HMS Euryalus (1939)

At the end of construction, the cruiser from June 30, 1941, accompanied by the destroyer Worcester, began to test. The ship was intended for service in the Mediterranean Sea. In July, after the end of the tests, he moved to Scapa Flow and began to serve along with Home Fleet 's ships. In August, the cruiser got into repairs to replace damaged screws and strengthen anti-aircraft weapons. Four-barreled Vickers machine guns were replaced by five single Oerlikons. At this time, the cruiser was assigned to the escort of the military convoy WS11X, part of the convoy WS11, following in Gibraltar. In September, he took on board 300 RAF ground personnel and on September 17 joined the convoy cover force.

Operation Halberd

Upon arrival of the convoy to the Mediterranean Sea, its posting on the latter turned into Operation Halberd . On September 24th, Yuriales, together with the cruisers Kenya , Edinburgh , Sheffield and Hermione, with cover from the destroyers Cossack , Zulu , Foresight , Forester , Farndale , Heythrop , Oribi , Laforey and Lighting formed Compound X, acting as a direct escort of the convoy. The convoy also accompanied Compound H. On September 27, Yuriales, together with the cruiser Hermione , accompanied the aircraft carrier Ark Royal , during his attempt to conduct an air attack on the enemy fleet. At the same time, the British ships themselves were subjected to strong air attacks. On the night of September 28, Yuriales, together with the cruisers of Compound X, separated from Compound H, with the goal of navigating the narrow strait of Tunisia to Malta when the ships arrived in the morning. After successfully escorting transport vessels to Grand Harbor, warships sailed from Malta and headed west to reunite with the ships of Compound H. The cruiser arrived in Gibraltar on October 1 as part of Compound “W”.

After the operation "Halberd", the cruiser went to Alexandria around the Cape of Good Hope, with the approach to the island of St. Helena. Crossing the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, the cruiser on November 11 became part of the 15th cruising squadron of the Mediterranean fleet.

In the Mediterranean

Already on November 18, the cruiser carried out the bombardment of Bardia together with the cruisers Naiad and Galatea , in support of the military operation.

On November 24th, Yuriales marched in Compound B along with the cruisers Ajax , Galatea , Naiad and Neptune in search of enemy convoys coming to Benghazi. This compound was covered by Compound “A” as part of the battleships Queen Elizabeth , Barham , and Valiant . When the last connection returned to base, the Barham battleship was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-331 submarine.

On November 27, Yuriales, together with the cruiser Naiad and the destroyers Griffin and Hotspur, formed the Compound C, which covered the transition to Malta of the cruisers Neptune and Ajax and the destroyers Kimberley and Kingston , who formed the K compound. On the way back, Compound C conducted a raid operation along the coast of Cyrenaica . In the ensuing air attacks, it escaped damage. On November 28, the ships returned to Alexandria.

On December 8, Yuriales, as part of Rear Admiral Wijen’s compound, along with the cruisers Naiad , Galatea and the destroyers Griffin and Hotspur, carried out a raid operation on Italian coastal communications near East Cyrenaica. On December 9, the ships shelled Derna , and on December 11 returned to Alexandria.

1st Battle of Sirte Bay

On December 13, British convoys reported the release of three convoys from Taranto, to which Rear B-Rear Rear Admiral Wijen was sent to intercept, which included the cruisers Naiad , Galatea and 9 destroyers in addition to Yuriales. On December 14, the Connection turned back to Alexandria, after receiving reports of the recall of Italian convoys, but on the night of December 15, the connection ran into the curtain of enemy submarines that sunk the cruiser Galatea .

On the same day, December 15, Yuriales, along with the cruisers Carlisle and Naiad , the destroyers Decoy , Havock , Hasty , Jervis , Kimberley , Kingston , Kipling and Nizam , escorted the escort vessel Breconshire next to Malta and met the convoy next to the island. The operation ended with the first battle in Sirte Bay , which occurred on December 17 with Italian battleships. On December 19, the cruiser returned to Alexandria during a sabotage attack on this port by Italian man-torpedoes, resulting in severe damage to the battleships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant .

Since January 3, 1942, Yuriales participated in the escort to Malta of the landing ship Glengyle with supplies and the withdrawal from the island of the supply vessel Breconshire . In addition to her, compound Naiad , the destroyers Foxhound , Gurkha , Kingston , Kipling and Sikh ( Operation MF.2 ) were included in Compound B. On January 9, the ships safely returned to Alexandria.

Since January 16, the cruiser participated in Operation MF.3 - posting 2 convoys to Malta: MW-8A and MW-8B. The cruiser was part of Compound B: Dido , Naiad destroyers Havock , Hotspur , Foxhound , Kelvin and Kipling . On January 20, Compound B returned to Alexandria.

From January 24 to 28, the cruiser, along with its two sisterships and destroyers, participated in Operation MF.4 - carrying a Breconshire supply vessel from Alexandria to Malta with cargoes and withdrawing from the island the landing ship Glengyle and the Rowallan Castle transport. The operation, despite the aviation countermeasures, was successful and without losses.

Since February 12, the cruiser participated in the next convoy operation - MF.5 : This operation was to carry out a loaded convoy MW-9 from three ships to Malta and pick up 4 empty ships from the island in the form of a ME-10 convoy. Yuriales was part of Compound B: Dido and Naiad , the destroyers Havock , Arrow , Griffin , Hasty , Jaguar , Jervis , Kelvin and Kipling . On February 14, the ships of Compound B, having met the convoy from Malta and transferring their Maltese Compound K, returned to Alexandria. At the same time, due to heavy air attacks, none of the ships arrived in Malta.

March 10, the cruiser in the compound “B”: the cruiser Dido and Naiad , went on an unsuccessful search for the Italian convoy who was traveling to Tripoli. After this, the search for the damaged Italian cruiser took place, which was also unsuccessful. On March 11, while returning to base, the Naiad cruiser near Sallum was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-565 submarine.

March 15, along with the cruiser Dido and the 6th destroyers fired on the island of Rhodes .

2nd Battle of Sirte Bay

On March 20, Dido participated in the piloting of the Maltese convoy MW-10 on his crossing from Alexandria ( Operation MG-1 ), together with the cruisers Cleopatra and Dido, Compound “B”. On March 21, Compound B met with an escort convoy: the cruiser Carlisle and the Hunt type escort destroyers . On March 22, the ships took part in the second battle in Sirte Bay, against the Italian fleet, which included the battleship Littorio and three cruisers. In bad weather, cruisers managed to keep the enemy at a distance, and after a torpedo attack by British destroyers, the enemy turned away and the convoy was saved. The convoy suffered heavy air attacks and suffered losses. The cruisers returned to Alexandria on March 28, where Admiral Vien, commanding the battle, received a congratulatory telegram from the Prime Minister for his successful actions in the battle with the Italian fleet.

In April and May, the cruiser continued to serve in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Operation Vigores

From June 13 to 16, the cruiser participated in Operation Vigores .

On June 27, the cruiser accompanied the battleship Queen Elizabeth , damaged in December, leaving for repairs from Alexandria to the United States.

On July 19, Yuriales, together with the cruiser Dido and the destroyers Jervis , Javelin , Pakenham and Paladin, went to sea to shell enemy positions at Mersa Matruh .

Operation Pedestal

In August, the cruiser, along with the ships of the Mediterranean fleet, was involved in distracting activities during the escort of the Pedestal convoy to Malta from Gibraltar. On August 10, together with the cruiser Arethusa , the destroyers Jervis , Pakenham , Paladin , the destroyers Aldenham , Beaufort , Dulverton , Eridge , Hursley , the Hyacinth corvette and the auxiliary escort ship Antwerp, Yuriales left Port Said to escort 3 merchant ships representing the eastern convoy . The convoy received the name MW-12 . On August 12, they met the Combat of the cruisers Cleopatra and Arethusa , the destroyers Javelin , Kelvin , Sikh and Nubian who went to sea to escort a single ship from Haifa, following the connection to the MW-12 and to carry out further distracting shelling of Rhodes . The convoy continued west until dark. On August 13, the convoy turned back to Port Said, and Yuriales returned to Alexandria on August 14.

Throughout September, the ship remained in Alexandria, waiting in line, following Dido and Cleopatra , to check the shafts of the engine plant, carried out by cruisers of this type in turn at Massawa . Inspection and repairs were carried out in the first half of October, after which Yuriales returned to the 15th cruiser squadron in Alexandria on October 14th.

On November 16, the cruiser, along with the destroyers Javelin , Jervis , Kelvin , Nubian , Pakenham , Paladin and Petard, left Malta as an escort for the MW-13 convoy ( Operation Stoneage ). On November 17, at Alexandria, the destroyers were replaced by the 10th Hunt type destroyers, more suitable for protecting the convoy as air defense systems. Early in the morning of November 18, the cruiser Arethusa , Cleopatra , Dido and Orion and 7 destroyers who left the convoy the day before joined the convoy. In the evening of the same day, the enemy torpedo bomber severely damaged the cruiser Arethusa , after which he turned back to Alexandria, accompanied by the destroyer Petard . On November 20, Yuriales returned to Alexandria with fleet ships after the MW-13 arrived in Malta.

As part of Compound K, Malta

On November 25, the cruiser left Alexandria as part of Compound K, which was supposed to be based in Malta. In addition to the compound, the cruisers Dido , Cleopatra , and the destroyers Jervis , Javelin , Kelvin and Nubian were included.

Since December 1, the cruiser participated in Operation Portcullis - the convoy MW-14, the last convoy to Malta from the Eastern Mediterranean, was driven by the successes of the 8th British Army in North Africa.

As part of Compound Q, Bon

On December 10, Yuriales, along with the cruisers Argonaut, Dido and Cleopatra, relocated to Bon to form Compound Q, operating off the coast of North Africa. On December 12, together with Cleopatra , Dido and the 4th destroyer, went to sea and on December 13 participated in a battle with an escort from Tunisia, having sunk 3 enemy ships.

On the night of January 22-23, 1943, Yuriales, along with the cruiser Cleopatra and the destroyers Jervis , Javelin , Kelvin and Nubian, fired on the retreat routes of the enemy rearguards from Libya near Zuara . Later, shelling Zuara herself.

In February, the cruiser was relocated to the eastern Mediterranean. In March, along with the destroyer Javelin acted against convoys.

In the first half of April, the cruiser was under repair in Alexandria, during which radar equipment was changed. The Type 285 anti-aircraft fire control radar was added and the Type 279 airborne detection radar was replaced with Type 281. From April 20 to 23, the cruiser made the transition to Malta. Based on the island, the cruiser in May exited the interception of vessels supplying evacuation facilities.

Actions against Sicily and Italy

On June 5, the cruiser, together with the destroyer Troubridge, escorted the convoy in Sicilian narrownesses.

On June 8, Yuriales, along with the cruisers Aurora , Newfoundland , Orion and Penelope with eight destroyers and three torpedo boats, bombarded the island of Pantelleria . ( operation CORKSCREW ). After the shelling and bombing of the Allied aircraft, it was planned to land an landing containing the 1st British Division. But on the night of June 10-11, the island surrendered.

In July, the cruiser was transferred to the 10th cruising squadron. The cruiser was supposed to be involved in a landing in Sicily ( Operation Husky ). On July 7, he, together with the battleships Nelson , Rodney , the cruiser Cleopatra and eight destroyers, sailed from Oran to cover the landing. On July 9, the ships connected in Sirte Bay with the battleships Warspite , Valiant , Formidable aircraft carrier, cruisers Aurora and Penelope . On July 10, the ships settled in a patrol near Cape Passaro, with the goal of intercepting any enemy ship. On July 11, the ship participated in the “friendly fire” incident along with the Cleopatra cruiser and a torpedo boat.

On July 14, after returning from a refueling in Malta, he acted together with Cleopatra and the destroyers Quail and Quilliam . On July 16, ships escorted Malta to Cleopatra , which received a torpedo hit from a submarine.

On July 20, Yuriales was transferred to Bon Compound Q, based in Bon, as an aid to the cruiser Sirius . Operated with Compound Q with the support of military operations.

July 26, the cruiser went to sea with the battleships King George V and Howe , the Indomitable aircraft carrier and the cruiser Dido to cover escort operations near Sicily.

On August 1, the cruiser, together with Dido , Sirius and two destroyers, fired at Vibo Valentia on the west coast of Italy, in anticipation of the Allied landing on the mainland.

On August 16, Scalea was bombarded with the cruiser Aurora and the destroyers Jervis and Paladin . On the return crossing to Palermo sank several ferries Siebel.

August 27, transferred as the flagship to support the aircraft carrier "V" (Task Force 88). As part of this Compound, he left with the cruisers Scylla and Charybdis to cover the aviation operations of the escort aircraft carriers Unicorn , Battler , Attacker , Hunter and Stalker during the planned allied landing in Salerno ( Operation Avalanche ).

On September 9, the cruiser provided cover for aircraft carrier operations with the beginning of the landing at Salerno. September 12, while the carriers carried out replenishment in Palermo, the cruiser together with Scylla and Charybdis were sent to Bizerte. On September 13, ships loaded troops on board to strengthen the landing forces in Solerno. September 15, after the landing of troops, all 3 cruisers headed for Algeria. On September 16th, Yuriales returned to Salerno to assist the Warspite battleship damaged by the bomb planning to reach Malta. The attempt to tow failed and the cruiser remained with the cruisers Scylla and Delhi , until the tug arrived, in order to provide anti-aircraft cover. On September 20, Yuriales arrived in Malta, after Compound V was disbanded, and the aircraft carriers sailed to the UK.

On September 22, the cruiser took on board the commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and made the transition to Taranto to meet with the Italians in order to organize the disarmament of the Italian fleet. September 29, the cruiser was withdrawn from the Mediterranean operations for further repair and he went to the UK. In October, upon arrival, it was prepared for subsequent repairs at a commercial shipyard and made the transition to Clyde. In November, he started repairs at the John Brown shipyard, in Clydebank.

Repair

During the repair, which lasted until June 1944, the tower "Q" was removed in order to reduce the upper weight. The cruiser was modified to act as the flagship of a squadron of escort aircraft carriers, equipping it with an aviation control post. Type 277 and Type 293 surface and high altitude detection radars have replaced Type 272 radars.

On June 28, the cruiser completed repairs, joining the 10th Home Fleet cruiser squadron. In early July, conducted post-repair tests in the harbor. On July 10, he went to sea tests, after which he moved to Scapa Flow to continue military service.

On August 19, a fire broke out in the cruiser’s galley, to eliminate the consequences of which he went to the Humber for repair at a commercial shipyard. At the end of which, on September 20, he returned to Scapa Flow to continue his service.

Actions off the coast of northern Norway

On October 14th, Yuriales operated in Compound 9 as an escort of Trumpeter and Fencer escort carriers with six destroyers during aerial minefields between Sandos and Risto Islands, followed by minefields in Aarmumsund Leads ( Operation Lucidas ). On October 15, the operation continued with further air operations at Ramossund and shipping attacks at Fro Havet.

On November 14, he acted as an escort for the Pursuer escort aircraft carrier, together with the destroyers, in a strike at Trondheim . Arrived in Rosyth on November 16, with subsequent planned participation in the British Pacific Fleet, formed at Trincomalee on November 22.

As part of the British Pacific Fleet

On December 16, the cruiser left together with the cargo and passenger ship Rimutaka and the destroyers Ulster and Undine . On board Rimutaka was His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester , heading to Australia as Governor General, while the destroyers were intended to serve in the British Pacific Fleet. On December 21, the ships arrived in Gibraltar, on December 25 in Malta, on December 29 in Suez. On January 2, 1945, they arrived in Aden. On January 5, in Colombo, the cruiser left the Rimutaka escort and headed for Trincomalee to join the 4th cruising squadron.

On January 24, he worked with the cruisers Argonaut , Black Prince, and Ceylon , as well as the Indomitable , Illustrious, and Victorious aircraft carriers to strike refineries in Pladjoe, north of Palembang ( Operation Meridian I ). Before and after carrying out parts of the operation, ships were refueled in Exmouth Bay (Australia). On January 29, Yuriales, as part of the Meridian operation, continued to provide security for that part of the TF63 ships that attacked Soengi-Gerong near Palembang. On January 30, the ships headed for Sydney. On February 2, the cruiser entered Fremantle and on February 11 arrived in Sydney. On February 13, the cruiser was docked to inspect the underwater hull.

On February 28, the cruiser headed for the forward base of Manus on the islands of the Admiralty , escorting the battleship King George V , where the ships arrived on March 7.

From March 17 to March 20, he made the transition, together with other British ships, to the American base at Ulity, for joint actions as part of the 5th US fleet.

On March 23, the cruiser left Uliti to escort U.S. airborne forces to Okinawa. The British Union became known as the American manner TF57. March 26, the cruiser participated in Operation Iceberg - the neutralization of Japanese airfields on the islands of Sakishima . April 1, repelled a powerful air attack. On April 9, along with the British ships, it separated from the fleet to strike at Formosa ( Operation Iceberg Oolong ). On April 12, he provided cover during attacks on Shinchiku and Matsugama. April 13, reunited with American ships off the Sakishima Islands. After which the ships left on Leyte.

On May 1, he joined with TF57 to join with American forces to continue striking the Sakishima Islands.

May 4, reunited with the US Compound TF58, after refueling in the Mosquito area, with the goal of continuing attacks on Sakishima ( Operation Iceberg Two ). After the first series of air attacks, along with the battleships King George V , Howe , cruisers Black Prince , Gambia and Uganda , destroyers of the 25th flotilla, redirected to fire at the airfields at Miyako Shima and Nobara. Yuriales fired 102 mm guns at Nobara airfield. From May 9, he carried out cover for aircraft carriers carrying out attacks on a rotational basis with American ships until May 26. During this period, stood out with the Black Prince cruiser in patrolling the long-range warning of kamikaze air attacks. Upon completion of the operation, he went to Manus.

May 27, together with other ships formed TF37 after the reorganization of the US Navy. After that, the cruiser made the transition to Sydney for subsequent repair and maintenance. June 4, the cruiser got up for repairs in Brisbane. After which he moved to Sydney with the goal of subsequent attacks on the Japanese forces together with the American fleet.

June 28, along with the ships of the British Pacific Fleet sailed from Sydney. July 6 sailed from Manus in preparation for the upcoming landing in Japan ( Operation Olympic ). On July 17, he acted as part of TF37, together with the American TF38 covering air attacks in the Tokyo-Yokohama area, including a strike at the hydro-aircraft base on Lake Kasumigaura . On July 27, he covered air strikes on Osaka and Katori, including attacks on ships. On August 9, he covered air strikes on northern Honshu and Hokkaido. On August 12, he set off for Manus, after the fuel ran out on British tankers. On August 15, a surrender of Japan was received. On August 18, ships arrived at Manus.

On August 22, along with the Indomitable aircraft carrier, the Venerable escort aircraft carrier and the Swiftsure cruiser, went on Leyte. On August 27, with the same ships and the Black Prince cruiser, the destroyers Kempenfelt , Ursa , Whirlwind and Quadrant, in the compound 111.2 went to liberate Hong Kong , where they arrived on August 29.

Post-War Service

In February 1946, Yuriales returned to the UK, arriving in Chatham and for the whole year was put out of reserve, standing up for conservation in Rosythe.

In January 1948, Yuriales, after being mothballed, joined the 1st Cruising Squadron in the Mediterranean, where he replaced the Ajax cruiser and participated in Palestinian patrols, and participated in the evacuation of the British High Commissioner from Haifa.

In May 1950, he returned to Plymouth to recruit a new crew, and later returned to the 1st Cruising Squadron in Malta. In April 1951, he sailed to the Persian Gulf, freeing the cruiser Mauritius for service in the East India Squadron. In May, he arrived in Bahrain. In June, the cruiser returned to Malta after being replaced by the destroyers Armada , Saintes , Vigo and Gravelines .

In July, he again sailed to the Persian Gulf through the Suez Canal, making only a stop to pick up the Lancashire shooters along the way and arriving in Abadan on July 21.

In the Mediterranean fleet, the cruiser remained until the summer of 1952. In August 1952, Yuriales was incapacitated but almost immediately returned to the 1st cruising squadron. And already in April 1953, the cruiser was transferred to the South Atlantic, as part of the 6th cruising squadron, based in Simonstown, as the flagship. On January 9, 1954, he was put in a dry dock at Selborne for repair, during which the screws were replaced on it.

In September 1954, the cruiser went to the UK, arrived on September 19 in Devonport. In November of that year there he was transferred to the reserve fleet, where he remained until October 1958, when he was sold for scrap to BISCO. July 18, 1959, Yuriales was towed to Blyth to disassemble the Hughes Bolckow.

• Gordon Smith. Naval-History.net - HMS Euryalus (English) . Date of treatment January 1, 2017.
• Gudmundur Helgason. uboat.net - The U-boat War 1939-1945 HMS Euryalus (42 ) . Date of treatment January 1, 2017.
• Mike. World War 2 Cruisers. HMS Euryalus (42) Date of treatment January 1, 2017.