HMS Ajax (22)

History

On the eve of World War II (1939-1945), many ships and types of ships were built. The Royal Navy continued to strengthen its forces and in the early 1930s developed a new group of light cruiser battleships, the Leander class. The group would consist of 8 people (3 of whom eventually became part of the relevant Amphion class) and one of her numbers - HMS Ajax (22) - was set on 7 February 1933. She was launched on March 1, 1934, and officially commissioned on June 3, 1935.

Their fighting motto became "Only Ajax can beat Ajax".

The boat features a traditional side profile with the forward bridge superstructure projected amidships, a single pipe arrangement and double masts. She was built with 8 x BL 6" (150 mm) Mk XXIII guns (in four twin turrets, two front and two rear), 4 x WF 4" (100 mm) Mk V guns, 12 x .50 Heavy Vickers machine guns and 8 x 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (the latter weapon class is a relic of World War I, in which surface ships were often equipped with torpedo tubes).

Shipborne systems eventually include a combination of air search/surface search radar and fire control systems for increased situational awareness and more accurate long-range firing from surface targets Armor protection ranges from 4 inches on the main belt and 1 inch to 2 inches on the turret inches on the deck.

In peacetime her number was 550, while in wartime conditions this number rose to about 680. Her propulsion system consisted of 4 Parsons geared steam turbines powered by 6 Admiralty oil 3-barrel boiler units producing 72,000 hp (total) on four shafts under the stern.

As a result, this relatively compact ocean-going vessel achieves a speed of 32.5 knots and a range of up to 5,730 nautical miles under ideal conditions. To improve their visibility on the horizon, Fairey "Seafox" aircraft can be launched using catapults. Dimensionally, the HMS Ajax measures 555 feet in length, 56 feet in beam and 19 feet in draft.

She displaces 7,270 tons under standard load and 9,740 tons under full load. Fast and well-equipped, Ajax marks a strong addition to the British fleet.

Her building was undertaken by Vickers Armstrong of Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. Originally intended as part of the North American and West Indies station fleet, she was transferred to Mediterranean waters in 1935 due to instability and the growing threat of war - in fact, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) did not help.

She eventually traveled to Bermuda waters, making several stops in the United States and conducting various training sessions to promote readiness.

In 1937, she returned to England and underwent a major overhaul, replacing her 4-inch single-gun weapon with a dual-gun mechanism, increasing her firepower to medium range. In early 1938, she became a member of the West India Squadron and in 1939 was deployed to Pacific waters, where she was able to assist the Chilean government in earthquake relief.

By mid-1939, she was serving as a member of the South Atlantic Division.

Another world war is coming

On September 1, 1939, World War II officially began with the German invasion of Poland. This prompted the UK to declare war on the invaders and put HMS Ajax on war alert.

She was stationed near the riverbed (Rio de la Plata) near Uruguay and Argentina and successfully engaged (sinked) a German businessman, and has since won two German awards.

Chasing Admiral Count Spee

The German "pocket battleship" cruiser Admiral Graf Spee has become a nuisance to British interests, leading the Royal Navy to form its own strike group to end its reign as an attacker. "Force G" consists of HMS Ajax (as flagship), complemented by HMS Exeter, HMS Cumberland and HMS Achilles. The team eventually found the Graf Spee and engaged her in the "Battle of the River Plate" that began on December 13, 1939.

The German warship opened fire as it approached at full speed, and Ajax took aim in the crosshairs. HMS Exeter was hit the hardest as her front turret was deactivated and Ajax and Achilles closed range. Ajax's structure suffered seven hits in total, resulting in the loss of their two rear towers.

The German warship, also damaged by the wounded on board, sailed for neutral Montevideo, where it was eventually sunk by its crew - and the Germans believed a larger British naval contingent awaited them in the open waters . This ended Earl Spee's reign and marked one of Britain's first key war victories.

After a period of overhaul, the HMS Ajax served in Mediterranean waters against the Italian Navy, where she was used for escort and hunting escort. Operations are across the region, including support for operations throughout North Africa.

She took part in the naval battle of Cape Matapan (March 1941), where she was destroyed by a German aerial bomb, but survived. She then assisted the Allied evacuation of Crete in late May.

1942 and later

From 1942 to 1943, HMS Ajax was not in the war, and as the war progressed, she underwent an overhaul to improve her abilities. This led to an overhaul of her armament, adding 11 x 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns (AA) for local defense. Her fire control system and radar adaptability were also upgraded, and she lost the ability to launch aircraft.

In December 1942, she returned to service as part of the "Q Force" near Algeria, where convoys were again a top priority at the time.

On January 1, 1943, a bomb exploded in one of her boiler rooms, causing her to be transferred to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the United States for repairs, and she did not fight until September of that year. At this time, her anti-aircraft facilities were improved, four 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft turrets were installed, and the fire control and radar systems were improved.

She rejoined the British fleet in December 1943.

Her last war action was recorded in 1944, when she was deployed again in Mediterranean waters and later supported the Normandy landings in northern France on 6 June 1944. Their area of ??operations became the "Golden Beach", which was assigned to British troops near Le Hamel and La Riviere. She then returned to the Mediterranean to support the oft-forgotten Allied landings in southern France and continued to support Allied operations in the Balkans.

The war in Europe ended in early May 1945.

Shortly after the war, Ajax was sent back to Montevideo to pick up German sailors in the Count Spee operation who were being held there. After spending some time in the waters of the Middle East, she was decommissioned and sold to India in February 1948, until political condemnation of the transfer failed.

Her hull was scrapped in 1949, marking the end of HMS Ajax's turbulent history.

Specification

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