HMS Penelope (97) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

HMS Penelope (97) was an Arethusa-class

Arethusa class cruiser (1934)

The Arethusa class was a class of four light cruisers built for the Royal Navy between 1933 and 1937 and that served in World War II. It had been intended to construct six ships, but the last pair, Polyphemus and Minotaur were ordered in 1934 as the 9,100 ton Town class Southampton and...

light cruiser

Light cruiser

A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...

of the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. She was built by Harland & Wolff (Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

), with the keel being laid down on 30 May 1934. She was launched on 15 October 1935, and commissioned 13 November 1936.

At one stage, while with Force "K"

Force K

Force K was the designation for three British Royal Navy task forces during World War II. The first Force K operated from West Africa in 1939. The second and third Force Ks operated from Malta in 1941-1943.-First Force K:...

, she was holed so many times by bomb fragments that she acquired the nickname "HMS Pepperpot".

History

At the outbreak of World War II she was with the 3rd Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Theatre of World War II

The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...

, having arrived at Malta

Malta

Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

on 2 September 1939.

Home Fleet

Penelope (with her sister ship Arethusa

HMS Arethusa (26)

HMS Arethusa was the name ship of her class of light cruisers built for the Royal Navy. She was built by Chatham Dockyard , with the keel being laid down on 25 January 1933...

) was reallocated to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in the Home Fleet

British Home Fleet

The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which operated in the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967.-Pre–First World War:...

and arrived at Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...

on 11 January 1940. On 3 February she left for the River Clyde

River Clyde

The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....

en route to Rosyth

Rosyth

Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....

. She arrived at Rosyth on 7 February, and operated with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron on convoy escort duties, and in April and May 1940, she took part in the Norwegian operations.

On 11 April Penelope ran aground off Fleinver while hunting German merchant ships entering the West Fjords. Her boiler room was flooded and she was holed forward. The destroyer Eskimo

HMS Eskimo (F75)

HMS Eskimo was a Tribal-class destroyer, laid down by the High Walker Yard of Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 5 August 1936...

towed her to Skjel Fjord where an advanced base had been improvised. Despite air attacks, temporary repairs were made and she was towed home a month later. She arrived at Greenock

Greenock

Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...

on 16 May 1940 where additional temporary repairs were carried out, before proceeding on 19 August to the Tyne

River Tyne

The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...

for permanent repairs.

After repairs and trials were completed in August 1941, Penelope reappeared 'a new ship from the water line down'. She returned to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow

right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...

on 17 August 1941. On 9 September she left Greenock

Greenock

escorting Duke of York

HMS Duke of York (17)

HMS Duke of York was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy. Laid down in May 1937, the ship was constructed by John Brown and Company at Clydebank, Scotland, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 4 November 1941, subsequently seeing service during the Second World War.In...

to Rosyth

Rosyth

Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....

, and later that month, she was employed in patrolling the Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

- Faroes passage to intercept enemy surface ships.

On 6 October 1941, Penelope left Hvalfjord, Iceland

Iceland

, with King George V

HMS King George V (41)

HMS King George V was the lead ship of the five British King George V-class battleships of the Royal Navy. Laid down in 1937 and commissioned in 1940, King George V operated during the Second World War as part of the British Home and Pacific Fleets...

, escorting the aircraft carrier Victorious

HMS Victorious (R38)

HMS Victorious was the second Illustrious-class aircraft carrier ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme. She was laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later in 1939...

for the successful Operation "E.J.", an air attack on enemy shipping between Glom Fjord and the head of West Fjord, Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

. The force returned to Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow

on 10 October 1941.

Force K

Penelope and her sister Aurora

HMS Aurora (12)

HMS Aurora was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Portsmouth Dockyard , with the keel being laid down on the 27 July 1935. She was launched on the 20 August 1936, and commissioned 12 November 1937....

were then assigned to form the core of Force K

Force K

based at Malta

Malta

, and departed Scapa on 12 October 1941, arriving in Malta on 21 October. On 8 November, both cruisers and their escorting destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

s departed Malta to intercept an Italian convoy of six destroyers and seven merchant ships sailing for Libya

Libya

Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....

, which had been sighted by aircraft at 37°53'N - 16°36'E. During the ensuing Battle of the Duisburg Convoy

Battle of the Duisburg Convoy

The Battle of the Duisburg Convoy was fought on the night of 8–9 November 1941 between an Italian convoy sailing to Libya with supplies for the Italian Army, civilian authorities in Libya, and the Afrika Corps and a British Naval squadron which intercepted it...

on 9 November off Cape Spartivento, the British sank one enemy destroyer (Fulmine) and all of the merchant ships.

On 23 November, Force K again sailed from Malta to intercept another enemy convoy; next day they sank two more merchant ships west of Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

. Force K received the Prime Minister's congratulations on their fine work. On 1 December 1941, Force K scored further successes with the sinking of the Italian M/V Adriatico, at 32°52'N - 2°30'E, as well as the destroyer Alvise da Mosto and the tanker Iridio Mantovani at 33°45'N - 12°30'E. On 3 December, the First Sea Lord

First Sea Lord

The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...

congratulated them.

On 19 December, while operating off Tripoli

Tripoli

Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...

, Penelope struck a mine but was not seriously damaged, although and were sunk by mines in the same action. Penelope was sent into the dockyard for repairs and returned to service at the beginning of January 1942. On 5 January 1942, Penelope left Malta with Force K escorting the Special Service Vessel Glengyle to Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...

(Operation 'ME9'), returning on 27 January, escorting the supply ship Breconshire.

On 13 February 1942, she again left Malta with the Breconshire and an eastbound convoy aided by six destroyers, Operation 'MG5', returning to Malta on 15 February, with the destroyers HMS Lance

HMS Lance (G87)

HMS Lance was an L-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She entered service during World War II, and had a short but eventful career, serving in Home waters and the Mediterranean Sea. She was damaged in two consecutive air attacks at Malta in 1942. She was towed back to Britain, declared a...

and Legion. On 23 March, she left Malta]] with Legion for Operation 'MG1', a further alta Convoys|convoy to Malta, which met with heavy enemy opposition both on the surface and in the air. Breconshire was hit and taken in tow by Penelope and was later safely secured to a buoy in Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village located in the south-eastern part of Malta, with a population of 3,277 people . The village’s name comes from marsa, which means "port" and xlokk, which is the local name for south east...

harbour, the whole operation was taken charge by Penelope's commanding officer Captain A. D. Nicholl, of whose work the N.O.I.C., Malta expressed appreciation.

On 26 March, Penelope was holed both forward and aft by near-misses during air attacks on Malta. While in Malta, she was docked and repaired at the Malta Dry Docks. Day after day she was attacked by German planes and the crew worked to fix shrapnel holes, plugging them with wood, which earned her the nickname Pepperpot. She sailed for Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...

on 8 April and on the next day was repeatedly attacked from the air. She arrived in Gibraltar on 10 April, with further damage from near-misses. Later that day she received a signal from Vice Admiral, Malta: "True to your usual form. Congratulations."

Repairs and awards

The damage was extensive and would require several months at home, after temporary repairs in Gibraltar

Gibraltar

. On 11 April, Penelope was visited by H.R.H the Duke of Gloucester

Duke of Gloucester

Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title , often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England, the next in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the...

, who had originally laid down her keel plate. H.R.H. also visited Capt. Nicholl in hospital. The First Sea Lord

First Sea Lord

congratulated the ship on her successful arrival in Gibraltar

Gibraltar

.

Meanwhile, the question of Penelopes repairs had been reconsidered, and it was decided to send her instead to the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. She accordingly left Gibraltar

Gibraltar

on 10 May 1942, for the Navy Yard at New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

via Bermuda

Bermuda

Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...

, arriving on the 19th. She was under repair until September and arrived in Norfolk

Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

on 15 September, proceeding again via Bermuda

Bermuda

to Portsmouth

Portsmouth

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, which she reached on 1 October 1942.

The King, at an investiture at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

, decorated twenty-one officers and men from Penelope as "Heroes of Malta". Among their awards were 2 Distinguished Service Order

Distinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...

s, a Distinguished Service Cross and 2 Distinguished Service Medals.

Western Mediterranean

Penelope arrived at Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow

on 2 December and remained in home waters until the middle of January 1943. She left the Clyde

River Clyde

on the 17th for Gibraltar

Gibraltar

, where she arrived on the 22nd. She had been allocated to the 12th Cruiser Squadron, in which she operated with the Western Mediterranean Fleet under the flag of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham

Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope

Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....

during the follow-up of Operation Torch

Operation Torch

Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....

, the landings in North Africa

North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...

.

On 1 June 1943, Penelope and the destroyers Paladin

HMS Paladin (G69)

HMS Paladin was a P-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by John Brown and Co. Ltd., Clydebank...

and Petard

HMS Petard (G56)

HMS Petard was a "P"-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was one of the three "P" class ships, out of the original eight, to survive the war in a serviceable condition....

carried out a bombardment of the Italian island of Pantelleria

Pantelleria

Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...

. The force received enemy gunfire and Penelope was hit once, but suffered little damage. On 8 June 1943, with Newfoundland

HMS Newfoundland (C59)

HMS Newfoundland was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. Named after Newfoundland, she fought in the Second World War and was later sold to the Peruvian Navy.-Early career:...

and other ships she took part in a further heavy bombardment of the island. A demand for its surrender was refused. The same force left Malta

Malta

on the 10 June, to cover the assault (Operation Corkscrew

Operation Corkscrew

During World War II, Operation Corkscrew was the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Pantelleria on 10 June 1943. There had been an early plan to occupy the island in late 1940 , but this was aborted when the Luftwaffe strengthened the Axis air threat in the region.The Allied focus returned...

), which resulted in the final surrender of the island on 11 June 1943. On the 11 and 12 June, Penelope also took part in the bombardment and assault on the island of Lampedusa

Lampedusa

Lampedusa is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The comune of Lampedusa e Linosa is part of the Sicilian province of Agrigento which also includes the smaller islands of Linosa and Lampione. It is the southernmost part of Italy. Tunisia, which is about ...

which fell to the British forces on 12 June 1943.

On 10 July 1943, with Aurora

HMS Aurora (12)

and two destroyers, Penelope carried out a diversionary bombardment of Catania

Catania

Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...

as part of the conquest of Sicily

Sicily

Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...

, (Operation Husky

Allied invasion of Sicily

The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...

). The flotilla then moved to Taormina

Taormina

Taormina is a comune and small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Messina, about midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century...

where the railway station was bombarded. On 11 July, Penelope left Malta

Malta

with the 12th Cruiser Squadron as part of Force "H" to provide cover for the northern flank of the assault on Sicily

Sicily

. During the remainder of July and August, she took part in various other bombardments and sweeps during the campaign for Sicily

Sicily

Force "Q"

On 9 September 1943, Penelope was part of Force "Q" for Operation Avalanche, the allied landings at Salerno

Salerno

Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, during which she augmented the bombardment force.

Penelope left the Salerno

Salerno

Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....

area on 26 September with Aurora and at the beginning of October she was transferred to the Levant in view of a possible attack on the island of Kos

Kos

Kos or Cos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova/Cos. It measures by , and is from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Kos peripheral unit, which is...

in the Dodecanese

Dodecanese

The Dodecanese are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, of which 26 are inhabited. Τhis island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete. They belong to the Southern Sporades island group...

. On 7 October, with Sirius

HMS Sirius (82)

HMS Sirius was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Portsmouth Dockyard , with the keel being laid down on 6 April 1938. She was launched on 18 September 1940, and commissioned 6 May 1942.-History:...

and other ships she sank six enemy landing craft

Landing craft

Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...

, one ammunition ship and an armed trawler

Naval trawler

A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...

off Stampalia. While the ships were retiring through the Scarpanto Straits south of Rhodos they were attacked by 18 Ju 87 "Stuka" of I.Group Stuka Wing 3 MEGARA. Although damaged by a bomb, HMS "Penelope" was able to return to Alexandria

Alexandria

at 22 knots.

On 19 November 1943, Penelope moved to Haifa

Haifa

Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...

in connection with possible developments in the Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

situation. Towards the end of December, she was ordered to Gibraltar

Gibraltar

for Operation Stonewall

Operation Stonewall

Operation Stonewall was a World War II operation to intercept blockade runners off the west coast of France. It was an effective example of inter-service and inter-national co-operation.-Background:...

, anti-blockade-runner duties in the Atlantic. On 27 December, the forces in this operation destroyed the German blockade-runner Alsterufer which was sunk by aircraft co-operating with Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

ships, and on 30 November Penelope returned to Gibraltar

Gibraltar

.

On 22 January 1944, she took part in Operation Shingle

Operation Shingle

Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...

, the amphibious assault on Anzio

Anzio

Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...

, Italy

Italy

, providing gunfire support as part of Force "X" with the USS Brooklyn

USS Brooklyn (CL-40)

USS Brooklyn was a light cruiser, the lead ship of her class of seven, and the third United States Navy ship to bear its name. She was launched on 30 November 1936 by New York Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss Kathryn Jane Lackey, daughter of Rear Admiral F. R. Lackey; and commissioned on 30 September...

. She also joined in the bombardments in the Formia

Formia

Formia is a city and comune in the province of Latina, on the Mediterranean coast of Lazio . It is located halfway between Rome and Naples, and lies on the Roman-era Appian Way.-History:...

area during the later operations. On 8 February 1944 she made no less than eight shoots during the day.

Sinking of Penelope

On 18 February 1944, Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSO, DSC, AM, RN) was leaving Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...

to return to the Anzio

Anzio

area when she was torpedoed at 40.55°N 13.25°E by the German submarine U-410

German submarine U-410

German submarine U-410 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II operating mainly in the Mediterranean. Her Insignia was a Sword & Shield...

. A torpedo struck her in the after engine room and was followed sixteen minutes later by another torpedo that hit in the after boiler room, causing her immediate sinking. 415 of the crew, including the captain, went down with the ship. There were 206 survivors.

The remarkable point of the attack by U-410 was that the cruiser was making 26 knots when hit. As far as can be ascertained, this is a unique case. In the history of submarine attacks during World War II, no other ship running at such speed was ever successfully attacked.

CS Forester's novel "The Ship"

In May 1943, well-known British writer C. S. Forester

C. S. Forester

Cecil Scott "C.S." Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith , an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of naval warfare. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen...

published his novel The Ship

The Ship (novel)

The Ship is a novel written by British author C. S. Forester set in the Mediterranean during World War II, and first published in May 1943. It follows the life of a Royal Navy light cruiser for a single action, including a detailed analysis of many of the men on board and the contribution they...

. Unlike his more well-known Horatio Hornblower

Horatio Hornblower

Horatio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy officer who is the protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester. He was later the subject of films and television programs.The original Hornblower tales began with the 1937 novel The Happy Return Horatio Hornblower is a fictional Royal Navy...

series of sea stories taking place in a far-off the historical setting (the Napoleonic Wars

Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...

), this was set in the Mediterranean during the actual war going on in the time of writing, and was intended as a tribute to the Royal Navy, engaged at the time in some of the hardest fighting of the war.

The book follows a Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

light cruiser

Light cruiser

for a single action, in which it successfully contends with superior Italian forces, and including a detailed analysis of many of the men on board and the contribution they made. The author dedicated the book with the deepest respect to the officers and crew of HMS Penelope.

The action described is based on the First Battle of Sirte

First Battle of Sirte

The First Battle of Sirte was fought between the British Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the Mediterranean campaign of the Second World War. The engagement took place on 17 December 1941, southeast of Malta, in the Gulf of Sirte...

. The actions ascribed in the book to the fictional HMS Artemis

HMS Artemis

HMS Artemis after the Greek goddess Artemis is the name of a number of real and fictional ships:-Royal Navy vessels:*Artemis - a 32 gun frigate of the 18th century, an Amphion class submarine foundered while at moorings in 1971-Fictional:...

are not precisely those of Penelope, but are clearly modeled on them. The book was published before the sinking of HMS Penelope.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

History

Home Fleet

Force K

Repairs and awards

Western Mediterranean

Force "Q"

Sinking of Penelope

CS Forester's novel "The Ship"

Further reading

External links