HMS ''Shoreham'' was the
lead ship
The lead ship, name ship, or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable to naval ships and large civilian vessels.
Large ships are very complex and may ...
of the of
sloops
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular ...
built for the British
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...
. Completed in 1931, ''Shoreham'' served pre-war in the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bo ...
. In the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
she served in the Gulf and
Red Sea
The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; ...
, the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on th ...
and the Indian Ocean. She survived the war and was sold for commercial use in 1946 and was scrapped in 1950.
Construction and design
The
British Admiralty ordered four
sloops
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular ...
of the new as part of the 1929 construction programme, with two each ordered from
Devonport and
Chatham dockyards. They were an improved version of the of the 1928 programme, which were themselves a modification of the .
They were intended for a dual role of patrol service in overseas stations in peacetime and minesweeping during war.
''Shoreham'' was
long overall, with a
beam of and a
draught of .
Displacement
Displacement may refer to:
Physical sciences
Mathematics and Physics
*Displacement (geometry), is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path ...
was
standard.
Two Admiralty 3-drum
water-tube boilers fed two geared
steam turbine
A steam turbine is a machine that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating output shaft. Its modern manifestation was invented by Charles Parsons in 1884. Fabrication of a modern steam turb ...
s which drove two propeller shafts. The machinery was rated at , giving a speed of .
The ship's main gun armament consisted of two 4-inch (102 mm)
QF Mk V guns mounted fore-and-aft on the ship's centreline, with the forward gun on a High-Angle (HA) anti-aircraft mounting and the aft gun on a Low-Angle (LA) mounting, suitable only for use against surface targets. Four 3-pounder
saluting guns completed the ship's gun armament. The initial anti-submarine armament consisted of four
depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use ...
s.
''Shoreham'' was ordered on 23 September 1929 and was
laid down
Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship.
Keel laying is one ...
at Chatham on 19 December 1929. She was
launched on 22 November 1930 and completed on 2 November 1931.
Modifications
One of ''Shoreham''s 4-inch guns was removed in 1933, but was reinstated in 1934.
In 1938, ''Shoreham''s anti-aircraft armament was improved by replacing the aft 4-inch gun by a similar gun on a HA mounting, while a quadruple
Vickers .50 machine gun mount was fitted for close-in anti-aircraft duties.
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, the ship's 3-pounder saluting guns were removed to accommodate more useful armament. The ship's anti aircraft armament was gradually increased, first by fitted a second quadruple machine gun mount, and then by the addition of
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models emp ...
s and finally a
2-pounder "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun, giving an ultimate anti-aircraft outfit of three Oerlikons and one 2-pounder.
One 3-pounder saluting gun was re-instated after the war, when ''Shoreham'' returned to the Gulf.
The ship's anti-submarine armament was also gradually increased during the war, with the number of
depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use ...
s carried increasing from 15 to as many as 60–90.
Other wartime changes included the fitting of
radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
and
HF/DF radio direction-finding gear.
Service
On commissioning, ''Shoreham'' was deployed to the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bo ...
, where she served continuously, except for refits, until the outbreak of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. She was refitted at
Colombo
Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
in
Ceylon
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
in October 1932, and at
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the '' de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the sec ...
in 1933, 1934 and 1938. In January 1939, ''Shoreham'' was refitted and rearmed at
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
, before returning to the Gulf.
The outbreak of war saw ''Shoreham'' continue to be based in the Gulf, patrolling and checking shipping for
contraband
Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") refers to any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It is used for goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes o ...
. In May 1940 the ship transferred to the
Red Sea
The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; ...
.
Italy's declaration of war on 10 June 1940 brought Royal Navy forces in the Red Sea into conflict with the Italian
Red Sea Flotilla
The Red Sea Flotilla (''Flottiglia del mar rosso'') was part of the ''Regia Marina Italia'' (Italian Royal Navy) based at Massawa in the colony of Italian Eritrea, part of Italian East Africa. During World War II, the Red Sea Flotilla was active ...
. On 18 June 1940 the Italian submarine was spotted off
Aden by a patrolling aircraft and attacked unsuccessfully by two RAF bombers. ''Shoreham'' and the destroyer were sent out to intercept, but a depth charge attack by ''Khandahar'' was unsuccessful and the submarine escaped. On 23 June 1940, ''Shoreham'', together with the destroyers ''Khandahar'', and encountered the Italian submarine off
Perim Island
Perim ( ar, بريم 'Barīm'', also called Mayyun in Arabic, is a volcanic island in the Strait of Mandeb at the south entrance into the Red Sea, off the south-west coast of Yemen and belonging to Yemen. It administratively belongs to Dhub ...
. A gun duel between the British ships and ''Torricelli'' took place in which both ''Shoreham'' and ''Khartoum'' were hit by shells from the Italian submarine and ''Toricelli'' was sunk. Several hours later, ''Khartoum'' was sunk when a fire resulting from the action caused one of her magazines to explode.
On 3 August 1940,
Italy invaded British Somaliland. The British position soon became untenable, and it was decided to evacuate the British troops from the port of
Berbera
Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
. The evacuation began on 14 August, with ''Shoreham'' taking part in the evacuation. In total, 7140 people were evacuated to Aden by the time the evacuation ended on 19 August.
On 23 May 1941, ''Shoreham'' intercepted the German merchant ship ''Oder'', which had left
Massawa
Massawa ( ; ti, ምጽዋዕ, məṣṣəwaʿ; gez, ምጽዋ; ar, مصوع; it, Massaua; pt, Maçuá) is a port city in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea, located on the Red Sea at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula beside the Dahl ...
earlier that day, near Perim. ''Oder'' scuttled herself.
''Shoreham'' was refitted in Bombay in April–May 1941, after which she moved back to the Persian Gulf.
On 25 August 1941
Britain and the Soviet Union invaded Iran. ''Shoreham'' was assigned to the attack on
Abadan
Abadan ( fa, آبادان ''Ābādān'', ) is a city and capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, which is located in the southwest of Iran. It lies on Abadan Island ( long, 3–19 km or 2–12 miles wide). The island is bounded ...
, covering the landing of the
24th Indian Infantry Brigade which was tasked with taking the oil refineries in the city. The landings took the Iranians by surprise, and ''Shoreham'' sank the which was berthed in the port. After the invasion was completed ''Shoreham'' returned to the Red Sea, serving as anti-aircraft guard ship at
Suez
Suez ( ar, السويس '; ) is a seaport city (population of about 750,000 ) in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez (a branch of the Red Sea), near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same b ...
, and in January 1942 transferred to the
Eastern Fleet
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
* Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
*Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
* Eastern Air ...
, based at Colombo.
''Shoreham'' was refitted at Bombay from October 1942 to February 1943 and then moved to the Mediterranean, joining the Levant Command.
On 10 July 1943 ''Shoreham'' was part of the naval force supporting
Operation Husky
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Ma ...
, the Allied invasion of
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
. In September 1943 ''Shoreham'' returned to the Eastern fleet, escorting convoys off the West coast of India. From March to June 1944 ''Shoreham'' was refitted at
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second larges ...
and then returned to the Eastern Fleet, where she was employed on convoy escort of the East coast of India.
On 2 January 1945, ''Shoreham'' took part in Operation Lightning, landing of British and Indian troops on the
Akyab
Sittwe (; ; formerly Akyab) is the capital of Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma). Sittwe, pronounced ''sait-tway'' in the Rakhine language, is located on an estuarial island created at the confluence of the Kaladan, Mayu, and Lay Mro rivers empty ...
peninsular, with ''Shoreham'' helping to land troops of the
3rd Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde), previously called the 3rd Special Service Brigade, is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces. It is composed of the Royal Marine Commandos, alongside commando qualified sailors, soldiers and airmen from ...
.
She was refitted at
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
in April 1945, then returned to her escort duties, which continued until the end of the war.
After the end of the war, ''Shoreham'' was transferred to the Persian Gulf, where she served until July 1946. She then returned to Britain for the first time since her commissioning, and was laid up for disposal. ''Shoreham'' was sold on 4 November 1946 for commercial service, and was renamed ''Jorge F El Joven''. She was scrapped at
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge (, from: ''Brugge aan zee'' meaning "Bruges at Sea", french: Zeebruges) is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zee ...
from November 1950.
References
Bibliography
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Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoreham
1930 ships
Ships built in Chatham
Shoreham-class sloops
World War II sloops of the United Kingdom