HMS Corunna and HMS Barrosa

'At rest, early morning.....'

H.M.S. Corunna and H.M.S. Barrosa in the Moray Firth, Scotland, during the 1950s..

** to view the unique detail of this drawing 'click' on the stern section of Corunna (in foreground).

A three month pencil and scalpel blade drawing working by naked eye only, of course.

Price of Artist's signed conservation quality print each: £75 inclusive.

Description of composition. These two ‘Later` ‘Battle` class destroyers are shown anchored on a dead calm early morning in the Moray Firth, Scotland, during the 1950s..

Looking North towards the mist-covered Highlands and coastline, seabirds abound over a flat, calm sea, with areas of brightness developing as a new day begins.

Of all the many Second World War destroyer designs built for the Royal Navy, for Richard Kennedy, the twenty-four heavyish ‘Battles`, built in two groups towards the end of the conflict and into peacetime, were ‘the best looking`. In fact, only ‘Barfleur` saw service with the British Pacific Fleet.

Shown as one of the ships of the 4^th. Destroyer Squadron, with S.T.A.A.G. mountings on the after deckhouse, ‘Corunna` (in the foreground) went into Reserve in 1959. In 1962 she was the first of four ‘Battles` to be extensively converted to become a fast Aircraft Direction ship. Originally launched in May 1945, she was finally broken-up at Blyth in 1975.

‘Barrosa` (in the distance) had secondary armament improvements during the 1950s.. Having been launched in January 1945, she, too, was converted to become an Aircraft Direction Ship in 1963 and was finally broken-up at Blyth in 1978, after being paid-off in 1968.

As two fine ‘Battle` class destroyers shown during the 1950s., the ‘At rest, early morning …..` composition really appealed to Richard Kennedy. They were, after all, the 1950s. equivalent to Lord Nelson`s ‘eyes of the Fleet` and, although shown in peacetime here, the two ships await a coming day of, presumably, exercises or patrolling.