Guess the Ship- Past Navy

Ok guys, here are the results for the last three…

2. USS Melville (Destroyer Tender)

3. HMAS Norman (N Class Destroyer)

4. HMS Albatross (Sea Plane Carrier- formerly HMAS Albatross, given over to the Royal Navy as part payment for the Light Crusiers the RAN bought).

You were doing so well mate, don’t give up- all three have a good run in service and make it through the war (that’s about as good a clue as I can give you).

I’ve shot my bolt. I’ll need more clues before I can venture any guesses.

Wan: Mate what can I say, you are right on the money- HMNZS Black Prince (formerly HMS Black Prince), transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy in October 41 after the title was granted by his majesty the King. She was the pride of the Royal New Zealand Navy until she was decommissioned.

Two down, three to go.

They also tended to flip over too eagerly. I do think they were lovely ships, though.
I wonder if an Arethusa with eight 4in guns was at any significant disadvantage in AA firepower.
It’s too bad there wasn’t a suitable platform to feature the 4.5in gun, which I regard as a winner. Scylla and Charydbis were probably too much ship for the weaponry. I think a good super-destroyer was in order.

There were sixteen Dido-type ships commissioned. During the war, they combined to shoot down a total of fifteen aircraft. I keep thinking the RN would have been better off just building more Arethusas, and I dislike Arethusas.

The design was influenced by the ”Arethusa” class light cruisers. They were designed as fleet escorts to protect heavier units from both light surface forces and aircraft. Despite the lack of an effective fire-control system and the selection of the 5.25in Dual Purpose gun mounting (which was too heavy for its role), this class of ship had an outstanding record during WW2.The enthusiasm felt for them by the Board of Admiralty was borne out by good results in action. The ships of this class saw much action, including the battle of Cape Matapan, the battle of Okinawa, Operation Overlord, Operation Torch and the Second Battle of Sirte, as well as many other duties in the Mediterranean and Pacific.

I was reading not long ago that they have found it after it had been lost by the Soviets over 60 years ago

The Tripartite Naval Commission at the end of the European war rated GZ in Category C–requiring more than six months repair. All ships in Category C were to be disposed of by 1947. The Soviets were allowed to have GZ with the promise that she’d be so disposed of. After raising her, the Soviets towed her eastward and had a good look at what she had to show (which really wasn’t much). They then took her out to open water and started detonating bombs and shells on her deck. Rough weather started pushing her toward the Polish coast, so the weapons trials had to be cut short. The Soviets hit her with ropedoes, and she went down.

Dido class, Bellona sub-class

There were sixteen Dido-type ships commissioned. During the war, they combined to shoot down a total of fifteen aircraft. I keep thinking the RN would have been better off just building more Arethusas, and I dislike Arethusas.

5: British light (anti aircraft) cruiser (Dido class, Bellona sub-class) HMS Black Prince (photo taken in 1944, in Plymouth Sound)

Launched in 1942, saw extensive action in World War II, transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1946, decommissioned in 1962 and scrapped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Black_Prince_%2881%29

Well done mate, that is it exactly, I included this one because of the hype and perceived threat it posed upon it’s launch! And what came of it? NOTHING.

I was reading not long ago that they have found it after it had been lost by the Soviets over 60 years ago, it’s laying just off the coast of Poland and the Russians and Germans are interested in raising it again for a museum piece- why bother. Unlike contemporarites of her time, the Graf Zepplin never actually saw combat duties and thus do not fall under the strict guidelines pertaining to War wreckages.

1: Graf Zeppelin, perhaps the worst carrier design ever. Coolest feature, the bow propellers.