Hermione:
The HMS Hermione was a Dido Class Cruiser of 5,600 GRT ordered from Alexander Stephen's of Govan, Glasgow (Yard No. 560) 18 May 1937 under the Emergency War Programme. The ship's keel was laid 06 October 1937 and launched 18 May 1939. She was the third ship of the Royal Navy to carry the name. Completed on 25 March 1941, she was 485 feet in length, 50.5 feet in beam, and 14 feet in draught.
Propulsion machinery consisted of 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, and an output of 62,000 SHP which gave here a maximum speed of 32.5 knots.
Original armament configuration consisted of:
8 x 5.25 in (133 mm) dual guns,
1 x 4.0 in (102 mm) gun,
2 x 0.5 in MG quadruple guns,
3 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns,
2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes. In 1941 - 1943 configuration changes consisted of: 8 x 5.25 in (133 mm) dual guns,
5 x 20 mm (0.8 in) single guns,
2 x 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns,
2 x 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes. Ship's armor was as follows: Belt: 3 inch,
Deck: 1 inch,
Magazines: 2 inch.
The HMS Hermione, under the command of Capt. G.N. Oliver (DSO, RN), was part of "Force A" which escorted the supply Convoy MW-11 (Operation Vigorous) under the command of Rear Admiral P.J. Vian from Alexandria to Malta. While on the return trip to Alexandria, the ship was hit on the amidships starboard side at 0019 on 16 June 1942 by a torpedo fired from German submarine U-205 (Franz-Georg Reschkte) at location 33.30N/26.10E or 33.20N/26.00E (Grid CO 6572) (some sources state North of Sollum, others state South of Crete). The ship's machinery compartments flooded and the ship took on a 22-degree list before lying completely on one side where she remained for 21 more minutes before sinking. Capt. Oliver and 440 members of the crew were rescued by HM Escort Destroyers Aldenham, Beaufort, and Exmoor. 8 Officers and 79 Ratings were lost.
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