HMS Falcon (1931)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Falcon.

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Falcon
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders
Launched8 May 1931
Commissioned1931
DecommissionedMarch 1942
In service1931
Out of serviceMarch 1942
FateGiven to the Nationalist Chinese Navy in March 1942
Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svgNationalist China
NameYīng dé (英德)
AcquiredMarch 1942
CommissionedMarch 1942
Decommissioned30 November 1949
In serviceMarch 1942
Out of service30 November 1949
Captured30 November 1949
FateDefected to Communist China
Naval Ensign of the People's Republic of China.svgCommunist China
NameNan Chiang
Acquired30 November 1949
Commissioned30 November 1949
Decommissioned1974
In service1949
Out of service1974
FateRetired in 1974
General characteristics
Displacement372 tons
Length150 ft (46 m)
Beam28.7 ft (8.7 m)
Draught5 ft (1.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement55
Armament3.7-inch howitzer x 1

QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt x 1

Machine guns x 10

HMS Falcon was a river gunboat of the Royal Navy built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in 1931 for the Yangtze Patrol.[1][2][3][4] The main armament of the gunboat is a 3.7-inch howitzer, and the secondary armament is a QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt. For air defense, the gunboat is armed with ten machine guns that can also be used against surface targets.[1][2][3][4]

During World War II, HMS Falcon had to withdraw to the Chinese war time capital Chongqing, along with the retreating Chinese force to avoid being captured by the advancing Japanese invaders. In March 1941, the gunboat was paid off and her crew travelled overland to Yangon via the Burma Road and her guns were sent by elephants. British decided to give the boat to Chinese as a gift, and Chinese in turn, began to train its own crew in preparation of the handover. HMS Falcon was officially handed over to Chinese in February 1942, and in the following month, Falcon officially joined the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) and renamed as Yīng dé (Chinese: 英德).[4] The gunboat served with ROCN until 30 November 1949, when the ROCN Riverine Flotilla commander defected to advancing communist force that blocked the Yangtze River, taking seven boats to the communist side, including Yīng dé.[4] After joining the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the gunboat was once again renamed, this time changed to Nan Chiang, and served until 1974 to its final retirement.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "HMS Falcon (1931)". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "Gunboat Falcon". Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b "HMS Falcon". Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Gunboat Falcon (1931)". Archived from the original on 27 June 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2015.

Publications[]

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