Charybdis HMS
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:55 pm
HMS Charybdis was a Dido class cruiser laid down at Cammell Laird in 1938- the same year her construction was authorised - and completed in December 1941.
Following her acceptance trials she joined the Home Fleet in March 1942 and took part in minelaying Operation SN 87. A month later she was transferred to the North Atlantic Command and sailed to Gibraltar. For the next few months she was involved in escort duties for Malta convoys, mainly carrying aircraft reinforcements. Operations "L.B." and "Salient" took place in the first half of the year and Operation "Harpoon" in June. The summer was taken up with more of the same medicine as she partook in Operations "Pedestal" and "Baritone". Then came a change of scene as she was sent into the Atlantic in search of German Raiders and blockage runners. Following this brief foray into the Atlantic she again returned to the Malta run for Operation "Train".
Operation "Torch" saw HMS Charybdis transferred to Force H as part of the 12th Cruiser Squadron and entrusted with transporting the Allied Force H.Q.
On the 12th December she sailed for UK where she joined the Home Fleet in a minelaying operation in the Scapa Flow area. Patrolling the North Sea was her lot during the first three months of 1943. She was then transferred to the Plymouth Command for a short time before returning to Gibraltar for more escort duty in the Mediterranean.
September found her taking part in the Salerno landing after which she returned to Plymouth. Further patrols in the Bay of Biscay followed. Her luck changed on the 23rd October 1943 when she was surprised by two German destroyers and torpedoed. She sank with the loss of 462 lives.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG566
Following her acceptance trials she joined the Home Fleet in March 1942 and took part in minelaying Operation SN 87. A month later she was transferred to the North Atlantic Command and sailed to Gibraltar. For the next few months she was involved in escort duties for Malta convoys, mainly carrying aircraft reinforcements. Operations "L.B." and "Salient" took place in the first half of the year and Operation "Harpoon" in June. The summer was taken up with more of the same medicine as she partook in Operations "Pedestal" and "Baritone". Then came a change of scene as she was sent into the Atlantic in search of German Raiders and blockage runners. Following this brief foray into the Atlantic she again returned to the Malta run for Operation "Train".
Operation "Torch" saw HMS Charybdis transferred to Force H as part of the 12th Cruiser Squadron and entrusted with transporting the Allied Force H.Q.
On the 12th December she sailed for UK where she joined the Home Fleet in a minelaying operation in the Scapa Flow area. Patrolling the North Sea was her lot during the first three months of 1943. She was then transferred to the Plymouth Command for a short time before returning to Gibraltar for more escort duty in the Mediterranean.
September found her taking part in the Salerno landing after which she returned to Plymouth. Further patrols in the Bay of Biscay followed. Her luck changed on the 23rd October 1943 when she was surprised by two German destroyers and torpedoed. She sank with the loss of 462 lives.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG566