HMS The Prince of Wales: A British Battleship of World War II
The HMS Prince of Wales was a British battleship that played a significant role in the early years of World War II. Commissioned in January 1941, the ship was the second of the King George V class and was named after the then-Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII. Here are five facts about this iconic battleship:
1. Design and Construction
The HMS Prince of Wales was designed by the British Admiralty in the 1930s, with the goal of creating a battleship that would be faster and more maneuverable than its predecessors. The ship was built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England, and was launched on May 3, 1939. The Prince of Wales was 745 feet (227 meters) long, with a beam of 103 feet (31 meters) and a draft of 29 feet (8.8 meters).
🚨 Note: The HMS Prince of Wales was the second of the King George V class, which also included the HMS King George V, HMS Duke of York, HMS Anson, and HMS Howe.
2. Armament and Armor
The HMS Prince of Wales was heavily armed, with a main armament of 10 14-inch (356mm) guns arranged in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret. The ship also had a secondary armament of 16 5.25-inch (133mm) dual-purpose guns, as well as anti-aircraft guns and torpedo tubes. The Prince of Wales had a maximum armor thickness of 14 inches (356mm) on its belt, with 10-inch (254mm) armor on its deck and 12-inch (305mm) armor on its turrets.
3. Service History
The HMS Prince of Wales saw extensive service in the early years of World War II. In May 1941, the ship was involved in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, where it engaged the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. The Prince of Wales also played a key role in the sinking of the Bismarck on May 27, 1941. Later that year, the ship was sent to the Far East to deter Japanese aggression, and was present at the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941.
4. Sinking
On December 10, 1941, the HMS Prince of Wales was sunk by Japanese aircraft while anchored off the coast of Malaysia. The ship was attacked by 85 Japanese bombers and torpedo planes, and was hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs. The Prince of Wales sank just over an hour after the attack began, resulting in the loss of 327 lives.
🚨 Note: The sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales was a significant blow to British naval power in the Far East, and marked a major turning point in the war in the Pacific.
5. Legacy
The HMS Prince of Wales played an important role in the early years of World War II, and its sinking was a major blow to British naval power. Today, the wreck of the Prince of Wales is a protected site, and is the subject of ongoing archaeological and historical research. The ship’s legacy also lives on in popular culture, with appearances in films, books, and video games.
What was the HMS Prince of Wales' top speed?
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The HMS Prince of Wales had a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h).
How many crew members did the HMS Prince of Wales have?
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The HMS Prince of Wales had a crew of over 1,500 officers and men.
Where is the wreck of the HMS Prince of Wales located?
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The wreck of the HMS Prince of Wales is located off the coast of Malaysia, at a depth of approximately 223 feet (68 meters).
The HMS Prince of Wales was a powerful and iconic battleship that played a significant role in the early years of World War II. Its sinking was a major blow to British naval power, but its legacy lives on in popular culture and in the ongoing archaeological and historical research into the ship’s history.
