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HMS Bermuda (C52)
Encyclopedia
HMS Bermuda (pennant number
52, later C52) was a Crown Colony-class
light cruiser
of the British
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, the first was a Bermuda sloop
purchased in 1795.
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
, was sunk while participating in the evacuation of Crete
.
Through 1942, Bermuda would participate in the North Africa campaign, including Operation Torch
, as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. With HMS Sheffield
, 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.
The refit removed her 'X' turret, and she was then dispatched to the Pacific as the war in Europe was ending, in May 1945. She arrived in Fremantle
on 1 July to take on fuel and stores, before continuing on to Sydney
, where she arrived on the 7 July. There she undertook exercises with other Royal Navy ships serving in the Far East, including the battleship
HMS Anson. 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, 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.
. 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 1952-54. She then served with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1953, she and her sister HMS Gambia brought aid to the Greek island of Zakynthos
when it was struck by a severe 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"
In 1956 Bermuda was paid-off and towed up to Palmer's at Hebburn on Tyne to undergo a long refit. 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.
Bermuda was decommissioned in 1962, after 21 years in service. She was scrapped by Ward, Briton Ferry
, Wales
starting on 26 August 1965
, the other items went missing following the ship's decommissioning.
Last pictures of HMS Bermuda at T H Wards breakers yard Briton ferry Neath 60's. 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. HMS BERMUDA C52
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
52, later C52) was a Crown Colony-class
Crown Colony class cruiser
The Crown Colony-class light cruisers of the Royal Navy were named after Crown Colonies of the British Empire. The first eight are known as the Fiji class, while the last three to be built are commonly referred to as the Ceylon class and were built to a slightly modified design.-Design:They were...
light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was completed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served in that conflict. She was named for the British territory of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and was the eighth vessel
HMS Bermuda
Eight vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Bermuda, after the island of Bermuda. was a 14-gun brig-sloop purchased in 1795, and foundered the following year. was an 18-gun sloop-of-war launched in 1805 and wrecked 1808. was a 10-gun brig-sloop launched 1808 and wrecked 1816, built...
of that name, the first was a Bermuda sloop
Bermuda sloop
The Bermuda sloop is a type of fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel developed on the islands of Bermuda in the 17th century. In its purest form, it is single-masted, although ships with such rigging were built with as many as three masts, which are then referred to as schooners...
purchased in 1795.
Bermuda was built by John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
of Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
and launched on 11 September 1941. In the same year, the lead ship of the class, HMS Fiji
HMS Fiji (C58)
HMS Fiji was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the island group, and at that time, the Crown colony of Fiji. She has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name.-Early career:...
, was sunk while participating in the evacuation of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
.
War service
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. With HMS Sheffield
HMS Sheffield (C24)
HMS Sheffield was one of the Southampton sub class of the Town-class cruisers of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She took part in actions against several major German warships. Unlike most Royal Navy ships of her time, her fittings were constructed from stainless steel instead of the...
, she was detached from Force H
Force H
Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany....
to attack a small coastal fort, where both came under attack from Italian torpedo bombers. She covered the landing at Bougie
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and 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
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, and in June 1943, she transported men and supplies to Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
. 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
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in June 1944 for a refit.
The refit removed her 'X' turret, and she was then dispatched to the Pacific as the war in Europe was ending, in May 1945. She arrived in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on 1 July to take on fuel and stores, before continuing on to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where she arrived on the 7 July. There she undertook exercises with other Royal Navy ships serving in the Far East, including the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
HMS Anson. Whilst in Sydney, news reached them of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
and the subsequent surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
. Bermuda then sailed for the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 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, 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
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
for repatriation.
Post war
Bermuda remained in the Far East as the flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron, until 1947, when she returned to the UK for a refit at Chatham DockyardChatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
. 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
South Atlantic Station
The South Atlantic Station was one of the geographical divisions into which the British Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formed from the former Cape of Good Hope Station.-History:...
until 1953. Vice Admiral Peveril William-Powlett
Peveril William-Powlett
Vice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett KCB KCMG CBE DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.-Naval career:...
was Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic from 1952-54. She then served with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1953, she and her sister HMS Gambia brought aid to the Greek island of Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
when it was struck by a severe 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"
In 1956 Bermuda was paid-off and towed up to Palmer's at Hebburn on Tyne to undergo a long refit. 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
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
to assist in the reinforcement of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
during a period of civil unrest.
Bermuda was decommissioned in 1962, after 21 years in service. She was scrapped by Ward, Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. The town encompasses the electoral wards of Briton Ferry East and Briton Ferry West....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
starting on 26 August 1965
Bermuda
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 into The Bermuda Regiment. Apart from the bell and the bugles, which were collected together by the Bermuda Maritime Museum at the former Bermuda DockyardRoyal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
HMD Bermuda was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. Bermuda had occupied a useful position astride the homeward leg taken by many European vessels from the New World since before its settlement by England in 1609...
, the other items went missing following the ship's decommissioning.
External links
- WWII cruisers
- HMS Bermuda at Uboat.net
- HMS Bermuda - A comprehensive story of the Bermuda, including personal stories and photographs
- HMS Bermuda (Clydebuilt Ships Database)
Last pictures of HMS Bermuda at T H Wards breakers yard Briton ferry Neath 60's. 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. HMS BERMUDA C52