HMS Argonaut (61)

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

History
HMS Argonaut in her War (Dazzle) Colours, November 1943 just after repairs at Philadelphia Navy yard
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Argonaut
Builder:	Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, UK)
Laid down:	21 November 1939
Launched:	6 September 1941
Commissioned:	8 August 1942
Out of service:	6 July 1946
Reclassified:	In reserve between 1946 to 1955
Fate:	Scrapped, Arrived at J Cashmore, Newport on 19 November 1955
General characteristics
Class and type:	Dido-class light cruiser
Displacement:	5,600 tons standard 6,850 tons full load
Length:	485 ft (148 m) pp 512 ft (156 m) oa
Beam:	50.5 ft (15.4 m)
Draught:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion:	Parsons geared turbines Four shafts Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers 62,000 shp (46 MW)
Speed:	32.25 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
Complement:	480
Armament:	Original configuration: 10 x 5.25 in (133 mm) dual purpose guns, 4 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns, 2 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns, 2 x 21 in (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.
Armor:	Original configuration: Belt: 3 inch, Deck: 1 inch, Magazines: 2 inch, Bulkheads: 1 inch.
Notes:	Pennant number 61

HMS Argonaut was a Dido-class cruiser. October till November 1942 part of Operation "Torch", allied Landings in North Africa. In this time part of Force "H", Gibraltar, commanding officers VAdm. Sir E. N. Syfret. Force "H" was a supporting force against german-italian attacks or French counter attacks. December 1942 part of the new Force "Q" (RAdm. C. H. J. Harcourt) to fight against german-itallian convoys on the tunesian coast. Part of Force "Q" are the cruisers Aurora, Sirius, Argonaut and the both Canadian destroyers Quiberon and Quentin. 1. Deccember fighting with Italian Escort forces, the Italian convoy lost all four transport ships and the Italian destroyers Nicoloso da Recco (Cpt. Aldo Cocchia), Folgore and the topedo boat Procione. On the following day the german Air Force sinking HMCS Quentin westward of Cape Serrat. 14. December hevy demaged by air torpedos from german T-Bombers not far from Bone. The ship must go to Algier for first repairs.

References

Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
Fechter, H.; Hümmelchen, G.: Seekriegsatlas. Mittelmeeer, Schwarzes Meer, 1940 - 1943. J. F. Lehmanns Verlag, München 1972, p. 90 (Op. Torch) and 98 ff. (Tunesia) ISBN 3-469-00298-3

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Argonaut (61).

Dido-class cruisers

Royal Navy

Dido group	Naiad Phoebe Bonaventure Hermione Euryalus Dido Cleopatra Scylla Charybdis Sirius Argonaut

Bellona group	Royalist Diadem Black Prince Spartan Bellona

Royal New Zealand Navy

Pakistan Navy

Babur / Jahangir (ex-Diadem)

Preceded by: Town class
Followed by: Crown Colony class

List of cruisers of the Royal Navy

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