The Dido-class were designed as small cruisers capable of being built quickly and in large numbers to allow a shortfall in numbers of cruisers against the numbers which were required to meet the Royal Navy's requirements. Rather than the mixed armament of single-purpose 6-inch (152 mm) low-angle (anti-ship) and 4-inch (102 mm) high-angle (anti-aircraft) guns carried by previous light cruisers, it was decided to fit a dual-purpose main armament, capable of both anti-ship and anti-aircraft fire. This used the new 5.25-inch (133 mm) gun as used in the King George V-class battleships.[1][2]
Hermione was one of two Dido-class cruisers ordered under the 1937 construction programme for the Royal Navy,[a] following on from five ships ordered the previous year.[3]Hermione was laid down at Alexander Stephen and SonsLinthouse, Glasgow shipyard as Yard number 560 on 6 October 1937,[4][5] was launched on 18 May 1939 and completed on 25 March 1941.[4]
Hermione was 512 ft (156.06 m) long overall and 485 ft (147.83 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 50 feet 6 inches (15.4 m) and a mean draught of 16 feet 6 inches (5.0 m) (increasing to 17 feet 3 inches (5.3 m) at full load. Displacement was 5,600 long tons (5,700 t) standard and 6,850 long tons (6,960 t) full load.[4][6] The ship's machinery was arranged in a four-shaft layout, with four Admiralty 3-drum boilers supplying steam at 400 psi (2,800 kPa) to Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, rated at 62,000 shaft horsepower (46,000 kW), giving a speed of 32.25 knots (59.73 km/h; 37.11 mph).[4] 1,100 long tons (1,100 t) of fuel oil were carried, giving a range of 4,240 nautical miles (7,850 km; 4,880 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), reducing to 3,480 nmi (6,440 km; 4,000 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and 1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).[6]
The ship's main armament consisted of ten 5.25-inch guns in five twin turrets on the ship's centreline, with three forward and two aft. Two quadruple 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom mounts were mounted on the ship's beams to provide close-in anti-aircraft protection, backed up by two quadruple .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns on the bridge wings.[7] Two triple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes provided additional anti-ship capability.[6] Fire control for this armament was provided by a single low angle director control tower (DCT) on the ship's bridge, together with two High Angle Control System (HACS) director towers, one on the ship's bridge and one aft.[3][7] A 3 in (76 mm) armour belt protected the ship's machinery and magazines with 1 in (25 mm) protecting the ship's shell rooms. Deck armour was also an inch thick, with 3 in (76 mm) plates over the magazines.[4] The 5.25 inch gun turrets had armour of 1+1⁄2–1 in (38–25 mm) thickness.[6]
Modificationsedit
A 20 mm Oerlikon gun on board HMS Hermione, showing a naval gunner utilising the rubber shoulder rests for high-angle firing, with the Thornycroft depth charge thrower Mark II and depth charge launching rail in the background.
While several of the Dido-class were completed with reduced main armaments owing to production problems (the King George V-class battleships had priority for the new guns),[8][2]Hermione was completed with the full ten-gun outfit. In October–November 1941, the ship's .50 in machine guns were replaced by five single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.[3]
Historyedit
Convoy, Hermione's ship's cat, sleeps in a hammock whilst members of the crew look on
After commissioning and workup, Hermione joined the 15th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet.[9]Hermione took part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen when they sortied into the North Atlantic in May 1941. Hermione left Scapa Flow on 22 May as part of a force including the battleship King George V and the aircraft carrier Victorious.[10][11][b] On 24 May, Victorious, escorted by Hermione, Aurora and Kenya, was detached to launch an air attack against Bismarck. The attack by Victorious's Swordfishtorpedo bombers resulted in a single torpedo hit on Bismarck which did little damage to the German ship.[12] On 25 May, Hermione, short of fuel, was detached from the chase in order to refuel at Iceland.[13] Following the sinking of Bismarck, the British launched a major operation against German supply ships in the Atlantic which supported the operations of surface raiders, with Hermione taking part in searches for these supply ships and German blockade runners before joining Force H, based at Gibraltar on 22 June.[14]Hermione was then deployed to the Mediterranean. On 2 August 1941, whilst helping to protect a convoy, Hermione attacked by ramming the Italian submarine Tembien, sinking her;[15][16] an action commemorated in a propaganda painting by artist Marcus Stone.[17]
Fateedit
While under Captain G.N. Oliver, DSO, RN, Hermione was part of the Force A group which escorted convoy MW-11, a supply convoy under Rear Admiral Philip Vian from Alexandria to Malta in Operation Vigorous. On the 14th and 15 June 1942, the Hermione expended most of her ammunition while defending the ships against heavy air attacks and had to return to Alexandria, escorted by HMS Aldenham, HMS Beaufort, and HMS Exmoor.[18]
At 23:20 hours on 15 June, U-205 spotted a group of warships north of Sollum and attacked two destroyers with one G7e torpedo each at 23:38 and 23:40 hours, but missed both. Only then did U-205 recognize one of the shadows as a cruiser and fired a spread of three torpedoes at 00:19 hours, hitting Hermione on the starboard side. The ship immediately settled by the stern with a list of 22° before ultimately capsizing, remaining afloat for 21 minutes before sinking. Eight officers and 80 ratings were lost. The survivors were picked up by the escorting destroyers and were landed at Alexandria.[18]
Barnett, Corelli (2000). Engage The Enemy More Closely. London: Penguin. ISBN0-141-39008-5.
Brown, David K. (2012). Nelson to Vanguard: Warship Design and Development 1923–1945. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-149-6.
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.
Lenton, H. T. (1973). Navies of the Second World War: British Cruisers. London: Macdonald & Co. ISBN0-356-04138-7.
Morgan, Daniel; Taylor, Bruce (2011). U-Boat Attack Logs: A Complete Record of Warship Sinkings from Original Sources 1939-1945. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-118-2.
Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980). British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-922-7.
Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN1-85367-117-7.
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.
hermione, other, ships, with, same, name, hermione, hermione, dido, class, light, cruiser, royal, navy, built, alexander, stephen, sons, glasgow, scotland, with, keel, laid, down, october, 1937, launched, 1939, commissioned, march, 1941, june, 1942, hermione, . For other ships with the same name see HMS Hermione HMS Hermione was a Dido class light cruiser of the Royal Navy She was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons Glasgow Scotland with the keel laid down on 6 October 1937 She was launched on 18 May 1939 and commissioned 25 March 1941 On 16 June 1942 Hermione was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U 205 in the Mediterranean Eighty eight crewmembers were killed Aerial photograph of Hermione at sea January 1942HistoryUnited KingdomNameHermioneBuilderAlexander Stephen and Sons GlasgowLaid down6 October 1937Launched18 May 1939Commissioned25 March 1941IdentificationPennant number 74FateSunk 16 June 1942 by German submarine U 205General characteristicsClass and typeDido class light cruiserDisplacement5 600 tons standard 6 850 tons full loadLength485 ft 148 m pp 512 ft 156 m oaBeam50 5 ft 15 4 m Draught14 ft 4 3 m PropulsionParsons geared turbines Four shafts Four Admiralty 3 drum boilers 62 000 shp 46 000 kW Speed32 25 knots 60 km h Range1 500 nmi 2 800 km 1 700 mi at 30 kn 56 km h 35 mph 4 240 nmi 7 850 km 4 880 mi at 16 kn 30 km h 18 mph Complement480Armament10 x QF 5 25 inch 133 mm guns 2 x 0 5 in MG quadruple guns 2 x 2 pounder 40 mm pom pom quad guns 2 x 21 inch 533 mm triple torpedo tubes ArmourBelt 3 in 76 mm Deck 1 in 25 mm Magazines 2 in 51 mm Bulkheads 1 in 25 mm Contents 1 Construction and design 1 1 Modifications 2 History 3 Fate 4 Notes 5 References 6 Publications 7 External linksConstruction and design editThe Dido class were designed as small cruisers capable of being built quickly and in large numbers to allow a shortfall in numbers of cruisers against the numbers which were required to meet the Royal Navy s requirements Rather than the mixed armament of single purpose 6 inch 152 mm low angle anti ship and 4 inch 102 mm high angle anti aircraft guns carried by previous light cruisers it was decided to fit a dual purpose main armament capable of both anti ship and anti aircraft fire This used the new 5 25 inch 133 mm gun as used in the King George V class battleships 1 2 Hermione was one of two Dido class cruisers ordered under the 1937 construction programme for the Royal Navy a following on from five ships ordered the previous year 3 Hermione was laid down at Alexander Stephen and Sons Linthouse Glasgow shipyard as Yard number 560 on 6 October 1937 4 5 was launched on 18 May 1939 and completed on 25 March 1941 4 Hermione was 512 ft 156 06 m long overall and 485 ft 147 83 m between perpendiculars with a beam of 50 feet 6 inches 15 4 m and a mean draught of 16 feet 6 inches 5 0 m increasing to 17 feet 3 inches 5 3 m at full load Displacement was 5 600 long tons 5 700 t standard and 6 850 long tons 6 960 t full load 4 6 The ship s machinery was arranged in a four shaft layout with four Admiralty 3 drum boilers supplying steam at 400 psi 2 800 kPa to Parsons single reduction geared steam turbines rated at 62 000 shaft horsepower 46 000 kW giving a speed of 32 25 knots 59 73 km h 37 11 mph 4 1 100 long tons 1 100 t of fuel oil were carried giving a range of 4 240 nautical miles 7 850 km 4 880 mi at 16 knots 30 km h 18 mph reducing to 3 480 nmi 6 440 km 4 000 mi at 20 knots 37 km h 23 mph and 1 500 nmi 2 800 km 1 700 mi at 32 knots 59 km h 37 mph 6 The ship s main armament consisted of ten 5 25 inch guns in five twin turrets on the ship s centreline with three forward and two aft Two quadruple 2 pounder 40 mm pom pom mounts were mounted on the ship s beams to provide close in anti aircraft protection backed up by two quadruple 50 in 12 7 mm machine guns on the bridge wings 7 Two triple 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes provided additional anti ship capability 6 Fire control for this armament was provided by a single low angle director control tower DCT on the ship s bridge together with two High Angle Control System HACS director towers one on the ship s bridge and one aft 3 7 A 3 in 76 mm armour belt protected the ship s machinery and magazines with 1 in 25 mm protecting the ship s shell rooms Deck armour was also an inch thick with 3 in 76 mm plates over the magazines 4 The 5 25 inch gun turrets had armour of 1 1 2 1 in 38 25 mm thickness 6 Modifications edit nbsp A 20 mm Oerlikon gun on board HMS Hermione showing a naval gunner utilising the rubber shoulder rests for high angle firing with the Thornycroft depth charge thrower Mark II and depth charge launching rail in the background While several of the Dido class were completed with reduced main armaments owing to production problems the King George V class battleships had priority for the new guns 8 2 Hermione was completed with the full ten gun outfit In October November 1941 the ship s 50 in machine guns were replaced by five single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 3 History edit nbsp Convoy Hermione s ship s cat sleeps in a hammock whilst members of the crew look onAfter commissioning and workup Hermione joined the 15th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet 9 Hermione took part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen when they sortied into the North Atlantic in May 1941 Hermione left Scapa Flow on 22 May as part of a force including the battleship King George V and the aircraft carrier Victorious 10 11 b On 24 May Victorious escorted by Hermione Aurora and Kenya was detached to launch an air attack against Bismarck The attack by Victorious s Swordfish torpedo bombers resulted in a single torpedo hit on Bismarck which did little damage to the German ship 12 On 25 May Hermione short of fuel was detached from the chase in order to refuel at Iceland 13 Following the sinking of Bismarck the British launched a major operation against German supply ships in the Atlantic which supported the operations of surface raiders with Hermione taking part in searches for these supply ships and German blockade runners before joining Force H based at Gibraltar on 22 June 14 Hermione was then deployed to the Mediterranean On 2 August 1941 whilst helping to protect a convoy Hermione attacked by ramming the Italian submarine Tembien sinking her 15 16 an action commemorated in a propaganda painting by artist Marcus Stone 17 Fate editWhile under Captain G N Oliver DSO RN Hermione was part of the Force A group which escorted convoy MW 11 a supply convoy under Rear Admiral Philip Vian from Alexandria to Malta in Operation Vigorous On the 14th and 15 June 1942 the Hermione expended most of her ammunition while defending the ships against heavy air attacks and had to return to Alexandria escorted by HMS Aldenham HMS Beaufort and HMS Exmoor 18 At 23 20 hours on 15 June U 205 spotted a group of warships north of Sollum and attacked two destroyers with one G7e torpedo each at 23 38 and 23 40 hours but missed both Only then did U 205 recognize one of the shadows as a cruiser and fired a spread of three torpedoes at 00 19 hours hitting Hermione on the starboard side The ship immediately settled by the stern with a list of 22 before ultimately capsizing remaining afloat for 21 minutes before sinking Eight officers and 80 ratings were lost The survivors were picked up by the escorting destroyers and were landed at Alexandria 18 Notes edit The other being Sirius 3 The force consisted of King George V Victorious the cruisers Galatea Aurora Kenya and Hermione and the destroyers Intrepid Inglefield Punjabi Lance Nestor and Active 10 References edit Lenton 1973 pp 112 113 a b Brown 2012 p 77 a b c d Whitley 1995 p 113 a b c d e Whitley 1995 p 112 Hermione clydeships co uk Caledonian Maritime Research Trust Retrieved 22 November 2019 a b c d Lenton 1973 p 119 a b Lenton 1973 p 113 Lenton 1973 p 117 Whitley 1995 p 115 a b Rohwer amp Hummelchen 1992 p 63 Barnett 2000 p 287 Barnett 2000 p 301 Barnett 2000 p 304 Rohwer amp Hummelchen 1992 p 66 HMS Hermione 74 British Light cruiser Ships hit by German U boats during WWII uboat net Souvenir from Italian Submarine Tembien The National Archives Research and learning Exhibitions the Art of War Propaganda the fighting forces a b Morgan amp Taylor 2011 pp 73 74Publications editBarnett Corelli 2000 Engage The Enemy More Closely London Penguin ISBN 0 141 39008 5 Brown David K 2012 Nelson to Vanguard Warship Design and Development 1923 1945 Barnsley UK Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 149 6 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 1973 Navies of the Second World War British Cruisers London Macdonald amp Co ISBN 0 356 04138 7 Morgan Daniel Taylor Bruce 2011 U Boat Attack Logs A Complete Record of Warship Sinkings from Original Sources 1939 1945 Barnsley Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 118 2 Raven Alan amp Roberts John 1980 British Cruisers of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 922 7 Rohwer Jurgen Hummelchen Gerhard 1992 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 London Greenhill Books ISBN 1 85367 117 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 Hermione 74 WWII cruisers HMS Hermione at Uboat net33 20 N 26 00 E 33 333 N 26 000 E 33 333 26 000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Hermione 74 amp oldid 1156627301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
