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HMS Repulse (Battlecruiser, 1916-1941)

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Topic: HMS Repulse (Battlecruiser, 1916-1941)
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Subject: HMS Repulse (Battlecruiser, 1916-1941)
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:07am

HMS Repulse, a 26,500-ton Renown class battlecruiser, was built at Clydebank, Scotland. Completed in August 1916, she joined the Grand Fleet following post-trials modifications and operated in the North Sea for the remainder of World War I. The light protection of this class of two battlecruisers was a considerable cause for concern and, soon after the Armistice, Repulse received an extensive refit. This significantly increased her armor, and her displacement, which rose some six-thousand tons. The work was completed in 1922, after which the ship began a peacetime career of fleet operations and long-distance cruises.

In 1933-36, Repulse was again modernized, emerging with improved deck armor, a hangar and catapult for aircraft, and a greatly increased anti-aircraft gun battery. She operated with the Home Fleet in the North Sea and Atlantic during the first two years of the Second World War, taking part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Later in the year she was sent to the Far East, accompanying the new battleship Prince of Wales. The two ships arrived at Singapore just before Japan began the Pacific War. As soon as hostilities commenced, both steamed northwards to intercept a reported invasion force. While returning to Singapore on 10 December 1941, Repulse and Prince of Wales were attacked by Japanese high-level bombers and torpedo planes. Repulse was moderately damaged by bombs early in the action and was later hit by several torpedoes. After receiving this heavy underwater damage, she sank rapidly, followed less than an hour later by the Prince of Wales.




Replies:
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:07am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h00001/h00525.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:08am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h47000/h47372.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:09am

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h00001/h00525a.jpg">



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:09am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h55000/h55608.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:10am

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h55000/h55609.jpg">



Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:10am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h57000/h57164.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:11am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h57000/h57183.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:12am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h57000/h57181.jpg">


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:12am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h60000/h60566.jpg">
This was taken from a japanese plane


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:13am
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g410000/g413520.jpg">
This photo was also taken by the Japanese


Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 6:15am

Date

Details

Place

25th January 1915

Laid down

Clydebank, Scotland

8th January 1916

Launched

18th August 1916

Commissioned

16th September 1916

Joined Battle Cruiser Force as flagship of No.1 Battle Cruiser Squadron.

17th November, 1917

Admiral Sir Charles Napier on board his flagship HMS Repulse and with Captain John Dumaresq in command, H.M.S. Repulse took part in the Battle of Heligoland bight, along with the Battle cruisers HMS Courageous and HMS Glorious, also the light cruisers Calypso and Caledon. against the German battleships Kaiser and Kaiserine.

12 December 1917

The battle cruiser HMAS Australia was in collision with the battle cruiser HMS Repulse. HMAS Australia was damaged, and subsequently underwent repairs for several weeks.

April`1922

Captain Frederic Charles Dreyer in command of H.M.S. Repulse as part of the Battle Cruiser Squadron with H.M.S. Hood

1923

World Tour by Prince of Wales accompanied by Lt Louis Mountbatten. (accompanied by HMS Curlew)

1924

RN Special Service Squadron (Hood, Repulse and five light cruisers visit Australia - sailed accompanied by cruiser HMAS Adelaide (on exchange to the R.N.) This was called the 'Empire Cruise', (or the 'Booze Cruise' by the crew members).

Australia

April 1933 to May 1936

HMS Repulse was rebuilt at Portsmouth yard.

England

My Grandfather served for two years on the Repulse as a Royal Marine. This itinerary is copied from the original document.

Michael Richardson

April 14th, 1936

Commissioned at Portsmouth

June 8th, 1936

Repulse left England

England

June

Arrived and embarked Battalion of Gordon Highlanders at Gibraltar left same day for Malta.

Gibraltar, Malta

July

All the fleet assembled at Alexandria due to Abyssinian Crisis. Fleets dispersed: Repulse left for  with Gordon Highlanders. Outbreak of Spanish War.

Alexandria, Gibraltar

July

Repulse does great work with Refugees especially in Palma Majorca.

Majorca

August

Thrilling rescue of British Steamer Gibel Zerjon by Repulse when stopped by Republican cruiser Miguel de Cervantes

August 30th

Ship inspected by First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare: General leave each watch. Exercises off Malta

Malta

September

Left Malta for cruise to Greece. Visited Skiathos: Volo: and the Greek capital Athens, where H.M. King of Greece inspected Med: Fleet ships.

Malta, Greece

October

Also visit to Crete, returned to Malta. Refit in floating dock

Crete, Malta

November

Ship’s Marathon Race won by A.X. Division. R.M.’s in camp at Ghain Tuffieha.

December

Left Malta for Gibraltar and Tangier. Christmas in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar, Tangier

January 1937

Malta, and cruise to Greece

Malta, Greece

February

Exercises off Malta

Malta

March

Combined Fleet maneuvers in Atlantic

Atlantic

April

Final of Inter-part ship Football won by Accountant Div: Refit in floating dock Malta. Left for England.....

Malta

May 9th

.....to take part in Coronation Review at Spithead, Portsmouth

England

May 12th

Coronation Day - Review of the Fleet and foreign ships by their Majesties the King and Queen on board the Royal Yacht: 7 days leave each watch. Ship’s companies at home.

England

June 9th

Repulse once more leaves England

Malta, Haifa, Corfu

July 4th

Arrived Malta. , sudden departure for Haifa. Jewish-Arab tension in Holy Land. Left for Corfu where King of Greece inspected ship.

August

Exercises off Malta. Mew A.C.Q. inspects ship. Summer cruise, visits to Argostoli and Corfu: Valona-Albania.

Malta, Albania

September

Nyon Agreement left for Aegean Sea – Submarine patrol: Mudros-Skyros main islands in patrol. Coast of Turkey shows ruins of Great War.

Malta, Aegean Sea, Turkey

October

First Lord of Admiralty, Mr. Duff-Cooper inspects ship in Kalamitza Bay: General leave at Athens. Malta once more.

Athens, Malta

November

Left for patrol in Aegean Sea. Skyros-Mudros: Phalerum Bay and more general leave. To sea to hold up a gun runner S.S. African Trader, Repulse hands capture over to destroyer escort. Left Skyros for Malta.

Aegean Sea, Malta

December

In floating dock . Christmas 1937 in Malta. Exercises and A.C.Q.’s inspection.

Malta

January 1938

Left with four minesweepers for Alexandria.

Alexandria

February

Malta – “Centurion” Shoot  A.C.Q. – general drill and ship’s inspection. Inter-part ship Football Final won by Torpedo Div.

Malta

March

Left Malta for Gibraltar for combined fleet manoeuvres series one and two exercises: Left for Palma and spell in Spanish Waters. Barcelona-Marseilles-Valencia-Caldetas.

Gibraltar, Palma,  Spanish waters

April

Left Palma and Spanish War behind for French Riviera. Monte Carlo – general leave – San Raphael.

French Riviera

May

Back to Malta. “Centurion” Shoot.

Malta

June

Malta “Black Out.” Stokers “A” Ship’s Cricket Champions. Left for Corfu.

Malta

July

En-route for Navarin. Signalled to proceed to Haifa scene of Jewish-Arab riots. Officers, Ratings and Marines landed. Valuable assistance by Repulse.

Corfu

August

Haifa-Jaffa, arriving at Limasol was ordered to return to Haifa. Once more troops landed, at last our welcome relief the Malaya arrived G.O.C. – March-past. Presentation and Address. With “paying off” pendant hoisted left for Malta. Arrived and left Malta for Gibraltar and Tangier.

Thursday, September 8th

Arriving at Portsmouth, to give leave and pay off after a very eventful commission.

24th September, 1938

Ship’s Company recalled from leave owing to International Crisis.

Sunday, 25th September, 1938.

The ship sailed for Scapa Flow. Remained with Fleet for two weeks

12th October, 1938.

returning to Portsmouth, First Watch recommenced leave two days later.

Approx: Mileage covered during Commission from June 1936 – October 1938, 48,000 miles. 
Signed, 

John Godfrey, Captain 

September 3, 1939

The Royal Navy at the start of the war.

Great Britain

October 5, 1939

Hunting groups against corsairs.

North Atlantic

1940

Repulse operated off Norway.

1941

Convoy duty until the summer of 1941.

October 1941

Repulse joined the Eastern Fleet in October 1941.

December 2, 1941

Arrived at Singapore with HMS Prince of Wales.

December 10, 1941

Sunk as part of Force Z along with HMS Prince of Wales.

Singapore, Malaysia



Posted By: Hatchetman
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 8:03am
When the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse were sunk the empire was in real trouble, and high command basically abandoned Singapore.

After that the empire lost it's air of invinceability, and left the door wide open for Australia to be attacked.

It also pretty much ended the age of the Battleship, as they were sunk so easily by aircraft.  

-------------
But the winters coming,

And the snow will cover tracks,

And I'll be watching,

Because I'm hunting you



- Sarah Blasko, The Gardens End


Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 12:04pm
When the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse were sunk the empire was in real trouble, and high command basically abandoned Singapore.
 
 The empire was fighting in the ETO ( European Theatre of Operations) short of manpower and munitions.  If the brass had been on their toes they should have heeded the warnings that were passed to the USA re Pearl Harbour!  The air of invincibility as you call it was good enough to stand alone against Facism in Europe until empire troops were drafted in to help.


-------------
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!



Posted By: Hatchetman
Date Posted: October 26 2007 at 12:21pm
I guess tony.

The brits did a good job standing up to the nazi's when the low countries and the Scandinavians folded.

Pity there was not enough gear in "fortress" Singapore to keep the fight up for longer


-------------
But the winters coming,

And the snow will cover tracks,

And I'll be watching,

Because I'm hunting you



- Sarah Blasko, The Gardens End


Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: October 27 2007 at 1:43am

We were down to rock bottom with equipment. At one stage there were no reserve planes and pilots left during the battle of Britain. Adolf changed tactics and bombed cities if he'd carried on battering the RAF we'd have been in a real bad way! Thats why so many enfields were made overseas we just hadn't got the facilities to replace kit and arm new recruits. Industry wasn't geared up to mass produce like it was later on.  Sheffield my home town was flattened in the Blitz  they were after the steel works especially as they were the only place with facilities for turning out crank shafts for spitfire and hurricane engines.



-------------
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!




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