HMS Milford (L51)

HMS Milford was a Shoreham-class sloop of the British Royal Navy built at Devonport Dockyard in 1931–1932. After peacetime operations on the Africa Station during the 1930s, Milford served during the Second World War. Her wartime service between 1939 and 1943 mostly involved convoy escort duties off Africa, but in 1940 she also took part in Operation Catapult and Operation Menace, both targeting Vichy French forces at Dakar, Senegal, and in the Battle of Gabon, in which she damaged the Vichy French submarine Poncelet so severely that Poncelet scuttled herself. After training duty in 1944 and 1945, Milford was placed in reserve in 1946 and sold in 1949.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Milford.

HMS Milford in 1944
History
United Kingdom
NameMilford
Ordered24 April 1931
BuilderDevonport Dockyard
Laid down14 September 1931
Launched11 June 1932
Completed22 December 1932
Decommissioned1946
IdentificationPennant number: L51 (1932–1940), U51 (1940-1949)
FateSold for scrap 3 June 1949
General characteristics
Class and typeShoreham-class sloop
Displacement1,105 long tons (1,123 t)
Length281 ft (86 m)
Beam35 ft (11 m)
Draught8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
PropulsionGeared turbines, 2 shafts, 2,000 shp (1,491 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement95
Armament
  • 2 × QF 4 in (100 mm) Mk V guns (2×1)
  • 4 × .5-inch anti-aircraft machine guns (1×4)

Milford's original pennant number was L51, but it was changed to U51 sometime in May or June 1940.

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