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Danae file photo [4486]

Danae

CountryUnited Kingdom
Ship ClassDanae-class Light Cruiser
BuilderArmstrong Whitworth Shipyard, Walker-on-Tyne, Britain
Laid Down1 Dec 1916
Launched26 Jan 1918
Commissioned22 Jul 1918
Decommissioned28 Sep 1946
Displacement4,850 tons standard; 5,603 tons full
Length445 feet
Beam46 feet
Draft14 feet
Machinery6 Yarrow-type water-tube boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 shafts
Power Output40,000 shaft horsepower
Speed29 knots
Range2,300nm
Crew462
Armament1942: 6x152mm Mk XII, 2x102mm Mk V AA, 6x40mm 2pdr pom-pom AA, 12x533mm torpedo tubes. 1943: 5x152mm Mk XII, 1x102mm Mk V AA, 8x40mm 2pdr pom-pom AA, 3x4 Mk VII 2pdr, 12x20mm AA, depth charge laucher
Commission by Polish Navy4 Oct 1944
Decommissioned by Polish Navy8 Mar 1946

Contributor:

ww2dbaseCommissioned as Danae in the Royal Navy as the lead ship of her class of light cruisers, she patrolled the North Sea with the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron in the final months of WW1. Between Oct and Nov 1919, she supported the White forces during the Russian Civil War. In Feb 1920, she was attached to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet. On 27 Nov 1923, she left Devonport, Britain with the Special Service Squadron for a world cruise as a show of British naval power; she visited British possessions in Africa, India, South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South America. Between 1927 and 1929, she served with the 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Sea. After modernization, she served in the Caribbean Sea between 1930 and 1934. In 1935, she escorted convoys that evacuated British nationals from Shanghai, China to Hong Kong, and was fired upon by Japanese ships. She was placed in reserve in 1936.

ww2dbaseIn Jul 1939, Danae was reactivated as tension built up in Europe. She served the start of WW2 in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean with the 9th Cruiser Squadron, then on 23 Mar 1940 she was reassigned to Malaya Force and patrolled the waters near Dutch East Indies and Singapore. On 20 Jan 1941, she was attached to the China Force to escort convoys in the Yellow Sea and then between the Dutch East Indies and Ceylon. She was once again inactivated after her service in the east. In Jul 1943, Danae returned to active service after spending 11 months in the shipyards for modernization. With the 1st Cruiser Squadron, she supported the Sword Beach landing operations during the Normandy invasion, then supported ground troops in the area until Jul 1944. Between Aug and Oct, she served as a hulk in the port of Plymouth, Britain.

ww2dbaseOn 4 Oct 1944, Danae was leased to the Polish Navy. Recommissioned as Conrad, she was refurbished in Southampton and Chatham, Britain until 23 Jan 1945. On Feb, she entered service at Scapa Flow. On 2 Apr, Conrad was attached to the 10th Cruiser Squadron, though she entered the shipyard again on 9 Apr to repair turbine damage. She emerged from repairs on 30 May 1945, after the end of the European War. She served briefly at Wilhelmshaven, the main base of the Kriegsmarine, which was occupied by the Polish 1st Armored Division. Between Jul and Dec 1945, she transported Polish Red Cross personnel to Norway and Denmark.

ww2dbaseReturning to Britain in Jan 1946, Conrad performed training tasks with other Polish warships. On 8 Mar 1946, she was decommissioned by the Polish Navy, and on 28 Sep, she was returned to the Royal Navy. Returning to the name Danae, she was never recommissioned by the British. She was sold to T. W. Ward Company on 22 Jan 1948 and was scrapped by the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Britain on 27 Mar.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Aug 2007

Photographs

Light cruiser Danae, circa 1920sDanae after refit, Aug 1943
See all 6 photographs of Light Cruiser Danae

Danae Operational Timeline

22 Jul 1918 Danae was commissioned into service.
28 Sep 1946 Danae was decommissioned from service.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Phil Cole says:
27 Jan 2011 07:30:20 AM

I have a photo album made by my father, it is a valuable resource document of a tour to the far east and Australasia in the period Sept 1936 - December 1937. I am in the process of scanning this album and am quite happy to forward copies to anyone interested.
2. Phil Cole says:
28 Jan 2011 07:41:14 AM

I should have added that the tour referenced above was on HMS Danae
3. Peter Shannon says:
15 May 2011 07:06:05 PM

Phil, My late father Patrick J Shannon served on Danae from 1936-37 as ERA and I would be extremely interested in any of your pics from Danae.
4. Mary Alwin says:
4 Jul 2011 01:04:23 PM

My deceased Husband's mother was engaged to Patrick J. Shannon and I'm interested in any more information you would be so kind to provide, especially pictures, as I believe that Patrick may have been my children's grandfather. Thank you
5. Peter Shannon says:
21 Jul 2011 06:20:51 PM

Interesting information Mary, but there are a few questions need answered before leaping to what could be a very wrong conclusion. For example Where was your mother-in-law from? What year did this engagement take place? etc etc. After a 2 1/2 year search I finally had my father's entitlement for RNR LS&GC medal verified, 69 years after his eligibility. I be more than happy to share photos if what you say has any validity.
6. Chris says:
2 Sep 2012 02:06:37 AM

Hello. My late father was a Sto 1 on the Danae 1929 to 1933, He joined the Navy on the Hood, and when that was in for a two year refit in Portsmouth, he transfered to the Danae. Whilst on shore in Uruguay he met a lady who became my mother!
7. Philip Rudrum says:
17 Mar 2013 07:23:59 AM

Hi Chris
My late Grandfather George Hedgecock served on the Danae . I have some photos and documents from his time served . He also served on the HMS Belfast . I would be interested in seeing your photos
Regards
Philip Rudrum
8. Peter Smith says:
17 Nov 2014 09:34:57 AM

My late father was a telegraphist on the Danae in the 1936 - 7 period and sailed with her to operations in the Sino-Japanese war. I have some photos ( taken with a small camera) I wonder if there is some way we could share our photos on a flikr site or something like that.
9. Stephanie says:
5 May 2020 07:23:35 AM

I have an original picture from 1923 of the Danae at sea in Melbourne. It's signed on the back, it was my late grandfathers and wondered if it could be donated to a museum as it is nearly 100 years old now. Would appreciate any help in doing g this. Thank you steph

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Event(s) Participated:
» Normandy Campaign, Phase 1

Light Cruiser Danae Photo Gallery
Light cruiser Danae, circa 1920sDanae after refit, Aug 1943
See all 6 photographs of Light Cruiser Danae


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