HMS Exeter
Sunk
| Type | Heavy cruiser |
|---|---|
| Class | York |
| War | Second World War |
| Main guns | 6 × 8″ guns in 3 twin turrets |
Fought the Graf Spee at the River Plate in 1939. A shell in her boiler room put her out of the Java Sea battle; trying to escape two days later, she was caught and sunk by four Japanese heavy cruisers.
Armament and specifications
Armament
- 3 × twin 8 in (203 mm) guns
- 4 × single 4 in (102 mm) AA guns
- 2 × single 2 pdr (40 mm) AA guns
- 2 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour
- Waterline belt: 3 in (76 mm)
- Deck: 1.5 in (38 mm)
- Barbettes: 1 in (25 mm)
- Gun turrets: 1 in (25 mm)
- Magazines: 3–5.5 in (76–140 mm)
- Bulkheads: 4.375 in (111 mm)
| Builder | Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth |
|---|---|
| Laid down | 1 August 1928 |
| Launched | 18 July 1929 |
| Commissioned | 27 July 1931 |
| Displacement | 8,390 long tons (8,520 t) (standard) |
| Length | 575 ft 1 in (175.3 m) (o/a) |
| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) |
| Complement | 628 |
As built, from the ship's Wikipedia article. Figures there may cover later refits too.
Career
Launched
18 July 1929
Battle of the River Plate
Damaged
13–17 December 1939
All three turrets put out of action; 61 killed
Battle of the Java Sea
Damaged
27 February 1942
Boiler room hit
1 March 1942