FAMOUS CRUISER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1944, Page 6

FAMOUS CRUISER

Admiralty Announces Loss Of

H.M.S. Penelope

PART IN MALTA BATTLE British Official' Wireless Rec. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY, Mar. 7. The Admiralty announces the loss of the light cruiser Penelope. The Penelope was of the Arethusa class and was built in 1935. She carried six 6in guns arid a complement of 450. First in the news for her bombardment of Rommel's communications in North Africa, the Penelope was last reported in action when she shelled enemy positions on the Italian mainland.

The commander, Captain G. D. Bellman, D.S.C., went down with the ship.

Penelope endured 14 days of incessant bombing by the Luftwaffe as she lay a central target for bombers in the Grand Harbour at Malta. At the height of the fiercest of the fortnight's attacks all hands, including stewards and cooks, helped to feed the guns, unloading ammunition from lighters alongside, despite falling bombs and flying debris. The more serious holes were plugged and the ship sailed almost on schedule for Gibraltar with only one main armament turret functioning correctly and her sides bristling with wooden plugs like a porcupine.

The Luftwaffe launched six further attacks, all of which she beat off. With ammunition almost exhausted the cruiser reached the harbour safely, having suffered neither casualties" nor damage on the passage. The Admiralty also announces that the destroyer Inglefield, under Commander C. F. H. Churchill, D.5.0., has been lost.