I borrowed a photograph taken by my Grandad on the Manchester Ship Canal before the Second World War of HMS Whirlwind a W Class Destroyer. She was built in 1917 by Swan, Hunter & W.Richardson, Wallsend, (Yard No. 1055).
She was hit by a torpedo from U34 on 5 July 1940 whilst escorting convoy OB178 sustaining serious damage which disabled the ship killing 57 of the ship’s company. Survivors were rescued by the destroyer HMS Wescott.
The hulk was sunk four hours later by the Wescott 120 miles west of Lands End.
Due to only part of the penant being visible I put this on the Shipspotting website where it was kindly identified by a number of members. It has since been removed by that site because of it relative low quality which is a shame as it is unique. Unlike today where almost everyone has a camera of some kind and many vessels are photographed countless times before the war it was a different story. It is a small piece of history and as such its now here on my site.
She was hit by a torpedo from U34 on 5 July 1940 whilst escorting convoy OB178 sustaining serious damage which disabled the ship killing 57 of the ship’s company. Survivors were rescued by the destroyer HMS Wescott.
The hulk was sunk four hours later by the Wescott 120 miles west of Lands End.
Due to only part of the penant being visible I put this on the Shipspotting website where it was kindly identified by a number of members. It has since been removed by that site because of it relative low quality which is a shame as it is unique. Unlike today where almost everyone has a camera of some kind and many vessels are photographed countless times before the war it was a different story. It is a small piece of history and as such its now here on my site.
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