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HMS Ajax

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Revision as of 17:44, 21 May 2019 by Linton (talk | contribs) (Soldiers carried)
HMS Ajax.jpg
HMS Ajax in Malta Harbour
History
Name HMS Ajax
Builder/Built 1935 Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness
Type Leander class - Light Cruiser
Displacement 7,270 tons
Speed 32.5 knots


Remarks

Commissioned for service on the North America, and West Indies stations, but instead was sent to the Mediterranean when completed. In 1938 she deployed to the West Indies and was there when WW2 commenced. Soon after the war commenced she was part of the force that battled with the German Graf Spee which eventually scuttled itself.


Following a refit in England she joined the Mediterranean based 7th Cruiser Squadron, and regularly saw action, primarily against Italian Naval units. She carried troops from Alexandria to Greece and then assisted in their recovery and transport to Alexandria after Crete had fallen to the German army.


Ajax remained out of action from June 1942 until the end of 1943 while undergoing a refit in England, followed by being disabled on 1 Jan 1943 when a 450 Kg bomb hit her boiler room, disabling her. She was also sent to the US for an upgrade in terms of air defense and radar.


As part of Force 'F' Ajax bombarded Gold Beach on D Day during the invasion of Normandy, and she later provide support to other landings in southern France. Following the completion of the war she was assigned to the British Palestine Patrol where she attempted to stop Jewish immigration to Palestine and participated in the Exodus 1947 incident when that she was escorted back to Germany. She was decommissioned in February 1948, and sent to the breakers in November 1949.

Soldiers carried

Crete to Alexandria, Egypt