My current project is building some vessels for the Mediterranean during World War II, with a particular focus being the Battle of Cape Matapan using 1/3000th models from Navwar’s range. My aim with this post is to provide something of an overview of the project with a specific focus on the heavier units of the Royal Navy.
To start we will consider the cruisers involved. Specifically the cruisers HMS Orion, HMS Ajax, HMS Gloucester and HMAS Perth all shown below. These formed Vice Admiral Henry Pridham-Wippell’s cruiser group at Matapan. They, and some attached destroyers, were the first units to be engaged by the Regia Marina in a battle that comprised a number of separate phases.
HMS Orion and Ajax were Leander-class light cruisers while HMAS Perth was a modified Leander. Below, HMS Orion comes under for during a recent action. At Matapan HMS Orion was Pridham-Wippell’s flagship.
Unlike the other cruisers HMS Gloucester was a Town-class light cruiser and was only commissioned in August 1939. Among a number of differences the Town class cruisers carried an increased armament compared to the Leanders. Some twelve 6” guns in contrast to the eight of the Leanders.
The British main fleet at Matapan comprised three battleships. They were HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant and HMS Barham. All were from the Queen Elizabeth class and all three had fought at Jutland. Of the three, HMS Warspite and Valiant had undergone the most significant upgrades and refits. All would be active in the Mediterranean though HMS Barham would lost later in 1941 with significant loss of life.
Above, HMS Warspite is on the left and HMS Barham on the right, with HMS Valiant in the rear. Careful inspection will show a different profile for each ship. Below, another view with HMS Warspite in the foreground.
With the cruisers and battleships completed for the battle I now need to focus on the remaining British destroyers for Matapan.
Comments
Post a Comment