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Allied Warships

HMS Worcestershire (F 29)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeArmed Merchant Cruiser
Class 
PennantF 29 
Built byFairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Govan, Scotland) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched8 Oct, 1930 
Commissioned21 Nov, 1939 
End serviceJun, 1943 
Loss position
 
HistoryOn 17 September 1939 the passenger ship Worcestershire of the Bibby Brothers & Co, Liverpool was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completed on 21 November 1939.

Displacement: 11402 BRT
Armament: 6x 152mm, 2x 76mm, 2x 40mm, 4x 20mm
Speed: 15 knots

Career:
November 39 - October 40: Northern Patrol
November 40 - February 41: Northern and Western Patrol
March 41 - April 41: Bermuda and Halifax Escort Force
May 41 - October 41: North Atlantic Escort Force
November 41 - February 42: East Indies Station
March 42 - June 43: Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean)

In June 1943 returned and used as troopship by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In October 1947 returned to owner. 

Hit by U-boat
Damaged on 3 Apr, 1941 by U-74 (Kentrat).


Noteable events involving Worcestershire include:

3 Apr, 1941
HMS Worcestershire (Capt. J. Cresswell, RN) was torpedoed and damaged by the German submarine U-74 south-west of Iceland in position 58º19'N, 27º25'W while escoring convoy SC-26. Worcestershire was under repair until mid-July 1941. (see map)


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