HMS Hermes rebuild, South Africa 1941-42
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:48 am
Hi all
Hypothetical discussion for you all re what might have been done for HMS Hermes
She arrived at Simonstown, South Africa for a refit, and although I have no details as to what the refit was, I’d say an overhaul of her engines, boilers cleaned out and bottom scrapped would have been highly likely. She made Simonstown on the 19th November 1941, was in the Selbourne Dry dock from 6th December to 23rd January 1942, and completed her sea trials by 31st January.
Given the short time span for refit, and the recognition that she was an old ship that was going to be used on secondary tasks, and resources available are limited, what I propose could have happened was the following. The tripod mast and fire command post are removed, along with all six 5.5-inch guns. This reduces topside weight, accepting any surface threat will realistically be dealt with by her escorts, or own aircraft.
The three 4-inch Mk V guns are removed from the flight deck, and are mounted on extended sponsions, allowing them to use their 80-degree elevation, where the 5.5’s were, along with another three 4-inch guns, shipped in from the UK. They will use the same magazines as the 5.5-inch did, abet with some modification. Four new sponsions, one either side forward of the first 4-inch gun, and another one either side, astern of the rear 4-inch guns are built. These each are given a single 2-pdr Pom-Pom gun.
A single mast replaces the tripod, and a Type 286P radar set, brought out by HMS Repulse, on her way to Singapore, is fitted to provide air and surface search capability. Two 284 AA gunnery control radar sets are also installed to provide separate port and starboard gun control with the HACS.
Moving onto aircraft capabilities, seven outriggers, two before the bridge, three after and two opposite, are installed. Aviation fuel is increased from 8,000 to 13,000 imperial gallons, at the cost of slightly reducing bunker fuel. This would allow a deployment of a maximum of 20 aircraft, 12 Swordfish and 8 Martlet Mk II (with folding wings)
The ship would remain in Indian Ocean waters, and be used for escorting convoys, hunting raiders, as part of a task force, or deployed to the Med. Now onto the questions.
Does Selbourne dry dock have the infrastructure to remove the weighty tripod and control room, and also lift out the 5.5-inch guns, which look like they will be difficult to get out. Is she also capable of installing a new mast and building gun sponsions?
What would be a realistic time frame for all this work to be done?
How does fire control work, can we have to HACS, one for each side?
Can she carry so many outriggers, do the two on the port side, opposite the island, inhibit flying operations.
Hypothetical discussion for you all re what might have been done for HMS Hermes
She arrived at Simonstown, South Africa for a refit, and although I have no details as to what the refit was, I’d say an overhaul of her engines, boilers cleaned out and bottom scrapped would have been highly likely. She made Simonstown on the 19th November 1941, was in the Selbourne Dry dock from 6th December to 23rd January 1942, and completed her sea trials by 31st January.
Given the short time span for refit, and the recognition that she was an old ship that was going to be used on secondary tasks, and resources available are limited, what I propose could have happened was the following. The tripod mast and fire command post are removed, along with all six 5.5-inch guns. This reduces topside weight, accepting any surface threat will realistically be dealt with by her escorts, or own aircraft.
The three 4-inch Mk V guns are removed from the flight deck, and are mounted on extended sponsions, allowing them to use their 80-degree elevation, where the 5.5’s were, along with another three 4-inch guns, shipped in from the UK. They will use the same magazines as the 5.5-inch did, abet with some modification. Four new sponsions, one either side forward of the first 4-inch gun, and another one either side, astern of the rear 4-inch guns are built. These each are given a single 2-pdr Pom-Pom gun.
A single mast replaces the tripod, and a Type 286P radar set, brought out by HMS Repulse, on her way to Singapore, is fitted to provide air and surface search capability. Two 284 AA gunnery control radar sets are also installed to provide separate port and starboard gun control with the HACS.
Moving onto aircraft capabilities, seven outriggers, two before the bridge, three after and two opposite, are installed. Aviation fuel is increased from 8,000 to 13,000 imperial gallons, at the cost of slightly reducing bunker fuel. This would allow a deployment of a maximum of 20 aircraft, 12 Swordfish and 8 Martlet Mk II (with folding wings)
The ship would remain in Indian Ocean waters, and be used for escorting convoys, hunting raiders, as part of a task force, or deployed to the Med. Now onto the questions.
Does Selbourne dry dock have the infrastructure to remove the weighty tripod and control room, and also lift out the 5.5-inch guns, which look like they will be difficult to get out. Is she also capable of installing a new mast and building gun sponsions?
What would be a realistic time frame for all this work to be done?
How does fire control work, can we have to HACS, one for each side?
Can she carry so many outriggers, do the two on the port side, opposite the island, inhibit flying operations.