HMS Charybdis (88)

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Career
HMS Charybdis on completion in late 1941
Built By:	Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, UK)
Laid down:	9 November 1939
Launched:	17 September 1940
Commissioned:	3 December 1941
Fate:	Sunk, 23 October 1943 by torpedoes from German MTBs T23 and T27, in a night action off northern France (462 lost).
Penant:	88
General Characteristics
Type:	Light (Anti Aircraft) Cruiser
Displacement:	5,600 tons standard 6,850 tons full load
Dimensions:	485 pp, 512 oa x 50.5 × 14 feet (156 × 15.4 × 4.3 m)
Armament:	Original configuration: 8 x 4.5 in DP dual guns, 1 x 4 in (102 mm) starshell gun, 8 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns, 2 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms single guns, 2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes. 1943 configuration: 8 x 4.5 in DP dual guns, 10 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns, 6 x 20 mm (0.8 in) twin power-operated guns, 2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes.
Armour:	Original configuration: Belt: 3 inch, Deck: 1 inch, Magazines: 2 inch, Bulkheads: 1 inch.
Propulsion:	Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 62,000 shp (46 MW) = 32.25 knots maximum speed
Range:	2,414 km (1,500 miles) at 30 knots, 6,824 (4,240 miles) at 16 knots ; 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement:	480

HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, UK), with the keel being laid down on 9 November 1939. She was launched on 17 September 1940, and commissioned 3 December 1941.

One of two sisters (the other was, appropriately, Scylla, Charybdis was originally completed with four twin 4.5 in Mk III in UD MK III mountings because of a shortage of 5.25 in mountings.

The forward superstructure was considerably modified to accommodate these and also to increase crew spaces. Naturally they were known as the 'toothless terrors', but proved much better anti-aircraft ships than their sisters armed with the more cumbersome and less satisfactory 5.25 in AA guns.

[edit] History

Charybdis' service was entirely during World War II, when she gained the following Battle Honours:

Malta Convoys 1942
North Africa 1942
Salerno 1943
Atlantic 1943
English Channel 1943
Biscay 1943

After trials Charybdis joined the Home Fleet and at the end of March 1942 she took part in the minelaying Operation S.N.87.

Next month she was transferred to the North Atlantic Command, Force "H" and sailed for Gibraltar. Her duties were to escort aircraft carriers delivering aircraft reinforcements to the besieged island of Malta. The aircraft were flown off the carriers when within range of the island, and the ships returned to Gibraltar. Several convoys were sent with the carriers USS Wasp, HMS Eagle and HMS Argus in Force "W" for Operations L.B. and Salient.

In June 1942 Charybdis took part in Operation Harpoon and Vigorous. This operation tried to supply food and matériel to Malta by sending a convoy from Gibraltar at the same time as a convoy from Egypt (Vigorous), thus dividing the attacking forces. The Vigorous convoy was decimated, including the loss of her sister ship Hermione, torpedoed by German submarine U205[1].

In July 1942 Charybdis covered Operations Pinpoint and Insect, two more carrier deliveries of aircraft to Malta. By August 1942 Charybdis escorted the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in the Malta convoy Pedestal.

This 15 ship convoy was intended to break the blockade of Malta, and had a most powerful escort with two battleships, four aircraft carriers, seven cruisers and twenty six destroyers. Losses were high with HMS Eagle sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U73[2] and the convoy under constant air attack. However, five merchant ships including the damaged tanker SS Ohio arrived in Malta. The Ohio's cargo of fuel oil allowed the aircraft, submarines and warships based in Malta to continue operations and deprive Rommel of vital supplies in North Africa. August also saw operation Baritone (further deliveries of aircraft to Malta).

In September and October Charybdis was on patrol in the Atlantic and searching for German Raiders and blockade runners. At the end of October she took part Operation Train, again covering aircraft reinforcements to Malta. On 25 November 1942 she was allocated to the 12th Cruiser Squadron in Force "H" and sailed from Gibraltar for Algiers carrying the Allied Force H.Q., Operation Torch - the landings in Morocco and Algeria.

On 12 December 1942 Charybdis sailed for the United Kingdom to re-join the Home Fleet. For the first three months of 1943 she was in the Scapa Flow area, covering minelaying operations and patrolling in the North Sea but in April 1943 she was transferred temporarily to the Plymouth Command and proceeded to cover convoys and patrol in the Bay of Biscay. Charybdis was again back in Gibraltar in August 1943 and from there escorted Mediterranean convoys.

In September she was in Force "V" for the Salerno landings (Operation Avalanche) and landed troops (including General Eisenhower) brought from Tripoli. She returned to Plymouth the following month. Further patrols in the Bay of Biscay followed.

[edit] Operation Tunnel

In late 1943, the British authorities were aware of the approach of the German blockade runner, Münsterland, which was carrying an important cargo of latex and strategic metals. The Germans had a well-rehearsed procedure for escorting such vessels. The British reacted by executing Operation Tunnel, a standard operation whereby available ships would attempt to intercept.

On 21 October 1943, Charybdis and destroyers HMS Grenville, Rocket and four Hunt class destroyers (HMS Limbourne, Wensleydale, Talybont and Stevenstone) intercepted Münsterland off Ushant, Brittany. The force was attacked at night by the German 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (five Elbing class torpedo boats), which was escorting the blockade runner.

Charybdis was almost immediately torpedoed by the German torpedo boats T23 and T27. HMS Limbourne was also hit during this action and had to be sunk by HMS Rocket. The German force escaped unharmed. Charybdis sank in position 48°59′N 3°39′W, with the loss of 30 officers and 432 ratings just off the North Coast of Brittany. The Münsterland eventually ran aground off Cap Blanc Nez and was destroyed.

Soon after the sinking, the bodies of 21 Royal Navy and Royal Marine men were washed up on the island of Guernsey. The German occupation authorities buried them with full military honours and this became the opportunity for the islanders to demonstrate their loyalty to Britain and their opposition to the Nazi occupiers. About 5000 attended the funeral. Subsequent military funerals were closed to civilians.

The wrecks of Charybdis and Limbourne have recently been found. The Charybdis was located in 1993, 83 metres deep.

See HMS Charybdis for other ships of this name.