Gurkha (G63): The HMS Gurkha (G63) was a "L" Class Destroyer of 1,920 GRT laid down 18 October 1938 at Cammell Laird & Co. Ltd., Birkenhead, UK (Yard No. 1038) for the British Royal Navy under the Emergency War Programme. The ship was originally to be named the HMS Larne in line with her class letter. However, upon the sinking of the Tribal Class ship named Gurkha in 1940, it was requested by the Gurkha Regiment that the HMS Larne be renamed. The officers and men of the regiment each subscribed one day's pay to replace her and the Larne was renamed prior to launching on 08 July 1940. The ship was completed 18 February 1941. The ship was 110.4 meters in length and 11.3 meters in beam, with twin screws, two boilers, and a top speed of 36 knots. The Gurkha under the command of CDR Charles Nugent Lentaigne (DSO, RN), was deployed with Convoy MW8B from Alexandria to Malta on 16 January 1942 in the company of HM Destroyers Maori, Legion and the Dutch Destroyer Isaac Sweers (Operation MF3). On 17 January the convoy is sighted and attacked by German submarine U-133 and caught fire from bow to stern. The Dutch destroyer Isaac Sweers towed the ship clear of buring oil on the surface where most of the crew were transferred to the Dutch destroyer. The ship sank after approximately 90 minutes at position 31.50N/26.15E (Note: uboat.net states that the ship was scuttled). Nine losses from the sinking were reported on 09 March 1942. All surviving crew members were landed at Tobruk later that same evening. References: Miramar Single Ship Report of "6111848" http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4464.html http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15697 http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-34Tribal-Gurkha1.htm  (Complete ship's history)