View source for HMAS Nepal (G25)

{{Short description|Destroyer of the Royal Australian navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMAS Nepal AWM-301077.jpg
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|Ship namesake=[[Nepal]]
|Ship builder=[[John I. Thornycroft and Company]]
|Ship laid down=9 September 1939
|Ship launched=4 December 1941
|Ship commissioned=29 May 1942
|Ship decommissioned=22 October 1945
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Indian Ocean in World War II|Indian Ocean]] 1942–45
*[[Burma campaign|Burma]] 1944–45
*[[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1945
*[[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] 1945
|Ship fate=Broken up for scrap, 1956
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class= [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1773|LT|t}} ([[Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{convert|2384|LT|t}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length= {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam= {{convert|35|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|40000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}
*2 × [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
|Ship propulsion= 2 shafts; 2 [[steam turbines]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= {{convert|5500|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|Ship complement=183
|Ship sensors=*[[ASDIC]]
*[[Type 285 radar|Type 285 gunnery radar]]
*[[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 286|Type 286 radar]] surface-search radar
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*3 × twin [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX|QF 4.7-inch (120&nbsp;mm) Mk XII guns]]
* 1 × single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF 4-inch Mk V (102&nbsp;mm)]] [[AA gun]]
* 4 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|1|abbr=on}} Oerlikon]] AA guns
* 2 × twin [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF 0.5-inch (12.7&nbsp;mm) Mk III]] machineguns
* 1 × quintuple [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tubes]]
*45 × [[depth charge]]s, 1 × rack, 2 × throwers
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Nepal'' (G25/D14)''' was an [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class]] [[destroyer]] of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Launched in 1941 as ''Norseman'', the ship suffered significant damage during an air raid on the [[John I. Thornycroft and Company]] shipyard, and during repairs was renamed to recognise Nepal's contribution to the British war effort. Although commissioned into the RAN in 1942, the ship remained the property of the [[Royal Navy]].

Most of ''Nepal''{{'}}s wartime service was as part of the [[British Eastern Fleet]], operating in the Indian Ocean. The destroyer was involved in [[Madagascar campaign]] in 1942, and the [[Operation Cockpit|Cockpit]] and [[Operation Transom|Transom]] air raids in 1944. In early 1945, ''Nepal'' was reassigned to the [[British Pacific Fleet]], and operated with them for the rest of the war.

On her return to Sydney in October 1945, ''Nepal'' was decommissioned and returned to the Royal Navy who recommissioned her as HMS ''Nepal''. She was scrapped in 1956.

==Design and construction==
The N-class destroyer had a [[displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 1,760 tons at standard load, and 2,353 tons at full load.<ref name=Cassells56>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 56</ref> ''Nepal'' was {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|229|ft|6|in|m}} long [[between perpendiculars]], had a [[beam (ship)|beam]] of {{convert|35|ft|8|in|m}}, and a maximum [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|16|ft|4|in|m}}.<ref name=Cassells56/> Propulsion was provided by [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s connected to Parsons geared [[steam turbine]]s, which provided {{convert|40,000|shp|lk=in}} to the ship's two propellers.<ref name=Cassells57>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 57</ref> ''Nepal''  was capable of reaching {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=Cassells56/> The ship's company consisted of 226 officers and sailors.<ref name=Cassells57/>

The ship's armament consisted of six [[4.7 inch QF Mark XII|4.7-inch QF Mark XII guns]] in three twin mounts, a single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|4-inch QF Mark V gun]], a [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder 4-barrel Pom Pom]], four [[0.5 inch Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch machine guns]], four [[20 mm Oerlikon|20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns]], four [[Lewis gun|.303 Lewis machine guns]], two Pentad dual torpedo launcher tube sets (with 8 torpedoes carried), two [[depth-charge]] throwers and one depth-charge chute (with 45 charges carried).<ref name=Cassells56/> The 4-inch gun was removed later in ''Nepal''{{'}}s career.<ref name=Cassells56/>

[[File:HMAS Nepal FL4204.jpg|thumb|left|HMAS ''Nepal'' underway]]
The ship was [[Keel laying|laid down]] as ''Norseman'' by [[John I. Thornycroft and Company]] at [[Woolston, Hampshire]] on 9 September 1939.<ref name=Cassells57/> She was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 4 December 1941.<ref name=Cassells57/> Later in December, an air raid on the shipyard saw ''Norseman'' take serious damage; a direct hit nearly cut the destroyer in two.<ref name=Cassells56/> The ship was repaired, during which her name was changed to ''Nepal'', honouring [[Nepal during World War II|Nepal's contribution to the British war effort]].<ref name=Cassells56/> ''Nepal'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the RAN on 11 May 1942: although commissioned as an Australian warship, she remained the property of the [[Royal Navy]].<ref name=Cassells56.7>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pp. 56–7</ref> The warship cost £402,939 to build.<ref name=Cassells57/>

==Operational history==
After commissioning, ''Nepal'' was assigned to the [[Home Fleet]], based at [[Scapa Flow]].<ref name=Cassells57/> During this time, the ship was filmed to represent the fictional HMS ''Torrin'' for the British war film ''[[In Which We Serve]]''.<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 60</ref> In July 1942, the destroyer was reassigned to the [[British Eastern Fleet]], and sailed from Scotland to Kenya.<ref name=Cassells57/> During September, the destroyer was involved in the later parts of the [[Madagascar campaign]].<ref name=Cassells57/> During the rest of 1942, the destroyer operated on convoy escort runs and anti-submarine patrols from [[Kilindini]].<ref name=Cassells57/> In March 1943, ''Nepal'' sailed to Australia for a two-month refit during April and May.<ref name=Cassells57/>

''Nepal'' returned to the Indian Ocean in June 1943, and resumed operations with the Eastern Fleet, this time from [[Trincomalee]].<ref name=Cassells57/> In April 1944, the destroyer was part of the carrier escort screen during [[Operation Cockpit]], then again in May for [[Operation Transom]].<ref name=Cassells57/> In August, the destroyer returned to Australia for refit, then was assigned to escort the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}} during late November and early December.<ref name=Cassells57/> From 7 December 1944 to 12 February 1945, ''Nepal'' and [[sister ship]] {{HMAS|Napier|G97|6}} were involved in supporting the [[74th Indian Infantry Brigade]].<ref name=Cassells57/> During this, on 5 February, ''Nepal'' damaged one of her propellers when it struck a submerged rock in the [[Kaleindaung River]], but was able to keep operating on one propeller until the end of the deployment.<ref name=Cassells57/>

At the start of March 1945, ''Nepal'' was assigned to the [[British Pacific Fleet]]; her [[pennant number]] was changed from G25 to D14.<ref name=Cassells56.7/> The destroyer remained with the Pacific Fleet until after the end of World War II.<ref name=Cassells57/> ''Nepal'' earned four [[battle honour]]s for her wartime service: "Indian Ocean 1942–44", "Burma 1944–45", "Pacific 1945", and "Okinawa 1945".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archivedate=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archivedate=14 June 2011 |accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref>

==Decommissioning and fate==
''Nepal'' arrived in [[Sydney]] on 22 October, and was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] and returned to the Royal Navy.<ref name=Cassells57/> She was recommissioned as HMS ''Nepal'' and sailed back to the UK arriving on 28 December 1945 – some three and a half years after leaving. After repairs and having her armament removed she initially was used as a minesweeper trials ship in the Channel.<ref name="english"/> Subsequently ''Nepal'' became a sea training vessel attached to {{HMS|Lochinvar}}, Port Edgar, on The [[Firth of Forth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm |title=HMAS Nepal (G 25), ex-Norseman – N-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements: Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2 |author=Mason, Geoffrey |year=2003 |editor=Smith, Gordon |work=Naval History.net |accessdate=5 April 2020}}</ref>

She was reduced to the reserve in early 1951 and was nominated for a Type 15 conversion but no work was carried out before May 1954 when it was cancelled. ''Nepal'' was passed to the [[British Iron & Steel Corporation]] in January 1956 who allocated her to the Briton Ferry yard of [[Thos. W. Ward]] for scrapping where she arrived on 16 January.<ref name="english">{{cite book|last1=English|first1=John|title=Afridi to Nizam: British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|date=2001|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend|isbn= 0-905617-64-9|pages=134–135}}</ref>

==Citations==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, New South Wales |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Afridi to Nizam: British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend, Kent|year=2001|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=2006|isbn=1-86176-137-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Frame |first=Tom |author2=Baker, Kevin |title=Mutiny! Naval Insurrections in Australia and New Zealand |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, New South Wales |year=2000 |isbn=1-86508-351-8 |oclc=46882022}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gillett |first1=Ross |last2=Graham |first2=Colin |title=Warships of Australia|year=1977 |publisher=Rigby |location=Adelaide, South Australia |isbn=0-7270-0472-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Hodges |first=Peter |author2=Friedman, Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich |isbn=978-0-85177-137-3 }}
*{{cite book|last=Langtree|first=Charles|title=The Kelly's: British J, K, and N Class Destroyers of World War II |year=2002|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=1-55750-422-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7}}
*{{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |oclc=164893555}}
* {{Cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Nepal (G25)}}

{{J, K and N class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nepal (G25)}}
[[Category:N-class destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Southampton]]
[[Category:1941 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships built by John I. Thornycroft & Company]]