The Fastest of the Greyhounds - Britain's Last World War II Destroyer

Nearly 30,000 lives were lost in the Royal Navy destroyers sunk during World War Two. Those who survived tell of incredibly harsh conditions, the vessels awash with water, the open bridge and the sub-zero temperatures endured on Arctic convoys with the ever present threat of mines and torpedoes. The gun crews spent most of their time soaked to the skin, standing around the open gun mountings as the ship plunged into deep ocean troughs with no protection from the weather or the enemy.

The Second World War resulted in the loss of 153 RN destroyers. Since then time has taken its own toll and now just one destroyer remains, HMS Cavalier, a warship that once boasted proudly of being the fastest in the Fleet.

In 1997 talks took place that could have resulted in Cavalier seeing out her days as a tourist attraction in Malaysia. With the threat of such a humiliating end to this important part of British Naval heritage an urgent campaign was started to secure her a future closer to home.