7103 HMS EXETER 12.1939

HMS Exeter (68) was a British heavy cruiser of the interwar period and World War II. The keel was laid for this unit in 1928, the launch took place in July 1929, and the entry into service with the Royal Navy - in 1931. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 175.3 meters, total width 17.7 meters, and full displacement - about 10,600 tons. The maximum speed was around 31 knots. The on-board armament at the outbreak of World War II included, among others: 6 203 mm guns, 4 102 mm guns and 2 40 mm cannons. The unit could operate two seaplanes. HMS Exeter (68) was one of the British York-class heavy cruisers. Cruisers of this type arose as the de facto modernized and reduced County class. Compared to her, they had, above all, weaker weapons, but still had good performance and high seaworthiness. They were also characterized by better armor - especially artillery turrets - and a much better layout of the space on the ship, especially in the bow superstructure. In general, York-class cruisers were viewed as successful units with considerable combat value. In the interwar period, HMS Exeter served in the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the South Atlantic. His combat career in World War II began very fruitfully, because in December 1939 he took part in the battle at the mouth of the La Plata River, as a result of which the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee was sunk. As a result of this battle, however, it suffered serious damage and was under renovation until the beginning of 1941! At the end of that year, he was sent to the Far East, and in 1942 he took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, as a result of which he was sunk, on March 1 this year.