HMS Undaunted (R53)

HMS "Undaunted" (R53) was an U-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F53.

Operations against the "Tirpitz"

HMS "Undaunted" had a long, distinguished and industrious career, which started soon after her launching and acceptance into the Fleet in 1944. Built as a Destroyer of 1,710 tons, most of her first ship's company joined her in February 1944, after travelling by overnight troop train from Devonport Barracks. After a hasty work up at Scapa Flow, her first action was in the operation to try and sink the "Tirpitz" in the Norwegian Altenfjord. She operated in the North Cape area where she escorted the aircraft carriers HMS "Furious", HMS "Victorious", HMS "Emperor", HMS "Fencer", HMS "Searcher" and HMS "Pursuer" with other escorts, including HMS "Anson", HMS "Belfast", HMS "Jamaica", HMS "Sheffield", HMS "Royalist", HMS "Meteor", HMS "Milne", HMS "Onslaught", HMS "Ursa", HMS "Verulam", HMS "Vigilant", HMS "Virago" and HMS "Wakeful". She was also joined by the Royal Canadian Navy ships HMCS "Algonquin" and HMCS "Sioux". The aircraft from the Carriers scored 14 hits.

D-Day

She subsequently took part in the D-Day landings, as part of Task Force G, covering the Roger section of Sword Beach. It was while she was at Normandy that the recently appointed Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight D Eisenhower was embarked in her from the fast mine laying cruiser HMS "Apollo", which had grounded, damaging her propellers. General Eisenhower and Admiral Ramsay were given a fast passage back to Portsmouth by the "Undaunted" and his flag was a Wardroom “Trophy” until 1969, when it was presented to the National Trust for Scotland during a ceremony in Edinburgh, during a visit to Leith.

The Eisenhower flag

The flag resides in the National Trust for Scotland property of Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the Eisenhower exhibition along with some other items of his, including his presidential flag, shirt, jacket and tie. The flag is thin and crudely made, and has Eisenhower's signature on two of the four stars sewn on. The description board for the flag states:

Flag presented to the Officers and Men of HMS Undaunted by General Eisenhower. During the afternoon of 7th June 1944, HMS Undaunted embarked General Eisenhower, Admiral Ramsay and their staffs, whose ship had grounded. This flag was hoisted at the starboard yarn arm. General Eisenhower signed his name across two of the stars, using an indelible pencil dipped in whiskey.

The Mediterranean and Far East

After D-Day, "Undaunted" saw service in the Mediterranean and did a great deal of escort work out of Malta. She then went on to Bari, Brindisi and Taranto (Italy), where crew members earned the Italy Medal for operations such as bombarding the Coast Road by Ancona, to help the Army and she was also engaged in operations off the coast of Yugoslavia.

She then travelled through the Suez Canal to Aden and Bombay, where she was engaged in escorting troopships . As part of the British Pacific Fleet, she acted as Guard ship off Yokohama Bay on VJ Day, whilst the peace treaty was being signed aboard USS "Missouri". Shortly after VJ Day, HMS "Undaunted" sailed into Sydney, Australia flying the flags of Japan, Germany and Italy. She also flew the flags of France, United States, China and Poland, as well as the Personal Flag of Dwight D Eisenhower. One officer explained "We were feeling exuberant and flew the lot."

She then went on to Auckland, New Zealand, where she was in refit for six weeks, having steamed 150,000 miles since commissioning some 18 months beforehand. In January 1946, she sailed home via Sydney, Melbourne, Cape Town, St Helena, Freetown and Gibraltar, to Plymouth, where she arrived on 19th March 1946.

Post war

In 1954, like many former wartime destroyers, she was converted into a Type 15 anti submarine frigate, at the Cowes shipyard of JS White. Following her conversion, she took part in Asdic trials, and other experimental work. She was fitted with a flight deck in the late 1950s and was involved with the development of the naval version of the Wasp helicopter. The Wasp’s main role was for Anti Submarine Warfare.She later became Captain "D" of the Portland Training Squadron, spending most of her time day-running out of Portland, training TAS ratings in Anti Submarine Warfare. She was in commission until 1974, when she was reduced to reserve. In 1978 she was used for further trials, she was sunk as a target for an Exocet missile, fired from HMS "Norfolk", and she now rests on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean.