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HMS Scylla (98)
Encyclopedia
HMS Scylla was a Dido-class
cruiser
of the Royal Navy
. She was built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
(Greenock
, Scotland
) , with the keel being laid down on 19 April 1939. She was launched on 24 July 1940, and commissioned 12 June 1942.
One of two sisters (the other was, appropriately, Charybdis
, see Scylla and Charybdis
), Scylla was completed with four twin QF 4.5 in Mk.III in UD MK III mountings because of a shortage of 5¼ in (133 mm) mountings.
The forward superstructure was considerably modified to accommodate these and also to increase crew spaces. Known as the 'toothless terrors', they proved to be very good anti-aircraft ships, often leading to comparisons with their sisters armed with the heavier QF 5.25 inches (133.4 mm) guns guns.
Scylla served with the Home Fleet
on Arctic convoy duties. She carried a signals intelligence team headed by F/O RE Gunn and on at least one trip to the Kola Peninsular she is reported as having collected Signals Intelligence (PRO HW 14/53 and 55). She sailed for Gibraltar
on 28 October 1942. The following month she was at the French North Africa landings (Operation Torch
) as part of Force "O" with the Eastern Task Force, but in December was sent into the Bay of Biscay
as part of the effort to catch homecoming Axis
blockade runners.
On 1 January 1943 she intercepted the German Rhakotis some 200 miles north-west of Cape Finisterre in position 45.01°N 10.50°W, when the Scylla opened fire the Germans scuttled the ship. In February she returned to the Home Fleet for Arctic convoys
, but was back in the Bay of Biscay
by June 1943 to cover anti-submarine operations.
In July 1943 she stopped the Arklow schooner Mary B Mitchell
in the Bay of Biscay. Captain Dowds, formerly principal of the Irish Nautical College, was captain of the schooner. The officer in charge of the boarding party was a pupil of Dowds, 'class of 36'. There was a plesant reunion, then Mary B resumed her voyage to Lisbon, and Scylla continued her search for blockard runners.
In September 1943 she was part of the Support Carrier Force at the Salerno landings (Operation Avalanche), but came home to refit for duty as an Escort Carrier Flagship in October, which lasted until April 1944. She was present at the Normandy landings as Flagship of the Eastern Task Force.
On 23 June 1944 she was badly damaged by a mine and declared a Constructive Total Loss. Although towed to Portsmouth
, she was not disposed of until 1950, after use as a target between 1948 to 1950. She arrived at Thomas W Ward Ltd, (Barrow-in-Furness
, UK
) 4 May 1950 for breaking up.
Dido class cruiser
The Dido class was a class of sixteen light cruisers built for the Royal Navy. The design was influenced by the Arethusa class light cruisers. The first group of three ships was commissioned in 1940, the second group and third group were commissioned in 1941–1942...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
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 Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited, often referred to simply as Scotts, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Greenock on the River Clyde.- History :...
(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...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) , with the keel being laid down on 19 April 1939. She was launched on 24 July 1940, and commissioned 12 June 1942.
One of two sisters (the other was, appropriately, Charybdis
HMS Charybdis (88)
HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard , with the keel being laid down on 9 November 1939...
, see Scylla and Charybdis
Scylla and Charybdis
Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom deriving from Greek mythology. Several other idioms, such as "on the horns of a dilemma", "between the devil and the deep blue sea", and "between a rock and a hard place" express the same meaning of "having to choose between two evils".-The myth and...
), Scylla was completed with four twin QF 4.5 in Mk.III in UD MK III mountings because of a shortage of 5¼ in (133 mm) mountings.
The forward superstructure was considerably modified to accommodate these and also to increase crew spaces. Known as the 'toothless terrors', they proved to be very good anti-aircraft ships, often leading to comparisons with their sisters armed with the heavier QF 5.25 inches (133.4 mm) guns guns.
History
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:...
on Arctic convoy duties. She carried a signals intelligence team headed by F/O RE Gunn and on at least one trip to the Kola Peninsular she is reported as having collected Signals Intelligence (PRO HW 14/53 and 55). 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 28 October 1942. The following month she was at the French North Africa landings (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....
) as part of Force "O" with the Eastern Task Force, but in December was sent into the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
as part of the effort to catch homecoming Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
blockade runners.
On 1 January 1943 she intercepted the German Rhakotis some 200 miles north-west of Cape Finisterre in position 45.01°N 10.50°W, when the Scylla opened fire the Germans scuttled the ship. In February she returned to the Home Fleet for Arctic convoys
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
, but was back in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by June 1943 to cover anti-submarine operations.
In July 1943 she stopped the Arklow schooner Mary B Mitchell
Mary B Mitchell
The Mary B Mitchell was a British schooner which served as a Q-ship during the First World War. She was in service from April 1916 until the end of hostilities, operating in the Southwest Approaches from her base in Falmouth....
in the Bay of Biscay. Captain Dowds, formerly principal of the Irish Nautical College, was captain of the schooner. The officer in charge of the boarding party was a pupil of Dowds, 'class of 36'. There was a plesant reunion, then Mary B resumed her voyage to Lisbon, and Scylla continued her search for blockard runners.
In September 1943 she was part of the Support Carrier Force at the Salerno landings (Operation Avalanche), but came home to refit for duty as an Escort Carrier Flagship in October, which lasted until April 1944. She was present at the Normandy landings as Flagship of the Eastern Task Force.
On 23 June 1944 she was badly damaged by a mine and declared a Constructive Total Loss. Although towed to 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...
, she was not disposed of until 1950, after use as a target between 1948 to 1950. She arrived at Thomas W Ward Ltd, (Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) 4 May 1950 for breaking up.