|
warspite1 -> RE: HMS Curacoa (October 2, 1942) (5/3/2010 12:44:05 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Greyshaft
HMS Curacoa ( sunk October 2, 1942)
British light cruiser of 4,290 tons was engaged mainly in convoy escort duties during WWII. It was while escorting the Queen Mary that disaster struck. The Cunard White Star liner was carrying 15,000 American troops to England when the Curacoa's lookout reported what he thought was a submarine on the port bow. The Queen Mary turned sharply to starboard and the Curacoa, in pursuit of the suspected U-boat, crossed her bows with insufficient clearance causing the two ships to collide. Proceeding on a zigzag course at a speed of twenty eight and a half knots the Queen Mary knifed through the escort cruiser cutting her in two, the halves separated by about 100 yards. Fearful of U-boats in the area and aware of his responsibility to his passengers, the captain did not even slow the ship down until it entered the safer waters of the Firth of Clyde. The 'Queen' was badly damaged, her bow plates folded back at least forty feet into the ship. A total of 338 men aboard the Curacao died as a result of this tragedy (25 officers and 313 ratings) There were 26 survivors. The incident occurred some 20 miles off the coast of Donegal, Ireland.
Warspite 1
Well done Greyshaft!!
I appear as a counter in World In Flames
At this point I should attach the counter - but I do not know how to; Froonp help!!
I saw service in both the First and Second World Wars
Curacoa joined the fleet during the last year of the First War. She was badly damaged during the Norwegian operation in the Second.
I failed to survive the second conflict but was not lost to enemy action
She was sunk on 2nd October 1942 (see below)
My loss was caused by a tragic accident not far from my home shores
She was lost off the coast of Ireland - I have read between 20 and 40 miles
My name suggests I was likely to have been part of the Royal Netherlands Navy..but I was not
Curacoa or Curacao is an island in the Dutch West Indies or Netherlands Antilles
Some people think I was named after a drink...but I was not
It is the name of an Orange based liqueur, now mostly made in Holland
The tragic accident saw me literally cut in half, resulting in 338 of my crew being killed,
while the ship that hit me was so big she barely noticed the incident
Curacoa, which like many of her sisters, had been converted to an anti-aircraft cruiser, was sent to provide AA cover for the incoming ocean liner turned troopship RMS Queen Mary which had around 15,000 troops aboard. Queen Mary was coming to the end of her transatlantic journey and all ships in the escort were zig-zagging as standard procedure. Queen Mary was travelling at around 28 knots when she literally sliced the poor cruiser in two. As per standing orders, she did not stop but headed for the Clyde. Sadly 338 of a crew of around 414 died, many trapped within the ship when the disaster struck. A board of enquiry later pronounced blame as being 1/3 Queen Mary and 2/3rds Curacoa.
|
|
|
|
