Dates: 1936 - 1959
Newcastle was laid down by Vickers Armstrong on 4 October 1934, launched on 23 January 1936 by Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland and commissioned in March 1937. Newcastle joined the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, and was under refit on the outbreak of war. After the refit was completed, she joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron with the Home Fleet in mid-September 1939, initially being employed on Trade Protection duties in the Western Approaches, and then joined the Northern Patrol.
During the initial part of World War II, Newcastle engaged and badly damaged two German destroyers at Brest. Newcastle also set a record during this period by staying at sea continuously for 126 days.
On 23 November 1940, Newcastle encountered the German battlecruisers (or light battleships) Scharnhorst and Gneisenau but they escaped in bad weather before other ships could come up.
She was involved in an abortive action under Vice-Admiral James Somerville against the Italians at Cape Spartivento, which gave Newcastle her only World War II battle honour. After operating against blockade runners in the South Atlantic, Newcastle was sent to the East and then re-deployed to the Mediterranean as part of Operation Vigorous from Alexandria to Malta in June 1942.
Four days out (of Alexandria), HMS Newcastle was torpedoed by an E-boat blowing a complete hole through the bows. The crew saved the ship, which returned at 4 knots to Alexandria where she could not be repaired but was offered facilities to make own repairs. This meant building an additional wooden bulkhead strengthened by concrete behind the damage. This had had to be continually replaced at ports in India, Ceylon, South Africa, and Brazil, finally arriving in late October at Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York where new bows were built during the next ten weeks.
From New York she sailed to Plymouth before joining the Eastern Fleet at Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and acting as the lead ship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron. During her time with the Eastern Fleet, Newcastle participated in the bombardment of numerous Japanese-held islands and supported the British Fourteenth Army in their campaigns in Burma.
After the war, the cruiser was given an overhaul in 1952 and took part in the Korean War - acting as a flagship and providing naval gunfire support to UN forces - and the Malayan Emergency in the later 1950s.
Newcastle was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1959.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Newcastle
" We have lost touch with my brother, whose name is Graeme Cooper and have no idea where he might be. He is ex-navy - serving in HMS Arrow at the Falklands, HMS Dundas and HMS Newcastle among others. His rank was Petty Officer when he left the service. He was born and brought up in ..."
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" Looking for David Goodyear. We served together on HMS Newcastle 54/55 commission. Would love to find his present whereabouts and hopefully make contact with him. Would also like to hear from anyone who remembers me from other commissions (Albion 58/59, Miner 3 57/58, Talent 1956 and Collingwood 53/54, 59/60!) Last edited by Peter Shepherd Last edited by Peter Shepherd"
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" Hi all, 2 years ago I met the woman who is to be my wife...she’s a beautiful, lovely student nurse who Unfortunately for her, carries around a deep sadness. In 1978 (possibly April time), her mother (Marrie Mayell) met a sailor who was serving on NHS Newcastle that was anchored in ..."
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" Hi all, 2 years ago I met the woman who is to be my wife...she’s a beautiful, lovely student nurse who Unfortunately for her, carries around a deep sadness. In 1978 (possibly April time), her mother (Marrie Mayell) met a sailor who was serving on NHS Newcastle that was anchored in ..."
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" hi kieron and welcome to forces reunited - i see that hms newcastle has itys own web site - if you put hms newcastle on your search browser there is a wealth of information on there which might or might not help - all the best in your search - take care - colum "
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