HMS Newfoundland (59)

HMS "Newfoundland" was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. Named after Newfoundland, she fought in World War II and was later sold to the Peruvian Navy.

Early career

"Newfoundland" was built by Swan Hunter and launched 19 December 1941 by the wife of the then British Minister of Labour, Ernest Bevin. The ship was completed and commissioned in December 1942.

After commissioning "Newfoundland" joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet. Early in 1943 the ship became flagship of the 15th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean. On 23 July 1943, during the Sicily Campaign, she was torpedoed , either by the Italian submarine "Ascianghi" or U 407. Temporary repairs were carried out at Malta. Later, steering by her propellers only, she steamed to the Boston Navy Yard for major repairs.

In 1944 the ship was re-commissioned for service in the Far East. While at Alexandria an exploding air vessel ocurred in one of the torpdoes in the port tubes which caused severe damage and one casualty. The repairs delayed her arrival in the Far East for service with the British Pacific Fleet (BPF). "Newfoundland" went to New Guinea to support the Australian 6th Division in the Aitape-Wewak campaign. On 14 June 1945, as part of a BPF task group, "Newfoundland" attacked the major Japanese naval base at Truk, in the Caroline Islands.

On 6 July "Newfoundland" left the forward base of Manus in the Admiralty Islands with other ships of the BPF to take part in the Allied campaign against the Japanese home islands. "Newfoundland" was part of a British Commonwealth force which took control of the naval base at Yokosuka.

The ship was present in Tokyo Bay when the Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard the USS "Missouri", on 2 September 1945. "Newfoundland" was then assigned the task of repatriating British Commonwealth prisoners of war.

She returned to the United Kingdom in December 1946.

Postwar

"Newfoundland" was initially in reserve, and was used as a training ship as part of the stokers' training establishment HMS "Imperieuse", before a refit at Plymouth in 1951. Recommissioned on 5 November 1952, she became flagship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron in the East Indies, and also served in the Far East. The cabinet of Sri Lanka sought refuge aboard her during the Hartal of 1953.

On 31 October 1956, the Egyptian frigate "Domiat" was cruising South of the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, when "Newfoundland" encountered her and ordered her to heave to. Aware that Britain and Egypt had just gone to war in the Suez Crisis, the "Domiat" refused and opened fire on the cruiser, causing some damage and casualties. The cruiser, with the destroyer HMS "Diana", then returned fire and sank her opponent, rescuing 69 survivors from the wreckage. [ [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/suez/seawar.html The War at Sea ] ]

She then returned to the Far East until paid off to the reserve at Portsmouth on 24 June 1959. She was sold to the Peruvian Navy on 2 November 1959, and subsequently renamed "Almirante Grau" and then to "Capitán Quiñones" in 1973. The cruiser was hulked in 1979 and used as a static training ship in Callao, before being decommissioned and scrapped later that year.

References

*
* [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4036.html HMS Newfoundland at Uboat.net]