HMS Bonaventure (31)

Bonaventure at her mooring in 1940
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Bonaventure
Builder:	Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company (Greenock, Scotland)
Laid down:	30 August 1937
Launched:	19 April 1939
Commissioned:	24 May 1940
Fate:	Torpedoed by the Italian submarine Ambra south of Crete, 31 March 1941 (139 lost)
General characteristics
Class and type:	Dido-class light cruiser
Displacement:	5,600 long tons (5,700 t) (standard) 6,850 long tons (6,960 t) (full load)
Length:	485 ft (148 m) p.p. 512 ft (156 m) o/a
Beam:	50 ft 6 in (15.39 m)
Draught:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Installed power:	62,000 shp (46,000 kW)
Propulsion:	4 × Parsons geared steam turbines 4 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers 4 × shafts
Speed:	32.25 kn (37.11 mph; 59.73 km/h)
Range:	1,500 mi (1,300 nmi; 2,400 km) at 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h) 4,240 mi (3,680 nmi; 6,820 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Capacity:	1,100 short tons (1,000 t) fuel oil
Complement:	480
Armament:	As built : 8 × 5.25 in (133 mm) dual purpose guns (4×2) 1 QF 4-inch gun 8 × 2-pounder pom-pom anti-aircraft guns (2×4) 6 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (2×3)
Armour:	Original Configuration: Belt: 3 in (7.6 cm) Deck: 1 in (2.5 cm) Magazines: 2 in (5.1 cm) Bulkheads: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Notes:	Pennant number 31

HMS Bonaventure was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. Bonaventure participated as an escort vessel in Operation Fish, the World War II evacuation of British wealth from the UK to Canada. It was the largest movement of wealth in history.

On 10 January 1941 she, along with HMS Southampton and/or HMS Hereward, shelled and sank the Italian torpedo boat Vega off Cape Bon, Tunisia, Operation "Excess".

On 31 March 1941 she was torpedoed and sunk south of Crete (33°20′N 26°35′E / 33.333°N 26.583°E / 33.333; 26.583) by the Italian submarine Ambra with the loss of 139 of her 480 crew. 310 survivors rescued by HMS Hereward and HMAS Stuart.

Coordinates: 33°20′0″N 26°35′0″E / 33.33333°N 26.58333°E / 33.33333; 26.58333