World War II Cruisers of Poland - HMS Dragon, HMS Danae, Orp Conrad, Orp Dragon (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Not illustrated. Excerpt: HMS Dragon, also known in Polish service as ORP Dragon (Polish: ), was a D or Danae class cruiser built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in Glasgow, in December 1917, and scuttled in July 1944 off the Normandy beaches as part of the Arromanches Breakwater. One of the fastest-built ships of the time, the Dragon, pennant number D46 (note that at this time the Royal Navy used the letter D for major warships, not destroyers), was laid down on 24 January, 1917 in Glasgow. She was launched on 29 December of the same year. However, it was not until 16 August, 1918 that she was finally commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS Dragon. Armed with six 6-inch guns, the light cruiser was commissioned too late to enter service during the World War I. She carried HRH The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) to Canada in August 1919 to begin a Royal Tour. She then took part in the Russian Civil War as part of a task force aiding independent Latvia and Estonia against the Bolsheviks and German forces in October and November 1919, see British Campaign in the Baltic. On 17 October 1919 Dragon was hit by three shells fired from a battery onshore whilst taking part in operations against German forces attacking Riga, killing nine men and wounding five. In the interbellum, in 1924, the ship was attached to a task force with HMS Hood, Repulse, Delhi, Danae (which would later replace the ship in the Polish Navy) and Dauntless for a variety of tasks all over the world. Dragon was stationed in Zanzibar, Ceylon, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada and Jamaica and took part in visits to the USA, Dutch Antilles and Australia. In 1928 she was withdrawn from service and underwent a major refurbishment in Great Britain. Among other changes a seaplane hangar ... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=440972