HMS Calcutta (D82)

History
United Kingdom
NameCalcutta
BuilderVickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down18 October 1917
Launched9 July 1918
Commissioned28 August 1919
ReclassifiedConverted to anti-aircraft cruiser in 1939
IdentificationPennant number: 74 (Aug 19);[1] 82 (Nov 19); I.82 (1936); D.82 (1940)[2]
FateSunk 1 June 1941 by air attack off Alexandria, Egypt
General characteristics
Class and typeC-class light cruiser
Displacement
  • 4,290 long tons (4,360 t) standard
  • 5,250 long tons (5,330 t) deep load
Length
  • 451 ft 6 in (137.62 m) oa
  • 425 ft (130 m) pp
Beam43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
Draught14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
Propulsion
Speed29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
RangeCarried 300 tons (950 tons maximum) of fuel oil
Complement330–350
Armament
Armour
  • 3 in (76 mm) side (amidships)
  • 2+141+12 in (57–38 mm) side (bows)
  • 2 in (51 mm) side (stern)
  • 1 in (25 mm) upper decks (amidships)
  • 1 in (25 mm) deck over rudder

HMS Calcutta was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Indian city of Calcutta. She was part of the Carlisle group of the C class of cruisers. She was laid down by Vickers Limited at Barrow-in-Furness in 1917 and launched on 9 July 1918. Calcutta was commissioned too late to see action in the First World War and was converted to an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1939. Calcutta served during the Norwegian Campaign and the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. She was used to escort allied convoys across the Mediterranean and was sunk on 1 June 1941 by Luftwaffe aircraft off Alexandria, Egypt.

  1. ^ Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 49.
  2. ^ Dodson, Aidan (2024). "The Development of the British Royal Navy's Pennant Numbers Between 1919 and 1940". Warship International. 61 (2): 134–66.