HMS Nigeria

[john.sharkey47]

My late uncle, Christopher Sharkey was a Petty Officer in the gunnery branch and served two commissions aboard this ship mainly in South Aftican waters. Does anyone have information as to where the ship went and what she ship did prior to her being decommissioned at Devonport. She was finaly handed over to the Indian Navy as INS Mysore.

[tim lewin]

In August 1942 she was the flagship of Adm Burroughs for the famous Operation Pedestal, the convoy that saved Malta from starvation..

[John Brown]

John

This site shoild help.

http://www.hmsnigeria.com/

Regards...John

[john.sharkey47]

Thank you for the helpfull information re web sitesetc. I am particularly interested in the post war ship history and movemements of HMS Nigeria untill she was finally decomissioned and transferred to the Indian Navy as INS Mysore.
John Sharkey

[The Sailor]

HMS Nigeria was then assigned to operate in the Mediterranean. On 12 August 1942 she was participating in Operation Pedestal, escorting a convoy bound for Malta. She was the flagship of the close escort group, commanded by Admiral Harold Burrough. Nigeria was torpedoed and damaged by the Italian submarine Axum but managed to make it back to Gibraltar escorted by three destroyers. Admiral Burrough meanwhile transferred his flag to the destroyer HMS Ashanti whilst Nigeria returned to Gibraltar.
In view of the serious damage and resulting fire they were lucky to save her.
See pic below.

She was sent from there to the United States for repairs, which took nine months to complete. After these were complete, she operated off the South African coast, and on 12 March 1943 she picked up 30 survivors from the American merchant James B. Stephens that was torpedoed and sunk on 8 March 1943 by the German submarine U-160 about 150 nautical miles (280 km) north-east of Durban. Nigeria was then assigned to operate with the Eastern Fleet from February 1944 until December 1945, when she returned to the UK to be refitted. During her time in the far east, she participated in raids on Sumatra.

Class and type: Crown Colony-class light cruiser
Name: HMS Nigeria
Ordered: 1937-12-20
Builder: Vickers Armstrongs, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Laid down: 1938-02-08
Launched: 1939-07-18
Commissioned: 1940-09-23
Out of service: Sold to Indian Navy as Mysore, 29 August 1957

[jbryce1437]

HMS Nigeria down at the bow after being torpedoed

[herakles]

Nice term that: "down at the bow". Sort of understatement in this case I feel!

[Powers]

Having just come across this thread I forward the following snippets of information on NIGERIA in case it is still required. The details relate only to NIGERIA'S appearances at Devonport between 1946 and her sale to the Indian Navy as INS MYSORE in 1957.

On Friday 1 March 1946 NIGERIA moved from 8 Dock Devonport to 5 Basin on the Cruiser PHOEBE. During the next 2 months she moved to different positions within the Naval Base until sailing away on Monday 6 May 1946.

On Monday 24 May 1948 NIGERIA returned to Devonport on 9 Buoy. During the next 3 weeks she occupied various Dockyard wharves, including a spell alongside the Battleship KING GEORGE V on 8 Wharf. She sailed from the Base on Tuesday 15 June 1948.

On Monday 25 September 1950 NIGERIA re-appeared at Devonport on 5/6 Wharves. For the next 15 months she moved to various locations within the Base including a period alongside the Cruiser NEWCASTLE and later the Repair Ship ALAUNIA, in 5 Basin. She sailed from Devonport on Monday 17 December 1951.

On Friday 27 September 1957 NIGERIA returned to Devonport on 5 Wharf as INS MYSORE. After a brief stay she sailed out again to Plymouth Sound on Monday 30 September 1957, and finally out to sea the following morning.

I hope this is of some use.

[astraltrader]

Well done Powers with this information. I hope that the member concerned revisits the forum and checks this thread as you have done well to provide these ship movements.

[Benbow]

Here is a good site for you.

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Nigeria.htm

[René]

Hello All,

I read that the ensign John B. Carrington, RNVR and the sailor Reginald S Taylor had gone overboard February 26, 1942. At that time, HMS Nigeria was in Murmansk.
On February 22, 1942, HMS Nigeria had gone to meet the convoy PQ 11 for accompany him to Murmansk, the same day.
There was no longer in escorting the convoy PQ 11 and not yet the convoy QP 8.
Does anyone know the circumstances of these tragedies?

Best regards
René

[tim lewin]

the pic of Nigeria "down by the bow" was taken from Ashanti after Adm Burrough called her alongside to transfer his flag. Here is a pic of him comfortably ensconsed on Ashanti's bridge shortly after.
tim