HMS London (69): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Cruiser of the Royal Navy}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} |
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{{no footnotes|date=June 2008}} |
{{no footnotes|date=June 2008}} |
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}} |
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} |
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{{Infobox ship image |
{{Infobox ship image |
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|Ship image= |
|Ship image=File:HMS London tow.jpg |
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|Ship caption= |
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{{Infobox ship career |
{{Infobox ship career |
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|Ship country= |
|Ship country=United Kingdom |
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|Ship flag= |
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |
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|Ship name=HMS ''London'' |
|Ship name=HMS ''London'' |
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|Ship ordered= |
|Ship ordered= |
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|Ship awarded= |
|Ship awarded= |
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|Ship |
|Ship namesake= [[London]] |
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|Ship builder=[[Portsmouth Dockyard]] |
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|Ship laid down=23 February 1926 |
|Ship laid down=23 February 1926 |
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|Ship launched=14 September 1927 |
|Ship launched=14 September 1927 |
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|Ship struck= |
|Ship struck= |
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|Ship reinstated= |
|Ship reinstated= |
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|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping, 3 January 1950. Broken up from 22 January 1950 |
|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping, 3 January 1950. Broken up from 22 January 1950 by [[Thos. W. Ward|T. W. Ward of Barrow]] |
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|Ship homeport= |
|Ship homeport= |
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{{Infobox ship characteristics |
{{Infobox ship characteristics |
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|Header caption= |
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|Ship displacement=9,750 tons '''standard'''<br>13,315 tons '''full load''' |
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|Ship tons |
|Ship displacement=*9,750 tons '''standard''' |
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*13,315 tons '''full load''' |
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|Ship length={{convert|633|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
|Ship length={{convert|633|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship beam={{convert|66|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
|Ship beam={{convert|66|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship draught={{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
|Ship draught={{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship draft= |
|Ship draft= |
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|Ship propulsion=Eight Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|Ship propulsion=*Eight Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
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*Four shaft Parsons geared turbines |
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*80,000 shp (60 MN) |
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|Ship speed={{convert|32|kn|km/h|1}} |
|Ship speed={{convert|32|kn|km/h|1}} |
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|Ship range=9,120 [[nautical mile| |
|Ship range=9,120 [[nautical mile|nmi]] at 12 kn |
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|Ship endurance= |
|Ship endurance= |
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|Ship test depth= |
|Ship test depth= |
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|Ship boats= |
|Ship boats= |
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|Ship capacity= |
|Ship capacity= |
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|Ship complement=784 |
|Ship complement=784 |
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|Ship time to activate= |
|Ship time to activate= |
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|Ship sensors= |
|Ship sensors= |
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|Ship armament= |
|Ship armament= |
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*8 × [[BL 8 inch Mk VIII naval gun|BL 8-inch (203 mm L/50) Mk.VIII]] in twin mounts Mk.I* |
*8 × [[BL 8 inch Mk VIII naval gun|BL 8-inch (203 mm L/50) Mk.VIII]] in twin mounts Mk.I* |
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*4–8 × QF 4-inch (102 mm L/45) Mk.V in single mounts HA Mk.III |
*4–8 × [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF 4-inch (102 mm L/45) Mk.V]] in single mounts HA Mk.III |
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*4 × QF 2 pdr (40 mm L/39) Mk.II in single mounts HA Mk.I |
*4 × [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|QF 2 pdr (40 mm L/39)]] Mk.II in single mounts HA Mk.I |
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*8 × QF 0.5-inch (12.7 mm L/50) Mk.III in quad mounts Mk.I |
*8 × [[Vickers .50 machine gun|QF 0.5-inch (12.7 mm L/50)]] Mk.III in quad mounts Mk.I |
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*8 × 21 |
*8 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] torpedoes in quad mounts |
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|Ship armour= |
|Ship armour= |
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|Ship armor= |
|Ship armor= |
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|Ship aircraft=One [[Supermarine Walrus]], one catapult |
|Ship aircraft=One [[Supermarine Walrus]], one [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]] |
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|Ship motto= |
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'''HMS ''London'' |
'''HMS ''London''''', [[pennant number]] C69, was a member of the second group of the {{sclass2|County|cruiser|0}} [[heavy cruiser]]s of the [[Royal Navy]]. She and her [[sister ship|sisters]]; {{HMS|Sussex|96|2}}, {{HMS|Shropshire|73|2}}, and {{HMS|Devonshire|39|2}} differed from the earlier group of Counties, (known as the ''Kent'' class), by having a smaller forward superstructure, which was positioned slightly further aft, and little armour plating. HMS ''London''{{'}}s career spanned over twenty years. |
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==Interwar career and rebuild== |
==Interwar career and rebuild== |
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[[File:HMS London gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The gun crew of a .5-inch four barrelled [[Vickers .50 machine gun|Vickers gun]] at their quarter on board HMS ''London''. Note the long belts of ammunition hanging off the two men.]] |
[[File:HMS London gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The gun crew of a .5-inch four barrelled [[Vickers .50 machine gun|Vickers gun]] at their quarter on board HMS ''London''. Note the long belts of ammunition hanging off the two men.]] |
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''London'' was laid down at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth Dockyard]] on 23 February 1926, and later launched on 14 September 1927 and commissioned on 31 January 1929. ''London'' served with the 1st Cruiser Squadron until March 1939, and was the flagship of Admiral [[Max Horton]] during his time in command of 1st Cruisers. Her [[flag captain]] during this time was [[Henry Harwood]]. From 1936 she was the flagship of Vice-Admiral [[Charles Kennedy-Purvis]] (later Sir Charles) and on 1 September 1937 she and her sister ship '' Sussex'' made a week |
''London'' was laid down at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth Dockyard]] on 23 February 1926, and later launched on 14 September 1927 and commissioned on 31 January 1929. ''London'' served with the 1st Cruiser Squadron until March 1939, and was the flagship of Admiral [[Max Horton]] during his time in command of 1st Cruisers. Her [[flag captain]] during this time was [[Henry Harwood]]. From 1936 she was the flagship of Vice-Admiral [[Charles Kennedy-Purvis]] (later Sir Charles) and on 1 September 1937 she and her sister ship '' Sussex'' made a week-long goodwill visit to Venice, mooring opposite the Doges Palace. ''London'' and her sister ship ''Shropshire'' facilitated the evacuation of thousands of civilians from [[Barcelona]] during the [[Spanish Civil War]]. From March 1939 she was under reconstruction at the [[Chatham Dockyard]], and was much altered in appearance. Replacement of her machinery was considered, but later abandoned. She was given a new superstructure above the main deck and in many ways resembled a {{sclass|Fiji|cruiser|0}} light cruiser. Her single 4-inch gun mounts were changed to twin mounts, and several 20mm AA guns and radar were added. In addition, she was fitted with a 3½-inch cemented armoured belt, 8 feet deep down from the main armoured deck which covered the machinery spaces. The reconstruction work was finally completed in March 1941. The refit was planned to be implemented to other ships of the County class, but due to wartime pressures no other ships were reconstructed. |
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==Wartime career== |
==Wartime career== |
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[[File:HMS London King George.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[George VI of the United Kingdom|HM King George VI]] meeting the officers of HMS ''London'' lined up on deck next to one of the cruiser's 8-inch gun turrets, part of the [[Home Fleet]] at [[Scapa Flow]].]] |
[[File:HMS London King George.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[George VI of the United Kingdom|HM King George VI]] meeting the officers of HMS ''London'' lined up on deck next to one of the cruiser's 8-inch gun turrets, part of the [[Home Fleet]] at [[Scapa Flow]].]] |
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''London'' was involved in the pursuit of the German [[battleship]] |
''London'' was involved in the pursuit of the German [[battleship]] {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||2}} in May 1941. During this time at sea, many cracks appeared in her upper deck and hull, due to the weight of the new superstructure causing stresses. She entered a commercial shipyard on the [[River Tyne]] in October 1941 and was under repair until February 1942. ''London'' then spent from March 1942 to November 1942 in the North Atlantic on convoy protection duties in the company of several US Navy warships. This period of operations in the heavy North Atlantic seas caused hull cracks and popped rivets in her lower hull, necessitating the ship again going into the dry-dock in December 1942 for strengthening of the hull and for the fitting of newer and more refined radar, and of more light anti-aircraft guns. This refit rectified her hull and was completed in May 1943, with the ship ready for sea in July. After sea trials and loading of ammunition, she was assigned to operate off the South African coast and then to the [[Eastern Fleet]] for the rest of the war. |
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==Postwar, the ''Amethyst'' incident, and decommissioning== |
==Postwar, the ''Amethyst'' incident, and decommissioning== |
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Following the Second World War, and being the Royal Navy's only modernised 8 |
Following the Second World War, and being the Royal Navy's only modernised 8-inch gun cruiser, ''London'' was refitted for further service in early 1946 to allow her to serve in the postwar fleet. Following the refit she sailed for the far east in 1946 and served there for the next three years on the [[China Station]]. |
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{{main|Amethyst Incident}} |
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In the spring of 1949 the [[frigate]] {{HMS|Amethyst|F116|2}} became trapped by advancing Communist Chinese forces up the [[Yangtze River]]. ''London'' sailed up the river as a show of strength in an attempt to help free the frigate. The Communist forces were not intimidated and took the cruiser under fire. ''London'' returned fire with her 8-inch and 4-inch guns, firing several hundred rounds, but was hit several times. Her two forward 8-inch turrets and "X" turret aft were damaged and rendered inoperable, and her bridge sustained several hits. ''London'' retreated down river and returned to [[Hong Kong]] for repairs which lasted until the end of July. |
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''London'' remained in Chinese waters until August 1949 when she was relieved by {{HMS|Kenya|14|6}} and returned to the UK in the autumn of 1949. ''London'' was surveyed to determine if an extensive repair and refit for further service was feasible, but the condition of her machinery (dating back to 1928 and not replaced during her rebuild in the 1930s), as well as the large crew she required made her too expensive a proposition, given Britain's post war financial difficulties. She was retired to reserve in the [[River Fal]] until sold for scrapping in 1950. |
''London'' remained in Chinese waters until August 1949, when she was relieved by {{HMS|Kenya|14|6}}, and she returned to the UK in the autumn of 1949. ''London'' was surveyed to determine if an extensive repair and refit for further service was feasible, but the condition of her machinery (dating back to 1928 and not replaced during her rebuild in the 1930s), as well as the large crew she required made her too expensive a proposition, given Britain's post war financial difficulties. She was retired to reserve in the [[River Fal]] until sold for scrapping in 1950. |
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== Gallery == |
== Gallery == |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher= |
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau |editor1-first=Roger |publisher=Mayflower Books|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Great Britain |last1=Campbell |first1=N.J.M.|pages=2–85}} |
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* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-59114-078-8 |author-link=Norman Friedman}} |
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* {{cite book| |
* {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Cruisers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-922-7|name-list-style=amp}} |
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* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Cassell |location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-86019-874-0|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}} |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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* ''Two Red Stripes: A Naval Surgeon at War'', R Ransome Wallis, Ian |
* ''Two Red Stripes: A Naval Surgeon at War'', R Ransome Wallis, Ian Allan Ltd, {{ISBN|0-7110-0461-7}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|HMS London (69)}} |
{{Commons category|HMS London (69)}} |
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*[https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CA-HMS_London.htm HMS London service history] at Naval-history.net |
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*[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1178.html HMS London at U-boat.net] |
*[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1178.html HMS London at U-boat.net] |
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*[http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 Cruisers of World War II] |
*[http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 Cruisers of World War II] |
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*{{cite AV media |
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| people = |
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| title =Meet the Ship |
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| medium = |
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| publisher =Imperial War Museum |
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| location = |
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| date =1943 |
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| url =http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060005174 }} |
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<!-- non-breaking space to keep AWB drones from altering the space before the navbox --> |
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{{County class cruiser}} |
{{County class cruiser}} |
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{{1949 shipwrecks}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:London (69)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:London (69)}} |
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[[Category:London-class cruisers]] |
[[Category:London-class cruisers]] |
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[[Category:County-class cruisers of the Royal Navy]] |
[[Category:County-class cruisers of the Royal Navy]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Ships built in Portsmouth]] |
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[[Category:1927 ships]] |
[[Category:1927 ships]] |
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[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1949]] |
Latest revision as of 12:32, 5 January 2024
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (June 2008) |
History | |
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Vereinigtes Königreich | |
Name | HMS London |
Namesake | London |
Builder | Portsmouth Dockyard |
Laid down | 23 February 1926 |
Launched | 14 September 1927 |
Commissioned | 31 January 1929 |
Identification | Pennant number 69 |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 3 January 1950. Broken up from 22 January 1950 by T. W. Ward of Barrow |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | County-class heavy cruiser |
Displacement |
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Length | 633 ft (193 m) |
Beam | 66 ft (20 m) |
Draught | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 32 knots (59.3 km/h) |
Range | 9,120 nmi at 12 kn |
Complement | 784 |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | One Supermarine Walrus, one catapult |
HMS London, pennant number C69, was a member of the second group of the County-class heavy cruisers of the Royal Navy. She and her sisters; Sussex, Shropshire, and Devonshire differed from the earlier group of Counties, (known as the Kent class), by having a smaller forward superstructure, which was positioned slightly further aft, and little armour plating. HMS London's career spanned over twenty years.
Interwar career and rebuild
[edit]London was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 23 February 1926, and later launched on 14 September 1927 and commissioned on 31 January 1929. London served with the 1st Cruiser Squadron until March 1939, and was the flagship of Admiral Max Horton during his time in command of 1st Cruisers. Her flag captain during this time was Henry Harwood. From 1936 she was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Charles Kennedy-Purvis (later Sir Charles) and on 1 September 1937 she and her sister ship Sussex made a week-long goodwill visit to Venice, mooring opposite the Doges Palace. London and her sister ship Shropshire facilitated the evacuation of thousands of civilians from Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. From March 1939 she was under reconstruction at the Chatham Dockyard, and was much altered in appearance. Replacement of her machinery was considered, but later abandoned. She was given a new superstructure above the main deck and in many ways resembled a Fiji-class light cruiser. Her single 4-inch gun mounts were changed to twin mounts, and several 20mm AA guns and radar were added. In addition, she was fitted with a 3½-inch cemented armoured belt, 8 feet deep down from the main armoured deck which covered the machinery spaces. The reconstruction work was finally completed in March 1941. The refit was planned to be implemented to other ships of the County class, but due to wartime pressures no other ships were reconstructed.
Wartime career
[edit]London was involved in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. During this time at sea, many cracks appeared in her upper deck and hull, due to the weight of the new superstructure causing stresses. She entered a commercial shipyard on the River Tyne in October 1941 and was under repair until February 1942. London then spent from March 1942 to November 1942 in the North Atlantic on convoy protection duties in the company of several US Navy warships. This period of operations in the heavy North Atlantic seas caused hull cracks and popped rivets in her lower hull, necessitating the ship again going into the dry-dock in December 1942 for strengthening of the hull and for the fitting of newer and more refined radar, and of more light anti-aircraft guns. This refit rectified her hull and was completed in May 1943, with the ship ready for sea in July. After sea trials and loading of ammunition, she was assigned to operate off the South African coast and then to the Eastern Fleet for the rest of the war.
Postwar, the Amethyst incident, and decommissioning
[edit]Following the Second World War, and being the Royal Navy's only modernised 8-inch gun cruiser, London was refitted for further service in early 1946 to allow her to serve in the postwar fleet. Following the refit she sailed for the far east in 1946 and served there for the next three years on the China Station.
In the spring of 1949 the frigate Amethyst became trapped by advancing Communist Chinese forces up the Yangtze River. London sailed up the river as a show of strength in an attempt to help free the frigate. The Communist forces were not intimidated and took the cruiser under fire. London returned fire with her 8-inch and 4-inch guns, firing several hundred rounds, but was hit several times. Her two forward 8-inch turrets and "X" turret aft were damaged and rendered inoperable, and her bridge sustained several hits. London retreated down river and returned to Hong Kong for repairs which lasted until the end of July.
London remained in Chinese waters until August 1949, when she was relieved by HMS Kenya, and she returned to the UK in the autumn of 1949. London was surveyed to determine if an extensive repair and refit for further service was feasible, but the condition of her machinery (dating back to 1928 and not replaced during her rebuild in the 1930s), as well as the large crew she required made her too expensive a proposition, given Britain's post war financial difficulties. She was retired to reserve in the River Fal until sold for scrapping in 1950.
Gallery
[edit]-
A photo of HMS London in 1941.
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The back of the same photo with information.
References
[edit]- Campbell, N.J.M. (1980). "Great Britain". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 2–85. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
- Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
- Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980). British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-922-7.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Whitley, M. J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 1-86019-874-0.
Further reading
[edit]- Two Red Stripes: A Naval Surgeon at War, R Ransome Wallis, Ian Allan Ltd, ISBN 0-7110-0461-7
External links
[edit]- HMS London service history at Naval-history.net
- HMS London at U-boat.net
- Cruisers of World War II
- Meet the Ship. Imperial War Museum. 1943.