HMS Electra (H27) 2523403 217502618 2008-06-06T09:28:14Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="300" |colspan="2"|[[Image:HMS Electra.jpg|300px|HMS ''Electra'' before the war wearing the single white stripe of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla]] |- !style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|Career !style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]] |- |Ordered: |[[1 November]][[1932]]<BR>1931 Naval Programme |- |Laid down: |[[15 March]][[1933]] |- |Launched: |[[15 February]][[1934]] |- |Commissioned: |[[15 September]][[1934]] |- |Fate: |Sunk, [[Battle of the Java Sea]], [[27 February]][[1942]] |- |Struck: |Officially stricken [[1 January]][[1946]] |- !colspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|General characteristics |- |Displacement: |1,350-1,405 tons standard<br>1,886-1,940 tons deep |- |Length: |318 ft 3 in (97 m) between perpendiculars<br>329 ft (100.25 m) overall |- |Beam: |33 ft 3 in (10.13 m) |- |Draught: |12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) |- |Propulsion: |3 Admiralty 3-drum [[boiler]]s;<br>300 psi, 620 °F<br>2 shaft Parsons geared [[turbine]]s<br>36,000 shp |- |Speed: |{{convert|36|kn|km/h|0}} |- |Range: |471 tons oil, {{convert|6000|nmi|km|-3}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|0}}. |- |Complement: |145 (173 in 1942) |- |Armament: |4 x 4.7 inch/45 (120 mm) Mk XVIII (4x1)<br>8 x .50 inch [[Vickers machine gun]]s (2x4)<br>5 x .303 inch machine guns (5x1)<br>8 × 21 inch (533 mm) [[torpedo tube]]s (2x4)<br>2 x [[depth charge]] racks<br>60 depth charges<br>1940:<br>4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes replaced by<br> 1 × 3 in (76.2 mm)/50 and 2 x 20 mm [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon]] (2x1) |- |Motto: |Fulgens ab undis: 'Shining from the waves' | |} {{otherships|HMS Electra}} '''HMS Electra''', pennant number H27, was a [[Royal Navy]] [[E and F class destroyer|'E' class]] [[destroyer]] (one of 16, including two flotilla leaders, in the E and F classes to be built). She was ordered on [[1 November]] [[1932]] as part of the 1931 Naval Build Programme; launched on [[15 February]][[1934]] at the [[Hawthorn Leslie Shipyard]] at [[Hebburn]], [[Tyneside]]. The E class were similar to the preceding [[C and D class destroyer|'C' and 'D']] classes of 1931, but with an improved [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]] form, modified [[bridge]], 3 [[boiler]] rooms instead of 2, and high angle 4.7-in (120mm) guns that could elevate to 40 degrees (as opposed to 30 degrees on the earlier classes). The costs to build the ship have been given as approximately 300,000 (Janes), 247,000 (navalhistory.flixco.info web site), or 253,350 (excluding the items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns and communications equipment) (www.naval-history.net web site) [[British Pounds]]. == Service == === First Deployment === Upon commissioning in 1934, she was attached to the [[5th Destroyer Flotilla]], [[Home Fleet]], along with the rest of her E-class sister ships. In September 1935, the 5th Flotilla was transferred to the [[Mediterranean Fleet (United Kingdom)|Mediterranean Fleet]] for the duration of the Abyssinian crisis before returning to the [[Home Fleet]] the following March. In 1936, ''Electra'' was assigned to Non-Intervention Patrols in [[Spain|Spanish]] waters during the [[Spanish Civil War]]. On [[26 August]] 1939, she attended a review by King George VI. === Early Second World War Service === At the beginning of [[World War II]], ''Electra'' was attached to the [[12th Destroyer Flotilla]]. On [[3 September]] [[1939]], ''Electra'' took part in the rescue of survivors of the liner [[S. S. Athenia|''Athenia'']], which was torpedoed by the [[Germany|German]] submarine [[Unterseeboot 30|''U-30'']]. The Captain of ''Electra'', Lieutenant-Commander [[Sammy A. Buss]], was the Senior Officer present at the scene so he took charge. He sent the destroyer [[HMS Fame (H78)|''Fame'']] on an [[anti-submarine]] sweep of the area, while ''Electra'', her sister ship [[HMS Escort (H66)|HMS ''Escort'']], the [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[yacht]] ''Southern Cross'', the Norwegian cargo ship ''Knut Nelson'', and the American tanker [[SS City of Flint|''City of Flint'']] rescued the survivors. Part of the rescue effor tincluded sending a whaler to rescue a woman still in a bunk in the sick bay of the ''Athenia''. Between the ships, about 980 passengers and crew were rescued; only 112 people were lost, and ''Athenia'' sank the next morning. Her next assignment was to escort a [[convoy]] out of [[Pentland Firth]], along with [[HMS Exmouth (H02)|HMS ''Exmouth'']] and [[HMS Inglefield (D02)|HMS ''Inglefield'']]. During a violent storm which lasted over 2 days, an [[ammunition]] locker on the [[forecastle]] broke loose, and was sliding around the deck. The locker was full of shells, and needed to be secured. After a short time, several volunteers managed to corral the loose object. ''Electra'' continued escorting convoys and hunting U-boats in the [[Western Approaches]] area until April, 1940. Some of the convoys she has known to have escorted include ON-14, HN-14, ON-16, HN-16, ON-18, HN-18, ON-20, and HN-20. === Norway === In early April, 1940, ''Electra'' escorted two convoys to [[Norway]] and back. The first trip, which also included [[HMS Escapade (H17)|HMS ''Escapade'']] and the cruiser [[HMS Southampton (C83)|HMS ''Southampton'']], was uneventful. On the second trip, the convoy was attacked by [[Germany|German]] bombers. An ex-Polish liner serving as a [[transport]] was sunk, but the rest of the convoy safely arrived. After the convoy was delivered, ''Electra'' was tasked to drop off two Army officers at a desolate location. During this time, ''Electra'' shot down a German bomber with her 4.7-in (120mm) guns. A few days later, ''Electra'', being equipped with Two-Speed Destroyer Sweep (TSDS) [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeping]] gear, was directed to lead the [[battleship]] [[HMS Warspite (1913)|HMS ''Warspite'']] into [[Ofotfjord]] towards [[Narvik]], clearing a path through the [[naval mine|minefields]] for her. However, [[William Jock Whitworth|Admiral Sir William Whitworth]] decided to risk the mines, and left ''Electra'' outside, guarding the entrance to the fjord. (''For further details, '''see [[Battles of Narvik]]'''''). On 8 May, ''Electra'' returned to [[Scapa Flow]] for replenishment. On [[June 13]][[1940]], she escorted [[HMS Ark Royal (91)|HMS ''Ark Royal'']] when she launched an air attack on [[Trondheim]], [[Norway]]. As ''Ark Royal'' turned into the wind to launch aircraft in foggy conditions, another destroyer, [[HMS Antelope (H36)|HMS ''Antelope'']] appeared, cutting across the bows of ''Electra''. With no time to stop, ''Electra'' hit ''Antelope'' aft, in the [[wardroom]] pantry. One man from ''Antelope'' climbed up ''Electra's'' [[anchor]] chain to get away from the damaged area. Her bow was severely damaged, and it took ''Electra'' four days to get back to [[Scotland]] at slow speed. She was refitted at the [[Ailsa Shipbuilding Company]] yard at [[Troon]], [[South Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]. Ailsa was noted primarily for the yachts it has built, and ''Electra'' was the largest repair job it had handled to date. Here she had her bow repaired, as well as having her after bank of [[torpedo tube]]s replaced by a 3-inch [[anti-aircraft]] gun and two [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]]s. Also, during the refit and repair time, the wardroom was painted in the team colours of the [[Rangers F.C.|Glasgow Rangers]] football (soccer) team, which was the favourite team of the yard manager heading up the repair work. She now joined the [[3rd Destroyer Flotilla]], [[Home Fleet]]. Her first assignment after her repair work was completed was to escort the ships of the 1st Minelaying Squadron. along with the destroyers HMS [[Jackal]], HMS [[Versatile]], and HMS [[Vimy]] during lay of deep minefield in NW approaches to Irish Sea (Operation SN41). After this, she was part of the escort of the [[battlecruiser]] ''Repulse'' in a hunt for a German surface raider that had attacked [[Convoy HX-84]] sinking the armed merchant cruiser [[HMS Jervis Bay (F40)|''Jervis Bay'']] and five ships from the convoy. ''Electra'' later joined the search for survivors from the convoy. In December, she was again on patrol seeking a German surface raider that had been reported as breaking out into the [[North Atlantic]]. The force consisted of the battlecruiser [[HMS Hood (51)|HMS ''Hood'']], the [[light cruiser]] [[HMS Edinburgh (C16)|''Edinburgh'']], and the destroyers ''Electra'', ''Escapade'', [[HMS Echo (H23)|''Echo'']], and [[HMS Cossack (F03)|''Cossack'']]. After spending a week at sea, including [[Christmas Day]], after the report turned out to be false, she returned to port on [[New Years Eve]]. It was here that they got word that the ship's current Captain, Lieutenant-Commander Buss, was promoted to Commander and would transfer to the destroyer ''Punjabi'', and the ship received a new Captain, Lieutenant-Commander [[Cecil Wakeford May]], who would be her captain until she was sunk. A few days after this, ''Electra'' was sent into the [[Arctic]] for a mission to find surface raiders, returning through the [[Denmark Strait]] and <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelling from a cruiser in heavy seas on the way. The first four months of 1941 saw ''Electra'' performing mostly convoy work around the [[British Isles]] and [[Bristol Channel]], mostly in cold weather and heavy seas. in January, she escorted the battlecruiser ''Hood'' during Operations SN6 and SN65, providing cover for minelaying in the Northern Barrage by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron. Starting on 25 January, ''Electra'' was part of screen for Operation 'RUBBLE', in escort of Norwegian mercantiles which had escaped from Baltic ports. In February, she escorted Convoy WS6A during passage from the Clyde for two days; then she escorted the Battleship HMS ''Prince Of Wales'' during contractor's trials. One of the trips was as escort to convoy HX 122, which left Halifax on [[April 20]] and arrived in [[Liverpool]] on [[8 May]]. On one of the trips, she rescued the crew of a [[Coastal Command]] [[Anson]] patrol aircraft that had crashed into the ocean. Starting on [[23 January]], ''Electra'' participated in [[Operation Rubble]], the escape of several Norwegian merchant ships from [[Goteborg]], [[Sweden]]. In March, ''Electra'' and ''Inglefield'' escorted the battleship [[HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913)|HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'']] in a search for the German battlecruisers [[German battlecruiser Scharnhorst|''Scharnhorst'']] and [[German battlecruiser Gneisenau|''Gneisenau'']]. === The Hunt for the ''Bismarck'' === In early May, the British [[Admiralty]] was on the alert that the [[German battleship Bismarck|German battleship ''Bismarck'']] might attempt to break out into the [[North Atlantic]]; therefore, ''Electra'' was ordered to [[Scapa Flow]] for possible deployment against the Germans. On [[22 May]], just after midnight, ''Electra'' sailed along with the destroyers [[HMS Achates (H12)|''Achates'']], ''Antelope'', [[HMS Anthony (H40)|''Anthony'']], ''Echo'', and [[HMS Icarus (D03)|''Icarus'']], escorting the ''Hood'' and [[HMS Prince of Wales (1939)|''Prince of Wales'']] to cover the northern approaches. The intention was that the force would refuel in [[Hvalfjord]], [[Iceland]], and then sail again to watch the Denmark Strait. On the evening of [[23 May]], weather started getting bad. At 2055 hrs., Admiral [[Lancelot Holland]] aboard the ''Hood'' <!-- please retain British English here-->signalled the destroyers "If you are unable to maintain this speed I will have to go on without you. You should follow at your best speed." At 0215 on the morning of [[24 May]], the destroyers were ordered to spread out at {{convert|15|nmi|km|0|sing=on}} intervals to search to the north. At about 0535, the German forces were sighted by the ''Hood'', and shortly after, the Germans sighted the British ships. Firing commenced at 0552. At 0601, ''Hood'' took a 38 cm (15 inch) shell from ''Bismarck'' in the after magazine, which caused a massive explosion, sinking the ship within 2 minutes. ''Electra'' and other destroyers were about {{convert|60|nmi|km|0}} away at the time. Upon hearing that the ''Hood'' had sunk, ''Electra'' raced to the area, arriving about 2 hours after the ''Hood'' went down. They were expecting to find many survivors, prepared hot coffee and rum, set up the medical facilities for the casualties, rigged scrambling nets and heaving lines, and placed life belts on the deck where they could be quickly thrown in. From the 94 officers and 1321 enlisted men who were aboard the ''Hood'', only 3 survivors were found. ''Electra'' rescued these 3 survivors, and continued searching. Shortly thereafter, ''Icarus'' and ''Anthony'' joined in the search, and the three ships searched the area for more survivors. No more survivors were found, only driftwood, debris, clothing, personal effects, broken rafts, and a desk drawer filled with documents. After several hours searching, they left the area. With the sea as cold as it was, survival in the water was measured in minutes; there was little probability that anyone was left alive in the water. (''For further details, '''see [[Battle of the Denmark Strait]]'''''). After dropping the survivors off in [[Iceland]], she <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelled, and then sailed immediately again to escort the damaged ''Prince of Wales'' to [[Rosyth]]. After arriving, the men went on a quick shore leave, their first in many months. Then in a period of two weeks, she went to Scapa Flow, then made a run down the West Coast of England, then to [[Ireland]], then <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelled at [[Derry]], then escorted a troop convoy into the Atlantic. After this, she went into refit at Green & Silley Weir in the Royal Docks at [[London]] for 6 weeks, escorting a convoy to [[Sheerness]] on the way. When she came out of the yard, she sported a new disruptive [[camouflage]] paint scheme of blues, greens and greys. Just two days out of the yard, she was on convoy duty again, escorting a convoy through what was called "Bomb Alley". They came under heavy attack by German aircraft, but suffered no losses. She then went on to Scapa Flow for assignment. === Russian Convoy === Shortly after arriving at Scapa Flow, she was detailed to serve as Senior Escort for the first of [[Arctic convoys]] to the [[Soviet Union]], called [[Dervish Convoy|Operation Dervish]], which consisted of 6 merchantmen, escorted by destroyers ''Electra'', ''Active'' and ''Impulsive'' , three [[Algerine class minesweeper|''Algerine''-class minesweepers]], and 3 trawlers. The convoy kept well to the west of Norway, and made a wide sweep to avoid the German bases in northern Norway, before turning south to [[Archangelsk]]. There were no losses on the trip to Russia, or on the return trip (Russian Convoy OP1) with the destroyer HMS ''Active'', cruisers HMS ''London'' and HMS ''Shropshire'', and 11 merchantmen starting on 26 September. (''For further details, '''see [[Dervish Convoy]]'''''). === To the Far East === On Monday, [[20 October]][[1941]], the crew of ''Electra'' got word that they, along with [[HMS Express (H61)|HMS ''Express'']] would be escorting [[HMS Prince of Wales (1939)|HMS ''Prince of Wales'']] to the [[Far East]] under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir [[Thomas Phillips (Naval officer)|Tom Phillips]] where the ships would form the nucleus of a new [[Eastern Fleet]] intended to deter Japanese aggression. Over the next three days, they loaded with supplies and ammunition, and returned their load of parkas they had obtained for their Russian trip. On [[23 October]], they sailed out of Scapa Flow for [[Greenock]], and on [[25 October]], they sailed for the Far East. This force would be known as Force G until they reached the Far East; then they would be re-designated [[Force Z]]. They were accompanied by [[HMS Hesperus (H57)|HMS ''Hesperus'']], loaned by [[Western Approaches Command]], for the first part of the trip. The destroyers <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelled from the ''Prince of Wales'' south of Ireland. Two days later, another destroyer, [[HMS Legion (G74)|HMS ''Legion'']], was detached from a Gibraltar convoy to cover the ''Prince of Wales'' while ''Electra'' and '' Express'' <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelled again from a tanker in [[Ponta del Garda]] in the [[Azores]]. After ''Electra'' and ''Express'' returned the following day, ''Hesperus'' and ''Legion'' departed for Gibraltar. On [[2 November]], the three ships put into Freetown. They had shore leave, and left the next day. They <!-- please retain British English here-->refuelled again on the way, and arrived at [[Cape Town]] on [[16 November]], with the destroyers putting into [[Simonstown Naval Base]]. The crew had shore leave again, but several events, including press interviews were cancelled. They left Cape Town on [[18 November]] and arrived at [[Colombo]], [[Ceylon]], on [[28 November]], stopping at [[Mauritius]] and [[Addu Atoll]] to refuel on the way. While at Addu Atoll, the crew of the ''Prince of Wales'' cooked the Addu detachment of [[Royal Marines]] a Christmas dinner, and sent ashore fresh fruit, meat, vegetables, beer and Navy rum. On [[29 November]], the destroyers [[HMS Encounter (H10)|HMS ''Encounter'']] and [[HMS Jupiter (F85)|''HMS Jupiter'']], detached from the [[Mediterranean Fleet (United Kingdom)|Mediterranean Fleet]], joined at Colombo, and the five ships sailed later that day. The ships were joined at sea by the battlecruiser [[HMS Repulse (1916)|''HMS Repulse'']] which has sailed from Trincomalee. The force then set course for [[Singapore]], where they arrived on [[2 December]]. They spent a few days there with shore leave and refit, while waiting for orders. On [[1 December]], it was announced that Sir Tom Philips had been promoted to full Admiral, and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the [[Eastern Fleet]]. A few days later, ''Repulse'' started on a trip to Australia with the [[HMAS Vampire (D68)|''Vampire'']] and ''Tenedos'', but the force was recalled. === Force Z at Singapore === Early in the morning of [[8 December]] (Singapore time), Singapore came under attack by Japanese aircraft. ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' shot back with [[anti-aircraft]] fire; no planes were shot down, and the ships sustained no damage. After receiving the reports of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] and invasions of [[Siam]] by the Japanese, Force Z put to sea at 1730 hrs. on [[8 December]]. Force Z at this time consisted of the ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'', escorted by the destroyers ''Electra'', ''Express'', ''Vampire'', and ''Tenedos''. At about 1830 on [[9 December]], the ''Tenedos'' was detached to return to Singapore, because of her limited fuel capacity. That night, ''Electra'' sighted and reported a flare to the north. This caused the British force to turn away to the southeast. The flare was dropped by a Japanese aircraft over their own ships by mistake, and caused the Japanese force to turn away to the northeast. At this point, the two forces were only about five miles apart. At 2055, Admiral Philips cancelled the operation, and ordered the force to return to Singapore. On the way back, they were spotted and reported by the Japanese submarine ''I-58''. The next morning, [[10 December]], they received a report of Japanese landings at [[Kuantan]], and ''Express'' was sent to investigate the area, finding nothing. That afternoon, ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' were sunk by 85 [[Japan]]ese aircraft off [[Kuantan]] aircraft from the [[22nd Air Flotilla]] based at [[Saigon]]. (For more information, see [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse]]). ''Repulse'' was sunk by five torpedoes in 20 minutes, and ''Electra'' and ''Vampire'' moved in to rescue survivors of ''Repulse'', while ''Express'' rescued survivors of the ''Prince of Wales''. ''Electra'' sent out radio messages that ''Repulse'' and '' Prince of Wales'' had sunk. Even after they were rescued, some survivors of the ''Repulse'' manned Action Stations on ''Electra'', to free the ''Electra'' sailors to rescue more survivors. In particular, ''Repulse'' gunners manned the 'X' and 'Y' 4.7-inch mounts, and the ship's dentist of the ''Repulse'' even assisted the ''Electra's'' medical teams with the wounded. In total, nearly 1000 survivors of the ''Repulse'' were rescued, of which ''Electra'' saved 571. ''Electra'' and the other destroyers then returned to Singapore to drop off the survivors, refuel, and replenish their ammunition. === Convoy Duty === The next three weeks or so saw ''Electra'' escorting convoys, and resting in Singapore in between. She had 'crossed the line' ([[equator]]) so many times that the crew stopped keeping count. One of her frequent consorts in these escort operations was the light cruiser [[HMAS Hobart (1939)|HMAS ''Hobart'']]. In the last week of January, ''Electra'' was part of the escort for a troop convoy, BM-11, consisting of the American transports [[USS West Point (AP-23)|''West Point'']] and [[USS Wakefield (AP-21)|''Wakefield'']], and the British ships ''Duchess Of Bedford'', ''Empress of Japan'', and ''Empire Star'', which was carrying troops from [[Bombay]], [[India]], to Singapore. This convoy was brought into Singapore on [[29 January]] via [[Berhala Strait]], [[Durian Strait]], and [[Philips Channel]], and then proceeded to [[Keppel Harbor]]. Here, at about 1100 on [[31 January]], ''Electra'' came alongside ''West Point'' and transferred 20 naval dockyard personnel, 8 women, one [[Free French]] officer, and an RAF officer to ''West Point'' for passage to Ceylon. (One of these women gave birth to a baby on board ''West Point'' on [[4 February]]). Some of the convoys that ''Electra'' was known to have escorted included: *BM-9B, which left Bombay [[22 December]][[1941]]; ''Electra'' escorted this convoy from [[3 January]] 1942 until its arrival at Singapore on [[6 January]]. *BM-10, which left Bombay [[8 January]][[1942]]; ''Electra'' was part of the escort between [[10 January]] and [[22 January]]. *BM-11, (mentioned above) which left Bombay [[19 January]][[1942]]; ''Electra'' was part of the escort from [[24 January]] until its arrival at Singapore on [[29 January]]. *BM-12 Return trip to Bombay; ''Electra'' was part of the escort from [[7 February]] to [[9 February]] while the convoy went through the [[Sunda Strait]]. Starting on 3 February, they also had the task of towing the destroyer HMS ''Isis'' which had been undergoing refit from Singapore to Java. They were attacked by a Japanese high-level bomber on the way, but sustained no damage. (T. J. Cain in his book ''HMS Electra'' states that it was an I class destroyer, and that ''Electra'' was the tow ship; Steve Gartland in an article in "The Sun" states that the destroyer being towed was [[HMAS Vendetta (D69)|''HMAS Vendetta'']], that the tow ship was a tug named ''Ping Wo'', and that ''Electra'' was an escort out of Tanjong Priok starting on [[17 February]].) Just before Singapore fell, ''Electra'' and other destroyers escorted the remaining merchant ships to [[Tanjong Priok]], Java. === Battle of the Java Sea & Loss === On [[26 February]][[1942]], ''Electra'' arrived at [[Surabaya]] from Tanjong Priok, along with [[HMS Exeter (68)|''HMS Exeter'']], [[HMAS Perth (D29)|''HMAS Perth'']], the Dutch light cruiser [[HNLMS Java|''Java'']], and the destroyers ''Jupiter'' and ''Encounter''. ''Dauntless'', ''Danae'', and ''Hobart'' remained at Tanjong Priok. On [[27 February]], the striking force left Surabaya, the three British destroyers in the lead, with ''Electra'' in the center, ''Jupiter'' to port, and ''Encounter'' to starboard; followed by the Dutch cruiser [[HNLMS De Ruyter (1935)|''De Ruyter'']], ''Exeter'', [[USS Houston (CA-30)|''Houston'']], ''Perth'', and ''Java''; followed by 2 Dutch and 4 American destroyers. (''For further details, '''see [[Battle of the Java Sea]]''''') That afternoon, they made contact with the enemy. ''Electra'' managed to evade the shells and torpedoes in the first round. At 1715, ''Exeter'' received a hit which destroyed a {{convert|4|in|mm|0|sing=on}} gun mount and then exploded in a boiler room, causing her to lose speed. At 1725, seeing that the ''Exeter'' was in trouble, ''Electra'' headed toward the enemy ships, followed by the other two British destroyers, to cover the ''Exeter's'' escape. After several near misses from gunfire from the [[Japan]]ese [[light cruiser]] [[Japanese cruiser Jintsu|''Jintsu'']], ''Electra'' fired back, scoring several hits on the ''Jintsu'' and the destroyer [[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1938)|''Asagumo'']]. During this slugging match, ''Electra'' sustained several hits, which knocked out A and X gun mounts, wrecked the electrical system forward, cut off all communications, destroyed a searchlight platform, damaged the after boiler room, and ruptured the main steam line. ''Electra'' came to a stop, fired off her torpedoes, and started to list to port. After a fire started under B gun mount and Y mount ran out of ammunition, abandon ship was ordered. One surviving [[whaleboat]] got away after being loaded with wounded, but it was destroyed by a shell shortly after. She sank shortly later on the afternoon of [[27 February]][[1942]], bow first, with the [[White Ensign]] still flying. === Survivors === That night, about 0235hrs. in the morning of [[28 February]], 54 survivors of the 173 men on board were picked up by the [[United States]] [[submarine]] [[USS S-38 (SS-143)]], and were taken to Surabaya. When the submarine surfaced in the middle of the survivors, they weren't sure if it was friendly or enemy. One of the survivors recognized the submarine as being friendly, because it had an 'Admiralty' type [[anchor]]; and at that time, only [[United States]] submarines still had this type of anchor. One of the survivors died on the submarine on the way. After treatment in a Dutch hospital, 42 survivors were taken to [[Australia]] by the inter-island steamer ''Verspeck'', where they arrived on [[March 10]]. One more survivor died at the hospital, and 10 others in critical condition were left at the hospital. After spending some time there recovering, many of the survivors were put on the liner ''Nankin'', bound for [[Ceylon]], and ultimately, home to Britain. On the way, the ''Nankin'' was attacked and sunk by the German raider [[German auxiliary cruiser Thor|''Thor'']]. The survivors, after spending 7 weeks on the raider's supply ship ''[[Regensburg]]'', were handed over to the Japanese, where they spent the rest of the war in a Japanese [[prison camp]]. On [[29 March]][[1947]], a [[stained glass]] window at [[St. George's Chapel, Chatham|St. George's Chapel]] at the [[Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham]], was dedicated to the crew of the ''Electra''. ==The Wreck== In August 2003, the M/V ''Empress'' located the wreck of the ''Electra''. It is lying on its port side in approximately 160 feet (49 m) of water, completely covered with [[fishing net]]s. What is interesting is that she is located nowhere near where the Allied battle maps put her sinking, but is close to where the Japanese battle maps put her. ==References== * Cain, Lieutenant-Commander Timothy J. ''HMS Electra'' (Frederick Miller Ltd, London, 1959), ISBN 0-86007-330-0. Lieutenant-Commander Cain (then a Warrant Officer Gunner, "Guns") was the senior surviving officer of ''Electra''. * Barnett, Correlli ''Engage the Enemy More Closely'' (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1991) ISBN 0-393-02918-2 * Bradford, Ernle ''The Mighty Hood'' (World Publishing Company, Cleveland, 1959) * English, John. ''Amazon to Ivanhoe - British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s.'' * Gardiner, Robert ed., ''Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922 - 1946'' (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1980) ISBN 0-85177-146-7 * Hoyt, Edwin P. ''The Lonely Ships: The Life and Death of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet'' (Pinnacle Books, Los Angeles, 1977), ISBN 0-523-40162-0 * Lenton, H. T. ''British Fleet and Escort Destroyers, Volume I'' (Doubleday, Garden City, New York, 1970) * Middlebrook, Martin and Patrick Mahoney, ''Battleship: The Sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse'', (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1979) * Rohwer, J. and Hümmelchen, G. ''Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939-1945.'' (2nd Edition, Annapolis, 1992). * Van der Vat, Dan ''The Atlantic Campaign: World War II's Great Struggle at Sea'' (Harper and Row, New York, 1988) ISBN 0-06-015967-7 * Winslow, W. G. ''The Ghost that Died at Sunda Strait'', (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1989), ISBN 0-87021-218-4 * ''Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II'' (Janes Publishing, London, 1946) ISBN 0-517-67963-9 {{E and F class destroyer}} ==See also== *[[List of ship launches in 1934]] ==External links== * http://www.ships-badges.co.uk/electra.html Picture of the ship's badge of the ''Electra'' * http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/hms/electra.html Contains information on the wreck of the ''Electra'', and pictures of the ship. * http://navalhistory.flixco.info/G/69835x53053/b281303/n0.htm * http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4377.html * http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx122cruising.html * http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/danfs/AP/ap23.html * http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Singapore.html Has a list of Singapore convoys * http://members.dodo.net.au/~mervynw/vendetta.htm Provides information on a destroyer being towed from Singapore to Java. * http://www.ussvi.org/misc/030808.htm Provides a description of the rescue from the submarine's viewpoint * http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/e+f_class.htm#HMS%20Electra * http://www.hmshood.com/crew/remember/TedFlagship.html#Ch21 Contains Hood survivor recollections of the rescue * http://www.hmshood.com/crew/remember/ElectraTaylor.html Contains survivor recollections * http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-21E-Electra.htm * http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/AreportaboutHMSElectraand.html * http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hnonescorts.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Electra (H27)}} [[Category:E and F class destroyers]] [[Category:Tyne-built ships]] [[Category:World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Shipwrecks in the Java Sea]] [[de:HMS Electra (H27)]] [[nl:HMS Electra (1934)]] [[ru:HMS Electra (H27)]]