Operation Ironclad May 1942

[Silver-Fox]

Greetings...
Does any-one have any recollection of the action when HMS Ramillies was hit by a torpedo during this action, and she was either towed back to port, or made it under her own steam.

Would appreciate any info..
Thanks

[berry]

G'day,have a little information to effect that Ramillies joined the 3rd B.S.East Indies late in 1941 .She bombarded Diego Suarez on 7th.May 1942 when surrender followed.On the 30th. she was torpedoed and damaged by a midget submarine off Diego Suarez,one compartment being flooded.After temporary repairs she left for Durban,arriving on 9th.June,returning to UK in september for repairs and refit.Don't know whether she was towed to Durban or made it under her own steam.
regards
Sid

[JoelPetty]

The attached photos are from my granfather's photo album and are titled Diego Suarez. I believe they were taken during his service on HMS Revenge in 1941-43. After some initial research, I can only assume the photos are related to Operation Ironclad which was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy-French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.
The photo's are:
Photo 1: ROYAL SOVEREIGN, REVENGE, RAMILLIES, RESOLUTION (The four remaining Revenge class battleships)
Photo 2: Destroyer HMS DULVERTON (L 63)
Photo 3: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
Photo 4: HMS INDOMINITABLE
Photo 5: A rescued pilot
Photo 6 & 7: DIEGO SUAREZ after bombing raid
Photo 8: Fairey Fulmars probably from 800 Squadron launched from HMS INDOMINITABLE

Hope you find these of interest. I would appreciate any further information people may have on this conflict, especially the role HMS REVENGE fulfilled.

[tjstoneman]

Joel,

Many thanks for posting these (post#1) and the ones on the Revenge class thread. Most interesting. The second photo (captioned as DULVERTON - L63) is a V/W class destroyer, and the pennant number looks like I.63, rather than L63 - which would make her HMS VERITY. That said, I'm not sure VERITY got as far as Operation Ironclad.

Tim

[jainso31]

According to Wikipaedia neither Dulverton nor Verity were present in the Naval Force supporting Operation Ironclad

jainso31

[jainso31]

After emegency repairs at sea,HMS Ramilles steamed to Durban for more extensive repairs, before returning to UK for overhaul.

jainso31

[Youngjoe]

HMS Ramillies, made the entire trip to Durban, under her own steam.
The damage was in the main store for food and water, this being at the bows of the ship. The crew had little to eat while on the way to Durban, hence once in dock the crew were sent to different locations to rebuild their strength.
My father was sent to a Sugar plantation, where he helped with the cutting of sugar cane etc. I think the plantation was owned by a company called 'The Matolovia Sugur Company' (spelling may not be correct).
He stayed here until 'Rammy' had been patched up enough to return to Uk for full repairs and part refit.
Out of interest, does anyone know what the crew did while she was in dock having this work done, it was for a few months, am sure the crew did not get all that time as leave.