HMS Zest (R02)

Zest in December 1944
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Zest
Ordered:	12 February 1942
Builder:	John I. Thornycroft
Laid down:	21 July 1942
Launched:	14 October 1943
Commissioned:	12 July 1944
Converted	Type 15 frigate 1954 - 1956
Identification:	Pennant number R02/F102
Honours and awards:	Arctic 1945, Norway 1945
Fate:	Broken up, 1970
General characteristics
Class and type:	Z-class destroyer
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type 15 frigate

HMS Zest was a Z-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II.^[1]

Post war service

Zest after her conversion to a Type 15-class frigate, 1958 (IWM)

Between September and November 1945 Zest was refitted at Leith. Between August 1946 and February 1947 she was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Home Fleet. From July 1947 until February 1948 she was used for Torpoedo training at Portsmouth.

From September 1952 until February 1954 she was in reserve at Chatham Dockyard. Between 1954 and 1956 she was converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate at Chatham Dockyard. She was also allocated the new pennant number F102, changing from its initial R02.^[2] She was the only Z-class destroyer to be converted into a Type 15 frigate.

Between 1956 an 1958 she was leader of the 3rd Training Squadron.^[3] From 1958 until 1961 she was part of the 4th Frigate Squadron. In 1961 she had a refit at Malta. During 1964 to 1968 she served in the Far East with 24th Escort Squadron. In 1967, while in the West Indies, Zest was deployed at St Vincent during local election period as a precaution.^[4]

Decommissioning and disposal

In July 1968 she paid off into Reserve at Plymouth. In 1969 she was placed on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO for demolition by Arnott Young at Dalmuir on the Clyde. Whilst on tow by the tug Bustler the ship broke away from tow. After re-connection she arrived at the breakers on 18 July 1970.^[1]

Commanding Officers

From	To	Captain
1944	1945	Lt Cdr R B N Hicks DSO RN[5]
1954	1956	Under conversion
1956	1958	Captain David G Clutterbuck RN
1965	1966	Lieutenant Commander C M Baggley RN
1964	1968	Commander Fiddian-Green RN

Notes

1. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2004). Gordon Smith, ed. "HMS Zest (R 02) - Z-class Destroyer". naval-history.net. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
2. Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 82.
3. Mackie, Colin. "II: Royal Navy- Captains Commanding Warships". British Armed Forces (1900–). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
4. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2007). "Chronology, Part 3 - 1961-70". naval-history.net. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
5. "HMS Zest (R02)". uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2015.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 9780711018174.
• Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1978). War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes. London: Bivouac Books. ISBN 0-85680-010-4.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.