HMS Spartan (95)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career
HMS Spartan newly completed off Barrow-in-Furness, UK August 1943
Built By:	Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, UK)
Laid down:	21 December 1939
Launched:	27 August 1942
Commissioned:	10 January 1943
Fate:	Loss, 29 January 1944, sunked by a HS 293 glider bomb from a German aircraft off Anzio, western Italy in position 41°26′2″N, 12°41′2″E.
Penant:	95
General Characteristics
Type:	Light (Anti Aircraft) Cruiser
Displacement:	5,950 tons standard 7,200 tons full load
Dimensions:	485 pp, 512 by 50.5 by 15.0 ft (156 by 15.4 by 4.6 m)
Armament:	Original configuration: 8 x 5.25 in (133 mm) dual guns, 6 x 20 mm dual AA guns, 3 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad 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:	530

HMS Spartan was a Bellona-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was a modified Dido design with only 4 turrets but improved AA armament - aka Dido Group 2. She was built by Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, UK), with the keel being laid down on 21 December 1939. She was launched on 27 August 1942, and commissioned 10 January 1943.

[edit] History

Commissioned with a Devonport crew under the command of Captain P.V. McLaughlin, Royal Navy, the Spartan was originally intended for service with the Eastern Fleet but after a couple of months with the Home Fleet, she was dispatched to the Mediterranean, arriving at Malta on 28 October 1943 to be temporarily attached to the Mediterranean Fleet. She went on to Taranto to join the 15th Cruiser Squadron on 8 November 1943.

On the night of 18 January and 19 January 1944, Spartan carried out a diversionary bombardment in the Terracina area and with the Orion and four destroyers provided useful supporting fire during the Garigliano River Operations. There was only minor opposition from shore batteries and, during the bombardment, the Spartan alone fired 900 rounds.

Operation Shingle, the Anzio Landing which began on 22 January 1944, for which the Orion and Spartan were detailed to provide gun support. There was little opposition and Spartan returned to Naples to remain available at short notice.

On 27 January she was ordered to report to CTF 81 for anti-aircraft protection duties off Anzio. At sunset on 29 January, the enemy began a glide bomb attack on the ships in Anzio Bay. At the time of this attack the Spartan was anchored. Smoke had been ordered in the anchorage but was not fully effective owing to the short time it was in operation and the strong breeze. Spartan was making smoke from stem to stern but was not herself covered.

About 18 aircraft approached from the north and circling over land, delivered a beam attack against the ships that were silhouetted against the afterglow. The timing of the attack prohibited the aircraft from being sighted except by very few witnesses, and radar was ineffective owing to land echoes.

By the time the warning had been received and the ships had opened fire in the general direction of the attack, six bombs were already approaching the anchorage, most of them falling into the water. But about 1800(BST) one radio-controlled HS 293 glider bomb hit the Spartan just abaft the after funnel and detonated high up in the compartments abreast the port side of the after boiler room, blowing a large hole in the upper deck.

The main mast collapsed and boiler rooms were flooded. Steam and electrical power failed, a serious fire developed and the ship heeled over to port. About an hour after being hit she had to be abandoned, and ten minutes later, she settled on her beam ends in about five to six fathoms of water.

Five officers and 41 ratings were posted killed or missing presumed killed, and 42 ratings were wounded.

See HMS Spartan for other ships of this name.

Royal Navy

Dido group