HMS Effingham was one of five Hawkins-class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was not finished during the war and construction proceeded very slowly after the end of the war in 1918. Completed in 1925, the ship was assigned to the East Indies Station, sometimes serving as a flagship. She returned home in 1932 and was assigned to the Reserve Fleet as its flagship for the next four years. Effingham was rearmed and modernized in 1937–1938 and then resumed her previous role.
When the Second World War began in September 1939, Effingham was assigned to the Northern Patrol, but severe engine problems caused her to spend most of the next six months under repair. In between dockyard visits, the ship ferried a load of gold bullion to Canada and was briefly assigned to the North America and West Indies Station. After a lengthy refit at the beginning of 1940, Effingham supported Allied troops during the Norwegian Campaign, mostly bombarding German positions and providing naval gunfire support to troops ashore. While ferrying troops and supplies to Bodø on 18 May, the ship struck a shoal due to a navigational error and sank in shallow water. Her crew was evacuated without loss and the cruiser destroyed by a pair of torpedoes from an accompanying destroyer. Her wreck was salvaged after the war with only some minor wreckage remaining.
^Dittmar, F J; Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 49.
^Lenton, H T (1973). British Cruisers. London: Macdonald. p. 151.
HMSEffingham was one of five Hawkins-class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was not finished during the war and...
district Effingham County, Georgia, US Effingham County, Illinois, US HMSEffingham (D98), a Hawkins class heavy cruiser Earl of Effingham "Effington"...
1936); HMS Cairo (June 1922-December 1926); and HMS Chatham (October 1924-January 1926) assigned from the Navy's old light cruisers; HMSEffingham (Flag)...
transit to holding positions south of Narvik. 17: The British cruiser HMSEffingham runs aground and is lost south of Narvik. 21: Allied forces advancing...
with heavy casualties to the troops, and two days later the cruiser HMSEffingham went aground while carrying much of the equipment of the 2nd South Wales...
destroyer Grom was sunk off Narvik by a KG 100 bomber. 21 May 1940: HMSEffingham was scuttled after grounding on a shallow pinnacle off Narvik. 4 June...
German air attack HMSEffingham (D98) off Bodø 18 May 1940 Ran aground HMS Cornwall (56) off Ceylon 5 April 1942 Sunk by Japanese aircraft HMS Dorsetshire (40)...
Navy were understood by the Legionnaires, a meeting took place aboard HMSEffingham. The plan agreed involved the LCAs making the twenty-mile (32 km) approach...
of the escorts, the destroyer HMS Wolverine, took off 700 survivors from the ship, while the other escort, the sloop HMS Stork, stood on guard and drove...
course 6 at HMS Eastney and 3 weeks in craft at HMS Northney (Hayling Island). From there they were appointed to HMS Helder or HMSEffingham for 6 week...
Global Information
United Kingdom