H.M.S. Calcutta (1918)

H.M.S. Calcutta (1918)
Pendant Number:	74 (Aug 1919)
Builder:	Vickers
Laid down:	18 Oct, 1917
Launched:	9 Jul, 1918
Sunk:	1 Jun, 1941

Service

In early 1921, she was flagship of the Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron. By January 1923, she was still in this role, with her formation being on the North America and West Indies Station.

Calcutta re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 28 September, 1923.

She re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 11 May, 1926.

Re-commissioned at Chatham on 18 September, 1928. In early 1929, she was flagship on the Africa Station, and of Sixth Cruiser Squadron.

Calcutta re-commissioned at Chatham on 24 April, 1931 with Reserve Complement.

In 1934, her bell was offered for sale to naval officers and others who might be interested, at the price of £5. Interested parties were to write the Director of Stores and were urged to include any special information which might convey the importance they attach to the bell, in light of the Admiralty's understanding that such items carry great sentimental value.

She reduced to Reserve at The Nore at Standard Notice on 3 July, 1935.

Fire Control

Listed in June 1918 as one of eight light cruisers to receive a Mark III* Dreyer Table, presumably in place at time of completion.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain Percy L. H. Noble, 10 March, 1919
• Captain Walter B. Compton, 1 March, 1921 – 9 May, 1922
• Captain Kenneth Dewar, 9 May, 1922 – February, 1923  (and as Chief of Staff to Sir William Pakenham)
• Captain Henry K. Kitson, 3 February, 1923 – September, 1924  (and as Flag Captain and Chief of Staff to V.A. Michael Culme-Seymour)
• Captain The Alexander R. M. Ramsay, 15 August, 1924 – 11 May, 1926  (and as Flag Captain)
• Captain Andrew Browne Cunningham, 11 May, 1926 – January, 1928
• Commander Philip Hordern, 13 December, 1927 – 15 August, 1928
• Commander Thomas G. Harrison, 15 August, 1928 – 18 September, 1928^[Inference]
• Captain Alfred E. Evans, 18 September, 1928 – January, 1929  (as Flag Captain and Chief of Staff of R/A Anderson)
• Captain Stuart S. Bonham-Carter, 11 January, 1929 – 24 April, 1931  (and as Flag Captain to Rear Admiral Burmester from February, 1929)
• Commander Arthur W. Brooks, 24 April, 1931
• Commander Sir Atwell H. Lake, Bart., 14 November, 1932 – 21 January, 1933
• Commander Arthur K. Gibson, c. 1933  (upon her re-commissioning)
• Captain Eustace Rotherham, 20 February, 1934 – 15 October, 1934  (took command upon commissioning)
• Captain Geoffrey C. Cooke, 12 February, 1935 – 30 July, 1935
• Commander Duncan C. Hill, 1 August, 1935 – 14 January, 1936  (vice "Graham"?)
• Commander Charles E. S. Farrant, 15 May, 1936 – 22 April, 1938
• Commander Percy F. P. Wood, 22 April, 1938 – 1 July, 1938  (vice Farrant)
• Captain Frederick R. M. Johnson, 1 July, 1938 – 28 September, 1938
• Captain H. Geoffrey Norman, 28 September, 1938 – 20 October, 1938  (vice Johnson)
• Captain Herbert A. Packer, 23 August, 1939 – 18 March, 1940
• Captain Dennis M. Lees, 18 March, 1940 – 1 June, 1941  (vessel lost under his command)

See Also

• Transcribed Ship Logs at naval-history.net
• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• Gray, Randal (editor) (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.