HMS Ajax
Survived
| Type | Light cruiser |
|---|---|
| Class | Leander |
| War | Second World War |
| Main guns | 8 (4x2) BL 6-inch (150 mm) Mk XXIII guns |
Fought the Graf Spee at the River Plate in 1939. At Matapan and off Crete.
Armament and specifications
Armament
Original configuration
- 8 (4x2) BL 6-inch (150 mm) Mk XXIII guns
- 4 × QF 4-inch (100 mm) Mk V guns
- 12 × Vickers .50 machine guns
- 8 × 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes
By 1945
- 8 (4x2) 6 in (152 mm)
- 8 (4x2) QF 4-inch (100 mm) Mk XVI guns
- 16 × 40 mm Bofors guns
- 8 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (quadruple mounts)
Armour
- 4 in (102 mm) main belt
- 2.5 in (64 mm) ends
- 1.25 to 2 in (32 to 51 mm) deck
- 1 in (25 mm) turrets
| Builder | Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness |
|---|---|
| Laid down | 7 February 1933 |
| Launched | 1 March 1934 |
| Commissioned | 3 June 1935 |
| Displacement | 7,270 tons standard 9,740 tons full load |
| Length | 554.9 ft (169.1 m) |
| Speed | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Complement | peacetime 550 wartime 680 |
As built, from the ship's Wikipedia article. Figures there may cover later refits too.
Career
Launched
1 March 1934
Battle of the River Plate
Damaged
13–17 December 1939
Harwood's flagship; two turrets knocked out, 7 killed
Battle of Cape Matapan
Survived
27–29 March 1941
Battle of Crete
Damaged
20 May – 1 June 1941
Fate
Survived
Scrapped in 1949