HMS Spartan, British AA cruiser, WW2

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

HMS SPARTAN - Bellona-class AA Cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Spartan (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

Improved DIDO-Class cruiser ordered on 4th September 1939 from Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow under an Emergency War Programme and laid down on 21st December that year as Yard No 767 The ship was launched on 27th August 1942 and was as the 5th RN warship to carry the name, first used in 1806 for a 5th Rate and lastly by a cruiser built in 1891 which was renamed DEFIANCE II. when used for training at Devonport. Her main armament comprised only four twin 5-25 inch mountings (see General Information). Build was completed on 10th August 1943. This ship was not adopted by any UK civil following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in 1942-43 as she was not then in service.

B a t t l e H o n o u r s

BURMA 1852-53- CHINA 1856-57 - ATLANTIC 1943 - ANZIO 1944

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, two swans conjoined White, charged with drops of Red.

M o t t o

'Courage with great endurance'

D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

1 9 4 3

August Contractor's trials and commissioning

10th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

On completion of trial and storing took passage to Scapa flow for work-up with

Home Fleet ships.

September Refitted for use as an Escort Carrier Squadron Flagship

October On completion deployed at Plymouth for interception duty in SW Approaches.

Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean and took passage to Malta to join Squadron.

November

8th Arrived at Naples from Malta as part of Force K.

Deployed for support of military operations.

December Passage to Gibraltar.

1 9 4 4

January Nominated for support of planned landings at Anzio.

15th Bombarded German positions at Gaeta, north of Naples prior to Anzio landings.

18th Carried out further bombardment of Gaeta with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, LAFOREY

and JERVIS.

21st Joined HM Cruisers ORION and PENELOPE, HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, and LOYAL

in Northern Attack Force (Peter) at Anzio.

Escorted Landing Ships (Tank) taking 1st British infantry Division to beachhead with

HMS ORION and 12 destroyers.

22nd Provided naval gunfire support during landings with HMS ORION, HM AA Snip ULSTER

QUEEN. HM Destroyers LAFOREY and LOYAL.

(Operation SHINGLE - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by

C Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)

29th Hit on port side abaft after funnel by Hs 293 Glider which exploded in engine room.

Compartment flooded and fire started in after superstructure causing explosions.

Capsized and abandoned after an hour when fires could not be controlled.

Sank in position 41.26N 12.41E.

523 Survivors were rescued by HM Cruiser DIDO, HMS LAFOREY and HMS LOYAL.

(Casualty List - note on casualties)

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SPARTAN

by Don Kindell

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above


Date convoy sailed	Joined convoy as escort	Convoy No.	Left convoy	Date convoy arrived

25/09/43	27/09/43	MKS 025G	03/10/43	08/10/43
17/09/43	04/10/43	MKF 024	06/10/43	07/10/43
16/10/43	19/10/43	KMF 025	25/10/43	30/10/43
16/12/43	27/12/43	MKF 027	28/12/43	04/01/44

(Note on Convoys)

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