Dates: 1929 - 1942
Three ships of the British Royal Navy have been named H.M.S. Dorsetshire, after the traditional county of Dorsetshire.
The first HMS Dorsetshire was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Southampton on 8 December 1694.
She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Portsmouth Dockyard, and relaunched on 20 September 1712. As built, Dorsetshire had carried her 80-gun armament on two decks, but during this rebuild they were redistributed over a third gundeck, although she continued to be classified as a third rate. She continued to serve until 1749, when she was sold out of the navy.
The second Dorsetshire was a 70-gun third-rate in service from 1757 to March 1775 when she was broken up.
The third H.M.S Dorsetshire was a County Class Cruiser was launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1929
"DORSETSHIRE" Class cruiser ordered from H.M. Dockyard Portsmouth in the 1927-8 Estimates and laid down in September 1927. She was launched by the Countess of Shaftesbury on 29th January 1929 as the 3rd RN ship to bear this name introduced in 1694 and previously been used in 1757 for a 3rd Rate ship. Build completion date was 30th September 1929. She was serving with the 5th Cruiser Squadron on the China Station in 1939.
The ship was part of the fleet that sunk the German battleship Bismark.
The Dorsetshire was sunk on the 5th April 1942, by a Japanese carrier aircraft, three hundred miles west of Colombo, Ceylon. Sadly 227 lives were lost.
Details of War Service
1939
September
2nd Passage to south coast of Japan for interception patrol. (Note: Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI had been reported in Japan and would have been brought to action in event of war with Italy).
3rd Trade defence and interception duties in continuation off Japan and China. (Note: Enemy mercantiles were to be taken as Prize if possible but it was known that ships would scuttle if unable to prevent capture.)
16th Passage to Hong Kong after relief by H.M. Cruiser KENT.
22nd Passage to resume patrol duties in Northern area.
October
Interception and trade defence patrol in continuation.
11th Passage to Hong Kong for docking.
18th Transferred to East Indies Station.
Prepared for passage to Colombo with call at Singapore.
25th On arrival at Colombo deployed with H.M. Cruisers GLOUCESTER and CORNWALL for trade defence and interception patrol in Indian Ocean.
28th Joined Hunting Force "I" with H.M. Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, H.M. Cruiser CORNWALL, H.M. Destroyers WATERHEN (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) based at Colombo. (Note: This Group was deployed for interception of commerce raiders known to be operating in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic and including the battleship GRAF SPEE.
November
Force "I" deployment in continuation.
10th Carried out search for GRAF SPEE in Indian Ocean with Force I.
December
3rd During interception patrol transferred to South Atlantic Station.
Detached from Force "I" and took passage via Mauritius to Simonstown.
10th Arrived at Simonstown for duty in South Atlantic.
13th Sailed for patrol between Tristan Da Cunha and Falkland Islands.
19th Diverted to join H.M. Cruisers ACHILLES (RNZN), AJAX and EXETER off Montevideo after sinking of German battleship GRAF SPEE (22nd After refuelling off Montevideo sailed for Port Stanley, Falklands.
24th Joined HMNZS ACHILLES, H.M.S. AJAX and H.M.S. EXETER at Port Stanley. (Note: Shore leave not granted because of weather conditions).
29th Sailed from Port Stanley with H.M. Cruiser CUMBERLAND.
30th Passage to patrol area after H.M.S. CUMBERLAND detached for transit to Simonstown.
1940
January
3rd Joined H.M. Cruiser SHROPSHIRE.
5th Deployed on patrol off Montevideo.
12th Carried out Gunnery exercises with H.M.S. AJAX and H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE. On completion too passage from patrol area to Falklands. (Note: H.M.S. AJAX. sailed for Freetown on passage to Plymouth).
18th Arrived at Port Stanley. (Note: Shore Leave granted for f
