HMS Bonaventure (31)

HMS Bonaventure was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. Bonaventure participated as an escort vessel in Operation Fish, the World War II evacuation of British wealth from the UK to Canada. It was the largest movement of wealth in history.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Bonaventure.

HMS Bonaventure at her mooring in 1940
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Bonaventure
Builder: Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company (Greenock, Scotland)
Laid down: 30 August 1937
Launched: 19 April 1939
Commissioned: 24 May 1940
Fate: Torpedoed by the Italian submarine Ambra south of Crete, 31 March 1941 (139 lost)
General characteristics
Class and type: Dido-class light cruiser
Displacement:
  • 5,600 long tons (5,700 t) (standard)
  • 6,850 long tons (6,960 t) (full load)
Length:
  • 485 ft (148 m) p.p.
  • 512 ft (156 m) o/a
Beam: 50 ft 6 in (15.39 m)
Draught: 14 ft (4.3 m)
Installed power: 62,000 shp (46,000 kW)
Propulsion:
Speed: 32.25 kn (37.11 mph; 59.73 km/h)
Range:
  • 1,500 mi (1,300 nmi; 2,400 km) at 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h)
  • 4,240 mi (3,680 nmi; 6,820 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Capacity: 1,100 short tons (1,000 t) fuel oil
Complement: 480
Armament:
Armour:
Notes: Pennant number 31

On 10 January 1941 she, along with HMS Southampton and/or HMS Hereward, shelled and sank the Italian torpedo boat Vega off Cape Bon, Tunisia, Operation "Excess". Two members of her crew were killed by return fire.[2]

On 31 March 1941 she was torpedoed and sunk south of Crete (33°20′N 26°35′E) by the Italian submarine Ambra with the loss of 139 of her 480 crew. 310 survivors were rescued by HMS Hereward and HMAS Stuart.

References

Citations
  1. Breuer 2008, p. 62
  2. "Naval Events, January 1941, Part 1 of 2, Wednesday 1st – Tuesday 14th". Naval History.

Sources


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