For other ships with the same name, see HMS Diomede.
HMS Diomede was a Danae-classcruiser of the Royal Navy. Constructed at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, she was constructed too late to take part in World War I and was completed at the Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth. Between the wars, she served on the China Station, Pacific waters, East Indies Waters and from 1936 onwards, in reserve. In World War II she performed four years of arduous war duty, during which time she captured the crew of the Germanblockade runnerIdarwald after she had chased that ship and when the crew scuttled Idarwald. Between 22 July 1942 and 24 September 1943 she was converted to a training ship at Rosyth Dockyard. In 1945 she was placed in reserve and scrapped a year later.
During World War I intelligence reports suggested that the Germans were building a new class of cruiser which could outgun the existing C-class light cruisers. It was believed that an improved C class with an added super-firing 6-inch (152 mm) gun in front of the deckhouse (and the requisite increase of beam and adapting of superstructure) would maintain British naval superiority in a battle. In September 1916 the first three ships of the new class (Danae, Dauntless and Dragon) were launched and a second group (Delhi, Dunedin and Durban) was ordered in July 1917.
Diomede, was part of a third tranche ordered in March 1918. This group was to have comprised six vessels, but the end of the war saw this reduced to two, Diomede and Despatch. Diomede had been laid down Vickers Armstrong of Barrow-in-Furness in mid-1918, but after launching in 1919 work was suspended. However, in 1922 she was towed to the Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth and completed on 22 February. Like the second group of Danae-class vessels, Diomede was fitted with a trawler bow. Diomede was unique in her class in having an experimental fully enclosed 6-inch mounting in the "A" position. Before completion, the suitability of her conversion to a royal yacht had been discussed, but nothing came of the idea.
Early careeredit
Upon commissioning Diomede joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on the China Station in 1922. In 1925 she was transferred to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy at Devonport where she served until 1935, apart from a refit in 1929–1930. In 1931 she rendered assistance to the town of Napier, New Zealand after the devastating Hawkes Bay earthquake, supplying medical personnel, equipment, guards and firemen, along with her sister ship Dunedin. Afterwards Diomede escorted the beach-damaged sloopVeronica to Auckland. The Executive officer at the time (1930-1933) was Commander, later Admiral Victor Crutchley, who was to later become entwined with the Pacific Campaign of World War II.
Upon the notification that the two cruisers of the New Zealand Division were to be replaced by Leander-class cruisers, in 1935 Diomede started her voyage home to Britain to be paid off into the reserve. En route the Abyssinian Crisis broke out and she was diverted to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, part of the East Indies Station based at Aden for possible action against the Italians. Upon relief by the cruiser Achilles on 31 March 1936 she was paid off and spent the next three years in the reserve fleet or as a troop ship.
World War IIedit
HMS Diomede in 1924 as in 1939.
With the growing likelihood of war, Diomede was reactivated. 3 September 1939 found her with the 7th Cruiser Squadron serving as part of the Home Fleet on Northern Patrol duties. Before the despatch of the 7th Cruiser Squadron to the Mediterranean in 1940 in light of the Italian threat, Diomede was attached to the 8th Cruiser Squadron on the America and West Indies Station on shipping protection and patrolling duty. On 8 December 1940 she chased the German blockade runner Idarwald from Tampico, Mexico. Before a capture could be effected the crew of the German freighter set it afire and scuttled it off Cabo Corrientes, Cuba. The crew were rescued and captured. The US destroyer USS Sturtevant observed the proceedings.
In early 1942 Diomede joined the 9th Cruiser Squadron as part of the South Atlantic and West African Squadron. After more than a decade of steaming it was decided to retire her from front-line service and from 22 July 1942 to 24 September 1943 at Rosyth Dockyard she converted into a training ship. With the end of the war she was reduced to reserve. On 5 April 1946 she was sold for scrap to Arnott Young of Dalmuir and arrived there for breaking up on 5 May.
Referencesedit
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. ISBN0-8317-0303-2.
Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980). British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-922-7.
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. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Diomede (ship, 1919).
Ships of the Danae class
January 01, 1970
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For other ships with the same name see HMS Diomede HMS Diomede was a Danae class cruiser of the Royal Navy Constructed at Vickers Armstrong Barrow she was constructed too late to take part in World War I and was completed at the Royal Dockyard Portsmouth Between the wars she served on the China Station Pacific waters East Indies Waters and from 1936 onwards in reserve In World War II she performed four years of arduous war duty during which time she captured the crew of the German blockade runner Idarwald after she had chased that ship and when the crew scuttled Idarwald Between 22 July 1942 and 24 September 1943 she was converted to a training ship at Rosyth Dockyard In 1945 she was placed in reserve and scrapped a year later HMS Diomede in 1938 History United Kingdom NameDiomede OrderedMarch 1918 BuilderVickers Barrow in Furness Laid down3 June 1918 Launched29 April 1919 CommissionedOctober 1922 Decommissioned5 April 1946 In service1922 Out of service1945 IdentificationPennant number D92 MottoFortibus Feroces Frangitur FateSold for scrap 13 May 1946 General characteristics Class and typeDanae class cruiser Displacement4 850 tons Length471 ft 2 in 143 61 m Beam46 ft 3 in 14 10 m Draught14 ft 3 in 4 34 m Propulsion2 Parsons geared turbines driving 2 shafts Speed29 knots 54 km h Range2 300 nautical miles 4 300 km at 28 knots 52 km h 6 700 nautical miles 12 400 km at 10 knots 20 km h Endurance24 days Capacity1 060 tons coal oil Complement450 Electronic warfare amp decoysType 273 Radar Armament6 6 in 45 BL Mark XII ArmourDeck 1 in 25 mm Belt 3 in 76 mm Conning tower 6 in 150 mm Contents 1 Background 2 Early career 3 World War II 4 References 5 External linksBackground edit nbsp HMS Diomede as completed in 1922 During World War I intelligence reports suggested that the Germans were building a new class of cruiser which could outgun the existing C class light cruisers It was believed that an improved C class with an added super firing 6 inch 152 mm gun in front of the deckhouse and the requisite increase of beam and adapting of superstructure would maintain British naval superiority in a battle In September 1916 the first three ships of the new class Danae Dauntless and Dragon were launched and a second group Delhi Dunedin and Durban was ordered in July 1917 Diomede was part of a third tranche ordered in March 1918 This group was to have comprised six vessels but the end of the war saw this reduced to two Diomede and Despatch Diomede had been laid down Vickers Armstrong of Barrow in Furness in mid 1918 but after launching in 1919 work was suspended However in 1922 she was towed to the Royal Dockyard Portsmouth and completed on 22 February Like the second group of Danae class vessels Diomede was fitted with a trawler bow Diomede was unique in her class in having an experimental fully enclosed 6 inch mounting in the A position Before completion the suitability of her conversion to a royal yacht had been discussed but nothing came of the idea Early career editUpon commissioning Diomede joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on the China Station in 1922 In 1925 she was transferred to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy at Devonport where she served until 1935 apart from a refit in 1929 1930 In 1931 she rendered assistance to the town of Napier New Zealand after the devastating Hawkes Bay earthquake supplying medical personnel equipment guards and firemen along with her sister ship Dunedin Afterwards Diomede escorted the beach damaged sloop Veronica to Auckland The Executive officer at the time 1930 1933 was Commander later Admiral Victor Crutchley who was to later become entwined with the Pacific Campaign of World War II Upon the notification that the two cruisers of the New Zealand Division were to be replaced by Leander class cruisers in 1935 Diomede started her voyage home to Britain to be paid off into the reserve En route the Abyssinian Crisis broke out and she was diverted to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron part of the East Indies Station based at Aden for possible action against the Italians Upon relief by the cruiser Achilles on 31 March 1936 she was paid off and spent the next three years in the reserve fleet or as a troop ship World War II edit nbsp HMS Diomede in 1924 as in 1939 With the growing likelihood of war Diomede was reactivated 3 September 1939 found her with the 7th Cruiser Squadron serving as part of the Home Fleet on Northern Patrol duties Before the despatch of the 7th Cruiser Squadron to the Mediterranean in 1940 in light of the Italian threat Diomede was attached to the 8th Cruiser Squadron on the America and West Indies Station on shipping protection and patrolling duty On 8 December 1940 she chased the German blockade runner Idarwald from Tampico Mexico Before a capture could be effected the crew of the German freighter set it afire and scuttled it off Cabo Corrientes Cuba The crew were rescued and captured The US destroyer USS Sturtevant observed the proceedings In early 1942 Diomede joined the 9th Cruiser Squadron as part of the South Atlantic and West African Squadron After more than a decade of steaming it was decided to retire her from front line service and from 22 July 1942 to 24 September 1943 at Rosyth Dockyard she converted into a training ship With the end of the war she was reduced to reserve On 5 April 1946 she was sold for scrap to Arnott Young of Dalmuir and arrived there for breaking up on 5 May References editCampbell 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 Raven Alan amp Roberts John 1980 British Cruisers of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 922 7 Rohwer Jurgen 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Diomede ship 1919 Ships of the Danae class Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Diomede D92 amp oldid 1172322360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
