HMS Euryalus (42)

Euryalus at a buoy on completion, June 1941
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Euryalus
Builder:	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down:	21 October 1937
Launched:	6 June 1939
Commissioned:	30 June 1941
Decommissioned:	19 September 1954
Fate:	Scrapped, Arrived at Blyth on 18 July 1959 to be scrapped by Hughes Bolckow.
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 (46,000 kW)
Speed:	32.25 knots (60 km/h)
Range:	1,303 nmi (2,414 km) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) 3,685 nmi (6,824 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement:	480
Armament:	Original configuration: 5 x twin 5.25-inch (133 mm) guns 1 x 4-inch (102 mm) gun 2 x quad 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) machine guns, 3 x quad 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom guns, 2 x triple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Mid 1943 - Mid 1944 configuration: 5 x twin 5.25 in guns, 3 x 20 mm (0.79 in) guns 4 x twin 20 mm guns, 2 x quad 0.5 in machine guns, 2 x quad 2 pdr pom-pom guns, 2 x triple 21 in torpedo tubes. Mid 1944 - 1945 configuration: 4 x twin 5.25 in guns, 3 x 20 mm guns 6 x twin 20 mm guns, 2 x quad 0.5 in machine guns, 3 x quad 2 pdr pom-pom guns, 2 x triple 21 in torpedo tubes.
Armor:	Original configuration: Belt: 3 in (76 mm) Deck: 1 in (25 mm) Magazines: 2 in (51 mm) Bulkheads: 1 in (25 mm)
Notes:	Pennant number 42

HMS Euryalus was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Chatham Dockyard UK, with the keel being laid down on 21 October 1937. She was launched on 6 June 1939, and commissioned 30 June 1941. Euryalus was the last cruiser that Chatham Dockyard built.

11 November 1941 jointed 15th Cruiser Squadron at Alexandria for service in Mediterranean Fleet. 24th of this month deployed with HMS Ajax, HMS Galatea, HMS Naiad and HMS Neptune, Force "B", in search for convoys on passage to Benghazi. On 15 December 1941 left the 15th cruiser squadron (RAdm. P. L. Vian), with the cruisers HMS Naiad, HMS Euryalus and eight destroyers the harbour of Alexandria to escorting the freighter Breconshire bound to Malta. On 17 December 1941 joining with Force "K", comes from Malta, to escort the Breconshire back to the Island. The 15th cruiser squadron with HMS Euryalus sailed to Alexandria the next day. 23 January 1943 with HMS Cleopatra and the destroyers HMS Jervis, HMS Nubian and HMS Kelvin bombardment of the german-italian forces at Zuara.

17 September 1941 jointed escort for convoy WS. 11X. From 24 to 30 September 1941 Convoy Operation "Halberd", to supporting the Island of Malta. Nine fast freighters, escorted by three battleships (HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Nelson, HMS Rodney), the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, five cruisers (HMS Kenya, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Sheffield, HMS Euryalus and HMS Hermione) and eighteen destroyers started from Gibraltar, two days later spotted from Italian scouting planes. 27. September begins the first Italian air attacks started from Sardinia, one torpedo hits the battleship Nelson north of the Island La Galite, in the evening of the same day they destroying the freighter Imperial Star north of Cape Bone. 1 October now part of Force "W", Gibraltar.