HMS Jamaica (44) 474146 217430718 2008-06-06T00:17:07Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {|{{Infobox Ship Begin}} {{Infobox Ship Image |Ship image=[[Image:HMS Jamaica anchored.jpg|300px]] |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox Ship Career |Hide header= |Ship country=[[UK]] |Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]] |Ship class=[[Crown Colony class cruiser|Crown Colony-class]] [[light cruiser]] |Ship name=HMS ''Jamaica'' |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=[[Vickers-Armstrongs]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]] |Ship laid down=[[28 April]], [[1939]] |Ship launched=[[16 November]], [[1940]] |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=[[29 June]], [[1942]] |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned=[[20 November]], [[1957]] |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship captured= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship fate=Sold for scrapping, arrived [[20 December]] [[1960]] at [[Dalmuir]] to be broken up by Arnott Young Ltd. |Ship status= |Ship homeport= }} {{Infobox Ship Characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship displacement=8,530 [[tonne]]s standard<br>10450 tons full load |Ship tons burthen= |Ship length= 169.3 [[metre|m]] (555.5 [[foot (measurement)|ft]]) |Ship beam=18.9 m (62 ft) |Ship draught= 5.0 m (16.5 ft) |Ship draft= |Ship propulsion=Four oil fired three-drum Admiralty-type boilers<br>four-shaft geared turbines<br>four screws<br>54.1 megawatts (72,500 [[shp]]) |Ship speed={{convert|33|kn|km/h|0}} |Ship range=6520 [[nautical mile|nmi]] at 13 [[knot (speed)|knot]]s |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship complement=730 |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament= Twelve 6 [[inch]] guns (4 × 3),<br> eight 4 inch guns (4 × 2),<br> eight [[Bofors 40 mm gun#Naval versions|40 mm Bofors AA]] (4 × 2) guns,<br> 3 quadruple [[Pom-Pom (gun)|2 pounder ("pom-pom") AA]] mounts, 12 20 mm AA (6 × 2) guns. <br> Six 21 inch (2 × 3) torpedo tubes |Ship armour=83 mm,<br>deck: 51 mm, <br>turrets: 51 mm, <br>Director control tower: 102 mm. |Ship aircraft=Two [[Supermarine Walrus]] aircraft (Later removed) |Ship motto='Non Sibi Sed Patriae' ('Not For Oneself, But For One's Country') |Ship nickname='The Fighting J'<br>'The Galloping Ghost of the Korean Coast' |Ship honours= |Ship notes=[[Pennant number]] 44 }} |} {{otherships|HMS Jamaica}} '''HMS ''Jamaica'' (C44)''', a [[Crown Colony class cruiser|Crown Colony-class cruiser]] of the [[Royal Navy]], was named after the [[island]] of [[Jamaica]], which was a [[British overseas territories|British possession]] when she was built (in [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Cumbria]], [[England]]). She spent almost her entire wartime career on [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic convoy duties]], except for a deployment south for the [[Operation Torch|landings in North Africa]] in November 1942, where she was a member of the Centre Task Force. She was captained for most of the [[Second World War]] by Captain [[John Hughes-Hallett]]. ==The Arctic Convoys== [[Image:HMS Jamaica fjord.jpg|thumb|left|200px|HMS ''Jamaica'' in [[dazzle paint]] at Hvalfjord, [[Iceland]], photographed from the aircraft carrier [[HMS Formidable (67)|HMS ''Formidable'']]]] ===Battle of the Barents Sea=== In September 1942 ''Jamaica'' was employed as a close support for convoys in the Arctic. In November, she was part of the central task force covering the Allied landings in [[French North Africa]] in the area of [[Oran]]. In December she was again in the Arctic supplying close support for convoys. On [[30 December]] 1942 the [[German cruiser Admiral Hipper|German heavy cruiser ''Admiral Hipper'']] attacked convoy JW.51B in an engagement that would become known as the [[Battle of the Barents Sea]]. The ''Admiral Hipper'' was first held at bay by the British [[destroyer]]s [[HMS Onslow (G17)|HMS ''Onslow'']], [[HMS Obedient (G48)|HMS ''Obedient'']], [[HMS Obdurate (G39)|HMS ''Obdurate'']] and [[HMS Orwell (G98)|HMS ''Orwell'']]. Initially driven off, ''Admiral Hipper'' returned, only to be engaged by HMS ''Jamaica'' and [[HMS Sheffield (C24)|HMS ''Sheffield'']] and suffer damage from them. The British taskforce eventually drove off the German attackers. ===Battle of North Cape=== ''Jamaica'' spent 1943 escorting Arctic convoys. In December she was part of the Covering Forces for an Arctic convoy, with the battleship [[HMS Duke of York (17)|HMS ''Duke of York'']] and four destroyers. On [[22 December]] German air reconnaissance spotted the convoy, and the [[German battlecruiser Scharnhorst|German battlecruiser ''Scharnhorst'']] and five destroyers made to intercept it. The resultant engagement became known as the [[Battle of North Cape]]. The Germans were engaged by the covering force, consisting of the cruisers [[HMS Belfast (C35)|HMS ''Belfast'']], [[HMS Sheffield (C24)|HMS ''Sheffield'']], [[HMS Norfolk (78)|HMS ''Norfolk'']] and four destroyers. Meanwhile HMS ''Jamaica'' and HMS ''Duke Of York'' approached from the south west, barring the ''Scharnhorst''’s way. [[Image:HMS Jamaica tirpitz raid.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Some of the ships of the British Home Fleet which took part in the attack on the ''Tirpitz'' on [[3 April]] [[1944]] in Alten Fjord which left her blazing. [[HMS Furious (47)|HMS ''Furious'']] is nearest, in the distance are [[HMS Searcher (D40)|HMS ''Searcher'']], [[HMS Pursuer (D73)|HMS ''Pursuer'']], and, in the far distance, HMS ''Jamaica''. The photograph was taken aboard [[HMS Emperor (D98)|HMS ''Emperor'']], and her [[F6F Hellcat|Grumman Hellcats]] can be seen on deck in the foreground.]]The British ships were able to obtain some hits with their radar controlled fire, but the Germans were able to use their superior speed to escape the British capital ships. The British destroyers were able to keep pace, and obtained four torpedo hits using a pincer attack. ''Scharnhorst'' was brought to a halt, and was subsequently battered by gunfire from ''Jamaica'' and ''Duke Of York'', and from ''Belfast'' and ''Norfolk'' who arrived later. ''Scharnhorst'' was hit by another ten torpedoes, and sank in the evening of [[26 December]]. Only 36 survivors were rescued. ===Further convoys and the raids on the ''Tirpitz''=== Throughout March – April 1944, ''Jamaica'' continued to serve as part of covering forces for the Murmansk convoys. In July she formed part of the covering force for the carriers [[HMS Formidable (67)|HMS ''Formidable'']] and [[HMS Indefatigable (R10)|HMS ''Indefatigable'']] for an unsuccessful attack on the [[German battleship Tirpitz|German battleship ''Tirpitz'']] at that time lying in Kaafjord ([[Operation Tungsten]]). In September she was once again involved with Arctic convoy operations and in October ''Jamaica'' and two destroyers carried out the provisioning of [[Spitsbergen]]. ==In the Far East== ''Jamaica'' was refitted in 1945, and had her X turret removed and increased anti-aircraft armament fitted. In September she joined the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the [[Eastern Fleet|East Indies Fleet]]. In February 1946 she became a member of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, based at the same station. On [[19 August]] she was dry docked at [[Simonstown]], [[South Africa]] for the removal of a rudder and a general refit. On [[4 October]] she was undocked and on [[25 October]] she entered the wet dock for one day to carry out an inclination experiment. In November 1947 ''Jamaica'' returned to the UK, and in August 1948 she joined the [[America and West Indies Station]] as a member of the 8th Cruiser Squadron. ==The Korean War== [[Image:HMS Jamaica gunners.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The interior of a 6 inch triple Mark XXIII mounting on board HMS ''Jamaica''. Note the crew wearing anti-flash gear. The crew member in the foreground has over his shoulder a 30 pound [[cordite]] propellant charge. Note a further charge is emerging from the cordite hoist in the floor. It is still in its protective case.]] ===Early moves=== In July 1949 ''Jamaica'' returned to the Far East Station on loan to the 5th Cruiser Squadron for participation in the [[Korean War]]. Fighting between [[North Korea|North]] and [[South Korea]] had broken out on [[25 June]] 1950, whilst ''Jamaica'' was on passage to [[Hong Kong]]. She rendezvoused with HMS ''Belfast'' and a [[frigate]] on [[29 June]], and after receiving orders from Command Naval Forces Far East was dispatched with two frigates to the coast of Korea where she joined a [[United Nations]] support force under Rear Admiral Higgins. ===Patrols and shore bombardment=== On [[2 July]], ''Jamaica'' and the [[United States Navy|American]] cruiser [[USS Juneau (CL-119)|USS ''Juneau'']] were patrolling together near [[Jumunjin|Chumunjin]] when four North Korean [[Motor torpedo boats|MTBs]] were detected escorting a number of fishing trawlers. The MTBs were destroyed by the cruisers, and three trawlers were sunk. Light artillery opened up from the shore, and the warships were forced to withdraw. After this action ''Jamaica'' left for [[United States Fleet Activities Sasebo|Sasebo]], where she was refuelled, and then she relieved USS ''Juneau'' in the Chumunjin area. Bombardments of various coastal targets were carried out in an attempt to slow down the Communist invasion. On the 7th, together with the [[Black Swan class sloop|''Black Swan''-class sloop]] [[HMS Hart (U58)|HMS ''Hart'']] and the U.S. destroyer [[USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729)|USS ''Lyman K. Swenson'']], she bombarded [[Yangyang]] in North Korea itself. On the 8th, ''Jamaica'' and ''Swenson'' moved south where there were suitable cliff roads for bombardment. Moving at only 6 knots to gain accuracy, ''Jamaica'' was attacked by a hidden 76.2 mm gun battery which scored a hit on the starboard tripod of the mainmast, killing two and wounding others. The Communist guns were soon silenced, and the two ships returned to their original targets. ===The Inchon offensive=== [[Image:HMS Jamaica (Crown Colony-class cruiser).jpg|thumb|left|200px|HMS ''Jamaica'' at anchor]] In September planning was in progress for the [[Battle of Inchon|landings at Inchon]], which was to turn the tide of the war against the North Koreans. ''Jamaica'', and her sister ship [[HMS Kenya (14)|HMS ''Kenya'']] were used to provide gunfire support to the American Task Force. On the 13th, the bombardment began, using [[Fairey Firefly|Fairey Firefly aircraft]] from the carrier [[HMS Triumph (R16)|HMS ''Triumph'']] as spotters, and on the 14th, enemy guns on the peninsula of Walmindo, the first objective of the landing forces, had been silenced. On the 15th, ''Jamaica'' and ''Kenya'' operated with the two US heavy cruisers [[USS Rochester (CA-124)|USS ''Rochester'']] and [[USS Toledo (CA-133)|USS ''Toledo'']], in firing on Walmi-do. Each British cruiser had one spotting Firefly allocated to her. The bombardment went on at intervals all day, ''Triumph'' providing three pairs of Fireflies in constant rotation. The attempt was made to limit fire to known military targets, and ''Jamaica'' succeeded in hitting an ammunition dump. On the 17th, just before 0600, two aircraft appeared overhead and were initially mistaken for “friendlies”. However the first approached the USS ''Rochester'' and released two bombs, which fell astern. The second also dropped a bomb that landed on the American cruiser's crane, but failed to explode. The two North Korean aircraft, a [[Yakovlev Yak-9|Yak-9]] and an [[Ilyushin Il-2|Il-2]], then attacked ''Jamaica'' which had already opened fire. The Il-2 flew over ''Jamaica'' and raked her port side with gunfire, killing one sailor and injuring two others. The aircraft was then hit and shot down, while the more nimble Yak escaped. At the end of the Korean bombardment, ''Jamaica''`s guns crews had fired 1,290 rounds of 6 inch ammunition and 393 rounds of 4 inch. In February 1951 ''Jamaica'' returned to the UK, and was placed into [[Reserve fleet|reserve]]. ''Jamaica'' had become known as "The Galloping Ghost of the Korean Coast", due to the North Koreans claiming that she had been sunk three times.<ref>[http://www.britains-smallwars.com/korea/Jamaica.html Account of Jamaica in the Korean War]</ref> ==Service in home waters== [[Image:HMS Jamaica torpedomen.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The torpedomen of HMS ''Jamaica'' who finally dispatched the ''Scharnhorst'', at [[Scapa Flow]] after the sinking of the German warship on [[26 December]] [[1943]]. The men are still wearing their anti-flash gear.]] ''Jamaica'' underwent a refit in early 1953. In October she was returned to active service to replace the cruiser [[HMS Swiftsure (08)|HMS ''Swiftsure'']], after ''Swiftsure'' had been damaged in a collision with the destroyer [[HMS Diamond (D35)|HMS ''Diamond'']]. In 1954 ''Jamaica'' was transferred to the [[Home Fleet]] and shortly after that, was assigned to the [[Mediterranean Fleet (United Kingdom)|Mediterranean Fleet]]. In 1956, she appeared in the film [[The Battle of the River Plate (film)|The Battle of the River Plate]], standing in for [[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']]. During the [[Suez Crisis]] in 1956, ''Jamaica'' was flagship of F02 Mediterranean and led the amphibious warfare squadron onto the beaches of [[Port Said]], ([[Operation Musketeer (1956)|Operation Musketeer]]), having acted as radar picket ship for the [[Fleet Air Arm]] and the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]]. She completed her tour of duty in November 1957 and returned to the UK. She was decommissioned on [[20 November]] [[1957]]. On [[20 December]] [[1960]] ''Jamaica'' arrived at [[Dalmuir]] to be broken up by Arnott Young Ltd. Her hull was the last part to be scrapped, being finally finished at [[Troon]] in 1962. ==References== {{Reflist}} * {{Colledge}} * [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers] * [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4033.html HMS Jamaica at Uboat.net] {{Crown Colony class cruiser}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jamaica (C44)}} [[Category:Crown Colony class cruisers]] [[Category:Cruisers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Royal Navy cruisers]] [[Category:World War II cruisers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Korean War cruisers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Barrow-built ships]]