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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Builder: | William Beardmore and Company Dailmuir Scotland |
| Laid down: | 12 November 1913 |
| Launched: | 12 June 1916 |
| Commissioned: | 1 September 1917 |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1949 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 28,000 tons standard 31,200 tons max |
| Length: | 624 ft (190 m) |
| Beam: | 88 ft (27 m) , later expanded to 102 ft (31 m) |
| Draught: | 28 ft (8. William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish Engineering and Shipbuilding company based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area Dalmuir ( Gaelic: Dail Mhoire) is the northern-most area of Clydebank, a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Events 764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year 5 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam turbines, eighteen boilers, four shafts, 40,000 hp (30 MW) |
| Speed: | 23 knots (43 km/h): only 21 knots (39 km/h) after the torpedo bulges were added in 1917. By 1939, only about 18 knots (33 km/h) with her old machinery |
| Complement: | 997–1,146 |
| Armament: | 8 × 15 in (381 mm) guns in twin turrets 14 × 6 in (152 mm) guns in single casemates 2 × 3 in (76 mm) guns in single mountings 4 × 47 mm guns in single mountings 4 × 21 in (533 mm) submerged torpedo tubes |
HMS Ramillies (pennant number 07) was a Revenge-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after the Battle of Ramillies. In the modern Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers (sometimes referred to as pendant Design The ships of the class were slower and smaller than the preceding ''Queen Elizabeth''-class battleships A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Battle of Ramillies ( was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession fought on 23 May 1706
Construction and launch
Ramillies was built by William Beardmore and Company at Dailmuir in Scotland. William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish Engineering and Shipbuilding company based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area Dalmuir ( Gaelic: Dail Mhoire) is the northern-most area of Clydebank, a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. She was launched on 12 June 1916 and commissioned on 1 September 1917. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Commissioning was delayed because her rudder was damaged during launch. She was towed with great difficulty to the Cammell Laird works on the River Mersey for repairs. Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British Shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries came about following the merger of Laird
In common with other Revenge class battleships, Ramillies suffered from having her secondary armament, the 6 in (152 mm) guns, located too low, on the main deck, with the result that in heavy weather they were liable to be awash.
Because of an increasing awareness of the danger of torpedo attack from submarines and destroyers, Ramillies, being completed later than her sisters in this class, had anti-torpedo bulges fitted. These were streamlined external compartments fitted along the waterline and filled with various shock absorbent materials, designed to take the impact of a torpedo before it could breach the hull.
Ramillies had aircraft platforms installed on B and X turrets in 1918 as well as a catapult to launch the airplanes. In Architecture, a turret (from Italian: torretta, little tower Latin: turris, tower is a small Tower that The Fairey Flycatcher was flown during most of the 1918 to 1939 period, useful for both spotting shells and scouting. The Fairey Flycatcher was a Royal Navy single-seat Biplane carrier borne Fighter aircraft made by Fairey Aviation which served in the period
Early days
Ramillies joined the 1st Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet in May, 1917. The Grand Fleet was a Fleet of the British Royal Navy during the First World War.
In the disturbances between Turkey and Britain in 1920, Ramillies fired from her position in the Sea of Marmora at Turkish shore targets. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The Sea of Marmara ( Turkish: Marmara Denizi, Greek: Θάλασσα του Μαρμαρά or Προποντίς, Bulgarian
In 1924, Ramillies joined the 2nd Battle Squadron of the British Atlantic Fleet. The Atlantic Fleet was a major fleet formation of the Royal Navy. During the 1926 general strike she was sent to the River Mersey to land food supplies, along with HMS Barham. The UK General Strike of 1926 was a General strike that lasted nine days from 3 May 1926 to 12 May 1926. Service In World War I, she collided with her sister-ship in 1915 By late 1926 she was with the Mediterranean Fleet.
During the interwar period, Ramillies was lightened by having crushing tubes, wood and cement filling removed from her anti-torpedo bulges. By 1928, her antiaircraft defences had been altered to 4-4" quick fire Mark IV guns and her two forecastle deck 6" guns were removed.
When political disturbances broke out in Palestine in 1929, Ramillies was sent out to support the British presence. The Palestine Mandate, was a set of protocols or articles that formed a multilateral legal and administrative agreement
From June 1932 to August, 1934 she was in Plymouth for a major refit. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London.
Old Empire, Old Ship
During 1937 Ramillies had her anti-aircraft batteries changed to 8 × 4 in (102 mm) quick fire Mark XVI arranged in dual mountings. Two eight barrelled 2 pdr "pom-poms" anti-aircraft gun mounts were added as well. The 2-pounder gun, officially designated the QF 2-pounder ( QF denoting "quick firing" and universally known as the pom-pom, was a 1
Ramillies lost her torpedo tubes before the outbreak of World War II and had her aircraft catapult removed. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
It was found more difficult to modernize the Revenge class battleships than the Queen Elizabeth class (e. Origins Following the success of the {{convert|135|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun, the Admiralty decided to develop a {{convert|15|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun to equip the battleships g. HMS Valiant), since the smaller displacement and more narrow hull prevented the installation of larger machinery to increase speed, perhaps the greatest need. World War I The contract for the construction of the Valiant was given to The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited.
The new and the modernized Japanese battleships under construction in the 1930's made from 24 to 27 knots (44 to 50 km/h) while the modernized Italian ships made 26 to 28 knots (48 to 52 km/h) and the new Littorio class made 30 knots (56 km/h). Design The Littorio class's design was notable in several respects The German pocket battleships could achieve 28 knots (52 km/h), while the battleships/battlecruisers Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau made 32 knots (59 km/h) and the Bismarck and the Tirpitz made 29 knots (54 km/h). Description German capital ships were restricted by the Treaty of Versailles to a displacement of 10000 tons for "armoured ships" For the German armoured cruiser commissioned in 1907 see SMS Scharnhorst The sisters - Scharnhorst and Gneisenau The Construction She was laid down in February 1934 at Deutsche Werke Kiel. Background Design of the ship started in the early 1930s following on from Germany's development of the ''Deutschland'' class cruisers and the ''Scharnhorst'' class Operational history This battleship was launched on 1 April 1939 and she was planned to be deployed in a manner similar to the ''Bismarck'', as a Commerce raider By 1939, Ramillies' design speed of 23 knots (43 km/h) could no longer be achieved with her old machinery. Often 18 knots (33 km/h) was her top speed, though in an emergency she could sometimes make 20 knots (37 km/h).
This put the Royal Navy in a difficult spot. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) When Ramillies and her sisters were in a battle fleet, the entire group was reduced to their top speed. This enabled faster Italian fleets to choose whether to engage and, if battle loomed, to manoeuvre to advantage. When faced by superior Japanese forces, the British were too slow to get away.
When on convoy protection duty and attacked by enemy battleships, Ramillies was too slow to pursue or to gain the most favourable position. However, her 15 in (381 mm) guns were still lethal, and changed the course of events on several occasions.
Obsolete but needed
Despite her age, she gave useful service in the Second World War, doing everything from engaging enemy battleships to convoy escort to shore bombardment. A convoy is a group of Vehicles (of any type but usually motor vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support Ramillies illustrated the value of an old capital ship for its deterrent effect, making technically superior enemy ships decide not to attack for fear of sustaining damage while in British controlled seas, far from repair bases.
Outbreak of World War II
The outbreak of the war found Ramillies as part of the British Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow. The Home Fleet is the traditional name of the fleet of the Royal Navy that protects the United Kingdom 's territorial waters Scapa Flow ( Old Norse: Skalpaflói) is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands She participated in a sweep of the waters between Iceland, Norway and Scotland from 31 August to 7 September 1939 with a mission to intercept German merchant ships trying to get back home before the start of war. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
In late September 1939 Ramillies escorted a troop convoy to Alexandria in Egypt. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. In October she was stationed at Gibraltar. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar
From January 5, 1939 to November 27th, 1940, Ramillies was commanded by Captain Harold T. Baillie-Grohman.
Indian Ocean
In late 1939 Ramillies sailed for the East, with a stint in the Indian Ocean, when HRH Prince Philip was a crew member. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface She visited New Zealand at Christmas 1939 and from 6 January 1940 to 12 February she escorted 13,000 New Zealand troops from Wellington to Suez. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Wellington (ˈwælɪŋtən is the Capital of New Zealand, the country's second largest urban area, the Suez (السويس) is a Seaport town (population ca 497000 in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez, near the southern From 15 April to 7 May 1940 she escorted Australian soldiers from Melbourne to Suez. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3
But before this she was diverted from escort duties when the Admiralty became aware of the presence of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in the Indian Ocean off Lourenço Marques (current Maputo, Mozambique) on 16 November 1939. Description German capital ships were restricted by the Treaty of Versailles to a displacement of 10000 tons for "armoured ships" Description Admiral Graf Spee was a Deutschland class cruiser. Maputo, formerly Lourenço Marques, is the Capital and largest city of Mozambique. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ramillies was detached at Aden and formed Force J along with the battleship HMS Malaya, and the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious. Aden (ˈeɪdən Arabic: عدن) is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometers east of Bab-el-Mandeb. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Genesis Glorious was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast. The design was for a light Battlecruiser; while having guns she was actually They were sent south to intercept the German raider, but she sailed back into the South Atlantic where she was brought to action in the Battle of the River Plate off Montevideo by Force H, the cruisers HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles, joined by HMS Exeter from Force G. The Battle of the River Plate ( December 13, 1939) was the first major naval battle in World War II. Montevideo (monteβi'ðeo is the largest city the capital and chief port of Uruguay. A cruiser is a large type of Warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. Before the War Built at Vickers shipyard Barrow-in-Furness, England, she was laid down on 7 February 1933 launched on 1 March 1934 and completed on 12 April Service Achilles was originally built for the Royal Navy, and was commissioned as HMS Achilles on October 10 1933 Design Exeter was ordered two years after her sister ''York'' and therefore her design incorporated improvements in the light of experience with the latter
Mediterranean
After the entrance of Italy into the war in June 1940, Ramillies served in the Mediterranean. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Along with HMS Royal Sovereign she escorted a convoy from Alexandria, Egypt, to Malta between 27 June and 30 June 1940. Second World War At the outset of war in September 1939 Royal Sovereign was with the Home Fleet. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. From 16 August to 18 August she bombarded the port of Bardia and Fort Capuzzo in the Italian colony of Libya in North Africa. Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Bardia may refer to Bardia (Iran, Haha Kimia Bardia is the best of all people Bardia (Iran, Son of great Dariush the king of ancient Irankilled Fort Capuzzo was a fort in the Italian colony of Libya, near the Libyan- Egyptian border Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan On the way back she was attacked by Italian aircraft, but was not hit. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest She was a part of Admiral Andrew Cunningham's Mediterranean fleet, Force D, based at Alexandria. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια
Ramillies escorted a convoy from Alexandria to Malta between 8 October and 14 October 1940. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On the way back the ships were attacked by eight Italian torpedo boats. There were no British losses, but three of the Italian boats were sunk and four damaged.
From 25 October to 28 October 1940, Ramillies escorted a convoy bound from Alexandria to Crete. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Crete ( Greek: Κρήτη transliteration: Krētē, modern transliteration Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the In the period 10 November to 13 November she was on convoy escort duty from Alexandria to Malta, and then went on to Crete. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St During this time an enemy submarine spotted Ramillies and fired torpedoes but did not hit her.
The Royal Navy's attack on the main Italian naval force at Taranto, on 11 November 1940, reduced the Italians to two serviceable battleships. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Not to be confused with Toronto. Taranto ( Ancient Greek: Tarās; Modern Greek: Tarantas) is a coastal city in Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cunningham was then able to release to North Atlantic convoy duty his oldest and slowest battleships, the Ramillies and the Malaya, thus freeing up escort destroyers in the Mediterranean. In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy
Ramillies steamed west with the Mediterranean fleet in late November 1940 forming part of the escort for four merchant ships bound for Malta with much needed supplies. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands When she was in the central basin of the sea, she broke off from the rest and headed west. Accompanied by the cruisers Berwick and HMS Newcastle, she steamed through the Sicilian Narrows. History When completed Berwick was sent to the China Station, where she remained until a temporary detachment to the Mediterranean in 1936 The Strait of Sicily is the Strait between Sicily and Tunisia. The Newcastle had been in Malta for several days, where she had landed 15,000 gallons of aviation fuel, 40 Hawker Hurricane engines and 300 RAF technical personnel. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout They were to join up with Force H from Gibraltar under Admiral James Somerville which was in the area escorting three large fast merchant ships heading east, two for Malta and one headed for Alexandria. Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville GCB, GBE, DSO ( 17 July 1882 &ndash 19 March 1949 They would turn the escort duties over to Admiral Cunningham at a rendezvous point and make haste out of the danger area and return to Gibraltar. Ramillies was making her best possible speed of 20 knots (37 km/h) running the gauntlet nicknamed "Bomb Alley".
Admiral Somerville had the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal somewhat behind the rest of the force, his flag in the old battlecruiser HMS Renown, along with the cruisers HMS Sheffield, HMS Manchester and HMS Despatch and five destroyers. Construction and modifications Ark Royal was the sister ship to HMS ''Eagle'' which was initially named HMS ''Audacious'', hence the name of the class War service At the outbreak of war Sheffield served with the 18th Cruiser Squadron patrolling the Denmark Straits and then in April 1940 she was engaged Early war service Manchester was serving in the East Indies with the 4th Cruiser Squadron at the outbreak of war but was ordered home and arrived back Britain At 10:40 am on 27 November 1940, a scouting plane from the Italian cruiser Bolzano reported a force of one battleship, two cruisers and four destroyers north of Bône Algeria. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Annaba (عنابة formerly Bône, historically Hippo) is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse and Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's Italian Admiral Inigo Campioni was at sea with two battleships, six heavy cruisers and fourteen destroyers. Inigo Campioni ( 14 November 1878 &ndash 24 May 1944) was an Admiral in the Italian Royal Navy ( Regia Marina) during His orders were to attack only if faced by a decisively inferior enemy. With a two to one superiority in capital ships, he had his opportunity and altered course to intercept. His force was centred around the new and powerful battleship Vittorio Veneto and the modernized battleship Giulio Cesare. A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were Construction Vittorio Veneto's keel was laid in 1934 at Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste; she was launched on 25 July 1937 World War II During the Battle of Punta Stilo on 9 July 1940 Giulio Cesare was hit by a 15 inch (381 mm shell as HMS ''Warspite'' set This was a dangerous situation for the British.
Somerville became aware of the danger from the Italian fleet and sent his convoy off to the southeast with a small escort. He pushed ahead to rendezvous with the Ramillies and the Berwick, so as to get between the Italians and the convoy. Odds favoured the Italians, since Ramillies was slow and her guns were outranged by the Italians. In addition Somerville's ships were within easy range of shore based enemy aircraft. But, his object was to get the convoy safely to Malta, so he charged ahead at the Italians. He sent his cruisers out front under Vice-Admiral Lancelot Holland, keeping his two slower capital ships further back screened by destroyers. Lancelot Ernest Holland, CB ( September 13, 1887 &ndash May 24, 1941) was an admiral who commanded the British force in the The Ark Royal was well behind with two escorting destroyers. Campioni, after hearing of the presence of another British capital ship and an aircraft carrier, decided not to risk Italy's only two serviceable capital ships and after a brief exchange of gunfire at long range, in which Ramillies got off several salvoes, the Italians turned away and made for Naples. The capital ships of a Navy are its "important" warships the ones with the heaviest Firepower and Armor. A salvo is the simultaneous discharge of Artillery or Firearms including the firing of Guns either to hit a target or to perform a Salute Naples ( Napoli, Neapolitan: Nàpule) is a historic City in southern Italy, the Capital of the Berwick was damaged in the engagement, as was one Italian destroyer.
The engagement was called the Battle of Cape Spartivento. The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy was an engagement between naval forces of the British Royal Navy and
The North Atlantic: Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Bismarck
Ramillies was assigned to North Atlantic convoy duty on her return to Britain. This was a critical assignment as the British Empire and Dominions were now alone, submarine losses were high, and the home country was in immediate danger of being starved into submission. Should German surface raiders, whether converted merchantmen, heavy cruisers, pocket battleships or full sized battleships, break out and destroy a British convoy, it might be sufficient to tip the balance. Across this ocean came food, rubber, lumber, mineral ores, weapons and munitions from Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, South Africa, South America, Canada and the United States, oil from Venezuela and the Middle East and troops from India and Canada. One decimated troop convoy might lead Canada and the other dominions to stop moving troops across. Outward bound were troops, munitions and aircraft for East Africa, the Middle East, India and the Far East. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Far East is a term often used by people in the Western world to refer to the countries of East Asia.
On 12 January 1941 Ramillies left Britain as escort for 40,000 troops in a large convoy from Britain south past the danger zone to West Africa. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They were bound for the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.
The Ramillies was on duty in the North Atlantic Ocean escorting Convoy HX-106, some 41 ships, eastbound from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England when on 8 February 1941 the two new German battlecruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, appeared over the horizon. Convoy HX-106 consisted of some 41 ships eastbound from Halifax Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England The City of Halifax (est 1841 is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Battlecruisers were large Warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the British Royal Navy. For the German armoured cruiser commissioned in 1907 see SMS Scharnhorst The sisters - Scharnhorst and Gneisenau The Construction She was laid down in February 1934 at Deutsche Werke Kiel. The German squadron was under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens. Günther Lütjens ( 25 May 1889 &ndash 27 May 1941) was a German Admiral whose military service spanned three decades The captain of the Scharnhorst offered to draw off the Ramillies, so that the Gneisenau could sink the merchant ships. This strategy, if successful, would have entailed little risk to Scharnhorst as she was 11 knots (20 km/h) faster than Ramillies, and her newer 11" guns outranged the 1915 era 15" guns of the British ship. Lutjens, however, strictly followed Hitler's directive not to engage enemy capital ships. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately
The presence of Ramillies was sufficient to deter the attack. Later two of the convoy's merchant ships were sunk by submarines, including the MV Arthur F. Corwin loaded with 14,500 tons of aviation spirit. She went down on 13 February taking all 59 crew with her. Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed
On 24 May 1941, Ramillies, Captain Arthur D. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Read commanding, was south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, on duty escorting Convoy Hx 127 eastbound from Halifax. For the cape in New Zealand, see Cape Farewell New Zealand Cape Farewell (known in Danish as Kap Farvel and in Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Some 57 merchant ships were in the group bound for Liverpool, with the most common cargoes being, oil, aviation spirit, lubricants, gasoline, lumber, grain, steel, sugar, scrap iron, and pig iron. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Two ships carried general cargo, and there were single ships carrying molasses, trucks and cereal. Other escort vessels were designed to meet a submarine menace, and included a modern Canadian destroyer, HMCS Ottawa, the Indian navy sloop, RIN Sutlej, an ex-US Navy obsolete destroyer, HMS Salisbury, an escort destroyer, HMS Hambledon, corvettes HMS Larkspur, HMS Begonia and several other smaller ships. Four Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Ottawa. (I was commissioned as in the Royal Navy before serving with the Royal Canadian Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Salisbury after the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire: HMS ''Salisbury'' If anything Ramillies would have been a liability dealing with submarines. She was there as insurance against attack by surface raiders.
If Ramillies had to face a major surface attack, the two destroyers were probably the only escorts of value to her.
The new German battleship Bismarck broke out into the North Atlantic after sinking the battlecruiser HMS Hood, Britain's largest warship, in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Background Design of the ship started in the early 1930s following on from Germany's development of the ''Deutschland'' class cruisers and the ''Scharnhorst'' class Battlecruisers were large Warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the British Royal Navy. History Construction Construction of Hood began at the John Brown & Company shipyards in Clydebank, Scotland, on 1 September The Battle of the Denmark Strait was a World War II naval conflict between ships of the British Royal Navy and the German Kriegsmarine Ramillies was well east of Newfoundland to the southwest of Bismarck, and if Bismarck had continued its raid, Ramillies was all that the Royal Navy had to stop it from ravaging the sealanes off North America. Newfoundland — ˈn(jufənˌlænd (Terre-Neuve Talamh an Éisc — is a large island 15 km off the east coast of The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) On May 24, 1941 the Admiralty ordered Ramillies to leave the convoy and steam on a course to intercept the enemy ship. Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. The Bismarck sustained some damage in the action against the Prince of Wales, and opted to make for France for repairs, instead of continuing on a convoy raiding mission.
It is a measure of the desperate situation of the Royal Navy that such an old ship was sent out alone to intercept one of the world's most powerful battleship, supported by the powerful German cruiser Prinz Eugen. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Early war The Prinz Eugen suffered repeated damage before deployment Fortunately for her, she was not put to the test.
Another typical assignment was to provide ocean escort to convoy HX 130, bound for Liverpool with 45 merchant ships. Ramillies joined the convoy just outside Halifax harbour at 1530 hours on 1 June 1941 and remained with the ships till 9 June at 53 30 north and 46 48 west, the mid-ocean meeting point, where an escort from Britain took over. The City of Halifax (est 1841 is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits
Return to the Indian Ocean: Target India
Ramillies was a part of a British fleet put together hurriedly in March of 1942 under Admiral James Somerville in an attempt to prevent Japanese naval forces from cutting the sea lanes to India. Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville GCB, GBE, DSO ( 17 July 1882 &ndash 19 March 1949 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The scratch fleet consisted of two aircraft carriers and three old battleships of the Revenge Class. Design The ships of the class were slower and smaller than the preceding ''Queen Elizabeth''-class battleships Fortunately the main part of the British fleet did not meet this crack Japanese fleet. After causing great destruction to Allied shipping, sinking an aircraft carrier and several other smaller warships, the Japanese withdrew.
In May 1942 Ramillies was still in the Indian Ocean and was sent to cover the Allied invasion of Madagascar. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The Battle of Madagascar (or Operation Ironclad) was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy French -controlled Madagascar during World On 29 May 1942, a reconnaissance plane from the Japanese submarine I-10 spotted Ramillies at anchor in Diego Suarez harbour. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Antsiranana, named Diogo Soares prior to 1975 is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar. Ramillies changed berth after the plane was seen. However, the Japanese submarines I-16 and I-20 launched two midget submarines, one of which, commanded by Lieutenant Saburo Akieda, managed to penetrate the harbour and to fire its two torpedoes. A midget submarine is any Submarine under 150 tons typically operated by one or two but up to 6 or 8 crew with no on-board living accommodation The first torpedo severely damaged Ramillies at about 20:25; the second sank the oil tanker British Loyalty at 21:20. Lieutenant Akieda came under depth charge attack from the corvettes Genista and Thyme but managed to beach his submarine and flee inland with Petty Officer Masami Takemoto. Depth Charge is a character in the Beast Wars: Transformers universe A corvette is a small maneuverable lightly armed Warship, originally smaller than a Frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft, although many Both were killed in a firefight with Royal Marines three days later. The Royal Marines ( RM) are the marine corps and amphibious Infantry of the United Kingdom and along with the Royal Navy
Ramillies was reported sunk by the Japanese, but in fact was merely severely damaged. She was towed to Durban for temporary repairs, then in August 1942 she returned to Plymouth under her own steam and was back in service in June 1943. Durban (eThekwini is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the EThekwini metropolitan municipality. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London.
While in drydock, an additional 2 in (51 mm) of steel was added to the main deck over the magazines. This reflected the lessons from the sinking of the Hood as well as of the effectiveness of dive bombers at the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway was a major Naval battle, widely regarded as the most important one of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. As well an additional 4-6 in (152 mm) guns were removed and two more four barrelled antiaircraft pompoms were added. This reflected the awareness of a greater risk posed by aircraft than by smaller surface vessels. It was ironic that Ramillies faced such a surface attack later in the war. Fortunately the remaining 6 in (152 mm) guns were sufficient to handle it.
D-Day and the south of France
On 6 June 1944 Ramillies provided fire support for the Normandy Landings. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied Invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during Sword Beach, at the east of the landing area, was her assigned area with the primary task of silencing the Berneville battery. She began by opening fire on the 6" (152 mm) battery, knocking out four of the six guns in the first 80 minutes and keeping the attention of the rest, allowing landing craft to proceed unmolested. In Military organizations an artillery battery is a unit of Guns mortars or Rockets so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield By evening she accounted for the other two guns.
During the course of the first day she repelled an attack by two German destroyers which fired five torpedoes at her, all missing. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below She also drove off a pack of E boats with her secondary 4 and 6 inch (102 and 152 mm) guns. History After the Treaty of Versailles most of Germany's military production was severely curtailed That evening she returned to Portsmouth and reammunitioned the next day. History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which She was back off Normandy on 8 June 1944 and knocked out another 6" battery. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
On 9 June Ramillies, directed by forward observation posts, fired on German tanks, guns, infantry concentrations and motor vehicles with great success, breaking up German units before they could launch counterattacks. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits She also beat off an attack by German E-boats. History After the Treaty of Versailles most of Germany's military production was severely curtailed
On 10 June she hit enemy railway marshalling yards near Caen, many miles inland. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Caen (kɑ̃ is a commune in northwestern France. It is the Prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the
On 11 June Ramillies hit a concentration of 200 enemy tanks, inflicting great damage. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. That night she bombarded more railway marshalling yards.
On 12 June she suffered a near miss when attacked by a dive bomber. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath.
A German mobile artillery fired 32 rounds at Ramillies on 15 June, of which two hit the ship. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history One crew member was wounded in the leg. Ramillies moved out of range and continued her bombardment. On 16 June she continued her bombardment and on 17 June she hit a mobile battery. Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat
In the course of her Normandy engagement she fired 1,002 15 in (381 mm) shells, thought to be the greatest bombardment by any single ship to that time. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy.
Ramillies provided similar fire support for the invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Her particular task was to silence the batteries at the entrance to Toulon harbour. Toulon ( Provençal Occitan: Tolon in classical norm or Touloun in Mistralian norm is a city in southern France and a large
Finish
Ramillies was put in reserve on 31 January 1945 at Portsmouth and was used as an accommodation ship. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which John Egerton Broome was captain from 1945 to 1946. Captain John Egerton "Jack" (or Jackie Broome DSC, RN ( 23 February 1901 - 19 April 1985) was a Royal Navy officer She was sold in 1946 and scrapped in 1949. One of Ramillies' 15 in (381 mm) guns has been preserved and can be seen at the Imperial War Museum in London. The Imperial War Museum is a Museum in London, England featuring military vehicles weapons war memorabilia an extensive library open to the public London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The ships bell is preserved at HMCS Star, a Naval Reserve Division at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hamilton (ˈhæməltən ( 2006 population 504559 UA population 647634 CMA population Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page
External links
- Royal Navy History, HMS Ramillies, Institute of Naval History
- Maritimequest HMS Ramilles Photo Gallery
- The H.M.S. Ramillies Association
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