HMS Arethusa (26)

History

HMS Arethusa was launched on 25 January 1933 and commissioned on 23 May 1935 (her first commander was Captain Philip Vian, who Taking over command of HMS Arethusa in January 1944, all ships bound for Gold, Juno and Sword Beaches were summoned by Task Force Eastern).

Until 1939 for the 3rd Cruiser Squadron operating in the Mediterranean, it was recalled to the English Channel the following year and transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Fleet. It took part in the Norwegian campaign in April 1940 and in the bombing of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir on 3 July (1,297 French were killed).

After escorting many convoys in the Atlantic, it performed the same mission in the Mediterranean, then took part in the raid on Lofoten in December 1941, during which it was damaged and required repairs. In June 1942, HMS Arethusa returned to service in the Mediterranean.

On November 18, during Operation Stone Age, she was badly damaged by an Italian torpedo, which also killed the ship: repairs in Alexandria and the United States left her paralyzed for more than a year.

Active again in June 1944, it took part in Operation Neptune near Sword Beach and bombed Merville's battery on 6 June. Earlier that evening, it spotted flares dropped by Major Otway's men, indicating that British paratroopers were taking over the German base.

A few days later, it was transported by King George VI, who was visiting soldiers in Normandy.

In January 1945, Arethusa was transferred to the 15th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and was not finally placed in the Reserve until October. It was used in a series of tests by Royal Navy engineers in 1949 before being scrapped in England on 9 May the following year.

Specification

BASIC

Year of Service

1935

Origins

UK

Status

stop service

Destroyed, scrapped.

supplement

500

staff

Class information

Class

Arethusa class

Class Size

6

ships

Class

HMS Arethusa (26); HMS Galatea (71); HMS Penelope (97); HMS Aurora (12); HMS Minotaur; HMS Polyphemus

Operators

UK

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

506. 0 feet

154.23m

Ray

51. 0 feet

15.54m

Draft

16.5 feet

5.03m

Shift

5,300 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

4 x Admiralty 3 barrel boiler units power 4 x 64,000hp Parsons geared steam turbines on 4 x shafts below the stern.

Surface Velocity

32.3

(37.1 km/h)

Area

5,301nm

(6,100 miles | 9,817 km)

Weapon

Original: 6 x BL 6" Mk XXIII main guns, three dual gun mounts with turret. 4 x 4" (102 mm) anti-aircraft gun (AA), four single gun mounts .2 x .50 caliber heavy machine guns. 6 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes in two triple-barreled launchers. 1941 Conversion (in addition to current armament): 8 x 2 lb (40mm) anti-aircraft guns in two quadruple-barrel mounts. 2 x UP ( Non-rotating projectile) Weapons (removed in 1942) 4 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns on four single mounts Overhauled in 1942: 6 x 6" (152 mm) main gun and three turrets on double mounts.

8 x 4" (102 mm) anti-aircraft guns mounted on four twin mounts. 8 x 2 pounder (40 mm) anti-aircraft guns mounted on two quad mounts (later increased to 11). 8 x 20 mm The Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun is mounted on a single gun mount. 6 x 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes are mounted on two triple launchers.

1944: 6 x 6" (152 mm) main guns and turrets mounted on three twin mounts. 8 x 4" (102 mm) anti-aircraft guns mounted on four twin mounts. 8 x 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, mounted on two quadruple gun mounts. 8 x 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns on a single gun mount. 4 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns mounted on four twin gun mounts.

6 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes in two triple-tube mounts.

AIRCRAFT

1 x Hawker Osprey OR Fairey Seafox recoverable floatplane aircraft.