Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2014 14:45:38 GMT -5
Tributes paid to Royal Navy's last WWII destroyer and Arctic convoy hero:
Missed this at the time as it was a (Voice of Russia) Radio report.
The 70th Anniversary of the launch of HMS Cavalier was recognised on April 5, 2014 with celebrations at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, organised by the HMS Cavalier Association.
HMS Cavalier was built in 1944 and began its service in the Arctic and the Western Approaches before joining the British Pacific Fleet as the war came to a close. The Arctic convoys ran from 1941 to 1945, during which they protected supply ships which sailed from the United States and the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union, delivering vital supplies no the northern ports – predominantly Archangel and Murmansk under the Lend-Lease programme.
Those merchant ships were escorted by ships of the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Navy. Nearly 30,000 lives were lost in the Royal Navy destroyers sunk during World War Two. Those who survived tell of incredibly harsh conditions, the vessels awash with water, the open bridge and the sub-zero temperatures endured on Arctic convoys with the ever present threat of mines and torpedoes. The Second World War resulted in the loss of 142 RN destroyers.
It took years for those who served in these dangerous escorts – being bombarded by the German surface fleet and U-boats. Finally in 2013, the Ushakov medal for gallantry was allowed to those who had served.
LINK
Missed this at the time as it was a (Voice of Russia) Radio report.
The 70th Anniversary of the launch of HMS Cavalier was recognised on April 5, 2014 with celebrations at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, organised by the HMS Cavalier Association.
HMS Cavalier was built in 1944 and began its service in the Arctic and the Western Approaches before joining the British Pacific Fleet as the war came to a close. The Arctic convoys ran from 1941 to 1945, during which they protected supply ships which sailed from the United States and the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union, delivering vital supplies no the northern ports – predominantly Archangel and Murmansk under the Lend-Lease programme.
Those merchant ships were escorted by ships of the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Navy. Nearly 30,000 lives were lost in the Royal Navy destroyers sunk during World War Two. Those who survived tell of incredibly harsh conditions, the vessels awash with water, the open bridge and the sub-zero temperatures endured on Arctic convoys with the ever present threat of mines and torpedoes. The Second World War resulted in the loss of 142 RN destroyers.
It took years for those who served in these dangerous escorts – being bombarded by the German surface fleet and U-boats. Finally in 2013, the Ushakov medal for gallantry was allowed to those who had served.
LINK