Rodney

H.M.S. Rodney

(Neptun 1102T)

Class: Nelson - 2 battleships of 1925
Displacement: 33,900 tons
Dimensions: 660 (pp) 710 (oa) x 106 x 28.5 ft.
Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 45,000 = 23 knots
Armor: Main belt 14in, deck 3.75-6.25in, main turrets 9-16in, DCT 16in
Armament: 9-16in (3x3), 12-6in (6x2), 6-4.7in AA (6x1), 44-2pdr AA (5x8+1x4) guns; 2-24.5in TT (sub); 2 aircraft
Complement: 1,314

Service: Home fleet 1939-42, Force "H" 1943, Home fleet 1943-45. Participated in the hunt for the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau after the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi in Nov 1939. Served in the Norwegian campaign Apr-Jun 1940. Deployed in the Atlantic in early 1941 again to counter the German battlecruisers. Joined with HMS King George V in the destruction of German battleship Bismarck 27 May 1941, firing 375 rounds of 16in (claiming 40 hits) as well as her 24in torpedoes. Refit at Boston Navy Yard during summer 1941. Alternating service with Home Fleet to guard against German raiders and Force 'H", including distant cover for Operation Pedestal in Aug 1942. Supported lanfings in North Africa in Nov 1942 and for invasion of Sicily in Jul 1943 and Salerno in Sep. Returnd to Home Fleet for remainder of was, providing gunfire support for the invsion of Normandy Jun-Jul 1944. Practically worn out by hard service, she was practically a static flagship at Scapa Flow from Nov 1944. Reduced to reserve Nov 1945 and scrapped at Inverkeithing 1948.