1112 HMS NAIAD 1940 (DIDO CLASS LIGHT CRUISER)

HMS Naiad (93) was a British light cruiser from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this vessel was laid in 1937, and the launch took place in February 1939. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 156 meters and the width was 15.4 meters. Full displacement reached approximately 6,900 tons, and the maximum speed was approximately 32 knots. The armament at the time of the launch consisted of, among other things, four twin 133 mm guns, 102 mm guns and two triple 533 mm torpedo tubes. HMS Naiad was one of the Dido-class cruisers. The ships of this type were designed under the quite clear influence of the British Arethusa-class units. At the same time, they were primarily designed as shielding units for convoys and for action in the Mediterranean Sea. It is worth adding that the Bellona subtype (class), often included in the Dido class, was rather created to support amphibious operations and was rather intended to be used in the Pacific. HMS Naiad, shortly after entering service, was used to cover convoys in the Atlantic, also in its southern part. In the first half of 1941, HMS Naiad served in the Mediterranean Sea, covering convoys heading for Malta. He also took part in the struggles in the Crete area in May and June 1941, where he was badly damaged. HMS Naiad was sunk by the German submarine U-565 on March 11, 1942 south of Crete.