Discover the fascinating history of the HMS Prince of Wales battleship, a British Royal Navy warship that played a pivotal role in World War II. Learn about its construction, armament, and notable battles, including the infamous encounter with the Bismarck and its eventual sinking by Japanese forces.
The Prince of Wales was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy, infamous for its pivotal role in the early stages of World War II. Commissioned in January 1941, the battleship had a short but significant career that was marked by a series of intense battles against the German and Japanese navies. Here are seven key facts about the Prince of Wales battleship:
Design and Construction
The Prince of Wales was one of five King George V-class battleships built by the Royal Navy during the 1930s. The battleship was designed to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size and armament of battleships. The Prince of Wales was constructed at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Merseyside, and took nearly three years to complete.
Key Characteristics
- Displacement: 43,786 tons (standard), 44,786 tons (deep load)
- Length: 227 meters (745 feet)
- Beam: 32 meters (105 feet)
- Draft: 9.8 meters (32 feet)
- Speed: 28.3 knots (52.4 km/h)
- Armament: 10 x 14-inch (356mm) guns, 16 x 5.25-inch (133mm) guns, 32 x 2-pounder (40mm) guns, 20 x 20mm guns
- Crew: 1,521 officers and ratings
Early Career
The Prince of Wales was commissioned into the Royal Navy on January 31, 1941. Following a series of sea trials and training exercises, the battleship joined the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands. In May 1941, the Prince of Wales played a key role in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck, which had broken out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Battle of the Denmark Strait
On May 24, 1941, the Prince of Wales, along with the battlecruiser HMS Hood, intercepted the Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Denmark Strait. The ensuing battle was intense, with the Prince of Wales suffering significant damage, including a hit on its bridge that killed several high-ranking officers. The Hood was sunk during the battle, resulting in the loss of over 1,400 lives.
Later Career
Following the Battle of the Denmark Strait, the Prince of Wales underwent repairs at Rosyth, Scotland. In August 1941, the battleship sailed to Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, where it took part in the Atlantic Charter conference between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Transfer to the Far East
In October 1941, the Prince of Wales was transferred to the Far East to reinforce the British naval presence in the region. The battleship arrived at Singapore in November 1941, just as the Japanese were launching their invasion of Malaya and Singapore.
Sinking of the Prince of Wales
On December 10, 1941, the Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse sailed from Singapore to intercept a Japanese invasion fleet off the coast of Malaya. However, the two British warships were attacked by Japanese bombers and torpedo planes, resulting in the sinking of both ships. The Prince of Wales was hit by multiple torpedoes and capsized at 1:20 pm, resulting in the loss of 327 lives.
Legacy
The sinking of the Prince of Wales was a significant blow to British naval power in the Far East and marked the beginning of the end of British dominance in the region. However, the bravery and sacrifice of the crew of the Prince of Wales have been remembered and honored as an important part of British naval history.
Prince of Wales Battleship Image Gallery
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