South Tyneside History
| Title | 'H.M.S. Penelope' |
|---|---|
| Reference Number | STH0003725 |
| Photographer | Unknown |
| Town or Village | Hebburn |
| Date | 1940s |
| Original Format | Black and white photograph |
| Period | The 1940s |
| 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 sShe entered a Norwegian fjord to support an attack of British destroyers against a German destroyer flotilla. On the way into 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. She is shown after reaching the Tyne at Hebburn. The crew line the decks. Wooden plugs can be seen in the hull blocking shrapnel damage. After later service at Malta, she 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. |