HMS Spartan (95)

HMS Spartan newly completed off Barrow-in-Furness, UK August 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Spartan
Builder:	Vickers-Armstrongs, (Barrow-in-Furness, UK)
Laid down:	21 December 1939
Launched:	27 August 1942
Commissioned:	12 July 1943
Fate:	Sunk 29 January 1944 by a Henschel Hs 293 from a German aircraft off Anzio, western Italy.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Dido-class light cruiser
Displacement:	5,950 long tons (6,050 t) (standard) 7,200 long tons (7,300 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 turbines 4 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers 4 × shafts
Speed:	32.25 kn (37.11 mph; 59.73 km/h)
Range:	1,500 mi (2,400 km) at 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h) 4,240 mi (6,820 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Capacity:	1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement:	530
Armament:	8 × 5.25 in (133 mm) dual purpose guns (4x2), 12 × 2-pounder anti-aircraft guns (3x4), 12 × 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons (6x2), 6 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (2x3)
Armour:	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 95

HMS Spartan was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Bellona subgroup of the Royal Navy. She was a modified Dido design with only four turrets but improved anti-aircraft armament - also known as Dido Group 2. She was built by Vickers-Armstrongs (Barrow-in-Furness, UK), with the keel being laid down on 21 December 1939. She was launched on 27 August 1942, and commissioned on 12 July 1943.

Commissioned with a Devonport crew under the command of Captain P.V. McLaughlin, Royal Navy, Spartan was originally intended for service with the Eastern Fleet, but after a couple of months with the Home Fleet, spent mainly working-up at Scapa Flow, on 17 October 1943 she left Plymouth Sound for the Mediterranean, sailing by way of Gibraltar and Algiers, she arrived at Malta on 28 October 1943 to be temporarily attached to the Mediterranean Fleet. She went on to Taranto to join the 15th Cruiser Squadron on 8 November.

On the night of 18–19 January 1944 Spartan carried out a diversionary bombardment in the Terracina area, and—with the cruiser Orion and four destroyers—provided useful supporting fire during the Garigliano River Operations. There was only minor opposition from shore batteries, and during the bombardment Spartan alone fired 900 rounds.