View source for HMS Jamaica (44)

{{Short description|Fiji-class cruiser}}
{{other ships|HMS Jamaica}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Good article}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Jamaica anchored.jpg
|Ship caption=''Jamaica'' at anchor, 18 September 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Jamaica''
|Ship ordered=1938 Naval Programme
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Vickers-Armstrongs]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|Ship laid down=28 April 1939
|Ship launched=16 November 1940
|Ship christened=
|Ship commissioned=29 June 1942
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=20 November 1957
|Ship namesake=[[Jamaica]]
|Ship struck=1960
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: 44
|Ship motto=*''Non sibi sed patriae''
*(Latin: "Not for oneself, but for one's country")
|Ship nickname='The Fighting J', 'The Galloping Ghost of the North Korean Coast'
|Ship fate=Sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]], 14 November 1960
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class={{Sclass|Fiji|cruiser|0}} [[light cruiser]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|8631|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
|Ship length={{convert|555|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|62|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|19|ft|10|in|m|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*4 [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
*{{cvt|80000|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 shafts; 4 geared [[steam turbine]] sets
|Ship speed={{convert|32.25|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|6250|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|13|kn}}
|Ship complement=733 (peacetime), 900 (wartime)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*4 × triple [[BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval gun|6&nbsp;in (152&nbsp;mm) guns]]
*4 × twin [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|4&nbsp;in (102&nbsp;mm)]] [[Dual-purpose gun|DP gun]]s
*2 × quadruple [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pdr ({{cvt|40|mm|1}})]] [[AA gun]]s
*10 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|1}} Oerlikon]] AA guns
*2 × triple [[British 21 inch torpedo|21&nbsp;in (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=*[[Engine room|Engine and boiler rooms]]: {{convert|3.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]s: {{convert|2|-|3.5|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*[[Magazine (artillery)|Magazine]]s: {{convert|2|-|3.5|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*[[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|1|-|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship aircraft=2 × [[seaplanes]]
|Ship aircraft facilities=1 × [[aircraft catapult|catapult]], 2 × [[hangar]]s
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Jamaica''''', a {{sclass|Fiji|cruiser}} of the [[Royal Navy]], was named after the [[island]] of [[Jamaica]], which was a [[Colony of Jamaica|British Crown Colony]] when she was built in the late 1930s. The light cruiser spent almost her entire wartime career on [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic convoy duties]], except for a deployment south for the [[Operation Torch|landings in North Africa]] in November 1942. She participated in the [[Battle of the Barents Sea]] in 1942 and the [[Battle of North Cape]] in 1943. ''Jamaica'' escorted several [[aircraft carrier]]s in 1944 as they flew off airstrikes that attacked the {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz}} in northern [[Norway]]. Late in the year she had an extensive refit to prepare her for service with the [[British Pacific Fleet]], but the war ended before she reached the Pacific.

''Jamaica'' spent the late 1940s in the [[Far East]] and on the [[North America and West Indies Station]]. When the [[Korean War]] began in 1950 she was ordered, in cooperation with the [[United States Navy]], to bombard [[North Korea]]n troops as they advanced down the eastern coast. The ship also provided fire support during the [[Inchon Landing]] later that year. ''Jamaica'' was refitted late in the year and returned to Great Britain in early 1951 where she was placed in [[Wikt:mothball|reserve]].

She was recommissioned in 1954 for service with the [[Mediterranean Fleet]]. In 1955 ''Jamaica'' was used to play the cruiser {{HMS|Exeter|68|6}} in the film ''[[Battle of the River Plate (film)|Battle of the River Plate]]'', in company with her wartime partner {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|6}} as {{HMS|Ajax|22|6}}. In 1956 the ship participated in [[Operation Musketeer (1956)|Operation Musketeer]], the Anglo-French invasion of Egypt to seize control of the [[Suez Canal]]. ''Jamaica'' was [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] in 1958 and sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in 1960.

==Description==
The ''Fiji''-class ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|555|ft|6|in|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|68|ft|5|in|m|1}}<ref name=r2>Raven & Roberts, p. 422</ref> and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|19|ft|10|in|m|0}}. ''Jamaica'' displaced {{convert|8631|LT|t|lk=on}} at [[Displacement (ship)|standard load]]. The ships were powered by four [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]] sets, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by four [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s. The turbines developed a total of {{convert|80000|shp|lk=on}} and gave a maximum speed of {{convert|32.25|kn|lk=in}}. The ''Fiji'' class carried a maximum of {{convert|1700|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]] that gave them a range of {{convert|6520|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|13|kn}}.<ref>Whitley, pp. 120, 122</ref> The ships' complement was 733 officers and men in peacetime and 900 during war.<ref name=r2/>

[[File:HMS Jamaica gunners.jpg|thumb|left|The interior of a 6-inch triple Mark XXIII mounting on board ''Jamaica''. The crew are wearing [[anti-flash gear]] and the crewman in the foreground has over his shoulder a {{convert|30|lb|adj=on}} [[cordite]] [[propellant]] charge.]]
The armament of the ''Fiji''-class ships consisted of a dozen [[BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval gun|6-inch (152&nbsp;mm) Mk XXIII guns]] in four three-[[gun turret]]s, one [[superfiring]] pair fore and aft of the [[superstructure]]. Their secondary armament consisted of eight [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) Mk XVI]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s in four twin turrets. Close-range [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft defence]] was provided by two quadruple [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder (40&nbsp;mm) ("pom-poms")]] [[AA gun]] mounts and ten single mounts for [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|1|adj=on|sp=us}} Oerlikon]] guns. They also carried two above-water triple [[torpedo tube]] mounts for [[British 21-inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}}]] torpedoes.<ref name=r2/><ref>Friedman, p. 224</ref>

The ''Fiji'' class lacked a full waterline [[Belt armour|armour belt]]. The sides of their [[Engine room|boiler and engine room]]s and the [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]]s were protected by {{convert|3.25|-|3.5|in|mm}} of armour. The deck over the propulsion machinery spaces and magazines was reinforced to a thickness of {{convert|2|-|3.5|in|mm}}. They carried an [[aircraft catapult]] and two [[Supermarine Sea Otter]] or [[Supermarine Walrus|Walrus]] [[seaplane]]s.<ref>Raven & Roberts, pp. 201, 422</ref>

==History==
''Jamaica'' was [[laid down]] on 28 April 1939 by [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] in [[Barrow-in-Furness]], England as part of the 1938 Naval Programme and named for the British [[colony of Jamaica]]. The ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 16 November 1940 and completed on 29 June 1942.<ref name=r2/> After [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#working up|working up]], the ship provided distant cover to [[Convoy PQ 18]] in September. She was assigned to the Centre Task Force of [[Operation Torch]] in early November and was unsuccessfully attacked by the Vichy French submarine {{ship|French submarine|Fresnel|Q143|2}}.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 195, 209–210</ref> The Arctic convoys had been suspended at PQ 18, but were scheduled to resume on 15 December with [[Convoy JW 51A]]. ''Jamaica'' and {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|2}}, with several escorting destroyers, formed Force R under the command of [[Rear-Admiral]] [[Robert Burnett]] and were tasked to cover the convoy against any German surface ships. The convoy was not spotted by the Germans and arrived at the [[Kola Inlet]] without incident on 25 December.

===Battle of the Barents Sea===
{{main|Battle of the Barents Sea}}
Force R sailed from Kola on 27 December to rendezvous with [[Convoy JW 51B]] in the [[Norwegian Sea]], but the convoy had been blown southwards by a major storm. Several of its ships had been separated during storm and they confused the radar of Force R's ships as to the true location of the convoy. Thus Force R was {{convert|30|mi|km}} north of the convoy on the morning of 31 December when the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}} attacked the convoy. ''Admiral Hipper'' was first held at bay by the British [[destroyer]]s {{HMS|Onslow|G17|6}}, {{HMS|Obedient|G48|6}}, {{HMS|Obdurate|G39|6}} and {{HMS|Orwell|G98|6}}. Initially driven off, ''Admiral Hipper'' returned, only to be engaged by Force R shortly before noon and was hit by three 6-inch shells from the cruisers. Two German destroyers, {{ship|German destroyer|Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt||2}} and {{ship|German destroyer|Z4 Richard Beitzen||2}}, misidentified ''Sheffield'' as ''Admiral Hipper'' and attempted to form up on her. ''Sheffield'' sank ''Friedrich Eckoldt'' at a range of {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} while ''Jamaica'' unsuccessfully engaged ''Richard Beitzen''. Less than an hour later Force R spotted the pocket battleship [[German cruiser Deutschland|''Lutzow'']] and ''Admiral Hipper'' and opened fire. Neither side scored any hits in the darkness before both sides turned away a few minutes later. Force R continued to track the German ships for several hours before they lost contact. Although the destroyer {{HMS|Achates|H12|6}} and the [[minesweeper]] {{HMS|Bramble|J11|6}} were sunk by the [[Kriegsmarine]], the convoy reached the Kola Inlet intact.<ref>Stephen, pp. 182–194</ref> Force R remained at sea to protect [[Convoy RA 51]] that was returning to Great Britain<ref>Rohwer, p. 221</ref> until relieved by {{HMS|Berwick|65|6}} and {{HMS|Kent|54|6}}.

''Jamaica'' rejoined the Home Fleet at the beginning of 1943 and received six twin power-operated {{convert|20|mm|1|adj=on}} AA guns as well as four single guns some time during the year.<ref>Whitley, pp. 124–125</ref> During November she protected the convoys [[Convoy RA 53B|RA 53B]], [[Convoy JW 54A|JW 54A]], [[Convoy JW 54B|JW 54B]] and [[Convoy RA 54B|RA 54B]], but was not engaged. On 15 December she was assigned to Force 2, the distant escort for [[Convoy JW 55A]], with the battleship {{HMS|Duke of York|17|6}} and four destroyers. Force 2 was commanded by Admiral [[Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape|Bruce Fraser]], Commander-in-Chief of Home Fleet, in ''Duke of York''. For the first time the British distant cover force escorted the convoy all the way to the Kola Inlet. Their passage was uneventful, and Force 2 sailed on 18 December to refuel at Iceland. Before he reached his destination, Admiral Fraser received [[Ultra (cryptography)|Ultra]] information that a sortie by the {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst}} was likely to attack [[Convoy JW 55B]], which was already at sea.<ref>Stephen, pp. 198–199</ref>

===Battle of North Cape===
{{main|Battle of North Cape}}
[[File:HMS Jamaica torpedomen.jpg|thumb|right|''Jamaica''{{'}}s torpedomen who finally dispatched the ''Scharnhorst'', at [[Scapa Flow]] after the sinking of the German warship on 26 December 1943]]
German aerial reconnaissance spotted the convoy on 22 December, and ''Scharnhorst'', escorted by five destroyers of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, sailed on 25 December to intercept it. The resulting engagement became known as the [[Battle of North Cape]].<ref>Rohwer, pp. 292–293</ref> The Germans were spotted on the morning of 26 December and were engaged by the covering force that consisted of the cruisers {{HMS|Belfast|C35|6}}, HMS ''Sheffield'', {{HMS|Norfolk|78|6}} and four destroyers. Meanwhile, HMS ''Jamaica'' and HMS ''Duke of York'' approached from the south west, barring the ''Scharnhorst''{{'}}s path of retreat. The German battleship turned for her base at [[Altafjord]] in the early afternoon after two brief encounters with the British cruisers. She was spotted by ''Duke of York''{{'}}s [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 273|Type 273]] [[radar]] at a range of {{convert|45500|yd}} and ''Duke of York'' opened fire half an hour later. ''Jamaica'' fired her first [[salvo]] a minute after, and hit ''Scharnhorst'' on her third [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]]. She was forced to cease fire after 19 salvos as the German ship was faster in the heavy seas than the British ships and was opening up the range despite heavy damage from the British shells.<ref name="Stephen, pp. 205–216">Stephen, pp. 205–216</ref>

A shell from ''Duke of York''{{'}}s last volley penetrated into ''Scharnhorst''{{'}}s Number One boiler room and effectively destroyed it. This reduced the German ship's speed sufficiently for the British destroyers to catch up and make four torpedo hits using a pincer attack. This slowed the ship again, so that ''Jamaica'' and ''Duke of York'' also caught up and opened fire at a range of {{convert|10400|yd|mi+km}}. They hit the German ship continually, but she did not sink after 20 minutes of firing so ''Jamaica'' was ordered to torpedo her. Two torpedoes from her first volley of three missed and the third misfired, so the cruiser had to turn about to fire her other broadside of three, two of which appeared to hit. ''Belfast'' and the destroyers also fired torpedoes before ''Scharnhorst'' finally sank.<ref name="Stephen, pp. 205–216"/>

===Further convoys and the raids on the ''Tirpitz''===
In February–March 1944, ''Jamaica'' served as part of the covering forces for Convoys [[Convoy JW 57|JW 57]], [[Convoy JW 58|JW 58]] and [[Convoy RA 58|RA 58]].<ref>Rohwer, p. 307</ref> She was detached from the latter to escort the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}} as she launched an air strike against the German battleship Tirpitz as part of [[Operation Tungsten]]. In July she formed part of the covering force for the carriers {{HMS|Formidable|67|6}}, {{HMS|Furious|47|6}} and {{HMS|Indefatigable|R10|6}} during an unsuccessful attack on the {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz}} berthed in [[Kåfjord, Alta|Kaafjord]] ([[Operation Mascot]]). ''Jamaica'' escorted the Convoys [[Convoy JW 59|JW 59]] and [[Convoy RA 59|RA 59]] in August–September<ref>Rohwer, p. 350</ref> before starting a major refit in October that lasted until April 1945. The ship's 'X' turret (third from the front) was removed and her light anti-aircraft suite now consisted of five quadruple and four single 2-pounder mounts, four single mounts for [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors guns]], two twin-gun Oerlikon mounts and six single Oerlikons while her radar suite was modernized.<ref>Friedman, p. 223</ref> On 6 June the cruiser conveyed [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] and the [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen]] on a visit of the [[Channel Islands]].<ref>Smith, p. 269</ref> ''Jamaica'' was assigned to the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the [[East Indies Fleet]] in September and was later transferred to the 4th Cruiser Squadron. The ship was reassigned to the North America and West Indies Station in August 1948.<ref name=w5>Whitley, p. 125</ref>

===Korean War===
Fighting between [[North Korea|North]] and [[South Korea]] had broken out on 25 June 1950, whilst ''Jamaica'' was on passage to [[Japan]]. She, and her escort {{HMS|Black Swan|L57|6}}, were ordered to rendezvous with the American light cruiser {{USS|Juneau|CL-119|6}} off the east coast of Korea to bombard advancing North Korean troops.<ref name="ha">{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/korea/Jamaica2.htm|title=H.M.S. Jamaica Korean War Service 1950|last=Hagerty|first=John |publisher=Britains-Small Wars.com|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213121922/http://britains-smallwars.com/korea/Jamaica2.htm|archive-date=13 December 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 2 July a North Korean supply convoy was returning from Chumunjin when it was spotted by the Allied ships. The escorting [[motor torpedo boat]]s and [[motor gun boat]]s turned to [[Battle of Chumonchin Chan|fight]], but three torpedo boats and both gun boats were sunk without inflicting any damage on the Allied ships.<ref>Field, Chapter 3, Part 4</ref> They resumed bombarding coastal targets. Six days later ''Jamaica'' was hit by a {{convert|75|mm|adj=on|0}} shell<ref>Field, Chapter 5, Part 2</ref> that killed six and wounded five.<ref name="ha"/> On 15 August the ship bombarded captured harbour facilities in [[Kunsan]].<ref>Field, Chapter 6, Part 3</ref> The following month, ''Jamaica'' participated in the preparatory bombardment of the island of Wolmi-do before the main [[Inchon landing|landing]] on 15 September. During the landing itself she supported the southern flank of the assault and she was tasked to support the [[1st Marine Regiment (United States)|1st Marine Regiment]] afterwards. Two days after the landing ''Jamaica'' and the American heavy cruiser {{USS|Rochester|CA-124|6}} were attacked by a pair of Yakovlev piston-engined fighters at dawn. One aircraft succeeded in [[strafing]] the ship, killing one sailor, before it was shot down by the ship's guns.<ref>Field, Chapter 7, Part 2</ref>

===Post-Korean War===
The ship was the flagship of the [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|Reserve Fleet]] from May 1953 to 1954 when she was recommissioned for service with the [[Mediterranean Fleet]]. Assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron, she was refitted in [[Chatham Dockyard]] from June 1955 and rejoined her squadron. From the end of 1955 until early 1956 she played the part of HMS ''Exeter'' in the film ''[[The Battle of the River Plate (film)|The Battle of the River Plate]]''. The ship participated in Operation Musketeer in November 1956. The ship led the bombardment force covering the [[Royal Marine]] landings at [[Port Said]],<ref>Fergusson, p. 391</ref> but she was not permitted to fire her main guns as the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] had banned naval gunfire support by guns larger than {{convert|4.5|in|0}}.<ref>Varble, pp. 64–66</ref> ''Jamaica'' was placed in reserve again in September 1958 after a port visit to [[Kiel]]. She was sold for scrap on 14 November 1960<ref>Friedman, p. 419</ref> and arrived at Arnott Young's yards at [[Dalmuir]] on 20 December 1960 to begin demolition.<ref name=w5/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|first=D. K. |last=Brown |first2=George |last2=Moore |title=Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship Design Since 1945|location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=2003 |ISBN=1-59114-705-0|name-list-style=amp |author1-link=David K. Brown}}
* {{cite book|last=Fergusson|first=Bernard|title=The Watery Maze: The Story of Combined Operations|year=1961 |publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|location=New York|oclc=}}
* {{cite book|last=Field|first=James A. Jr.|title=History of United States Naval Operations: Korea|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/books/field/index.htm|edition=Electronic|year=1962|publisher=Naval Historical Center|location=Washington, D.C.}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-59114-078-8 |author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|first=David |last=Murfin |chapter=AA to AA: The Fijis Turn Full Circle |editor1-first=John|editor1-last= Jordan |title=Warship 2010 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=2010 |isbn=978-1-84486-110-1}}
* {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Cruisers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-922-7|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Smith|first=Peter C.|title=Destroyer Leader: The Story of HMS ''Faulknor'' 1935–46|year=2004 |publisher=Pen & Sword Maritime|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=1-84415-121-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Stephen|first=Martin|title=Sea Battles in Close-Up: World War 2|year=1988|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-556-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/seabattlesinclos00mart}}
* {{cite book|last=Varble|first=Derek|title=The Suez Crisis 1956|year=2003|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Botley, UK|isbn=1-84176-418-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Cassell |location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-86019-874-0|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4033.html HMS ''Jamaica'' at Uboat.net]

{{Crown Colony class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamaica (C44)}}
[[Category:Crown Colony-class cruisers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Korean War cruisers of the United Kingdom]]