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HMS Saumarez (1943) DD (2nd) |
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This the second ship to carry the name HMS Saumarez was the S
Class (1943), destroyer leader. As destroyer leader she had slightly
reduced armament to allow the increased complement and working space
needed to control a flotilla. Built by Hawthorn Leslie, laid down 08-Sep-1941, launched 20-Nov-1942, and commissioned 01-Jul-1943. 26-Dec-1943 while screening HMS Duke of York as distance escort to Russian convoy JW55B, saw action with the German ship Scharnhorst and was badly damaged. 1944 continued with offensive carrier sweeps off the Norwegian coast. Then Jun-1944 operations as part of the Normandy landings. After this it was back to Arctic duty, with Russian convoy escort alternating with offensive carrier operations until early 1945. When she went to the Eastern Fleet and carrier raids in the Indian Ocean. There as destroyer leader of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla she was damaged in action against the Japanese cruiser Haguro. After the war she was in the Mediterranean in 1946 when she struck a mine during the Corfu incident. When mines were laid by Albania in International waters. Badly damaged she was brought back to the UK but not repaired. Won the Battle Honours: Arctic 1943-44, North Cape 1943, Normandy 1944, East Indies 1945, Malaya 1945 and Burma 1945.
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This page last edited -
16 May, 2013.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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