H.M.S. Penelope

H.M.S. Penelope

Image Details

Title H.M.S. Penelope
Reference Number STH0003742
Photographer Unknown
Town or Village Hebburn
Date 1941
Original Format Black and White Photograph
Period c1940s
Copyright South Tyneside Libraries
Further Information HMS Penelope was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy.
Built by Harland and Wolff (Belfast, Northern Ireland). She was
launched on 15 October 1935.

On the 11 Apr 1940 She entered a Norwegian fjord to support an attack
of British destroyers against a German destroyer flotilla.  On the
way in to the fjord she ran aground on rocks and was badly damaged.
She was towed clear by HMS Eskimo but sustained 4 near-misses by
aerial bombs exacerbating the damage already sustained by hitting the
rocks. In this photograph, taken after she reached the Tyne for
repairs, ratings can be seen examining splinter damage to the
superstructure.

Later she saw service at Malta, and suffered even worse damage -
enough to earn the nickname "HMS Pepperpot". During this attack the
ship's cat gave birth to three kittens, Bomb, Blitz and Blast

She was torpedoed on 18th February 1944 off Naples and sank. She took
415 men, including the Captain with her.