HMS Laforey

HMS Laforey was a L-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was commissioned in 1941 and served during the World War II. The ship was named after Francis Laforey, a distinguished naval officer of the Napoleonic Wars.

Design and Construction

HMS Laforey was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland. She was laid down on 1 March 1939, launched on 15 February 1941, and commissioned on 26 August 1941. The ship was 362 feet long, had a beam of 36 feet, and a draught of 10 feet. She was powered by two Admiralty 3-drum boilers and Parsons geared steam turbines, providing a top speed of 36 knots.

Service History

During World War II, HMS Laforey saw extensive service in the Mediterranean Sea, participating in the Malta Convoys, the Battle of Sirte, and the Invasion of Sicily. She was also involved in the sinking of the German submarine U-223 in 1944.

Sinking

On 30 March 1944, while hunting for submarines in the Tyrrhenian Sea, HMS Laforey was sunk by a torpedo from U-223. Of the ship's complement of 247, only 70 survived.

Legacy

HMS Laforey's service and sacrifice are commemorated at the Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent, England.