Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
HMS Repulse (1916)
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Service history== ===First World War=== {{main|World War I}} ''Repulse'' was laid down by [[J. Brown Shipyard|John Brown]], [[Clydebank]], [[Scotland]] on 25 January 1915. The ship was launched on 8 January 1916 and completed on 18 August 1916, after the Battle of Jutland. Her construction cost £2,829,087 (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|2829087|1917|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}).<ref name=b97/> She served with the [[Grand Fleet]] in the [[North Sea]] during the remaining two years of the First World War. ''Repulse'' relieved {{HMS|Lion|1910|2}} as flagship of the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battlecruiser Squadron]] for the duration of the war.<ref name=b02/> ====Second Battle of Heligoland Bight==== {{Main|Second Battle of Heligoland Bight}} [[File:BRITISH SHIPS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR SP720.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' in the [[Firth of Forth]] serving as the flagship of the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron]], 1918]] Over the course of 1917 the Admiralty became more concerned about German efforts in the North Sea to sweep paths through the British-laid minefields intended to restrict the actions of the [[High Seas Fleet]] and German [[submarine]]s. A preliminary raid on German minesweeping forces on 31 October by light forces destroyed ten small ships and the Admiralty decided on a larger operation to destroy the [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]]s and their escorting [[light cruiser]]s. Based on intelligence reports the Admiralty decided on 17 November 1917 to allocate two light cruiser squadrons, the [[1st Cruiser Squadron]] covered by the reinforced 1st BCS (less ''Renown'') and, more distantly, the [[battleship]]s of the [[1st Battle Squadron]] to the operation.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 164–165</ref> The German ships, four light cruisers of II Scouting Force, eight [[destroyer]]s, three divisions of minesweepers, eight [[Sperrbrecher]]s (cork-filled [[naval trawler|trawler]]s, used to detonate mines without sinking) and two trawlers to mark the swept route, were spotted at 7:30 a.m.,<ref group=Note>The times used in this article are in [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], which is one hour behind [[Central European Time|CET]], which is often used in German works.</ref> silhouetted by the rising sun. The light battlecruiser {{HMS|Courageous|50|2}} and the light cruiser {{HMS|Cardiff|D58|2}} opened fire with their forward guns seven minutes later. The Germans responded by laying an effective [[smoke screen]]. The British continued in pursuit, but lost track of most of the smaller ships in the smoke and concentrated fire on the light cruisers as opportunity permitted. ''Repulse'' was detached not long after and raced forward at full speed to engage the enemy ships. She opened fire at about 9:00,<ref>Newbolt, pp. 173–175</ref> scoring a single hit on the light cruiser {{SMS|Königsberg|1915|6}} during the battle.<ref name=b02>Burt 1986, p. 302</ref> When the German battleships {{SMS|Kaiser|1911|6}} and {{SMS|Kaiserin}} were spotted about 9:50 the British broke off their pursuit and ''Repulse'' covered their retreat, aided by a heavy fog that came down around 10:40.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 175–176</ref> The ship fired a total of 54 15-inch shells during the battle and scored one hit on the light cruiser ''Königsberg'' that temporarily reduced her speed.<ref>Campbell, p. 64</ref> On 12 December 1917, ''Repulse'' was damaged in a collision with the battlecruiser {{HMAS|Australia|1911|6}}.<ref>Roberts, p. 123</ref> The ship was present at the surrender of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on 21 November 1918.<ref name=b02/> ===Inter-war period=== [[File:HMS Repulse (1919) profile drawing.png|thumb|left|''Repulse'' in 1919]] ''Repulse'' began a major refit at [[Portsmouth]] on 17 December 1918<ref name=b02/> intended to drastically improve her armour protection. Her existing six-inch armour belt was replaced by {{convert|9|in|adj=on|0}} armour plates made surplus by the conversion of the battleship {{ship|Chilean battleship|Almirante Cochrane||2}} (originally ordered by Chile and purchased after the war began) to the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Eagle|1918|2}}. The original armour was fitted between the main and upper decks, above the new armour. Additional high-tensile plating was added to the decks over the magazines. The ship's anti-torpedo bulge was deepened and reworked along the lines of that installed on the battleship {{HMS|Ramillies|07|2}}. The bulge covered her hull from the submerged torpedo room to 'Y' magazine, the inner compartments of which were filled with crushing tubes. The bulges added {{convert|12|ft|8|in|m|1}} to her beam and {{convert|1|ft|4|in|m|1}} to her draught. The refit added about {{convert|4500|LT|t}} to her displacement and raised her [[metacentric height]] to {{convert|6.4|ft|m|0}} at deep load. Three {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} rangefinders were also added as well as eight torpedo tubes in twin mounts on the upper deck. Both flying-off platforms were removed.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 55–56</ref> This refit cost £860,684. [[File:HMS Repulse entering Vancouver Harbour 1924.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' entering [[Burrard Inlet|Vancouver Harbour]] during her [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|world tour]] with ''Hood'' and other ships of the Special Service Squadron, 1924]] ''Repulse'' was recommissioned on 1 January 1921 and joined the Battlecruiser Squadron of the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]. In November 1923, ''Hood'', accompanied by ''Repulse'' and a number of {{sclass|Danae|cruiser|2}}<nowiki/>s of the [[1st Light Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Light Cruiser Squadron]], set out [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|on a world cruise]] from west to east via the [[Panama Canal]]. They returned home ten months later in September 1924.<ref name=b02/> Shortly after her return the ship's two three-inch AA guns and her two single four-inch gun mounts were removed and replaced with four QF four-inch Mark V AA guns.<ref name=rr43>Raven and Roberts, p. 143</ref> The Battlecruiser Squadron visited [[Lisbon]] in February 1925 to participate in the [[Vasco da Gama]] celebrations before continuing on to the Mediterranean for exercises.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 220</ref> A squash court was added on the starboard side between the funnels, and a sauna and bubble bath on the quarterdeck for the Prince of Wales' tour of Africa and South America<ref name=rr43/> that lasted from March to October.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 220–221</ref> Upon her return, she was refitted from November 1925 to July 1926 and had a high-angle control position (HACP) added to her fore-top.<ref name=rr43/> ====1930s reconstructions==== [[File:Haifa, result of terrorist acts & government measures. H.M.S. Repulse taken from the docks, marine on guard below British flag.1938.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' in July 1938, from the stern]] After ''Repulse'' completed her 1926 refit, she remained in commission, aside from a brief refit from July to September 1927, with the Battlecruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet until she was paid off in June 1932 prior to beginning her reconstruction in April 1933. Most of the existing layers of high-tensile steel that constituted the ship's horizontal armour were replaced by non-cemented armour plates {{convert|2.5|-|3.5|in}} in thickness and the torpedo control tower was removed from the aft superstructure.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 206–207</ref> A fixed catapult replaced the midships 4-inch triple mount and a [[hangar]] was built on each side of the rear funnel to house two of the ship's Fairey III aircraft. One additional aircraft could be carried on the deck and another on the catapult itself. Electric cranes were mounted above each hangar to handle the aircraft.<ref name="Burt, pp. 210, 213">Burt, pp. 210, 213</ref> The four 4-inch AA guns were moved, one pair abreast the rear funnel at the level of the hangar roof and the other pair abreast the fore funnel on the forecastle deck. Four prototype QF 4-inch Mark XV [[Dual purpose gun|dual-purpose gun]]s were added in twin-gun Mark XVIII mounts abreast the mainmast. Two octuple Mark VI [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder]] mounts were fitted on extensions of the conning-tower platform abreast the fore funnel. Above these a pair of quadruple Mark II* mountings for the [[Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch Vickers Mark III]] machine gun were added.<ref name="Burt, pp. 210, 213"/> These mounts could depress to −10° and elevate to a maximum of 70°. The machine guns fired a {{convert|1.326|oz|adj=on}} bullet at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2520|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. This gave the gun a maximum range of about {{convert|5000|yd|m|abbr=on}}, although its effective range was only {{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_5-62_mk3.htm|title=British 0.50"/62 (12.7 mm) Mark III – Japanese 12 mm/62 "HI" Type|date=27 January 2010|publisher=navweaps.com|access-date=8 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207221146/http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_5-62_mk3.htm|archive-date=7 February 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Repulse'' received two [[HACS|High-Angle Control System]] anti-aircraft directors, one Mark II on the fore-top and a Mark I* mounted on a pedestal above the rear superstructure. The two submerged torpedo tubes were removed and the vacant spaces sub-divided and turned into store-rooms.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 207, 209</ref> [[File:HMS Repulse LOC matpc 18612.jpg|thumb|left|''Repulse'' in Haifa harbor during the [[1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine|Arab Revolt]], July 1938]] ''Repulse'' was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet when she recommissioned in April 1936. She transported 500 refugees from [[Valencia]] and [[Palma de Mallorca]] to [[Marseille]], France in late 1936 after the start of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. The ship was present at the Coronation [[Fleet Review]] at [[Spithead]] on 20 May 1937 for King [[George VI]]. ''Repulse'' was sent to [[Haifa]] in July 1938 to maintain order during the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine#The role of the Royal Navy|Arab Revolt]]. She was selected to convey the King and Queen during their May 1939 Canadian Tour and she was refitted between October 1938 and March 1939 for this role. The twin 4-inch AA guns were replaced by two more Mark V guns and two additional quadruple .50-calibre mounts were added. The King and Queen ultimately travelled aboard the [[Ocean liner|liner]] {{RMS|Empress of Australia|1919|6}} while ''Repulse'' escorted them on the first half of the journey.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 221, 224</ref> ===Second World War=== At the beginning of the Second World War, ''Repulse'' was part of the Battlecruiser Squadron of the [[Home Fleet]]. She patrolled off the Norwegian coast and in the North Sea in search of German ships, as well as to enforce the blockade for the first couple months of the war.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 3, 6</ref> Early in the war, the aft triple 4-inch gun mount was replaced with an 8-barrel 2-pounder mount.<ref name=rr17>Raven and Roberts, p. 217</ref> In late October, she was transferred to [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] with the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Furious|47|2}} to protect convoys and search for German raiders. ''Repulse'' and ''Furious'' sortied from Halifax on 23 November in search of the {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst}} after it had sunk the [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{HMS|Rawalpindi||2}}, but ''Repulse'' was damaged by heavy seas in a storm and was forced to return to port.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 224</ref> ''Repulse'' escorted the convoy bringing most of the [[1st Canadian Infantry Division]] to Britain from 10 to 23 December 1939 and was reassigned to the Home Fleet. In February 1940, she accompanied the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}} on a fruitless search for six German [[blockade runner]]s that had broken out of [[Vigo]], Spain.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 11, 15</ref> [[File:HMS Repulse escorting a troop convoy A6793.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' escorting the last convoy to reach Singapore, December 1941]] ''Repulse'' was assigned to support Allied operations during the [[Norwegian Campaign]] in April–June 1940. On 7 April, ''Repulse'', along with the bulk of the Home Fleet, was ordered to sea to intercept what was thought to be another attempt to break-out into the North Atlantic. The ship was detached the following day to search for a German ship reported by the destroyer {{HMS|Glowworm|H92|2}}, but the destroyer had been sunk by the {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper}} before ''Repulse'' arrived and she was ordered to rendezvous with her sister ''Renown'' south of the [[Lofoten Islands]], off the Norwegian coast.<ref>Haarr 2009, pp. 86, 93, 105</ref> On 12 April, ''Repulse'' was ordered to return to [[Scapa Flow]] to refuel and she escorted a troop convoy upon her return.<ref>Haarr 2010, pp. 116, 139</ref> In early June the ship was sent to the North Atlantic to search for German raiders and played no part in the evacuation of Norway.<ref>Rohwer, p. 25</ref> Accompanied by ''Renown'' and the 1st Cruiser Squadron, ''Repulse'' attempted to intercept the {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2|up=y}} as it sailed from [[Trondheim]] to Germany in July. Until May 1941, the ship escorted convoys and unsuccessfully searched for German ships. On 22 May, ''Repulse'' was diverted from escorting Convoy WS8B to assist in the search for the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||2|up=y}}, but she had to break off the search early on 25 May as she was running low on fuel. The ship was refitted from June–August<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 224–225</ref> and received six [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{convert|20|mm|adj=on}}]] [[autocannon]] as well as a [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 284|Type 284]] surface gunnery [[radar]].<ref name=rr17/> ''Repulse'' escorted a troop convoy around the [[Cape of Good Hope]] from August to October and was transferred to [[East Indies Command]].<ref>Burt 1993, p. 225</ref> ====Force Z==== {{Main|Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse}} [[File:HMS Repulse leaving Singapore.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' departing from Singapore on 8 December 1941]] In late 1941 [[Winston Churchill]] decided to send a small group of fast capital ships along with one modern aircraft carrier to Singapore, to deter expected Japanese aggression. In November, ''Repulse'' which was in the Indian Ocean was ordered to [[Colombo]], [[Ceylon]] to rendezvous with the new battleship {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}}. The carrier {{HMS|Indomitable|92|2}}, which was assigned to join them, was delayed when she ran aground in the Caribbean. ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' and their escorting destroyers comprised [[Force Z]], which arrived in Singapore on 2 December 1941. On the evening of 8 December, Force Z set out on an attempt to destroy Japanese troop convoys and protect the army's seaward flanks from Japanese landings in their rear.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 226–227</ref> Force Z was spotted during the afternoon of 9 December by the {{Jsub|I-65}}, and [[floatplane]]s from several Japanese cruisers spotted the British ships later that afternoon and shadowed them until dark. [[Admiral]] Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)|Tom Phillips]] decided to cancel the operation as the Japanese were now alerted. Force Z turned back during the evening, after having tried to deceive the Japanese that they were heading to [[Singora]]. At 00:50 on 10 December, Admiral Philips received a signal of enemy landings at [[Kuantan]] and correspondingly altered course so that he would arrive shortly after dawn.<ref>Stephen, pp. 107–108</ref> The crew of {{Jsub|I-58|1925|2}} spotted Force Z at 02:20, reported their position, and fired five torpedoes, all of which missed. Based on this report the Japanese launched 11 reconnaissance aircraft before dawn to locate Force Z. Several hours later 86 bombers from the 22nd Air Flotilla based in [[Saigon]] were launched carrying bombs or torpedoes. The crew of a [[Mitsubishi G3M]] reconnaissance bomber spotted the British at 10:15 and radioed in several reports. The pilot was ordered to maintain contact and to broadcast a directional signal that the other Japanese bombers could follow.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 113–116</ref> [[File:Japanese high-level bombing attack on HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse 1941-12-10.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' is at the bottom of the frame, having been hit by a bomb, 10 December 1941]] The first attack began at 11:13 when {{convert|250|kg|lb|0}} bombs were dropped from eight G3Ms from an altitude of {{convert|11500|ft|m|0}}. The battlecruiser was [[wikt:straddle|straddled]] by two bombs, then hit by a third which penetrated through the hangar to explode on the armoured deck below. This inflicted a number of casualties and damaged the ship's [[Supermarine Walrus]] seaplane, which was then pushed over the side to remove a fire hazard. Anti-aircraft fire damaged five of the Japanese bombers, two so badly that they immediately returned to Saigon. In the ensuing attacks, ''Repulse'' was skilfully handled by her captain, [[William Tennant (Royal Navy officer)|Bill Tennant]], who managed to avoid 19 torpedoes as well as the remaining bombs from the G3Ms.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 116–120</ref> The gunners on the ''Repulse'' shot down two planes and heavily damaged eight more. However, ''Repulse'' was then caught by a synchronised pincer attack by 17 [[Mitsubishi G4M]] torpedo bombers and hit by four or five torpedoes in rapid succession which proved fatal.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 120–121</ref> At 12:23, ''Repulse'' listed severely to port, quickly [[capsizing|capsized]] and went down by the stern<ref>{{cite book |last1=Middlebrook |first1=Martin |author-link=Martin Middlebrook |title=The Sinking of the Prince of Wales & Repulse: The End of the Battleship Era |last2=Mahoney |first2=Patrick |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |year=2014 |location=United Kingdom}}</ref> with the loss of 508 officers and men. The destroyers {{HMS|Electra|H27|2}} and {{HMAS|Vampire|D68|2}} rescued the survivors, including Captain Tennant.<ref>Stephen, pp. 112–114</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)