KING GEORGE V-Class Battleship ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead under the 1937 Build Programme on 29th July 1936. She was laid down on 1st January 1937 and launched on 3rd May 1939 as the 12th RN ship to carry this name. First used for a 3rd Rate in 1765 and last used for a battleship built in 1902 and sold in April 1920. Build was completed on 31st March 1941 and had been delayed by damage to the build shipyard during air raids on Merseyside.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ST LUCIA 1778 - GRENADA 1779 -  GROIX 1795  - CALDER'S Action 1805* - BALTIC  1807 - DARDANELLES 1915 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941

(* Only in Manning , 1959)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field White, on a red Cross, the Badge of the Prince of Wales proper.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                19th        Commissioned for Trials.

                                Commanding Officer Captain L K Hamilton.

                                (Note: Completion of fitting-out to be carried out by HM Dockyard, Rosyth

                                because of air raid damage in shipyard.)

                28th        Took passage from Liverpool to Rosyth.

                30th        Arrived at Rosyth

 

February                Fitting-out at Rosyth.

                                (Note: Fit of radar Type 281 for aircraft warning and limited fire-control use,

                                together with radar Type 284 for fire-control of forward main armament,

                                and four Type 285 for fire-control of 5.25" armament was completed.

                                For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA

                                by D Howse.)

                                Captain J C Leach MVO relieved Captain Hamilton on his promotion to Rear Admiral

 

March                    Contractor's trials.

                24th        Took passage from Forth to Scapa Flow for trials with ships of Home Fleet.

                                (Note: Shipyard and Dockyard personnel were embarked.

                                Some testing of compartments and systems was not carried out before

                                leaving Rosyth.)

                25th        Arrived at Scapa Flow.

                31st         Ship classified as completed. (the ‘completion' was only achieved by waiving                                                                  various vital tests. See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS by VE Tarrant)

 

April                       Deployed at Scapa Flow for work-up and trials including radar performance

                                and calibration of air warning and fire control equipment.

 

May

                8th          Carried out Full Power Trials.

                21st         Ship reported to CinC Home Fleet as ready for Fleet service.

                22nd       Took passage from Scapa Flow (She had on board contractors labour who were

                                attempting to fix the problems with the main armament) with HM Battlecruiser      

                                HOOD escorted by HM Destroyers ACHATES, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, ECHO,    

                                ELECTRA and ICARUS to take up patrol position SW of Iceland after refuelling in              

                                Iceland at Hvalfjord.

                                (Note: These ships were then to be stationed SW of Iceland to intercept two

                                German warships reported on passage via Denmark Strait to attack

                                Atlantic convoys.)

                22nd       Carried out exercises in preparation for anticipated action.

                                (Note: Home Fleet ships including HMS KING GEORGE V and HM Aircraft        

                               Carrier VICTORIOUS sailed from Scapa Flow to carry out interception of German

                               ships.)

                23rd        HMS ANTELOPE and HMS ANTHONY detached to refuel.

                                German warships sighted by HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and NORFOLK in

                                Denmark Strait identified as the German battleship BISMARCK and cruiser PRINZ

                                EUGEN.

                24th        Planned search by embarked WALRUS aircraft cancelled because of weather conditions.

                                (Note: Significant flooding was being caused forward when ship was in swell conditions and

                                due to low freeboard. See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS by V E Tarrant.)

                                0205 hours  - HM Destroyers ACHATES, ECHO, ELECTRA and ICARUS were detached and

                                ordered to search to the north.

                                0535 hours  - the enemy ships were sighted to the north west at 34,000 yards.

                                0550 hours  - enemy ships engaged by HMS HOOD.

                                0553 hours  - HMS PRINCE of  WALES opened fire. Both came under return fire.  

                                0601 hours  - HMS HOOD was hit after 5th enemy salvo, blew up and sank quickly with only

                                three survivors from a complement of over 1,400.

                                During further engagement with the German ships, HMS PRINCE OF WALES sustained damage

                                from three 15in (the first 15in shell hit the bridge killing or wounding everyone on the compass

                                platform except the Captain and the Chief Yeoman) and four 8in projectiles with 13 fatal

                               casualties and 9 wounded. Mechanical failures limited the extent of 14in fire  from both

                               quadruple turrets and of the 74 fire-orders to the individual guns only 55 had been successfully

                               carried out. The after mounting was disabled by the mishandling of shell which resulted in

                                training mechanism being  jammed.

                                (Note: The problems due to design failures in the complex system of safety interlocks were

                                common to all ships of the Class and experienced in HMS KING GEORGE V during later actions

                                involving this type of mounting.)

                                0605 hours  - HMS PRINCE OF WALES made smoke and turned away  due to the malfunctions of

                                her main armament. She had scored three hits on BISMARCK, one of which one caused                                 significant damage to the forward structure causing flooding and a consequential

                                reduction of speed by 2 knots. It also cut off access to 1000 tons of fuel oil in the forward fuel

                                tanks.

                                (Note: This damage became more crucial when violent movements taken to avoid air attacks

                               dislodged the damage control measures taken to prevent further flooding.)

                                (For details of the BISMARCK action see above reference, BATTLESHIP

                                BISMARCK by Mullenheim-Rechberg, PURSUIT by L Kennedy, and

                                the Naval Staff History.)

                25th        Detached from search operation and took passage to Hvalfjord.

                26th        Burial at sea of those killed was carried out during passage.

                27th        Under repair to allow safe return passage.

                28th        Took passage from Iceland.

 

June                        On arrival taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Rosyth,

                                (Note: During repair work an unexploded 15in shell was found below

                                the waterline near the Starboard Diesel Room and removed by

                                the Ship's Staff.) Whilst in dockyard hands she was fitted with the first radar Type  

                                273 a big ship surface search version of the 10 cm Type 271. (For details see   

                                RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

 

July        

                6th          Repairs completed.

                19th        Took passage to Scapa Flow escorted by HM Destroyers ACHATES, ACTIVE and       

                                ICARUS. Following which she resumed service with Home Fleet and deployed for   

                                extensive exercises including gunnery firings with HMS KING GEORGE V.

                                Nominated for special duty.

 

August

                4th          Embarked Prime Minister from HM Destroyer ORIBI at Scapa Flow

                                with Chiefs of Defence Staff for passage to Placentia Bay, Newfoundland

                                for meeting with President Roosevelt

                                Took passage escorted by HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HESPERUS and                                                                      HAVELOCK.

                5th          Destroyer escort detached because of the need to maintain maximum

                                speed in heavy weather conditions.

                6th          She was joined by three RCN Destroyers ASSINIBOINE, RESTIGOUCHE and

                                RIPLEY.

                9th          Arrived at Placentia and Prime Minister disembarked to meet US

                                President on US cruiser USS AUGUSTA.

                                (Note: The Atlantic Charter was signed during a series of discussions

                                that lasted for four days.)

                14th        Took passage from Placentia Bay for Hvalfjord Iceland with Prime

                                Minister. Escort provided by two US Navy Destroyers MAYRANT and RHIND, and four

                                RCN destroyers ASSINIBOINE, READING, RIPLEY and SAGUENAY.       

                15th        Closed Atlantic convoy HX 143 and passed through the columns twice to the acclaim

                               of  the crews of the merchant ships under escort.

                16th        Arrived at Hvalfjord to allow Prime Minister to address Icelandic

                                Parliament and to visit RN ships based in Iceland.

                                Sailed for Scapa Flow escorted by RN Destroyers ESCAPADE, PUNJABI and  

                                TARTAR.

                18th        Arrived at Scapa Flow, where the Prime Minister disembarked.

                                Deployed at Scapa Flow and carried out trials of new radar Type 273.

                                See reference. These trials were not successful.                                                           

 

September            

                9th          At Scapa Flow bought to half hour’s notice for steam to counter possible breakout of

                                the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer. This proved to be a false alarm.

                                Nominated for detached service as escort for Malta Relief convoy.

                                (Operation HALBERD).

                15th        Sailed from Scapa Flow to Greenock escorted by HM Cruiser EURYALUS and HM

                                Destroyers ESKIMO and LAFOREY.

                16th        Arrived at Greenock.

                17th        Joined WS 11X convoy and sailed as escort with HM Cruisers

                                KENYA and EURYALUS, screened by HM Destroyers HARVESTER,

                                HAVELOCK, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI, WHITEHALL, WITCH,

                                BLANKNEY, Dutch Destroyer ISAAC SWEERS, Polish Destroyers

                                ORP PIORUN and ORP GARLAND.

                19th        HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HARVESTER detached with SS STRATHEDEN

                                for passage to Newfoundland.

                21st         HM Battleship RODNEY joined escort.

                23rd        In company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and ORIBI she detached

                                 from convoy WS 11X and proceeded to Gibraltar to refuel.

                24th        In company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and ORIBI she sailed

                                from Gibraltar and proceeded west to rejoin convoy WS 11X.

                                HM Battleship NELSON, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL of Force H joined  

                                convoy WS 11X to the west of the Straights of Gibraltar, to provide air cover

                                during the passage through the Mediterranean.

                25th        In the early hours convoy WS 11X entered the Straights of Gibraltar. The five ships for

                                Gibraltar detached and the convoy became Operation Halberd.

                                Deployed with Force H ships as Force A to provide cover during

                                passage to Sicilian Narrows.

                27th        Under air attacks which were repelled by air cover and ships of escort.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON was hit by torpedo and damaged but remained

                                with convoy until ships for Malta detached.)

                                Mercantiles detached from Force A and took passage through Narrows

                                escorted by HM Cruisers KENYA, EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD and

                                HERMIONE screened by nine destroyers.

                                (For details of HALBERD convoy defence see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman

                                and Naval Staff History.)

                                Under threat of attack by Italian Battle Squadron but this interception

                                force turned back when it was realised HALBERD escort included

                                strong escort of battleships and an aircraft carrier. See references.)

                28th        Remained with Force A west of Narrows to await return of Force X

                                (Note: HMS NELSON was detached with escort to take passage to

                                Gibraltar for repair.)

                                Force A under attack by Italian submarine DIASPRO which failed.

                29th        Force X ships rejoined and combined Forces left area off Bizerte for

                                return to Gibraltar.

                                Further attack attempted by Italian submarine SERPENTE which failed.

                30th        Launched WALRUS aircraft to carry out anti-submarine patrol.

                                Italian submarine ADUA was detected and sunk by HM Destroyers

                                LEGION and GURKHA (ii).

                                Arrived at Gibraltar with combined Forces. During Operation Halberd

                                she had shot down three aircraft - two Italian and one FAA Fulmar!

 

October

                1st           Took passage from Gibraltar for Scapa Flow escorted by HM Destroyers

                                 LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI and LIVELY. West of the Straits of Gibraltar  

                                 LIVELY detached and returned to Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Excess temperatures experienced during Mediterranean

                                service revealed another design weakness of this Class of

                                battleship. It was never dealt with.)

                6th          Arrived at Scapa Flow in company with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING,

                               and ORIBI to resume Home Fleet deployment.

                20th        Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet with HM Battlecruiser REPULSE.

                                (For details of circumstances leading up to this decision at Cabinet

                                level, see above references.)

                23rd        Sailed from Scapa Flow for the Clyde screened by HM Destroyers

                                ELECTRA and EXPRESS which were also being transferred to Eastern

                                Fleet.

                24th        Embarked Admiral T Phillips to take up his appointment as CinC Eastern

                                Fleet with staff officers for passage to Ceylon.

                                (Note: Intention was for ship to be deployed at Singapore with HMS

                                REPULSE which was to be met at Colombo)

                25th        Sailed from the Clyde for passage to Colombo with calls at Freetown and

                                Cape Town

                                Escorted additionally in NW Approaches by HM Destroyer HESPERUS.

                                (Note: Ships being transferred to Eastern Fleet designated Force G.)

                29th        HMS HESPERUS detached and returned to Clyde.

 

November

                5th          Arrived at Freetown.

                16th        Arrived at Cape Town. Admiral Phillips called on General Smuts,

                                the Prime Minister of South Africa.

                18th        Sailed from Cape Town for Colombo.

                28th        Arrived at Colombo after calls at Mauritius and Addu Atoll (Port T) for fuel.

                                (Note: Excessive temperatures were again experienced during passage

                                in the Indian Ocean and were the subject of report by Ships Medical Officer.)

                29th        Joined by HMS REPULSE with HM Destroyers JUPITER and

                                ENCOUNTER as additional screen on departure from Colombo

                                and took passage with HMS ELECTRA and HMS EXPRESS for Singapore,

                                still designated Force G.

 

December

                2nd         Arrived at Singapore, following which they were designated Force Z.

                3rd          Docked for routine hull cleaning and inspection.

                                (Note: Ship was later taken in hand for re-tubing of distilling machinery.)

                5th          HMS REPULSE sailed for visit to Port Darwin.

                6th          HMS REPULSE recalled to Singapore in view of likelihood of war with

                                Japan and for discussions in Manila between Admiral Phillips and CinC of

                                US Asiatic Fleet.

                7th          HMS REPULSE returned to Singapore.

                8th          War Telegram received.

                                Ship undocked and War Conference held on board.

                                Admiralty informed of intention to sail at dusk to attack enemy forces off

                                Kota Bharu.

                                (Note: See KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS and Naval Staff History

                                for details of this fatal decision.)

                                Sailed from Singapore with HMS REPULSE escorted by HM Destroyers

                                ELECTRA, EXPRESS, VAMPIRE and TENEDOS. Designated as Force Z.

                                (Note: HMS JUPITER and HMS ENCOUNTER were taken in hand for repair

                                after arrival at Singapore.)

                9th          Force Z reported on passage north by Japanese submarine.

                                Signal received from Singapore stating that fighter protection could not be

                                provided on 10th as requested at earlier meetings in Singapore.

                                Japanese reconnaissance aircraft sighted.

                                Decision made to return to Singapore. HMS TENEDOS detached to refuel.

                10th        Diverted on passage to investigate reported landings at Kuantan.

                                Japanese air search for Force Z ships directed farther south.

                                Kuantan area found deserted and searched for tug and barges sighted earlier.

                                Came under unsuccessful attack by bomber aircraft, five of which were

                                reported damaged.

                                Second attack by torpedo aircraft resulted in hits by two torpedoes which

                                struck the port side, abaft Y Turret and near the after 5.25" mountings.

                                These damaged the outboard propeller shaft, disabling the ship and also

                                caused extensive flooding with loss of electric power.

                                Four more torpedoes hit the ship on the starboard side in the sixth air

                                attack on Force Z and damaged the port outer propeller and shaft and

                                caused more flooding.

                                Her fate was sealed when the ship was struck by a bomb amidships

                                between the funnels with further damage by six other bombs which

                                "near missed". The list to port was increasing and the ship was

                                gradually sinking when the order to Abandon Ship was given.

                                The battleship lurched to port and capsized at 1320 and rests in position

                                03.34N 104.27E SE of Kuantan, Malaysia. 327 of her total complement

                                of 1,612 lost their lives including Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach.

                                (Casualty List - note on casualties)

                                (For details of this action see above references and BRITISH BATTLESHIPS

                                OF WW2 by A Raven and J Roberts.)

 

 

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS PRINCE OF WALES

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

(Note on Convoys)