Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve Fleet at Penarth Dock

H.M.S. Zambesi - (D 66) - Z Class destroyer built at the yard of Cammell Laird at Birkenhead and was launched in November 1943.

When hostilities ended Zambesi joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla in which she served until 1947 when she was paid-off and was reduced to reserve status in the Plymouth Reserve Fleet. Between 1953 and 1954 she was given a refit at Penarth. She was at reserve at Cardiff until February 1959 when she was sold to Thomas W. Ward Ltd. for breaking-up at their yard at Briton Ferry. [043] [263]

Many ships were broken up at the Briton Ferry yard of T. W. Ward Limited and there is an excellent view of a naval vessel in the process of demolition at the yard dated 1921 on the Britain From Above website. (click link)

H.M.S. Matchless - (G 52) - A Miranda Class destroyer built at the Alexander Stephen & Sons yard on the Clyde at Glasgow and launched in August 1941.

H.M.S. Matchless was powered by Parsons steam turbines which produced 48,000 shp giving a speed of 36 knots (about 41 mph!). Her critical dimensions were 362 feet in length and 36 feet in breath with a displacement of 1,920 tons. She was held in reserve at Penarth Dock from 1953 until her sale to Turkey in August 1957 and was finally scrapped in 1971. [263] [269]