HMS Hastings ( L27 ) HMS " Hastings " was a " Hastings " - class sloop of the Royal Navy that saw action in World War II . She was built by HM Dockyard Devonport , laid down on 29 July 1929 and launched on 10 April 1930 . She was completed on 26 November 1930 and commissioned that same day by the Honourable Alice Brand . She is the sixth ship to bear the name HMS " Hastings " . Her pennant number was L27 , but changed to U27 in May 1940 . Pre - war Career . Upon completion , she immediately set sail for the Persian Gulf and Red Sea areas where she patrolled until returning to home waters in 1937 , when she was deployed with the Fishery Protection Squadron . In a refit in 1939 , she was fitted with anti - submarine detection equipment ( ASDIC ) . Second World War . In the Second World War , she was assigned to Rosyth for convoy defence in the North Sea and in waters off the British East Coast until June 1941 . During this period , she suffered no damage as a result of enemy action , but was twice involved in collisions with other ships in 1940 : HMS " Bradman " on 11 January and SS " Limeslade " on 1 December . In July 1941 , she was transferred to Western Approaches Command for escort duty between Great Britain and Freetown , Sierra Leone , as well as assisting in Atlantic convoy defence . She was equipped with two Oerlikon 20 mm anti - aircraft cannons for these rôles . By October , she was also equipped with a Type 286M Ex - RAF radar . In early 1942 , this was upgraded to a Type 271 radar . In March 1943 , she was escorting Convoys HX . 229A from St . John ' s to Great Britain when the convoy came under heavy and sustained attacks from two German U - boat groups totalling 29 attack submarines . Subsequently , she also escorted Convoy ONS3 and Convoy SC128 whilst they were being attacked by groups of German attack submarines . In August of the same year she took part in many anti - submarine operations . The first was on 23 August off Ortegal , Spain . It was led by HMS " Bermuda " and lasted for two days . On 25 August , a group of frigates and corvettes arrived in the area but were attacked by 14 Dornier Do - 217s , seven Junkers Ju - 88s and the new German weapon , the Hs293 glider bomb . The attack was unsuccessful . Two days later , in an operation off Cape Finisterre with RAF Coastal Command led by HMCS " Athabaskan " , " Hastings " once again came under glider bomb attack but was undamaged . However , similar glider bombs sunk HMS " Egret " and severely damaged HMCS " Athabaskan " , although " Athabaskan " was saved , the operation was called off . HMS " Egret " was the first warship sunk by such a glider bomb . End of Active Duty . On 19 November 1943 , she was recalled to Belfast where her usefulness was scrutinised . Her age and poor record in the field called into question the viability of keeping her on active duty . In March 1944 , she was laid - up in Hartlepool . After a re - fit , she joined the 3rd Submarine Squadron in Holy Loch , where she was used as a target and escort during training exercises from October 1944 until February 1946 . She was paid - off on 16 February and was listed for disposal . She was sold for breaking up in April , and arrived at the breaker ’ s yard at Troon on 10 April 1946 to be broken up by West of Scotland Shipbreakers .