HMS APOLLO
Abdiel-class fast cruiser minelayer (second or Apollo group) ordered in 1940 from R & W Hawthorn Leslie at Hebbum on Tyne and laid down on 10th October 1941. The ship was launched on 5th April 1943 and build was completed on 12th February 1944.
Ordered:............1940
Builder:.............Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn
Yard Number:... 654
Laid down.........10 October 1941
Launched:.........5 April 1943
Completed:.......12 February 1944
Propulsion:.......2 shafts : 4 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers powering 2 x Parsons geared steam turbines (1 per shaft)
Armament (as built)
•2 x Twin - 4 inch(102mm)/45 QF Mk XVI guns
•2 x Twin - 40/56 Bofors Mk IV/VIII/IX guns
•6 x Twin - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV guns
•100 - 156 mines
Fate:Sold for scrapping, 1962
Post WWII Service
She was then deployed for repatriation work and carried British Prisoners of War to Shanghai for onward passage back to UK. In addition, the ship embarked mail and stores to ships and establishments in the Pacific area including the Fleet Base at Manus, Shanghai, Japanese ports and Hong Kong. This type of deployment particularly suited this Class of ship because of their high speed and ample capacity for stowage of cargo. After a routine docking in Hong Kong, she spent Xmas 1945 at Shanghai with other RN ships of the British Pacific Fleet and returned to Australia during January. For the next few months, the ship was mainly used for taking mail, stores and some service personnel to RN ships and establishments in the Far East. Later in 1946 she returned to Chatham and was paid off into Reserve. In 1951 this ship was brought forward for service as part of the steps taken after the outbreak of war in Korea. Following a refit, she joined the Home Fleet and remained in full commission for 10 years, including a period as Flagship. HMS APOLLO was finally paid off in 1961 and returned to Reserve. She was put on the Disposal List the next year and sold for breaking-up by Hughes Bolcow at Sunderland where she arrived in November 1962.
©MOD-Print Own Collection
HMS APOLLO
Abdiel-class fast cruiser minelayer (second or Apollo group) ordered in 1940 from R & W Hawthorn Leslie at Hebbum on Tyne and laid down on 10th October 1941. The ship was launched on 5th April 1943 and build was completed on 12th February 1944.
Ordered:............1940
Builder:.............Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn
Yard Number:... 654
Laid down.........10 October 1941
Launched:.........5 April 1943
Completed:.......12 February 1944
Propulsion:.......2 shafts : 4 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers powering 2 x Parsons geared steam turbines (1 per shaft)
Armament (as built)
•2 x Twin - 4 inch(102mm)/45 QF Mk XVI guns
•2 x Twin - 40/56 Bofors Mk IV/VIII/IX guns
•6 x Twin - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV guns
•100 - 156 mines
Fate:Sold for scrapping, 1962
Post WWII Service
She was then deployed for repatriation work and carried British Prisoners of War to Shanghai for onward passage back to UK. In addition, the ship embarked mail and stores to ships and establishments in the Pacific area including the Fleet Base at Manus, Shanghai, Japanese ports and Hong Kong. This type of deployment particularly suited this Class of ship because of their high speed and ample capacity for stowage of cargo. After a routine docking in Hong Kong, she spent Xmas 1945 at Shanghai with other RN ships of the British Pacific Fleet and returned to Australia during January. For the next few months, the ship was mainly used for taking mail, stores and some service personnel to RN ships and establishments in the Far East. Later in 1946 she returned to Chatham and was paid off into Reserve. In 1951 this ship was brought forward for service as part of the steps taken after the outbreak of war in Korea. Following a refit, she joined the Home Fleet and remained in full commission for 10 years, including a period as Flagship. HMS APOLLO was finally paid off in 1961 and returned to Reserve. She was put on the Disposal List the next year and sold for breaking-up by Hughes Bolcow at Sunderland where she arrived in November 1962.
©MOD-Print Own Collection