Benutzer:Erb34/China
13th Took part in Battle of the River Plate with HM Cruisers EXETER and ACHILLES. Harried GRAF SPEE after HMS EXETER retired from action. X and Y-turrets were disabled and some structural damage was sustained.There were 12 casualties including 7 killed. 16th Remained off Plate estuary with HMS CUMBERLAND and HMS ACHILLES. 17th GRAF SPEE scuttled off Montevideo. 18th Detached to refuel at Port Stanley. 29th Resumed trade defence duty.
1 9 4 0
January
1st Visited Montevideo.
5th Passage to Freetown, via Rio de Janeiro. Joined by HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, DAINTY and DIAMOND during passage
22nd Passage to UK for refit.
31st Arrived at Plymouth.
February Paid off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham.
March to June Under refit. Zarebas fitted to 4in Guns. Tripod masts fitted and aircraft warning radar Type 279 installed.
July Post refit trials and recommissioning. Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
August Worked-up for service and transferred to 7th Cruiser Squadron. Nominated for escort of mercantiles carrying motor transport during passage to Egypt. This convoy was intended to pass through the Mediterranean as part of Operation HATS but it was later decided to divert it via Cape of Good Hope. The ships carrying personnel and tanks remained with the warships joining the Mediterranean Fleet which went direct to Alexandria.
21st Sailed from UK as part of escort with HM Cruiser YORK during passage via Cape of Good Hope to Middle East.
September
2nd At Freetown.
13th At Durban
26th Escorted troopships EMPRESS OF JAPAN, ORION and ORONSAY from Aden to Suez.
23rd At Suez.
30th Joined HMS SYDNEY (RAN) in 7th Cruiser Squadron at Alexandria for deployment in Eastern Mediterranean.
October
3rd Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruiser COVENTRY with screen of eight destroyers to
2nd Took part in searched for Italian convoys taking supplies to Libya with Fleet units
8th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, MALAYA and RAMILLIES, HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM Cruisers YORK, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, SYDNEY and ORION with screen of 16 Fleet destroyers to cover passage of Malta convoy MF3 (Operation MB6)
11th Detached at Malta with HMS ORION for patrol SE of island.
12th Provided cover for Convoy MF4 to Alexandria with Fleet units and deployed with ships of Squadron east of FleetIn close range night action with HM Cruisers ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by HM Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK against Italian convoy in Gulf of Otranto.Two destroyers, AIRONE and ARIEL were sunk and destroyer ARTIGLIERE damaged. Hit by 7 shells resulting in 35 casualties including 13 killed. Bridge structure and radar items damaged. ARTIGLIERE was sunk later by HMS YORK when under tow after the action)
14th Under air attacks during which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by a torpedo and had to be taken in tow by HMS ORION.
16th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
29th Embarked advance party of York and Lancaster Regiment for passage to Suda Bay. This was in response to Italian invasion of Greece and first phase of British support for defence of Crete.)
November
1st Arrived at Suda Bay, Crete from Alexandria with HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA, HM Netlayer PROTECTOR, HM Minesweeper FAREHAM and for destroyers to set up forward base. Under air attack and near missed.
2nd During return to Alexandria with HMS COVENTRY again under air attack and again near missed.
4th Sailed from Alexandria for Suda Bay with HMS SYDNEY (RAN) having embarked HQ 14th Armoured Brigade, AA Guns and troops for service in Crete (Operation BARBARITY).
5th After disembarking troops and equipment sailed from Suda Bay with HMS ORION for visits to Piraeus and Candida.The passage of reinforcements to Crete and of Aegean convoys were covered by Fleet units including HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and HMS EAGLE with screen of eight destroyers (Operation MB8).
6th Passage to join Fleet units covering the passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta.
10th Joined HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS YORK, HMS ORION and destroyer screen deployed as Force A. (Part of Operation COAT with ships of Force H to cover transit of convoys to and from Malta, concurrent with reinforcement of Mediterranean Fleet by ships from UK).
11th Detached from Force A with HMS ORION, HMS SYDNEY, HM Destroyers MOHAWK and NUBIAN to carry out offensive sweep in Straits of Otranto during JUDGEMENT. (Note: Ships of Force A were deployed for cover of air attacks on Taranto by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS which had detached with screen of cruisers and destroyers (Operation JUDGEMENT).)
12th Intercepted Italian 4 ship convoy escorted by auxiliary cruiser RAMB III and torpedo boat FABRIZI. All mercantiles were sunk but escorts escaped. Rejoined Force A. A second attack on Taranto was planned but cancelled in view of weather forecast in target area.)
13th Detached from Force A with HMS MALAYA, HMS BARHAM, and five destroyers. Took passage to Suda Bay to refuel before return to Alexandria to resume Squadron duties.
15th Embarked troops at Alexandria with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, YORK, SYDNEY and ORION for passage to Piraeus.
20th Disembarked troops and took return passage to Alexandria.
23rd Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers BERWICK, ORION, SYDNEY, screened by destroyers as Force B to cover passage of convoy to Crete and carry out air attacks on Tripoli from HMS EAGLE.
26th Arrived at Malta with Force C when HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES and HMS BERWICK detached to join Force D for passage to Gibraltar.
28th Deployed to cover passage of HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, four corvettes and four mercantiles during passage through Sicilian Narrows. These ships had been involved in the action against an Italian Force on 27th and detached afterwards from ships of Force H. Battle of Cape Spartivento. On arrival off Malta detached from cover and took passage to Suda Bay with the four corvettes.
30th Arrived at Suda Bay.
December Deployed with HMS ORION and HMAS SYDNEY for defence of convoys in Aegean. based at Suda Bay.
16th Returned to Suda Bay with Squadron to refuel and resumed cover for Aegean convoys
17th Joined by HM Cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER of CS3 and took passage as Force B to to rejoin Mediterranean Fleet units providing Distant Cover for transit of Convoys MW5A and B from Egypt to Malta, as well as of Convoy.ME5 from Malta to Egypt.Part of Operations MC2 and MC3. These also included air attacks on Dodecanese. on Port Skala, Valona, bombardment of Valona and cover of transit of HMS MALAYA four destroyers and two mercantiles to Gibraltar. All by Force A ships which comprised HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS screened by 11 destroyers.
18th Detached with HM Cruisers ORION and SYDNEY and HM Destroyers JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO as screen during offensive sweep in Otranto Strait.
19th Rejoined Force A to provide cover for transit of ships to Gibraltar after unsuccessful search. (Operation HIDE.)
23rd Remained with Force A to provide escort for passage of Convoy ME5A to Alexandria.
24th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
1 9 4 1 January 6th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS ORION, HMS YORK, HM Corvettes GLOXINIA, PEONY, HYACINTH, SALVIA and RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF to Suda Bay. 7th Arrived at Suda Bay with two destroyers and four corvettes for defence of military convoys to and from Greece. (Note: Part of Mediterranean Fleet major operation designed to cover the passage of military convoys to Greece and Malta concurrent with other Malta supply convoys (Operation EXCESS ). 12th Joined HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT which had been deployed to cover passage of to Alexandria for convoy ME6 after passage through Sicilian Narrows. (Note Operation MC4 part of Operation EXCESS transit of military convoy in eastern Mediterranean)These major Fleet units had been under sustained and heavy air attacks during which HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was sunk, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER seriously damaged. 16th Arrived at Alexandria after completion of ME6 escort 31st Escorted convoy to Piraeus with HM Cruiser COVENTRY. February 2nd Took passage from Piraeus after arrival of convoy. 19th Embarked troops and stores of Cheshire Regt. and Hampshire Regt. and sailed from Alexandria with HMS ORION and HMS GLOUCESTER also carrying troops for the reinforcement of Malta Garrison. HM Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK were deployed for escort during high speed passage. (Operation MC8 which also included cover by Fleet units for this transit and that of two mercantiles from Malta to Egypt.) 21st Disembarked troops in Malta and took return passage to Alexandria with HMS ORION. March 4th Embarked troops at Suda bay for passage to Greece with HMS PERTH (RAN), ORION and GLOUCESTER screened by four destroyers. (Operation LUSTRE – Military support of Greece by British personnel). 6th Deployed with same ships to cover passage of troop reinforcements to Greece. 24th Escort of convoy to Piraeus from Alexandria with HMS PERTH, HMS ORION and HMS GLOUCESTER. 27th On arrival ordered to be in position south of Crete off Gavdo Island by 0630 on 28th March to join Mediterranean Fleet units. 28th Ships became Force B of Mediterranean Fleet and took part in Battle of Matapan. 29th Detached with HM Cruiser PERTH and HM Destroyers STUART (RAN) and GRIFFIN for escort of LUSTRE convoys to Piraeus. April 6th At Piraeus with HMS COVENTRY during air raid when ss CLAN FRASER was hit and blown up. No damage sustained. 10th Covered passage of HM Destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, NUBIAN and MOHAWK to Malta for duty as striking force against Italian supply convoys. 12th Carried out offensive sweep off Ras-el-Tin with HMS ORION and HMS PERTH (RAN). 18th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM, VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE screened by destroyers to provide cover for passage of HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE to Malta from Egypt and Convoy ME7 from Malta (Operation MD2). 19th At Suda Bay with same ships and sailed after destroyers had refuelled as Force C with HMS FORMIDABLE. HMS ORION and HMAS PERTH, screened by HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, GREYHOUND and ILEX to provide air cover to major warships designated Force B during bombardment of Tripoli (Operation MD3) 21st Deployed off shore during air operations in defence of Fleet units during bombardment. See Naval Staff History, Battle Summary No 19 for details of MD2 and MD3) 24th Assisted in evacuation of allied troops from Greece with HMS ORION, HMS PHOEBE and HMAS PERTH (Operation DEMON). 27th Embarked 3,850 men from Rafina and Raftis with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and KIMBERLEY for passage to Suda Bay 29th Embarked further 1,700 men including Major-General Sir Bernard Freyburg, VC the, commander of the NZ Division commander and Rear Admiral HT Baillie-Grornan at Monemvasia and took them to Suda Bay. HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, ISIS and HOTSPUR also embarked troops, Total 4,320. (Note: Evacuations were made under frequent air attacks, See Naval Staff History.) May 6th Covered passage to Malta of convoys MW7A and B with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS MALAYA, HMS FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers ORION and PERTH screened by 19 destroyers and deployed as Force A (Operation MD4)(Note: MD4 was a joint operation with Force H to provide cover for passage of military TIGER convoy carrying tanks from UK to Egypt for the 8th Army. It also provided cover for Convoys MA7A and B during passage to Malta and passage of reinforcement warships to Alexandria , HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and HM Cruiser FIJI.. 7th Detached with HM Destroyers IMPERIAL, HAVOCK and HOTSPUR for bombardment of the Benghazi area (Operation MD6) 8th Carried out bombardment. During passage to rejoin Fleet engaged and sank an Italian supply vessels TENACE and CAPITANO CECCHI. Rejoined Force A. 9th Detached with HMS ORION, HMAS PERTH, HMS DIDO and ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla for escort of TIGER convoy. 11th Under air attacks which were repelled by aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE. 12th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units. 18th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT and screen of 8 destroyers to relieve HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS VALIANT on patrol north of Crete. 19th Deployed off Crete. 20th Joined HMS ORION, HMS DIDO, HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY, JANUS, HASTY and HEREWARD in Force D. 21st Under air attacks and sustained damage from near miss Detached to join HMS WARSPITE and HMS VALIANT escorted by Fleet destroyers for cover of minelay by HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL off Cephalonia to block entry to Corinth Canal (Operation MAT1 - See Naval Staff History (MINING)). Carried out offensive sweep with HMS DIDO and ORION escorted by HM Destroyers JANUS,, KIMBERLEY, HASTY and HEREWARD. Intercepted enemy convoy north of Cannae. Under heavy air attacks during the operation. Sank 10 caiques and damaged Italian destroyer LUPO. See Naval Staff History. 22nd Returned to Alexandria to refuel and replenish ammunition.Took passage back to Crete on completion. 24th Carried out unsuccessful search for invasion convoys N. of Crete with HMS DIDO, HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, ISIS and IMPERIAL. 27th Refuelled and re-ammunitioned at Alexandria. 28th Sailed to assist in evacuation of allied troops from Crete. Damaged in air attack on passage with HMS DIDO, HMS ORION, HM Destroyers DECOY, JACKAL, IMPERIAL, HOTSPUR, KIMBERLY and HEREWARD.(Note: Withdrew but damage found to be less serious and took passage to Heraklion to evacuate troops. 29th During return passage under sustained air attacks and sustained further damage by near misses causing some flooding. During the evacuations and other operations since April the ship spent less than 10 nights in harbour). June Deployed In support of military operations against Vichy French in Syria. (Operation EXPORTER). 7th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM Destroyers JACKAL, JANUS, KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY deployed as Force B for support of military operations and to provide cover for commando attack north of Tyre from HM Special Service Vessel GLENGYLE escorted by HM Cruiser COVENTRY. 8th Arrived off coast of Syria. Operation abandoned due to weather. Escorted convoy to Sidon with Force B and under torpedo attack by the Vichy submarine CAIMAN which was believed damaged during 2 hour anti-submarine attacks by destroyers. 9th Commando operation to capture bridge over Litani River successful. On release from cover duty took passage with Force B and HM Destroyers ISIS, HOTSPUR, JANUS and JACKAL for patrol off Tyre. Diverted to intercept Vichy destroyers reported shelling bridge in Litania river but ships had left the area. Took passage to Haifa leaving destroyers at the scene. Returned with HMS PHOEBE to assist destroyers which had been in action against Vichy French destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY. On arrival remained with HMS JANUS which had been seriously damaged with several casualties. Took passage to Haifa with HMS KANDAHAR as escort for tow of HMS JANUS by HMS KIMBERLEY. July 4th Bombarded Vichy positions near Beirut with HMS NAIAD, HMS KIMBERLEY, HMS HAVOCK and HMS HASTY Repeated this support operation daily until 7th July. When released from EXPORTER resumed Fleet duties at Alexandria. 22nd Deployed with HMS VALIANT, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers LEANDER, PHOEBE, HOBART (RAN), NEPTUNE screened by SEVEN destroyers for diversionary Operation MD5 west of Crete during passage of Malta relief convoy from Gibraltar.(Operation SUBSTANCE/ME3). 25th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units. August Under repair at Alexandria. (Note: An accumulation of defects required attention.) September Resumed Fleet duties with CS7 and deployed for support of military operations. 20th Bombarded enemy positions at Tobruk with HM Cruisers HOBART (RAN) and GALATEA. 24th Further bombardment at Tobruk with HMAS HOBART and HMS NEPTUNE. 26th Carried out bombardment of Bardia with CS7 ships. October Under refit and repair. Note: This may have been a follow-up to earlier repair period. Work possibly carried out at Alexandria or in Egypt to be determined. Unlike to have been done in Malta.) November Resumed duty with Squadron for support of Tobruk garrison during siege. 17th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS NEPTUNE and HMAS HOBART to carry out a bombardment in Gulf of Sollum in support of planned military offensive. (Operation CRUSADER). 18th On arrival in bombardment position operation abandoned due to weather conditions. 20th Sailed with CS7 ships to carry out bombardment of Bardia-Tobruk road. 21st Carried out bombardment. 24th Deployed with HM Cruisers NAIAD, NEPTUNE, GALATEA, EURYALUS and screen of four destroyers as Force B to carry out interception of enemy convoys reported at sea. with Force K from Malta. Cover was provided by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT and HMS BARHAM. (Note: During covering operation HMS BARHAM was torpedoes and sunk by U331. See Naval Staff History.) 25th Following a successful attack by Force K carried out offensive sweep along coast until ordered to return to Alexandria. 27th Deployed with HM Cruiser NEPTUNE, HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON covered by HM Cruisers EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR to join Force K in Malta. Under air attack and near missed by aircraft torpedo.(Note: Ammunition and torpedoes for delivery to Malta were embarked ) 29th Arrived in Malta for operations against enemy shipping with Force K. 30th With HMS NEPTUNE, HMS KIMBERLEY and HMS KINGSTON detached from Force K to search for enemy convoy bound for Tripoli. December 1st Returned to Malta with ships of Force K which had carried out a successful action against an enemy supply convoy. 5th Escorted HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE for passage to Alexandria from Malta.with HMS NEPTUNE, HMS KINGSTON, HMS KIMBERLEY and HMS LIVELY. (Operation MD8) 6th On relief by HMAS HOBART, HMS GALATEA, HMS JAGUAR and HMS KANDAHAR returned to Malta with HMS NEPTUNE and HMS LIVELY. 16th Under repair in Malta. 26th Sailed from Malta with HMS LANCE and HMS LIVELY as Force B to reinforce escort of Convoy ME8 by HM Cruiser DIDO, HM destroyers ARROW, FOXHOUND GURKHA and NESTOR (RAN) as Force C.(Note: Force C ships were joining the Fleet at Alexandria.) 28th Under attack by Italian aircraft which were driven off by aircraft based ashore. 31st Engaged shore batteries at Bardia with four destroyers in support of military operations to recapture the port.
1 9 4 2. January To be withdrawn from service for refit in UK. February 6th Sailed from Suez for passage via Cape of Good Hope. March 9th Called at Mombasa. April 4th Called at Freetown. 14th Arrived in Clyde. May Paid off at Chatham and prepared for refit. June 6th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham. July to September Under refit Additional AA armament fitted including eleven 20mm Oerlikon guns. Fire control radars fitted for main armament (Type 284), for AA armament(Type285) and Barrage Control (Type 283). Improved design Aircraft warning radar (Type 281) replaced Type 279. Surface warning radar fitted (Type 272). Aircraft facilities removed. October Post refit trials. Nominated for service in Mediterranean after work-up. 24th Recommissioned at Chatham November 6th Passage to Sheerness to embark ammunition before sailing to Scapa Flow 9th Worked-up at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet for operational service. December On completion of work-up prepared for foreign service. Passage to Mediterranean. 31st Joined Force Q at Bone for attacks on enemy convoys and convoy defence.
1 9 4 3 January 1st Damaged by air attacks during escort of coastal convoy and later by 1,000lb bomb during air raid at Bone. Two boiler rooms put out of action and a third damaged. 7th Towed to Gibraltar for temporary repair February Under temporary repair at Gibraltar. Permanent repair arranged in USA. March Passage to New York. April Taken in hand for repair at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia. May to September Under repair US quadruple 40mm AA mountings fitted with provision for British fire control radar Type 282. IFF Type 242 fitted. US Fire control radar fitted in place of Type 284. October Post refit trials. November 2nd Passage to UK via Bermuda. December Completion of installation of British equipment not possible in USA and prepared for service. Nominated for service in Mediterranean. 25th Recommissioned at Portsmouth. 28th Commenced Work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
1 9 4 4 January On completion took passage to Join Fleet in Mediterranean. February 2nd Arrived at Algiers and deployed in Central Mediterranean. March Transferred to Alexandria for duty in Eastern Mediterranean. April Eastern Mediterranean deployment at Alexandria in continuation. 8th Boarding party sent to suppress mutiny on Greek cruiser GEORGIOS AVEROFF. May 2nd Bombarded Rhodes as part of diversionary operations in eastern Mediterranean. On completion took passage to UK for support of allied landings in Normandy as part of Bombarding Force K supporting Force G in British Eastern Task Force. 31st Arrived at Clyde. June Joined HM Cruisers ORION, ARGONAUT and EMERALD in Bombarding Force K. 3rd Passage to Channel with Force K escorted by HM Destroyers GRENVILLE and UNDINE as Convoy G12. 6th Passage to Beachhead in Convoy G12. Provided naval gunfire support during assault phase. First ship to open fire. Destroyed shore battery at Longues. 7th Deployed in Eastern Task Force area to provide naval gunfire support. 22nd Portsmouth refit to replace 6in guns. 2,587 shells were fired off Normandy. July Nominated for support of allied landings in South France (Operation DRAGOON). Joined HM Cruisers AURORA and BLACK PRINCE, US cruiser QUINCY, French cruiser GLOIRE, HM Destroyers TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE and US destroyers in Malta. August Preparation for DRAGOON. 11th Sailed with ALPHA Group using Convoy Route 2 to Assembly area. 15th HM Battleship RAMILLIES joined Group from Algiers. Provided naval gunfire support before assault on YELLOW Beach and then on other targets as required. Fired 116 rounds. 17th Covered minesweeping operations with HMS TERPSICHORE and HMS TERMAGANT. 22nd Released from DRAGOON and reverted to control of CinC Mediterranean. September Transferred to British Aegean Force to cover re-occupation of Aegean Islands and Greek mainland (Operation MANNA). 24th Deployed on patrol and interception of evacuation craft in Aegean. October 14th Passage to Piraeus to support allied military operations. 19th Accepted surrender of German garrison at Santorin, north of Crete. November Deployed on convoy escort, convoy interception and naval gunfire support. Based at Skiathos off East coast of Greece during military operations. December Deployed at Piraeus. 21st Bombarded Communist (ELAS) positions near Piraeus. 25th Prime Minister and Mr Anthony Eden (Foreign Secretary) on board at Malta. Ship used for meetings in preparation for Yalta conference.
1 9 4 5 January to March Deployed in Mediterranean on convoy defence and support of military operations. April Transferred for support duty in Adriatic May At Trieste on VE Day. June to August Deployed in Mediterranean.
P o s t W a r N o t e s HMS AJAX attended anniversary celebrations for South of France Landings with CinC Mediterranean, embarked. She refitted in Malta at the end of 1945 and on completion visited ports in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The ship joined the1st Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet in April 1946 until she paid off at Chatham on 16th February 1948. A proposed sale to Chile was not agreed and the ship was placed on the Disposal List in 1949- She arrived at the Breaker's yard in Newport on 18th November 1949.
 Die Egret im September 1942
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HMS Egret (L75) (englisch für Reiher) war eine Sloop, die am 11. November 1938 von der Royal Navy übernommen wurde. Die dritte Egret der Royal Navy wurde nach ihre Fertigstellung sofort ins Rote Meer verlegt. Schon kurz nach Kriegsbeginn 1939 wurde die Sloop in die Heimat abgezogen und diente dort als Geleitschiff in der Nordsee, im Atlantik und nach der alliierten Landung in Französisch-Nordafrika auch im Mittelmeer.
Die Sloop wurde mit den Battle Honours Atlantic 1939-42, North Africa 1942-43 und Biscay 1943 ausgezeichnet.[1]
Am 27. August 1943 wurde die Egret als erstes alliiertes Schiff durch eine ferngelenkte deutsche Hs 293 Gleitbombe versenkt. Den Untergang des Schiffes überlebten nur 35 Seeleute, die von dem ebenfalls angegriffenen und beschädigten kanadischen Zerstörer Athabascan gerettet wurden.[1]
Geschichte des Schiffs
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Die Sloop war am 5. März 1937 zusammen mit einem Schwesterschiff bestellt worden. Die zum Haushalt 1935 gehörige Egret wurde am 21. September 1937 bei J. Samuel White in Cowes auf der Isle of Wight auf Kiel gelegt und lief am 31. Mai 1938 vom Stapel. Am 11. November 1938 abgeliefert[1] war die Egret das erste der verbesserten Schiffe der Bittern-Klasse und wurde Namensgeber der nur drei Schiffe umfassenden Klasse, der Vorgängerin der Black-Swan-Klasse, die im Krieg in größeren Stückzahlen gebaut wurde.
Das gleichzeitig bei William Denny and Brothers bestellte Schwesterschiff sollte ursprünglich den Namen Heron (englisch auch für Reiher) erhalten, lief dann aber am 30. Juni 1938 als Auckland vom Stapel, da es zuerst um Neuseeland als Vermessungsschiff zum Einsatz kommen sollte. Am 19. März 1937 wurde mit der Pelican noch ein weiteres Schwesterschiff bei Thornycroft aus dem folgenden Haushalt bestellt.
Änderungen des Schiffes
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Die genannten Schiffe der verbesserten Bittern-/Klasse erhielten vier 102 mm-Zwillings-Fla-Geschütze. Gesteuert wurden die Geschütze durch eine Fuze Keeping Clock-Waffensteuerungssystem zur Bekämpfung von Luftangriffen. Dazu kamen zwei 47-mm-3pdr-Hotchkiss Geschütze von zweifelhaften Gefechtswert für die Nutzung als Salutgeschütze, ein schwerer 12,7 mm-Vickers-Flugzeugabwehr-MG-Vierling und fünfzehn Wasserbomben.
Die neue Sloop war 89,2 m lang und damit 10 Fuß länger als die Vorgänger der Bittern-Klasse und verfügte über eine etwas höhere Maschinenleistung, was eine um 0,5 kn höhere Geschwindigkeit ermöglichte. Der Treibstoffvorrat war wegen des zusätzlichen Geschützes und des erforderlichen Munitionsraums mit 370 t Öl etwas geringer als bei den Schiffen der Bittern-Klasse und ermöglichte einen Fahrbereich von 6200 Seemeilen bei 16 Knoten. Die Besatzung der neuen Schiffe umfasste jetzt 188 Mann.
Einsätze
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Verlust der Egret
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Die Sloops der Egret-Klasse
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]-
Die Stork der vorausgehenden Bittern-Klasse, 1943 -
Die Auckland 1938 -
Die Pelican 1944 -
Die Ibis der folgenden Black-Swan-Klasse, 1941
_IWM_FL_1201.jpg)
| Name | Pennant | Werft | Kiellegung | Stapellauf | in Dienst | Schicksal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egret | L/U 56 | White, Cowes, BauN°1835 |
21.09.1937 | 31.05.1938 | 10.11.1938 | 1. Einsatz Rotes Meer, Battle Honours Atlantic 1939-42, North Africa 1942/43, Biscay 1943, am 27. August 1943 nahe Vigo mit Henschel Hs 293 versenkt, |
| Auckland | L/U 61 | Denny, Dumbarton, BauN°1317 |
16.06.1937 | 30.06.1938 | 16.11.1938 | 1. Einsatz Kapstadt, Battle Honours Atlantic 1939, Norway 1940, Greece 1941, Crete 1941 und Libya 1941; 24. Juni 1941 vor Nordafrika durch Ju 87-Stukas versenkt |
| Pelican | L/U/F 86 | Thornycroft, Woolston, BauN°1177 |
7.09.1937 | 12.09.1938 | 2.03.1939 | Fishery Defence Flotilla, Rosyth Escort Force, Battle Honours Norway 1940, North Sea 1940, Atlantic 1942-44, North Africa 1942, Normandy 1944 und English Channel 1944; Mediterranean Fleet bis 1951, 1954 bis 1956 Südatlantik, 1958 Abbruch. |
Einzelnachweise
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]- ↑ a b c HMS EGRET (L 75) - Egret-class Sloop auf naval-history.net
Literatur
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]- Roger Chesneau (hrg.): Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946, Conway Maritime Press, Greenwich 1980, ISBN 0-85177-146-7
- Arnold Hague: Sloops: A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946. World Ship Society, Kendal (1993), ISBN 0-905617-67-3
- Jürgen Rohwer, Gerhard Hümmelchen: Chronik des Seekrieges 1939–1945. Manfred Pawlak VerlagsGmbH (Herrsching 1968), ISBN 3-88199-0097
Weblinks
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On the 16th, 17th, 18th August 1940 British troops at Berbera, Italian Somaliland, were evacuated to Aden. The evacuation was conducted by armed boarding vessels CHAKDINA (3033grt) and CHANTALA (3129grt) and steamers LAOMEDON (6491grt), AKBAR (4043grt), steamer VITA (4691grt) which was being employed as a hospital ship. The evacuation was covered by Australian light cruiser HOBART, light cruisers CERES and CALEDON, anti-aircraft cruiser CARLISLE, destroyers KIMBERLEY and KANDAHAR, sloops SHOREHAM, PARRAMATTA, AUCKLAND and HINDUSTAN, minesweeper DERBY, net layer PROTECTOR. On 17 August, light cruiser CERES bombarded Italian targets and temporarily halted the Italian advance. On 18 August, light cruiser CALEDON and destroyer KANDAHAR bombarded Bulhar and Berbera roads. The evacuation was completed on the 18th with 5690 troops, 1266 civilians, 184 sick cases evacuated for a total of 7140. Tug QUEEN was lost in the evacuation. Light cruiser HOBART departed Berbera early on the 19th for Aden with remaining personnel and the demolition parties.
16.3.1941 Rotes Meer / Ostafrika Operation »Appearance«: Von der brit. Force D mit den Kreuzern Glasgow (Capt. Hickling) und Caledon, den Zerstörern Kandahar und Kingston, den Hilfskreuzern Chakdina und Chantala, den indischen Trawlern Netrvati und Parvati, 2 Transportern und Küstenschutzboot ML 109 werden 2 indische Bataillone und 1 Somali-Kommando bei Berbera (Somaliland) an Land gesetzt. Mit Hilfe der Schiffsartillerie wird die Stadt Berbera gegen geringen ital. Widerstand wieder eingenommen.
 Die baugleiche General Artigas
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Die Thuringia war ein Passagierschiff, das die Hapag für ihren Dienst Nordatlantik-Dienst bauen ließ. Sie war das erste von zwei bei den Howaldtswerken in Kiel in Auftrag gegebenen Turbinenschiffen, die vor allem den Auswandererverkehr durchführen sollten. Für den gehobeneren Passagierverkehr entstanden gleichzeitig die beiden ersten Schiffe der Albert Ballin-Klasse.
So wurde die Thuringia der erste Nachkriegs-Neubau der Hapag für den Nordatlantik, die am 22. Januar 1923 ihre Jungfernreise nach New York antrat. Mit ihrem Schwesterschiff Westphalia blieb das Schiff bis Ende 1929 auf verschiedenen Nordatlantik-Linien der Reederei im Einsatz. 1930 erfogte dann eine Modifizierung der Passagier-Einrichtung (bis 561 Fahrgäste) und die Umbenennung der Schiffe. Die Thuringia erhielt den Namen General San Martin und wurde mit dem in General Artigas umbenannten Schwesterschiff nach Südamerika eingesetzt. Die staatliche Entflechtung der deutschen Reedereien führte 1934 zur Vercharterung beider Schiffe an die Hamburg-Süd, die sie 1936 auch ankaufte und bis zum Ausbruch des Zweiten Weltkriegs weiterhin von Hamburg bis nach Buenos Aires einsetzte.
Die Kriegsmarine übernahm 1940 die Schwesterschiffe als Wohnschiffe. Die General Artigas ging im Sommer 1943 bei einem Luftangriff im Hamburger Hafen verloren. Die in den letzten Kriegsmonaten noch als Transporter zur Evakuierung der deutschen Ostgebiete genutzte General San Martin wurde von den Briten als Kriegsbeute übernommen und unter dem Namen Empire Deben noch bis zum Abbruch 1949 als Truppentransporter genutzt.
Geschichte
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]The fourth HAPAG ship of that name
THURINGIA / PETERSBURG / ST. PETERSBURG / BEREZAN / SOVETSKAJA ROSSIJA 1870 Built by Caird & Co, Greenock in 1870-75, 1878 verkauft for the Hamburg America Line, this was a 3,133 gross ton ship, Thuringia (1) 1869 1878 sold to Russian Volunteer Fleet, renamed St. Petersburg. 3,133 Thuringia (2) 1880 collier, 1897 abandoned to underwriters, sold to Clyde SS Co, NY, renamed Navahoe. 1,881 Thuringia (3) 1904 see California (2) South America service, 1906 renamed Thuringia, 1916 seized by Uruguay, renamed Maldonaldo. 6,152
Thuringia (4) 1922 USA service, 1930 renamed General San Martin, South America service, 1936 sold to Hamburg Sud Amerika Line. 11,251
Die Orinoco lief als erstes der neuen Motorschiffe am 7. Februar 1928 beim Bremer Vulkan vom Stapel[1]. Am 15. April 1928 wurde der Neubau übernommen [1]. Die Jungfernfahrt für die Hapag erfolgte am 21. April 1928 von Hamburg nach Puerto Limón[1].
[2].
1924 Thuringia, Westphalia Hamburg, New York 1926/27 Thuringia, Westphalia Hamburg, Cobh, Boston, New York
Ihre letzte Abfahrt auf dem Nordatlantik unternahm sie am 9.Januar 1930 von Hamburg nach Cobh, Halifax und New York. On 14 August 1931, she ran aground in the Tagus at Lisbon, Portugal.[7] On 26 December 1932, General San Martin ran aground at Cuxhaven, Germany in fog. She was refloated later that day with assistance from a tug.[8]
[3]. Zu diesem Dienst trat Anfang 1935 noch das umgebaute und in Iberia umbenannte Schwesterschiff Magdalena hinzu [1][3].
Das Schiff im Zweiten Weltkrieg
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Am 20.Januar 1940 wurde sie von der deutschen Kriegsmarine eingezogen und als Wohnschiff für U-Bootsbesatzungen genutzt. Zuerst lag das Schiff in Kiel, später in Königsberg. 3.(3.-9.41 Kiel), 7. (-9.41 Kiel), 8. (??.10.1941-02.1942 Königsberg, dann 2.1945 Danzig) und 32.U-Boot (8.1944-01.1945 Königsberg) Flottille in Königsberg benutzt. Ab dem 15.Januar 1945 war Kiel der neue Stützpunkt.
Wie auch andere Wohnschiffe der U-Boot-Lehrdivision wurde sie Ende Januar 1945 seeklar gemacht, um an der geplanten und gebilligten Teilevakuierung Ostpeußens teilzunehmen. Mit Der Deutsche (11.453 BRT) aus Königsberg kommend, verließ sie am 25. Januar Pillau mit dem KdF-Dampfer "Robert Ley" (27.288 BRT), die beiden Afrika-Liner "Pretoria" (16.662 BRT) und "Ubena" (9.523 BRT) und dem Essberger Dampfer "Duala" (6.133 BRT) mit zusammen rund 25.000 Menschen - Flüchtlingen und Verwundeten - an Bord.
Die Schiffahrtsabteilung der Seekriegsleitung, meistens kurz "Seetra" (Seetransporte) genannt, hat für Kohle gesorgt, die 9. Sicherungsdivision Geleitschiffe bereitgestellt. Und so können die vier Schiffe und noch zwei , "General San Martin" (11.251 BRT) und "), schon am verlassen,
1945 transportierte sie 30000 Flüchtlinge und Verwundete gen Westen in 11 Reisen während der deutschen Ostevakuierung. "General San Martin" 28 953 Ab dem 4.April 1945 diente sie als Lazarettschiff.
Nachkriegsgeschichte
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Am 8. Oktober 1945 bekam Großbritannien das Schiff als Reparation und stattete es als Truppentransporter Empire Deben aus.
Bis 1949 wurde sie von der Shaw, Savill & Albion Line bereedert. Danach wurde sie in Newport, Wales abgewrackt.
Einzelnachweise
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]- ↑ a b c d Rothe: Deutsche Ozean-Passagierschiffe 1919-1985, S. 114
- ↑ Kludas: Geschichte der deutschen Passagierschiffahrt, Band 4: Vernichtung und Wiedergeburt, S.150
- ↑ a b Kludas: Geschichte der deutschen Passagierschiffahrt, Band 5: Eine Ära geht zu Ende 1930-1990, S. 54
Weblinks
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Literatur
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]- Roger Jordan: The World's Merchant Fleets 1939, Naval Institute Press, 2006
- Arnold Kludas: Die Geschichte der deutschen Passagierschiffahrt 1850 bis 1990. Ernst Kabel Verlag, 1986.
- Claus Rothe: Deutsche Ozean-Passagierschiffe. 1919 bis 1985. In: Bibliothek der Schiffstypen. transpress Verlag für Verkehrswesen, Berlin 1987, S. 116–117, ISBN 3-344-00164-7.
- Reinhart Schmelzkopf: Die deutsche Handelsschiffahrt 1919–1939. Verlag Gerhard Stalling, Oldenburg, ISBN 3 7979 1847 X.
Kategorie:Passagierschiff (Deutschland)]] Kategorie:Schiff (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft)]] Kategorie:Motorschiff]] Kategorie:Bremer Vulkan]]
 Die Castor
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Die Castor kam als erster großer Eisbrecher der Kriegsmarine 1941 in den Dienst. Die kurz vor Kriegsende vor Warnemünde nach Minentreffer gesunkene Castor wurde in der DDR für die Sowjetunion nach der Bergung wieder als Eisbrecher aufgebaut und 1957 als Pereswet abgeliefert. Sie war zuletzt im Fernen Osten im Dienst.
Baugeschichte
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Im Rahmen des Neubauprogramms von 1936 forderte die Kriegsmarine auch den Bau großer, marineeigener Eisbrecher, da die deutschen zivilen Eisbrecher einen Einsatz der Kriegsmarine in der östlichen Ostsee nicht ermöglichen konnten. Modernstes und größtes Schiff dieser Flotte war die 1933 gebaute Stettin von 2200 PS für den küstennahen Einsatz. Zwei hochseefähige Schiffe wurden von der Kriegsmarine geplant.
Als Bauwerft wurden die Schichau-Werke bestimmt. Auf der Stammwerft in Elbing wurde der Bau des ersten derartigen Schiffes unter der Baunummer 1425 mit dem Arbeitsnamen Eissee begonnen. Der fertige Rumpf lief dort am 15. Juli 1939 vom Stapel. Zum Ausbau wurde der Rumpf von der inzwischen durch den Bau von Torpedobooten voll ausgelasteten Werft zum Zweigwerk nach Königsberg (der früheren Union-Werft) geschleppt. Dort wurde das Schiff erst am 15. Oktober 1941 unter dem Namen Castor in Dienst gestellt.
Das zweite, als Pollux geplante Schiff wurde nicht begonnen und blieb ein Projekt. Dafür ließ die Kriegsmarine von P. Smit jr. in Rotterdam eine Pollux nach den Plänen der finnischen Jääkarhu-Klasse [1] bauen, die im Dezember 1943 fertiggestellt wurde.
Der Eisbrecher Eisvogel wurde 1942 auf Aalborg Varvet in Dänemark für die Kriegsmarine fertig gestellt. Während des Krieges wurde der Eisbrecher im Ostseeraum eingesetzt. Nach dem Krieg gehörte der Eisbrecher zur sowjetischen Kriegsbeute und wurde unter dem Namen Ilja Murometz eingesetzt. In Schweden wurde ein Schwesterschiff unter dem Namen Eisbär gebaut.
Einsätze
[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]Am 04. April 1942 begleitet die Castor mit dem Schulschiff Schlesien das schwerbeschädigte Schlachtschiff Gneisenau, das trotz im Februar total ausgebranntem Vorschiff mit eigener Kraft in der vereisten Ostsee von Kiel nach Gotenhafen verlegte.