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Great Britain's Flag

Great Britain's York cruiser

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Photos

HMS York:
HMS York
©IWM, FL-4185

Design

To help reduce costs the York was built to be well under the 10,000 ton treaty limit but be better than the Country class series.1 The York was designed by Sir William Berry.5

In December 1925 a design for the York was approved.1 Originally it was to carry two aircraft with two catapults but during construction it was changed to just one.1

There were to be three funnels but the forward funnel was made larger and only two installed.5

The York was ordered in 1927 under the 1926 Program.1

Aircraft

There was a single catapult for launching aircraft.1 When built it was a fixed catapult.1

The bridge was built higher as it was planned to put a catapult on the B turret, but when it was realized that the catapult wouldn't allow for the proper operation of the turret it was scrapped but the higher bridge remained.2,5

Ships

 

HMS York

  • Manufacturer: Palmers1,2,3,4
  • 19272, May 19275, May 16, 1927: Laid down.1,2,4,5
  • July 17, 1928: Launched.1,2,3,4,5
  • May 1, 1930, June 19305: Completed.1,2,4,5
  • May 1930: Flagship of 2nd Cruiser Squadron with the Home Fleet.2
  • 1930 - 1939: Member of 8th Cruiser Squadron at America and West Indies Station.1
  • 1931: Catapult added.4
  • October 1933: 20 mm pompoms removed.4
  • 1934 - 1935: Two 0.5" quad mount machine guns added.1,2
  • September 1935 - Spring 1936: Mediterranean during Abyssinian Crisis.1
  • 1937 - 1938, 1938 - 19392: Catapult replaced by revolving type.1,2
  • 19393, September 1939: Escort convoys from Halifax to Great Britain.1 Convoy escort in Atlantic.3
  • October 1939: Member of Force F based in Halifax.1
  • 1940: Home Fleet.3
  • March 3, 1940: Captured blockade runner Arucas in Denmark Straits.1
  • April 1940: Norwegian campaign.1
  • Summer 1940: Mediterranean with 3rd Cruiser Squadron.1
  • 1940 - 1941: Escorted Malta convoys.1
  • 1941: Mediterranean Fleet.3
  • February 1941: Two to six 20 mm guns added.4
  • March 22, 1941: Abandoned.3,4
  • March 26, 1941: Heavily damaged by an Italian explosive motor boat (carrying 660 lb of explosives) in Suda Bay, Crete.1,4 Was beached, sustained additional bomb damage, and had to be destroyed by explosives when Crete was evacuated.1,4
  • May 22, 1941: Constructive total loss.4

Specifications

‹›
  York
Crew 6234, 6281,2
Crew - Flagship  
Displacement 8,235 tons2, 8,250 tons1,3,4, 8,400 tons5
Displacement - Loaded 10,350 tons1,4, 10,620 tons2
Physical Characteristics  
Length 575'1,3,4,5, 575' 1"2
175.25 m1,4
Length - Between Perpendiculars 540'1,3,4,5, 540' 0.25"2
164.59 m1,4
Length - Water Line  
Beam 57'1,2,3,4, 58'5
17.3 m1, 17.37 m4
Draft / Height 17'5, 20' 3"1,4
6.17 m1,4
Draft / Height - Maximum  
Performance  
Speed 32 knots3, 32.25 knots2,5, 32.3 knots1,4
Range at 11 - 14 knots 10,000 nautical miles5
Range at 14 knots 10,000 nautical miles1
Armament 8" twin turrets: 33
8" L/50: 65
8" BL Mk VIII twin turrets: 31
8" L/50 Mk VIII twin turrets: 32,4
Anti-Aircraft 4": 43,5
4" QF Mk V: 41,2
4" L/45 QF Mk V HA: 44
2 pdr: 21,2,3
2 pdr pompoms: 24, 85
Saluting 3 pdr: 44,5
Torpedo Tubes 21": 2 mounts 3 tubes each1,2,3,4,5
Aircraft 11,2,5
Armor  
Belt - Machinery 3"1,2
Belt - Main 2" - 3"3, 3"4
Bulkheads 3.5"2
Control Tower 3"3,5
Deck 2"3,5
Deck - Machinery 1.5"1,2
Magazine Box 1" - 4"4, 3" - 4.375"1,2
Turrets 1"1,2,4, 1.5" - 2"3
Engines  
Boilers Admiralty: 81,2,4
Yarrow5
Shafts 41,2,3,4,5
Turbines Parsons geared1,2,4,5
HP 80,0001,2,3,4,5
Oil 1,900 tons1,2,4,5

Sources:

  1. Cruisers of World War Two An International Encyclopedia, M. J. Whitley, 1995
  2. British Cruisers of World War Two, Alan Raven, John Roberts, 1980
  3. Warships of World War II, H. T. Lenton and J. J. Colledge, 1964
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, Robert Gardiner, 1987
  5. Janes' Fighting Ships of World War II, 1989
20th Century American Military History Crucial Site