HMS Cornwall (56) - A Costly Lesson

[ItssLuBu 1,798]

HMS Cornwall (56)

 

 

Background & History

 

Built under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty during the 1920's, HMS Cornwall was part of the County Class of Heavy Cruisers (with Kent and London already present in game) built for the Royal Navy by Sir William Berry. As I already have a suggestion for her sister ship HMS Dorsetshire this suggestion is made more relevant because they both meet their end on the same day.  Laid down in October 1924 at Plymouth Dockyard and commissioned in December 1927, she was given Pennant number 56. The County class was initially designed as a large group of heavy cruisers which Britain needed more than most to protect its vast colonial interests and trade routes. 17 of these vessels were originally planned but this was scaled back following the general elections at the end of 1923. This meant that of 8 planned for the first production batch, only 5 would be granted with a further 2 for the Australian Navy, these ships were (Kent sub-class); Berwick, Cornwall, Cumberland, Kent and Suffolk with Australia and Canberra respectively.

 

 

HMS Cornwall was the fifth ship to bear the name under the White Ensign, she undertook a major refit during the 1930s to encompass a 4.5 inch armour belt extending 6 feet below the lower deck. A new catapult and aircraft hangar was installed, it's director location repositioned and her anti aircraft battery upgraded which was eventually finished in 1937. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Cornwall was assigned to the Indian Ocean in an attempt to hunt German merchant raiders and following a spell in the South Atlantic returned once more to the Indian Ocean.

 

With the Japanese entrance into the conflict at the end of 1941, Cornwall would be assigned to 'Force A' along with her sister ship HMS Dorsetshire. They would be separated from the fleet for refuelling and the following day spotted by a recon plane from the heavy cruiser IJN Tone. Sensing an opportunity and with both ships alone they would be attacked by carrier dive bombers resulting in the rapid loss of both ships and over 400 men lost. Subsequently known as the Easter Sunday raid it was a major blow to the morale of the Royal Navy.

 

 

 

 

Armour & Armament

 

Being designed under the Washington Naval Treaty HMS Cornwall weighed in at around 9,850 'standard' and 13,520 long tons under 'deep load'. All ships of this class underwent refitting during the 1930's and depending on their weights to begin with depended on what scope their was for improvement. These differences explain why the different ships of the class received different modernisations. HMS Kent was the heaviest, only approx 150 tons under the 10,000 limit which gave a potential of 250 tons yet HMS Suffolk was 200 tons under for a potential of 300 tons. The Kent sub class was the initial producation batch of seven ships modernised and refitted during the 1930's with an improved armour belt of 4.5 inches (110 mm). Deck armour was between 1.375-1.5 inches with 1 inch barbettes, turrets and bulkheads. Magazines had a respectable 2 - 4.375 inches overall.

 

Her armament however was consistent other ships of the Kent sub class of, namely 8x BL 8 inch L/50 Mk. VIII guns (4x2) with two pair forward and two aft both superfiring. Secondary batteries would initially be 4x single QF 4 inch Mk V guns, replaced during refit in the 1930's to 4x twin QF 4 inch Mark XVI guns. Anti air battery comprised of 2x octuple 2-pdr (40 mm) mounts mounted either side of the searchlight tower. Up until 1939 these ships carried 8x 21-inch torpedoes in quad mounts.

 

 

Specifications

 

Length - 630ft

Beam - 68ft 5in

Draught - 20ft 6in

Displacement - 9,850 'standard' and 13,520 long tons under 'deep load'

Speed - 4x Paron turbines for approx 80,000hp for 31.5 kts with a range of approx 13,300 nm at 12 kts

Main Belt - 4.5 inch (110mm)

Deck Belt - 1.375-1.5 inches

Turret Amour - 1 inch (25mm) all around

Armament - 8x BL 8 inch L/50 Mk. VIII guns (4x2)

Anti Air Battery - 8x QF 4 inch Mk XVI Dual Purpose guns (4x2) and 2x octuple 2-pdr (40 mm)

Torpedoes - 8x 21-inch torpedo tubes (removed by 1939)

Aircraft - 1 x Supermarine Walrus Floatplane

 

 

Sources

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_8-inch_Mk_VIII_naval_gun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County-class_cruiser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cornwall_(56)

https://www.world-war.co.uk/Kent/cornwall.php3

Norman Friedman; British Cruisers - Two World Wars and After, Naval Insitute Press (ISBN: 9781591140788)

Antony Preston; Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II, Bracken Books London (ISBN: 9781851701940)

Edited June 17, 2020 by ItssLuBu

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,848]

+1 for this heavy cruiser, would be an excellent addition.