RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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ivorthediver
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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timlewin wrote: Tue Feb 05, 2019 2:53 pm sorry if they are inverted, but its easy to turn them round on PDF.
Thank you very much Tim they make fascinating if a tad depressing reading , and can only sympathise with him . :(
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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County Class Heavy Cruiser HMS Norfolk pictured at Third Street Wharf,New Orleans, March 10th, 1933.
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oldsalt
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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One of the County class had a nasty turret explosion, several RM's , I believe, were killed, happened in the early 50's. I think it was Devonshire that was moored in the Tamar, not far from the Torpoint ferry in the 50's . I think she was used trying & testing new gunnery systems.
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jbryce1437
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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oldsalt wrote: Wed Jun 26, 2019 4:09 pm One of the County class had a nasty turret explosion, several RM's , I believe, were killed, happened in the early 50's. I think it was Devonshire that was moored in the Tamar, not far from the Torpoint ferry in the 50's . I think she was used trying & testing new gunnery systems.
Just looked it up on Royal Navy Memories Keith:

While engaged in firing practice in the Aegean, off the island of Skhiatos, the left gun of “X” turret misfired. The breech operator did not realize it and opened the breech block, causing the charge inside the barrel to explode and also ignite the next one inside the turret; 17 men died in the mishap.
Devonshire returned to England for repairs in August. As a result of this incident, a new interlock was fitted, which prevented the operator from opening the breech until it had been tripped by the gun firing or manually reset by another operator inside the turret.

Casualties:-

Fatalities, Royal Marines;

Captain John Arthur Bath D.S.C.† Killed Outright
Sergeant William Ernest Snell¤ Missing, presumed drowned
Corporal Edward Bacon † Killed outright
Corporal Joseph E. Barber† Died on board HMS Maine
Corporal James Levins † Killed Outright
Marine James W. Blackman † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Joseph S. Brindle † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Samuel Goldsmith † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Frank Grindle † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Edward C. Harris † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine William Ernest Hellyer‡ Died on board HMS Maine
Marine William George Hole† Died on board HMS Devonshire
Marine Augustus Alexander MacDonald† Died on board HMS Devonshire
Marine John Tossel Old † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Lionel R. Taylor † Died on board HMS Maine
Marine Frank Williams † Died on board HMS Maine

¤Sgt. Snell’s body was never recovered, despite HMS Sussex and HMS Frobisher searching the area for the rest of the day.

Fatality -Royal Navy

Ordnance Artificer Arthur C. Edwards † Died on board HMS Maine

Injuries -Royal Marines

Corporal L.E. Elliott Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Corporal G.C. Pengelly Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Acting Corporal Charles Percival Wickenden ± Hospitalised on HMS Maine
Marine T. Agar Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Marine A. Brimblecombe Hospitalised on HMS Maine
Marine F. Chalice Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Marine W.J. Elliott Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Marine J. Hallam Hospitalised on HMS Maine
Marine G.H. Harkcom Hospitalised on HMS Maine
Marine E.F. Hymen Hospitalised on HMS Maine
Marine W. Smith Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Marine Albert Edward Streams° Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire

Injuries -Royal Navy

Chief Petty Officer R.E. Jenns Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
L/S/A W.G. Eason Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Able Seaman A.E. Haley Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire
Able Seaman [?].J. Smith Hospitalised on HMS Maine
O/S O.C. Mason Hospitalised on HMS Devonshire

† Buried in the Naval Reservation at Volos, 27th July, 1929.
¤ Commemorated in the Memorial in the Naval Reservation at Volos.

‡ Buried in the Naval Reservation at Volos, 29th July, 1929.
± Act. Cpl. Wickenden later died of his injuries in Malta, probably at Bighi Royal Naval Hospital. He was buried at Kalkara Naval Cemetery on 4th September, 1929, in Plot D, Grave 586.
° Marine Streams was later awarded the Albert Medal in recognition of his part in rescuing casualties from the turret.

HMS Maine was a Royal Naval Hospital Ship. She was launched as SS Panama in 1902. Purchased by the Admiralty in 1920 for use as a Hospital ship to the Mediteranean Fleet, based at Malta. Saw active service during WWII. Whilst at Alexander, more than 13000 casualties were treated. She was sold for scrap in 1947. She might also have had the title as RFA Maine (Royal Fleet Auxiliary Maine)
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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County Class Heavy Cruiser HMS Cumberland pictured off Car Nicobar,Andaman Sea in October 1944, as seen from sister ship HMS Suffolk.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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HMS London pictured on the Tyne,post her 1946 refit.She was a member of the second group of the County-Class Heavy Cruisers,she and her sisters; Sussex, Shropshire, and Devonshire differed from the earlier group of Counties, (known as the Kent Class), by having a smaller forward superstructure, which was positioned slightly further aft, and little armour plating.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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County Class Heavy Cruiser HMS Norfolk, pictured docking at Pier 2 Naval Operating Base (NOB), Norfolk, VA,September 23rd, 1933.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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County Class Heavy Cruiser HMS London seen from Tribal Class Destroyer HMS Ashanti in March 1942.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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Kent Class Sub Group of the County Class,Heavy Cruiser HMS London seen coming alongside the detached mole at Gibraltar. This was not a popular berth because it was only possible to get ashore by boat, whereas the mole where the Battleships can be seen was connected to the shore and it was possible to walk directly into town. The ships with the senior officers always got the best billets. The Carrier anchored outside the harbour appears to be HMS Furious,April 1st 1929.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Cruisers: County Class 1928

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Grand Harbour Malta May 3rd 1929....astern of the Renown Class Battlecruiser on the left is a Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship in the floating Drydock,also astern of County Class Heavy Cruiser HMS London is the Minelaying Cruiser HMS Adventure.
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