View source for HMS Cheshire

{{short description|UK passenger liner, armed merchant cruiser, and troopship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= HMS Cheshire FL7995.jpg
|Ship caption= HMS ''Cheshire'' in war service
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country= United Kingdom
|Ship flag= 
|Ship name= ''Cheshire''
|Ship namesake= [[Cheshire]]
|Ship owner= [[Bibby Line]]
|Ship operator= *1939: {{flagicon|UK|naval}} [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]]
|Ship registry= *1927: {{flagicon|UK|civil}} [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]]
|Ship route= [[Great Britain]] – [[Yangon|Rangoon]]
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company|Fairfield S&E]], [[Govan]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 620
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship launched= 20 April 1927
|Ship sponsor= 
|Ship completed= July 1927
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 149625
*until 1933: [[code letters]] KWFV
*{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Victor}}
*by 1930: [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] GLXV
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|X-ray}}{{ICS|Victor}}
*1939: [[pennant number]] F18
|Ship fate= scrapped in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], 1957
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= *1927: [[passenger ship]]
*1939: [[Armed merchantman#Armed merchant cruisers|armed merchant cruiser]]
*1943: [[troopship]]
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|10560}}, {{NRT|6624}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= {{cvt|483.6|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|60.3|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{cvt|29|ft|1+1/4|in|abbr=on|2}}
|Ship depth= {{cvt|31.8|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 3
|Ship power= *2 × [[two-stroke diesel engine]]s; 2,196 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]
|Ship propulsion= 2 × [[Propeller|screws]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|15+1/2|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship capacity= 
|Ship crew= 
|Ship complement= 
|Ship armament= *6 × {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} guns
*2 × {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} guns
|Ship sensors= *as built: [[Submarine signals|submarine signalling]], wireless [[direction finding]]
*by 1946: [[Marine radar|radar]]
*by 1955: [[gyrocompass]]
|Ship notes= [[sister ship]]s: ''[[HMS Salopian (F94)|Shropshire]]'', ''Staffordshire'', {{HMS|Worcestershire||2}}, ''Derbyshire''
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Cheshire''''' was a [[passenger ship]] that was built in Scotland in 1927 and scrapped in Wales in 1957. She belonged to [[Bibby Line]], which ran passenger and cargo services between Rangoon in [[British rule in Burma|Burma]] (now [[Yangon]] in [[Myanmar]]) and various ports in [[Great Britain]], via the [[Suez Canal]] and [[Gibraltar]].{{sfn|Talbot-Booth|1936|p=420}} The [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]] requisitioned her in 1939 and had her converted into an [[Armed merchantman#Armed merchant cruisers|armed merchant cruiser]] (AMC). She was converted into a [[troopship]] in 1943, and returned to civilian service in 1948.

She was the second of five Bibby Line ships to be named after the English county of [[Cheshire]]. The first was a [[steamship]] that was built in 1891 and sold in 1911.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theyard.info/ships/ships.asp?entryid=240 |title=Cheshire |work=Harland & Wolff Shipbuilding & Engineering Works |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> The third was a motor ship that was built in 1959 and sold in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?&ref=206578 |title=Cheshire (1959) |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> The fourth was built in 1971 and sold in 1983. The fifth was built in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bibby.shtml |last1=Swiggum |first1=Susan |last2=Kohli |first2=Marjorie |title=Bibby Line |work=TheShipsList |date=13 April 2006 |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

The second ''Cheshire'' was the second of five [[sister ship]]s that the [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] of [[Govan]] in [[Glasgow]] built for Bibby Line. The first was ''[[HMS Salopian (F94)|Shropshire]]'', which was built in 1926. They were followed by ''Staffordshire'' in 1929, {{HMS|Worcestershire||2}} in 1931, and ''Derbyshire'' in 1935.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=6557 |title=Cheshire |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=6566 |title=Staffordshire |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=6574 |title=Worcestershire |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=6583 |title=Derbyshire |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

==Building==
Fairfield built ''Cheshire'' as yard number 620, launched her on 20 April 1927, and completed her that July.<ref name=SBS>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=6557 |title=Cheshire (1927) |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Her registered length was {{cvt|483.6|ft|abbr=on}}, her [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] was {{cvt|60.3|ft|abbr=on}}, her depth was {{cvt|31.8|ft|abbr=on}} and her [[Draft (hull)|draught]] was {{cvt|29|ft|1+1/4|in|abbr=on|2}}. Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|10560}} and {{NRT|6624}}.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928|loc=CHE–CHI}} She was completed with four masts,<ref name=SBS/> like all Bibby ships of her era.

''Cheshire'' had twin [[Propeller|screws]], each driven by an eight-cylinder [[two-stroke diesel engine]]. The combined power of her twin engines was rated at 2,196 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]],{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928|loc=CHE–CHI}} and gave her a speed of {{convert|15+1/2|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=Helgason3348>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Cheshire (F 18) |url= https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3348.html |work=Allied Warships |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

As built, her navigation equipment included [[Submarine signals|submarine signalling]] and wireless [[direction finding]].{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928|loc=CHE–CHI}}

Bibby Line [[Ship registration|registered]] ''Cheshire'' at [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]]. Her United Kingdom [[official number]] was 149601 and her [[code letters]] were 149625.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928|loc=CHE–CHI}}{{sfn|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1928|p=102}} By 1930 her [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was GLXV.{{sfn|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1930|p=104}} In 1934 this superseded her code letters.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1934|loc=CHE}}

==Auxiliary cruiser==
On 29 August 1939 the Admiralty requisitioned ''Cheshire'' for conversion into an AMC. Her primary armament was six {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} guns, and her secondary armament was two {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} guns. She was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 30 October, with the [[pennant number]] F18. Her first commander was [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] Montague Bernard.<ref name=Helgason3348/> Her mainmast and mizzen-mast were removed, as was the top of her jigger-mast. Only her foremast survived the conversion intact.<ref name=SBS/>

''Cheshire'' was assigned to the [[Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic|South Atlantic Station]] from November 1939 until April 1940, the North Atlantic Escort Force in May 1940, the Northern and Western Patrol from June 1940 until April 1941, and the [[Freetown]] Escort Force from May to November 1941. She returned to the South Atlantic Station from December 1941 to April 1943, and was assigned to the [[Nore]] Command from May to June 1943.<ref name=Helgason3348/>

From January to March 1940 ''Cheshire'' took part in the escort of three [[SL convoys]] from [[Freetown]] in [[Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate|Sierra Leone]] to Britain.<ref name=Kindell>{{cite web |url= https://www.naval-history.net/xDKEscorts20AMCs.htm |last=Kindell |first=Don |title=Armed Merchant Cruisers, Part 1 of 3 |work=World War 2 at Sea – Convoy Escort Movements of Royal and Dominion Navy Vessels |publisher=Naval-History.net |date=4 December 2010 |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> On 28 May 1940, she protected the French [[aviso]] {{lang|fr|Enseigne Henry}}, which was rescuing survivors from the torpedoed [[cargo liner]] {{MV|Brazza||2}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=Brazza |work=uboat.net |access-date=23 July 2025 |url= https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/327.html}}</ref> In June 1941, she took part in the escort of [[HX convoys|Convoy HX]] 131 from [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] to Britain, and Convoy OB 335 from Liverpool out into the North Atlantic. In July 1941 she took part in the escort of Convoy BHX 137 from Bermuda to join Convoy HX 137 in mid-Atlantic to continue to Britain. In August 1942 ''Cheshire'' took part in the escort of Convoy SL 118 from Freetown to Britain.<ref name=Kindell/>

[[File:SS ORONSAY underway near Circular Quay (13860178344).jpg|thumb|The troopship {{SS|Oronsay|1924|2}}, which was damaged by an air attack and assisted by ships including ''Cheshire'']]
On 8 October 1940 ''Cheshire'' and her sister ship ''Salopian'' were on patrol when enemy aircraft attacked Convoy WS 3 (Fast), which was assembling in home waters to take seven [[troopship]]s from Britain to [[Suez]]. Enemy aircraft attacked the troopships {{ship|RMMV|Capetown Castle||2}} and {{SS|Oronsay|1924|2}}. ''Cheshire'' and ''Salopian'' came to assist. ''Salopian'' resumed her patrol, but ''Cheshire'' stayed with the [[destroyer]]s {{HMS|Active|H14|6}} and [[HMS Crusader (H60)|HMCS ''Ottawa'']] to assist ''Oronsay'', which had been damaged.<ref name=Helgason3348/>

At 21:28 hours 14 October 1940 {{GS|U-137|1940|2}} attacked ''Cheshire'' northwest of [[Ireland]] at position {{coord|55|13|N|13|02|W}}, hitting her with one torpedo. The destroyer {{HMCS|Skeena|D59|6}} and [[corvette]] {{HMS|Periwinkle}} took off 220 members of her crew. ''Cheshire'' was towed to [[Belfast Lough]], where she was beached. She was later towed to Liverpool for repairs, which took six months.<ref name=Helgason2068>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Cheshire (F 18) |url= https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2068.html |work=Ships hit by U-boats |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> She returned to active service in 1941, commanded by Captain James Begg.<ref name=Helgason3348/>

On 7 August 1942 ''Cheshire'' joined the escort of SL118, a convoy of 37 merchant ships that had left Freetown on 4 August and was bound for Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=118!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.118 |work=SL/ MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> At 18:52 hours on 18 August {{GS|U-214||2}} attacked the convoy at position {{coord|41|30|N|19|49|W}}, firing four single torpedoes. Two hit and sank [[Netherland Line]]'s ''Balingkar'', one damaged the [[British India Steam Navigation Company]]'s {{SS|Hatarana||2}}, and one damaged ''Cheshire''.<ref name=Helgason2068/>

==Troopship==
On 9 June 1943 the Admiralty returned ''Cheshire'' to Bibby Line, for conversion into a troopship for the [[Ministry of War Transport]] (MoWT).

In the small hours of 24 December 1944 ''Cheshire'' and the Belgian troopship {{SS|Léopoldville|1928|2}}, escorted by four destroyers, left [[Port of Southampton|Southampton]] to cross the [[English Channel]] to [[Cherbourg-en-Cotentin|Cherbourg]]. They carried the 262nd and 264th regiments, which were part of the [[United States Army]]'s [[66th Infantry Division (United States)|66th Infantry Division]]. That afternoon, just {{convert|5+1/2|nmi|km|0}} off Cherbourg, {{GS|U-486||2}} sank ''Léopoldville'' with two torpedoes, killing 763 US soldiers and 56 crew.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.uboat.net/history/leopoldville.htm |last=Allen |first=Tonya |title=The Sinking of SS ''Léopoldville'' |website=uboat.net |access-date=17 January 2011}}</ref>

Between 28 and 31 December 1944 ''Cheshire'' took the US Army's [[289th Engineer Combat Battalion (United States)|289th Engineer Combat Battalion]] from Southampton to [[Port of Le Havre|Le Havre]]. Other US Army units that ''Cheshire'' carried during the war included the 263rd Regiment, which was part of the 66th Infantry Division, and the 329th Regiment, which was part of the [[83rd Infantry Division (United States)|83rd Infantry Division]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The MoWT later used ''Cheshire'' as a [[repatriation]] ship.<ref name=Helgason3348/>

==Final years==
On 5 October 1948 the MoWT returned ''Cheshire'' to Bibby Line,<ref name=Helgason3348/> which resumed its passenger service between Britain and Rangoon.{{sfn|Harnack|1949|p=412}}

By 1946 ''Cheshire''{{'}}s navigation equipment included [[Marine radar|radar]].{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1946|loc=CHE}} By 1955 it also included a [[gyrocompass]].{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1955|loc=CHERNYSHEVSKI}}

Toward the end of her career she attended at least one of the UK's [[Operation Grapple|nuclear bomb tests on Christmas Island]]. On 11 July 1957 she arrived in [[Newport, Wales]], where John Cashmore Ltd scrapped her.<ref name=SBS/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Harnack |first=Edwin P |orig-year=1903 |year=1949 |title=All About Ships & Shipping |place=London |publisher=[[Faber and Faber]] |edition=8th}}
*{{cite book |year=1928 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1928ST/page/n243/mode/1up |via=[[Internet Archive]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1934 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0180.pdf |via=[[Southampton City Council]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1934}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1946 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over, Steamers and motorships inder 300 tons, Trawlers, tugs, dredgers, &c., Sailing vessels, List of ship owners, &c. |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1947ST/page/n235/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1946}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1928 |title=Mercantile Navy List |place=London |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Cheshire&steamsail=Motor&submit=Enter&year=1928 |via=Crew List Index Project |ref={{harvid|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1928}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1930 |title=Mercantile Navy List |place=London |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?name=Cheshire&year=1930&submit=Enter |via=Crew List Index Project |ref={{harvid|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1930}} }}
*{{cite book |last1=Osborne |first1=Richard |last2=Spong|first2=Harry |last3=Grover |first3=Tom |year=2007 |title=Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878–1945 |place=Windsor, UK |publisher=[[World Ship Society]] |isbn=978-0-9543310-8-5}}
*{{cite book |year=1955 |title=Register Book |volume=I Register of Ships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1956/page/n365/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1955}} }}
*{{cite book |last=Talbot-Booth |first=EC |year=1936 |title=Ships and the Sea |edition=Third |place=London |publisher=[[Sampson Low]], Marston & Co Ltd}}

{{October 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{August 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheshire, HMS}}

[[Category:1927 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1940]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in August 1942]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]
[[Category:Ships built in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Troop ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II Auxiliary cruisers of the Royal Navy]]