HMS Juno (F46)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Juno.
HMS Juno (F46)
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Juno
Builder: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Laid down: 5 October 1937
Launched: 8 December 1938
Commissioned: 25 August 1939
Identification: Pennant number: F46
Fate: Attacked by Italian aircraft 21 May 1941
Status: Sunk
General characteristics
Class and type:J-class destroyer

HMS Juno was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan in Scotland on 5 October 1937, launched on 8 December 1938 and commissioned on 25 August 1939. Juno participated in the Battle of Calabria[1] in July 1940 and the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.

Attacked and Sunk

Juno was attacked by an Italian CANT Z.1007 aircraft from 50th group, flown by a Lt. Morassuti),[2] as she steamed with the Mediterranean Fleet against the German sea-borne invasion of Crete and sank 30 nautical miles south-east of Crete on 21 May 1941.[2]

At the time of her attack and sinking Juno was commanded by Cdr. St. John Reginald Joseph Tyrwhitt and would have had a complement of 183 to 218 seamen and officers. It is figured that 116 crew lost their lives after 3 high-powered explosions split Juno in two, sinking her in around 97 seconds.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2 by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004 HMS JUNO (F 46) - J-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "HMS Juno (F 46) Destroyer of the J class". uboat.net. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "HMS Juno (F46) [+1941]". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 16 September 2012.

Coordinates: 34°35′N 26°34′E / 34.583°N 26.567°E