HMS Ark Royal by Brian Wood. HMS Ark Royal is shown in hot pursuit of the Bismarck.
HMS Ark Royal was built by Cammell Laird and launched
on the 13th of April 1937. Displacement of 22,000 tons, had a top speed
of 30.75 knots and carried 72 aircraft. HMS Ark Royal's complement was
1,575 men. She served in the home fleet and south Atlantic in 1939, Home
fleet and Mediterranean 1940 and Force H 1941. on the 13th November 1941
she was torpedoed by U-81 in the western Mediterranean, and while under
tow was lost the following day.
HMS Glorious by Ivan Berryman HMS Glorious flying off a Fairey Swordfish at sunset with HMS Ardent
off to Starboard.
HMS Victorious by Ivan Berryman Completed in May 1941, HMS Victorious had been in commission just nine
days when her pilots encountered and attacked the Bismarck. She is seen
here in August 1942 with HMS Eagle astern of her.
HMS Cossack by Ivan Berryman HMS Cossack, one of the fast Tribal class destroyers will always be
remembered for the daring rescue of 300 prisoners of war from the German
Altmark in Norwegian waters. She is shown here departing Grand Harbour,
Malta.
HMS Dido by Ivan Berryman HMS Dido was launched on 18th July 1939, she took part
in the evacuation of troops and defense of Crete, where she was damaged
on B gun, killing 46 men. HMS Dido took part in the second Battle of
Sirte during 1942, she sank three supply ships off North Africa. She
also took part in the Anzio landings and the invasion of Southern France
in August 1944.
HMS Ajax by Ivan Berryman HMS Ajax was built as a light cruiser at Barrow and launched in 1935.
She saw service initially in the American and West Indies theatre before
temporary commission in the Mediterranean. Then followed her never to
be forgotten role in the Battle of the River Plate ending in the scuttling
of the Graf Spey. She is seen here entering Portsmouth Harbour with
the Isle of White in the background.
HMS Belfast During the Battle of North Cape by Randall Wilson
Under lowering arctic skies HMS Belfast (Admiral Burnets Flagship) leads HMS
Sheffield and HMS Norfolk in the race to protect convoy JW55B from Scharnhorst.
Scapa Flow Graveyard by Robert Barbour HM submarine H.28 enters Scapa Flow anchorage, passing the forlorn
Battle Cruiser SMS Derfflinger and a group of sunken destroyers H.28 was
one of the H class submarines. Launched in March 1918, she was finally
scrapped in 1944.
Working Up by Robert Barbour
T class submarine HMS Thorn surfaces during the work up
exercises off the west coast of Scotland in late 1941. Taking part is an
escort sloop of the Black Swan class and a Sunderland from 201 Squadron,
RAF Coastal Command.
