HMS Liverpool (C11): Difference between revisions

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In mid-May, ''Liverpool'' joined a group of warships in an attempt to facilitate the return to Britain of ''Trinidad''. The cruiser, having received temporary repairs in Russia, got underway on 13 May.<ref name="Arctic">Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), pp. 140-1</ref> The group that included ''Liverpool'' positioned itself west of [[Bear Island (Norway)|Bear Island]], in the [[Barents Sea]], as cover and to rendezvous with the cruiser. On the 14th, ''Trinidad'' came under repeated attack and was set ablaze by [[Gravity bomb|bombs]]. The British had to evacuate and sink her the following day when the fire became uncontainable.<ref name="Arctic"/> ''Liverpool'' and the rest of Rear-Admiral Burrough's group came under attack themselves on the return journey.<ref name="PQ"/> On 25 May, ''Liverpool'' began escorting [[PQ 16]],<ref name="Arctic"/> composed of 35 merchant vessels bound for [[Murmansk]] and the largest convoy yet undertaken in support of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="PQ"/> PQ 16 had considerable protection, including the light and heavy cruisers [[HMS Nigeria|''Nigeria'']], [[HMS Kent|''Kent'']], and ''Norfolk'', numerous destroyers and submarines, with distant cover provided by the [[Home Fleet]].<ref name="Arctic"/> Inevitably, the convoy came under attack, beginning with a sortie on the 25th that damaged the freighter SS ''Carlton''.<ref name="PQ"/> Sustained attacks from U-boats and at least 242 German aircraft yielded a total of seven vessels sunk between the 26th and 27th.<ref name="PQ"/> The cruiser escort switched to the returning convoy QP 12 on the 26th.<ref>Kemp, Paul (2004), p. 57</ref>
In mid-May, ''Liverpool'' joined a group of warships in an attempt to facilitate the return to Britain of ''Trinidad''. The cruiser, having received temporary repairs in Russia, got underway on 13 May.<ref name="Arctic">Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), pp. 140-1</ref> The group that included ''Liverpool'' positioned itself west of [[Bear Island (Norway)|Bear Island]], in the [[Barents Sea]], as cover and to rendezvous with the cruiser. On the 14th, ''Trinidad'' came under repeated attack and was set ablaze by [[Gravity bomb|bombs]]. The British had to evacuate and sink her the following day when the fire became uncontainable.<ref name="Arctic"/> ''Liverpool'' and the rest of Rear-Admiral Burrough's group came under attack themselves on the return journey.<ref name="PQ"/> On 25 May, ''Liverpool'' began escorting [[PQ 16]],<ref name="Arctic"/> composed of 35 merchant vessels bound for [[Murmansk]] and the largest convoy yet undertaken in support of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="PQ"/> PQ 16 had considerable protection, including the light and heavy cruisers [[HMS Nigeria|''Nigeria'']], [[HMS Kent|''Kent'']], and ''Norfolk'', numerous destroyers and submarines, with distant cover provided by the [[Home Fleet]].<ref name="Arctic"/> Inevitably, the convoy came under attack, beginning with a sortie on the 25th that damaged the freighter SS ''Carlton''.<ref name="PQ"/> Sustained attacks from U-boats and at least 242 German aircraft yielded a total of seven vessels sunk between the 26th and 27th.<ref name="PQ"/> The cruiser escort switched to the returning convoy QP 12 on the 26th.<ref>Kemp, Paul (2004), p. 57</ref>


''Liverpool'' returned to the Mediterranean in June to participate in [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]], part of the [[Malta Convoys]].<ref name="Arctic"/> While with Force W covering convoy WS.19 on 14 June,<ref>Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 145</ref> ''Liverpool'' and the convoy came under attack by at least 38 Axis aircraft. They crippled ''Liverpool'' and sunk the Dutch freighter ''Tanimbar''.<ref>Bunker, John (2006), p. 205</ref> The torpedo that impacted ''Liverpool's'' starboard side hit the engine room, partially flooding the cruiser and disabling her machinery and steering gear.<ref name="Town"/> Reduced to a speed of {{convert|4|kn|km/h}},<ref>Connell, G.G. (1979), p. 241</ref> ''Liverpool'' had to be taken under tow by [[HMS Antelope (H36)|''Antelope'']] and be escorted by [[HMS Westcott (D47)|''Westcott'']]. For the rest of the day, Italian aircraft focused on ''Liverpool'' rather than the convoy.<ref>Smith, Peter C. (2002), p. 28</ref> Before arriving at [[Gibraltar]] on the 17th, the group came under further air attack and ''Liverpool'' incurred additional damage due to near-misses.<ref name="Town"/> For ''Liverpool'', casualties from the original attack were recorded in the ship's log as being 15 killed and 22 wounded.<ref name="Log">[http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/ecagrs/shiplog.htm Notes taken from Liverpool’s Log], lancs.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2008.</ref> The fatalities from the torpedoing had remained in the engine room and been affected by heat exposure, requiring the distribution of an additional [[grog|tot]] of rum to the volunteer retrieval party.<ref>Moses, Sam (2006), p. 70</ref>
''Liverpool'' returned to the Mediterranean in June to participate in [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]], part of the [[Malta Convoys]].<ref name="Arctic"/> While with Force W covering convoy WS.19 on 14 June,<ref>Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 145</ref> ''Liverpool'' and the convoy came under attack by at least 38 Axis aircraft. They crippled ''Liverpool'' and sunk the Dutch freighter ''Tanimbar''.<ref>Bunker, John (2006), p. 205</ref> The torpedo that impacted ''Liverpool's'' starboard side hit the engine room, partially flooding the cruiser and disabling her machinery and steering gear.<ref name="Town"/> Reduced to a speed of {{convert|4|kn|km/h}},<ref>Connell, G.G. (1979), p. 241</ref> ''Liverpool'' had to be taken under tow by [[HMS Antelope (H36)|''Antelope'']]. For the rest of the day, Italian aircraft focused on ''Liverpool'' rather than the convoy.<ref>Smith, Peter C. (2002), p. 28</ref> Before arriving at [[Gibraltar]] on the 17th, the group came under further air attack and ''Liverpool'' incurred additional damage due to near-misses.<ref name="Town"/> For ''Liverpool'', casualties from the original attack were recorded in the ship's log as being 15 killed and 22 wounded.<ref name="Log">[http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/ecagrs/shiplog.htm Notes taken from Liverpool’s Log], lancs.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2008.</ref> The fatalities from the torpedoing had remained in the engine room and been affected by heat exposure, requiring the distribution of an additional [[grog|tot]] of rum to the volunteer retrieval party.<ref>Moses, Sam (2006), p. 70</ref>


At Gibraltar, ''Liverpool'' underwent temporary repairs. The warship returned to Britain in August, beginning a two-year period of refitting and maintenance at [[Rosyth]] that did not end until after the war.<ref name="Arctic"/> The refit upgraded ''Liverpool's'' radar equiment,<ref name="Spec"/> removed "X" turret and the aircraft catapult, and enlarged the cruiser's defensive armament (which included an increase to 28 [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|pom-poms]], in six quadruple and four single mounts, seven [[Bofors 40 mm]] guns in single mounts, and the addition of five 20 mm Oerlikon cannons).<ref name="Conway"/> Although repairs were completed by July 1943, sufficient personnel would not be assigned to ''Liverpool'' until late 1945.<ref name="Town"/>
At Gibraltar, ''Liverpool'' underwent temporary repairs. The warship returned to Britain in August, beginning a two-year period of refitting and maintenance at [[Rosyth]] that did not end until after the war.<ref name="Arctic"/> The refit upgraded ''Liverpool's'' radar equiment,<ref name="Spec"/> removed "X" turret and the aircraft catapult, and enlarged the cruiser's defensive armament (which included an increase to 28 [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|pom-poms]], in six quadruple and four single mounts, seven [[Bofors 40 mm]] guns in single mounts, and the addition of five 20 mm Oerlikon cannons).<ref name="Conway"/> Although repairs were completed by July 1943, sufficient personnel would not be assigned to ''Liverpool'' until late 1945.<ref name="Town"/>

Revision as of 23:40, 18 September 2010

Liverpool underway on 28 February 1942
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Liverpool
Ordered1935
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down17 February 1936
Launched24 March 1937
Commissioned2 November 1938
Decommissioned1952
FateSold for scrap July 1958
General characteristics (original configuration)
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
9,400 tons (standard)[2]
11,650 tons full load[3]
Length591.6 ft (180.3 m)[1]
Beam62.4 ft (19.0 m)[1]
Draught20.7 ft (6.3 m)[1]
Propulsionlist error: <br /> list (help)
Four-shaft Parsons geared turbines
Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers
82,500 shp (61.5 MW)[3]
Speed32.3 kn (59.8 km/h)[3]
Complement800[1]-850[3]
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
12 x 6 in (150 mm) Mk XXIII guns in triple turrets[3][4]

8 x QF 4 in (100 mm) Mk XVI guns in twin turrets[3][5]
8 x QF 2-pounder Mk VIII guns in quad mountings[3][6]
8 x 0.5 in (13 mm) machine guns[3]

6 x 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes[3]
Armourlist error: <br /> list (help)
Box protection: 4 inches (100 mm)-1 inch (25 mm)
Belt: 4 inches (100 mm)
Bulkheads: 2 inches (51 mm)
Turrets: 4 inches (100 mm)-2 inches (51 mm)[1]
Aircraft carriedThree Supermarine Walrus; one catapult[3]
NotesPennant number C11
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Liverpool.

HMS Liverpool (C11) was a Town class light cruiser of the Royal Navy in service from 1938 to 1952. Named after the port city of Liverpool in north west England, she served in the Second World War, with the Mediterranean Fleet from 1945 until her decommission.

During the Second World War, Liverpool operated variously with the naval stations in the East Indies and China and with the Mediterranean and Home fleets. The cruiser instigated a diplomatic incident with Japan in January 1940 when she intercepted and boarded the liner Asama Maru off the coast of Japan. Liverpool fought in the battles of the Espero Convoy and Calabria, the Arctic Convoys, and Operation Harpoon during the Malta Convoys. Seriously damaged in two attacks by torpedo bombers, Liverpool gained four battle honours for her service. An aerial attack on 14 June 1942 during Operation Harpoon proved to be the ship's final combat of the war. For the duration of the conflict, Liverpool underwent repairs and refitting at Rosyth, Scotland.

Liverpool returned to service in 1945 and harboured in Port Said to support the British Administration of the Suez Canal Zone when Egyptian guerillas campaigned against it in the early 1950s. The cruiser decommissioned in 1952 during a period when the Royal Navy was rapidly contracting, and was broken up in 1958 at Rosyth.

History

Design and commission (1935-1939)

See also: Town class cruiser (1936)

Procured as a direct counter to the American Brooklyn and Japanese Mogami classes, the Towns consisted of three variants for a total of 10 ships.[7] Their primary armament of 12 6-inch (150 mm) guns in triple turrets, compared to the eight and six guns possessed by the preceding Leander and Arethusa classes, still adhered to the constraints of the London Naval Treaty.[8] The Towns were intended for fleet duties rather than the trade protection responsibilities that their predecessors had.[7] Liverpool became one of the three Town cruisers—the others being Gloucester and Manchester—ordered to a slightly revised design referred to as the Gloucester,[1] Type II, or Liverpool sub-class.[7] The second group retained an almost identical configuration, differentiated only by a beam enlarged to 62.4 feet (19.0 m) (compared to Southampton's beam of 61.8 feet (18.8 m)[1]), a redesigned bridge, and improved fire control equipment.[9] When first ordered in the mid-1930s, the original Town class cruisers Newcastle and Southampton were to have been called Minotaur and Polyphemus on commission.[10][11]

Ordered under the 1935 estimates,[9] the keel of the Liverpool was laid down at Govan on 17 February 1936 and launched on 24 March 1937 by Priscilla Norman, wife of the Governor of the Bank of England Montagu Norman.[3][12] Liverpool became the first cruiser launched at Fairfield since Norfolk and the first warship to do so at the shipyards for a year. At the naming ceremony, Rear-Admiral Tower reflected on the name's heritage, while Mrs Norman expressed her hope that the cruiser would be an "ambassador of peace".[12] It had been reported in The Times that it was expected she would commission on 9 September and replace Emerald in the East Indies in October.[13] After finally being commissioned into the navy on 2 November 1938,[3] Liverpool was assigned to the East Indies Station under the command of Captain A.D. Read.[14] Before her departure, Liverpool visited her namesake port in January 1939. The Liverpool Woman’s Service Bureau presented the cruiser with a Union flag and White Ensign, while the city's Corporation gave the crew "three pairs of candlesticks, a silver cup, and two bugles". Liverpool's crew had already received a silver bell and plate originally in the possession of her predecessor.[14]

East Indies and China stations (1939–1940)

Before arriving in the East Indies, Liverpool worked up in the Mediterranean for two months and had engine defects corrected.[15] At the beginning of the Second World War, Liverpool formed part of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, which she left in November to transfer to the 5th Cruiser Squadron, China Station[16] While part of the station, Liverpool became involved in a diplomatic incident when she intercepted the Japanese passenger liner Asama Maru on 21 January 1940.[17] Alerted to reports that German sailors in the United States had arranged transport to Germany, the British Government authorised the station's commander-in-chief to direct a warship to board the Asama Maru and detain suspected passengers, provided the procedure did not occur within sight of the coast of Japan.[18] Just 35 miles (56 km) from the coast of Niijima, off Honshū, Liverpool located the liner and removed 21 of the ship's passengers, believed by the British to be survivors of the scuttled German liner Columbus.[19]

The Japanese liner Asama Maru, c. 1931

Liverpool reportedly discharged a warning shot across the Asama Maru's bows to compel the liner to halt, afterwards deploying ten men to conduct the search.[20] Four days after the incident, the NYK Line dismissed Captain Watanabe, under the pretense of retirement, accusing him of "misconduct".[21] The Government of Japan condemned the operation as an abuse of belligerent rights and formally protested the action, which further escalated tensions between the two countries.[19] Yet despite increased public hostility towards Britain, the Japanese and British governments sought to defuse the dispute through negotiation. On 5 February, the two countries accepted a proposal which entailed the release of nine Germans in exchange for Japan pledging to deny military-age German citizens access to their vessels.[19] In Australia's official history of the war, it was claimed that the most senior of the nine Germans, Captain Groth, remarked during his passage to Japan that the operation had been "an excellent piece of work, and an action which would deter the remainder of the German crews still in the United States, approximately 1000 men, from making the passage".[22]

In April, Liverpool became flagship of Rear-Admiral Arthur Murray's Red Sea Force, which was formed with the Australian cruiser HMAS Hobart.[23] The Red Sea Force was intended to help execute naval strategy in the area by performing a variety of duties, such as patrols and blockade enforcement in the event of war with Italy.[24] While in the area, Liverpool escorted a convoy transporting contingents from the Australian military to Suez.[25] When ordered to the Mediterranean in June, Liverpool relinquished her status as flagship with the transfer of Admiral Murray to the New Zealand cruiser Leander at Port Sudan. To accommodate the admiral and his staff, Leander transferred three officers and seven ratings to Liverpool.[23]

First torpedoing (1940–1941)

Liverpool formed part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, becoming one of the Mediterranean Fleet's nine cruisers shortly after Italy's entrance into the war.[26] She first encountered Italian vessels off the coast of Libya on 12 June while shelling positions near Tobruk with Gloucester and four destroyers. The cruisers attacked five vessels, including the obsolete armoured cruiser San Giorgio, and sank the minesweeper Giovanni Berta.[27] On the 28th, a British Short Sunderland patrol aircraft detected three Italian destroyers west of Zante.[28] The 7th Cruiser Squadron—comprising Gloucester, Neptune, Orion, Liverpool, and HMAS Sydney—was at sea in support of an Allied convoy when it altered course to locate and engage the destroyers. Liverpool sighted them 60 miles (97 km) south-west of Cape Matapan at 1830 and opened fire three minutes later.[28] The ensuing action, carried out at a minimum range of about 14,000 yards (8.0 mi), became known as the Battle of the Espero Convoy and resulted in the destruction of the Italian Espero. The two surviving destroyers reached Benghazi with their supplies. Ammunition had been rapidly depleted by the squadron and by the close of the action, Liverpool had almost expended the contents of her shellrooms, reporting that each gun had 40 shells remaining.[28][29] The Admiralty later criticised the squadron's expenditure of some 5,000 6-inch (150 mm) rounds, which Admiral Andrew Cunningham, C-in-C of the Mediterranean Fleet, attributed to its inexperience and his personal belief in the necessity to confront the Italian warships before nightfall.[28][29] Nevertheless, the use of such a large volume of shells caused the cancellation of Operation MA.3, which encompassed two convoys to the besieged island of Malta.[28]

On 9 July, Liverpool fought in the Battle of Calabria—the first major encounter between the Allied and Italian fleets in the Mediterranean theatre.[30] The Liverpool and Neptune commenced firing at 1522, eight minutes after Italian cruisers started their barrage at a range of 23,600 yards (13.4 mi). After a continuous exchange of fire, Warspite struck the battleship Giulio Cesare at 1600, inducing the Italian fleet to disengage from the battle.[31] Later in July, Liverpool escorted convoy AN.2 from Egypt on its way to Greek ports in the Aegean and the southward-convoy AS.2 from the Aegean. The latter convoy came under substantial attack by Italian aircraft on the 29h, with Liverpool being the only vessel hit when an unexploded bomb penetrated two decks,[32] killing a rating.[33]

When the Mediterranean Light Forces restructured in August, Liverpool switched to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, grouping with Gloucester and Kent under the command of Rear-Admiral Edward de Faye Renouf.[34] On 28 September, as part of Operation MB.5, Liverpool and Gloucester proceeded to Malta, transporting 1,200 reinforcements, airmen, and RAF provisions.[35] The cruisers—briefly protected from the 29th by a force consisting of the battleships Valiant and Warspite, Illustrious with her aircraft, cruisers Orion, Sydney, and York, and 11 destroyers—came under repeated aerial attack.[35] Both cruisers later detached from the naval force and reached the island on the 30th.[36]

A Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 attacking an unidentified Malta convoy. Liverpool was torpedoed twice by the type.

The fleet again put to sea on 8 October with the intention of supporting Malta convoy MF.3 and the Alexandria-bound convoy MF.4, while seeking to engineer an encounter with the main assets of the Italian Navy. Although Admiral Cunningham did not realise his latter objective, which was limited to an engagement with Italian destroyers, the convoys reached their respective destinations.[37] The Illustrious then conducted aerial operations against Italian installations on the island of Leros. While Liverpool and other escorts were returning from the sortie on the 14th,[37] Italian torpedo-bombers attacked the cruiser, inflicting considerable damage to the forward section and causing fuel to be released from the aviation tank.[9] According to Captain Read, despite the petrol being surrounded with 70 tons of water in accordance with regulation, the fuel reached the mess decks and became exposed to an electrical short circuit.[38] The subsequent explosion at 1920, compared in intensity by Midshipman William Hayes to the blast of ten torpedoes,[39] seriously compromised Liverpool's bow structure,[9] enveloped the forecastle in flames, and blew up the vacated "A" turret.[38][39]

Liverpool's crew prepared the cruiser's Carley floats and other small craft while warships, including Gloucester, began to arrive at the scene.[39] The Orion, screened by the anti-aircraft cruisers Calcutta and Coventry, took Liverpool in tow at the stern.[40] While being towed on the 15th, Liverpool's bow separated from the hull. Later in the day, 12 sailors (including one unidentifiable at the time) were buried at sea. Three more died in the night and were buried before the two cruisers reached the port of Alexandria on the 16th.[39] Liverpool's captain transferred in late October to the battleship Ramillies,[38] with command of Liverpool being assumed by Captain A.L. Poland on the 27th.[41] The Admiralty announced in November that three officers and 27 ratings had been killed and 35 wounded during the attack.[42] According to the journal of Midshipman Hayes, Liverpool had been forewarned of an imminent attack via radio direction finder (RDF), but the inexperienced rating on watch at his post did not report this to his superiors because of apparent confusion.[39]

As part of the ship's interim repairs, Liverpool had a provisional, "false" bow constructed. Once able to embark on a prolonged voyage, Liverpool steamed to the United States to have her bow reconstructed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California.[43] The ship's presence would not be disclosed until September when the US Navy Department released a list identifying 12 ships situated in various ports.[44] At the shipyard, Liverpool had her anti-aircraft armament increased with the addition of nine single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons. She departed in November for Britain, principally to have upgraded radar systems installed.[3]

Second torpedoing (1942–1945)

After returning to active service, Liverpool became subordinate to the 18th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow and deployed in support of the Arctic convoys.[45] The conditions that Allied ships endured during the Arctic convoys proved extreme, with freezing weather, snowstorms, and frequent attacks by the Luftwaffe and Germany Navy.[46] Liverpool arrived in the Arctic as a replacement for the damaged cruiser Trinidad. She joined convoy QP 10, comprising 16 merchant vessels and five destroyers, on 12 April as an escort on its journey from the Russian Kola Peninsula to Iceland.[47] The convoy came under repeated attack from U-boats and aircraft for three days.[48] Four vessels were sunk (two of which sank on the 11th[49]) and one was damaged;[48] QP 10 arrived at Reykjavik on the 21st.[50]

A convoy of vessels at the Allied naval base of Hvalfjörður, Iceland viewed from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, May 1942

In mid-May, Liverpool joined a group of warships in an attempt to facilitate the return to Britain of Trinidad. The cruiser, having received temporary repairs in Russia, got underway on 13 May.[45] The group that included Liverpool positioned itself west of Bear Island, in the Barents Sea, as cover and to rendezvous with the cruiser. On the 14th, Trinidad came under repeated attack and was set ablaze by bombs. The British had to evacuate and sink her the following day when the fire became uncontainable.[45] Liverpool and the rest of Rear-Admiral Burrough's group came under attack themselves on the return journey.[48] On 25 May, Liverpool began escorting PQ 16,[45] composed of 35 merchant vessels bound for Murmansk and the largest convoy yet undertaken in support of the Soviet Union.[48] PQ 16 had considerable protection, including the light and heavy cruisers Nigeria, Kent, and Norfolk, numerous destroyers and submarines, with distant cover provided by the Home Fleet.[45] Inevitably, the convoy came under attack, beginning with a sortie on the 25th that damaged the freighter SS Carlton.[48] Sustained attacks from U-boats and at least 242 German aircraft yielded a total of seven vessels sunk between the 26th and 27th.[48] The cruiser escort switched to the returning convoy QP 12 on the 26th.[51]

Liverpool returned to the Mediterranean in June to participate in Operation Harpoon, part of the Malta Convoys.[45] While with Force W covering convoy WS.19 on 14 June,[52] Liverpool and the convoy came under attack by at least 38 Axis aircraft. They crippled Liverpool and sunk the Dutch freighter Tanimbar.[53] The torpedo that impacted Liverpool's starboard side hit the engine room, partially flooding the cruiser and disabling her machinery and steering gear.[9] Reduced to a speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h),[54] Liverpool had to be taken under tow by Antelope. For the rest of the day, Italian aircraft focused on Liverpool rather than the convoy.[55] Before arriving at Gibraltar on the 17th, the group came under further air attack and Liverpool incurred additional damage due to near-misses.[9] For Liverpool, casualties from the original attack were recorded in the ship's log as being 15 killed and 22 wounded.[56] The fatalities from the torpedoing had remained in the engine room and been affected by heat exposure, requiring the distribution of an additional tot of rum to the volunteer retrieval party.[57]

At Gibraltar, Liverpool underwent temporary repairs. The warship returned to Britain in August, beginning a two-year period of refitting and maintenance at Rosyth that did not end until after the war.[45] The refit upgraded Liverpool's radar equiment,[3] removed "X" turret and the aircraft catapult, and enlarged the cruiser's defensive armament (which included an increase to 28 pom-poms, in six quadruple and four single mounts, seven Bofors 40 mm guns in single mounts, and the addition of five 20 mm Oerlikon cannons).[1] Although repairs were completed by July 1943, sufficient personnel would not be assigned to Liverpool until late 1945.[9]

Post-Second World War (1945–1958)

Liverpool returned to service in October 1945 to join the 15th Cruiser Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet, serving mostly as a flagship.[45] In October 1946, Liverpool's visit to Greece was interrupted by the Corfu Channel mining of the destroyers Saumarez and Volage. With Admiral Algernon Willis embarked, Liverpool steamed to Corfu in response to the incident,[58] and briefly received the wounded captain of the Saumarez at Corfu Bay.[59] As flagship of Admiral Willis in 1947, Liverpool visited a number of ports, including Istanbul, Sevastopol, and Athens.[60] The cruiser transported Olympic torches and related items in April 1948 in preparation for the ceremonial prelude to the Summer Olympic Games in London.[61]

Admiral Rhoderick McGrigor, First Sea Lord, being piped on board Liverpool at Valleta, Malta in 1952. The cruiser was serving as the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet.

While docked in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt on 22 January 1950, Liverpool entertained King Farouk. Given a 21-gun salute by the cruiser, Farouk met Vice-Admiral Louis Mountbatten and the Ambassador to Egypt and later expressed his "pleasure at the visit and at renewing my acquaintance with the Royal Navy."[62] In September 1951, Liverpool, as flagship of Admiral John Edelsten, became the first British warship to visit Yugoslavia post-war and was inspected by the country's leader Marshal Tito in the city of Split.[63] It had been the Royal Navy's first official visit to the country in 12 years.[64]

Following the abrogation of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in October 1951, the Royal Navy dispatched vessels to Port Said after dock workers declared a strike in protest at the British administration of the Suez Canal Zone. The cruisers Gambia and Liverpool consecutively assumed responsibility for dock operations, supplying men to replace unavailable workers and guard against guerilla attacks on facilities.[65] In January, Egyptian media accused Liverpool of firing her guns into the port during an engagement with guerillas, which the British military vehemently denied and attributed to misidentification.[66]

Upon decommission in 1952, Liverpool entered the reserve at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.[67] Liverpool became an accommodation ship at Portmouth and was used by the Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, and his staff.[68] The gradual rationalisation of the Royal Navy began in earnest in the 1950s under Duncan Sandys' 1957 Defence White Paper and the reserve of at least 551 ships was abolished.[69] With the complete withdrawal from service of wartime cruisers by the 1960s, the roles of Liverpool and her contemporaries effectively became superseded by the County class guided missile destroyers and the three missile cruisers of the Tiger class.[70] Liverpool was sold in 1958 for breaking up at Bo'Ness, Scotland;[2] more than 12 months elapsed before the vessel had been completely dismantled.[71]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger; Budzbon, Przemysław (1980), pp. 31-2
  2. ^ a b Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2010), p. 231
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Whitley, M. J. (2000), pp. 104-5
  4. ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2008), British 6"/50 (15.2 cm) BL Mark XXIII, navweaps.com. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  5. ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2008), British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF HA Marks XVI, XVII, XVIII and XXI, navweaps.com. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  6. ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2008), Britain 2-pdr 4 cm/39 (1.575") Mark VIII, navweaps.com. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  7. ^ a b c Bishop, Chris (2002), pp. 493-4
  8. ^ Brown, Paul (2009), p. 142
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Fitzsimons, Bernard (1969), p. 2367-8
  10. ^ Bassett, Ronald (1988), p. 7
  11. ^ In Bassett's book, it was speculated that the entire class would have conformed to a theme representative of Greek history and mythos had the Admiralty decided against renaming the two vessels
  12. ^ a b "Latest Cruiser Launched", The Glasgow Herald: p. 12. 25 March 1937.
  13. ^ "Cruiser for East Indies". The Times (48004): Col G, p. 22. 26 May 1938.
  14. ^ a b "A City’s Gift to Warship. H.M.S. Liverpool in the Mersey". The Times (48198): Col F, p. 15. 9 January 1939.
  15. ^ "H.M.S. Liverpool". The Times (48256): Col E, p. 10. 17 March 1939.
  16. ^ Smith, Peter Charles; Dominy, John (1981), p. 70
  17. ^ Haggie, Paul (1981), p. 169
  18. ^ Best, Anthony. (1995), p. 98
  19. ^ a b c Marder, Arthur Jacob. (1981). p. 106
  20. ^ "Homeseekers". Time. 29 January 1940. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  21. ^ AAP (1940), "Asama Maru Incident: Captain Dismissed - "misconduct" Charge": p. 6. Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 1940.
  22. ^ Gill, G. Hermon (1957), p. 140
  23. ^ a b Waters, Sydney David (2004), p. 85
  24. ^ Gill, G. Hermon (1957), pp. 133-4
  25. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 17
  26. ^ Gill, G. Hermon (1957), p. 149
  27. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 24
  28. ^ a b c d e Titterton, G.A. (2002), pp. 22–3
  29. ^ a b Stevens, David (2005), p. 68
  30. ^ Clark, Chris (2001), p. 172
  31. ^ Titterton, G.A. (2002), pp. 42–3
  32. ^ Gill, G. Hermon (1957), pp. 197-8
  33. ^ Titterton, G.A. (2002), p. 51
  34. ^ Titterton, G.A. (2002), p. 62
  35. ^ a b Titterton (2002), p. 70
  36. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 37
  37. ^ a b Titterton, G. A. (2002), pp. 74–6
  38. ^ a b c Read, A.D. (1949), Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London: Royal Institution of Naval Architects, p. 100
  39. ^ a b c d e The Journal of Midshipman W. P. Hayes, RCN, Naval Officers' Association of Canada, noac-national.ca. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  40. ^ Smith, Peter Charles Smith; Dominy, John (1981), p. 188
  41. ^ Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945: B.C.G. Place to W.L. Puxley, unithistories.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  42. ^ "Naval Casualties". Canberra Times: p. 1. 5 November 1940.
  43. ^ The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine-Builder, 1946, p. 500
  44. ^ "H.M. Ships In U.S. Ports". The Times (49036): Col F, p. 4. 20 September 1941.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h Whitley, M. J. (2000), p. 109 Cite error: The named reference "Arctic" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  46. ^ Hill, J. R. & Ranft, Bryan (2002), p. 365
  47. ^ Edwards, Bernard (2002), p. 82
  48. ^ a b c d e f Tovey, John C. (1950), pp. 5142-4
  49. ^ Hague, Arnold (2000), p. 190
  50. ^ Edwards, Bernard (2002), p. 94
  51. ^ Kemp, Paul (2004), p. 57
  52. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992), p. 145
  53. ^ Bunker, John (2006), p. 205
  54. ^ Connell, G.G. (1979), p. 241
  55. ^ Smith, Peter C. (2002), p. 28
  56. ^ Notes taken from Liverpool’s Log, lancs.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  57. ^ Moses, Sam (2006), p. 70
  58. ^ Leggett, Eric (1974), p. 67
  59. ^ Leggett, Eric (1974), p. 98
  60. ^ Royal United Services Institute (1947), Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies‎, p. 477
  61. ^ Olympic Games Torch-Relay, olympic-museum.de. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  62. ^ "Royal Navy entertains King Farouk". The Times (51596): Col D, p. 3. 23 January 1950.
  63. ^ "Marshal Tito Visits British Ship". The Times (52104): Col E, p. 4. 12 September 1951
  64. ^ "Mediterranean C.-in-C. To Visit Yugoslavia". The Times (52097): Col D, P. 4. 4 September 1951.
  65. ^ Wettern, Desmond (1982), p. 59
  66. ^ Staff Correspondent & AAP (1952). "British Troops in Clash With Terrorists at Port". Sydney Morning Herald: p. 2. 20 January 1952
  67. ^ Cite error: The named reference Morris was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  68. ^ "Reserve Fleet Changes". The Times (53697): Col F, p. 8. 24 November 1956.
  69. ^ Preston, Antony (1987), p. 221
  70. ^ O'Brien, Phillips Payson (2001), p. 189
  71. ^ World Ship Society (1965), Marine News, p. 288

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