HMS Gipsy was a G-Class destroyer laid down in 1934 by Fairfield Shipping in Govan, Scotland and launched the following year. She was completed for commission in 1936.

Her first commission was for service in the 1st Destroyer Flotilla within the Mediterranean Fleet. However, just before the commencement of the Second World War, she was transferred to home waters on escort service for shipping in local waters.

Gipsy was 1,350 tons displacement. Her overall length was 323 ft. ; beam of 33 ft.; draught 12 ft. 5 ins. Her engines were Parsons steam turbines, generating 34,000 shaft horsepower. Maximum speed was 36 knots. She had a range of 5,530 nautical miles. Her complement was 137 officers and men. Gipsy's armament consisted of four 4.7 in. Mark IX guns in single mounts. In addition, she had two quadruple Mark I mounts for a Vickers MkIII machine guns. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for her 21in. torpedoes. She also had two depth charge carriers for 35 depth charges.

Gipsy, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. N.J. Crossley, R.N., along with the entire 1st Destroyer Flotilla was redeployed to the Western Approaches Command in October 1939. On the 12th November she had the misfortune to collide with her sister ship HMS Greyhound enroute to Harwich. However, she was only slightly damaged. Gipsy rescued three downed German aircrew outside Harwich Harbour on the 21st November and landed them at the harbour. During the evening of the 21st Gipsy weighed anchor along with Griffin, Keith and Boadicea, destined for patrol in the North Sea. Departing Harwich Harbour, she struck a magnetic mine amidships. Ironically, the downed Luftwaffe crewmen might well have laid that very mine! Thirty of her crew were killed and 115 survivors were rescued by the other three ships.

Gipsy's wreck was upright on the seabed with only her bridge visible at high tides. But because she blocked the channel, she was cut up. Only buckled plating amidships held the two main sections together. The two halves were raised by pontoons and were broken up. 750 long tons of ferrous metal and 38 long tons of non-ferrous metal were salvaged.

Martin Wakley (copyright)