HMS Bermuda (52)
{{short description|Fiji-class cruiser}}
{{other ships|HMS Bermuda}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=HMS Bermuda.jpg |Ship caption=Bermuda in 1942 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |Ship name=Bermuda |Ship namesake=Bermuda |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=John Brown & Company, Clydebank |Ship yard number=568 |Ship laid down=30 November 1939 |Ship launched=11 September 1941 |Ship christened= |Ship commissioned=21 August 1942 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned=1962 |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship fate=Scrapped, 26 August 1965 |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship identification=Pennant number 52 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption=(as built) |Ship class={{Sclass|Fiji|cruiser|0}} light cruiser |Ship displacement=*{{convert|8631|LT|t|lk=on}} (standard) |Ship length={{convert|555|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|62|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|19|ft|10|in|m|0|abbr=on}} |Ship power=*4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
|Ship propulsion=4 shafts; 4 geared steam turbine sets |Ship speed={{convert|32.25|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|6250|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|13|kn}} |Ship complement=733 (peacetime), 900 (wartime) |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*4 × triple 6 in (152 mm) guns
|Ship armour=*Engine and boiler rooms: {{convert|3.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}
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| 3.5|in|mm|abbr=on}}
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| 3.5|in|mm|abbr=on}}
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| 2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship aircraft=2 × seaplanes |Ship aircraft facilities=1 × catapult, 2 × hangars |Ship notes= }} |
HMS Bermuda (pennant number 52, later C52) was a {{sclass|Fiji|cruiser|0}} light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was completed during World War II and served in that conflict. She was named for the British territory of Bermuda, and was the eighth vessel of that name.
Bermuda was built by John Brown & Company of Clydebank and launched on 11 September 1941. In the same year, the lead ship of the class, {{HMS|Fiji|C58|2}}, was sunk while participating in the evacuation of Crete.
War service
{{stack|File:HMS Bermuda aircraft.jpg amphibian airplane being launched from the catapult deck of Bermuda. The aircraft has just left the catapult.]]}}
Through 1942, Bermuda participated in the North Africa campaign, including Operation Torch, as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. With the cruiser {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|2}}, she was detached from Force H to attack a small coastal fort, where both came under attack from Italian torpedo bombers. She covered the landing at Bougie and managed to escape heavy air attacks unscathed. Bermuda then returned to service in the Atlantic to escort ships in the Bay of Biscay, and in June 1943, she transported men and supplies to Spitsbergen. She then participated in anti-submarine operations against German U-boats operating in the Bay of Biscay, and the North Atlantic. After more service in the Arctic, she returned to Glasgow in June 1944 for a refit.Last of the Colony cruisers Ships Monthly March 2016 pages 38-41
The refit removed her 'X' turret and in May 1945 she was then dispatched to the Pacific as the war in Europe was ending. She arrived in Fremantle on 1 July to take on fuel and stores, before continuing on to Sydney, where she arrived on 7 July. There she undertook exercises with other Royal Navy ships serving in the Far East, including the battleship {{HMS|Anson|79|2}}. Whilst in Sydney, news reached them of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent surrender of Japan. Bermuda then sailed for the Philippines, arriving on 23 August. She then became part of an operation to recover allied prisoners of war from the previously occupied Japanese territories.
On 6 September Bermuda was attacked by Japanese aircraft,{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} apparently unaware of the end of the war, or otherwise unwilling to surrender. Bermuda fought off the attack and was able to continue on her way. She then transported allied prisoners of war to Shanghai for repatriation.
Post-war
File:HMS Bermuda (C52) underway in the North Atlantic 1961.jpg {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} in the North Atlantic, 1961]]
Bermuda remained in the Far East as the flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron, under the command of Clarence Howard-Johnston, until 1947, when she returned to the UK for a refit at Chatham Dockyard. She was then placed in reserve. In 1950 she was restored to active service, and served in the South Atlantic as the flagship of the Commander in Chief, South Atlantic Station until 1953. Vice Admiral Peveril William-Powlett was Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic from 1952–1954. She then served with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1953, she and her sister {{HMS|Gambia|48|2}} brought aid to the Greek island of Zakynthos when it was struck by the Ionian earthquake. Greek officials would later comment, "we Greeks have a long-standing tradition with the Royal Navy and it lived up to every expectation in its infallible tradition of always being the first to help."{{Cite web |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2003/0310/0003100601.asp |title=Navy News|access-date=22 October 2007 |archive-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611053815/http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2003/0310/0003100601.asp |url-status=dead }}
In 1956 Bermuda was paid-off and towed up to Palmer's at Hebburn to undergo a long refit. She was updated largely on the same pattern as HMS Gambia with an enclosed bridge, and US supplied Mk 63 directors for the 4-inch twin gun mounts,Friedman, p. 287 but appears to have maintained simple tacymetric fire control for new Twin Mk 5 40-mm mounts, which were repositioned for better arcs of fire. She returned to service, and spent the next few years in exercises with other NATO navies, or other Royal Navy units. In April 1958, she left Malta to assist in the reinforcement of Cyprus during a period of civil unrest.Roberts J (2009) Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy, Seaforth Publishing Barnsley England, 352pp {{ISBN|978-1-84832-043-7}} Bermuda attended the Ceremony of independence of Nigeria on 1 October 1960, before joining the Mediterranean Fleet, relieving the cruiser {{HMS|Tiger|C20|2}}.{{cite news|title=H.M.S. Bermuda was present at the birth of a nation|newspaper=Navy News| date=January 1961|page=6 |url= https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/196101 |access-date=25 August 2018}}
Bermuda was decommissioned in 1962, after 21 years in service. She was scrapped by Thos W Ward, Briton Ferry, Wales starting on 26 August 1965. The ship's bell now hangs in the Royal Naval Association Club in West Bromwich, a British town which had adopted Bermuda in 1942.[http://www.hmsgangestoterror.org/hms-bermuda-1939-65-intro.htm Article title] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
Bermuda
HMS Bermuda made several visits to her namesake, where she was presented with a number of silver objects, including a large bell — which was occasionally used as a font for Holy Water in the baptism of children of the crew — and four bugles. Two of the bugles later found their way to the Bermuda Regiment. Apart from the bell and the bugles, which were collected together by the Bermuda Maritime Museum at the former Bermuda Dockyard, the other items went missing following the ship's decommissioning.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book|first=D. K. |last=Brown |first2=George |last2=Moore |title=Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship Design Since 1945|location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press|date=2003 |ISBN=1-59114-705-0|name-list-style=amp |author1-link=David K Brown}}
- {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau |editor1-first=Roger |publisher=Mayflower Books|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-8317-0303-2 |chapter=Great Britain |last1=Campbell |first1=N.J.M.|pages=2–85}}
- {{cite book|last1=Colledge|first1=J. J.|authorlink1=J. J. Colledge|last2=Wardlow|first2=Ben|last3=Bush |first3=Steve |title=Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present|year=2020|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, England|isbn=978-1-5267-9327-0|name-list-style=amp|edition=5th}}
- {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, England|isbn=978-1-59114-078-8 |author-link=Norman Friedman}}
- {{cite book|first=David |last=Murfin |chapter=AA to AA: The Fijis Turn Full Circle |editor1-first=John|editor1-last= Jordan |title=Warship 2010 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=2010 |isbn=978-1-84486-110-1}}
- {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Cruisers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-922-7|name-list-style=amp}}
- {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
- {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Cassell|location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-86019-874-0|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
External links
{{Commons category|HMS Bermuda (52)}}
- [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers]
- [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4035.html HMS Bermuda at Uboat.net]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091212143341/http://www.hmsgangestoterror.org/HMSBermuda.htm HMS Bermuda – A comprehensive story of the Bermuda, including personal stories and photographs]}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040920014330/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2389 HMS Bermuda (Clydebuilt Ships Database)]
- Last pictures of HMS Bermuda at Thos W Ward's breakers yard Briton ferry Neath 1960s. Her masts have been removed to enable her under the Briton Ferry river bridge and her final leg to the wharf. Can be found at the following link. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927073231/http://www.britonferry2007gallery.com/wardsbreakeryard.htm HMS BERMUDA C52]
Pictures of the Scrapping:
- [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429681918_10160099802195036_3904710019351506648_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=YNWzLQ-pZp4AX_t81dw&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfCtqfgXfNhiYLzyvE8mlbjgZDEWdVUH6ASOr3eWo-2VAQ&oe=65E0155B] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429920460_10160099802175036_8746101654690957358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=Miaq14uSvUQAX9gcrFK&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfDrcapl2CFxXEANg45jfPbpPvDIin1pofqpBqlZpLrzvA&oe=65E09853] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429648073_10160099802230036_2795839378615689447_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=EtWmPf2WoWgAX8rQFL1&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfCttoNVZ1E0Y5OVrlw0JuSr3_es3QnFAOSdTPNs8e2zsA&oe=65DEEE5B] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429919069_10160099802540036_3245686563279924952_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=b6SBfYcOWkwAX9cqmRF&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0qkY7cDHcZk1HVUhqAkYNkj-70syhmVDGu0hB_Anaiw&oe=65DF26E2]
Ulsan Ship Breaking Yard, 1986 ULCC Globtik Tokyo; ULCC Bellamya
- [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428405240_10160089105365036_5663035303607583329_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=eYn4azmhRAwAX_K9jvH&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfASwGsyIuZqhrztuLHeQ-E9PBoLpZmUNGuEucMKYn10sg&oe=65E0D0AA] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428412084_10160089110160036_4575860837030359263_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=TfIGoOT7i8oAX-SVLAo&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfASQg9rwSS2MSu9Jim7SQGaPqqxLSv5j33ImY0kreW-dw&oe=65DFC991] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429688168_10160099802610036_5809935727486009838_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=a7SSiSwOTUMAX_zbR6i&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfD_fXnMG1bQQ2rRG3Lh0fG11bct7yLAM8UarS-5fb7lqg&oe=65DF2444] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429916451_10160099802595036_2878677229152627782_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=V8JZPVfwdL0AX_7HaVB&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfAzPc9oKNA_5mbCy7RFRgQyLvSqhonm5ah_rMRjvaRUxw&oe=65DF80DD] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429944937_10160099802080036_7079415036304211968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=Dx6sVHKW3C8AX8K-6w3&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfCelch4ceiRv_wW578Ch5ZYPKgxxxS-q-tsJwzydncq-w&oe=65DFF685] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429658063_10160099802800036_5840464321397897093_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=ZnUYnLcBoLMAX_i8ez0&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8bM7mdh2kNdVIoueRqSe5gZEdTSpdFxi27dWfD-tJyw&oe=65E07783] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429681962_10160099802850036_2329242184315252409_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=102cKpbceUYAX9sK--H&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfDUbrZn-bHfRttnEsNG8bBoEMMxj_pxeVZzb1OPFtcZ0g&oe=65E03CCD] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429679339_10160099802870036_7721698349052686764_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=FrLls2YdjzcAX_Nc92G&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfAtGEEtJALz3cS6eiyEDMogCHTtGadFb8TsfI-BYpyYBQ&oe=65DFD7E0] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429676457_10160099802045036_4570471692745989653_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=BiYVbHmzcQgAX8x-y02&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8gw9M1ikY5GhpM4M9Vf_MCKSqqnUvyS-6C-ZIdIj5AA&oe=65E0E70C] [https://scontent-muc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/429640251_10160099802130036_3986576609357483552_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=wmUc_R41w_QAX8uxAf3&_nc_ht=scontent-muc2-1.xx&oh=00_AfA5L4852IArc5vUOp3QM3TKfFSLDICzs48__8qke52HJQ&oe=65DFDACC]
{{Crown Colony class cruiser}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bermuda (52)}}
Category:Crown Colony-class cruisers of the Royal Navy
Category:Ships built on the River Clyde