Exeter

H.M.S. Exeter

(Neptun 1130)

Class: York - 2 cruisers of 1926-28
Displacement: 8,390 tons
Dimensions: 540 (pp) 575 (oa) x 58 x 17 ft.
Machinery: 4-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 80,000 = 32.25 knots
Armor: Main belt 2-3 in., deck 2 in., turrets 1.5-2 in., D.C.T. 3 in.
Armament: 6-8 in. (3x2), 4-4 in. A.A. (4x1), 2-2 pdr. A.A. (2x1) guns, 6-21 in. T.T. (2x3); 1 aircraft
Complement: 630

Service: On completion, joined 2nd CS in Atlantic, 1931. America and West Indies Station 1934, Mediterranean 1935-36, then back to Americas until 1939. At start of WW2, joined Force 'G' off east coast of South America. Badly damaged at Battle of the River Plate, 13 Dec 1939, when she, HMS Ajax, and HMS Achilles intercepted German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. Retired to Falkland Islands for temporary repairs, then to Devonport for full repairs until Mar 1941. Employed on ocean escort for Atlantic convoys until Japanese hostilities. Sent to Dutch East Indies as part of ABDA command. Damaged at Battle of the Java Sea and retired to Soerabaya. Sunk by gunfire from Japanese cruisers Haguro and Nachi while attempting to reach the Sunda Straits, 28 Feb 1942.