on its port side. The mast was cut away during salvage operations in 1976.

The wreck was originally assigned ID10056 by the UKHO although the location is some 1400m to the NW of the actual wreck site. The site was surveyed on 14/12/2020 by the UKHO and given an ID of 96134. Further detailed survey work was undertaken by Bangor University in June 2021 which further served to confirm the location of HMS Whirlwind (McCartney 2022: 111).

Event and Historical Information:
HMW WHIRLWIND was built as a type 'W' destroyer by Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn. The keel was laid down 31 July 1942. The ship was launched on 28 August 1943, and completed 20 July 1944. Technical specifications for the class are given as 1710 tons displacement (2530 tons full loaded); 363ft length x 35ft breadth x 20ft depth; twin screws powered by 3 drum boiler linked to Parsons geared turbines producing 40,000 shp; top speed 36 knots (32 knots fully loaded); bunkers 615 tons fuel oil; operating radius of 4675 nautical miles. Armament included one 4.7in DOP (4 x), two 40mm anti-aircraft (1 x 2), eight 20mm anti aircraft (4 x 2) guns, eight 21in (2 x 4) torpedo tubes; four anti-ship mortars; two racks of 70 depth charges. Normal crew complement: 179.

After the completion of sea trials and acceptance into service on 24 July 1944, HMS WHIRLWIND was deployed to the 27th Destroyer Flotilla and Scapa Flow. The destroyer acted as a screen during air operations against shipping off Norway until September 1944, when it was sent to join the Eastern fleet sailing for Gibraltar. It was detained on reaching Alexandria and deployed as part of the screening for HM Battleship KING GEORGE V during the bombardment of Milos. By December, HMS WHIRLWIND was part of the British Pacific Fleet and joined the US Navy in attacks on during attacks on oil installations at Pangkalan Brandan and Soengi-Gerong, Sumatra. HMS WHIRLWIND remained in the Far East for support of repatriation operations until December 1945.

On arrival back at Chatham on 15th January 1946, it was kept in commission. During 1947, it was deployed at Rosyth for training purposes. After selection for conversion to a Type 15 anti-submarine Frigate, the ship was withdrawn from operational service until 1953. The ship then joined the 5th Frigate Squadron and was deployed in Home Waters and the Mediterranean. It took part in the support of military operations in Cyprus and Suez. In July 1961, it was re-commissioned for service in the West Indies with the 8th Frigate Squadron. HMS WHIRLWIND was placed on the Disposal List in 1966. The ship was eventually selected for use as a target for weapon trials and towed from Portsmouth to Pembroke Dock on 12th September 1969. The ship foundered during a gale whilst it was anchored in Cardigan Bay (prior to trails) on 24 November 1974.

Sources include:

McCartney, I., 2022. Echoes from the Deep. Leiden: Sidestone Press. https://www.sidestone.com/books/echoes-from-the-deep

Lenton, H T, 1998, British and Empire Warships of World War II, pg178

Troughton, W, 2006, Ceredigion Shipwrecks, pg51

UKHO ID 10056: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.

UKHO ID 96134: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-63W-Whirlwind.htm

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, May 2023

Site Record

HMS WHIRLWIND (UKHO 10056/96134)