m →Post-war: typo |
Piggs mcginty (talk | contribs) m →Post-war: Added links to HMS Swiftsure and Belfast and tidied up some text |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} |
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{{Use British English|date=August 2015}} |
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}} |
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{{Infobox ship image |
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|Ship image=HMS Sheffield.jpg |
| Ship image = HMS Sheffield.jpg |
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|Ship caption=''Sheffield'' underway in 1944 |
| Ship caption = ''Sheffield'' underway in 1944 |
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{{Infobox ship career |
{{Infobox ship career |
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|Ship country=[[United Kingdom]] |
| Ship country = [[United Kingdom]] |
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|Ship flag={{shipboxflag| |
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |
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|Ship name=HMS ''Sheffield'' |
| Ship name = HMS ''Sheffield'' |
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|Ship ordered= |
| Ship ordered = |
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|Ship awarded= |
| Ship awarded = |
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|Ship builder=[[Vickers |
| Ship builder = [[Vickers-Armstrongs]], [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|High Walker]] |
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|Ship |
| Ship yard number = 5 |
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|Ship |
| Ship laid down = 31 January 1935 |
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|Ship |
| Ship launched = 23 July 1936 |
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|Ship |
| Ship christened = |
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|Ship commissioned=25 August 1937 |
| Ship acquired = |
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| Ship commissioned = 25 August 1937 |
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|Ship recommissioned= |
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|Ship decommissioned= |
| Ship decommissioned = |
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|Ship in service= |
| Ship in service = |
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|Ship out of service= |
| Ship out of service = |
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|Ship renamed= |
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| Ship refit = |
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|Ship captured= |
| Ship captured = |
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|Ship struck= |
| Ship struck = |
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|Ship reinstated= |
| Ship reinstated = |
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|Ship motto= |
| Ship motto = |
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|Ship nickname=''Shiny Sheff'' |
| Ship nickname = ''Shiny Sheff'' |
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|Ship honours= |
| Ship honours = {{ubl| |
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|[[Norwegian campaign|Norway]] 1940 |
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|[[Battle of Cape Spartivento|Spartivento]] 1940 |
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|[[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic]] 1941-43 |
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|[[Last battle of the battleship Bismarck|''Bismarck'' Action]] 1941 |
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|[[Battle of the Mediterranean|Mediterranean]] 1941 |
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|[[Malta convoys]] 1941 |
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|[[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic]] 1941-43 |
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|[[Operation Torch|North Africa]] 1942 |
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|[[Battle of the Barents Sea|Barents Sea]] 1942 |
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|Biscay 1943 |
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|[[Operation Avalanche|Salerno]] 1943 |
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|[[Battle of the North Cape|North Cape]] 1943 |
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}} |
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| Ship namesake = [[Sheffield]] |
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{{Infobox ship characteristics |
{{Infobox ship characteristics |
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|Header caption= |
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|Ship class={{sclass2 |
| Ship class = {{sclass2|Town|cruiser (1936)|0}} [[light cruiser]] |
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|Ship displacement=*9,100 tons '''standard''' |
| Ship displacement = *9,100 tons '''standard''' |
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*11,350 tons '''full load''' |
*11,350 tons '''full load''' |
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|Ship length=*{{cvt|591.0|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|overall]] |
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|Ship tons burthen= |
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*{{cvt|558.0|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]] |
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|Ship beam={{ |
| Ship beam = {{cvt|62.25|ft|abbr=on}} |
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|Ship draught={{ |
| Ship draught = {{cvt|17.0|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| Ship power = *75,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|shp]] |
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| Ship propulsion = *Four [[Propeller|screws]] |
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*Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
*Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
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*75,000 shp |
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|Ship |
| Ship endurance = |
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|Ship |
| Ship boats = |
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|Ship |
| Ship capacity = |
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|Ship |
| Ship complement = 748 |
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|Ship |
| Ship time to activate = |
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|Ship complement=748 |
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| Ship EW = |
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* 8 × [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|QF {{convert|4|inch|mm|adj=on|0}} guns]] [double mounts] |
* 8 × [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|QF {{convert|4|inch|mm|adj=on|0}} guns]] [double mounts] |
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* 4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder]] |
* 4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder]] |
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* 8 x [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2-pounder (40 mm) guns]] [quadruple mounts] |
* 8 x [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2-pounder (40 mm) guns]] [quadruple mounts] |
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* [[Torpedo tube]]s: 6 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}}]] |
* [[Torpedo tube]]s: 6 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}}]] |
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|Ship armour= |
| Ship armour = |
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|Ship aircraft= |
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'''HMS ''Sheffield''''' was one of the ''Southampton'' sub class of the {{sclass2 |
'''HMS ''Sheffield''''' was one of the ''Southampton'' sub class of the {{sclass2|Town|cruiser (1936)|0}} [[cruiser]]s of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. She took part in actions against several major German warships. Unlike most Royal Navy ships of her time, her fittings were constructed from stainless steel instead of the more traditional brass. This was an attempt to reduce the amount of cleaning required on the part of the crew. Her nickname, the "Shiny Sheff", stemmed from this. A prototype [[radar]] system was placed into service in August 1938 on the ''Sheffield''. It was the first vessel in the Royal Navy to be so equipped.<ref>Coales, J. F., and J. D. S. Rawlinson; "The Development of Naval Radar 1935-1945", ''J. Naval Science'', vol. 13, nos. 2-3, 1987.</ref> |
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==Building== |
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[[Vickers-Armstrongs]] built ''Sheffield'' at [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|High Walker]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. Her keel was laid on 31 January 1935, she was launched on 23 July 1936 and she was completed on 25 August 1937.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/S-Ships/sheffield1937.html |title=Sheffield |work=Tyne Built Ships |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> |
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==War service== |
==War service== |
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At the outbreak of war, ''Sheffield'' served with the 18th Cruiser Squadron, patrolling the [[Denmark Straits]] and then, in April 1940, she was engaged in the [[Norwegian Campaign]]. After a short spell carrying out anti-invasion duties in the [[English Channel]], she joined [[Force H]], based in [[Gibraltar]]. During that time, she operated in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] until the year's end, and took part in [[Operation White]] and the [[battle of Cape Spartivento]]. |
At the outbreak of war, ''Sheffield'' served with the 18th Cruiser Squadron, patrolling the [[Denmark Straits]] and then, in April 1940, she was engaged in the [[Norwegian Campaign]]. After a short spell carrying out anti-invasion duties in the [[English Channel]], she joined [[Force H]], based in [[Gibraltar]]. During that time, she operated in the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Atlantic]] until the year's end, and took part in [[Operation White]] and the [[battle of Cape Spartivento]]. |
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In 1941, she participated in [[Operation Grog]], the shelling of Genoa, in operations against [[Vichy France|Vichy]] [[convoy]]s and supporting air reinforcements to [[Malta]]. In May, ''Sheffield'' took part in the sinking of the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||6}}, narrowly escaping a [[friendly fire]] torpedo attack by the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}}{{'}}s [[Fairey Swordfish]]; |
In 1941, she participated in [[Operation Grog]], the shelling of Genoa, in operations against [[Vichy France|Vichy]] [[convoy]]s and supporting air reinforcements to [[Malta]]. In May, ''Sheffield'' took part in the [[Last battle of Bismarck|sinking of the]] {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||6}}, narrowly escaping a [[friendly fire]] torpedo attack by the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}}{{'}}s [[Fairey Swordfish]]; eleven torpedoes were dropped and only defective [[Magnetic pistol|Duplex exploder]]s and fine ship handling saved her from disaster.<ref>Stephen, Martin. ''Sea Battles in Close-up'' (Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan, 1988), Volume 1, pp.89-90.</ref> (In the report of the attack, Admiral Sir [[John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey|John Tovey]], commanding [[Home Fleet]], was told only no hits were scored on ''[[German battleship Bismarck|Bismarck]]''.<ref>Stephen, p.91.</ref> The reaction of ''Sheffield''{{'}}s crew "has not made its way into the official records".)<ref>Stephen, p.89.</ref> On 12 June, she located and sank one of ''Bismarck''{{'}}s tankers, ''Friedrich Breme''. After the destruction in early October 1941 of another German supply ship, ''Kota Penang'', (aided by the cruiser {{HMS|Kenya|C14|2}}), ''Sheffield'' returned to Britain. |
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She was occupied on [[Arctic convoys]] until hitting a mine off [[Iceland]] on 3 March 1942 and was under repair until July. After more Arctic convoys, ''Sheffield'' joined the forces supporting the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] landings in North Africa ([[Operation Torch]]) in November. In December 1942, ''Sheffield'' and ''[[HMS Jamaica (44)|Jamaica]]'' formed "Force R", under the command of Rear-Admiral [[Robert Burnett]] (in ''Sheffield''), which provided cover for [[Convoy JW 51B]]. The convoy was attacked by a strong German surface force. In the ensuing action ([[Battle of the Barents Sea]]), the Germans withdrew and ''Sheffield'' sank the German destroyer {{ship|German destroyer Z16|Friedrich Eckoldt||2}}, while also damaging the cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}}, ''Eckoldt'' mistaking ''Sheffield'' for ''Hipper''. During this engagement, the destroyer {{HMS|Achates|H12|2}} and the [[minesweeper]] {{HMS|Bramble|J11|2}} were sunk by gunfire of the two German vessels. |
She was occupied on [[Arctic convoys]] until hitting a mine off [[Iceland]] on 3 March 1942 and was under repair until July. After more Arctic convoys, ''Sheffield'' joined the forces supporting the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] landings in North Africa ([[Operation Torch]]) in November. In December 1942, ''Sheffield'' and ''[[HMS Jamaica (44)|Jamaica]]'' formed "Force R", under the command of Rear-Admiral [[Robert Burnett]] (in ''Sheffield''), which provided cover for [[Convoy JW 51B]]. The convoy was attacked by a strong German surface force. In the ensuing action ([[Battle of the Barents Sea]]), the Germans withdrew and ''Sheffield'' sank the German destroyer {{ship|German destroyer Z16|Friedrich Eckoldt||2}}, while also damaging the cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}}, ''Eckoldt'' mistaking ''Sheffield'' for ''Hipper''. During this engagement, the destroyer {{HMS|Achates|H12|2}} and the [[minesweeper]] {{HMS|Bramble|J11|2}} were sunk by gunfire of the two German vessels. |
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[[File:HMS Sheffield frost.jpg|thumb|left|Ice forms on a 20 |
[[File:HMS Sheffield frost.jpg|thumb|left|Ice forms on a 20-inch signal projector during an Arctic convoy to Russia]] |
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[[File:HMS Sheffield (C24) MOD 45139960.jpg|thumb|left|Flagship of the reserve fleet in the 1960s]] |
[[File:HMS Sheffield (C24) MOD 45139960.jpg|thumb|left|Flagship of the reserve fleet in the 1960s]] |
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In February 1943, ''Sheffield'' moved to operate in the [[Bay of Biscay]] and, in July and August, she supported the landings at [[Salerno]] ([[Operation Avalanche]]). Returning yet again to the Arctic, she took part in the [[Battle of North Cape|sinking of the battleship ''Scharnhorst'']] off the north coast of Norway, in late December. |
In February 1943, ''Sheffield'' moved to operate in the [[Bay of Biscay]] and, in July and August, she supported the landings at [[Salerno]] ([[Operation Avalanche]]). Returning yet again to the Arctic, she took part in the [[Battle of North Cape|sinking of the battleship ''Scharnhorst'']] off the north coast of Norway, in late December. |
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==Post-war== |
==Post-war== |
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The refit was completed in May 1946 and ''Sheffield'' arrived at her new base, the [[Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda|Royal Naval Dockyard]] in the [[Imperial fortress]] colony of [[Bermuda]], on the 30 August, 1946, for duties as flagship on the [[North America and West Indies Station|America and West Indies Station]]. Her commanding officer, Captain K. G. Harkness, D.S.C., was also the Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir [[Irvine Glennie]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1946-08-29 |title=Sheffield Due At Bermuda Tomorrow: Flagship for C.C. Here; Has Notable War Record; BERMUDIAN IS AMONG OFFICERS IN CRUISE |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1946-08-31 |title=New Flagship Arrives at R.N. Station Here: Cruiser Sheffield Will Be Followed by H.M.S. Kenya |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda }}</ref> She departed Bermuda, and the station, on 26 October, 1948, for England, replaced as flagship on the America and West Indies Station by {{HMS|Glasgow |C21|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1948-10-26 |title=Sheffield Leaves Today: Visited By 175,000 During 5 "Showing The Flag" Cruises |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda |page=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1948-10-26 |title=Farewell Dance For "Sheffield" Men |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda |page=8 }}</ref> |
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[[File:1948-06-10 HMS Sheffield at City of Hamilton in Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda for King's Birthday ceremony.jpg|thumb|left|HMS Sheffield at City of Hamilton, Bermuda for 10 June, 1948, King's Birthday ceremony.]] |
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⚫ | There were further refits in 1949/50,1954 and 1956-7 when her bridge was enclosed, a lattice foremast added, and a comprehensive anti nuclear and biological washdown installed in |
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⚫ | On 12 October, 1951, ''Sheffield'' returned to Bermuda again as flagship of the America and West Indies Station, replacing {{HMS|Superb|25|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1951-10-13 |title=H.M.S. Sheffield Arrives To Become New flagship |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda }}</ref> From June 1952 to May 1953, her commanding officer was Capt. [[John Gilchrist Inglis|John Inglis]], who was to become director of [[Naval Intelligence Division (United Kingdom)|Naval Intelligence]] in July 1954.<ref name=Career>{{cite web|title=Inglis, (Sir) John Gilchrist Thesiger|url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersI.html |work=Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 |publisher=www.unithistories.com|access-date=16 July 2011|last1=Houterman |first1= Hans|last2=Koppes |first2= Jeroen}}</ref> In 1953 she took part in the [[Fleet Review]] to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.<ref>Souvenir Programme, ''Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953'', HMSO, Gale and Polden</ref> On 18 October, 1954, she was replaced as flagship of the America and West Indies Station by HMS Superb, leaving Bermuda the same day to decommission at Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=1954-10-19 |title=Queen's Colour Handed Over To New Flagship |work=The Royal Gazette |location=City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda}}</ref> |
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⚫ | There were further refits in 1949/50,1954 and 1956-7 when her bridge was enclosed, a lattice foremast added, and a comprehensive anti nuclear and biological washdown installed in 1959–60. Her final light anti-aircraft outfit consisted of eight twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors]] Mk 5 and 2 single Bofors Mk 7.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Norman |title=British Cruisers |date=2010 |publisher=Seaforth |isbn=978-1-84832-078-9 |page=282 }}</ref> In 1955, she played the part of the cruiser {{HMS|Ajax|22|2}} in the war film ''[[The Battle of the River Plate (film)|The Battle of the River Plate]]''. She went into reserve in January 1959, but as the refit of {{HMS|Swiftsure|08|6}} was stopped due to structural weakness and the Town cruisers considered far more comfortable and able to carry far more light AA, ''Sheffield'' was the final World War II cruiser to be refitted for possible use as a GFS monitor. She became flagship of the [[Reserve Fleet]] and served again at sea in 1960 and then as an accommodation ship until September 1964, when she was placed on the disposal list. She was widely considered as a historic and great British warship, justifying preservation and a cruiser which maintained far more the character and fit of a World War II cruiser compared with the more modified {{HMS|Belfast}}. However, by 1966, examination showed ''Sheffield'' had deteriorated too much in unmaintained reserve in Fareham Creek and could not be preserved. |
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Her equipment was removed at [[Rosyth]] in 1967 and she was then broken up at Faslane in the same year. The stainless steel ship's bell, which was made by Hadfield's of Sheffield, was preserved and today hangs in [[Sheffield Cathedral]] along with her battle ensign. |
Her equipment was removed at [[Rosyth]] in 1967 and she was then broken up at Faslane in the same year. The stainless steel ship's bell, which was made by Hadfield's of Sheffield, was preserved and today hangs in [[Sheffield Cathedral]] along with her battle ensign. |
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==Citations== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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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=Mayflower Books|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Great Britain |last1=Campbell |first1=N.J.M.|pages=2–85}} |
* {{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 Colledge2006}} |
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*{{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}} |
* {{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|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}} |
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}} |
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* {{cite book |last1=McCart |first1=Neil |title=Town Class Cruisers |date=2012 |publisher=Maritime Books |location=Liskeard, UK |isbn=978-1-904-45952-1}} |
* {{cite book |last1=McCart |first1=Neil |title=Town Class Cruisers |date=2012 |publisher=Maritime Books |location=Liskeard, UK |isbn=978-1-904-45952-1}} |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140811110717/https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/research-guides/hms-sheffield Sources for the study of HMS Sheffield] Produced by Sheffield City Council's Libraries and Archives |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140811110717/https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/research-guides/hms-sheffield Sources for the study of HMS Sheffield] Produced by Sheffield City Council's Libraries and Archives |
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{{Town class cruiser 1936}} |
{{Town class cruiser 1936}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield (C24)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield (C24)}} |
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[[Category:Town-class cruisers (1936)]] |
[[Category:Town-class cruisers (1936)]] |
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[[Category:1936 ships]] |
[[Category:1936 ships]] |
Latest revision as of 14:37, 12 February 2024
Sheffield underway in 1944
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Sheffield |
Namesake | Sheffield |
Builder | Vickers-Armstrongs, High Walker |
Yard number | 5 |
Laid down | 31 January 1935 |
Launched | 23 July 1936 |
Commissioned | 25 August 1937 |
Identification | Pennant number: C24 |
Nickname(s) | Shiny Sheff |
Honours and awards |
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Fate | Scrapped at Faslane, 1967 |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Town-class light cruiser |
Displacement |
|
Length | |
Beam | 62.25 ft (18.97 m) |
Draught | 17.0 ft (5.2 m) |
Installed power | 75,000 shp |
Propulsion | |
Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h) |
Complement | 748 |
Sensors and processing systems | Type 79Y radar from August 1938[1] |
Armament |
|
HMS Sheffield was one of the Southampton sub class of the Town-class cruisers of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She took part in actions against several major German warships. Unlike most Royal Navy ships of her time, her fittings were constructed from stainless steel instead of the more traditional brass. This was an attempt to reduce the amount of cleaning required on the part of the crew. Her nickname, the "Shiny Sheff", stemmed from this. A prototype radar system was placed into service in August 1938 on the Sheffield. It was the first vessel in the Royal Navy to be so equipped.[2]
Building
Vickers-Armstrongs built Sheffield at High Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Her keel was laid on 31 January 1935, she was launched on 23 July 1936 and she was completed on 25 August 1937.[3]
War service
At the outbreak of war, Sheffield served with the 18th Cruiser Squadron, patrolling the Denmark Straits and then, in April 1940, she was engaged in the Norwegian Campaign. After a short spell carrying out anti-invasion duties in the English Channel, she joined Force H, based in Gibraltar. During that time, she operated in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic until the year's end, and took part in Operation White and the battle of Cape Spartivento.
In 1941, she participated in Operation Grog, the shelling of Genoa, in operations against Vichy convoys and supporting air reinforcements to Malta. In May, Sheffield took part in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, narrowly escaping a friendly fire torpedo attack by the aircraft carrier Ark Royal's Fairey Swordfish; eleven torpedoes were dropped and only defective Duplex exploders and fine ship handling saved her from disaster.[4] (In the report of the attack, Admiral Sir John Tovey, commanding Home Fleet, was told only no hits were scored on Bismarck.[5] The reaction of Sheffield's crew "has not made its way into the official records".)[6] On 12 June, she located and sank one of Bismarck's tankers, Friedrich Breme. After the destruction in early October 1941 of another German supply ship, Kota Penang, (aided by the cruiser Kenya), Sheffield returned to Britain.
She was occupied on Arctic convoys until hitting a mine off Iceland on 3 March 1942 and was under repair until July. After more Arctic convoys, Sheffield joined the forces supporting the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch) in November. In December 1942, Sheffield and Jamaica formed "Force R", under the command of Rear-Admiral Robert Burnett (in Sheffield), which provided cover for Convoy JW 51B. The convoy was attacked by a strong German surface force. In the ensuing action (Battle of the Barents Sea), the Germans withdrew and Sheffield sank the German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt, while also damaging the cruiser Admiral Hipper, Eckoldt mistaking Sheffield for Hipper. During this engagement, the destroyer Achates and the minesweeper Bramble were sunk by gunfire of the two German vessels.
In February 1943, Sheffield moved to operate in the Bay of Biscay and, in July and August, she supported the landings at Salerno (Operation Avalanche). Returning yet again to the Arctic, she took part in the sinking of the battleship Scharnhorst off the north coast of Norway, in late December.
In 1944, Sheffield was an escort for the Royal Navy carrier force that executed a series of air attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, between April and August. These had limited success and responsibility was passed to the Royal Air Force.
A lengthy refit in Boston and in Britain kept Sheffield out of action until after the end of the war.
Post-war
The refit was completed in May 1946 and Sheffield arrived at her new base, the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, on the 30 August, 1946, for duties as flagship on the America and West Indies Station. Her commanding officer, Captain K. G. Harkness, D.S.C., was also the Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Irvine Glennie.[7][8] She departed Bermuda, and the station, on 26 October, 1948, for England, replaced as flagship on the America and West Indies Station by HMS Glasgow.[9][10]
On 12 October, 1951, Sheffield returned to Bermuda again as flagship of the America and West Indies Station, replacing HMS Superb.[11] From June 1952 to May 1953, her commanding officer was Capt. John Inglis, who was to become director of Naval Intelligence in July 1954.[12] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[13] On 18 October, 1954, she was replaced as flagship of the America and West Indies Station by HMS Superb, leaving Bermuda the same day to decommission at Portsmouth.[14]
There were further refits in 1949/50,1954 and 1956-7 when her bridge was enclosed, a lattice foremast added, and a comprehensive anti nuclear and biological washdown installed in 1959–60. Her final light anti-aircraft outfit consisted of eight twin Bofors Mk 5 and 2 single Bofors Mk 7.[15] In 1955, she played the part of the cruiser Ajax in the war film The Battle of the River Plate. She went into reserve in January 1959, but as the refit of HMS Swiftsure was stopped due to structural weakness and the Town cruisers considered far more comfortable and able to carry far more light AA, Sheffield was the final World War II cruiser to be refitted for possible use as a GFS monitor. She became flagship of the Reserve Fleet and served again at sea in 1960 and then as an accommodation ship until September 1964, when she was placed on the disposal list. She was widely considered as a historic and great British warship, justifying preservation and a cruiser which maintained far more the character and fit of a World War II cruiser compared with the more modified HMS Belfast. However, by 1966, examination showed Sheffield had deteriorated too much in unmaintained reserve in Fareham Creek and could not be preserved.
Her equipment was removed at Rosyth in 1967 and she was then broken up at Faslane in the same year. The stainless steel ship's bell, which was made by Hadfield's of Sheffield, was preserved and today hangs in Sheffield Cathedral along with her battle ensign.
Citations
- ^ Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN "Shipborne Radar" United States Naval Institute Proceedings September 1967 p.75
- ^ Coales, J. F., and J. D. S. Rawlinson; "The Development of Naval Radar 1935-1945", J. Naval Science, vol. 13, nos. 2-3, 1987.
- ^ "Sheffield". Tyne Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ Stephen, Martin. Sea Battles in Close-up (Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan, 1988), Volume 1, pp.89-90.
- ^ Stephen, p.91.
- ^ Stephen, p.89.
- ^ "Sheffield Due At Bermuda Tomorrow: Flagship for C.C. Here; Has Notable War Record; BERMUDIAN IS AMONG OFFICERS IN CRUISE". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 29 August 1946.
- ^ "New Flagship Arrives at R.N. Station Here: Cruiser Sheffield Will Be Followed by H.M.S. Kenya". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 31 August 1946.
- ^ "Sheffield Leaves Today: Visited By 175,000 During 5 "Showing The Flag" Cruises". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 26 October 1948. p. 1.
- ^ "Farewell Dance For "Sheffield" Men". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 26 October 1948. p. 8.
- ^ "H.M.S. Sheffield Arrives To Become New flagship". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 13 October 1951.
- ^ Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Inglis, (Sir) John Gilchrist Thesiger". Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945. www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
- ^ "Queen's Colour Handed Over To New Flagship". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 19 October 1954.
- ^ Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers. Seaforth. p. 282. ISBN 978-1-84832-078-9.
References
- 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.
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
- Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
- McCart, Neil (2012). Town Class Cruisers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 978-1-904-45952-1.
- 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.
- Waters, Conrad (2019). British Town Class Cruisers: Design, Development & Performance; Southampton & Belfast Classes. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-1885-3.
- Whitley, M. J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 1-86019-874-0.
External links
- HMS Sheffield Association Official Website at the Wayback Machine
- Sources for the study of HMS Sheffield Produced by Sheffield City Council's Libraries and Archives