HMS Norfolk

HMS Norfolk was built at Fairfield Shipbuilding yard, launched 12th December 1928 and completed 30th April 1930. She was part of a two-ship class which included HMS Dorsetshire. She carried a seaplane in 1931 and had a catapult added in 1932. At the outbreak of the Second World War, HMS Norfolk served in the Home Fleet from 1939 to 1945. She took part in the final action against the Bismarck firing 527 8-inch shells and eight torpedoes. HMS Norfolk also took part in the action against the Scharnhorst when she was hit by two 11-inch shells, one of which went through the X ring bulkhead and went overboard without exploding.

Fairfield launched this County class heavy cruiser at Govan on 12 December 1928 and she entered service in the Royal Navy on 30 April 1930 In September 1931, NORFOLK’s crew were part of a mutiny, later known as the Invergordon Mutiny. She later served with the Home Fleet until she re-commissioned for service in the East Indies Station in 1937. At the outbreak of war in 1939, NORFOLK deployed with the Home Fleet, and took part in the chase for the German battlecruisers GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST, along with the cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER. She soon received numerous repairs for damage that she had received, not to mention vital modifications to the ship. Her first repairs were in Belfast, after a near-miss by a torpedo from the German submarine U-47.

Shortly afterwards, she had to repair bomb damage from a heavy air raid, this time on the Clyde. After these repairs NORFOLK proceeded to the Tyne Shipyard for a radar set to be fitted. In May 1941, NORFOLK was the second ship to sight the BISMARCK. She continued to follow the German battleship and was part of the force with RODNEY and KING GEORGE V that sank her. From September onwards, she escorted the arduous Arctic Convoys. NORFOLK was part of the cruiser covering force of convoy JW55B, when it engaged SCHARNHORST on 26 December 1943. She scored three hits on the German vessel which withdrew and was later caught and sunk by the DUKE OF YORK and her escorts.

She sustained damage in that confrontation and went to the Tyne for repairs. After the war, NORFOLK left Plymouth for a much needed refit at Malta, after transporting the Norwegian Royal family back to Oslo following their 5-year exile in London. This was followed by service in the East Indies as the flagship of the Commander-In-Chief East Indies Station. In 1949, NORFOLK returned to the UK and entered in Reserve. On 14 February 1950, she proceeded to Newport for scrapping after a long and proud service of 22 years.

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