Combat ships. Cruisers. Spoken from bombs and torpedoes
Continuing the theme of British heavy cruisers, specifically the County family, we will consider today the London-class cruisers.
This is the second series of "County" class cruisers, in fact, it was a complete repetition of the first series, the "Kent" class. The whole difference consisted in the absence of anti-torpedo bullets and the bow superstructure shifted towards the stern by 7,5 meters. This was done to improve the firing sectors of the bow turrets.
Structurally, these were all the same "Kents" with initially very modest booking, excellent crew accommodation and simply excellent cruising range, greater than that of many American, Japanese and German classmates.
Like the ships of the first series, "Londons" took part in the naval operations of the Second World War from the first to the last day of that war. Therefore, the list of their cases will be longer than the description of the design, since, as already mentioned, they did not differ in anything special.
But since London appeared later than Kent, British engineers had the opportunity to work on the problems that emerged during the operation of the first ships. And the main thing was insufficient speed.
31 knots for "Kent" was not enough, especially in comparison with 35,5 knots for the Japanese "Mioko" or 36 knots for the Italian "Trento". Even the Americans squeezed 32,5 knots out of Pensacola. So yes, something had to be done.
A commission was created, which was supposed to determine how, without radically rebuilding the ships, it was possible to increase the speed.
The task was not easy and the most varied solutions were proposed, up to and including not booking ships at all. But reason prevailed, the Admiralty decided that unarmored cruisers were still stupid, and a more reasonable project was used:
- removed the anti-torpedo bullets. This narrowed the hull and gave 0,75 knots;
- canceled local additional bookings;
- the radio station and generators were moved to the armored cellars of the universal caliber artillery, and the shells of the 102-mm guns were placed in the cellars with the shells for the "pom-poms". The cartridges for anti-aircraft machine guns were moved to unarmored premises;
In general, it turned out to do without additional booking, and the problem of speed did not cease to be so urgent, because the speed increased slightly, from 1 to 2 knots. Not critical when compared with classmates, but still grew up.
Ships were built, like everything else in Britain, quickly, and therefore the cruisers laid down in 1926 were in service in 1929.
Reservation
The booking system of the London-class cruiser practically copied the Kent's scheme. In fact, the same weak, only the artillery cellars of the main caliber were booked slightly better (from 50 to 112 mm) than their predecessors. The total weight of the armor was 960 tons, which was extremely small for ships of this class.
Power plant and driving performance
The same "Kent", only the absence of boules increased the speed to an average of 32,2-32,3 knots. During sea trials, the ships were developed under ideal conditions up to 32,9 knots.
Crew and habitability
"London" and the rest, just like the previous series, were "sharpened" for their use in tropical climates. Improved living conditions, ventilation, spacious and comfortable rooms for sailors. Officers in British navy always felt good.
The total number of the crew in peacetime is 700-784 people, and during the war it increased to 852 people due to air defense calculations.
weaponry
The main caliber remains the same: eight 203 mm BL Mk VIII guns housed in four hydraulically powered Mk I twin turrets. The towers were located in pairs, linearly elevated in the bow and stern.
Auxiliary / anti-aircraft artillery
Initially, according to the project, the auxiliary and anti-aircraft artillery of the London-class heavy cruisers were similar to the ships of the first series. The universal artillery consisted of four 102-mm guns and four 40-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns.
102 mm universal gun
In addition, a pair of 47-mm guns were installed between the stern superstructure and the mainmast for representative purposes for the production of fireworks.
But in the course of modernization and re-equipment of ships, naval engineers broke away in full. But more on that below.
Mine torpedo armament
Two four-pipe torpedo tubes 533-mm onboard on rotary machines.
Aviation Armament
This is where the difference begins. Aircraft weapons were not installed on the cruiser, although the place and (most important) weight for the hangar, catapult, tanks, property depots and the seaplanes themselves were reserved.
It was this weight that was used in the modernization of ships.
In general, already during the construction of the ships, it became clear that it would be necessary to "refine it with a hammer and a file." Therefore, the catapult was nevertheless placed on the ships. At first the Fairey IIIF was the aviation reconnaissance tool, and in 1934 it was replaced by the Hawker "Osprey", which in turn gave way to the Supermarine "Walrus" catapult.
In general, the planes were not of today. Therefore, having played enough with catapults of various models (folding, swivel, fixed, light, heavy), as a result, the British removed them forever in 1943, and instead stuck another 20-mm "Erlikon". Probably the smartest move one could make.
In 1936, the Admiralty decided to radically modernize the ships. They decided that the cruisers need to be strengthened both in terms of booking and in terms of speed, and it is advisable to do without replacing the power plant.
The modernization project also provided for the installation of an additional armor belt in the area of the engine-boiler rooms. As a result, a 76-mm armored belt with a length of 76 meters and a height of 5,5 meters stood on the sides.
Outside of the modernization plan, 40-mm single-barreled assault rifles were dismantled, as heavy and ineffective, and instead of them, four more 102-mm guns and two four-barreled 12,7-mm machine-gun mounts from Vickers were installed.
Two years later, in 1938, instead of single-barreled 102-mm guns, four twin mounts of 102-mm guns of the new Mark XVI / XIX model were installed.
In addition, "London" received two eight-barreled 40-mm anti-aircraft guns and four four-barreled machine-gun mounts 12,7 mm.
Eight 40-mm barrels
Quadruple 12,7-mm machine gun from "Vickers"
In 1941, the machine guns were removed and instead of them eight single-barreled 20-mm "Erlikons" and a Type 273 radar were installed.
In 1943, the catapult and the aircraft were removed, and seven more single-barrel "Erlikons" were installed in the vacant space.
In 1944, the three single-barreled units were replaced by twin electric Oerlikons.
In 1945, eight single-barreled 20-mm installations were replaced by four paired 20-mm and four single 40-mm "Bofors".
In the final version, the cruiser had:
- 8 barrels 203 mm;
- 12 barrels 102 mm;
- 20 barrels 40 mm;
- 18 barrels 20 mm.
Devonshire. The engineers also worked on it in full.
1941 year:
- added two eight-barreled 40-mm assault rifles and a Type 21 radar;
- two 20-mm single-barreled "Erlikon".
1942 year:
- six single-barreled 20-mm "Erlikons" and a Type 281 radar;
- four single-barreled 102-mm guns are replaced with four twin mounts;
1943 year:
- dismantle all 12,7-mm machine guns and 6 single-barreled 20-mm assault rifles, instead install two eight-barreled 40-mm Mk.VI assault rifles and twelve coaxial 20-mm mounts in Mk.V.
1944 year:
- the aft turret of the main caliber X, the catapult, the plane, one 20-mm machine gun are removed. Install two more eight-barreled 40-mm machine guns Mk.VI, eight single 20-mm installations "Oerlikon" and radar types 281b, 282, 283 and 285.
The crew grew to 852 people, but it turned out to be painless for the ship.
As a result, Devonshire's arsenal looked no worse than London's:
- 6 barrels 203 mm;
- 8 barrels 102 mm;
- 48 barrels 40 mm;
- 33 barrels 20 mm.
To be honest, I would not like to sit at the helm of an aircraft that would have to go with a torpedo to this ship. It’s uncomfortable.
Sussex.
It was taken into circulation in 1942, when the ship got into refurbishment. A cruiser came out of repair with the following set:
8 203-mm guns, 8 102-mm guns, 2 eight-barreled 40-mm submachine guns, 10 20-mm Oerlikons.
In 1943, all aircraft weapons were removed and 11 more single-barreled 20-mm assault rifles were added.
In 1945, the X turret was dismantled and four more eight-barreled 40-mm mounts were installed (two were not enough) and four twin 20-mm "Oerlikons" instead of 15 single-barreled ones.
Total:
- 6 barrels 203 mm;
- 8 barrels 102 mm;
- 48 barrels 40 mm;
- 14 barrels 20 mm.
Shropshire
1941 year. Two eight-barreled 40-mm Mk.VI assault rifles are installed.
1942 year. Eight single 102-mm guns are exchanged for four paired ones. Install 10 single 20-mm installations "Oerlikon" and radar types 273, 281, 282, 285.
1943 year. 4 single 20 mm assault rifles, all 12,7 mm machine guns and all aviation and torpedo equipment are removed. Instead of them, 7 paired 20-mm "Erlikons" are installed.
1945 year. 6 single 20-mm assault rifles are removed and 7 40-mm Bofors assault rifles and a Type 277 radar are installed instead.
Total:
- 8 barrels 203 mm;
- 8 barrels 102 mm;
- 23 barrels 40 mm;
- 14 barrels 20 mm.
In general, a very interesting set of weapons. In fact, the ships became a very difficult target for aviation, and they could help other fire on flying targets.
Unlike the Americans, who preferred to mount 20mm assault rifles in huge numbers wherever possible, the British focused on 40mm Bofors, which were more effective at short and medium range.
By the way, the fact that the ships fought the entire war is a great merit in this very composition of the air defense.
Combat application
"London"
The first combat operation with the participation of the cruiser was the landing in 1931 on Madeira, a Portuguese island that everyone cared about. There was a coup d'état and "London" with ships from other countries landed troops to ensure the safety of its citizens on the island.
In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, "London" was on patrol in the Barcelona area, ensuring the safety of evacuees from other countries.
The cruiser met the beginning of the Second World War at the shipyard, carrying out modernization. Therefore, London went into business only in 1941, after the completion of the work.
As part of the 22nd London Squadron, he was engaged in convoy service, guarding convoys to Britain. Was recalled and sent to search for the Bismarck in May 1941. The Bismarck was found and drowned by others, and the London with the destroyer Brilliant was sent to catch German supply vessels and blockade-breakers in the Atlantic.
The search ended in success, the Germans lost two tankers, "Esso Hamburg" and "Jaegerland", and after them - the blockade breaker "Babitong" with a cargo of rubber.
In September, "London" played the role of a liner, delivering the personal representatives of US President Roosevelt A. Harriman and G. Sturdy to Arkhangelsk. Together with them, the British Minister for Supply, Lord W. Beaverbrook, arrived in the USSR as a government representative. Allied representatives were sent through Arkhangelsk to Moscow for a personal meeting with Stalin.
The mission was crowned with success. The "London" made its way back as part of the QP-1 convoy, which was going from the USSR to Great Britain. After this cruise, the ship got up for repairs.
In 1942, after refurbishment, "London" was assigned to escort convoy PQ-15. The convoy consisted of 26 transports and a short-range escort from the heavy cruiser London, the light cruiser Nigeria, 6 destroyers, 4 minesweepers and 4 armed trawlers, an air defense ship and a vessel equipped with a catapult and fighters. Long-range cover was provided by an American squadron of a battleship, 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers. The convoy arrived safely in Murmansk, having lost 3 ships from German air attacks.
The next convoy, accompanied by "London", was the infamous PQ-17. The cruiser was part of Rear Admiral Hamilton's cruiser group of 4 heavy cruisers and 3 destroyers.
Covering forces abandoned the convoy, the consequences of the PQ-17 tragedy are known, but Hamilton did not stop there and did not accompany the return convoy QP-13, leading the ships to Scapa Flow.
In general, an inglorious hike.
Then "London" took part in the escort of the convoy PQ-18 as part of a cruising group with "Norfolk" and "Suffolk". Escorted the return convoy QP-15 in November 1942. After minor repairs, the ship was transferred to the Mediterranean Sea.
In November 1943, London brought a military delegation from Alexandria to Britain that took part in the Tehran Conference.
In 1944, the ship was transferred to the Indian Ocean, where the pressure on the Japanese increased and it was required to compensate for the losses incurred in the ships.
The British squadron, consisting of an aircraft carrier, 2 battleships, a battle cruiser, 1 heavy and 5 light cruisers with destroyers, joined the American squadron, forming Task Force TF-70, and began operations against the Japanese army and navy.
"London" was mainly in the cover group of British aircraft carriers, which attacked Sabang and Surabay, Nicobar Islands and Leyte Island. Japanese bases at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, Emmaheven and Padang were attacked.
On August 31, 1945, aboard the London, the commander of the British forces in the East Indies, Admiral Power, accepted the surrender of the garrison of Sumatra in the person of Vice Admiral Hirose.
On September 3, the cruisers London and Cumberland landed troops in Sabang, and 12 days later they took part in the operation to eliminate the Japanese garrison in Batavia.
After the end of World War II, "London" was brought in to transport demobilized troops from the East Indies to Great Britain. After completing this mission, "London" was sent to serve in the Far East.
The cruiser fought her last battle as part of the so-called Yangtze River Incident.
On April 20, 1949, the British frigate Amethyst, sailing along the Yangtze River, was fired upon by the artillery of the People's Liberation Army of China. The frigate, having received more than 50 hits from shells of different calibers, ran aground. All the ships in the area, including the London, were thrown to the aid of the Amethyst.
"London" entered the mouth of the Yangtze and began to climb up the river to help the frigate. As a result, the cruiser was ambushed and engaged the coastal batteries. For 3 hours of the battle, the cruiser received more than 20 hits, both bow and one aft main battery turrets were disabled, at which tower B was destroyed, the bow superstructure and anti-aircraft fire control point were damaged, 13 people were killed and 30 wounded.
Not reaching the damaged "Amethyst" about 15 miles, the commander of the operation, Admiral Madden decided to withdraw from the battle and return to Shanghai.
In Shanghai, the cruiser underwent repairs and went to the metropolis. Was put into reserve, and in January 1950 was sold for scrap and dismantled.
Devonshire
The first combat mission was in search of the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, which sank the auxiliary cruiser Rawalpindi in November 1939. The search was inconclusive.
In 1940, Devonshire was in the north. Participant in the Norwegian operation, covered the evacuation of British and French troops from Namsos.
On June 7, 1940, the Devonshire took on board 461 of the Norwegian elite, including the former King of Norway, Hakon VII, Crown Prince Olaf and Prime Minister Johan Nigardswold, and safely transported the crowd to Greenock, Scotland.
A curious moment: the commander of the ship had a personal order to ensure the complete safety of passengers and not to interfere in anything. Just 50 miles from the Devonshire, a battle took place in which the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sank the aircraft carrier Glories and the destroyers Akasta and Ardent escorting it.
It is difficult to say whether the heavy cruiser could have opposed something to the two German battleships in earnest, but in any case, the Devonshire quietly followed its course.
Devonshire was transferred to Gibraltar in August. On September 14, the cruiser accompanied the Ark Royal aircraft carrier in search of a French squadron bound for Dakar. September 24, together with the Australian cruiser "Australia" shelled the harbor of Dakar with French ships. The cruiser fired more than 200 shells, but did not achieve hits.
In October, the cruiser and her aircraft took part in the destruction of the French submarine Poncelet.
January 1941 Devonshire spent in the Atlantic in search of the German raider Cormoran, who became famous for her performance.
After the next modernization "Devonshire" was sent to the north, where it covered the British landings at Kirkenes in Norway and Petsamo in Finland.
The cruiser Devonshire took part in the first Arctic convoy Dervish in the USSR.
In September 1941, the Devonshire was transferred to the Eastern Fleet. On November 2, the cruiser took part in the defeat of a French Vichy convoy heading to French Indochina. On November 22, near Ascension Island, he caught up and sank the German raider Atlantis.
In the Far East, the cruiser remained until May 1943, taking part in escorting convoys. He was again sent to the north, participated in the liberation of Norway.
After the war, the cruiser was given to train cadets of the naval academy. As a training ship "Devonshire" served until 1954, after which it was written off and scrapped.
Sussex
The first serious use of the ship happened in 1934, when the Sussex, with the Duke of Gloucester on board, made a voyage to Australia.
Then the ship was assigned to the Mediterranean Sea. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Sussex operated in conjunction with London on patrol.
After Great Britain entered the Second World War, he was sent to the South Atlantic, where search groups of ships of France (2 battleships, 1 aircraft carrier and 5 cruisers) and Great Britain (1 battleship, 2 aircraft carriers and 9 cruisers) were looking for the raider "Admiral Graf Spee" and a supply vessel Altmark.
During the search, the Sussex discovered the German blockade-breaker Vatussi, which flooded its own crew.
Then there was the escort service for the protection of transports, delivering reinforcements from Australia and New Zealand to Africa.
At the end of August 1940, the Sussex arrived in Glasgow and got up for repairs. On September 18, during one of the air raids, a 250-kg bomb hit the docked cruiser, which exploded in the area of the second engine room. The fire that broke out soon became uncontrollable and threatened to explode the charging cellars of the aft towers, in order to avoid which the commander decided to flood them. As a result, the cruiser landed aft at the bottom of the dock, having received a significant list to starboard.
In October, the cruiser was raised, drained and put in for repairs, which lasted until August 1942. In September 1942, the Sussex returned to service with the 1st cruiser squadron.
In February 1943, operations began against the German blockade-breakers. The cruisers of the fleet tried to block the Atlantic Ocean in the Azores region, cutting off all ships going to Europe. Sussex took part in the operation and was successful. The cruiser intercepted and sank the tanker Hohenfriedberg, the former Norwegian Herborg. The tanker was captured by the German raider Thor in 1942.
This was followed by operations of a similar nature in the Indian Ocean, where the ship was transferred as part of the Eastern Fleet.
Operating in the Far East, Sussex took part in the liberation of the Malacca Archipelago. During these operations, on July 24, 1944, the Sussex was damaged by a kamikaze attack.
But in the end, the Japanese troops surrendered, and it was Sussex that was honored with the procedure for signing the surrender of Singapore.
On September 4, 1945, on board the cruiser, Lieutenant General Itagaki and Vice Admiral Fukudome signed the act of surrender of Singapore and the military district of Johor.
After that, "Sussex" took part in the liberation from the Japanese of Sumatra and Java, which lasted until November 1945.
As part of the Pacific Fleet, the cruiser served until 1948, after which she was returned to the metropolis and withdrawn from the fleet. In 1950, the Sussex was sent for cutting.
Shropshire
The fate of this ship was very peculiar. She entered service later than the others and was immediately transferred to the Australian Navy to replace the deceased cruiser Canberra. It happened in April 1943.
The Shropshire arrived in Australia only in October, escorting a convoy to Gibraltar along the way and joining the Australian squadron. "Shropshire" became a unique ship in the Australian Navy, as it bore the name of the county in West England.
There was no time to sit down, and five days later the Shropshire with the heavy cruiser Australia and four destroyers (2 Australian and 2 American) supported the American units of General MacArthur, who fought the Japanese on the New Hebrides (Vanuatu).
Up to this point, the landing support force consisted of three light cruisers and destroyers. The Australian-American group came in handy. The New Hebrides operation became part of an even larger strategic operation that increased pressure on the eastern flank of the Japanese army in New Guinea and the Bismarck archipelago.
In December 1943, TF.74, which included Shropshire, took part in covering amphibious operations on the New Britain Islands.
Throughout the first half of 1944, Shropshire took part in operations in New Guinea: landings on the Guon Peninsula, shelling of Japanese troops in Madang, on the Admiralty Islands, landing in Humboldt Bay, capture of the Wakde-Sarmi region, Biak Island.
Further in the plan were the Philippines. But before them it was required to capture the Mollukskie Islands, where strong garrisons and airfields of the Japanese were stationed.
On October 20, the landing of American troops began in Leyte Gulf. The Japanese planned a counter-operation. As a result, everything turned into what we today call the "Battle of Leyte Gulf", although in fact it is a chain of four battles: in the Sibuyan Sea on October 24, in the Surigao Strait on October 24-25, off Samar Island on October 25 and at Cape Engano October 25-26.
The Shropshire took part in the second battle, in the Surigao Strait. This fight was the last in stories the battle of large artillery ships. The Shropshire found itself, along with the light cruisers Phoenix and Boys, on the right flank of a group of six old and slow battleships that were lined up across the Surigao Strait.
Admiral Oldendorf's squadron, which included the Shropshire, was stumbled upon by the remnants of Admiral Nishimura's squadron: the battleship Yamashiro, the heavy cruiser Mogami, and the destroyer Shigure. Three destroyers and the battleship "Fuso" by that time had already died from air attacks.
Early in the morning, at 3.51, Oldendorf ordered to open fire. The Japanese ships responded, but since they did not have radars, they fired in the old fashioned way, visually, at the flashes of enemy shots in the dark.
The Shropshire demonstrated excellent gunnery skills, firing 4 volleys per minute at the Japanese battleship. Accordingly, the Japanese shells flew in response to the flashes of the Shropshire's shots.
According to reports, the Shropshire gunners fired 15 volleys in 32 minutes, firing 214 203mm rounds. Result - at least 10 Yamashiro covers. Six volleys of the Japanese battleship fell near the cruiser, which, however, did not cause harm.
As a result, "Yamashiro", having received 4 torpedoes from American destroyers, rolled over and sank with the main part of the crew, and the mutilated "Mogami" was finished off in the morning.
Further, "Shropshire" provided cover for the forces landing on the island of Mindoro, an important point on the way to Luzon and the Philippines. The Japanese no longer had those forces, but the kamikaze attacks sank 5 landing craft and damaged the escort aircraft carrier and three destroyers.
Then there was a landing at Luzon. These were heavy battles, since the Japanese pilots stubbornly went to ram ships, thereby causing damage. January 5 and 6, 1945 were difficult days for the US Navy and the Allies. Kamikaze damaged 21 Allied ships.
"Shropshire", which was part of the fire support group of the landing, did not receive any damage, although the kamikaze "Australia" that was with it was finished off in full.
In February, Shropshire supported the offensive against Manila. On May 4, the city was cleared of the Japanese. Borneo became the next island. Shropshire covered the landings until 3 July.
The last event for the cruiser was the participation in the signing ceremony of Japan's surrender in Tokyo Bay.
Along with a large number of American ships in the bay were ships of the British Commonwealth, including the Australian Navy, the heavy cruiser Shropshire, the light cruiser Hobart, two destroyers and three minesweepers.
After the war, "Shropshire" served for some time as a military transport, then until 1947 served in an allied squadron in the waters of Japan, and ended in November 1949. The ship was first transferred to the reserve, and then sold to a British firm for metal.
In January 1955, the ship was towed to Scotland, where it was dismantled.
Ships of the second series "County" served the entire war. It is noteworthy that, apart from the Sussex docked, none of the cruisers were damaged by air bombs or torpedoes. Perhaps, indeed, due to the very strong anti-aircraft weapons. Perhaps there was an element of luck. But the anti-aircraft weapons on the cruisers were indeed very impressive. And the British really turned out to be very decent ships, which had more advantages than disadvantages.
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