18/10/39 A German air attack damages the British cruisers HMS Southampton, HMS Edinburgh and the destroyer HMS Mohawk in the Firth of Forth, in Scotland
11/01/41 The Cruisers HMS Southampton and HMS Gloucester are attacked by German aircraft in the Sicilian channel. HMS Gloucester receives damage, while HMS Southampton is sunk. British submarine's begin to make attacks German and Italian convoys crossing to Libya.
HMS Southampton is the sixth ship to bear the name.
The First Southampton was built in 1693 in Southampton, only a short distance up river from Woolston.
The Second HMS Southampton
The second ship was a frigate built in 1757, which saw action throughout the heyday of the Royal Navy, being involved at Belle Isle, Glorious first of June and the Battle of Cape St Vincent among other actions. This famous ship, thought to be the first true frigate ever built, was finally wrecked off the Bahamas in 1812.
The Third HMS Southampton
The third Southampton was built in 1820 and served throughout the world until 1867 when she started work as a training ship at Hull. She was finally broken up in 1912.
The Fourth HMS Southampton
The fourth Southampton was a light cruiser built in 1912, and saw action throughout the First World War, including the battle of Jutland, being finally scrapped in 1926.
The Fifth HMS Southampton
The fifth ship of the name was built in 1936 and saw continuous action during the Second World War before being sunk while escorting a convoy in the Mediterranean in January 1941.
The Sixth HMS Southampton
The present Southampton was built by Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd at Southampton. She was laid down on Trafalgar Day (21 October) 1976, launched on 29 January 1979 and commissioned into service on 31 October 1981. The Ship's initial trial period was curtailed by the Falklands War in June 1982 just a few days after the Argentine surrender. In 1991 the ship emerged from Swan Hunters after an extensive repair package due to a collision with the container ship MV Torbay near the Straits of Hormuz. More recently, the ship underwent a major refit with Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd in January 1998 to May 1999 and a Docking Period in Portsmouth July 2003 to February 2004 when various equipments were exchanged and the ship's fighting capability further enhanced.
HMS Southampton
Built by John Brown, Clydebank. Laid Down 21st November 1934.
Launched 10th March 1936. Completed 6th March 1937.
Scuttled 11th January 1941 after being bombed by German aircraft in the Sicilian Narrows (81 lost).
Displacement: 9,400 tons standard ; 11,650 tons full load
Dimensions: 558 pp, 591.5 oa x 62.25 x 17.5 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 82,500 SHP. = 32.25 knots
Range: 12,100 miles at 12 knots; 2,075 tons fuel oil
Complement: 800
Armament: 4 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 (one turret later removed); 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA; 2 quad 2 pdr (further 4 quad and 4 single 2 pdr added); 2 quad 0.5-inch MG (later replaced by 6 dual and 7 single 20 mm A A); 2 triple 21-inch TT.; 2 seaplanes
Armour: 1 to 4.5 inch magazine box protection; 4.5 inch belt; 1.5 inch deck; 2 to 4 inch turrets; 2.5 inch bulkheads
Source 1: http://home.swipnet.se/~w-11578/hms_liverpool.htm
Source 2 : Fighting Ships of the World,by Robert Jackson & Steve Crawford
Click this link to read one sailors account of life onboard HMS Southampton: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/72/a2510272.shtml
Link to: http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/httpwwwjohntita-portal.html