HMS King George V (41): Difference between revisions
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Following the tradition of naming the first battleship constructed in the reign of a new monarch after the current [[monarch]], she was originally to be named ''King George VI'' (after [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]]). However the King instructed the [[Admiralty]] to name the ship in honour of his father, [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]]. ''King George V'' was built by [[Vickers-Armstrong]] at Walker's Naval Yard, [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and laid down on [[1 January]] [[1937]], launched on [[21 February]] [[1939]], and commissioned on [[11 December]] [[1940]]. |
Following the tradition of naming the first battleship constructed in the reign of a new monarch after the current [[monarch]], she was originally to be named ''King George VI'' (after [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]]). However the King instructed the [[Admiralty]] to name the ship in honour of his father, [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]]. ''King George V'' was built by [[Vickers-Armstrong]] at Walker's Naval Yard, [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and laid down on [[1 January]] [[1937]], launched on [[21 February]] [[1939]], and commissioned on [[11 December]] [[1940]]. |
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She was the flagship of the [[Home Fleet]] under the command of Admiral Sir [[John Tovey]], and was involved in the chase and sinking of the [[German battleship Bismarck|German battleship ''Bismarck'']]. On [[27 May]] [[1941]], she and [[HMS Rodney (1925)|HMS ''Rodney'']] fired a large number of shells into to the hull of the ill-fated ship. |
She was the flagship of the [[Home Fleet]] under the command of Admiral Sir [[John Tovey]], and was involved in the chase and the sinking of the [[German battleship Bismarck|German battleship ''Bismarck'']]. On [[27 May]] [[1941]], she and [[HMS Rodney (1925)|HMS ''Rodney'']] fired a large number of shells into to the hull of the ill-fated ship. |
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[[Image:King george v-1.jpg|thumb|left|300px|'''HMS ''King George V''''' in Japan, 1945 ([[USS Missouri (BB-63)|USS ''Missouri'']] is visible in the background.]]While escorting convoy [[PQ-15]] to [[Murmansk]] on [[1 May]] [[1942]], ''King George V'' collided with the [[destroyer]] [[HMS Punjabi (F21)|HMS ''Punjabi'']], resulting in the sinking of the latter ship with 49 crew, and bow damage to the battleship. |
[[Image:King george v-1.jpg|thumb|left|300px|'''HMS ''King George V''''' in Japan, 1945 ([[USS Missouri (BB-63)|USS ''Missouri'']] is visible in the background.]]While escorting convoy [[PQ-15]] to [[Murmansk]] on [[1 May]] [[1942]], ''King George V'' collided with the [[destroyer]] [[HMS Punjabi (F21)|HMS ''Punjabi'']], resulting in the sinking of the latter ship with 49 crew, and bow damage to the battleship. |
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Revision as of 01:36, 11 April 2008
- This article is about the WWII battleship, for the WWI ship of the same name see HMS King George V (1911).
 HMS King George V in 1941
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| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | HMS King George V |
| Builder | Vickers-Armstrong, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Laid down | 1 January 1937 |
| Launched | 21 February 1939 |
| Commissioned | 11 December 1940 |
| Decommissioned | 1949 |
| Stricken | 1957 |
| Fate | sold for scrap |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 42,200 tons (1941) |
| Length | 745 ft (227 m) |
| Beam | 103 ft (31 m) |
| Draught | 32.6 ft (9.9 m) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 8 Admiralty three-drum small-tube boilers with superheaters 4 Parsons single-reduction geared turbines 4 three-bladed propellers, 14 ft 6 in diameter (4.42 m) 125,000 shp |
| Speed | 28.0 knots (1941 trials) |
| Range | 5400+ nm at 18 knots (11.9 tons/hour fuel burn) |
| Complement | 1,314 to 1,631 |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 10 × 14 inch (356 mm) mk VII guns 16 × 5.25 inch (133 mm) guns 64 × 2 pounder pom-pom (40 mm) |
| Armour | list error: <br /> list (help) Main belt: 14.7 in (374 mm) lower belt: 5.4 in (137 mm) deck: up to 5.38 in (136 mm) main turrets: 12.75 in (324 mm) barbettes: 12.75 in (324 mm) |
| Aircraft carried | 4 Supermarine Walrus seaplanes, 1 double-ended catapult |
| Notes | Pennant number 41 |
The second HMS King George V (pennant number 41) was the lead ship of the King George V class of battleships of 1939.
Following the tradition of naming the first battleship constructed in the reign of a new monarch after the current monarch, she was originally to be named King George VI (after George VI). However the King instructed the Admiralty to name the ship in honour of his father, George V. King George V was built by Vickers-Armstrong at Walker's Naval Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne and laid down on 1 January 1937, launched on 21 February 1939, and commissioned on 11 December 1940.
She was the flagship of the Home Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir John Tovey, and was involved in the chase and the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. On 27 May 1941, she and HMS Rodney fired a large number of shells into to the hull of the ill-fated ship.
_underway_off_Japan,_16_August_1945_(80-G-455703).jpg)
While escorting convoy PQ-15 to Murmansk on 1 May 1942, King George V collided with the destroyer HMS Punjabi, resulting in the sinking of the latter ship with 49 crew, and bow damage to the battleship.
In the Mediterranean, King George V covered the Operation Husky landings at Sicily, as well as transporting the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, back to Britain from the Tehran Conference.
From 1944 until the surrender of Japan, King George V served with the British Pacific Fleet, and was present off Japan during the official surrender ceremony.
She was recommissioned as flagship of the Home Fleet in 1946. Just three years later, King George V was decommissioned into the Reserve Fleet and subsequently scrapped at Dalmuir in 1957.
Refits
During her career, King George V was refitted on several occasions, in order to bring her equipment up-to-date. The following are the dates and details of the refits undertaken.
| Dates | Location | Description of Work |
|---|---|---|
| Early 1941 | Type 271 Radar added | |
| December 1941 | Removal of UP mountings; addition of 1 4-barrelled 2 pdr Pom-pom, 1 8-barrelled 2 pdr Pom-pom, and 18 20 mm Oerlikons; UP directors were replaced with pom-pom directors; the Type 271 radar was replaced with the Type 273; 5 Type 282 radars were also added | |
| May-June 1942 | Liverpool | Damage from the collision with HMS Punjabi repaired; external degaussing coil replaced with an internal coil; 4 Type 285 radars added; FM2 MF D/F added |
| Late 1943 | 20 20 mm Oerlikons added | |
| February-July 1944 | Liverpool | Removal of 1 4-barrelled 2 pdr Pom-pom, 12 20 mm Oerlikons, Type 273 radar and HF/DF; addition of 3 8-barrelled 2 pdr Pom-poms, 6 2-barrelled 20 mm and 2 4-barrelled 40 mm Bofors; the Type 279 radar replaced by the Type 279B, the Type 284 with the Type 274; addition of the Types 277, 293, 2 × 282, and 285 radars, and the RH2 VHF/DF; removal of the aircraft and catapult equipment, replaced with new superstructure upon which the ship's boats were relocated. |
| 1945 | Removal of 2 20 mm Oerlikons, 2 40 mm Bofors added |
References
- Uboat.net - King George V
- Chesneau, Roger (2004) Ship Craft 2: King George V Class Battleships. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-211-9
See also
