Photo.https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/HMS_Despatch_Vancouver_1928.jpg
Completed: 1922
Displacement: 4,850 tons
Length: 471 ft
Beam: 46 ft
Draught: 14 ft
Propulsion: Six Yarrow-type water-tube boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, Two shafts, 40,000 shp
Speed: 29 kts
Range: 23,000 miles
Complement: 350
Armament: 1918: six BL 6 in L/45 Mark XII on single mountings CP Mark XIV (152 mm), two 3 inch (76.2 mm) Mk II AA guns,two 40 mm QF 2 pdr "Pom-pom" AA guns, twelve 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes (4 triple launchers)
Despatch had a relatively quiet wartime career, compared to her sisters. She operated in the early part of the war in the west coast of South America , until late 1941 when she was transferred to the Pacific in the assigned trade defence. interception and patrol duties off the Pacific coast of South America where she captured the German merchant Düsseldorf. In the West Indies she intercepted the German merchant Troja. However the crew of the Troja scuttled her before she could be captured.
Another ship intercepted and scuttled by her crew to avoid detection was the German Norderney spotted NE of Amazon estuary on 15 Aug 41 to avoid capture by Royal Navy Cruiser HMS Despatch and AMC Pretoria Castle. 35 crewmembers and 2 passengers were rescued.
Below the history of HMS Despatch in the south Atlantic By www.naval-history.net
1 9 4 1
January Deployed for trade defence duties during return passage to Bermuda.
February to March
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
April to July
Resumed trade defence. interception and patrol duties off east coast of South America and in Caribbean area.
August 15th
Atlantic deployment with Squadron in continuation. During operation with with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE intercepted German freighter NORDERNEY NE of Amazon estuary but ship scuttled on approach.
September to November
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
December
Transferred to Pacific for service in conjunction with US Navy Task Group to intercept any Japanese attempt to attack Falkland islands.
1 9 4 2
March
20th Deployed in South Atlantic for interception duties and trade defence.
April Nominated for return to Home waters and took passage to UK.
Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
August Under refit
October
Nominated for detached service at Freetown for trade defence and interception patrol
4th Joined military convoy WS23 in Clyde with HM Cruiser DURBAN. Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA, HM Destroyer PUCKERIDGE, and Greek destroyer KANARIS as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage to Freetown.
15th Detached from WS23 on arrival of Local Escort from Freetown.
23rd Rejoined WS23 with HM Sloop during convoy passage to Cape of Good Hope.
31st Detached from WS23 before convoy arrived at Capetown and took passage to join military convoy WS24 then on passage in Atlantic from UK to Brazil
(Note: Atlantic passage for WS24, en route to Middle East exceptionally been routed via Bahia, Brazil to avoid extensive US traffic on passage to North Africa for the planned landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH
November
11th Joined HM Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA and HM Destroyer ILEX with HMS ROTHERHAM to supplement Ocean Escort for WS24.
17th Detached from WS24 on arrival of convoy at Bahia.
20th Rejoined WS24 with HM Armed Merchant Cruisers QUEEN OF BERMUDA, ALCANTARA, HMS ROTHERHAM and HMS ILEX as Ocean Escort.
23rd Detached from WS24 during passage in South Atlantic and resumed Trade Defence
and patrol duties.
December South Atlantic deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January to March
South Atlantic deployment in continuation
April Under self refit and routine maintenance at Rio de Janeiro.
May Resumed South Atlantic trade defence and patrol duties.
June South Atlantic deployment in continuation. Nominated for escort duty in Indian Ocean and took passage to join military convoy.
July Passage to Indian Ocean an d joined by HM Destroyers QUADRANT and REDOUBT.
26th Joined military convoy WS31 as Ocean Escort during passage to Bombay.