ROYAL NAVY SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND - ROYAL NAVY S T 12 SHIPS
2)SHROPSHIRE (HEAVY CRUISER)
Photo. www.wikipedia.org
Completed: 1929
Displacement: 9,750 tons standard, 13,315 tons full load
Length: 633 ft
Beam: 66 ft
Draught: 21 ft
Propulsion: 8 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines, 80,000 shp (60 MN)
Armament: 8 x 8-in (203 mm) Mk VIII dual guns, 4 x QF 4-in (102 mm) Mk V single AA guns, 4 x2-pdr (40 mm) single pom-poms, 2 x 2-pdr (40 mm) quad pom-poms, 2 x 0.5-in quadruple Vickers machine gun mount, 2 x quadruple 21-in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Speed: 32 kts
Complement: 820 max.
Range: : 4,715 kilometres (2,546 nmi; 2,930 mi) at 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph), 20,116 kilometres (10,862 nmi; 12,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Aircraft: One aircraft, one catapult. Three planes used during service; Fairey III, Hawker Osprey,Supermarine Walrus
Her initial service in the Second World War was in operations in the South Atlantic on trade protection duties. On 9 December 1939, she intercepted the German merchant Adolf Leonhardt off Angola which was scuttled by her own crew in pos. 13º 00”S 11º 30’E. 25 crewmembers were rescued.
She then returned to Britain for a refit, before proceeding to the Indian Ocean, where she was employed on convoy cover duties between Cape Town-Durban-Mombassa and Aden. HMS Shropshire was transferred to Australia in 1942 to replace HMAS Sidney. She was sold for scrapping, 16 July 1954.
HMS Shropshire history in the south Atlantic By www.naval-history.net
Tuesday, 7th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE arrived Durban from patrol in Mozambique Channel 1057GMT.
Friday, 10th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE left Durban to patrol in Mozambique Channel 1118GMT, speed 15 knows.
Tuesday, 14th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE arrived Durban from patrol, 0300GMT
Saturday, 18th January 1941
H.M.S. DRAGON left Capetown a.m. and arrived Simonstown p.m.
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE left patrol in vicinity of position 30S, 35E and proceeded for rendezvous with convoy WS 5 A.
Tuesday, 21st January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE rendezvoused with convoy WS 5 A, Freetown to Durban, in position 35-45S, 19-07E at 0800GMT and relieving H.M.S. DEVONSHIRE as escort. H.M.S. DEVONSHIRE then proceeded to Simonstown, arriving 1403GMT.
Saturday, 25th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE escorting Convoy WS 5 A (TAMORA, SETTLER, BHUTAN, DELANE, RANGITIKI, ATREUS, CITY OF LONDON, ELIZABETHVILLE (Belgian), EMPIRE ABILITY, ADVISER, COSTA RICA (Dutch), NEURALIA, BARRISTER, STENTOR, BENRINNES, MENELAUS, CITY OF DERBY, ARABISTAN) arrived Durban from Freetown 0400GMT.
Wednesday, 29th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE and H.M.S. CERES escorting convoy WS 5 A (SETTLER, ATREUS, CITY OF LONDON, TAMAROA, BHUTAN, ORBITA, ELIZABETHVILLE (Belgian), COSTA RICA (Dutch), DELANE, RANGITIKI, NIEUW HOLLAND (Dutch), NEURALIA, ADVISER, BARRISTER, CITY OF CANTERBURY, MENELAUS, ANSELM, CITY OF DERBY, TALAMBA, ARABISTAN, STENTOR, BENRINNES) LEFT Durban 1000GMT for Suez, speed 11 knots.
In view of there being an epidemic of streptococcas throat in H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE, H.M.S. ENTERPRISE left Durban, 1717GMT, to relieve her as escort of the convoy; H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE then proceeded for Durban.
Thursday, 30th January 1941
H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE arrived Durban 1115GMT.
Tuesday, 4th February
Force T (SHROPSHIRE, HERMES) left Durban for Kilindini, to take part in Operation CANVAS, 1649GMT.
Monday, 6th April 42
Convoy W.S. 17 United Kingdom to Middle East to India ("Winston's Specials") (29 ships), including ADAMANT, arrived at Freetown escorted by SHROPSHIRE, ALCANTARA, GROVE, WILD SWAN, ALDENHAM, LOOKOUT, KEREN, KARANJA, HYDRANGEA, and COMMANDANT DETROYAT. Also, MALAYA and HERMIONE, escorted by Captain (D) 19th Destroyer Flotilla in LAFOREY, DUNCAN, LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, and ANTHONY.
Saturday, 11th April 42
Convoy W.S. 17 B (18 ships), including ADAMANT sailed, escorted by SHROPSHIRE, WILD SWAN, CROOME, HYDRANGEA, EXMOOR, COMMANDANT DROGOU and COMMANDANT DETROYANT.
