HMS Phoebe (43)

HMS Phoebe was a Dido-class cruiser light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company (Govan, Scotland), her keel was laid down on 2 September 1937. She was launched on 25 March 1939, and commissioned on 30 September 1940.

Mediterranean
Phoebe's first six months were spent in the Home Fleet, escorting troop convoys on the first stage of their long voyage via the Cape of Good Hope to the Middle East. In April 1941 she was transferred to the 7th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean, where she served for the next two-and-a-half years.

One of her first Mediterranean duties was Operation Demon, the evacuation of British and Empire troops from Greece. On 27 April 1941 Phoebe and the destroyers HMS Defender (H07), HMS Hereward (H93), and HMS Hero (H99) rescued all the crew and all 2,600 soldiers from the Dutch troop ship SS Costa Rica. Phoebe then took part in the evacuation of troops from Crete, the landing troops in the Syria–Lebanon campaign, and taking troops to and from Tobruk.

Africa
On 23 October 1942, Phoebe was torpedoed by the German submarine GS U-161 (1941) off the Congo Estuary, while on passage to French Equatorial Africa. Her route was from Simonstown in South Africa to Freetown in Sierra Leone, but she had to refuel at Pointe Noire. Two U-boats (U-161 and GS U-126 (1940)) were patrolling that area at the time.

After the hit, a corvette coming up from the harbour prevented the U-boat from finishing off the cruiser. About 60 crew members were killed. After temporary repairs, Phoebe made for New York for complete repairs. It was an incredible feat to sail 10,000 nmi with a hole (60 x) in her hull. The repairs were not completed until June 1943. In October 1943, she returned to the Mediterranean to take part in the Aegean operations.

Far East
In May 1944, Phoebe was transferred to the Eastern Fleet and was involved in strike operations against the Andaman Islands, Sabang in Northern Sumatra and the Nicobar Islands. In January 1945, she was switched to supporting amphibious operations in Burma and was engaged in actions against Akyab, Ramree Island off the Arakan Coast, and Cheduba Island. From April to May 1945, Phoebe was involved in the amphibious assault on Rangoon as part of the East Indies Fleet's, 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron.

Post war
After VJ-Day, Phoebe returned home for refitting and spent five years in the peacetime Mediterranean Fleet. In early 1948, the cruiser took elements of Royal Marines 40 Commando to Haifa, to assist in the British withdrawal from Mandatory Palestine. On 30 June Phoebe embarked the last GOC Palestine and rearguard troops, as the evacuation was completed. After a period in reserve she was sold for scrap in 1956.