HMS Shropshire

HMS Shropshire was a Royal Navy (RN) heavy cruiser of the London sub-class of County-class cruisers. She is the only warship to have been named after Shropshire, England. Completed in 1929, Shropshire served with the RN until 1942, when she was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) following the loss of sister ship HMAS Canberra. Commissioned as HMAS Shropshire, the ship remained in RAN service until 1949, and was sold for scrap in 1954.

HMS Shropshire
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Shropshire
NamesakeShropshire, England
Ordered17 March 1926
BuilderWilliam Beardmore and Company (Dalmuir, Scotland)
Laid down24 February 1927
Launched5 July 1928
Completed12 September 1929
Commissioned24 September 1929
Decommissioned23 December 1942
IdentificationPennant number: 73, later 83, later 96
Honours and
awards
FateTransferred to RAN
Australia
NameHMAS Shropshire
Commissioned20 April 1943
Decommissioned10 November 1949
Motto"Floreat Ambo"
Honours and
awards
FateSold for scrap, 16 July 1954
General characteristics
Class and typeCounty-class heavy cruiser
Displacement
  • 9,750 tons standard
  • 13,315 tons full load
Length633 ft (193 m)
Beam66 ft (20 m)
Draught21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion
  • 8 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines
  • 80,000 shaft horsepower (60,000 kW)
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range
  • 4,715 km (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)
  • 3,210 tons fuel oil
Complement690 (peace), 1,000 (war)
Armament
  • Original configuration:
  • 8 × 8-in (203 mm) Mk VIII dual guns
  • 4 × QF 4-in (102 mm) Mk V single AA guns
  • 4 × 2-pdr (40 mm) single pom-poms
  • 2 × 2-pdr (40 mm) quad pom-poms
  • 2 × 0.5-in quadruple Vickers machine gun mount
  • 2 × quadruple 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • April 1941 – November 1942 configuration:
  • 8 × 8-in (203 mm) Mk VIII dual guns
  • 4 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk XVI dual AA guns
  • 2 × 2-pdr (40 mm) eight barrel pom-poms
  • 10 × 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns
  • 2 × .50 caliber quadruple Vickers machine gun mount
  • 2 × quadruple 21-in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • November 1942 – April 1944 configuration:
  • 8 × 8 in (203-mm) Mk VIII dual guns
  • 4 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk XVI dual AA guns
  • 2 × 2-pdr (40 mm) eight barrel pom-poms
  • 6 × 20-mm (0.8 in) single guns
  • 7 × 20-mm (0.8 in) dual guns
  • 2 × 0.5-in quadruple Vickers machine gun mount
  • 2 × quadruple 21-in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • January 1945 – February 1946 configuration:
  • 8 × 8-in (203 mm) Mk VIII dual guns
  • 4 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk XVI dual AA guns
  • 2 × 2-pdr (40 mm) eight barrel pom-poms
  • 2 × 20-mm (0.8 in) dual guns
  • 15 × 40-mm (1.5 in) Bofors Mk III single guns
Armour
  • 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10.2 cm) magazine box protection
  • 1.375 inches (3.49 cm) deck
  • 1 inch (2.5 cm) side-plating, turrets and bulkheads
  • 4.5 inches (11 cm) belt
  • 4 inches (10 cm) internal boiler room sides (added 1936–1940)
Aircraft carriedOne aircraft, one catapult. Three planes used during service; Fairey III, Hawker Osprey, Supermarine Walrus
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