KING GEORGE V-Class Battleship ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead under the 1937 Build Programme on 29th July 1936. She was laid down on 1st January 1937 and launched on 3rd May 1939 as the 12th RN ship to carry this name. First used for a 3rd Rate in 1765 and last used for a battleship built in 1902 and sold in April 1920. Build was completed on 31st March 1941 and had been delayed by damage to the build shipyard during air raids on Merseyside. B a t t l e H o n o u r s ST LUCIA 1778 - GRENADA 1779 - GROIX 1795 - CALDERS Action 1805* - BALTIC 1807 - DARDANELLES 1915 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 (* Only in Manning , 1959) H e r a l d i c D a t a Badge: On a Field White, on a red Cross, the Badge of the Prince of Wales proper. D e t a i l s o f S e r v i c e 1 9 4 1 January 19th Commissioned for Trials. Commanding Officer Captain L K Hamilton. (Note: Completion of fitting-out to be carried out by HM Dockyard, Rosyth because of air raid damage in shipyard.) 28th Took passage from Liverpool to Rosyth. 30th Arrived at Rosyth February Fitting-out at Rosyth. (Note: Fit of radar Type 281 for aircraft warning and limited fire-control use, together with radar Type 284 for fire-control of forward main armament, and four Type 285 for fire-control of 5.25 armament was completed. For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.) Captain J C Leach MVO relieved Captain Hamilton on his promotion to Rear Admiral March Contractors trials. 24th Took passage from Forth to Scapa Flow for trials with ships of Home Fleet. (Note: Shipyard and Dockyard personnel were embarked. Some testing of compartments and systems was not carried out before leaving Rosyth.) 25th Arrived at Scapa Flow. 31st Ship classified as completed. (the ‘completion was only achieved by waiving various vital tests. See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS by VE Tarrant) April Deployed at Scapa Flow for work-up and trials including radar performance and calibration of air warning and fire control equipment. May 8th Carried out Full Power Trials. 21st Ship reported to CinC Home Fleet as ready for Fleet service. 22nd Took passage from Scapa Flow (She had on board contractors labour who were attempting to fix the problems with the main armament) with HM Battlecruiser HOOD escorted by HM Destroyers ACHATES, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, ECHO, ELECTRA and ICARUS to take up patrol position SW of Iceland after refuelling in Iceland at Hvalfjord. (Note: These ships were then to be stationed SW of Iceland to intercept two German warships reported on passage via Denmark Strait to attack Atlantic convoys.) 22nd Carried out exercises in preparation for anticipated action. (Note: Home Fleet ships including HMS KING GEORGE V and HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS sailed from Scapa Flow to carry out interception of German ships.) 23rd HMS ANTELOPE and HMS ANTHONY detached to refuel. German warships sighted by HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and NORFOLK in Denmark Strait identified as the German battleship BISMARCK and cruiser PRINZ EUGEN. 24th Planned search by embarked WALRUS aircraft cancelled because of weather conditions. (Note: Significant flooding was being caused forward when ship was in swell conditions and due to low freeboard. See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS by V E Tarrant.) 0205 hours - HM Destroyers ACHATES, ECHO, ELECTRA and ICARUS were detached and ordered to search to the north. 0535 hours - the enemy ships were sighted to the north west at 34,000 yards. 0550 hours - enemy ships engaged by HMS HOOD. 0553 hours - HMS PRINCE of WALES opened fire. Both came under return fire. 0601 hours - HMS HOOD was hit after 5th enemy salvo, blew up and sank quickly with only three survivors from a complement of over 1,400. During further engagement with the German ships, HMS PRINCE OF WALES sustained damage from three 15in (the first 15in shell hit the bridge killing or wounding everyone on the compass platform except the Captain and the Chief Yeoman) and four 8in projectiles with 13 fatal casualties and 9 wounded. Mechanical failures limited the extent of 14in fire from both quadruple turrets and of the 74 fire-orders to the individual guns only 55 had been successfully carried out. The after mounting was disabled by the mishandling of shell which resulted in training mechanism being jammed. (Note: The problems due to design failures in the complex system of safety interlocks were common to all ships of the Class and experienced in HMS KING GEORGE V during later actions involving this type of mounting.) 0605 hours - HMS PRINCE OF WALES made smoke and turned away due to the malfunctions of her main armament. She had scored three hits on BISMARCK, one of which one caused significant damage to the forward structure causing flooding and a consequential reduction of speed by 2 knots. It also cut off access to 1000 tons of fuel oil in the forward fuel tanks. (Note: This damage became more crucial when violent movements taken to avoid air attacks dislodged the damage control measures taken to prevent further flooding.) (For details of the BISMARCK action see above reference, BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullenheim-Rechberg, PURSUIT by L Kennedy, and the Naval Staff History.) 25th Detached from search operation and took passage to Hvalfjord. 26th Burial at sea of those killed was carried out during passage. 27th Under repair to allow safe return passage. 28th Took passage from Iceland. June On arrival taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Rosyth, (Note: During repair work an unexploded 15in shell was found below the waterline near the Starboard Diesel Room and removed by the Ships Staff.) Whilst in dockyard hands she was fitted with the first radar Type 273 a big ship surface search version of the 10 cm Type 271. (For details see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.) July 6th Repairs completed. 19th Took passage to Scapa Flow escorted by HM Destroyers ACHATES, ACTIVE and ICARUS. Following which she resumed service with Home Fleet and deployed for extensive exercises including gunnery firings with HMS KING GEORGE V. Nominated for special duty. August 4th Embarked Prime Minister from HM Destroyer ORIBI at Scapa Flow with Chiefs of Defence Staff for passage to Placentia Bay, Newfoundland for meeting with President Roosevelt Took passage escorted by HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HESPERUS and HAVELOCK. 5th Destroyer escort detached because of the need to maintain maximum speed in heavy weather conditions. 6th She was joined by three RCN Destroyers ASSINIBOINE, RESTIGOUCHE and RIPLEY. 9th Arrived at Placentia and Prime Minister disembarked to meet US President on US cruiser USS AUGUSTA. (Note: The Atlantic Charter was signed during a series of discussions that lasted for four days.) 14th Took passage from Placentia Bay for Hvalfjord Iceland with Prime Minister. Escort provided by two US Navy Destroyers MAYRANT and RHIND, and four RCN destroyers ASSINIBOINE, READING, RIPLEY and SAGUENAY. 15th Closed Atlantic convoy HX 143 and passed through the columns twice to the acclaim of the crews of the merchant ships under escort. 16th Arrived at Hvalfjord to allow Prime Minister to address Icelandic Parliament and to visit RN ships based in Iceland. Sailed for Scapa Flow escorted by RN Destroyers ESCAPADE, PUNJABI and TARTAR. 18th Arrived at Scapa Flow, where the Prime Minister disembarked. Deployed at Scapa Flow and carried out trials of new radar Type 273. See reference. These trials were not successful. September 9th At Scapa Flow bought to half hour’s notice for steam to counter possible breakout of the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer. This proved to be a false alarm. Nominated for detached service as escort for Malta Relief convoy. (Operation HALBERD). 15th Sailed from Scapa Flow to Greenock escorted by HM Cruiser EURYALUS and HM Destroyers ESKIMO and LAFOREY. 16th Arrived at Greenock. 17th Joined WS 11X convoy and sailed as escort with HM Cruisers KENYA and EURYALUS, screened by HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI, WHITEHALL, WITCH, BLANKNEY, Dutch Destroyer ISAAC SWEERS, Polish Destroyers ORP PIORUN and ORP GARLAND. 19th HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HARVESTER detached with SS STRATHEDEN for passage to Newfoundland. 21st HM Battleship RODNEY joined escort. 23rd In company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and ORIBI she detached from convoy WS 11X and proceeded to Gibraltar to refuel. 24th In company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and ORIBI she sailed from Gibraltar and proceeded west to rejoin convoy WS 11X. HM Battleship NELSON, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL of Force H joined convoy WS 11X to the west of the Straights of Gibraltar, to provide air cover during the passage through the Mediterranean. 25th In the early hours convoy WS 11X entered the Straights of Gibraltar. The five ships for Gibraltar detached and the convoy became Operation Halberd. Deployed with Force H ships as Force A to provide cover during passage to Sicilian Narrows. 27th Under air attacks which were repelled by air cover and ships of escort. (Note: HMS NELSON was hit by torpedo and damaged but remained with convoy until ships for Malta detached.) Mercantiles detached from Force A and took passage through Narrows escorted by HM Cruisers KENYA, EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD and HERMIONE screened by nine destroyers. (For details of HALBERD convoy defence see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History.) Under threat of attack by Italian Battle Squadron but this interception force turned back when it was realised HALBERD escort included strong escort of battleships and an aircraft carrier. See references.) 28th Remained with Force A west of Narrows to await return of Force X (Note: HMS NELSON was detached with escort to take passage to Gibraltar for repair.) Force A under attack by Italian submarine DIASPRO which failed. 29th Force X ships rejoined and combined Forces left area off Bizerte for return to Gibraltar. Further attack attempted by Italian submarine SERPENTE which failed. 30th Launched WALRUS aircraft to carry out anti-submarine patrol. Italian submarine ADUA was detected and sunk by HM Destroyers LEGION and GURKHA (ii). Arrived at Gibraltar with combined Forces. During Operation Halberd she had shot down three aircraft - two Italian and one FAA Fulmar! October 1st Took passage from Gibraltar for Scapa Flow escorted by HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI and LIVELY. West of the Straits of Gibraltar LIVELY detached and returned to Gibraltar. (Note: Excess temperatures experienced during Mediterranean service revealed another design weakness of this Class of battleship. It was never dealt with.) 6th Arrived at Scapa Flow in company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, and ORIBI to resume Home Fleet deployment. 20th Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet with HM Battlecruiser REPULSE. (For details of circumstances leading up to this decision at Cabinet level, see above references.) 23rd Sailed from Scapa Flow for the Clyde screened by HM Destroyers ELECTRA and EXPRESS which were also being transferred to Eastern Fleet. 24th Embarked Admiral T Phillips to take up his appointment as CinC Eastern Fleet with staff officers for passage to Ceylon. (Note: Intention was for ship to be deployed at Singapore with HMS REPULSE which was to be met at Colombo) 25th Sailed from the Clyde for passage to Colombo with calls at Freetown and Cape Town Escorted additionally in NW Approaches by HM Destroyer HESPERUS. (Note: Ships being transferred to Eastern Fleet designated Force G.) 29th HMS HESPERUS detached and returned to Clyde. November 5th Arrived at Freetown. 16th Arrived at Cape Town. Admiral Phillips called on General Smuts, the Prime Minister of South Africa. 18th Sailed from Cape Town for Colombo. 28th Arrived at Colombo after calls at Mauritius and Addu Atoll (Port T) for fuel. (Note: Excessive temperatures were again experienced during passage in the Indian Ocean and were the subject of report by Ships Medical Officer.) 29th Joined by HMS REPULSE with HM Destroyers JUPITER and ENCOUNTER as additional screen on departure from Colombo and took passage with HMS ELECTRA and HMS EXPRESS for Singapore, still designated Force G. December 2nd Arrived at Singapore, following which they were designated Force Z. 3rd Docked for routine hull cleaning and inspection. (Note: Ship was later taken in hand for re-tubing of distilling machinery.) 5th HMS REPULSE sailed for visit to Port Darwin. 6th HMS REPULSE recalled to Singapore in view of likelihood of war with Japan and for discussions in Manila between Admiral Phillips and CinC of US Asiatic Fleet. 7th HMS REPULSE returned to Singapore. 8th War Telegram received. Ship undocked and War Conference held on board. Admiralty informed of intention to sail at dusk to attack enemy forces off Kota Bharu. (Note: See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS and Naval Staff History for details of this fatal decision.) Sailed from Singapore with HMS REPULSE escorted by HM Destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS, VAMPIRE and TENEDOS. Designated as Force Z. (Note: HMS JUPITER and HMS ENCOUNTER were taken in hand for repair after arrival at Singapore.) 9th Force Z reported on passage north by Japanese submarine. Signal received from Singapore stating that fighter protection could not be provided on 10th as requested at earlier meetings in Singapore. Japanese reconnaissance aircraft sighted. Decision made to return to Singapore. HMS TENEDOS detached to refuel. 10th Diverted on passage to investigate reported landings at Kuantan. Japanese air search for Force Z ships directed farther south. Kuantan area found deserted and searched for tug and barges sighted earlier. Came under unsuccessful attack by bomber aircraft, five of which were reported damaged. Second attack by torpedo aircraft resulted in hits by two torpedoes which struck the port side, abaft Y Turret and near the after 5.25 mountings. These damaged the outboard propeller shaft, disabling the ship and also caused extensive flooding with loss of electric power. Four more torpedoes hit the ship on the starboard side in the sixth air attack on Force Z and damaged the port outer propeller and shaft and caused more flooding. Her fate was sealed when the ship was struck by a bomb amidships between the funnels with further damage by six other bombs which near missed. The list to port was increasing and the ship was gradually sinking when the order to Abandon Ship was given. The battleship lurched to port and capsized at 1320 and rests in position 03.34N 104.27E SE of Kuantan, Malaysia. 327 of her total complement of 1,612 lost their lives including Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach. (Casualty List - note on casualties) (For details of this action see above references and BRITISH BATTLESHIPS OF WW2 by A Raven and J Roberts.)
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:45:47 +0000
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