Folkestone was the smallest vessel in the ranking, but her record gives the selection more weight than size alone suggests. During the January 1939 Tsingtao confrontation, she trained her single 4-inch gun toward Japanese heavy cruisers while operating with HMS Birmingham. The gesture is an example of crew confidence and naval presence far beyond the sloop's physical power. Her later Second World War work included rescue operations and convoy escort, a broad workload for so small a vessel. Gumption and a useful service record outweigh her small size and relative obscurity.
Notable Point · 14:09-15:36
HMS Folkestone, the little ship that could
Number six recalls HMS Folkestone as a small but determined sloop whose stand at Tsingtao and wartime escort service merit wider recognition.