HMS York (90)

HMS "York", pennant number 90, was a "York" class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, on 18 May 1927 launched on 17 July 1928 and completed on 1 May 1930.

She was the lead ship for the planned five ships of her class, built to a modified design based on the earlier County classes intended to be built cheaper than the predecessors. She could be instantly recognised form her sister, "Exeter", as the latter had straight masts and funnels, those of "York" being raked. In addition, "York" had a more traditional bridge design similar to the Counties, that of "Exeter" was a modern design, later seen in the "Leander" and "Arethusa" classes.

ervice

"York" served with the 8th Cruiser Squadron on the America and West Indies Station, in the Mediterranean in 1935 and 1936, on the America Station until October 1939, with Force F at Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. Early in World War II found her with the 3rd Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean from 1940. On 3 March, 1940 she intercepted the German passenger ship "Arucas" off the south-east coast of Iceland. The German ship was scuttled by her own crew before she could be captured. At the end of the Norwegian campaign she was used to evacuate British and French troops from Namsos alongside HMS "Devonshire", the French cruiser "Montcalm" and three French transports. "York" then returned to the Mediterranean and joined the 3rd Cruiser Squadron on convoy duties.

Whilst escorting one convoy, on the return trip the Mediterranean Fleet was sighted by an Italian aircraft. The Italian Navy tried to intercept them in the Ionian Sea. In the night of 11/12 October, off Cape Passero, the first Italian torpedo boat flotilla with "Airone", "Alcione" and "Ariel" attacked the cruiser HMS "Ajax". The attack failed and "Ajax" sank "Airone" and "Ariel" whilst "Alcione" escaped. A little while later the Italian 11th destroyer flotilla, with "Artigliere", "Aviere", "Camicia Nera" and "Geniere" arrived at the scene. They were surprised by the radar-directed gunfire from HMS "Ajax". "Artigliere" was heavily damaged and "Aviere" was lightly damaged. "Camicia Nere" tried to tow "Artigliere" away but she was sighted by a British Sunderland aircraft that homed in three Swordfish aircraft from HMS "Illustrious". The torpedoes missed the Italian ships. Later HMS "York" arrived at the scene. "Camicia Nera" quickly slipped the tow line and sped off. After her crew had left the ship "Artiglire" was sunk by "York".

"York" was disabled at Suda Bay in Crete by two Italian "barchini", small motor assault boats (or MTMs) of the Italian MAS, launched by enemy destroyers "Crispi" and "Sella" on 26 March 1941. The motorboats, each packed with 300-kg (667 lb) charges in the bows impacted her amidships, flooding both boiler rooms and one engine room, and causing her to settle on the bottom in shallow water. Two men of her complement were killed in action. The British submarine HMS "Rover" was dispatched from Alexandria to supply electrical power, but on 24 April the submarine was severely damaged by an air attack and the decision was taken to abandon any attempt at salvage. "York" was wrecked by demolition charges on 22 May 1941. Some of her armament was removed and installed around Crete to defend the island. After the war, "York"’s hull was towed to Bari and broken up in 1952.

References

* "British and Empire Warships of the Second World War", H T Lenton, Greenhill Books, ISBN 1-85367-277-7
*Colledge
* [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1187.html HMS York at Uboat.net]