in july 1940 "codrington" was deployed out of dover for convoy defence and patrol duties in the english channel. she put into port near the end of the month for a boiler clean, alongside the depot ship in the submarine basin. the port came under air attack on 27 july and a bomb fell alongside "codrington". the subsequent explosion broke her back and she sank. she had only three men wounded. the sinking was not made public until 18 may 1945. the wreck was still evident in 1947.