HMS Janus (F53)

HMS Janus (F53) was a J-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy, built by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland. She was ordered on 25 March 1937, laid down on 30 September 1937, launched on 10 November 1938, and commissioned on 5 August 1939.

Serving primarily in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II, HMS Janus participated in numerous key operations including the Battle of Calabria (July 1940), the Battle of Cape Matapan (March 1941), and the evacuation of Greece (April 1941). She also played a significant role in convoy escort duties, protecting vital supply lines to Malta.

On 23 January 1944, while escorting a convoy near Anzio, Italy, HMS Janus was sunk by a German glider bomb. A significant number of her crew were lost in the attack.

HMS Janus (F53) earned battle honours for her service during the war, reflecting her active and often perilous involvement in major naval engagements. Her wreck is designated as a war grave.