HMS Orion (85)

HMS "Orion" was a "Leander" class light cruiser which served with distinction in the Royal Navy during World War II. She won 13 battle honours, a record only exceeded by one other ship, and matched by two others.

History

She was built by Devonport Dockyard (Plymouth, U.K), Vickers-Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK).HMS "Orion" was commissioned on 18 January 1934, for service with the Home Fleet but she was transferred to the American and West Indian Station in 1937 where she was with the 8th Cruiser Squadron. The cruiser conveyed the ashes of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada, back to England in February 1940.

In June 1940 she was transferred to the Mediterranean. She was with the 7th Cruiser Squadron as Flagship. She took part in the bombardment of Bardia, and the Battle of Calabria in July 1940. During the rest of 1940 she escorted Malta convoys and transported troops to Greece. In the early part of 1941 she was in the Crete and Aegean areas and was also at the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.

On 29 May 1941, during the evacuation of Crete, she was badly damaged after being bombed. Many of her crew lost their lives. She was taken to Simonstown, South Africa where she had temporary repairs and was then sent to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the USA for major repairs.

"Orion" returned to the Mediterranean in 1943. This time she was with the 15th Cruiser Squadron. She was involved in the invasion of Sicily. "Orion" spent the rest of the war around the Mediterranean. She also took part in the Normandy Landings in June 1944. She was also involved in the Corfu Channel Incident.

HMS "Orion" ended service in 1947, was sold for scrap to Arnott Young (Dalmuir, Scotland) on 19 July 1949 and was scrapped in August 1949.

Battle Honours

* Atlantic 1939;
* Calabria 1940, Mediterranean 1940-43-44;
* Malta Convoys 1941, Matapan 1941, Greece 1941, Crete 1941;
* Sicily 1943, Salerno 1943;
* Aegean 1944, Anzio 1944, Normandy 1944, South France 1944.

Only "Jervis" and "Nubian", who served in the Mediterranean with "Orion" matched this record; it was exceeded by "Warspite", the Mediterranean Fleet flagship, which saw service in both World Wars.

References

*Colledge
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4005.html HMS Orion at Uboat.net]

See also

* List of World War II ships