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HMS MAORI, 05 Dec 38 - 12 Jul 40
On Neutrality Patrol during Spanish Civil War Took part in stopping two Italian-built destroyers being delivered to Sweden Took part in Norwegian Campaign HMS DRAKE, 13 Jul 40 - 28 Nov 40 Included period training in Devonport and Plymouth Sound as navy diver HMS EAGLET, 29 Nov 40 - 14 Nov 41 Standing by and commissioning HMS Charybdis, then completing at Cammell Laird Shipbuilders, Birkenhead, Cheshire In late October 1941, apparently saw capital ships "Prince of Wales" and "Repulse" sail out of Liverpool at the start of their voyage to Singapore as Britain's deterrent to Japan coming into the war. They were both sunk off Malaya on 10th December 1941 HMS CHARYBDIS, 15 Nov 41 - 23 Oct 43
HMS CHARYBDIS, a cruiser of the Dido class was authorised under the 1938 programme. She was laid down at Cammell Laird's yard, Birkenhead, Cheshire on 9th November 1938, launched on 17th September 1940 and completed on 3rd December, 1941 with 8-4.5in guns instead of the planned 10-5.25in. Her commanding officer was Captain G A W Voelcker RN. After trials she joined the Home Fleet and at the end of March 1942 took part in the minelaying Operation S.N.87. Next month she sailed for Gibraltar and was transferred to the North Atlantic Command. During May and June she was in Force W for Operations "L.B." and "Salient", aircraft reinforcements for Malta, and provided cover for Malta convoy Operation "Harpoon". In July she took part in operations "Pinpoint" and "Insect", more aircraft for Malta, and the following month covered the major Malta convoy Operation "Pedestal". Further aircraft reinforcements for Malta followed in Operation "Baritone". In September and October 1942 she was on patrol in the Atlantic and searching for German raiders and blockade runners. At the end of October she again took part in covering aircraft reinforcements to Malta in Operation "Train". On 25th 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. for Operation "Torch", the invasion of French North Africa On 12th December she sailed for U.K. to rejoin 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 she transferred temporarily to the Plymouth Command and proceeded to cover convoys and patrol in the Bay of Biscay. She was back again in Gibraltar in August 1943 and from there escorted Mediterranean convoys. In September she was in Force V for the Salerno Landings, but returned to Plymouth the following month. Further patrols in the Bay of Biscay followed but on 23rd October. 1943, while taking part in Operation, "Tunnel" she was surprised and torpedoed by German destroyers “T-23” and “ T-27”. She sank in position 48-59’N: 3-39’W, with the loss of 30 officers 432 ratings. HMS CHARYBDIS was awarded the following Battle Honours (links to Campaign Summaries):
On 23 October 1943, Ordnance Artificer George Smith was discharged from the Royal Navy as having lost his life on war service when HMS CHARYBDIS was sunk. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirm that his body was never recovered for burial. He is however commemorated on Panel 82, Column 3 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial. |
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