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HMS Sheffield (C24)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Sheffield.

Sheffield underway in 1944
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Sheffield
NamesakeSheffield
BuilderVickers-Armstrongs, High Walker
Yard number5
Laid down31 January 1935
Launched23 July 1936
Commissioned25 August 1937
IdentificationPennant number: C24
Motto
  • "Deo adjuvante proficio"
  • Latin: "With God’s help I advance"
Nickname(s)Shiny Sheff
Honours and
awards
FateScrapped at Faslane, 1967
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTown-class light cruiser
Displacement
  • 9,100 tons standard
  • 11,350 tons full load
Length
  • 591.0 ft (180.1 m) overall
  • 558.0 ft (170.1 m) p/p
Beam62.25 ft (18.97 m)
Draught17.0 ft (5.2 m)
Installed power75,000 shp
Propulsion
  • Four screws
  • Parsons geared turbines
  • Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Speed32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement748
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1938: Type 79Y radar
  • 1940: Type 279 radar
  • 1942: Type 273, 281, 282, 283, 284 and 285 radars
Armament
Armour
  • Belt: 4.5 in (114 mm)
  • Turrets: 1 in (25 mm) - 2 in (51 mm)
  • Deck: 1.25 in (32 mm) - 2 in (51 mm)

HMS Sheffield was one of the Southampton sub class of the Town-class cruisers of the Royal Navy. Completed in 1937, she was active in all major naval European theatres of the Second World War : in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Sheffield assisted in the sinking of both German battleships sunk at sea : in the Last battle of Bismarck she directed torpedo aircraft to Bismarck, and during the Battle of the North Cape she took part in the shadowing of Scharnhorst.

Her career started with service in the Home Fleet, which took her on patrols against German blockade runners and on actions during the Norwegian Campaign. In August 1940 Sheffield was transferred to Force H stationed in Gibraltar. During the first months of her service with Force H, most of the operations of Force H involved either ferrying aircraft or escorting convoys to Malta. With Force H Sheffield also operated against German surface raiders in the Atlantic, culminating in the sinking of the Bismarck in May 1941.

From 1942 until 1944, Sheffield escorted many Arctic convoys to Northern Russia and back. In December 1942 she was part of a cruiser force that repelled a German attack on convoy JW 51B and in December 1943 Sheffield assisted in the sinking of Scharnhorst whilst escorting convoy JW 55B. In between, when Arctic convoys were paused, she returned to the Mediterranean, to participate in Operation Torch and Operation Avalanche.

Sheffield went in for an extended refit in 1944 and did not see any further service during the war. She was placed in reserve for a first time in 1959, and after a short reactivation Sheffield was decommissioned in 1964 and finally scrapped in 1967.

Characteristics

[edit]

Vickers-Armstrongs built Sheffield at High Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Her keel was laid on 31 January 1935, she was launched on 23 July 1936 and she was completed on 25 August 1937.[1] The cruiser displaced 9,100 tons at standard load and 11,350 tons at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 591.5 feet (180.3 m), a beam of 61.7 feet 10 inches (19.1 m) and a draught of 17 feet 7 inches (5.4 m). She was powered by four geared steam turbine sets, each driving one shaft, which developed a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower (56,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph). By 1942 the ship's complement was 796 officers and ratings.[2]

Sheffield mounted twelve BL six-inch (152 mm) Mk XXIII guns in four triple-gun turrets.[3] The turrets were designated 'A', 'B', 'X' and 'Y' from front to rear.[4] Their secondary armament consisted of eight QF four-inch (102 mm) Mk XVI dual-purpose guns in twin mounts. Their light anti-aircraft armament consisted of a pair of quadruple mounts for the two-pounder (40 mm) AA gun ("pom-pom") and two quadruple mounts for 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) Vickers AA machine guns. By 1942 the latter had been removed and replaced by 9 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon in single mounts. The ship carried two above-water, triple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.[2] Sheffield was protected by a 4.5-inch (114 mm) main armour belt, with deck armour varying between 1.25 inches (32 mm) and 2 inches (51 mm). The armour protecting the main gun turrets had a thickness of 1 inch (25 mm) to 2 inches (51 mm).[2]

The first operational Type 79 radar system was placed into service in August 1938 on the Sheffield. It was the first vessel in the Royal Navy to be so equipped.[5] The type 79Y[6] was an air-warning radar, capable of detecting aircraft at 10,000 53 miles away. In 1940 the set was replaced by a more powerful Type 279 air-warning radar, which could also be used as a barrage predictor for anti-aircraft fire with a range of seven miles.[7] By the end of 1942 Sheffield was equipped with a Type 273 surface search radar, a Type 281 air warning radar, Type 282 radars for the 2-pounder anti-aircraft guns, Type 283 radar for automatic barrage firing in anti-aircraft modus of the main guns, Type 284 radar for surface target direction and Type 285 radar for the heavy anti-aircraft guns.[2]

The anti-aircraft armament was continuously upgraded. During her 1944 refit Sheffield, like many contemporary British cruisers, had her 'X' turret removed to make space and save top weight for anti-aircraft guns. By 1945 her anti-aircraft defense was to consist of four quadruple Bofors 40 mm guns, ten double and six single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons in addition to her existing armament of four-inch and two-pounder guns.[8] After several refits in the 1950s, her final light anti-aircraft outfit consisted of eight twin Bofors Mk 5 and two single Bofors Mk 7.[9]

Unlike most Royal Navy ships of her time, her fittings were constructed from stainless steel instead of the more traditional brass. This was an attempt to reduce the amount of cleaning required on the part of the crew. Her nickname, the "Shiny Sheff", stemmed from this.[1][10]

War service

[edit]

Even before the outbreak of war, Sheffield was as part of the 18th Cruiser Squadron, together with the Home Fleet already patrolling the waters between Iceland, Scotland and Norway, in search for German merchants ships trying to reach home port before the declaration of war.[11] From 6 till 10 September the cruisers Sheffield and Aurora operated with the Home Fleet consisting of the battleships Rodney and Nelson, and the battlecruiser Repulse and ten destroyers along the Norwegian coast against German blockade runners.[12] Sheffield and Aurora were then transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron together with the light cruisers Glasgow and Southampton. On 22 September the force set out for a sortie in the North Sea but the operation was abandoned when two of the escorting destroyers collided. Three days later the force sailed again, in order to cover the retreat of the damaged submarine Spearfish. This sortie marked the first occasion of using an air warning radar by naval forces when Sheffield detected nine German aircraft searching to attack the British force.[13] On 8 October Sheffield and Aurora were deployed together with the battlecruisers Hood and Repulse as the "Humber Force" against a reported sortie of the German battleship Gneisenau, the light cruiser Köln and nine destroyers in the North Sea. The Germans retreated quickly and no battle ensued,[14] but on 21 October Sheffield intercepted and captured the 5,896 GRT Geman freighter Gloria.[14][15] Following the sinking of the armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau off Iceland on 23 November, Sheffield was ordered to set out from Loch Ewe with three destroyers, to take part in the search for the German force. Sheffield took part in a tight cruiser patrol line that blocked the return path to Germany, but the German ships took advantage of the heavy weather and broke through the patrol line undetected to return home.[16][17]

Sheffield underway near Scapa Flow

In April 1940, Sheffield had returned just in time from a refit to get involved in the Norwegian Campaign. When in the evening of 7 April news was received of a massive German naval operation, she set out from Scapa Flow as part of the Home Fleet under the command of admiral Charles Forbes. On 9 April Forbes detached five cruisers including Sheffield and seven destroyers from the Home Fleet in order to attack the German forces at Bergen. But this force had to abort its mission when attacked by 47 Junkers Ju 88 and 41 Heinkel He 111 bombers. The bombers sank the destroyer Gurkha and damaged two cruisers.[18] On 14 April Sheffield was part of a covering force for the Allied landings in Namsos and on 23 April transferred part of the 15th Infantry Brigade for the landings at Andalsnes. The landings were not successful and in the night of 30 April Sheffield assisted in the evacuation of British troops from Andalsnes and Molde.[19][20]

On 9 May Sheffield sortied into the North Sea with the cruiser Manchester to cover operations against a German mine-laying operation, but when the German invasion of France started on 10 May, she was ordered south. During the Dunkirk evacuation she was stationed with the 18th cruiser squadron in the Humber.[21]

Force H

[edit]

The surrender of France created a void in the Western Mediterranean which was covered by stationing a strong British force, known as Force H, in Gibraltar on 27 June under the command of Vice admiral James Somerville.[22] In August 1940, Sheffield and the 8th Destroyer Flotilla joined Force H, which consisted at that time of the battlecruiser Renown and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal.[23] On 7 November Force H executed Operation Coat which involved escorting reinforcements for the Mediterranean fleet in Alexandria on their first leg from Gibraltar to Malta. Fairey Swordfish aircraft from Force H attacked Cagliari on 9 November. Italian bombers retaliated but obtained only near-misses. Before Force H returned to Gibraltar, three Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft were flown off to Malta in order to reinforce its defences.[24][25] In Operation White on 15 November Force H escorted the aircraft carrier Argus to a point West of Malta, where 12 Hawker Hurricane were flown off at the extreme of their flight endurance. Only four aircraft made it to Malta due to unexpected head wind.[26] On 24 November Sheffield sailed with Force H from Gibraltar to cover Operation Collar, a supply convoy to Malta. The operation was detected by the Italians and the Italian fleet consisting of two battleships and six heavy cruisers, tried to intercept the convoy. During the inconclusive battle of Cape Spartivento both fleets bombarded each other at long distance and retreated.[27][28] On 10 December Sheffield left Gibraltar again with Force H to meet and escort the battleship Malaya on transfer from Alexandria as reinforcement for Force H.[29]

Force H: Renown and Ark Royal, picture taken from Sheffield

When during Operation Nordseetour the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper attacked on 25 December convoy WS 5A destined for Gibraltar, Force H left its base for the Atlantic to search for the German raider and to cover the convoy.[30] She was back in Gibraltar on 30 December.[31] In Operation Excess, some of the WS 5A ships continued to Malta and Piraeus, and between 7 and 9 January 1941 Force H with Sheffield provided cover for these ships as far as Skerki Banks. An attack by ten Italian bombers was detected by Sheffield's radar at the maximum working distance of 43 miles, and defenses could be prepared in time to repulse the attack without loss. After Force H turned away, the escort of the convoy was taken over by the East Mediterranean Fleet, which was heavily attacked by Italian torpedo aircraft and German dive bombers. In the following days, Southampton was sunk, the aircraft carrier Illustrious and Gloucester were heavily damaged.[32][33]

Between 31 January and 4 February Force H launched an air strike against the Tirso dam in Sardinia, but a further planned attack on Genoa had to be abandoned because of bad weather.[34] The operation against Genoa was repeated in Operation Grog between 6 and 11 February. Renown and Malaya fired 273 rounds of 15 inch into the harbour and Sheffield added 782 rounds of 6 inch, but to not much effect: only five out of 55 ships in the harbour were sunk.[35] This sortie left the Gibraltar convoys without cover and as soon as the German cruiser Admiral Hipper became aware of this tactical situation, she advanced towards Gibraltar and on 12 February the German cruiser attacked convoy SLS 64 and sank seven ships.[36] On 17 March Force H left Gibraltar into the Atlantic in search of the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, which were raiding on the North Atlantic convoy lanes. Aircraft of Ark Royal found in the morning of 20 March two tankers that were taken as prizes by the German battleships, and which were scuttled by their prize crews on approach of surface units of Force H. In the afternoon the German battleships were sighted by a reconnaissance plane of Ark Royal but the German ships managed to escape during the night. Force H continued to search for the German ships after a refuelling in Gibraltar on 24 March, but after air reconnaissance reported the ships in the harbour of Brest, Force H put back in Gibraltar on 28 March.[37]

Two days later, Sheffield and four destroyers were dispatched to check some Vichy French merchant vessels for contraband but the ships escaped being boarded when they reached the cover of coastal batteries at Nemours.[38] During April, Sheffield participated with Force H in two more aircraft transfer runs to Malta : In Operation Winch twelve Hurricanes were flown off to Malta on 3 April and twenty more were delivered in Operation Dunlop on 24 April.[39] Operation Tiger involved two supply convoys from Alexandria to Malta, whilst from Gibraltar a convoy was to sail through the Mediterranean to Alexandria, instead of going round the Cape, in order to deliver 295 tanks and 53 aircraft which were urgently needed for the upcoming Operation Battleaxe. Force H with Sheffield escorted the convoy until Skerki Banks. They were attacked on 8 May by Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero torpedo bombers and German Junkers Ju 87 dive-bombers with fighter escort, but none of the ships suffered any damage.[40] Between 19 and 22 May Sheffield sortied once more with Force H together with the aircraft carrier Furious in Operation Splice to fly 48 Hurricane fighters to Malta.[41]

The crew of Sheffield's after director tower, pointing to the splinter holes caused by a near miss from Bismarck

After the desastrous Battle of the Denmark Strait in which the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen sank the British battlecruiser Hood and damaged the battleship Prince of Wales, Force H left Gibraltar on 24 May with the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the battlecruiser Renown, Sheffield and six destroyers in order to counter the German ships' breakout attempt into the Atlantic from the South. After learning through intelligence that the damaged Bismarck was heading for France, Swordfish from Ark Royal and a RAF Coastal Command Consolidated PBY Catalina were able to locate Bismarck on 26 May. Whilst Ark Royal was recovering her reconnaissance Swordfish and arming them for a torpedo attack, Sheffield was ordered ahead to make contact with Bismarck but the aircrew were not informed of that and were even told that no friendly ships were in the vicinity of Bismarck. As a result, the fifteen Swordfish, which were armed with torpedoes equipped with magnetic pistols, accidentally attacked Sheffield. Some of the magnetic detonators failed to work properly and about half of the torpedoes exploded prematurely, whilst Sheffield was able to dodge the other torpedoes. A second attack by the Swordfish was ordered with torpedoes equipped with contact detonators. This time the aircrew were told to make contact with Sheffield before attacking. In the deteriorating weather some of the aircraft did not find Bismarck and had to return to Sheffield, asking for a bearing to the enemy. After the Swordfish had rendered her unmanoeuvrable with a hit on the rudder compartment, Bismarck fired six salvoes at the shadowing Sheffield. The first salvo went a mile astray but the subsequent salvoes straddled her, causing splinter damage and killing three crewman. Sheffield retreated under a smoke screen and lost contact with the Bismarck. Still she was able to vector five destroyers under the command of Philip Vian to Bismarck, and these destroyers took over the task of shadowing the enemy. Force H remained in the vicinity until the next morning when Bismarck was finally sunk by the battleships Rodney and King George V, and the heavy cruisers Norfolk and Devonshire.[42][43]

Edingburgh, Sheffield and Kenya underway during Operation Halberd

On 8 June Sheffield left Gibraltar again together with Force H in order to avoid expected air attacks from the Vichy French Air Force as reprisal for the invasion of Syria. Sheffield detached from Force H to return to Britain and on her way she located and sank one of Bismarck's tankers, Friedrich Breme on 12 June.[44][45] Sheffield returned briefly to the Mediterranean in September to support Operation Halberd, another supply convoy to Malta. On 24 September the convoy consisting of 9 ships left Gibraltar, escorted by the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the battleships Nelson ,Rodney and Prince Of Wales, the cruisers Edinburgh, Kenya, Sheffield, Euryalus, Hermione and eightteen destroyers. On 26 September the British fleet is detected by air reconnaissance and the Italian fleet leaves port to intercept with two battleships, three heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and fourteen destroyers. The next day the Italian fleet hesitated to engage the British fleet as the Italian commander gradually realized he was facing superior forces. A strike from Ark Royal did not find the Italian fleet but Italian torpedo bombers damaged Nelson. Sheffield shot down one of the attacking torpedo bombers. Unlike in previous operations, not all covering forces turned back at Skerki Banks: the battleships did so, but the five cruisers remained with the convoy and sailed on to Malta. Italian torpedo aircraft attacked the convoy at dusk on 27 September. Sheffield avoided two torpedoes but one freighter was lost. The convoy arrived at Malta at noon on 28 September. The escorts refueled at Malta and returned the same day, reaching Gibraltar at dusk on 29 September.[46][47] On her return to the UK Sheffield participated together with the light cruiser Kenya in the search for German blockade runners in the North Atlantic, which had been located by ULTRA.[46] Only Kenya was able to intercept and sink the supply ship Kota Penang on 3 October West of Cape Finisterre.[48]

Arctic Convoys

[edit]
Funeral service on the catapult deck of Sheffield for two German crewman of Friedrich Breme. Note the aircraft hangar doors in the background.

On 7 January 1942 Sheffield arrived in Scapa Flow and was allocated to the 10th Cruiser Squadron together with the light cruiser Edinburgh.[49] In March Sheffield participated briefly in the operations around Arctic convoy PQ 12 : Sheffield sailed in order to replace the heavy cruiser Berwick which had engine trouble, in the Home Fleet, just when the Operation Sportpalast centered around the German battleship Tirpitz threatened the convoy.[50] But Sheffield hit a mine off Iceland on 4 March 1942[51] and was under repair until July.[50] In September 1942 Sheffield is stationed at Spitsbergen as part of a force for the relief and resupply of the escort for Convoy PQ 18.[52] Arctic convoys were then suspended to free up forces for the Allied landings in North Africa in November.[53] Sheffield joined "Force O" under the command of rear admiral Harcourt, which was part of the Eastern Task Force responsible for the landings in Algiers.[54] On 9 December Sheffield damaged the minesweeper Cadmus in a collision.[55]

In December 1942, the Arctic convoys were resumed. Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, insisted that these convoys were given protection against an attack by the German surface fleet stationed in Norway, by giving them cover of a cruiser force all the way to North Russia. The Home Fleet usually sailed as well but remained very distant and never went too far North. For this purpose Sheffield and Jamaica formed "Force R", under the command of Rear-Admiral Robert Burnett (in Sheffield). Force R escorted the first convoy JW 51A into the Kola Bay on 24 December and left on 27 December to meet the next convoy JW 51B.[56] The convoy was attacked on 31 December by two German forces, each consisting of a heavy cruiser, Admiral Hipper and Lützow, and three destroyers each. In the ensuing Battle of the Barents Sea, both German forces were able to reach the convoy but whilst Admiral Hipper tried to lure the convoy escort vessels away from the convoy, Lützow failed to press on and did not sink any merchant ship. Eventually Force R arrived at the scene and in several engagements, managed to damage Admiral Hipper with three hits. Whilst the Germans were withdrawing, Sheffield sank the German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt. There were some more skirmishes, but the Germans were under strict orders not to risk their big ships against equal opponents and avoided the battle. In the bad visibility and the polar nights, the British were at a clear advantage with their superior radars.[57][58]

Picture taken from the bridge of Sheffield during the gale whilst escorting JW 53 in February 1943, showing waves almost reaching eye level on the bridge.

In January 1943 Sheffield is part of the distant cover force centered around the battleship Anson, for the outbound convoy JW 52 and the homebound convoy RA 52.[59][60] In February 1943, the 10th cruiser squadron consisting of the cruisers Sheffield, Belfast and Cumberland as Force R were assigned to escort the next convoy JW 53. But on 19 February she was damaged in a gale when a giant wave buried her forecastle and took away half of the roof of 'A' turret. Sheffield had to be replaced by Norfolk and returned to Iceland for repairs.[61][62] At the end of August 1943, Sheffield operated briefly together with the heavy cruiser Bermuda as a cover force for British anti-submarine forces attacking U-boats in the Bay of Biscay.[63] At the conclusion of this operation she rushed to the Mediterranean, to give fire support on 14 September to the troops facing a German counter-attack after the landings in Salerno.[64]

In November 1943 the Arctic convoys resumed. The first pair of convoys JW 54A and JW 54B sailed unopposed but on 19 December, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz asserted Hitler that the Kriegsmarine would attack and destroy the next convoy. Anticipating an attack by the German battleship Scharnhorst, the commander of the Home Fleet Bruce Fraser organized a trap : for the next convoys JW 55A and JW 55B, the cruiser escort consisting of the 10th Cruiser Squadron with the cruisers Sheffield, Belfast and Norfolk would keep Scharnhorst at bey and shadow her so that he could stay undetected at distance with the battleship Duke of York and race to the scene when needed. On 26 December at 09:21 Sheffield was the first to sight Scharnhorst, and in a brief gun duel with the cruisers the German battleship withdrew and escaped at high speed. The cruisers were not able to follow but positioned themselves correctly on the other side of the convoy where Scharnhorst tried a second attack three hours later. At 12:10 Sheffield's radar detected Scharnhorst at a distance of 12 miles and a second engagement developed. Sheffield was straddled by several salvoes but then Scharnhorst changed target and hit Norfolk two times. Fearing torpedo attacks, Scharnhorst broke off the action and turned for port in Norway. The cruisers kept shadowing but first Norfolk and then Sheffield dropped behind with engine trouble. Belfast remained in touch with Scharnhorst and guided Duke Of York to the scene. At 19:45 the German battleship was sunk by gunfire from Duke Of York and torpedoes from the escorting destroyers. Sheffield could not catch up in time to participate in the sinking.[65][66][67] During the return voyage to the UK, she suffered damage to one of her propellers and went for a small refit to Liverpool.[10]

On 30 March 1944, Sheffield left Scapa Flow as part of the Home Fleet, which was a covering force for Convoy JW 58. After the passage of the convoy to North Russia, the Home Fleet executed Operation Tungsten, a raid by carrier aircraft on Tirpitz at her moorings in the Kaafjord. Tirpitz was damaged and put out of action by this attack, but she was repaired within weeks and hence follow-up attacks were needed. Sheffield assisted in one more carrier operation in May, when she was part of the escort for the escort carriers Emperor and Striker. This force made two sorties towards Rørvik and Stadlandet on 14 and 15 May.[68][69] A lengthy refit in Boston and in Britain kept Sheffield out of action from Augustus 1944 until after the end of the war.[70]

Post-war

[edit]
Flagship of the reserve fleet in the 1960s

The refit was completed in May 1946 and Sheffield arrived at her new base, the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, on the 30 August 1946, for duties as flagship on the America and West Indies Station. Her commanding officer, Captain K. G. Harkness, D.S.C., was also the Chief Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Irvine Glennie.[71][72] She departed Bermuda, and the station, on 26 October 1948, for England, replaced as flagship on the America and West Indies Station by Glasgow.[73][74]

On 12 October 1951, Sheffield returned to Bermuda again as flagship of the America and West Indies Station, replacing Superb.[75] From June 1952 to May 1953, her commanding officer was Capt. John Inglis, who was to become director of Naval Intelligence in July 1954.[76] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[77] On 18 October 1954, she was replaced as flagship of the America and West Indies Station by Superb, leaving Bermuda the same day to decommission at Portsmouth.[78] In 1955, she played the part of the cruiser Ajax in the war film The Battle of the River Plate.[79]

There were further refits in 1949/50,1954 and 1956-7 when her bridge was enclosed, a lattice foremast added, light anti-aircraft defense was modified and a comprehensive anti-nuclear and biological washdown installed in 1959–60.[9] She became flagship of the Reserve Fleet and served again at sea in 1960 and then as an accommodation ship until September 1964, when she was placed on the disposal list.[80] Her equipment was removed at Rosyth in 1967 and she was then broken up at Faslane in the same year.[81] The stainless-steel ship's bell, which was made by Hadfields of Sheffield, was preserved and today hangs in Sheffield Cathedral along with her battle ensign.[82]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Robinson & Waller.
  2. ^ a b c d Stephen 1988, p. 196.
  3. ^ NavWeaps 6inch.
  4. ^ Lee 2000, p. 190.
  5. ^ Coales & Rawlinson 1995, p. xxxiii.
  6. ^ Macintyre 1967, p. 75.
  7. ^ Raven & Roberts 1976, p. 384.
  8. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, pp. 177–178.
  9. ^ a b Friedman 2010, p. 282.
  10. ^ a b Lee 2000, p. 192.
  11. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 1.
  12. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 3.
  13. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 5.
  14. ^ a b Rohwer 2005, p. 6.
  15. ^ Brennecke 1979, p. 94.
  16. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 9.
  17. ^ Bekker 1971, pp. 42–44.
  18. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 16–19.
  19. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, pp. 206–207.
  20. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 20–21.
  21. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 23, 25.
  22. ^ Taylor 2012, pp. 166–167.
  23. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 37.
  24. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 47.
  25. ^ Stephen 1988, pp. 36–38.
  26. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 49.
  27. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 50.
  28. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, pp. 151–154.
  29. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 52.
  30. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 53.
  31. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, p. 293.
  32. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 54–55.
  33. ^ Pierce 2013, pp. 38–50.
  34. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 57.
  35. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 58.
  36. ^ Brennecke 2003, pp. 168–178.
  37. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 64.
  38. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 66.
  39. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 67, 70.
  40. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 72.
  41. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 75.
  42. ^ Stephen 1988, pp. 82–92.
  43. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 74.
  44. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 77.
  45. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, pp. 129–130.
  46. ^ a b Rohwer 2005, p. 103.
  47. ^ Pierce 2013, pp. 70–88.
  48. ^ Paterson 2003, p. 109.
  49. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, p. 296.
  50. ^ a b Rohwer 2005, p. 149.
  51. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, p. 239.
  52. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 195.
  53. ^ Kemp 1993, p. 113.
  54. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 209.
  55. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, p. 237.
  56. ^ Kemp 1993, pp. 115–116.
  57. ^ Stephen 1988, pp. 184–194.
  58. ^ Kemp 1993, pp. 116–126.
  59. ^ Kemp 1993, pp. 143–144.
  60. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 226.
  61. ^ Kemp 1993, pp. 144–147.
  62. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 232.
  63. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 269.
  64. ^ Lee 2000, p. 191.
  65. ^ Kemp 1993, pp. 159–190.
  66. ^ Stephen 1988, pp. 198–218.
  67. ^ Rohwer 2005, pp. 292–293.
  68. ^ Grove 1993, p. 131-136.
  69. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 314, 322.
  70. ^ Smith & Dominy 1980, p. 275.
  71. ^ Royal Gazette 29 aug 1946.
  72. ^ Royal Gazette 31 aug 1946.
  73. ^ Royal Gazette 26 okt 1946 p1.
  74. ^ Royal Gazette 26 okt 1946 p8.
  75. ^ Royal Gazette 13 okt 1951.
  76. ^ Houterman & Koppes.
  77. ^ HMSO.
  78. ^ Royal Gazette 19 okt 1951.
  79. ^ Powell.
  80. ^ Mason.
  81. ^ Colledge & Warlow 2003, p. 297.
  82. ^ SheffieldCathedral.

References

[edit]
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  • Brennecke, Jochen (1979). Schwarze Schiffe Weite See. Das Schiksal der Deutschen Blokkadebrecher [Black Ships, Wide Sea. The fate of the German blockade runners] (in German) (7th ed.). Heine Verlag. ISBN 3453001036.
  • Brennecke, Jochen (2003). Eismeer Atlantik Ostsee. Die Einsätze des Schweren Kreuzers Admiral Hipper [Arctic, Atlantic, Baltic: The Operations of the Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper] (in German). Munchen: Heyne. ISBN 3-453-87084-0.
  • Coales, J. F; Rawlinson, J. D. S. (1995). Kingsley, F.A. (ed.). The Development of Radar Equipments for the Royal Navy 1935-1945. MacMillan Press ltd. ISBN 9781349134595.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2003). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Lionel Leventhal limited. ISBN 1853675660.
  • DiGiulian, Tony. "British 6"/50 (15.2 cm) BL Mark XXIII". NavWeaps.com. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  • Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
  • Grove, Eric (1993). Sea Battles in close-up. Ian Allen ltd. ISBN 071102118X.
  • Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Inglis, (Sir) John Gilchrist Thesiger". Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945. www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  • Kemp, Paul (1993). Convoy: Drama in Arctic Waters. Casell. ISBN 0304354511.
  • Lee, Eric C.B. (2000). The Cruiser Experience. Arcturus Press. ISBN 9780907322733.
  • Macintyre, Donald (September 1967). "Shipborne Radar". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. ISSN 0041-798X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Paterson, Lawrence (2003). Second U-boat flotilla. LEO COOPER. ISBN 0850529174.
  • Pierce, Michael (2013). Between Hostile Shores. Mediterranean Convoys 1941-1942. University of Plymouth Press. ISBN 9781841023540.
  • Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1976). British Battleships of World War Two: The Development and Technical History of the Royal Navy's Battleship and Battlecruisers from 1911 to 1946. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-817-4.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Smith, Peter C.; Dominy, John R. (1980). Cruisers In Action 1939-1945. London: William Kimber. ISBN 0718302184.
  • Stephen, Martin (1988). Grove, Eric (ed.). Sea Battles in close-up: World War 2. London: Ian Allan ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1596-1.
  • Taylor, Bruce (2012). The end of glory, war and peace in HMS Hood, 1916-1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591142355.
  • Robinson, George; Waller, David. "Sheffield". Tyne Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  • "Sheffield Due At Bermuda Tomorrow: Flagship for C.C. Here; Has Notable War Record; BERMUDIAN IS AMONG OFFICERS IN CRUISE". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 29 August 1946.
  • "New Flagship Arrives at R.N. Station Here: Cruiser Sheffield Will Be Followed by H.M.S. Kenya". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 31 August 1946.
  • "Sheffield Leaves Today: Visited By 175,000 During 5 "Showing The Flag" Cruises". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 26 October 1948. p. 1.
  • "Farewell Dance For "Sheffield" Men". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 26 October 1948. p. 8.
  • "H.M.S. Sheffield Arrives To Become New flagship". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 13 October 1951.
  • "Queen's Colour Handed Over To New Flagship". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 19 October 1954.
  • Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953'. HMSO Gale and Polden.
  • "Fascinating trivia (and any goofs) connected with the film". The Powell & Pressburger Pages. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  • "A stoker's life on HMS Sheffield". Sheffield Cathedral. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  • Mason, Geoffrey B. "HMS SHEFFIELD - Town-type Light Cruiser". NAVAL-HISTORY.NET. Retrieved 22 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

Further reading

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  • Campbell, N.J.M. (1980). "Great Britain". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 2–85. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
  • Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
  • McCart, Neil (2012). Town Class Cruisers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 978-1-904-45952-1.
  • Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980). British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-922-7.
  • Waters, Conrad (2019). British Town Class Cruisers: Design, Development & Performance; Southampton & Belfast Classes. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-1885-3.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 1-86019-874-0.
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