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On 14 December 1942, ''Argonaut'' was heavily damaged when the Italian [[Marcello-class submarine|Marcello-class]] submarine [[Lazzaro Mocenigo]] ([[:it:Lazzaro Mocenigo (sommergibile 1938)|Italian]]) struck the cruiser with two torpedoes from a spread of four.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Men at the bottom. History of Italian Submarine From Origins to Today|last=Giorgerini|first=Giorgio|publisher=Mondadori|year=2002|isbn=|location=|page=343}}</ref> suffering immense damage. The bow and stern sections of the cruiser were effectively blown off and the steering wrecked. Though only three crew members were killed, the damage was so severe that German authorities mistakenly believed the ''Argonaut'' had been sunk.<ref name=":0" /> The ship was patched up and limped to [[Algiers]] for more temporary repairs. It then sailed for the United States where it underwent a seven-month reconstruction, completed in November 1943.
On 14 December 1942, ''Argonaut'' was heavily damaged when the Italian [[Marcello-class submarine|Marcello-class]] submarine [[Lazzaro Mocenigo]] ([[:it:Lazzaro Mocenigo (sommergibile 1938)|Italian]]) struck the cruiser with two torpedoes from a spread of four.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Men at the bottom. History of Italian Submarine From Origins to Today|last=Giorgerini|first=Giorgio|publisher=Mondadori|year=2002|isbn=|location=|page=343}}</ref> suffering immense damage. The bow and stern sections of the cruiser were effectively blown off and the steering wrecked. Though only three crew members were killed, the damage was so severe that German authorities mistakenly believed the ''Argonaut'' had been sunk.<ref name=":0" /> The ship was patched up and limped to [[Algiers]] for more temporary repairs. It then sailed for the United States where it underwent a seven-month reconstruction, completed in November 1943.


When the ''Argonaut'' returned to the UK, it was refitted and received the new 293 and 277 radars and took part in bombardment duties on D-Day, under the command of Captain Longley. It also supported the Allied invasion of Southern France, [[Operation Dragoon]], before seeing duty as an Escort carrier Flagship.
When the ''Argonaut'' returned to the UK, it was refitted and received the new 293 and 277 radars. It took part in bombardment duties on D-Day under the command of Captain Longley. It also supported the Allied invasion of Southern France, [[Operation Dragoon]], before seeing duty as an Escort carrier Flagship.


Subsequently, the ship conducted a sweep of the Aegean Sea, sinking a number of small Axis craft, before sailing east to the Indian Ocean where ''Argonaut'' joined the British Pacific Fleet in 1945. After the war, she was laid up on return to the UK in 1946 and saw no further service before being scrapped in 1955.
Subsequently, the ship conducted a sweep of the Aegean Sea, sinking a number of small Axis craft, before sailing east to the Indian Ocean where ''Argonaut'' joined the British Pacific Fleet in 1945. After the war, she was laid up on return to the UK in 1946 and saw no further service before being scrapped in 1955.

Revision as of 19:15, 4 January 2018

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Argonaut.

HMS Argonaut
HMS Argonaut in her War (Dazzle) Colours, November 1943 just after repairs at Philadelphia Navy yard
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Argonaut
BuilderCammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, UK)
Laid down21 November 1939
Launched6 September 1941
Commissioned8 August 1942
Out of service6 July 1946
ReclassifiedIn reserve from 1946 to 1955
FateScrapped, Arrived at J Cashmore, Newport on 19 November 1955
General characteristics
Class and typeTemplate:Sclass- light cruiser
Displacement
  • 5,600 tons standard
  • 6,850 tons full load
Length
  • 485 ft (148 m) pp
  • 512 ft (156 m) oa
Beam50.5 ft (15.4 m)
Draught14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion
  • Parsons geared turbines
  • Four shafts
  • Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 62,000 shp (46 MW)
Speed32.25 knots (60 km/h)
Range
  • 2,414 km (1,303 nmi; 1,500 mi) (1,500 miles) at 30 knots
  • 6,824 km (4,240 miles) at 16 knots
  • 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement480
ArmamentOriginal configuration:
10 (5x2) 5.25 in (133 mm) dual purpose guns,
4 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns,
8 (2x4) 2 pdr (40 mm) pom-poms quad guns,
2 x 21-inch (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes.

1943-1944 configuration:

8 x 5.25 in (133 mm) guns,
3 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns,
5 x 20 mm (0.8 in) twin guns,
2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes.

1944-1946 configuration:

8 x 5.25 in (133 mm) guns,
3 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns,
6 x 20 mm (0.8 in) twin power-operated guns,
5 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns,
5 x 40 mm (1.6 in) Boffins twin guns,
3 x 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors Mk III single guns,
2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes.
ArmorOriginal configuration:
Belt: 3 inch,
Deck: 1 inch,
Magazines: 2 inch,
Bulkheads: 1 inch.
NotesPennant number 61

HMS Argonaut was a Template:Sclass- of the British Royal Navy which saw active service during the Second World War. Constructed at the Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, Argonaut was laid down in 1939, launched in September 1941, and formally commissioned into service on 8 August 1942.[1]

History

During October and November 1942, Argonaut served as part of Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. The cruiser formed part of Force H, based in Gibraltar and commanded by Vice Admiral Sir E.N. Syfret. It was charged with guarding the landings against possible attack from Italian or Vichy French naval forces.[2] HMS Argonaut, in particular, was dispatched on a diversionary mission into the Mediterranean.[1]

In December 1942 Argonaut joined the newly formed Force Q, commanded by Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt, with the mission of disrupting German–Italian convoys on the Tunisian coast. In addition to Argonaut, Force Q included the cruisers Aurora and Sirius, and the Australian destroyers Quiberon and Quentin.

On 1 December, Argonaut and the other ships in Force Q took part in the Battle of Skerki Bank - attacking and largely destroying an Italian convoy. While the Axis forces lost four troop ships and one destroyer (the Folgore) Allies emerged from the engagement intact. On the following day, the German Air Force sank HMAS Quentin westward of Cap Serrat.[3]

Argonaut's hull, after suffering heavy torpedo damage.

On 14 December 1942, Argonaut was heavily damaged when the Italian Marcello-class submarine Lazzaro Mocenigo (Italian) struck the cruiser with two torpedoes from a spread of four.[4] suffering immense damage. The bow and stern sections of the cruiser were effectively blown off and the steering wrecked. Though only three crew members were killed, the damage was so severe that German authorities mistakenly believed the Argonaut had been sunk.[1] The ship was patched up and limped to Algiers for more temporary repairs. It then sailed for the United States where it underwent a seven-month reconstruction, completed in November 1943.

When the Argonaut returned to the UK, it was refitted and received the new 293 and 277 radars. It took part in bombardment duties on D-Day under the command of Captain Longley. It also supported the Allied invasion of Southern France, Operation Dragoon, before seeing duty as an Escort carrier Flagship.

Subsequently, the ship conducted a sweep of the Aegean Sea, sinking a number of small Axis craft, before sailing east to the Indian Ocean where Argonaut joined the British Pacific Fleet in 1945. After the war, she was laid up on return to the UK in 1946 and saw no further service before being scrapped in 1955.

References

In-line references:

  1. ^ a b c "Dido Class Cruiser". HMS ARGONAUT ASSOCIATION. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ^ Lane Herder, Brian (2017). Operation Torch 1942: The invasion of French North Africa. Bloomsbury.
  3. ^ Tucker, Spencer C. (ed.) (2011). World War II at Sea: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Men at the bottom. History of Italian Submarine From Origins to Today. Mondadori. p. 343.

Background references:

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