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Information provided by: Don Oliver
Part of: HMS Glasgow Association
Published: 07 November 2003

Overview

HMS Glasgow, one of eight six-inch cruisers built in response to the Japanese cruisers Mogami and Mikuma, which had twelve six-inch guns fitted as part of their armament, was ordered on December 17th 1934.On 20th June 1936 she was launched and first commissioned on 8th September 1937. Acting in her pre-war role she, together with a sister ship HMS Southampton, escorted the newly crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, aboard the Empress of Australia, across the Atlantic where the Royal Couple toured Canada and America. At the outbreak of World War Two, HMS Glasgow was serving with the Home Fleet and continued to do so until she joined the 3rd Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean in 1940. In 1941 her theatre of operations moved to the Indian Ocean before she returned to home waters at the end of 1942. In 1943 the Cruiser patrolled colder waters in the Arctic, undertaking convoy escort duties to Russia, before seeking out blockade runners, destroying enemy warships and bombarding the coast of Normandy prior to the Invasion of Europe in 1944. Post-war HMS Glasgow fulfilled the role of flagship on a number of occasions and took part in courtesy visits in many parts of the world before she was mothballed at the end of 1956 and finally broken up in 1958. HMS Glasgow was considered by those who sailed aboard her to be a happy ship.

Facts and figures

Unit name: HMS Glasgow
Force: Royal Navy
Designation: Ship
Type: Cruiser
Entered service: 1936-06-20
Motto: Memor es Tuorum

Chronology

02 Sep 1939 - 03 Sep 1939: Storm Clouds Gather

On 2nd September 1939 HMS Glasgow, under the command of Captain "Rammer" Pegram sailed from Grimsby to patrol off the Norwegian coast. At 11oo hours on 3rd September a signal was received to say " Great Britain at War with Germany. The crew went to 'action stations' at 1313 hours after "gunfire" was heard but this proved to be a thunderstorm and the crew were stood down! Orders were issued for the Glasgow and her sister ship HMS Southampton and eight destroyers in support to patrol off the coast of Norway to intercept the German fleet, believed to be leaving the Shillig Roads. As the British warships lay in wait near the Fair Isle channel a thick fog descended to enshroud them and thwart their intentions, and they were forced to return to their base at Scapa Flow.

09 Oct 1939 - 09 Oct 1939: HMS Glasgow comes under attack

On 9th October 1939 while serving with the Humber Force HMS Glasgow, in company with the cruisers Southampton and Edinburgh came under an attack, from the air by the Luftwaffe, which commenced just after 0800 hours. That morning the sun was shining brightly, partially obscured by cumulus cloud at 6000 feet. Two planes were spotted and were thought to be friendly but proved to be enemy reconnaissance aircraft. These were engaged by the gunners aboard Glasgow without success and soon other planes joined the pair to mount an air attack on the British warships, dropping bombs, which forced the cruisers to execute evasive manoeuvres, The attack, which lasted until after 1600 hours, was carried out by Junkers 88's and Heinkel 111's which took advantage of the bright sun to confuse the gunners and were able to approach the British warships virtually unseen until a few seconds before they released their bombs. Although it is estimated that during the attack 120 bombs were dropped in salvoes of 3,4 or 5 at a time the ships did not sustain any great damage or casualties. HMS Glasgow engaged 31 enemy aircraft with her four-inch HA armament as they made direct approaches, passing runs or retired from the scene, expending 668 rounds of ammunition in the process. The close presence of the ships, to each other effectively prevented successful retaliatory action being taken. Valuable lessons were learned that day and measures were subsequently introduced to reduce to likely damage to ships from heavy high level bombing attacks.

12 Oct 1939 - 15 Nov 1939: Convoy Duties and Searching for Commerce Raiders

HMS Glasgow sailed from Scapa Flow on 12th October 1939 to exercise with her sister ship HMS Newcastle. At sea both captains received orders to provide protection for unescorted convoys passing through an area south of Iceland and to the west of the Bay of Biscay. Although the ships patrolled independently they rendezvoused daily, while maintaining radio silence. ON 13th October, the same day as news was received that the Royal Oak had been sunk enemy submarine activity was detected and both ships took evasive action. Reports were received, on 14th, that the German commerce raider Deutschland had been active in the North Atlantic and had sunk two allied merchant ships and captured a third. This news stimulated the British Admiralty to take action to curtail the Deutschland's activity and a large force of cruisers and destroyers was dispatched to try to prevent the enemy ship from returning to the safety of a German port. At this time the Glasgow patrolled an area northeast of the Shetland Islands, while other British warships were held in reserve in a state of readiness in the Clyde and at Rosyth. All this frenetic activity was in vain because the Deutschland had returned to Germany a week earlier and was safely tied up in Kiel! The Glasgow was then relieved from her duties to and proceeded at speed to escort a high value convoy KJ3, which included nineteen oil tankers, in-bound from the West Indies. Some difficulty was experienced in finding the convoy, until a signal was received giving the convoy's amended position. Having safely conducted the convoy through the allocated sea area and transferred responsibility to other British warships Glasgow, now low in fuel, was ordered to proceed to Portsmouth where she re-fuelled. Re-fuelled and re-provisioned Glasgow left the Hampshire port for Rosyth, where she arrived on 7th November. Four days later the cruiser returned to the Home Fleet base at Immingham before sailing for Scapa Flow on 15th November 1939 where the crew was put through its paces, preparing them for the rigours of war.

21 Nov 1939 - 22 Nov 1939: Searching for the German S.S. Bremen

In mid-November HMS Glasgow, in company with HM Ships Maori and Zulu, attempted to intercept the German liner S.S. Bremen , as she endeavoured to make her way back to Germany from Murmansk. The designated search area was to the northeast of the Shetland Isles. Although the weather, at the start of the patrol, was kind to the crews of the British warships, during the night of 21st/22nd November 1939 the barometric pressure plummeted and a strong gale developed over the area. As the weather deteriorated the crews aboard the Glasgow and the two destroyers felt so sick they hardly cared whether they lived or died! Although the patrol was maintained and a reported sighting of the enemy was picked up, the search failed to bear fruit and Glasgow returned to Rosyth to re-fuel.

09 Jan 1940 - 19 Jan 1940: Glasgow tackles the U-boats

The beginning of 19940 saw HMS Glasgow involved in activities against enemy U-boats and on 9th January 1940 'Asdic' contacts were picked up and although depth charges were dropped on the 'target' HMS Edinburgh, steaming 5 cables off the Glasgow's port beam, was unable to confirm the contact and the search was abandoned. On 16th January HMS Glasgow sailed from Rosyth for Scapa Flow, from whence she sailed, in station six cables astern of HMS Edinburgh. The latter hoisted a signal "Investigating contact Starboard side" and aboard the Glasgow the crew went to 'Action Stations' as the cruiser also obtained a firm contact on her starboard beam. A pattern of three depth charges was dropped followed six minutes later with a further pattern of three charges. The attack failed to achieve a successful result and on 15th January when Glasgow returned to Rosyth Captain Pegram expressed his concern as to the lack of efficiency of the 'Asdic' set fitted aboard the cruiser and the lack of an adequate number of depth charges, which thereby compromised his ability to press home an attack on a 'target'.

06 Apr 1940 - 22 Apr 1940: Norwegian offensive

Intelligence reports received indicated that an invasion of Norway was imminent and on 7th April 1940 German naval forces were spotted making their way towards the Norwegian coast and British warships sailed from Scapa Flow with the intention of engaging the enemy. The day before, on 6th April, the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters had embarked on board HMS Glasgow, to form part of the expeditionary force, due to land at Narvik. Two days later the orders were changed and the troops disembarked, a little bemused, and the Glasgow slipped from the quay at Rosyth to join her sister ships Southampton, Manchester and Sheffield to form part of the battle fleet engaged in the offensive against the German navy. On 9th April the Glasgow went into action against the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau but the enemy were able to effect their escape in the misty conditions which prevailed at the time. During the afternoon that day an air attack was launched against the Glasgow. Bombs were dropped to explode close to the cruiser's sides causing damage above the lower deck level and killing two ratings. Emergency repairs were carried out and the ship returned to harbour. After re-fuelling in Scapa Flow Glasgow left late at night, on 11th April, to patrol the Norwegian coastline with HMS Sheffield. Two days later ,on 13th April, Captain Pegram received orders to make preparations for a landing to be effected at Namsos. The landing involving Royal Marines was successful, with Glasgow's sister ships Manchester and Birmingham providing escort cover for the invasion force. The troops were re-embarked on 17th April and Glasgow returned to Scapa Flow to refuel. Sailing five days later the cruiser left Scapa Flow, with HMS Sheffield, for Rosyth to embark other troops before proceeding to Andalsnes.

27 Apr 1940 - 29 Apr 1940: The evacuation of King Haakon of Norway

In April 1940 as the German invasion of Norway continued, members of the Norwegian Government established themselves at Molde, considered to be a safe haven, as it was close to the British base at Andalsnes. On 27th April Molde was subjected to air attacks which lasted all day. Bombs rained down on the town, setting fire to buildings and forcing the Government members to seek shelter in a refuge a short distance from the harbour jetty. The attacks continued into the following day as the German bomber pilots were able to drop their bombs with impunity, in perfect weather conditions. Molde became untenable as a base and King Haakon of Norway, the Crown Prince Olav and the members of government were invited to leave in a British cruiser to travel to another Norwegian port or England, as his Majesty might decide. On 29th April 1940 HMS Glasgow approached the Norwegian coast, sailed up the fjord and tied up alongside the quay, the eastern end of which was ablaze. The British warship's fire parties quelled the flames in the vicinity of the ship and King Haakon, his son the Crown Prince Olav, members of the Norwegian Government, together with Ministers from the British, Polish, Danish and French legations were embarked on board the Glasgow. 65% of the Norwegian Gold reserves were also taken on board, to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy, for transportation and safe keeping in Britain. As she slipped her mooring lines the Glasgow came under attack from the air, illuminated by the flames of the burning town. King Haakon was then taken to Tromso, to continue in Government and in support of his people until his position became untenable in an occupied country. He was eventually evacuated to the UK aboard HMS Devonshire on 7th June 1940.

10 May 1940 - 12 May 1940: Icelandic Offensive

In order to prevent a German invasion of Iceland, which would have established a hostile naval and seaplane base perilously close to the north of Scotland, a force of Royal Marine commandos embarked aboard the cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Berwick in early May 1940. The two cruisers, in company with the destroyers Fearless and Fortune, made their way, on 8th May, to Iceland to secure Reykjavik and Hvalfjiord. In the early hours of 10th May the first batch of troops transferred from the Glasgow to the Fearless and landed without opposition. The troops captured the German Consulate where an attempt was being made to destroy confidential books and secret papers. Due to prompt action by the invading British troops most of the documents were saved. Colonel Sturges, commanding officer Royal Marines was able to report later that the occupation had been bloodless without a single shot being fired, even by accident. On 11th May 1940, after embarking the German prisoners, left the Icelandic capital bound for Liverpool where, on the following day, she discharged the prisoners, including the German Consular staff, at the Prince's Landing Stage Birkenhead.

10 May 1940 - 10 May 1940: Capture of the Gabbiano

On the 6th June 1940 , in Liverpool, the command of HMS Glasgow was transferred from Captain Pegram to Captain Harold Hickling. Four days later Captain Hickling was instrumental in one of the most bizarre captures of an enemy ship. On 10th May 1940 the Admiralty, aware of the intentions of Benito Mussolini, the fascist Italian leader, issued orders that all Italian shipping in home waters was to be seized. When the orders were issued an Italian vessel the SS Gabbiano, was berthed in a neighbouring dock in the Merseyside port. Being aware of this Captain Hickling sent a boarding party led by Lieutenant Commander Hugonin, to seize the enemy vessel. Taken completely by surprise the Italian captain and crew offered no resistance and, having picked up their belongings were marched ashore into captivity.

11 Nov 1940 - 11 Nov 1940: Destruction of the Italian Navy

During the attack on the Italian Navy at Taranto, on the 11th November 1940, by Swordfish aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Illustrious HMS Glasgow was amongst the British warships providing escort cover for the carrier. The assault on Taranto effectively marked the demise of the battleship as the mainstay of sea power, after 400 years, as the Italian battleships: Conte di Cavour, Littorio, Caio Duilo and Italia were destroyed as they lay at their moorings.

27 Nov 1940 - 27 Nov 1940: Submarine attack against the 3rd Cruiser Squadron

The 3rd Cruiser Squadron was detached from protecting HMS Illustrious on 27th November 1940 to escort an Allied convoy passing through the Sicilian channel towards Pantellaria. Silhouetted against the light of the moon that night the British cruisers York, Berwick, Gloucester and Glasgow presented a 'heaven sent' target to the commanders of the Italian submarines that lay in wait. The Italian submariners launched an attack against the British warships and aboard Glasgow a number of heavy thuds were heard. These were electric torpedoes striking the hull! Fortunately all the torpedoes had fired prematurely, causing no damage and had they run their full course the 3rd Cruiser Squadron would have ceased to exist.

03 Dec 1940 - 03 Dec 1940: Suda Bay

On 3rd December 1940 HMS Glasgow's luck changed. As she lay at anchor in Suda Bay on the Island of Crete she came under attack from Italian torpedo bombers. From a range of 3000 yards the aircraft launched their weapons and two of the torpedoes struck the cruiser, causing damage to the bow and stern, killing two and injuring seven of the crew. In spite of the damage sustained HMS Glasgow steamed to Alexandria, at a creditable 18 knots, for repairs to be undertaken. However during the passage the starboard inner propeller and shaft fell off! An Italian reconnaissance plane reported that the Glasgow had been sunk, giving rise to ribald comments being made by the ship's company as the loss was reported on the Italian news broadcastcrew.

06 Dec 1941 - 08 Dec 1941: Tragic Sinking of Prabhavati

At 1700 hour on 6th December 1941 HMIS Prabhavati, tug, set sail from the port of Chocin in southwest India with two lighters in tow. Three quarters of an hour later, at 1745, HMS Glasgow left Colombo bound for the Indian Ocean where it had been reported that a Japanese submarine and/or parent ship were operating. A second submarine was also thought to have been operational near Goa. Two days later war was declared against Japan and Glasgow was ordered to commence hostilities against the new enemy. Acting on information received the cruiser proceeded to the Laccadive Islands where a landing party was landed but no evidence was found as to anything untoward. Following the declaration of war intelligence reports received suggested that Japanese submarines were present in the Indian Ocean and Glasgow's orders were altered to take this new information into account and a land and air search was made of the area around the Laccadive group of Islands, where the task was completed by 1830 that same day and the cruiser turned to head northwards. AS she proceeded a signal was received that a submarine had been sighted. Meanwhile aboard the Prabhavati things began to go wrong as the tug and her two lighters parted company. The tug's British captain Lieutenant Stafford hove-to in order to effect repairs but in doing so, by having the two lighters parallel to the tug with the tug between them he presented a silhouette not unlike that of a submarine stopped in the water. That same night the lookouts aboard HMS Glasgow spotted white lights the configuration of which suggeste4d those of a submarine. Glasgow approached the "target" stealthily and when the cruiser became in range her captain gave the order for the ship's searchlight to be turned on to illuminate the "enemy". Fellow officers aboard the British warship "Identified an enemy submarine" and as they did so the light aboard the tug were doused. Orders were given for the Glasgow's guns to open fire and a total of eight salvoes were fired. At that range it was virtually impossible to miss and shell hit the tug and the lighters, which sank with the loss of 21 men. At the Board of Enquiry which followed HMS Glasgow's captain, Captain Hickling, was exonerated of blame. However, he never fully recovered from the experience which adversely affected his health.

13 Jan 1943 - 31 Jan 1943: Journey to Hell

On 13th January 1943, following a partial refit in December 1942, during which steam pipes had been fitted around the gun turrets, the Director towers and through the mess decks, giving the crew the impression that they were not going to the Med, HMS Glasgow sailed from Scapa Flow, in company with HM Ships Bermuda and Kent to escort a convoy heading for Russia. As the ship headed north those aboard the cruiser remember being overcome by the dreadful cold and seasickness which caused great weariness. The severe cold, combined with the spray from the mountainous waves caused ice to form on the ship's superstructure and deck fittings, bringing with it the fear that the ship might turn turtle with the weight of it. The crew was continuously employed in chipping ice to safeguard the safety of the ship. Accounts of the severity of the cold relate to oil being barely liquid in machinery, the mucous in ones nose freezing sold, oilskins freezing solid and of men coming of watch from the searchlight platform being unable to get out of protective clothing unaided.

29 Mar 1943 - 29 Mar 1943: Sinking of Blockade Runner Regensburg

ON 29th March 1943, while patrolling the Denmark Straits, a blip appeared on the radar screens of HMS Glasgow, whereupon the ship's company went to "Action Stations". The cruiser closed on its target which was identified as the German blockade runner Regensburg. The merchantman was ordered to alter course and follow the cruiser but this was ignored and the cruiser's captain gave the order "Open Fire". Aboard the Regensburg her captain ordered the seacocks to be opened and the crew abandoned ship by leaping into the icy water and climbing onto rafts which were buffeted by the waves. Glasgow's crew made a vain attempt to rescue the Germans from the sea but only six survivors were picked up out of a crew of 118, the others drowning or freezing to death in the water or on the rafts. The German captain was responsible for the terrible loss of life which was completely unnecessary. The Regensburg was given its coup de grace by torpedoes which fired to sent her to the bottom. At the completion of her patrol duties HMS Glasgow returned to Scapa Flow on 13th April.

23 Dec 1943 - 28 Dec 1943: Destruction of Brest and Bordeaux Flotillas

On Christmas eve 1943 HMS Glasgow left the sanctuary of Horta to intercept a blockade runner, the Alsterufer. This blockade runner was sighted by a Sunderland Flying-boat aircraft on 27th December and it was eventually sunk by bombs dropped from a Liberator bomber. In the meantime a signal was received aboard Glasgow that enemy warships from the German Bordeaux flotilla were at sea to protect the Alsterufer and that five ships might be encountered. On 28th December 1943 several "targets" were picked up on the cruiser's radar screens and at 1330 hours the enemy were engaged. During the course of the action, in which HMS Edinburgh also participated, three enemy destroyers were sunk with an additional four put out of action. Two crew members from Glasgow's ship's company died in the action and were buried at sea with wreaths made from the Christmas tree which had been intended for use at a children's party at Horta.

23 May 1944 - 06 Jun 1944: Normandy Landings

As ships assembled in Belfast Lough for the impending invasion of Europe they were joined by HMS Glasgow on 23rd May 1944. On 31st May that year the ship was "sealed" with mail neither leaving nor going aboard the cruiser and on 3rd June she sailed, in company with a number of American warships, to pass up and down the north Cornish coast preparing for the task in hand. On 5th June 1944 HMS Glasgow proceeded to her assembly point from whence she took an active role in the bombardment of "Omaha" beach prior to the landing of American infantry forces there the following day D-Day 6th June 1944. Throughout that morning, with the assistance of air spotters Glasgow continued to engage selected targets ashore. During the engagement more than 500 HE 6" shell were fired from the cruiser.

17 Jun 1944 - 27 Jun 1944: Bombardment of Cherbourg

On 17th June 1944, HMS Glasgow returned to take up a position off St Vast in the "Utah" beach area from whence she engaged enemy tanks, flack batteries and trench emplacements. The strategic importance of Cherbourg, as the crux on the Allied offensive, was recognised and it became necessary to remove the enemy presence from the port and surrounding areas. To this end HMS Glasgow, in company with USS Tuscaloosa and other ships, set off, on 27th June, to take part in the assault of the French port. From her designated position the cruiser fired on enemy shore batteries which responded by firing at the Allied ships and at 1251 hours that day HMS Glasgow took a direct hit in the port hanger closely followed by another abreast the Aft Director Control position. The cruiser broke off the engagement to escape further punishment and to assess the damage sustained, before returning to the conflict where she received further "near-misses". On 3rd July 1944 HMS Glasgow entered the Palmer's Yard at Hebburn on the river Tyne where she underwent a complete refit.

Further resources

Books and Magazines

Title: In Peace and War The Story of HMS Glasgow 1937-1958
Author: G.D.Oliver
Pub year: 2001
ISBN: 0-9540782-0-9
Description: Complete History Of HMS Glasgow from time of her launch in 1936 until she was broken up in 1958.

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