Thursday, August 25, 2011

Three-Stacker

HMS Welshman
Abdiel-class fast cruiser minelayer (first group) ordered on 21st March 1939 from R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd at Hebburn on Tyne. The ship was laid down on 8th June 1939 and was launched on 4th September 1940 as the first RN ship to carry the name. Her build was completed on 25 August 1941. Like her sister ships this cruiser was not included in the Admiralty lists of adoptions by civil communities in UK after the Warship Week National Savings campaigns between December 1941 and June 1942.
On Feruary 1st, 1943, hit aft by torpedo fired from U617 in position 32.12N 24.52E East of Tobruk. Sank quickly after 2 hours. 155 killed included 2 civilians. Some casualties were caused by explosion of depth charges.

(Source: Naval History)

2 comments:

Pablo J. Álvarez said...

Very Nice vessel.

Lord K said...

... and one of the fastest Royal Navy cruisers.